WednesdayJournal_111225 by Wednesday Journal

J URNAL

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The then president of the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education used to brag about how much money the district left in the pockets of taxpayers by not levying the

maximum allowable property tax.

Now those days lauded by Tom Cofsky appear to be over. With the district spending $44.2 million from its reserves for the Project 2 construction project and borrowing another $45.3 million in debt certificates that must be paid back from the school’s operating funds going forward,

OPRF is entering a new financial world.

By a vote of 5-2 on Nov. 6, the OPRF school board gave tentative approval to the maximum allowable levy for this year. At the same time, it decided to use a relatively new state law that allows

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s board of trustees will vote on if it will direct the village’s Citizen’s Police Oversight Committee to investigate the use of pepper balls during the multi-agency police response to downtown Oak Park on Halloween night.

PEPPER BALL on page 22

Cognitive decline can steal the past, but it doesn’t have to steal the future. Pioneered to curb the effects of cognitive decline, Circle of Friends® is a unique, evidence-based program for building brain fitness. It was developed by Belmont Village in collaboration with the nation’s top universities and healthcare institutions — and it works. Residents enjoy a rich, therapeutic program of physical and mental activities designed to maintain brain function and build self-esteem.

With SNAP in limbo, Sugar Beet o ers added discounts

Now 10 years in business, grocery co -op celebrates caring values

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

The Sugar Beet Food Co-op has been welcoming shoppers through the doors at 812 Madison St. in Oak Park for 10 years. In these food security uncertain times, the store is doubling down on a commitment to filling grocery bags.

“When our neighbors are hurting, we want to help them,” Johnny Mathias, vice president of the board, said. “In this moment the federal gover nment is failing our communities and leaving those in most need to fend for themselves.”

For years, Sugar Beet has offered a 10% discount to shoppers who self-identify as needing assistance buying food. Now, the store is doubling that discount to 20% on all regularly priced items

“It’s a larger issue beyond recent SNAP issues, but that was the breaking point,” said Katie Fountain, the store’s general manager. “We’re living our mission to build community through food and directly responding to what our neighbors need right now.”

To receive the discount, shoppers do not have to give any proof of eligibility. They just need to say they want help. For clarity, Sugar Beet specifically invites people who participate in programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, school breakfast or lunch programs, as well as veterans, those living with a disability, or who are experiencing temporary furloughs or job loss to sign up for the program.

Katie Fountain, Sugar Beet general manager

people who live in Oak Park. If you visit the store, we are here for the community for what they need beyond just, soup and bread, things on the shelves.”

If customers have a Link card, they can also get a voucher for an additional $10 of fresh produce per day. Vouchers like these are usually offered at far mers markets, but since the store stocks locally grown produce, they can offer the vouchers as well.

“That can really extend people’s buying power in the store,” Fountain said.

“The Sugar Beet is not just a business. It’s owned by over 3,000 folks in the community,” Mathias said of the co-op structure. “The [federal] gover nment is attacking our communities and attacking the values of

Anyone can shop at The Sugar Beet, not just owners.

“Oak Park has a lot of wealthy people, but we’re also a very diverse community,” Fountain said. “It’s important that anyone feels like they could just come in here.”

In November customers can round up to the next dollar at the register with funds donated to Beyond Hunger. Dedication to more than what is available for purchase is why Fountain believes the business has thrived

“The Sugar Beet has been nimble enough and changed to be able to survive the marketplace,” Fountain said. “It’s a totally different animal than it was 10 years ago. A lot more competition in the area now and we’re still doing well. We’re still able to be profitable.”

Their smaller size allows local and smaller producers to get their products in front of

WEDNESD AY JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Senior Audience Manager Stac y Coleman

Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

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

Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

buyers

“Get sauce from someone in Berwyn or a chili crisp from one of your neighbors,” Mathias said. “One of the things I love is you can buy local cleaning products from a Chicago brand that are like safe and sustainable cleaning products.”

But new challenges are afoot as Pete’s Fresh Market puts the finishing touches on its new store, one block away on Madison Street.

“There’s going to be a lot of visibility coming in the Madison corridor,” Fountain said. “But I think we’ll have enough different options and a different vibe and our commitment to community.”

(Editor’s note: Rise Sanders-Weir is among the more than 3,000 local people who own a share of Sugar Beet.)

Website: sugarbeet.coop

Address: 812 Madison St., Oak Park Hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

e Buzz is back in Laura Maychruk’s hands

She’s not reopening the Ar ts District spot but

is seek ing

new, local operators

By DAN HALEY Interim Editor

The Buzz Café will not be reopening. But Laura Maychruk and two partners have repurchased the Arts District building, which long housed the well-loved neighborhood spot, with the goal of controlling its future as a local restaurant.

Maychruk, her husband Andrew and Mark Finger, a long-time Arts District landlord, closed on the property Nov. 7. They purchased the two-story building at 905 S. Lombard Ave. at a discount from what they sold it for just two years ago. In August 2023, Forest Park-based Kribi Coffee made Maychruk an offer for the busi-

ness and the building, and she accepted.

After acknowledging on social media early this fall that the Buzz had lost its buzz under its ownership, Kribi announced it would close the eatery on Oct. 18. Kribi’s owners listed the property with a national real estate company specializing in restaurant properties.

Maychruk, who said she could “tell things were not going well” at the Buzz, said she told her husband that they should buy the business back if it closed in order to control its future use

Maychruk has focused on building a residential real estate business in recent years. It is housed in a building just south of the Buzz. She remains president of the Oak Park Arts District on Harrison Street. And it is that involvement that led her to decide to repurchase the restaurant building.

“We’ve grown the district into a beautiful place, and I want to maintain that,” she said. Doing well by the district “was the biggest driving force” in buying back the Buzz site

SIMPLE GIFTS

Songs of Strength, Hope & Courage

Maychruk is adamant she is not reopening the café. “I’m 100% not opening the Buzz,” she said.Instead, the trio of owners is actively seeking a local operator with a fresh idea to bring new life to the storefront. Their preference is that it remains a breakfast and lunch spot with a focus on high-end food offerings.

Maychruk said she already has two let-

ters of interest from prospective local buyers and will be talking with others this week. She has also reached out to a couple of eateries in Chicago she hopes might consider a second location in the Arts District.

“I’m not a person who lets moss grow under their feet,” she said, expressing confidence a new venture could be signed on within a couple of weeks or months.

Tickets: $25

Seniors: $20

Students: $20

Group Tickets: $22

Tickets at the Door: $30

Breast Cancer Survivors: $20

SATURDAY

November 15 • 7:30pm

Glenview Community Church

1000 Elm Street, Glenview

SUNDAY

November 16 • 4:00pm

Pilgrim Congregational Church

460 Lake Street, Oak Park

Laura Maychruk at Buzz Café in 2019.

ICE IN THE VILLAGES

Oak Park board unanimously passes ‘ICE Free Zone’ ordinance

Oak Park ordinance bans federal immigration agents from using village proper ty

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s strateg y for countering federal immigration enforcement ef for ts focused on the re gion is continuing to take shape.

Oak Park village board voted unanimously to pass an “ICE free zone” ordinance banning federal immigration agents from using village property as a location for staging or processing at the board’s meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4. Last month, board members had a discussion about developing the ordinance, which is based on legislation passed recently in Chicago, Evanston, Cook County, Lake County and other area communities in recent weeks.

“This reminds me of why we do this work,” said Trustee Chibuike Enyia. “This is not an easy time, and it’s not going to be over anytime soon.”

The ordinance comes following weeks of ICE activity in Oak Park cluding the arrest of a laborer an Oak Park mentary school the morning of Oct. 27. The village of Oak Park canceled its annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration last month, and the Oak Park Public Library cancelled its Día de Muertos event over concerns the events would attract ICE attention.

and pamphlets with information on immigrants’ rights to the meeting. He asked residents in attendance to take home the kits, to blow the whistles if they see ICE or Broder Patrol agents in the community and to film any encounters they see.

“Together, we keep us saf Straw said.

The federal government says it arrested more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants in the months since it started so-called Operation Midw Blitz operations targeting Chicagoland. These federal operations have also led to chaotic scenes across the re gion, a deluge of federal court cases and alle tions that federal agents are illegally violating residents’ rights and racially profiling Latino people.

The newly passed ordinance builds an existing immigration sanctuary ordinance that bars village employees from aiding federal imgration investi tions.

“We want to make sure that we have maximum leverage to protect the spaces we do control,” said Trustee Derek Eder.

Federal criminal charges have also been brought against several Oak Parkers following encounters with immigration agents at local protests, including Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw who was indicted last week on federal conspiracy charges in connection with a protest at ICE’s Broadview detention facility in September. Straw brought kits containing whistles

T he legislation moved quickly after Eder and Trustee Jenna Leving Jacobson put a discussion about the strateg y on the agenda for the board’s final October meeting with the hope that it would lead to the ordinance being on the books after Nov. 4.

“We brought this up very last minute

before the last meeting, and it was turned around with care and efficiency,” Leving cobson said. “I just appreciate everyone’s attention to wh an ever-escalating crisis.”

Finalizing Oak Park’s “ICE free zone” ban was the lone agenda item for the village board’s meeting on Tuesd That night’s meeting was one point scheduled to center around a “Truth in Taxation” hearing and a study session for the 2026 village budget, but those matters are now set to be discussed at No v. 11’s board meeting, according to village documents.

The Oak Park Township

its own ordinance banning federal immigration officers from township-owned propty at its meeting Oct. 28.

“Ensuring that all residents feel safe and respected when accessing Township services is fundamental to our mission,” wnship Supervisor Tim Thomas in a statement about the ordinance. “Recent increases in federal immigration enforcement in and surrounding Oak Park has raised concerns about safety, trust and accessibility. This resolution aims to preserve community trust and safeguard access to vital Township programs and services.”

board also voted

TODD BANNOR

Masked ICE agents outside the boarded up Br oadv iew ICE Detention Center in Sept.

DEREK EDER

JENNA LEVING JACOBSON

BRIAN STRAW

CHIBUIKE ENYIA

ICE IN THE VILLAGES

Oak Park trustee seeks donations for legal defense

Other Oak Park trustees speak in support of Straw after he was indicted on federal charges for Broadview protest

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park Village Trustee Brian Straw is seeking donations to help fund his legal defense after he was indicted on federal conspiracy charges alongside several other local political figures in connection with a protest at the Broadview ICE facility in September.

hands against the v ehicle while remaining directly in the path of the vehicle, hindering and impeding Agent A and the vehicle from proceeding into the (Broadview Facility),” federal prosecutors wrote in the indictment.

Straw was one of six indicted on conspiracy to impede the work of a federal law enforcement officer, according to U.S. Northern District of Illinois court documents filed last month. He took to social media Wednesday to ask supporters to donate to his legal defense.

“Please consider standing with me,” Straw said in his post. “Together, we can show our neighbors, friends, and children that we have the courage to do what is right,” Straw said. “Like millions of Americans, I spoke up because remaining silent in the face of injustice is not an option. It appears the federal government targeted public officials like me to discourage me — and all of us — from speaking out against the actions of this administration that are separating families and creating fear in our communities. I am fighting these unjust charges, but I cannot do it alone. I need your help: Please consider donating to suppor t my le gal defense.”

The fundraiser is being administered through ActBlue, a fundraising platform for left-leaning political candidates and causes.

The indictment alleges that Straw and his co-defendants were among a crowd of protestors who blocked, pushed against and banged on a vehicle being driven by a federal officer into ICE’s Broadview detention facility the morning of Sept. 26.

“It was further part of the conspiracy that Straw joined the crowd at the front of the Government Vehicle, and with his hands on the hood braced his body and

Straw’s co-defendants include Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh — whose name is misspelled several times in the document — a 26-year-old journalist-turned congressional hopeful who’s among the leading candidates to be Illinois’ next 9th District U.S. Re presentative. Others charged in the indictment are Cook County Board candidate Catherine “Cat” Shar p, 45th ward Democratic committeeman Michael Rabbit and two other protestors named Joselyn Walsh and Andre Martin.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge April Perry. The first hearing in the case is expected for Nov. 12.

Hours before Straw posted his appeal to supporters, all of his colleagues at the village board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4 took time to speak out in support of him after the board voted to establish a new “ICE free zone” ordinance.

“These are bogus charges. I have confidence you’ll beat them,” said Trustee Derek Eder. “It was a political attack, a political attack against people using their first amendment rights and standing up against fascism.”

Straw and his co-defendants also received a letter of support signed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and more than 100 other Illinois politicians, which Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman read out in its entirety after thanking Straw in her own words.

“We are proud of the work you’ve been doing. We are proud of your leadership in the community,” Scaman said. “You know that your colleagues care about you, and I want to make sure that that’s known and understood.”

ICE IN THE VILLAGES

Group of ‘suburban moms’ arrested a er Broadview ICE sit-in

Oak Park women among those charged with disorderly conduct

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

A group of more than a dozen women from Chicago’s near west suburbs were arrested Friday after staging a sit-in protest in the driveway of ICE’s Broadview detention facility

The group of “suburban moms,” several repor tedly from Oak Park, were arrested after they hopped barricades and sat down in a circle together in the middle of the Beach Street driveway leading into the federal facility. The women were arrested by Cook County Sherif f’s deputies less than a minute later, according to the sherif f’s office.

The agency said that 15 women ages 23 to 59 were arrested in total, with all of them now facing charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction.

The protestors had set out “to demand an end to the unjust separation of families, as well as the campaign of chaos and intimidation by federal agents in the Chicago area,” according to a statement from protest org anizers provided to Wednesday Journal.

“We have all seen the power of parents connecting together to care for everyone’s children and to keep each other safe. We know that community is the key to holding our government agencies accountable for their actions,” said Nikki Kidd, one of

the mothers who participated in the protest. “We cannot continue to let our government traumatize children, neighbors, teachers, laborers, and anyone else in our community who is now on constant high alert. If they will drag a teacher out of a daycare, what is next?”

The group includes some of the latest Oak Park residents to be arrested at protests at the facility, which was the subject of several court orders issued by a federal judge on Wednesday concerning the reported inhumane treatment of detainees. Oak Park Village Trustee Brian Straw will appear in court Nov. 12 on federal charges related to a protest at the detention facility in September.

Sponsored Content

AA protester makes a heart using her hands during a demonstration at the ICE detention facility in Broadv iew, Oct. 10.

Your Generosity Fuels Possibility

by Carrie Summy, president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

s we close out the year, one truth is unmistakable: strong communities don’t happen by accident. ey are built with intention, care, trust, and shared responsibility. In a time when the needs of our neighbors continue to grow, and local organizations nd themselves needing to do more with less, we must get creative. We must work together. And we must be generous with our time, our compassion, and our support.

At the Oak Park–River Forest Community Foundation, we witness every day how philanthropy fuels possibility. A scholarship keeps a student moving toward a dream. A trusted volunteer helps a family secure housing.

A multi-year grant gives a small organization the strength to grow instead of just survive. Whether the spark is a $150 gi or a brand new initiative to honor a loved one, each act of generosity strengthens our collective resilience.

is committed to meeting this moment, by investing in organizational strength, by supporting collaboration and innovation, and by bringing people together to solve our most pressing local challenges. When residents, funders, business, civic and community leaders all row in the same direction, lasting impact follows.

vibrant, a place of belonging, and full of joy and possibility. And if you want to deepen that impact, we are here to help.

To learn more or to make a year-end gi , visit oprfcf.org.

Our nonpro t partners are facing incredible pressures. e Foundation

As you consider your year-end giving, we encourage you to focus locally, this year in particular. Be generous. Support the organizations that make this region

e Foundation is committed to meeting this moment, by investing in organizational strength, by supporting collaboration and innovation, and by bringing people together to solve our most pressing local challenges.

Oak Park man pleads guilty 2022 murder of nursing studen

Richard Chavez was sentenced to 27 years in prison for killing 20-year-

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

An Oak Park man pleaded guilty to the murder of a 20-year-old Forest View woman last week, now nearly four years after his initial arrest.

Richard Chavez, 28, pleaded guilty to charges that included first-de gree murder for the shocking January 2022 killing of Charisma Ehresman, a nursing student at Triton Colle ge found dead in the back seat her car in the 5900 block of West Iowa Street in Chicago. Chavez changed his plea to guilty on Monday, Nov. 3, the day before his trial was set to begin.

His plea included a sentence of 27 years in state prison, with time-served credit for the years he’s spent in Cook County cus-

tody, according to court records.

Chave z was arrested on Feb. 18, 2022, a few weeks after Ehresman’s death had been ruled a homicide by strangulation and smothering. The case had dragged on for years, as Chavez’ attorneys had argued that he was not properly Mirandized before giving an interview to investigators shortly after Ehresman went missing Investigators had learned that Chavez was the last person she called with her cell phone and that his residence in the 600 block of Maple Avenue in Oak Park was the last location her cell phone had pinged. The last time Ehresman was seen alive was in doorbell camera footage from a condo complex neighbor showing Ehresman and Chave z walking to his home, according to court records.

The doorbell camera ne resman leaving the complex, according to court records.

Investi ly after Ehresman had been ing, related to a DUI tigators that he had li little ing to court records. He told investigators that they had met on social media and that she must have left his home after he “passed out” that night. Investigators noted that he had fresh wounds on his hands during the interview, which he said were from a weeks-old bar fight that he could not provide details about, according to cour t records. Investigators believe that Chavez had

driven Ehresman’s car from where it was parked on the street into his condo complex’s garage and then out of Oak Park before abandoning the vehicle in Chicago with her body inside, her face covered by a jacket, according to court records. Chave z will appear in court for the final time in the case on Jan. 8.

2025 Fall leaf collection program returns in late October

The Village’s fall leaf collection program is scheduled for Oct. 27 – Dec. 5, with six pickups scheduled for each section of Oak Park. For the second consecutive year, residents will not place leaves directly into the street. Instead, they can choose from a variety of leaf collection options introduced in 2024 to improve safety and help the environment:

• Place leaves in a bag or bin...Fallen leaves can be placed in yard waste bags and/or rigid containers and left in the parkway as close to the curb as possible for pickup. Six pickups are planned for each section of the Village on the scheduled pickup dates indicated on the map. Green yard waste stickers are NOT required during the six-week Fall Leaf Collection Program, and residents may put out an unlimited number of bags and/or rigid containers in the parkway on their designated collection day. The Village’s waste hauler Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will transport the leaves to a compost facility.

• Compost leaves… Residents who participate in the Village’s CompostAble program can discard leaves in their 96-gallon gray organics cart along with food scraps and other yard waste throughout the year. Find more information about the program and sign up to participate at www.oak-park.us/compost.

• Mulch the leaves…Oak Park residents are encouraged to consider mulching leaves with a mower and/or leaving them on the lawn or in garden beds to promote soil health. This option offers an opportunity to support regional biodiversity and save money

on fertilizer by allowing leaf litter to decompose naturally. It also aligns with the Village’s Climate Ready Oak Park plan.

Be sure to remind landscapers: Residents who utilize landscape services are asked to remind their landscaper that fallen leaves should no longer be placed in the street but should instead be mulched, placed in yard waste bags or hauled away. A handout with information about the leaf collection process in both English and Spanish is available at www.oak-park.us/leafcollection.

Leaf collection assistance available: The Village is coordinating an online portal where Oak Parkers can request leaf collection assistance. Visit www.oak-park.us/leafcollection and fill out the online form under the leaf collection assistance section to be connected with volunteer groups raking leaves throughout the community. The page also includes a link to a sign-up form for anyone interested in volunteering to rake leaves.

Free leaf collection bags…Free leaf collection bags are available while supplies last for residents to pick up during regular business hours Monday through Friday at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. and the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd.

For more information call (708) 358.5700

OPPD releases 2026 budget recommendation

Oak

Park police ask for more than $1M increase for rising salaries

and recruitment push

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Police Department has submitted its recommended budget for 2026 to the village’s finance committee

The police are seeking a budget increase of more than $1.125 million for next year as the department anticipates officer raises, depa mental pension contribution increases, a continued recruiting drive and other initiative

The OPPD is one of seve Oak Park departments set to present its recommended 2026 budget at the Oak Park financ committee meeting on Nov. as the village is now just weeks away from finalizing next year spending plan.

In total, the OPPD is asking for a 2026 operating budget of $30,159,380. The increase ov last year is driven primarily ries and benefits increases.

partment’s seen in recent years, with highs in both new hires and departures among sworn officers. T he department hired 19 new officers but lost 20 to either retirement or resignation in 2024, according to the re port

The department is now asking for a $40,000 increase to its budget for background checks in anticipation of increased hiring next year, according to the department’s budget proposal.

In light of the personnel spending increases, the department plans to spend a little less on supplies next year, with the OPPD set to accept a budget decrease of $9,709 on material and supplies. The department’s budget request for equipment and software is identical to the $71,650 that was approved last year, according to the budget proposal. In addition to these requests, the OPPD will factor into the village’s 2026 budget in one more major way as the village looks to commit to a path toward building a standalone police station at a special meeting later this month.

The OPPD’s pension contribution is increasing by $637,159 next year, as the department’s fringe benefits funding goes up by more than $855,000. Personnel compensation is set to go up by $261,483, as laid out in the police department’s collective bargaining agreement.

Other spending increases are tied to the department’s ongoing push to address its staffing crunch, an issue which has been a persistent challenge for the department in recent years.

Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson told Wednesday Journal in April that the department has 86 sworn officers with the goal of g etting to 116 by “mid 2026.” In 2019, the department had 109 sworn officers.

According to the police department’s annual re port for 2025, last year brought the greatest amount of turnover the de-

The special meeting is planned for Thursday, Nov. 20, p.m., according to the “tenboard meeting calendar published as part of the agenda for Oct. 14’s village board meeting.

Discussions on the current shape of the construction project, which is expected to top out at a cost of more than $100 million, have been delayed several times in recent months The project is expected to deliver the Oak Park Police Department a new standalone police station — most likely on the patch of grass south of village hall’s parking lot — and include extensive renovations to the fivedecades-old village hall building.

The police depar tment now operates out of village hall’s basement, a space considered too small and outdated to suit the needs of a modern village police department. The village has been working to find a path to a new base of operations for the department since at least 2015, when it commissioned a property condition assessment on village hall.

SHATONYA JOHNSON

GOP 7th Congress candidate from Kane County has petitions challenged

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

An 87-year-old Kane County man seeking to run in the March 17 Re publican primary for the 7th Cong ressional district is facing a for mal challenge to his nominating petitions

linois State Board of Elections to obtain a copy of the objection.

Chad Koppie, who lost to Danny K. Davis in the November 2024 g eneral election, filed approximately 500 petition signatures with the Illinois State Board of Elections last week. On Nov. 10, an individual named Omari J. Davis filed an objection to those petitions

According to the sworn affidavits Koppie signed on all 53 of his nominating petition sheets, he personally circulated all 53 sheets and gathered some 500 signatures from voters with addresses 40 or more miles from his rural Kane County home.

Illinois law does not require a candidate for Cong ress to live in the Cong ressional district he seeks to re present, only to be a resident of the state for at least one year

A copy of Davis’s written objection was not immediately available. Growing Community Media is filing a FOIA with the Il-

While it’s not clear on what grounds Davis is objecting to Ko ppie ’s p etitions, a review of the 53 p etition sheets Ko ppie submitted to the ISBE raises some q uestions. Unli ke ever y other numbered petition sheet Ko ppie submitted, wh ich shows firm, steady and neat handw riting throughout the affidavit section, sheet number 49 features a ve ry shak y, wo bbly printing of “Chad Ko ppie.” T he difference is notable, and the handw riting in sheet number 49 is the only printing similar to Ko ppie ’s signature on all 53 petition af fidavit s. Under I llinois election law, no other person other than that signer may le g ally circulate the sheet. By signing as a circulator, the signer attests that all re gistered voters signed the sheet in his or her presenc e.

Ko ppie has a unique electoral histor y. He is one of a small number of p eople who have r un and lost in races for two different C ong ressional districts in the same year.

In 2022, Koppie finished last in the seven candidate Re publican primary for the 8th Cong ressional district with 4,886 votes. Candidates who lose in a primary are prohibited from r unning in the g eneral election for any other established political party. So that November, Koppie ran in the 7th Cong ressional g eneral election as a write in candidate, getting 83 votes

In 2022 Koppie said in a candidate questionnaire that his main goal, “is trying to ban abor tion in every part of the U.S., since it’s murder. I also want to cut tax rates and spending.”

“I’m the only candidate in the race,” Koppie said, “who says that ICE should try to ar rest and deport all ille g al aliens.”

CHAD KOPPIE

2026 PRIMARY

OP Township Supervisor omas challenges Welch for Democratic committeeman

Harmon does not le nominating papers

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch will face an Oak Park resident for the 7th Democratic State Central Committeeman seat next March.

But that Oak Park resident will not be Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. Instead, it will be Oak Park Township Supervisor Tim Thomas, who at the deadline on Nov. 3 filed nominating petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections. The election will be held March 17.

compelling.

“I’m in this fight to win. I expect a spirited and good election,” he said in an interview last Thursday.

identified himself as a member of Chicago Democratic Socialist of America in a previous candidate questionnaire.

Thomas filed just over 180 nominating signatures, more than the minimum 100 signatures required, but far less than Welch, who submitted 91 petition sheets, which had 20 signatures each.

Among the signatures on Thomas’s petitions are those of La Shawn K. Ford, an ally elch, Richard Boykin and Felix Tello, hom are running for Congress in the 7th District. 78th House Re p. Camille Lilly signed a Thomas petition, as did local figure Adekunle Onayemi, who also circulated a petition sheet.

Steps for Fall Day

Autumn brings crisp air and colorful leaves — but also new safety risks. A few simple steps can help keep you and your loved ones safe at home:

Clear outdoor paths: Sweep or rake wet leaves from steps, driveways, and walkways to prevent slipping.

Meanwhile, Harmon (D-39) did not file petitions. That avoids what would have been a public clash between two of the three most powerful Democrats in the state. Welch announced months ago that he was running for the party office and had since been diligently pursuing endorsements and lining up support around the district.

Without mentioning Welch, Harmon told the Chicago Sun-Times that he was “comfortable that the slate of central committee candidates across the state can handle the politics and confident that [Party Chair] Lisa Hernandez will continue to lead a vibrant statewide Democratic Party.”

Thomas said Harmon’s absence doesn’t mean the race for outgoing U.S. Re p. Danny K. Davis’s seat on the committee won’t be

In August 2024, Thomas was appointed as the new Township Supervisor by the Oak Park Township Board of Trustees, following the death of Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan. Thomas had served as a township trustee since May 2021.

The supervisor is the chief executive officer of the township, responsible for overseeing the administration of township services, managing the budget, and re presenting the township in various capacities.

Thomas for merly served as assistant director at UAW International, focusing on political strategy and organizing within the UAW National Political CAP Department. He previously worked at Ford Motor Co. for more than 10 years. He has served as vice president of SEIU HCII and has

Thomas has support among Oak Park’s politically progressive community, including Thomas petition circulator Colin BirdMartinez, an Oak Park Library trustee, and library board colleague Mika Yamamoto.

Catherine Readling was Thomas’s campaign chairman when he ran for Oak Park Village Trustee in 2019. She said she has “a great deal of trust in his leadership.”

“For many years he’s demonstrated an outstanding dedication to the community,” she said. “He’s incredibly reliable as a friend and he has a good strategic analysis of what’s necessary in this moment.”

Asked what’s needed in this moment, Readling said, “We need to eng age at every level of government.” Readling said that while she doesn’t “have a specific problem

See DEMOCRATIC SEAT on pa ge 14

Eight 7th Congressional hopefuls face ballot challenges

A total of eight announced candidates for the 7th Congressional seat being vacated by the retiring Danny K. Davis — six Democrats and two Re publicans — are facing for mal objections to their nominating petitions.

Besides the challenge by Omari J. Davis to Re publican Chad Koppie’s petitions, Marlo Payne filed objections with the Illinois State Board of Elections on

Monday afternoon objecting to the nominating petitions of Democrats Anthony Driver and Felix Tello, and Re publican

Patricia “P Rae” Easley.

Also on Monday, Tracey E. Brady filed for mal objections to the nominating petitions of Democrats Kina Collins, Jazmin J. Robinson and Anabel Mendoza.

And Jacob Daniel Loveall filed an objection to the petitions of Democrat Da-

vid Ehrlich.

Hearings on each objection are scheduled for Nov. 18. Copies of the objections were not immediately available from the ISBE. Growing Community Media is monitoring the progress of the petition objections and will update this story online.

— Bill Dw yer

Improve lighting: Replace dim bulbs, add motion-sensor lights outside, and keep indoor hallways and entryways well lit. Secure floors inside: Remove clutter, tuck away cords, and use non-slip pads under rugs. Wear safe footwear: Choose shoes with firm, non-skid soles instead of socks or loose slippers.

Use support when needed: Keep railings sturdy and add grab bars in high-risk areas like bathrooms.

Taking these precautions helps reduce fall risks and keeps your home safe and welcoming all season long.

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What now, Brown Cow?

Two Oak Park couples, with deep food connections Forest Park shop

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

When the word went out that Brown was looking to sell her belo Cow Ice Cream shop and creamery Madison St. in Forest Park, two Oak couples with deep ties to the local industry stepped up.

Nick Stewart and Gustavo de Fraga met in the kitchen at Marion Street Cheese Market (that spot is now Victory Italian). The two became best friends. Fast forward, Stewart helped to open One Lake Brewing as their chef. Then he met, fell in love with and married Sarah Stewart who, among her other restaurant management experiences, helped open Candycopia.

All along, it’s been a love af fair with local food.

ice cream in the onsite creamery. In the back, they churn out batches that also feed a wholesale business servicing local and regional buyers.

“I don’t think I realized how much ice cream affected my life until this went for sale,” Sarah Stewart said. “We have pictures of my daughter and I sitting in here with our winter coats and hats on eating ice cream.”

Gustavo and his wife, Andrea de Fraga, brought their boys in for birthday parties and celebrations too. Andrea adds to the newowner-sundae with her career running and consulting on financial systems for businesses large and small.

“Since the moment I met them, I could see that they have the skills, the experience, the expertise, the hearts and great ideas to take the brand to new heights,” said the now former owner, Connie Brown.

“Connie has done amazing things for the community and has established a great footprint,” Sarah Stewart said.

“We bought the ice cream shop because we didn’t want to see it go,” de Fraga said.

Brown is helping the new owners find their footing.

“We’re going to maintain the existing flavors,” de Fraga said. “Eventually we will introduce others. I have some ideas, not just for the little kids, maybe more for more grownup people.”

Unlike many local frozen treat shops, Brown Cow is open all year because it makes

While they are first concentrating on keeping the quality high, the couples do have dreams. Perhaps a few “Brown Calves” in the future, de Fraga said.

“Right now, as far as training, we are in the staf f’s hands,” Stewart said. “If they weren’ t here this wouldn’t be possible. They are the glue in the transition from Connie to us and hopefully they will come along with us for the long jour ney.”

As for Connie Brown, she is happy to be, “a customer and their biggest taste tester. I’m looking forward to watching them shine. It’s going to be really fun to watch it all happen. And I hope that all of my customers over the last 22 years, come in and experience their Brown Cow because it’s going to be spectacular.”

Customers, like Mark Brucatos, didn’t notice any difference when he came in to redeem a gift card with his sons and their friend. (Gift cards and coupons will be honored by the new owners.) He was surprised to learn that the waf fle cone baton had been handed over. “This place is a local institution. It’s great to see it carrying on, especially because it’s been such a pillar of the community.”

Editor’s note: Risé Sanders-Weir, our Eats re porter, is a personal friend of Brown Cow Ice Cream’s new owners but has no financial stake in their venture.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Two of Brown Cow’s new ow ners, Gustavo de Fraga and Sarah Stewart

Right here in town.

River Forest Township has two resignations

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Replacements to be appointed for newly re -elected Trustee Taubman and Township Clerk Detmer

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By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

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Karen Taubman has resigned her position as a River Forest Township trustee. This comes on the heels of the resignation of Township Clerk Margaret Detmer, who resigned last month.

Detmer’s replacement is to be appointed at the Nov. 18 meeting of the township board while Taubman’s replacement is expected to be appointed in December.

Detmer couldn’t be reached for comment about why she resigned Taubman, who has been on the township board since 2017 and was reelected to a third term earlier this year, told the Wednesday Journal that she resigned because of increased responsibilities at her main job. Taubman works at the Cardinal Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in an administrative role

“I have increased responsibilities at work and in my personal life, and I basically don’t have the time to give the township the attention that it deserves right now,” she said.

The township board, in its role as the Board of Managers of the River Forest Civic Center Authority, has been in contentious negotiations with the River Forest Community Center over the management of the River Forest Civic Center building. When the board voted 3-2 to terminate the lease of the Community Center earlier this year, Taubman voted no along with David Bonner.

But Taubman said that her disagreement with Township Supervisor John Becvar over that issue didn’t play a major role in her decision to resign

“Not in particular,” Taubman said when asked if this was a factor. “You can look at my voting record and see how I’ve been voting on things. I’ve been voting no on almost everything involving it.”

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Taubman said that disagreements among board members are a good thing.

“That’s part of being on a board,” she said. “You know you’re not always going to agree with the other people on the board and that’s healthy.”

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Negotiations between the township and Community Center are ongoing and the center remains at the building.

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Taubman submitted her resignation to Becvar by email on Nov. 3.

Monday & Friday 9am-5pm Tues/Wed/Thurs 9am-7pm Saturday 9am-12pm

In an email to the Wednesday Journal, Becvar thanked Taubman for her service to the township.

“I would like to thank Karen for her service as an active member of the township for about 10 years including time as township clerk before she was a trustee,” Becvar wrote Becvar said that Taubman’s resignation would be ef fective Nov. 18 when the township board officially accepts her resignation.

Becvar and the board will appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of her term, which runs until May of 2029. Once it is official, a notice of the vacancy will be posted on the township’s website as well as instructions as to how to apply for the unpaid position.

To be eligible to serve on the township board an individual needs to be a re gistered voter who has lived in River Forest for one year.

The township board typically meets once a month. Becvar said that those interested in applying to fill the vacancy should try to attend the Nov. 18 meeting of the township board and Civic Center Board of Managers to get an idea of the time commitment required and the nature of the work

The township clerk is a part-time paid position. The township clerk is expected to work about seven hours a week and is paid $9,500 annually.

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Right-to-die legislation has core support in Oak Park

Passed by legislature, bill sits on Gov. Pritzker’s desk

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

A bill that would leg alize end-of-life aid that is now on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk is a polarizing issue, admits Oak Park resident Tif fany Johnson.

It’s one that everyone seems to have an opinion about.

“This is such a big deal and it is highly emotion-filled,” said Johnson, who is a death doula and owns We Too Shall Pass, an LLC focused on advocacy for a dying person and their family. “People aren’t usually neutral or lukewar m about it.”

But where Johnson differs in the debate is she has a current client who is terminally ill and would prefer the right-to-die option that Senate Bill 1950 – also known as Deb’s Law – would authorize. The law would take effect after a nine-month wait period to educate medical practitioners about it. And it still requires Pritzker’s signature which is not assured.

“I’m literally in the hospital with somebody who is a major advocate,” Johnson said Thursday. “She won’t live long enough to access medical aid in dying in this state.”

DEMOCRATIC SEAT

from page 11

with any one person in [the Democratic Party] … my concern is with the process and the [lack of] transparency with the process.”

“Tim Thomas would bring transparency and accessibility to the process,” Reading said.

Thomas said his entry in the race should come as no surprise to any local political of-

Still, Johnson marvels at the support from Oak Park residents for the bill, which Pritzker has 60 days to consider and sign. Or not.

Terri Powell, for mer Oak Park village clerk, is a supporter.

“What kind of life do I want to have in my final days?” said Powell. “To choose to end it when it’s still possible to be coherent and be around family makes a lot of sense for people.

“People going through a difficult end-oflife process, allow them to die with dignity with family and friends, and have a sense of control at the end of life,” said Powell.

Powell, a Unitarian and for mer Catholic, admitted that there are faith communities that are opposed to the legislation, “but there are other faith communities that think this can be a blessing in your final days.”

Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of Oak Park’s Catholic parishes, does not share that viewpoint.

“Recently at a meeting, Archbishop (Blase) Cupich addressed this,” Morello said. “It’s a slippery slope and we have to stand where the church has always stood, pro-

ficials, saying, “It’s not new. I decided to run for this seat in January. I talked with folks long before Congressman Davis announced [he was retiring].”

“It’s an open seat. I think a fresh perspective on the [state central committee] is a good thing,” Thomas said. He criticized what he termed “the concentration of power” in a few establishment hands and a failure to talk about issues important to many people He said he intends to “change the tenor of the conversation.”

“We’re not talking about why we lost [nationally in 2024],” Thomas said. “We need to be more receptive to people on the ground

tecting life from birth to natural death. We would not be supporting this bill.”

What are his parishioners saying?

“Like so many other things, there are mixed reactions,” he said. “That’s where the slippery slope comes in – how do you know your doctor is guiding you to the right decision, especially with healthcare today? What if someone misleads you, (saying) ongoing care is going to be expensive and may not help in the long run? The family members encourage them to take their own life. There has to be some guidelines.”

According to bill supporter Compassion & Choices, the Illinois bill is modeled after other state laws and has multiple guardrails. To be eligible, a person must be 18 or older, terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less to live, based on the confirmation by two physicians, and mentally capable of making an infor med decision. Among other provisions, the person must be able to self-administer the medication that would cause actual death.

Chloe King is a senior campaign organizer for Illinois for Compassion & Choices. She ag reed with Johnson that Oak Park has been a stalwart in support for the bill.

We are not talking about jobs, about income inequality, about food insecurity. We’re not talking about housing insecurity.”

The Welch campaign has clearly taken notice of Thomas. Two Welch staffers pulled Thomas’s petitions to examine: Deputy Chief of Staff Isabel Dobbel and Democrats for the Illinois House Field and Operations Director Patrick McConville. Petitions were also requested by veteran election lawyer Perry Abbasi

The deadline for filing objections with the Illinois State Board of Elections was 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10. No challenge was filed by Welch to the Thomas petitions

“There is something about Oak Park that just has this energy and this willingness to advocate and stand up,” King said. “It’s really amazing.”

King said there are 12 states plus the District of Columbia that permit medical aid in dying. Delaware recently ratified its law and there is a bill on the governor’s desk in New York.

Will Pritzker sign the Illinois bill into law?

“I would hope he does sign Deb’s Law, but I’m no for tune teller,” King said. “In terms of when he might sign it, I don’t know what the answer is.”

Powell wrote to Pritzker last week urging him to sign the bill. Johnson said she understands that Pritzker may have a personal stake in the bill.

“I don’t see a reason why he wouldn’t,” she said. “He has verbally expressed witnessing the journey of loved ones, family or friends, who have gone through the challenging, painful end-of-life experiences.”

Morello went back to the theological question about medical aid in dying.

“Is it a sin?” he said. “It has to be answered by God alone.”

Asked how he plans to contend with Welch’s well-funded political organization and powerful ground game, Thomas said, “I expect to be all right. I’m not new to politics. I was deputy national political director for the UAW.”

Thomas said a key challenge he’s focused on is the need to make voters aware of an office many people know little or nothing about. He said people have to be educated about why it’s important to vote on a down ballot race.

“This is a low voter info campaign,” he said. “It’s lower on the ballot. It’s an intentional vote.

CRIME

Two men arrested at Rush Oak Park Hospital

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Two men were ar rested at Rush Oak Park Hospital in the early mor ning hours of Monday, Nov. 6.

Oak Park police arrested a 26-year-old man for battery at the hospital shortly before 5:30 a.m. Nov. 6, according to police. The man was processed and released with a notice to appear in court, according to police.

Police also arrested a 36-year-old Chicago man on criminal trespassing and resisting ar rest charges at the hospital just after 4:50 a.m. The man also had five outstanding Cook County warrants, according to police.

Domestic battery arrest

Oak Park police ar rested a local man for domestic battery.

Police arrested the 38-year-old Oak Park man in the 1100 block of Oak Park Avenue on charges of domestic battery Nov. 4, according to police. He was transported to the station, processed and held for bond hearings, according to police.

Motor vehicle burglaries

Oak Park police are investigating a series of motor vehicle burglaries over the last week. There were nine motor vehicle re ported burglaries in the village between Nov. 4 and Nov. 9, according to police.

In one of the incidents, a 9 mm handgun and a pair of sunglasses were stolen from

a car parked in the 100 block of North Oak Park Avenue. The handgun was re ported into L.E.A.D.S., according to police.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department re ports dated Oct. 27 – Nov. 3 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded.

Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases ha ve not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Everything new is old at Old World Pizza

Current owners bought it, so no one would change the recipes

OBy RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

ld World Pizza has been a staple in Elmwood Park for decades, tucked into the North Tower Plaza strip mall at 7230 W. North Ave. New owners, Patrick Sumara and Danielle Michelon, have just spread the dough over their first full year, with an eye on carrying this treasure into the future.

“When I met Pat, he’d already been a customer of Old World for 20 years,” Michelon said. “I explained that I grew up near Midway Airport where there’s good pizza on every single block. But when I moved to Forest Park, I wasn’t really finding my pizza spot yet. He told me that he was going to introduce me to a place that he knew I was going to fall in love with it.”

Old World’s thin crust pizza was just what she was hungry for.

It’s a story as old as time … Michelon fell in love with the pizza and Pat. They got engaged, then when their favorite pizza spot went up for sale, they figured it would be a good fit and a great adventure. Their vi-

sion, according to Michelon, is, “to make it that favorite neighborhood place again.”

Flavors are what has kept this place in business and the new owners haven’t changed a thing.

“I definitely take my hat off to our primary chefs Amadeo and Nacho. They put a lot of pride into their work and they definitely care a lot about the recipes,” Michelon said. “We laugh about it now, but when we first took over Amadeo said like, ‘we’re not touching the pizza recipe!’ And we told them, that’s why we bought it, so that no one could change the recipe.”

Chef Amedeo has been with the restaurant for 25 years.

A few items have been added to the

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Old World Pizza co-owner Danielle Michelon.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Old World’s beloved thin crust pizza.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Amadeo sandwich.

menu, including one sandwich that honors a concoction that used to be available only to kitchen workers at Old World.

the team it, “This is exactly what we were looking for.

ham, pepperoni, Italian beef with toma toes, lettuce, onions, two types of cheeses – mozzarella and American cheese – and a choice of giardiniera or jalapeno peppers. Also on the menu is an award-winning deep-dish pizza, a wide variety of sandwiches, including an Italian beef that Michelon believes gives the more famous sandwich down the street at Johnny’s a run for its money.

Wings, pasta, salads, calzones, desserts and more fill the menu. Lunch specials, party packs and catering options fit most every need.

There is a small dine-in area, but most sales are takeaway and delivery. Michelon said that they want to make sure people get exactly what they want. Say, your ordering counterpart doesn’t like so many

onions (but you love them)? They will dice them for you, split the sides of the pie into halves, or send them on the side.

unhappy when it comes to pizza,’” Miche lon said. “We are paying homage, respect to the origins of the place. That’s why we loved it and wanted to pick up the ball and carry on the legacy.”

customer came in for deep dish. He hadn’t eaten one from Old World since he was a teen but had mouth-watering memories. He quizzed the new owners about whether the recipe had changed. Michelon assured him that they hadn’t touched it.

“And he said, it tastes exactly like when I was 18,” she said. “I’m so happy!”

Know Before You Go

7230 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park – in North Tower Plaza originaloldworldpizza.com

Hours: Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday 3:30 to 9 p.m.

Tues-Thurs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

How a choir brings hope to survivors of breast cancer

Voices of Hope o ers support networks, a safe space to create music, and power through community

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

For Ana Garcia Doyle, a longtime Oak Parker and climate activist, being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 came as “a complete surprise,” based on ho seriously she says she centered her life around health, fitness and following a ve etarian diet.

Though her type of breast cancer was not caused by a genetic component, Garcia Doyle says her diagnosis was eye-opening into how cancer can truly happen to anyone, at any time.

Finding ways to heal and to connect with others on the same hard road, Garcia Doyle joined Voices of Hope, a citywide choir with strong Oak Park and River Forest roots. The choir, which will perform this Sunday at Pilgrim Cong re gational Church, includes those who are dealing with the disease itself, those who are giving care and people who have been impacted breast cancer less directly.

The 60-member choir performs each fall and spring and features men and women with a variety of musical skills and performance experience. Voices of Hope’s music covers the gamut from showtunes and spirituals to pop/rock and jazz.

Founded in August 2023, Voices of Hope is a non-auditioned choir which includes from across the city and suburbs — many of whom hail from Oak Park and River Forest — and is financially supported by a mix of membership dues, concert proceeds and grants from the Illinois Arts Council.

Annette Martin, of River Forest, is a member of Voices of Hope who was on the steering committee which founded the organization.

and the group is joyous — Voices of Hope is very close-knit and we really are a family.”

Garcia Doyle sees those same benefits in being part of the choir.

“It’s productive and positive, and we’re making shared art together.”

ANA GARCIA DOYLE Choir member

Though Martin herself is not a breast cancer survivor, her connection to the disease comes from a strong family history; Martin’s mother, aunt, grandmother and two cousins all faced breast cancer diagnoses.

“Breast cancer has impacted my life, and being part of Voices of Hope has meant the world to me,” said Martin. “I love to sing

“We’ re a very caring group — when something is happening to someone, whether it’s undergoing a diagnosis, a surgery or a death in the family, we’re all there to rally behind the person, and I love that,” she said.

To her, Voices of Hope has been a meaningful example of catharsis through music and sharing life experiences with strangers turned friends.

“This is a unique healing support — it’s productive and positive, and we’re making shared art together,” she said. “Having been singing my whole life, I would say that

there is science around the healing power of music and science around the healing power of singing with others — lowering cortisol and increasing dopamine. There is no substitute for the healing power of music.”

Garcia Doyle says that while not all members of Voices of Hope may have faced breast cancer, the unique opportunity for people to understand what breast cancer is all about helps all singers understand the struggles, losses and the overall fight of working to survive breast cancer.

“I know people’s stories now,” she said. “We’ re all shoulder-to-shoulder looking outward but centered on the root of how each of our lives have been affected by breast cancer, and it’s super supportive. Safe spaces like this are important — it can be difficult for people to be vulnerable, but we need to have spaces where we can be in conversation about cancer and how it’s touched us deeply.”

In concert this Sunday

Voices of Hope’s fall Oak Park concert will be held this Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, children under 17 and breast cancer survivors, and can be purchased online at voicesofhopecc.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $30 for adults, seniors and children and $25 for survivors.

With the continued mission of bringing people together to create beautiful music, Martin says Voices of Hope’s goals are twofold; bridging cancer af fliction with camaraderie and finding ways to financially help breast cancer causes.

STEM draws hundreds of kids to nd the ‘wow’ in science

Saturday event at Perc y Julian ranges from re and ice to speed and ar t

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

The question was simple, yet perplexing.

“Does anyone have a favorite chemical reaction?” Amy Novak, a Griffin Museum of Science and Industry scientist and educator, asked from the Percy Julian Middle School auditorium stage.

That elicited a mixed reaction. Okay, how about this?

“How many of you like explosions?” Novak said, and dozens of hands shot up … and not just youngsters.

“Would you enjoy it if I made a fire?” she went on, and that, if you’ll pardon the pun, broke the ice in Novak’s Fire & Ice Show at Saturday’s Fall Into STEM event, hosted by the Oak Park Education Foundation.

Novak and colleague Tanna Wieneke proceeded to do just that on stage – in a

controlled manner, mind you – using a water cooler jug and a lighter. Later, the pair explained that at ne gative-109 de grees, dry ice goes from a solid state to gas, skipping the liquid phase. They got some adult volunteers to pour hot water over dry ice in plastic buckets, which created cauldrons of steaming white clouds.

Double, double, toil and trouble. The kids loved it.

“All scientists are good at observing things,” Novak said, and that was perhaps the key theme at Fall Into STEM

Over in the Julian multi-purpose room, dozens of tables were set up that allowe youngsters and their folks to take part in everything from soldering to math card g ames to robotics.

Concordia University’s Nursing program was there and had a special guest laying on its table – “Stacy,” an eerily human-like simulator figure made by Laerdal Medical Equipment that allows visitors to assess heart and lung sounds, palpate pulses and listen to abdominal sounds. Stacy has a special pad that can be adjusted to mimic the sounds of asthma, for example.

“It’s showing them that nursing is a science in and of itself, and that they should embrace that if there is something about nursing that interests them in the future,” said Kristen Bayer, director of nursing.

Like all of the 30-plus exhibitors, Stacy drew a crowd, including Oak Park mom Kim Lenz and her young daughter, Caroline. Nearby, her son Jack worked with a special controller at a robotics station, moving a silver pinball through a maze. It was so cool, Caroline just had to try it, too. In fact, there was something for everyone.

“It’s a lot of diverse, different things that my kids wouldn’t necessarily see otherwise,” Lenz said. “I just think it’s important to foster their curiosity. My son is really interested in science and robotics. My daughter, not so much, but we want to expose her to it.”

Latonia Baker is the education foundation executive director, and she said that she expected more than 200 grade-schoolaged kids Saturday. Add at least one parent, if not both, and you’ve got a full house. What did she see?

“It’s almost like our mission, which is to bring that wow factor, joyful learning, having new experiences, fun in learning,” Baker said, “essentially not realizing that they are learning something. It’s really enrichment, in a sense.”

In the Julian gymnasium, Irving Ele-

mentary School student Ryan Nowicki had to stand on his tiptoes to place a Matchbox car at the top of a six-lane multi-colored grade.

“Different surfaces can react with different things to cause energy and cause friction, causing it to go slower or faster,” Nowicki said. “It depends on what two things we have.”

Here’s something else. You’ve heard of STEM, which stands for science, technolog y, engineering and mathematics, but you might not have heard of STEAM – which adds an A for arts. That was a component of Fenwick High School’s table in the multi-purpose room, where students used markers to decorate tiny paper flyers.

“We’ re doing something with science but inte grating art into it so that they can express themselves, basically,” said Leah Reynoso, a Fenwick senior.

Back in the gymnasium, Oak Park and River Forest High School sophomores Chelsea Melodia and Ben Levine manned the school’s colorful Environmental Club booth.

Bottom line, why should kids get involved in STEM?

“Because it’s their future,” Melodia said. “As simple as that sounds, if we’re going to make more advancements without AI, or anything, this is the future of America, and I think it’s so important they are getting started now.”

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OPRF TAX

More revenue needed

from page 1

school districts to recapture money that it did not levy for in the prior three years.

The tentative levy of $87,073,000 will be the focus of a public hearing and anticipated vote on Dec. 4. It is a 4.4% increase over last year’s levy. The increase is projected to cost the owner of a home worth $400,000 an additional $132 next year.

This levy will allow OPRF to take an initial step to recapture the $2.1 million it left in taxpayer’s pockets by not levying to the maximum allowed by law in 2023 and 2024. Without the recapture, the levy would have increased by 3.48% costing the owner of a home worth $400,000 an additional $104 next year.

Those in favor of the plan to recapture the passed up taxes described it as the fiscally correct thing to do. Those who opposed it called for cuts in spending.

Recapturing bi-passed up taxes: why and how

In 2023 the school board levied $1.1 million less than it could have and last year the district levied $1 million less than it was allowed to. The tentative levy this year anticipates recapturing $2.1 million over the next three years by taxing an additional $700,000 each year on top of what it is allowed to levy this year.

PEPPER BALL

Investigation considered

from page 1

The board will vote Tuesday, Nov. 11 on a motion put on the agenda by Oak Park trustees Jenna Leving Jacobson and Chibuike Enyia that would direct CPOC to investigate the incident. On Halloween, River Forest police de ployed multiple rounds of pepper balls in two locations along Lake Street after Oak Park police called for help controlling a crowd of some 500 teens and young people who’d gathered near the intersection of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue.

Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman said at the board’s Nov. 5 meeting that an investigation was necessary, and that any fact-finding work on the matter

However, school board member Graham Brisben said the board is not committed to necessarily recovering the entire $2.1 million.

“I can assure you that after this initial $700,000 there’s no guarantee or commitment the board would seek to recover the additional $1.4 million,” said Brisben, one of the two school board members who serves as a liaison to the district’s Community Finance Committee

Board members who voted in favor of the tentative levy say that recapturing money that wasn’t asked for in the prior two years is the fiscally prudent thing to do. They and the administration point to significant and unexpected increases in special education costs and health care expenses as the justification for going back and collecting the money it didn’t ask for in the last two years.

“Exercising the recapture mechanism is meant to partially offset significant increases in expenses that were unforeseen a year ago and also act as a contingency measure because the county is so late in sending the tax bills and getting money back to the districts,” Brisben said.

Board members Fred Arkin and Josh Gertz cast the two votes against the tentative levy. Both were opposed to recapturing money not asked for in previous years. They wanted the administration to focus on cutting spending.

“[W]e have not taken a deep enough dive on the expense side of our budget,” Arkin said explaining why he was going to vote against the tentative levy.

Gertz had said essentially the same thing

should be done through partnership between the Oak Park police department and the oversight committee

“I’ve heard from every board member and many in the community about the need to (investigate,) and we have a staf f that supports us in that ef fort. We will be able to move forward with answers,” she said. “I believe that’s in partnership with our police and our civilian police oversight commission. We’ ll work to be as transparent in that as possible.”

T here had re por tedly been several fights among the crowd of young people on Halloween, as well as a shots fired incident that Oak Park police said put a hole through the window of an apar tment on Forest Avenue. River Forest officials told Wednesday Journal last week that its officers had used the chemical munitions in response to the fights and the re port of gun shots

River Forest said its officers are pro-

at a previous board meeting

Due to the way a 2005 tax referendum was implemented, OPRF’s reserves had ballooned to approximately $130 million by 2013 which was more than 170 percent of annual expenses. Generally, a reserve fund of 33 percent of annual operating expenses is considered healthy.

Since 2013 the school board has acted to whittle down the reserve fund to more normal levels by often levying less than the maximum allowed by law. If the $87,073,000 tentative levy is approved next month OPRF officials expect to finish the 2025-26 fiscal year with a fund balance of just over $31.5 million which is about 33 percent of annual operating expenses

“For the first time in 20 years D200 has a nor mal fund balance,” Brisben said.

OPRF will be paying $3.2 million out of its operating funds annually for the next 19 years to pay off the debt certificates it took out to help pay for Project 2.

The number of students OPRF is placing in expensive private therapeutic schools has increased to 52 students this year compared to 42 last year contributing to a 15.29% increase in purchased services this year

“Placements outside of District 200 is the main driver here,” said Supt. Greg Johnson.

The cost to transport special education students is projected to increase by $503,000 this year. This year’s special education students require more services from outside contractors such as nurses, health aides, speech therapists, social workers and home bound tutors costing the district $309,000 more than last year.

vided with pepper ball guns after proper training and that it had reviewed body cam footage from the evening and concluded its officer had “prope rly de ployed” the pepper balls and been successful in helping disperse the crowd.

“Pe pper balls were de ployed in two instances,” said River Forest officials. “The first was in the area of Lake Street and Forest Avenue right after a confirmed report of a gun being fired. T he pepper balls were de ployed at the ground at an individual armed with a bat and disobeying an officer’s commands. This intervention de-escalated the situation and dispersed the crowd.

“The second incident in which a River Forest officer de ployed pepper balls was in the area of La ke Street and Har vey Avenue. T he officer was responding to assist Oak Park police with a fight in progress T he pepper balls were de ployed at the ground at numerous individuals [who

“Special education costs have skyrocketed,” said Tony Arbogast, assistant superintendent for business services.

Johnson said the increase in special education costs were more than had been anticipated because of an unexpected increase in special education students transferring into feeder schools of OPRF after OFRF number crunchers did their projections.

At the October meeting of OPRF’s Community Finance Committee, an advisory committee that board members Brisben and Kathleen Odell sit on as board liaisons, Odell said that she only supported the recapture because of the unexpected increase in special ed costs.

School board members and members of the finance committee say that in the new financial environment OPRF will now be operating in the administration needs to look for places where it can cut expenses.

“We do need to take a look at our expenses,” said school board president Audrey Williams-Lee.

Citizen Finance Committee member Cal Davis was blunter.

“We need to start cutting stuf f,” Davis said during the October committee meeting. “This is what everybody needs to be focused on, cutting expenses, period.”

Davis said a culture shift at OPRF is necessary.

“There’s never been any cuts,” Davis said. “We don’t cut anything here. We spend. You come into the school with an invoice, we pay it, that’s it and it doesn’t work like that.”

were] actively striking a victim. This intervention de-escalated the situation and dispersed the crowd,” said the River Forest statement.

Several residents spoke out in favo r of a village investigation into the incident at last week’s board meeting.

“I was devastated to learn that late F riday night it’s likely that some of the same kids I shared candy with had chemical munitions de ployed against them in downtown Oak Park,” said Paul Goyette “These are chemical weapons that effect people in the area indiscriminately, they are not appropriate for children. It is an absolute travesty that they were used in a so-called ‘welcoming village’ on Halloween. One of my great fears of Donald Trump ’s cruel and unprecedented war on Chicago is that it may distort expectations about what appropriate policing looks like.”

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ART CAMPS

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Halloween block parties morph into impromptu food drives

Halloween a popular choice for Oak Park block par ties

By LACEY SIKORA Real Estate Reporter

If you drove around Oak Park on Halloween were likely sur prised by the jigsaw puzzle of block pa dotting the village

These fun and community building events aren summer days anymore.

In fact, says the village, Halloween is high on the sign up list when blocks apply for permits each spring. The limits block parties to 30 on any one day. And so there 30 Halloween block parties again this year.

This year with worries about families running short of food as the shuttered federal government chose to not pay out SNAP benefits, at least two Oak Park block pa oted to adding a food drive or food offering component to their festivities.

On the 500 and 600 blocks of Highland, neighbors originally planned to shut down the blocks for a typical block party with a Halloween focus. They hired Zemi Coffee Cart, invited a tarot card reader, and all hands were on deck to make popcorn, hot dogs and S’mores.

The Tuesday before Halloween Jen Di Nicola came up with the idea of having a food pantry as a last-minute addition to the block party. Di Nicola works for an area agency for aging that keeps track of SNAP benefits for older adults. As she puts it, “I’m hyper-aware of the difficulties people are going through right now. Given the situation with our neighbors and the situation with SNAP, this seemed like a good way to do something.”

She emailed the neighborhood block list and was met with plenty of support.

Neighbor Rose Kirschner says, “With SNAP uncertainty looming, it seemed like a good idea.”

The neighborhood used some of their block party funds and set up a marketing campaign that consisted of a few texts to Longfellow parent groups, a post on Facebook’s

Oak Park Working Moms, and plenty of posters and chalkdrawn signs.

On Halloween they set up three tables for food donations, along with a few bins placed outside of homes. Kirschner says the intent was to donate any leftover items to the Girl Scout’s Beyond Hunger Food Drive taking place the week following Halloween.

“There was very little to donate,” she said. “Almost everything was taken. Clearly, there was a need in the community.”

The infor mal slogan for the food drive was “Take what you need, leave what you can.”

As Kirschner was setting up, a mother with two young children stopped by and asked if she could really take anything. Another mother stopped by with a wagon and chil-

dren in tow to donate non-perishable food items.

While the night brought together the residents of the two blocks, Di Nicola and Kirschner say it also brought in a lot of people from the surrounding community, noting that kids in costumes trick-or-treating and being able to safely walk on the closed of f street added to a feeling of festivity.

Di Nicola can see making the food drive an annual part of the Halloween fun if the need persists. “It’s something people on our block value. Our block is really good about rallying around ideas. We’ve got a lot of civic-minded people on our block,” she said.

Many blocks take advantage of the last days of fall to

See BLOCK PARTY on pa ge 27

PROVIDED BY CHRIS CURRAN

Chris Curran

BLOCK PARTY

from page 25

schedule an off-season block party, and Halloween is a popular night to close down the streets and gather, whether the street is officially closed or not. And in Oak Park, Halloween is a celebration that brings tog ether neighbors from within and outside of Oak Park

On Elizabeth Court, local Realtors Chris Curran and his mother Greer Haseman held their second annual Halloween hot dog extravaganza. Curran says he’s inspired by Tony Robbin’s partnership with Feeding America, and their “The Next Billion Meals Challeng e,” which aims to provide a billion meals to people

that the motivation was to feed kids and adults real food

Knowing that a lot of his visitors would be children with smaller appetites, Curran served half hot dogs to cut back on waste. This year, he handed out over 400 half-foot do gs.

Curran loves a summer block party and thinks that bringing that energy to a new season is a great tradition. While the street wasn’t officially closed this year, Elizabeth Court is a dead-end street that tends to draw a lot of trick-or-treaters from neighboring communities

Next year, he’d like to close the block of f to cars, and Curran is already brainstorming about more elaborate food offerings. “Plans will be to include a few ve ggie dogs and some sausages too! I really like to cook so the process is super fun, making all the yummy bun-filled bites for the kids and adults. Every single visitor was so excited and appreciative of the ummy snack to help them g et through the evening,” he says

e rules and regs of block parties

Oak Park is famous for its summer block parties. Every summer weekend, the village becomes an obstacle course for drivers and a playground of fun for residents. Bounce houses, local bands, squirt guns, chalk drawings, donuts, taco trucks and beverages for young and old draw residents together.

The village permits blocks to request two dates for block parties each year, and states on the village website that block parties are “encouraged as a way to build community spirit, meet neighbors and have fun.”

Per village rules, a block is limited to two block events, which can be a block party, block sale or combination of the two each year. Village-wide, the total number of events is limited to 30 per weekend. In order to officially close the block, a block party and/ or block sale request must include a petition signed by at least 10 separate addresses on the block, or a majority of residents on a smaller block. (More on block parties here: https://www. oak-park.us/Community/Events-andActivities/Block-Parties-and-Sales)

PROVIDED

Signs on the 500 and 600 blocks of Highland directed neighbors and visitors to Halloween fun and food donations free for the taking

PROVIDED BY CHRIS CURRAN

slow-walk

VIEWPOINTS

the pace of local housing reform and they are incredibly conservahen it comes to zoning changes. Progressive Oak Park is no ferent. Our biggest change in the past decade was legalizing Acs.” That produced fewer than two dozen coach houses. This ordinance is permissive on paper, utterly ineffective in practice.

JOSH

VANDERBERG

The Oak Park Village Board has been studying broader reform for nearly two years. It recently hired a consultant and just launched a community survey: https:// engageoakpark.com/shape?tool=survey_ tool#tool_tab. We are nowhere near the finish line We are two years in and only now at the real starting line.

Despite the slow pace, advocacy is still worth it. Looser housing rules will increase housing supply, strengthen local businesses, broaden economic and racial diversity, and improve affordability. We just need to be realistic and realize that local change will be slow and contested at every step.

This is why I’m so excited about some recent state-level legislation. Last week, the Illinois legislature passed an omnibus transit funding bill that includes the “People Over Parking Act”. The idea is simple. Within a half-mile of transit hubs, municipalities cannot impose parking minimums

For Oak Park, the effect will be large. Most of the village is within a half-mile of a transit hub (see map https://www.yesoakpark.org/peopleover-parking-act-coverage-in-oak-park). In much of Oak Park, new developments would no longer face mandatory on-site parking minimum.

This will make developing new housing much easier. High parking minimums often kill projects because parking is expensive to build and retur ns little revenue. As a result, parking minimums are a frequently deployed tactic in the NIMBY toolkit.

Because this is state law, it overrides our slow and cautious local process and provides an immediate boost to new development. It should also spur our local village board to remove parking minimums from the village code entirely. One clear standard would be cleaner than a Swiss-cheese map that hinges on bus schedules. A uniform rule will also result in less legal wrangling.

I expect a hearty citizen outcry, as there always is around parking. But remember that developers still want to build parking even when the minimum is zero. The difference is flexibility. Projects can right-size onsite parking, use shared or off-site options and, downtown, make better use of our underfilled and money-losing public garages.

Increasingly, progressive state legislatures are stepping in when cities stall and preemptively loosening municipal choke points on housing I support this trend, and hope that progressive Oak Park gets ahead of it.

Josh is a passionate urbanist and entrepreneur who has lived in Chicagoland for 30 years and has called Oak Park home for over a decade.

In

support of Brian Straw

On Oct. 23, 2025 the United States Federal Gover nment, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Custom Enforcement (“ICE”) filed an indictment of two counts against Oak Park Village Trustee Brian Straw.

We, the undersigned, stand in full support of our colleague. We believe his actions as a peaceful protester are constitutionally protected and lawful. We are appalled by the actions of the Federal Gover nment surrounding this case and those of “Operation Midway Blitz.”

OAK PARK

ELECTED OFFICIALS

ktrainor@wjinc.com

We refuse to be silent. We stand with our colleague, Brian Straw, and with every resident who speaks out against the violent attacks on our communities

Vicki Scaman Oak Park Village President

The state of Illinois has documented unlawful, unconstitutional, and inhumane tactics of federal agents terrorizing our communities with violent abductions, including of U.S. citizens, without warrant or explanation. They fatally shot an unarmed civilian during a traffic stop. They have caused high-speed collisions in residential neighborhoods. They have pepper-sprayed innocent bystanders and peaceful protesters across Cook County and outside the ICE facility in Broadview, including faith leaders and candidates for elected office. They have tear-gassed children trick-or-treating.

This is the moment to resist.

Brian Straw was present at the ICE facility in Broadview on the day in question, exercising his First Amendment right to free speech and peaceful assembly. All evidence in this case suggests a targeted attack on elected officials and community members with influence. This case and others like it are a threat to democracy

We believe democracy is worth fighting for and expect he will prevail in his case. Brian Straw is a public servant who has committed his time and talents to upholding the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Illinois. He and other peaceful protesters deserve our respect and gratitude. His time outside the ICE facility in Broadview was lawful, just, and the appropriate response to the human rights abuses perpetrated by the federal gover nment. This is consistent with his service as an elected official for the village of Oak Park

Audrey Williams-Lee

District 200 School Board President

Tim Brandhorst

D200 School Board Vice President

Jonathan Livingston, PhD

Kathleen Odell

School Board Members

OPRF High School, D200

Virginia D. Bloom

President, Oak Park Public Library Board

Susanne Fairfax

Vice President, Oak Park Public Library Board

Colin Bird-Martinez

Megan Butman

Kristina Rogers

Annie Wilkinson

Mika Yamamoto

Oak Park Public Library Board Trustees

Cheree Moore

Jung Kim

Nancy Ross Dribin

Gavin Kearney

Venus Hurd Johnson

Holly Spurlock

Becky Perez

District 97 School Board Members

Enyia ving-Jacobson Wesley Village Trustees

Christina M. Waters Village Clerk

Tim Thomas Township vis an Muñoz Lou Anne JohannesTownship Trustees

Brian Straw PHOTO CREDIT

OUR VIEWS

Arts District’s good news

First there was the surprise back in 2023 that The Buzz Café had been sold by Laura Maychruk to the owners of Kribi Coffee, another local operation. Then there was the increasing frustration that the new owners had killed the neighborhood vibe that set Buzz apart – not to mention worries over the food and the service.

Then came October 2025 and the bad news that Kribi would close the Arts District hub and had hired a national real estate company to market it.

Now there is good news.

Maychruk, her husband Andrew, and Mark Finger, another longtime Arts District stalwart, have bought the Lombard Avenue building back from Kribi. Maychruk makes plain she is not reopening the café, but she is actively soliciting both locals and successful small restaurateurs from the city to consider a new future for the space. The new owners are aiming for a breakfast and lunch place but are not looking for a reincarnation of The Buzz.

Laura Maychruk has been central to the resurgence of the Arts District – Harrison Street from Austin to Ridgeland. She has served as the business association president for a long time and ke pt the energy high, focusing on events and filling storefronts with food- and ar ts-focused entrepreneurs.

Thanks to her and her par tners for jumping back in for a do-o ver.

Halloween mystery

We won’t know until after press time whether Oak Park’s village board chose to prove its faith in a more robust role for the Citizen Police Oversight Committee by assigning the body to investigate the police response to the large gathering of teens in downtown Oak Park on Halloween evening.

We hope they will but it’s cer tain there will be a thorough review of just what unfolded on a somewhat chaotic Halloween in Oak Park

No one is questioning that a police response was necessary that evening. The crowd was large, seemed unexpected. There was a shot fired at Lake and Forest which passed through the window of an apar tment unit. There were fights that broke out among the teens seemingly both in the downtown and then along Lake Street as officers from Oak Park and multiple other jurisdictions – Oak Park had put out a call for assistance – worked to move the crowd down Lake and toward Austin Boulevard

Four immediate questions need to be answered:

How did Oak Park police manage a command structure so that its leaders were in control of the actions of other departments on the scene?

How is it possible that pepper balls were allowed to be de ployed against the teens by River Forest police at two locations along Lake Street?

Why did it take days for the Oak Park police to identify which department had de ployed the chemical agents when its own officers were present when the incidents transpired?

Not all the teens were from Austin. Why was it assumed they were and why was it not possible for Oak Park teens to peel of f from the group short of the city limits?

Growing into themselves

My granddaughter, Char (aka Charlee), just tur 3. She lives in a distant sub urb, surrounded by fields, so I do a lot dri between grandkids these days

Charlee has owned herself right from the start. After 12 years of grandparenting twin boys, the exclusive focus on a singular child took some getting used to. She knows her mind and isn’t shy about sharing her opinions on how things should be done.

TRAINOR

She takes me on detailed tours of the house and her treasures. She loves her pretend makeup kit and insists on painting my fingernails after she finishes her digits. She also loves monster trucks. She is a devoted “mom” to her three “babies” and insists on tucking them in before being tucked in herself at bedtim e.

And she is gifted at making funny faces.

She loves Blue y, Paw Patrol, Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and her unicorn phone, which does many things, but thankfully doesn’t make phone calls. Whenever I get dinged by a text on my phone, however, she looks up and says, in a sweetly admonishing way, “Another question?”

One day when I didn’t take what she was saying seriously enough, she looked at me in earnest and said, “You laugh too much.”

She is mostly a funny delight, but she has a shriek that would make a banshee tremble. One day, as she writhed in mid-meltdown, I said, “You cry too much.” It caught her by surprise, as if wondering, “Is tur nabout fair play?”

But she stopped crying.

We’re just beginning our long journey together — the same one I’ve been on with the boys, who just turned 12.

But I need to stop calling them “the boys,” as if they were some corporate entity. They’re twins, but they aren’t joined at the hip. They are distinct individuals.

Now they’re teetering on the brink of adolescence, and frankly, there are times when they … have … had it with one another. Having a sidekick has lost its allure, and that leads to more squabbling, more physical retaliation, more blaming the other for anything that goes wrong, and more doing unto each other what they very definitely do not want done unto them.

And too much meanness. Mean is where I step in: Let me introduce you to your brother. He’s going to be around, we hope, most of your life. He should be your ally, not your adversary.

In life you need allies you can count on. Your brother is not your enemy. worst enemy is usually yourself. Now you go upstairs and you go downstairs until you cool of f! I love you individually, but I’m starting not to like you together.

Individually … hmmm … there’s an idea.

Grandpa Jim decides to take Tyler to a Notre Dame football game because Tyler has expressed interest in going there for college (six years from now!). He’s interested mostly because their mascot is a leprechaun, and this redhead is really … into … leprechauns. Bryce, on the other hand, has nar rowed down his college preferences to Stanford or Harvard. He’s smart enough. They both are. We’ll see how it goes. Anyway, I spy my chance and seize it. While Tyler is in South Bend, I take Bryce out for the day — all … by … himself.

First, we go out to breakfast, and a remarkable thing happens. A more developed person than I have yet experienced shows up. No one else is there to finish his sentences or talk over him halfway through his stories or for him to aim wisecracks like heat-seeking missiles. No mirror image at whom he re peatedly shouts “STOP!!!”

I look at him in wonder. Where has this person been? He’s delightful, thoughtful, good company. He fixes the latch that keeps coming loose on the compartment between the front seats in my car. “I like figuring things out,” he says with quiet confidence. He hands me a God’s eye he weaved around two crossed sticks using yarn from his crochet kit. Yes, he crochets! They both do

We go to an old-fashioned game arcade, where I can’t help noticing that Bryce uses some of his points to get a wizard figure for Tyler (who is a fan of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings). Then we play mini-golf at PuttShack in the Oakbrook Mall, where Bryce isn’t obsessed with beating his brother, so we have a terrific time.

The following week, Jim takes Bryce for the day and I get acquainted with the fuller version of Tyler. He’s equally remarkable, yet different, because they … are … individuals — whenever their individuality is allowed to emerge, that is. So I have one granddaughter and two grandsons, each a distinct person. I like all three very much. Maybe someday they will get to meet each other’s fuller version.

The thing about growing up is that life gets more complicated and they get more complex.

And there’s so much to be said for that.

Indicting the wrong man: a constitutional reckoning

When Oak Park

Trustee Brian Straw was indicted — one of six people charged with conspiracy to impede the work of federal lawenforcement officers — many residents were stunned. According to filings in the U.S. Norther n District of Illinois, the case stems from an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside the Broadview Detention Facility, barely a few miles from our own homes. Straw has since turned to the community for help with his le gal defense. Before we rush to judge him, Oak Park should pause to ask: Who is truly obstructing justice here?

ROBERT MILSTEIN

One View

It strikes at the Constitution itself. The Fifth and Fourteenth amendments guarantee due process to all persons within the United States, regardless of citizenship. Those protections cannot be suspended by executive order or political mood. When gover nment agents deny hearings, block counsel, and detain families indefinitely, they are not enforcing the law — they are defying it

and defended these abuses. By directing and sustaining policies that dehumanize and brutalize migrants, President Trump committed what the world rightly recognizes as crimes against humanity — systematic cruelty inflicted on a vulnerable population.

Second tax bills ready to go

This year’s second-installment tax bills are finally set to be issued. Bills will be mailed on Nov. 14 and will be due by Dec. 15.

A local trustee faces federal prosecution for allegedly resisting agents who, under President Donald Trump’s direction, enforced an immigration re gime built on fear and humiliation. ICE agents, during that period, zip-tied children, fired tear gas at civilians, and detained people in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions that no civilized nation should tolerate. Many were denied lawyers, coerced into signing deportation papers, or shipped to countries with which they had no genuine ties

These were not bureaucratic mishaps — they were deliberate acts of cruelty. The issue reaches far beyond Broadview.

The Posse Comitatus Act forbids the use of federal troops in civilian law enforcement, yet under Trump, militarized agents in tactical gear have patrolled American streets — from Portland to Washington D.C. — as though peaceful protesters were enemy combatants. The Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment was mocked by the squalid detention centers where children slept on concrete floors beneath foil blankets. Such acts are not law enforcement; they are violations of both law and humanity.

President Trump’s immigration machine tur ned gover nment power against the powerless. Its cruelty was not incidental — it was intentional. Fear became policy. Compassion was branded weakness

If indictments are to be issued, they should begin not with a local official moved by conscience, but with those who ordered

Mr. Straw’s alleged “interference” may have been nothing more than a refusal to look away. The Constitution does not require blind obedience to authority; it demands allegiance to justice. When gover nment abandons its own principles, peaceful resistance becomes not criminal but necessary.

Here in Oak Park and River Forest, we often speak proudly of being a community grounded in equity and moral responsibility. That pride means little if it falters when conscience meets power. The Broadview detention site is not some distant scandal; it is part of our own civic landscape.

To defend due process and human dignity there is to defend the rule of law here.

If a trustee from our neighboring community faces indictment for standing on the side of humanity while the architects of cruelty remain untouched, then the scales of justice have inverted. The law must learn the difference between obstructing justice and defending it

Justice cannot begin by silencing conscience; it must begin by confronting power.

Robert Milstein

Oak Park

Went to Broadview, came home depressed

Last week I went to the Broadview ICE Detention Facility. It made me sad for reasons additional to what ICE is doing to our immigrants. People I know who have protested in Broadview felt empowered, energized after screaming and yelling They planned to return. Before I went I purchased a gas mask and special protective goggles (neither needed). A friend suggested I tur n off facial recognition on my phone so ICE couldn’t open it by putting the phone up to my face (not needed). Folks suggested I go with friends; if one of us was zip-tied and put in the facility the others would know. We parked several blocks away in a residential neighborhood. There were 3-foot-high cement barriers in the street next to the curb. They stretched from one end of the block to the other, both sides of the street. I thought about what it would be like living there

during and after the marches

As we approached the protest areas there was a tent with folks sitting outside. They were taking shifts giving people water, snacks and loaning bullhorns and whistles

The designated protest spaces were on both sides of a street about 50 yards from the detention building. Protesters were inside a 4-foot-high cement barrier 24 feet long by 15 feet wide. Seven yards away from the crowd were two Illinois State Police cars and four officers. They looked to be in their late 20s, early 30s. They had body cameras and name badges. I happen to know that as part of their training they spent days on how to de-escalate any situation. They were there to protect the protesters and bystanders. There was camaraderie among the protesters. In between chatting and laughter,

they directed their hatred toward ICE and vehicles driving past. Unfortunately I do not believe anyone near the facility itself could hear the protesters. An observer would think all the profanity and hatred was directed to the nearby police. I was an observer.

I’ve been to protests including the No Kings. This was different. People were screaming how ICE were the scum of the earth, SOB’s, snakes. How their families are ashamed of them, they are the devil and should die. I was saddened how people somehow thought this was the righteous thing to do, that cursing out ICE was acceptable. That hating on them would help the fight for justice and make this a better world. They are sadly mistaken.

I won’t be back

Joel Sherr Oak Park

Under state law, second-installment bills are supposed to be issued by July 1 so they can be paid by Aug. 1. But there have been extensive delays in issuing tax bills this year due to a complete overhaul of Cook County’s 1980s-era computer system.

For decades, the old system successfully calculated all 1.8 million Cook County property tax bills. Unfortunately, there were numerous problems in the changeover to the new system and, as a result, it took much longer than expected for county officials to feel confident that the new system would calculate tax bills accurately.

I urge taxpayers to review their tax bills when they arrive to make sure that the bills are correct and that all tax exemptions for which taxpayers are eligible appear on the bills. My office will be available to answer any questions about the bills and help taxpayers apply for missing exemptions Ali ElSa ar Oak Park Township Assessor

Addressing the unhoused issue

Oak Park prides itself on its progressive values, but those values ring hollow when our own police force tur ns a blind eye to the very problems they’re meant to solve. The visible struggles of our unhoused population — the addiction and mental health crises — have become a convenient scapegoat for the village’s moral failings

However, the real outrage isn’t just the suffering; it’s the blatant dereliction of duty by the Oak Park police, effectively creating a lawless fringe on the edges of our village.

This isn’t a failure of compassion; it’s a failure of law enforcement. Our anger isn’t directed at the victims of this system, but at the unifor med hypocrisy that allows this behavior to continue unchecked, putting everyone — including the unhoused — at risk.

Taylor Parsons Oak Park

SHRUB

TO

WN by Marc Stopeck

A disturbing encounter

This past Saturday around 9:30 a.m., my 2-year-old son and I walked to Maze Library, two blocks from our house. As we reached the steps, a gray sprinter van drove past us and began to slow down. It came to an almost complete stop before pulling into the alley beside the library driveway. The van had dark tinted windows and out-of-state license plates. Two men sat in the front seats. When the van stopped, the driver stepped out, looked directly at me, and raised both his hands in a motion that felt confrontational, almost as if to say, “What are you afraid of?”

My fight-or-flight instincts kicked in, and flight won. I grabbed my now-screaming son and ran up the steps into the library. Inside, I told the librarians what had happened and shared my concer n. I mentioned that I had recently seen posts about ICE activity in the neighborhood, and the men’s behavior, combined with the timing, felt far from coincidental.

As my son played in the children’s area, one of the librarians came back to tell me the men were not ICE

agents but contractors. That gave me enough relief to text my husband and tell him to stay home. But less than 10 minutes into our walk back, just half a block from our house, I began hearing whistles. First faintly, then several more. Soon after, there were confirmed re ports of ICE presence on the 700 block of Gunderson and Elmwood.

All of this makes me believe the van we encountered was connected to ICE. Even if I can’t confir m it, being stared down by two grown men in front of my toddler left me shaken and re playing the moment for the rest of the weekend. I wish I had been braver, but the fear I felt was real and immediate.

I’ve since bought whistles for my family

To the two men in that van — ICE or not — shame on you for making a mother feel unsafe in front of her child. No parent should ever have to feel that kind of fear while walking their child to the library.

Joyce Du Oak Park

WEDNESD AY

of Oak Park and River Forest

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

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Anti-authoritarian, not anti-authority

Response to: “Pepper balls in Oak Park” [Our Views, Viewpoints, Nov. 5]

The Lake Street Halloween incident led to quick reactions around town. Many Oak Parkers are upset at the use of pepper balls by the police. The editors of Wednesday Journal gave their take: “This is not good. It is not acceptable.”

I think this moment calls for more careful reflection. I am prompted to reflect, “What is our community’s relationship with authority?” There are a number of converging societal trends that make this

difficult to answer:

■ The nation’s gover nment is slipping toward authoritarianism.

■ The Black Lives Matter protests challenged police authority.

■ Parenting philosophies have shifted toward increased leniency.

■ The internet has increased organizational powers, notably for teenagers I am not judging these trends or our responses to them, but rather thinking about what they all mean together for the adults and the children in our community

I live on the 600 block of Wesley that also saw large teen gatherings in the days leading up to Halloween. The police came to disperse the crowds and were incredibly calm and patient. The teens were disrespectful to the police in equal measure.

The police need to be both supported and held accountable. We should strive to be anti-authoritarian without becoming anti-authority.

It’s about values, not money

Our talented, hardworking, creative teachers and staff work tirelessly each day to help each student achieve their full potential. There is so much love in our schools — it’s palpable — and teachers are the heartbeat.

We are lucky and fortunate to have such incredible educators, but we must invest in them, just as they invest so much in our community

Each time I get to volunteer at a school event, I am filled with renewed appreciation and respect for the incredible work our teachers and staff do each day. On a recent field trip to Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, first-graders were fascinated, observant and actively engaged with each other and the native habitats around them.

Each day at pickup and drop-off,

teachers and staff know each student and family by name. Kind, thoughtful curiosity about each other’s lives floats in the breeze. New babies are greeted with impossibly wide smiles. Lovingkindness and support is shared with friends who need it, on the best and worst days. And, in contrast, I can only imagine how difficult this season has been for teachers.

To be congratulated for the fourth consecutive year of exemplary ratings, the top 6 percent in Illinois. And yet, somehow be offered just above the state average salary, after more than 80 days without a contract. To be told repeatedly how much they’re appreciated and yet stand out in the cold rain, or sit through seemingly endless hours in board meetings — sometimes until 9:45 p.m. — just

asking for a living wage

This isn’t about the money. This is about our values

Everyone in the community benefits from strong schools. Every dollar spent on public schools increases home values by $20, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Significant, sustained investment, that ensures each student can thrive, is essential to creating positive economic growth.

Each day, our educators are on the front lines — they are essential. Let’s reflect back some of the love they share with our community each day.

Let’s invest in the teachers and staff who are the heart of our schools

Martha

Arendt Willard parent Daughter of a retired teacher

Sugar Beet o ers food-insecurity

aid

Legalizing physician-assisted suicide

Halloween morning, when most of us expected a day filled with costumes and candy, I found out that the state senate voted to legalize physicianassisted suicide. They did this by attaching it to a bill about food sanitation and voting on it in the wee hours of the morning. At the time I wrote this, it was on the gover nor’s desk. Physician assisted suicide has been marketed as “compassion” and “dignity,” but it is not. One does not have to look far to see accounts of those who were pressured or others who have found ways around “protections” built into the law.

I have two questions: If physician-assisted suicide is so popular, why did the senate have to vote at 3 in the mor ning? Also, if physician-assisted suicide is such a good thing, why did it have to be slipped into a food sanitation bill?

Carolyn Righeimer Oak Park

What Lola wants

The Buzz Café has been one of my favorite spots in Oak Park to grab a latte for years. I would stop in when walking my dog, Lola, and we would say hello to the friendly staf f. We’re sad this Oak Park institution is closed. It’s been over a week and she still hesitates at the door when we pass by, hoping for a visit and a treat.

Chiara Zuccarino Crowe Oak Park

I want to give a shout-out to our community’s local food co-op grocer, Sugar Beet, for their quick response to the food insecurity crisis exasperated by the current political standof f. The Sugar Beet has implemented four different strategies to help combat increasing food insecurity in our community:

Food For All (FFA): Sugar Beet’s Food For All program helps make healthy, local food more accessible for anyone experiencing financial hardship. The program is self-electing — participants can opt in based on their own circumstances, without needing to show proof of eligibility.

Some examples of qualifying identifiers include SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, Section 8 Housing, the School Breakfast or Lunch Program, veteran or disability status, or being furloughed from employment. In response to ongoing community need, Sugar Beet is temporarily doubling the Food For All discount from 10% to 20% on all non-sale items (excluding alcohol). This increase will extend through at least the end of the year.

Link Match Partnership: Through Sugar Beet’s partnership with Experimental Station’s Link Match program, customers using Link/SNAP benefits receive up

to $10 per day in matching vouchers for fresh produce, doubling their purchasing power for fruits and ve getables.

Beyond Hunger Food Drive and Round-Up: Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 5, Sugar Beet kicked of f a food drive benefiting Beyond Hunger. Donations of all types are welcome, and staf f will direct donors to the collection area at checkout. At the same time, they are continuing a Round Up at the Re gister campaign, giving customers the opportunity to round their total up to the nearest dollar in support of Beyond Hunger.

Yard Sign Campaign: Sugar Beet is

also selling yard signs whose proceeds help offset the cost of offering the Food For All discount. Signs are available at several contribution levels, star ting at $25, with proceeds directly supporting the program.

To g ether, these initiatives — Food For All, Link Match, the Beyond Hunger pa rtnerships, and SB’s Yard Sign Campaign — show how Sugar Beet is using cooperative principles to respond to community needs while advancing equity in the food system.

William Gee Ri ver Forest/Lincoln Park

Gideon Bob Oak Park

Collective care is a form of resistance

In recent weeks, tension and fear have continued to grow across our community. Conversations about immigration raids, food insecurity, and other challenges have left many wondering what tomor row may bring. Yet even amid fear, frustration, and hopelessness, these feelings come from a shared place of care: we all want safety, dignity, and stability for ourselves and our neighbors. For many families, the stress of

these times touches every part of daily life. Food and housing insecurity persist, and limited resources are being stretched thinner than ever. Still, in the face of hardship, our community continues to support one another.

Showing up can take many fo rms.

Whether through advocacy, protest, donation, prayer, or simply checking in on a neighbor, each action makes a meaningful difference.

Every act of care is a fo rm of resistance. Each and every one of us is never alone, and with us we carry the compassion that serves to remind someone else of this. To gether, through collective care and community ef fort, we can ensure that our community continues to grow stronger, rooted in hope, kindness, and one another.

Kristin Sandoval Oak Park

Remembering before the wreck and ruin

I was profoundly struck by your Oct. 1 column relating the sense of loss and alarm you experienced upon your retur n from a recent overseas visit to Ireland [Coming home humbled, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints]. Returning to the U.S., you said that you “looked forward to coming back to my life in Oak Park, of course, but not to the U.S., which feels wrecked and ruined.” I shook my head as I read and re-read those words a few times. So perfectly descriptive! So hear t-breathtakingly true!

It is pretty frightening that so many of us are shocked and horrified every day by some new unimaginable policy or statement by our president. So many of us would ag ree with you that our country indeed feels “wrecked and ruined.”

Your gift in writing this ar ticle, and the many others before it, is that you always seem to be able to name and celebrate those things that made our country unique and special. “One nation under God” but with room for

differences in opinion. We lived in a country where immigrants saw and believed they could have a better life. I was proud at the level of give and take in discourse and at the civility exhibited even when consensus was hard to reach.

I was proud to say “The U.S.” when asked while traveling where I lived. And what a blessing it was that there was never a need to censure media content for the angry and foul speech that our children and grandchildren now hear every single day on TV, cellphone, or computer.

Bewildering as our challenges are, we remember when things were dif ferent and understand that we must endeavor to live and exhibit the “better angels of our nature.”

Thank you for reminding us that we have some work to do.

Lynn Grogan Oak Park

When a hurricane hits the coast, a tor nado flattens a neighborhood, or wildfires sweep across the West, something remarkable still happens in America. Strangers become neighbors again. We check on the elderly next door, run extension cords, deliver casseroles, and clear debris side by side. Nobody asks who voted which way. In those moments, we remember what holds us together.

That feeling — the impulse to show up for one another — is the real American Dream. Not the glossy one in commercials or campaign slogans, but the quieter promise that if you work hard, you deserve fairness, and if you fall, others will help you stand again. It’s the idea that effort ear ns

Keep moving forward on bike safety

I had the chance on a recent fall morning to bike into the city for a two-hour guided bus tour by Chicago Mahogany Very educational tour Very funny guide. Really fun and informative outing. Check out their website. They lead neighborhood tours all over the city.

But the bus tour is incidental to the point I want to make. My River North destination was a 9-mile bike ride. The entire ride, except for a few blocks on either end, was on bike lanes or designated neighborhood greenways. Without the bike lanes and greenway designations I never would have attempted that ride. As it was, I had a safe and enjoyable ride through a very gritty part of the city.

A recent Chicago Tribune article heralded the 500th bikeway mile within the city limits and attributed to the extensive bike network a significant increase in bike trips. The article quoted the current mayor who was, of course, eager to take credit for this popular initiative. In truth, a series of supportive mayors over the last 20 years has made those 500 bikeway miles possible.

Oak Park’s recently approved Vision Zero plan and bike plan are moving us in that same direction and, hopefully, will one day result in safer streets for bikers and walkers. I understand most people, no matter what type of cycling infrastructure is in place, will not bike 9 miles to a destination. But I do believe many Oak Parkers would ride a mile or two to a favorite Oak Park destination if they felt safe.

Let’s hope Vision Zero and the bike network continue to move forward so that bikers and walkers of all ages and abilities feel safe on a complete network of Oak Park streets.

Rebuilding the American Dream

dignity, and that community is a safety net woven from trust, not legal forms.

Somewhere along the way, we confused that Dream with personal success We made it about accumulation — bigger houses, bigger titles, bigger debts. Now many Americans feel shut out. Housing prices climb faster than wages. Health costs squeeze families. Parents wonder whether their children will ever find stability. The question isn’t “How do I get ahead?” so much as “Am I still part of something that holds when life breaks down?”

One View

ing. That means jobs that pay fairly, homes people can actually afford, health care that rewards prevention, and education that lasts a lifetime. It means treating resilience not as charity but as interdependence — the understanding that our strength depends on one another, ready before the next stor m hits

The American Dream isn’t about never falling — it’s about how we rise together. Every storm, flood, and fire proves that Americans still run toward one another, not away. The task now is to make that spirit permanent — to carry that shared purpose into calmer days, when the headlines fade but the need for one another remains

We can be part of that — if we rebuild the frame that once kept the Dream stand-

Every time disaster strikes, volunteers and local groups outperform bureaucracy because they’re built on trust. Our policies should follow that model: local leadership, clear accountability, and federal support that strengthens communities instead of replacing them. Washington can set the floor; neighbors will raise the frame

When the lights go out, we pass the flashlight. When they come back on, we rebuild for everyone, not just the lucky few whose houses still stand. That’s the Dream worth keeping — the one we build to gether, long after the clouds clear

Scott Klapman is a longtime Oak Park resident who believes good neighbors still build strong communities

Karl Lauger Oak Park

Ifeel our humanity leaching away with each passing day. I feel it seeping from our collective body with each preschool teacher detained in front of their students With each person dragged from their car and hauled off to a detention center. With each door ICE agents knock down without a warrant. With each person sent on a secret rendition flight to be imprisoned in a country where they’ve never been before With each child dragged out into the street in the dead of night.

And I hear the justifications in my head because I hear them all the time. “They were the ones who came here illegally.” “They needed to wait in line.” “They are criminals because they ignored the rules.” As if any of this justifies what we are seeing Let’s be honest: What is the problem that

Are we losing our humanity?

we are trying to solve with these abhorrent immigration raids?

■ It’s not a problem of increased crime rates because immigrants of all kinds commit crimes at lower rates than American citizens, and we have other systems to deal with crime: police, prisons, judges, juries.

JIM SCHWARTZ

One View

■ It’s not a problem of employment because most of those coming here without documentation are taking jobs that American citizens and permanent residents don’t want.

■ It’s not a problem of resources because immigrants generate more resources for our gover nments than they take since, contrary to common misconception, they do pay taxes

The problem that some people are actually trying to solve here is the problem of working class unity. Please understand me: this is not a problem for working people — unity is our solution. It is only a problem for the wealthy corporate elites who want to keep us divided, exploiting those divisions so that their preferred politicians — Republican or Democratic — can be elected to do their bidding, which includes lower taxes for corporations and the wealthy, less regulations, and fewer resources devoted to food, shelter, health care, and education for us working people.

So I want to amend where I started. I feel our humanity leaching away — my humanity leaching away — but this feeling is an

My last (aor tic) marathon

Everyone has a plan, until you get punched in the mouth.

Mike Tyson

At 65 years old, my plan had been to run a celebratory final retirement marathon in New York this fall as one of a handful of people to run a marathon post-aortic dissection and two open-heart surgeries.

I was trained up and ready to run — well, jog — a sixhour, slow-motion marathon.

Then on my final short training run in Oak Park, my knee did something tricky. It was clicking out of place before it seemed to settle into the grooves (sorry for the technical description). How nice to have a physical problem that is not my aorta, I thought.

The next day the knee was sore — like, ohmy-goodness sore — but the show had to go on. So I flew to New York, stopped at a Walgreens after the Marathon Expo at Javits Center and bought one of those cloth knee braces. And it helped stabilize the knee.

In fact, for the first half of the marathon the next day, I was on easy street and stuck to The Plan, running between 13- and 14-minute miles.

Then I started noticing the other knee was starting to give trouble by overcompensating. (Remember the adage about never do anything on race day for the first time?)

And so the great slow down began.

Around Mile 18, I stopped at the Team Ritter cheering section. Daughter Chiara checked my blood pressure (the goal is not too high and not too low for aortic health). It was pretty low, though nor mal for me during a long run: 81/54.

Then I trotted until I turned to the walk/ run and finally speed-walked my way to the finish line. And crossed not in 6:00:00 but 6:42:00 (as if the time really mattered).

But the real story was experiencing love during a last marathon:

■ I chatted with a young woman named Lady who emigrated from the Dominican Republic when she was 18, now lived in New York, and was running her first marathon. We talked strategy for when she hit the wall.

■ Cheryl, retirement age, a surgical nurse practitioner from F lorida who somehow, despite a dozen prior marathons, ended up running in her walking shoes instead of her running shoes.

■ A woman who is a second-year student at Harvard Medical School, r unning her

illusion. Those wealthy elites are ignoring their own humanity at their peril. But no one ever gives up their humanity, most of all we working people who are being victimized by the wealthy. Most of all undocumented immigrants who are being demonized, detained, and deported for others’ gain. In truth, every effort that we make to resist this oppression affir ms our humanity. Every step we each take to protect our undocumented siblings expresses our connection to one another I reject my feelings. I embrace the truth: we are human beings — living, loved, and longing for liberation.

Jim Schwartz is an Oak Park resident, an educator, and a blogger at Entwining.org.

PROVIDED

bar, a bunch of Team Ritter Runners were decompressing. Actor Amy Yasbeck, the late comedian John Ritter’s wife and founder of the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, was hanging with us Ritter, unlike me, died when he had an aortic dissection on a TV set 20 years ago; he was misdiagnosed with a heart attack. Amy asked me to share with the group the following story:

first marathon, had been focusing on pancreatic cancer but was now thinking of becoming an internist.

■ And seeing lots of old runners. One man shuf fling along had written on his number that this was his 41st New York marathon. There were amputee blade runners. Skinny people. Large people. An ar my of walking wounded, especially at the end in Central Park. And me. Later that evening, back at the hotel

All 20 of the Team Ritter runners at the marathon had a connection to aortic disease. Many had lost a family member, mother, father, brother, wife.

So at the end of a Team Ritter group call the week before the race, I said that, as the only aortic dissection survivor running out of 59,000 marathoners, I would be honored to carry their loved one’s name with me as an act of remembrance.

And after a longer day than expected, and nursing a sore knee, and looking at the aortic athletes in the room, that’s when the tears started.

JACK CROWE

Austin Coming To gether (ACT)) presents The Good Ne ws, a documentary film about the community leaders eng aged in the long-ter m Quality of Life Plan that highlights and celebrates progress and accomplishments in Austin. The free showing will be at the Oak Park Main Library on Nov.

Good news

18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Veterans Room. There will be re presentatives present to discuss the film and answer questions.

Cong re gations Networking for Social Justice are enthusiastic co-hosts for this event. We can learn how to become good neighbors in support of the many

ef for ts in Austin. We urge you to come out to view this significant work and meet your neighbors.

Thanks to the Oak Pa rk Public Library and Wednesday Journal for the venue and publicity.

Cynthia Breunlin justicenetwork.op@gmail.com

e beauty of winter trees

T hanks for this column with your profound thoughts on darkness and light [Goodbye light, hello night, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints]. I especially liked the para graph on unador ned

trees. I think that trees in winter look honest. I think they are saying, “This is the real me.” Their lacy branches are available to be appreciated without the camouflage of leaves. After a

snowfall, the branches look frosted by an expert hand. Winter trees are beautiful.

Coverage was unfair to OP police

In the Nov. 5 issue of Wednesday Jour nal there was a news article, “River Forest cop used pepper balls on teens in Halloween crowd,” and also a Journal editorial in Viewpoints [Our Views, Pepper balls in Oak Park]. Both were about a crowd of 500 “individuals” who gathered on Lake Street on Oct. 31. They engaged in multiple fights, at least one gunshot was fired, and a person present was armed with a bat. The article described those involved as “teens.” However, the editorial described them as “some 500 pretty young teens”; and also opined that “What’s troubling is, as was reported in the news, pepper balls were deployed against these ‘youth’ in Oak Park.”

The editorial seemed to be laying the groundwork to completely ignore and seemingly condone the “innocent” actions of this group (mob?) of people who were fighting in the streets, shooting off a gun that fortunately did not injure the usual innocent bystander, and walking

around with a baseball bat which when used anywhere but a baseball field presents an intent at bodily har m. These are not the actions of law-abiding citizens or innocent young teens, including an incident in which “numerous individuals [were] actively striking a [single] victim.” By not condemning these actions, the Wednesday Jour nal editorial staff evidently condone and accept these actions as appropriate for Oak Park’s Downtown Business District.

Instead, the Jour nal editors use this event to take their usual shot against Oak Park’s Police Department. For example: A River Forest cop discharged a pepper ball weapon? Apparently that’s the Oak Park Police Department’s fault.

The Jour nal editorial also says “And we cannot figure out how the Journal learned which department was responsible for the action even as, on Monday, Oak Park police said they did not know.”

Well, I can tell you. The Jour nal editorial previously stated: “Based on video

provided to the Jour nal …” So who provided the video? Did they also provide it to the OPPD? Did the Jour nal provide it to the OPPD? Saying the OPPD is at fault because a third party provided a video to the Jour nal that they did not provide to OPPD is not the fault of OPPD. It is just part of the ongoing effort by the Jour nal to slam OPPD every chance it gets

The OPPD is not ICE. The OPPD did not use tear gas, chokeholds, or any other type of attacks against this mob Rather than attacking the entire OPPD for the actions of a single River Forest police officer, the Journal’s editorial board should be praising OPPD for its calm and measured restraint to an overwhelming and chaotic situation. Based upon the reporting and editorial of the Jour nal, not a single one of the 500 individuals was injured by the OPPD or any other police officer present.

Alan E. Krause Oak Park

Protect our ballot boxes

OBITUARIES

Michael Good, 76 Knights of

Columbus member

Michael John Good, 76, died on Oct. 27, 2025. Bor n on Feb. 4, 1949, in Oak Park, he made Clinton, Missouri his home for more than 35 years. He attended St. Luke Elementary, Fenwick High School, and Loyola University Chicago. After moving to Clinton in the 1980s, he cared for his great-aunt, Agnes Beckwith, until her passing at age 99. He worked at the Henry County Library for more than 25 years and continued volunteering after retirement. He also volunteered with the Henry County Historical Society and Museum.

A fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus and devoted parishioner of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, he was known for his warm spirit and homemade chocolate-chip cookies. He loved fishing and trains, especially “chasing trains” with family, and cherished local church dinners and festivals.

Mike is survived by his siblings, Ray “Randy” Good III, Peter Good (Joan), Bob Good (Lori), Carol Good, and John Good; his niece, Amanda Mitchell and nephews Kevin, Tim and Dan, and Dan’s children Colin and Amelia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Winifred Good; his sister, Patricia “Pat” Mitchell (Ver n) and his sisterin-law, Jacqueline “Jackie” Good.

Visitation is Thursday, Nov. 13, 5 to 7 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 14, 10 to 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, Clinton, Missouri. Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Clinton. Burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Illinois will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Henry County Historical Society and Museum.

When will Don Har mon realize what Trump is planning? Why will he not act? T he Gover nor has figured it out and publicly addressed it. It is time to act decisively. Harmon sponsored a law to keep ICE and Trump ’s private police force at

least 1,000 feet from Illinois cour thouses. That is a good star t. Yet it pales to the constitutionally critical and over riding issue that I addressed in an earlier letter and that the Gover nor parroted. There must be protection at the ballot boxes.

We do not want to see any federal troops, be it Ar my, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard or secret police anywhere near our polling places ever. C’mon, Don. You will have the support of anyone who ever voted. Do not

let us down. I suggest 1,500 feet. I suggest similar remedies enforceable by anyone, on an emergency basis, whose airspace is violated by Trump’s thugs.

Bruce Golden Oak Park

Elaine Johnson Oak Park

SPORTS

OPRF loses to Lockport in Hinsdale Supersectional

By BILL STONE, MELVIN TATE AND GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporters

The Oak Park and River Forest volleyball team couldn’t have come much closer to its first downstate trip since 1987. The Huskies lost to Lockport 27-25, 25-22 at the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Supersectional Monday after having two set points in the first set and a 22-21 lead in the second

“Once you get to playoffs, all of the teams are different than they were regular season, so it’s always back and forth,” OPRF senior setter Erin Dwyer said. “There’s always tighter games and it’s whoever wants it more, whoever fights until the end. Or just who doesn’t shut down.”

Juniors Emmi Bozarth (10 kills, 10 digs, ace) and Devyn Kleidon (8 kills, 4 digs), seniors Dwyer (16 assists, 6 digs), Samantha Shelton (4 kills, 2 blocks) and libero Kate Balitz (5 service points, 3 digs) and junior Jaida Garland and sophomore Eva Truss (3 blocks each) led the Huskies (26-8), who were coming off their first sectional title since 2013, when first-year coach Symone Speech played for the team.

Seniors Hutson Timosciek (11 kills) and Bridget Ferriter (9 kills) powered Lockport (33-7), which finished third in 3A last season.

“Just two points [from winning]. Two points. I told them there’s no regrets. I don’t think they had any and Lockport played a good game,” Speech said. “It was point for point. It could have gone either way. All of the games this entire playoff run have gone either way. I’m super-grateful. It was my first year and it was hard but I learned a lot. I’m super-excited to keep going.”

The Huskies led the first set 24-23 and 2524 after kills by Bozarth, but the Porters responded both times with Ferriter kills. Lockport scored the final two points on attack errors, the second for a net violation after an apparent kill.

In the second set, junior Sophia Sood’s kill off the set from junior Edith Carroll (4 assists) put OPRF ahead 22-21. Lockport then scored four unanswered points with two kills

from Ferrier and another by Timosciek on match point.

Speech, an OPRF varsity assistant last year, also coaches club with 1st Alliance.

“I’ve coached some kids on that [Lockport] team, too,” Speech said. “They’re a great team, they’ve done it before, and I hope they win it all this time.”

OPRF, the West Suburban Conference Silver Division co-champions with Downers Grove North, outlasted the Trojans in three sets Thursday to win the Lyons Township Sectional after they split their two regularseason meetings.

Shelton (Seton Hall) and Channing Smith (Macalester) will play in college. This was Dwyer’s finale.

“I think the key [to success] was how connected we were and how much we love each other, honestly,” Dwyer said. “All of our practice on the court and the time we spent with each other off the court really showed.”

Fenwick falls to Nazareth

Fenwick led Nazareth late in the first set at the Class 3A De La Salle Supersectional and was serving with set point. But the Roadrunners took the next three points to win the set and swing the momentum in a big way.

Although the Friars scored the first four points of the second set, Nazareth responded with an 11-2 run to take control of the match, and the Roadrunners ended Fenwick’s season with a 27-25, 25-18 victory.

“It was a heck of a match. Our kids fought so hard,” said Fenwick coach Tee Pimsarn. “[Nazareth’s] record doesn’t reflect how good they are. Number 9 [Jane Manecke, who had nine kills], we couldn’t stop her.”

Bella Gray led Fenwick (26-12) with 13 kills and two aces. Emily Drumm had six kills and a block; Sophia Leonardi 10 digs, three assists, and an ace; Emma Kure seven digs; Sophia Grossman 11 assists and four kills; and Hailey Bernahl eight assists for the Friars

Although obviously disappointed with the loss, Pimsarn put things in perspective.

“I asked our kids to take a big picture look

at how far we’ve come,” he said, “from 7-28 three years ago to where we are now.”

Kure and Leonardi are among eight seniors departing due to graduation. Pimsar n is thankful for the leadership they provided.

“Our seniors set the bar so high for the rest of the program and future Friars,” he said.

“It’s going to be hard to reach.”

But Bernahl, Drumm, Gray (St. Louis University commit) and Grossman should form a solid returning core, and Pimsarn is looking ahead to next season with a simple message.

“We’re coming back,” he said, “and we’re going for state.”

Trinity falls to Rockford Christian

In the end, it wasn’t only about the Trinity volleyball team’s season-ending loss Monday to Rockford Christian in a Class 2A supersectional. It was more about for mer coach Ken Uhlir, who passed away last spring.

The Blazers fell 25-23, 25-16 to Rockford Christian at Marengo, but Uhlir was on everyone’s minds, including junior setter Maddie Trendel.

“Every game we played throughout the season, we just felt him there and we did it for him,” said Trendel, who racked up 26 assists. Senior outside hitter Ginny Redmond, who added six kills in the second set, ag reed.

“We’ re always thinking about him every single game,” she said. “Everything was to do it for Ken.”

But there was a match to be played, with a berth in the state tournament on the line, and the Blazers proved in a wild first set that they belonged. Head coach Molly Puttin, Uhlir’s longtime assistant, said that first set was a barnbur ner. Senior outside hitter Alice Iammartino recorded seven kills.

“It was probably one of the most exciting matches we’ve played all year,” Puttin said. “It was teetering back and for th, we had a few mistakes I think because of nerves, so it was kind of unfortunate, [but] it was a fun and exciting game.”

Uhlir was on her mind, too.

“It’s always something he dreamed, getting us to the state tournament,” she said. “Coach Ken is with us the whole time.”

STEVE JOHNSTON

OPRF’s Eva Truss (18) sends the ball over the net against Lockport dur ing the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Supersectional, Nov. 10, in Hinsdale.

ies terri c for Fenwick football

Scores four touchdowns in Friars’ rout of Rolling Meadows

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

Last week, Fenwick football coach Matt Battaglia wasn’t happy despite a 42-6 IHSA Class 6A first-round victory over Kennedy because he felt his team showed a lack of energy and focus. He felt much better after the Friars’ 45-7 second-round rout of Rolling Meadows at Triton Colle ge, Nov. 8.

“The boys really did a great job. It was our best week of practice of the season, and it really translated today,” Battaglia said. “A lot of the credit on the scoreboard goes to the way the two’s and three’s worked to give us the best look possible and make the whole team better.”

Junior Jake Thies has been one of several two-way players for Fenwick this season. Lately, the majority of his time has been spent on the offensive side of the ball at running back, and against Rolling Meadows he turned in a splendid performance, rushing for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and adding another touchdown with his only pass rece ption.

“O-line played really good,” Thies said. “It was easy for me. We had our best week of practice this week, so nothing that we did on the field surprised me.”

Fenwick (8-3) started the game in perfect fashion. After the defense notched a three-and-out, the offense went 52 yards in nine plays for the game’s first score, a four-yard touchdown run by Thies, at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter.

On the next possession, Fenwick defensive end Mike Murphy came up with a huge play as he forced Rolling Meadows running back Lu ke Harvey to fumble and recovered the ball at the Mustangs’ 25.

“The running back bounced [outside] and I put my helmet on the ball. It came out and I got lucky as it went right into my hands,” Mur phy said.

The offense stalled on the ensuing drive, however, and Noah Sur came on for

a 32-yard field goal attempt, which was good to raise the Friars’ lead to 10-0.

Rolling Meadows got rolling offensively on its next drive as it marched into Fenwick territory. But on 4th and 14 from the 20, Fenwick defensive back Aiden Williams tackled Mustangs’ receiver Matthew Sansonetti at the 7 – a yard short of a first down – resulting in a turnover on downs.

“We had to be strong, hit hard, know what we were doing, and keep everyone accountable,” said Williams, who finished with six tackles.

his stop paid dividends as on the first play of the second quarter, Jamen Williams (11-of-15, 219 yards, 2 TD) hit Thies in the left flat with a short pass. Thies eluded a pair of tackles and broke free for a 50-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead.

The Friars’ defense again stopped Rolling Meadows on downs at its 29 on the next possession, then the offense went 71 yards on seven plays for another score –a Williams eight-yard run. Murphy came up big again as, on the Mustangs’ next possession, he intercepted a pass tipped by fellow lineman Zikomo Mbewe at the Fenwick 48.

“I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Murphy said. “It was pretty high in the air, so I had time to get over there. I just had to go up and high-point it.”

Five plays later, Thies went in from 18 yards out to give Fenwick a 31-0 halftime lead. Cameron Garrett returned the second-half kickof f 78 yards to set up Thies’ fourth touchdown of the day, a 21-yard run. On Fenwick’s next drive, Williams found Raphiel Stewart for a 23-yard touchdown that made it 45-0 and mandated a running clock for the rest of the game.

Rolling Meadows (7-4) broke up Fenwick’s shutout bid as Keeling Murray scored on a 65-yard run with 11:10 to play Fenwick returns to Triton Colle ge, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m., for a 6A quarterfinal against Burlington Central, a 24-14 winner over Harlem in its second-round game.

“We’ve got to have an amazing practice week and lock in,” Williams said.

“It feels great to have another week with the Fenwick [football] family. Every week could be our last so we’ve got to go hard,” Murphy said.

Huskies’

Schnizlein delivers her fastest in 3A state debut

Personal bests also for Friars’ state trio, second-fastest for Huskies’ Rafter

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Oak Park and River Forest senior Violet Schnizlein missed qualifying for the 2024 Class 3A state meet at sectionals by 5.6 seconds. At her first state meet Saturday, the significantly faster Schnizlein missed top25 all-state honors by just 7.06 seconds with yet another personal record

She was 29th (17:20.60 for 3.0 miles) at Peoria’s Detweiller Park thanks to dropping another 18 seconds from her previousbest 17:38.4 at sectionals.

That’s more than a minute faster than her 18:23.5 at 2024 sectionals.

“I was so happy with that time. It was such an incredible experience,” she said. “This was my first time being at state so it was really cool. I was happy with another PR. That was my big goal for this race.”

Fenwick junior Juliana Gamboa (42nd, 17:32.00), sophomore Bridget Brunick (95th, 17:57.86) and junior Mia Bagato (139th, 18:20.23) achieved PRs in their 3A state debuts.

In 3A boys, OPRF senior Yonny Rafter (103rd, 15:11.50) ran his second-fastest time to his 15:08.0 at sectionals and improved upon 2024 state with the Huskies’ team qualifier (127th, 15:22.9).

Huge time drops for Schnizelein started with re gionals (17:52.1), her first finish under 18:00.

At state, she opened with her fastest first mile (5:26.9), about seven seconds from her fastest in track.

“Seeing that was a little scary but I ke pt rolling. After that, I maintained the same times I did at sectionals [5:59.5 and 5:54.2 splits]. I’m proud that I was able to hang on,” she said. “It feels like [this season was] the culmination of hard work. Each week I’d be blown away by each PR. I really shocked myself. I’d never guess I’d get this far, but I think it’s all of my hard work so it’s been really exciting and fun.”

Gamboa was twice all-state in 2A before Fenwick moved to 3A this season. She beat her 21st-place 17:41.2 from 2A state last year and would have contended for top-15 in 2A with Saturday’s 17:32.

“I was super-excited to PR and excited for both of my teammates because they PRed as well,” she said. “If we were in 2A, I think we would have had some top finishes or definitely finished up there.”

Brunick, 30th in 2A in 2024, broke 18:00 for the first time. In her first cross country season, she edged her 18:20.7 sectional perfor mance.

“Being moved up [to 3A] allowed us to race some of the best girls out there,” Gamboa said. “We’ re grateful we had that opportunity, even though we haven’t placed up there yet. It definitely gives me some goals for next year.”

Violet Schnizlein (le ) and Fenwick’a Juliana Ga girls cross country state meet Saturday at Peori

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 24�25�Z

HEARING DATE� December 3, 2025

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

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

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Reginald Woods, on behalf of Albion at Oak Park LLC, seeking a variance from Section 7�7�15�B� �2� of the Oak Park Sign Code, in order to allow two projecting signs for an establishment with no public street frontage at 1000 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�07�120�065�0000 �“Subject Property”), in the DT�1 Downtown Zoning District �Downtown Central Sub-District).

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

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

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, November 12, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M25001043 on November 4, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of GABE THE REALTOR with the business located at: 3526 PRAIRIE AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: EUSTAQUIO VERDUZCO 3526 PRAIRIE AVE BROOKFIELD, IL 60513, USA

Published in RB Landmark November 12, 19, 26, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M25001053 on November 4, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of GREY PHOENIX TART STUDIO with the business located at: 3730-32 PRAIRIE AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: THERESE ANGARONE 3238 RAYMOND AVE BROOKFIELD, IL 60513, USA

Published in RB Landmark November 12, 19, 26, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025 TAX LEVY RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP

1. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for River Forest Township for 2025 will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the River Forest Civic Center Authority Building, 8020 Madison Street, River Forest, Illinois. Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Supervisor John Becvar in advance at 8020 Madison Street, River Forest, Illinois 60305 or email Supervisor@RiverForestTownship.

org

2. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2024 were $746,932 for the Town Fund and $21,554 for General Assistance. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2025 are $768,593 for the Town Fund and $22,632 for General Assistance. This represents a 2.9% percent increase over the previous year for the Town Fund and a 5.0% percent increase over the previous year for the General Assistance Fund.

3. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 were $0.00. The proposed property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2025 are $0.00. This represents no percentage increase or decrease over the previous year.

4. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2024 were $768,486. The proposed total property taxes to be levied for 2025 are $791,225. This represents a 2.9% percent increase over the previous year

Margaret Detmer, Clerk River Forest Township

Published in Wednesday Journal November 12, 2025

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed separate bids will be received by the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (the “Board”) for the following project:

OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 SD97 - SUMMER 2026 RENOVATIONS OAK PARK, IL 60302

BID GROUP 1 – A-GENERAL TRADES, B-ROOFING, C-FLOORING, D-ELECTRICAL, E-ELEVATOR, D-EXCAVATION

Bids will be received until 1:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, November 25, 2026 at the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administrative offices, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, and will be read at 1:05 p.m. CST on that date. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked:

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

Attention: Bulley & Andrews

Project: SD97 - SUMMER 2026 RENOVATIONS – Bid Package 1 –Trade Name

Bid Opening will be held at 1:05pm CST within the board room:

Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes: General Trades, Roofing, Flooring, Electrical, Elevator and Excavation

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project. Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid amount shall be submitted with the bid. Should a bid bond be submitted, the bond shall be payable to the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. All documents and information required by the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project shall be submitted with the bid. Incomplete, late or non-conforming bids may not be accepted.

No bids shall be withdrawn, cancelled or modified after the time for opening of bids without the Board’s consent for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled time of bid opening.

The Bidding Documents for the project (which include the bidding instructions for the project and other related documents) will be available Tuesday November 4th, 2025 and are available for viewing/ download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews, LLC One Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required.

https://tinyurl.com/ysfudxfr

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities, and to make an award that in the Board’s sole opinion is in the best interest of the District.

A mandatory site will for roofing relocated scope will be hosted on November 14, 2025 at

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Brooks Middle School at 1pm. If additional site visits are required, appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Peter Kuhn of Bulley & Andrews in advance if you wish to visit the sites.

All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all Contractors working on public works. If during the time period of work, the prevailing wage rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount. All bidders must comply with the Illinois Statutory requirements regarding labor, including Equal Employment Opportunity Laws.

For additional information on the project, contact Peter Kuhn of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at pkuhn@ bulley.com or 312-907-4976.

Dated: 11/4/25

Peter Kuhn Bulley & Andrews, LLC

Published in Wednesday Journal November 12, 2025

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

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

(2) Concrete Water Reservoir Rehabilitation

Overcoat exterior appurtenances, repaint the wet interior piping and miscellaneous repairs on the 500,000 gallon and 2,000,000 gallon concrete reservoirs located at 7525 Berkshire Street in River Forest, Illinois.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, November 10, 2025 at: www.vrf.us/bids

Bids must be submitted by January 22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at:

Public Works Department, 2nd Floor

Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305

The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.

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

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

Published in Wednesday Journal November 12, 2025

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project:

2025 TREE AND STUMP REMOVAL PROJECT

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

This project includes the removal of approximately 25 trees and 100 tree stumps at various locations within the Village of Brookfield.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, the 26th day of November, 2025, in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, the 26th day of November, 2025, at the Village Hall.

Electronic copies of bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal and project specifications are available from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Bidding documents can be requested by emailing info@ehancock.com. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:00 P.M. on Friday, the 21st day of November, 2025. Proposals will only be accepted from bidders that have obtained bidding documents from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company.

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check in an amount not less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding documents may request an interpretation thereof from the Village. The bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery. At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be emailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the rights to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER

THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES, VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

Published in RB Landmark November 12, 2025

Bid Notice

The River Forest Park District will receive sealed bids for the Keystone Park Synthetic Turf Infield Project.

Bid Documents including Plans and Specifications, may be obtained beginning on Thursday November 13, 2025 by contacting Ashley Kowalczyk of W-T Group, LLC via email at akowalczyk@wtgroup. com. Only electronic drawings (PDFS) will be provided.

Bids are due on Thursday December 4 at 2 PM at River Forest Park District’s office which is located at 401 Thatcher Avenue in River Forest, IL 60305.

The project includes the removal and replacement of one (1) clay infield with a new synthetic turf infield at the existing Keystone Park site located at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Keystone Avenue in River Forest, IL. Other improvements include excavation, new storm sewer, a synthetic turf infield, concrete curbing, concrete sidewalk, fencing, and some landscape restoration.

A Certified Check, Cashier’s Check or Bid Bond payable to the River Forest Park District for not less than five (5) percent of the total bid amount will be required for each bid.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a satisfactory Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond for the total Contract Amount. The successful bidder will also be required to execute AIA Form A101 – 2017 as the contract between the parties.

All questions should be directed to Ashley Kowalczyk at W-T Group, LLC via email at akowalczyk@wtgroup.com.

In all work performed under this Contract, the Contractor and all of its subcontractors shall comply with the current provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act of the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 48, Sections 39s-1 et seq.

No bids will be withdrawn without the written consent of the River Forest Park District. If a Bid is withdrawn, the Bidder will not be permitted to submit another Bid for the same project. Only bids in compliance with the provisions of the Bid Documents will be considered. Bids will be considered firm for a period of ninety (90) days. The River Forest Park District reserves the right to reject any or all bids or portions of bids/portions of work and to waive any technicalities in the bidding if it should be deemed in the public interest.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 12, 2025