WednesdayJournal_070925

JOURNAL

West Sub closes obstetric and neonatal units without notice

Illinois Department of Public Health expr concern after late notic

By JESSICA MORD Staf

The Illinois Department of Public Health said July West Suburban Medical Center to ly shutter its obstetric and neonatal units was “concerning” and said the would “be gathering more about this action to ensure the hospital complies with its obli Hospital Licensing Act.”

A spokesman for IDPH told Journal that it was notified on West Sub was closing the unit temporarily due to a shor temporary, this closure is concerning,” said an IDPH spokesperson.

Rumors are sw about this decision and its ongoing cooling issues during the IDPH sent staf f to assess the status of sidebar on page 9)

The hospital’s contracted communications firm told

When

River Forest board talk erm

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

Whether its village board will have term limits going forward has become a polarizing for River Forest, after an April 1 referendum that showed 52% of residents voted in r of them.

The exact wording used in a citizen group’s petition that placed the referendum for the matter on the election ballot has caused conabout whether that referendum is binding or non-binding.

A special committee of the whole board meeting to dissect the topic, including public comment, has proven challenging to schedule. According to a June 24 email provided to ay Journal by Cathy Adduci, village president, and Village Administrator Matt

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Oak Park trustees ask for more action on racial equity issues

Village board responds to presentation on long-indevelopment Racial Equity Assessment Repor t

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park village trustees reviewed a consultant’s re port on the village’s racial equity needs with an hours-long discussion last week.

The Racial Equity Assessment Re port was prepared by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, a university agency that’s worked on a number of high-profile consulting projects with governments around the state. With help developing the re port from village staf f, UIC presented a variety of overarching suggestions for village policy, including updates to its messaging around racial justice, internal policies and data transparency.

“Racism exists every single day in the village of Oak Park,” Village President Vicki Scaman said. “We are constantly making policy and putting money behind programs and reco gnizing that what the brochure looks like and how it operates in real life do not always match for the most vulnerable among us.”

longing in the community.”

Within its re port, UIC staf encouraged the village to address two persistent “narratives” the consultants came upon during their community surveying — first the percei divide between North and South Oak Park and second the ide that while Oak Park is broadly perceived as a diverse, welcoming community, it does not acknowledge the reality of community divisions and disparities, according to the report

“Talking openly about these narratives can also contribute to all Oak Parkers’ feeling a sense of inclusion in the community because it makes them feel visible and validates their being part of the community,” UIC staf f wrote in their re port. “Internally, current village leaders can open dialogue with volunteer commissioners and nonprofit partners about harms caused during previous administrations or by previous village employees in order to gain goodwill and focus on the future.”

Some trustees said the village needs to move faster on racial equity issues, expressing some frustration with the village’s reliance on consultants’ re ports that take years to produce.

The data that UIC staf f collected from their resident surveys suggested a disparity between white Oak Parkers and Oak Parkers of color in the sense of “belonging” that they feel in the village.

“Even with that awareness of the need for equity and inclusion, Oak Park today is still not a welcoming place for all, and not all residents feel a sense of belonging in the community,” UIC staff wrote in their report. “There are significant economic divides, including by household income, between homeowners and renters, and in quality of life or social vulnerability. These can have cascading impacts on which resources and opportunities are available to Oak Parkers, and which residents feel a deep sense of be-

Trustee Cory Wesley said he worries the village is “leading the country in discussing these things” but doesn’t move fast enough to make substantial change.

“I think I was hoping to see something that gave me a bit more direction, I don’t know what the next steps are other than more discussion,” he said.

Trustee Brian Straw said he’d hoped the village staf f would move quicker on bringing more information about the next steps the board can take to eliminate exclusionary single-family zones from the village’s zoning code. Both Straw and Wesley had voted ag ainst ratifying the village’s zoning code recently, in protest of the way they said the zoning policy discourages ethnic minorities from settling in Oak Park

UIC Senior Fellow Kathleen Yang-Clayton

told the board that she sympathizes with those concerns, but that the scope of work agreement limited the type of answers that this report was supposed to provide

“This is more of a roadmap,” Yang-Clayton said. “Our scope work was not to produce polrecommendations, broadly speaking, it was to actually assess what is going on both internally and externally in the village of Oak Park and so that is what we remain focused on.”

UIC received a contract worth $150,000 from the village in May 2023 to produce this re port Work developing the re port over the last two years included community surveys, interviews with village staf f and stakeholders and research to create a “snapshot” of equity issues in Oak Park, according to UIC.

The re port is one element of a broader village plan to ensure equitable access to government services, address historical equity failures in Oak Park, support inte gration and diverse community entry points in the village and enhance cultural competency among village staf f. Village Manager Kevin Jackson said the village is moving towards publishing a Racial Equity Action Plan that will provide a more comprehensive roadmap to addressing equity issues.

Still, he said the village has made good progress on its equity goals since he’s been in office.

“We have been moving on equity since 2022 and all of that institutional assessment happened when I hit the ground here and that is why we did the restructuring that we did in order to put us in a position to actually advance equity,” Jackson said. “There is something to be said about having the vision and in delivering on that stewardship that leads us into the future and also make sure that there is a plan that guides this work into the future when it is all said and done and so moving forward with the strategic plan, I think will be helpful.”

Earlier in the meeting, Yang-Clayton had complimented Jackson’s leadership on

See RACIAL EQUITY on page 4

WEDNESD

AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Senior Audience Manager Stac y Coleman

Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Columnists Marc Bleso , Nicole Chavas, Jack Crowe, Vincent Gay, Mary Kay O’Grady, John Stanger, Josh VanderBerg Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

VICKI SC AMAN

CORY WESLE Y

No Village Hall construction talk any time soon

Update on new police station, village hall r ed this summer

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

There was no set target date for a discussion about the state of the Oak Park Village Hall and police station construction projects included on the preliminary board meeting schedule shared with Oak Park trustees last week.

The “tentative” schedule laid out the expected key discussion topics and votes the board will expect to work through in July, August and September. It was shared with trustees and community members as a village manager’s re port at the July 1 village board meeting.

The village board will not have re gular meetings in August as the board goes on hiatus. Key topics the board expects to cover over the next three months include a planned vote on the Oak Park bike plan set for July 22, a discussion of the new board’s goals set for July 29 and several discussions related to property management re gulations and housing issues set for the month of September, per the tentative meeting schedule.

Discussions on the current shape of the village’s own construction project, which is expected to top out at a cost of more than $100 million, have been delayed twice in recent months as the future of the project remains a hot topic in Oak Park. The project is expected to center around a new standalone police station — most likely on the patch of grass south of village hall’s parking lot — and extensive renovations to the village hall building.

The last composition of the village board

had hoped to review plans for architectural designs and project financing at a March 18 meeting, the board’s last scheduled meeting before April 1’s municipal Cook County elections in which two then board members — Ravi Parakkat and Lucia Robinson — lost their seats

Following that delay, that board, which had been working on the project for years, still expected the opportunity to vote on the direction of the project during the board’s final lame duck session on Tuesday, April 30.

The Friday before that meeting, the discussion was cancelled.

Village Manager Kevin Jackson told Wednesday Journal at the time that the discussion was delayed to allow the village to

ensure that the proposals prepared by its architect reflect village priorities in terms of both design and finances

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

RACIAL EQUIT Y

from page 3

racial equity issues during his service as deputy city manager for the City of Long Beach, CA as a great example of how to push for equity in municipal government.

In its presentation submitted to the board alongside the re port, village staf f also relayed its opinion on the viability of a municipal re parations program in Oak Park, saying that it does not see a traditional re parations program making sense for the village at this point.

“To date, staf f’s analysis is that Oak Park does not meet the strict scrutiny standard that would serve as the basis for a municipal re parations program,” staf f wrote in its board presentation.

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

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

“We’ re really looking forward to what creative solutions come out of this, defining this idea of what open government looks like here for the next 50 years,” Village President Vicki Scaman told Wednesday Journal in April. “The issues on which they’ re trying to creatively problem-solve haven’t really changed — they’ve been big problems.

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

“While the village may not meet the standard for a traditional re parations program, that does not mean that the village cannot acknowledge harm and offer re parative justice-based programs in line with Oak Park’s vision for racial equity. Staf f hope to begin facilitating community eng agement and education sessions in Fall of 2025.”

Village staf f said it published a request for proposals earlier this year looking for a consultant to assist with research on historical documentation to support a municipal re parations program, but that the RFP received no responses.

Wesley said he would’ve liked to have been better informed about the status of that work and said that he’d want the village board to be updated more re gularly on the work that consultants and staf f do to prepare reports.

Oak Park Village Hall

Dominican realigns around tech, health care, career training

Reorganization follows the university’s new strategic plan

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

Facing an array of challenges and operating with a new strategic plan in place, Dominican University has reorganized its academic offerings with a focus on technology/ analytics, health and social services, and “alternative educational pathways,” which translates to career training that will provide specialized certifications and credentials

The changes, planned over a two-year period, resulted in a consolidation of the university’s four colleges into three areas of focus. The new structure was publicly implemented on July 1.

The process, said President Glena Temple, “has no doubt been time-consuming and disruptive to some. However, the changing landscape of higher education and the demographic cliff requires us to be focused in responding to market needs and constantly evaluating our portfolio of offerings.”

Temple said all colleges face a stiff decline in the projected number of 18-year-olds graduating from Illinois high schools in the coming years. And, she said, while Dominican has seen strong enrollment growth in recent years, “We need to respond to the changing labor market needs and interests of our students to maintain this market position.”

Temple acknowledged that Dominican and many other traditional liberal arts schools have seen a decline in student interest in “traditional humanities disciplines and more toward business, sciences and health-care fields.” However, she said, humanities courses and innovative humanities professors remain integrated into many majors and minors in other fields.

Dr. Mia Hardy, the school’s provost, said, “We think this realignment is really going to allow us to have a different kind of student experience that’s more impactful. We’re looking to create more synergies within some of the areas that are closely aligned. It’s also going to allow faculty within certain disciplines to coalesce.”

As of July 1, the School of Education will be integrated into the Rosary College of Arts, Education, and Sciences. The School of Information Studies and the Brennan School of Business will join the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, and the School of Social Work will now be part of the Borra College of Health Sciences

Hardy said the restructuring is the result of many months of careful research, discussion and collaboration among faculty, staff, university leaders, and the university’s Restructuring Steering Committee.

No majors or minors will be eliminated as a result of the transition from a four-college model to a three colleges. Although the university stopped admitting new theater arts majors and minors in January 2025, Hardy said that decision was separate from the academic restructuring that rolled out on July 1.

“Theater is a major that is on pause at the moment so some reassessment can be done, but that’s separate from this,” she said.

In an email sent to the Dominican community, Hardy for mally announced the changes, saying the reorganization of academic programs will “foster greater collaboration across disciplines, better align related academic programs, and streamline our organizational structure for enhanced synergies.”

Under the new model, an associate provost for adult education and special programs position was also created. Bianca Sola-Perkins, who has been the dean of continuing education at Triton College since 2021, will assume the role on July 7. In her new position, Sola-Perkins will focus on enhancing educational opportunities for adult and non-traditional learners and serve as a key collaborator with various university divisions as Dominican continues to create and deliver innovative, accessible and culturally responsive programs.

“It’s an exciting time around Dominican,” Hardy said. “I think faculty, staff, administration and students are really looking forward to seeing what kind of positive energy will come from this change.”

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Dominican University president Glena Temple.

OPRF adds student voice to board discussions

By JONAH CLARK Contributing Reporter

T he school board at Oak Park and River Forest High School now includes a student dele gate who sits at the board table and offers a student’s perspective on issues.

This is an innovation which was approved last f all by the District 200 school board. A student dele gate joined the discussions in February of this year

Supt. Gregory Johnson recalled when student dele gate Iris Keane asked her first question: “The board members were looking at each other like oh, this is really excellent.”

Keane said, “I think having a student can really enlighten part of the experience of high school that they don’ t g et to see.”

Keane has always been interested in school boards and local politics. “When I was nine years old I talked to the Elmwood Park school board about overpopulation in my 5th grade class.”

Keane served as one of two senior student dele gates to the OPRF board during the 2024-2025 school year.

T he system is set up to have eight student dele gates, two from each grade level. T he two seniors alternate sitting with the board on a monthly basis. T he others sit in the audience during board meetings and help inform the seniors of the opinions of the student body. T he two juniors serve two-year terms, training to sit at the table as seniors the year after.

“Your experience when you’ re just en-

tering high school as a freshman … can be different than a senior,” said Audrey Williams-Lee, the school board president.

T he dele gates have been sitting on the board since the Feb. 20 meeting. T he process is currently on a trial basis till the end of the 2026 school year, after which the role will be evaluated. T he board will

decide if they want to continue or make any changes to the system.

Williams-Lee said, “The students make us think, they’ve raised questions and asked things in meetings that help you take on a new perspective or see a side of the issue we haven’ t seen before.”

According to Johnson and Williams-Lee,

the process was originally inspired by a similar position at Lehighton Area School District in Pennsylvania. Williams-Lee said, “We definitely had to do our homework.” After research, the position was proposed to the board and was unanimously approved last Se ptember.

After that, Johnson, Fred Arkin a current school board member, and Tom Cofsk y, recently retired board president, be g an the interview-based application process. According to Johnson, about 20 students applied across all grade levels T here is no student voice in the selection process.

While the role gives student voices on the board, its impact is limited by the Illinois School Code. While the dele gates do sit at the board table, they do not get to vote or attend closed door meetings because they are not elected of ficials

Johnson also highlighted the experience that it grants the students sitting on the board: “It is a great learning experience and leadership experience for the students who are on the board.”

While Keane ag reed that the student delegate position was a good experience and a helpful addition to the board, Keane also felt that there is room for improvement. “There is an opportunity to bring a more diverse voice to the table,” said Keane.

Keane also thought that there should be more communication outside of meetings between the delegates and the superintendent.

(Editor’s note: Jonah Clark is a student at OPRF and a member of the editorial staff at the Trapeze, the student newspaper.)

Cook County launches new crime and court stat dashboard

The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard provides a new way for residents to access local criminal justice data

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Last month, Cook County leaders debuted a new publicly accessible data tool to provide insights into trends in re gional criminal justice issues.

The “Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard” was created with funding from the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and

Justice Challenge and developed in conjunction with Loyola University of Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice researchers, according to county officials.

The tool’s debut follows large changes to the county’s criminal justice administration, including the elimination of cash bail in 2023 and a sharp decrease in Chicago arrests that’s largely held steady since the COVID-19 Pandemic. The tool includes sta-

tistics on incidents and arrests, criminal case filings, jail bookings and releases, pretrial release decisions, sentences and prison and parole populations, according to county officials.

“The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard reflects the ongoing collaboration among our justice system partners,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “It shows our shared com-

mitment to transparency and to making the criminal legal system work better for the public. We’re proud to share this tool to help residents better understand how the justice system affects people and communities across Cook County.”

The dashboard project sources data from the Office of the Chief Judge, the Cook

See CRIME DASHBOARD on pa ge 13

COURTESY OF IRIS KEANE

Student delegate Iris Keane (center) with Supt. Greg Johnson (third from le ) and D200 board members.

Oak Park to update human rights ordinance with gender-a rming care protections

First reading of draft ordinance follows community calls for more support for transgender

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park is moving toward adding new language to its human rights ordinance meant to protect the local transgender

putting legislation on the books that makes Oak Park a safe place for families with transgender children to move when other states pass laws limiting or blocking access to gender affirming care. Village leaders also said they wanted to be careful to strike

whether a person had accessed gender affirming healthcare in the past.

people

“No village agent or agency or using resources or assets belonging to the village may conduct any investigation, detain any person, make any arrest, file any criminal ity for gender af fir ming care.”

Gender affirming healthcare is defined as the “broad approach to health care and suppor t that recognizes and respects an individual’s gender identity” including treatments meant to treat a person’s gender sphoria, according to the Human Rights Campaign. When it comes to transgender can include y blockand ve from , including

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Teachers, Little Free Library Stewards, local nonprofits can select free items!

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WEST SUB

from page 1

it no longer worked for Resilience as of last week. Multiple emails to Dr. Manoj Prasad, CEO of Resilience Healthcare, the parent of West Sub and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown, have gone unanswered.

Labor and delivery services at West Sub have been in flux for months as West Sub separated itself from the long-time maternal services provided by PCC Wellness and by midwives. Prasad said at the time that those decisions were made for legal and insurance reasons. There have been ongoing legal issues between PCC and West Sub over payments reportedly owed. PCC said the amount is $1 million. Prasad previously told Wednesday Journal that PCC owes West Sub money. But, he said, he was unsure if he could disclose how much as the litigation is ongoing.

Prasad has previously said that West Sub had hired a third-party firm, Ob Hospitalist Group, to take over deliveries at the hospital. There were re ports from multiple sources that several nurses at West Sub were escorted from the hospital last week by security.

Last November, midwives and family medicine physicians at West Suburban were told they would no longer be able to deliver babies at the hospital with less than a two-week notice.

“Even if temporar y, this closure is concerning.”

IDPH SPOKESPERSON

“To us, it’s access, it’s birth equity, it’s leaving a disenfranchised community in the lurch,” Annette Payot, director of midwifery for the PCC Community Wellness Center, which operated out of West Suburban for over two decades, previously told Wednesday Journal.

Last May, resident doctors beg an protesting for a better investment in their education and improved patient safety amid ongoing union ne gotiations. And earlier this year, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education withdrew West Sub’s accreditation.

West Sub claims it replaced HVAC in 2024 for $1 million

By DAN HALEY Interim Editor

With confirmation that the Illinois Department of Public Health sent staf f last week to monitor cooling issues at West Suburban Medical Center comes this question: Did West Sub completely re place its HV system on its Oak Pa in 2024 as it has claimed?

Responding to emailed questions from Growing Community Media two weeks West Sub admitting 22 patients transfer red from We rial Hospital, its sister after a complete failur HVAC system, the hospital’s contracted communications person said West Sub’s entire HV re placed last year. As pair, the spokesman said the price was not publicly available.

However, the next day, when the SunTimes and Block Club Chicago re ported on patient and family complaints of overheated rooms at West Sub, Dr. Manoj Prasad, CEO of Resilience Healthcare, parent of West Sub and Weiss, was asked at a press

or its parent pulling permits to re place its HVAC in 2024. The newsroom also asked

for any record of village staf f inspecting work done on a new HVAC system last year.

The re ply to the FOIA was that the village government had not found any records that were “responsive” to GCM’s request.

GCM sent an email to the West Sub communications person asking for an interview with Prasad and for any documents detailing the major HVAC project. T he communications person re plied that his firm no longer worked for Resilience as of last week.

Two emails then sent directly to Prasad from GCM have gone unanswered.

An initial response from the Illinois Department of Public Health on July 7 confirmed that the agency had sent staf f to assess cooling conditions at West Sub in response to complaints

Oak Park’s public health department did not participate in the inspection by the Illinois Department of Public Health, according to Dan Yopchick, village spokesperson. But the village did advise callers concerned about overheated conditions at West Sub to call the state’s Office of Health Care Re gulation Complaint Hotline

DR. MANOJ PRASAD

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BUYING A HOUSE: YES, YOU CAN!

When my husband Mike and I first married we lived in a beautiful apartment in Wrigleyville. It was an elegant twobedroom with a handsome fireplace, thick wood trim, and a large kitchen with a dishwasher-an appliance my childhood home did not have. I loved that apartment. But about six months into our marriage, Mike said he would like to start saving to buy a house. He had run the numbers and the best way he thought of to save for the down payment was to cut expenses and move to a cheaper apartment.

At first, I refused. I did not want to leave our beautiful apartment. Plus, I knew that buying a home, for Mike, meant moving to the suburbs. Mike had lived in the city for many more years than me and enjoyed it. By the time we married, most of Mike’s friends had moved to the suburbs and were having children..

Not me. I had lived at home with my parents throughout law school and the first year of working. I was now having fun living in the city and was not ready to leave. Mike insisted that the real estate market was favorable now and if we could save the down payment, this was a great time to buy a house.

So, I took some time to think about it. I did like the shady, leafy old suburbs like Oak Park, and I had heard timing the real estate market could be beneficial. Mike continued to make his case. It took a few months of persuasion, but I finally agreed to start saving and make the move to a smaller apartment.

We found a one-bedroom, third floor

walk-up in the northwest corner of Wrigleyville. It was significantly cheaper than our beautiful apartment. We moved, stopped dining out, and curtailed shopping. Within a year we saved $25,000 for the down payment.

Surprisingly, as much as we planned to save to buy a house, we did not spend much time shopping for a house. In one day, a realtor showed us six houses-and we bought the last one we toured. No surprise, it was the nicest one and the most expensive one.

A three-bedroom, one bath colonial in north Oak Park for $184,500. We snapped it up and still live in that house today. Over the years, we have made many improvements but kept the original footprint (except for adding a front porch). Today, according to Zillow the house is valued at $682,000. It was a good investment-but even more so, it has been a great place to live and raise our family.

Today, buying a house is not as easy as moving to a cheaper apartment and saving for a year. Homebuyers need to save much longer than we did. The average first time home buyer has gone from being in their late twenties to being in their late thirties. Sure, some of that change may be due to people not wanting to strap themselves with home ownership. But according to research, most of the change is due to housing’s

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lack of affordability and home buyers needing to be higher earners to afford a home. A limited supply of houses has caused home prices to increase much faster than salaries. High interest rates have compounded the problem. Plus, increased apartment rental prices and high student loan debt have made saving for a down payment even harder.

Is all lost for young people to become homeowners? Hopefully not. But it may take creativity and a willingness to think outside the box. Here are a few strategies for young people to get on the escalator of real estate ownership.

Co-buying

Buying with a business partner, family member (in addition to your spouse) or friend. Share expenses—even if it is not the actual living space.

Duplex

Typically more expensive than a single-family home, but duplexes can prove to be a good way to pay the mortgage. Live in one unit and rent out the other.

Go Big

Buy a larger home with extra bedrooms, a finished basement, attic, or coach house. Like a duplex, the extra space can be rented out to help make your monthly payments.

Fixer Upper

Consider a home that needs work. You can get a loan that includes renovation costs, build equity, and have a nicer home in the end.

Go Mobile or Tiny House

Modern mobile homes and tiny houses are better designed than in the past and may offer similar square footage for half the price of a traditional home. Even better, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced they would back loans for mobile homes with “characteristics like regular houses built on site.”

Attend an Auction

If you’re willing to do some homework—and aren’t afraid of a project—an auction might offer an affordable option. Just don’t expect move-in ready.

Alternative Financing

Rural properties may qualify for zero-down programs. In urban areas, there may be down payment assistance programs through governments or nonprofits. Also, consider rent-to-own, seller financing, or private loans from family or friends.

No Time To Lose

Look for motivated sellers whose homes have been on the market a while. If you have mortgage preapproval and can act quickly, you may have leverage in negotiating a better deal.

Owning your own home is a great reason to create an estate plan. Owning real estate usually triggers probate court and an estate plan insulates real estate from probate court. Do yourself a favor and climb onto the escalator of real estate ownership in building wealth. Do your family a favor in protecting that purchase with an estate plan.

THERESA CLANCY Estate Planning Attorney

IN MEMORIA M

Former D90 superintendent, Tyra Manning, dies at 78

She led the River Forest school district from 1992-2000

Dr. Tyra Manning, 78, died on July 6, 2025 following an 18-year battle with cancer. A lifelong educator, author, adventurer and artist, she dedicated her life to the advancement of others through learning, connecting and sharing stories that showcased our shared humanity. She inspired many over the course of her life

Born on June 4, 1947 in Brownfield, Texas, the daughter of Clifton Henry Decker and Dorothy Faye (Sexton) Decker, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Cliff Rodney Decker.

She faced her share of sorrow. Her husband and soulmate, 1st Lt. James Larry Hull, an elite Air Force pilot, was killed in 1971 while on a secret mission in Laos during the Vietnam War. His remains were not repatriated to the United States until 2006 when he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a ceremony attended by many of Tyra’s closest family and community friends.

At an early age, she lost her father, and as a young woman she struggled with substance abuse, mental illness and grief following the tragic death of her husband. But she was tenacious in her work ethic and prevailed over those demons to become a nationally recognized educator, administrator, and mentor.

She earned her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Kansas, and served as the River Forest District

GENDER AFFIRMING

Added to rights ordinance

from page 7

This ordinance follows community discussion from Oak Parkers advocating for the village to adopt a “transgender sanctuary” ordinance in light of those out-of-state decisions. Aaron McManus, one of the primary resident voices calling for such an ordinance, thanked the

90 superintendent from 1992 to 2000, where she was a well-known community leader. She was awarded the Excellence in Learning and Leadership Award from Concordia University and named Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa by Dominican University. As an administrator, she was a fierce advocate for her teachers while never losing sight of the need for students to be treated with compassion and empathy.

Following her retirement, she embraced a new career as an author, motivational speaker and blogger. Her two books, Where the Water Meets the Sand and Your Turn, were winners of the Independent Book Publisher’s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Gold Award. Her first book was autobiographical; her second book served as a guidebook for readers to document their own life stories as a means of self-reflection, healing and transformation. She was always an ardent advocate for destigmatizing mental illness and encouraged those suf fering to seek treatment.

Later in life she authored a popular weekly blog that attracted thousands of followers, tackling a wide range of topics, including pop culture, art, music, politics and stories about the people who influenced her life, and those with whom she connected.

Fiercely loyal to her West Texan roots, she had a uniquely American independent spirit. Equipped with a wicked sense of humor, she had the uncanny ability to light up

village for its work on the issue but said that this piece of legislation f alls short of that goal.

“Although this is a good step in that direction, this is not it,” McManus said. “It does not include things like whistleblower protections, protection for providers, a le g al defense fund, a public declaration, civil remedies for harassment, privacy safeguards of records and IT systems or other technolo gy that can be used like surveillance technolo gy that could actually track people. It’s a great start, again, but we still have some work to do and agai n

a room with her intellect, charm and winning personality. She commanded respect and always treated those around her with dignity, even if she disag reed with them. She was a progressive thinker, always seeking to bring together people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds, races, creeds, and political ideologies under her mantra that the things we share in common as human beings far outweigh our dif ferences.

An inspiration for many, she will be greatly missed. Her le gacy lives on through her books and her encouragements to others to share their own stories about our re-

I would like to advocate for a public declaration of the sanctuary status that Oak Park could be, especially in these times.”

Trustee Brian Straw said that he’d like to see the village put to g ether an official task force with experts who can help create the strongest ordinance possible on this issu e.

“I think bringing, bringing a c ombination of activists and sharp le g al mind s to g ether to craft a meaningful and effective sanctuary ordinance that will provide protections and have the teeth necessary to ensure that those protections

spective human jour neys.

Tyra Manning is survived by her daughter, Laura Hull; her sister, Ina Beth Lane; her sister-in-law, Jolene Julian; her brother-in-law, Larry Lane; and many nieces and nephews.

Her final resting place will be Arlington National Cemetery with her husband, Larry.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to MD Anderson Cancer Center (https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/honor-loved-ones.html) or the Veterans Association of America Inc.

stand up to any challenges that may c ome before them I think is a way that we ca n p otentially move this forward,” he said. “I think that this is an absolutely vital and meaningful i ssue tod ay, because the attacks on the trans c ommunity and sor t of on a national b asis are not about to disappear.”

T he ordinance will be redeveloped by village staf f and brought back for a second reading before it goes before a village board vote. T he next discussion on the topic will likely happen before the board goes on hiatus in August.

Ty ra Manning

Oak Park police investigate the s from deceased man’s home

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Burglary arrest

Oak Park police are investigating a theft incident after a man said that valuable items were stolen from his deceased father’s home.

According to police, an antique pocket watch and a gold ring were stolen from the deceased man’s home in an apar tment building in the 1100 block of Ontario Street in the village

The estimated value of the stolen items is $885, according to police.

Car thefts

A 26-year-old Chicago man was arrested by Oak Park police on charges of attempted burglary and motor vehicle theft. The arrest was in connection with an incident that occurred the evening of July 2 in the first block of North Harlem Avenue, according to police.

Battery arrest

A 35-year-old Chicago man was arrested on battery and criminal damage to property charges in connection with an incident involving a Westchester resident. The incident re por tedly happened in the 1000 block of Garfield Street the afternoon of July 2, according to police.

Oak Park police investigated several incidents related to stolen cars in the village last week.

An Oak Park resident re ported to police that someone gained access to the garage of their home in the 600 block of Taylor Avenue and stole their 2020 Toyota RAV4. The estimated value of the vehicle is $27,000, according to police.

An Oak Park resident also re ported that their 2019 Hyundai Elantra was stolen from a third-floor parking garage at a building in the 1100 block of Ontario Avenue, according to police.

The man was also found to be in violation of sex offender re gistration laws, according to police.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department reports dated July 1 – 4 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report 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.

Oak Park sergeant honored for heroism a e Reddins shooting

Sgt. Verge, Oak Park native, 20+ year police veteran, cited for braver y

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park Police Sergeant Derrick Verge has received one of the highest honors in Illinois law enforcement for his actions responding to the killing of Detective Allan Reddins. Verge received the Police Medal of Valor award from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police during the July 1 Oak Park Village Board meeting. Verge, an Oak Park native and a more than 20-year veteran of the Oak Park Police Department, received the honor for his response to the Nov. 29, 2024 fatal shooting of his fellow officer.

“Thank you for bringing this award to us this evening and for the honor that I know we all wish never had to happen,” Village President Vicki Scaman said. “We are incredibly proud of you and our entire police force.”

The ceremony began with a moment of silence for Reddins’ sacrifice. He was the first Oak Park police officer killed while on duty since 1938.

Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Jack-

CRIME DASHBOARD Consolidating data

from page 6

County State’s Attorney, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, according to county officials. It features data dating back to the beginning of 2018.

“With these tools, I hope the public will be able to gain a better understanding of our criminal le gal system, including the impact policy can have on a person after an ar rest,” said Cook County Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell. “By bringing data from all our

son was emotional in her speech thanking Verge for his service and honoring Reddin

“His courageous acts brought an end to a deadly assault against members of the Oak Park Police Department,” Jackson

“Sergeant Verge, we thank you for courage, for your leadership and for service.”

Verge shot and injured the alleged shooter, Jerell Thomas, a 37-year-old Chicag man, moments after Thomas had opened fire on Reddins. Reddins had attempted to stop Thomas after receiving a report the man had brandished a firearm inside nearby bank.

Thomas is awaiting trial in the C County Department of Corrections Divisio 8 facility. His next court date is set for Aug. 18 as he faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder among 56 total felony counts

Patrick Kreis, chief of the Vernon Hills Police Department, recounted Verge’s actions that day before presenting him with the medal.

“Upon hearing a radio broadcast of shots fired, Sergeant Derrick Verge on his own initiative left the scene of a domestic incident and responded to the area. Upon arriving, Sergeant Verge spoke to an eyewitness who was able to direct them to the loca-

offices together in a shar ed commitment to transparency and accountability, I hope we can promote discussions and inspire critical analysis that provides a more holistic view of how our courts operate, instead of only focusing on stories about the outliers.”

The tool breaks down quarterly court operation statistics by jurisdiction, including District 4, which takes cases from west Cook County municipalities li ke Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Berwyn, Brookfield and Riverside. So far in 2025, 8% of all Cook County criminal cases have come from District 4 communities, a nearly identical share to the number of cases coming out of the county’s southern and southwestern suburban court districts, according to county statistics

The number of criminal cases filed in

Oak Park Chief of Police Shatonya Johnson, Sergeant Derrick Verge and Vernon Hills Chief of Police Patrick L. Kreis a er the ceremony awarding Sgt. Verge the Medal of Valor from the Illinois Police Chiefs Association at Village Hall, July 1.

tion of the shooter,” Kreis said. “Sergeant Verge ran through Scoville Park to close the distance with the shooter. When Sergeant Verge located the shooter, he radioed to other officers the location and noted that the shooter was still armed and taking cover behind a concrete pillar by the library. Recognizing the immediate deadly threat

the county rose last year, although it is still far from the system’s pre-COVID heights. In 2024, the county-wide system processed 61,507 new criminal charges, compared to 55,233 in 2023 and 86,434 in 2019. There were 16,653 new criminal charges filed in the first quarter of this year, according to county statistics

District 4 criminal case filings topped 5,000 for the first time since 2019 last year with 5,248. There were 1,308 new filings in District 4 in the first quarter of 2025, according to county data.

The most common charge in District 4 and Cook County on the whole is domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery, of which there were 208 cases in 2025’s first quarter, according to county statistics

The tool presently only features Chicago

posed to the public and his fellow officers, Sergeant Verge fired two rounds striking and downing the shooter from a distance of 40 yards. Sergeant Verge and other officers approached the down suspect, secured the 9 mm pistol he had used, placed him under arrest and administered first aid to treat his wounds.”

crime data. The data featured in the tool re garding incident reports does not show a proportional decrease in the annual number of incidents reported to police by residents since, suggesting that the large decrease in ar rests and criminal charges is likely the result of shifting law enforcement strategies.

The new dashboard will allow residents to understand the facts of the local criminal justice system better than before, the tool’s developers hope.

“Our hope is that engaging with a variety of data, all in one place, helps those looking to understand how the system functions to better explore their questions and gain insights,” said Don Stemen, Co-director of the Loyola University of Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice Research

TODD BANNOR

TERM LIMITS Sooner

or later?

from page 1

Walsh proposed two dates for such a meeting: July 21 or August 4, both Mondays.

As of Monday evening, Adduci said conflicting board member schedules are preventing the special meeting to be held on one of those dates, so the topic will likely be added to the Aug. 25 re gular board meeting agenda. Walsh confirmed no board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Adduci, who running unopposed won her fourth consecutive term as village president April 1, said it isn’t feasible to include the topic on an already-packed agenda for the board’s re gular meeting on July 14.

But some trustees are questioning that. Trustees Erika Bachner and Katie Brennan confirmed they had asked for the matter to be added to Monday’s agenda.

“We need to be tackling this issue sooner rather than later,” Bachner said. “I think we need to listen to the residents and uphold their v ote, so I think we should be already working on this. I think it’s important enough to be on our next board meeting.”

Brennan ag reed.

“I think we should talk about it earlier

than Aug. 25,” Brennan said, adding she will be out of the country at that time. “This vote happened April 1. In general, Aug. 25 is more than another month away. Why are we waiting this long?”

The answer to that question, Adduci said, is an ef fort to take proper steps to ensure that whatever course of action is taken, it will stand up under leg al scrutiny not only now but well into the future.

“We can’t just codify something (where) we’re not sure what the referendum is,” she said. “If it’s what the residents want in the future, we can get there.”

She confirmed that she and Walsh had been working to get a special meeting scheduled, but it proved difficult to align all board members’ schedules.

“We have to addr ess it at the board table; I don’t think that’s changed,” Adduci said. “We still need to address it and it is a very important issue. But it’s not time sensitive. We can accomplish everything over the next two months.

“We should, and want to, do it right.”

Trustee Megan Keskitalo, who was voted in April 1, had also asked for the matter to be added to the July 14 agenda.

“For me, it’s that the citizens are feeling like we’re not responding,” Keskitalo said. “I am working to make sure that everything they want to talk about makes it on the board agenda.”

The language of the April 1 referendum

question that asked residents to vote for or against ter m limits was specific:

“Shall the Village of River Forest, after the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election, enact term limits for the elected offices of Village President, Village Clerk, and the six (6) Village Trustees for no more than two (2) four-year (4-year) terms total as follows: for each of three (3) Trustees beginning with the April 3, 2027, Consolidated election, and for the Village President, Village Clerk, and three (3) Trustees starting with the April 6, 2029, Consolidated election?”

However, there is debate over whether the petition included conflicting language The title of the document stated, “Petition for River Forest Binding Referendum,” while the language in the subsequent paragraph said that “the following advisory question of public policy be placed on the ballot and submitted to the voters of River Forest for their approval or disapproval, by referendum at the Consolidated Election to be held on April 1, 2025.”

said.

Brennan pointed out that, “I’d be curious to know what the question was posed to Lance that he’s answering.”

Keskitalo added that she’s asked “our village attorney for all legal remedies for this situation.

“We need to be tackling this issue sooner rather than later. I think we need to listen to the residents and uphold their vote, so I think we should be already working on this. I think it ’s important enough to be on our next board meeting.”

ERIKA BACHNER

River Forest village trustee

Walsh said Monday that village attorney Lance Malina of Chicago-based firm Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins was working on an opinion on the matter that will be provided before the meeting

“It’s just going to provide the village board with different options on how to proceed with the referendum question,” Walsh

“I want us to definitively answer the question whether there are term limits for our village trustees and village president,” she said, “whether that issue is binding or advisory. This is something we are bound to respond to.”

Meanwhile, two citizen proponents of term limits, Susan Foran and Deborah Borman, both declined comment Monday re garding a potential special meeting. Foran is out of town, and Borman said she had no comment pending further details from the village. What does Brennan see as the result of an eventual meeting re garding the referendum results?

“Common sense and good governance suggest that this village board act on the residents’ vote to enact term limits for the River Forest Village Board,” she said.

Getting resolution, Adduci said, will require discussion and debate at the board table with direction from the village’s legal counsel.

“I think all of us, all our elected officials, should want to get it right and correct,” she said.

Deborah Borman and Cathy Adduci

Erika Bachner

100 times over, Georgia and Daniel share their stories With the 100th podcast

By JESSICA MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

On a recent steamy Sunday afternoon, Georgia Hunter and Daniel Smrokowski celebrated the 100th episode of their Georgia and Daniel Show podcast by recording it in front of a live audience gathered in Georgia’s mother’s Oak Park backyard. Although they had prepared an applause cue card, it wasn’t necessary with the enthusiastic audience.

“We have more people than we expected,” said Daniel, laughing. “We thought it would just be our parents.”

The podcast is produced under the umbrella of Special Chronicles, an online platform created by Daniel in 2008 to give individuals with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to share their stories. The podcast originally focused on Special Olympics athletes that Daniel met in his role as an athlete and ambassador. With more than 750 episodes, the podcast features segments on inclusive employment, interviews with disability advocates, and coverage from several Special Olympics World Games

“There is lack of understanding and acceptance of people with special needs because there is a lack of inclusion in the media,” said Daniel. “Special Chronicles gives us a chance to discuss our lives, from a different angle.”

The Georgia and Daniel Show was launched in 2015, after Daniel met Georgia through the Special Olympics Athletic Leadership Program. The two, both of whom are 36, became a couple online and offline and have been together for 10 years.

“The only way I knew how to get to know her was to ask her to be on my show,” said Daniel, who had never dated before

Georgia claims that, for her, it was love at first sight.

“Daniel was the guy I wanted to get to know more, and the one I want to be with for the rest of my life,” she said during the live podcast.

“I think we have a few tears in the back of the audience — our parents,” said Daniel. Their podcast is produced monthly, although they took a six-month hiatus during the first half of this year. The show, which has a global reach, was originally called the Daniel and Georgia Show but an Instagram survey revealed that 85% of their fans were

in favor of changing the title to the Georgi and Daniel Show. Daniel seems happy to gi Georgia top-billing

“We speak from the heart. It’s all unscripted—we just let it iel said.

The podcasters have shared do ventures and travels, including their birthdays at Cooper’s suggested during the live broadcast that the restaurant consider sponsoring the sho a special May The 4th Be Wi (Georgia is a huge Star Wa Mother’s Day bike ride with their mother Their re partee, frequently punctuated by Daniel’s boisterous laugh, gives Burns and Gracie Allen a run ey. “I love his fashion sense — he got that from me. We both love wearing t-shirts and shorts,” said Georgia during the li cast.

Besides their popular podcast, Daniel and Georgia have very busy lives filled merous other activities.

Georgia, a 2007 OPRF gr of the original Warriors Knocks, a local nonprofit supporting people with different abilities. She has been on the staff of the organization’s Knockout Kitchen since 2017 and helped launch its popular Knockout Catering enterprise. Her certificate, with honors, in cooking and baking from Triton College make her a valued member of the team. She recently served as a keynote speaker for Opportunity Knocks’ annual gala.

TODD BANNOR

Daniel Smrokowski and Georg ia Hunter prior to the 100th podcast of the ‘Georgia and Daniel Show’ on June 29.

titled Special Voices

As Chef G, Georgia’s cooking skills are on display on her Georgia’s Grill show, available on Special Chronicles’ website. She is a popular presence at Trader Joe’s, where she has worked part-time for 16 years.

Georgia, whose specialties are breakfast bur ritos and smoothies, is trying to teach Daniel how to cook. She insists he’s really good at making pizza.

Daniel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Roosevelt University, where he worked for the college newspaper and radio station and in the university’s Communication Lab. He received the Matthew Freeman Award for Social Justice in recognition of his passion for giving voice to people with disabilities. Following graduation, he freelanced for the Bugle newspaper in Plainfield, covering village board meetings, writing feature stories and a column

As a Sargent Shriver Global Messenger, Daniel served as one of 10 international Athlete Spokespeople and spokespeople in the 2018-2023 class. He covered the World Games in Abu Dhabi and Berlin. He also attended a 2024 Special Olympics Christmas event hosted by President Joe Biden.

Daniel is one of the first Special Olympics athletes hired by United Airlines, a global partner of the nonprofit. He works part-time as a Service Ambassador, welcoming customers and helping at the gates, and serves on United’s disability business resource group

Georgia and Daniel have participated in numerous Special Olympics events over the years, including swimming and basketball. They competed in bocce ball at last month’s Summer Games in downstate Bloomington. Georgia came in first. Daniel came in fourth place.

“It was very neck-to-neck in the second round,” said Georgia. “It started pouring

rain but we still played. It was kind of fun.” Daniel’s game went into overtime, but he lost by an excruciating 1/8 inch. “There’s always next year!” he said.

“If all the world were like the Special Olympics, there would be no wars,” Daniel’s mother, Linda, said.

Daniel is planning a future podcast revolving around his trip later this month to Colorado to visit family. He and Georgia are open to suggestions from their audience. Daniel’s dream is to create a platform hosting many podcasts for people with disabilities.

Recognition for the podcast is growing. They appeared on Fox 32’s Good Day Chicago in a promotion for their 100th episode. Georgia kept the media attention in perspective

“It was kind of emotional because I did a fantastic job — but the best part was having a victory breakfast at a café with my mom, Karen Hunter,” she said.

Check out the Georgia and Daniel podcast on specialchronicles.com.

District 97 summer school relies on innovation

‘We’re

ex tending the school year

’

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

Summer school might carry ne gative connotations some, particularly grownups

Implied is perhaps the idea that things didn’t go well during the re gular academic year, and that a student has to catch up.

But hear out Dr. Eboney Lofton, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 chief learning innovation of ficer.

She’s got a different story.

“The experience I may have had when I was young, summer school was a certain way, but now that’s not the case,” she said. “Potentially in other spaces, it’s kind of a rehash. We’re extending the school year.”

The key word in the district’s summer offerings, wh served more than 600 students in early childhood to middle school from early June to early July for the majority of programs, is contained in Lofton’s title – innovation.

That includes partnerships with entities like the Pa District of Oak Park, the Oak Park Education Foundation and even Triton Colle ge to provide new opportunities for students.

For example, fifth through seventh graders who qualify for Title I supports were able to jump into the Middle School Explore! Program from June 9-27, which for many was their first foray into career exploration. The pr ogram was supported by the education foundation and Triton.

Using Percy Julian Middle School as a home base, students traveled to Triton for the Colle ge for Kids program the first week for something special.

“They go to Triton, pick a ‘major,’ go through a class with a colle ge instructor, then they showcase on Thursday what they did,” Lofton said.

Middle School Explore! students also were exposed to tutoring and acceleration and other field trips over the full three-week run.

That’s just one example of innovation. Fourth and fifth graders could participate in Summer Robotics Camp at Julian, where they got a taste of designing, building and programming robots. The idea was to develop STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) while fostering creativity and innovation.

Students in the District 97 Middle School Explore! program are exposed to tutoring and other eld trips over its full

In its second year, another solid partnership for the district was with the park district for summer camp for kindergarten through fourth graders, who can pick full- or half-day sessions.

“We wanted to make sure in the (district) equity policy we had those opportunities,” Lofton said. “For our free and reduced lunch students, we wanted to provide support so there were no bar riers for re gistration. ”

In sum, Lofton said, student eng agement is what matters, because while summer school is voluntary, students can’t learn if they aren’t eng aging with teachers like Marvin Childress.

Childress has taught summer school math for 20 years, the last two in District 97 within the Middle School Explore! program. He gets a kick out of those students who realize they’re “getting it.”

“They are all doing work simultaneously and the one thing I enjoy about this program is seeing those kids at the

same time have those ‘ah-ha!’ moments,” Childress said. “It’s all about making the student feel good about themselves. In this program, we go day by day. If you can only do one problem on Monday, can you do two problems on Tuesday and do them right?”

Math has a strong emphasis in the summer school STEM Programs, where Summer Robotics Camp fell. For example, Middle School Math Review was hosted at Julian for students who want to maintain skills learned throughout the school year.

“Oak Park D97 has four distinct transformation goals,” said superintendent Dr. Ushma Shah. “The fourth one, ‘We Learn Everywhere,’ includes out-of-school time and summer programming as a district priority.

“This summer, we are partnering smart, redesigning old models and innovating to make the world bigger for all of our students in the summer – and whenever they are not in school.”

GREGG VOSS

Frank Llo Wright Tru welcomes summer wit e Bear and an open hous

Looking to raise nal $5M for new Learning Cente

By LACEY SIKORA Real Estate Reporter

It’s not every day that a local historic site is cold called by one of the nation’s biggest television shows. In fact, according to Celeste Adams, president and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, it had never happened before — until this spring, when she heard from location scouts for the hit Hulu series The Bear. The show asked for permission to film a part of season four in the iconic Home & Studio Adams readily agreed

“They approached the trust and specifically wanted to see the Home & Studio, said Ad ams. “We were quite honored that they selected us. We were so pleased with their treatment of the site. Their approach was thoughtful and inspirational, things the trust always wants to achieve when people visit.”

Christine Trevino, digital communications manager for the trust, was on hand during the filming to answer any questions and ended up making her television debut

Wright Home and Studio (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1889/1898)

with star Jeremey Allen White, who plays Chef rmy Berzatto on the show. vino says it was clear people behind the show had done their homework and knew the importance of the Home & Studio as an historic site. She said, “They directed and filmed with such care. They were always aware that it was an historic site.”

According to Adams, the show’s re presentatives drove the agenda for the day of filming. “They came in prepared. They had ideas, and then Christine was there to answer any questions. It was very much their creative choice

driving the day.”

Trevino and Adams say that the workers were very respectful and wanted to keep disruptions to the Home & Studio’s schedule to a minimum. Filming was completed in just one morning, allowing the Home & Studio to reopen for tours quickly.

Adams and Trevino have no records of the Home & Studio being featured in a scripted television or movie prior to The Bear, but based on their experience, it was definitely a worthwhile venture.

See FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST on pa ge 20

COURTESY OF FRANK L LOYD W RIGHT T RUST/PHOTO BY JAMES C AULFIELD

CELESTE ADAMS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Kathry n Murphy Interiors

Design studio opens in Forest Park

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Unveiling Resource Center

from page 19

One of the most difficult parts of the process was being sworn to secrecy Trevino, who admits that the experience of welcoming one of television’s biggest stars into her workplace was a bit outside her normal work experience, said her own brother was surprised to see her on the screen when he tuned in to watch the new season.

Summer Open House

The trust is not letting fame go to its head and is continuing full-speed ahead with fundraising ef for ts for its new Learning Center. On Saturday, July 19 the trust will welcome neighbors to its Oak Park campus for a look into what’s new with the trust, the new Resource Center and plans for its Learning Center.

State Senate President Don Harmon, Village President Vicki

Kathryn Murphy Interiors opened a new studio in Forest Park on June 18. Previously, the Oak Parkbased interior designer worked from her home Kathryn Humphreys’ new Madison Street studio allows her team of three to meet with clients and host small events.

At the June 18 ribbon cutting ceremony, Humphreys was joined by her family, her two staf f members, past and current clients, and re presentatives of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Forest

Park Bank.

The new studio, 7416 Madison St., showcases Humphreys’ style with a living room-like set up in the front room complete with a faux fireplace and a Frame TV which shares images of projects. The back room includes a kitchenette, as well as table and wall space for gathering design inspiration in the form of tiles, wallpaper, hardware and cabinet samples.

The studio is open by appointment. Visit https:// www.kmurphyinteriors.com/ to learn more.

tive Chair Patty Hunt will speak. Celeste Adams and Tom Pierce will provide an update on the Learning Center, and participants in this summer’s kid camp will display their design models.

Adams says the trust has completed restoration of the Resource Center, reading room and archive with roughly $2.5 million spent on the restoration. The last phase of the project is the pavilion which will house the Learning Center, which is expected to cost $10 million.

The trust has reached half of that fundraising goal and is looking to raise the final $5 million to create the modern pavilion, which will form a sort of bridge between the two older homes to the east of the Home & Studio on the trust campus.

“People are very excited about this phase,” said Adams. “We’ re pleased to have community support, and we need community eng agement. We really have a campus now. We’ve been a part of this community for over 50 years, and while we have always been a site for education and tourism, we’re looking forward to eng aging with the community and life-long learning with our new center.”

Adams invites all to the event which she says is meant to “build awareness, share the facts and tell people who we are as we’re headed into the home stretch.”

The event will take place on the campus of the Home & Studio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 19. Guests can enjoy coffee from U3 and treats from Courageous Bakery.

Scaman and Trust Board Vice President and Execu-

SARAH CROST PHOTOGRAPHY

CREDIT: FX

e Bear’s Carmen Berzatto, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White, in Oak Park

FRANK LLOY D WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD

Children’s Play room, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1889-1909)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

VIEWPOINTS

Everything is housing

When you don’t understand the causes of a problem, attempted solutions often don’t work, or make things worse. Collectively we are doing an excellent job of misdiagnosing a host of issues that all have a common cause because we don’t the solution: build more housing. Here I make the bold laim that “everything is housing,” that a ray of our social, economic and climate ills tie back to our failed housing

. A large body of academic research has wn that levels of homelessness are drivhousing costs (1). This result holds consistent across a wide variety of very different regional housing markets. Illinois and Oak Park are no different.

As rents and housing prices have exploded, the unhoused population is a growing concer n in Oak Park. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that Illinois’ unhoused population increased from 11,947 to 25,832, between 2023 and 2024. (2)

A 2025 report found Illinois has only 34 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households, leaving a gap of nearly three hundred thousand needed units (3).

The solution? Build more housing

In Illinois, where you live strongly determines the quality of public education, as almost 50% of school funding is local (4). The best quality schools are located in affluent areas with expensive homes and limited affordable rental housing stock. These high housing costs effectively deny low-income Illinois residents access to the best education. This drives massive educational inequity, which has social impacts.

The solution? Build more housing

When people can’t find affordable housing near jobs and city centers, they are pushed to live farther away, resulting in longer commutes, more traffic, and higher greenhouse gas emissions. Chicago data shows that residents in transit-rich, walkable city neighborhoods con-

tribute far less to climate change than residents in car-dependent outer suburbs (5). The reasons are clear: in dense urban areas people are more likely to walk, bike, or use public transit, and ca trips take shorter distances

Further, the single-family home, the dominant form of housing in the far-flung suburbs, is the most climate intensive form of housing. A stud by the U.S. EIA (Energy Information Administration) found that people who live in multifamily housing with five or more units use half as muc energy as those who live in less dense housing (6). The link is clear, housing policy is climate policy

The solution? Build more housing

Housing policy has been used for centuries as a tool of segregation. We like to think that we’v left this ugly legacy behind in Oak Park, but single-family zoning continues to drive racial and economic segregation by preventing the buildin of new multifamily housing. Single-family-zoned neighborhoods have the most expensive housing stock and are populated by mostly affluent white families. This zoning excludes minorities from parts of Oak Park neighborhoods nearly as effectively as the redlining of the past.

The solution? Build more housing.

Shrubtown casts a cold

We’ve struggled for decades to solve these issues. We’ve mostly failed because we don’t understand how deeply housing impacts everything in our lives. For most people housing is their single largest expense, it determines the quality of their education, their climate impact, and the racial and economic profile of their neighbors.

Everything is housing. Build more housing.

Sources:

1) https://www.pew.org/en/research-andanalysis/articles/2023/08/22/how-housing-costsdrive-levels-of-homelessness

2) https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/ illinois-homelesses-increase-2024

3) https://housingactionil.org/ blog/2025/03/13/new-data-shows-dire-shortageof-affordable-homes-in-illinois-as-proposed-cutsthreaten-to-worsen-crisis

4) https://schoolstatefinance.org/resources/ public-elementary-secondary-education-revenuesources-by-state-u-s-census-bureau

5) https://chi.streetsblog.org/2022/11/29/ chicagos-climate-superpower-how-tod-can-helpaddress-global-warming

6) https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail. php?id=11731

June 7, 2025, marked 10 years since we lost our brother, grandson, nephew and son Hunter to suicide

It seems both like yesterday and ages ago that our world changed irrevocably. What is amazing is that both can be true at once.

Our “party of six” immediately became a “party of five,” and that sense of ruptured identity was profoundly dislocating. Our bedrock in the world was no longer, and this new reality defied traditional expectations where parents pre-decease children, high school students matriculate to college, and college grads move on to pursue anticipated career paths With Hunter’s death, those nor ms were shattered, and, in their wake, we stepped tentatively

forward, fell more than a few times, engaged fitfully with one another and sometimes reluctantly with others outside our immediate experience until we gradually but consistently made forward movement.

A central tenet of “grief work” is that every relationship with the deceased is unique and thus, so too must be every expression of grief. While immobilized at first, we eventually claimed our own agency to deter mine how to connect with Hunter, and through these connections, to define our “love after loss” relationship with him. How? Walking, talking, therapy, college, exercise, ultramarathons, sailing, meditation, writing, grad school, board games, service to others, work, the distraction of work, nature, sobriety, moves across the U.S., marriage and partnership. And through it all, it’s been OK to not be OK if still on the

Finally, term-limit talk

We are unclear when or how the prevailing view changed at River Forest’s village hall when it comes to responding to the April 1 referendum vote in favor of imposing term limits on future village boards.

Until recently the official line has been that allegedly conflicted wording within the referendum question itself made it a legal issue to be resolved in the courts rather than a political issue that needed open discussion at the board table and with citizen input.

That position was backed up in a January opinion from River Forest’s village attor ney, and since repeated, that the village board should do nothing to resolve the matter

Now though there will be a special meeting of the board, there will be a second legal opinion coming from the attorney, and the only argument now seems to be how soon such a meeting can be scheduled. Three trustees on the seven-member board want the term-limit discussion added to the board agenda for next week. They appear to be proponents of having the board codify the results of the April vote and make term limits the law in River Forest. Village President Cathy Adduci says the agenda for Monday is already packed and that sincere efforts to find a time when all trustees can be present for a special meeting have been a challenge what with summer vacation plans. That makes the likely date for the meeting late August.

That’s OK by us. The main thing is that this will be an open meeting and better to have the updated opinion by Village Attor ney Lance Malina in hand and widely disseminated in advance.

This term-limit vote has come to represent a serious divide within River Forest. The divide has been pulsing over a number of years and is seen in debates over economic development and questions of transparency in local gover nment. But it has come to a head with an actual citizen vote on term limits. And while we agree there is an issue in the binding or advisory language in the referendum question, we hope there is no more discussion of the margin of victory and what it means. Some 52% of voters in an admittedly low tur nout election favored ter m limits. That is not to be lightly dismissed.

And the resolution of this issue on a narrowly divided board makes this a fraught topic, rooted in local politics

Remembering Tyra

Tyra Manning was a consequential superintendent for River Forest’s public elementary schools. She led the schools from 1992 to 2000 and, in our view, brought a modern and more ambitious vision of what our elementary and middle schools could accomplish.

We remember her best though for what followed her District 90 tenure. We reported on her long path to the 2006 repatriation of the remains of her husband, James Hull. An Air Force pilot, he died in 1971 while on a secret mission in Laos. And we reported on his eventual burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Manning wrote a brave book, a memoir, about her complicated life from issues of substance abuse and mental illness following her husband’s death and through to her return to her West Texas roots.

A remarkable and well lived life

During my brief dalliance with cannabis long ago during colle ge, I walked outside my dor m and found myself in the Garden of Eden — like the first human being on the first day, awed by the beauty of my sur roundings. The world looked whole and holy and exquisite and good.

Soon enough I realized I didn’t need, and couldn’t rely on, a dr ug to remove the filters from my sight — but I learned that in the ordinary everyday, we have filters and don’t see all there is to see, that we seldom spy the extraordinary in the ordinary, that there is more to seeing than meets the eyes.

TRAINOR

I also learned that, instead of the world meeting my eyes, sight could take me outside my “self ” to meet the world, the first step toward what some call “mysticism.”

“Beauty,” I concluded, is where goodness and receptivity intersect. The world is inherently good, as the Creator famously noted in the biblical creation narrative — delivering the primordial judgment, and coining an important new concept: God saw that it was “good.” But only occasionally do the rest of us appreciate the world in its fullness. Beauty is only in the eyes of the appreciative beholder. Sight, it seems, rarely gets out of first gear, which made me wonder if we ever really left the “Garden of Eden.” Maybe we simply stopped noticing it. Our original “sin”? Looking at creation through an inherited screen of shame. Our eyes rarely settle on anything. We glance sideways, shyly, eyes darting like frenetic spar rows. We’re too busy fretting about survival to take the time to truly see.

We are conditioned from an early age: Don’t stare. It’s impolite. Maybe even dangerous. Shame on you.

But when we do set our sight on the world around us, for a luxurious length of time … oh my. Eyes are more than windows to the soul. They are portals to ecstasy, an out-of-the-self experience. If two people look deeply enough, long enough into each other’s eyes, we’re told, they’ re likely to f all in love — or what feels like “falling in love,” otherwise known as intimacy.

And if there is more to seeing than we thought, there is probably more to everything — within us and around us. In fact, if I could wrap my spirit jour ney in a single word, the

word would be “More.”

There is More to a rose than its aroma. If you look, you may find a bumblebee writhing ecstatically at its center, coating itself in pollen, preparing to fertilize Eden at Large.

There is More to the cosmos than we know, of course, but also More to our inner universe.

More is not about greed and gratification. It ’s More about quality than quantity, possibility and potential.

The More of our brain is the power of our untapped mind. The More of our heart is the not-yetmet soul.

We are More than ego, More than our conscious self, More than our winning and losing, More than achieving or succeeding.

We are More than accumulated memories and actions. There is More to us than we dare to imagine or dream.

More is the core of hope.

There is More to gravity than an apple falling to the ground, said Newton.

There is More to love, Chardin said, than falling for each other. Love, he said, is More like discovering fire for the second time in human history.

Gravity and love are the two great mysteries of the universe. Mystery is the More we can’t fathom. More is the redemptive “I don’t know,” writhing at the hear t of every certainty, like that bumblebee coated in pollen. More than we can wrap our minds around, More questions than we can answer, More answers than we can question.

More’s great beyond beckons, draws us onward, upward, inward.

More is the possibility of life after death — and life before death.

There is More to belief than being anchored in certainty. Possibility is More than enough. More is a holy restlessness, sifting through each inexhaustible day, searching for meaning, More than anyone can find in a single lifetime.

There is More to human being and human doing, More to becoming homo sapiens. More may be the greatest force in the universe. More than gravity and love combined. Maybe More is gravity and love combined. Even less is More (More or less).

More ripples, more echoes More is the great encore.

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Harriette Robinet enters hall of fame

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame has selected Timuel Black, Oscar Brown, Jr., and Oak Park’s own, the late Harriette Gillem Robinet, for official induction, with a ceremony that will take place on Saturday, July 12 at the Woodson Re gional Library’s auditorium, 9525 S. Halsted in Chicago. The program star ts at 1 p.m., with a courtyard rece ption to follow.

Re gistration is open for the free ceremony. Emcee Jamie Nesbitt Golden will lead a lineup of presenters that will include Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Keith M. Kelley and Lisa Yun Lee, as well as living relatives such as Rita Hall, Linda Robinet, Maggie Brown, Africa Brown, and Zenobia Johnson Black. The American Writers Museum, Third World Press, Guild Literary Complex, and Chicago Writers Association will join us as partners in presenting the awards.

Re gister soon, to ensure you will be to get seating.

Donald Evans

Co-founder, Chica go Literary Hall of Fame

WEDNESD AY

of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

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

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

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

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Volunteers shap e our community’s future

I want to extend my gratitude to all the dedicated residents who are working behind the scenes, volunteering their time, energy, and talents to make our community an even better place. This includes elected officials on our village board, the library, park district, as well as those for school districts 90 and 200. Volunteers also serve on commissions and committees for each of the organizations mentioned, including our parents who donate their time to local PTOs and the high school booster club. The work to keep our community moving forward could not be accomplished without these selfless individuals who have chosen to step up and serve.

These roles are unpaid, but individuals still make the choice to be involved and sacrifice their free time due to their dedication to River Forest. The motivations I have witnessed come from a true investment in the place we

Iall call home and is born out of a desire to make a difference. What is gained is the knowledge that each and every volunteer is playing an active role in shaping our community’s future. If you’re not already involved in some way, I invite you to consider the many possibilities. Whether you’re a professional with skills to share, a parent looking to stay connected, a retiree wanting to give back, or anyone else – your time and perspectives are important. Now is the perfect time to find a way to contribute. But if you’re not quite ready to get involved, I encourage you to take a moment to thank those who already do.

Great communities don’t just happen. They’re built by people who care about them.

Sign up for our Village newsletter at //vrf us/enews

Cathy Adduci

River Forest Village

President

River Forest term limits in context

Recently, Wednesday Jour nal requested our comments on River Forest ter m limits for an article running this week. Additional details are included here to underscore and remind readers of the history and context behind the ter mlimits initiative

Fundamentally, the term-limits initiative was a last-resort message to an entrenched administration that for years has dismissed constituent concer ns about decisions, projects, and spending — see, for example, the failed Lake-Lathrop development, rezoning the commercial districts, pushing for a testing lab near family homes (EMSL), improper flood control, secret invitation-only neighbor meetings, and unwanted installation of traffic barriers, to name only a few.

As Wednesday Jour nal knows, the successful second citizen ballot initiative arose only after the first attempt was blocked by the administration. During the first attempt, the administration arranged to keep trustees sympathetic to ter m limits off the electoral board. The remaining board — which included a trustee with an obvious conflict of interest — voted the question “ambiguous,” keeping it off the November 2024 ballot.

Residents then urged the village board itself

to draft its own resolution for the April ballot. Despite a 90-minute discussion, the board voted 4–2 to “do nothing,” suggesting voters were uninfor med and claiming 2026 would be a better time, conveniently when no village office was up for election. This meeting was a missed opportunity for the village board to listen to the constituency to craft a referendum question that avoided any alleged ambiguity

Voters succeeded the second time, despite the blatant “no” campaign against term limits, coordinated and managed by the husband of a trustee also interviewed in the Jour nal article. The real concern of some board members is not policy or wording, but power. This disingenuous position prevails with the continued unsupported argument that the voter-approved term limits are not binding.

River Forest residents voted by a 52% majority to enact term limits. Term limits are now the law in River Forest. All that is required is a simple administrative action: update the River Forest code to reflect term limits for board officials Will our village administration continue to “do nothing?”

Debbie Borman, Sue Foran, and Patty Henek River Forest

Serious questions about Oak Park leadership

’m grateful to see Wednesday Journal finally reporting what has been an open secret at Oak Park Village Hall for years — the toxic work environment that has led to the departure of no less than nine senior staff members [Resignation and a firing undo Oak Park’s economic development efforts, News, May 28]. Now we’re seeing the beginning of an exodus of valued employees at all levels, some of whom have been with the village for years, others who only lasted a few months. Before the election, Vicki Scaman optimistically attributed this turnover to a competitive job market and attractive new opportunities. We now know the real reason why so many staff members have chosen to make lateral moves and accept worse commutes, despite retaining strong personal ties to Oak Park

These staffing challenges appear to have had a negative impact on the village’s ability to effectively manage its budget. Since the longtime CFO’s resignation in 2023, we have relied on a New York-based “interim” consultant to oversee village finances — a for mer colleague of Village Manager Kevin Jackson from his time in Long Beach, California. While a new finance director was hired in March 2025, her résumé suggests

she has less than two years of municipal finance experience — an astonishingly thin background for someone tasked with overseeing a $150M+ budget. Meanwhile, it appears that Oak Park has lost its 12-year streak of receiving the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. My friends in municipal finance tell me that the GFOA award isn’t just symbolic — it’s an industry standard that reflects best practices in budgeting, transparency, and communication. Losing it after more than a decade signals a decline in both internal capacity and public accountability, and has likely made it more difficult for the village to attract a qualified CFO.

And yet in February 2025, the board approved a 13% raise for Mr. Jackson — bringing his salary to $261,500. This latest agreement also granted him a take-home vehicle for personal use and a $100,000 housing loan, half of which was immediately forgiven. The remaining balance will be forgiven over five years, with the village also covering the associated tax burden each year. These kinds

of perks are highly unusual in municipal gover nment, especially in a community our size Why on earth would someone whose salary is 142% higher than the median household income of Oak Park need a large “forgivable loan” (read: free money) and the gover nment version of a company car for personal use?

In a pre-election interview, Trustee Jim Taglia articulated a framework for evaluating the village manager’s performance, outlining key criteria including: budget control, work culture, goal achievement, capital planning, efficient spending, technology implementation, transparency, and accessibility.

He noted, “A good village manager should have a solid understanding of village finances, a happy and productive staff, satisfied users of village services, a diverse staff, and a reputation of being responsive to the needs of our community members.”

By these measures, it is time for the board to ask serious questions about Village Manager Kevin Jackson’s leadership.

Sources:

Jim Taglia interview w/Activist Toolkit:

https://www.activisttoolkit.org/james-taglia2025-oak-park-village-trustee

Kevin Jackson raise: Wednesday Journal article, Feb. 20, 2025, https://www oakpark. com/2025/02/20/oak-park-village-managersalary-raise/ Board meeting for resolution: https://oakpark.granicus.com/player/clip/2720

Loss of GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, FY2024: GFOA site shows 1,700+ gover nments receive the Award yearly, but FY 2024 winners list does not include the village of Oak Park: https://www.gfoa.org/budget-awardwinners.

https://www oak-park us/Gover nment/ Finance-and-Budget/Budget-Summaries Oak Park’s official Budget Summaries page lists Adopted Budget PDFs from FY 2010 through FY 2023, with each file labeled indicating GFOA recognition to reflect the 12-year streak

Interim CFO: https://www oakpark. com/2024/08/30/oak-park-chief-financialofficer/, board meeting to further extend her contract: https://oak-park.granicus.com/ player/clip/2732

Finance Director resume: LinkedIn profile

Mike McLaughlin is an Oak Park resident

MIKE

MCLAUGHLIN One View

Report is a poor use of taxpayer funds

The article headlined “Oak Park is divided by class,” in the July 2 issue of WJ left us scratching our heads. The piece re ports on the Racial Equity Assessment Re port by UIC’s Great Cities Institute, which was commissioned by the Village at a cost of $150,000. A number of the cited findings are already known to many. We would prefer that the village undertake such research with its existing staff and dedicated volunteer commissions, and use those funds for other pressing needs, of which there are many.

ALISON NELSON & BRUCE MARTIN

One View

For such a hefty price tag, we were hoping for some significant new insights from the report Judge for yourself: The big takeaway (as re ported by WJ) is that “there are significant economic divides, including by household income, between homeowners and renters, and in quality of life or social vulnerability.” Were our village leaders truly unaware of this? And if so, shouldn’t the village use that $150,000 to address these challenges to our residents directly, instead of paying highpriced consultants?

The re port’s other finding is that “individuals in Oak Park re gularly experience racism and discrimination.” This is legitimately troubling (although, sadly, not surprising) and needs to be addressed sincerely and aggressively, but we contend could have been learned at a far lower cost than $150,000. Town hall meeting? Questionnaire emailed to all households? Online survey posted to the many

Oak Park Facebook groups? Targeted focus groups? All of these methodologies, though not without some cost, could be employed by the village’s DEI chief, who presumably advises the village board on ways to mitigate racism and discrimination.

At the conclusion of the WJ piece, we learn that yet another consultant group has been retained by the village to conduct a “Racial Policy Audit.” What’s the price tag for this project? Should not such an audit be conducted by the new DEI chief, in concert with the Community Relations Commission that, according to village staf f, has been granted greater funding for community work?

In our view, this $150,000 could and should have been spent on so many more worthy endeavors. Just of f the top of our heads: Rooting out unfair housing practices? Assisting the unhoused who currently live at the Metra station? Re placing lead pipes? Granting funds to social justice organizations such as Housing Forward, Beyond Hunger, and the Infant Welfare Society children’s health clinic? Even everyday matters such as collecting leaves in the fall or alley refurbishment? Do better, village of Oak Park. Spending our hard-earned tax dollars to pay for conclusions that any minimally aware villager could have provided is insulting to all Oak Parkers and very poor stewardship of village funds.

Alison Nelson and Bruce Martin are Oak Park residents and homeowners

Oak Park is turning into a dump

I have noticed that since the village adopted a new recycling collector/scavenger, there is a significantly increased amount of garbage in the village. The company that is currently under contract uses trucks that violently shake the recycling bins into a bin which is then raised to dump/empty into the truck. I have watched this firsthand to see materials spilling out into our alley. Since I walk my do g every day, I find myself picking up scattered recyclables in my alley after their pickup and notice the same type of materials littering our parkways, al-

leys, and streets (aluminum cans, plastic bottles and other similar recyclable materials). Prior to this company being hired, I didn’t see nearly the amount of waste around the village.

I would kindly ask that the village look into this issue. I don’t care for all the increased waste on our streets and throughout our alleys, and I’m guessing I am not the only resident who feels the same.

I simply don’t like the fact that our village is tur ning into a dump.

Jim McKelvey Oak Park resident and homeowner

Listen to constituents? at’s a good one

As a 51-year resident of Oak Park, who says you can’t get the giggles reading a WJ editorial? Consider “Yes, to the bike plan” [Our Views, Viewpoints, July 2]

It actually says “Certainly elected officials should listen to the concerns of constituents.” Giggle, Giggle We have cars, SUVs, a truck with a

trailer and a monster of a working van blocking our and our fellow neighbors’ sidewalks, 24/7. Now, with the precious bike path along Harvard Avenue taking away more parking spaces that no “concer ned constituents” want, it will only get worse.

Jim Massarello, Oak Park

Take action against panhandlers who harass

I’ve spent years giving money to people on the street without hesitation. I used to volunteer monthly with Housing Forward. I’ve even been homeless myself. I believe people in crisis deserve dignity and help But since returning to my hometown of Oak Park after a few years in Texas, I hardly recognize my hometown.

Recently, a man followed me around my car at a gas station, demanding money and then stalking me into the station when I said no. Other women have spoken up with similar stories of being harassed, stalked, or cornered downtown, on sidewalks, or while running errands. I’ve never felt afraid to interact with people in need until now.

I know panhandling is considered protected speech. Harassment, threats, and stalking are not, and the village’s lack of courage when threatened with a lawsuit over panhandling ordinances in 2018 has put women residents at risk and placed the responsibility of enforcement on us. Our right to safety outweighs someone else’s right to harass us for money. There’s a larger legal issue at stake here: equal protection under the law.

When women are disproportionately targeted, followed, and harassed, and when the village knows it’s happening and fails to intervene, that’s not just a public nuisance. It’s a civil rights issue. Women

deserve to feel safe in public spaces We should not be expected to tolerate threats or adjust our lives out of fear, simply because the village is afraid of litigation. Oak Park can and must find lawful ways to protect its residents. Time, place, and manner restrictions are legal. So is enforcing laws against harassment and stalking. I want to keep being the person who offers help without fear. But until the village steps up, my safety has to come first. Oak Park can protect both vulnerable people and its women residents – but only if it chooses to act.

Estée Brinj Oak Park

Look at economic divides more than race

Your July 2 lead story is headlined “Oak Park is divided by class, says new racial equity assessment.” The story states that consultants report “significant economic divides … in quality of life or social vulnerabilities.” In describing Oak Park, those surveyed most often said that Oak Park is divided by class. In this case, why is the village focusing on race in its equity plan? Racial prejudice certainly exists in Oak Park. But I think there may be confusion between race and socioeconomic class issues — easy to do because racism has limited income and wealth, especially for our Black residents. At this point, though, it appears to me that income/wealth limitations are the main reason our Black population

is declining. Put another way, it seems to me that everyone is pretty much welcome in Oak Park if they can afford it (though I certainly might feel differently if I were Black). However, rising housing prices and property taxes make Oak Park increasingly less affordable. This disproportionately affects Black people, but also people of all races — young people who grew up here and can’t afford to buy, seniors who can’t afford their property taxes on a fixed income, workingage adults who can’t find good jobs, etc Building more affordable housing may help but not enough to solve the problem. And do we really, really, deep down in our heart of hearts, want to solve the problem?

I suspect not, if the solution would reduce — or even slow the rise of — our residential property values. (For example, the former board president of OPRF High School, arguing for the enor mous pool yet to be built, once said he was confident it would increase property values to convince skeptics of its desirability.) And do the boards and administrations of our taxing bodies really, really want to reduce our property taxes? I suspect not, if the solution requires budget reductions.

I agree that racial equity issues should be addressed. But I think race is too narrow a focus. We need to look closely at economic divides in general.

Judith Alexander, Oak Park

We need a bike plan, but not this one

Oak Park stands at a crossroads — of mobility, public process, and community trust. The newly proposed Big Beautiful Bike Plan is an ambitious document that aims to transform how we move through our village, promising safer streets, new bike lanes, and stronger connections. But despite its good intentions, it’s missing something essential: the voices of the people it affects most — Oak Park residents Let’s be honest. Most residents aren’t reading a dense 53-page plan. That’s why we count on a transparent, inclusive process to surface key questions: Who benefits? Who bears the burden? What are we trading off? And is this the best path forward? Those questions remain largely unanswered. This plan, initiated by our trustees and

developed primarily by a small group of advocates, presents a single vision — without real opportunity for public input, prioritization, or alternatives. Yes, the village board has scheduled public hearings (July 14 and 16), but public comment is limited to brief remarks. No real dialogue. No collaborative planning. That’s not engagement — it’s a checkbox.

Many of us support better biking infrastructure. But that doesn’t mean we support this plan — one that could potentially affect a quarter of all public parking in Oak Park moving forward. That’s not incremental change — it’s a major shift, and one that requires broad consensus.

We must ask: what about the seniors, families, organizations, and workers who

rely on those parking spaces? What about residents with disabilities, health conditions, and limited mobility, or who simply want to host guest? What happens to property values? What are the costs? Where are the mitigation strategies? The risk assessments? The measurable outcomes?

Oak Park deserves better. This conversation isn’t about being “pro-bike” or “antibike.” It’s about being pro-community We deserve a plan that reflects the full spectrum of our needs and preserves livability for all.

Residents should show up, speak up, and demand a better process. Not just a beautiful plan, but a just one — built with us, not just for us.

Kurtis

Todd, Oak Park

COE

Moving forward, together from page 21

path toward being more OK

Ten years ago, we would not have dared to imagine our present state, our stability, the children’s engagement with and reliance on one another (including their welcomed partners and spouses), the utter joy we feel in being in proximity to one another Yes, we would have hoped for all of this, but our imagination, dulled in the morass of loss, was not capable yet to see this potential for resilience, growth and fortitude. Our children are beacons of hope to all who’ve been wounded by life’s vicissitudes, most especially to Mark and me.

With that stability, we have found the space to miss Hunter for who he was and not simply to struggle with how he died. This spring we gathered for a milestone birthday with one of the children’s cousins and together sorted a few remaining boxes of Hunter’s things … we marveled at his taste in clothing (good and bad), laughed at childhood memories sparked by his K-8 yearbooks, modeled his St. Patrick’s Day kit, and located a treasured disco ball to be returned to a beloved cousin. The mood was light, irreverent stories were savored, and Hunter’s exuberance was in the forefront.

Hunter lived a life full of complexity. He was a sweet tow-headed little boy who grew –according to his sibs – into a playful, empathetic, charismatic, curious, loyal, stubborn, impulsive, grateful, creative and rule-bending raconteur. He loved fiercely and found joy in both the quotidian and the extraordinary. He would have adored PJ, Regan’s partner, and Alyssa, Lawlor’s spouse. An elementary school pal wrote in a condolence note that “a hug from Hunter could turn your day around.” That memory – utterly physical and metaphysical at the same time – holds as true today as when Colleen wrote it. And that is the memory we hold most dear

On behalf of Mark and our children, thank you to all who have walked with us these last 10 years. Accompaniment – standing alongside another with no purpose but to be present, to witness, without the capacity to fix – is among life’s most difficult tasks, and we are so very grateful to each of you. We’ve seen, yes, but more importantly felt the generosity of your hearts and have been uplifted by your presence, your murmurings of affirmation, and the joy you’ve re-ignited in us. The power of community is real, and we thank you for joining ours.

Scared, but taking action

I’m Manolo Avalos. I’m 19 years old and live in River Forest. Some of you may know me as an overworked volunteer and an alum of It’s Our Future, and now trying to find my place. I love it though and I bet you can too if you find the correct place. I consider myself a person who is scared, but willing to roll up my sleeves and educate others about how to get involved locally and to do it in whatever form they like. This can be through music, poems, or writing in general, or just being you. I am sure I am missing a bunch. Personally, I just like meetings and speaking engagements. Your voice matters in whatever form you use it.

I am sure many of you reading this are scared, confused, and don’t know how to take action in light of the Trump administration rollback on climate change and many other pressing issues. You are not alone. I still have moments where I am scared and simply cannot focus on the future for a day. I need to realign myself. I find, though, when you meet on a regular basis with people who care about the same thing, you have less intrusive thoughts resulting in less anxiety. That’s why I love groups like Oak Park Climate Action Network (OPCAN) and Seven Generations Ahead, just to name a couple

Even if you don’t take action for a while and listen in to meetings, it can change you and help with identifying your voice and how you want to use it If you listen to those meetings and feel guilty or hopeless, you can turn it into action in many different ways. You can choose the way. What I always love to do is contact the organizers of the meeting or event and ask what I can do: “How can I help you all plan?”

I wish feeling remorseful did not exist, but it does, and that can often turn into action. So I encourage you to join one of the many meetings, or just one meeting, of any organization, locally or nationally.

My generation has so much to worry about: climate crisis, gun violence, threats to democracy, to name a few. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and numb out. But finding your community, you can be empowered to do something. And if we’re going to tackle these intersecting crises, we all need to do something.

Side note: I am on the River Forest Sustainability Commission, and from firsthand experience, we love when even one person shows up, no matter if they say anything or not.

Manolo

Avalos River Forest

e New Colossus, revisited

The political grief felt different this time.

11-5-24 it was civilians committing grave error in the voting booth. This time it was public servants willfully harming the public body

The body. Our bodies.

Yesterday’s tears were about the fragile yet sturdy body

The body that needs the touch and diagnosis of a doctor

The body that needs healthy meals (the small child who needs to open the refrigerator and see food).

The body that needs access to affordable housing.

The body that needs to trust it will not be separated and deported from the love of family

The body that needs to drink safe water

The body that needs to breath clean air.

I know the Republican-crafted bill will cause harm and suffering to the body. Our bodies.

I also know of the sturdiness of the human spirit. And the unwavering people in this country bravely focused on remembering this country was built for all people. All bodies.

A mighty woman with a torch

Tara Meyer Dull Oak Park

Willing to work on reparations

I read with interest the article on the racial equity report and the fact that no one had come forward to “assist with research on historical documentation to support a municipal reparations program.” I then Googled what was required and saw a 40-plus page document to provide such work.

I thought, since I have lived permanently in Oak Park since July of 2023, that reparations are morally mandated for the individuals and their descendants who fled from the South into unknown territories and tried to survive Visiting family here at least yearly since 2004, I saw persons sitting on the pavement in the main shopping venues in Chicago, also here in Scoville Park, and generally observed the daily struggle of some persons to get by.

The answer is clear that reparation in many for ms is needed. I would be willing to work on this. Is having worked as the team leader of a mental health clinic in North Richmond and Richmond, California with the persons who

came there to work in the shipyards, working in the prisons in California with persons of color put there in unconscionable numbers, being raised around talented musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald enough?

One positive thing I can say about the Oak Park Village Board is that they support DEI. Not to support righting wrongs is not an option. However a 40-page document is not necessary. This cuts out many worthy knowledgeable people and perpetuates the evident problems

Concer ning myself as a candidate, are two doctoral degrees, a post-doctoral diploma, an advanced certificate in infant and pre-school mental health sufficient? I would be proud to do this research for the village to support the reality that reparations and apologies are warranted

Marne Trevisano Oak Park

Helping the homeless

I love reading books. Who doesn’t? And as a cer tified Oak Parker for 14 years, what better place is there to get books than the Oak Park Public Library? I’ve been going for school assignments, working along with my mother, writing, and just to read for so long. Every time I go, I can’t help but notice a recurring theme.

Each time I use the bathroom, there’s often someone washing himself with the soap from the wall and water from the sink, carrying luggage with his belongings. I also see groups of people, inside and outside, resting, knowing they have a place to come during the day where they can relax and not think about the struggles they face outside, with some air conditioning or heating keeping them calm and comfortable

Of course, I appreciate the library’s hospitality toward these individuals. I’m not saying they are invading “our space,” but what if they had a space of their own, like a homeless shelter? A place where they could have meals, sleep on cots, and access the kinds of services that shelters provide. It could offer them more stability and dignity, while also allowing the library to focus on its primary mission.

Thank you for all that you and the library staf f do for our community. I hope this suggestion can be part of a broader conversation about how Oak Park supports all of its residents.

Mekhi De Angelo Prince

Ninth-grader, Fenwick High School

New bill means to crush clean energy

Since the big tax-and-spending bill was signed on July 4, we are gradually learning more details about its effects on us all. Tucked into the bill are provisions meant to crush the clean energy transition.

Oak Park has been in the forefront of adopting renewables. It has been encouraging to observe Oak Park residents’ enthusiasm in working toward a healthier future. I think it is important that people are aware of the abrupt

sunsetting of credits for electric and solar purchases. EV credits will end by Sept. 30, 2025. Electric appliance credits end Dec. 31 of this year. And residential rooftop solar credits are now scheduled to end this Dec. 31 also — 10 years ahead of schedule I urge those considering these purchases to be aware of these new aggressive timelines Therese Kane Oak Park

e River Forest

‘do nothing’

We are now more than three months beyond the local April election in which a majority voted Yes on the referendum to impose term limits on trustees, the village president and village clerk. A Wednesday Jour nal June 10 editorial noted that “one of the instigators of the petition that put this issue on the ballot came to the board and asked when the village would incorporate the referendum result into local ordinance. Two sitting trustees asked basically the same thing Some village officials have said proponents of term limits should go to court to seek clarity. … [Village attor ney Lance] Malina … suggested the village itself should do ‘nothing.’”

The village administration has done its best to nullify the ballot referendum question since it first arose. Real questions reside in this resistance: Is it proper for those to whom a referendum and possible ordinance would apply to try to keep it off a ballot and, once it passes, to keep its ramifications from being discussed? Is it even close to appropriate for those affected officials to, in essence, get an attor ney to advise them to “do nothing,” then to “do nothing” about the votedupon wishes of the citizenry?

It seems to be tradition, even a sort of

board

“inside baseball” sport in River Forest gover nment to ignore such conflicts of interest. Why can they do this? Because a coterie of trustees and obedient administrators has been artfully put in place to keep the rest of us out so that any such conflicts can easily be declared non-existent.

Despite the clear conflict, four trustees and the compliant administrators have decided to ignore the voices of 1,222 of their fellow citizens and assume they can get away with it. They even have the chutzpah to say without any compunction that “proponents of term limits should go to court to seek clarity.”

What I’m hoping is that many of us among the 1,222 will not let this issue wither and die of neglect. We need to tell our board that we rightfully expect them to openly and thoughtfully discuss what 1,222 of us told them needs to be done. They must be reminded that we gave them a marching order and that their job is to march, not to stand at parade rest looking pretty. A good way to remind them is to show up at the next board meeting on July 14 and to speak up.

Ed McDevitt River Forest

Don’t ignore the will of the voters

River Forest Board, what is it about the binding, term-limit referendum winning the majority of votes that you don’t understand? Is ignoring the will

of the people becoming normal now— even here?

Phyllis Rubin River Forest

No warning on vehicle fees

Oak Park vehicle license fees are due by July 14, after which there will be an extra $20 late fee. However, the parking company they have outsourced this to forgot to send out notices to Oak Park residents. So unless you read the village bulletin, which just came out, you won’t know your fees are due. We expect competence in our local government and this is not competence. So extending the deadline and making

sure everyone gets their emailed invoices is the logical answer here. Then terminate the contract for the present collection company for noncontract compliance and find another firm who can do the job properly. Their website has never worked for me and we always have to go to village hall and make the payment.

Charles Chauncey Wells Oak Park

Why do we keep voting for Republicans?

Re: “Senate embarks on long day of votes on Trump’s big bill,” Chicago Tribune, July 1, 2025

I never thought I would agree with Elon Musk after he single-handedly demolished most of the infrastructure of the federal gover nment, crippling American progress for decades. But the bloated funding bill the GOP is ramming down the throats of unsuspecting Americans is a travesty beyond all comprehension. Their “fiscal responsibility” pretense for slashing myriad programs that benefit all Americans (especially those who are not billionaires), is belied by the addition of $3.3 trillion to the deficit (1). This bill will put every American household in debt by $25,000, all to provide tax cuts for billionaires. If you imagine that your family will receive $25,000 in tax cuts, you are dreaming. The goals of this monstrosity are viciously anti-American. Twelve million Americans will lose their health insurance. It cuts support for green energy (incentives for installing efficient heat pumps or electric cars), but subsidizes the failing coal and petroleum industries. As Musk points out, instead of investing in high-paying jobs in booming new industries, it impedes progress and pushes us into the past. Would you invest in coal mines or the energy sources of the future, like wind,

solar, hydrogen, etc.? China will cheer as we remove ourselves from global competition in technological progress. Cutting the NIH budget by 40% sabotages American health science research. Do Americans prefer their doctors to study actual medicine, or rely on voodoo healing by witch doctors like Bobby Kennedy?

Are the Republicans voting for this horror really so ignorant that they believe mortgaging the future to give trillions to billionaires will improve this country? Do they think we want them to destroy our health-care system, pave over our National Parks, pollute the air and water, let poor, old, or handicapped Americans die in the gutter, cut Medicare and Medicaid, allow poisons in our food, take away our hard-earned Social Security benefits, and give our money to the richest people on the planet?

A few of them really are that stupid. But the vast majority are cynical and greedy and scared of losing their jobs. They do not believe the vulgar lies plastered over this monstrosity, but they think enough Americans are stupid enough that they can get away with it

After all, look at all the imbeciles who keep voting for Republicans!

1) Congressional Budget Office (nonpartisan) Tom DeCoursey Oak Park

e Big, Ugly Bill

Texans work at painting word pictures that delight and surprise. On a guided tour of Central America, I asked a fellow group member, a larger-than-life event impresario from Texas, “How are you this mor ning?” With a wide, gleaming smile, he said, “Finer than frog’s hair.” It took a moment, but I caught on and laughed out loud. It was so creative, vivid, and funny!

Those neighbors to the South have a putdown for phonies, especially men from out of state, which is in that same vein. They call them “All hat, no cowboy.” That came to mind when I considered Republican members of Cong ress, in both the Senate and the House, when they voted in virtual lockstep to put Trump’s — actually Project 2025’s — execrable vision into law. They lived down to their re putation as his abject toadies. They are “All lapel badge, no le gislator.” They

have abdicated their Constitutional mandate and responsibility as members of a co-equal branch of a tripartite gover nment alongside the Executive and Judicial branches. Of course, the majority of the Supreme Court is no better. They are “All robe, no justice.”

As citizens under that same Constitution, we are called upon to exercise our responsibility by voting for and supporting, through words and actions, Congresspersons, and people at all levels of gover nment, who work for the well-being of all of us, including “the least of these” in our midst.

After all, at its root gover nment exists to do together, collectively, what we cannot do alone, as individuals. “All for one, and one for all” should be our guiding principle, always.

Fred Reklau Oak Park

qualifying standard of 10.94.

“I definitely was surprised,” Winkelhake said. “I always knew I was fast from other sports, but I honestly didn’t think I would have as much success as I did.”

OPRF boys’ track and field coach Tim Hasso was impressed with Winkelhake and wishes he could’ve coached him all four years.

“He really pulled our sprint group together,” Hasso said. “We were a guy short a good chunk of the year, and then all of a sudden he comes out for track. I said, “Let’s start working with this kid because he’s pretty fast.” He hadn’t trained in the [track] element before, but there were things we could clean up, and after just two

Suburban Silver honors. OPRF football coach John Hoerster said the team missed his on-field presence.

“Matt was arguably our top returning player last year,” he said. “He was one of our most dynamic players and explosive. He was one of our team leaders and was going to be a two-way starter for us. When you lose a kid like that, it really hurts, and you just feel horrible when his senior season is lost.”

But Hoerster is proud of the resilience Winkelhake displayed in going out for track, and said that speaks volumes about his character.

“He’s an absolutely amazing kid. I’m very for tunate I got a chance to work with

Although Winkelhake didn’t put up big stats on the hardwood, OPRF boys basketball coach Phil Gary felt he made an impact on his program.

“Winks is an amazing kid,” Gary said. “He’s a natural-born leader. He’s very quiet, but on the court he’s always where he needs to be. He’s never a complainer and always does what it takes to win for the team; he’s the ultimate competitor. Winks made my job easier as a coach; he came in every day and worked his butt of f. I wish I had a guy like him every year.”

Winkelhake, who is interested in possibly running club track at the University of Iowa next year, thinks fondly on his time as an OPRF student-athlete.

OPRF,” he said. “I met so many amazing people in different sports and ould’ve had a little more success in some of the the community. The past few years have been a blast.”

He also enjoyed his experience with helping migrants in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood get clothing and other necessities during his junior year.

“That was super cool,” he said. “It was a service project as part of my civics class, and me and three of my friends who were in the class saw the migrants and started a Go Fund Me page to help them. We raised about $1,000 and got them a bunch of supplies, clothing, toiletries, backpacks, and food. It was really cool, and they were super-grateful. It’s something I’ll always remember.”

And OPRF, whose motto is, “All Things That Are Best,” will remember Matt Winkelhake.

PHOTO S COURTESY OF MATT WINKELHAKE

VERSATILE: Matt Winkelhake (above and right) ran track this spring a er an injur y ended his football season last fall.

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25th, 2025 for the following:

Village of Oak Park Viaduct Conduit Repair Project REQUEST FOR BIDS

Bid Number: 25-124

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal July 9, 2025

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

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 Thursday, July 24, 2025 for Project: 25-15, Bike Boulevard Pavement Marking and Signage Improvements Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of: the installation of pavement markings including polyurea, Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), and thermoplastic; the fabrication and installation of signs and telescoping steel sign supports and all appurtenant work thereto.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/ budget-purchasing/requestsproposals or at www.questcdn. com under login using QuestCDN number 9775758 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.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal July 9, 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 Thursday, July 24, 2025 for Project: 25-14, Garfield Traffic Signal Upgrade. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of: salvaging, replacing and/or relocating existing traffic signal heads, conduits, posts, and foundations; modifying existing controllers; relocating pedestrian push buttons; and all appurtenant work thereto.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/ budget-purchasing/requestsproposals or at www.questcdn. com under login using QuestCDN number 9775790 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.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal July 9, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M25000637 on June 26, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of THE PINWHEEL LAB with the business located at:1545 MONROE AVE APT 2, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JESSICA MO 1545 MONROE AVE APT 2, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal July 2, 9, 16, 2025

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed Proposals will be accepted for:

2025 Washington Blvd Phase I Engineering Services

The Village of River Forest is requesting proposals for professional engineering consultant services, for completion of Phase I Engineering and the development and IDOT approval of a Project Development Report for Traffic and Pedestrian improvements on Washington Boulevard from Thatcher Avenue to Lathrop Avenue as outlined in the Village of River Forest’s Village Wide Traffic Study. Respondents must be able to demonstrate expertise with all aspects of roadway related engineering tasks and bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Submittals should include the firm’s qualifications, project team, resumes, project approach, and recently completed related engineering work (high value will be placed on experience assisting municipalities with Phase I engineering for improvements similar in scope).

The RFP is available for download starting Monday, July 7, 2025, at: www.vrf.us/bids

Proposals must be submitted by Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to: Village of River Forest

Attention: Jack Bielak P.E., CFM Director of Public Works & Engineering 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305

Proposals will be considered based on the criteria set forth in the RFQ.

No Proposal shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled deadline.

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these Proposals to waive technicalities and reject any or all Proposals.

Published in Wednesday Journal July 9, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND

SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE ON BEHALF FOR CSMC 2018-RPL12 TRUST

Plaintiff vs. THOMAS EVANS, VEORIA EVANS, STATE OF ILLINOIS, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.

Defendant 19 CH 13708

CALENDAR 57 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 August 6, 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. 15-10-123-039-0000. Commonly known as 316 22ND AVE., 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, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Suite 201, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 1904973

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3268790

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PARAMOUNT RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE GROUP, INC. Plaintiff, -v.-

SABRINA MCDADE Defendants 2024 CH 06544 1014 GARDNER ROAD WESTCHESTER, IL 60154

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 22, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 24, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 1014 GARDNER ROAD, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154

Property Index No. 15-16-416058-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $258,302.82. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to

The Judicial Sales Corporation.

No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g) (4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325, ROSEMONT, IL, 60018 (561) 241-6901. Please refer to file number 24-224197. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CHAD LEWIS ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325 ROSEMONT IL, 60018 561-241-6901

E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM

Attorney File No. 24-224197

Attorney ARDC No. 6306439

Attorney Code. 65582

Case Number: 2024 CH 06544

TJSC#: 45-1129

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

Case # 2024 CH 06544 I3268586

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