WednesdayJournal_081325

West Sub in nancial crisis, says owner on same day Weiss is

to seeking state

On the same day that rial Hospital in Uptown was closed Resilience Healthcar

Manoj Prasad attended a press conference at Park w Side state would the struggling safety net hospital.

Prasad said the two hospitals had been in crisis due to a difficult co system tial reve issues with its air conditioning systems as summer heat arri was called “catastrophic” led to se tal’s inpatient rooms being closed se weeks ag

After the federal Center Services took the rare step of terminating We

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park is making progress towards one of the village board’s most ambitious goals. On several occasions in recent months, multiple village trustees have spoken of a desire to eliminate the single-family only zones from Oak Park’s zoning map in an ef fort to create more “missing middle” housing in the village. The board took a step towards that goal at its Aug. 5 board meeting by approving a contract with Opticos Design to study what remaking Oak Park’s zoning policy will look like Jennifer Settle, Opticos’ Chicago office leader, is an Oak Park native, and the firm has a well-versed understanding of Oak Park through other projects it’s completed in the

BANNOR

NEW OPPORTUNITY

What is the study about?

Yale University and Midwestern University are looking for people over 60 to participate in a study called “Action Community Engagement (ACE) Groups”

Investigating the beliefsof people over 60 who participate in educational group sessions

What is needed?

People over 60 interested in participating in or leading small group discussions and community activities.

What does it involve?

• Attending 6 one-hour weekly group discussions

• Participating in community group activities

• Completing a survey before group sessions begin and two surveys a er the sessions have ended, including one follow up interview

Is there compensation?

Yes! You will be compensated for your time, totaling up to $130 for participants (or $1030 for group leaders)

Who quali es for the study?

• People age 60 or older

• English speaking

• Resident of either Oak Park or Forest Park, IL

Where will the study take place?

All research activities will take place in Oak Park or Forest Park, IL

Who do I contact if I am interested or have questions?

Contact: ACE Project Coordinators Email: ace@oakparktownship.org (708) 445-2711

St. Edmund School heading to real estate market

School originally built in 1917 had recently housed Migrant Ministr y

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

St. Edmund School could be for sale shortly.

“We’re moving in that direction,” said Carl Morello of the two-story school tha closed nearly a decade ago at 200 S. Oak Pa Ave. Morello is the pastor of Ascension and St. Edmund, along with St. Giles and the cently closed St. Catherine-St. Lucy

“Recently, I put something in our bulletin, we can’t continue to maintain this big struc ture, though our Migrant Ministry was in there, and our youth ministry was using the gym,” Morello said. “I’m letting the archdio cese know we’re taking the next step.”

According to the book The Archdiocese Chicago: A Journey of Faith, the school was originally built in 1917 and designed by Henry J. Schlacks, with a 15th century Frenc Gothic façade similar to the Palas de Justice in Rouen, France. Additions were made in 1948 and 1959.

Edmund School

“If you were to look it up online, you’d see a clear resemblance, and that is why it would be such a shame to lose that façade,” Morello said. “We all hope that wouldn’t happen.”

Morello said there is a fair amount of deferred maintenance at the school, which was occupied until a few years ago by The Children’s School, a private K-8 school, when its lease wasn’t renewed. The Migrant Ministry has been using the building since then.

Morello said that it costs roughly $75,000 to keep St. Edmund School operational, including heating in the winter

“Technically, the property is owned by the archdiocese, (and) my next step is to contact them,” he said. “Then they take it from there. Not that I, or the community, might not have input, (but) the real state office would work with future prospects for what happens with the property.”

In a statement to Wednesday Journal, the Archdiocese of Chicago said, “We are still studying the possibilities of the St. Edmund’s sale. In general, we sell property in the same way other organizations do, using

a broker when necessary. In partnership with the parish involved, we always consider the community when choosing a buyer.”

Who or what entity could purchase the building is anybody’s guess

“That’s the hard part to answer,” Morello said. “It depends on who is out there looking for what. Could it be a community center, or could it be something creative? I’ve seen some of our churches have been turned into beautiful condo buildings. They maintained the outside structure but inside are condos.”

Celine Woznica heads the Migrant Ministry, an interfaith coalition led by Oak Park’s Catholic parishes. She said the ministry has operated out of St. Edmund School for 22 months

“Migrant Ministry has been pivoting to meet the ever-changing needs of migrants since we began in June 2023 offering showers for the migrants sleeping at the Austin police station,” Woznica said in a statement to Wednesday Journal.

“Although the migrants will still need

winter clothes, blankets and toiletries, their priority needs are immigration support, social services, ESL and accompaniment as they navigate life under the current very stressful political environment.”

Woznica added that the ministry is reviewing optimal spaces for its services and are “open to any suggestions.”

She said that since migrants are more hesitant to leave their homes, Migrant Ministry’s numbers have dropped from serving roughly 200 people a day to as little as 60 per day.

In addition to the business aspects of working with the archdiocese to sell the school, there is an emotional component of the sale as well, Morello said.

“It is hard to go through with,” he said, “because the building is so emotionally connected to the history of the parish. I have said to people who are concerned, at St Catherine-St. Lucy, we had to close the spiritual site

“We’re not closing your church. I’ve had to focus on that myself from that regard.”

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

ocial Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

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

HOW TO REACH US

JAVIER GOVEA

St.

Grant funds start of Washington Blvd. xes in River Forest

Pedestrian and bike safety key goals of multi-year project

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Funding the preliminary engineering phase ofRiver Forest’s planned Washington Boulevard project became a little easier when the village received a $62,786 grant from Cook County in July

Jack Bielak, director of public works and engineering, said the Invest in Cook grant will cover approximately halfof the preliminary engineering cost with the balance covered by the village’s capital improvement fund.

tion, the third phase, is May 2027 although Bielak said the schedule may change depending on the timing ofPhase I and Phase 2 or grant funding. If construction does start in May 2027 the completion target would be October 2027.

The construction phase ofthe project is the final stage in which the actual building and implementation ofthe planned improvements take place.

Bielak said village staf f members will continue to pursue grant funding for future phases including additional Invest in Cook grants and Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grants.

Total cost for the Washington Boulevard Pedestrian Safety and Traf fic Calming Improvements Project is estimated to be $1.8 million with the preliminary engineering the first of three phases.

Planned improvements will focus on pedestrian safety enhancements and speed control measures along Washington. The project would include a road diet, bump outs, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and various other traffic calming measures that contribute to bicycle and pedestrian safety.

A temporary solution for the Washington traffic and safety issues was implemented in March. At that time, delineators were installed at intersections, leading to a reduction in average speed of four to seven miles per hour according to Bielak.

The first phase, which is expected to start this month, consists ofa Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study which provides the support for the determination ofa preferred option. During this phase, proposed geometry, environmental concerns and proposed right-of-way are identified and public hearings are held to solicit feedback regarding the project.

The second phase, detailed engineering, is expected to start in July 2026. That phase is the design phase which refines the design and develops plans, specifications and estimates for construction.

The target date for the actual construc-

Under the 2025 Invest in Cook grant program, a total of$8,270,810 will be distributed across 32 recipients and will fund four transit, six bicycle, eight pedestrian, one freight and 13 road projects which will leverage $21.5 million from other sources. This is the ninth year Invest in Cook grant funding has been awarded for transportation-related projects. In its nine years, Invest in Cook has awarded $72.7 million in grants supporting a total of310 projects throughout Cook County. In total, these grants have enabled $204.5 million in project activity.

Zoning board approves EV charging at future Community Builders site

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special use permit for an Oak Parker to build an electric vehicle charging parking lot on a property targeted for a village-subsidized af fordable housing development.

The board unanimously approved the special use permit for Yves Hughes, a lifelong Oak Parker and a tech professional, to begin construction on a privatelyowned electric vehicle charging station at 6104 Roosevelt Rd, a for mer automobile service station property which has sat vacant on the high-traffic corridor for many years.

The lot will feature five charging spots, that will run on software that Hughes designed himself, he said.

“Right now it’s just dirt and a broken down fence,” Hughes told the zoning board.

But the plot will not remain just an EV parking lot for long.

The development of the charging station was delayed for years, and in the

Zoning Board approved a special use permit for EV stations to co -exist with Roosevelt Road a ordable housing development See EV CHARGING on pa ge 14

meantime village leadership pursued a vision to support a new af fordable housing development to go up on the property.

In January, Oak Park’s board of trustees approved $700,000 from the village’s housing trust fund to support The Community Builders, a national nonprofit property developer, developing the property into a 28-unit af fordable housing complex.

The Community Builders have already developed and operate another af fordable housing complex in Oak Park — The 801 property located at 801 Van Buren St.

Two of the units at the proposed affordable housing complex would be “live/ work units,” meaning that residents would run small businesses out of their homes.

Hughes purchased the Roosevelt Road property from the Cook County Land Bank in 2022 for $115,000 with the intention of building the charging station, according to documents reviewed by Wednesday Journal. Hughes told the zoning board that before he can legally sell the property to anyone else, he must sat-

ing Community Media move out day on August 11.

A er 44 years, Wednesday Journal leaves bricks and mortar behind Fully remote,

fully

committed to local news

By DAN HALEY Interim Editor

With a determined goal to put every dollar into re porting local news rather than paying rent, the nonprofit Growing Community Media this week is clearing out its long-time Wednesday Journal offices on Oak Park Avenue.

GCM has been in the same building at 141 S. Oak Park Ave – Yes, we’re above George’s – for 44 out of its 45 years.

Last week our small staf f cleaned out desks, found a few treasures, left chalked messages on walls and prepared to produce this issue remotely. We did it during Covid.

Surely it will be more fun without a worldwide pandemic.

This week we invited readers to stop by and take home what they could carry and then we turned to our friends at Metro Junk in Oak Park to take everything else. By Friday we will be “broom swept” and this 103-year-old classic commercial building will enter its next life with GCM’s remaining portion of the second floor destined to become handsome studio apar tments.

Buildings are great. People are better. Local news is the ultimate connector and community builder. And that is what we’ll always be about.

Garage Sale! Saturday, 8/16: 8am-3pm 619 S Harvey Ave, Oak Park

Come

Oak Park kills Flock license plate reader contract

Four Oak Park trustees rejected a motion that would’ve turned the cameras o for 90 days, shutting program outright

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park leaders voted Aug. 5 to shut of the village’s license plate reading cameras.

The Oak Park board of trustees voted to cancel the village’s contract with Flock Safety, shutting of f the eight license plate reading cameras the company operates in the village. The board opted to cancel the contract outright rather than adopt a measure that would’ve shut the cameras of 90 days. The decision comes weeks after the state announced it was investi the company that runs them.

The village renewed its contract with Flock Safety last year via a nar board vote. The Flock Automated License Plate readers “capture an image of a vehicle’s license plate, read the image using software, compare the plate number read against databases containing vehicles of interest, and, ultimately, alert an officer when the system has captured the license plate of a vehicle of interest,” according to the village.

the same place.”

Police Chief Shatonya Johnson was present at the meeting and gave succinct wers to a few questions, but she did not give a presentation on the cameras Tuesday night. In June, Johnson provided trustees with a detailed memo about the license plate reader program. at memo included information on steps the Oak Park police department had taken to limit the access other agencies had to local data. Out-of-state agencies had to obtain permission from Chief Johnson search Oak Park’s F lock data as of June, according to the memo.

The technology also allows law enforcement to search a nationwide database for surveillance data on vehicles of interest. Flock has contracts with more than 4,000 communities nationwide, according to the company.

Four trustees — Jenna Leving Jacobson, Brian Straw, Derek Eder and Chibuike Enyia — made up the majority voting to cancel the contract. Those trustees cited concerns over privacy, distrust of the Flock corporation and the potential for the cameras to be used for immigration enforcement in violation of both state law and village sanctuary ordinances.

“This is what democracy looks like,” Straw said. “So I do hope other communities will look at this conversation and will look at the national stories that are coming out and reconsider if they want to continue participating with Flock and continue sharing their data. This is a healthy part of democracy, to actually change what we’re doing in response to national events and trends.”

While trustees said they trust that the Oak Park police have been doing their best to mitigate those risks, the issues were too urgent to delay the vote, the trustees said.

“We could stop using them for 90 days, but that doesn’t mean that Flock, which is the problem factor here not the Oak Park

police department’s use of them, can’t continue to use that data to build their databases, to train their AI,” Leving Jacobson said. “We can’t protect the data that’s being collected in our community from being used to harm innocent people, and we’re challenged to protect those people.”

In June, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office said it was investigating Flock Safety over alle ged illegal searches by out-of-state law enforcement of data produced from Illinois license plate readers. The searches under scrutiny by the office include an alle ged inquiry by Texas law enforcement through the Mount Prospect police department’s database into the whereabouts of a Texas woman investigators believed had an abor tion, as well as searches connected to immigration enforcement cases.

Trustees Jim Taglia and Cory Wesley offered an alternative motion that would’ve turned the cameras of f for 90 days, giving the board more time to make a call on the contract. Going with that option would’ve potentially opened up an opportunity for more feedback from the Oak Park police and the community, they said.

“You can’t hold the police accountable to unrealistic expectations,” Taglia said. “The real question is about what Oak Park is willing to do to maintain a safe, inclusive and economically vital community. What is the role of technology in policing? The answer requires hard work and can’t be done without the police being effective, yet still consistent with community values. And it

doesn’t get done by removing Flock cameras here tonight.”

Wesley said that he and Taglia knew which direction the majority of the board would go before they introduced their motion, but it was important to advocate for a process they believed was right.

“I knew what the votes are tonight, but I worked on this with Jim anyway,” Wesley said. “The potential for harm is real, cameras in Illinois were accessed for pu rposes that r un counter to our values and in ways I didn’t anticipate last year under the Biden administration. So, if we’re this close to ag reement, why the separate motion? Because I want to see a different process to get to this point, if we’re goin g to g et here. A process that pulls in our professional police force to give them a seat at the table and input into the future of the tools that will be available to them to do their job.”

Village President Vicki Scaman, who in the end voted in favor of both motions after it was clear that the contract would be canceled, said the board failed its obligation to the village’s professional staff.

“While I know that all of you are very genuine about your service to our community, but this feels icky,” she said. “Nobody is going to watch this meeting and learn anything. We had the power as the village of Oak Park to have a more substantive conversation where we’re with our professional staf f to uncover the challenges and to get down to facts and likely have come to

The memo also re ported that the early stages of an audit of the license plate readogram confirmed that Oak Park data had been tapped on at least one occasion for immigration enforcement. Early work on the program audit found that last January south suburban Palos Heights Police had conducted 28 statewide Flock searches that included Oak Park data and had listed the reason for the searches as an investigation into “immigrations violation,” according to the memo.

Oak Park police had already been using the cameras with many key restrictions, and their use has been reviewed by the village’s Civilian Police Oversite Committee. Oak Park searches of their data was restricted to investigations related to a few violent crimes.

Secretary of State Alex Giannoulias told re porters last month the state believed that 46 different law enforcement agencies from around the country had made illegal searches of Illinois Flock Safety datasets. Garrett Langley, Flock’s CEO, wrote a blog post saying the company had taken steps to make sure all law enforcement searches of Illinois license plate reader data comply with state law and that it had banned 47 agencies from accessing Illinois camera data after an internal audit. Flock Safety also maintains that the search into the Texas woman didn’t violate state law because it was a missing person investigation where no criminal charges were being sought.

The company’s cameras are also the subject of a federal lawsuit filed in Virginia, in which a civil liberties organization is arguing that the company’s surveillance violates the constitution.

COURTESY OF WWW.FLOCKSAFET Y.CO M

Village brings costs down for Oak Park Ave. streetscape project

Village

a new plan they hope will bring the streetscaping project in under budget

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s village board approved a revised plan for the Oak Park Avenue Streetscaping project that village leaders hope will help bring the project in under budget.

The revisions come after the village put the project out for bids at the start of the year and only received a response from one company — who’s bid came in nearly $5 million above the project’s $18 million budget. After a number of changes, the project is now estimated to come in at $17.66 million as the village seeks new bidders.

Oak Park’s village board approved the changes at its Aug. 5 meeting.

The large scale project is set to redesign the streetscape and overhaul the decadesold water and sewer systems underneath Oak Park Avenue between Ontario Street and Randolph Street.

When the project first went out to bid, village leaders had hoped that the project would be completed by Thanksgiving 2025. Construction is now targeted to begin in January 2026 and progress until at least the following November, Village Engineer Bill

The village looked to save money ing in some of the more ambitious design elements before sending the project out for bids.

The village cut over $300,000 from the project by doing away with plans tom fencing, special lighting and ite pavers in the corridor. T installation that was proposed to go in Hunter Court would’ve projected animated artwork depicting things like scenes on the alley’s walls, McKenna said.

“We thought it was a novel and neat thing to include in the project but once had prices, we pulled that back,” McK said. “There’s still decorative lighting and overhead lighting. We are not really sacrificing what that experience would be for the user, but there is a high dollar amount for the projected lighting.”

Staf f also saved nearly $800,000 through other “miscellaneous adjustments” and by procuring materials that would’ve been more costly to pay contractors to obtain.

The village board cut the projects budget even more last week, by asking staf f to use a cheaper material to pave new sidewalks. Instead of using Bluestone for the new sidewalks, the village will use concrete rs that bring the overall cost of the

project down by nearly $1 million.

Village President Vicki Scaman thanked McKenna and his team for revising the plan, as she hopes the renovations are not only essential from an infrastructure perspective but will ultimately be a boon to the Hemingway Business District that occupies this stretch of Oak Park Avenue.

“I commend you for the work that you did to bring that to us and cutting some

of those luxury items potentially, but also items that down the road that we can always add, she said. Some of the things that are important to me about this project is that eventually we see this district really thriving, and there are some great businesses there already that have high energy, hosting events, increasing tourism, but some locations have been vacant for some time.”

JAVIER GOVEA

e Heming way District along Oak Park Avenue.

Oak Park moves economic vitalit sta to Lake St. o ce space

The village’s revamped economic vitality o ce will move from village hall

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s economic vitality office’s new look staf f will have a new office space to match.

The village board approved a lease for office space at 1010 Lake St. in Downtown Oak Park via the consent agenda at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 5. The new 1,737 square foot space will be home to the village’s Office of Economic Vitality. Staf f with economic vitality titles had previously been housed at the village hall on Madison Street. The village has ag reed to pay $57,321 in annual rent for the space, or about $4,777 a month, according to village documents.

Village staff recommended the move because it would give the office a dedicated space conveniently situated in the heart of Downtown Oak Park. Other tenants at 1010 Lake St. include the Downtown Oak Park Business Alliance and the Explore Oak Park and Beyond tourism bureau, according to the property management company’s website.

“Magnificently perched upon Chicago’s famed La Street, 1010 Lake Street offers the best in urban and suburban life, brimming with stunning 360° views, personalized concierge service and thrilling new amenities to become the most desired business address in Downtown Oak Park,” the management company said of the spac

The move comes after Oak Park has worked to its economic vitality staf f after a period of considerable turmoil.

In June, Oak Park announced it had hired John Melaniphy as assistant village manager for economic vitality to run the newly for malized office. Melaniphy most served as director of economic development for nor suburban Niles and has decades of commercial development experience.

At Aug. 5’s board meeting, the village board was also introduced to newly hired Oak Park economic vitality administrator Michael Mertes. Mertes had previously spent 12 years working for Arlington Heights in a business de velopment role.

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Aiming for the divine at Di’Vino

A new Forest Park star from the minds at Berw yn’s La Parra

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

For the past nine months the partners at Berwyn’s La Parra restaurant have plied a new menu in Forest Park. Di’Vino, 1527 S. Harlem Ave., sits along a somewhat lonely strip of Harlem. Traf fic zips by the building that once housed a bar. While their original restaurant speaks Italian with a Spanish accent, Di’Vino leans further into Italian and Mediterranean fare.

“More Italian with a little Asian twist,” said partner and chef Gabriel Padilla. “All our pastas are house made. Bread is made in house. Everything is made in house.”

The chicharrón de pulpo (octopus) appetizer is a favorite on the menu. The octopus perches on a pedestal of avocado mousse flanked by pickled red onion and sweet potato chips

“It has a big, big Asian twist to it,” Padilla said. “Umami and then a lot of sesame and kimchi. So, you got Korea. You’ve got Japan and China all together.”

Both restaurants are family owned and run. Padilla brings his 30 plus years of helming kitchens and menus. Fellow partner and brother-in-law Valerio Muñoz has been a mixologist for more than a decade. Their dedication is apparent.

An old fashioned cocktail arrived tucked inside a small wooden barrel, mysteriously filled with savory smoke. As Muñoz opened the hatch for the diner to retrieve the glass, tendrils of smoke billowed out and scent memories of camping and barbequing with family flared

This second restaurant adventure was not only an opportunity to expand into a new menu profile, but it also met a need for more space.

“We have a lot of parties there that we will turn them down. We want a second location to take all those, then this building showed up for sale,” Padilla said. Though the traffic pours by, the partners feel their existing clientele is driving the dining.

“Since a lot of people know us from La Parra, they figure we’re the same family so tha t they give us a try.”

Entrees include house-made pastas, like linguine frutti di mare with shrimp, calamari, scallops mussels and clams in a light, spicy tomato sauce. And the linguine Di’Vino, which amplifies its seafood base of shrimp with serrano ham and prosciutto all enrobed in a caramelized garlic cream sauce.

“Our gnocchi with short rib ragu, it’s

amazing. People love that one. And there’s one thing that I put for specials, and now everybody wants, which is tuna,” Padilla said.

T he tuna steak is served with a roasted pepper sauce, chipotle aioli and pisto Manchego (sauteed tomato, onion, zucchini and more).

Weekly happy hour specials feature drinks from the innovative cocktail menu, extensive list of wine, beer and non-alcoholic options. On Tuesdays, all bottles of wine are half-price.

T he décor is refined, ele g ant and exuberant. Painted on the wall is a woman’s portrait, her hair accentuated with a three-dimensional floral kick. T he artist, Oscar Garcia, for merly worked as a server at La Pa

1527

The partners are understandably proud of the drinks, the food, the atmosphere that they have created on Harlem Avenue

“What I am surprised about, though I’m not surprised because we’re trying our best, on Google we don’t have one review under five stars. The 64 reviews all are five stars. It’s not easy to do,” said Padilla.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Di’Vino partners Gabriel Padilla and Valerio Munoz

11 years a er Bali arrest, Heather Mack still struggles with reality

‘Nothing

in the MCC prepared her for life in a real prison’

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

On her last day as a free person in the languid sunshine of Denpasar, Bali, Heather Mack found herself trapped in an invisible cage that only felt like freedom.

The beginning of the end for Heather and then-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer started with a manic night when Schaefer arrived at the St. Re gis Hotel in Bali’s exclusive Nusa Dua area shortly before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014.

Schaefer had spent the flight across 13 time zones drinking in the posh confines of international business class. He and Heather spent the rest of the night meeting furtively on the beach together, texting back and for th between their rooms about how to kill Heather’s mother, Sheila Mack, and, for Tommy more drinking.

It all culminated just after 9 a.m. with the brutal murder of the 62-year-old woman as she lay in her bed.

For the rest of that day, the two engaged in a series of ef for ts to hide their crime, escape from the hotel without being seen and elude police while finding a place to hide. But the two young conspirators were already caught in that invisible cage; each had a return ticket to the states, but Heather had no passport -- her mother had had hers locked in the hotel safe. They had a credit card stolen from Sheila and a little cash, but no other resources. And at 6 foot3, Schaefer could run but could not hide for long.

When Heather attempted to check in at the Risata Resort in the Kuta neighborhood with no luggage and no passport, hotel staf f became suspicious. When a staffer later heard of the killing in Nusa Dua, and Sheila’s name was reco gnized from the credit card Heather used, police were contacted.

The mor ning of August 13, shortly before 8 a.m., a police officer posing as a housekeeper knocked on the door of Room

1701 at the very back of the resort property. When a groggy Schaefer opened the door, officers pushed their way into the room and arrested the two without incident.

Now, 11 years later, Mack’s time as an international celebrity with financial resources in a sunny Balinese prison is a faded memory. Now, she is just one of hundreds of thousands of U.S. federal inmates. The once privileged and spoiled girl is now a woman about to turn 30, facing the cold and dreary prospect of nearly 20 more years of imprisonment behind steel bars and razor wire.

Reality bites

Australian journalist Andrea Dixon has spent more time with Mack since her 2014 arrest than anyone else, including flying back to the United States with her after her release from the Bali prison. Dixon, who continues to interview Mack re gularly, is both writing a book and working with a production company on a documentary about Mack and her mother.

There is much Dixon will not talk about (“You’ll have to read the book”), but she was willing to speak generally about how Mack is dealing with prison and other things related to her case.

While Dixon does not view Mack as a sympathetic character, she said Mack is not the person people have been led to believe she is, saying, “She does some good things. It’s kind of contradictory.”

Dixon said she believes Mack still hasn’t come to terms with what happened 11 years ago. “I think she’s still stunned that it all happened,” she said.

She said Mack has been disabused of various notions over the past 11 years. One of the most jarring was her arrest by FBI agents as she de-planed in Chicago in November 2021.

“You can say she was happy on the plane,” Dixon said. “She only thought she was going to be questioned by the FBI.” But

Heather Mack in bathroom of newly purchased condo in downtown Chicago, summer 2013.

Mack, who had spoken of moving to California with her young daughter and starting a new life was, unbeknownst to her, already criminally indicted for conspiracy to commit the murder of her mother.

But Mack holds on to other notions. Dixon said Mack, who is not scheduled to be released from prison until she’s nearly 50 years old, continues to believe she’ll eventually get a sentence reduction.

“She never brings it up,” Dixon said of the long prison stretch. “She thinks she’ll be out early, for good behavior, etc.”

The et cetera refers to Mack’s unfounded belief that she will somehow have years taken of f her sentence for the alle ged sexual misbehavior of for mer Chicago MCC prison guard Brittany Hall. Mack’s transfer from the Chicago MCC to a re gular prison was delayed for nearly seven months last year while an investigation was conducted into Hall’s alle ged inappropriate sexual relationships with four MCC inmates, including Mack. Hall was fired and subsequently indicted. Her next court hearing is on Sept. 9.

Meanwhile, time appears to have lost any meaning for Mack. “I think she’s let go

of the passing of time,” Dixon said. “She doesn’t know if it’s a weekday or a weekend.”

Dixon said she has never heard Mack complain about anything, even when mentioning numerous circumstances that would warrant it. The Hazelton women’s facility in the mountainous northeast corner of West Virginia, known as SFF (Secure Female Facility) has been the subject of numerous prisoner complaints re garding poor conditions and inadequate staffing and basic services.

“In the MCC, nothing prepared her for real prison,” Dixon said. “Now she’s in a unit with 70 women. There was recently a fight involving blades.”

“There’s mass punishment,” said Dixon. “If one person does something wrong, everyone gets locked down.”

Mack has been physically abused by other prisoners. A couple months ago, Dixon saw marks on her face during an online interview.

“She had a bruised face,” Dixon recalled. “When I asked her what happened, she said she’d been jumped.” Mack didn’t have much to say about it. Asked what might PROVIDED

Oak Park police investigate armed robbery near Blue Line

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park police are investigating a late-night armed robbery incident that occurred near one of the village’s CTA train stations.

An Oak Park resident was exiting the CTA Blue Line station in the 900 block of South Lombard Avenue shortly before 1 a.m. on Aug. 8 when he was followed of f the train by an unknown man. The man pulled a Glock handgun on the victim and demanded that the victim give up his jewelry, according to police.

The suspect stole a gold ring and a gold and diamond chain from the victim in the robbery, according to police.

Pipe inspection equipment thefts

Oak Park police are investigating several incidents in which valuable pipe inspection equipment were stolen from motor vehicles over the last week.

Police are investigating an incident in which an unknown suspect stole a RIDGID SeeSnake pipe inspection camera from a Chicago resident’s Chevy Express Cargo Van that was parked in the 1100 block of South East Avenue. The cam-

have triggered the beating, Dixon suggested, “Breathing?”

“You can be jumped for looking at someone the wrong way,” she said. “For ow someone money.” The prison environment, she said, requires hyper awareness.

“There’s a general level of vigilance, having to be constantly alert to other people’s moods,” Dixon said.

Mack, who Dixon said was diagnosed as bi-polar in a presentencing re port, was recommended for a prison with mental health facilities by her judge. But Hazelton doesn’t have those services.

“She hasn’t had any mental health treatment whatsoever,” Dixon said, with the exception of medication for anxiety

As was the case in Bali, Mack has not been a behavioral problem in prison. “She’s been keen to do all the programs,” Dixon said.

era is re portedly worth $9,000 according to police.

Police are also investigating a motor vehicle burglary incident in which an unknown suspect entered a Villa Park resident’s 2003 Ford F-150 that was parked in the 6500 block of North Avenue and stole several items of pipe inspection equipment. The total value of the stolen tools is estimated at $16,500.

Domestic battery arrests

Oak Park police arrested several local men on domestic violence charges in connection with unrelated incidents last week.

Oak Park police arrested a 34-year-old Berwyn man in the 7000 block of Roosevelt Road Aug. 5 in connection with a Cook County warrant for domestic battery, according to police.

Police arrested a 33-year-old Oak Park man on two counts of violating a protective order and one count of domestic battery in connection with an alle ged violent incident that occur red in July, according to police.

Dixon doesn’t excuse Mack’s behavior and believes she’s being justly punished. But she says people have misunderstood how the murder came about. She said Mack was ultimately not the driving force in the killing.

“She initiated it, but he pushed it,” Dixon said of Schaefer. “He’d been trying to get Heather to kill her. But she said she just

Oak Park police also arrested a 23-year-old Oak Park man on charges of domestic battery, criminal damage to property and obstructing a peace officer causing injury in

connection with an incident that occurred in the 400 block of South Maple Avenue, according to police.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department re ports dated August 4 – 8 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

CA.

couldn’t do it.”

“Even that morning, when he was upstairs, he was saying, ‘Go hit her, do this, do that,” Dixon said. “And he went down

and killed her.”

Heather, Dixon said, had a conflicted ve/hate relationship with her mother. While she wanted her out of her life, and had battered her mother numerous times, she couldn’t bring herself to kill her. She wanted the money from a trust her father had set up for her.

“Whereas Tommy just went in to kill for money a woman he didn’t know,” Dixon said. “He’s not a complex character. He murdered for money.”

Dixon said Tommy was not originally meant to come to Bali but did after Heather ould not bring herself to kill her mother.

“Tommy had been pissed for two days. He was drunk the whole time,” said Dixon, who said Shaefer drank throughout the long flight to Bali in business class, and once at the hotel, “drank the mini-bars dry.”

“I’ve seen the photos of empty bottles at the mini bar,” Dixon said of Indonesian police evidence photos.

Dixon also takes issue with the contention by some, including prosecutors, that Mack is a threat to other people beside her mother

“She had absolutely zero history of violence in Indonesia,” Dixon said, adding that Mack was, with the exception of her possible involvement with prison guard Brittany Hall,

a model prisoner while in the MCC.

Another notion of which Mack was painfully disabused was the idea that Schaefer loved her. Dixon said Mack was emotionally devastated reading through the transcripts of texts between Schaefer and his cousin, Justin Bibbs. Through them she came to realize that Schaefer cared more about the money he anticipated receiving after killing Sheila Mack than he did about her

“She found out the truth when she read all the discovery material,” Dixon said. “She was devastated. They were just using her.” Dixon said Mack has said that the toughest times for her have been the lead up to getting out of Bali, and the months prior to her sentencing in Chicago.

She was, Dixon said, “Just ticking off the days.”

Nowadays Mack ticks of the days as she awaits the uncertain prospect of a transfer to a minimum security prison camp in Tampa, Florida, where conditions are better and the environment less dangerous. But she must serve at least one year in a medium security prison before even being eligible for a transfer.

It is the best she can realistically hope for as the days drift into weeks and then months, and the years accrue slowly.

WEST SUB Financial crisis

from page 1

reimbursement as of Aug. 9, Weiss closed its emergency department on Aug. 8 effectively shuttering the hospital.

Asked where this left West Sub, Prasad expressed his commitment to saving West Sub and gradually restoring and improving its services. However, when pressed by re porters on West Sub’s chance for survival without a cash infusion from the state, he said this is what he worries about every day. He described West Sub as a “small business” in crisis. He said the hospital watches “how much money comes in a on a day and then decides how to allocate” those funds.

He said the hospital is operating hand-tomouth and that he can’t predict how long current resources will allow West Sub to operate.

Asked why he has been fully unresponsive to media questions over the past two months he said, “I have my hands full. This is a crisis.” Asked why the hospital no longer has a communications staf f or public relations firm he said, “We can’t af ford to pay for it.”

State Re p. La Shawn Ford, (D-8th) and State Re p. Camille Lilly (D-78th) opened the press conference held in the empty for mer gift shop in West Sub’s lobby. Both talked about the critical role West Sub plays as a safety net hospital serving the West Side and Oak Park. “It is critical that West Sub is as strong as possible,” said Ford, who was recently endorsed by retiring Cong. Danny Davis for his 7th District seat in the U.S. House. “The West Side is our priority. We want this hospital to continu e.” Lilly said that “Black families are the most vulnerable in the city” and that access to health care in the neighborhood was a “moral and social responsibility.”

Both elected officials said they would work within state government to seek additional funding for West Sub though they did not discuss specific ideas to accomplish that goal.

No re presentatives of Oak Park’s village government were present at the press conference.

West Suburban Hospital staf f members hovered in the lobby and then were urged to step into the gift shop space to hear the press conference.

Prasad talked at length about how Resilience Healthcare was for med to purchase

WHAT ’S NEX T? Dr. Manoj Prasad speaks at a press conference at West Sub on Aug. 8. State reps Camille Lilly and La Shaw n Ford also spoke. Dr. Caroly n Fitzpatrick, chief medical o cer of West Sub, was also in attendance.

both Weiss and West Sub out of bankruptcy from Pipeline Health, a for profit system, after Pipeline declared bankruptcy while blaming the two Chicago area facilities for dragging it down. Prasad said he initially walked away from the deal saying the two hospitals had posted losses of between $20 million and $50 million annually over several years. But at the 11th hour and with the state saying the two hospitals would be closed without a buyer, Prasad said he took a Hail Mary pass and purchased the pair of hospitals.

In his estimation, Resilience was making headway at reducing the $81 million in debt it assumed with the purchase while making slow headway at fixing failed systems in the aging facilities.

West Sub has had ongoing though lesser issues than Weiss with its AC this summer.

Asked by a Growing Community Media re porter about a quote from a month ago that the entire HVAC system at West Sub had been re placed in 2024, Prasad claimed that was true. Asked why Oak Park’s village government has no record of permits being pulled for such a large project, Prasad said that was not a level of detail he was involved in and that the paper should

ask the vendors involved. Asked for the names of the vendors he said that was not a level of detail he was involved in.

While saying he was not being political, Prasad took a shot at the Trump administration saying that in his 30+ years in hospital management he had never seen the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services fully ter minate reimbursements in such a short window of time. He said that Weiss will likely go through an 8-to-12-month process to try and re gain its license to operate while making further re pairs to the facility.

Assessing the impact of West Sub’s woes on the community Prasad described Rush Oak Park Hospital as “as smaller hospital where our patients don’t feel very welcome.”

Prasad said that by necessity West Sub and Weiss had operated under strict austerity measures. “It was the only way to survive,” he said. The result of the cost cutting and other changes was that “we upset a lot of people. And the best retaliation was to pick up the phone and call in a complaint” to re gulatory bodies.

Officials at both the Illinois Department of Public Health and building inspectors

from Oak Park have responded to complaints coming in about West Sub. Responding to specific GCM re porting about the July 4th weekend closing of the hospital’s maternity services unit, he said that no nurses were fired, that the unit was closed due to a shortage of nurses scheduled for that weekend. The nurses who were escorted out of the building by security that day dispute that version of events.

Prasad said conversations are underway to reopen maternity services under “a different model.” He said that while maternity services most always lose money that it was an essential service a safety net hospital should offer.

Prasad said the closure of Weiss might allow Resilience to transfer some nurses from the Uptown location to West Sub thereby easing a nursing shortage at the Oak Park hospital.

In closing remarks, Ford and Lilly stressed that they were not simply standing in support of Prasad but of the full community. “We need transparency and accountability,” from the owner of West Sub, said Ford. Lilly said the re ps have “asked for plans” from West Sub. “We are asking for and requiring” those plans, she said.

‘Big Brai

Whenever local authors write to tell us about the book they published, we offer them a half-page to write about writing that book . Not a promotion. If the book’s worth reading then it’s worth reading about how it came to be. Here is Michael Rosanova, introducing his new book, ‘Big Brains and Broken Hearts, Excerpts from a Life’:

Julie Bach, Dominican, Social Work I ran across the notice by accident. Guided Autobio graphy. Volunteers ages 65 plus. “Write about your life, discuss in small groups led by grad students.”

At the first meeting, Julie explained that she had begun teaching gerontology in her 30s, well before she knew anything about the subject. She was too young. So were her grad students. How were they going to find out?

Julie wasn’t looking for retired professors to join her at the lectern. She was looking for likely specimens in a learning lab for her students, too young to really understand. Retired college teacher that I am, I more than got the point.

The 5- or 10-minute “quick-writes” squeaked with story-worthy Truth or Dare. I immediately fell into kinship with my classmates. One of them, a lady from River Forest, said her kids had given her a subscription to an app, “StoryWorth,” for her birthday. “Mom, before you drop dead, shouldn’t you write something down for the rest of us to remember you by?”

So I dropped both my kids an occasional hint, and was pleased to discover on that Christmas Eve that they had bitten. They signed me up for StoryWorth. And for the next 52 weeks, a whole year, StoryWorth emailed me a polite reminder and a list of writing prompts, which they shared with both my kids and anyone else I decided to include on my list ofpermitted readers. Whatever I wrote, and however they commented, ended up shared by all of us.

There are 52 weeks in a year, and I wrote

fifty nine stories. I’ve always been an overachiever. Born and raised in Oak Park. You may be familiar with the problem.

Don’t stop reading here. The plot thickens.

In 1987 I visited Padre Gandolfi, the head ofthe Scalabrinian seminary minor in Stone Park, out Lake Street, almost Mannheim. We were desperate to find space for our new Montessori School. Our daughter Grace wasn’t getting any younger, and Montessori was what she needed. “She needs an obvious hands-on, project-based environment where she’ll understand something other than English. She’s going to be a native-level bilingual,” I explained. “Deese ease a wonderful idea” exclaimed Padre Gandolfi. “You must do it. You comeuh dese way,” he exclaimed unlocking the doors to some empty office space.

There were terrible rainstorms in Stone

Senior BenefitsLiving YOUR BEST LIFE withLisaCapone

Park that year, and Padre Gandolfi’s basement flooded. How could we not help our benefactor mop up and empty the buckets as our daughter looked on from the basement kitchenette. And how could Padre Gandolfi, Italian that he was, how could he not order in a pizza for us? And how could our daughter not look up from her perch in the basement kitchenette, how could she not summon up her 2-year-old intelligence and wisdom, tur n to Padre Gandolfi, and say, “Padre Pietro, taglia la pizza!” Her very first words in Italian: “Cut the pizza! ” Life is full ofsurprises, some ofthem good, some ofthem disasters. Each of them a miracle, whether you can see it at the time. My new book is entitled Big Brains and Broken Hearts: Ex cerpts from a Life. If you type rosanovaauthor.com into your browser, you’ll find out more.

Michael Rosanova

Senior living communities offer a myriad of benefits that enhance the quality of life for older adults. One of the primary advantages is the opportunity for social interaction. Residents can participate in a variety of activities, from arts and crafts to group outings, fostering friendships and reducing feelings of isolation.

Senior living communities also free residents from the burdens of home maintenance and chores. Housekeeping, laundry services, and meal preparation are typically included, giving residents more time to enjoy their hobbies and interests. Moreover, senior living communities often provide various levels of assistance, from independent living to full-time care, allowing residents to age in place comfortably. This flexibility ensures that as needs change, the appropriate level of care is always available.

MICHAEL ROSANOVA

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FIRST WORDS: Our daughter’s rst words in Italian were “Cut the pizza.”

ZONING

More a ordable housing

from page 1

re gion, according to the group’s proposal.

“We are very f amiliar with the housing and zoning context and of Oak Park through our work with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus on the 2025 Missing Middle Housing Toolkit for the Chicago Re gion and All To g ether’s recent ef for ts on the Explore Oak Park and Beyond campaign for Visit Oak Park,” Opticos said in its proposal. “We are mindful of the opportunity for adjustments to re gulations that offer needed housing solutions and the need for thoughtful, transparent messaging to communicate these potential changes to municipal leaders and community members. ”

The village will pay the group $200,000, according to village documents.

“Missing middle” housing is defined as medium-density housing “that provides diverse housing options along the spectrum of af fordability, which includes duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and bungalows,” according to the National League of Cities. In an Oak Park context, village leaders have identified a lack of multi-bedroom condos and other affordable housing types suitable for families as a gap in the village’s housing stock.

Two trustees — Cory Wesley and Brian Straw — voted against ratifying the village’s zoning code in May in protest of the inclusion of the single-family zones. While the village board is required by state law to ratify the code each year, the trustees voted ‘no’ on the map to show how much refo rming the code matters to them.

Following that conversation, Village President Vicki Scaman said the board was primed to make the transformative change.

“What I’m hearing tonight is when that comes forward to us in the (Requests for Proposals) that we will be ready to act,” she said in May. “I just think that we will be a pretty amazing group to host the conversation and the sense of urgency is heard.”

Zoning was a tool used to enforce racial se gregation in the North, and Oak Park’s map still reflects that le gacy, Wesley said again on Tuesday.

“We’re a progressive community, we believe in racial equity, and yet we’re sitting on top of racially inequitable

EV CHARGING

from page 5

isfy his ag reement with the land bank by putting up the EV chargers.

“The terms of the purchase ag reement was ‘you’ve got to do something, at least meet the requirement of what you ag reed to,’ and that’s my intention,” Hughes said. “The county has said ‘we don’ t really care what you do, but do what you said you were going to do.’”

ADDING UNITS: A longterm debate over building tow nhouses next to an already subdivided house on Home Avenue is an example of the zoning issue.

zoning,” he said.

The consultant group’s plan for the project hinges on a community-wide education and awareness campaign and analysis of how zoning reform will bring impact. The project has a goal to be completed in nine months, coming back before the board in spring of 2026.

Oak Park Village Manager Kevin Jackson said the project shouldn’t be rushed considering the impact it could have on the village, and the necessity of robust public engagement on the matter.

“You remember the bike plan, well multiply that by five or 10,” Jackson said.

The consultant team working on the project also includes staf f from a strategic communications firm, an economic analysis firm and an urban planning firm, according to Opticos proposal.

He said that he’s already poured over $200,000 into the project, and that the project was derailed by the untimely death of his contractor. He said he heard from T he Community Builders about their interest in the property not long after and saw it as an opportunity to recoup his investment.

T he development of the property will happen amid a renewed push by leaders in Oak Park and Berwyn to boost economic activity along Roosevelt Road, as re presentatives from both towns hosted an open house earlier this summer to g et resident feedback to help shape the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan that they’re developing to-

Municipalities across the country have debated the idea of ditching single family residential zoning in ef for ts to address affordability and density issues

Evanston, Oak Park’s peer in many ways, is considering eliminating single-family residential zoning as the city develops a new comprehensive plan and zoning code.

Illinois House Bill 4795 was introduced last year and would’ve banned single-family zoning in cities with populations larger than 100,000. The bill did not make it to a vote.

Opticos, which is headquartered in Berkeley, California, helped the city of Columbus, Ohio produce a new comprehensive zoning code that the city approved last year. That project, which was several years in the making, helped the sprawling state capitol open the door for nearly 90,000 new housing units to be built in targeted areas around transportation corridors according to the group.

g ether. A predecessor to that project — “The Plan for the Redevelopment of Roosevelt Road” — was adopted by the Oak Park board in 2005.

T he lagging development of the 6104 Roosevelt Rd property has drawn some public criticism. Neighbor Chris Donovan spoke at an Oak Park board of trustee meeting in July, encouraging the village to ensure that the af fordable housing project goes through.

“Is there a need for privately funded out of the way EV charging stations on Roosevelt Road,” he said. “I would say no, Is there a need, a true need for af fordable housing in Oak Pa rk? I would say yes.”

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West Suburban Montessori School embodies the educational principles established by Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), an Italian physician who dedicated her career to the study of children. Following Dr. Montessori’s guidance, we focus on the whole child at WSMS, including the intellectual, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development of the child.

• Montessori environments have mixed ages: Primary (ages 3-6), Lower Elementary (ages 6-9), and Upper Elementary (ages 9-12)

• Children actively engage in their learning. The guide gives lessons to the student, and the student continues the work independently.

• Hands on learning happens in Montessori environments. The Montessori materials are made to be touched and manipulated.

• Montessori students have freedom of movement. Movement is vital for all children.

• An AMI credentialed guide in each classroom is key. Montessori guides focus on redirection, honest conversation, and encouragement of their students.

• Uninterrupted work cycles are paramount to Montessori classrooms. Students work at their own pace, learn to concentrate deeply, and develop interests in a full range of subject areas.

What you get for the money: $1.2 million edition

The pickings are slim for single-family homes and the prices are rising

By LACEY SIKORA Real Estate Reporter

In Oak Park, the median property sales price in June 2025 was $466,000, and in River Forest it, was $661,000. While the median price of homes has continued to rise in the two suburbs, the number of single-family homes on the market has remained low. On the upper end of the market, both villages saw a healthy interest in homes priced w ell above the median price during the busy spring market.

In the past three months, Oak Park has recorded 13 sales of homes priced at $1.1 million to $1.4 million. River Forest has recorded six sales in that price range. As the summer sales period slows down, we take a look at what $1.2 million buys you locally.

In Oak Park, three properties are listed in the $1.2 million price range.

■ 1118 N. Kenilworth Ave. is priced at $1.2 million. Built in 1929, the brick home is on a parkway and includes five bedrooms and three- and one-half bathrooms. An arched front door, original staircase and detailed brickwork speak to the home’s history. Inside, the kitchen has been updated and all five bedrooms are on the second floor. Property taxes were $30,541 in 2023.

■ The home at 519 N. Elmwood Ave. is for sale for $1,179,000. The John W. Morgan Home was built in 1910 and designed by architect Thornton Her r. The stucco house has brick accents, an arched front door and loads of Prairie details in its original woodwork and living room fireplace. There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms in the main house. A newly built coach house garage was designed to complement the home’s style and includes

another full bathroom and living space. Property taxes in 2023 were $34,807.

■ At 1143 Clinton Ave., a newly constructed home promising late f all delivery is priced at $1,250,000. At four bedrooms and three- and one-half bathrooms, the completed home will boast over 3,600 square feet. With

See MILLIONS EDITION on pa ge 20

PROVIDED

OLDER HOUSE, NEW KITCHEN: is Ashland Avenue home in River Forest has 5 bedrooms.

1143 Clinton Ave., Oak Park

1118 N. Kenilworth Ave.,Oak Park

white siding and black trim, the moder n far mhouse style home will include tenfoot ceilings on the first floor and moder n touches in the kitchen and bathrooms. Property taxes for 2023 for the property were $13,692 and do not reflect the value of the new home

In River Forest there are also three homes on the market priced at roughly $1,200,000.

■ 213 Ashland Ave. is priced at $1,195,000. Built in 1922, the home has been recently remodeled. Inside, the 1,200-square-foot home offers five bedrooms and four- and one-half bathrooms. The home has a new kitchen, three bedrooms, including a pri-

mary suite on the second floor, and two bedrooms and two bathrooms in the fully finished basement. Property taxes in 2023 were $12,602 and may not reflect the renovations to the home

■ The home at 820 Monroe Ave. is listed at $1,295,000. The five bedroom, four- and one-half bathroom house was built in 1924 by the Buurma brothers, known for their properties in River Forest. The brick, Colonial style home has a newly renovated kitchen and bathrooms and includes a finished attic and a basement with a bar. Property taxes in 2023 were $26,468.

■ 500 Auvergne Place is on the market at $1,250,000. Built in 1981, the contemporary home has four bedrooms, three- and onehalf bathrooms and roughly 3,300 square feet of living space. The home features an inground pool, complete with pool house. Property taxes in 2023 were $24,365.

Who will reinvest in West Sub? p. 25

Privileged comment

At a recent community meeting about our bike plan, I noticed something missing: most of the public. As the participants filtered in and then began to talk, a pattern became clear. They were overwhelmingly older white homeowners.

Academic research has shown that “public comment” is heavily biased toward affluent white homeowners, and further biased to those with the strongest opinions We never hear a “Meh, I could go either way” in public comments, despite this being a commonly held viewpoint.

voices of those who do show up aren’t presentative of community sentiment. A 2018 Boston University study found that while only 15% public comments supported new development, the community at large voted for a referendum in of development by a margin of 56%.

voices of renters, minorities and youth, espite being a significant proportion of our com, are rarely heard in public comment. When e, it’s usually as the result of significant ommunity organization and effort.

Sound policies, not sound bites VIEWPOINTS

sk any village official or trustee — it’s hard getting these voices heard. When those voices are listened to, officials are frequently accused of ignoring the concerns of older white homeowners. Oftentimes progressives stress the need for community feedback, unwittingly helping to boost a demo graphic that I think they’d agree doesn’t need amplification. Recently we heard a progressive trustee voice concer n over “process” around our bike plan, worried that community voices hadn’t been heard. Indeed, many of the children whose safety would be improved by bike infrastructure have bedtimes before public comment begins, but I don’t think that’s what the trustee meant.

This is emblematic of the problem, the “process” privileges those who have the attention, time and resources to engage with it

Oak Park is embarking on an ambitious plan to address our urgent housing needs, potentially making impactful changes to our zoning code, up to and including eliminating single-family zoning. If you thought bike plans were controversial, zoning reform says “hold my beer!”

These refor ms will be guaranteed to turn out older white homeowners in droves. They will be worried about property values, parking, and other vague concerns carefully crafted to cloak our collective racial and classist baggage.

I don’t know how to get renters to show up to these meetings, and many of those who would benefit don’t live here yet. I founded “Yes Oak Park” in an effort to get more than the usual suspects to show up at the table in support of housing reform, but it’s an uphill battle

I don’t think we should get rid of or ignore public comment, and I’ve got nothing against old white homeowners. I am one! But as we try to make bold and progressive changes to our community, we need to be aware of the limitations of our existing community feedback processes.

We are giving a megaphone to a powerful and non-representative demographic. We need to find ways to get others to step up to the mic.

Source: https://www.housingpolitics.com/research/who_participates_in_local_government.pdf

New gover nment administrations are often assessed at the 100-day mark to deter mine their early perfor mance and new priorities. Our village board has been in office just short of that and already given some indication as to how they will create policy. Their early steps are concerning at best. Amid concerns related to data-sharing with immigration of ficials, the current board considered two simultaneous motions re garding the alter native license plate recognition (ALPR) contract with Flock Group Inc. The first motion, brought forward by newly-elected Trustee Jenna Leving Jacobson, called for the removal of Oak Park’s ALPRs and early ter mination of the contract. The second motion by veteran Trustee Jim Taglia proposed an immediate pause on ALPR usage and a plan to work with our police chief to discuss additional controls and alternatives to balance data privacy concer ns with the department’s need for moder n investigative tools

One View

police department paused its use of ALPRs, the cameras could not be deactivated and would continue to collect data. This was proven to be completely false. In the meeting, village staf f and a company representative confirmed the cameras could be deactivated. Yet Leving Jacobson refused to change her position.

Facts should not be manipulated to fit a narrative.

The board missed an opportunity to focus on concer ns related to data collection and data mining, resisting draconian deportation ef forts, and creating village ordinances to support vulnerable populations, such as a cashless business ordinance so that electronic forms of payment, which can also be tracked, are not required to buy something as basic as groceries.

The village’s ALPR contract began in 2022 with eight cameras deployed to analyze license-plate images and identify vehicles of interest in police investigations. ALPRs are widely used throughout the country and all of our community neighbors utilize one or more ALPR systems. Since their installation, Oak Park’s cameras have aided in the recovery of illegal firearms, carried out arrest warrants and located stolen vehicles

Despite this, Leving Jacobson insisted on canceling the contract on the basis that even if the

This rudderless decision-making failed to provide clear guidance to staff around technology in policing and missed a broader discussion around immigration support. Failing to do this is a failure in leadership.

Instead, we need leaders who can work with village staff and other experts to develop policy that protects all of us. We need leaders who seek accurate information to inform their perspectives. We need leaders who are brave enough to uphold Oak Park’s values, even if it means doing the extra work to create sound policies, not ideological sound bites

Lucia Robinson Former Oak Park village trustee

LUCIA ROBINSON

OUR VIEWS

West Sub on the br ink

Dr. Manoj Prasad, the owner of West Suburban Medical Center, got at least one thing right at a press conference last Friday at the Oak Park-based safety net hospital.

The endless procession of owners of this hospital over the past three decades both told the story about a hospital with deep structural issues while simultan eously exacerbating those ve ry issues

From a proud, community-owned nonprofit hospital sinc e i ts inception, West Sub has, since the 1990s, suf fered through ownership by Loyola Medicin e, Resur rection, Tenet, Vanguard, P ipeline and, for the past three year s, Resilience Healthcare. One of those outfit s, Resur rection, maybe, did build a shiny and essential new ER. The rest have pulled resources from the hospital and utterly failed to invest in its plant or its people Th at brings us to 2025 when West Su b, a safety net serving the West Side as well as Oak Pa rk and Rive r Fo rest, is on the ve ry brink. Prasad, breaking his long silence, talked first to re po rters about the closure last Friday of We i ss Memorial, the other link in Resilience’s sad and broken chain. That Uptown hospital was shuttered after the feds pulled its Medicaid reimbursement ag reement.

T hen, responding to shar p questions from re porter s, he acknowledged that West Sub is surviving hand-to-mouth with spending decisions based on how much cash ar rives on a give n day. That is a stunning announcement.

While he said he was committed to saving West Su b, he could not of fer anything near a plan. State re ps Camille Lilly and La Shawn Fo rd stood g amely at his side talking up the critical role of West Sub in serving the West Side. And wh i le they said they wanted “transparency and accountability” from Prasad, the truth is that he has no history of providing either

Two final thoughts: There is nothing but pain coming out of the Trump administration when it comes to failing hospitals such as West Su b. And just where is the village of Oak Pa rk in this matter? A trustee finally asked that question at a recent b oard meeting and rece ived only the vaguest of assurances that the village president and village manager we re paying attention. We know village gove r nment does not have the resources or connections to fix West Su b. But we do expect them to be active pa rt icipants in any ef fo rt possible to preserve this hospital. So far, crickets.

e Flock camera vote

The decision by Oak Park’s village board to cancel the Flock camera license plate reading technology was the right one. In this moment when all bets are off in terms of protecting individual rights in America, Oak Park should not be participating in any technology that might be used to infringe on privacy and protection for neighbors most at risk of federal overreach.

This was a decision consistent with Oak Park’s sincere effor ts to protect every person living in our community.

Musings on the verge of an apocal se

Lately, I’ve been feeling that I fit my life — big enough so there’s room to grow but not so big that I get lost in it, small enough to be content but not so tight that it confines and restricts. For the first time, the fit feels about right.

This came as a sur prise. I do know if I grew into my life or let enough air out to right-size it, or dumped enough dead weight to gi me lift.

Or maybe my life always fit just right but I wasn’t ready to accept it — living within limits, living up to possibilities.

TRAINOR

I like the setting. Same town I grew up in, though in some ways very different towns. Then and now, it’s a good place to be who you’re going to be. Not perfect of course: Taxes, parking, leaf pickup, bike plans. Racism and other nasty -isms lurk here like anywhere else. This town can be a pedestrian’s heaven and a driver’s hell. It’s a mix.

The climate is changing here like everywhere else, so that’s a big question mark. I hope my health holds. Lots of variables, but that’s true in every town and in everyone’s life

I like four seasons, and the Midwest is an avid practitioner. I’m not a big fan of winter, but three out of four ain’ t bad, and without winter I wouldn’ t appreciate the others so much. Some like winter much more than summer, especially this summer which was no priz e, weather-wise.

But the trees please and the birds sing sweetly as they poop on our cars. Flowers flourish and nourish. Nothing exotic, but exotic is what travel is for. If I need a change of scenery, I can always visit the climate zones in the Oak Park Conservatory or go off on movie escapades at the Lake Theatre, walk along Lake Michig an, meander through Morton Arboretum, Brookfield Zoo, and even Oak Brook Mall. I always feel better about Oak Park after I’ve been to Oak Brook.

T he sidewalks here are wide enough for twoway foot traffic (or three-way with do gs). I like the parkways and small lawns with front-yard gardens. The sound of crickets provide an evening’s excellent second act after the cicadas finally shut up (cicadas being an acquired taste that I have yet to acquire).

All in all, this is a good place to wait for the apocalypse to play itself out. If we can’ t stop

can become a laboratory for better living. Once the worst is over, ll need models for a new way to th a little extra ef fort, we could be that model. We’re almost there now.

Oak Park, like my life, feels mane. Not too big, not too small. Not too urban, not too suburban. not rural, but you can drive an hour and find fields of infinite corn or fields of infinite prairie. Closer to home, we have prairie-style architecture, invented by a famous horizontalist.

Here in the hear tland we avoid the extremes without settling for mediocrity, content without being smug — a good balance.

There are so many interesting people here. We have just enough characters to give the joint atmosphere. And we have enough diversity to make you believe we mean it — that we’re hungry for fairness and even equality.

This is a good town to live into, a good place to let go of unrealistic notions and unrealizable hopes. You don’t need to be famous to live here. I’m not sure you can be famous living here, though some have tried and some famous people came from here. Hemingway and Wright notwithstanding, this is not a star-struck town.

Neither is the place complacent. It’s not a comfort zone. It’s a discomfort zone, worth the hassles I liked growing up here. I liked leaving for some years and moving back to find a far more interesting town than the one I left. The current version is right for me, and I’m finally feeling like I might be right for this town.

Oak Park is imperfect, but so am I. Oak Park isn’t sheltered, isn’t insulated, isn’t elitist and entitled, isn’t overconfident yet doesn’t suffer from an inferiority complex. It’s not too hot and not too cold. It’s just right, but we’re no bowl of porridge. And I’m beginning to fit into my life here. Not aiming too high, not aiming too low. Not wanting too much, not wanting too little. Not trying too hard — just trying harder.

I ended up here thanks to my parents, and I ended up back here thanks to circumstances largely beyond my control. If luck really is where preparation meets opportunity, then Oak Park is lucky and so am I.

Maybe I finally reached the point where I have chosen the life that has chosen me.

You can’t ask for much more than that.

A missed opportunity

On Aug. 5, the Oak Park Village Board voted 5-2 to cancel our contract with Flock Safety, the automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology recommended by both our Police Department and the independent 2022 community safety study conducted by BerryDunn.

Our Police Department originally requested 20 cameras. The board at the time cut that to eight. Now even those have been taken away, citing privacy concer ns and fear of data misuse. Instead of working to create a policy framework that marries data security, professional accountability, and public safety, this vote prioritizes fear over facts, micromanagement over expert advice, and virtue signaling over a long-term commitment to public safety

This is especially troubling given: ■ Staffing shortages – Our police department is still 30 officers short, despite claims that we would be fully staffed by the end of 2025.

■ A stalled police facility project – The need for a moder n facility has been well established and documented, yet action has been delayed for years and is now indefinitely stalled. With this vote, we take away even more tools from our already stretched officers.

■ Loss of regional collaboration –Neighboring communities have implemented Flock cameras. Canceling this contract doesn’t protect our privacy; it just makes joint crime prevention efforts harder for Oak Park.

We pride ourselves on being progressive, yet we block progress. We speak of data-driven decisions, yet we ignore recommendations from the very experts we paid for. The debate over Flock cameras could have been an opportunity to lead by collaborating more effectively with our police department, balancing privacy protections with public safety innovation. Instead this board just sent a message that Oak Park is unwilling to engage in the complex work of balancing safety, privacy, and modern policing

We didn’t just reject a tool, we missed the opportunity to lead thoughtfully on community safety. The result is disappointing and potentially dangerous.

Ravi Parakkat

Former Oak Park villa ge trustee

River Forest should honor elec tion results

If you don’t vote, don’t claim democracy failed you or that voters conspired against you. Every election matters. Do you care about school curriculum, park design or local taxes? How about public safety and law enforcement? These decisions are made at the local, county and state level where you can make an impact — not just by voting, but running for of fice, joining a committee, or reading newsletters and asking questions Bad policy is made when no one shows up to vote or push back on a bad idea. Unfortunately, the loudest voices in our village are not being constructive but villainizing those who worked hard to put an issue on the ballot — when one of democracy’s key features is the ability to do so

River Forest needs to take action to honor the results of the 2024 election supporting ter m limits Re-litigating the result undermines the democracy we claim to protect and plays into the claims of sham elections and “fake news” we criticize on the national stage. The vote was not sudden. There were lengthy discussions, petitions, legal challenges, local news coverage, Facebook debate and yard signs everywhere — some of which are still standing today. Nothing was hidden and everyone had the chance to participate Some argue term limits restrict choice, but so does long-term incumbency. Incumbents benefit from name recognition and power of the position. Nationwide, they won 95% of all races in the 2024 General Elec-

tion (Ballotpedia). Incumbents have such strength in our local and county elections, they frequently run unopposed. It isn’t ter m limits constraining your democratic choice, it is apathy and non-participation.

Let’s turn our energy toward the 2026 primaries and general elections — the first time in nearly three decades that Rep. Danny Davis and Sen. Dick Durbin will not be on the ballot and there is a crowded field of eager candidates. This is our chance at a choice! Don’t ever be shocked by a local election result. Vote early (not often), by mail or inperson on Election Day. Every election!

Amy

RF Community Center is invaluable

I am writing to address the possible ter mination of the contract with the River Forest Community Center. I am not familiar with the legal issues, but I know from having lived in River Forest for 36 years that the programming the RFCC offers is a priceless asset to the community

Like many other young families, we moved to River Forest because it is a lovely community with excellent schools We raised our five children in the village, and when we were looking for ways to become part of the community, we found the Community Center’s Early Childhood programs. My husband joined the RFCC Board, and the children and I joined many RFCC Mom and Tot classes. These classes laid the ground-

work for friendships for all of us that have lasted ever since. We also sent all of the kids to the wonderful preschool classes at RFCC, which provided first-rate foundations for their success at District 90’s schools

When the kids became adults, I became a member of the D90 school board, on which served for eight years, the last two as president. In that role, I continued to appreciate the impact of the RFCC programs for kids of all ages, which build the strong social and emotional skills children need to succeed.

I know that many parents depend on RFCC programming to provide care for their kids both before and after school, and that quality early childhood programming contributes significantly to our strong prop-

continue to support young families now and in the future.

A turning point for our retail corridor?

The news that Barnes & Noble is coming to Oak Park, occupying the historic Marshall Field building is a welcome development. A vibrant bookstore and café in our downtown could become a cultural and economic anchor — reviving foot traffic, supporting nearby businesses, and enriching our community.

But for this investment to succeed, the village must address longstanding issues in the immediate area. Panhandlers and individuals experiencing homelessness frequently gather near the entrance, and a cannabis business operates within doors of the proposed site. These conditions mirror those that plagued the previous bookstore at

this location over a decade ago, contributing to its decline. Patrons felt unsafe then — and without intervention, they will again.

Oak Park is a dynamic, engaged community with high property taxes and high expectations. Residents deserve a clean, safe, and welcoming downtown. If we want Bar nes & Noble to thrive, the village must act now — not next summer — to ensure the surrounding environment reflects the standards we uphold

This is not just about aesthetics; it’s about economic viability and public safety Families, seniors, the disabled and students should feel comfortable entering the store. Perception matters — especially in retail —

and a neglected streetscape discourages repeat visits and under mines local commerce I urge village leadership to take proactive steps: increase police presence, coordinate with social services, and engage nearby businesses in a shared plan for revitalization. Compassion and pragmatism must go hand in hand. We can support vulnerable populations while also protecting public spaces and encouraging investment.

Let’s not squander this opportunity

Bar nes & Noble’s coming could be a tur ning point for Oak Park’s retail corridor — but only if we prepare the ground for success.

Hansmann River Forest

Barbara Hickey River Forest

Carl Bailey Oak Park

SHRUB

TO WN

by Marc Stopeck

Who will reinvest in West Sub?

Between 2001-2014 I had the honor and privilege of working for Vanguard Health Systems, at the time, the owners of MacNeal, Weiss, Westlake and West Suburban Hospitals

Even back then, the headwinds facing all four hospitals were challenging. Declining reimbursements, changing demographics of illnesses, and disenchanted medical staffs all contributed to those challenges. The facilities were dilapidated and in desperate need of upgrades. And behind that inability to fund improvements was the financing dilemmas that health care faces: caps on Medicare reimbursements and wildly different commercial reimbursement rates

Each of those hospitals had their unique challenges: MacNeal was landlocked; Westlake served a Medicaid population and had a medical staff that was one of the last to require board certification to be on its staf f; Weiss Hospital suffered from Medicaid (and now Medicare) reimbursement issues and has had difficulty in attracting and maintaining primary care physicians

West Suburban Hospital had been through numerous owners (primarily nonprofit entities) before the Vanguard acquisition and each of the owners promised to fix it. And now, their Family Medicine Residency and its nationally

renowned OB training program is gone. Each of the subsequent owners thought they could do what no one else could — restore West Sub to operating profitability, without deeply investing in its infrastructure, personnel and physicians.

At the other end of Oak Park sits Oak Park Hospital. As a longtime Oak Park resident, I watched Oak Park Hospital rise from at third tier community hospital to one that of fers world-class care, connected to a world-class academic medical center. Rush had the foresight to invest wisely in services, physicians, and facility upgrades, culminating with the opening of the new professional services building at North and Harlem avenues.

The contrast between our two hospitals couldn’t be more obvious as are the choices — go big with West Sub and reinvest in an aging institution, or watch it die a slow death as did Westlake and now Weiss is doing.

Only through reinvestment will physicians and patients be re-attracted to our jewel. The question is who will do the reinvestment?

Gary Wainer Oak Park

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.

All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.

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

■ 350-word limit

■ Must include rst and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for veri cation only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 500-word limit

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself and/or your connection to the topic

■ Signature details as at left

e majority is in favor of term limits

In the Viewpoints section of Wednesday Journal, a writer states that term limits were debated “in op-eds, letters to the editors, and Facebook conversation” (https://www.oakpark. com/2025/08/05/term-limits-are-ineffective). This is true. But in addition, from August 2024 to March/April 2025, for about 8-9 months, residents saw yard-signs and fliers for or against term limits, and could educate themselves by reading op-eds, viewpoints, opinions, and Facebook conversations, again in favor or against term limits. It is therefore reasonable to state that residents were aware of this issue and could learn, meet and discuss the pros and cons of term limits if they wished.

GIUSEPPINA NUCIFORA

One View

residents did exist, I saw their numerous yard signs and read their fliers. The writer herself could have pushed for meetings and community conversations, and could have organized an opposition. But she didn’t, probably because her family was “tuned-out … because of the slee py, low-turnout election.” Therefore, she declares that a ballot placed during a low turnout election is a “manipulation.”

money and all these going-to-nowhere or retracted projects don’t make these leaders “effective.” So perhaps the residents’ majority truly doesn’t want to keep these leaders until they disappear because of old age.

Finally, the writer states that “If the question of term limits came back in 2026, … [she truly believes] the outcome would be different.”

Bike plan fo lly

As reported in Wednesday Journal [Community awaits impending vote on bike plan, July 23], with the exception of one trustee (Jim Taglia), the village board passed a measure to approve a main east-west bike route across south Oak Park as part of an overall bike plan, as it “reflects the trustees’ vision for biking and bike safety in Oak Park,” according to President Vicki Scaman. The article continues, saying that the supporters of the plan need an east-west lane south of the Eisenhower Expressway for the entire village to be accessible for cyclists

Nevertheless, the writer complains that the residents had insufficient information, that “there was really no healthy community conversation, no exchange of ideas” and that “The group pushing for ter m limits didn’t really have any organized opposition.”

But why did the residents opposing term limits not organize an opposition or engage the community in “a healthy conversation and exchange of ideas” during those 8-9 months? These

The writer believes that term limits “push out effective leaders simply because of an arbitrary clock, [and] limit institutional knowledge and give more power to unelected actors.” To that, I point out that the current leaders were “unelected actors” and had no “institutional knowledge” before their first election.

And are these leaders really effective, as the writer states? Let’s count the er rors, the walk-backs, the still-existing and unresolved yearslong debacles. The money that these leaders wasted on irrational projects (barriers on low-traffic streets), notwell-thought-through projects (zoning changes), forever-unfinished projects (Lake and Ashland), all this wasted

Based on which data/facts would the results be different? More information/ organization? The number of residents who voted for or against term limits is similar to the number of residents who voted for or against the president and trustees. Should we therefore conclude that voters were not infor med about the president and trustees? There was no organized opposition to the president and trustees. Were we therefore manipulated, and should we then do this thing all over again in 2026?

The majority was in favor of ter m limits. This was not the result of “manipulation” or insufficient infor mation, or absence of opposition.

This was the voters’ verdict on the staying and effectiveness of our current leaders.

Giuseppina Nucifora is a resident of River Forest.

anks, re department and ComEd

Ku d os to the Rive r Fo rest Fire Depar tment who came out to my c ondo building not once but twice on Mond ay, Au g. 5. We had a ve ry strange powe r outage that resulted in trenching the property to fix a co rroded under ground cabl e. In the course of thing s, I got stuck in the elevator. Despite the fact that our emergency phone’s poor sound q uality made it nearly impossible to be understood, in a flash, a crew was onsite and I was out in a flash. After the powe r was restored early in the evening, for some crazy reason, the fire alarm went of f when the powe r was restored. Again, the fire de pa rtment was there in no time and thoroughly checke d out the entire system. Everyone was kind, cordial and helpful. Thanks, fellas.

And big compliments go to Commonwealth Edison. When thei r monitoring equipment detected the f ault, they immediately got in touch with our property management c ompany — or tried to, seven times and we re not able to g et the appropriate people on the phone. So they j ust showe d up and started ringing d oorbells and luckily got me, the b oard president. They ke pt me apprised every step of the way. They did attempt to put our building on a generator wh ich wasn’t successf ul. But they we re able to make the primary re pair, wh ich they managed to complete before it got da rk . They we re able to drive a ditch witch onto the property and dig a big trench

with minimal damage.

As the daughter of an electrical engineer, I always want to understand the technical aspects of a situation. Ben, the lead ComEd person, was happy to explain and ke ep me in the loop at every turn whether by phone, as I was running around the building, or in person, wh i le I watched the wo rk

T he powe r outage was the topper to seven previous days of ba d events. But both the Fire De pa rtment and ComEd came through with all ef ficiency, compassion and professionalism, wh ich made a bad situation better.

Well done!

Louise Mezzatesta River Forest

The entire village? Will anyone north of Madison travel to south Oak Park to travel this bike lane? They may go to the pool at Rehm but Harvard Street is another block south ... and then go where? The entire village? Take a look at the village map and note that Harvard Street is .2 miles north of Roosevelt, whereas the majority of Oak Park lies in the remaining 2.8 miles to North Avenue

There are seven intersections on Harvard east of Ridgeland to Austin that have a 4-way stop sign. Is it assumed that bikers will be stopping at each stop sign? Other than the intersections at Irving School and the park, what will happen at the remaining four? The north/south stop signs will most likely remain, but what about the east-west? If they are removed for the benefit of bikers, then vehicles will zip through, but that’s probably not acceptable, so then what?

Mark Klancic summarized in his One View (WJ 5/27/25) the impact this plan has on Oak Park residents on a day-to-day basis:

– 100+ residential dwelling units open on to Harvard – approximately 40 dwelling units have Harvard as their main entry.

– 3 churches use Harvard for parking and drop off (many are senior citizens).

– 3 schools use Harvard for parking and drop off. – 60 garages and perpendicular parking spaces back in or out onto Harvard, creating unintended consequences for fast bikes

Patti Marino’s Viewpoint (WJ 8/8/25) makes valid arguments for current homeowners on Harvard Street to receive a reduction in their property tax.

I propose that the village board offer these homeowners a $1,000 credit to their annual tax assessment until that property changes hands. Isn’t that fair?

I’m not against biking. I regularly bicycle the streets and alleys between Roosevelt/Madison and Harlem/ Ridgeland on the weekends in war m weather so I get it. I “share the road,” use hand signals, slow down or stop at stop signs (if vehicles are at a crossing) and enjoy the freedom of being able to choose a bike route. It seems to me that the expense, upheaval to residents, financial irresponsibility and absurdity (in my opinion) of installing a raised bike lane in south Oak Park on both sides of Harvard Street that will have minimal use in a restricted land-use village like ours is folly … Scaman’s Folly. Remember the Oak Park Mall?

Bob Dame Oak Park

Violence against police must stop

I am outraged by the alar ming re por ts of 10 officers shot in j ust the past six days (as of thi s letter), with three tragically losing their lives wh i le on duty. It is imperative that Cong ress i mmediately pass the “Protect and Serve Act.”

“So far this year, 196 of ficer s have been shot in the line of d uty, and 26 have been killed . T here have been 44 ambushstyle attacks on law enforcement of ficer s. ” This includes the shocking incidents involving 10 of ficers shot recentl y, with three officers slain in c old-blooded ambushes in Ohio, K ansas, and New Yo rk . Congress must act now!

T he “Protect and Serve Act,” initially approved by the House in 2018, aims to create a federal of f ense for anyone who “willingly” attacks a law enforcement officer. In 2025 alone, 12 of ficer s have been murdered in ambushstyle attacks. How many more must fall before Cong ress takes decisive action?

This crucial bill has been reintroduced as S.167 in the S enate and currently boasts 18 co-sponsor s. The companion bill in the House, H.R. 1551, has r allied 84 co-sponsor s. Yet the House and Senate Committees on the Ju diciary have failed to schedule any action on these bills. That must change immediately. I am asking our lawmakers to prioritize the safety of our law enforcement of ficer s.

Source: National Fraternal Order of Police, Monthly Update, Law Enforcement Officers Shot and Killed in the Line of Duty, https://national.fop.net/ shotkilled812025#pa ge=3

Tom Weitzel (Ret.) Former Ri verside police chief

Gerri Keating, 81 CEO, Oak Park B oard of Realtors

Geraldine “Gerri”

Irene Keating (nee Leone), 81, a longtime resident of Oak Pa died peacefully on Au 5, 2025. Born on March 30, 1944, she retired CEO of the Oak Pa Board of Realtor She loved to trav and create unforgettable memories with her She spent countless hours events of her sons, gr sons, and thoroughly and friends during holidays and special events.

OBITUARIES

University’s Rome Center and provided both of her children with the same life-changing opportunity to study abroad.

Gerri was the daughter of Anthony and Betty Leone (Stevens); wife of the late Philip Keating; mother of Michael (Sharon) Keating and Greg (Jennifer) Keating; sister of Patti (John) VanDellen and the late Robert Leone; grandmother of Jaclyn (Eric) Roman, Ryan (Kaitlin) Keating, Anthony and Nathan Keating; and great-grandmother to Quintin and Evan Roman, and Grayson and Kenzie Keating; and the aunt, cousin, and friend of many others.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society

Visitation was held on Aug. 11 at Salerno Galewood Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago. At 10 a.m. on Aug. 12, a funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Giles Church, 1045 Columbian, Oak Park.

Peggy Hosty, 75 Boss of the Big House

Margaret “Peggy” Cullerton Hosty, 75, Westchester, formerly of River Forest, died on Aug. 1, 2025. Born on March 22, 1950 in Chicago and raised in Winfield. She was a graduate of Loyola University and earned a master de gree from DePaul University. A scholar of the English language, she passed her skills to her children, proofreading their high school papers, re gularly correcting their grammar and always believing in their potential to succeed. She valued her experience at Loyola

he knew a lot of people and built a wide community of loyal friends, nurturing close-knit relationships within her strong Irish family and

he served as matriarch to her eight siblings and “Boss of the Big House” at the family ompound on Lake Michigan. Her last visit to an was spent playing on the beach with eat nephew and nieces with whom she had a special bond, ensuring she made a lasting impression on the fifth generation of Cullerton -goers.

ould be counted on to add more fun to elebration and support during difficult he was so well known for her dip that she always kept the main ingredient stocked in her fridge in case of emergency.

She leaves a void at the center of her clan and her circle of friends. She will be sorely missed

Peggy was the mother of Alice (Bob Kolada) and the late Robert Emmett Hosty Jr.; the sister of John (Pam) Cullerton II, Mary Carroll Durand, Alice (Jim) Corcoran, Tom (Susan) Cullerton, Trish (Mike) Lynch, Patrick (Faith) Cullerton, Maureen (Jim) Leffler and Michael (Kai) Cullerton; the daughter of the late Patricia (nee Tyrrell) and John ‘Jack’ Cullerton I; for mer spouse of the late Robert Emmett Hosty Sr.; and the aunt of 34 nieces and nephews and too many cousins to count.

Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Giles Parish Church, 1025 Columbian Ave., Oak Park. Interment private

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Misercordia (6300 N. Ridge Ave. Chicago, IL 60660) or the charity of your choice

Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family – Brian D. Kuratko, Funeral Director.

Kay Smith, 83 Dedicated to educational equity

Kay Monroe Smith, 83, died on Aug. 2, 2025. Devout in faith, keen in intellect and generous in love, she was a scholar and adcate for innovative and rich elementary education for all and particularly for disenfranchised youth.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin, she moved to the Chicago area in 1963 to study education at Concordia University, then earned a master’s de gree from Northwestern University and a Doctor of Philosophy from Loyola University, where she later served on the faculty of the School of Education. Fiercely dedicated to her study and to her support of new teachers, it was her sons with whom she was most fascinated.

Kay was preceded in death by Robert N. Smith, her husband of 48 years, and she is survived by her sons, Christian (Sandra Shimon) and Garrett (Charity Haines); her grandchildren, Emma and Lucy; and lifelong friends, colleagues and students from all parts of her lived experience.

To honor Kay’s life, a visitation was held on Aug. 8, followed by a funeral service at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division, River Forest, where Kay was a member. Private entombment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations in Kay’s name to any charity that promotes and preserves equal rights for all.

Ardis Horwich, 58

A nurse for three decades

Ardis Eve Horwich, 58, of Oak Park, died on Aug. 8, 2025. Bor n on July 29, 1967 in Oak Park, she attended Oak Park and River Forest

High School, earned a bachelor of science nursing degree and worked as a registered nurse for over 30 years.

She was an avid pet lover, most recently a bird named Olive and a dog named Scotty. She read extensively, particularly about the history of the British monarchy, taking a special interest in Queen Elizabeth I. She enjoyed watching numerous TV shows and movies, including The Simpsons, King of Queens, The Honeymooners, and the movie Wicked She could recite quotes and describe scenes from an array of TV shows and movies. Ardis was the daughter of Lynne and Martin Horwich; the sister of Julius Horwich; the mother of Ruth and Laura Gacek; and the niece of Barbara and Jack Greenstein, Jim and the late Joan Figatner, Sandra and the late Bill Figatner, and the late Richard Horwich In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association or the National Kidney Foundation.

SPORTS

OPRF alum Beacham stars for Triton track

Helped relay gain All-American status this past season

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

Anthony Beacham was part of a highly successful boys track and field program at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Since graduating in 2023, he has continued his athletic career at Triton Colle ge, and this spring, he played a large part in helping the Trojans garner All-American status in an event at the season-ending National Junior Colle ge Athletic Association Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Beacham ran the leadof f leg of Triton’s 4 x 100 relay unit at the meet, held May 8-10 in Utica, New York. The Trojans finished sixth in the event with a time of 44.91 seconds. The top nine places in each event automatically merit All-American status, and Beacham is thrilled with the honor.

“Being All-American feels amazing,” Beacham told Wednesday Journal. “I couldn’t believe it when my teammates told us that we had made it, and this made

me happy. This wasn’t something I hoped for or thought I could do, but thanks to the optimism of my coaches and teammates pushing me forward, I believed that I could make All-American.”

Beacham believes he and the others on the relay team — Samuel Elusoji, Nathaniel Corpuz, and Khyron Watts — were successful due to a combination of factors, such as communication, acceptance of constructive criticism from each other, and trust in their training.

He admitted needing to relax at the national meet in order to give his relay the best chance for success.

“At first, I felt very nervous,” he said, “but then I realized if I do my job as the leadof f leg, we will be fine.”

Unlike many other colle ge student-athletes who are on scholarship, those in the NJCAA often work part-time jobs in order to help pay for their education. Beacham worked in Triton’s fitness center and said it was an adventure juggling time between work, studies, and his training.

“Maintaining a balanced schedule was very challenging for me at the beginning,” he said, “but as I got used to my schedule and made small compromises, it began to get easier. I’ve learned that things can change fast, but it’s how you adapt to that

Triton College’s Anthony Beacham during a meet this spring. Beacham, a 2023 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, ran the leado leg of the Trojans’ 4x100 relay, which placed sixth at this year’s National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships and gained All-American status.

change that’s important.”

He has managed to keep tabs on OPRF track while at Triton and says he was excited when the Huskies won a share of the 2024 IHSA Class 3A state championship.

“I was incredibly proud when I heard the news. I remember how amazing the team was when I was there, and it’s nice to hear they’re still doing amazing. Being an OPRF athlete alum has prepared me,” he added, “by showing that if you don’ t take

care of the important things like school work, you don’ t g et to do the fun things like spor ts.”

Upon finishing up at T riton this summer, Beacham will enroll at St. Xavier University in Chicago. St. Xavier is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and competes in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. He plans on continuing his track career and said he will make psycholo gy his major Prac tices began this week for fall spor ts

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

e 2025-26 IHSA season is under way

on Aug. 11 at high schools around Illinois, marking the start of the IHSA 2025-26 sports season.

Oak Park and River Forest High School

Athletic Director Nicole Ebsen, 5th year

Practices for fall sports — cross-country, field hockey, flag football, football, golf, boys soccer, girls swimming and diving, girls tennis, and girls volleyball — began

Over the next few weeks, Wednesday Journal will have previews of our local high school teams. In our annual “State of the Athletic Program” story, we contact local athletic directors to get their thoughts on where their programs are. They also offer their thoughts on the previous season and look forward to this season:

Assessment of last season: “202425 was a great year for the Huskies. We brought home a third-place trophy in [Class 4A] softball, had an individual state champion [MJ Rundell] in wrestling, had sectional champions in girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, softball, and wrestling, and re gional champions in girls volleyball, wrestling, girls soc-

cer, baseball, boys volleyball, and softball. Liam O’Connor [cross-country, track and field] was also selected out of over 400 applicants from across the state for the IHSA All-Academic Team.”

General state of the program: “We’ re very excited going into the season. Our outdoor renovations are completed as we have our newly-turfed field [at Oak Park Stadium] ready for tryouts. We are anxiously awaiting the completion of Project

COURTESY OF TRITON COLLEGE

14U baseball shows well at Junior League World Series

Eliminated but played three competitive games

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The River Forest/Elmhurst 14U baseball team was hoping that its third consecutive trip to the Junior League World Series would be the charm. But while the team acquitted itself well with three competitive showings last week in Taylor, Michigan, it was eliminated from the double-elimination tournament on Aug. 5, falling 4-1 to Needville, Texas

Despite the loss, head coach Zack White was proud of how his team persevered and overcame unexpected challenges.

“We dealt with a lot of injuries from some of my better pitchers and middle infielders,” said White, the junior-varsity baseball head coach at Fenwick High School. “I didn’t really know what to expect, so I was super-excited to get [to the World Series]. I feel grateful for the opportunity to lead some of these kids I’ve known since they were little and give them the opportunity to play on such a big stage.”

Against Needville, River Forest/Elmhurst managed just two hits: singles by Calvin Lee and Elliott Buchner. The team drew six walks, including four to begin each inning between the third and sixth, and had three batters hit by pitches. But they stranded 10 runners on base, including two innings – the first and sixth –where the bases were left loaded. Charlie O’Neill scored the team’s only run in the bottom of the sixth on a throwing er ror by the catcher.

“You get to the World Series, you’re fac-

Two [including the new field house] and can’ t wait to see what the physical education/athletic facilities will look like at this time next year. I continue to be amazed by the flexibility of our coaches, athletes, trainers, and athletic office staf f as we navigate through the challenges associated with the construction on campus. In true selflessness, our Huskies have shown great perseverance through these tough times, and we are still as competitive as ever.”

Goals for this year: “The goals are the same as they have been over the past couple of years — g et kids eng aged, train hard, be competitive, and overall develop

talking to coaches from other countries is an awesome experience.”

Chi, who is about to begin his sophomore year at the University of Oregon, has long been associated with the 14U program going back to his playing days and would like to continue if possible.

“Personally, I don’t know where I’ll be next year,” Chi said. “But if the opportunity presents itself, I would love to keep on coaching.”

ing everyone’s number one and two guys,” said White. “It’s a whole different level of pitching. We didn’t hit anywhere in the World Series near as well before that. We thought we had the team to go further, but a couple of things just didn’t go our way.”

Overall, White liked how his pitching and defense held up throughout the season.

“Our defense was amazing,” he said. “Every play was being made, infield and outfield, and we had phenomenal pitching.”

“I think we did good,” added River Forest/Elmhurst assistant coach Cameron Chi, a 2024 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School. “This was the most talented team we’ve had the past three years. It was really awesome to see the boys fight in the tournament against the best compe-

good human beings. T hese goals will be achieved through the continued dedication of our staf f and students and the continued support from our community.”

Ebsen adds: “The Class of 2026 will be my first OPRF class whom I have gotten to see through their four years under normal circumstances [Ebsen came to OPRF in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted athletics for much of her first year]. T hey are a great group of athletes who work hard both in and out of the competition spaces. I can’ t wait to see their hard work pay of f in both postseason success and in post-secondary athletic opportunities.”

tition at their age level.”

Chi and White see the Junior League World Series as a chance for kids to get know those from not only other U.S. regions, but international countries. That experience, they believe, is of great value on and of f the field.

“They’re hanging out with kids from Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Panama, Germany, Australia, and Canada,” Chi said. “We went to a Detroit Tigers game. It’s something you just don’t get to do often as a 14-year-old; it’s a special opportunity and a lifetime memory they’re going to have.”

“The Junior League takes good care of us beyond the lines,” White said. “Just meeting and being able to play teams from different parts of the country as well as

Fenwick High School

Athletic Director Scott Thies, 15th year

Assessment of last season: “Last year brought a lot of excitement to Friar Nation, starting with the addition of our 31st sport in girls flag football. It’s a great addition to our athletic offerings and provides new opportunities for our student-athletes. We sent about 30 seniors to play a sport in college at some of the best schools in the country, including the University of Michigan, Williams College, University of Illinois, Middlebury College, and many others.”

General state of the program: “Every school year presents new challenges and

White has designs long-term of becoming a varsity coach at the high school level. He’s studying to become a physical education teacher and plans to graduate next spring. Once he gets his de gree, he believes that will open up possibilities.

“It’s something I’ve always wished for,” he said.

White is unsure about continuing as 14U head coach. He’s considering the possibility of moving up to the Senior League as a 16U coach, but stresses that nothing has been decided yet.

“I may want to try something new,” White said. “People ask, “Why would you do that?” [16U] would be a new challenge. I coach junior varsity, so that would be the same age group.”

new opportunities for our student-athletes and programs. We’re excited for the start of the ’25-’26 school year. As a member of the Chicago Catholic League and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference, we are in the process of bringing the East Suburban Catholic Conference schools into our conferences. The new schools will provide new geographic rivalries and shorter travel times for our athletes.” Goals for this year: “We want all of our athletes to have a sense of pride in representing Fenwick High School and competing as a Friar. Further, it is our mission to provide our athletes with the life lessons and skills that will help all our kids be successful in college and beyond.”

Oak Park and River Forest players on the 14U tournament team:

Levi Ardell, Lucas Avila, Elliot Buchner, James Carter, Brayden Fogerty, Tommy Fuller, Calvin Lee, CJ Morgan, and Charlie O’Neill.

COURTESY OF CAMERON CHI

e River Forest/Elmhurst 14U baseball team at this year’s Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan. e team went 1-2 last week.

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: M25000761 on August 6, 2025. Under the Assumed Business Name of LISAMKEEFE. COM with the business located at: 1173 HOME AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: LISA KEEFE SCOTT 1173 HOME AVE. OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal August 13, 20, 27, 2025

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, September 19th, 2025 for the following:

Village of Oak Park Village Wide Street Sweeping Services Requests for Prices Bid Number: 25 - 125

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 August 13, 2025

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

LEGAL NOTICE

HEARING DATE: August 28, 2025

TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

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

APPLICATION: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness filed by the Applicant, Kelsey Kleidon, to replace one set of historic 4-panel French door with a set of 3-panel French door at 106 S Scoville Ave, Unit 3B, Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-07-404035-0000, which is located in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal August 13, 2025

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION LEGAL NOTICE

HEARING DATE: August 28, 2025

TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

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

APPLICATION: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness filed by the Applicant, J. Trent Stoner, to construct a ten-story addition behind an existing landmark building known as the Boulevard Arcade Building at 1035 South Blvd, Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-07-302-0030000, which is located in Downtown Oak Park.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date.

The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal August 13, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

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

CALENDAR NUMBER: 16-25-Z

HEARING DATE: September 3, 2025

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

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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Juan Munoz, seeking a variance from Sections 7-7-13(B)(1)(d), 7-713(B)(1)(e), and 7-7-15(C)(1) of the Oak Park Sign Code, in order to allow two temporary A-frame signs, increase the allowable distance from the primary entrance from 15 feet to 110 feet for one temporary A-frame sign, and increase the allowable window sign coverage from 25% to 46.15% at 149 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-120-0650000 (“Subject Property”), in the DT-1 Downtown Zoning

District (Downtown Central SubDistrict).

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, August 13, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 17-25-Z

HEARING DATE: September 3, 2025

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

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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Jan Arnold (Park District of Oak Park), seeking a variance from Section 9.3(A) (6) of the Zoning Ordinance, in order to increase the allowable accessory structure coverage from 20% to 60% for additional solar canopy structures at 301 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Numbers 16-17-101-004-0000, 16-17101-005-0000, and 16-17-101006-0000 (“Subject Property”), in the MS Madison Street Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

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

Notice of Public Hearing

Village of Brookfield

Planning and Zoning Commission

August 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request from Shahzad Ahmad for Variations from:

Published in Wednesday Journal, August 13, 2025

Section 62.17 to allow a 600 square foot detached garage that exceeds the maximum 500 square footage (10% of Lot Area) permitted in the Zoning Code and, Section 62.75 to allow a Building Coverage of approximately 34.2% rather than the maximum allowed by the Zoning Code of 30%, on an existing non-conforming lot in the “A” Single Family Residential District for property located at 3620 Harrison Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PIN 15-34-311-0280000)

Legal Description: THE SOUTH 40’ OF LOT 14 IN BLOCK 12 IN PORTA MANOR, IN FREDERICK H. BARTLETT’S SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST ¼ OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED FEBRUARY 6, 1915, AS DOCUMENT NO. 5573274, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@brookfieldil.gov, or 708485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 25-13. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark August 13, 2025

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. e 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. is 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.

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