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W E D N E S D A Y

September 2, 2026 Vol. 47, No. 10

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JOURNAL @oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

St. Giles marks 100 anniversary with Cardinal Cupich presiding th

Focus on looking forward while celebrating rich history

By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter

Sunday’s 100th anniversary mass at St. Giles Catholic Church was a celebration that viewed time in two directions.

The mass, presided by Cardinal Blase Cupich, drew approximately 700 people, many who have attended the church for decades, but also younger people who have found a spiritual home there, many with children.

One of the key points Cupich made, echoed by the Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of both Oak Park parishes, St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish, and Ascension and St. Edmund Parish, is that it’s fun to look back, but it’s just as important, if not more so, to consider the future.

Oak Park resident Peggy Plastina was a reader at the mass and said she can see in both directions.

“You can’t deny the past,” she said at the fellowship gathering after the mass.

See ST. GILES on page 18

Welcome toWorship 2026

YOUR LOCAL RELIGION GUIDE

Religion guide Page 19

Oak Park ramps up fee for single-use bags leading to full ban in 2030

Price for a plastic or paper bag goes up a nickel in January

By SYDNEY LOVAN Reporting Intern

CREDIT: ED SIDEREWICZ/MYSTIC PHOTO

Cardinal Blase Cupich greets attendees at the centennial celebration of St. Giles Parish last Sunday.

The existing fee for single-use bags at retail stores is about to get higher after a 6-1 vote by the Oak Park village board to incrementally increase the cost before a total ban on the bags takes effect in 2030.

At the village meeting on Aug. 25, Lindsey Roland Nieratka, Oak Park’s chief sustainability officer, presented the proposed change while acknowledging the current bag fees have not been effective in reducing the use of plastic bags. The vision of becoming a zero-waste community is just one piece of the larger effort for Oak Park to achieve sustainSee BAGS on page 16

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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Celebrating Ageism Awareness Day Featuring Raymond Jetson founder and author of Aging While Black The 19th Century Club 178 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, IL Friday, October 9 Doors open at 6:00pm Raymond Jetson’s keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Jetson and members of the Oak Park Aging In Communities Commission Food provided. Admission is free.

Sponsored by the Village of Oak Park Aging in Communities Commission The Book Loft Oak Park will have copies of Aging While Black available to purchase.

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

General Manager Max Reinsdorf Staff Reporters Hector Cervantes, Bill Dwyer, Jackie Pisano, Bob Skolnik, Gregg Voss Sports Reporters Melvin Tate, Bill Stone News Intern Sydney Lovan Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Contributing Editor Donna Greene PROVIDED

A rendering of what a bridge will look like in River Forest for the O’Hare Flyer.

Proposed O’Hare Flyer train already drawing opposition from River Forest CEO says two-block section in village would be elevated and wouldn’t interfere

By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter

A proposed express train that would connect downtown Chicago with O’Hare International Airport and pass through River Forest is drawing scrutiny from village officials.

The privately funded O’Hare Flyer would be a “whisper-quiet, battery-electric train,” according to O’Hare Flyer LLC co-founder and CEO David Lundy, that would make its way through River Forest at 80 mph every 15 minutes from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. The total travel time from downtown Chicago to the airport would be 15 minutes.

Prior to River Forest, the train would travel along Interstate 290, within the so-called “Eisenhower Ditch,” then over the expressway moving north on a curve parallel with Van Buren Street between Forest Avenue and Park Avenue.

Once in River Forest, it would continue north between Forest and Park avenues over Chicago Avenue, Iowa Street, Augusta Street and Thatcher Avenue before proceeding to O’Hare through Thatcher Woods.

“Most of the tracks that go from Forest Park to River Forest and then beyond are elevated,” he said. “They only go to ground at Iowa Street, and so we’re going to take that section where you have functionally two

blocks, it’s two blocks with four grade crossings, and we’re going to elevate this so you’ll have underpasses.

“We’re not going to interfere in any way with the ingress and egress into the neighborhood. You’re just taking the tracks and removing them from the ground level and putting them 15 feet in the air and you’re doing that with sound insulation around them.”

Lundy said Monday the rail itself would be continuously welded, which will eliminate the “clicking” heard with Metra and freight trains. He also explained how the route would be configured through River Forest.

Still, in a village communication Aug. 26, president Cathy Adduci was unambiguous about the village’s opposition to the project.

“I want to assure you, the village has already reached out to our state legislators and those proposing it, and expressed vehement opposition to it, since it would be on a train line that runs entirely through our village,” Adduci said.

Adduci said Friday that there are many unanswered questions, which is why the village has reached out to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford and representatives Emanual “Chris” Welch and Camille Lilly to deliver the message that the O’Hare Flyer “has to benefit all of us.”

In a prepared statement to the Wednesday Journal, Harmon said, “While I appreciate the significant positive impact this project could have on Chicagoland, I’d like to hear from my neighbors who will be most directly impacted.”

Lundy said “we are very sensitive to the community issues related to this.

“We know the right way to do this is a collaborative approach,” he said, “where we’re saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to share with you what our plans are so you have an understanding, but we’re listening so that we can make sure we’re fine-tuning this in a way that is better and easier for the community.’”

That, he said, is why he reached out to Adduci and Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins a year ago to present the proposed plan. He added “ we are actively looking to see if there is a reason to create a stop in the area,” which could impact the area economically.

But Adduci wondered if “it’s premature they announced this.

“They haven’t worked through the state legislators that represent us,” she said. “I can’t imagine they would agree to have 80 mph trains running through our community.

“We worry about a lot of things … not only the possibility of this, (but) the safety and the practicality. I don’t see where it benefits us, Forest Park or Franklin Park.”

Columnists Marc Blesoff, Nicole Chavas, Jack Crowe, Vincent Gay, Mary Kay O’Grady, John Stanger, Josh VanderBerg Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck Editorial & Digital Design Lead Javier Govea Design and Production Associate De Sergio Villalona Designer Susan McKelvey Sports Photographer Steve Johnston Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan Legal Notices Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Operations Associate Susan Liss Babin Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera Senior Advisor Dan Haley

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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Oak Park explores TIF district for Roosevelt Road Conversations include Mohr Concrete property and possibly North Avenue

By SYDNEY LOVAN Reporting Intern

Berwyn has been outpacing Oak Park with economic development along Roosevelt Road for years and the Oak Park Village Board thinks it is time to catch up.

Trustee James Taglia, seconded by Trustee Chibuike Enyia, motioned to discuss a Tax Increment Financing district along Roosevelt, and possibly extending to include the Mohr Concrete property. There was also discussion of a TIF that included North Avenue. This unfolded at the village board meeting on Aug. 25.

“I believe it’s an important tool for strengthening the corridor and investing in the future. Roosevelt Road is an important gateway to Oak Park,” said Taglia. “It’s home to local businesses, serves our residents and neighboring communities, and has tremendous potential, but realizing its potential requires focused, long-term investment.”

The other trustees and President Vicki Scaman expressed mutual interest in the idea which has been proposed for years but never acted upon. Chris Donovan, a resident of Oak Park, gave a public comment at the meeting saying its “about time.”

A TIF “freezes” property tax values at the current level with the revenues from any increase in property values going into a discrete fund to be invested in new development or improvements. Other local taxing bodies have to sign on to a multi-decade TIF which caps the tax dollars they receive at the baseline level.

“If a TIF were to be put in place, it would affect the tax revenue for our partner municipality, schools, and I think that’s just something we have to be thoughtful of and have some conversations with those folks so they know what the potential impact would be,” said Trustee Derek Eder at the meeting.

Berwyn established a TIF district for Roosevelt Road in 1997 and recommendations for establishing one for Oak Park have been on the table since 2012. Trustee Enyia, who lives near the corridor, said he sees people utilizing the

SYDNEY LOVAN

Trustee Derek Eder speaks during the village board meeting on Aug. 25. spaces along Roosevelt, but “its all on the other side of the street.”

Trustee Cory Wesley stressed the importance of intentionality in moving forward with any investment and development efforts, encouraging a look into how these areas are thought of in general.

“We have treated them as barriers between Oak Park and the city, or Oak Park and our southern neighbors, and

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I think even with the establishment of a TIF, that intentionality, that perspective on how we treat these border areas has to change in order for this to be successful,” said Wesley.

Village Manager Kevin Jackson said he is “excited” to initiate a TIF study and bring back more information now that there has been direction given by the board to explore this effort further.

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Appeal filed to overturn village electoral board’s decision on advisory referendum question Asks the county circuit court to remove question from ballot

By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter

A 2-1 decision by a village of Oak Park electoral board Aug. 24 to overrule an objection to an advisory referendum question for the Nov. 3 ballot has been appealed.

The objection from Oak Park residents Alan H. Peres and Piergiorgio Uslenghi to the question, “Should the state of Illinois repeal laws that ban state investment in businesses that boycott the state of Israel?” was overruled by the board consisting of president Vicki Scaman and trustees James Taglia and Chibuike Enyia. Scaman and Enyia voted to overrule the objection.

Attorney Michael Kasper of the Chicago government-relations law firm Kasper, Holmes & Dring filed a Petition for Judicial Review of an Electoral Board decision in Cook County circuit court Aug. 25.

In addition to judicial review, the appeal requests the court reverse the electoral board’s decision; rule the referendum petitions invalid; and order the referendum question not appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Pending legal procedures and protocol, including a Kasper request to expedite, a hearing on the matter will be held Sept.

11 in the courtroom of Judge Viviana Martinez.

Jesse Bauer, of Oak Parkers for Free Speech, which carried out the petition process, said Aug. 26 that a hearing with that organization’s attorney, Scott Erdman, Kasper and the judge was scheduled for Aug. 27. That’s the day by which the village was mandated to send its Nov. 3

ballot to the county board of elections for printing. That meeting led to the scheduling of the Sept. 11 hearing.

For now, the question remains on the ballot, which was confirmed by a village spokesperson, who said village clerk Christina Waters has certified the ballot since there would not be a resolution of the appeal prior to Thursday.

The spokesperson added that if the court overturns the electoral board’s decision, “it is up to the county election department to determine how to handle the change. How the county would handle it likely largely depends on how close to the election the court decision gets made.”

Bauer said Oak Parkers for Free Speech is moving forward despite the appeal.

“We’re going to defend ourselves, but this is on the ballot and we’re moving into the campaign phase,” he said.

That phase will include study on the

overall statewide effort regarding the issue and ultimately, public education ahead of the election.

After Waters was disqualified from the electoral board Monday, and was replaced

by Enyia, Enyia ultimately cast the deciding vote to overrule the Kasper’s argument that “the circulators’ affidavit did not include an explicit certification that the signatures are ‘genuine,’” i.e., actual use of that specific language, according to the board’s findings and decisions document made available to the Wednesday Journal post-hearing.

As far as the result of the appeal, Bauer said he feels good about it.

“I had a chance to read up on the case law,” he said. “It’s pretty clear that this is a very minor scrivener’s error. It doesn’t look like a good reason to disenfranchise 3,500 voters and the electorate as a whole.”

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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New Oak Park police station moves forward with design process

Village says construction could start in 2027 with lower projected costs

By SYDNEY LOVAN Reporting Intern

The police department portion of the Oak Park Municipal Campus project, which includes renovations on village hall, will remain the priority with a lower price tag than previously estimated.

Oak Park’s village board, at its meeting on Aug. 25, unanimously voted to move the project forward to allow village staff to negotiate a professional services agreement with Johnson, Lasky & Kindelin Architects Inc. The new estimated cost of the schematic design is just under $57.6 million from an earlier estimate of about $63.7 million from

a previous concept phase. Trustee Derek Eder said the reduction “is good,” but wants to look at additional cost reductions down the road.

“Anything we can do now to reduce this large ticket item, even though it’s a one-time expense, that’s still that’ll affect the amount that we have to spend over 30 years,” said Eder.

There are some unknown estimates that are not included in the total as they are more contingent on decisions made by the future construction manager. These price projections are also based on a 2027 timeline with multi-million-dollar increases every year following if the start date were to be delayed.

Rob Sproule, Oak Park’s public works director, said at the meeting the village expects to present a construction manager recommendation to the board in October, and construction could begin this upcoming year if the project is advanced on

COURTESY VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

The schematic designs of the police department. schedule.

“I do think that it is important that we stay on schedule,” said Village President Vicki Scaman. “What I’m accepting here is that there’s practical logistics to getting started on the thing that is the priority here, and then, just keep the ball moving.”

During public comment at previous

COURTESY VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

board meetings in July, some citizens raised concerns over investing in a new police department at all, suggesting decisions should wait until an investigation into the shooting of Christian Wallace is complete.

Wallace was killed in an altercation with an Oak Park police officer earlier this year.

The new police station is planned for the site of the current U.S. Bank property at 11 W. Madison St., although it has not officially been acquired by the village. At the beginning of the year, village government voted to obtain the property through eminent domain, and Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill in August granting authority for this process.

Meg Kindelin, owner and president of JLK Architects, presented the schematic design of both the new village hall and police department at the meeting explaining the deeper meaning behind the architectural choices. Community, honor, welcoming and art are the key concepts behind the proposed police department design, she said.

She said the “metrics of success” for the overall campus are based on creating a “place of pride, being mindful of cost and mindful stewards of the public money the police department needs the facility and respect it deserves, a sense of inclusion, security and safety being paramount, solving and recognizing parking issues, sustainability, and of course being involved with the community.”

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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Oak Park turns out for OPRF-Fenwick football rivalry Inside or outside the stadium, fans take in crosstown rivalry with zest

By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter

To get a sense of the community importance of Friday’s high school football game between host Oak Park and River Forest and crosstown rival Fenwick, you have to start with the fans who couldn’t get into the game because it was a sellout.

There are two sets of wrought-iron fencing on the west side of Oak Park Stadium, one facing OPRF’s sideline and the other facing Fenwick’s.

The view isn’t the best, and the people lining both sections can’t see the scoreboard and thus don’t always know the score of the game.

But still, they are here, taking part in a once-a-year community experience that’s been an on-again, off-again affair over the last 30 years.

It’s Friday night and the lights were game on.

Even for those who can’t get in.

“We did not choose this angle … we just got here and there was no way for us to get in,” says Seth Weber at halftime, alongside Julia Skubis, Oak Park residents. Their freshman is a member of OPRF’s marching band.

“It’s pretty busy,” Julia muses. “Anyway, do you know what the score is?”

Sure do. Oak Park 14, Fenwick 10.

The pair choruses, “All right!”

Now head to the other fence and you run into David Gust, complete with a Fenwick cap. He’s from Oak Brook, not Oak Park. He has a senior Friar and a graduate.

That’s a long trip, but for Gust, it’s worth it.

Even if he’s behind the fence.

“I feel like I’m in jail, but other than that,” Gust says to laughter.

That’s the kind of night it is. Scintillation, tension, fun. Orange body paint and bob wigs in the Oak Park bleachers, white Roman togas on the Fenwick side.

Midway through the second quarter, on the pedestrian mall between school and stadium, there’s Jim Speranzio, a Fenwick grad who works at the school and tonight is handling security. There’s still a long line of Friar fans trying to get in.

“What’s the score?” he says. “Because I can’t see over the fence. I’m too short. I’ve got nobody to tell me anything.”

Fenwick 7, OPRF 0.

PHOTOS BY MARIBEL BARRERA

“Everybody marks this game on their calendar every year,” he says. “The crowd is unbelievable. I wish we would have it at a bigger venue. Triton can’t handle this. It’s way too big.”

Finally, a reporter is able to elbow his way into the stadium, on the OPRF side. There’s Lavinia Husbands-Brown, a 1992 graduate, and she crows that this is going to be the biggest game of the season. And she’s got good reason to think that: Her husband graduated in 1989, their daughter in 2017 and their son is currently a sophomore.

We … are … family.

“It brings the community together,” she said. “It’s a rivalry, but there’s love there. And

you know, these kids, they’ve gone to grade school and middle school together, and sometimes they separate, but they get to meet back together on the field.”

There’s Olivia Schreiner, OPRF’s communications coordinator, who’s taking photos on the sidelines. She looks at the bleachers and estimates 80% of the student body is in the house, easily. Not bad, considering it’s the end of the first week of school.

By that time, Fenwick is up 10-0, and nearby is OPRF Supt. Greg Johnson. The Huskies are driving and in fact nearly punch it in.

If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

OPRF does and just misses again, and he nearly genuflects like he’s in church.

“He was in!” he hollers over the din. Finally, his school scores and are down just 10-7.

Oh, this is getting interesting.

With under 10 seconds left in the half, OPRF has the ball and is driving again, and the band has congregated in front of Weber and Skubis. At the center of it all is senior Kian Lampert, who’s in total agreement with Husbands-Brown.

“Look at the student section,” he says. “It’s completely full, all in orange.”

A reporter points out that Fenwick’s bleachers are a sea of white.

“But what section is bigger?” Lampert says. “That’s all I’m saying.”

A few seconds later, OPRF scores.

Huskies 14, Friars 10.

Near-pandemonium ensues, at least on one side of the stadium.

Fenwick would regroup in the second half. Hanging around the sidelines, a reporter runs into Kevin Garvey, team photographer, who’s darting around but has a moment to talk.

“I’m a Friar myself and the rivalry is a big deal,” he says. “When I was at Fenwick back in the 1960s, I don’t recall us playing Oak Park-River Forest because the rivalry was like a rumble. But I like how everyone is behaving so far, and it’s a good close game.”

Sports is about kids, of course, and not just those on the field. Heading back to the OPRF side, there’s young Anne Beazley with her dad, Michael.

Is she having fun?

Are you kidding?

“I like it because of the cheerleaders,” she says, adding she wants to do that someday. “I like the halftime stuff.”

And so it goes. The lead changes hands for a while until the Friars finally pull away and win 31-21. But as thousands of fans file out, there’s a sense of melancholy that a fun night is over.

Except maybe for Rev. Richard Peddicord, Fenwick team chaplain.

How does he feel?

“Elated,” he responds with a grin.

IN SPORTS Full coverage of the Fenwick-OPRF game from Melvin Tate

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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OPRF delays new pool and gym opening again

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Staff Reporter

The completion date for Project 2, the new physical education and athletics focused wing located in the southeast corner of the Oak Park and River Forest High School building has been pushed back once again. On Friday Greg Johnson, OPRF superintendent, told staff, students and families that the school’s new swimming pool won’t be open until Nov. 1, a month later than predicted one month ago, and the opening date of the new third floor gym, which is located above the swimming pool, cannot yet be determined. The rest of the new wing is now projected to open Oct. 1, a month later than predicted one month ago when the first delay was announced.

“The revised completion date for all spaces other than the pool and three courtgym is due largely to ensuring that we are meeting regulatory requirements for critical building systems,” Johnson wrote in a message sent to faculty, staff and families.

“In particular, both a fire pump for our sprinkler system and the final inspection of the elevator system are pushing us past our recently communicated Sept. 1 deadline. Our contractor has expressed confidence in making these spaces available

by Oct. 1, and if we are able to open them sooner, we certainly will.”

This is the second delay the school has announced. The original hope was to have Project 2 completed before the new school year began on Aug. 25, but at the end of July the school announced that would not happen and said that the pool and gym would open Oct. 1 and the rest of the new wing would open by Sept. 1. But that proved to be too optimistic as new problems came up.

The delay in the opening of the pool means that the OPRF girls swimming team will likely not be able to practice in the pool for the entire season, except for possibly the last two weeks with the state meet

COURTESY OF OPRF TODD BANNOR

OPRF’s physical education facilities opening has been pushed back to Nov. 1. scheduled for Nov. 13-14. The swim team will continue practicing at Morton High School. The girls gymnastics team may have to start its season practicing at TriStar Gymnastics center which is located in Forest Park if the gym isn’t ready by Nov. 9.

“We expect completion of the pool by Nov. 1,” Johnson wrote. “The date for the gym is yet to be determined.”

The delay in the completion of the pool and the gym was caused by trying to do too much at the same time and condensation from the pool impacted the floor of the new gym. The original plan was to get the pool completed five weeks before the gym located directly above the pool but Johnson wrote that the sequencing was compressed to adjust for schedule challenges and this led to work being done on the gym and pool before the air conditioning was fully operational.

“This compressed schedule has brought some unanticipated challenges,” Johnson wrote.

“During the initial testing of the pool, the extreme humidity we experienced earlier this summer, coupled with humidity from the pool itself, resulted in significant condensation between portions of the gym flooring system directly above it. We needed to investigate to find the solution and this significantly delayed our progress in both

spaces. What we have now learned is that these challenges were largely due to the fact that this work preceded the humidity and temperature control systems in the pool being fully operational.”

Physical education classes will continue to be held in locations that have been used during the past two years while demolition and construction was going on.

“These delays have been unexpected and challenging,” Johnson wrote. “But we are managing. I’m extremely grateful to our PE and athletics staff, as well as our students, who over the past two years have shown enormous flexibility in using temporary locations for classes and extracurriculars.”

Project 2 will cost nearly $102 million. Demolition work began in spring of 2024. Officials from Gilbane Construction, which is managing the project, have said that delays have been caused by a number of factors that began right away with having to move a NICOR gas line. Labor shortages and weather have also played a role. Workers have been working six or seven days a week for the last few months to try to get the work done on time but that proved to be impossible.

The ribbon cutting that was scheduled for Oct. 3, delayed from Aug.22, has been postponed again to a date to be determined.

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

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Early childhood support continues as local taxing bodies sign on

River Forest schools and village still aren’t backing Collaboration

By BOB SKOLNIK Staff Reporter

This summer the governing boards of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 and the village of Oak Park all unanimously approved an updated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that continues the three entities funding of the Oak Park based Collaborative for Early Childhood while tweaking the amounts and percentages of their budget that each entity will give to the collaborative. This IGA will provide funding for the collaborative over the next five years.

OPRF, D97 and the Village of Oak Park provide around 85% of the funding for the collaborative which has an annual budget of $1.85 million. Those funds are spent to support programs designed to help children from birth through the start of kindergarten.

“It’s a lovely and renewed commitment to a long-standing public investment in this work,” said Mary Reynolds, executive director of the Collaborative for Early Childhood in a telephone interview with Wednesday Journal.

Reynolds has been making the rounds of board meetings this summer to answer questions about the new IGA. All three boards strongly supported the work of the organization.

“I think this is one of the more important things we do as a district,” said Fred Arkin, an OPRF school board member, before the unanimous vote.

Fellow OPRF board member Jonathan Livingston said the work of the collaborative is vital if OPRF wants to achieve its equity goals.

Nancy Ross Driben, a D97 school board member, who like Livingston, serves on the IGA’s governing board, said what happens before a student enters school has a big impact on later development.

“By the time a child walks into a District 97 kindergarten classroom, so much of their development and learning has already been shaped by the experiences they have had in their early years,” Dribin said in the collaborative’s press release. “This agreement is one way District 97 invests in children before they ever reach our classrooms and strengthens the foundation they bring with them.”

Under the new agreement D97 will again make the biggest contribution, paying 42% of the total contribution of the three entities to the collaborative in 2027. The contribution percentages are designed to keep contributions to around 1% of each entity’s operating budget.

All the entities will be paying significantly more under the new agreement because the collaborative is losing approximately $260,000 in funding it has been getting from the COVID federal relief package known as the American Rescue Plan Act that is expiring at the end of the year.

OPRF’s percentage of the contribution will decrease by 1.5%, dropping to 32.5% from 34%.

The Village of Oak Park’s ratio will also drop by 1.5% going to 25.5% from 27%.

Some $205,000 from the IGA’s reserve fund will also be sent to the collaborative next year to lessen the first year impact of increases.

The first IGA was approved in 2013 and was updated in 2016.

Although the collaborative provides services in both Oak Park and River Forest, and to a lesser extent in some neighboring communities, River Forest School District 90 and the Village of River Forest declined to join the IGA when it was created in 2013 and don’t help fund the collaborative. That’s something that some are interested in changing.

“I think our current IGA partners have had some really promising conversations with both the Village of River Forest and some of the D90 folks about the possibility of revisiting that now and seeing if they might be interested in participating,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said she met a few months ago with River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci and River Forest Village Board member Megan Keskitalo to tell them more about the

ERICA BENSON

Collaboration for Early Childhood Family Ambassador (left) Azucena Galvez and Family Engagement Partnership Coordinator Michelle Howell assist families attending the Blast Off to Kindergarten event, including Elizabeth and Wesley Dekker of Oak Park in 2025. work of the collaborative and perhaps lay the groundwork for the village government to contribute to funding the collaborative.

Adduci did not respond to a request for the comment from Wednesday Journal about her level of interest in helping to fund the collaborative.

Reynolds said she has yet to talk to new D90 superintendent Janice Pavelonis who began work at D90 on July 1. In a statement that was emailed to Wednesday Journal Pavelonis expressed interest in finding out more about the work of the collaborative.

“I look forward to learning more about the Collaboration for Early Childhood and discussing possible collaboration opportunities,” said Pavelonis in a statement that was emailed to Wednesday Journal.

“Our work is really to support the whole early childhood sector, including families and professionals across a bunch of different disciplines,” Reynolds said. “We really aren’t designed as a direct service organization. We’re really designed to be working at that system level so supporting the folks who are directly working with children.”

The collaborative subcontracts with Easter Seals to send child development specialists on home visits to young children and their parents. Last year it paid for 508 visits to 45 kids aged 0 to 5.

The child development specialists work with the kids and parents to promote healthy development and provide tips for parents to help their children develop appropriately.

The collaborative’s services are provided to all who want them and are not means tested, except for screenings for the state funded preschool for all program.

“All our services are available to anybody,” Reynolds said. “It is our goal to be able to reach every family of a young child, every family from before a child comes all the way through that child enters kindergarten.”

In addition to approving the new IGA the OPRF school board also approved a data sharing agreement, similar to one that has already been in place in D97, with the University of Chicago affiliated NORC (National Opinion Research Center) to do longitudinal research on kids who received services from the collaborative in an attempt to measure the impact of the services that the collaborative provides or funds.

“It really gives an interesting and complete picture of children’s experience,” Reynolds said.

Former OPRF school board president John Phelan, who was on the OPRF school board when the IGA was first created and the contract with the collaborative was signed, said he is interested in what the NORC study reveals about the impact of the services that the collaborative provides.

“If it doesn’t have an impact I’m not sure if we should keep spending the money,” Phelan said. “If it does have an impact that would put more pressure on the Village of River Forest and District 90 who are also getting services because of District 200’s involvement but aren’t signed on to the agreement.”

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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Janice Pavelonis

Pavelonis makes ‘positive impact’ as new D90 superintendent Collaborative approach based on experience downstate

By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter

Janice Pavelonis has been on the job as new superintendent of River Forest School District 90 for two months. It’s been a whirlwind, and she’s a long way from her prior position as superintendent of Carbondale Elementary District 95.

But moving five hours due north for a new job in the Chicago suburbs has been all about the work, she told the Wednesday Journal in a recent sit-down discussion in her new office, formerly occupied by Dr.

Edward Condon, who’s now retired.

Pavelonis is well regarded already.

“Superintendent Janice Pavelonis’ collaborative style and deep experience are already making a positive impact in our school community,” said District 90 board of education president Katie Avalos.

Pavelonis covered plenty of ground in a roughly 20-minute interview, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

You’ve joined District 90 from Carbondale Elementary District 95. Tough decision to leave that part of the state to come here?

It was a tough decision. You know, I have friends and family in southern Illinois, but the decision to come here was about the actual work, and the pride that I’ve had in my career of the work. I spent eight years in

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM Carbondale as a leader and led a lot of different transformation in that time, building systems in the work and culture across the school district. And so coming here to this area was really about the job here in River Forest, and how special it is here, and how it aligned to my professional goals and my leadership style.

What were the main lessons you learned as superintendent in Carbondale that you are applying here?

Leading a school district is a lot about systems and how we do business, everyday functions. So systems work really is the foundation of a high-performing, good, solid school district. And so here, one of the things to make sure (is we) include all voices, a collaborative type of leadership.

That’s something that has been part of me as a leader for years, and always, even as a classroom teacher, building a family within my classroom. So, to me, systems work is the biggest part of the work I do.

In January, you were able to address the D90 board, which was going through a tough contract negotiation with the River Forest Education Association at the time. How did you approach those remarks?

I wasn’t nervous as much as I was curious about what was going on. And I really approached my own remarks in a way of sort of thinking about the beginning of school and thinking about the next layer.

So really just grateful to be there and excited about taking on the responsibility of superintendent. I think in the words that I spoke, my mindset at the time was really about let’s jump ahead to a future that isn’t this, to speak to that, and provide a little bit of hope and sort of think about the next chapter.

Katie Avalos said that you stood out as a candidate by way of your ability to work collaboratively in relationship building. Can you expand on that?

As I mentioned, a collaborative approach to leading or teaching has always been a part of who I am. It’s always been important to me to find a position or whatever my next step is in my career that’s a good fit for who I am. What that looks like is even just in the way we facilitate meetings, making sure that the makeup of committees and teams is throughout our stakeholder groups, so that all voices are at the table, and that decision making is about everyone. It’s not just about my vision. We’re working literally together at the table to make decisions, especially big decisions.

D90 is a high-performing district, with two schools, Lincoln and Willard, noted as exemplary by the state. How do you keep that momentum going forward district wide?

Coming into the district, it’s been important to me to understand deeply what is working so well. What have been those systems, those bodies of work that has led us to high performance? And we know that some of those things are partnerships with families. We have a lot of family involvement, and our students are showing up to school ready to learn. We’ve got a highly trained staff who know our Illinois learning standards. They know how to teach.

They are doing well. And so there’s a lot of things going really well that got us there that’s already very clear to me. But really, how do I approach it is making sure that the things that are already going well, that we sustain and grow that.

Visit Wednesday Journal’s website for a brief video interview with Janice Pavelonis expanding on her remarks in this article.

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Meal by meal & piece by piece

Young Oak Park artists celebrate Beyond Hunger’s mission with mosaic murals outside food pantry’s new headquarters

By JACKIE PISANO Staff Reporter

PROVIDED BY OPAAC

This spring, Oak Park nonprofit Beyond Hunger announced its purchase of 6209 W. North Ave., sharing plans for transforming a vacant grocery store into a modern, client-centered and permanent headquarters in order to advance its nearly 50-year mission of ending local hunger.

While construction to transform the 600-square-foot space into a state-of-theart food pantry and community hub is not expected to be completed until next year, young artists from the Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) Off the Wall program have also been hard at work this summer.

They used their talents to transform an ordinary exterior brick wall at the location into a vibrant, five-panel mosaic display celebrating exactly what Beyond Hunger is all about — neighbors gathering resources, skills and compassion to build a stronger community for everyone.

Ten local artists, ages 16 to 22, oversaw the project titled “Gathering Together.”

The artists dedicated their finished work on Saturday, Aug. 1.

The theme for the murals emerged from the group’s wish to create a visual narrative of how Beyond Hunger reaches everyone from all diverse corners of Oak Park and its neighboring communities, from volunteers and students to elders and fami-

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Artists work on the mosaic mural set to go up on North Avenue.

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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PROVIDED BY OPAAC

Assembling (left) and installing (right) lies.

With visuals showcasing local community gardens, the collection and distribution of harvests, the blending of diverse ingredients, cultures and talents, and fellowship over shared meals, “Gathering Together” represents a celebration of neighbors gathering their abilities to build a stronger, more self-sustaining community where everyone can thrive.

The opportunity for collaboration began with a request from The North Avenue Business District, inquiring if Beyond Hunger was interested in having outdoor artwork displayed as part of recently-secured grants and a call for beautification of the business corridor.

Jennie Hull, CEO of Beyond Hunger, said the nonprofit was thrilled with how the murals turned out, capturing the story of how food comes to the pantry, how volunteers help source and distribute food and how people finally get to enjoy their food.

“Our new location is meant to be a home for the community,” she said. “The mural done by folks in the community — to brighten up the community — will hopefully contribute to our space being welcoming and inclusive to all of our neighbors.

We know with increased capacity, we will be able to serve folks with even more dignity and respect [and] be better equipped to meet the increased need and expand our culinary nutrition programming as well.”

Overseeing the student artwork was longtime Off the Wall leader and master artist Carolyn Elaine — her final project following 21 years since she helped co-create the program. “‘Gathering Together’ tells the story of nourishment from seed to table,” she said.

“It highlights the many important roles that people can play to help ensure food security in our communities. It was important to Beyond Hunger that the imagery reflect the diversity of all the communities they serve. We had a very diverse group of apprentices, and they thoughtfully addressed the concerns regarding representation by drawing from both the clients feedback and their own lived experience growing up in Oak Park.”

Elaine added that in the past two decades of Off the Wall leadership, she has enjoyed seeing how the students flourish and step into leadership roles, training the next generation of artists.

“We’ve always held slots for those returning from college who need summer employment,” Elaine said. “Often, I challenge specific people to take on responsibilities that I know will stretch them beyond their comfort level. It is truly gratifying to witness them grow in a new medium as well as in their communication and organization skills — it builds their confidence to lead and take on new things.”

Indigo Field, an Oak Park resident, was

one of the artists involved in the mural.

A 2025 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, she returned to Off the Wall for a second year before beginning her sophomore year at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she’s majoring in textile and material studies.

“As a student passionate about the arts, I truly appreciate the guidance of my high school art teachers and the incredible artists at Off the Wall,” she said. “Mosaic is a really unique medium outside of the mainstream fine arts course of painting, drawing, etcetera, so learning how to create with it was super cool.”

A fellow Oak Park resident and 2025 OPRF graduate, Kaspian Murray was also part of the mural creation with Off the Wall. A sophomore at University of Cincinnati majoring in industrial design, Murray has participated in the program for four years.

“It means a lot to have our artwork permanently displayed at Beyond Hunger’s new headquarters,” he said. “It’s rare for young artists — some of us still in high school, others like me who did the program in high school and are now in college — to collaborate on a piece this large: five five-by-seven foot panels, totaling over 175 square feet. We worked with a master mosaicist and learned a medium that isn’t widely taught, and we were even paid for our work. Having a lasting piece of that experience on permanent display

13

feels incredible.”

For Field, having her artwork permanently displayed in Oak Park is something deeply meaningful.

“Having vibrant artwork around Oak Park shapes our sense of community — it encourages people to approach the neighborhood in a more social sense, bringing together different generations,” she said.

“Public artwork is not only for a purely aesthetic cause, but it reflects our values in this current moment. For me, I hope the aspects of the mosaic I worked on can bring joy to the volunteers and community.”

Elaine added that public art displays throughout the village, like the new Beyond Hunger murals, add to the colorful spirit of Oak Park.

“I think that the public art in Oak Park is one of the things that really contributes to the welcoming feel and character of the community,” she said. “The murals, sculptures and mosaics add color and vibrancy.”

Without public art, Murray says, public spaces would otherwise feel “dry and colorless.”

“Public art is important not just for Oak Park, but for every community,” he said. “Art brings people together and gives a community a shared identity. It’s also a powerful form of self-expression, and having a piece this large and visible in Oak Park shows how we, as a community, express our collective feelings and values.”

PROVIDED BY OPAAC

A section of the completed mosaic mural.

14

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Is West Sub removing equipment from hospital?

That’s just one topic in another contentious court hearing

By BILL DWYER Staff Reporter

Attorneys for the three, and possibly four, parties in the ongoing lawsuit over the operation of West Suburban Medical Center spent more than an hour haggling in court Tuesday morning with no resolution.

The hearing was both to address an emergency motion by landlord Ramco Healthcare alleging that Prasad is illegally removing medical equipment from Weiss Memorial and West Sub, and to hear arguments on Ramco’s motion to enforce a May 29 settlement agreement reached in Judge Patrick Stanton’s chambers.

Stanton continued the hearing to Sept. 11, after what devolved into an extended squabble over whether or not the 14-point late May agreement is legally binding and enforceable without a formal contract.

Howard Brookins, the replacement attorney for Resilience Healthcare, at one point told Stanton that he wanted an evidentiary hearing on the issue.

S & P Consulting president David Rosenfeld, who has appeared at court hearings the past three months, once again contended he is trying to intervene, despite having not yet filed a formal motion to do so.

Rosenfeld, who has taken over ownership of S&P, according to Illinois Secretary of State records, is seeking to recover $900,000 he said he spent operating the West Sub ER and a mental health center for several weeks in the spring of 2025. He insists he was given the right of first refusal by Prasad to contract for administering the West Sub ER. “$900,000 I spent running the ER and mental health unit,” Rosenfeld said by Zoom. “I’ve spent money that’s just going to go out the window.” He called any ruling by the judge on Ramco’s motion to enforce the May 29 agreement “premature.”

A perturbed Stanton fired back, “How many times have I told you to file a motion to intervene?” The problem, Stanton told Rosenfeld, wasn’t that a ruling would be premature, but that Rosenfeld had “filed a

procedurally defective motion.”

“You do not have a dog in this fight,” Stanton said. “I gave you the opportunity to follow the rules and you didn’t do it.”

Disagreement over settlement agreement Stanton also appeared to be out of patience with the pace of reaching a resolution he said had already been reached months ago. Besides Rosenfeld, Prasad’s personal attorney, Travis Richardson and Brookins also objected to the motion to enforce the May 29 settlement.

Richardson said an “agreement in principle” is not necessarily a binding agreement. “The issue is, regarding the agreement, whether or not it’s a contract.”

Stanton disagreed, saying the agreement was negotiated in his presence, over four and a half hours, with Prasad in the room.

When Richardson referred to the negotiated agreement as “hypothetical,” Stanton replied, “This isn’t a hypothetical. It happened.”

In a 20-page brief Brookins argued that the May 29 agreement was not final, was not a contract, and listed a litany of concerns over legal details. Brookins also alleged that Prasad was suffering from low blood sugar during the May 29 settlement conference and had not agreed to the terms.

“You’re saying Dr. Prasad didn’t agree,” Stanton asked Brookins. When Brookins said Prasad had a different understanding of what occurred, Stanton replied, “Then he wasn’t listening, because I know what I said.”

“Your client and his client reached an agreement that if Insight (Healthcare) makes an offer, he will accept it,” Stanton said, reiterating, “It’s an agreement between Resilience and Ramco, ‘If (Insight) makes an offer, he will accept it.’”

Stanton also refuted Brookin’s contention that any specific concerns over the wording of the 14-point terms of agreement were ever voiced, saying, “You’ve never identified the material terms that are not acceptable to (Prasad).”

“If it’s just in principle, there’s a problem, judge,” Richardson told the judge.

“I’m going to have to change the way I do my job,” Stanton replied.

“I do think if that becomes the rule, there’ll be no more settlement conferences.”

“They won’t mean anything,” Stanton said. “(People can just say), “I don’t care if I reached an agreement, I’m reneging.”

Stanton reiterated that the issue before him for a ruling is limited to the agreement between Resilience and Ramco, saying “I’m just deciding whether Resilience is bound to receive the offer from Insight.”

“I think what you’re suggesting is agreements reached before a FILE judge aren’t enforceable” Stanton said.

“You made a statement that (Prasad) didn’t think he had a deal,” Stanton told Brookins. “That’s news to me, as I sat there and talked to him for hours.” He added, “In every subsequent hearing, not once did anyone say, ‘That’s not what we agreed to.”

At one point Brookins said, “I never saw the agreement,” to which Stanton replied, “Just because you haven’t read it doesn’t mean your client hasn’t agreed to it.”

Brookins then seemed to contradict himself, saying, “I have seen it, and it’s not acceptable to my client.” He then told Stanton that he had “reached out and have not had

a conversation with Insight Healthcare.”

That led Kaplan to interject, “As I’ve told (Brookins) many times, I don’t represent Insight, I represent Ramco.”

Prasad removing equipment In their emergency motion, Ramco asked that Prasad and Resilience be held in contempt of court for removing equipment from Weiss and West Sub despite Stanton’s order that “Resilience shall not make any transfers outside the normal course of business without the consent and approval of the Special Master.”

Ramco attached an affidavit from Erin Borders, the former head of operations for Resilience Healthcare, that she had received numerous reports that Prasad had directed West Sub employees to inquire into costs for moving items with U-Haul, and had directed security at Weiss Memorial Hospital to allow a U-Haul vehicle to load equipment at the hospital loading dock.

That equipment, Ramco alleged, was “including but not limited to computers and monitors, an examination table, three blood pressure machines, five ultrasound units, and eight chairs.”

Borders, who worked for Resilience for “approximately three years” before being terminated on June 26, said she’s stayed in touch with numerous subordinates still employed at the hospitals.

Kaplan said he emailed Brookins to confirm, but that Brookins did not respond to either e-mails or phone messages.

Brookins admitted in court Aug. 25 that items were in fact being transferred from the hospitals, but said the transfers were within the hospital system, relocated “spot to spot within the company.”

“We’ve been asking for confirmation for three weeks,” said Kaplan, who provided an email string to the court.

Stanton appeared to side with Kaplan, telling Brookins, “He asked you a question and you ignored it.” But he declined to issue a ruling, instead instructing Brookins to work with Ramco.

“Take it seriously, or we’ll have our emergency hearing,” Stanton said. “Talk to each other. If it’s that simple, we don’t (need a hearing).”

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

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ability goals outlined in the Climate Ready Oak Park plan.

The 10-cent fee on single-use bags has been in place since 2018 and has been successful in raising over $1 million in revenue for the village’s sustainability fund. However, it has been the opposite of successful in reducing usage of plastic bags, actually seeing an increase from the first year of the policy according to Roland Nieratka.

The new regulations, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, will raise the fee for single-use plastic and paper bags by 5 cents until reaching a cap of 25 cents per bag and eventually a complete ban on plastic in 2030.

“We have determined that this is a potential path to do both things,” said Roland Nieratka at the meeting.

The three-year buffer of price increases is intended to prepare residents and give village government time to educate the community. There are also free reusable bags available for anyone at Village Hall.

With the new fee of 15 cents per bag starting in the new year, there could be a 50% reduction in usage of single-use bags while maintaining the same yearly revenue of about $170,000.

Roland Nieratka said the 17 businesses –

mainly grocery stores --that the fee currently applies to were included in the conversation and there was “no significant pushback from those businesses.”

Trustee Derek Eder raised questions and concerns around the inclusion of paper bags and the possibility of offering compostable bags as an alternative. He said he first loved and supported the proposal but wants to make sure the village is able to get the change “to stick.”

“I think that we should give people an easy path to do the right thing, and out-right bans can backfire if we don’t offer that pathway,” said Eder.

Trustee Cory Wesley was the only vote in opposition to the change saying he is in favor of reducing single-use plastic waste, but ultimately, doesn’t feel motivated by the environmental impact in the face of potential financial burden to residents.

“I’m not voting for increasing the amount, regardless, because even though it’s only a nickel, it feels like it’s not the right time to increase costs for people shopping for food,” said Wesley. “The signal to me says that we’re tone deaf because the struggles that people on the street are experiencing, and I’d like to not send that message, and so I won’t vote for that message.”

Although the ordinance was approved by the vote, there are plans for a memo answering questions raised during the conversation at the meeting with the potential to revisit and update the regulations down the road.

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

17

Schaefer is denied pre-trial release in Mack murder Had sought release to mother’s custody for reported medical issues

By BILL DWYER Staff Reporter

Federal Judge Martin J. Kennelly ruled Aug. 27 that former Oak Parker Tommy Schaefer must remain in federal custody while awaiting trial on charges he conspired to murder an Oak Park woman in Bali 14 years ago.

Schaefer, 33, who has been held in the downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) since February awaiting trial on a charge that he conspired to murder Sheila von Weise, had sought to be released on electronic monitoring into the custody of his mother, Kia Walker.

He faces up to life in prison if convicted, due to the fact that von Weise Mack died as a result.

As Schaefer walked into the courtroom the afternoon of Aug. 27, accompanied by two U.S. Marshals, he smiled at his mother in the gallery, placed his hands together in a prayer gesture and blew her a kiss.

In arguing Schaefer was not a flight risk defense attorney Michael Baker said he “is not charged with a completed act of violence,” or any crime serious enough to preclude his release on bond and electronic monitoring.

Schaefer, he said, needs medical attention for serious medical issues stemming from illnesses he contracted in Indonesia, including Covid.

Schaefer, Baker said, has been detained in the MCC “in extremely difficult conditions” and “the conditions of Mr. Schaefer’s pretrial detention are not adequate to properly monitor, manage, or treat his (medical) condition.”

Schaefer’s diminished health and the fact he has no passport makes flight from prosecution unlikely, Baker said.

In his oral arguments, Baker said Schaefer had returned to the U.S. “voluntarily” after being deported from Indonesia. Baker also referred to Schaefer’s killing of von Weise, which Schaefer had admitted to at trial in Indonesia, as “a 12-year-old alleged offense.”

Prosecutor Anne Marie E. Ursini rebutted those contentions one by one.

“He committed murder for money,” Ursini told the court. “He crossed the world to brutally kill another human being because he hoped it would bring him financial rewards.”

Ursini argued that “the evidence of Schaefer’s direct involvement in von Weise Mack’s brutal death was overwhelming.” In addition to numerous texts and other social media posts by Schaefer, she said, there were “admissions made by (Schaefer) to Indonesian authorities implicating himself in the murder.”

Ursini also refuted Schaefer’s contention that he can’t get needed treatment in the MCC, arguing that his motion “does not state which, if any, treatments or examinations are indicated by his condition(s) that he is unable to receive at the MCC.” Schaefer, she argued, “points to tests conducted for

CREDIT: L.D. CHUKMAN ILLUSTRATION

Tommy Schaefer in court which he is awaiting results. Without further support or explanation, defendant’s arguments are insufficient for the court to consider…”

Ursini said Schaefer’s prior behavior showed that he could not be trusted, including the fact that the murder in Bali “took place while defendant was on recognizance bond for a misdemeanor disorderly conduct offense in Chicago.”

Kennelly said that, while the specifics of the crime, including the level of brutality, were not to be given the greatest weight in his detention decision “That doesn’t mean it’s not a factor.”

“The level of brutality in this crime is quite significant. Let’s leave it at that,” the judge said.

Just before making his ruling, Kennelly also made note of the government’s disclosure that Schaefer had been out on bond for a misdemeanor charge just days before he travelled to Bali in 2014. Alluding to the de-

fense’s contention that it was unlikely Schaefer would flee prosecution or was a danger to the community, Kennelly said “I suspect if we’d had this conversation three weeks before (the Bali killing) we’d have said the same thing. And yet here we are.”

Kennelly had asked Baker for further detail on Schaefer’s Aug. 5, 2014 disorderly conduct arrest. But when Baker conferred with Schaefer for a minute or two, they opted not to offer any elaboration.

Kennelly said he found that Schaefer had not rebutted the presumption he was a flight risk or a danger to the community and denied his motion for bond.

“I continue to be willing to assist in any way I can,” Kennelly said of Schaefer’s medical needs.

At Baker’s request, Kennelly moved Schaefer’s trial date back two months, from Jan. 11 to March 15. He said the trial is expected to take “more than a week and less than two weeks.”

18

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

ST. GILES

“It is a celebration to all that came before us with an eye on the future, with eyes wide open for the future.”

Centennial celebration from page 1 “You can’t deny how much these people wanted to have a place where they could worship in this community. That’s really important and very important now.”

Maudette Carr has been attending St. Giles for about 13 years. Prior to that, she was a member of St. Catherine-St. Lucy.

“It’s changing,” Carr said of St. Giles’ evolution. “It’s becoming more diverse. Not just African Americans, but Hispanics.”

MARIA ALLORI

Director of stewardship

‘The mission is still the same’

The history of St. Giles According to Archdiocese of Chicago archives, Cardinal George Mundelein directed the Rev. Lawence W. Frawley to organize St. Giles at Columbian and Greenfield avenues in 1927.

A portable church was used for more than a year before a combination church and school was completed and dedicated by Mundelein in October 1928. Within a decade, the church increased from 100 to 750 families. That led to the conversion of the original church into classrooms, with the cornerstone of the current church laid in July 1938.

The book “The Archdiocese of Chicago: A Journey of Faith,” noted that the lower section of the church was completed that year, with the rest finished by 1950, reflecting a modernized Spanish mission style.

CREDIT: ED SIDEREWICZ/MYSTIC PHOTO

Cardinal Blase Cupich (wearing mitre and holding wooden staff ) attends the centennial Mass at St. Giles Church with priests and parishioners.

In a brief interview Friday in the St. Giles sanctuary, Morello mused about key data points about the church, such as the strong likelihood there have been well over 3,000 weddings there over the last century, considering that in modern times there are about 30 per year, and more couples were married in church in its first 50 years.

While Morello said he’s not a historian, he does have an appreciation for the ongoing ministry, but there is something more important.

“Over the course of these years that I’ve

been the pastor now with these unified parishes, I’ve come to know the people, I have a deeper appreciation for the rootedness of these communities in the generations that have been here. and all of these parishes,” he said.

“We’re celebrating 100 years, but as the pastor of these two new communities, what I recognize so importantly is that what we’re celebrating is this Catholic community of faith in Oak Park and our neighbors, because that’s what we call ourselves.”

A conversation with the cardinal

The vibrancy of the Catholic parishes in Oak Park is due to the fact that they draw from a variety of local communities, said Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, in an exclusive interview with Wednesday Journal before presiding at Sunday’s 100th anniversary celebratory mass at St. Giles.

“This is a good example of how parishes come together, especially when they’re smaller, and support each other,” Cupich said of St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish, along with Ascension and St. Edmund Parish.

“What I’m really encouraged by is that people see beyond the boundaries of their own church building,” he said.

“They see the mission of Jesus to be taken up. They care about passing on the

faith to the next generation. And I think as long as we keep our focus on that, we’re going to be a healthy church.”

A good example, he said, is The Neighborhood Bridge, the nonprofit created in 2023 to connect Chicago’s West Side residents with area human services.

That organization is based in the rectory of the former St. Catherine-St. Lucy church that closed in June 2025.

“I think anything can always build community and keep in focus the importance of the common good, I applaud,” he said.

Cupich also spoke about the impact Pope Leo XIV has had on Catholicism in his native Chicago and globally.

“I would say that he has gone beyond expectations and surprised people,” he

said. “Because he wasn’t an individual who drew attention to himself before he was elected pope. In fact, many people tell me that they did not expect him to be on even the short list. And yet, he stepped into the role right away and seems to take it with a firm hand. So I’m pleasantly surprised by that.”

While the pope has spoken out about many things in his short tenure, one that has impacted Cupich and many Catholics is his encyclical on safeguarding humanity in the time of artificial intelligence, titled “Magnifica Humanitas.”

For Cupich, the encyclical is a call to monitor how this technology can develop, but always in a way that respects human dignity.

“That has to be taken into consider-

Cupich added in his homily, which focused on discipleship, that, “Today, as you celebrate 100 years, remember all those people that were part of building this community, but also have the courage to come here with your own woundedness, your own subjects, and realize that you are offering your body as a sacrifice for the redemption of the world.”

Morello said Friday that “the mission is still the same.

“To worship, welcome people and walk with them through life. Keeping them connected to God. Keep it simple,” he said.

Maria Allori, director of stewardship for the Oak Park Catholic parishes, said getting to the century mark is no small feat.

“It is a celebration to all that came before us with an eye on the future, with eyes wide open for the future,” she said. “In terms of discipleship, it’s really the people, so for me that it was a celebration of all that came before us and the people today.”

ation,” he said, “for instance, for cybersecurity, for job displacement, for ways in which privacy is going to be respected. But also, in a way that does not allow this technology to overrun the capacity of human beings to control it.”

Another key issue throughout Chicagoland has been the church’s ability to flourish post-pandemic.

“We still have some pockets where it’s lowered, some places where it’s higher,” he said. “But we have seen in the last couple of years an uptick in people coming into the church, joining the church at Easter., especially in the demographic of young people who are post-college to about 35. And so something’s happening in that demographic.”

— Gregg Voss

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September 2, 2026

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Oak Park Temple: A Community for All

We offer a robust Religious School experience for youth.

Please contact educator@oakparktemple.org for more information.

1235 North Harlem Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 708-386-3937 • oakparktemple.org

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Come Play, Learn & Grow at Glasser Preschool!

A joyful, play-based preschool where children ages 2–5 build confidence, curiosity, creativity, and friendships.

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Small class sizes Caring, experienced teachers Allergy-friendly No potty training required Welcoming families for over 40 years School Year & Summer Camp

Come join our Glasser family — there’s always room for one more!

1235 North Harlem Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 708-386-3937 x215 • glasserpreschool@oakparktemple.org • www.glasserpreschool.com

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22 September 2, 2026

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No matter where you may be on your spiritual journey, you will find inspiration and meaning in our synagogue.

We invite you to celebrate the High Holy Days with us in person or even online!

Sep 11 Erev Rosh Hashanah Sep 12 & 13 Rosh Hashanah

Camp Shana Tovah for kids on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Sep 20 Kol Nidre

Join us to Ring in 5787!

Interfaith families are always welcome.

Free tickets for first time attendees!

Sep 21 Yom Kippur Sep 25 Salmon in the Sukkah Oct 3 Simchat Torah - Dance

with the Torahs and the Maxwell Street Klezmer. Everyone is welcome!

Visit us at harzion.org

Our diverse, growing Conservative congregation is a warm and welcoming home for people of all ages and backgrounds.

United by a dedication to Judaism and a love of the Jewish people, Temple Har Zion strives to create an environment that is inclusive, uplifting, meaningful, and transformative throughout the full lifecycle.

Together, we enjoy intergenerational activities, ongoing education and religious school, cultural and community events, and social groups such as our Sisterhood and Men’s Club.

Come check us out!

1040 N. N. Harlem Harlem Avenue, Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305 • (708) 366-9000 • office@wsthz.org 1040 366-

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At Grace Lutheran Church and School, Christ calls us to grow in grace, live with love, and go to serve.

W

e live out our purpose by welcoming everyone with an inclusive spirit, building supportive relationships, and caring for one another. Grounded in continuous learning and bold faith, we actively engage our community through humble service.

Our Sunday worship starts at 10 a.m. and features rich, traditional liturgy with vibrant music led by our organ, instrumentalists, and choir. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday.

Nursery care is provided from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m.

Also on Sunday morning, we offer Sunday School and Confirmation for youth and, for adults, a series of thoughtprovoking programs with guest speakers on many topics.

The Bach Cantata Vespers series at

Grace offers a monthly service that brings together the timeless works of J. S. Bach, readings from scripture, and a liturgy with congregational participation.

Services begin with an instrumental prelude at 3:45 p.m., followed by the service of Evening Prayer at 4:00 p.m.

There is no admission fee; a free-will offering is received during the service.

More information can be found on their website (bachvespers.org).

Grace has many interest groups ranging from chronic illness and grief support, Stephen Ministers, and Religion in Literature book discussions to knitting, yoga, parenting, and more. Cornerstones, our senior citizen group, meets Wednesdays at 10 a.m. for fellowship and Bible study.

To learn more, visit graceriverforest.org or join us this Sunday—we look forward to welcoming you!

Connection | Transformation | Justice | Acceptance Worship Service Sundays at 9am and 10:45am 9am Art & Soul : Creative space for all ages 10:45am : Religious Education programming for kids & youth 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301 | unitytemple.org

Sunday Worship with Holy Communion 10:00 a.m.

7300 Division St, River Forest IL 60305 graceriverforest.org 708-366-6900 Called by Christ, we grow in grace, live with love, and go to serve

LOVE IS AT THE CENTER…of all we do at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

It is woven in our values of Connection- joining with others to share our lives and stories, knowing we are better together.

Transformation-continuing our journey of growth and learning, both individually and collectively.

Justice-working to make the world a better place, called to live our values in words and actions.

Acceptance-being enriched by one another with open minds and hearts, understanding that diversity enriches us Love is at the center of who we are as Unitarian Universalists. We are not a creedal religion, so we don’t believe alike. Instead, we are a covenantal religion, meaning that we agree on how we are with one another; in other words, we love alike.

Whoever you are, whatever your gender identity or expression, your sexual orientation, your race or ethnicity, your immigration or citizenship status, your age or income or education or abilities; wherever you are on your life journey, you are welcome to join us.

C lice Cha li e Art li rt by y Peg Pe G Pe Grre een en ww w w.p w peac ea accepe a pe eg.c g. om o

Our worship services and children & youth religious education programming are at 9 & 10:45am on Sunday. Live-streamed at 9am. Connect with us at www. unitytemple.org.

24 September 2, 2026

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A Place to Belong — Inside Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church

F

air Oaks Presbyterian Church is a welcoming, affirming community in Oak Park built on a simple idea: everyone belongs, exactly as they are. We try to live that out through openness, humility, curiosity and genuine care for one another and our neighbors — inspired by Jesus’ example of love for the world.

You don’t need any particular background, and you don’t need to have it all figured out, to find a place here. We encourage you to explore your faith no matter your stage of belief, doubt or curiosity.

At Fair Oaks you’ll find Sunday morning worship service, and you can also build community through monthly book clubs, weekly Mahjong games, regular volunteering and donation opportunities, just to name a few.

A good way to jump in is to participate in our weekly intergenerational Wednesday night program that we call Logos. Sign your child or teen up for Logos today or sign up to volunteer in the kitchen on a Wednesday. Come to an informational meeting on September 20 at 11:00 am.

Want to learn more? You can email us at office@fairoakspres.org, join us on Sunday at 10:00 am (744 Fair Oaks Avenue), or stream our service on our YouTube channel (@FairOaksPres). fairoakspres.org.

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MONTHLY AT 3PM FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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September 2, 2026

Invitation to Spiritual Seekers from United Lutheran

U

nited Lutheran Church invites spiritual seekers looking for a place to put down spiritual roots in the Oak Park area to explore our traditional 9:30am Sunday worship. “Traditional” is a good word to represent us. The style of our worship is not conservative in a reactionary sense, but neither is it fully progressive. Openness and reverence meet in our sermons and hymns: openness to the challenges and hurts of a diverse world in crisis, and reverence for what the deep symbols of Scripture and sacraments offer to shape us.

Many spiritual seekers who consider traditional Christianity may find themselves confused about what to do about the particular claims about Jesus Christ. These often seem exclusive to other spiritual traditions. At United the approach to this is to lean on the particular. Each of us in the end must live a particular life, learn from particular mistakes, and die a particular death. The confession that God meets us in Jesus Christ is true to the human experience of being particular. Even though worship at United Lutheran offers full expression to the claim that God’s universal love meets this world in Jesus Christ we don’t from that confession go on to claim to know more than we can about anyone else’s experience or tradition. We take our place with respect for a plural world of many voices.

Traditional worship every Sunday 9:30am, with Children’s chapel during the sermon every 1st Sunday of the Month.

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Miss a week … miss a lot.

Call (708) 524-8300 or visit OakPark.com/subscribe

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26

Homes Oak Park’s homegrown architect

NEED TO REACH US?

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

email: dhaley@newswellchicago.org

Oak Park native John Van Bergen left a stamp on the village

By LACEY SIKORA Staff Reporter

COURTESTY OF OPRF MUSEUM

John Van Bergen

Born in Oak Park in 1885, John Van Bergen was the second of four children. He had an uncle who was a residential contractor and was surrounded by construction projects from a young age as the streets of Oak Park began to fill with newly built homes.

As a child, Van Bergen’s family lived at what is now 532 Fair Oaks Ave. The Victorian home sits across the street from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rollin Furbeck House. The home still stands today and was greatly altered in the 1940’s.

He attended Oak Park High School, when it was on Lake Street. While there, he created his first known drawing: a map of the high school district dated June 1904.

After working for his contractor uncle as young man,

he began to work in the office of Walter Burley Griffin for the sum of $6 per week. Griffin had previously worked for Frank Lloyd Wright before striking out on his own in 1905.

Van Bergen later studied at Chicago Technical College and went on to work in the Oak Park office of architect E.E. Roberts. In 1909, Van Bergen became the last employee hired by Frank Lloyd Wright for his Oak Park studio.

Along with Wright employee Isabel Roberts, Van Bergen closed Wright’s studio when Wright left Oak Park.

Van Bergen briefly worked with William Drummond before striking out on his own. By 1911, Van Bergen was a licensed architect and had opened his own Oak Park studio.

He designed dozens of Prairie Style homes in the Oak Park and River Forest area until leaving to serve at Fort Sheridan during World War I. When he was discharged, he married and moved to Highland Park where he designed

COURTESY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

PHOTO COURTESY NANCY BRIGHAM

Van Bergen designed these three speculative homes for Oak Park florist Flori Blondeel in 1913.

The Van Bergen home at 532 Fair Oaks Ave. in the 1890’s (then 632 Scoville).

MARTY HACKL PHOTO/COPYRIGHT 2001©MARTIN HACKL

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

OAKPARK.COM numerous residences along the North Shore, continuing to work in the Prairie Style.

In Highland Park, Van Bergen was a neighbor of landscape architect Jens Jensen, and they collaborated on several projects, with Van Bergen creating buildings that were harmonious with the area’s prairie setting.

A large number of Van Bergen homes still exist in Oak Park today. He is well known for adapting Wright’s $5,000 “Fireproof House” for his own practice and built as many as 16 variations of the plan in Oak Park between 1911 and 1923.

His three Flori Blondeel homes are striking on three adjacent lots at 426, 432 and 436 N. Elmwood Ave. Blondeel, a florist, commissioned Van Bergen to build the homes and sold them with the help of George Hemingway, a real estate agent, in 1914.

A few blocks away, a Van Bergen design at 806 Columbian Ave. recently hit the market for $950,000. The William H. Watt House was designed in 1913.

Originally a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home, previous owners expanded the home, adding a primary suite with a full bathroom on the second floor, and a family room on the first.

Realtor Alice McMahon of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate says the addition was seamless and kept to the character of Van Bergen’s design.

“The home has been well-cared for,” she says and notes that the home has a brand-new roof, a finished basement and rec room in the basement.

She expects the home will sell quickly. “It has a fun history and it’s a beautiful block,” she says.

PROVIDED

806 Columbian, Oak Park

PROVIDED

Living room

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PROVIDED

Dining room

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

VIEWPOINTS

Shrubtown p. 31

C O N S C I O U S

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DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 Email: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org

A G I N G

Ageism affects all of us

his year, the Oak Park Aging in Communities Commission is sponsoring a celebration of Ageism Awareness Day on Friday, Oct. 9, at the 19th Century Club, 178 Forest Ave. in Oak Park. The program features Raymond Jetson, founder and author of Aging While Black.

Jetson’s keynote will be followed by a panel discussion featuring members of the Oak Park Aging in Communities Commission.

Aging While Black is subtitled “A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in America.” Jetson argues that aging in America is not a race-neutral experience. He dismantles toxic narratives about Black aging and offers a transformative vision rooted in community strength, digital empowerment, and intergenerational connection.

He says, “Too often, we frame aging as loss of relevance, vitality, and connection. I see it as a season of leadership and reflection, a time to use what we’ve learned to guide those coming behind us.”

That’s conscious aging — that we can become more intentional about how we understand and experience the aging process. Conscious aging invites us to question the assumptions we have inherited about growing older and to recognize aging not simply as something that happens to us, but as an opportunity for continued growth, meaning, contribution, reflection and connection.

Aging While Black asks us to look honestly at and appreciate Black elders, to move beyond advocacy for Black elders toward activism and participation by Black elders — positioning them as leaders and co-creators of policies and solutions that affect their lives.

Jetson’s book comprises three major ideas: Recalibrating the Village (rebuilding the communal networks that once anchored Black communities), Embracing Innovation and Rapid Change (meeting elders where technology and society are moving), and Leaning into Sankofa. That last one caught my attention because of the recent opening of the Sankofa Village Wellness Center in our neighboring West Garfield Park community, a project supported by New Mt.

PROVIDED BY JOHN DUFFY

Left: Duplexes shown here were very similar to the 74 temporary homes built for Oak Park veterans after World War II. The last structures were removed in 1955. Right: Oak Park hired Harland Bartholomew, the nation’s leading designer of single-family zoning ordinances within comprehensive zoning plans.

O A K

H O U S I N G

H I S T O R Y

First encounters with affordable housing

MARC BLESOFF

See MARC BLESOFF on page 34

P A R K

This is episode 11 in our continuing series on the history of Oak Park housing as it relates to diversity and equity: n 1946 the housing crisis caused by the Great Depression and the economic demands of World War II overwhelmed 550 veterans with families returning to Oak Park. The personal impact of the problem was visible in the free ad space in the Oak Leaves where dozens of veterans weekly pleaded for housing opportunity.

Early in 1946, the Non-Partisan Civic League of Oak Park, made up of veterans of World War I and II, stepped forward and boldly proposed that the village build affordable housing for Oak Park veterans and their young families. Shortly after, the village created the still existing Oak Park Housing Authority to assist veterans and build the housing.

The village board then made an unprecedented largescale exemption to the single-family zoning ordinance and approved construction of 74 temporary duplexes on vacant school property and village-owned land like Longfellow and Lindberg parks.

I

JOHN DUFFY

A patriotic but divisive housing project

The trustees’ action providing affordable and accessible housing for veterans was immensely popular. It was funded with $1/2 million from the state and prefabricated two bedroom duplexes were supplied by the Federal Housing Authority. Nonetheless, allowing the large-scale exception to single-family zoning brought out strident opposition from the NIMBYs of that era. Their resistance was vitriolic and significant — even seeking, but not winning, a court injunction.

As with today’s proposed zoning changes, fear of a decline in property values was a major concern. Providing housing for families rankled many building owners who regularly refused to rent to families with children.

Landlords also opposed the rent controls in the proposal.

Other opponents abrasively warned that the homes would be occupied by “trash from outside Oak Park” and bring a wave of crime and violence (1).

Knowledgeable adversaries likely knew that the U.S. Supreme Court approved zoning laws in 1926 as a legitimate police power of the states that could be used to bar

One View

See JOHN DUFFY on page 34

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM

Examine first, then act

I am increasingly concerned about the number of consequential financial and land-use decisions Oak Park is considering at the same time. We are discussing major changes to single-family zoning. We are considering a new TIF district along Roosevelt Road, potentially including the former Mohr Concrete property. At the same time, Oak Park faces propertytax pressures and possible levy increases.

Why are we moving so quickly on so many fronts without first understanding how these decisions interact?

I am personally opposed to creating another TIF unless the village can demonstrate convincingly that it is necessary. A TIF is not free money. It commits growth in property-tax revenue within the district to redevelopment purposes for years and can affect revenues available to overlapping taxing bodies.

The Mohr property deserves special attention, but its history raises an important question. The site has not suffered from a complete absence of private-sector interest. After Mohr Concrete ceased operations, the property went under contract more than once, was purchased in 2022, and attracted proposals including apartments, a hotel, and a gas station complex.

That does not mean the site is easy to redevelop. It may present legitimate demolition, environmental, infrastructure, or financing challenges. But if those challenges are part of the justification for a TIF, identify them, quantify them, and explain why targeted assistance to that property would not be preferable to a broader, decades-long TIF district.

We have been here before. In 2014, Oak Park considered a Roosevelt Road TIF, a Special Service Area, and a Business District. The village ultimately chose a Business District rather than a TIF. Before revisiting a TIF 12 years later, residents deserve to know what changed. What did the Business District accomplish? Where did it fall short? Why would an SSA not be appropriate? Could ordinary capital spending, grants, loans, targeted incentives, or site-specific assistance accomplish the objective with less long-term fiscal commitment?

The board should compare these alternatives side by side and ask: Who pays? Who benefits? How long does the commitment last? What happens to the tax base and other taxing bodies? What measurable development is expected? Most importantly, would that development occur without the subsidy?

Meanwhile, we are also considering zoning changes whose fiscal consequences remain uncertain. Additional development may broaden the tax base, but it may also increase demands on infrastructure and public services. No one presently knows whether additional revenues will exceed those costs.

That is why the responsible approach is not simply to slow down. It is to broaden the analysis.

Do not begin with a TIF and then look for reasons to justify it. Begin with the problem Oak Park is trying to solve. Examine every reasonable financing mechanism. Compare the costs, risks, benefits, and long-term consequences. Then choose the tool that produces the strongest public return.

Robert Milstein

Former village trustee

A

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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Politics is not a spectator sport

re you a political hobbyist or a political lobbyist? Maybe you’re a political atheist (someone who doesn’t believe in politics). There are probably other categories, but this is enough for one column.

Andy Borowitz, a political satirist (another category) — best known for his “Borowitz Report,” short, fake-news, very funny dispatches — wrote a serious full-length book a few years back, titled Profiles in Ignorance: How America’s Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber, in which he documents this country’s steady political descent — from the know-nothingness of Ronald Reagan (President Cue Cards) through Bush I, Dan Quayle, Bush II and Sarah Palin, all the way down to the Bottom-Feeder-in-Chief (and we probably haven’t reached the bottom of the ignoramus barrel).

It is an important history (horrifying, albeit darkly hilarious) and in his wrap-up, Borowitz reflects on what we can do to reverse this downward slide. A big part of the problem, he says, is us. Too many political hobbyists, not enough activists.

Borowitz gleaned that concept from the book Politics is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change by Eitan Hersh, political scientist (yet another category). Hersh holds that most of us are political hobbyists. Borowitz admits he’s one of them. “We think we’re participating in politics,” he writes, “but we’re often just spectators, following it the way we follow sports. Obsessively watching cable news, checking Twitter, and monitoring the latest polls — all of which I’ve been guilty of — makes us feel like we’re staying informed, but to what end? When I do these things, I’m just a passive observer, rooting for my team.

There’s a difference between going to a Super Bowl party and playing in the Super Bowl; only those who do the latter affect the outcome of the game.”

After the 2016 election, Hersh wrote, “I started feeling that if we are going to save our democracy, we all really need to work, to do the hard things.” According to Borowitz, Hersh recommends the following: “Organize.

Register people to vote. Get out the vote. Go to town meetings. And maybe the most challenging task of all: try to change people’s minds, one voter at a time.”

Like Borowitz, I’m guilty of too often being a spectator.

You too? How do we move beyond political hobbyism?

Donating to candidates is a step removed from passivity, but not by much. Joining the ACLU is better because the ACLU is actually doing the hard work — filing lawsuits, protecting our voting rights, which are gravely threatened by six years of dedicated Republican voter suppression efforts, aided and abetted by a corrupt and extremist conservative Supreme Court majority (their latest effort involves restricting the use of mail-in voting, with the full complicity of the U.S. Postal Service).

What can we do about it?

Voter registration is essential to offset our disadvantage. We need more people to vote.

A lot more. We can’t prevail if we don’t outvote those who are harming us. Registration drives are one way to take action.

Why do one-third of eligible voters fail to show up? And how can they be convinced to go to the polls? That mystery needs solving.

Maybe the Democratic Party of Oak Park has some answers. They conduct door-todoor canvassing. Meetings are held in their headquarters (6941 W. North Ave., second Saturday morning of each month). Open to the public if you’re interested (dpop.org or call Eileen Lynch at 708-386-0900).

Another challenge is convincing thirdparty voters to stop throwing away their votes on candidates who can’t possibly win. They’ve lost faith in our political system and don’t see that voting for the viable alternative is the only way to stop the damage that Trump is inflicting on this country. Like them or not, the other party is light years ahead of the Republican Cult, politically and morally, when it comes to addressing the problems facing this country.

What else can we do? Last week, driving west on I-290, I saw an anti-Trump billboard and thought, people need to see a lot more of these. The Lincoln Project American Political Action Committee might be a good source of creative protest messaging to put on those billboards (lincolnproject.us). Anything that connects Trump to his pal Epstein, for instance, would be well worth publicizing.

Closer to home, The Leaders Network of ministers on the West Side have connections with the Oak Park-River Forest Community of Congregations. Worth checking out. Does your church/temple/synagogue have a social justice group? Probably. Unity Temple’s Vote Love team has a get-out-the-vote event scheduled for Sept. 13 at 12:15 p.m. (votelove@unitytemple.org).

While you’re at it, contact the local chapter of the League of Women Voters and find out what they’re up to. What can one person do? Volunteer to be part of a larger group. It multiplies your impact.

Education is badly needed. Most Americans seem clueless about how our political system works — and why it doesn’t. Join groups that are already established and doing good. This is the Age of Networking. Or as a friend recently recommended, become a pollinator for democracy.

Every time Trump brings you to the brink of despair, remember Obama in 2008 and 2012 and Biden in 2020.

There are more of us. We can do this. We have done this.

If we’re on the right side of history (and we are), we will prevail, no matter how long it takes.

But first we have to move beyond looking at politics as a spectator sport.

What are you doing that the rest of us should know about? Let us know.

KEN

TRAINOR

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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V I E W P O I N T S

Our zoning debate should not divide us

ak Park’s zoning debate has quickly divided us into camps despite our shared interest in a better Oak Park. The goal isn’t maximum density, nor fossilizing everything exactly as is. It’s an Oak Park that stays welcoming, diverse, viable, and beautiful.

We might lower the temperature of this debate if we treated zoning as one tool toward that future rather than the cause we’re fighting over.

I’ll offer a personal parallel from across the globe. I grew up in Kozhikode, India, and my family’s housing story mirrors that of many families here: from our grandparents’ home to a rental to a house my parents built and owned, and now almost 50 years later, a condo in a highrise. These transitions reflect the natural progression of life and a city changing around us.

Kozhikode itself evolved dramatically over those decades: population growth, denser cores, expanding development, and planning regulations matured accordingly. Once a much smaller town, today its framework identifies distinct zones:

residential, commercial, mixed-use, transit corridors, lower-density, and heritage areas, adding capacity to the core and expanding outward.

Kozhikode is not an ideal example, but an experience that informs my perspective. It is a large market that can absorb enormous development like many of the cities globally that have/are experimenting with zoning changes like Auckland, NZ; Austin, TX; Minneapolis, etc. These merit study and hold lessons, but none translate directly to Oak Park. We’re 4.7 square miles, mature and built out, embedded in a much larger metropolitan housing market.

While more supply eases price pressure, Oak Park alone cannot control the regional market, and we cannot expand our boundaries. We can and should add housing choices, but I question whether zoning changes alone within our small footprint can meaningfully solve affordability challenges and housing shortages confronting us.

That means first asking what Oak Park

RAVI PARAKKAT One View

D O O P E R ’ S

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y great aunt Jane was not only a collector of antiques but also a student of this field. Jane and her husband lived in a huge apartment on Oak Street a half block east of Michigan Avenue. Jane had inherited a great deal of money from her father, so she could easily afford this costly field.

I once asked Jane how old an item must be before it is considered an antique, and she said it takes about 100 years to become an antique, but some dealers accept as antiques items only 50 years old.

She also told me that age is not the only important factor in determining whether a piece is an antique. For example, I learned that an item may be valuable because it is a fine example of a craftsman’s skill, because it is rare, or because it serves as a reminder of a vanished civilization.

can realistically accomplish and then creating policy priorities. I don’t think we are asking enough questions for the scale of the change that is being proposed. The question isn’t just “does more supply help affordability?” It’s “how much supply will these specific changes actually produce, at what price points, over what timeframe, and at what cost and risk?”

Oak Park already has housing diversity: apartments, condos, courtyard buildings, two-flats, single-family homes, historic multifamily buildings. In my 20 years here, I’ve rented, owned a single-family home, and now live in a 130-year-old condo that peacefully coexists on an “Oak Parky” block with single-family homes and two-flats. We should build on that diversity with more housing along transit corridors, easier accessory dwelling units (ADUs), redevelopment of underutilized properties, options for seniors to age in place, incentives for genuinely affordable units, and missing-middle housing where

it fits.

It doesn’t necessitate declaring one housing type good and another bad. This shouldn’t become a fight between people who care about affordability and people who care about their neighborhoods. Most of us care about both.

There’s middle ground between freezing Oak Park in time and transforming every neighborhood all at once. Why not identify pilot areas for duplexes and triplexes with clear guidelines and design standards for building envelope, setbacks etc., then measure what actually happens before adjusting? Let’s truly understand the effects on property values, property taxes, schools, infrastructure, parking, and neighborhood character and use that understanding to bring the whole community along. That’s not resistance to change; it’s how responsible change works.

The real question is how we can shape change thoughtfully, protecting what makes this community unique while making room for the people, homes, and businesses of the future.

Ravi Parakkat is a former Oak Park trustee

M E M O R I E S

Living in antiquity Jane sought many types of antiques. She collected old coins, rare books, and old engravings. She also owned household articles such as furniture, glassware, china, and textiles. Some of her collection were part of a family heritage and passed on from generation to generation. She passed on items to my grandmother such as a glass salt shaker, a Chippendale chair, an oak chest and a carved American cupboard.

This last item she gave to her cousin along with a pewter tea set.

Jane took me to antique shops whenever I visited her home three or four times a year on weekends. I wasn’t overly interested in antiques, but after a few visits, I learned a great deal. For instance, I

learned that American antiques include almost everything used by Americans of an earlier age — like kerosene lamps, guns, and glass.

I was surprised to learn, too, that not all American antiques were made in the United States. Jane told me that friends of hers who were collectors bought Chinese porcelains, Persian rugs, and Russian urns.

She was especially interested in articles from our colonial period because some of them were prized for their beauty and others were sought because they represented colonial customs and our past history.

I realized that antique collecting is a fascinating hobby as well as a field for

JOHN

STANGER

scholarly research and business enterprise. Antiques provide a direct link to the past, and for collectors an exciting way to learn about old manners and customs.

Jane called herself an “antiquerie” because she was a student of colonial antiques, specializing in glassware and furniture. She divided the colonial collections into periods in order to make it easier for her to classify and identify individual exhibits. She also belonged to special societies in several countries to help coordinate her efforts and resources, In the late 1950s, Jane and her husband moved to Cape Cod and took most of her antiques with her. I never collected antiques, but I understand why people become collectors establishing an important legacy for their families.

But I sure would have liked to own Jane’s two silver platters made by Paul Revere.

V I E W P O I N T S S H R U B T O W N

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

by Marc Stopeck

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

The middle isn’t missing

On the 500 block of North Humphrey Avenue, the “missing middle” is not missing, nor is diversity lacking. We have single-family homes, small to large in size. We have several two-flats and one entrance to a large apartment building. If you count the housing on the south side of the cul-de-sac, which, oddly, the Shape Oak Park rezoning plan does not, the 500 N. Humphrey block also includes two multi-unit buildings. According to Realtor.com the prices of properties that sold on this block in 2025 range from $385,000 to $810,000.

There is also an ADU behind one single-family homes.

Years back it was a “workers cottage.” After the property was gut rehabbed, this ADU became an artist’s studio.

This is one example that adding ADUs does not guarantee the addition of middle-income housing.

The residents of this block are Black, white, and Asian.

Ages range from infants to near 80. There are gay and straight, wealthy and struggling, professionals and those with less formal education. Many of us know each other.

We alert each other when crimes or emergencies occur.

We watch out for each other, know each other’s children and socialize with one another. The cul-de-sac and bricked street results in less street traffic. We are a mini-community in one small block.

Why would anyone want to change this? Remember the adage “if it’s not broken don’t fix it?” That bit of wisdom certainly applies here. Yet Shape Oak Park proposes measures that could only result in increased density, reduced driving, cycling, and pedestrian safety, reduced green space, less sunlight, reduced property value, creating conditions that could lead to an increase in crime and weakening the connection between neighbors. Surely, 500 N. Humphrey is not the only block in Oak Park with similar demographics.

The goals of increasing diversity and middle-income housing may be laudable. But the process that most trustees seem to be unyieldingly sold on will destroy much that is good on 500 N. Humphrey and Oak Park.

Rhoda Bernstein Oak Park

The 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 sufficient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it often is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.

We reserve 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 superficial 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 specific 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 first and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for verification 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@newswellchicago.org.

For the latter, we prefer attached Word files or plain text included in the email.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 350-word limit ■ Must include first and last

names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

V I E W P O I N T S

Pro Bono for the common good

I’ve been volunteering with Pro Bono Network since 2015, contributing more than 375 hours of pro bono legal service.

But the hours tell only a small part of the story. Through PBN, I’ve used my legal skills to help people facing real challenges and worked alongside attorneys who share a commitment to making access to justice more than just an ideal.

Last year, I attended PBN’s annual training conference, and it was a wonderful chance to learn, connect with fellow attorneys, and renew my commitment to pro bono service. I remember thinking how helpful it would be for attorneys who want to do pro bono work but aren’t sure how to get started.

Attorneys interested in pro bono work often worry they don’t have the time or the right experience. Through PBN, I’ve learned you don’t need to be an expert in a particular area of law or take on a huge commitment. PBN offers short-term projects for different schedules and interests, along with training and support. Last year’s

A little alliteration or a lot?

conference made that abundantly clear.

Attendees chose three sessions from nine options, making it easy to focus on areas of interest while learning about the range of legal needs in our communities.

One of my favorite parts was reconnecting with people I’d volunteered with before and meeting newcomers just learning about PBN. I loved sharing my experience as a volunteer and fundraiser for PBN, and hearing what drew them to pro bono work. Even after years of volunteering, I left excited about new possibilities.

This year’s conference is free and will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, at Chapman & Cutler in downtown Chicago. Attorneys can earn up to 4.5 hours of CLE at no cost. If you’ve ever thought about doing pro bono work, I encourage you to come. It’s a great way to learn more, meet other attorneys, and see how easy it can be to get started.

Registration is available at www.pbnetwork.org/pbntc.

Nice alliteration in the headline about opening of Pete’s: “People pack Pete’s Market for the grand opening.”

[News, Aug. 26]. Would’ve been fun to add to it. For those who’d waited a long time: “Patient people pack Pete’s.” For discerning folk: “Particular people pack Pete’s.” For those who insisted on being there: “Persistent people pack Pete’s.” Then there would be nitpicking people: “Persnickety people pack Pete’s.” And those running for office: “Political people pack Pete’s.” Never

Traffic calming in Oak Park is a noble goal, but it is becoming too excessive.

Example: Corner of Grove/Thomas.

Residents once asked for a stop sign there.

Instead, we have a crazy number of bollards around each corner which makes most drivers think the intersection can only admit one car at a time. Adding to that now, at the intersection of Oak Park/ Thomas, we have traffic diverters and a

Marisa Green River Forest

a simple walkway for pedestrians arriving on foot from the northeast side of Oak Park.

After enduring years and years of upheaval (construction, traffic, noise, environmental hazards) for the building of this store, it seems the least the company could do for its neighbors.

Raina Polivka Oak Park

August marks the transition to a new school year. And the Feast of St. Dominic on Aug. 8 led me to think about the education I got at Dominican University in librarianship and how I have put it into action and shared it with others.

A few months ago, I had a great opportunity to share my librarian work as a presenter at District 97’s Career Day. After presenting for two years at Julian Middle School, I was eager to sign up for both Julian and Brooks this year.

I have always found it enriching to share with others significant parts of my life and so Career Day was a wonderful opportunity for me to connect with the middle-schoolers and tell them about what I do as a library cataloger.

I gave them an inside look at my work and then I gave them an activity so they could think like a cataloger does in organizing and categorizing books.

Overdoing traffic calming

No Left Turn for northbound traffic on Oak Park Avenue. This throws more traffic up one block to Division which already has too much traffic and puts more drivers past Horace Mann School, making it snarled and difficult.

So there is almost no traffic on Thomas anymore, and it previously served as a reliefvalve street for traffic choking Division.

Same with the intersection of Thomas/

mind the folks who were nattering while waiting: “Palavering people pack Pete’s.” I’d bet that some were recording their experience for broadcast: “Podcasting people pack Pete’s.” Those who hadn’t bathed in a while: “Pungent people pack Pete’s.” What about really ancient citizens: “Paleolithic patriarchs pack Pete’s.” Enough. I credit wife Judith with several of these contributions.

Ed McDevitt

River Forest

A sharing librarian

Pete’s needs an extra entrance

As a loyal Pete’s Market customer, I am concerned that there is no north-side pedestrian entrance to the new Pete’s location on Madison Street and Oak Park Avenue. For a customer to access the store on foot from the northeast-side neighborhoods, one is required to circle to the front of the store and enter with automobile traffic. This causes bottlenecks and presents real issues for accessibility and safety. I ask that Pete’s create

OAKPARK.COM

Ridgeland, which didn’t need any traffic calming. Putting a speed table and traffic diverter there moves more traffic past Whittier School rather than keeping it on Thomas.

Thomas Street is just one example. It has had its problems, but I would like to see any traffic studies that show it was hazardous enough for such excessive measures.

There is the cost to all this. Where is this

I enjoyed seeing how the students engaged with the content of my presentation, offering good thoughts in response to the activity prompt, and asking good questions. A sign in the classroom where I presented at Julian said, “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.” At Brooks, I was delighted to see a student wearing an article of clothing that said, “Reading is my favorite sport.”

I’m grateful for all those who organized this wonderful event, and those who were on hand when I arrived, particularly the Brooks seventh-grade student ambassadors who escorted me.

My time as a Julian student impacted and defined me in so many ways, and it was a joyful experience to go back to middle school and offer something to the current students.

Paul Rubio Oak Park

plethora of cash coming from? Then think about problems with snow plowing and speedy access for emergency vehicles.

P.S. The bollard company today is checking and replacing bollards that have been run down by errant drivers. More expense for the village, which could be better used elsewhere.

Charles Chauncey Wells Oak Park

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM

Re: “Short-timers take aim at Social Security problem.” Chicago Tribune, Aug. 27, 2026 Senators Durbin and Cassidy are frantically trying to formulate a bipartisan bill to repair the deficit in Social Security, which is projected to result in a 22% cut in benefits within six years. This crisis could be resolved in one fell swoop if the wealthiest American(s) did their patriotic

Musk could rescue his miscue

duty and contributed toward Social Security the same as the rest of us.

One reasonable approach is to raise the limit on income that is subject to Social Security payroll tax. After all, wealthy individuals should contribute to society like the rest of us do. The current deficit (the difference between payroll tax collected and payments to recipients) was $200 billion in 2025 [i].

Although that sounds like a lot to most people, there is one person, Elon Musk, whose salary is expected to be $1 trillion per year. If Elon Musk paid the same 6.2% of his salary to Social Security with the employer (Tesla) match, this alone would generate $124 billion per year.

As partial reparation for the damage he did to the American government and the thousands of employees he fired

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

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during his DOGE chain-saw massacre, Elon Musk could very nearly wipe out the Social Security deficit single-handedly. He would likely not even notice the fiscal loss, and he might enjoy not being the most despised billionaire in the world. [i] https://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/

Tom DeCoursey

Portland, Oregon Formerly of Oak Park

Statewide reforms for local governments

The current controversy over Oak Park’s proposed zoning requirements highlights the need for major reforms in how municipal governments operate in Illinois. There was another situation in Bartlett where the Park District of Carol Stream annexed a part of another town for

Oak Park residents recently received a glossy postcard from village hall inviting them to “test drive” a new zoning “tool” before the village board votes on the Shape Oak Park rezoning proposal. The friendly, product-launch tone is worth pausing on because the language on that card does more to soften the proposal than to explain it.

Start with “test drive.” A test drive implies no commitment: you can walk away afterward with nothing changed. A zoning code amendment is the opposite.

Once the village board adopts it, residents don’t get to decide later that they’d rather have their old neighborhood back. Calling this process a test drive invites people to engage as if it’s low-stakes, when the outcome is a permanent legal change to what

taxing purposes. In both cases, the local governments were not required to put the issue to a vote in a referendum. I’m sure there are other instances across the state where municipal government overreach has taken place.

I think the state needs to amend the

laws regarding municipal governments and how they operate. And specifically require them to hold binding referendums on issues having a major impact on their communities. I also think that the state should define a process whereby residents can recall their elected officials. After all,

Shape Oak Park, RIP SFZ?

can be built next door.

Next, the postcard assures us that “single-family homes remain the heart of residential districts” — directly beside language allowing duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes on every residential lot in the village. That sentence is true of today.

It says nothing about what changes once the proposal passes. Residents deserve to know that “heart of the district” is being used to describe a district that would look very different than it does now.

Then there’s the promise that six-unit buildings will be allowed “only as a Special Use.” That phrase is designed to sound like a high bar — a case-by-case check with real teeth. But in most zoning codes, a “Special Use” (sometimes called a conditional use)

Send letters to the Editor Ken Trainor, Wednesday Journal E-mail: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org Fax: 708-524-0047 Please include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

is not a discretionary “no” the village board can freely exercise. If an applicant meets the defined criteria, approval could be required, not optional. Before residents take comfort in the word “only,” the village should clarify in plain language whether the board actually retains the power to deny a six-unit proposal that meets the criteria — or whether “Special Use” here just means “automatic, with paperwork.”

Finally, the postcard tells us the proposal will “align with the state’s People Over Parking Act.” That framing makes it sound as though Oak Park has no choice in the matter — that reduced parking requirements are simply state law being followed. In fact, state law sets outer limits; it does not dictate every local parking

if the governor can be recalled, why not city mayors, village board presidents and other elected officials?

It’s time we had more accountability for local government officials.

Maria Ferrera Oak Park

decision. Presenting a local policy choice as mandatory compliance is a way of foreclosing debate on a question residents should actually get to weigh in on.

None of this means the underlying planning conversation is illegitimate. Oak Park may well need a serious conversation about housing supply and zoning reform.

But that conversation should happen in plain language, not through a mailer that reads more like marketing copy than a legal notice.

Simply put, this postcard is an invitation in which the village board is already shaping the answers and undersigned with: RIP - Single Family Zoning.

Chip Popa

Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

MARC BLESOFF

V I E W P O I N T S

JOHN DUFFY

Ageism Awareness Day

Post-WWII housing crisis

from page 28

from page 28

Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Rush Medical Center and 10 other partners.

Sankofa is a concept rooted in Akan tradition, often represented by the idea of looking backward in order to move forward. The past isn’t simply something we leave behind as we age. The past contains knowledge that can help us build the future. Indeed, we cannot build the future if we fail to honestly embrace and learn from our past. Older people aren’t just recipients of history, we are living repositories of it.

My wife Dorie reminded me of the curb-cut effect, named after the small ramps built into sidewalks at intersections, that were fought for in the 1970s by disability rights activists so wheelchair users could cross streets without being stranded at a 6-inch wall of concrete. Once cities started building them, it became obvious the ramps helped almost everyone: parents pushing strollers, delivery workers with hand trucks, travelers dragging wheeled luggage, cyclists, elderly people with unsteady balance, kids on skateboards. A fix built for a minority turned out to smooth the path for the majority too. The curbcut effect tells us that when we remove barriers for those who face them most directly, it works better for everyone.

As rising sea levels affect all the ships, equity does not require some people to lose so that others can gain. This is not a zero-sum equation. Lifting people who have been held back lifts the whole community.

It means looking beyond individual acts of prejudice and examining the environments in which people live and work. It means asking better questions: Who has access? Who is being heard? Who is being overlooked? Whose experience is treated as the norm? What assumptions are influencing our decisions? And what can we change?

When we build systems that recognize the dignity, wisdom, agency and needs of people who have historically been overlooked and denied, we learn how to build better systems for everyone. Progress is not a competition over whose struggles matter most.

One person’s experience does not have to invalidate another person’s experience. We can acknowledge that different people face different barriers while still recognizing our shared humanity.

The question is not whether we age, but how we will design our longer lives — and whether we will create communities where all people of every age will continue to contribute, learn, lead, connect and thrive.

Aging While Black by Raymond Jetson is available at the Book Loft, 1047 Lake St. I hope to see you at the Ageism Awareness Day celebration on Friday, Oct. 9, food provided, admission free, doors open at 6 p.m.

the “undesirables” and “parasites” that jurists claimed often came with multi-unit housing (2). In the end, civic and patriotic pride prevailed and the veterans’ homes were built. Still, the prevailing foundations of exclusionary zoning remained in play. They included existing village and federal housing policy, financing practices and standard realtor protocols. Despite increasing local and national support for racial justice, the housing project unfairly proceeded with the unspoken, but always operative caveat that it was for whites only (3).

Shaping an even more exclusionary future Just as construction was started in Longfellow Park in November of ’46, Harland Bartholomew and Associates (HB&A) consultants, the leading designers of comprehensive zoning reform in the nation, presented the preliminary report on re-writing the village’s 1921 zoning ordinance. Their findings and recommendations provided a rationale that would be integral to dominant white housing interests and offer a framework for development that shaped village decisions moving forward. The report gave traction to residents trying to maintain their sense of Oak Park’s traditional character and charm. It included new comprehensive building specifications that strengthened separation of residential, commercial and industrial land use and solidified restrictive single-family zoning for most of the village. While HB&A accepted the temporary housing for veterans, their preliminary report chastised the village for multiple zoning failures that needed immediate correction. Their criticisms and proposed direction for future development were stunning (4).

Consultants pointed to scores of zoning exceptions and outright violations in neighborhoods south of South Boulevard. The report noted that the zoning appeals board had approved 65 non-conforming developments and there were 245 developments constructed outright illegally. Consultants

OAKPARK.COM

stressed the village had a pattern that “breaks down the zoning law and is not the way to protect your neighborhoods” (5). The cure HB&A proposed bordered on revolutionary.

They asserted that the village had reached the limit of its physical development and needed little if any new retail or commercial development. They stressed that Oak Park had the least undeveloped land of any municipality they had encountered. Boldly, they claimed the future for the village was “conservation, not new development.” The 1947 Zoning Ordinance that trustees finally approved aimed to restrict population growth, minimize new economic development, severely limit new multi-unit housing development and boost property values. It was a formula designed to preserve the socio-economic status quo in most parts of town and maintain racial exclusion everywhere. It looked to preserve an idyllic but morally flawed village character that zoning had always prioritized (6).

Two steps forward …

In the first years of racial integration, 25 years after HB&A modernized zoning in Oak Park, village leaders crafted the 1973 Comprehensive Plan and trustees adopted the Oak Park Diversity Pledge.

Together both asserted that an ideal future in the managed integration era required the achievement of two goals essential for a diverse and stable community — dispersing Black residents across the entire village to avoid the white perception that a particular neighborhood and its schools were “too Black” and at the same time ensuring that affordable and accessible housing was available for all income levels, ages and racial groups.

Village housing aspirations had clearly and radically changed since the late ’40s, but the limiting constraints of village zoning remained in place — creating persisting tensions over housing and economic development right through today. In 1975, villagers would seize an opportunity to realize the affordable-housing aspirations of the Comprehensive Plan and the Diversity Pledge. The project was unprecedented in size and as unique as the 1946 veterans’ undertaking, yet virtually free of opposition.

Sources for this article can be found in the online version at oakpark.com.

O B I T U A R I E S

Donald Register, 89 Presbyterian minister

Rev. Donald Bernard Register, 89, died on Aug. 16, 2026. Born on March 29, 1937, he lived a life rooted in faith, family, service, justice, and an abiding belief that one person willing to stand up could make a difference.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Willie Lee Register and Annie Wyche Register, he was the youngest of 11 children. After losing his father as a young boy, he eventually moved to Akron, Ohio, where his athletic gifts and faith began shaping his life.

During high school, doctors discovered a hole in his heart that threatened his ability to continue playing football.

He vowed that if God healed his heart, he would serve in ministry for the rest of his life.

He kept that promise.

He attended the College of Wooster, studying political science and competing in football and track. He later attended San Francisco Theological Seminary, graduating and becoming ordained in 1963.

That same year, he married E. Dolores “Dee Dee” Register, whom he met while visiting Detroit. Their marriage spanned 58 years until Dee Dee preceded him in death in 2021.

Donald began ministry at Berea Presbyterian Church in St. Louis.

During the Civil Rights Movement, he challenged racial injustice and was arrested in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1964 while participating in efforts to secure voting rights for Black citizens.

In 1971, he and his family moved to Oak Park. He served the Presbytery of Chicago and, in 1988, became pastor of Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church, serving until his retirement in 2005.

He later served as moderator of the

OAKPARK.COM

Presbytery of Chicago. His community leadership included the West Cook YMCA and the Racial Justice Now Foundation.

Donald is survived by his sons, John Franklin (Alice), Christopher Bryant (Samoria), and Mark David (Kenyatta); his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and an extended family of relatives, parishioners, colleagues, and friends.

More than six decades ago, Donald promised God a life of service. He walked by faith and not by sight.

The funeral service will be at Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church, 600 E. 35th St., Chicago, on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Donald Edwards, 84 Annually ran the perimeter of Oak Park

Donald McMahan Edwards, 84, died on Aug. 11, 2026, in Oak Park.

Born on Oct. 22, 1941, in Marshall, Kentucky, he was a true southern gentleman who leaves behind a legacy of integrity, kindness, and achievement.

As a youth, he achieved the distinguished honor of being the First Black Eagle Scout in Morristown, Tennessee. He graduated from Fisk University in Nashville in 1963, where he was both a scholar majoring in Math and Physics and an athlete, playing basketball. He joined the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Throughout his life, he maintained a close and enduring relationship with his fraternity line brother, Marvin Childress (Heidi Ellison).

He enjoyed jogging, running, biking, playing tennis and working out at a local fitness facility. His annual self-imposed challenge: running around the perimeter of Oak Park on his birthday. He and Jean were active members of the Maywood Tennis Association and faithfully supported their summer youth tennis camp. In his role as tennis coach, he introduced his grandchildren to the sport. He volunteered

O B I T U A R I E S as a tutor for elementary school students and mentored a youth serving as a “Big Brother.” He and Jean were members of First United Methodist Church of Oak Park.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Jamesena Edwards, and his older sister, Katherine (Edwards) McCloud (niece Rosie McCloud). He is survived by his wife, Jean Louise (Jones) Edwards; his brother-in-law, Charles Jones (Patricia Hardyman); his nephew Paul McCloud; and his niece Margreta (McCloud) Allen.

He was the father of Angelica (Curtiss I Cook) Edwards, and Jamie (Ali) Dixon; the grandfather of Curtiss Cook Jr., Isis Cook, Kimani Cook, Jade Cook, Harlem Cook, Osei Dixon, Omar Dixon; and his greatgrandchildren, Mutumba Cook, Finley Cook, and Ivory Cook.

He possessed a smile and a full laugh that would light up any room. He was a dapper dresser who was often seen wearing his signature bow tie if the occasion arose. A man of profound kindness and integrity, his presence will be deeply missed.

Nancy Mosley, 79 Flight attendant and instructor

Nancy Lee Mosley, 79, died on Aug. 4, 2026.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she grew up as the youngest of four children of Selena and James Mosley, with older siblings James, Patricia, and Carol. After St. Louis, she made her way to Chicago, later residing in Oak Park where her sister and nieces lived.

She spent her career in the airline industry as an international flight attendant, purser, and in management with United Airlines, reaching a milestone professional achievement of over 50 years of service. Her travels took her far, across the U.S. and destinations around the world in Asia, Europe, Australia, and beyond. She always had a memorable anecdote, funny story, or unique gift to share with family and friends back home. She not only wore the wings, but had the honor to train and officially “pin the wings” on countless

new flight attendants, including her own niece 50 years later.

Her strong faith was instilled in her by her mother Selena. Her love of life came in travel, music, movies, food, beauty, teddy bears, laughter, and fun.

Nancy is survived by her sisters, Patricia (Robey) and Carol (Alfred); her siblings, Kenneth (Patricia), Vernon (Le’Cresha), and Tammy; her nieces Kimberly, Robyn, Melanie, and Kristin (Kevin); her nephew, William (Anjanette), her grand-niece Cadence, cousins and other family members. She was preceded in death by her father James, her mother Selena, and brother James.

Services were held at Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park on Aug. 29. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Us Against Alzheimer’s at https://www.usagainstalzheimers. org, which has a Center for Brain Health Equity and African Americans Against Alzheimer’s Network.

Rosina Kenitz, 93 Longtime River Forest teacher

Rosina R. (Zia) Kenitz, 93, died in 2026. Born Rosina Cristina Ruffolo on May 1, 1933, in Marano Principato, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy, to Assunta Magliocchi and Emilio Ruffolo, she immigrated to the U.S. with her mother and brothers aboard the S.S. Rex in 1936, beginning a life defined by learning, service, and generosity.

She developed a love of decorating and cooking under the guidance of her mother. She had a remarkable collection of more than 1,000 bean recipes, affectionately earning her the title of “The Bean Queen.”

A lifelong learner, she attended Lawson Elementary School and graduated from Austin High School. Although she was the daughter of Italian immigrants and a non-native English speaker, she attended Northwestern University, and became a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She earned her Bachelor of Education and teaching certification and later returned

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

35

to Northwestern to complete her Master of Education degree.

In June 1959, she married the love of her life, a Galantuomo named William Dean Kenitz from Montello, Wisconsin. Their marriage lasted 45 years until his death due to a service-related illness.

Rosina dedicated her life to teaching in suburban elementary schools, and found her professional home at Roosevelt Elementary School in River Forest, where she taught students with learning disabilities for 33 years. Through her patience, compassion, and unwavering belief in every child’s potential, she positively influenced the lives of many students and their families over a 37-year career.

From her 30s through her 60s, she was a nationally ranked mixed doubles tennis player and organized tournaments across the country. Later, she became an accomplished bridge player, and proudly defeated an entire field of tournament players during a Holland America cruise.

Her greatest gift was the way she brought people together.

Rosina is survived by her nieces and nephews, Matthew (Lakshmi) Davis, John (Kim) Davis, and Sarah Davis, Susan, Daria, Robert, Rhonda, and Christopher (Dina) Ruffolo; her grandnieces and grandnephews, Seetha (Chad) Davis, Krishna Davis, Josephine Halporn, and Eva Halporn, Peter Robert, Christine Elaine, Isabella, and Fulvia Rose (Luigi) Ruffolo; her great-grandniece and greatgrandnephew, Maddalena and Salvatore Vittone; many beloved cousins; and countless treasured friends.

Our family extends special thanks to her cherished condominium neighbors and dear friends, Maryellen, Joyce, and Olga, whose companionship, kindness, and love enriched Rosina’s life for many years.

She had an extensive network of friends from the Scully, Higgins, and Steinbach Families. We are also grateful to all those who provided compassionate support for Rosina’s health in so many ways.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Dean Kenitz; her parents, Emilio and Assunta Ruffolo; her brothers, Peter and Fiore Ruffolo; her nephew, Emilio James Ruffolo; and her parents-inlaw, Curtis Kenitz and Ann Mason Kenitz.

Services were held on Aug. 5.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Rosina’s name to Misericordia https://www.misericordia.com/pages/giving would be greatly appreciated.

36

Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

SPORTS Fenwick rallies past OPRF Friars knock off Huskies for the fourth consecutive year

By MELVIN TATE Staff Reporter

This year’s Oak Park and River Forest High School football team believes it is improved from recent seasons. Coming into Friday night’s East Avenue Showdown against defending Class 6A champion Fenwick High School, the Huskies, who routed Rich Township 39-8 in week one, were eager to show they were ready to stand toe-to-toe – and possibly even defeat – the Friars.

In front of a sold-out and raucous orange-clad crowd at Oak Park Stadium, OPRF took it to Fenwick and even controlled play for a while. But the Friars showed their championship mettle down the stretch to secure a hard-earned 3121 victory, their fourth straight over the Huskies.

Despite the loss, OPRF head coach John Hoerster felt good about his team’s effort, and he also appreciated the energy the fans brought.

“Can’t beat it. Greatest atmosphere in the state,” he said. “Great fans, great students, great band, they came out. We fought hard and I was so darn proud of our kids. They played for four quarters and left it all out there.”

Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia sensed the Huskies would bring their best effort, and he was right.

“We know it doesn’t matter what happens the rest of the season or what anyone’s record is, this is a big game for us,” he said. “We’ve had some success against (OPRF) the past couple of years, so we knew that they’d have an extra big chip on their shoulders.”

OPRF (1-1) took the opening kickoff and moved into Fenwick territory, but eventually punted. On the Friars’ first possession, Jake Thies went to work with runs of 24 and 53 yards respectively that set up his 3-yard score giving Fenwick (2-0) a 7-0 lead at the 7:49 mark of the first quarter.

“It was a four-quarter battle and I’m

STEVE JOHNSTON

Fenwick’s Jake Thies (8) follows his blocks and picks up yards against OPRF during the annual cross town game, Aug. 28, in Oak Park. thinking I’ve got to make a play for my team,” said Thies, who finished the night with 188 yards and two scores on 17 carries. “The o-line put me in position to make plays and I know I’ve got to capitalize when I’m put in that position.”

OPRF responded on the next drive and marched to the Fenwick 5, but a bad snap on first and goal led to a 13-yard loss, then Liam Brown’s pass was intercepted by Thies, who returned it 42 yards.

J.P. Bordeaux-Walsh’s 33-yard field goal with 5:09 left in the half gave Fenwick a 10-0 lead. But OPRF seized momentum with two scores in the final 100 seconds of the half.

First, Liam Smith (13 carries, 44 yards) went in from a yard out to give the Huskies their first points against Fenwick since 2023. On the ensuing possession, Niko Vielehr picked off a pass from Myles Hill and raced 45 yards to the Friars’ 5 with :08 left.

Following an incompletion, Brown (19of-37, 186 yards) connected with Cameron Minish-Murray (5 receptions, 44 yards) for a 5-yard touchdown with :01 left, giving OPRF a 14-10 halftime lead and sending the Dog Pound student section into a state of bedlam.

“Momentum’s a great thing and Niko made an unbelievable play at the end of the

half. It swung things open for us,” Hoerster said. “We felt we were in good position.”

Fenwick took the second-half kickoff, and Thies again came up with a big play.

His 32-yard burst set up Rocco Nero’s 4-yard score that regained the lead for the Friars, 17-14.

OPRF didn’t back down and quickly moved downfield. Brown’s 22-yard screen pass to Norlan Davis set up Smith’s second TD run, this one from 2 yards out, which put the Huskies back ahead 21-17.

But Thies dashed down the right side for a 37-yard score with 1:14 left in the third quarter to push Fenwick back in front 24-21. After the teams exchanged multiple defensive stops in the fourth quarter, Nero broke off left tackle for a 30yard score with 3:55 remaining that gave the Friars breathing room.

“Honestly, I don’t remember much (about the clinching touchdown),” said Nero, who finished with 39 yards on 5 carries. “I just know the o-line made a great gap, I hit the hole, and I just blanked from there. Shout-out to the boys in front of me, I can’t do anything without them.”

Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to Fenwick’s 17 to keep OPRF alive.

The Huskies got to the 2-yard line, but the Friars dropped Brown for a loss on 4th and goal with :44 left to seal the victory.

While happy with winning, Battaglia knows there’s plenty to work on.

“A lot of the challenge is ourselves and how we play and how we practice. It wasn’t our cleanest week of practice and it showed up tonight.”

Conversely, Hoerster is encouraged by OPRF’s good season start.

“We did some nice things and had some nice plays,” Hoerster said. “I told the kids they showed themselves a lot; they know what they can do now.”

Fenwick has its home opener at Triton College, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., versus DePaul Prep, while OPRF visits Glenbard West in its West Suburban Conference Silver Division opener, Sept. 5, at 1:30 p.m.

S P O R T S

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

37

Fenwick, OPRF soccer use World Cup for team bonding Friars, Huskies plan to build big on solid 2025 campaigns

By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter

To get a sense of the unity this fall of the Fenwick and OPRF boys soccer teams, you have to go back to the World Cup in June and July. Both teams used the United States’ performance in the global tournament as a way to get to know each other and build cohesiveness.

Fenwick traveled to Bettendorf, Iowa for a camp and, in addition to activities like bowling and playing against Herscher and York, the Friars took in the U.S. second group-stage game, a 2-0 win over Australia.

“It was pretty fun,” senior forward/ midfielder Luke Menacho said, “a good chance to get to know the new players on the team.”

OPRF held their own camp at home, and the Huskies’ players got together for World Cup watch parties. A good time was had by all, according to senior forward Noah Barnett.

“Great to be together,” Barnett said. “I think our coach did a good job organizing the team.”

And as far as the Americans’ performance? They’re still a step behind Europe and South America, but the gap is starting to close.

“I think we did a good job and we’re starting to evolve,” he said.

Fenwick The Friars went 14-6-1 a year ago under second-year coach Shannon Seymour, who is bullish about his club building on that mark this fall.

But that schedule … wow. Fenwick will contend in its Chicago Catholic League division with Notre Dame, Loyola, Nazareth, Providence, St. Ignatius, Saint Viator and DePaul Prep.

“It’s going to be a step above last year,” Seymour said. “Strength of schedule will be tough. I think teams may have taken us a little lightly (last year), given the year before we only had two wins. So there is a little more of a target on our back.”

The Friars, who play a 4-5-1 formation, will be led by Menacho and junior midfielder Alex Krasson, both of whom exuded confidence as the season got underway.

“Our mentality is, what happened last year doesn’t matter,” Menacho said. “We have to renew our mindset. A clean slate is a big deal. We haven’t done anything yet.”

Krasson added that his team is already showing its mettle by practicing at 7 a.m. on a Sunday.

“Other teams aren’t doing that,” he said.

“We’ve been working really hard over the summer and trying to outwork the other teams.”

In addition to Menacho and Krasson, Fenwick will be tough up top with senior midfielder Beckett Javell, who played well

in a supersectional loss to eventual state champion De La Salle. Sophomore forward/midfielder Emiliano Pereda will also help.

While the goalkeeper position is “up for grabs” after the departure of the graduated Dom Ballarin, Seymour said, the back line will be solid, with senior defender Kevin Jancewicz and junior defender Shane Kupiec, a converted midfielder.

Junior defender Estaban Jimenez should step into the limelight this fall.

“Estaban is a very physical specimen,” Seymour said. “He plays volleyball and basketball. He’s 6-foot-3 and will bring a dominant presence in the aerial game.”

OPRF The unique thing about the Huskies is their 25 players are all seniors and juniors – no freshmen or sophomores, with 13 returnees from a 19-3 team a year ago that lost in a sectional final to Lane Tech.

In addition to a breakneck West Suburban Silver schedule, the nonconference schedule is tough as well, with the likes of Maine West, Taft, St. Laurence … and Fenwick on Oct. 3.

“It will force us to grow, play faster, play smarter and play tougher,” said interim coach Dave Bernthal, who is “keeping the seat warm” for head coach Jason Fried, who is in Croatia with his family. “Hopefully without too many setbacks along the

way, we’ll find the holes and figure out how to fix them.”

Leadership will come from the three senior captains – Barnett, senior forward Cole Grining, and senior defender Johnny Natale. Grining said the conference, with Lyons, York, Hinsdale Central and others, will be a huge test.

“No conference game is a given,” he said.

“It’s being mentally prepared. It’s chippy.

It’s always a war, never 100% friendly. We want the ball. If we don’t have the ball, we’re suffering.”

Senior striker Joaquin Carlstom-Diega was the team’s second-leading scorer last year and Bernthal said, “When we can get the ball to him, we’re in good shape.”

Goalkeeper will be a dual affair with seniors Liam O’Shea and Kade Blecha. As for who will get the lion’s share of the minutes, Bernthal said he’ll see how it plays out. Both are shot-stoppers.

Defensively, senior Tomas Ibanez is the personification of lockdown and can be an offensive threat as well. Ditto for Jack Trask, a senior defensive midfielder with good field vision. Midfielder Chris Dennean’s task will be maintaining possession.

And what of OPRF’s limelight guy, the player that will step into a larger role this fall?

“I can’t wait to find out who he is,” Bernthal said. “I’m counting on all of them to step up. Let’s hope I have a long list by the end of the season.”

OPRF boys cross country hopes to go distance Motivated Huskies are fueled by depth

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Senior Nick Houghton and his Oak Park and River Forest High School boys cross country teammates came ever so close to the Class 3A state meet as a group.

The Huskies finished eighth at the Lake Park Sectional, one place from the sectional’s last state-advancing team. Additionally, the 35th-place Houghton missed being the 10th and last individual state qualifier by one

place and one-tenth of a second over 3.0 miles.

“That was a motivating factor for him all track season and the summer. He’s got a lot of confidence because of the training he’s doing,” OPRF coach Chris Baldwin said. “(As a group) they’ve set pretty high goals for themselves.

Missing state was pretty heartbreaking.”

The Huskies seek their fourth team state berth in the past five seasons with three sectional lineup returnees – Houghton, senior Connor Harmon and junior Gus Singer.

Graduated Yonni Rafter was the lone indi-

vidual state qualifier (103rd in 3A).

Seniors Ryan Wangerow, Gavin Furrow, Matteo Drummer, Ryan Solberg and Charlie Stone also return. Other possible contributors include juniors Finn Derhammer, Aaron Jones, Emmett Washburn and Aydin Curtis and sophomores Gabe Lynch and Santos Martinez. “(One team strength is) just their love for each other, their camaraderie. Our top 20 kids ran a lot of miles together (this summer). I think they sacrificed for each other tremendously,” Baldwin said. “It always comes down

to the fifth guy (in competition), but I really feel good about our No. 1 to 15 depth. I feel like our No. 1 runner could be a different guy every couple of meets.”

A 2024 state competitor (193rd), Harmon overcame shin splints at the start of last season. Wangerow also was injured but had a solid track season. “(This summer collectively was) the most volume they’ve ever run in their lives. We’re looking forward to a successful season,” Baldwin said.

38 Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026 HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI • Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.

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Wednesday Journal, September 2, 2026

Luxury Vinyl Plank

Flooring Sale

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