Thousands protest at Oak Park ‘No Kings’ march
Oak Parkers protest Trump policies with large demonstration along Lake Street
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Thousands gathered in Oak Park Saturday, June 14 to take part in a “No Kings” protest against President Donald Trump
The protest was part of a national series of demonstrations opposing the president on the day, as protest organizers said last week they expected more than 1,800 protests associated with the “No Kings” movement to take place on Saturday.
The crowd along Lake Street Saturday far eclipsed a similar anti-Trump protest in April
The protest in Oak Park was one of several in Chicagoland on Saturday, the largest of which drew an estimated crowd of 75,000 to Downtown Chicago’s Daley Plaza. Other suburban communities including Geneva, Evanston, Arlington Heights and Joliet also hosted “No Kings” protests
Attendees at the Oak Park protest said fears over Trump policies aimed at ramp-
ing up deportations, slashing budgets to federal departments and consolidating executive power drove them out to protest.
“There can’t be kings and there can’t be fascism,” said Lori Sadowski, a long-time
Oak Parker who now lives in Grayslake.
“I don’t reco gnize the United States right now at all.”
Housing Forward braces for impact of potential federal cuts
cause crisis in care of the unhoused
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Housing Forward is bracing for the impact that the next federal budget could have on America’s housing safety net.
Leaders at Housing Forward, the nonprofit agency responsible for supporting people experiencing housing instability and chronic homelessness in Cook County’s near western suburbs, are preparing for what may be a major cut to their federal funding. Lynda Schueler, the agency’s executive director, said most of the subsidized rental units that the group provides to its clients are paid for by federal funding that would be eliminated through the preliminary federal budget plan being consid-
TODD BANNOR
IHappy 10th Birthday, Oak Park Friends School!
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’re reflecting on our growth over the past decade. Oak Park Friends School began in 2007 as a small home daycare, founded by Talley Hann. Soon after, Chloe Cunningham joined her, running a preschool program out of her home. The popularity of the program quickly grew, and in 2015, OPFS moved to its current location—marking the official start of our school as we know it today.
While we are not a Quaker school, we are deeply inspired by Quaker values of community, kindness, and service. These principles guide everything we do, from how we care for children to how we engage with families.
10 Reasons We Love Oak Park Friends School
1. Play-Based Curriculum –Research shows kids learn best through play—and we live that truth every day.
2. Loose Parts Play – Openended materials spark creativity and imagination.
7. Risky Play Encouraged –Climbing, jumping, swinging— kids need movement and challenge to grow.
We’re proud not only to have weathered the challenges of the pandemic, but to have expanded during that time— doubling our space and the number of students we serve. Today, we’re honored to nurture and educate more than 250 children each year through our full-day care, part-day preschool, and afterschool programs.
We look forward to continuing to serve the greater Oak Park community for the next 10 years and beyond!
3. Thatcher Trips � We regularly hike and explore the beauty of Thatcher Woods.
4. Outdoor Play in All Weather
– Rain, snow, or shine—outdoor play is always on the agenda!
5. Exceptional Teachers & Staff
– Dedicated, nurturing, and truly the heart of our school.
8. Engaging After-School Program – Big kids have big fun too, with thoughtful and active programming.
9. Flexible Scheduling – We offer options to meet the diverse needs of busy families.
10. Chickens! � We’re raising baby chicks in our courtyard coop!
Oak Park Friends School
6300 Roosevelt Rd, Oak Park, IL 60304 • 708-686-2030 • opfs.org
ntergenerational Day, celebrated annually on June 1, serves as a reminder of the importance of fostering close relationships between people of different generations, particularly between the very young and the very old. In an increasingly fast-paced world, such relationships are often overlooked, yet they hold immense cultural, emotional, and intellectual value. When generations interact meaningfully, a rich, multi-faceted exchange occurs that strengthens individuals and communities alike.
One of the most powerful aspects of intergenerational connection is the sharing of culture. Older generations are the custodians of traditions, stories, language, and values that form the bedrock of a community’s identity. Through storytelling, music, cooking, and shared rituals, elders pass down cultural knowledge that might otherwise be lost. For young people, engaging with these cultural elements provides a sense of belonging and a deeper understanding of who they are and where they come from. For the elders,
6. Supportive Parent Community � Our families help make OPFS a strong, connected community.
Sponsored Content
Celebrating Intergenerational Day
sharing culture can be a source of pride, continuity, and emotional fulfillment.
Beyond culture, young people benefit from the wisdom and life experience that older adults offer. Elders have lived through complex historical events, personal trials, and changing societal norms. Their perspective helps younger generations understand resilience, patience, and long-term thinking. Whether it’s practical advice about relationships, finances, or ethics, or simply the example of how to live with dignity and purpose, the guidance of older adults can help younger individuals navigate the uncertainties of life with greater confidence. Equally important is the older generation’s role in passing along collective memory; the stories of community, struggle, progress, and transformation that shape how societies
evolve. This shared memory not only provides context for understanding the present but also inspires the young to build a better future. By listening to first-hand accounts of historical events or personal experiences, young people develop empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for their freedom and opportunities. Meanwhile, older individuals often find great joy and meaning in sharing their memories, knowing their experiences will not be forgotten.
Intergenerational relationships also combat loneliness and ageism. Older adults often find purpose and renewed energy in interactions with children and youth. Young people, in turn, develop respect and compassion for those who are different in age and perspective. These bonds can enrich both groups emotionally
and mentally, promoting a healthier, more connected society.
Celebrating Intergenerational Day on June 1 (and celebrating the whole of June as Intergenerational Month) is more than symbolic; it is a call to action. It encourages communities to create spaces where generations can meet, learn, and grow together. Whether through family gatherings, community programs, or school partnerships with senior centers, these connections nurture understanding and preserve the vital threads that link the past to the future. In honoring and fostering these relationships, we build not only stronger individuals but also a more unified, compassionate world.
FirstLight Home Care of Oak Park is collaborating with local artists in June for two events as part of our Intergenerational Celebration. Purple Sun Arts and Artsy Endeavors joined us at The Sheridan (800 N Harlem Ave) on June 7 at 10am; Fifty First Street (140 Harrison St) hosts an event on June 21 at 9am.
WEDNESD AY
Danny Davis to those waiting to replace him: ‘People get ready’
Rep. La Shawn Ford and others explore running if Davis retires from Congress
By BILL DWYER Contributing
As speculation sw tions of long-time incumbent. K. Davis to run or not Congress, Davis has a hoping to re place him.
“There’s a song by said, “People Get said, not just to re clear track record of would elect them.
Davis is expected to announce a decision “probably in the new few w
When Davis spoke with nal Friday morning, he was asked of those people, Illinois State K. Ford (D-8), who has a candidate for the 7th District seat. The Illinois cong parks of Cook County including Oak Forest Park, River West Side.
Ford, who has ser House since 2007, filed a statement of or nization with the mission on May 21. He’s retained the election compliance firm of Acuity Politics, LLC, in Washington D.C.
Ford described his registration as the initial part of an exploratory effort. He made it clear that he will only proceed with his plans if Davis is not running
“I haven’t made an official announcement,” Ford said last Tuesday. “This is all in case the congressman retires.”
He added: “I’m excited about the possibility of running. But if Congressman Davis decides to run, I’ll support him.”
Ford said he is also gathering commitments of financial support and endorsements
“I’m talking to supporters and I’m doing my best to put together a team,” said Ford, who added that his first focus remained constituent services
“Building coalitions with politicians is secondary. My goal is to make the case that I’ll always be there for the people. You have to stay focused on the constituents in the district.”
Rep. La Shaw n Ford and Congressman Danny Davis at Billy Goat Tavern & Grill’s near West Side location on Aug. 20, 2024.
Davis and Ford take on Trump
During interviews with Cong. Danny K. Davis and State Rep. La Shawn Ford about their plans to seek the 7th District cong ressional seat in 2026, they each of fered their takes on recent actions by President Donald Trump
“This is heavy-handedness,” Davis said of Trump’s response to peaceful protest demonstrations against his polices and actions. “People in this country believe in the right to protest. Our country was founded on protest.”
Davis said he was deeply concerned at the Trump administration’s demonstrated unwillingness to use established
gover nment mechanisms to respond to dif ferences of opinion.
“You work cooperat ively with others to change the law,” he said. “That’s not what I see the president doing, not what I see ICE doing, not what I see DHS doing.”
Ford said, “I definitely believe in protecting democracy. I don’t believe the current president respects democracy and the Constitution.”
Addressing last Saturday’s No Kings protests, Ford said, “The only way we’ll protect democracy is to stand up against (what Trump is doing).”
of Oak Park and River Forest
Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf
Senior Audience Manager Stac y Coleman
Repor ter Brendan He ernan
ewpoints Editor Ken Trainor
Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora
ntributing Editor Donna Greene
Columnists Marc Bleso , Nicole Chavas, ck Crowe, Vincent Gay, Mary Kay O’Grady, hn Stanger, Josh VanderBerg
Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
eting & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan
elopment Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Operations Associate Susan Babin
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
Senior Advisor Dan Haley BOARD OF
Weinheimer | Treasurer Nile Wendor f Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson
JESSICA MOR DACQ
River Forest climate plan adds in trees, leaf blowers
By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
An update on River Forest’s climate action plan at the June 9 Village Board meeting led to discussion of its accomplishments as well as related environmental matters, including a possible leaf-blower ban.
Officials also took the next step on a recommendation to amend the tree preservation ordinance.
The climate action plan was created a year ago with the assistance of two groups of graduate students from the University of Illinois Chicago. Seth Jansen, management consultant, said the two groups combined to recommend 75 separate actions
He noted that several recommendations are already reflected in village operations, including expanding electric vehicle charging stations, utilization and promotion of permeable pavers and energy efficiency standards in building codes.
Jansen said that 17 of the 75 climate action plan recommendations fell under the umbrella of communications, which led the commission to dedicate all February communications to recycling and developing a Guide to Trees webpage
He said continued communications, such as partnerships with the River Forest Public Library and School District 90, are among
DANNY DAVIS
Getting ready to retire?
from page 3
“Re-entry (into society), criminal records expungement, healthcare, safety net hospitals, these are the heart beat of our district,” he said.
Others currently listed by the FEC as candidates for the 7th Congressional seat are Jason Friedman, a Chicago attorney who filed in April, and John McCombs, a for mer Marine and aspiring comedian, also of Chicago, who filed in early May.
Jerico J. Brown of Chicago, a church pastor, has filed as an independent.
Davis mulls pros and cons
Davis is clear about the reasons why he should retire. He is also clear about the reasons he should run for re-election.
recommendations being considered, along with providing a sustainable focus to village capital projects and equipment purchases, such as the purchase of an electric vehicle for the Police Department in December
The sustainability commission also conducted a survey to collect a baseline of resident knowledge on climate change. The survey, conducted from October through February, indicated high resident interest in green spaces and urban forestry. The survey also revealed skepticism among residents around the effectiveness of recycling programs and concer ns about cost, capacity and effectiveness of electrification.
Leaf blowers discussion
The commission and the village board have held numerous discussions on the issue of leaf-blowers dating back to April 2023.
Jansen told officials that the Sustainability Commission had voted to recommend phasing in changes to leaf blower regulations that would include incentives for landscape contractors to switch from gas-powered to electric-powered leaf blowers.
“We’re trying to signal that we’re going in that direction,” said Susan Charrette, commission co-chair. “But the technology is changing all the time.”
Trustee Bob O’Connell recalled that vil-
Those dueling realities flavor his speech with caveats.
He says he is talking to a number of people, including those who have supported him through the years, to his doctors, and to many everyday people who he insists are and have always been his reason for serving, as a Chicago alderman, as a county commissioner, and as a cong ressman.
“I will make a decision probably in the next few weeks,” he said Friday, following a busy and particularly eventful week in Washington. “There are a number of things I’m looking at.”
Among those are his age. He is in his 15th term in Congress and will be 85 when the new Congress is seated. He said he feels for tunate to have remained healthy enough to do the work.
“I’m no spring chicken,” he acknowledged. “Most people my age retired years ago.”
“I’m talking to people who have supported me,” he said. “I’m also talking to my physicians. And I’m talking to people.”
The work he’s doing, he said, is more im-
lage officials planned to follow the lead of Oak Park and noted that that village has already implemented a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
Jansen said he has had conversations with landscapers working in the village and is watching developments in other municipalities, mostly on the North Shore.
Village President Cathy Adduci suggested bringing the issue back to the village board at the next meeting July 14, but O’Connell cautioned against making changes in the middle of the mowing season.
Adduci and Jansen also noted the need for a workable enforcement mechanism.
Tree preser vation
Officials also advanced another climate action plan recommendation June 9, accepting the recommendation from the sustainability commission to proceed with a text amendment related to tree preservation.
“The sustainability commission thinks this is a good first step,” Jansen said.
He explained that the recommendation addresses trees on residential property, which is not covered under the current ordinance, and will not change regulations regarding trees on commercial property
“Currently, the village does not have any authority over private property trees,” Jan-
portant than ever.
“These are real critical times for America. There are people urging me to run again for (numerous) reasons,” he said.”
Davis pointed to his position on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where he spent much of his day on Wednesday. It deals with all legislation before the House, and members of Congress wait years to be appointed to the committee, let alone gain seniority on it.
While another candidate can re place Davis and take his seat in Congress, what they cannot do is re place his seniority. And that issue appears to be playing a major role in Davis’s thinking as he moves toward a decision on whether to seek another term.
“I’m a senior member of Congress, not just a member,” he said.
“If I don’t run, people like LaShawn Ford will. I think they’d do well to establish an exploratory committee.”
Reiterating his “get ready” counsel, Davis said anyone looking to re place him should earn it. “They should be talking to the people, listening to the people, serving
sen said in a memo to village Administrator Matt Walsh. “No permit is required for the removal of trees on single-family residential property; however, the removal must be completed by a forester licensed with the village Existing language in the village zoning code establishes landscaping requirements for multi-family residential buildings, commercial establishments, institutions and government buildings, where the building footprint covers 5,000 square feet or more of land area.
“As drafted, this ordinance would be limited in scope to single family residential properties seeking to remove an oak or elm tree greater than 20 inches in diameter. This includes all species of oak and all species of elm, except for invasive Siberian elms Removal of such a tree would require one replacement tree to be planted. This replacement tree would only be required if the conditions of approval in the existing tree preservation ordinance are not met.”
Walsh explained that the next step would be to propose text amendments related to tree preservation to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a public hearing and recommendation. Trustee Katie Brennan stressed the need to publicize the zoning board public hearing. Adduci agreed, suggesting sending a postcard mailing in addition to the village’s usual communication outlets
the people,” he said. “That’s how you get elected. If they do that, they’ll get elected.”
Davis acknowledged Ford’s 17 years in the Illinois General Assembly. Since the 2020 redistricting, Ford has re presented South Austin, southern sections of Oak Park and Forest Park, southern Broadview and part of La Grange.
Davis invited Ford to appear for an extended period of time on his last Zoom townhall on June 1, where Ford gave his overview of the recently concluded state legislative session.
“He’s certainly got the experience. He’s done good work,” Davis said.
Ford speaks like a man looking to carry on a tradition and continue a legacy. Davis, he said, “is an example of a re presentative for the people. Danny Davis has his finger on the pulse of the community.”
“I feel I have that same philosophy. I’m trying to earn his support,” Ford said. “We have a lot of relationship in doing community work. I hope our relationship carries over into an endorsement.”
Dominican University ends admissions to its theater arts major
Declining enrollment makes program ‘unsustainable’
By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter
The future of theater arts at Dominican University is uncertain. As of January 2025, the university no longer admits new theater arts majors or minors, but courses and production opportunities will continue throughout the 2025-2026 academic year.
Krista Hansen, chair and professor of Dominican’s theater arts program, said the university has paused admittance to the program at this juncture.
“Since the pandemic, enrollments in the program have been very low and it just become unsustainable,” Hansen said. “I saw this coming and tried to do what I could to offset it, but this is the situation we’re in.”
“Do nothing” is the Village Administration’s response to the
Hansen, who has been a full-time faculty member at Dominican for 22 years, said many factors have contributed to the program’s decline and include issues on the campus level as well as local, state and national headwinds. However, ef for ts are underway by a committed group of faculty and staf f to preserve theater in some form at the university.
“Theater arts as a standalone program is probably not going to move forward in the same way that it did before, but I think there’s enough interdisciplinary activity and interest on campus to keep theater in the curriculum and keep theater as part of the community,” Hansen said.
Part of the curriculum for theater arts majors and minors, the Theatre Arts Lab Series consists of three student productions per year: a classical play, a contemporary play and a musical. This gives students the chance to work on a wide variety of genres, time periods and styles over the course of a single season.
Those three productions, which have yet to be announced, will still take place during the 2025-2026 school year.
According to Hansen, all students are welcome to participate in productions at
Dominican, re gardless of their major or minor.
“Theater and the arts should be shared, so I’ve always tried to encourage everyone to participate in some way if they can,” she said. “I truly believe in the arts as a transformative learning approach.”
Hansen said the skills that students learn during their time in Dominican’s theater program are invaluable.
“One of the things that I find incredibly rewarding are the alums who tell me about how they continue to use the skills, and how they continue to put theater and the elements of theater into their lives, whether or not they’ re working in the arts,” she said. “I’ve always been a cheerleader of the skills that theater provides over everything else.”
In spite of the changes that are occurring, Hansen said she will continue to try to teach students through the arts at Dominican.
“Theater is important,” she said. “So how do we keep that going even if the program itself doesn’t function or look the same? Right now, there are a lot of questions to be answered.”
COURTESY OF DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY Dominican University main campus.
Middle-school teachers question D97 waiver request
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
The school board at Oak Park’s District 97 received pointed commentary at a public hearing June 10 re garding an application for an Illinois State Board of Education waiver to continue to schedule physical education classes every other day at the middle school level.
Based on community, staff and student feedback, Brooks and Julian middle schools will shift away from the current block schedule to a new master schedule next year where the core classes of science, social science, English and math will be offered every day for 50-minute increments, along with one elective.
Under the block format, students attended core classes every other day for 75-minute increments.
State law requires physical education at least three days in a five-day week. The waiver, for three years, would allow physical education to remain in a block format, alternating with another elective, meaning physical education classes would occur three days one week for 50 minutes and two days the following, also for 50 minutes.
The measure passed five to one, with new board member Becky Perez as the only no Another board member, Holly Spurlock, was not present. But the vote occurred after three Julian teachers, one Brooks teacher, and a for mer district teacher voiced their concerns. Core to those concerns is an overall reduction in the minutes allocated to physical education in the middle schools
“During my career in District 97, all the electives had the same number of minutes as core classes, and with the new schedule, this has not happened,” said Julian physical edu-
cation teacher Jeff Featherstone. “The new schedule will have P.E. on the A-B schedule, similar to last, but we’re cutting the minutes from 75 to 50, while other electives will have class every day.
“This means the students will miss 75 minutes of physical education every two weeks with the new schedule compared to the current schedule. But if we were to have this elective, physical education, be an everyday elective, it would increase to 250 minutes per week.”
Brooks physical education teacher Tom Rocco read a letter from a recent Brooks graduate regarding her concerns about the waiver.
“For starters, P.E. has tons of great benefits,” Rocco read. “After sitting in cramped desks for hours with only passing periods to get blood moving, P.E. is a time for students to let off steam and take their mind off their assignments.
“Many middle schoolers already don’t get to move around a lot because of homework, screen addictions, etc., so P.E. is a great way to get them of f their phones and into the real world.”
Added Peggy Callan, a 25-year District 97 teacher, physical education improves mood and social skills, and reduces anxiety.
“The district is missing the mark with this waiver,” Callan said.
Such waivers aren’t rare, according to Dr. Luis De Leon, assistant superintendent of middle schools. The district’s K-5 elementary schools have a waiver to offer 60 minutes of physical education class per week, in addition to daily recess and 15 minutes daily of physical education activity.
Under the new 2025-26 middle school master schedule, students will have a 36-minute lunch/recess period and a 36-minute What
I Need (WIN) block, a dedicated time for students to receive targeted enrichment or intervention support, for a total block of 72 minutes
Post-hearing, the board posed questions to Julian principal Nick Filipowski, Brooks principal April Capuder and De Leon for roughly 30 minutes.
“The whole schedule is a big change for next year,” said board member Nancy Ross Dribin, “which we appreciate. You’ve put in more minutes for English, for core subjects, for math and yet we still gave you the same amount of minutes a day.
“What are the plans to review it and check in over the next year?”
On Monday, De Leon said via email, “We want to be clear that we ag ree — physical education and students’ mental health are priorities.”
He said the district worked to balance its commitment to students’ overall well-being, including the importance of physical education, with the community’s request for increased instructional time in the core academic areas. This was a balancing act, he said, that required adjustments within the limited time available in the school day.
“Looking ahead, we plan to assess the impact of the new schedule on an ongoing basis and will continue to engage with our educators to address concerns in a meaningful way,” he said. “Collaboration and open dialogue will be essential as we work toward solutions that align with our educational goals and the needs of our students and staff.”
The board also unanimously approved adoption of a new middle school social science curriculum, Discovery Education, at a cost of $92,280.
Discovery Education was selected over HMH Social Studies, and will be implement-
ed for the 2025-26 school year, according to Dr Tawanda Lawrence, District 97 senior director of teaching and learning
Brooks Middle School seventh-grade social science teacher Anna Kinnaman, who helped pilot finalists Discovery Education and HMH Social Studies this spring, said the for mer stood out for several reasons
“For me, it was the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives throughout their Techbook, which is their textbook,” Kinnaman said. “There are all these stories and experiences from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. HMH felt like traditional storytelling. Whatever curriculum was chosen should be inclusive of all Americans.”
Lawrence said the resource review process for the new curriculum began in the 2021-22 school year, with a group of administrators and teachers from Brooks and Julian reviewing various options and identifying those they would like to pilot. Discovery Education and HMH Social Studies were subsequently piloted this spring.
The resource review dovetailed with the development of a District 97 6-8 social science mission statement by school- and districtlevel administrators and social science department members that was presented to the board in 2022, though Lawrence said it did not need board approval. The mission statement says:
“The D97 Social Science Department is committed to helping students become independent and reflective thinkers. Students will make connections from history to the present through reading, writing and the inquiry process. As educators, we will guide students in the understanding and analysis of important issues of the past and foster a commitment to global citizenship, equity and anti-racism.”
Oak Park promotes JT Terry to re chief
Terr y, key gure in Oak Park’s pandemic response, wins promotion
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park has found its next fire chief in JT Terry, an 18-year veteran of the department.
Terry is taking over leadership of the Oak Park Fire Department from Ron Kobyleski, who had served as fire chief since November 2021. Terry had most recently served as Oak Park’s deputy fire chief of EMS operations and infectious disease, according to the village.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as fire chief and continue re presenting all the dedicated members of the Village of Oak Park Fire,” said Terry. “It is an honor to lead such a committed and professional team. To gether we will continue to provide the highest level of services to the residents and visitors of our community that they have come to expect and deserve.”
Terry was at the forefront of the village’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, serving six months as Oak Park’s interim public health director and holding the position of emergency operations center operations section chief during the pandemic response, in which he oversaw “mass vaccination operations and supporting some of Oak Park’s most vulnerable residents,” according to the village.
Terry holds an undergraduate de gree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s de gree in threat and response management from the University of Chicago and is currently enrolled in an executive training program at the National Fire Academy.
Since 2023, Terry has served on the board of directors for the National Alliance for Mental Health Metro Suburban and last year he was named to the Illinois Depart-
ment of Public Health’s Subcommittee. He has also been acti local youth baseball and softball coach, ac cording to the village
“JT Terry has earned the trust of our community and the respect of across departments through his dedication, innovati leadership,” said Jackson. “He brings not only the technical expertise that is essential in this role, but also a deep understanding of Oak values and aspirations along with an orientation toward inno cellence. JT has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead with compassion, strong partnerships and respond effectively under pressur under his leadership, our fire department will continue to set the standard for excellence, while also evolving to meet the changing needs of our community.”
Parking manager follows ex-department head to Wilmette
Keane will start a new role working under Emily Egan, former development chief in Oak Park
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Sean Keane finished his time as Oak Park’s parking and mobility services manager last week and he will now follow the village’s former development services director north to Wilmette.
While expressing gratitude for his time in Oak Park, in his departure, Keane echoed frustrations with what he described as a “toxic” work environment over the past year
Keane had worked for the village for about seven years, the last four of which he spent leading Oak Park’s municipal parking administration office — the division of parking and mobility services. He will start in a new village planning role for Wilmette on June 23, working under Emily Egan, the for mer village development services chief.
Egan approached Keane with the opportunity, he told Wednesday Journal in an interview.
“Shortly after she arrived in Wilmette, she presented me with this opportunity,” he said. “She was an excellent leader, and I really en-
joyed working with her and I can’t wait to work with her again.”
Overall, Keane said he really enjoyed his years working for Oak Park’s village government.
“It was an honor to make an impact in the Oak Park community,” Keane said. “The relationships and collaborations I’ve built have been deeply meaningful and will stay with me moving forward.”
However, Keane said that over his final year of employment with the village his work environment at village hall grew to be “toxic,” which directly led him to begin seeking employment elsewhere. He said the issues stemmed from village management’s failure to resolve personnel conflicts associated with for mer Oak Park Economic Vitality Administrator Brandon Crawford, who was fired from the village on April 25.
“I would be remiss not to acknowledge my disappointment in the recent inaction by leadership to promptly and adequately address serious personnel concerns related to for mer Economic Vitality Administrator Brandon Crawford,” Keane said. “The failure
to intervene in a timely manner allowed a toxic environment to persist, with ne gative impacts that extended throughout our department and the broader organization.”
In her exit interview following her Feb. 7 resignation, Egan also described dealing with a “toxic work environment” and not feeling supported while navig ating conflicts with colleagues, according to documents associated with her resignation and obtained by Wednesday Journal via FOIA.
“Lack of support and/or belief of my side of the story when my supervisor was attempting to listen to the challenges for myself and within my department due to specific interpersonal issues,” Egan wrote in an exit interview questionnaire about her least favorite part of working at village hall.
In documents associated with Crawford’s dismissal, village leaders described re peated conflicts between him and Egan. The village had hired an “executive coach” to help Crawford and his coworkers collaborate productively, to unsatisfactory results, according to the documents.
“The village also made several attempts
to create role clarity, resolve internal conflicts and enhance your ability to succeed, including providing you with an executive coach, removing you from the Development Services Department via special assignment and physically relocating your office, and permanently changing your title and removing you from the Development Services Department,” Crawford’s termination letter said.
Oak Park recently announced the hiring of a new assistant village manager for economic vitality. The village is now accepting job applications for two economic vitality administrator roles and for Keane’s replacement in the parking and mobility services manager position.
Keane said that he believes that the village’s decision to promote Craig Failor to the Development Services Director position following Egan’s departure was a wise move He also said that he hopes that Oak Park leadership will do a better job of managing staf f conflicts in the future.
“Oak Park has a lot of opportunities, and a lot of work to do,” he said.
Strategic objectives ke for D90 in 2024-25
Achievements kick o superintendent’s nal year at district helm
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
With his anticipated retirement a little over a year away, River Forest School District 90 Superintendent Dr. Ed Condon is giving added focus to the district meeting its remaining 2024-25 school year strategic action objectives
From Condon’s perspective, the fact that the vast majority of individual activities related to seven strategic objectives have been completed or are near completion speaks to his belief that the district’s collaborative approach was effective.
“We develop our goals with administrators, teacher leaders and other key contributors at the table,” Condon said. “This helps us set goals that are well-defined and collectively owned, which strengthens our ability to follow through and deliver meaningful results.”
for language comprehension.
“Students in all grades read a variety gaging, developmentally appropriate and developed writing techniques and egies inspired by examples in literatur Trendel said. “For example, kinder read stories about baby penguins, zebras and (wrote) about the similarities and differences between the animals
“Eighth graders read ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and composed essays with thesis statements, evidence, elaboration and transitions.”
The last two objective activities – unit ning for the start of the 2025-26 school and full implementation – are in pr
“Post- COVID, it became apparent that our school district had the opportunity to renew relationships and take actions to be more intentional about fostering a climate of trust and belonging.”
DR. ED CONDON
Objective No. 2 was launching a D90 literacy pilot and curriculum adoption. Within that objective were 10 action steps, eight of which were achieved. That included actual conduct and completion of the literacy pilot; adoption and implementation planning of new core resources for K-8; initial professional learning; and developing a literacy implementation plan to support teachers, which was headed by Dr. Christine Trendel, district director of curriculum and instruction, and a team of instructional specialists
River Forest School District 90 Superintendent
Objective No. 4 was implementing an equity action plan (EAP) and ensurin its implementation aligned with board equity goals. This objective had four activities, three of which have been achieved, with the fourth –identifying and implementing next steps to refine or expand the current EAP in 2025-26 – in process.
“Last year, a group of staff, administrators and parents worked together to create the equity action plan, which for malized our work by defining our goals across five areas: Systems/structures, teaching/learning, student voice/climate/culture, professional learning and family/community,” Condon said.
An example of action, he added, is providing staff the opportunity to receive training in Responsive Classroom, a program that helps educators creative positive classroom communities that support autonomy, cooperation, empathy and academic success
District 90 Superintendent Edward Condon speaks at Roosevelt
School’s Centennial Celebration on May 19, 2024.
plans to address them.
“Post-COVID, it became apparent that our school district had the opportunity to renew relationships and take actions to be more intentional about fostering a climate of trust and belonging,” Condon said.
The Superintendent’s Leadership Council, comprised of a group of faculty leaders from all schools, explored those themes with the intention of ensuring voices across the district infor med direction.
“Through this dialog, we identified focus areas including strengthening belongingness and community building, furthering trust between administrators and faculty, enhancing professional development and improving processes to onboard and support new teachers,” Condon said.
Solutions implementation and feedback/ evaluation is forthcoming.
Condon added that this summer, he and his administrative team will collaborate with
the board of education to envision and define the 2025-26 strategic action objectives. Setting a few clear, specific goals is a practice that leads to noticeable progress year-over-year
“As one would expect, the goals will largely focus on our priorities of teaching and learning, curriculum refinement, program evaluation, continuing to strengthen the school community and supporting our outstanding faculty and staff in a myriad of ways,” Condon said.
Thus, he believes District 90’s future is bright, for the coming school year and beyond his retirement June 30, 2026.
“For generations, District 90 has been a foundational element of our village and emblematic of all that is great in River Forest,” he said. “The extraordinary commitment and ongoing dedication of district students, faculty, staff, families and community members will continue to be the bedrock of what makes our learning community exceptional.”
Trendel said during fall 2024, teachers in lower grades began instruction with the Fundations program to support foundational literacy skills like phonics, decoding, handwriting and spelling. In winter, teachers in all grades began using new curricular resources
This summer, 70 teachers will take part in professional learning sessions in this area at Roosevelt Middle School.
A related objective, No. 7, was investigating and addressing organizational culture and climate issues, which entailed collaboration with faculty to understand concerns, identifying potential solutions and developing
TODD BANNOR
Middle
e Wolf aims for authenticity
Grand opening of boba tea and co ee shop on Oak Park Ave.
By RISE SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
Boba tea, coffee, fruit drinks are all on the menu at The Wolf, so is the world’s most popular sandwich, banh mi – according to TasteAtlas. On June 14 the family run shop celebrated its grand opening in the Hemingway District at 134 N. Oak Park Ave.
This is the family-run business’ second location. The first is in North Riverside. In both, owner Danny Ly says they strive to serve the highest quality and most authentic ingredients
It starts with Boba tea, or Bubble tea as it’s also called. The drink, which adds small tapioca balls to chilled tea, rose to popularity in Asia in the 1980s. The beverage has become a national symbol of Taiwan.
“We import the ingredients from Taiwan, a home of boba tea,” Ly said. “That costs more, but the quality is higher. It’s better, tastes fresh.”
That same attention is given to coffee too, from beans to brewing.
“Our coffee is Vietnamese. We use a phin to brew our coffee. It takes longer to brew There is a higher coffee to water ratio. Our coffee is bold and strong,” Ly said.
The phin filter method is typical in Vietnam, which is the world’s number one ex-
porter of robusta coffee beans. Robusta coffee is less acidic and also less fruity than arabica beans. This lends itself to an array of coffee flavor pairings in the shop: tiramisu, crème brûlée, matcha, ube, to name a few.
Milk tea comes in many flavors as well: brown sugar, strawberry, mango, matcha with salted cream and more. Slushies and smoothies combine all these flavors with a whole host of other fresh fruits
One customer at the grand opening had been to The Wolf ’s North Riverside location and is glad to see this one open.
“I’m a fan of boba and it’s nice to have an option on this side of town. The OPRF kids are going to love this. Other places are too far to walk to from school and get back in time during lunch,” Justin Jones said.
All the drink variety tee up another part of the menu, the snacks and sandwiches.
“Our mission is to bring authentic banh mi to the Oak Park community,” Ly said. “Banh mi is Vietnams most popular street food.”
This sandwich starts with a pillowy French bread roll. Nestled inside is a ve ggie bed of carrot, cucumbers, daikon radish, jalapeno and cilantro. On top of that sits one of several protein options: Vietnamese ham, shredded chicken or tofu (which makes a ve gan option).
“There is not a lot of Vietnamese food in
e Wolf, 134 N. Oak Park Ave. is open for boba.
the area. I love banh mi!” said Emily Grossi “I had the mini, 6-inch breadstick versions here and loved it.”
Grossi and her kids, Fiona and Nels, ordered drinks and were waiting to try another food choice on the menu: mini pancakes, served with fruit and whipped cream.
Another snack is a croffle, which is a croissant transformed by a waffle iron. You can get them either plain or with ham and cheese inside. Vietnamese spring rolls with shrimp are available too.
Owner Danny Ly explained the symbolism of the restaurant’s name
“The Wolf was actually inspired by
thewolfbobatea.com
134 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park Open daily 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
the qualities of wolves. T hey’re smart. T hey’re f ast. And they work well in groups. T hey’re strong as a group. And good teamwork, so that’s what we want our staf f. We want our staf f to have the qualities of the wolf,” said Ly Welcome the pack to Oak Park! Know before you go
Oak Park father creates platform to help ot her dads
Je Osowski’s ‘Dadventure Guide’ has ideas for connecting with their children
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Parker Jeff Osowski is working to build a platform to help other local dads find ways to connect with their children by highlighting resources and events in and around the village.
Osowski’s “Dadventure Guide” compiles events, activities and advice relevant to parents in Oak Park and neighboring communities in regular newsletters. He launched
the platform earlier this year with a friend from college who publishes a twin newsletter aimed towards parents in Duluth, MN
The project was born from what they perceived as a void for content that understands the pressures associated with modern parenting while encouraging fathers to find new ways to connect with their young children, Osowski said.
“The inspiration is to make the hard job of parenting just a little bit easier,” Osowski said. “Parenting overall is hard, with technol-
ogy changing so fast and with different societal expectations on it. So we thought we’d put together a newsletter on what’s going on in the area, share some advice and see if there’s a way to connect parents.”
Osowski and his family moved to Oak Park from Southern California about two years ago. He said starting the project focusing the “Dadventure Guide” on hyper-local communities made the most sense
Osowski said his first time promoting the guide to people in-person was at Oak Park’s
“Day in Our Village” on June 1. He said his reception at the event couldn’t have been warmer, and that it showed the project’s value
“That was really inspiring and motivating,” he said. “It was great to participate in an event like that despite being something that’s relatively fresh, that was so great to meet people in the community that are interested.”
You can subscribe to the guide at dadventureguide.com.
YOUR BEST LIFE with Lisa Capone
Understanding Alzheimer’s
June marks Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness about the importance of brain health and support those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Maintaining brain health starts early. Below tips are all linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline and can help keep the brain sharp regular physical activity a balanced diet social engagement mental stimulation simple habits—like walking daily, reading, or learning a new skill—
It’s also important to recognize the early signs of memory loss. These may include forgetting recently learned information repeating questions difficulty managing finances struggling to follow conversations misplacing items experiencing changes in mood, personality, or judgment. While occasional forgetfulness is normal with aging, consistent patterns of these symptoms may indicate something more serious.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these signs, consult a healthcare professional. Early detection can lead to better planning and improved quality of life.
Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030.
NO KINGS A No Love letter for Trump
from page 1
The nationwide “No Kings” protests were planned to go head-to-head with the large military parade planned for Saturday evening in Washington D.C. celebrating both Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Ar my The Ar my birthday celebration had already been planned for months. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to transform the event into a massive military parade complete with 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets, according to the Associated Press
Oak Parker William F. Short attended the protest alongside his son Brendan and was seated in his wheelchair holding a neon yellow sign that proudly declared that he was a 100-year-old World War II veteran. Short said he felt like he had never lived under a president like Trump and that he was struggling to recognize the politics of the moder n United States
He said he was appalled by the idea of Trump’s military parade and that it did not honor the sacrifices of his generation.
“We fought for this country, it was a rough time, and we lost a lot of people, but they didn’t die so a guy like this would take over their country,” said Short. “It’s as if we’re
Rev. Emily Gage of Unity Temple speaks at ‘No Kings’ rally in Scov ille Park on June 14.
not going to be a democracy anymore. When he gets through, you won’t have a country anymore. You have people thinking in so many crazy ways, this is so far from where we’re supposed to be.”
Short’s granddaughter Elizabeth Short is a freelance writer for Wednesday Journal.
Fakih Seals, another Oak Park veteran who attended the protest with his young
family, said it was important for him to attend the protest to show his children the value of protest and patriotism going handin-hand.
“I want them to see democracy in action, and I want them to see people speaking up,” Seals said, holding a folded American flag in his hands. “I’m a veteran and I’ve seen other veterans out here representing and reclaim-
PRO-DEMOCRACY, ANTI-DIC TATORS: WWII veteran William F. Short protests during the ‘No Kings’ rally in Scov ille Park on Saturday.
ing the flag. The other side does not own the flag, they don’t get to determine what this means, this means a lot to me. We want to stand for true freedom, it’s not about a select few and the oligarchs.”
“If we don’t stand up to him, there will be nothing left.”
The Oak Park protest comes months after another large anti-Trump protest in the Oak
Park on April 5, although Saturday’s demonstration drew a notably larger crowd with protestors marching down Lake Street and gathering in Scoville Park while chanting, waving flags and displaying satirical signs.
“The sheer number of people who showed up, having so many of these around the Chicago area especially with the main one in Downtown Chicago, I really didn’t expect
as large a gathering as was here today,” said Kat, a two-year Oak Park resident who wished not to have their last name printed “I was absolutely blown away by how much of the community came out.”
Oak Park is a largely liberal community with over 90% of Oak Parkers voting for Democrat Kamala Harris in the last Presidential election.
Traffic along Lake Street slowed to a crawl as cars honked their horns in approval, with a large Oak Park police presence on scene monitoring the march. Horn blows from an Oak Park Fire Engine rolling down the street drew a roaring cheer from the protestors.
The weekend’s peaceful protests come on the heels of tense scenes playing out in Los Angeles as Trump ordered more than 2,000 National Guard troops and more than 700 U.S. Marines to intervene in immigration protests demonstrating against the administration’s bid to maximize deportations.
That move marked the first time in decades that the national guard was de ployed in a state without a gover nor requesting it, according to the AP
Susan Meier of River Forest said she’s worked in immigrant resettlement for more than 50 years and currently works with Friendship Community Place, a church on Chicago’s Northwest Side. She said that she’s recently worked with immigrants in Chicago, mostly women with multiple children, who she said were made to wear ankle monitors by immigration enforcement of ficers under false pretenses.
“It is frightening to hear their stories
and to understand that we have government that is not taking care of the least among us, in fact we have a government and a president who seems to be focused on hurting the most vulnerable among us,” Meier said.
Oak Park, along with neighboring Chicago and Berwyn, had recently been included on a federal list of immigration “sanctuary cities” the Trump administration said were actively violating immigration law. The list was pulled from the Department of Homeland Security’s website days later, but it had followed threats from federal agencies that cities like Oak Park which have policies against cooperating with civil immigration enforcement investigations would lose access to infrastructure support and other for ms of federal funding.
Village President Vicki Scaman officially responded to the village’s inclusion on the list at June 3’s village board meeting.
“I remain in constant contact with the governor’s office and I’m grateful for their support, our designated contact with the governor’s office was the first person to call me Friday morning after the Thursday release of a Presidential press release wrongly and ir responsibly calling out sanctuary city politicians,” she said. “Our ultimate goal is to build a stronger, more inclusive Oak Park and position our community to best serve and protect our residents. It is our engaged community, all of you, that makes us the leaders that we are and holds us accountable to never rest. I will never rest.”
TODD BANNOR
No love lost
TODD BANNOR
TODD BANNOR
Signs of the times
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DISH ABOUT A DISH Chicken tikka masala at Khyber Pass
By RISE SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
For 30 years Khyber Pass has provided a culinary passage to India at 1031 Lake St. in Oak Park. For diners Rob Park and his wife Susan, chicken tikka masala is their go-to order.
“I’ve had this dish at a lot of other places, and it’s always been dominated by big spice, but not a lot of body to the sauce or the other thing that happens is like tomato will be dominant,” said Rob Parks. “Richness. That is the single difference about the chicken tikka masala here. It is a very, very rich sauce. I especially like it over Khyber Pass’s vegetable biryani.”
blend of many spices. In fact, “masala” means mixture.
Hours are spent in the kitchen coaxing the flavors together without the addition of thickeners like cornstarch or flour. Malik Jawid, owner of Khyber Pass, emphasizes the quality of the ingredients that go into the dish.
Under the watchful eyes of chefs at Khyber Pass, chicken is cooked to tender perfection, then enrobed in a silky, tomato-y sauce that takes hours to complete with a balanced
“My chefs don’t know the prices. Their job is to order what they need,” Jawid said. “We still have the same vendors. Where we get the chicken, we have the same vendors. We never change that over the years. Other vendors came here and say we can beat these prices. But we never went for that.”
“It’s not a really hot spicy dish. I don’t like intense heat,” Susan Park said.
“We keep it mild, medium where you have all these spices in there, but not the chili. But somebody wants, that’s so easy to add chili,” said Jawid.
menu from day one, opened in 1995. The business was a leap of faith by Jawid, who had worked in other restaurants, but never owned one himself.
The Parks have lived in Oak Park for 37 years.
“Seven of those were without Indian food,” Rob Parks said to Jawid. “I’ve always been a fan of Indian food. So, I was overjoyed when you opened.”
Despite that warm welcome and decades on Lake Street, staying afloat looked dicey in the first months of the covid pandemic.
“It was difficult, but then suddenly Takeout 25,” Jawid said. “That was so beautiful. Everybody spends at least $25, and nobody’s going to spend just 25, you know, they always go over, and it really helped. It’s a wonderful community, Oak Park, Forest Park, all around here.
Still covid brought changes that became permanent. Khyber Pass no longer offers a buffet, because so much of their business moved to takeout during the pandemic and has remained so
Year after year, chicken tikka masala remains the number one item on the restau-
1031 Lake St., Oak Park
Hours: Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday closed Tuesday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
rant’s menu. According to Jawid, it is because, “…of consistency. We’ve been making it the same, since we opened and everybody loves that.”
The second most popular dish is palak paneer, spinach and cheese. The menu features a wide range of other Indian dishes, appetizers, entrees, desserts, specialty drinks – alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
“I’ve been very blessed here with this community,” Jawid said. “I always get emotional when I talk about us from 30 years, because there’s no way I thought I’ll be here 30 years.”
If you have a favorite dish that you’d like to see featured, drop us a line at eats@oakparkeats.com.
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Chicken tikka masala
Rob & Susan Parks with ow ner Malik Jaw id
CRIME
Oak Park police investigate several car the s
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park police are investigating several incidents in which cars were re ported stolen in the village last week.
On June 11, an Oak Park resident reported that their 2018 Hyundai Sonata was stolen. The vehicle had been parked in the 800 block of South Cuyler Avenue, according to police.
A witness had seen a small group of men enter the car and drive away, and the vehicle was last seen being driven south on Ridgeland Avenue, according to police.
Sometime between the evening of June 10 and the early mor ning hours of June 11, an Oak Park resident’s 2015 Nissan Murano SUV was stolen from the 100 block of North Lombard Avenue, according to police.
On the morning of June 12, an Ohio resident’s Hyundai Elantra was stolen from
HOUSING FORWARD
Dealing with funding fears
from page 1
ered by congress.
The cuts would fundamentally change how communities combat homelessness, she said.
“This will be a national crisis, and I don’t mean to overstate that,” Schueler said. “It’s essentially chopping down a pillar to our organization.”
President Donald Trump’s recent budget request to Congress for fiscal year 2026, a preliminary plan released May 2 outlined a 44% cut to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the largest cuts coming via a 43% reduction in rental assistance programs that support more than 9 million Americans, according to Stateline. In total, the plan calls for more than $26.7 billion to be cut from the federal government’s five largest rental assistance programs, including the Housing Choice Vouchers program infor mally known as Section 8.
More than 25% of Housing Forward’s
the 800 block of Washington Boulevard, according to police.
Aggravated assault arrest
A 29-year-old Oak Park man was arrested in the 400 block of South Euclid Avenue and charged with aggravated assault with use of a firearm, according to police. The victim in the incident was also an Oak Park resident, according to police. The man was processed and released from the police station following his arrest, according to police.
Domestic battery arrests
Oak Park police arrested a 34-year-old Berwyn man on charges of domestic battery while the man was in the 400 block of North Harlem Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. June 13, according to police.
The felony charge stems from an alle ged attack on a Cicero resident, according to police.
A Chicago juvenile was also arrested by Oak Park police on domestic battery charges at 11:15 p.m. June 14 while they were in the 1100 block of South Kenilworth Avenue in connection with an April incident involving an Oak Park juvenile, according to police. These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department re ports dated June 10–16 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases ha ve not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
budget is made up by funding coming directly from HUD, including seven permanent supportive housing contracts Housing Forward has with the agency that supports more than 300 long-term subsidized units for people with disabilities experiencing chronic homelessness, Schueler said.
“That’s of considerable concern if that funding goes away, that means a return to being unhoused,” Schueler said. “Basically, 75% of our housing is supported by federal funds.”
The Trump administration said that the proposed cuts are meant to shift rental assistance administration to state governments by shifting the program towards state block grants.
The plan would also put a two-year cap on people without disabilities receiving federal rental assistance. The average household income of Housing Choice Voucher recipients is around $18,500 per year, according to HUD data based on the 2020 U.S. census.
Schueler said that while the agency would have time to prepare before this budget would go into ef fect, there is nothing at the state level that can re place the federal funding and no easy answer to how the organization and others like it would move
forward.
“There’s no re placement,” she said. “There is no long-term equivalent at the state level that would be able to ste p in and provide any support to the extent that the federal resources provide to us.”
The deep cuts would ultimately increase homelessness across the United States and put an extra burden on local health systems, Schueler fears.
“This is going to have a ripple effect not only for our clients, but for the entire safety net system that’s been in place for 50plus years,” she said. “You’ re going to see an increase in homelessness.”
Homelessness increased by 18% in the U.S. in 2024, she said.
Housing Forward served more than 2,500 individuals and families last year across 26 suburban communities including Oak Park, Maywood, Forest Park, Brookfield. Berwyn and Cicero. Among the rental assistance programs the organization administers, several are dedicated to providing stable housing and wraparound services to domestic violence survivors, people with severe mental health issues and young adults exiting the foster care system.
Housing Forward opened its first permanent supportive housing development last
year with the 16-unit Broadview Le gacy Apartments complex. Housing Forward also runs an interim-housing assistance program at the for mer Write Inn, 211 N. Oak Park Ave., with downstream goals to further renovate the building with the help of state and local funds.
Uncertainty around the future of federal funding has lingered since Trump took office this year, with HUD’s Chicago office seeing a large cut in personnel shortly after the president took office, Schueler said.
“This is a time of stress and chaos, everyday we’ve been hearing news of cuts or claw backs or federal employees that we interface with at the HUD level whose jobs are being threatened,” she said. “Our understanding is that 25% of the HUD field of fice in Chicago has been cut.”
Schueler said that Housing Forward has no other choice but to press on amid the uncertainty.
“We are constantly in the position of having to advocate for the most vulnerable,” she said. “Being able to provide that assurance to them that services right now, but we really do not know what the future holds and right now the future looks very dire on many levels.”
D200 board gets a glimpse of Project 3 recommendations
Board OKs advancing project to conceptual stage for $182,500
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
With Imagine Project 2 well underway on the southeast corner of the Oak Park and River Forest High School campus, the District 200 board of education received a virtual walk through of the component pieces of Project 3 at its meeting June 12.
Thursday’s presentation by Alyson Sternquist, senior associate at FGMArchitects, reflected results of the programming phase of Project 3, which is the research and decision-making process that ultimately determines a project’s scope. It’s the next step in development of research and a long-term master plan that started in 2017-18.
In other words, the programming phase presents the virtual “puzzle pieces” of the project. The next step is conceptual design, where FGMA will return in September with assembly of those pieces into a workable project.
The board unanimously approved advancing Project 3 to the conceptual design phase at a cost of $182,500.
While there was no discussion of the possible cost of this phase of rebuilding or how to finance it, Josh Gertz, a recently elected school board member, alluded to a potential tax increase referendum as early as April 2027.
“It’s basically space planning now,” Sternquist said after her presentation and after being pe ppered with board questions. “[It’s] making sure what is the footprint, what does it look like, where are the corridors? It’s at a conceptual level, so it doesn’t have mechanicals and structural and that.
“It’s basically taking the building blocks and starting to put them together, and knowing what some of our constraints are, and trying to figure out where we go down, where we go out.”
According to the district’s Imagine planning documentation, Project 3 would re place 70- to 100-year-old facilities at the southwest end of campus with new construction that will expand that area. That would include performing arts and physical education spaces and a green roof to manage stormwater runof f, designed to incorporate a future solar array.
The current facility is deemed to be outdated and too small for the number of students in various programs, especially the performing arts, with no Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility.
For example, the band program has grown significantly, with 125 students in marching band, up significantly from the military-style bands from decades ago. Thus, crowding is a safety issue, and is likely to get worse, with 180 students enrolled in sixth-grade-level band, Sternquist said.
The square footage is 2,180 now; the is 3,750 square feet.
The orchestra and digital music rooms are retrofitted classrooms, while the chorus and ensemble rooms feature poor acoustics. What’s more, storage for instruments, which are often placed on the floor, another potential hazard.
Music recommendations also include practice and ensemble rooms and teacher offices.
The theatre spaces feature many of the same problems. For example, the Studio 200 Black Box Theatre is a doublesized classroom and was never intended as a theatre spac Sternquist said, adding “they deserve a space designed them.” Other issues are no back dressing room, and a nonstandard control booth.
Recommendations include increasing audience capacity 50%, doubling ceiling height, providing dressing rooms with bathrooms, and adding an elevated, accessible control room.
Other areas, like a costume room, were not part of the original 2017-18 master plan. Teacher offices and a stagecraft area were also recommended.
In the physical education areas, the trainer’s space is “woefully undersized” and inaccessible; the recommendation is to rectify those issues. Likewise, the wrestling room has inadequate temperature and humidity control. It also cannot be used for Phys ed classes. The recommendation is to provide an appropriately sized, accessible, multi-purpose space that can accommodate wrestling
Locker rooms haven’t been updated for over 60 years, with inadequately sized – and rusty – lockers and poor air quality. Recommended are new appropriately sized locker rooms for wrestling, track and field and cross country, which is the largest extracurricular program in the district.
Other recommendations include gyms for the popular Adventure Ed class, and a cardio studio.
As part of the programming phase, Sternquist said students and faculty were surveyed and participated in focus groups. Tours were also conducted, including with performing arts depar tment faculty.
Gertz said he and his board cohort went on tours with district administration, department heads and Imagine Foundation personnel to see the issues firsthand.
“We’ve been told our facilities are insufficient for the fine arts,” Gertz said. “I’ve kind of viewed this whole process, we need to re gain public trust and be very transparent, making compromises. We need to make sure we’re showing people we’re cost conscious and re gain their support in the hopes of the referendum passing.”
He added a referendum for Project 3 could occur in April 2027.
“Each of the board members had some tours of the spaces over the last six to eight weeks to see what the actual spaces look like, and seeing what the space was, was very enlightening,” board member Fred Arkin said Mon-
day. “The band room was made for 45 to 55 kids and now they’ve got well over 100 in there.”
Board president Audrey Williams-Lee was on the original Imagine master plan team and was part of the group that worked on the performing arts spaces.
“For me, it was a really a validation,” she said of the recommendations. “Our school does a phenomenal job in performing arts and it shows we have a lot of work to do and it also shows our existing faculty is doing an excellent job.”
Sternquist also said that the programming recommendations are “not gospel.”
“This is vetting the information in a realistic ideal. We have not cut out anything yet,” she said, but in the same breath, she pointed out that, “reality will impose itself along the way. We haven’t started putting the puzzle pieces together.”
Also at OPRF
Board accepts $1 million Imagine donation: The board also accepted a $1 million donation from the Imagine Foundation to reimburse costs related to Project 2. It was the third such donation, according to Heidi Ruehle, the foundation’s executive director
“Our process is we accumulate donations, around $1 million at a time, and we turn that over to D200,” Ruehle said. The donation was separate from the recently announced $3.5 million state grant for an energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling system for the new addition at the corners of Scoville Avenue and Lake Street.
Board approves new assistant superintendent: The board also unanimously approved Dr. Jennifer Hester as assistant superintendent for student learning, beginning July 1. Hester most recently served as the director of curriculum, instruction, and professional development at HomewoodFlossmoor Community High School District 233.
Juneteenth 2025
Mayor Rory Hoskins and Public Works workers raise the f lag at the Forest Park Juneteenth ag raising ceremony on June 2.
Brooks Middle School students top Juneteenth speech contest
Black Liberation was theme for speeches
TBy DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Writer
hree Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School students were the winners of Ase Production’s Jubilee SPEAKS! Juneteenth Oratorical Essay Contest. Held for the second year, the essay contest put on by Juanta Griffin – a community centered Oak Parker and executive director of Ase Productions – is a way to help youth find and use their voices, Griffin said.
“Students spent time crafting their phenomenal speeches to make sure that they responded to the prompt ‘what Black Liberation means to them as a middle school student living in the year 2025,’ “ SAID Sarah
Perros, Brooks Middle School speech, drama and debate teacher. Perros who worked with the students
Eighth graders Neneifeoma Nwafo and Ivan Wells tied for first place and received $150. Eighth grader Paul Gage won second place and received $75.
“These students have all taken Speech, Drama and Debate at Gwendolyn Brooks,” Perros said. “Each speech was crafted with such love and with such dedication to the subject matter as well as to each student’s own individuality.”
The winners also shared their essays with the community at Oak Park’s Juneteenth flag raising event,” Griffin said. That event took place June 11 in the Vil-
lage Hall courtyard, 123 Madison St. The ceremony featured speakers, live performances, food and more.
A community cookout followed June 14, with BBQ from Robinson’s Ribs and Q BBQ , vegan options from Chicago Style Vegan, soul food from Passion Eats Catering, hot dogs and hamburgers from Don’t Forget Your Lunchbox, and ice cream from Scream.
Main stage performers during the cookout included the Jesse White Tumblers, Kuumba Kids Cultural Showcase, JKed, soul and funk music from the Jason Grant Experience, and crowd favorites from DJ Cam Steele.
Griffin has been hosting village-wide Juneteenth celebrations with Anthony Clark
for seven years.
“Anthony and I kicked all of this off and there is a village resolution acknowledging our work,” Griffin said. “I co-wrote the first Juneteenth proclamation with then Clerk Vicki Scaman (Oak Park’s current village president). This is the first year that Anthony won’t be co-hosting and the third year that the village is hosting the community cookout officially.”
Perros shared her thoughts on the importance of commemorating Juneteenth.
“It is so important to celebrate Juneteenth because it reminds us that we all must continue to work for a brighter future for us and for our children and for our children’s children,” Perros said.
Three young voices on the meaning of Juneteenth
Here are three speeches crafted by students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park. They each foc us on Juneteenth and are framed by a prompt from the project’s organizers.
“What does Black Liberation mean to you as a middle school student in 2025?”
‘When I use my words, I am able to create positive change.’
By NENE NWAFO
We, as human beings, are all afraid of things. If you put a child with a fear of the dark in a dark room and tell them, “There is nothing there,” it will not make the room any brighter
Just because you cannot see what I am afraid of, does not mean that you, or anyone else can diminish that fear. I am the only one who can decide how “real” it is.
We as a people celebrate the freedom that we now have and look back on the horrors that once were, but seldom do we put ourselves in another’s shoes to experience what happened.
Juneteenth should be celebrated not only to acknowledge those who fell victim to slavery, the hundreds who felt exiled in their own land, but go deeper than that. That is my hope. To relive the fears and the faith and do anything we can to mend
those wounds is to create a positive change he Juneteenth holiday is proof that we have made progress, most eople already celebrate it. We are at the home stretch, all we need is the last few people, a last little push until marginalized groups no longer have to be called “marginalized.”
I have faith and trust that when we all recognize and celebrate uneteenth, then we can realize our fears together. This is when we all can nally and truly be equals. For me, I believe that celebrating uneteenth is so important because we are able to apply the knowledge that we have learned in school and make it applicable to our everyday lives
My own contribution to celebrating Juneteenth is through speaking, spreading awareness about what I feel is important. I believe that when I use my words, I am able to create positive change. I know that I will continue to practice this throughout my entire life. I hope my words ring true to you today, and I hope they will stay with you for years to come. Thank you
‘It is still there written in invisible ink. ’
By PAUL GAGE
Dive into the things you wish could change in our country: Racism.
(Pause to think prior to speaking) (In a heartfelt manner) Every person is unique, yet many are de ned by labels and stereotypes they never chose. These labels can shape lives in profound ways. while some labels and stereotypes have become frowned upon.
It is still there written in invisible ink, it’s still there in the shadows. (Pause beginning to get upset) Racism is not a new issue and IS an issue. ( nnoyed) S why do these labels persist? Why don’t people want to adapt? Is it because they don’t want to? Because they don’t understand change or want it; Or is it because they are sacred? (Pause)
that can be hard for some people and it can be scar y. (With power) However in order for REAL change to occur in the world we must all commit to stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing open-mindedness.
(Sits down next to “Mr. Fountain.”)
(Beat). Change can be scary (beat) but it also can be neces. (Pause) Mr. Fountain, remember that poem you used to tell me by Gil-Scott? “Now more than ever, All the family must be together ery brother, everywhere, feels the time is in the air. Common blood ows through common veins, and the common eyes all see the same. Now more than ever, all the family must be together.” (Smiling)
You told me that to remind me that we have to stick together because we are all human. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to remember our history and try every day, with untiring haste to make the world a more equal place for all
‘Juneteenth shows me what is possible for me.’
We are here to celebrat tant day today.
We should all celebrate June teenth for three reasons. First Juneteenth celebrates the people who fought for a better futur not just for themselves but for their families and descendants. These people made the change they wanted to see in this world and their e o
Although we still face challenges and prejudice today, we have to remember the future that our ancestors fought and died for and continue to try to make a positive change. Our ancestors fought for what was right, teaching us that we should never be afraid to speak out against hate and injustice. They fought for freedom and they fought for us
Second reason: We would not have common everyday items that we all use on a daily basis. Without the liberation of African Americans, we would not have had such essential items including ironing boards, sprinkler systems, and/or or the very rst home security system. All of these important inventions by African Americans were innovative and ahead of their time thus making life easier for all people.
The third reason, but de nitely not the last. Just as we all celebrate the Fourth of July, we MUST all celebrate Juneteenth. Think about it this way. The Fourth of July is a large celebration because of the fact that America won its independence from Britain and we all celebrate every year as a national holiday.
Racism has been present in the U.S. for a while and while we have “improved” (Pause), there is still a lot of work to be done before the world is a safe place for everyone regardless of the color of their skin. (Back to heartfelt tone)
Some people have already decided on how they want to view the world if you think one thing your whole life and suddenly the world is telling you another thing
This is why all must celebrate Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of the enslaved people and recognizes the ongoing ght for racial equity. I know that as I head into my future, I want to continue to use my words for good. We all must learn how to work together, to speak out, but also to truly listen to one another.
The same is true for Juneteenth. We are at the 160th anniversary of The Liberation of the African American being freed from their oppressors and living life not as objects but as citizens of a country that formerly enslaved them. This is a powerful day that we ALL must celebrate.
I believe as a 13-year-old, I celebrate Juneteenth because it shows me what is possible for me. It shows me that I should not be afraid to face any challenge that life may bring, and celebrating Juneteenth encourages me to never stop ghting for what I believe in.
JUNETEENTH 2025
Oak Park youth program director speaks on the importance of Juneteenth
By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Writer
Chris Thomas is executive director of YourPassion1st, a youth empowerment organization offering mentorship for male students in grades 6-12. The purpose is to help them find and follow their passion into the work force or entrepreneurship. Thomas explained what Juneteenth means to him and why it’s important to commemorate it.
“Juneteenth is important because we still deal with a lot of racial inequities,” Thomas said. “I think that a lot of Black history has kind of gotten wiped away and Juneteenth is the time once a year to remember and celebrate all that Black history is.”
Juneteenth marks the day more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, that Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Island, Texas. He was there with federal troops to take control of the state and to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people in the re gion in 1865. And so Juneteenth honors the end to slavery.
“I think it’s important to memorialize front and center as we look at some of that allows for relationship and community communities,” Thomas said of the June 19 holida
Considered the longest-running holiday, Juneteenth officially became a federal holida on June 17, 2021.
In response to ef for ts of President Donald administration to unravel civil rights Americans and its movement toward erasing Black history, T homas said all races have a responsibility to fight racism.
“It’s not enough to not be racist,” have to be anti-racist. As Black people first and we have to build better relationships within our munities. … break g enerational curses and teach people how to deal with life.”
Juneteenth is not just a day to celebrate, it is a day to commemorate folks, people, instances of history that brought African Americans to their place in American history today, he said.
Re parations, he added, are necessary to help re pair and help the healing that needs to happen in the Black community
Thomas partners with A Greater Good Foundation, the host partner of the 6th annual ‘Let’s Grow Together,’ a holistic wellness Juneteenth celebration which took place June 8 at Proviso East.
COURTESY OF DAVID T KINDLER
Chris omas
Forest Park Ma Hoskins brough Juneteenth to suburbs
He worries about all Americans losing rights
By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins grew ton, Texas where Juneteenth was first celebrated in 1865 when still enslaved Black people first learned they had been freed.
Union troops brought word more than tw ter President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for those living in the Confederate states,
Even though Juneteenth has its origins in the ry disturbing institution of slavery, Hoskins said, it’s also a huge symbol of progress in this country.
“We celebrated re gularly,” Hoskins said of Juneteenth, which was made an official federal holiday under for mer President Joe Biden’ s administration in 2021. “It took our country so long to even decide to reco gnize the holiday marking the end of slavery.”
Elected mayor of Forest Park on April 2, 2019, Hoskins was the first African American ever elected to any public office in the Village of Forest Park when he was elected to village commissioner in 2007. He is now in his
“Slavery existed for 246 years and arguably shaped our society and shaped the way we treat each other and the laws and regulations and social norms for decades since,” he said.
Hoskins helped launch the first Juneteenth celebration in Forest Park in 2009, as a commissioner and that year, also assisted in starting the annual Juneteenth Pool Party. This year that celebration took place at the park district’s Aquatic Center on June 14.
Forest Park’s Juneteenth flag raising event took place
llage Hall.
Asked if he is concerned that African American freedoms or rights that were gained over the years could be lost, given the current administration’s effor ts to roll back time, Hoskins said, “First of all, I would not limit it to African Americans. Juneteenth isn’t something that’s just for African Americans, it’s for Americans.”
He went on to say that all Americans can lose freedoms.
“Today, women don’t have the same right to health care as they did maybe two years ago and we’re seeing other freedoms slip away in terms of due process rights and other things. I’m concerned about Americans, period.”
TODD BANNOR
Public o cials and guests at the Forest Park Juneteenth ag raising ceremony on June 2.
TODD BANNOR
Mayor Rory Hoskins, Hacen El Khair, River Forest President Cathy Aducci and Broadv iew Mayor Katrina ompson prepare the Juneteenth ag.
TODD BANNOR
Mayor Rory Hoskins welcomes Hacen El Khair, from Mauritania, where slavery is practiced despite being illegal.
TODD BANNOR
Public Works workers raise the ag at the Forest Park Juneteenth ag raising ceremony
Juanta Gri n looks back and forward on Juneteenth power
Co-author of Oak Park’s Juneteenth Proclamation
By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
The words Juanta Griffin read aloud during an Oak Park village board meeting five years ago, from a Juneteenth Proclamation she co-wrote, resonates now more than ever.
“Juneteenth today celebrates Black freedom and achievement; as it takes on a more national, symbolic, and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten…,” she read years ago. “It meant, ‘I see you as a people, not just a holiday, not just a culture. I see your pain.’”
The oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth, also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day, observes June 19, 1865, when federal troops entered Galveston, Texas, to ensure all enslaved people there were freed. The Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people in the U.S. following the Civil War, was signed more than two years prior.
While Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865, it’s also a reminder that the fight to maintain that freedom must continue.
Juanta Gri n, then the librar y’s Multicultural Learning Coordinator and curator of the annual Communi ty Kwanzaa Celebration rejoicing in the moment in 2023.
which, she said, are aimed at changing the direction from the civil rights focus of the past 60 plus years and erasing Black contributions and history.
Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women Law Center said in a USA Today news article last month, the pace of unraveling civil rights protections is unlike anything she’s seen in lifetime.
“Freedom is my birthright. It’s not something that can be given. It’s something you’re born with.”
JUANTA GRIFFIN
With Juneteenth celebrations and commemorations getting underway this month, Griffin, executive director of Ase Productions Inc. — a not for profit company offering community events, educational workshops, and theatrical productions with a primary focus on the African Diaspora experience — reminds everyone that the idea of freedom should not be taken lightly. She points to so many of President Donald Trump’s orders
“Freedom is my birthright,” Griffin said in a recent Wednesday J “It’s not something that can be given. It something you’ re born with. Unfortunatel here in America we have to fight to You see how quickly your freedom can disappear with just the flick of be deported or the laws that our ancestors died for can be erased.”
When people want to erase your histor they’ re not erasing it to something better, she said.
“I know my history,” Griffin said. “I’m from an ancient people and didn rive here. My history doesn’t start on the shores of this continent which means I can stand so much taller and keep going.”
Former Oak Park Village Clerk Vicki Scaman, Oak Park’s current village president, co-wrote the Juneteenth proclamation with Griffin.
e Idea Box inside of the Oak Park librar y hosted a Black history museum exhibit in honor of black history month, curated by then multic ultural learning coordinator, Juanta Gri n in 2023.
LET ’S GROW T OGETHER
Two Sistah’s Afrocentric Boutique table and sta at Prov iso East Let’s Grow Together event on June 8.
14th Pharoah Fashions at Prov iso East Let’s Grow Together event
Nourished for Hair and Body table at Prov iso East Let’s Grow Together event.
Your Passion First table
PHOTO S BY TODD BANNOR
Ahkeem Henderson, mortgage o cer of Hunting ton Bank, talks to residents about how to re nance their home.
Buying in to Austin
Oak Park Regional Housing Center hosts annual housing forum o ering advice and options for West
Siders on nding homes
By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter
T he barriers to homeownership on the West Side was the focus of a daylong event last month sponsored by the Oak Park Re gional Housing Center
T he annual Austin Community Housing For um and Fair at Michele Clark High School drew about 250 people June is National Homeownership Month, which makes it an ideal time to discuss the barriers facing Chicago f amilies, OPRHC Executive Director Athena Willams said. T hese barriers include rising rents and housing costs
– especially in underserved communities – that are making it more challenging for people to achieve the dream of owning a home, she said.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out there about homeownership,” Williams said. “People want to learn how to become homeowners. They’re not shy about what’s happening in the government or what is happening economically. They want to live in a home.”
Specifically, barriers to homeownership include personal financia l obstacles, such as meeting income requirement levels or expectations fo r credit scores NEED
Housing Center sta and partners layout the steps in the homebuying process.
PROVIDED
PROVIDED
Don Meadows of Wintrust Bank and Danny Morgan of GC Morgan explain how to utilize 203K loans for renovations.
PROVIDED
Deborah Williams, associate director of Oak Park Regional Housing Center, explains the organization’s West Cook Homeow nership program.
She said that Austin itself is also creating some barriers: “The market trend in Austin has dramatically increased,” she said, noting that in the past five to ten years many properties in the area have seen price increases of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
With an average area income of $40,000, Williams said that making sure people from Austin can continue to live in and enjoy the community they are from is an issue of equity.
In partnership with local groups, the May 3 event covered various paths to homeownership. Habitat for Humanity was on hand to discuss pathways to ownership of a Habitat Home.
Re presentatives of the Austin Community Land Trust, Austin Coming To gether and the West Side Health Authority, discussed the use of land trusts, which can take vacant or blighted land or properties and enter them into a community land trust to provide more af fordable housing
The City of Chicago and BMO Harris (banks) addressed the availability of
grants in the homebuying process. A re presentative of the Cook County Tax Assessor’s office talked about receiving exemptions on property taxes and also covered the tax implications of land trusts.
Staf f from the DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies spoke about market trends in housing, and Coldwell Banker staf f discussed the changing rules in the real estate industry and how they impact the process of buying a home
The OPRHC holds the Housing Forum and Fair annually in Austin and will hold a second edition the first Saturday in November in Maywood. Williams noted that while the Oak Park Re gional Housing Center is located in Oak Park it has offices in Austin and Maywood as well.”
As a HUD agency, Williams said part of the scope of the OPRHC is to meet with clients one on one. Anyone who attended the May event and wants more information or anyone who missed the event but would like to learn more about homeownership may call the Austin office at (773) 887-5187 to lear n more
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Call Viewpoints editor
Ken Trainor at 613-3310
ktrainor@wjinc.com
Mo dads
The majority of kids I knew with the men going to all women, howeve In my family 5:30 p.m. Howev clubs, cards, or sewing circles
VIEWPOINTS
ments portrayed the ideal family as traditional. The homemak a number of jobs like chauffeur all in one, whereas the father was the bread Television brought this ideal family to life on screen, amusement to my family w example, in Leave it to Bea heels, and pearls whi her eldest son should mar girl from a nice family w ep on Father Knows Best calmly solved any family difficulties when he got home from work each evening
The television programs were supposed to teach children the role they were expected to play when they became adults, but children got this message in other ways, too.
I remember browsing Reyff’s Toy and Hobby Shop on Oak Park Avenue and seeing shelves filled with dolls, stuffed animals, and tea sets for girls and cowboy outfits and sports equipment for boys, and whenever I went inside Eric Bourne’s home, his 8-year-old sister made certain that I saw her collection of dolls and stuffed bears.
Children’s books reinforced traditional roles. Eric’s sister told me that she had read and felt earnestly that the happiest time of her day occurred when her dad came home from work. The strong emphasis made a few of my mother’s acquaintances state that they hoped their daughters would forgo college in order to get married.
Very few girls that I knew in high school married rather than go to college or work, but more than a few with whom I graduated from college received their MRS degree a short time after graduation.
Tsuper lucky. So how we choose to spend our limited days matters tremendously. After completing my college degree and moving into the workforce, I’d like to share three phrases I’ve lear ned over the years that I think of daily and believe will help everyone maximize their days on Earth by improving their lives for the better
1) In today’s fast-moving world, I feel like many of us get caught up in the moment and forget about the bigger picture. Someone cuts you off in traffic, your food isn’t delivered right on time, or your Wi-Fi isn’t lightning fast, and any of those events can turn a good day bad. Maybe I’m just an overly positive person, but whenever I face setbacks or bad luck, I often revert to the phrase, “It is what it is,” and simply focus on what I can control while con-
things are just out of our control, and we shouldn’t allow those things to dictate how our day is going. My freshman year of college, I was taking a business calculus class that met five days a week, and it was brutal, the hardest class I’ve ever taken in school to this day. I remember my counselor telling me about halfway through the semester that he forgot to tell me that I should’ve taken that class at a community college because it would have been way easier. I recall thinking I should be ang ry at him for forgetting to tell me, but what was really the point? I was already halfway through the class; I’d been grinding it out and passed the first exam. So at this point all I could really think was, “It is what it is.”
ADOBE STOCK
Trump: macro and micro
Throngs of Oak Parkers turned out Saturday in anger and hope for the local version of a “No Kings” protest. The crowd filled Scoville Park and then marched down Lake Street with signs, chants and enthusiasm for this fragile democracy.
Our re porter noted that the No Kings crowd in Oak Park eclipsed the number of protesters in April for the “Hands-Of f” protest. This mass protest of Donald Trump and his second administration is growing and it needs to grow
It was energizing to watch and to be part of. We were moved by the comments of William Short, a 100-year-old veteran of World War II. He was near the library with his son and told our Brendan Heffernan, “We fought for this country. It was a rough time and we lost a lot of people. But they didn’t die so a guy like this would take over their country. … You have people thinking in so many crazy ways, this is far from where we are supposed to be.”
Our thanks for Mr. Short’s service and also for his clarity about this moment.
That’s the micro-version of opposing Trump 2.0.
But now it is in the grinding away by this administration of support for so many valued services that Oak Park and our near west suburbs will begin to feel the pain and the intentional cruelty of Trump and his supporters.
We re port today that Housing Forward, the nonprofit focused on all aspects of secure housing for those at risk is planning for the immediate impact of federal budgetslashing around housing supports.
The Trump administration budget proposal from early May calls for a 44% funding reduction for the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. That’s massive, wrenching, indiscriminate cost-cutting intended solely to cause pain.
Lynda Schueler, Housing Forward’s chief, told the Journal that 25% of the agency’s budget comes from HUD. Those funds support an array of specific housing programs. To gether those programs create more than 300 units of long-term subsidized housing.
“That’s of considerable concern. If that funding goes away, that means a return to being unhoused,” said Schueler. “This will be a national crisis, and I don’t mean to overstate that. It’s essentially chopping down a pillar to our organization.”
That’s the re porting we did this week. Eviscerating subsidized housing is just one knife this administration is working to twist. We’ll be telling more stories like this in the coming weeks as the macro-headlines out of Washington become the real life consequences right where we live
Unchecked, unbalanced, un-supreme
Idon’t believe we will be able to move beyond Donald Trump, and all he misrepresents, until we deal with the pre-conditions in this country that made his climb to power possible. I’m thinking specifically about the Supreme Court.
As most Americans know, our government consists of three branches: Executive (president), Legislative (Congress, both houses), and Judicial (Supreme Court and lower courts). Each branch is designed to act as an impor tant check on any abuses of power by the other two branches.
KEN
TRAINOR
Though the Executive and Legislative branches have some semblance of accountability built in, the Supreme Cour t has none. The original idea was to preserve the High Court’s independence, to shield justices from the compromises of corruption, partisan politics and extreme ideolo gy
But what happens when the justices themselves are corrupt, politically partisan, and ideologically extreme? Consider our cur rent situation: an archconservative 6-3 majority that has granted unlimited power to an autocratic president who doesn’t even know what it means to defend and uphold the Constitution — or respect the rule of law. Yet the court majority bestowed upon him near total immunity to do anything he wants. And their ruling is absolute (unless overturned by a future court).
Do you know how long it has been since the Supreme Court had a “liberal” majority? 1969. Shocked me too — 55 consecutive years of conservative majorities. And they weren’ t thin majorities:
1970-71: 5-4; 1972-75: 6-3; 1976-91: 7-2; 1992-94: 8-1; 1995-2010: 7-2; 2010-2016: 5-4; 2017-2025: 6-3
Six Re publican presidents (over a span of 32 years) made 16 Supreme Court appointments, whereas four Democratic presidents (24 years) made only five. 16 to 5. So much for balance. Luck of the draw? Not entirely. Obama’s third opportunity, in February of 2016, was flat-out stolen by Mitch McConnell and the Re publican-controlled Senate, who refused to hold hearings for an entire year, violating the Constitution’s “advise and consent” mandate.
Democrats, foolishly, chose to be good sports about it. If they had fought for that appointment instead, the majority would have flipped for the first time in 46 years. And if Ruth Bader Ginsburg had lived just a few months longer into 2021, Trump li kely would be in prison today, where he belongs, instead of in the White House — ag ain.
According to a Wikipedia entry titled, “Ideological Leanings of U.S. Supreme Court Justices”: “In every term since 1970, the court majority (consisting of at least five of the justices) has been appointed by Re publican presidents. Every chief justice since 1953 has also been appointed by Re publican
presidents.”
In the ’70s and early ’80s, political partisanship and ideolo gy were not major factors. But that changed, beginning with the arrival of justices Antonin Scalia (1986) and Clarence Thomas (1991). Since then, “ideolo gy has been much more impor tant in choosing justices — all Re publican appointees have been committed conservatives and all Democratic appointees have been liberal. As the more moderate Re publican justices retired, the court has become more partisan. The court is now divided sharply along partisan lines with justices appointed by Re publican presidents taking increasingly conservative positions and those by Democrats taking moderate liberal positions. This alignment between the justices’ partisanship and their ideological leanings appears to be greater than ever before.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ideological_ leanings_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_Justices)
The trend was exacerbated by the fact that Re publicans controlled the Senate for 10 of the last 16 Congresses. The Senate determines whether a President’s appointee is confirmed. That’s how the Re publicans were able to hijack Obama’s third appointment.
So the deck has been stacked in favor of increasingly extreme conservatives, making the Supreme Court, in ef fect, a politicized subsidiary of the Re publican Party. After the controversial dead-heat election in 2000, the conservative majority handed the presidency to the candidate from their party, on the flimsiest of arguments (the recount has gone on too long, we need to name someone), and once again the Democrats chose to be good sports about it. The beneficiary, George W. Bush, went on to make two appointments (Samuel Alito and John Roberts) that could have, arguably should have, gone to the Democratic candidate (who, an independent final count later showed, actually won the Florida vote).
Democrats really need to stop being such good sports about all this.
The rightward shift of the court parallels the rightward lurch of our country during the last half-century. An unchecked and unbalanced Supreme Court has, to say the least, not served our nation well.
Until a way is found to reform the Supreme Court, we will have no functioning system of checks and balances. Unlimited and unchecked power corrupts and will be this nation’s downfall — exactly as our founders predicted 249 years ago when they over threw a monarchy.
And if we’re going to realize our “No Kings!” rally cry, then before we celebrate our 250th birthday next year, we need the Six Supremes to grow a conscience and start living up to their job title: Justice.
SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck
Remembering J
We were talking at breakf ast, recentl admired and the names came up: Charlie and Jen Stack. They lived at 826 Kenilwor th, a childless couple in a block of 100+ kids. Their house backed up to where Van Buren dead-ended in the alley serving Kenil ter. Still that way, I’d guess. Anyway, their house was an easy through-wa day as we all came home from Ascension School, Jen would leave a large plate of cookies on the back porch, and everyone was welcome to grab one (or tw yard was open to all for whatev er games outside come up with. How lucky were we ?
We concluded “Be like Jen and Charlie” is a good guide for our lives. We can positively impact people near us in the direct face of the madness surrounding us; every little positive thing helps. We weren’ t planning on spending the next 20 years fighting these battles, but my father probably didn’t plan to go to Ger many and get shot, either.
WEDNESD AY
of Oak Park and River Forest
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Thinking about them in this perilous time and how good they were for the neighborhood. And all of us.
All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a ntence at the end about who you are.
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‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY
■ 500-word limit
■ One-sentence footnote about yourself and/or your connection to the topic
■ Signature details as at left
Lou Frillman
Former Oak Park er
What can we do to reduce gun violence?
Shootings have increased drastically since the 2010s. Chicago has suffered from this violenc e, multipl e shootings and gun fights have o ccu rred, do z ens of deaths and injurie s, but how? The answe r: powe r. In an interview on NPR’s All Things Cons idered, a gr andfather explained how he f elt when he got a call that his gr andson had died from gun violence in Chicago (Illinois Cong ressman: Pover ty Plays A Large Role In Chicago Gun Vi olence).
What ’s crazy is that this whole fight that his gr andson got into was over nothing but some borrowed clothes that we re not given back. Guns are powe rful we apons, arguably the most dangerous due to being easy to obtain and use. This is a ve ry real situation that could happen to you. Gun violence is not a jo ke, but some p eople still beli eve it ’s not that bad; it really is. Chicago definitely isn’ t the only p lace af fected by these tr agedie s. According to NPPR, “The national debate over g un control is heating up once again following last week’s rampage in Califo rn ia that left six students dead.” (“Already Tough On Gun Control, Massachusetts
Aims To Get Tougher”). This is just one of the hor rible tragedies gun violence has c aused. How much more has already happened since then? This is the brutal truth.
JUDAH STRIETZEL One
View
We ca n’ t just set this issue aside. Some would argue that there are bigger problems in the wo rl d, but if we set this aside, think about how many people will ke ep dying. Gun violence will continue grow ing. NP R re po rt s, “We’ve found even ps ychiatrists we re feeling that they could n’ t predict the dangerousness of these individuals.” One of the biggest problems of gu n violence is its unpredictability. If somebo dy has a gun, they can use it anytime, anywhere.
Researcher Allison Jo rdan argues, “Even when hate-motivated of f enders do not fire guns, they consistently use them to threaten, intimidate, and humiliat e their victims.” Even without shooting , g uns are too often used to threaten and scare people who are at their mercy Guns are definitely a problem that need to be solved, so here are some solutions
Everyone should get the bene t of the doubt
Back in Februar y, I was outside with friends after a movie. We made snow slushies, got bored, and when my friends wanted to go doorbell ditching, I wanted to belong, so I went along. After several houses, a car pulled up with two teenagers in it, then the teenager driving the car falsely yelled to an approaching police car, “Those kids were throwing snowballs at cars!” That moment could have gone wrong
But the Oak Park police didn’t jump to conclusions. They stayed calm, asked questions, and walked us home with a warning. No yelling, no handcuffs, no fear
I know not every kid gets that kind of treatment – especially Black kids in other places.
My white privileg e hit me in the face like a snowball. With Juneteenth coming up, I want to say how grateful I am to live in a community where police try to understand instead of assuming. I also want to say, I know I got the benefit of the doubt. I know others don’ t. That’s what Black Lives Matter is about – making sure that ev eryone is given the benefit of the doubt.
Not just kids who look like me
Kaelan Yates, 13 Oak Park
Passing laws to reduce gu n violence is one solution. Jo rd an says, “Cur rent hate crime laws often fail to prevent biasf ueled tragedies before they o ccu r. The Disarm Hate Act would address this shor tcoming by proactive ly preventing individuals with prior violent hate crime misdemeanors from le g ally accessing firearms.”
If passed, the Disarm Hate Act would make it more difficult to obtain guns if you have a criminal histor y. Passing this law would make sure that people wh o have committed gun violence wo n’ t be able to do it again. It doesn’t solve the problem, but it’s a strong step toward reducing gun violenc e.
A lthough laws are a good way to sl ow g un violenc e, we need more in order to g et rid of it completely. One of the ways to do this is collecting personal guns, to make sure these shootings don’ t happen.
T he Chicago Police De par tment collected over 9,000 personal guns in 2022, wh ich is a good step toward getting rid of gu n violence in Chicago (“The Debate in Chi-
Getting his and
In response to the Boomer-coded letter to the editor on June 4 [Forest Park vs. Oak Park], this empty-nester, retiree attitude of “get mine and get out” is why our country is currently failing. Our schools are literally where the people who will determine the future of our country are being educated, and you can’t bear to spend the extra tax dollars because your kids are no longer in school and that money doesn’t directly benefit you and yours?
You rejoice at the fact that you can throw out furniture — which, by the way, could benefit one of the migrant families who have been resettled by local volunteers and organizations — and add more
cago over Ille g al Guns and Vi olence”). A wo rl d without guns is a more peaceful wo rl d, and maybe it could happen here. This problem may seem unsolvable, but it ’s actually right in our hands. People will ke ep dying unless we do something. Chicago could be known as the peaceful city, instead of a high-crim e p lace as some already see it. Remember, a stolen TV or a pair of shoes is nowhere near the value of a human life. Don’t use the gun.
Wo rks cited :
“A lready Tough On Gun Control, Massachusetts Aims To Get Tougher.” Al l Things Considered , May 28, 2014.
“Illinois Cong ressman: Pove rt y Plays a Large Role in Chicago Gun Vi olenc e. ” Week end All Things Considered , Jan. 7, 2017.
Jo rdan, Allison. “Disar m Hate: A Summary of Ke y Challenges and Solutions.” C enter for American Pr ogr ess, 2023.
“The Debate in Chicago over Ille ga l Guns and Vi olenc e, ” Nov. 1, 2022. Ju dah Strietzel is a student at OPRF High School
getting out
waste to landfills without needing to pay $3.25?
Since your past opinion pieces include a photo of a letter with your for mer Oak Park address, I can see you recently sold your house for over a million dollars. I’m sure the tripling of its worth was 100% due to your hard work – thank goodness you got yours and got out before you had to think about others, learn to use a parking app or, heaven forbid, shell out $6.50 to get rid of a mattress
Best of luck in Forest Park, I hope the person who moves into your home is more closely aligned with our community values
Katie Welch Oak Park
A timely manifesto
Kudos to Ken Trainor for his concise yet devastating survey of our current situation in “Ghost dancing in the dark” [Viewpoints, June 4]. It’s a manifesto for our times, and I plan to pin it up and read it often.
Bob K arrow River Forest
Gambling is putting something of value on an outcome that is due to chance. Eighty percent of Americans gamble in one form or another, the most common mode being playing the lottery. But there are many other vehicles. Most people who gamble do so recreationally, but up to six percent experience some level of problem gambling. One to two percent are identified as pathological g amblers in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which is the bible for the classification of disease.
Gambling is big business. Yearly lottery spending is approaching $100 billion nationally, and Commercial Gaming Revenue (casino table games, poker, race track betting, bingo, etc.) is about $70 billion. None of this includes “off-the-books” betting, i.e., wagers between individuals. All for ms of gambling are increasing in popularity, but sports betting is enjoying a meteoric rise.
In 2018, The Supreme Court of the U.S. ruled that states could allow betting on sports, and now 40 states allow this manner of wagering. In 2018, the amount of money spent for betting on sports was $.43 billion. In 2024, that figure rose to $13.7 billion (with some estimates as high as $100 billion).
Gambling, the silent epidemic
Young men are the biggest sports bettors. In this era of leg alized sports gambling, 85 percent of colle ge men wager on sports events, and the Gen Z cohort (those born from 1998 to 2012) constitutes 80 percent of all sports bettors. The ease of betting online, with 24-hour access and the convenience of betting from home, abet the process.
WHALEN One View
As documented in an article in The Journal of the American Medical Association, Internal Medicine (2025; 185 (4): 382-389), sports betting has a significant impact on the mental health of the participants: 23 percent admit to addiction, 22 percent say gambling causes financial distress, and 48 percent claim mental health issues.
All gamblers are at risk for significant health problems, both physical and mental. Stress-related physical conditions include hypertension, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, and peptic ulcers. Problem gamblers are particularly susceptible to substance misuse, low self-esteem, anxiety, de pression, and suicidal ideation. Pathological gamblers (those who suffer severe consequences from excessive gambling) have a 15-fold increase in
suicide mortality compared to non-gamblers.
Adverse consequences are not limited to individual gamblers: 23 percent of partners of sports bettors, for instance, say they have had to take money from college funds to satisfy gambling debts, and 16 percent re port abuse and family estrangement.
Society in general suffers too. For instance, the ubiquitous nature of gambling threatens the integrity of sports. The National Basketball League, for instance, has banned for life a referee and a player who fixed games.
Signs and symptoms of problematic gambling include:
■ Preoccupation with gambling at the expense of family and friend s
■ Unsustainable financial losses
■ Re peated unsuccessful attempts to quit or control gambling
■ Feelings of restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down on gambling (i.e., symptoms of addiction)
■ Chasing losses by trying to get back money lost by gambling
■ Lying to hide the extent of gambling
■ Bor rowing or stealing money to support the gambling habit
Due to the adverse effects of gambling, many advocate stronger re gulation. Even many gamblers recognize the need: 28 percent of sports bettors wish that sports betting would be illeg al again.
It is unlikely to happen, however, as state governments have steadily grown de pendent on revenue from gambling activity. Four percent of the revenue for the Illinois state budget, for instance, derives from the lottery and other gambling activities. Feckless state legislatures are unable and/or unwilling to control spending and/or raise suf ficient revenue through taxation to balance budgets. Slapping on ever higher “sin” taxes is much easier. Equally unlikely to address the gambling problem is the federal government. It could, for instance, limit advertising for betting vehicles, in much the same way that electronic, and then print, advertising was proscribed for tobacco products decades ago.
But there is no public discussion about the dangers of gambling, both its fiscal impact and its effect on health. Along with other important public health problems, it should become an issue in political races.
Dr. James Whalen, an Oak Pa rk resident, is a retired physician who writes the blog, The Medical Beat (medicalbeat.net).
Today’s immigration ‘crisis’ in perspective
Men may not get all they pay for in this world, but they must certainly pay for all they get.
Fredrick Douglass Abolitionist
After centuries of colonizing socalled “inferior” people and their land, the Western world is now wrestling with waves of descendants of their for mer so-called “colonized” subjects showing up on their shores and borders. Imagine how the native population must have felt when the colonizers swept in and dehumanized the people, raped their women and robbed their land of natural resources.
Today we are witnessing these for mer colonizers crying crocodile tears about how immigration is wrecking their culture, economy and lifestyles.
What is being forgotten is what caused
this “immigration crisis.”
Well, that’s exactly what descendants of the colonized people experienced — cultural dislocation, a shattered economy and political instability.
KWAME SALTER
One View
The ir refutable fact is that colonialism was a scourge on humanity that distorted and arrested the development of millions of people. As a result of colonialist greed and thuggery, what was left for descendants of colonized nations was depleted natural resources, inter-group rivalries, and political/economic instability.
Now let’s look at how these for mer colonial powers are responding. They are loudly lamenting and becoming more aggressive in their ef for ts to stem the surge of their for mer colonial subjects. But it was their “cherished homeland” that was once the base from which they embarked.
Using the 3M approach — missionaries, mercenaries and military — these colonial powers found the perfect for mula for colonizing other nations
Understand that the current immigration crisis of today is not a stand-alone phenomenon; it is deeply intertwined with centuries of exploitation and inequity. It is crucial to understand that the borders people cross today are often the same borders imposed on their ancestors through imperialistic divisions, disreg arding cultural and ethnic landscapes. These artificial lines served colonial powers’ interests, fostering inter-group tensions that persist and drive migration.
Further more, economic policies enacted by colonizing nations have entrenched global inequalities. Structural adjustments, debt burdens, and trade imbal-
ances ensure that wealth flows disproportionately to the nations that first exploited these systems. As a result, many of the migrants fleeing poverty are simply seeking a fraction of the wealth their ancestors helped generate — wealth siphoned of f into the coffers of colonial empires.
The cultural narratives surrounding immigration must also be challenged. Instead of framing migrants as intruders, it is essential to recognize their resilience and courage. They carry the le gacies of survival, creativity, and resistance against systems designed to oppress them. Their stories are not only a mirror of historical injustices but a testament to humanity’s ability to persevere, rebuild, and demand justice.
In a manner of speaking, “The chickens have come home to roost.”
Kwame Salter is a former Oak Park resident.
To give or not to give
I know it, I’m broken. Oh yes I give token. Pretend to care when a sweet-selling child meets my stare. Or when someone unsheltered sleeps on a bench, and my hear t twists tight with a full throttle wrench.
But I still turn away, decline to stay, with a thought and a feeling that leaves me reeling: could it all be a ruse? Bused in to confuse? A systemized scam, from a savvy flim-flam?
These thoughts make me sad beyond angry, past mad. Because I have a home, the freedom to roam, a lucky beginning, with “I love you’s” still ringing. Family and friends to help, pray and mend.
Yes I’m broken — it’s true. Maybe you are too. But one thing we can do, offer mercy and grace. Smile into a face. Maybe pull out a dollar, send a letter, sing, or holler.
It might not seem much, but if we all show a touch of compassion and love, good things will get done.
Val Gee
Ra ging Grannies, opra ginggranniesfriends@gmail.com
ELI LAUGER
Phrases to live by
from page 25
2) While we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can control how we show up in the world. My best professor in college taught a class about creativity and entrepreneurship, but it was really a class about life. He had a unique way of teaching that mainly consisted of presenting us with powerful statements and questions. These statements and questions were designed for us to think introspectively, develop more self-awareness, and become better thinkers. One statement in particular stuck with me. He asked us to reflect on our lives from a micro and macro perspective and consider the phrase “Everything you do makes a statement.” And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much truth there was in such
a simple statement. From how you show up to dinner with your family, how you greet people when you see them, how you treat yourself, and so much more. So what statements are you making in your life, and are you happy with them?
3) Over time, all of the little statements you make on a daily basis result in the story of your life. That’s why the final statement matters so much: “Be proud of how you lived.” This truly motivates you to reflect on your life often and think about what you’re doing to create a life you will be proud of. This statement really compels me to think reflectively and ask, am I proud of how I’m living right now, today, this week, this month, this year, this decade?
Life is short, so don’t get too worked up in the moment, and remember: it is what it is, everything you do makes a statement, and when all is said and done, be proud of how you live. Above all, have fun and enjoy life; you’re in control.
One solution leads to an other
We’ll all breathe easier this summer, thanks to an ordinance banning gas-powered blowers in Oak Park that is now fully in effect. (Report violations, with addresses, to propertyissues@oak-park.us.)
On top of greatly reducing a noise nuisance for everyone, the switch to electric blowers eliminates toxic emissions that pollute our air, especially for the workers who operate them for a living.
We can do even better. Formerly called leaf blowers, blowers have come to be used all season long to “clean up” after mowing. This is a recently invented and artificial “need.” Clippings left on lawns fertilize them as they break down; left on pavement, they
quickly dry up and disappear. So instead of blowing clippings into streets or onto neighbors’ property and raising clouds of dust that nobody wants, consider the job done after mowing. And skip bagging those clippings, another invented task, and let them feed your lawn. Your grass will be healthier.
If you use a landscaping service, tell them not to bag or bl ow clippings and to cut your cost accordingly.
Enjoy more summer, enjoy summer more! Wendy Greenhouse Oak Park
What the Madleen and D-Day have in common
At the time of this writing, the “Freedom Flotilla,” which consists of a single boat known as the Madleen, was very close to its destination of the Gaza Strip. It had 12 people on board and was carrying humanitarian supplies to the people in Gaza. They were interce pted, as there has been a blockade keeping amphibious vessels like the Madleen from delivering any relief aid whatsoever. The country that established this blockade is in violation of international law and has been officially accused
of eng aging in genocide by international criminal courts.
The 12 people on board demonstrated great courage in their willingness to risk their lives to help alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza, a place that has endured the bombing of its hospitals, schools and most of its infrastructure. These are not unsupported assertions.
Ironically, June 6 was the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the greatest amphibious assault in the history of warfare, when
150,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of norther n France. The Allies reclaimed much of Wester n Europe from the Nazis who had occupied it. It helped the Allies win World War II.
In a way, the Madleen and D-Day are linked. One was a massive flotilla ready to eng age in battle. The other was a flotilla of a single sailboat, armed with moral courage. In both cases, it re presents a willingness to confront evil.
Shamefully, this is not a “world war”
that the Madleen has entered into. Indeed, the world sees what has been documented but is complicit in its sickening reality by way of inaction. Whatever the outcome, it will be — like D-Day — another chapter in history that will reflect the state of humanity at large.
Source for more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ June_2025_Gaza_Freedom_Flotilla Joe Harrington Oak Park
Eli Lauger Oak Park
Creative resistance
KEN TRAINOR
One lonely sign le behind a er protesters headed home from Scoville Park on Saturday ser ved as a reminder for passersby.
OBITUARIES
Betty Peaslee,
94 Peaslee Ha rdware co-proprietor
Betty B. Peaslee (nee Wine), 94, of Lombard, for merly a longtime esident of Oak Park, died on May 23, 2025. Born on May 13, 1931, graduated from Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in 1951 and rked as a secretary for many years for John Hoppe, an appraiser in Oak Park. After her 1975 marriage to Donald Peaslee, she became the manager of the houseware department for Peaslee Hardware ompany in Forest Park and worked alongside her husband. After their retirement in 1987, Betty and Don enjoyed traveling, taking many cruises abroad as well as touring the country.
Betty was an outgoing, welcoming woman who generously gave her time and talents. She was active in Oak Park’s Infant Welfare Society, the 19th Century Club, First United Church of Oak Park, vid Bridge and Scrabble player, she had fun hosting family parties and ry event. She especially enjoyed choosing and giving gifts to her , as well as making muffins to give away. She loved attending her grandchilting events and will be greatly missed
Betty was the wife of the late Donald E.; the mother of Katharine Barr Tyler (Robert), Diana (Chris) Fleege, Kristin Barr (Arien Malec), the late Susan (Mark) Marotta, and Andrew L. Peaslee; the grandmother of Tim Tyler (Jonathan Schildt), Charlie Tyler (Eric Shetzen), Christine (Chris) Pellegrini, Katharine J. Long, Thalia Barr-Malec, Xavier Barr-Malec, Anthony Marotta, Michael (Gianna) Marotta, Lisa (Brandon) Davis, and Abigail Peaslee; and the great-grandmother of Wesley, Antonio, Vinny, Gigi, Celia, Giuliano, and Jaylen.
KEN TRAINOR
A local artist went above and beyond to create this resasonable facsimile of Saturday’s birthday boy.
A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16 at First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn, 535 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn and all friends and family are welcome to attend. Interment will be private and will take place in the memorial garden of First United Church of Oak Park
Please consider memorial donations in Betty’s name to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, TSC Alliance, 8737 Colesville Road, Ste 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or to the Infant Welfare Society of Oak Park, 28 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302.
Ted Sarantos, 88
Taught acting and directing
Theodore (Ted) Sarantos, 88, died on June 8, 2025, in Oak Park Bor n on Nov. 11, 1936, in Elkhart, Indiana, he lived a life deeply rooted in the arts and dedicated to inspiring others through his passion for theater and film. A graduate of Columbia College’s theater program in Chicago, he taught at both the Art Institute’s Goodman School of Drama and Columbia College before spending much of his career running a thriving acting studio in Chicago and later Oak Park
A devoted acting teacher and director, he spent his life nurturing talent in his hundreds of students. His commitment to teaching was unwavering, and he brought both knowledge and enthusiasm into every studio space he entered. His influence left an indelible mark on those fortunate enough to learn from him.
Ted is survived by his wife, DeLacy; his daughters, Cricket and Kate; his stepchildren, Kevin and Raina; his grandchildren, Cricket, Samantha, Max, Lindsay, Liam, Ashton and Wesley; his siblings, Pat, Leon and John; and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Alex.
Ted’s legacy lives on not only through his family but also through the countless individuals whose lives were enriched by his teaching. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him and inspiration to all who continue to pursue the arts he so dearly loved.
SPORTS
OPRF so ball third again in return to 4A state
Huskies avenge loss to Lockpor t to repeat 2023 third-place nish
By BILL STONE
Contributing Reporter
Catcher Julia Mattiace was among five seniors who contributed to the Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team’s third-place Class 4A state softball finish in 2023.
At two state games as a sophomore, Mattiace had one at-bat as the backup to all-stater Tyler Brock.
“Obviously every single player on the team is important. [But] it’s not the best to sit on the bench,” Mattiace said. “I really felt like this time I could do this for my sophomore self who wanted to [play] so bad.”
With the Huskies again in the 4A state thirdplace game, Saturday, Mattiace delivered a hit to remember. Her two-out, three-run double completed the four-run sixth inning that rallied the Huskies for a 6-5 victory over Lockport and third place again in Peoria.
“I wanted that chance that I just got. I worked hard for that,” said Mattice, who had five runs batted in. “It was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my season. [That double] was the top of the tops because the playoffs is what matters. I went out with a bang.”
The Huskies (30-8) overcame Friday’s 13-2 six-inning semifinal loss to state champion Oswego (38-2). They also avenged the 16-4 April 12 defeat to Lockpo rt (31-11), their other double-digit loss.
“I’m so proud of these girls. We bounced back really, really good,” OPRF coach JP Coughlin said. “These seniors have left a legacy.”
Seniors Maura Carmody, Elyssa Hasapis, Gloria Hronek and Anna Topel joined Mattiace as third-year varsity returnees from the 2023 state team.
Mattiace, Hronek, Hasapis and senior Sofia Ayala (RBI single) were 2-for-4 and scored runs in Saturday’s 12-hit attack. Carmody doubled and Topel and juniors Leia Hammerschmidt and pinch-hitter Georgia Godellas singled and led to runs
Winning pitcher Topel (10-1) threw a com-
plete game six-hitter to climax her miraculous return from breaking her right pitching wrist, March 26.
“We came back after a tough loss and this just feels so good. We deserved to be here and I’m so proud of us,” Carmody said.
“We knew this was going to be our last game regardless and we were going to leave it all out there. I have to say right now, nothing can top this.”
In the final Illinois Coaches Association Softball 4A state rankings May 18, the Huskies just missed the top 20. Oswego, Lockport and second-place Barrington (35-4-1) were Nos. 3, 5 and 7, respectively
“We finished third in conference. And to finish third in the state,” Coughlin said. “Everybody just tells me how easy our path is Now we proved ourselves. We can play with anybody We have a bunch of losses but even without Anna we were going toe-to-toe with the top teams.”
Shortstop Hasapis was named first-team 4A all-state by the Illinois Softball Coaches Association. The St. Joseph recruit hit a team-best 586 with 42 runs batted in and a team-best 64 runs scored
“All of us as a team, the seniors, really worked hard for this. Especially for our se-
nior year, ending it with a win feels fantastic,” Hasapis said.
Center-fielder Carmody (.504, team-high 11 home runs and 59 RBIs) was second-team all-state and will play at Dayton. Third-team all-state were third baseman Hronek (.474, 57 runs), who will play at Carleton, and Mattiace (.379, team-high 11 HRs, 47 RBIs), who will play at MIT. Topel (.491) will play at Babson.
“I especially hope that we as a class showed love to our underclassmen to foster a more inclusive and positive community,” Mattiace said.
On Saturday, Hasapis made the defensive play of the game in the second. Lockport scored three runs to lead 3-1 and had the bases loaded with two outs. No. 3 hitter Kelcie McGraw ripped a liner, but Hasapis dove to her left for a big-league caliber catch, saving at least two runs. Hasapis and McGraw are travel softball teammates
“I was shifted up the middle. I know her really well and where she hits the ball,” she said. “I just had to put my body on the line for it, which obviously is fine. I’m just really happy I caught the ball.”
Topel persevered against a challenging strike zone. After back-to-back walks started the Porters’ two-run fifth for their 5-2 lead,
Topel delivered 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh.
Consecutive singles by Hammerschmidt, Godellas and Ayala began the sixth-inning comeback. Hasapis’ high-hop infield single loaded the bases.
“Every time there’s a big play, even a great defensive play, we really use the energy and momentum to work back the runs,” Ayala said. “This is like the best feeling ever. My teammates, friends on varsity two years ago kept saying how much they wanted to come back to state and how it was just unlike anything during the season. I’m really happy I got to experience that with this team.”
Freshman right-fielder Charlie Terry made a diving catch in the sixth and another Friday. With Oswego leading 8-0, Terry’s two-run double in the fourth scored Hammerschmidt and junior courtesy runner Bella Saylor
“We wanted a different [higher] trophy, but Oswego is a machine. They’re that good,” said Coughlin,who could easily smile Saturday despite stomach flu since Thursday. He still needed to repair the punctured tire on his car that was stolen while OPRF played its regional opener
“It’s been rough playoffs for my car but I’ll take it,” Coughlin said.
BILL STONE
OPRF so ball team w ith trophy
Local residents lead St. Ignatius to state soccer title Tate’s Take: the year in sports
Head coach is an Oak Park resident, a top player lives in River Forest
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
On June 7 at North Central College in Naperville, St. Ignatius defeated Peoria Notre Dame 1-0 to win the IHSA Class 2A girls soccer state championship, the first in program history. The Wolfpack was able to achieve this thanks to the contributions of a few local residents
Rising senior Lili Garcia, a Berwyn resident, scored the game-winner with five minutes left in the title match.
“I was so glad me and my team could get it done,” said Garcia, who attended Ascension School in Oak Park. “We really deserved it; we worked really hard this season.”
St. Ignatius’ head coach is Pam Whitehead, a longtime Oak Park resident. One of Whitehead’s assistants is Katy Oldach, a for mer goalkeeper for Oak Park and River Forest High School, and one of the Wolfpack’s top players is rising senior Lauren Reed, a River Forest resident.
“When we were making the state run, we weren’t thinking of or focusing on the accolades,” Whitehead said. “We were focused on whatever game was in front of us. It was absolutely thrilling to win the final game.”
“It feels really rewarding knowing how much work we put in everything we do,” said Reed, who also went to Ascension. “From the beginning of the season, Coach Whitehead made it a goal to make it to state, and she helped us believe we could achieve this. For us to not only make it to state but win is incredible.”
Oldach, a 2012 OPRF graduate, coached St. Ignatius goalkeeper M.C. Galante. The Lafayette signee came up with several clutch saves against Notre Dame, keeping the Wolfpack in the game and setting up Garcia’s heroics
“Outstanding is an understatement,” Oldach said of Galante’s exceptional play. “We trust M.C., she’s our field general who provided a lot of leadership, not just in the state tournament but
throughout the season.”
“M.C.’s one of my really good friends on the team,” Garcia said. “Our success is because of her. She’s one of the hardest working players I’ve ever seen. She’s such a good person to lead our team.”
Whitehead, who has lived in Oak Park since 1993, served as an assistant for OPRF’s boys and girls soccer teams from 2007 to 2014. She worked with current Huskies’ badminton coach Paul Wright, who coached the boys soccer team from 2005 to 2015.
Whitehead says her experience with Wright was beneficial as it set her on a course to become a head coach.
“It’s rare that you have someone in your life who’s really a mentor,” she said.
“Paul strikes a really great balance between showing you the path and letting you stumble off the path and get back on it. He’s a really structured, focused, and kind person. I give Paul so much credit; I enjoyed my time with him so much.”
“She clearly bought into what I was saying,” Wright said, “and how I wanted to do things. At the time, there weren’t a lot of females coaching boys teams, but she had extreme success because she knew how to create a culture and connect with kids. She’s always been detailoriented and looking to grow as a coach. I’ve learned just as much from Pam as she has from me.”
Reed thought the key to success for St . Ignatius was having fun on the pitch and having a good support system among teammates. She, along with Garcia, also spoke highly of Whitehead.
“I love Coach Pam,” she said. “From the very beginning of the season, she was always supporting us. She’s always helping tweak our game play, helping us improve and be better.”
“She’s a great coach,” Garcia said. “She’s very positive and a great leader She teaches us not only how to play soccer, but also life lessons.”
Garcia and Reed return to St. Ignatius next season, looking to further solidify their strong chemistry
“She’s awesome. I’ve known Lauren for a long time,” Garcia said. “She’s hardworking and very kind.”
“Lili and I play well off each other and trust each other on the field,” Reed said.
“We’re great friends.”
Highlights of the 2024-25 high school season
Oak Park and River Fo High School softball’s come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Lockport in the IHSA Class 4A third-place game in Peoria, June 14, brings the 2024-25 high school sports y to a close It also wraps up my eighth season covering sports for We day Jour nal. Before I present my “Tatesies” awards, I’d like to thank you for your support and encour agement, not only this year, but since I started. It’s a pleasure to chronicle all the good things about local high school student-athletes (let’s never forget, these are teenagers, not professional athletes). While I feel I have gradually improved over the years, I’m always looking to get better. No, I’ll never be perfect and I won’t always make everyone happy, but I will always do my best.
Male Athlete of the Year: Nate Marshall, Fenwick football and basketall. Marshall starred on the gridiron for the Friars all four years, and the an signee had a standout season last fall. He finished with 60 tackles (11 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, o pass breakups, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. On offense, he touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing).
Marshall was named the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference White Division Tony Lawless Player of the Year. He also made the Chicago Sun-Times’ All-Area Team and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association’s Class 7A All-State Team as Fenwick finished 8-3.
Now, without further ado, here are my picks for The Tatesies:
Female Team of the Year: OPRF softball. The Huskies finished third in Class 4A for the second time in three years. For seniors Maura Carmody, Elyssa Hasapis, Gloria Hronek, Julia Mattiace, and Anna Topel, this was their second trip downstate, and thanks to their efforts, OPRF has reestablished itself as a state power.
Male Team of the Year: Fenwick boys basketball. The Friars finished 23-11 and advanced to the Class 3A Little Village sectional final, where they lost to St. Patrick (eventual 3A thirdplace finisher). Four-year varsity players Dominick Ducree, Ty Macariola, and Nate Marshall led the team.
Female Team Coach of the Year: J.P. Coughlin, OPRF softball. The longtime assistant has taken the Huskies to state twice in three years and has proven to be a worthy replacement for legendary coach Mel Kolbusz.
Male Team Coach of the Year: David Fergerson, Fenwick boys basketball. Fergerson was named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association District Seven Coach of the Year this season. He has a 41-22 record in two seasons leading the Friars.
Female Athlete of the Year: Bella Brauc, OPRF girls track and field. The Illinois State signee capped her fourth Class 3A state meet by ear ning All-State honors in the 400 meters and the 4 x 100 relay. She finished with four All-State medals overall in her career (she was ninth in the 400 and high jump respectively in 2024).
Moreover, Marshall, whose grandfather is longtime NBA star and University of Illinois alum Ken Norman, provided physicality and muscle in the post for the Friars’ basketball team the past four years.
Female Game of the Year: OPRF softball vs Loyola Academy at the Class 4A UIC supersectional, June 9. With the Huskies trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh and down to their final strike, Sofia Ayala kept the season alive with a game-tying single that eventually led to extra innings. OPRF then scored seven runs in the eighth and went on to punch its ticket to state, winning 10-3.
Male Game of the Year: OPRF vs. Fenwick, baseball. The Huskies and Friars had a wild back-and-forth battle at Triton College, May 2. After OPRF took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Fenwick scored eight consecutive runs over the next five innings and seemed headed for victory.
But the Huskies climbed back into the game with three runs in the bottom half of the sixth, then Brady Green’s two-out, two-run single capped another three-run rally in the seventh, giving OPRF an improbable win.
I hate to end things on a sad note, but I want to pay tribute to Ken Uhlir. Trinity’s esteemed volleyball coach passed away unexpectedly on April 15. He guided the Blazers for 11 seasons, winning four regional titles. Uhlir was also the founder of the Triple Ace Volleyball Club, based in River Forest.
I have not covered Trinity volleyball often, but whenever I did, Ken was always affable and accommodating with his time. He genuinely cared about his players on and off the court, and his presence will be missed come this fall.
Tate’s Take
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Village of Forest Park is now accepting Statements of Qualifications for Phase III Construction Engineering Services for the Jackson Boulevard Resurfacing Project in Forest Park.
Notice is hereby given that the Village of Forest Park will receive Statements of Qualifications for Phase III Construction Engineering Services at 517 DesPlaines Ave, Forest Park, Illinois, 60130. Attention Rachell Entler, Village Administrator until 11am on Thursday June 26th, 2025 local time.
Any submissions that are received after the due date and time will be disqualified. Submissions are to be sent via email to rentler@ forestpark.net Additional information is available on the Village of Forest Park website. The Village of Forest Park reservices the right to reject any and all submissions or parts thereof, to waive any irregularities or informalities in the solicitation process and to award the contract in a manner best serving the interests of the Village.
Rachell Entler – Village Administrator rentler@forestpark.net
2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive bids for 1 Dell PowerEdge R760xs Server. The full bid document can be obtained from the Village website www.oak-park.us. Bids will be accepted until July 1, 2025 5PM Central.
Published in Wednesday Journal June 18, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park ��Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302�� will receive electronic proposals until 10�00 a.m. on Friday, July 11 for Project: 25�3, 2025 Sidewalk Improvements Program. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, this contract includes removal and replacement of public sidewalk, parkway and carrage walks, combination curb and gutter, driveways, and PCC basecourse; pavement adjacent to curbs, adjustment of drainage structures, buffalo boxes and all appurtenant work thereto. Sidewalk sequencing during the work and adherence to the completion date is of emphasis for this project as outlined in the plans and proposal forms. Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Friday, June 20, at 10�00 a.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using
QuestCDN number 9740312 for a non-refundable charge of $64.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4�00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.
This project is financed with local Village funds and federal Community Development Block Grant �CDBG� funds and thus is subject to all federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Section 3, and Equal Opportunity requirements. Locally funded phases of the project are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq. Please note, this Contract will be subject to the requirments set forth in IDOT Circular Letter 2023�30 “BUILD AMERICA / BUY AMERICAN ACT �BABA� � FINAL RULE.” This law requires certain materials to be manufactured and produced in America.
THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 for the following: Village of Oak Park CDBG Water Service Replacement Program - 2025 Bid Number: 25-123
Bid forms may be obtained from the Village of Oak Park website, http://www.oak-park.us/bid. Bid documents may be viewed at the Public Works Customer Service Center at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Information is also available from the contact person, Water and Sewer Project Manager, James Eggen, jeggen@oak-park.us
All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Certified Check, a Cashier’s
Bill McKenna Village Engineer Published in Wednesday Journal, June 18, 2025
NOTICE
Check or a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Oak Park.
The successful bidder will be required to post performance security and to provide a certificate of insurance as set forth in the bid package. This contract shall be subject to the provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS130/1 et seq.) to the extent required by law. This is a Federallyfunded project, funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and is thus subject to all applicable Federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including DavisBacon and Related Acts. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF WILLIE G. HENRY; FLORENCETTA HENRY; TCF NATIONAL BANK; ANITA HENRY; COURTNEY HENRY; EBONEE HENRY; MERCEDES HENRY; TIARA HENRY; JACK LYDON, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WILLIE G. HENRY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF FLORENCETTA HENRY, IF ANY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant 17 CH 13529
CALENDAR 61
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on July 21, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-09-315-063-0000. Commonly known as 635 Rice Avenue, Bellwood, IL 60104. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Codilis & Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontage Road. Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. (630) 794-5300. 14-23-01315
INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3267950
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION ATHENE ANNUITY & LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS OF JOYCE A. ROBINSON, CITY OF CHICAGO, CAPITAL ONE, N.A. SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A., MIDLAND FUNDING LLC, RONALD ROBINSON, JUVONA ROBINSON, AMIR MOHABBAT AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendant 23 CH 1793 CALENDAR 59
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on July 21, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-17-113-013-0000. Commonly known as 236 N. FOREST AVE., HILLSIDE, IL 60162. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Suite 201, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 2300555
INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3267963
Submit events and see full calendar at oakpark.com/events
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2025 | 7�00 � 8�30 PM
OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH, VETERAN’S ROOM
834 LAKE ST., OAK PARK, IL 60301
Hosted by Senate President Don Harmon and House Assistant Majority Leader Camille Lilly
