W E D N E S D A Y
June 23, 2021 Vol. 41, No. 47 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Pavlicek sought new post after 13 years in Oak Park Village manager’s last day will be Aug. 19 By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Photo by Paul Goyette
FREEDOM DAY: Community members celebrate Juneteenth for the first time since it was designated an offi cial holiday by the state of Illinois and the federal government. More photos on page 8.
After major shakeup, West Sub pulled from the brink — for now
Parent company Pipeline’s new CEO says the Oak Park hospital is headed in the right direction, but still needs help By MICHAEL ROMAIN
Things are looking up at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, if judging based on the hospital’s very recent history. In the last year, Pipeline, the safety net hospital’s California-based parent company, has made some significant moves. In December, Pipeline announced the promotion and hire of two new CEOs at both West Suburban and Weiss Memo-
Equity Editor
See WEST SUBURBAN on page 16
Oak Park will be in need of a new village manager come August. The village’s long-serving top administrator Cara Pavlicek is leaving her position as Oak Park village manager to serve in the same role in north suburban Northbrook – a position she sought out rather than being recruited for. “I absolutely made an application for it,” she said. “I put my hat in the ring.” The move was prompted by nothing more than a desire to move forward in her career, Pavlicek told Wednesday Journal. “I don’t have anything negative to say about anything within the village government, or the leadership,” Pavlicek said. “Sometimes it’s the right time for someone professionally, and it’s right for me at this point.” Village managers stay an average of six years in one community before moving on to serve another, according to Pavlicek. She exceeded that average working with Oak Park. Her tenure in Oak Park began in 2008, serving as parking manager. She became village manager in March 2012, first in an interim capacity, before being appointed permanently in January 2013. “I was impressed with Cara from the moment I met her,” said former village trustee Ray Johnson, who served on the board at the time of Pavlicek’s appointment. “There were really impressive candidates to consider as village manager, and she easily stood out from See PAVLICEK on page 13
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