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November 25, 2020 Vol. 40, No. 17 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

COVID can’t stop Holiday Gift program Cash is being raised. Gift cards are being delivered

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

This Thanksgiving we’re all reinventing holiday traditions on a small scale. But COVID-19 with its need to avoid personal contacts such as delivering Christmas gifts to Oak Park and River Forest families in need, has turned the annual Holiday Food and Gift Basket program fully around.

And on a dime these volunteers have just about pulled it off.

In past years hundreds of families received a Thanksgiving gift card to Jewel and then in December a big black bag of gifts specially purchased and wrapped by villagers and local organizations and then delivered in a Saturday morning caravan by volunteers. Gifts were chosen based on a family’s wish list.

That plan required raising $50,000 for the Thanksgiving gift cards but relied on individuals to purchase the holiday gifts. This year, Patty Henek, the project’s long-time coordinator, set a goal to raise $150,000 which would be distributed to families in a one-time gift card from Target. The amount a family receives would vary based on the number of family members.

Henek, who doubles as a River Forest village

D200 supt. announces retirement Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams cited family reasons for decision, effective July 1, 2021

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

District 200 Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams will retire at the end of this school year. The D200 school board voted to approve her retirement, which goes into effect on July 1, 2021, during its regular meeting on Nov. 19.

Pruitt-Adams announced her decision at the beginning of that night’s board meeting.

“What started out as a one-year interim position grew into five years of a labor of love,” she said. “I have grown so much personally and professionally being here at [Oak Park and River Forest High School], but I would be remiss if I did not say it’s also been a challenge — both personally and professionally.

“Being away from family has been difficult and it’s time for me to return,” she said. “I’ve been in education 44 years, 30 of which have been in administration and I have had the luxury See PRUITT-ADAMS on page 20

See GIFT BASKETS on page 20

Our ANSWER BOOK for the Age of COVID Find it inside

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

A Mexican feast on 26th St. Welcoming and unassuming here are four genuine finds

Folks who are east-west bound in Berwyn are rarely unfamiliar with 26th St. Quieter than its Cermak Road counterpart, the throughfare feels more residential and pedestrian friendly.

Over the past several months we have noticed several welcoming Mexican restaurants tucked on 26th Street. We just could not resist checking out a quartet of these quaint establishments.

We were enchanted with the Caldo de Cameron offered by Tacos Y Salsa, 6346 W. 26th St., when we visited the restaurant in September and have been thinking Food Writer about that shrimp soup ever since — it was love at first spoonful. No exploration of Mexican fare on 26th St. would be complete without a return visit to the unassuming restaurant helmed by Ms. Laura Guerrero, a fierce and inspirational woman.

Tacos y Salsa is a local favorite for authentic Mexican fare and their piping hot Flautas de pollo came four to an order with rice, beans, guacamole, and sour cream. Our taster em-

MELISSA ELSMO

phatically dubbed them the “best flautas” he had ever tasted. From there we moved on to chicken soup. Served with warm corn tortillas, it features three pieces of bone-in chicken in a broth brimming with chunks of zucchini and carrot. Assorted garnishes, including onion, cilantro, rice, dried red chilies, and limes make the soup memorable and customizable.

The tiny and mighty, Nuevo Poncitlan, 6322 W. 26th St., was the busiest stop of the bunch when we dropped by during lunch. The restaurant drew a diverse crowd including police officers and families to their carryout counter.

Reviewers recommend their burritos as the best in the area. We snagged a chicken burrito with a side of rice and beans and a steak torta for good measure. The burrito boasted a flavorful shredded chicken in a fresh flour tortilla with lettuce, tomato and cheese. The straightforward offering is exactly what burrito lovers crave.

We headed to Los Corrales, 6713 W. 26th St., in search of a street food inspired taco. Any proper Mexican food exploration would be incomplete without a taste of tacos al pastor.

Inspired by the spit-roasted shawarma dishes that influenced Mexican cuisine in the early 1900’s, “the shepherd’s taco” is a beloved Mexican-Lebanese fusion dish. Charred bits are the best part of the flavorful marinated orangehued pork that stars in Los Corrales tacos al pastor.

And just when we thought we’d had our fill, we discovered gorditas and fajitas and tacos (oh my) at Torres Fresh Market, 6227 W. 26th St. We never would have known about the tiny taqueria tucked into a grocery store had we not been tipped off by Berwyn resident and realtor, Patrick Washington while picking up from another 26th St. location.

In addition to snagging several tacos at Washington’s suggestion, we also selected the chicken fajita plate, a steak

Homestyle Mexican soup at its finest — Tacos Y Salsa makes a memorable chicken soup with an array of garnishes.

Six tortillas, rice and beans accompany the chicken fajita meat at Torres Fresh Market. torta and house-made beef gorditas. Every dish remained piping hot while we traveled home and the fajita plate may have looked unassuming, but the boldly flavored meat was a 26th St. standout. Each taco was more satisfying than the next and the gordita — a thick corn tortilla pocket filled with beef — proved to be a filling and tasty lunch selection. Torres Fresh Market is a notable place to source a memorable meal and you can do some grocery shopping, too. *All dishes were ordered for carry-out and plated at home. all photos by Melissa Elsmo

The chicken burrito from Nuevo Poncitlan is a satisfying and filling meal.

A quartet of Torres tacos — chicken, steak, beef and pork — each as flavorful as the next.

The flautas de pollo from Tacos Y Salsa are crispy and delicious. The mild dish can handle a little heat from their house-made salsas.

Spit roasted pork with pineapple essences needs little more than cilantro and onions to make a memorable bite at Los Corrales.

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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‘A Promised Land’

arguments, and data points. This isn’t laziness: ’ve been thinking a lot lately about instituit’s entirely rational. Controversy is exhausttions. As vital and important as they are ing to our cognitive faculties.” to our civilized lives, what happens when This insight from Hayes is how I’ve come to they themselves constitute the threat to understand Barack Obama, whose new memour collective survival? Or the main imoir, A Promised Land, I’m currently reading. pediments to our collective flourishing?

Obama’s presidency happened, I believe, at Crisis is how societies indicate that insti(or perhaps even signified) an important tiptutions have met their moments of reckonping point — the moment our country entered ing, when they must either be remade or replaced. Right now, we’re in a moment of full stop into the current crisis of trust. manifold crises that might all boil down to In crises, leaders always must choose and in one meta-crisis, which we may call a crisis existential crises, the choice is almost always of trust. zero sum. Confronted with a choice between Truth, after all, is built on trust. We trust, institutional reform and radical reformation, for instance, that experts — scientists, Obama — driven by his pre-eminent optimism Commentary engineers, doctors, teachers — generally in the American people and his deep faith in operate in good faith and that the knowledge the value of consensus (a faith that was not they advance is based on fact. After all, the world is big altogether misplaced) — chose the former. and complex. We can’t possibly know everything in it at Because of Obama’s decision, this country may have all times. If we’re to make some sense of the world, we either averted even greater catastrophe or missed an need people who specialize in parts of it and we need to opportunity for a glorious and necessary rebirth. We will trust what they say to be true — at least on the whole (of never know. course, there are always bad faith, incompetent actors in I won’t belabor you with specifics. Please visit the Book every field).

Table and buy the memoir. And if you’re something of “A huge part of what we know rests on the foundation a radical progressive, like me, knowing this about the of consensus: if everyone agrees on something, it’s probformer president will perhaps make for a less frustrating ably true,” Chris Hayes writes in his essential Twilight read. of the Elites: America After Meritocracy.

But I also mention Obama, alas, by way of think“This is how we ‘know’ gravity exists, that there are 50 ing about the dilemma that must have faced outgoing states in the union, and that the earth orbits the sun and District 200 Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams five years ago, as not the other way around,” he writes. she stepped into an institution that was experiencing its “But in our shared political and social life, consensus own reckoning. is far more elusive, if not impossible,” Hayes continues.

Oak Park and River Forest High School, after all, was “Choose nearly any important public issue — the longan institution that flat-out failed generations of Black term solvency of Social Security, the effect of taxes on kids, if we’re to be blunt about it. I will never forget heargrowth, the importance to student performance of merit ing one Black parent say that OPRF almost ruined her pay for teachers — and you will find smart, well-credenchild’s righteous mind, so much so that the boy felt the tialed, and energetic advocates arguing for mutually exneed to attend a historically Black university, as a course clusive positions. In this way, the voter is asked to referee correction. a series of contests for which he or she has absolutely no Like Obama, Pruitt-Adams was confronted with the independent expertise.” nearly impossible responsibility of both being a good fisThat’s why political parties are so important, Hayes cal steward of an institution that, from the standpoint of explains. They take on the “informational burden” of its Black students, had become fundamentally corrupt, responsible citizenship. The party “constrains the set and also flirting with catastrophe by radically reforming of people among whom one looks for consensus. As a said institution for the sake of equity.

Democrat, you can simply look to Democratic consensus Fortunately, for all of its flaws, Oak Park is not a microon an issue and be relatively confident that it syncs up cosm of the United States. Here, I believe, the consensus with your own opinion.” is racial equity (in poetry if not in prose); here, I don’t But our current era is one in which partisan affiliathink the truth of OPRF’s lapsed history is in serious tion has dramatically weakened, with an ever-increasing dispute, and any would-be superintendent of D200 would number of voters now identifying as independents, with have a governing mandate, an expectation, imbued by no political home. most of Oak Park’s residents, to govern with the school’s Without “an organized party platform to look to for historic failure of its Black students front of mind. guidance in forming opinions about complex issues, And because of this local consensus, Pruitt-Adams was so-called independents are naturally inclined to seek out allowed the freedom to attempt to bring about something some sort of general agreement to point the way,” which approximating institutional reformation. Time will tell is why the concept of “bipartisanship” is “so reliably where those efforts lead. popular among a polity increasingly alienated from Unfortunately, the first Black president’s governing political parties.” mandate was not to center Black suffering, but to coddle People value bipartisanship, Hayes writes, “not fragile whites; to prudently manage institutional corrupbecause they like the substance of what bipartisanship tion; to harness a nation suspended in a fallen state, havproduces, but because it reduces the cognitive stress that ing tripped while trying to avoid confronting the fallout partisan disagreement creates.” from its original sin.

Bipartisanship allows the public to “off-load the burAnd that’s the real tragedy of “A Promised Land.” den of having to choose between competing narratives, CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

MICHAEL ROMAIN

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175 Oak Parkers test positive for COVID-19 in past week

Five resident deaths reported at Berkeley Nursing

By JAMES KAY Staff Writer

The COVID-19 related deaths of five residents of the Berkeley Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 6909 North Ave., were reported this week by the Oak Park Department of Public Health. The residents, four women and one man, ranged in age from 58 to 90.

The village’s report placed the deaths at Berkeley between Nov. 6 and Nov. 20 but noted that the cases had not been reported “when they occurred.” Since the beginning of the pandemic in March, Berkeley has had 46 residents test positive for COVID-19, 11 resident deaths and four staff cases.

COVID-19 continued to make its way through Oak Park last week as 175 residents tested positive since Nov. 18, according to the public health department. With the latest cases, Oak Park has had 1,521 residents test positive for COVID-19 since March 18, when the OPDPH started reporting cases.

River Forest had 24 residents test positive for COVID-19 over this past week. The village reported 20 new cases on Nov. 22, the highest single-day total it has had since the pandemic started.

According to Northwestern University’s COVID-19 database, Oak Park’s 14-day rolling average positivity rate is at 8.15 percent while River Forest is at 9.81 percent (as of Nov. 24).

Since the start of the pandemic, other long-term care facilities in Oak Park have reported both positive tests for residents and staff. Brookdale of Oak Park has had nine residents test positive for COVID-19 along with 18 staff members. They have had one resident death, according to the village’s website.

Belmont Village of Oak Park had one staffer test positive for COVID-19 this week, totaling 19 staff cases overall since March 18. Belmont also has also had six resident cases and four resident deaths. Oak Park Arms has had six resident and four staff cases while one resident has died. Oasis of Oak Park has had 23 resident cases, 11 staff cases and 12 resident deaths.

Cook County’s Director of Communications, Natalia Derevyanny, announced on Nov. 23 the county has had 6,241 COVID-19 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

Nanotechnology: What is it and Why is it Important?

Monday, Nov. 30, 1:30, Virtually with the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association In easy to understand language, explore the complex topic of nanotechnology, which is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular and supramolecular scale. Dr. Tolou Shokuhfar, Associate Professor and Director of the In-Situ Nanomedicine Laboratory, UIC Department of Bioengineering, will focus on smart and multifunctional nanobiomaterials for enhancing human health. Free, members; $15, suggested donation for non-members. Register: nineteenthcentury.org

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BIG WEEK November 25 - December 2

Thanksgiving Dinner Party Thursday, Nov. 26, 6 to 8 p.m., Zoom with West Suburban/Weiss Hospital After enjoying a holiday feast, bring your beverage and dessert for a fun, casual evening of celebration. Free. Register: 844-776-9733

Antiracist Book Group: “How to Be an Antiracist”

Living History Project

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., Virtually with the Oak Park Public Library and Austin Branch of the Chicago Public Library Join others in discussing the book by Ibram X. Kendi. “How to Be an Antiracist is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society.” Available through Media on Demand/Libby. Group meets monthly. Register: oppl.org/calendar.

Through Dec. 9, Mondays and Wednesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Virtually with the Oak Park Public Library Youth in grades 6 through 12 learn about the histories of social movements in the U.S. while developing youth leadership skills, such as cultivating social and critical thinking skills, developing research skills and gaining public speaking experience. Facilitated by longtime social justice and human rights activist Billy Brooks. Register for each date individually: oppl.org/calendar

COVID Anxiety: Helping Your Kids Do the Impossible During Online Learning Register now for Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Virtually with National Alliance for Mental Illness Metro Suburban As children navigate online learning during the pandemic, anxiety may manifest in many ways. Dr. Erin Terada and Madison Hewitt, LCSW, will provide an overview of anxiety related to the impact on social and academic environments, highlight the differences between normal anxiety and clinically-relevant anxiety, provide parents with strategies for helping their children adapt to change and anxiety-related behavioral issues. Free. Also on Sunday, Dec. 6, 1:30 p.m. Register: eventbrite.com/o/national-alliance-on-mental-illnessmetro-suburban-affiliate-3180311428

Learn Self Massage Thursday, Nov. 26, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Zoom with West Suburban/Weiss Hospital Discover ancient Chinese acupoint therapy. Mei-Lin Chang will guide a morning massage routine, sharing techniques to heal your own body. She draws from a guide written her Taiwanese mother. Have a wet hand towel to sanitize your hands. Free. Also, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. Register: westsuburbanmc.com/about-us/classes-and-events.

Animal Care League (ACL) Holiday Bazaar Shop for baked goods, holiday items, donate through the giving tree, try your luck at the online raffle and purchase ACL apparel all to support homeless pets.

Bake sale – order online through Sunday, Nov. 29.

Bazaar shopping and raffle – Browse selected items online starting Monday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 5. In-person shopping is Friday, Dec. 4, 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wear your mask and be prepared to wait in line. Pickup online bake sale, bazaar merchandise and winning raffle items Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1003 Garfield St., Oak Park.

Medicare Prescription Plan Enrollment Help Up to Dec. 7, with Oak Park Township Senior Services’ Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Counselors Seniors and individuals with disabilities who would like assistance on evaluating and changing prescription plans, can meet with a SHIP Counselor to review existing coverage and select a drug plan to meet each individuals’ needs. Options include changing from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan; changing from a Medicare Advantage plan to original Medicare; joining, dropping or switching Medicare Part D drug plans; or switch Medicare Advantage plans. Schedule an appointment: 708-383-8060.

Dancing at a Distance: From the Blood View on Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo and Momenta’s webpage See the latest release choreographed and performed

by Julia Cox. Momenta of Oak Park is creating a digital dance video series for these times, which takes dancers to different parts of town. View on social pages or here: momentadances.org/dancing-at-a-distance

Celebration of Stars Monday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. to Friday, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m., Virtually with WSSRA Celebrate the stars of the West Suburban Special Recreation Association during the Season of Giving with a virtual benefit, including Shooting Stars Silent Auction, Holiday Stars Raffle, Holiday Donations and more. View auction items, register and more: wssra.net

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Tough moment for OPRF superintendent to retire

OPRF inched forward, to the fter decades of dithering over profound issues of left, sideways and in every other racial inequity at Oak contortion to make hardly any Park and River Forest headway on race and equity, I High School, the stars am deeply worried about just aligned these past several years how fragile is the coalition to with a superintendent and substantively tackle this issue. school board finally fully in In her time at the helm of the sync on this complex and seemdistrict — and with extraoringly intractable challenge. dinarily strong backing from I’ve been worried now for a single-minded school board some while about the coming — Pruitt-Adams has crafted a April election for the District strategic plan around equity; 200 school board. There will be built consensus on an expansive multiple seats open almost cerequity policy which demands tainly as incumbents step away. that all decisions be considered And the progressive energy in town seems from an equity perspective; remade disto have shifted to the race for the Oak Park cipline policies that were stacked against Village Board. It has been oddly quiet on young black men; restocked the administrathe OPRF front, with only tion with hires focused on former board member Fred equity, including trading Arkin announcing his plan in a failed principal for a to seek a seat in 2021. new post that includes the A month from now the words equity and success board race will be made in one phrase; elevated plainer as filing for ballot the voices of students, positions starts Dec. 14 and specifically young women ends Dec. 21. of color; and put in motion Then came the news a plan that would detrack late last week that Supt. freshman year in a bold Joylynn Pruitt-Adams move to boost black and is retiring at the end of brown students into honthis screwy school year, ors classes. planning to return to St. She has done it while Louis, where her husband bringing along a traditionand grown family have ally balky Faculty Senate/ remained for much of her union.

And she has done five-year tenure here. it while steering the boldest construcThis is a loss. A profound loss. A dangertion project in 50 years off the shoals of ous loss. incessant pool talk and focusing instead on No one would begrudge her decision. physical remakes that foster new educaBeing superintendent of OPRF during a tional and social spaces for students. time of intense change — change that the It’s no wonder she is worn out. superintendent largely proThe reality, though, is that all pelled — is more than daunting. of this boldness is largely still This is a hard job with many in the teed-up stage. Has the constituencies inside that timid culture of this place been fortress on Scoville Avenue and changed?

Unlikely.

Is freshman across Oak Park and River Fordetracking locked in? No, it is est. There are tensions over race not. This might have been the and equity; gender and equity; school year when, with police over taxes and finance; over officers out and social worka major construction project; ers ascending, the restorative over empowering students while JOYLYNN PRUITT-ADAMS justice aspects of discipline took supporting faculty; and now, D200 Superintendent hold. We’ll never know because the hopeless tension over how of COVID. Intense budget presto teach and connect with kids sures from COVID may also during COVID. derail further phases of construction.

And then, there’s the tension that is the And then there is the election in April stand-in for all the other tensions when you and the hiring of a new superintendent. All want to pretend it is not what you’re really unknowns. All unknowable. thinking about: building a damned swimming pool.

We’re poised for progress. We’re simultaHaving watched for so many years as neously braced for regression.

DAN HALEY

No one would begrudge

her decision. Being superintendent of OPRF during a time of intense change — change that the superintendent largely propelled — is more than daunting.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ART BEAT

Holiday shows bring cheer to viewers and performers Don’t give up on Christmas performances just yet!

By MICHELLE DYBAL Arts Editor

In a season of arts traditions brought low

by COVID, several arts groups have been tirelessly preparing to ensure not all traditions are lost this season. Being able to be together in some way, listening to holiday music, or taking in a favorite annual show or new production may bring just enough holiday cheer to audiences, and those who

NEXT WEEK The Journal’s complete Holiday Events Guide make it all possible, to get through this COVID Christmas and other December holidays.

“So many positives have come out of this situation,” said Erin Payton, executive director of the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association. The group has continued their Monday Enrichment Series online and Payton is receiving feedback that, while people are feeling isolated, this provides connection and is how attendees are now receiving culture and arts.

“During the holidays, people feel isolated even more,” Payton said. “To give them cheer during the holidays, we’re adding an extra level of connection.

To provide that cheer, Nineteenth Century is presenting The Three Baritones who will sing holiday classics from opera to Broadway on Dec. 14. The performance is open to association members and non-members.

Payton said there is “so much interest this year” in their programming and since they can have audiences of 100 at their virtual events, it is equivalent to in-person attendance of days past.

Through the magic of theater, audiences can travel to early 17th century England where Shakespeare’s contemporaries are attempting to write a play, “Christmas Comes but Once a Year,” courtesy of Oak Park Festival Theater (OPFT). The virtual show of the same name, penned by George Zahora and directed by Barbara Zahora, OPFT artistic director, is live streaming on Dec. 12.

George’s comedy also includes scenes at a present-day university in the UK with academics with differing agendas.

While OPFT did not put on summer or fall plays, this production is a way to reconnect.

“Like many theaters out there, we want to stay in touch with our audience and our supporters…” Barbara said. “We want them to know we’re still here and thank them with

something fun that will take their minds off of some of the things they’ve been dealing with all year long.”

At Oak Park and River Forest High School, another virtual theater experience is being planned, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play.

“I actually didn’t choose the show because it was a holiday play. I chose it for the story, which I think resonates so much today,” said Linda Burns, play director and OPRF teacher. “It’s about how we need to take care of each other as a community, that the most important contributions we make are in our personal connections with each other, and that, ‘No one is a failure who has friends,’ as Clarence says at the end to George.”

The show will live stream on Dec. 11 and 12 and includes “an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage” performed as a 1940s radio broadcast.

“The current state of the world is why it is so important for students to continue to participate in the arts, even in Zoom. …,” Burns said. “With the isolation and disconnection they currently have from school, I think this outlet is particularly important for them right now.”

Students through adults are finding that connection in what is probably the most ambitious holiday production locally – Sing We Joyous. In its 15th year, this Christmas show, which is usually held at First United Church, Oak Park, is pulling out all the stops for a virtual show in 2020. The recording premiers on Dec. 12 and will be available for viewing afterwards.

Created by Bill Chin, executive producer and music director, and directed by his wife Beth Albrecht, performers include the Oriana Singers, City Voices, Pro Musica Youth Chorus – all groups where Chin is the artistic director, the OPRF Marching Huskies Drumline, the Sing We Joyous Orchestra and other musicians. Faithful fans will find the familiar sing-alongs and annual humorous twist to the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”

One new addition is a shadow puppet telling of “The Gift of the Magi.” Beth’s daughter, Gracie Albrecht, designed and engineered the puppets over a couple of months.

Much of the show’s magic takes place in the Albrecht/Chin’s Oak Park home.

“We are in full Sing We Joyous mode at our house,” Albrecht said in mid-October.

“We call the attic the Music Factory and our basement has become a video recording studio. In fact, yesterday we had a dozen Pro Musica kids recording video on our porch during a thunderstorm for ‘Mr. Santa’ and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. I love, love, love making this show.”

Mouse costumes are sewn in the dining room; spoof commercials are recorded in the living room. While the home is production central, Chin said the show is a gift to the entire community.

“I’m gratified and humbled to know that

Photo provided

RESOURCEFUL: Bill Chin and family work on a shadow puppet version of “The Gift of the Magi” for Sing We Joyous. (Left) Willa Marie records a spoof commercial for the show in her Oak Park home.

Sing We Joyous is an annual tradition for a lot of people in our audience,” he said. “It’s an annual tradition for us, too, so we wanted to keep it going, and provide a musical gift to all of us. And by all of us, I’m including the performers, for whom this is as much a tradition as it is for others.”

“We also employ professional musicians, and we wanted to be sure that we were able to continue providing them with sorely needed income in these difficult times,” Chin said.

Barbara Zahora agreed that performing artists need a boost right now.

“For the people we’ve been able to give a little bit of artistic expression to, they’ve been immensely grateful,” she said. “Speaking for myself as an actor and director, it means the world because now we’re so limited; we’re so shut down. It’s easy to get rather hopeless about that. …”

“It’s been very hard on actors,” said Zahora. “In addition to being unemployed, they just feel isolated and literally in a box by themselves. If we do some of these [virtual performances], we’re still in boxes, we’re still limited, but we’re able to connect with each other and connect in a small way with the people who come to see us all the time.”

For show information and tickets, check out the following: The Three Baritones, Dec. 14, 1:30 p.m., nineteenthcentury.org; “Christmas Comes but Once a Year,” Dec. 12, 7 p.m., OakParkFestival.com; “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play,” Dec. 11 and 12, 6 p.m., oprfhs.org/theatre/current-theater-season; and Sing We Joyous, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m., oriana.org. For other virtual holiday shows, such as the Sounds Good Choir and Pro Musica Winter Concerts, see the Journal’s Holiday Event Guide in the Dec. 2 issue.

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

RF’s D90 Caucus endorses 3 incumbents for 4 seats

This year’s cochairs say they pushed transparency

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

River Forest’s District 90 Board of Education (BOE) Caucus has officially nominated three incumbents for the April 2021 election: Stacey Williams, Nicole Thompson and Katie Avalos. Their three seats plus that of Judy Deogracias, who is not planning to run again, will be open.

In an email, this year’s chairs Maggy Clancy and Beth Vlerick described the caucus as “a River Forest tradition run by residents for residents.”

They added, “It is not an elected board holding any kind of official stature. Any residents at any time could host a similar caucus or information session for candidates at any time – it just takes a lot of time and work.”

Because candidates must reach a certain threshold to be endorsed and only three candidates reached that level, the fourth open seat does not carry an endorsement. Six candidates took part in the process this year.

In an interview, Clancy said finding delegates that represented a variety of experiences and backgrounds was difficult. They actively sought delegates, through Facebook

and PTO meetings, online and in letters sent home to school families. They wanted a good mix of people, and that mix, Clancy said, included skeptics of the caucus process.

The caucus consists of two co-chairs, 19 voting delegates, and 2 non-voting teacher advisors.

Roshni Ricchetti, who served on this year’s caucus, said she thinks she was chosen as a delegate this year because she’s “ornery” and a natural skeptic. While she enjoyed the entire process of serving on the caucus, she said there are improvements that need to be made.

“It was a wonderful process, but the whole community would benefit from being privy to the process,” said Ricchetti. It’s the privacy of the caucus that, historically, has been an issue for some critics, Ricchetti included.

For example, the caucus does not release the names of candidates who participated but weren’t endorsed; the names of the endorsed are only shared if they already indicated they were ready to go public.

Part of the secrecy is due to the fact that the caucus wants to protect the privacy of those interviewing. Some potential candidates, said Clancy and Vlerick, are merely exploring the possibility of running. Talking to the delegates and going through the interview process is a significant way for them to learn about what it would take to run for a seat on the board. But those peo-

ple don’t necessarily want to go public with their decision to run; some ultimately decide not to do so.

“It is our intention to be on the side of all the candidates and support how they want to communicate outcomes and level of participation,” Clancy and Vlerick said.

The interviews are also private, as are the delegates’ votes, which are anonymously cast.

Ricchetti finds the secrecy of the interview process frustrating. “The interviews themselves offer an enormous amount of clarity into why or why not people voted for someone,” Ricchetti said.

But the biggest issue Ricchetti finds with the process is that when it’s all said and done, the caucus merely endorses three candidates but doesn’t say why. Not enough information comes along with the endorsements, said Ricchetti, so the list of names is essentially meaningless.

Because the votes are cast anonymously by the delegates after private interviews, there’s no easy way for the caucus to formulate an explanation for its endorsements, which don’t always reflect the opinions of all the delegates.

Ricchetti, who will serve as a co-chair for the caucus during the next election cycle, said that ideally she’d change this by splitting the process into two parts. A private panel could occur before the filing deadline.

That would allow potential candidates to be

interviewed and questioned and to ask questions back “to get an idea of what it takes to run.”

The actual delegate vote, though, should come later, with public interviews so voters can understand the endorsements.

“I want the [caucus] vote to be delayed until after the filing deadline so that anyone who’s officially throwing their hat into the ring has the opportunity to then be interviewed in front of the panel, but that needs to be public,” Ricchetti said.

Clancy and Vlerick agree that there needs to be more transparency in caucus proceedings, but they struggled with an outdated constitution, a guideline that goes back, they said, at least 20 years. And there has been very little documentation of the process from year to year, something Clancy is actively working to change.

As a co-chair this year, when Clancy received the material, including a copy of the constitution, she and Vlerick reviewed it in terms of what’s relevant today.

In the end, Clancy and Vlerick said the process isn’t perfect, but it’s still an extremely useful experience for those involved.

“We’re lucky to be living in a community where we have a lot of people who care and want the best for River Forest,” Clancy said.

“How they get there may be a little different.

But it’s all valid. And this is just a way for us to support that process.”

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation One day several years ago, a candidate running for a local school board seat said she got involved in local school politics, in large part, because of an article she’d read in Forest Park Review. Moments like that are why I work for Growing Community Media. We have impact.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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Oak Park chooses a5 to market business campaign Staff to begin drafting a contractual agreement

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Village Board of Trustees has chosen the firm a5 Branding & Digital over Prescott Group to lead its business support campaign. The board made the decision during a Nov. 23 meeting, where Trustee Deno Andrews praised both proposals as being “both strong” and “both well thought out.”

The a5 proposal came to the board with the approval of the small business taskforce, created to help support the business community during COVID-19. The taskforce consists of local business owners, members of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation and Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce personnel.

“There was a strong consensus that the village choose and fund the a5 proposal,” Andrews said of the taskforce, which met prior to the meeting to discuss both proposals. While Andrews and Trustee Simone Boutet represent the board of trustees on the taskforce, they did not participate in the taskforce’s decision to recommend the a5 proposal over Prescott Group’s.

“That consensus was strictly the busines-

sowners on the taskforce, independent of our opinions,” said Andrews. “Simone and I felt strongly that, if we’re going to have a vote tonight here at the board table, then we shouldn’t necessarily have a vote at the taskforce.”

Boutet stated that, while both firms have Oak Park roots and relationships with the village, a5 provides the branding and digital marketing that the business community wants, whereas Prescott Group is more of a public relations and communications firm.

Andrews told the board he preferred the a5 proposal for its flexibility, timing and for being more cost effective.

“There’s a significant difference in cost, where a5 is much, much, much cheaper,” said Boutet.

Both proposals included estimated budgets. The Prescott Group estimated budget had a total of cost of $105,575. Contributing to that number were the costs to design and launch a website, the costs for marketing and advertising, as well as the cost to carry out novel shopping programs, including contests, draws, gift cards and buy-one-getone-free promotions.

While a5 included a range of costs on the high end, the total amount equaled $45,250.

That number is inclusive of marketing, a5 fees, website design and launch. A5’s budget went into less detail than Prescott Group’s.

“I felt strongly that, if we’re going to have a vote tonight here at the board table, then we shouldn’t necessarily have a vote at the taskforce.”

DENO ANDREWS Trustee

According to Boutet, there was also room to negotiate lower costs with a5, given that a5 President John Harris lives in Oak Park.

“They said they would discount their fees,” said Boutet.

While the board agreed to choose a5 as the provider to create and execute a marketing plan to promote and support local businesses, the board opted to cap the amount able to be spent on the project at $30,000 with the option for staff to invest another $10,000 if deemed necessary.

The board chose a5 in a unanimous vote.

According to Village Manager Cara Pavlicek, staff will draft an agreement with a5 and negotiate not-to-exceed amounts.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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Oak Park hears outdoor dining concepts Restaurants need help in the winter months

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

outside restaurants to give more space for outdoor tables. The rented barricades have cost the village an amount approaching $70,000, according to Pavlicek. The village could not purchase the barricades due to lack of storage space.

Trustee Jim Taglia liked the innovative thinking behind the winter concepts, likening them to Chicago’s annual outdoor Christkindlmarket.

The ability to decorate the outdoor spaces resonated with Trustee Simone Boutet, who felt that people would be more inclined to eat outdoors if the dining areas were “fes-

The Oak Park Village Board of Trustees were presented with potential winter outdoor dining concepts during its Nov. 23 meeting. As Governor J.B. Pritzker has once again ordered the cessation of indoor services at restaurants and bars due to the high rate of COVID-19 cases, outdoor dining has become even more important — but winter weather presents obvious challenges.

“We’re trying to figure out how to do outdoor dining the right way,” said Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb.

At the request of village staff, Oak Park-based Aria Group Architects was asked to develop some feasible ideas to continue outdoor dining in winter. While Zoning Board of Appeals mem- ARTI WALKERPEDDAKOTLA ber Jim Lencioni presented the Trustee concepts during the meeting, he did so in his capacity as president of Aria Group and not on behalf of the zoning board.

“The restaurateurs in our village are re- tive and pretty.”

Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla stated ally struggling trying to figure out how they’re going to economically survive the she understood the importance of supporting local businesses but wondered if the pandemic,” said Lencioni. money could be spent to “help people who “The idea is to somehow provide some aid are really hurting because of lost income,” to some of the restaurateurs who want to do outdoor dining,” said Lencioni. “I think perhaps through rental or utility bill assissome of them feel like if they could make tance.

“There’s a lot of people hurting right now, outdoor dining work with their carryout, it especially going into the holiday season,” could help them survive, as well as potensaid Walker-Peddakotla. tially hang on to more employees.”

Pavlicek stated staff remains cognizant The ideas presented by Aria Group range of the hardships people are facing and exfrom attractive individual dining huts to plained that the majority of the village’s open-concept scaffolding structures and carpenter-built wooden frames with wind Community Development Block Grant funds went toward assistance for low- and screens.

Lencioni’s presentation included po- moderate-income households.

“The restaurant industry itself in 2019 tential heating and furniture options for restaurants, as well as ways in which they generated pretty close to $2 million worth could decorate the outdoor dining spaces to of our sales tax,” said Pavlicek, adding that restaurants were the highest sales tax revmake them festive for holidays.

Village Manager Cara Pavlicek explained enue producers in 2019, generating more the village needs to make further modifica- revenue than grocery stores.

Trustee Dan Moroney and Abu-Taleb, tions to outdoor dining as sidewalk tables himself a restaurant owner, wanted the could hinder the removal of snow. village to only provide the guidelines and “While we had anticipated ending all of the parklet and sidewalk dining at the end of Oc- infrastructure for outdoor dining in winter, tober, we have continued that throughout this with restaurants covering the costs of furmonth,” said Village Manager Cara Pavlicek. niture, heating and outdoor dining necessiThe village of Oak Park began implement- ties.

Village staff will continue to develop a ing initiatives in spring to boost outdoor dining opportunities, including streamlin- strategy for outdoor winter dining and reing the permitting process for sidewalk din- turn to the village board with a more deing, as well as placing orange barricades tailed plan.

“There’s a lot of people hurting right now, especially going into the holiday season.”

Why I work at Growing Community Media, and why I’m asking you to make a donation I value that at GCM we write and design content that is relevant to the local community.

We are not influenced by large corporations who cater content that has underlying motives. As designers, we have the freedom to create imagery that we feel showcases our community in a way that truly represents the spirit of the area.

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Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation Food writing has become especially valuable in recent months and GCM supports my tireless desire to bring attention to the restauranteurs, chefs, and artisans who form the spine of our local food scene.

Humanizing the people who nourish our community is essential in times of both struggle and triumph.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation Community journalism matters. While large media organizations place focus almost entirely on national news, what happens at home matters just as much.

If there’s no local newspaper, what can citizens rely on to stay informed about their schools, their elected leaders, their businesses? Every community deserves access to local news and that’s why I work at Growing Community Media.

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Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation For me, shining a light on the arts and the people involved in their creation – musicians, visual artists, authors, singers, dancers – is only part of the story. Getting to know details, like all the ways they are adapting during the pandemic, and then being able to share that is a great feeling.

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OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Grant shines light on Black-owned businesses

Livisible initiative grants $5K to Black businesses

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Kisa Marx, owner of Kisakidcare Home Day Care, which she runs out of her Oak Park home, has operated her business for 11 years and for all 11 years, she’s been renting, which has left her at the whims of landlords.

“We’ve moved several times because a landlord moved out of state or something had to be done to their house, because they had to sell it,” Marx said in a recent interview. “So we don’t want to be renters, anymore.”

Marx and her husband came a step closer to purchasing their own property to both live in and operate the home daycare business after Kisakidcare was selected as one of two recipients of a $5,000 grant created

by Reesheda Graham Washington, the owner of Live Cafe and RGW Consulting.

The grants are the result of Washington’s Livisible initiative, which she created “to support Black-owned small businesses in Oak Park and Austin and connect them with information, resources and community support,” according to a statement.

The School of Rock pledged $5,000 in matching funds toward the grants and com-

munity members also donated funds.

For Liz Abunaw, the owner/operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market, an Austin-based business that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to customers throughout the West Side and west suburbs, the grant will help her fund a brick-and-mortar grocery store in Austin.

“We’re still a ways from opening, but every dollar matters,” Abunaw said. “The money will go toward helping us acquire a site.”

Abunaw said that while she hopes to build a brick-and-mortar grocery store, 40 Acres Market is more than about food.

“Yes, I want to turn a profit and I want a sustainable business that employs people and that I can make a living from, but if it was solely about getting food to people we’d never have a store. I’d run this as a nonprofit,” she said.

“But I understand what a grocery store means to a community. I’m not saying a grocery store solves every problem, but it builds community infrastructure. It is social infrastructure. It’s a place where people form bonds with neighbors, it increases property values, it enhances neighborhood walkability, it improves health outcomes. It’s all these things that come along with it,” she said.

Marx said that she’s received Paycheck Protection Program funding, which helped keep her business afloat, but the Livisible grant was altogether different.

“There are people who are striving and who are growing their businesses who just need a little leeway,” Marx said.

“Grants like this are perfect for us,” she added. “We’re already out here doing the work and not trying to look for charity and won’t take from people who need it more than we do, but this will help us continue to climb and flourish. So I’m thankful we had the opportunity to benefit from something like this.”

SHINE BRIGHT: Kisa Marx, left, and Liz Abunaw, below right, were the recipients of Reesheda Graham Washington’s (below, left) Livisible grants that were distributed earlier this year.

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

INSIDE REPORT

Band District 97 releases animated music video Progressive rock group District 97 released an animated short last month to accompany their song, Ghost Girl. Jonathan Shang is the band’s drummer and executive producer of the video. It was created by award-wining animation filmmaker Christopher Kezelos.

Schang wrote the song with Leslie Hunt, American Idol Top Ten Female Finalists in 2007, also of District 97. Ghost Girl is from the band’s album Screens, which released Oct. 2019.

While in-person performances are on hold, Schang said the band is releasing a

Senior genealogy/memoir program A genealogy research and memoir writing series, led by River Forest Township, won the Innovative Senior Program of the Year from the Illinois Township Association of Senior Citizens Committee (ITASCC). The award was announced at a virtual ceremony earlier this month.

The series, held at the River Forest Public Library, was led by genealogical researcher and instructor Charlie Thomas. Fellow presenter Cathaleen Roach, the River Forest Township senior outreach coordinator at

Jeff Award for 16th Street Theater Show Loy A. Webb, Chicago-born playwright and theater journalist was recognized with a Jeff Award for New Work for her play “His Shadow,” which was produced by and premiered at 16th St. Theater in Berwyn in the fall of 2019.

16th Street Theater has announced a full season of plays for 2021, with a virtual Season Debut Kickoff on Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 p.m., to see excerpts from the plays and meet the playwrights. Sign up at 16thstreettheater.org.

Michelle Dybal, arts editor

Lake Street hits deadline As COVID-19 has done its best to diminish holiday spirit, Oak Parkers have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving even if it isn’t gatherings of family and friends.

Oak Park’s all-year-long Lake Street construction project will be completed just in time for Thanksgiving, with the removal of street barricades and a full reopening by end of day Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Thanksgiving was the planned for completion date for Lake Street renovation from the start of the project and thanks to this year’s agreeable November weather, construction crews are able to deliver on that wish.

Stacey Sheridan

the time, instructed participants on memoir writing, and the duo combined the two elements into one unique program.

ITASCC officials recognized the program for its focus on two separately popular areas and how closely connected they can be.

In addition, the ITASCC named Township Senior Services Director Pamela Mahn, who has been with senior services for almost 25 years and director for almost four, as its Senior Director of the Year.

Maria Maxham

concert experience, Screenplay, in March 2021 featuring a Screens performance played in Holland last year and other tracks.

They are currently recording remotely and writing songs for their next studio release and booked “tour dates for the latter half of 2021, including a return to Europe in September, and our first appearance in Italy.”

Schang grew up and currently lives in Oak Park. Before the pandemic, when he wasn’t on tour with District 97, he could be found at the Academy of Movement and Music accompanying dance classes.

Michelle Dybal, arts editor

Kaegi’s view of Madigan’s future as speaker

And Harmon’s an elector

In Monday’s Politico Illinois Playbook, Shia Kapos quotes Fritz Kaegi, the Oak Parker and Cook County Assessor, on Michael Madigan’s past and future as the speaker of the house in Illinois.

“This reflects a big change in what people in Illinois are expecting out of government,” said Kaegi, who defeated a machine-style politician two years ago. “Basically, we have one of the last old-school political machines in the country. Madigan’s a lineal descendant of that tradition and people don’t think it works. It has caused tremendous fiscal problems in the state.”

Oak Park’s other notable Dem, State Senate President Don Harmon, is also an at-large elector for Illinois in the Electoral College. Harmon joined the other electors from Illinois in a recent letter to Emily Murphy, the recalcitrant administrator of the federal General Services Administration, demanding that she recognize Joe Biden as the “apparent” winner of the presidential election. Such action would open the path to funding and permissions allowing a traditional presidential succession.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

GET INVOLVED THIS #GIVINGTUESDAY Every single person has the power to change the world.

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Grant secured to install geothermal system

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Pleasant Home to get sustainable upgrade

Thanks to a sizeable grant from the state of Illinois, the Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) has received necessary funding to install a geothermal heating and cooling system in the beautiful and Mills Park’s historic Pleasant Home, 217 Home Ave. “We couldn’t be happier,” said Diane Stanke, the park district’s marketing director.

The installation of a geothermal system will provide more sustainable heating and cooling for the 123-year-old mansion.

“We strive to be leaders in sustainability not only in the state of Illinois, but across the country in the parks and recreation industry,” said Stanke. “This is just another step forward.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the park district will receive $421,500 for the project, which is estimated to cost a total of $821,000. The funds were made available through the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program.

The remaining cost will be covered by the park district’s capital improvement budget.

A National Historic Landmark, Pleasant Home was designed by George H. Maher in 1897 as a family home. The park district acquired the mansion in 1939 and it became a popular venue for community events. For many decades it also housed the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest.

Pleasant Home was opened as a museum in 1990 with the creation of the Pleasant Home Foundation. While the park district owns the property, the foundation operates the museum.

Geothermal systems consist of a network of looped pipes that extend 500 feet below ground. The pipes are filled with a liquid,

similar to anti-freeze, that helps to transfer the ground temperature to the geothermal heat pump, which, in the case of Pleasant Home, will be installed in the basement.

“This grant will certainly allow both the Pleasant Home Foundation and the park district to do so much more at Pleasant Home,” said Stanke.

Due to the building’s advanced age, it has no air conditioning. As such, few events and programs are held in Pleasant Home during the summer. The installation of the geothermal system will keep the building cooler in times of hot weather, allowing for more summer events and programming.

“This is really a great project; it’s very exciting,” said Stanke.

The geothermal system will also keep the interior heated during winter, as well as help to preserve the building and its contents through more regulated temperature control.

“We’re going to be protecting it for many, many generations to come,” said Stanke.

The park district put in geothermal systems in the Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center in 2016 and in the addition at the Carrol Center in 2020 with the help of grants worth about $500,000 from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

Pleasant Home will be the next to get the geothermal treatment. Oak Park-based Architectural Consulting Engineers will handle the installation of its geothermal system, which will begin next fall and is expected to take six months to complete.

Architectural Consulting Engineers specializes in sustainable mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for historic buildings. It is the same firm that handled the installation of the geothermal system in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple on Lake Street in 2017.

“It’s very important and very exciting that we are able to do this with the help of the state of Illinois,” said Stanke.

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

13

Genes + Geography + Grace = Gratitude Phillip Jimenez, West Cook Y leader, on blessings

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Since 2014, Phil Jimenez has been CEO of West Cook YMCA in Oak Park. His resume includes vice president for Institutional Advancement, Lutheran Child and Family Services; president of San Miguel School, South Side of Chicago; and president and CEO of the National Museum of Mexican Art. When people applaud him for his achievements, for working hard and pulling himself up by his own bootstraps, he deflects their praise, giving much of the credit to “genes and geography.”

By genes, he means he had nothing to do with the genetic code his parents handed down to him. His native intelligence and other attributes are not products of his own efforts but gifts.

By geography, he means that he was raised partly in Forest Park and attended Grace Lutheran School in River Forest, locations where he could thrive. To use the imagery in the Parable of the Sower, his seed did not fall among thorns which choked it, or on the path where it got trampled, or on a rock where it couldn’t take root, but on good soil in a nurturing environment.

Comparing his life to the thousands of refugees with Hispanic surnames like his who are languishing in camps just across the Rio Grande, hoping against hope to be admitted to the U.S., he notes that many have similar IQs and talents. The main difference is the geographical bad luck of being born in Central and South American countries where violence and corruption made living intolerable.

Rev. Dean Leuking, his pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, said, “Phil Jimenez is the capable man he is today because of what

File photo

FEELING WHOLE AGAIN: Phillip Jimenez credits his mother for his values and his skills. he has gained from the skills and values derived from his mother, a woman with amazing strength and panache.”

After his father died when Phil was just 1, Sophie opened a wig-making shop and raised her family as a single parent.

“Many people,” Jimenez recalled, “would come into my mother’s salon [as] broken people. They had lost their hair because of cancer treatments or because they suffered from alopecia. She had a style about her that allowed her to connect with people. All I knew was that a person would walk in not whole, and when they left, they were feeling better. My mother put into my heart and mind this idea of being a person who helps people feel whole again.”

He graduated from the University of Wis-

consin in 1993 with a degree in political science, entertaining fantasies of becoming the first Latino mayor of Chicago, and then spent a year on his own working in Spain and exploring Europe where he was less religious.

“I always knew I had a strong faith, but I was probably more resistant to structured religion than I was to the concept of faith.

I wore a cross, so I always had that connection, but it was not always a screen I looked through intentionally.”

On returning to the U.S., Jimenez worked for Inland Steel, and three years into that job he was asked by the company to open an office in Mexico where he met his wifeto-be, Beatrice. They were married at Grace Lutheran in 2005.

As he prepared for marriage, he questioned what his career meant to him.

“Phil was a rising star at Inland Steel,” recalled Leuking. “While at home on break from his work in Mexico, he took me out to lunch and said, ‘Now that I’ve landed such a good job and am making lots of money, I’m finding it unsatisfying. I don’t want to chase dollars as the goal of my life.’”

“It was 2001,” Jimenez explained, “and I’m struggling whether to go into a nonprofit because I’m scared of how sacrificial a nonprofit would be.”

But he accepted the position of vice president for Institutional Advancement at Lutheran Child and Family Services which was at that time located in River Forest. Part of it was his experience at Grace Lutheran during his grade school years and reinforced by Bible studies there as an adult. He believes that God calls us to see our work not as a job or even a profession but as a vocation. Even more important was the witness his mother gave him.

“You have to understand,” he said, “I grew up very blessed. I am not the traditional Mexican immigrant. I had a private education. I lived in the suburbs. I had access to everything I needed. I had support systems that not all of us have when we move to a new country, so for me education and winning the geography and gene lottery were things that I can’t take credit for. So the idea here becomes, how do I dedicate my time to making the world a better place for others, which is what my mom got to do?

“From that perspective,” he added, “the greatest gift my mom transferred to me was about helping people without seeing it as a sacrifice. I never felt my mom sacrificed anything at what she did.”

Genes + geography + grace all added up to gratitude and a life devoted to making the world a better place.

It’s a good story to share as we approach our national day of thanksgiving.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Abu-Taleb, Moroney still undecided on race Date to file petitions nears

nounce his plans following this month’s U.S. presidential election.

By STACEY SHERIDAN “I wanted to wait until the Staff Reporter presidential election was over because it’s confusing when Seven people have started campaigning you’re campaigning for an elecfor the three open Oak Park village board tion in April when there’s an trustee seats while three people have thrown election in November,” he said. their hat into the ring for the village presi“And then now that that has dential race, but incumbents Mayor Anan passed, and it appears that we MAYOR ANAN ABU-TALEB Abu-Taleb and Trustee Dan Moroney still have a new president of the Unithaven’t determined if they intend to seek ed States, you know, it does open reelection this April. the door for me to make a decision.”

“I have not made any deciMoroney said he needs to have sions,” Abu-Taleb told Wedneshis family’s support in determinday Journal. ing whether he opts to seek reThe Oak Park village board is election or bows out from politiin the process of going through cal office. the staff recommended budget Amid an overtly stressful year, for the 2021 fiscal year, which acone incident in particular stands cording to Abu-Taleb, is his priout for Moroney and will likely mary focus at this time. factor into his decision-making.

Moroney, whose first term as In his interview with Wednestrustee ends this spring, is also day Journal, Moroney recalled not ready to announce his plans TRUSTEE DAN MORONEY the Aug. 25 virtual village board regarding the April election. meeting to discuss a resolution “I am discussing it with my to defund the Oak Park Police Department. family and determining what is the best de- Simultaneously a group of mostly teenagcision for my family,” Moroney told Wednes- ers, advocating for defunding, protested outday Journal. side the mayor’s home.

Moroney said he originally planned to anThe protest turned unruly after the reso-

lution failed to pass, when some teens smashed potted plants, tore up tomato cages, overturned patio furniture and threw eggs at the house.

“My kids have seen what happened to Anan’s home and they don’t want to see that happen to their home,” said Moroney.

The candidate petition filing period for the April 2021 election is just around the corner. Filing begins on Dec. 14 and ends Dec.

21. If he does decide to run for reelection, Moroney believes he will have no trouble collecting the required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot and submit his petition by the deadline.

“I’ve got well over 50 people who could probably get 10 signatures apiece, so I don’t see the signature requirement being too big of an obstacle for me,” said Moroney.

For candidates running as an independent, they need to collect roughly 458 valid petition signatures.

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15

D200 unveils draft hybrid learning plan Hybrid model not ‘learning as usual,’ D200 officials caution

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

During a regular school board meeting on Nov. 19, District 200 administrators unveiled a draft hybrid learning plan for the second semester that will govern how the district navigates in-person learning, assuming the number of COVID-19 cases drops to a level that will allow for students to return to classrooms.

Seeking to temper expectations, D200 officials insisted that even if students return to classrooms next semester, parents and community members shouldn’t expect anything resembling a return to the pre-pandemic normal.

“The goal of hybrid learning is not to provide the same type of learning we all knew before this pandemic started, when everybody was in full person,” said Greg Johnson, D200’s associate superintendent, during last week’s meeting.

“We won’t be able to go back to that until we are all, in fact, back in full person,” Johnson said. “The goal, rather, is to provide learning opportunities for kids struggling with remote learning whether academically, socially or emotionally. A hybrid experience allows students to have some personal connection with other students and to physically lay eyes on their teachers. Even if it isn’t the same as full in-person learning, this can be incredibly beneficial for some students.”

District officials did not give any hard dates for when students will return to inperson learning. They said that how soon hybrid learning becomes a reality depends

on metrics established with the guidance of county and local health departments.

Johnson said the second semester will begin Jan. 11. He said the earliest that hybrid classes might begin is Jan. 19, the day after Martin Luther King Day, “to allow our staff and families time to quarantine or at least limit their contacts after any holiday travels.”

Officials presented a chart that outlines the four stages of reopening, which range from full remote learning, which is where Oak Park and River Forest High School is now, to full in-person, which assumes that everything is essentially back to normal and COVID-19 has been effectively stamped out as a serious public health threat.

According to county and local health department thresholds, stage three, which is the hybrid learning stage, takes effect if the weekly cases per 100,000 people in Cook County is fewer than140, and cases in Oak Park and River Forest number fewer than 100 per 100,000; if the weekly positivity rate in the county is less than 5 percent and in Oak Park and River Forest is less than 6 percent; and if there are fewer than six cases at OPRF. At the time of the Nov. 19 meeting, there were 465 cases per 100,000 people in Cook County and 394 cases per 100,000 people locally, in Oak Park and River Forest, said Karin Sullivan, the district’s communications director. In addition, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the county was roughly 13 percent and roughly 10 percent in Oak Park and River Forest combined.

Johnson said that parents will have the opportunity to either opt in or opt out of the hybrid learning model in a survey that was scheduled to go out to them this week.

He said once students return to in-person learning on a partial basis, only 25 percent

of the population, or roughly 850 students, will be allowed in the building at any one time. Students will be required to wear masks at all times and social distancing will be enforced.

Johnson said the district will start the second semester with the current 9 a.m. start time and will maintain that start time “until our metrics deem it appropriate for us to move to hybrid,” at which point the start time will shift to 8 a.m. Johnson said that once the 8 a.m. star time takes effect, there will be no going back.

“Once we make the shift to that 8 a.m. start time, that is going to be our start time,” he said. “We will not go through second semester with volleying back and forth between two different start times. Once we make the transition, we’re going to make the transition.”

Johnson said that administrators settled on the 8 a.m. start time in order to avoid “having students eat lunch on campus as much as possible.” He added that “we will still offer lunch for diverse learners and students in the building throughout the afternoon,” but explained that “the vast majority of students will leave the building at lunch time.”

District 200 officials said masks will be mandatory for anyone in the building, except for those individuals who have medical exemptions. In those cases, a face shield may suffice.

Responding to school board member concerns about the potential for racially disproportionate enforcement of the mask requirement, D200 administrators said that they’ll work with deans on strategies for ensuring that the mask mandate is enforced equitably and in a way that also ensures that the mandate is being followed.

LeVar Ammons, the district’s director of

equity and student success, said that he and other administrators have been meeting with a student advisory committee to work out ways of drilling home the importance of safety protocols among students that are less draconian and more persuasive.

He said a group of student leaders and influencers have come up with the idea of creating their own messaging about the importance of wearing masks and distancing through a variety of methods, including social media campaigns and other peer-to-peer influences.

District 200 Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams said that at least 120 people — including teachers, staffers, students, parents and community members — contributed to the draft hybrid plan, which administrators presented roughly a month after forming a 48-person advisory committee comprised of community leaders from a variety of different fields of expertise, including the medical profession.

A separate, 85-person advisory group comprising faculty, staff, administrators, parents and students has been meeting each week since May. At the end of the day, however, it was the consensus of the seven-member D200 school board and a handful of administrators at the Nov. 19 meeting that perhaps reverberated loudest since talks of transitioning to a hybrid model have ramped up in the last several months.

“If parents are expecting it to be like it was pre-pandemic, that’s not a safe environment,” said Pruitt-Adams, referencing the switch to partial in-person learning. “But we do know we need to get [students] in the building, if at all possible.”

“It’s not going to be school as usual,” said D200 board member Gina Harris.

Fenwick switches to e-learning through Jan. 18 School’s president, Rev. Peddicord, cites increasing cases, difficulty contact tracing among reasons

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Fenwick High School will be reverting to e-learning from Nov. 20 through Jan. 18, the Oak Park Catholic school’s president, Rev. Richard Peddicord, announced in a statement released Friday.

Peddicord said the decision was based on a variety of factors, including concerns about the health of faculty, staff and students; faculty and staffers quarantining or taking

leaves of absence, resulting in the school’s possible inability to “provide adequate supervision to students”; and the number of faculty and staffers who have relatives coming home from out-of-state colleges, or who may be traveling out of state, resulting in more employees needing to quarantine, among other factors.

Peddicord also referenced the fact that Oak Park, along with DuPage and Cook counties, have all been consistently around the 8 percent positivity rate threshold that puts the school in the high-risk category, during which local health departments recommend a 2-week switch to remote learning until the positivity rates decline.

Last month, Fenwick announced that it took a pause from in-person, hybrid learning “to assess and better understand the rise of COVID-19 cases in and around the school community and how it potentially affects the health and well-being of our students, families, faculty, staff and their families,”

Peddicord said in a statement released at the time.

In his Nov. 20 statement, Peddicord said if the school had not taken that “adaptive pause” following the Halloween weekend, “we almost certainly would have had up to 35 undiagnosed, non-symptomatic, but contagious cases of Covid-19 in the building.

“We are very concerned about such a scenario in the wake of the Thanksgiving and New Year’s weekends, which is why we are remote learning for two weeks after Thanksgiving and two weeks after New Year’s.”

Peddicord added that there have been an “increasing number of students this week and last who came to school not feeling well and we sent home. This was not the case earlier this year,” before explaining that contact tracing is proving difficult due to “multiple points of exposure between student groups.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

16

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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It has grounded me in the community and opened doors into the lives of countless residents in Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and beyond. When people welcome you into their homes, they are welcoming you into their lives.

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17

Non-profit helps make Thanksgiving for Austin families About 150 families received food

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

With help from other Chicago-area organizations, Oak Park-based non-profit Your Passion 1st was able to give food to 150 families in Austin. Families, masked and socially distanced, lined up outside of William V. Banks Grand Lodge, 5323 W. Lake St., to receive food Saturday, Nov. 21.

“It was powerful,” said Chris Thomas, Your Passion 1st founder and the organizer of the food giveaway.

About 25 volunteers helped bag and distribute the packages of corn, cranberry sauce, vegetables and other classic Thanksgiving fare.

“I didn’t think that many people would come out to volunteer, so that was pretty awesome,” said Thomas.

Also included in the food packages were COVID-19 safety necessities: hand sanitizer and face masks. The volunteers also distributed a little something extra to brighten the homes of the families.

“We handed out flowers as well to the la-

dies and to the gentlemen to bring home to the ladies in their family,” said Thomas.

“That was beautiful.”

Your Passion 1st is a relatively new nonprofit that offers coaching, mentoring and workforce readiness programs for underserved youth in Chicago, while inspiring them to follow their passions.

For the food giveaway, Your Passion 1st partnered with the Amour Genesis Project, What About Us Charitable Enterprises Inc. and Zakat Chicago. Austin-based Forty Acres Fresh Market also contributed food to the giveaway.

“Everything happened pretty seamlessly,” said Thomas.

While the first Thanksgiving food giveaway organized by Your Passion 1st was able to successfully feed 150 families, Thomas is already thinking ahead to next year. He hopes to grow the number of partnering organizations to break the record for families fed in a single food giveaway.

“Whatever that number is, I’d like to try and beat it,” he said.

Thomas acknowledged it is a lofty and grandiose goal, but his reasoning behind his desire to achieve record-status numbers is altruistic.

“I just always want to help more families, more people.”

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SHARING: Residents pick up bags with a full family meal during a Thanksgiving Food Giveaway outside of the Masonic Hall on Lake Street in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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Noisy debate between fitness studio and its neighbors Hit it! could lose business license

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

A years-long noise dispute between neighbors and a nearby fitness studio has grown into a crescendo and now the village of Oak Park is poised with an infelicitous dilemma – appeasing neighbors at the expense of the business community or appeasing a local business at the expense of the neighbors.

Ever since kid-friendly exercise studio Hit It! Fitness, 811 South Blvd., opened about four years ago, neighbors Mary Ann and Joseph Kozlowski have been complaining about the noise, according to Constance Contursi, the studio’s owner.

“They have hated us from day one,” said Contursi of the Kozlowskis, who live in the pink Victorian-style home on the corner of South Boulevard and Grove Avenue. The home is immediately adjacent to the small commercial building which houses the fitness studio.

Hit It! patrons and Contursi feel harassed by the neighbors, while the neighbors have told police the studio’s noise is disrupting their quality of life.

“It’s all about the noise,” said Mary Ann Kozlowski. She and her husband declined to speak further. The Kozlowski’s next door neighbor Kirsten Nelson has also been involved in the noise dispute but refused Wednesday Journal’s requests for comment.

To mollify the neighbors, Contursi said she has offered free fitness classes and given Christmas gifts. She said she’s also offered to pay for their meals at restaurants on nights when the studio has kickboxing or other loud classes, but to no avail.

COVID-19 has amplified the dispute. Police were called to the area to address the increasingly acerbic situation between the neighbors a total of 12 times this year; each

instance occurred after the studio reopened following the relaxation of the state-wide stay-at-home order. Wednesday Journal obtained the police reports through a Freedom of Information Act request.

On June 12, Nelson told the responding officer that she felt “bullied” by Contursi.

The next day, police were called again regarding noise, with Kozlowski telling the responding officer the sound was disturbing her quality of life. She also told the officer that the studio was not enforcing social distancing or the wearing of masks. According to the June 13 police report, Kozlowski and Nelson both stated they would not meet with Contursi for mediation.

The police were called twice on July 25 – first at 10:04 a.m. after Kozlowski threw the kettle ball propping the front door open into the street; the door slammed shut when the kettle ball was removed. According to Contursi, doors are opened for ventilation due to COVID-19.

At 2:50 p.m., July 25, an officer, in response to a noise complaint submitted by Kozlowski, went to Hit It! and found the business closed.

A police officer gave a noise citation to Contursi on Aug. 4, in response to a call made by Joseph Kozlowski, who himself was the subject of a police complaint on Aug. 24 made by one of the studio’s patrons.

The Aug. 24 complaint states that Joseph Kozlowski was taunting women attending a class at Hit It! and taking pictures of them, despite being told not to.

The patron recounted another instance wherein Mr. Kozlowski waited outside for people to leave the fitness studio and on one occasion, was holding “cutting shears.” The behavior made the patron feel unsafe and worry for the safety of her daughter, according to the police reports.

A different female patron made a complaint to police on Sept. 22 stating that Mr. Kozlowski was video recording people, including herself and her daughter, as they

exercised.

Cedric Melton, Oak Park’s community relations director, said he had reached out to set up mediation between the parties but could give no further details. However, Contursi said Melton offered mediation on two separate occasions and in both instances, the neighbors declined to participate.

Contursi went through an adjudication process with the village on Oct. 22 regarding two noise citations. The Kozlowskis and Nelson were present at the hearing accompanied by their lawyer.

She was found not liable for one of the citations but found liable for the other, which she is trying to appeal.

Contursi now faces the suspension or re-

vocation of her business license. On three separate occasions, a village inspector found that music could be heard from the studio approximately 50 feet from the property and that the studio was in violation of village code.

Contursi herself hired an audiologist to measure sound levels from outside the studio back in August. The audiologist found the noise from the nearby CTA Green Line louder compared to that generated by the studio.

The license hearing date set is set for Dec. 1. As she is presiding over the hearing, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek was not available for comment.

“The intent is not to close the business down, but to try to bring them in compliance with the law,” said Oak Park spokesman David Powers.

Droves of people have publicly backed Contursi and Hit It! Fitness. Village Clerk Vicki Scaman read 32 public comments in support of Hit It! during the Nov. 16 village board meeting.

The Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce also stands beside Contursi, according to a statement sent by the chamber to Wednesday Journal: “We are 100 percent in support of Hit It! Fitness to be treated fairly and objectively and be afforded every available opportunity to address and mitigate any issues that they are found to be in violation of.”

CO-EXISTENCE: Hit It! Fitness owner Constance Contursi oversees a boxing session. (Left) Neighbor’s house on South Boulevard, with a sign in the window.

ALEX ROGALS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

19

C R I M E

Man with knife robs 7-Eleven

The 7-Eleven located at 661 South Blvd. was robbed in the early morning hours of Nov. 16. A white man walked into the convenience store brandishing a knife about 6 a.m. that day and demanded the cash register be opened. As the victim fled the scene, the man removed lottery tickets. The loss was unknown at the time of reporting.

Police reports describe the man as white, about 5-feet-7 and wearing dark clothing with a blue surgical mask.

Attempted armed robbery A man approached the glass counter of BP gas station, 520 S. Austin Blvd., showed a black and gray semi-automatic handgun and demanded money about 12:25 a.m., Nov. 19; the victim refused and called the police, as the man fled the store without taking anything. Police reports describe the man as Black, 160 lbs., 5-feet-10. He was last seen wearing a blue surgical mask, a green and black Nike winter jacket, black jeans and gray shoes.

Aggravated battery An Oak Park resident was approached by a man who asked for money around 4:30 p.m., Nov. 18 in the 1100 block of South Oak

Park Avenue. When the resident refused to hand money over, the man lunged at him with a knife, causing minor injury. Police reports describe the man as Black, thin, 6-feet-1-inches tall, wearing a black hoodie with black pants and a black mask. No loss reported.

vehicle and attempted to drive away but the man pulled her out of his vehicle in the 600 block of Woodbine Avenue. The woman fled the scene in the red Jeep, which was occupied by another person.

Vehicular hijacking

Someone broke into the laundry room of an apartment building and removed five bicycles and a coin machine containing cash between 5:10 a.m. and 6:06 a.m., Nov. 14 in the 300 block of South Oak Park Avenue.

The estimated loss is unknown.

A woman was beaten up and her vehicle taken by four juveniles about 11 p.m., Nov. 19 in the 700 block of North Boulevard. The woman was sitting in her car when she was approached by a teenage girl who asked to use her phone; when the woman handed it over, the girl walked away. When the woman tried to retrieve the phone, three juvenile boys demanded her car keys. When she refused to hand them over, the boys struck her multiple times and took her wallet and keys from her coat pocket. All four juveniles drove off in her vehicle. The reported loss is $10,150.

Attempted vehicular hijacking A woman driving a red Jeep Cherokee rear-ended a Chicago man’s vehicle about 8 a.m., Nov. 21; as he got out to check the damage, the woman hopped into the man’s

Burglary

Motor vehicle theft A 2003 Honda Civic was removed from the first block of Chicago Street between noon and 8:30 p.m.

Theft ■ Unsecured aluminum pieces were removed from a worksite in the 700 block of Madison Street between 4:15 p.m., Nov. 11 and 8 a.m., Nov. 16. Estimated loss is $5,000.

■ Someone removed a package from the front porch of a residence in the 700 block of North Taylor Avenue between 1 a.m. and 9 p.m., Nov. 17. The estimated loss is $1,500.

■ A witness observed two men taking an orange Stihl concrete saw from the 1200 block of North Ridgeland Avenue at 11:23 a.m., Nov. 18. The estimated loss is $1,000.

■ Two men used counterfeit money to purchase two Xbox Series X gaming consoles from an Oak Park resident during a transaction that occurred in the 500 block of South Taylor Avenue at 12:20 p.m., Nov. 19. Estimated loss is $1,400.

Criminal damage to property Someone shattered the rear windshield of a vehicle parked in the 900 block of South Elmwood Ave at 2:22 p.m., Nov. 16. The estimated damage is $300.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports Nov. 16- 23 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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GIFTBASKETS

A COVID adjustment from page 1 trustee, says they “are very close to reaching that goal” and gift cards are currently being delivered either digitally or directly.

“This community always inspires me in their generosity and willingness to help,” said Henek.

Since the 1970s, the Community of Congregation’s Holiday Food and Gift Basket program has provided Oak Park and River Forest households in need with holiday succor.

Families and seniors are nominated to take part by school social workers, township senior coordinators and others.

The previous version of the program required a lot of different groups of people handling gifts and interacting closely with others — both of which are dangerous during the time of COVID-19. Henek decided last summer she would need to revamp the program this year to deliver holiday cheer to those in need without sacrificing the health and safety of anyone.

“I decided we just couldn’t do the gifts the same way,” said Henek. “On the other hand, I recognized that this year, maybe more than ever, there would be a need for this program.”

With the advice of social workers who work with households in the program, Henek decided to switch entirely to a gift card model — one gift card per household in an amount that included the Thanksgiving gift cards and what would typically be spent by sponsors on holiday gifts.

“My goal, since I wasn’t going to do the gifts, was to be able to raise money to still give participants the same value in gifts,” said Henek.

PRUITTADAMS Heading home from page 1 of those 44 years doing the only thing I have ever aspired to do in my life and that was to be an educator.”

Pruitt-Adams will return to St. Louis where her family has continued to live during her time in Oak Park.

Holding back tears, school board member Jackie Moore praised Pruitt-Adams for her five years at OPRF. “We’ve done a lot of learning and growing and a lot of that was under her tutelage,” said Moore. “I’m also grateful that she’s modeling self-care for us, so I appreciate that.”

Pruitt-Adams began her tenure at OPRF in the summer of 2016, in an interim role, after former superintendent Stephen Isoye unexpectedly resigned to take the top job at Niles Township High Schools District 219. She was hired as the district’s permanent superintendent in December, to great fanfare.

Pruitt-Adams appeared to have met board members’ expectations. Just last year, the board unanimously approved a three-year contract with the superintendent that would have lasted through the 2021-22 school year.

In a statement released late Thursday night, Pruitt-Adams called her tenure at OPRF a “labor of love,” adding that her po-

Photo provided

HAPPIER HOLIDAYS: Patty Henek gives a gift card to Felicia Brown.

Last year, roughly 2,000 people benefited from the program. This year, over 2,100 people are taking part.

Raising $150,000 during a pandemic is an ambitious goal.

Henek said she was unsure at the start whether previous sponsors would be in a position this year to donate, given COVID-19’s economic impact.

Recipients will receive a gift card to Target, which Henek chose due to its accessibility to participants, having a location in downtown Oak Park, as well as its multiple product offerings.

“You can get just about anything anybody would need — clothes, toys, household items, cleaning products, food,”

sition has been “an extraordinarily intense job in the best of times.

“Doing this job while my husband and family have remained in St. Louis has been doubly hard. The toll has been tremendous, both personally and professionally. It’s bittersweet for me, but I know it’s time for me to return home.”

Pruitt-Adams is planning to leave as the district attempts to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and what will almost certainly be difficult financial circumstances. District 200, as with many school districts, will face revenue shortfalls from a pandemic-related recession, and state and federal budget crunches.

In her statement, Pruitt-Adams listed a litany of administration and board achievements during her tenure, including the creation of a strategic plan “that gives the district the direction to become an exemplary school district,” the implementation of racial equity and gender equity policies, the start of a detracking process that will entail all freshman students having access to honors-level courses in most subjects and the implementation of the most comprehensive facilities improvement plan in a halfcentury.

“My tenure here at Oak Park and River Forest High School has been the most amazing and challenging of my 44 years as an educator,” Dr. Pruitt-Adams said. “Each of these accomplishments has come with enormous challenges. I thank all who have worked in partnership to navigate those dif-

said Henek.

With the help of social workers, recipients were able to choose between receiving a physical gift card or an electronic one sent to their email. Both are able to be used in stores and online.

Henek purchased $30,000 worth of gift cards through the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) of William Hatch Elementary School.

From the purchase, Hatch will get back about $750 from Target, which they will use to help families in need throughout the school year, said Henek.

Those who would like to contribute to the program can make donations through the Community of Congregations website or send a check to its post office box. The program has no donation cutoff date.

“I collect donations year-round if somebody wants to donate because it will just go into helping the next year,” said Henek.

While this year’s gift card plan certainly abides by COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, many volunteers, including Henek, feel saddened that they are unable to shop, wrap and help deliver gifts this December. Volunteering has become a beloved tradition for many families, schools and organizations.

“While of course they’re disappointed, they very much appreciate that we’re taking these precautions and still doing what we can to help these families,” said Henek.

She herself misses the camaraderie of working with the many volunteers, whom she’s gotten to know very well throughout the years.

“The silver lining of it is we are still able to help how we can.”

You can still help make the gift program a success this year.

Donate online at the Communityofcongregations.org Or send a check to P.O. Box 3365, Oak Park, IL 60303

ficulties and who remain focused on doing what is best for our students.”

During a phone interview on Nov. 24, Pruitt-Adams said that she wants the current board members to be able to select her permanent successor, a process that is already underway. That means, the board would have to hire someone before the April 2021 elections, when four open board seats will be contested.

“They know the work we’ve done, they know the journey we’re on with regards to racial equity,” Pruitt-Adams said of the current board. “Who best to make that decision other than those who really know?”

Pruitt-Adams said that the COVID-19 pandemic factored into her decision-making, adding that the virus “has had an impact on me personally, in my family, among friends and professionally.”

The superintendent leaves before she can qualify to get a full Illinois pension.

“In Illinois, you need 10 years to be vested, so the only thing I’ll get is the contribution that’s been made,” she said, adding that she has no immediate career plans right now.

Pruitt-Adams had retired from a superintendent job in Missouri before coming to Oak Park.

“I retired on Thursday and I showed up here the next Tuesday,” she said. “It was my birthday, July 5, and the board hired me on June 30, as the interim. So, people say I didn’t get retirement right that time. This time, I plan to get it right. I don’t have anything in the works right now. That’s not to

say I won’t do some consulting periodically, but right now I just really want to get reacquainted with my family.”

Sara Dixon Spivy, the current D200 school board president, said that Pruitt-Adams has “led the district with quiet grace and confidence through issues difficult and novel — from the release of America to Me at the beginning of her tenure to implementation of remote learning during a worldwide pandemic.

“Through it all, our students’ well-being has remained her constant focus. Dr. PruittAdams’s legacy cannot be overstated; she has championed racial and gender equity and built an executive cabinet brimming with talent. While the Board is very sorry to see her go, she is leaving us well-equipped to meet the challenges ahead, and we are grateful for her service to the district.”

Pruitt-Adams said that she’ll continue to work up until her retirement takes effect in July.

“I have grown so much here,” she said.

“I have really grown a lot. I’ve done things here that I didn’t know I even had the ability to do. I am so thankful for that. Has it been all roses? It hasn’t. But that comes with being superintendent. It is a highly intense job that is 24/7, 365 days a year. I don’t think people realize the toll it can take on someone, but I’ve always tried to do it with dignity and with pride and not get caught up in the muck and mire, so that’s how I want to leave – continuing to work and continuing to give my best.”

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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thankful for love HAPPY THANKSGIVING

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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23

Homes

(Staying) home for the holidays

Thanksgiving looks mighty different this year

By LACEY SIKORA

I

Contributing Reporter

n the past month, COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates in Illinois have skyrocketed, prompting Gov. J.B. Pritzker to institute stricter guidelines for gatherings. While he stopped short of a mandatory stay-at-home order, Chicago and its collar suburbs are under a stay-at-home advisory.

Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings, which bring multiple families and many guests from different households under one indoor roof for hours are looking too risky for many. Throughout the Oak Park-River Forest area, local residents are coming up with new ways to celebrate the day and keep family close, even if that closeness is facilitated by a computer screen rather than a dining room table.

Oak Park resident Beth Kregor says her

family’s plans for the holidays have definitely changed, noting that both she and her husband have family nearby.

“We’ve had the blessing and the curse in years past that we could hit two family Thanksgivings in one day,” Kregor said.

She acknowledges that the adults always enjoyed travelling to Wheaton and St. Charles for two feasts, though the children were just a bit confused about the two large meals in one day.

This year, though, family visits are out.

Kregor’s mother, who lives in a retirement community, can’t have visitors, and Kregor said it no longer seemed wise to take part in large gatherings.

After hearing some advice to plan the day and make it celebratory even if it was not filled with the normal traditions, Kregor began taking steps to make the day special for her husband John, her 7-year-old son Robert and 3-year-old daughter Hannah.

In the weeks leading up to the holiday, she checked out library books that talked about Thanksgiving and read the children books that her mother sent about the holiday.

She polled friends about their plans and checked out suggestions on the Oak Park Working Moms Facebook page as well. One suggestion she might try is letting her kids draw pictures of family members to place around the table. Her mother-in-law suggested trying a Zoom karaoke-style singalong, and Kregor plans to send a special treat for her mother to enjoy.

One thing that she knows won’t be lacking? The food, although she admits it won’t be the same without other family members around the table.

“I keep mentioning the food piece, but my husband’s having trouble getting excited about it,” she said. “I have a feeling he’ll end up pulling out all the stops.”

For chef and Oak Park Eats Editor Melissa Elsmo, pulling out all the stops is definitely the way to go, even if that looks a lot different than it would in a typical year.

As a chef, she doesn’t deny that Thanksgiving cuisine is not the most exciting, but she has embraced the holiday.

“I’m such a sucker for tradition and nostalgia,” Elsmo said.

A normal Thanksgiving feast would include her parents, her mother-in-law and friends grilling a turkey and enjoying roughly one billion side dishes, she estimates.

The day after Thanksgiving was a big part of the tradition as well, with the well-established leftover day. As many as 30 friends would crowd into her Oak Park bungalow in pajamas, bearing leftovers and ready to watch movies, eat and relax all day.

“Clearly, we’re making massive changes to two decades of tradition,” Elsmo said.

Her college-aged son tested positive for COVID-19 right before the holiday. While he feels fine, Elsmo says the family is resigned to missing him at the table this year as he quarantines in Minnesota. It doesn’t seem safe to see her parents in Wisconsin or her mother-in-law.

“The long and short of it is, I think I have three people and a 15-pound turkey for the day,” Elsmo said.

Nevertheless, her plans are to “do it up,” and she states it is worth the time and energy. She knows many local businesses are See HOLIDAYS on page 25

24

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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25

HOLIDAYS

Creating unique memories from page 23 struggling, so she is trying to shop local as much as possible, ordering her centerpieces from Moss and her turkey from Carnivore.

She also has big plans for leftover day. While the day can’t go on as planned, each family will participate at their own home by choosing a movie and making baskets of leftovers to drop off outside the other families’ homes.

Each family is also creating a special cocktail to go along with the theme of the movie, and they will plan Zoom conversations between each film.

While she says she is sad about not being able to recreate the epic leftover day of years past, she will still put her heart and soul into the holiday.

“Create a sense of fun and whimsy,” Elsmo said. “Make you and your family feel safe. This is the year to cancel your plans and change it up. Do what you need to do to make your family feel special.”

Sarah Corbin of Oak Park is taking that message to heart.

Her family has scaled back to an immediate-family-only celebration instead of the usual 20-plus guests they usually host.

She notes that in normal times, they would play a Thanksgiving “Jingo” game -- think Bingo but with historical facts about Thanksgiving and foods, with white elephant prizes for winners.

This year’s Corbin’s mother, Nora Abboreno, suggested they play the game over Zoom. Bingo cards have been emailed, and the white elephant prizes, sourced from people’s homes, will be mailed across the country.

Photo by Sarah Corbin

FUN AND GAMES: Nora Abboreno (left) holds up “jingo” cards that were sent to family members so they could play a game together via Zoom on Thanksgiving. Winners will be sent white elephant prizes (right).

With far-flung participants including an aunt who lives at Belmont Village in Oak Park, aunts and uncles from California and Seattle and cousins from Virginia, Naperville and

Park Ridge, Corbin thinks this year we’ll be a “pretty big do.”

Sounds like the recipe for a successful holiday.

Oak Park Eats positively encourages readers to think about the food and beverages they consume and seek our unique and memorable beer drinking experience while celebrating Kinslagher’s local partnerships with Carnivore, Opportunity Knocks, Daly Bagels, and Darr-B-Q. - Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher

Sip more at Kinslahger.com/ Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher

Keep up with Melissa Elsmo and what she’s cooking up at:

OakParkEats.com

26

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Sunday, November 29 LISTING PRICE

TIME

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

OFFICE

1147 Jackson Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$787,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

CONDOS

ADDRESS

ADDRESS

835 N. Cuyler Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$429,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

1135 Forest Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$999,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12:30-2:30

OFFICE

LISTING PRICE

TIME

641 S. Maple Ave. UNIT C, Oak Park . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $339,900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 12-2

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ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS SUMMARY FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020 Copies of the detailed Annual Statement of Affairs for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2020 will be available for public inspection in the school district/joint agreement administrative office by December 1, annually.

Individuals wanting to review this Annual Statement of Affairs should contact: Oak Park & River Forest High School Dist. #200 201 N Scoville Ave 708-434-3265 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

School District/Joint Agreement Name Address Telephone Office Hours Also by January 15, annually the detailed Annual Statement of Affairs for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2020, will be posted on the Illinois State Board of Education’s website@ www.isbe.net.

SUMMARY: The following is the Annual Statement of Affairs Summary that is required to be published by the school district/joint agreement for the past fiscal year.

Statement of Operations as of June 30, 2020 Municipal Operations & Debt Service Transportation Retirement & Capital Projects Working Cash Educational Maintenance Social Security Local Sources 1000 52,469,759 11,321,770 4,203 947,972 2,431,275 1,634,582 960,572 Flow-Through Receipts/Revenues from One District to Another District 2000 0 0 0 0 State Sources 3000 6,817,286 0 0 996,349 0 50,000 0 Federal Sources 4000 3,672,811 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Direct Receipts/Revenues 62,959,856 11,321,770 4,203 1,944,321 2,431,275 1,684,582 960,572

Fire Prevention & Safety

Tort 83,052

947,669

0 0 83,052

0 0 947,669

Total Direct Disbursements/Expenditures

63,744,226

6,538,387

0

1,591,806

3,019,824

8,045,486

753,235

117,018

Other Sources/Uses of Funds Beginning Fund Balances - July 1, 2019

0 59,682,850

(4,368,346) 8,538,516

0 225,496

0 3,172,741

0 2,285,081

4,368,346 21,708,371

0 4,455,784

0 4,630,100

0 4,367,215

Other Changes in Fund Balances Ending Fund Balances June 30, 2020

0 58,898,480

0 8,953,553

0 229,699

0 3,525,256

0 1,696,532

0 19,715,813

0 5,416,356

0 3,959,917

0 5,197,866

PAYMENTS OVER $2,500, EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES OAK PARK RIVER FOREST HSD 200 06-016-2000-13 PERSON, FIRM, OR AGGREGATE CORPORATION AMOUNT VANGUARD ENERGY SERVICES, LLC 105,709 VALOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC 61,799 VARSITY SPIRIT FASHIONS 5,779 VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 18,663 VERIZON WIRELESS 7,825 VEX ROBOTICS 7,022 VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ECC (DIST 200) 223,655 VILLAGE OF OAK PARK 323,858 VILLA PARK OFFICE EQUIPMENT 9,848 VISION SERVICE PLAN (IL) 59,585 VISTAR OF ILLINOIS 21,971 VOCAREUM, INC 3,240 WASHBURN MACHINERY, INC 19,239 WESTMONT INTERIOR SUPPLY HOUSE 5,319 WEISSMAN 3,231 WESLEY WOODS RETREAT CENTER 21,260 WEST SUBURBAN CONFERENCE 8,000 WEST SHIELD ADOLESCENT SERVICES 8,800 WEVIDEO USA 2,659 EHC INDUSTRIES, INC. 150,000 ELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES 80,139 EQUINOX RTC 43,139 ERSKINE REEVES BARBER ACADEMY 11,200 EXCEL EDGE 61,750 EZ WEB ENTERPRISES, INC 7,873 FACULTY SENATE 10,931 FELICITY SCHOOLS LLC 43,987 FGM ARCHITECTS 1,277,197 FIRST STUDENT 210,199 FITNESS FACTORY OUTLET 8,480 FLINN SCIENTIFIC 10,207 FLUENCY MATTERS 5,603 FOCUS ON KIDS, TOO 17,330 FOLLETT SCHOOL SOLUTIONS, INC 22,281 FORECAST 5 ANALYTICS, INC. 21,029 FORMAL FASHIONS INC 3,798 KATHY FOX 12,500 FOX HIRE, LLC 36,546 FRANCZEK RADELET 78,554 FREDERICK L. CHAMBERLAIN CENTER, IN 322,720 FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES 3,551 JASON FRIED 2,661 FRONTIER CONSTRUCTION, INC. 2,335,745 FRONTLINE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC 10,050 FS DISTRIBUTION 9,984 GALE/CENGAGE LEARNING 14,951 GALLAGHER BENEFIT SERVICES, INC 50,743 LISA GARVIN, MSW 13,819 MARY THERESE GEARY 7,425 GET FRESH PRODUCE INCORPORATED 83,085 GHA TECHNOLOGIES INC 3,393 GIANT STEPS ILLINOIS, INC 77,729 STACEY A GIBSON 2,800 GLEN OAKS THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL111,635 GLENN STEARNS CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE 6,668 GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR AFRICA 4,300 GLOBAL PRINTING & PACKAGING 13,192 GOLDSTAR LEARNING, INC. 22,823 GORDON FLESCH 271,889 GORDON FOOD SERVICE, INC 651,928 GRAINGER 75,854 GRAND PRAIRIE TRANSIT WS 843,535 GROVE SCHOOL, INC 112,701 GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA, NFP 7,446 H21 GROUP 5,557 HARBOR SHORES ON LAKE GENEVA 2,962 HEALTHCARE SERVICE CORPORATION6,857,505 HINSDALE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 2,725 MENTA ACADEMY-HILLSIDE 61,004 HINSDALE TWP HIGH SCHOOL DIST #86 24,817 HOH WATER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 15,205 HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICES 10,332 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN 49,250

HOUSING FORWARD 4,300 HUDL 15,599 HUMANEX VENTURES - UNION BANK & 30,500 HYATT REGENCY CHICAGO 5,933 IRS 8,229,267 I.D.E.S. 56,594 IDEAL CHARTER 42,111 IDENTISYS, INC 3,745 ILLINOIS DEPT OF REVENUE 3,914 ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOAR 19,752 ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY 2,849 ILLINOIS ASSN OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OF 2,620 ILLINOIS THEATRE ASSOCIATION 2,605 ILLINOIS ROOF CONSULTING ASSOCIATES 16,950 ILLINOIS DIGITAL EDUCATORS ALLIANCE 2,935 ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT 258,438 ILLINOIS STATE POLICE 15,000 ILLINOIS MUNICPL RETIREMT FUND 1,910,298 IL STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT 60,935 INDUSTRIAL WHOLESALE LUMBER 6,444 INFINITE CONNECTIONS, INC 4,267 INNERSYNC 10,471 INTEGRATED SYSTEMS CORPORATION 13,200 INTERNATIONAL SPORT SURFACES 9,240 IXL LEARNING 5,646 J W PEPPER & SON, INC. 4,600 JAMES STANFIELD & CO. 3,068 JAMF SOFTWARE 6,960 JEWISH CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES 58,340 JEFFREY KELLY COSTUME DESIGN 23,300 JOSEPH ACADEMY 119,983 JOSTENS 91,855 FAWN C JOYCE 2,676 JTB USA, INC 9,900 KIEFER 4,217 KNOWBE4 11,383 KRANZ INC. 24,316 KRUEGER INTERNATIONAL 10,414 LAKE-COOK DISTRIBUTORS, INC 26,364 LANGUAGE TESTING INTERNATIONAL, INC 10,320 LEARN BY DOING, INC. 10,000 LEGAT ARCHITECTS 48,690 LENOVO, USA 23,011 LIFESTYLE BEVERAGES, INC. 12,320 LINCOLN INVESTMENT PLANNING, INC 50,880 NAPERVILLE PSYCHIATRIC VENTURE/LIND 3,330 LISA WESTMAN CONSULTING, INC. 10,000 LITTLE BITS ELECTRONICS, INC 3,236 OAK PARK PIANO 6,525 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO 5,745 MAG VACATIONS 11,500 MAKEMUSIC, INC. 7,400 PRESTO-X 11,670 MARCHESE & SONS INC. 9,000 MARILYN MARSHALL 3,375 MARYVILLE ACADEMY 380,621 MASTER-WELD, INC 6,000 MAXIM STAFFING SOLUTIONS 62,635 MC ADAM LANDSCAPING, INC 30,722 MC SQUARED ENERGY SERVICES 182,564 MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES 4,587 MC MASTER-CARR SUPPLY CO 3,992 MEADOWLARK GOLF COURSE 4,944 MECK PRINT 47,525 MEREDITH CULLIGAN WATER CO. 2,873 MENTA ACADEMY OAK PARK 437,685 MEP, INC. 5,801 MESIROW INSURANCE SERVICES, INC 27,255 METLIFE 136,998 METLIFE 52,335 METROPOLITAN PREPARATORY 71,233 MHS, INC 4,049 MICHIGAN STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT 7,965 MIDLAND PAPER 41,166 MIDWEST WRECKING CO, INC 8,338 MINIPCR 2,949

DANIEL LEE MOORE 6,000 MR. DAVID’S FLOORING 4,482 MS. ROBERTS ACADEMY 17,500 OMNI 2,757,072 OPRFHS 4,400 OPRFHS ATHLETIC IMPREST ACCOUNT 3,261 OPRFHS FOOD SERVICE 43,141 OPRFHS/FACULTY SENATE DUES 175,775 ORCHARD ACADEMY 3,531 OVERDRIVE, INC. 5,519 P.A. CRIMSON 4,886 P.A.C.T.T. LEARNING CENTER 56,194 PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL GROUP 33,135 PARCHMENT 2,558 PARKWAY FORMING INC 2,960 PARKLAND PREP ACADEMY, INC 39,445 PASSPORT ENTERPRISES LLC 3,140 PEAPOD 5,572 PEAR DECK, INC 15,111 PEARSON - PRENTICE HALL 22,173 PEKRON CONSULTING 99,940 PEORIA CHARTER COACH COMPANY 3,000 PEP BOYS 3,630 PEPSI-COLA 96,297 PEPPER CONSTRUCTION 1,551,624 PERFECT CUT PRODUCTIONS 5,500 PERFECTION LEARNING CORP 3,783 PERSONALIZATION HOUSE (SHIRTWORKS) 4,808 PERSPECTIVES 9,660 PETTY CASH, OPRFHSD #200 13,516 PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 60,152 PLAYER SPORTS 5,399 PMA FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC 3,618 POSTMASTER, OAK PARK 20,475 POWERSCHOOL GROUP LLC 44,400 POWERSTONE COMMUNICATIONS LLC 46,000 PRO-ED 2,506 PROJECT LEAD THE WAY, INC 3,000 PROJECT WAYFINDER LLC 6,115 PROMETOUR USA INC 48,750 PROQUEST 3,728 PROTOLIGHT, INC. 19,208 DERRICK R PURVIS 2,545 QUADIENT LEASING USA, INC (MAILFIAN 14,500 QUILL CORP. 6,664 R.E. WALSH & ASSOCIATES, INC 16,830 ASHLEY M RAYMOND 3,453 RAYNER & RINN-SCOTT, INC 5,403 REALITY WORKS 4,745 SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PUBLISHING 4,670 REMIND101 10,914 RENAISSANCE LEARNING, INC 12,099 REVTRAK 111,844 RIDDELL/ALL AMERICAN 22,305 RIGHT DIRECTION CRISIS INTERVENTION 8,163 RIO GRANDE 4,953 RIVER FOREST COMMUNITY CENTER 53,617 RIVEREDGE HOSPITAL 3,540 ROBBINS SCHWARTZ NICHOLAS LIFTON159,719 ROCKFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION 8,231 RUSH NEUROBEHAVIORAL CENTER 4,000 SAFE HAVEN SCHOOL 45,373 SARAH’S INN 4,000 SCANTEX BUSINESS SYSTEMS 17,570 SCHOOL HEALTH CORPORATION 6,757 SCHOOLMINT, INC 23,553 SCHOOL SPECIALTY 5,611 SCOPE SHOPPE INC 3,486 SCREENCASTIFY, LLC 3,240 SCRIBLE, INC. 8,925 SECURATEX 64,179 SECURLY 25,000 SEIU LOCAL 73 63,067 SENSERA SYSTEMS 5,899 SENTINEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC 19,995 SEPS, INC. 3,888 SERVICE SANITATION, INC. 15,377 SHC SERVICES INC 28,266

SHERATON HOTES & RESORTS 12,901 CYNTHIA A SIDOR 2,604 SIKICH 6,169 JOHNSON CONTROLS (SIMPLEXGRIN) 23,159 SITEIMPROVE 9,450 SKYWARD 19,801 SOARING EAGLE ACADEMY, INC 96,167 SOIL AND MATERIAL CONSULTANTS, INC 8,382 SONIA SHANKMAN ORTHOGENIC SCHOOL 569,307 SOUTH SIDE CONTROL SUPPLY CO 8,430 SOUTHEASTERN PERFORMANCE APPAREL 4,622 SPEAR CORPORATION 10,593 SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEMS 63,994 SPECIALTY FLOORS, INC 3,906 SPEEDLINK 39,550 SPIRIT PRODUCTS 19,026 SPORTS IMPORTS 5,268 SPRINT 6,100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 1,853,178 STAPLES 19,252 STATE OF ILLINOIS 75,514 STEDI 3,601 STRIVVEN MEDIA LLC 4,625 STANDARD STATIONERY SUPPLY CO 2,873 ANTHONY J SVEJDA 4,472 SYSCLOUD 12,060 THIS 872,265 TABLEAU SOFTWARE, INC 6,300 TASC 343,244 TASC-CLIENT INVOICES 32,294 TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSI 2,520 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM 54,380 TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM 3,233,984 TELCOM INNOVATIONS GROUP, LLC 252,580 TELECHECK 3,166 TEXTHELP, INC 9,248 THE CAMPHILL SCHOOL, INC 77,612 THE CHICAGO AUTISM ACADEMY, INC 37,640 THE LOCKER SHOP - UNIQUE APPAREL SO 3,335 THERAPY TRAVELERS 3,735 THERMFLO 14,581 THIS 101,908 CENGAGE LEARNING 15,618 THOMSON REUTERS 5,789 TOM VAUGHN STANDING TRUSTEE 12,655 TPRS BOOKS 2,982 TRACK SURFACES COMPANY 11,050 TRIMARK MARLINN 20,631 TROPHIES BY GEORGE 5,272 TURNITIN 10,295 U.S. POSTAL SERVICE 20,000 ULINE 9,146 ULTIMATE GOLF INC 4,068 UMOJA STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CORP 20,950 UNCHARTED LEARNING, NFP 7,500 UNIQUE PRODUCTS 160,811 UNITED RADIO COMM, INC. 2,609 UNIVERSAL TAXI DISPATCH, INC 5,292 WHITNEY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL 3,465 WHITTED TAKIFF LLC 68,500 WI CENTER FOR EDUCATION RESEARCH 13,500 WORTHINGTON DIRECT 10,670 XK SPORTS 2,720 XPERIENCE CHICAGO, LLC 6,575 YELLOWSTONE BOYS AND GIRLS RANCH 91,160 ZAYO GROUP 29,583 ZENDESK INC 16,902 ZUM SERVICES, INC. 206,963 TIMOTHY FREEHAN 10,431 MSDSONLINE 3,360 MUSIC & ARTS CENTER 3,135 INDICO, LLC (MBANK) 102,790 NASCO 3,943 NAVIANCE 10,219 NCS-PEARSON INC. 14,231 NEFF COMPANY 7,756

NEW HORIZON CENTER FOR THE NELCO NEW HOPE ACADEMY NEW YORK TIMES NICOR GAS NOREDINK CORP NORMATIVE SERVICES, INC NORTHERN IL ACADEMY KELLY O’CONNOR OAK PARK & RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL OPRFHS ACTIVITY OAK PARK TWNSHP YOUTH SERVICES A LONG WALK HOME, INC A&R DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE INC ABC WINDOW CLEANING CO. ACACIA ACADEMY ACER AMERICA ACHIEVE3000 ACT SERVICES INC ADA TENNIS ADVANCED DISPOSAL AIRGAS USA AIRPORT ELECTRIC ALL-WAYS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, I ALPHA BAKING CO ALUMINUM ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT CO AMAZON.COM, INC. AMBASSADOR ATHLETIC APPAREL AMIGOS LIBRARY SERVICES AMPLIFIED IT, LLC AMSCO ENGINEERING, INC ANDERSON LOCK ANDREWS TECHNOLOGY HMS, INC ANDY FRAIN SERVICES APPLE COMPUTER INC APRIL BUILDING SERVICES, INC AQUA PURE ENTERPRISES, INC. ARAMARK ARCHIVE SOCIAL ARLYN SCHOOL ARROWHEAD RANCH ARTLOW ASANA AT&T ATECH ATHLETICO HENRIETTA ATKIN AUTOMATED LOGIC CORPORATION AXA EQUITABLE B&H PHOTO AND VIDEO BAKER TILLY VIRCHOW KRAUSE, LLP CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN BARAK BERLANDS HOUSE OF TOOLS BERWYN GARAGE BEYOND CATERING & EVENTS BEYOND HUNGEROP & RF FOOD PANTRY BHFX BIG SIGNS, INC BILL LANE & ASSOCIATES BILL’S BODY SHOP BIO-RAD LABORATORIES BIOZONE CORPORATION BLICK ART MATERIALS BLUEMACK BMC SOFTWARE BMO HARRIS MASTERCARD BOATHOUSE SPORTS BOB’S DAIRY SERVICE BOB ROGER’S TRAVEL BOOM ENTERTAINMENT BOUNCE ATHLETICS, INC BRADFORD SYSTEMS BRAINPOP EILEEN M. BRANN BRACKER’S GOOD EARTH CLAYS,INC

6,124 8,665 198,076 3,848 50,947 9,000 10,075 53,199 40,947 7,725 18,700 24,070 4,000 8,423 3,500 29,451 22,176 9,115 21,365 3,358 23,792 4,300 114,521 151,916 42,463 10,750 129,918 13,732 4,719 5,950 4,350 9,620 23,235 8,292 5,880 26,650 6,989 3,912 4,788 3,985 50,827 3,150 11,995 32,258 13,024 72,203 4,709 8,735 3,940 12,437 42,000 2,579 15,901 9,698 11,646 5,861 11,065 8,763 9,176 9,064 3,055 2,669 8,229 51,773 16,420 6,221 288,110 27,400 17,805 2,809 34,996 3,382 3,880 2,550 12,470 2,739

28

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

PAYMENTS OVER $2,500, EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES (CONT’D) BRINK’S INCORPORATED 6,488 BROADCAST PIX 11,641 BSN SPORTS 157,514 BUMP CITY AUTO BODY INC 3,105 TRENT BUTERBAUGH 6,925 C. ACITELLI HEATING & PIPING CONTRA 78,125 C.R. LEONARD 11,565 CAMP MANITOQUA 8,708 CAROLINA BIOLOGICAL SUPPLY 8,584 CARLSEN’S ELEVATOR SERVICE 12,143 CARRIER COMMERCIAL SERVICES 11,444 CARRIER CORPORATION 4,992 CATCHON, INC. 10,500 CDW GOVERNMENT, INC. 798,208

CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES 46,219 CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE 15,174 CERAMIC SUPPLY CHICAGO 3,690 CERTICA SOLUTIONS, INC 3,757 CHANDLER DECISION SERVICE, LLC 21,000 CHANGE ACADEMY AT LAKE OF THE OZARK 904,100 CHICAGO FLYHOUSE INC 3,151 CHICAGO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN 5,200 CHICAGO BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL LMC 5,000 CHICAGO TRIBUNE MEDIA GROUP 6,139 CINTAS CORPORATION #23K 4,521 CITADEL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 2,670

CLARE WOODS ACADEMY 36,372 CLIC 554,821 CLIC/SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL ISDLAF PLU 39,943 CLYDE PRINTING COMPANY 8,112 CODEHS INC 5,200 COEO SOLUTIONS 7,890 RYAN COHAN 5,700 COLEMAN CHIROPRACTIC SPORTS CARE 2,870 COLLEGE BOARD 186,394 COMCAST 24,000 COMMANDSCOPE, LLC 3,400 COMPASS HEALTH CENTER CHICAGO 3,750 COMPREHENSIVE SPEECH & LANGUAGE PAT 8,237

HEALTHPRO REHABILITATION 60,693 CONSERV FS 5,229 CONSTELLATION ENERGY SERVICES 305,342 CONTRACTORS POWER AND LIGHT CO 106,300 COOPERATIVE ASSN FOR SPECIAL ED 33,826 COURT THEATRE 2,760 COVE REMEDIATION 23,100 COVE SCHOOL 45,677 CROWN GYM MATS INC 8,800 CRISIS PREVENTION INSTITUTE 6,184 CRYSTAL FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS, INC 7,656 CUSTOMINK.COM 4,214 DECISIONED GROUP, INC 34,872 DELTA DENTAL PLAN OF ILLINOIS 540,095 DES PLAINES VALLEY REGION 42,292

DOMINO’S PIZZA DOUBLE TREE HOTEL-BLOOMINGTON BRIAN DRELICHARZ, LCSW DUDE SOLUTIONS DYNAMIC LYNKS, INC E2 SERVICES EASTER SEALS METROPOLITAN CHICAGO EBSCO INFORMATION SERVICES ED-RED EDWARD DON & CO EDGENUITY, INC EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS & SERVICES EDUCATION FRAMEWORK INC EDWARD STAUBER WHOLESALE

19,700 3,931 3,450 5,656 17,640 275,344 332,810 5,110 5,000 22,845 25,500 6,390 7,840 40,037

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS SUMMARY FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020 SALARY SCHEDULE OF GROSS PAYMENTS FOR CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL AND NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL GROSS PAYMENT FOR CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL

LAUREN; MADOCK, KATHERINE; WILLIAMS, TYRONE; BORJA, JAMES; ESPINOSA, JILL; ARENDS, LAUREN; MCGRAIL, AMY; NEUMAN, ANDREA; MCCORMACK, PATRICK; MCKITTRICK, KEVIN; DEPASQUALE, KATIE; MESSER, JAMES; BIASIELLO, TONI; O’KEEFE, ELEANOR; RABICHOW, KELDRA; BOHNE, KARA; LA PORTE, DANIELLE; LIMBERG, DANA; VENHORST, Salary Range: $25,000 - $39,999 RYAN; LEDBETTER, CHRISTIAN; LEE, BRENDAN; DIVERDE, ROBINSON, ALICIA; KIMMEL, CAROL; FISCHER, TIMOTHY; MARCI; BROWN, DOUGLAS; LEE, JASON; KENNEDY, SMITHSON, JANELLE; THOMPSON, JACLYN; PUDELA, RYAN; MEGHAN; OLIVER, STEPHANIE; BYARS, MICHAEL; COLLINS, MUELLER, CODY; Salary Range: $40,000 - $59,999 KELLY; HANSON, JACQUELINE; HILL, DOUGLAS; STANIS, VISHNESKI, PETER; YOUNG, LAURA; CARNATE, OLIVER; BLANCO, LAUREN; GILBERTSEN, LYNN; FOTZLER, KIMBERLY; AMY; HOERSTER, JOHN; NELSON, FAITH; MCKITTRICK, CHRISTINA; HUNTER, SARAH; GRADY, MAUREEN; BERNTHAL, ZHANG, MICHELLE DAVID; CONWAY, JOSEPH; RAMILO, GISELE; MEDINA, Salary Range: 60,000 - $89,999 ESTEBAN; KENNEDY, THOMAS; SHERMAN, THADDEUS; SALINGER, MAIA; WARD, JULIE; JURKA, NICOLE; HILDNER, PEARSON, PATRICK; CONDNE, JOHN; BURNS, LINDA; JACOB; COURTNEY, RYAN; LUKIC COLE, DANIELA; DEL TERRETTA, JOHN; ACHURRA, LAUREN; NOVOTNY, MELINDA; FIACCO, VELIA; SPRINGER, BRADLEY; COUSIN, JUSTIN; POTTS, ROBERT; LESNIAK, JOHN; BEYERS, BRIAN; NASH, DAVIS, BRIAN; ROGERS, NATHANIEL; PRABHAKAR, ADITH; ELIZABETH; JOYCE, FAWN; GANSCHOW, DANIEL; PONCE, BUCHANAN, ERIN; CANALES, KATELYNN; HONN, KEVIN; IGNACIO; HERBST, JOSEPH; MONDRAGON, CHRISTINE; CERMAK, LINDSEY; MCDONALD, LORI; STEPHEN, MICHAEL; FOX, ELIZABETH; PAPPALARDO, MARK; PEREZ, LUIS; KNOCHE, CRAIG; BENSON, CONCHITA; DOHERTY, BRIDGET; KINNAN, GLYNIS; KRAMER, LEIGH; MCGUIRE, MEREDITH; TARSHISH, EVAN; CALDWELL, DANICA; SADOWSKI, NIXEN, PETE; BELL, JAMES; PODOLNER, AARON; AVALOS, TESLEN; LARA, SUSANA; MCGEE, RAQUEL; JABER, SANA; CARMEN; MAZUMDAR, RENA; MURRAY BAIELLI, SCYLA; HEINEMANN, JOLENE; CANO, PAULA; TORRES, JACQUELINE; ROTH, JENIFER; YOUNG JR, WILLIAM; COUGHLIN, JAMES; DOWNS, CLAIRE; WHITE, VALERIE; CALLAGHAN, KEVIN; GONZALEZ, MANUEL; GARDNER, TAMARA; CARPARELLI, VALENZUELA, PATRICIA; HUNG, AILIEN; DEFAUW, BRAD; ANNAMARIA; SILVER, JONATHAN; MALONEY, MATTHEW; MAKELY, LISA; SIECK, JAMES; TARANTINO-SPOOR, STOW, KRISTEN; HEIDKAMP, BERNARD; KIRKPATRICK, CARLEY; EAKLEY, JENNIFER; KANWISCHER, JENNIFER; MATTHEW; PARENTI, JOSEPH; GIOVANNETTI, LOUIS; TERRETTA, JULEE; ARCEO-WITZL, IXTLA; CASON, GEORGE; MILLER, GARY; REAGAN, A CLAY; ROSAS, SARAH; WATSON, ELLAYNE; BAER, BRITTANY; BROWN, KIAH; GRAHAM, JANE; MULVANEY, RYAN; WRIGHT, PAUL; DIXON, BROWN, ANDREW; WALQUIST, STEPHANIE; FREDRICKSON, KENNEDI; LESSING, AVRAM; FREY, JULIE; WEISMAN, NIMMI; ANDREW; KREFFT, LAUREN; ST. JOHN, BENJAMIN; MEGLAN, CAMPBELL, TIA; COLQUHOUN, JEREMY; FIORENZA, LAURIE; CHRISTOPHER; MCNULTY, SARA; CAIN, BENJAMIN; WOLMAN, VAN DUINEN, TRACY; CARROW-SEVER, MICHELLE; BISHOP, DANIEL; HOWELL, JESSICA; DOYLE, KELLY JANEL; MCKEE, KRISTEN; SAHAGUN, CLAUDIA; WALTON, ALISA; AMBROSE, BRANDI; GALLAGHER, HELEN; HILL, Salary Range: $90,000 and over AMY; COSTOPOULOS, JOHN; CARLSON, LINDA; FARLEY, RUZICKA, PETER; FERGUSON, LAUREN; BRUEGGEMANN, ELIZABETH; LEE, LAUREN; PARKER, LYNDA; CHICHESTER, LOUISE; GODINEZ, MELISSA; CURTIS, JOSEPH; STEWARTD JAMES; COHEN, DANIEL; CAHILL, MEGHAN; HOBSON, DAY, CHONITA; RYAN, JOSEPH; WOYTEK, PATRICIA; KAISER, DARRYL; FAUST, C STAN; MYERS, ALLISON; QUINN, PETER; KELSEY; COLAMUSSI, GINGER; WIRTZ, KRISTIN; RICHARDS, COLLINS, MARK; FUENTES, JULIE; KOSTAL, JOSEPH; LAMARIO; CAMPBELL, KEVIN; KRALIK, CATHERINE; HORNIK, DORAME, MICHAEL; HARDIN, SHEILA; BURBANO, JAIME; NATALIE; BELPEDIO, KRISTINA; ACKERMAN, CRAIG; ILIADHI, YOUNG, MARY; CONRICK, TERESA; SCHWARTZ, STEVEN; ALEXIS; MCMURRAY, MATTHEW; MARTIN, DANIEL; CAIRO, NOBLE, PAUL; WEISMAN, NEAL; GEOVANES, JAMES; JENNA; JOHNSON, SUSAN; SHERRARD BLESCH, CARA; KLEINFELDT, DANIEL; WEBSTER, JAMES; SVEJDA, ANTHONY; OVALLE, RAMON; TORREZ, BUSTER; WILSON, ROCKEYA; ECKER, JONATHAN; PREBBLE, MATTHEW; PURVIS, DERRICK; TSILIMIGRAS, KATHY; OJIKUTU, CAROLYN; LYNCH, HEIDI; BARDO, NANCY; LUNDGREN, CLYDE; JOHNSON, KRISTINA; CLARK, ANTHONY; PETERS, JENNIFER; CALCUTTAWALA, ROODHOUSE, SARAH; KAHN, PETER; MERTZ, RICHARD; NABIHA; MYLAND, SARAH; PANG, LUCAS; SPONSLER, BARDEEN, KAREN; BAYER, MICHELLE; SANDERS, ROXANA; SCOTT; KUENSTER, WENDY; MORRIS, JACQUELYN; JOHNSON, GREGORY; WALKER-QUALLS, GWENDOLYN; MCLAUGHLIN, CAMERON; HIMES, KHALIDA; LEUSCHELPRUITT-ADAMS, JOYLYNN PERZOV, ERIN; MEGIBOW, RACHEL; CARTIER, KIRSTEN; RADZISZEWSKI, DARIUSZ; GUNN, REGINA; BOYCE, LILIANA; GROSS PAYMENT FOR NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL DUNSON-JOHNSON, BETINA; SCHMADEKE, YOKO; HOSHI, Salary Range: Less Than $25,000 MEGUMI; BADER, ADAM; HOOPER, AMBER; TRAPHAGEN, BERRY, NOELLE; HARRIS, HEVANNLI; PAHL, PASCAL; STEPHEN; ECKART, ERIKA; WHITE, ERICA; JOHNSTON, TENCATE, THERESE; MAJNARICH, MELISSA; SMITH, CHRISTINE; BELLAMY, OCTAVIUS; STOEGER, MARY; PEREZ, LATASHA; LEONARD, HAROLD; SCHLUETER, JACQUELYN; CYNTHIA; MICHALEK, NICHOLAS; CORCORAN, DANIEL; DALO, NICHOLAS; GAMACHE, ANDREA; ALEXANDER, DEVON; BLOCK, YULIA; CORNELIUS-BURKE, CONNOR; HANLEY, JAMES; LINNINGER, PHILIP; SMART, JAMIL; ANDERSON, SOFFER, MICHAEL; KIRBY, LINSEY; SAKELLARIS, MAX; RASHADA; KRICK, ALEX; CELIS, JESSICA; JONES, ANTONIO; SINGLETARY, RAHASAD; GAJDA, JOYCE; WANGELIN, BETH; MROCZEK, JOSEPH; ESQUIVEL, HILDA; KENNEDY, TERESA; FARROW, ELIZABETH; DIAZ, KELLY; BOOTH, CHRISTINE; CUMMINGS, JONATHAN; LONG, PHILLIP; MENDOZA, HENNINGS, ALLISON; WURSTER, SARAH; COLLINS, PAUL; VERONICA; WENDT, BAILEY; MULLINS, MARGARET; RAVEN, LAVIE; FRIED, JASON; PENA, EMMANUEL; TELLEZ, CARLOS; WADE, LEANDREW; RAYMOND, ASHLEY; CONWAY, JOHNSTON, MATTHEW; MARKVART, SUSAN; SANCHEZ, Salary Range: Less Than $25,000 WEINTRAUB, JONATHAN; MURPHY, LENORA; MELGAR HOOKS, PATRICIA

MANUELA; BROWNLEE, JOHNETTA; THOMAS, JENNIFER; AGRELA, MARIA-ELENA; LEVIN, ADAM; CONNELL, HANNAH; ROBINSON, REBECCA; GANT, JASON; WILLIAMS, KELLIE; DENNEHY, TIMOTHY; RISTAU, MEGHAN; BURGESS, CAMERON; WORTHY, PAMELA; KADLEC, CHRISTIAN; SORENSEN, MICHAEL; BROWN, ANDREA; FREEHAN, TIMOTHY; SOCKI, MARTHA; WHITE, MEGAN; CINTRON, MICHAEL; KUDO, MATTHEW; JOHNSON, ROLANDA; WAGNER, SARAH; COLAPIETRO, DANIELE; STEVENS, MARGARET; BOUCHARD, NICHOLAS; GEDVILAS, MICHAEL; GATEWOOD, ELLEN; MOORE, SHENTAIL; DRULEY-HERRON, KATHERINE; STEVENS, JORIE; COUSIN, JOHANNA; LAWNY, DONNA; BURKES, GERALDINE; CALLGREEN, DANA; MARTINEZ, JANNIS; COGLIANESE, STEVEN; BLAUSEY, SARAH; CARRASCO, SOCORRO; BAGOS, MIROSLAVA; STARR, VIOLET; HINDS, PAMELA; GARRETT, SHIRLEY; SIMATIC, CHARLES; KOLBUSZ, MEL; PEREZ, ELIZABETH; RAPP, JOHN; CALDERON, GUSTAVO; ANDERSON, RONALD; WRIGHT, KRISTINA; WESTIN, JACQUELINE; CALDWELL, VERNISA; CHIERICI, ROCCO; KIRSCH, JON; GAITER, THYESHA; MORELAND, JENEE; CHRISP, PATRICK; GARLAND, TYRONE; AUGUST, DONALD; DUCKSWORTH, RENEE; KERR, NIA; CAICEDO, SALLY; FLORES DE ALANIZ, MARTHA; LAFRONZA, KRISTY; GAMBLE, TIMOTHY; WOULFE, PATRICK; PLANE, JEFFREY; KLIMAN, CHRISTOPHER; REED, SHEILA; MONTORO, PATRICIA; SPEARMAN, KIM; DAVILA BELTRAN, BLANCA; TURK, LAURA; GARCIA, DIANA; FEILEN, WENDY; HOANG, TRACY; SEVERNS, ANNA; PITLIK, VERONICA; MURILLO, CARLOS; GOODMAN, MICHAEL; RAAD, JASON; MORLIDGE, JOHN; COOPER, MILLISON; WONG, CINDY; TISUE, HEATHER; APOSTOL, EMMANUEL; GALLUZZO, FRED; ALLEN, KEVEN; PRICE, DANIEL; IONUT, ANGELA; MAY, JAMIE; COLLINS, TRACY; KRAMER, MICHAEL; ZIELKE, MARK; MAJKRZAK, CHRISTINE; GAYA, EVELYN; SCHAEFER, APRIL; PERRYMAN, SHANNON; D’AVELLA, MARY; TSAGARIS, GEORGIA; ELY, STARLA; TRIPLETT, TREASUR; DOUGLAS, MICHOL; BELTRAN, HUGO Salary Range: $25,000 - $39,999 LINDHOLM, BLAKE; LYNCH, BENJAMIN; SLIVA, DEBBIE; HOWERY, KIOWA; WHITLEY, CARDELL; CIPPARRONE, CAROLYN; ERICKSON, MARY BETH; PRICE-PIGRAM, COLLETTA; JOHNSON, SENECA; GREEN, LAKENYA; ORTIZ, EVELY; PALAS, ELVINA; JOHNSON, LAEONTENE; HARRIS, DANIEL; JOY, BRANDEN; TILLMAN, LATEASHA; COBBINS, CASSANDRA; HEEZEN, NANCY; MOORE, ADEKOYEJO; RILES, ANDREA; HERRON, AYANA; MAZZUCA, MARGARET; TOWNSEND, ADRIAN; ZEPEDA, MARIA; HUNT, ROYSTON; MUNOZ-SANTIAGO, DERREK; BRENNOCK, THERESE; PARKER, DANIEL; O’BANNER, DAISHA; SINCLAIR, RENEE; LINNEAR, LAMAR; MCNICHOLS, SHANNON; MARCUS, KAREN; MALLON, MATTHEW; PHELAN, MICHAEL; THERRIAULT, BARBARA; BUCKLES, KIMBERLY; JOSEPH, DAWN; ROBINSON, CHRISTIAN; DAVIS, GWYNETH; FRANCO, AMY; NASH, PHYLICIA; COLLINS, ALETHIA; SKALNIK, KELLY; MAHAFFEY, BOBBY; ESKRIDGE, CHADARYL; CORBETT, LAURA; ELMIGER, JULIE; GERWIG, PATRICIA; SUTTON, BARBARA; MORMAN, ANTHONY; MCKENZIE, GWENDOLYN; DIVITTORIO, OLIVIA; CANNON, JANA; SMITH, GEORGE

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Salary Range: $40,000 - $59,999 OCHS, JEFFREY; PORO, MARY; VAN DELFT, HEATHER; PEREZ-FELIZ, ALEXANDER; MEADOR, DONNA; DIGIOIA, DONNA; SHORT, RICHARD; PATTERSON, GREGORY; KIDD, SHORLANDA; ANGELINI, JOHN; RAMOS, MARCELINO; MCGOWAN, LEILA; MATOS, DANNY; MALHIOT, BRYCE; ACHARYA, KIRTI; LATHAM, MICHAEL; LOVE - RAGLIN, ERICA; LUCKETT, TRACIE; ORTIZ, ABIGAIL; JONES, KRYSTLE; ASBURY, KIMBERLY; MARTINEK, SHARON; YOUNGBLOODBOONE, BRITTNEY; STOCCO, MARIA; SERRANO, FRANCISCO; ORDMAN, JOSEPH; BEJARANO DE DURAZO, NUBIA; REYNOLDS, SHONEICE; PRUITT, BARBARA; KREMIDASLUMBERERAZ, PATRICIA; GIESENSCHLAG, REBECCA; WEISENRITTER, MICHAEL; MUNCY, VERONICA; MCLAURIN, EARLIANA; FOLEY, LORI; HOUSTON, SHEILA; LUCAS, CARIN; MAY, HEIDIE; BLACKSHEAR, CAROL; ARIOLA, JAMES; SHIPLEY, MARSHA; SCHOLTENS, CHRISTOPHER; REYES, ABEL; WILLIS, DIMITRI; KORAB, DIANE; BELL, ANDREA; WERBICKI, KAMIL; CELIS JR, HUMBERTO; TRIGUEROS, JUDITH; MORALES, JESUS; WHITE, TANYA; BESSAS, DIMITRIOS; BRYANT, ROCHELLE; MAXWELL, ELIZABETH; LUSH, LYNEICE; BAER, JOSHUA; YARRINGTON, VALDA RAAD, BRADLEY; JOHNSON, ROBERT; SLEE, JAMES; WESSON, HARLEY; STRONG, ALPHONSO; NISSEN, MARY; SANFILIPPO, VINCENT; MOLETTE, ANISSA; LAMPLEY, KEVIN; COLLINS, DONAL; GRANZYK, LYNN; MICEK, SHANE; PHILLIPS, MICHAEL; BELTRAN, MARISOL MCGINNIS, NANCY; BROWN, D’QUAN; COLLINS, MARGARET; FARRAR, WILLIAM; JAMES, GIANNA; GERENA, MARIAN; MILLER, GREGORY; GUILLEN, HILDA; MICHACA RUIZ, HECTOR; WELTER, LYNETTE; DELGADO, MAYRA; COLLETTI, ASHLEY; SMITH, APOLLO; TUCKER, ROBERTO; BLACK, BRADLEY; JACKSON, IZAZA; SALGADO, GRISELDA; CORNER, JEAN Salary Range: $60,000 and over GERALD, ASAD; BRYCE, AMANDA; CARTER, KEJUAN; CALDERON, GUSTAVO; STOKES, EDDIE; HAYES, LINDA; WORD, KEVIN; WILLIAMS, LEONOTIS; WEIR, KATIE; SMITH, TECIA; BROWN, LONNIE; SANDOVAL, JANINE; SOTO, VICTOR; HOLLOWAY, BRIAN; SORENSEN, KEVIN; RUBIO, MARTINIANO; BROWN, MELODY; DE JESUS, HECTOR; MERAZ, OLIVIA; JONES, FRANK; HARRIS, ANDRE; DELRIO, MANUEL; JACKSON, LATONIA; POWELL, JEREMY; SMITH, CHARLES; YORTY, NATALIE; HASSO, TIMOTHY; WEISER, JONATHAN; BOZNOS, TOULA; PAUL, JANIE DENISE; MCGOEY, JACLYN; CARLIN, LEAH; URY, KAREN; SIMON, CLEMENT; PULLIAM, PATTIE; COLLINS, DELORIS; HATCHKO, JASON; THIVEL, MARILYN; JONES-MCLEOD, CHERYLYNN; SERRANO, LE’ANNDRA; KARELS, RICHARD; FOUNTAIN, CHRISTIAN; WELLS, JON; CORDERO, ELIMELEC; COLLINS, ROBERT; DENNEHY, TIMOTHY; MARTINEZ, GABRIELA; LAMA, KENNETH; GANT, DARRELL; SAKELLARIS, COURTNEY; EVANS, LISA; CRISP, DAVID; MAZZULLA, GABRIELA; KOSINAR, LARRY; RYAN, THOMAS; ALFANO, ALYSSA; ZAPATA, ELVIN; KING, LARK; CHARETTE-BASSIRIRAD, JACQUELINE; VINCENT, LISA; CHENEY, PATRICIA; WALKSLER, DAVID; GUST, CAROLYN; MARTIN, AMIT; HAGINS, ANTOINETTE; KRAS, EDWARD; RAGGS, ROY; DOBLE, ESTEBAN; SLIFKA, GEORGE; DAVIS, DONNELL; MENTH, LYNN; SULLIVAN, KARIN; AMMONS, LEVAR; PREUSS, FRED; THIEME, CHRISTOPHER; BALDWIN, CHRISTOPHER; PIEKARSKI, MICHELINE; BERGMANN, JEFF; SIDOR, CYNTHIA; STELZER, JOHN; KALMERTON, GAIL; CARIOSCIO, MICHAEL

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A small tent and an exit strategy

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ometimes it’s the work that takes you to new places.

Other times it’s the new place that determines the difficulty of your work. I’m celebrating a decade since being promoted to the rung of full-time Dad. The U.S. Census describes me as married, out of the workforce for more than a year and fathering children under the age of 18.

It’s interesting they left out malepattern baldness. There’s no mention of a proclivity for the ‘Regular’ setting, despite color or texture, of the wash load, and the report is surprisingly silent on wardrobe.

I think I’ve won the cargo shorts contest. Not out of the woods by any means with two teen angels, but with enough experience behind me to share some silliness as encouragement for all the moms and dads who may find themselves slipping, being nudged, or in my case leaping from the ladder.

Ten years ago, we purposely switched up the model for our young family — Mom would make it and Dad would bake it. For years, we both were pushing hard at careers that involved travel, lots of relocation and an amazing live-in nanny. It took time before we realized the deepening beneath what seemed like temporary cracks in our family foundation.

Together, we quit our jobs and sold our house outside Atlanta. Our nanny moved on and we moved up above Trader Joe’s at the corner of Lake and Harlem. A store that’s created life-long affection for squirrels (not!) and an intersection that would test reflexes last used with a joystick playing “Frogger.” I liked “Asteroids,” too, but we weren’t a video game family.

Kim found work nearby and I found a community well matched for full-time dadding. Lots of walking and biking.

Plenty of parks to explore, festivals and people to meet.

Even one Ramona Nibbles at the Oak Park Library who graciously accepted our offering of empty toilet paper rolls before story hour, and later taught us about losing a friend.

RIP Ramona.

If you’re new to the gig, find yourself without a corporate ladder to cling to, or if you fumble some when asked what you do, may this simple advice, delivered in the struggle of a story, bring a smile or maybe even confidence in the work that matters most: Buy a tent, keep it small, and always have an exit strategy. This is some of the best advice I can give a new full-time father planning on packing adventure in a toolbox for connection and teaching.

Kim returned to Atlanta for 10 days of transitioning immediately after we unloaded the U-Haul. It was the rapid heart rate and dilated pupils on the sixth floor that signaled I should find a Walmart, buy a tent and immediately head north. We fled to Wisconsin’s Point Beach State Park to catch our breath and focus attention on all the new tasks at hand. The first was kite flying.

STEVE LEFKO

See LEFKO on page 38

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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Remembering Jane p. 37

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E Q U I T Y

Promise, and challenge, of managed school integration Part IV in a series on the history of educational equity efforts in Oak Park and the surrounding area:

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JOHN DUFFY

represented the deliberate, planned actions that early African-American leaders like Sherlynn Reid and others believed were indispensable to reversing historic, equallydeliberate practices that maintained segregation in Chicago and around the nation.

y the mid-’70s Hawthorne School (now Percy Julian) at Washington and Ridgeland had 25 percent Black students. With growing white presDoubters and resisters sure and national research about racial “tipping points,” i.e. when the number of Black students According to Oak Park education scholar Art Hyde, was deemed unacceptable by whites and predictive there was a small group of Blacks and whites who had of housing re-segregation, District 97 Elementary serious reservations about the promises of re-districtSchools took action to disperse students of color ing and the educational innovations that would accomacross the community. pany creation of the new junior highs in 1976. Key to They created two their doubts were junior highs that ongoing concerns would be popuabout the emotionlated by students al and academic from across the welfare of Africanremaining eight K-6 American students schools. It was the and teachers. definitive beginThis led the 20 or ning of “managed so African-Ameriintegration” in D97. can teachers in D97 The key metric for to form a minority managed integrateachers caucus. tion was that no After a few years one school should of petitioning to have a percentage have “a seat at the of African Ameritable with a reccan students more ognized voice,” as than, or less than longtime African15 percent of the American teacher African American Jarvia Thomas PROVIDED population in the YESTERDAY’S SCHOOLS: In the mid-’70s, D97’s Committee for Tomor- relates, the Oak district. It was Park Teachers row’s Schools met animated opposition. widely opposed by Association finally whites. relented. In the School board leaders, like Galen Gockel, a leading following years, courageous members of the Black voice for managed integration, stressed that re-districtCaucus like Ella Pappademos, Betty Smitherman and ing by redrawing school attendance boundaries would Earl Bitoy would take bold stands for multiculturalism place Oak Park in compliance with state integration and racial equity as I will relate in a later episode. guidelines, actualize the recommendations of two years of work by the D97 Committee for Tomorrow’s Multicultural and racial awareness Schools and, most importantly, complement village housing integration strategies. Advocates of re-disChanging white understanding and knowledge of tricting believed it provided a path forward to realize African-American history and culture was essential to the ideals and property interests that brought so many equity in racially integrated schools. As was the case racially diverse people to Oak Park. then and largely still true today, most white parents, The ultimate goal of re-districting was unequivocally teachers, school board members, and administrators to convince white residents to not abandon Hawthorne had little life experience in racially-integrated working, School, leave the neighborhood, cause re-segregation, living, or teaching. encourage white flight, and thereby diminish property The creation of the Multicultural Resource Cenvalues. ter, headed by beloved Oak Park African-American For the many in Oak Park committed to a new kind teacher Dolores Register in the early ’80s in D97 was a of racially-integrated community, D97 struck the esmajor step in closing the racial, cultural, respect, and sential balance that critical race historians refer to as “interest convergence.” Managed school integration See DUFFY on page 37

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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Gratitude in a thankless year

ave blessings ever been more welcome than in this dismal, disastrous year of COVID-19? Can we get up off the mat long enough this Thanksgiving week to find the many things we as villages can hold close as affirmations?

Yes we can.

At Wednesday Journal we are thankful for the glorious work of so many of our nonprofits. From shelter to nourishment, from mental health to health care, from outreach to seniors to connections with our children, we have seen repeated bold innovations as services have been delivered in new ways, with safety and caring despite the lack of human touch. From executive directors to staff to boards to funders to the beneficiaries who graciously accept help, this has been a wonder to observe.

In a time so demanding of resources to and from nonprofits we are deeply appreciative of the wide support our readers and donors have offered to Growing Community Media, our newly invented local news nonprofit.

Rising out of so much pain, we are thankful for the long-past-due revelation among white villagers of the depth of the racism built into every system we have created to shape our lives and, critically, the self-revelation that each of us carries racism and bias in our American DNA. This is the starting point. While every protest of the early summer carried meaning, we have done nearly nothing so far. Let’s face that fact. And let’s get to work so next Thanksgiving we have made authentic headway.

Government did good in Oak Park and River Forest when it came to steering us through the frightening uncertainty of COVID-19. From Mike Charley, the now departed Oak Park public health director, who provided leadership and clarity, to village administrators Eric Palm and Cara Pavlicek, who upended organizations to offer service and find funding, to political leaders Anan Abu-Taleb and Cathy Adduci who were bold in those early confounding days.

We also saw a rare and impressive level of collaboration among all local government bodies and then we saw innovation to find ways to bring library, park and other services to residents.

The dark weeks ahead will bring more pain, but local responsive government is not to be taken for granted — or without gratitude.

It has been imperfect because the situation is so close to impossible but thanks to our teachers, the school districts and determined parents who have invented “remote learning” on a dime and for the masses.

Widely defined, we offer thanks to essential workers from nurses to the hospital workers swabbing out ER stations, from cops and firefighters to people handling check out behind flimsy plexiglass at grocery stores and other shops.

Lake Street from Austin to Harlem has been rebuilt in a year. And now it is done, by our measure, forever.

For 40 years we have relied on and built partnerships with the small businesses of River Forest and Oak Park. They can be a delightfully squirrelly bunch in good times. And in these catastrophic times they are tough as nails, hanging on barely, but with still a little squirreliness built in.

We love these entrepreneurs. They give definition and identity to these burgs, whether they are in retail on Harrison, a second-floor dentist, an artist in a studio, a tax accountant or chiropractor downtown.

They need to be intentionally supported — or, on the other end of this pandemic, we will live in diminished villages.

Our restaurants in particular have been battered by the safety precautions elemental to our public safety. We need to redouble our conscious choice to order out from these restaurants, to spread our limited disposable income, to guarantee a future for our food industry.

In this weird Thanksgiving week we look for the wonder, we hope for the future, and we give thanks for getting through this impossible year together.

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The neverending search for meaning

D

an Haley asked Wednesday Journal staff recently to write a few words on why we work here at Growing Community Media (the nonprofit company that recently replaced the for-profit Wednesday Journal Inc.). Fifty words was all he needed, but 50 words isn’t enough for me to clear my throat, as writers like to say.

So I’m giving him something on the order of 950 words — not exactly suitable for donation pitches, needed for our very survival, but he can extract any 50-word excerpt that pleases.

Now that I’ve cleared my throat, why am I still working here 30 years, almost to the day, after I started in November of 1990?

The short answer is: Not for the money, but for the meaning.

One of the books that changed my life was Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, which I read in high school, saints be praised, because I really needed it. I was just trying to survive adolescence, but Frankl survived Auschwitz, and attributed it largely to finding meaning, in small ways and large. Those who found meaning survived. Those who didn’t perished. It became the gospel he preached for the rest of his life.

Last Friday, I took a walk to think about why I work here, and stopped, as I often do, at Mulata for coffee. The nice young guy behind the counter no longer needs my order. We exchange one word: “Regular?” he says, and I nod. Mulata says a lot about Oak Park. If we were as politically correct as Trumpists think, that name would have been contested, but it only caused a small stir. The old, thankfully obsolete, term “mulatto” had negative connotations when it was spit out by bigots in this country in the past. But “mulata” is a positive term in Brazil, celebrating the blending of multiculturalism, and the owner is herself a proud mulata. And Oak Parkers are smart enough, informed enough and sensitive enough to avoid the pitfalls of political “purity.”

I walked across the intersection of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue, the current neverending construction project, and into Scoville Park, which used to be a neverending construction project, with the mountainrange façade of the Oak Park Public Library, another former neverending construction project, looming in the background. All of these projects eventually ended (or will), just as this pandemic will eventually end. Oak Park endures because Oak Parkers have learned how to endure and are better for it.

I headed up Grove Avenue and spotted a fence post with something dangling from it — a child’s necklace, dropped, as kids do, then found by some thoughtful homeowner or passerby, who draped it here on the off chance it might be spotted and reunited with its tiny owner. This small act of kindness captures an active ethic in our community — a place of families with kids and sharp-eyed neighbors

who watch out for them.

Which I wouldn’t have noticed, much less thought about, if I hadn’t walked these streets for three decades, working at a job that prizes observation, even the smallest details, and finds meaning in them.

When I was younger and starriereyed, I wanted to be great at something, specifically writing. It’s good to dream, but wanting to be “great” is a function of ego. Over too many years, I learned that greatness exceeds our grasp if we can’t tame the ego that produced the desire in the first place. I became a better writer when I stopped trying to be a “great” writer.

And I learned that you can’t be a better writer unless you first become a better person.

Working in this job, in this place, has made me a better person. I wrote about so many quality people who made me want to be a better person, too. This job’s other gift is meaning.

Thirty years ago, I boomeranged back to the town I grew up in and got to know it for the first time, burrowing beneath the surface, where meaning lies.

But none of this would have happened if I hadn’t met so many remarkable people through the years, some of them gone now but not forgotten, and I wouldn’t have met them if I weren’t working. I had the privilege of examining close up the fine stitching of community life and becoming one of its chroniclers.

I also took a walk in River Forest last week, a community I have spent much more time in these past viral months, and was treated to the annual migration of sandhill cranes flying overhead in long Vs, signaling their passage with distinctive bugling/bleating — the setting sun lighting up the underside of their wide wings, as they circled and climbed the thermals, gathering stragglers before heading to their winter refuge in the South.

The next day I received an email from a reader, Jack Bizot, which you can read in its entirety on the opposite page, who actually heard these bleating hearts from inside his home and hurried out, forgetting his coat in his rush to admire the “majesty” of their journey. He read my past columns on the cranes and wanted to share the moment. I first learned about this annual odyssey thanks to another Jack, the late Jack Levering, whom I met in Austin Gardens one day over 20 years ago. Every year, March and November, as I crane my neck to locate these great-winged wonders, I’m thankful for his tip.

And thankful is what I’ve felt for 30 Novembers now, for Wednesday Journal and Oak Park and River Forest and all the other communities we cover, located at the intersections of independence and interdependence, of I and We, of connection and meaning.

Whenever I find myself asking the question, “Why am I still working here?” I just go for a walk.

It doesn’t take long to rediscover the answer.

KEN

TRAINOR

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

by Marc Stopeck

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Stacey Sheridan, Maria Maxham Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Arts Editor Michelle Dybal Sports/Staff reporter James Kay Columnists Marc Blessoff, Jack Crow, Doug Deuchler, Linda Francis, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Mark Moroney, Javier Govea, Debbie Becker Business Manager Joyce Minich Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Growing Community Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

The rare gift of majesty I thought of you today, Ken, as I now do whenever I am fortunate enough to witness the sandhill cranes’ migration north in March, or south in November.

As usual, I heard them before I saw them, but with a new twist today: I was actually inside my house this time, when it gradually crept in upon my consciousness that I was hearing a faint sound which could, I realized with some excitement, be the sound of cranes passing overhead. I quickly stepped out my front door (not even taking time to grab a coat or a mask) in time to spot several squadrons passing overhead, in slightly ragged formation.

I don’t have your columns that have talked about the cranes in front of me, but I’d be willing to bet that you like about them what I also like: the way they mark so beautifully the changing of the seasons (in a way that is immeasurably better than the much-despised time changes that also occur each March and November).

And perhaps even more than that, the way in which they give us the rare gift of majesty — so rare, especially these days when we’re mostly confined to Oak Park and mostly indoors.

It strikes me that the cranes’ migration is in this way nearly perfectly opposed to the Air and Water Show (whose jets sometimes also pass over Oak Park), which

About Viewpoints

overwhelms our senses with shock and awe. With the cranes, on the other hand, we often have to strain our senses, in order to confirm that we really are hearing and seeing them pass high overhead. And to me, it is this very remoteness that gives the cranes’ migration its majesty, leaving us feeling very fortunate indeed, when we witness their passing.

May we both still be here for their next passing (and many more to come!) and may the collective “we” have turned several crucial metaphorical corners (at least 2-3 if I’m a little greedy) by the time they pass this way again.

Jack Bizot

Oak Park

Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action.

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing.

Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@ wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

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■ 500-word limit

■ Must include first and last names,

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

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

■ Signature details as at left

your connection to the topic

Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

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ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE FOREST PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Five family meals in Forest Park

Shanahan’s manager, Esthela Gonzalez, shows off their shrimp and sausage jambalaya for four.

Eat well, support local favorites

We are all spending more time at home these days but getting a hot family dinner on the table every night has not gotten much easier. Thankfully, several Forest Park restaurants are ready to ease your cooking burden.

Check out five family-sized meals you can carry out tonight.

Since 1969 Golden Steer Steakhouse, 7635 W. Roosevelt Rd., has been serving up classic steaks, Food Writer mouthwatering ribs and first rate French onion soup, but a few weeks ago the 50-year-old restaurant added family meals to their carry out menu for the first time.

“We wanted to give another option to families who are missing the Golden Steer experience,” says manager Tom Tzouras. “We are offering well-rounded meals that are both comforting and healthy.”

The steakhouse offers six family meals designed to feed five including Grecian chicken and vegetarian pasta. Beef tenderloin medallions are a popular selection – our steaks were cooked to a perfect medium-rare and served with a satisfying combination of house salad, twice-baked potatoes, and a broccolicarrot side dish.

Tim Shanahan is known for bringing a taste of New Orleans to Madison Street and now his

MELISSA ELSMO

namesake restaurant is poised to bring its special brand of southern hospitality to your dinner table. Shanahans, 7353 W. Madison St., has five affordable family dinner offerings including red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee, and The “small batch” from Small Batch Barbecue feeds 3-5 people mix and match po’boys. shown here with two specialty menu items (beef rib and pork Shanahans’ manager, Esthela belly burnt ends) as well as smoked wings, beans and coleslaw.

Gonzalez, is eager for people to try the New Orleans influenced meals and believes the shrimp and sausage jambalaya will be a particular favorite among customers.

“Things have been hard,” said Gonzalez gesturing toward Shanahan’s empty bar. “We are hoping people will support us by ordering our family Shanahans offers several family meals.

The option shown here serves four and meals.”

For 16 years, includes shrimp and sausage jambalaya, Mexican Republic co-owners Fernando Manriquez and Enrique Caffé De Luca, 7427 a quart of Chicken Gumbo (an upgrade) Madison St., has and bread pudding with vanilla sauce.

Gomez show their fajita family meal. relied on regulars and Stinton has bottled up his sweet and tangy positive word of mouth sauces for sale. The handsome bottles can to keep them going strong according to owner white bean dip are an addictive snack.

Greg Stinton found his way to restaurant be returned to the restaurant for recycling in Art Sundry. ownership through competitive barbecue. exchange for a discount on a subsequent sauce Sundry recently invested in a second pizza Today his eco-friendly joint, Small Batch purchase. oven to meet increased delivery demand, but Barbecue, 7441 Madison St., is turning out Fernando Manriquez and Enrique Gomez a hearty family meal has always been a part of Caffe De Luca’s catering menu. The pandemic, some seriously good meat-focused fare are eager to get their fajita kit to your family table. The co-owners of Mexican Republic however, has brought more attention to the including award winning ribs.

You can order a la carte, but savvy barbecue Kitchen and Cantina, 7404 Madison St., are generous meal for six. lovers know Stinton has created family friendly enhancing their menu of Mexican favorites Chicken and pesto farfalle, rigatoni and options in tiny, small, and large sizes.

We with high-value chicken, steak or combination meatballs, as well as salad and garlic bread ordered up the “Small Batch” with three meats fajita dinners for four. Served with rice, beans, will easily fill up your family, but don’t discount Caffe De Luca’s appetizer offering. and two large sides including a dinosaur-sized tortillas, guacamole, and house made salsas The crispy lavosh crackers and garlicky beef rib, pork belly burnt ends and smoked this meal is sure to turn your next meal into a wings tossed in Small Batch medium sauce. proper fiesta.

The family meal from Caffe De Luca in Forest Park easily serves a family of six.

all photos by Melissa Elsmo

Owner Art Sundry shows off a photo of his grandmother, Constance De Luca. Caffe De Luca is named after her and serves her homestyle meatballs with rigatoni in their family meal

Chefs Gus (left) and Charlie (center) Tzouras bring decades of cooking experience to Golden Steer. They are assisted by Octavio Guijosa (right).

V I E W P O I N T S

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

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Thanksgiving 2020, where the ideal meets the real

How it’s supposed to go: On Thanksgiving morning, the alarm goes off at 6. The cook rises and goes to the local greenmarket, hand-selecting the freshest produce for dinner. There is coffee upon returning, and the work begins. Sweet potatoes are peeled and chunked. The (home-made) bread is cubed and the (home-made) stock is heated, filling the kitchen with the aromas of stuffing.

There is light music (Vivaldi). The best of the wine is decanted. Someone laboriously, yet lovingly, assembles the pan of Grandma’s sweet rolls that are the family’s longest-standing holiday tradition. Dessert work is under way, too — perfect wedges of Granny Smith apples are sprinkled with lemon juice and the ice cream maker is spinning. The heirloom turkey, brined and air-dried overnight in the fridge, goes into the oven.

Family arrives. The children express delight at the smells from the kitchen and show off the construction-paper turkeys they made yesterday at school. The adults open Champagne and talk about politics (everyone is in agreement), Christmas (everyone is wellprepared), and plans to remodel the kitchen (everyone loves the new island).

The turkey comes out and is laid ’pon the carving-board to rest while the pan drippings become gravy. The turkey gravy is lush with bits of fond and shreds of meat. The rolls slip cleanly from the pan and the sides are trans-

ferred effortlessly from baking pan to serving dishes. The cooks change into fresh clothes for dinner. The turkey is expertly carved.

Dinner is served promptly at 2 and ingested in a leisurely manner. Everyone is delighted by the presentation. There is good hot coffee and a nip of apple brandy to go with the pie and ice cream. The adults team up to do the dishes while the children nap, and then all spend a peaceful afternoon and evening together. There might be a board game, or a walk to look at Christmas lights, or even a game of touch football. There are turkey sandwiches as a very late snack, and the clamor for the leftovers leads to careful division of all that remains.

poultry market on the West Side where they kill them to order, is still slightly feathered and fairly bloody. I get to work with cold water and pliers while Emily shoos the cats away from the dead bird of their dreams. Next I get going on the pan of sweet rolls that are the family’s longest-standing holiday tradition now that refusing to be the one to answer the phone when Grandma calls has been, uh, retired.

My brother and his wife arrive with three children and two dogs. It’s clear no one enjoyed the car ride. The dogs lie down in the exact center of the kitchen and will not move again until it is time to leave. Two of the children are visibly angry and scrolling.

The third comes into the kitchen and asks what we are having for dinner. This is a trick question; every possible answer — including “Cupcakes!” — will be met with a grimace and gagging noises.

My brother turns on the TV, but this being Friday, there is no football. This is good because that means no one will throw anything at the TV this year. (The Lions gave up a backdoor cover late.) Mom begins the process of clearing eight months’ worth of paperwork off the dining room table. (The process begins with careful sorting and ends

ALAN

BROUILETTE

How It Does Go: The alarm goes off at six on Thanksgiving. I shut it off because my brother is working today, so Thanksgiving is tomorrow for us.

The alarm goes off at six on Friday. We snooze it till about 8:30 and then leap from bed in a panic. I shoot a Red Bull and start packing. We’re cooking at Mom’s, as this apartment is not suitable for eight people. At Mom’s, I put on some music (Wu-Tang). The frenzy begins.

The turkey, which I got at a Mexican

with a cardboard box and a snow shovel.) The adults express dismay over the imminence of Christmas while the children scroll.

The turkey comes out and is put on the carving-board to rest while I disguise the ingredients of the gravy with a stick blender.

I add a little sherry in hopes the children will nap after dinner. The sweet rolls are peeled from the pan with the help of a heated chisel and the baking dishes double as serving dishes because it’s stupid to dirty another dish. I run upstairs to try and find a clean shirt, and the only one that fits is from Señor Frog’s. I elect not to put a dinner jacket over it since there are bikinis and innuendo but no profanity. Someone carved the turkey “to help speed things up.” It looks like it was carved by the dogs. Why does no one ever do the dishes “to help speed things up”?

Three hours and 11 minutes later than planned, dinner is served. Three of us are finished eating by the time Mom sits down. The children each take two reluctant bites and ask about dessert. They ultimately ignore the pie and ice cream in favor of leftover Halloween candy. The adults are too tired to handle the dishes so we leave the tower for processing tomorrow. Hugs are distributed amid pleas to accept more leftovers, of which there are a lot.

Wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alan Brouilette is a columnist for our sister publication, the Forest Park Review.

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Why the rec center should go to a vote

he Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) cites a 2019 survey of 618 households as rationale for building a Park District Rec Center.

The survey, no mention of costs, found that “nearly 50% of respondents expressed a need or interest in a fitness center, indoor pool and indoor track for their household.

However, 80% of respondents stated a Community Recreation Center (CRC) is needed in Oak Park if it is constructed without a tax increase. Support was stronger for a CRC when survey respondents learned the gym space would be available to middle- and high-school students free of charge during afterschool hours” (this per the PDOP website).

According to the Cook County Clerk’s website, Oak Park has 40,814 registered voters/taxpayers.

The park district survey of 618 represented just 1.5% of registered voters/ taxpayers. The “nearly” 50% (meaning less than a majority) or 309 or so respondents perceiving a need for a village rec center represented a meager .0075% of registered voters/taxpayers, and the approximate 80% or 494 or so who favored the rec center if built without

a tax increase, represented just 1.21% of registered voters/taxpayers. Again, costs were not part of the survey questions.

Here’s the only relevant survey that truly matters: On Election Day, Nov. 3, Oak Park voters/taxpayers voted on an advisory referendum that said, “Shall any capital expenditure of $5 million or more by any local taxing body within Oak Park be subject to a binding referendum for approval or rejection by the voters?” The result was overwhelming, 13,178 or 78.4% yes, 3,627 or 21.6% no.

The park district has already earmarked $5 million in property taxes for this proposed facility (including a redundant pool — just cover Ridgeland Common pool and be done with it).

That’s not counting another $1.5 million in property tax money allocated by Oak Park Township. This combined $6.5 million could be returned to the taxpayers.

Nor does it include an $875,000 grant from the functionally bankrupt state of Illinois, nor a $2.5 million PARC grant from the state of Illinois (which may approve these allocations but may be unable to deliver the money, leaving the park district holding that bag, as has

JACK

POWERS One View

happened elsewhere).

Phase 1 is estimated to cost $18 million, of which $9,875,000 would come from tax money, assuming the state money is real, the rest from purportedly donated funds.

The facility would be built on donated land, a sizable portion of Madison Street real estate, permanently removing it from the property tax rolls, a significant opportunity cost not to be overlooked.

The park district board states that the facility would be permanently selfsustaining without property tax money via user fees and memberships, but they cannot guarantee that.

The scope of this project, the opportunity costs, the financial risk and the permanent park district obligation (meaning taxpayers) this facility becomes is far too large not to take it to the taxpayers in a referendum, 13,178 of whom voted to say they want to have a say in capital expenditures of $5 million or more.

To the park district board, are you prepared to ignore 13,178 taxpayers who have expressed a need to vote on such a large capital expenditure? If you are, why?

To the District 200 school board, same questions.

Jack Powers is a resident of Oak Park.

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation It’s easy to take the Forest Park Review for granted. What makes the paper special and important, though, is that we’re here. At the school board meetings. Reporting on the village council. In tune with the businesses. We’re a source for hyper-local news about what’s happening HERE. I live in town and have for over 18 years, I care deeply about what happens here -- it’s more than just a job -- and I work hard to report on all aspects of life in Forest Park.

Maria Maxham, Forest Park Review editor

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

35

Express your thanks with takeout

This year has been a blur, and without a doubt there are many things I hope I never see or experience again! But equally so, in this season of thanks, I am thankful more than ever for some things that are always around: the restaurants, cafes, eateries and caterers in our villages. They are always there when we need them — Friday night “exhale and relax” night, too exhausted to cook night, emotional eating afternoon coffee, late night “let’s go for a walk because there is nothing else to do” snack.

How about when you just want to do something spontaneous and fun, that just makes you feel alive and in control of your life? We head to a new place that we have never tried. And when we need solace, we head to our regular, familiar haunts. And I know that there are families of all sizes who have tried to add some excitement to the everyday blur by taking the long route to pick up their take-out.

They have been there for us, and now we need to help them survive! Go to takeout25oakpark.com and take the pledge to support our local restaurants, then head to CarryOutOakPark.com to decide where to eat and get out there and save our local food industry.

Ever heard the saying, “Friends are the family we get to choose for ourselves?” Well get out there and visit your chosen family! Show them all the love they deserve after being there for you through thick and thin. What better way to express your thanks?

Liz Holt

Executive Director OP-RF Chamber of Commerce

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation Working in this job, in this place, has made me a better person. I wrote about so many quality people, who made me want to be a better person, too. This job’s other gift is meaning. Thirty years ago, I boomeranged back to the town I grew up in and got to know it for the first time, burrowing beneath the surface, where meaning lies.

Ken Trainor, Viewpoints editor and columnist

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36

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Giving thanks, then and now

W

hen we were young kids in St. Mary of Celle Parish in Berwyn, our parents would often open the family meal with a prayer, “Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts …” But at Aunt Sue’s house in Lyons, I remember reciting instead the familiar, “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food.” Once after being led by our aunt’s recitation, my little, red-haired comic/sister Sue perked up and exclaimed, “Hey, we eat lettuce!” My aunt laughed about that remark for years.

That the food on our table, including the lettuce, was “blessed” came as no revelation to us. After all, so was everything else about our house. Mom and Dad embraced the Catholic vision of the home as a “domestic church.” Parish priests had sprinkled holy water in, and prayed over, every room — closets included. Holy water fonts hung next to the light switches in each bedroom.

A painting of Mary, Joseph and little Jesus sharing a meal in the woods reminded us daily that the practice of shared food with Mom and Dad went back to the Holy Family.

A crucifix at the front entrance greeted guests. And yes, there were visitors! Although my sisters relate they were embarrassed that friends would see people praying the rosary on their knees in our living room, their mortification didn’t stop our parents from opening our house to periodic visits by the Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima. I remember Mom rolling out a vinyl runner in the living room so people could take off their shoes before settling to their knees in front of the Madonna’s statue.

As a domestic church, our bungalow also served as a place of religious learning. Dad taught CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes in our living room for Catholic kids who attended public schools. In fact, I had to agree to take his class when I transferred from Fenwick to Morton West.

Our neighborhood oozed Catholicism.

The church sponsored the Little League in a field adjacent to the convent and rectory. Most of the kids I knew went to its K-8 school, where enrollment at the time hovered near 1,000. I saw many of them and their parents at Sunday Mass, as well as daily in the classroom. I served as an altar boy, beginning in fifth grade. First Communion in second grade and Confirmation in fifth constituted major, life-marking events for just about every boy and girl I knew.

As I walk today along Lake Michigan, 60 years later, I carry that First Communion book in hand. It awakens memories of that different era. I have experienced continuity with that time, as well as separation from it. We’re parishioners at Ascension Church in Oak Park, across Roosevelt Road from the old parish in Berwyn. Our kids are adults — all married. They were baptized in Pennsylvania when we were worshipping at St. Thomas United Church of Christ outside Harrisburg. For a couple of years, three of them attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Harrisburg. All of them took First Communion at Ascension after we moved to Oak Park. Maureen has served as a cantor at the church since 1996. My sons have all sung in the parish choir, as I

RICH

KORDESH One View

PHOTO BY RICH KORDESH

OOZING CATHOLICISM: The author’s First Communion prayer book sparks memories from a devout childhood. do still today.

The Oak Park in which we raised our children is rich in developmental opportunity, secular as well as faith-based.

There is a vital, colorful and diverse mix of religious institutions in town. The public schools, which our kids attended, respect that diversity without promoting a particular tradition.

Healthy food is celebrated in Oak Park in many home gardens, as well as by organizations devoted to it. We grew a lot of it ourselves in our backyard, including beans, radishes, cucumbers, beets, potatoes, onions, peppers, carrots and of course,

Please subscribe to community solar

As our current health crisis and political crisis flood the headlines, news of the ongoing climate emergency is relegated to the back pages, if it is covered at all. An avalanche of events, including the historically high number of hurricanes striking Central America, the Caribbean area, and the Gulf Coast, and the thousands of wildfires that have burned up the Western U.S., continue their fierce assault on people and places. These events demand public attention.

Also demanding attention are the burgeoning efforts to stem the climate emergency — efforts such as the recent decision by First United Church of Oak Park to subscribe to a local Illinois community solar installation. Enabled by the Future Energy Jobs Act, community solar allows ComEd customers to “go solar” without actually putting panels on their buildings. Institutions and individuals — whether they live in a house, a condo, or an apartment — can subscribe to a portion of the electricity produced by a solar farm and, in return, receive credits that reduce their electric bills.

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fective solutions to the climate crisis. And they are finding that the particular benefits of community solar are many: ■ Contributing to the transition to a clean energy system, reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and providing better stewardship of our Mother Earth.

■ Helping to provide new well-paid jobs and economic diversity in rural areas of the state.

■ Accessing solar power easily and saving money at the same time.

Every business, organization, and resident should be encouraged to consider subscribing to the new, local community solar developments.

The Citizens Utility Board website has excellent information on the community solar program, with a comparison of the companies that are offering it: https://www.citizensutilityboard. org/solar-in-the-community/#1587673700125b12d2382-6775.

Jim Babcock First United Church of Oak Park Interfaith Green Network

lettuce.

On Thanksgiving days around the dining room table, we would express our appreciation to the Lord for the bounty we had received, some of which we had harvested right out our back door.

This Thanksgiving, Maureen and I are preparing to return to Oak Park after a few years in the city, bringing us closer to Ascension, not far from what is now a very different St. Mary of Celle, and happily, just a few minutes from our grandchildren.

Much has changed since Aunt Sue led us in prayer, but God is still great, and God is still good.

The legislature should be at work in Springfield In his comment in Wednesday Journal, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said, of the election result, “We did it.” [Viewpoints, Nov. 11].

Now, however, with Illinois facing a financial crisis because of the defeat of the Fair Tax and facing another coronavirus wave, Senator Harmon says, in effect, we can’t do it. The legislature can’t meet for its fall session.

It wouldn’t be safe, he says, with the virus surging in Springfield and around the state.

Doctors and nurses are working. Police officers and firefighters are there for us. And grocery stores and drug stores are open, and their workers are helping us with our food and medicine.

But is the state legislature meeting to pass laws to deal with these crises? No. It’s too dangerous.

If it is too dangerous for them to meet in person, why can’t they meet virtually? People are doing their jobs this way all over the state. I understand there might be a need to change the rules to allow this, but that is something Senator Harmon could have been working on in July and August. Health officials were predicting another wave of the virus this winter. Legislative leaders could have been organizing things last summer so the legislature could do its job now. But apparently this wasn’t done.

In a letter I wrote in October, I suggested, in effect, what we needed in Springfield wasn’t the Fair Tax. What we needed was new people. This is a perfect example of that.

Patrick Allen

River Forest

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

A G I N G

I

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

D I S G R A C E F U L L Y

We are OPEN!

The days of wine and roses

n the early ’60s, I moved into an apartment at Diversey and Pine Grove with several other young women — it was OK to call us girls then. We were new in town, looking for jobs, starting jobs, and looking for husbands — or first husbands in some cases.

Jane was the glue that held it all together. She was interested in everybody, knew everybody, cared about everybody, and when everybody else avoided the job, Jane stepped up and baked a casserole and fixed a salad.

And that laugh. Throaty and frequent. And bridge. If there was a fourth, there was a game of bridge going on.

I have no idea how we shared one bathroom and all got out of the house on time every morning, but we did. My roommate got up very early every morning to go to Mass before work, but I suspect it might have been to get to the bathroom first.

We wore fake Chanel suits, miniskirts, and beehive hairdos. Some of the beehives were big enough to conceal a gun. When we went to church, we wore little round pieces of lace on our hair. We smoked constantly and drank a lot, something awful like Seven-and-Sevens, which I think is bourbon and Seven-Up. And there was a wine called Mateus in cute little bottles that, later used as candleholders, decorated many newlyweds’ first apartments.

For Jane, Saturday was for shopping.

And sales. We would head to bygone fashion palaces like Bonwit Teller, Bramson’s, Peck and Peck, Marshall Field (when Marshall Field was still Marshall Field), and Lord and Taylor. Ferragamo shoes were a coup if they were on sale.

Rheumatic fever in childhood left Jane

with a weakened heart. I was honored to be there when Jane received a heart transplant at the age of 70, at that time the oldest person in the USA to receive a heart transplant.

We were told the heart had been flown in from St. Louis. I found a St Louis newspaper from that day with a report of a young man in his 20s being killed in a car accident. Part of him went on to become meticulous about exercise and diet, continued to travel the world, and remained a world-class shopper and dressed to the nines.

Bridge was Jane’s passion. She played in tournaments in Chicago and all over the country. At a tournament in Omaha, she chatted with fellow bridge addicts Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. Buffett introduced Gates by saying, “He does stuff with computers.”

After bridge, politics was her passion. She was raised a Democrat on a farm in Iowa that was visited by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during his Iowa tour in the ’50s.

She worked hard for Democrats all her life.

My daughter-in-law Su Jang catered the party Jane threw to celebrate the five-year anniversary of her transplant. Jane invited new friends she had made, all fellow transplant recipients.

Her heart did not give out; it lasted 17 years. It was the anti-rejection drugs that wore her down.

So many times during and since the election, I’ve wanted to call Jane and hear her say: “Can you believe this?” “What’s wrong with this man?” I miss her, but I’m glad she doesn’t have to endure this pathetic denouement that Trump is putting us through.

DUFFY

integration in education worked, and for a time alleviated some of Oak Park white fears, strengthened managed integration in housing, and set Oak Park on a different historic path than school policies and actions in Chicago and Maywood. It also provided a temporary respite for the deep rupture in the Oak Park community.

The apparent-but-fragile equilibrium continued until a major rift tore D97 apart in the mid-1980s, and a new schism stirred community angst around race and education. Most importantly, the new divisions shifted attention to how schools would be organized internally. That struggle would contribute to making racial equity of equal if not greater importance than managed integration in the 1970s.

That story on race and education in Oak Park I will turn to in Episode 5.

MARY KAY O’GRADY

from page 29 understanding gap. While such a move may seem minor today, it was a breakthrough in suburban schools.

It came at a time when dominant political voices nationally were coalescing in the Republican Party and pushing back against efforts to bring authentic multiracial texts, voices, and history into the mainstream of American education. While board support for the center was present, it would not be until 1986 that the D97 school board created a Human Dignity and Cultural Pluralism Committee dedicated to expanding Oak Park’s understanding of racial and ethnic multiculturalism.

The 1980s – as divisive as the ’70s The plan D97 developed for managed

John Duffy is a co-founder of the Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education.

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

We do not have an informed electorate

‘A

n educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” Although this famous quote, attributed to Thomas Jefferson, has never been found verbatim in his works, it accurately reflects his views. [i] Even in the Citizens United decision, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010 declared, “In a republic where the people are sovereign, the ability of the citizenry to make informed choices among candidates for office is essential.” Unfortunately, the court went on to twist reality in order to legalize bribery.

Does America have an informed electorate today? Is democracy safe? The failure of the Fair Tax Amendment provides a superb test case. This amendment would have enabled Illinois to join the large majority of states that have a graduated income tax. In the immediate future, passage of this amendment would have resulted in higher tax for those with incomes over $250,000 but no change or lower taxes for everyone else. Passage would have benefited 97 percent of the electorate. There are no cogent arguments against it.

How could half of Illinois vote against their own self-interest? The answer is: We do not have an informed electorate.

A few billionaires, in particular Kenneth Griffin (who invested around $50 million in a disinformation campaign), in combination with the owners of the Chicago Tribune, who published editorials and biased columns daily in the weeks before the election, were able to promote a false narrative and hoodwink Illinois voters.

Here are their main arguments: 1) Do not give Illinois lawmakers the power to raise your taxes.

This claim is ludicrous because they already have this power. Illinois tax rates have gone up and down because the legislature could always do this. The Fair Tax Amendment would have given them the power to raise taxes selectively on the rich.

In most states and also in most countries of the world, taxing folks based on their ability to pay is considered fair. Those who have massive wealth can afford to pay a slightly higher proportion of their income so the less fortunate can survive.

2) The Fair Tax will not solve our fiscal problems overnight, so let’s do nothing!

The Tribune published a long column writ-

ten by “economists” who made this remarkable argument. While the authors admitted the Fair Tax Amendment would reduce the deficit by $3.4 billion, this would not quite cover our $5 billion deficit. Their conclusion was, let’s not pay down the deficit; let’s leave it at a huge number! Anyone who has borrowed money and cannot pay it back at all once should realize that paying part of it shows good faith and keeps one’s kneecaps intact.

3) Ad hominem.

The richest man in Illinois, who will benefit mightily from the poor choice of Illinois voters, wrote a column attacking Governor Pritzker’s fiscal dealings (“Billionaire Griffin slams Pritzker push for graduated income tax amendment” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 23). This is a classical ad hominem argument (attack the man). Pritzker’s character or behavior is not on the ballot and are irrelevant. This is also called a “red herring” argument: you drag a dead fish across the path so the dogs (or duped taxpayers) will follow that trail and lose sight of the true villain who escapes.

4) If you raise taxes only on the rich, they will move to other states to avoid paying their share of taxes.

This is the only argument that has even remote credibility, making it a favorite of Tribune editors. However, because most states already have graduated income tax systems, any billionaires who want to flee have a limited set of options. Seven states have no income tax, including such garden spots as Wyoming, Alaska, and South Dakota. However, they may have higher property or sales taxes. Among the 11 states with flat taxes, six have higher rates than Illinois. State governments pay for things like schools, roads, bridges, children’s health care, prisons, and they need money to do so. This can only come from taxpayers. You do not get something for nothing. The top tax rate in 29 states is higher than in Illinois [ii], so a rich person is far better off in Flat Tax Illinois than in most of the United States. If Ken Griffin wants to move to Wyoming and sell his hedge funds to the cowpokes there, he is free to do so.

The truth is that Illinois must raise taxes to cover its deficit. The Fair Tax Amendment gave Illinoisans the opportunity to shift the

burden onto the wealthy, who can easily afford it without any loss of quality of life. Now, because they were lied to, Illinoisans have just voted to increase their own taxes.

This example proves beyond doubt that Americans are not adequately informed. Consequently, democracy is at risk. We are lied to during political campaigns, and this continues to happen because our legal system allows it.

The main threats include: 1) Disproportionate influence of money.

In their infamous Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 decision (2010), the US Supreme Court declared corporations to have more rights than ordinary citizens, enabling them to spend unlimited money to buy politicians and favorable legislation. They legalized corruption[iii]. If you read this grotesque decision, you find that the only “corruption” they permit to be regulated is if you hand a bag of money to a politician and at that same exact moment get a written notarized statement from him/her confirming that as a direct consequence of this bribe, s/he will enact legislation favorable to you.

Just giving a bag of money, and later using this purchased access to ask the politician to pass legislation for you is not bribery. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. The Court’s sleight-ofhand was to equate speech and cash. This decision enabled corporations and other groups (PACs) to spend unlimited money. It overturned 100 years of campaign finance laws aimed at preventing corruption. In our own Fair Tax example, we see that a few billionaires with the support of billionaireowned media can easily brainwash an entire state to vote against their own self-interest.

2) Proliferation of dubious sources for information and news. How can ordinary citizens find honest information? The crucial fact that the Flat Tax Amendment did not give new power to legislators was obscured by vast sums of money spent on dishonest advertising and newspaper coverage. The Internet is clearly a dominant source of information for most people. Everyone knows the Internet is filled with lies, brainwashing, deception, and fraud. Nevertheless, for many this is their main source of information. After years of bad publicity, some social media corpora-

LEFKO

girls were zonked. It didn’t matter water was running over the tent floor; there would be no time to pack it up as directed.

Another case for small tents. I probably wouldn’t have woken without the park ranger’s flashlight shining in my baggy eyes. And after that exchange, he didn’t stick around long enough to see me carseat (yes, that’s a verb) a half-naked baby decorated in wet sand. As humans we love planned adventure, don’t we? But we need to anticipate the unplanned too, and you will need to do this when shopping for your tent.

Buying a big heavy tent sounds wonderful; I urge you to resist this temptation.

Like stowing personal belongings below the groceries while shopping with sick children. You might as well handcuff yourself to the door in the dairy section.

Or failing to put yourself between your toddlers and the dressing room exit when shopping for yourself. Hello world!

Buying a large tent violates the parenting precept of always having an exit strategy. When shopping for your teaching tool, your adventure vessel, think something with a window, something that

The view from home from page 29 With sunlight on their faces, sunblock an afterthought, I was proud of my idea and so far, flawless in its execution. The gentle westerlies that carried our kite high in the afternoon gave rise to the second new task, evacuating a campsite at 2 a.m. because of extreme weather. The

TOM DECOURSEY One View

tions are making a display of reducing the propagation of vicious lies and the promotion of violence that their platforms encourage.

But these huge corporations and their rich owners exist to make a profit, and brainwashing Americans is highly profitable. Even traditional news media is not reliable, and as we have just seen, is subject to bias when its rich corporate owners wish to distort reality for their own benefit.

I have no easy answers. The Citizen’s United decision not only injects unlimited money into politics, but it allows flat-out bribery by corporate donors who may remain anonymous. Political campaigns have always been nasty affairs, because lying about your opponent is legal and it is effective. If we want to restore democracy to political campaigns there is a very simple solution – ban all political advertising. If a candidate wants to be heard, s/he may give a speech, which may be covered by the news media. Politicians do not have the “Freedom” to lie repeatedly. Corporations do not have a First Amendment right to bribe politicians. The American public does have the right to demand elections that are not merely auctioned off to the highest bidder. It would help tremendously if the FCC would refuse to license TV or radio stations who intentionally and consistently produce false news. It would help if overt lies were not allowed in political advertising. Public financing of election campaigns would be a strong start. A simpler solution is to ban all political advertising.

Tom DeCoursey, PhD 833 S Scoville Oak Park IL 60304-1408 (708) 524-8324 tomdecoursey@yahoo.com [i] https://www.monticello.org/site/researchand-collections/educated-citizenry-vital-requisite-our-survival-free-people-spurious [ii] https://taxfoundation.org/state-individual-income-tax-rates-and-brackets-for-2020/ [iii] “Ingratiation and access, in any event, are not corruption.” Citizen’s United, p. 45, discussing whether money spent on politicians to gain favors and access creates the appearance of quid pro quo corruption.

looks good in the backyard, or even better, fits squarely in the living room. Some days wall-to-wall carpet will be your sunlit meadow because that is all the adventure you’ll muster, and that’s OK. Regardless, find comfort knowing you’re not alone and find the blessing in the view from the new rung of your ladder.

Steve Lefko is a 2010 transplant to River Forest, husband and father, and a former corporate scientist who has traded up for the role of Director of Character Development, Lefko Inc.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

V I E W P O I N T S

When you see something, will you say something?

If you saw someone dump a duffel bag in the middle of a crowded gathering, then scurry away, would you simply move along and not say anything? Or would you speak up?

This weekend, commenting on a Wednesday Journal story posted on the newspaper’s Facebook page, a community member branded Oak Park Village Trustee Dan Moroney a white supremacist.

When that hateful comment — and the eight people who “liked” or “loved” it — came to my attention, I took a “when you see something, say something” approach. Anyone who had encountered those words was a witness to a form of terrorism: a vile, false accusation and character assassination that must not go unanswered.

Terrorism is defined as “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.” The attack on Moroney, while not unlawful, is emotional and psychological violence. And it is part of a longstanding local pattern of intimidation that is “in the pursuit of political aims.”

In short, this slanderous Oak Parker — and those who cheered on her remark with their “likes” and “loves” — want to bully Moroney and his family so that he won’t run for reelection.

These tactics are nothing new. Over the past four years, this local far-left progressive bloc with unmistakable political aims has engaged in a steady drumbeat of baseless character assassinations against anyone who does not toe the progressive line. If you are not with them all the way, not only are you against them, but you are also a racist or, at minimum, hell-bent on preserving the racist status quo.

Indirectly by innuendo and blatantly, as in this recent episode, this intimidation squad has resorted to smear tactics that send a signal to potential candidates: enter civic life at your own peril because we have a duffel bag of goodies with your name on it, too.

Some observers say the campaign season for the spring 2021 municipal elections gets under way soon. Not true. For quite some time now, an extreme, intolerant and hypocritical band of “Hate Has No Home Here” rogue warriors have been campaigning 24/7.

Any honorable local candidate will unequivocally condemn their despicable methods. Will they? And what about you, fellow Oak Parker?

When you see something, will you say something?

Matt Baron

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

39

We have met the enemy and they are us Our enemies know our fundamental weakness now, the American flaw. We are free — so free, we are free to be stupid. Free to not wear face masks, free to carry lethal weapons without a moral conscience, and free to be utterly selfish.

None do better at proving this true than my generation.

I’m in my 60s. I was born to see civil rights fight its way into public consciousness and collective guilt. In Oak Park, that meant actions and policies to prevent white flight in the ’70s and ’80s. Sherlynn Reid, Frank Muriello, and Sandra Sokol are my personal heroes. We’ve dropped the ball on social justice, assuming the courage of our parents’ generation, which had the power to keep rolling its way forward.

We are also free to do the right things.

This moment of terrifying illness and isolation is fertile ground for change. Going back to normal? That will not be happening. We are already forever changed. We will emerge from COVID tougher, angrier, and exhausted. That is exactly when we should fold a more sensitive justice nerve into our realities.

You there in your 30s and 40s, we need you to take up the social justice struggle.

Show your elders and your children how to be unselfish. Your mask is symbolic of the courage it takes to want equality, racial and otherwise. Your mask unifies us.

Our parents and grandparents have left us with work to do. Our town is not perfect, but it is diverse. It can be more so.

Let’s get to it. Yes, now.

Karen Muriello Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

O B I T U A R I E S

Mary Grennan

Jason Engel, 42

Gina Ruggiero, 90

Mother of six

OPRF High School graduate

Longtime and active River Forest resident

Mary Emma Grennan (née Harrigan), 94, died peacefully in her Oak Park home of over 50 years on Nov. 11, 2020. She was a 1947 graduate of Mundelein College in the school of Journalism, where she wrote for the school paper and met her husband Edmund, at a mixer between her school and his, Loyola University. They were inseparable for the rest of their lives.

Throughout her life, until her declining years, she was very active in her church, Ascension, particularly as a longtime member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She was a convert but, as the family used to joke, they are “always the best Catholics.”

Mary and Ed had a broad love of culture: theater, music, dining, film and more, which they instilled in their family. She loved her father’s hometown in Portage, Wisconsin and would visit there whenever possible. Even as adults, the children would accompany her there almost every year for a fall getaway. When the time and the world is right, she will be interred at a family plot in Silver Lake Cemetery in Portage where Ed awaits her.

Her life work was without doubt, her love of her family and she was a profound success. Hanging up the phone, or leaving after a family gathering, someone would usually say “I love you.” She would invariably reply, “Love you more!” That was felt and the love continues.

Mary and Ed Grennan had six children, Mary Beth, Edmund, Sean (Kathy Santen) Tricia, Mark, and Erin (Paul Slade Smith). Additionally, daughter Mary Beth gave her two beloved grandchildren, Ryan and Megan. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Marie Harrigan, and her sister, Lynn.

Jason Matthew Engel, 42, died on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. Born in Hanover Park on Sept. 17, 1978, he graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1997 and graduated from Full Sail University in Florida with an associate degree as a lighting and sound technician.

Jason was son of Harold and Sally Engel; the wife of Jennifer (step-daughter, Serena); the brother of, Craig (Lorrisa), Cary (Tom), Christine (Jim), and Catherine (Eric); the brother-in-law of John; the nephew of John and Gloria, Ron and Kathy, and Jerry and Elaine; uncle to Lindsey, Rachael, Brian, Matt, Megan, Zachary, Lauren, Jeff, Blair, Sarah and Matthew; great uncle to William, Brian, Brooks, Willa, Hannah, and Kevin; cousin to Ken, Connie, Doug, Jennifer, Dennis, Lisa, Bryan, Jennifer, Brad, Mike, Kathy, Becky and Jon; and also his much loved dog, Daisy May, and cat, Newman.

There will be a virtual memorial service on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 at noon CST. Please emailcarymclean@comcast. net if you would like to be included.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations are accepted in Jason’s name to Wounded Warriors Project; donate online to woundedwarriorsproject.org.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com

Gina Ruggiero (nee Minervini), 90, a River Forest resident for over 46 years, died on Nov. 16, 2020. Born in Chicago on July 3, 1930, she attended Austin High School, class of 1948. She married Angelo Ruggiero on Oct. 11, 1950. They had four children, nine grandchildren, with a 10th grandchild on the way in March, and five great-grandchildren.

They moved in 1974 to River Forest, where she volunteered at Willard School and St. Vincent Ferrer Church, and was active in the Ladies Auxiliary of Villa Scalabrini.

Gina was the wife of the late Angelo for 67 years; the mother of Nicholas, Anna Jean (Brian) Flanagan, Richard (Gina), and Michael (Diana) Ruggiero; the grandmother of Angelo, Robert, Sarah (Mike), Sherry, Jennifer (Grant) Dawson, Allison Flanagan, Mia, Elisabeth, Anna and Angelo; the great-grandmother of Olivia, Madeleine, Alex, Chloe, and Maxwell Dawson; and the sister, aunt and friend of many.

Visitation and funeral will be private.

ONLINE and IN PERSON options for Private Lessons for Language, Music and Academic Tutoring.

In Person option for 2020/21.

Multi-Age K-5th Grade “Homeschool in School“ program

The Language and Music School At International Mansion 509 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 info@internationalmansion.com • (708) 524-5252 • InternationalMansion.com

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020 New local ads this week

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

41

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion.

The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.OakPark.com/Classified/

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM ANNOUNCEMENTS

HELP WANTED

LIBRARY SERVICE UPDATE The Library is now under the Essential Service Model. Computer Sessions by appointment only. 30 min sessions. Call 708-366-7171 or sign up at fppl.org/computersignup. Copy machine (copy/scan) available for drop in. Vestibule Pick Up of library holds available. Place holds online at fppl.org or call.

PERSONAL ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Progress Center is hosting five personal assistant orientations in November. Personal Assistants earn $13.48 an hour to support people with disabilities so that they may live independently in their own homes, instead of institutions. Duties may include dressing, bathing, cooking, toileting, and cleaning. The orientations will be over zoom on November 13 (9:30 a.m.), 17 (9:30 a.m.), 21 (10 a.m.), 24 (9:30 a.m.), and 30 (9:30 a.m.). For information, contact garnold@progresscil or 708-2091500.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking a Part-time School Social Worker (One Day a Week) Qualifications: a) Valid State of Illinois Professional Educator License b) Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) preferred Job Duties: The School Social Worker provides needs-based behavioral and social-emotional services to the students, parents, and faculty/staff of a school. The role includes, but is not limited to, individual and group counseling with students; direct and indirect consultation with students and teachers; assessment, behavior planning and intervention implementation and monitoring; and universal screening/prevention of behavioral & social-emotional concerns. The individual hired for this position will be required to develop ISP goals, monitor progress towards goals and participate in annual reviews and re-evaluations as needed.

The School Social Worker hired for this position will work with D90’s team and provide services at one of the private and parochial schools located in River Forest. The social worker will collaborate with parents, faculty and administration at the private and parochial school to meet the needs of students. This individual fulfills the requirements of the role as stated in Rules and Regulations for Special Education. Apply online at district90.org TEACHER AND TEACHER AIDE MINI ME BUNCH seeks teacher and teacher aide to enhance and expand daycare serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Teacher must have at least Associates’ degree in Early Childhood Education. Minimum 1 year experience preferred in each position. Must love children and be outgoing, patient, flexible.

Contact 773-521-9499.

SUBURBAN RENTALS OAK PARK 2BR 2BA CONDO Condo for rent on a great location near downtown oak park: 2 bedroom 2 bath condo, only electric bill not included. $1400 a month, $1400 deposit. For more information please call 224-475-7929.

OAK PARK: ROOSEVELT/ OAK PARK AVE. CORRIDOR 2BR 4RMS close to blue line. On site laundry, parking, heat & water incl. $1200/ month 708-383-9223

Attention! Homeimprovement pros!

Reach the people making decisions.

Advertise in Wednesday Classified.

Call 708/613-3342

SUBURBAN RENTALS

COMMERCIAL/ RETAIL SPACE

COMMERCIAL/ RETAIL SPACE

A RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT–

1635 Sq Ft. IN SHOPPING CENTER: 315–325 S. Harlem Ave., Forest Park, IL.

• Very Good Condition–Recent Updates: NEW: Ceiling/floor tiles, basebrds, HVAC Unit, bath lav & sink/faucet, drywall. White primed walls throughout. • Suitable for almost ANY business type.

• Heavy traffic area; Across: Rush-Oak Park Hosp.

No Agents, pls. CALL: Jim (708) 828-6491

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. *1116 sq. ft. suite *569 sq. ft. with patio OAK PARK–1053 Lake St. *Entire 3rd Floor, 1275 sq. ft.

OAK PARK– 6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. *3 and 5 room office suites Strand& & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

ITEMS FOR SALE SMALL CHEST Small plastic chest with six dustproof drawers. Pretty burnt orange color, like new. 33”h x 12”d x 15”w.

708-488-8755 SMALL METAL FILE CABINET 13”w x 30”h x 10”d. 6 skinny drawers.

708-488-8755

CEMETERY PLOTS

Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

TWO BURIAL PLOTS WOODLAWN (2) burial plots at Woodlawn Cemetery side by side. Located in Birchwood Section. $5000 for both 847-858-7726 Andytarnoff@comcast.net

SUBURBAN RENTALS

ITEMS TO BE GIVEN AWAY

M&M

property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

FREE SPINET PIANO You arrange and pay for mover.

708-383-7993

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

PETS While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

Starting a New Business?

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

PAINTING & DECORATING

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

CLASSIC PAINTING

Let an American Veteran do your work

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

FIREWOOD

HANDYMAN

FIREWOOD HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs UNLIMITED

Fast Delivery MIXED HARDWOODS CBH & MIX 100% OAK CHERRY OR HICKORY 100% BIRCH Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available

847-888-9999 Order online:

www. suregreen landscape.com

Credit Cards Accepted

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

PUBLIC NOTICES 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: Y20005127 on November 9, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of FOODIE AND FABULOUS with the business located at: 728 N AUSTIN, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: SHERRIE GREEN 728 N AUSTIN OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA Published in Wednesday Journal 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/20

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: Y20005108 on November 5, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of LA CUCINA DI SCUDIERO with the business located at: 2113 W LAKE STREET, MELROSE PARK, IL 60160. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ALEX A SCUDIERO 2113 W. LAKE STREET MELROSE PARK, IL 60160, USA

Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Call the experts before you place your legal ad! Publish your assumed name legal notice in Wednesday Classified! Call Mary Ellen for details: 708/613-3342

Published in Forest Park Review 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/20

42

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

CLASSIFIED

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE SERRANO LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LLC Attorney for Petitioner P. O. Box 3581 Oak Park, IL 60303 Attorney for Petitioner

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of MARIA ESPARZA, Petitioner and BRADLEY HILLERVIK, Respondent, Case No. 2020D007886 The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before December 11, 2020, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

HEARING DATE: December 10, 2020 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits APPLICATION: The Village of Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission (“Commission”) will conduct a public hearing on the Historic Landmark nomination filed by the property owners for 609 Linden Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois (P.I.N.: 16-06-414021-0000), which is located in the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District.

LOCATION OF HEARING: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www. oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT Uverse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7 (e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present

at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to historicpreservation@ oak-park.us. The individual’s name and a reasonable part of their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 10, 2020. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing must contact the Village Historic Preservation Planner at historicpreservation@oak-park.us for instructions on attending the hearing live via Zoom by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by contacting the Village Historic Preservation Planner

at historicpreservation@oak-park. us for instructions before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the hearing online through Zoom webconference means or by phone.

Questions regarding written testimony, comment or cross examination may be directed by phone to 708358-5420 or email to historicpreservation@oak-park.us.

A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday and Tuesday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Historic Preservation Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. Anyone with questions about the application may contact the Village by phone at 708-358-5420 or by email at historicpreservation@oak-park.us.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 25, 2020

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/2020

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: Y20005148 on November 12, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of FREELAND & THATCHER with the business located at: 805 LAKE ST UNIT 429, OAK PARK, IL 60301.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: HAWANYA BLAKELY 479 N HARLEM AVE UNIT 501 OAK PARK, IL 60301, USA Published in Wednesday Journal 11/18, 11/25, 12/2/2020

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: Y20005178 on November 12, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of INCLINE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS with the business located at: 319 UVEDALE ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JEFFREY K. CERMAK, 319 UVEDALE ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL, 60546, USA Published in RB Landmark 11/18, 11/25, 12/2/2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway, Ste. 101B Chicago, iL 60614 STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of WILLIAM JESUS GONZALES, Petitioner and FRANCISCO JAVIER ESPARRAGOZA ESPINOSA, Respondent, Case No. 2020 D 008427 The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before December 23, 2020, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 11/25, 12/2, 12/9/2020

Selling your condo by owner?

Advertise here!

Call Mary Ellen for details 708-613-3342:

Selling your home by owner?

Make it stand out!

Advertise here. Call 708-613-3342 to place your ad.

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 2021 ADDITION & RENOVATIONS BEYE, LINCOLN, LONGFELLOW, WHITTIER OAK PARK, IL 60302 BID GROUP 1 – DEMOLITION, EXCAVATION, CONCRETE, MASONRY, STEEL, GENERAL TRADES, MILLWORK/ CASEWORK, ROOFING, METAL PANELS, DOORS FRAMES & HARDWARE, GLAZING, DRYWALL & ACT, FLOORING, PAINTING, SPECIALTIES, ELEVATOR, WHEELCHAIR LIFT, PLUMBING, HVAC, and ELECTRICAL Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m.

CST on Friday, December 11, 2020 at the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administrative offices, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, and will be virtually opened via zoom and read at 2:30 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 2021 ADDITION & RENOVATIONS Virtual Bid Opening will be held at 2:30pm CST on 12/11/2020 per link: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/84381616944?pwd=cGRPcVZuVVh5S0tmZmVBUXlFSEJ5QT09

Meeting ID: 843 8161 6944 / Passcode: 039859 / +13126266799,, 84381616944# US (Chicago)

LLC One Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required.

Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes, but is not limited to: Demolition, excavation, concrete, masonry, steel, general trades, millwork/ casework, roofing, metal panels, doors frames & hardware, glazing, drywall & ACT, flooring, painting, specialties, elevator, wheelchair lift, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical.

https://bulleyandrews-my. sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/amantel_bulley_com/ EnFU50U2lZJHvgH8M5EOgUsB37AO8_Gejp_4_ry47Ql0mQ?e=AyfkWu

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 Wednesday November 25, 2020 and are available for viewing/ download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews,

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.

The site will be available for visits by appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Alex Mantel 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 Alex Mantel of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at amantel@ bulley.com or 219-678-8383.

Dated: 11/5/20 Alex Mantel Bulley & Andrews, LLC

Published in Wednesday Journal November 25, December 2 and 9, 2020

local employees = happy employees!

Hire Local.

Place an ad on the Journal’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to RiverForest.com/ classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(708) 613-3342 Classifieds@RiverForest.com

P

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

43

Find the GCM donation envelope in this week’s paper

Why we work at Growing Community Media and why we’re asking you to make a donation.

Across our pages today you’ve seen our colleagues here at Growing Community Media explain why their work in our independent community newsroom is so important to them.

They write about the impact they feel they have on our communities, about the accountability we bring to local government, about the stories we tell, especially in these hard days of COVID-19.

Underlying the 50 words each contributed is their sense of privilege that we get to do this work, to connect our neighbors, to be that glue in a moment when things feel tugged apart.

All of us are also asking you to consider making a donation to our non-profit during this exciting national NewsMatch opportunity. Local news isn’t guaranteed. It needs to be paid for and these days a portion of that cost has to come from our readers.

Between NewsMatch honoring us as one of 267 non-profit newsrooms in America to be funded this year and the generosity of so many in our seven neighborhoods we’re off to a strong start.

Now we need you.

On behalf of my colleagues please become a member of this team.

Dan Haley, Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media

Stacey Sheridan, Staff reporter

Michael Romain, Equity reporter and columnist

Lacey Sikora, Real Estate editor

Jill Wagner, Reader engagement manager

Maria Maxham, Forest Park Review editor

Michelle Dybal, Arts editor

Melissa Elsmo, Food editor

Ken Trainor, Viewpoints editor and columnist

Alex Rogals, Staff photographer

Bob Uphues, Senior editor

Mark Moroney, Editorial designer

Lourdes Nicholls, Sales and marketing rep

To donate, visit www.growingcommunitymedia.com/donate

44

Wednesday Journal, November 25, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

DIVINE CONSIGN NEW & NEARLY NEW DESIGNER FURNITURE & HOME DECOR

UP TO 90% OFF RETAIL PRICES

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$1000 OR MORE

NOV 26-29

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One per customer.

Thanks for understanding.

1800 S. Harlem Ave. North Riverside, IL

DivineConsign.com

B1

November 25, 2020

GIVING TUESDAY

2020

Giving OAK PARK-RIVER FOREST

Community Foundation

Special Advertising Section

B2

November 25, 2020

GIVING TUESDAY

Special Advertising Section

your Community your Foundation Please, give to the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation's Annual Fund today.

OA K PAR K-R I V ER F OR E ST

Community Foundation

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is a unique and vital part of the fabric of our community. With leadership, advocacy, and perseverance, the Foundation has mobilized essential resources to help those most in need in our neighborhood and beyond. Our service to our local organizations, donors, and scholars has continued without interruption, pushing for a more just and socially equitable community.

Together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Donate today at oprfcf.org or call 708-848-1560

GIVING TUESDAY

Special Advertising Section

November 25, 2020

B3

Building skills, gaining confidence at New Moms “New Moms helps me gain experience in a paid job training program. It’s amazing. They teach us about teamwork and how to be leaders. They tell us about opportunities, like applying for student financial aid to go to college. I didn’t know that I’m flexible at work or that I have good time management skills, but I learned that about myself here…My mind was broken down before.

Now, I feel confident. I built my strength back.

As soon as I finish New Moms, I’m going back to college to study child psychology and become a therapist.”

– Kanesha, New Moms’ Participant Learn more about New Moms, and donate at newmoms.org.

Kanesha

Every single person has the power to change the world.

Together we give.

Tuesday, December 1st

SCAN TO DONATE Let’s build a sustainable future while building community

ALL DONATIONS MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR Get involved at animalcareleague.org/givingtuesday

Clean water. Clean air. Healthy food. Environmental justice. Climate action.

If these are important to you, please become a One Earth Film Fest member.

Your contribution will help us present 17 solution-packed, view-from-home films and action-inspiring programs from Oak Park to the South Shore and beyond! Plus, members get additional benefits! Memberships start at $25 and make terrific gifts. Join here: oneearthfilmfest.org/members

Save the date for our 10th Anniversary Fest March 5-14, 2021

B4

GIVING TUESDAY

November 25, 2020

Interim Connecting your child to Housing everything they need. Targeted at Securing a Permanent Home

Mentor Case Manager

Special Advertising Section

Therapist T

Family Counselor

Crisis Worker Outreach Worker Care Coordinator

Prevention Specialist

In-person counseling and telehealth services available.

Donate at www.yos.org/donate or call 773-777-7112.

Ronald

I

f you shop at the Oak Park Target store, you may recognize Ronald.

That was his regular spot when he lived on the street. It’s where Danette, a member of our Street Outreach Team, got to know Ronald, before referring him to our new Interim Housing Program.

The COVID-19 pandemic added a new challenges for people experiencing homelessness. The shelter-in-place order and closures have made life even more of a struggle. To respond quickly, Housing Forward moved away from the PADS Emergency Shelter model as the congregate setting made social distancing challenging. We shifted to temporary individual accommodations in local motels, where clients could stay 24/7.

As colder weather approached, Housing Forward took the bold step of signing a 12-month lease for the 65-bed Write Inn hotel as an Interim Housing site.

The location and accommodations are ideal for a program model offering a temporary place for people to stabilize while seeking housing as soon as possible.

After a screening and assessment, Ronald entered the program and his team immediately focused on making connections to resources. His stay will not be long-term but is an opportunity to regain his bearings and participate in structured programming with the goal of permanent housing.

After securing a temporary job with the board of elections, Ronald enrolled in our employment program, and is working with his case manager to find an apartment. “I’m so proud of the positive steps Ronald has been making,” said Danette. “We believe in him and know he will keep on winning.”

To learn more and to donate, visit housingforward.org.

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Student thinks his tutor is a ‘Super Teacher’

ust like in school, tutors and students must work through the challenges of remote learning. Cluster Tutoring’s Maggie Boyaris and her student, Kevin, have developed a winning tutoring structure — they’ve met four times each week since September.

Maggie and Kevin started tutoring together in summer 2018 at Oak Park’s Mathnasium for special math tutoring. Maggie joined Cluster that fall to keep working with Kevin, who is now a 6th grader.

The two meet over Zoom Monday-Thursday afternoons. They work on all subjects, but have the most fun with math, “where Kevin has made leaps and bounds of improvements. One of Kevin’s greatest strengths is his ability to keep trying and to keep putting in the effort when things are hard.”

“I love working with Maggie,” Kevin said. “She helps me understand my work and makes me feel comfortable when I’m wrong.”

evaluate how the school year was going, and his parents sent Maggie links to access Kevin’s classes and teachers. “It’s been a real team effort,” Maggie said.

After their first summer tutoring together, Kevin wanted to find a special way to thank Maggie. His mother, Yolanda, told him that a gift “has to be about that person. I told my mom, ‘I think she is a super teacher.’ My mom made her a Super Teacher shirt like the hero Superman!”

Kevin’s parents agree. “We really appreciate Cluster for bringing Ms. Maggie into our and Kevin’s world,” Yolanda said. “She’s always cheering him on and reminds him to believe in himself.”

Donations to Cluster Tutoring go toward materials that help students learn. Learn more and donate at clustertutoring.org.

Kevin and his Super Teacher, Maggie

Maggie also credits Kevin’s parents. She had a Zoom call with the family in September to

MAKE 2020

DONATE ONLINE TO UCP SEGUIN ON

DECEMBER 1 DONATIONS WILL BE DOUBLED BY CHALLENGE GIFTS GIVE O N GIVI NG TUE S DAY AND THR O UGHO UT THE HO L IDAY S E AS O N TO MAK E A D I F FE R E NCE IN YO UR CO M M UNITY.

ucpseguin.org UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago 332 Harrison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60304

GIVING TUESDAY Special Advertising Section

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Neighbors helping neighbors

ak Park Mutual Aid was formed in spring 2020 by neighbors who came together to care for each other. Since its inception, this grassroots, resident-led group has distributed more than $30,000 in direct financial assistance, food, cleaning supplies, and clothing. Volunteers have also made nearly 500 deliveries of food and other essentials, and helped more than 180 families and individuals in and around Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park.

True to its name, mutual aid builds community and reciprocity. Some of OPMA’s own volunteers are having to navigate official systems of assistance for the first time, making them uniquely suited to help others in the same position. One aid recipient said, “I’ve never had to look for help like this and I appreciate you guys helping us out. Other places we’ve went were so judgmental…(it) is so nice to not feel bad

or made to feel like garbage when you need help.”

One resident contacted OPMA needing help to cover a utility bill.

She then started volunteering, helping call aid requesters and making deliveries.

Another resident who received direct financial assistance got back in touch with OPMA weeks later, this time to donate several bags of warm winter clothing.

The power of mutual aid is found in these small gestures of care—doing a grocery run, covering a copay, making a phone call—that form meaningful connections

Oak Park Mutual Aid volunteers distributing groceries.

between neighbors and give new resonance to the notion of community.

To get involved with OPMA, either through donations and/or volunteering visit oakparkmutualaid.com.

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Investing in the futures of OPRF students

osh Ogunsanya, an Oak Park and River Forest High School class of 2020 graduate, is one of 63 graduating seniors who received scholarships from the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation last spring.

In addition to his academic achievements, Ogunsanya won a State championship in wrestling as an OPRF senior and helped start OPRFHS’s History Club.

In recognition of his many accomplishments, Ogunsanya was awarded two scholarships, including the Dr. Gerald L. Clay Scholarship. Donor Evelyn Clay, who worked with the Scholarship Foundation to create this scholarship in honor of her husband, Dr. Gerald L. Clay, said “Josh is an outstanding student and has accomplished so much already. Gerald would be so proud of him.”

“Your support and investment in my education has made the financial toll on my family less burdensome,” says Ogunsanya.

“I do not take your contribution lightly and aspire to continue giving my best effort.”

We hope you will join us by investing in the future of OPRFHS students like Josh and make a tax-deductible donation to the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation. Please visit our website at scholarships4oprfhs. org and make a gift to our General Fund or any specific Scholarship Fund, including the College Knowledge Project (CKP) Scholars Fund that supports our CKP alumni, many of whom are first generation college students.

Contact scholarshipsoprfhs@gmail. com to learn more about all scholarship opportunities.

Ogunsanga is now thriving as a freshman at Columbia University in New York City.

While he still plans to wrestle for the Columbia team, wrestling is currently on hold due to COVID-19.

Josh Ogunsanya flanked by his parents, Demoda and Peter.

THROUGH DECEMBER 15

THROUGH DECEMBER 31

DONATE A WISH LIST ITEM

MATCHED GIVING

We are currently collecting gifts for children living at Hephzibah Home and in our foster homes, and for families receiving our services. You can find our wish list at hephzibahhome.org/donate/wishlist

Make a contribution online by December 31 and your gift will be matched by generous benefactors through our annual Hephzibah Holiday Challenge. Double your gift today at hephzibahhome.org

Your donation will impact a child's life.

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Your donation on #GivingTuesday will impact the lives of MORE than

2,000

Hephzibah Salutes Our Exceptional Essential Heroes

individuals and families

in the coming year.

www.HousingForward.org/donate

DECEMBER 1, 2020 Hephzibah Home

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hile many organizations were able to transition to remote operations at the start of the pandemic, Hephzibah’s essential workers have continued delivering in-person services to vulnerable children and struggling families. More than 70 percent of Hephzibah’s staff are designated essential workers.

Hephzibah Home’s 40 residential counselors, supervisors, therapists, cooks and maintenance staff work around the clock on-site caring for the 26 children who live there. Since March, the home has been on lockdown with only staff permitted to enter.

“While our roles haven’t changed, the anxiety of keeping the children and our coworkers safe, is different,” explains Scott Bruckman, supervisor in the Diagnostic Treatment Center.

“That stress switches off however, when I arrive and a child really needs my attention. I know I am here for this guy today. I am reminded why I’m here and why I do what I do.”

Hundreds of foster care children and families in crisis rely on the support and services provided by Hephzibah’s Family Based Services team. Every day, 30 therapists and caseworkers don protective gear to visit the children and families in their homes. “There is tremendous stress on families, and often we are their only source of support,” says Piper Caldwell, LCSW, Foster Care supervisor. “The need is great and resources are scant.”

Additionally, Hephzibah’s 50+ child development specialists follow rigid health and safety protocols while providing quality, affordable day care with e-learning support for over 200 elementary school children. Undeterred by the pandemic, Hephzibah’s essential heroes will continue to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families, with support from our generous community.

Find out more about Hephzibah and make a donation at hephzibahhome. org.

TODAY’S LEARNERS. TOMORROW’S LEADERS. Now enrolling Preschool Through 8th Grade www.saintangela.org (773) 626-2655

This is a time for big dreams.

For our neighborhoods, our city, our country, our planet.

To learn more about the people, the programs, and our vision for the future at St. Angela School, please visit www.saintangela.org

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We believe a commitment to equity and diversity is what makes our community strong.

Please give to the Annual Scholarship Appeal – you can help a child or adult pursue a dream participating in Park District programs!

OPRF students in a Japanese classroom.

To learn more and to make a donation visit parksfoundationop.org

is as easy as 1•2•3!

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Order Chef Woody’s Take Home Meals  Contactless Wednesday Pickup  New Menus each week  Give yourself a night off from cooking!

Attend a Monday Virtual Program Be it Art, Literature, Music, Science or Social Science, our weekly afternoon Zoom programs will quench your creative thirst

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Donate Help us keep our lights on while our doors are closed due to the Pandemic.

Menus, Upcoming Programs and Donation Opportunities are available at www.nineteenthcentury.org or 708-386-2729 x 3

Offering life-changing opportunities for OPRFHS students

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hrough its Bobbie Raymond Summer Enrichment grant program, the OPRFHS Alumni Association helps current students take part in cultural exchanges, camps, and enrichment opportunities that advance their interests, knowledge and preparation for future goals.

Teanla went on the OPRFHS Japan Exchange program, where she lived with a host family and attended a Japanese high school. As Teanla describes it: “This program gave me many wonderful things to learn and build on. I enjoyed seeing the Japanese culture close up living with my host family, they really tried to help me feel at home. We went out and I discovered landmarks and different traditions every day. I felt nervous at the beginning of the trip but my host family and other friends helped me relax. I learned that

we should not feel ashamed of who we are, we all are different and that is what makes us ourselves.”

Lila attended an international music exchange program with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and says: “I made many very close friends with the people on the program. Not everyone that I traveled with held the same political viewpoints as me and I found that difficult initially because I was used to the liberal perspective of Oak Park. However, I found that it was an opportunity to grow and consider how other people see things.”

Our ability to fund these life-changing opportunities for students most in need depends on your support today. Please donate now at https:// tinyurl.com/oprfalumni-donate. Find out more about the Alumni Association at oprfalumni.com.

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The Joyful Giving Catalog Browse, read, share with your children. Give Locally – Give Joyfully!

Everything you need for a better world: • More Art

• More Food

• More Compassion

• More Health

• More Education

• More Housing

• More Equity

• More Peace

Each of the organizations listed in this catalog paid a fee to participate. If you run a nonprofit and you would like to be listed here, or if you would like to sponsor a nonprofit to be listed here, please contact Lourdes Nicholls (Lourdes@oakpark.com) or Marc Stopeck (Marc@oakpark.com).

Animal Care League Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities.

With over 1000 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery.

Make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague. org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Beyond Hunger When the pandemic hit, we revamped our service model to keep everybody safe. Instead of inviting people to shop inside our food pantry, we now prepack boxes with nearly 80 pounds of groceries and pop them into car trunks or shopping carts for participants. We’ve added more home delivery recipients knowing that elderly and disabled individuals are more at risk for COVID-19. The contents of each box is tailored to meet the needs of our community.

Along with food, we include toilet paper, toothpaste, and reusable washable masks. With your support, we can make sure no one in our community goes hungry this winter. Even a little goes a long way: every $1 donated can feed a neighbor for an entire day.

To donate, visit GoBeyondHunger.org or send checks payable to Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301

BUILD Since 1969, BUILD has helped Chicago’s most vulnerable youth escape gangs and violence to become positive leaders in their

communities. These young people face enormous obstacles and trauma, and so we surround them with the counseling, mentoring, training, and opportunities they need to build a future and succeed. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school and college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering and gardening.

Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.

Join us in BUILDing a better future. Visit and donate at buildchicago.org/

Celebrating Seniors Coalition Since our inception a decade ago, the Celebrating Seniors Coalition has been passionate about dispelling outdated and inaccurate myths about what it is to be a senior in our society.

At the same time, the Coalition has raised funds to help meet the basic needs of daily living for dozens of elders in our community. As we get to the “other side” of the pandemic and embark on our second decade, join us in Celebrating Seniors—those people 60 and over in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.

Learn how you can join honor and support these esteemed elders at our updated website: www.CelebratingSeniors.net.

Cluster Tutoring

Cluster Tutoring is a nonprofit, communitybased organization that provides free one-toone tutoring to students in grades K through 12 from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Tutorstudent pairs work together during the school year on reading, math, and other homework to prepare the student for a successful academic career. When Cluster started nearly 30 years ago, fewer than half of Chicago Public Schools graduated from high school. Now, all of

Cluster’s seniors not only graduate but are accepted at colleges and other post-graduation programs. Donations go toward materials that help students learn.

To learn more or to donate, visit clustertutoring.org.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

preparing students for success in their chosen vocations. Beyond academics, Concordia offers NCAA Division III athletic teams, intramural sports, touring music ensembles and numerous student clubs and organizations focused on service, recreation, spiritual life and more.

Currently, more than 6,400 students are enrolled.

To learn more, please visit CUChicago.edu or CUChicago.edu/GiveNow to support our students.

The Day Nursery Support young children this giving season. For over 15 years, the Collaboration for Early Childhood has embraced the vision that all children should arrive at kindergarten safe, healthy, and ready to thrive. This year we sharpened our equity focus and responded to the needs of our community members affected by the health pandemic and national events of racist violence. We launched Ready, Set, Kindergarten! a virtual support system for 30 families whose children transitioned to kindergarten in the midst of COVID-19. We distributed 175 ‘Activity Kits’ to families of children with disabilities to enhance their at-home learning. We supplied 62 families in need with essential items, and the work continues.

For more information, or to make a donation, please visit us at www.collab4kids.org or follow us on Facebook.

Concordia University Chicago Concordia University Chicago is a liberal arts, Christ-centered, Lutheran university where truth, freedom, and vocation form students for lives of influence and service for the common good. Founded in 1864, the University is located on 40 acres in River Forest, Illinois. Historically a college for teachers, it now offers more than 100 areas of study through traditional, blended or online classes. Students can earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees through one of four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and the College of Graduate Studies. Professors are passionate about teaching, learning and

Since 1912, The Day Nursery has provided exceptional early childhood education in an environment that welcomes all children, enhances individual strengths, and fosters the academic, social-emotional, and physical development that leads to school readiness. You can help lay the foundation today for successful adults tomorrow.

To learn more about us and to donate, visit www.thedaynursery.org Randolph St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The 1139 Friends the Oak Park 708.383.8211of - Fax: 708.383.0692 Email: info@thedaynursery.org - www.thedaynursery.org Conservatory A United Way Community Partner/NAEYC Accredited

The Oak Park Conservatory began as a community effort to house exotic plants residents collected during their travels abroad. Completed in 1929, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory offers a rich atmosphere throughout three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants.

The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory offers programs focused on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory. Toddlers through adults can participate in year-round educational and recreational programs, volunteer opportunities and special events. To learn more or to join, visit fopcon.org.

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The Joyful Giving Catalog Growing Community Media Growing Community Media is dedicated to building community through independent, non-partisan local journalism. We believe that high quality community journalism preserves and strengthens the fabric of our democracy.

Independent community journalism holds local governments to account. It connects neighbors. It is the credible source when social media goes haywire, and it allows a community to debate and celebrate. Through Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, Growing Community Media reports local news and tells compelling local stories across many platforms. Our mission calls us to build fact-based accountability and connection, conversation and civility, diversity and a sense of belonging.

Join our mission by donating at growingcommunitymedia.org or contacting dhaley@wjinc.com

Hephzibah Children’s Association Hephzibah is making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and struggling families. Oak Park’s oldest social service agency, Hephzibah is the only program in Illinois designated to care for the most severe cases of abuse and neglect of young children ages 3-11. Hephzibah Home provides comprehensive, therapeutic care for traumatized young children. Our Family Based Program supports more than 100 foster care children and stabilizes 150 families in crisis. Our Day Care Program delivers quality, affordable day care and summer camp programming for elementary school children in Oak Park.

Make a difference with us at hephzibahhome. org.

Historical Society Forest Park The Historical Society Forest Park was founded in 1975 for the purposes of “collecting and preserving the rich heritage of Forest Park.” The historical society offers tours of Haymarket Martyr’s Monument in Forest Home Cemetery every Saturday in the summer, collect oral histories of Forest Park Veterans of Military service, hosts several historical events a year and celebrates Forest Park.

For more information about the Society, its events and programs, or to donate visit forestparkhistory.org or mail us: Historical Society of Forest Park, PO Box 311, Forest Park IL 60130

Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest We are the community’s story tellers and our new facility is an 1898 Oak Park Landmark at Lake and Lombard called Oak Park River Forest Museum, selected

by Illinois Association of Museums as Small Museum of the Year. We invested $1 million in private funds to create a welcoming space in a former firehouse. Come and check out featured exhibit “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing,” before it closes in 2021. We are not supported by tax dollars and a gift of any amount funds our 2021 schedule of programs, our research center, and our knowledgeable staff.

Learn more and donate at oprfmuseum.org or 708-848-6755

Housing Forward Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness. We believe in bold, comprehensive approaches to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises, and stabilize individuals and families through permanent housing. With offices in Maywood and Oak Park, we offer wraparound services including case management, housing, outreach, employment, and emergency assistance. Last year, we served over 2,000 adults and families across 20+ communities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our emergency shelter and supportive services programs consolidated into a 24/7 Interim Housing model for clients on a path to permanent housing—including medical respite. This site joins Sojourner House and Ohana House in assisting individuals and families, plus two new housing programs focused on youth and veterans.

To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit housingforward.org, email giving@ housingforward.org or call 708.338.1724 ext.

262.

IWS Children’s Clinic Help us champion childhood health! The OPRF Infant Welfare Society and our Children’s Clinic have continuously been there for at-risk children and families since the start of the pandemic. We serve the dynamic whole health needs of children: sick visits, critical vaccines at well child check-ups, integrated behavioral health services, and preventive and restorative dental care, including for children with special needs.

Together, we are ensuring the health and well-being of children in our community, including Oak Park, Chicago’s West side, Berwyn, Cicero and beyond.

IWS Children’s Clinic serves 3,400 children each year, and your generosity is key as our costs of providing care have increased substantially due to COVID-19. A gift of $50 pays for two essential vaccines. A gift of $150 provides specialized dental services.

Champion Childhood Health – Give Today! www.oprfiws.org/donate or 708-406-8661.

L’Arche Chicago L’Arche Chicago provides high quality care in community-integrated homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in the OPRF area. Our mission is lived through daily life shared in mutuality: afternoon walks to the park, doctor’s appointments, and dinner parties. Moreover, L’Arche is committed to life together in a way that welcomes difference. As our society seems increasingly fearful of difference, L’Arche offers a counter story: that the differences so often keeping people apart can become the substance of joyful and transformative relationships.

Make a needed local impact through our people and mission at www.larchechicago. org/opendoors

Maywood Youth Mentoring Program Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to high-school youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, field trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride. Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management/and conflict resolution, etiquette, police/community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence.

Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youth providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and incentives for participation.

To volunteer, or to donate, visit us at maywoodyouthmentoring.org, or contact Barbara Cole, founder/CEO at 708-344-3577.

New Moms

New Moms believes in the strength, skills, and potential of all families and communities to achieve audacious possibilities for their futures.

At New Moms, young moms take powerful first steps towards economic mobility and family well-being. Our 2-Generation Approach puts families experiencing poverty in control of their goals and unleashes their potential. We partner with families to construct the foundations of well-being by strengthening core life skills, incorporating early childhood development supports, building pathways to and preparation for education and employment, and expanding positive social networks and access to community resources.

Learn more and donate at newmoms.org.

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local non-profits (80% of its usage is non-profit). During COVID-19 our building has been largely closed, but we have been connecting with our community with weekly Monday Enrichment Zoom programs.

We are also providing community outreach to food pantries, shelters and first responders. We need your help keeping our ‘doors’ open.

If you would like information about donating, please contact us at 708-386-2729 x 3 or epayton@nineteenthcentury.org. You can also make a donation at nineteenthcentury.org.

Oak Park Art League Celebrating its centennial in 2021, the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of the longest, continually running non-profit arts organizations in Illinois. OPAL is a vibrant cultural center where the invitation and challenge to use art as a medium for personal and community growth is made available to people of all ages. Since 1921, OPAL has brought arts education, appreciation, exhibitions, and the spirit of artistic inquiry to the surrounding community.

OPAL is committed to meaningful community outreach to the population that makes up our greater community through partnerships and on-site art and programming with local social service agencies through our “Family stARTs” program.

For more information about membership, volunteering, or to make a donation, please

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For 20 years, L’Arche Chicago has opened doors ~ providing lifelong homes for people with intellectual disabilities, building communities of mutuality and belonging, and revealing the many gifts of people with disabilities.

‘Pouring out’ resources, support and love

2020

has been a year of challenge and re-imagination at Opportunity Knocks.

This has meant drawing on inspiration and love from our Warriors and our community to continue to meet the needs of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Our staff has responded to these challenges with resilience.

We have restructured programming to provide both a virtual program platform as well as safe, cohort-based in-person activities so that all Warriors could maintain access to life skills, wellness and social connections with friends and peers.

The perseverance of our Warriors throughout this period has also been remarkable. “I missed being with all my friends,” said Warrior Madeleine Gancer.

“It feels a little different and weird, but it felt amazing to be back.”

Despite the hurdles within our organization, we felt it necessary to spread love back to our community, especially those dealing with job loss and food insecurity issues. Our social enterprises, which employ many of

our Warriors, worked to spread love to community beneficiaries through donated meals from our Knockout Catering, donated produce boxes to families in need from our Knockout Farm, and donated harvest to local food pantries.

We are grateful to our community of supporters who have helped our mission meet this moment thus far but we’ve still got a long way to go. The cancellation of many key fundraising events continues to constrain our financial resources. In the words of Warrior Jess Wood, “People should support Opportunity Knocks because you’re supporting people who love to do activities and an organization who accepts people for who they are.

Please support OK so that the staff can pour their love out to us and have the resources they need to support us.

Thank you so much. We love you all.”

With the high, state wide demand for community integrated living spaces and the growing accessibility needs of our aging members, L’Arche Chicago plans to acquire a fully accessible home for adults with intellectual disabilities. A new home provides opportunities for existing members to thrive in an adaptive environment as well as creating room for new members, who seek the same thriving community.

Join this effort and make a needed impact by donating towards a home for life!

Go to: www.larchechicago.org/opendoors

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

JOHN 14:27

Giving Tuesday

Consider a donation this season so that we can continue to create opportunities, change lives, and spread love. Love Grows Here. Visit opportunityknocksnow.org/annualgiving-fund

CUChicago.edu/GiveNow

7400 Augusta St. River Forest, IL 60305

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(708) 771-8300

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The Joyful Giving Catalog contact Executive Director, Jill Kramer Goldstein at 708-386-9853 or director@ oakparkartleague.org. The Oak Park Art League is located at 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center For more than four decades, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC) has been an advocate for fair housing. Our mission is to achieve vibrant communities and promote intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park. The OPRHC is the only non-profit in Oak Park and the Greater Westside Region that encourages pro-integrative housing options.

Our work is at the heart of why Oak Park is such a wonderful, diverse, and vibrant community, welcoming to everyone.

Support our work with a donation at oprhc. org/donate. To learn more about the OPRHC call 708.848.7150, inforequest@ liveinoakpark.com, 1041 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302.

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation The Oak ParkRiver Forest Community Foundation is based on a powerful promise: to create an enduring institution where people can come together and pool their resources to meet our community’s most pressing needs — not just now, but forever. For sixty years, generations of thoughtful and caring donors and residents have empowered the Foundation’s work to safeguard and advance the community in which we live, raise our families and work.

From helping donors with legacy gift planning, to managing donor advised funds, to strengthening local non-profits, we connect. Visit oprfcf.org or call Rhea Yap at 708-848-1560 to start a fund, discuss your charitable estate plans, or make a donation today.

Oak Park and River Forest High School Alumni Association Through its Bobbie Raymond Summer Enrichment grant program, the Oak Park and River Forest High School Alumni Association helps current OPRFHS students experience life-changing experiential learning opportunities that advance their interests and knowledge in preparation for higher education and future career goals. All freshman through juniors are

eligible to apply for awards, though students from under-resourced families receive greater consideration. For more than 20 years, students have traveled to destinations throughout the U.S. and the world, taking part in cultural exchanges, camps, and enrichment opportunities. The future outlook of these life-changing opportunities, and their accessibility for students most in need depends on your support today.

Donate at https://tinyurl.com/oprfalumnidonate

OPRF High School Scholarship Foundation In May 2020, the Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation granted $140,000 in scholarships to 63 graduating seniors. Since 1924, the Scholarship Foundation has been an important and growing partner in the community, providing much-needed financial assistance to OPRFHS students as college tuition and expenses continue to increase.

Please visit our website at www.scholarships4oprfhs.org. and make a gift to our General Fund to help increase the number and amount of scholarships we offer or to the College Knowledge Project (CKP) Scholars Fund that supports our CKP alumni, many of whom are first generation college students.

We hope you will join us by investing in the future of OPRFHS students today and make a tax-deductible donation. Contact scholarshipsoprfhs@ gmail.com to learn more.

Oak Park Mutual Aid Oak Park Mutual Aid (OPMA) is a coalition of neighbors dedicated to directly caring for one another and those around us in greatest need. We provide direct community support including food, clothing and limited financial assistance. Our website and volunteer responders also share a collection of resources that can help support those living in Oak Park and the surrounding area during this difficult time. To date, we have raised more than $47,000 in donations and assisted hundreds of area residents.

As the situation will remain difficult for the foreseeable future, we need your help through donations and volunteering! https://oakparkmutualaid.com/

One Earth Film Festival By taking care of each other, we take care of ourselves. That’s the lesson that the COVID19 pandemic and the growing social & environmental justice movements are teaching us. And that’s the Power of We! The One Earth Film Festival continues to grow and expand our circle of engagement. Save the date for our exciting 10th anniversary One Earth Film Fest, March 5-14, 2021. The Festival was born in Oak Park, and this year, we will be screening virtually to a national audience. Join us for quality films, engaging discussion, meaningful action opportunities and community-building.

Memberships start at $25 ($15 for students / seniors). 0 For more information and to donate, visit oneearthfilmfest.org/give.

Opportunity Knocks Opportunity Knocks is dedicated to enriching life and community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as they live, work, learn, grow and connect within their community. We use a dynamic, person-centered and communitybased approach to programming that serves to engage the voice of our participants, foster interdependent connections, encourage exploration, promote holistic wellness and healthy relationships.

We are 95% privately funded so your support is more important than ever this year in keeping our mission moving forward. To join us in creating a more dynamic and inclusive community for all, visit opportunityknocksnow.org, 8020 Madison Street, River Forest, IL 60305.

The Parks Foundation of Oak Park The Parks Foundation of Oak Park promotes giving opportunities to support initiatives for the Park District. Our mission is to collaborate with residents, community groups and partner organizations to support exceptional projects that enhance and enrich our parks and community life.

We believe a commitment to equity and diversity is what makes our community strong.

Our fundraising efforts enhance scholarship funding to make it possible for all community members to participate in Park District programs. Last year over 200 scholarships were provided to enable individuals and families to

participate in park district programs.

To learn more, and make a donation, visit parksfoundationop.org

PING! Providing equitable access to instrumental music for students in grades 4 through 12 in Oak Park and River Forest public schools has been the mission of PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) for more than 20 years. PING! loans band and orchestra instruments to students in need, and provides music enrichment through workshops; mentoring; and scholarships for summer music camps, school music trips, and private instruction. In this challenging year of COVID, PING! is adapting these enrichment programs to fit the needs of our students learning at home.

Community support for our PING! students this year is more important than ever.

For more information, or to make a donation, please visit our new website at pingoprf.org.

If you have an instrument to donate, send us an email at pingoprf@gmail.com.

Pro Bono Network We believe access to justice should not depend upon your ability to afford an attorney. There are simply not enough legal aid lawyers to help people in dire need of civil legal aid. These include issues of safety from an abuser, adequate housing, critical care documents, and more. Pro Bono Network has enabled 400+ attorneys to give more than 24,000 hours of free legal assistance to over 4,300 clients whose lives were meaningfully changed.

To get involved or donate, visit pro-bononetwork.org. Your support will make an impact the lives of many!

River Forest Public Library Foundation

River Forest Public Library connects our community with information and entertainment, with each other and the world. RFPL Foundation works to enhance the Library today and for the future through fundraising and advocacy. The Foundation fully funded major updates in the Children’s Room in 2019. We have provided support for the Lobby/Circulation renovation, Summer and Adult Reading Programs, special programming, and the Anne Smedinghoff Memorial Garden.

GIVING TUESDAY Special Advertising Section

November 25, 2020

Explore Local History at oprfmuseum.org

John Miniutti with his dear late son Fritz

UCP Seguin – Loving Father Gives Generously to Honor Son

J

ohn Miniutti has a wealth of expertise and successful business experience. But most of all John has a wealth of kindness, informed by the loving relationship with his late son Fritz. In 2011, John sought an effective organization to provide support for Fritz, his son with disabilities who resided with him in their River Forest home. John found a willing partner – UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago – to support Fritz with a range of services to make his life more productive and meaningful.

John wanted to be an advocate for his son and other individuals with disabilities. In 2012 he joined UCP Seguin’s Board, providing his keen insights to ensure excellence in its programs and soundness in its finances.

But John has provided so much more, generously donating his treasure to help sustain UCP Seguin’s innovative services.

Sadly, John’s son Fritz Miniutti passed away in August 2014. Fritz was an intelligent, active man with many interests – going to the gym, working with computers, watching movies,

dining out, playing with pets, and working, either at the local theater or as a volunteer for the office of State Senator Don Harmon. Fritz received Life Skills Training, Employment and Respite services from UCP Seguin, accessing social-recreation venues with a UCP Seguin staff member who became his good friend.

Imbued with his love for Fritz, John has been a generous donor to support UCP Seguin’s programs. He sees his gifts of time and resources as going hand in glove to ensure the success of the agency that gives so much to individuals with disabilities. Through these years of dedicated service and giving, John Miniutti has been a philanthropist in every sense, keeping individuals with disabilities served by UCP Seguin foremost in his thoughts and deeds.

Like John Miniutti, you too can help provide life without limits for people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin.org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304

Even when state health guidelines keep us physically apart, we are open 24/7 online to share stories and be a resource. Explore oprfmuseum.org to: • Sign-up for on-line programming, including a Christmas visit to Marshall Field’s on Dec. 5 • Shop from your home and order unique gift items delivered right to your door • Learn about the fascinating people, places, and events that shape or villages • Share your own stories of life in 2020

oprfmuseum.org • 708-848-6755

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GIVING TUESDAY

November 25, 2020

Special Advertising Section

The Joyful Giving Catalog Help ensure a strong community and a bright future for River Forest Public Library with your gift. We gratefully accept cash, credit/debit, securities and bequests. Visit RFPLFoundation.org/donate.

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago

West Suburban Special Recreation Association

St. Angela School St. Angela School has walked with the families of Chicago’s west side for one hundred years— walked with a deep commitment to enriching the lives, and the futures, of their children. We have a rich and varied history – and a future of great promise. We provide our children with a safe and loving environment and challenging academics; we help them explore paths that lead to meaningful and rewarding careers; and we teach them, above all, to believe in themselves. As we prepare for our next hundred years, we’re proud to reaffirm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community.

UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children. Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities.

therapeutic interventions, and mentorship to improve their safety and well-being. Through the past 60 years, YOS has offered outpatient, community-based behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, after school mentoring and outreach, family therapy, crisis intervention services, case management, foster care, transitional living and housing services, inschool prevention curricula, and juvenile justice programs.

West Suburban Special Recreation Association provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest & nine other surrounding communities.

Join us for our Virtual Celebration Benefiting the Stars of WSSRA. Auction opens 9:00am November 30. View Auction Items or make a donation at https://one.bidpal.net/ wssrastars2020

Help youth flourish by donating at www.yos. org/donate or text @YOSCARES to 52014.

Or help empower youth to reach their goals, by calling 773-777-7112 to refer them for services.

Youth Outreach Services

Make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin. org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304

Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 6262655

Building the ‘Power of We’ with One Earth Film Festival

Youth Outreach Services supports youth ages 12 to 21 and their families, by providing free programs that offer skill development,

While the health pandemic overtakes the headlines, One Earth Film Festival continues crucial work on the climate crisis and inequality.

One Earth leverages its greatest asset— The Power of We—to inspire people to build an equitable and sustainable future.

As One Earth plans for its 10th anniversary season, the Oak Park-based nonprofit is deepening its work at the intersection of environmental and social justice.

Environmentalists of Color joined One Earth in putting on a highly successful July virtual screening, “Outdoors While Black: Unpacking History, Reframing Safety, and Taking Action.” From that event grew an environmental justice bike ride through community gardens and environmental fallout sites in Chicago’s North Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods.

One Earth also focuses on youth engagement and education through programs including “Young Filmmakers Contest,” “Austin Grown” youth agriculture and mentoring program, the Pilsen-based

“HEALTH” program, and “It’s Our Future” leadership program.

Each March, One Earth activates thousands of people through environmental films, discussions and action opportunities through hundreds of environmental partners. In 2020, One Earth pivoted to view-from-home screenings in a virtual environment: Over 3,000 viewers from more than 15 US states participated.

One Earth continued its partnership with a diverse range of local communities, including Oak Park and River Forest, plus surrounding communities and Chicago neighborhoods such as Austin, Englewood, South Shore, and Little Village.

In 2021, as the pandemic continues, One Earth will expand its audience globally through virtual film programs that inspire people to solve our “other pandemic”— the climate crisis—and build a healthy sustainable future for all.

For more information and to donate, visit oneearthfilmfest.org.

GIVING TUESDAY Special Advertising Section

F

November 25, 2020

Plant a garden and support the Conservatory

or over 30 years, the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory in partnership with the Park District of Oak Park has offered one of the most anticipated and abundant plant sales in the Oak Park area.

From the first “Herb and Scented Plant Sale” in 1989 until today, the Annual Plant Sale has provided carefully grown plants while raising funds in support of the historic Oak Park Conservatory.

Each year, thousands of plants are grown in the Conservatory greenhouses using healthy soil and integrated pest management (IPM) practices providing healthy, sustainable plant products. From hearty vegetables and popular herbs to a unique array of colorful annuals and perennials, there is something to delight gardeners old and new.

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory volunteers make this community event possible. They begin in the early days of fall by selecting the plants, then starting seeds in winter and nurturing the seedlings into plants. In the days leading up to the Plant Sale, dozens of volunteers give their time and energy to pull orders and make the Plant Sale days run smoothly.

Gardeners and volunteers at the Annual Plant Sale Community support of the Plant Sale helps The Friends provide quality educational programs, volunteer opportunities, community events, and other support for the historic Oak Park Conservatory. The 2021 Plant

Sale will take place May 11-13. To learn more, visit fopcon.org

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation For over 25 years I have worked at Wednesday Journal because I believe in local, public interest journalism.

Wednesday Journal is the best independent news platform in the area, reporting only on Oak Park and River Forest issues. I am proud to be a part of this amazing team!

Lourdes Nicholls, Sales and marketing rep

Please support our independent community newsroom.

Right now your match is doubled by NewsMatch and our local supporters.

Visit www.GrowingCommunityMedia.com/donate and donate today!

95% of Day Nursery children transition into Kindergarten with the skills for school success.

1139 Randolph St, Oak Park, IL 60302

Quality early childhood education all children IS social equity.

708.383.8211 - Fax: for 708.383.0692 YourEmail: gift today creates the foundation for tomorrow's adults. info@thedaynursery.org - www.thedaynursery.org thedaynursery.org/donate/

A United Way Community Partner/NAEYC Accredited

1139 Randolph St, Oak Park, IL 60302 • 708.383.8211 Email: info@thedaynursery.org • www.thedaynursery.org

A United Way Community Partner/NAEYC Accredited OPRF Chamber Local Legend Spotlight Award

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GIVING TUESDAY

November 25, 2020

Special Advertising Section

presents

A Wednesday Journal & A Tribe Called Aging Production

wabi sabi F I L M F E S T I V A L

Our Covid-19 free gift to the community watch it free on ZOOM in your own home

Appreciating the beauty of impermanence, a quarterly Film Series encouraging everyone to embrace and respect our aging population and the transformation of our society.

Olympia Friday, December 4 • 10am This sublimely intimate, fly-on-the-wall verité documentary tells a poignant story of a woman finding her own voice on her own terms to assert a gigantic creative force into the world. Throughout an engrossing story that seamlessly blends past and present, Olympia Dukakis opens her heart and exposes her truest self to Harry Mavromichalis’ unobtrusive camera.

Exhibiting both candor and vulnerability, we see her deal with age, grief and sexuality while opening up about her struggles with motherhood, depression, suicide and drug addiction. Through her brutal honesty and sincerity, Olympia compels us to confront our own shortcomings and differences by letting go and moving forward with defiant conviction.

This intimate portrait of a working-class professional, a scholar actor of intense intuitive power, and a woman beloved around the world, culminates on the steps of the Dukakis’ humble ancestral home in Lesbos, Greece. Here we see Olympia’s life come full circle, both personally and professionally.

Joining us for Q+A/discussion is the film’s Director Harry Mavromichalis, moderated by Elizabeth White.

Signature Sponsors

Non Profit Patron Sponsors

Oak Park Township/River Forest Township

Learn more and register at: wabi-sabi-olympia.eventbrite.com

GIVING TUESDAY Special Advertising Section

November 25, 2020

Why we work at Growing Community Media and why we’re asking you to make a donation.

Across our pages today you’ve seen our colleagues here at Growing Community Media explain why their work in our independent community newsroom is so important to them.

They write about the impact they feel they have on our communities, about the accountability we bring to local government, about the stories we tell, especially in these hard days of COVID-19.

Underlying the 50 words each contributed is their sense of privilege that we get to do this work, to connect our neighbors, to be that glue in a moment when things feel tugged apart.

All of us are also asking you to consider making a donation to our non-profit during this exciting national NewsMatch opportunity. Local news isn’t guaranteed. It needs to be paid for and these days a portion of that cost has to come from our readers.

Between NewsMatch honoring us as one of 267 non-profit newsrooms in America to be funded this year and the generosity of so many in our seven neighborhoods we’re off to a strong start.

Now we need you.

On behalf of my colleagues please become a member of this team.

Dan Haley, Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media

Stacey Sheridan, Staff reporter

Michael Romain, Equity reporter and columnist

Lacey Sikora, Real Estate editor

Jill Wagner, Reader engagement manager

Maria Maxham, Forest Park Review editor

Michelle Dybal, Arts editor

Melissa Elsmo, Food editor

Ken Trainor, Viewpoints editor and columnist

Alex Rogals, Staff photographer

Bob Uphues, Senior editor

Mark Moroney, Editorial designer

Lourdes Nicholls, Sales and marketing rep

To donate, visit www.growingcommunitymedia.com/donate

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November 25, 2020

GIVING TUESDAY

Special Advertising Section

WEST COOK YMCA

48th Annual

Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale

CONTINUE THE TRADITION THREE WAYS TO PURCHASE

Curbside Pickup With Online Purchase Reserve Private Viewing of Lot Your purchase comes with this special offer:

NO JOINER’S FEE PLUS 1 MONTH FREE CREDIT (to be applied towards annual membership fees) Offer Code: 20TreeMem Expires: 12/31/2020

Open Lot with Social Distancing For more details, to purchase online, or to make a reservation, visit: www.westcookymca.org/christmas-tree

Tree Sale Begins Friday, November 27

Your purchase ensures access to the West Cook YMCA through a scholarship to those who may not have the means to join. We change lives every day, and you can help us make that happen.

COVID-19 measures in place.

255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302