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J URNAL

In emotional memorial, Oak Park remembers Det. Reddins

Snow y service in village hall cour tyard

By DAN HALEY Interim Editor

On a snowy and cold Saturday morning in the courtyard of Oak Park’s village hall, a crowd gathered to attempt to find joy in the grief brought by the oneyear anniversary of the murder of Oak Park Police Detective Allan Reddins.

A year ago, on the morning after Thanksgiving Reddins was shot and killed on Lake Street as he and other officers tried to stop a man who had been re ported brandishing a gun near a bank in Downtown Oak Park

All of Oak Park’s police administration, dozens of sworn Oak Park officers, a large contingent of Oak Park firefight-

Police Honor Guard during the ceremony at Oak Park Village Hall in memory of Detective Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty one year ago, on Nov. 29. WEDNESD

Lights at RF Tennis Club stirs upset and suppor

Second meeting this week on proposal to add lights to courts

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

Controversy over a plan to add lighting at the River Forest Tennis Club will spark again this week as the facility’s application for lights comes back before the village’s Development Review Board.

Jason Jeunette is a lighting designer by trade, so he knows about industry terms like foot candles and light spill. So when it comes to an application to amend

LIGHTS on pa ge 14

Community Foundation O ers Professional Development to Local Nonpro t Leaders

As part of its goal to strengthen the local nonpro t sector’s impact on the overall quality of life in our communities, the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation has launched the Nonpro t Excellence program, a training series focused on professional development and leadership for community-based organizations serving the greater West Side.

“We are out and about, actively listening to our community leaders. e message is crystal clear: they are facing a wide array of signi cant challenges, across many di erent issue areas. ey need funding. ey also need peer-to-peer support,” said Carrie Summy, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “ e Foundation is in a unique position to serve as a collaborative bridge between organizations that may be doing similar work in di erent geographies or elds, and to create

opportunities for nonpro t leaders to learn from and be resources for each other.”

e Nonpro t Excellence program grows out of Impact Excellence, a longrunning Foundation initiative for local leaders.

Nonpro t Excellence will provide multiple opportunities for learning and exchange, including workshops, seminars, executive roundtables and other events. ese programs address core elements of capacity building and sustainability, such as an organization’s mission and vision, human resources issues, board governance and infrastructure, technology, marketing and

fundraising strategy. e program will launch o cially in January 2026, although the Foundation recently o ered a workshop on contingency planning in light of recent budget cuts and signi cant changes occurring at federal and state level, which was well attended and received. “ e information was super current and all extremely actionable” said one attendee.

“Nonpro t Excellence is key to our commitment to serve as a local resource and a trusted, valued partner for our social sector,” Summy said. “We are here to serve those helping our most vulnerable

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation • 708-848-1560 • oprfcf.org

community members, and we’re going to do that in as many creative ways as we can.”

Programming is o ered free of charge, and events will soon be posted on the Nonpro t Excellence page of the Foundation website, oprfcf.org. Local nonpro t executives and sta interested in participating in the program are encouraged to contact Program Director Elizabeth Chadri at 708-848-1560 or by email at echadri@oprfcf.org for more information.

“Quality, A ordable, Independent Housing for Seniors”

Our beautiful 6-story building provides quality, a ordable, independent housing for seniors. We o er 75 studio and onebedroom apartments. Amenities include an award winning interior landscaped atrium, central meeting room, library, laundry facilities, computer learning center, internet access, electronic key entry system, parking, onsite management, and 24/7 emergency maintenance service. e Oaks is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through HUD’s Multifamily Housing Program. Monthly rent is based on the resident’s income, with individuals paying approximately 30% of their monthly income toward rent.

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For more information, please visit us at www.oakparkha.org or contact us at 708-386-5812.

D97 board president remains unclear on why Supt. Shah resigned

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing

Nearly four months after the resignation of Supt. Ushma Shah, Cheree Moore, the school board president Park Elementary School District 97, says she still has no idea week before the new school year started in August.

“To this day pened,” Moore said in a telephone interview with Wednesday Journal.

Moore said she and her fellow school board members shocked by S Moore said the first inkling she got that something was wrong came when Shah told her at the end of the open session portion of the Aug. 12 school board meeting that she would not be attending the closed session that was about to take place.

PROVIDED

Ushma Shah

“I said, ‘Hey, where are you going’. She said, ‘I’m leaving.’ I was so confused,” Moore said.

While the school board was in closed session that night board members received an email from Shah telling them that she was resigning effective at the end of that week.

“Everyone was just taken aback and we were all surprised,” Moore said. “Everyone was just as confused as I was. We were all super confused about what was going on.”

A bit more of Shah’s perspective is seen in an email she wrote to the board on Aug. 13. That email was obtained by the Journal after a re porter filed an appeal with the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor asking that an unredacted version of that email be made public. At the request of the Attorney General’s office, District 97 released the unredacted email Shah sent to board members. Shah’s email was in response to an email from Moore, and in it Shah expressed what she called her “perspective on how we got here.”

In the previously redacted part of the email Shah listed three bullet points. She referred to a meeting she had with Moore the week before, a meeting that Moore said was mostly about setting the agenda for Aug. 12 meeting. Moore said that Shah

brought up her annual evaluation which Moore said had not really begun yet. A few months before Shah had received a threeyear contract extension.

“When we met on Aug. 7, I again expressed confidence that we could get to the board’s desired outcomes through the annual performance evaluation process,” Shah wrote. “This was that same forwardmoving and optimistic perspective I shared during closed session on July 22 and in my follow up email on July 24.

“I was prepared to present a draft plan of how to move forward through the annual goal-setting process and had hoped to have a discussion about this during yesterday’s closed session with the full board. Unfortunately, we did not get that far.

“It became clear on Aug. 7 that the board was not interested in any changes to your current plan and instead made re peated reference to the process by the board could ‘find cause for termination.’”

Shah concluded, in a final sentence that was not redacted when District 97 first released the email, by saying that therefore she and the school board did not have the level of mutual trust necessary for her to continue as superintendent.

Moore said, “As the incoming, I guess

that time I just were clear oard and for eally just tryat’s the caevaluating her on,” Moore said. “I think that she was this evaluaat was in

g. 7 meeting

Moore said she had no indication that any-

“I would definitely say it was a friendly, ersation,” Moore said. “No animosity or any of that kind of comment

despite attempts by phone, text and email. According to her LinkedIn page Shah is now working for the Central Office Transformation Team which is part of the District Leadership Design Lab based at the University of Washington. According to its website the leadership design lab works with school districts to ensure that “school district central offices work together to support excellent, equitable teaching and learning in every classroom every day.”

Shah led District 97 for a bit more than three years. This school year retired superintendents Grif f Powell and Patricia Wernet are leading District 97 as interim superintendents. The district is in the midst of a superintendent search and hopes to announce a new hire early next year.

While Moore said her focus and the district’s focus is on finding a new superintendent she would like to know more about why Shah resigned.

“We are committed to moving forward,” Moore said. “Those are her reasons and we respect it but I wish there had been an opportunity to like have a conversation. Maybe there would have been a different outcome but the truth of the matter is the time has passed and she decided to do things her way and there’s nothing we can really do about it. One day, hopefully, she will tell her side of the story but thus far, to my understanding, no one has talked to her and has any more knowledge than we do.”

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Senior Audience Manager Stac y Coleman

Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

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

Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

Barnes & Noble bene ts as Oak Park OKs tax incentives

Declaring former Marshall Field building a landmark unlocks county tax support

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s village board unanimously supported a measure giving tax relief to the owner of the long vacant for mer department store that will soon be home to Barnes & Noble’s new Downtown Oak Park bookstore.

The commercial portion of the building — the for mer Marshall Field and Company department store site at 1144 Lake St. on the northeast corner of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue — has sat vacant for well over a decade. Its last tenant that produced sales tax revenue was a Borders bookstore location, which closed in 2011 when the company went under.

Village leaders say the incentive will help get the building back to productive use and “eliminate a blighted property at the gateway to Oak Park,” said John Melaniphy, Oak Park’s assistant village manager for economic vitality. Trustee Chibuike Enyia said 1144 Lake St. is a special building, and that the bookseller’s plans for the property evoke some of the “magic” of historic Oak Pa rk.

“That building is one of the parts that I think is so unique and cool to Downtown Oak Park,” Enyia said. “I was looking over this and feeling like a kid again, looking inside the building and seeing the beauty of it.’

The near century old building is owned by the entity 1144 Lake Street LLC which is run by Nicholas Karris, according to state business records.

The village’s board of trustees voted to lend support to Karris’ application for Class L status, a Cook County designation that lowers property taxes for landowners rehabilitating historic landmark properties. The status provides property owners with a steep tax break for more than

a decade, as the Class L status is expected to save the landlord over $550,000 in taxes over the 12-year life of the incentive, according to the village.

Property owners need approval from the municipal government their property is located in to receive the incentive

“The redevelopment of this landmark building in the Downtown Oak Park business district will bring a new nationally reco gnized bookstore to the district and expand the village’s trade area for miles outside the village,” village staf f wrote in supporting documents for the proposal.

“The Village Manager’s Office, Office of Economic Vitality, Development Services, Neighborhood Services, Finance Department, and the Law Department have all been working together to assist with the revitalization of this property. The new bookstore will create cross-shopping opportunities for other retailers, restaurants, and services in Oak Park.”

To qualify for the incentive, the property owner’s investment must surpass 50% of the building’s 2024 assessed market value of around $3.554 million. Landlord sponsored renovations include a new HVAC system, concrete re pairs and elevator improvements are expected to cost $3.541 million, according to the village.

Barnes & Noble is also contributing $2 million to the buildout, according to the village

To support the property owner’s application, the board also voted to officially designate the building as an Oak Park landmark, with village documents citing the building’s unique Art Deco architectural features. The village’s volunteer Historic Preservation Commission had previously voted to support both Class L status and the landmark designation for 1144 Lake St.

The building has had a set of structural issues that have made it difficult for new businesses to make the two levels of commercial space productive. That makes economic incentives necessary to support the building’s rehabilitation, Melaniphy said.

The village’s board of trustees came close to voting on a sales tax incentive

1144 Lake St

package at its Aug. 5 meeting that would’ve seen the village rebate 50% of the sales tax revenue it received from sales at the Barnes & Noble location back to the building owner. Karris is no longer seeking that sort of incentive, according to the village

The village had previously worked on a sales tax incentive package to help convert the space into a Dom’s Kitchen & Market grocery store location, but that deal went fell apar t in 2022 before the company closed all its locations in 2024.

The bookstore is expected to open in the summer of 2026 as a 25,000 foot two story store with a cafe, company leadership told Wednesday Journal earlier this year. The Oak Park location is expected to employ 60

people and provide more than $100,000 in annual sales tax revenue for Oak Park, according to the village.

Multiple small bookstores have also opened in the vicinity of Downtown Oak Park in recent years, including the Book Loft which opened at 1047 Lake St. this past August. Prior to voting for the incentives, Trustees Enyia and Jenna Leving Jacobson both mentioned that while the village must do what it can to make sure 1144 Lake St. comes back to life, the village can’t “forget” about its smaller bookstores.

“I do want to make sure how we can support and incentivize investments in those locally owned shops as well,” Leving Jacobson said. “There’s never enough books.”

real estate auction

JAVIER GOVEA

Early Childhood group shares report on impact, future programming

Collaboration supports education for young children

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The Collaboration for Early Childhood shared a re port last week outlining the organization’s 2025 impact and programming plans for the coming months.

The Collaboration is a nonprofit group primarily funded by the local governments dedicated to supporting local families with children aged five and under prepare their children to succeed in elementary school. In an annual re port, the group highlighted its recent work providing health and developmental screenings for young children, connecting parents with resources like professional early head start in-home visits and workshops, offering specialized professional development training to staf f at local schools and daycares

consultants at Elmhurst University to shar pen our understanding of f amilies’ experiences raising young children in Oak Park through a communitywide f amily survey and series of focus groups,” Reynolds said of the study. “How do f amilies feel about climate chang e, screen time, and safety in our community in 2025? How does our community support children with disabilities? With over 300 submissions that the Elmhurst team is analyzing now, the responses will provide a post-pandemic pulse-check on the hopes, concerns, and dreams of our f amilies. I look forward to sharing what we learn with you, and I look forward to responding to those voiced needs through our future initiatives and progr amming.”

“We are a mighty and joyful team,” said Mary Reynolds, the executive director “That’s because our work is mighty and joyful.”

T he org anization re por ted $1.91 million in revenue for the last year, more than 83% of which came from local government contracts, and over $1.97 million in expenses, according to the re port The Collaboration also received over $30,000 in funding for its progr amming last year after being selected by LemonAid, the local staple of a charitable event which has memorialized the 9/11 attacks each year by selling lemonade and raising funds for local charities since 2002.

Progr ams the Collaboration ran this year included providing “baby bundle” kits to expecting parents, holding a Blast Of f to Kindergar ten resource and info rmation fair for incoming District 97 families at Rehm Park last May and donating “social-emotional learning kits” to area schools and libraries. T he Collaboration also worked with staf f at nearby Elmhurst University to conduct a study of Oak Park parents’ experiences raising young children in a post-Covid world.

“This past spring we teamed up with

T he Collaboration also shared infor mation on plans to collaborate with a national organization called “The Basics” on implementing the organization’s “community-wide approach” to emotional and cognitive development strategies for parents of children under three

“We selected T he Basics for Oak Park because it aligns with our mission to cultivate the development of the whole child. It provides concrete, actionable principles that all care givers can implement. It creates a common language around early childhood development across our community. It offers an equity-focused approach that can benefit all f amilies while potentially having the greatest impact for children who have more barriers to access to resources. It reco gnizes that learning happens everywhere, not just in for mal educational settings,” T he Collaboration said of the new progr amming. “By implementing The Basics across multipl e sectors (healthcare, business, schools, libraries, parks, etc.), we’re building a web of support around families and sending a consistent message that our entire community values early childhood development and is committed to providing f amilies with the resources and encouragement they need

New reports emerge on Border Patrol use of Flock cameras

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

National debate over Flock Safety’s nationwide surveillance network continues as new reports emerge on how federal immigration agents have used license plate reader data.

The Associated Press reported last month that it had obtained documents showing that Border Patrol has in the past had access to data from at least three private sector surveillance vendors: Rekor, Vigilant Solutions and Flock Safety, whom Oak Park maintained a license plate reader contract with until the village board voted to shut off the town’s cameras on Aug. 5, citing concerns over their potential use in immigration investigations.

The AP’s investigation found that Border Patrol agents were using License Plate Reader networks in a “secretive program” aimed at identifying and detaining people whose travel patterns it deemed suspicious, with the agency looking at data from cameras far from the border in cities like Chicago.

Border Patrol told AP the cameras are used to thwart drug smuggling and human trafficking operations by using the networks to surveil where people traveling on America’s roads and using that data to predict who is involved in the smuggling. Border Patrol has generally kept mentions of the surveillance systems out of arrest reports and other public facing documents, the AP found.

Flock Safety operates a massive camera network in the United States, with contracts on the books with more than 5,000 American law enforcement agencies. The company says that its tech plays a role in 12% of all solved crimes in the US, and champions of the technology say that the cameras are a revolutionary public safety tool.

But the constitutionality of the system is being challenged in federal court, as critics say the surveillance tech violates the fourth amendment.

Through Flock alone, Border Patrol for a time had access to at least 1,600 license plate readers across 22 states, and some counties have reported looking up license plates on behalf of Border Patrol even in states like California and Illinois that ban sharing data with federal immigration authorities, according to an AP analysis of police disclosures. A Flock spokesperson told AP the company “for now” had paused its pilot programs with Border Patrol and a separate DHS agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and declined to discuss the type or volume of data shared with either federal agency, other than to say agencies could search for vehicles wanted in conjunction with a crime. No agencies currently list Border Patrol as receiving Flock data, according to AP

In June, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that his office would be auditing the Illinois operations of Flock Safety. The investigation found that the company had broken Illinois law by allowing data collected from license plate readers to be accessed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.

Illinois has laws on the books banning license plate reader data to be used for immigration status investigations and criminal investigations related to out-of-state abortion access.

“As a result of the sample audit that included a sampling of 12 local law enforcement agencies, the office discovered late last week that Flock did not have proper safeguards in place for data sharing, which was compounded by the fact that the company was running a pilot program with U.S. Cus-

toms and Border Protection, which Flock leadership was unaware of,” Giannoulias’ office said in a statement. “This was uncovered as part of the Secretary of State’s audit, and Flock has also since paused its pilot with CBP and other federal agencies, not only in Illinois but nationwide.”

On the heels of that announcement, Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley wrote a blog post addressing the Illinois audit’s findings

“We clearly communicated poorly. We also didn’t create distinct permissions and protocols in the Flock system to ensure local compliance for federal agency users,” he wrote “In order to work with federal law enforcement agencies, while remaining committed to the values of the communities across the country we currently serve, we are engaging in a coordinated product, engineering, and policy effort to ensure that each of our client agencies better understand how to control their sharing relationships.”

The state’s audit came weeks after Oak Park’s board of trustees voted on Aug. 5 to cancel the contract that the village had renewed with Flock Safety a year earlier. Trustees cited concerns over federal immigration enforcement agents’ potential access to Oak Park data, which would violate the village’s immigration sanctuary ordinance.

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

Oak Park had eight Flock Safety cameras in operation when the board voted to kill

CRIME

the contract. All but one of the cameras was situated within two blocks of the Oak ParkChicago line

The majority of Oak Park trustees voted to cancel the contract outright, but trustees Jim Taglia and Cory Wesley had introduced an alternative measure that would’ve shut off the cameras for 90 days as the Oak Park police worked on its own internal audit. Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman said she wished the board would’ve taken that option to work through a more measured decision-making process that better included the expertise of the police department.

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

Early work on the Illinois audit revealed that in January, a F lock account associated with the south suburban Palos Heights Police Department had searched Oak Park F lock data 28 times with a stated purpose of investigating “immigration violation.” Cities in several states have moved to cut ties with F lock in the months since Oak Park ended its own deal with the tech provider.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, north suburban Evanston announced that it would shut of f its 19 F lock license plate readers effective Sept. 26. Some of the other municipalities to follow Oak Park’s lead and cancel F lock contracts include Cambridge, MA, Hillsborough, NC, Redmond, WA, Verona, WI, Sedona, AZ and Hays County, Texas, which includes suburban Austin.

Police investigate $10,000 in middle school property damage

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park police are investigating an incident in which $10,000 in property damage was done to a local middle school.

An unknown suspect reportedly damaged multiple fences and turf fields at Percy Julian Middle School on Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Park with a vehicle. The suspect reportedly rammed the vehicle through multiple

school fences and drove over the top the turf fields, according to police.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 24, according to police

Aggravated assault arrest

Oak Park police arrested a Forest Park man on violent felony charges last week.

Oak Park police arrested the 29-year-old

man in the 500 block of South Maple Avenue just after 2:20 p.m. Nov. 25, according to police.

The man faces charges of aggravated assault and criminal trespassing to real property in connection with an incident that allegedly victimized another Forest Park resident, according to police

The man was transferred into Cook County custody and appeared in court Tuesday Dec. 1, according to county records.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s

Police Department reports dated Nov. 25–27 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Safe Steps for Fall Day YOUR BEST LIFE withLisaCapone

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

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

Improve lighting: Replace dim bulbs, add motion-sensor lights outside, and keep indoor hallways and entryways well lit.

Secure floors inside: Remove clutter, tuck away cords, and use non-slip pads under rugs.

Wear safe footwear: Choose shoes with firm, non-skid soles instead of socks or loose slippers.

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

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

Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030

Harmon’s other Democratic Party role will be on full display in ’26

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

Oak Park’s Don Harmon has become well known over the past two decades as a visible and accessible state senator locally and a task-oriented type of legislative leader in Springfield.

After his election in November 2002, Harmon immediately stepped up and took on the sort of responsibilities few other legislators either would or could handle, establishing his reputation among Democratic leadership as a workhorse

In a 2004 piece in Crain’s Chicago Business, columnist Greg Hinz noted freshmen state senators are not generally known for “handling complex, controversial legislation that reaches across the po litical aisle.” But Harmon, Hinz said, “is not turning out to be your typical state senator.”

Now the Senate President, Harmon plays a major and very public role in the state’s governance from January through May and during fall veto sessions.

(DSCC) from the 7th Cong ressional district but will not after ceding the seat to House Speaker Chris Welch, who will face Oak Park Township Supervisor Tim Thomas on the March primary ballot.

But Harmon will still wield political power similar to that of the party’s central committee, recruiting candidates and supporting incumbents through money, operational resources and staffing from the senate campaign fund.

Lost in the controversy and drama of Harmon’s le gal tussle with the state elections board is the fact that Harmon hasn’t needed a full war chest since the conclusion of the 2006 general election, when he defeated the only GOP opponent he’s ever faced. He’s defeated the only two Democratic primary challengers he’s had over the past 23 years by 2-to-1 margins

DON HARMON

The money that flows to Friends of Don Harmon for State Senate pays for his local political staf f, with the vast majority of the balance going to support fellow Democrats, not his re-election.

staffers to any given senate contest as needed, providing savvy political operatives who can hit the ground running. Besides salaries, there are expenses including lodging, food, transportation and mileage that are covered by Harmon through the campaign fund

Due to the way elections are scheduled for Illinois state senate seats over 10-year cycles, there will be twice as many seats up for election next year as there were in 2024, and therefore, more expenses

In 2024, Friends of Don Harmon took in $9.7 million and expended $7.2 million, ending the year with $13,385,464 on hand.

In 2022, the fund took in $11.2 million and spent $16.76 million, spending more in the last six months of that year than he would in all of 2024.

What may not be as widely appreciated by many in the public is Harmon’s role as a major fundraiser and someone who controls and directs an effective political campaign designed to benefit his fellow state senators through the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund.

While political operations are lower key in odd numbered, so-called “off-years,” a spotlight was thrown on that part of Harmon’s job description earlier this year after a media inquiry resulted in Illinois State Board of Elections staf f ultimately ruling that Harmon’s fundraising practices had violated state election law.

Harmon faced a total of $9.8 million in forfeitures and fines but appealed. The state election board eventually deadlocked last month along partisan lines, rendering no decision on whether or not to impose any penalties

Harmon is clearly ready to move into a new year, telling constituents in a recent letter that “…this matter is closed.”

Harmon had wanted to be on the influential Democratic State Central Committee

Harmon is one of two men who solicit and direct funding to Democratic Party operations, the other being Welch. Gov. JB Pritzker also contributes millions through his campaign fund. The three have provided the bulk of funding to the Democratic Party of Illinois’s campaign coffers.

The DPI in turn covers much of the expense related to producing and delivering political mailers to voters. Harmon’s senate campaign fund and Welch’s Democrats for the Illinois House take responsibility for state senate candidates and House candidate campaigns, respectively

The steady stream of cash flowing into Friends of Don Harmon pays for a 15-person senate campaign fund staf f of mostly veteran personnel, which assists as many Democratic State Senate candidates as needed in any election cycle. Between payroll, taxes and healthcare costs, the staf f costs approximately $1.75 million annually.

Since mid-2022, that fund has also spent a total of $2.8 million on research and polling Harmon, like Welch in the House, is also able to dispatch experienced campaign

Harmon had only one potentially vulnerable senate seat to worry about last year -the 40th district in the south suburbs. Next year there will be at least one vulnerable Democratic seat and as many as four GOP seats that will likely be targeted for flipping. Among the state senate races expected to be highly contested is the 26th district in Lake County, the 33rd district out west by Geneva, the 48th district around Springfield, the 56th district downstate, and possibly the 24th district around Carol Stream and Bartlett. All together those races could drain between $12 million and $15 million from Democratic coffers, and Harmon’s mountain of cash in his two accounts -- approximately $19 million as of the end of November -- could look more like a mole hill by next October

Those wondering how far Harmon will go to defend a vulnerable contested seat need only consider the 2024 general election for the 40th Senate district.

By early October 2024, challenger Philip Nagel had received $470,000 from the Senate Republican Victory Fund and $208,000 total from other Republican Party sources, considerable money by GOP standards.

Harmon responded by transferring $2.3 million from senate campaign fund to Patrick Joyce between Oct. 1 and Oct. 23, plus an additional $103,774 in “in-kind” media production, allowing Joyce to pay for a flood of television ads.

The GOP pulled the plug on Nagel’s campaign two weeks before election day.

SMALL BITES

Between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, there never seems to be any lack of opportunity to eat. This with many food security issues front-of-mind, consider sharing that feasting joy with neighbors in need. Donations of food or funds to Beyond Hunger are distributed locally.

Here are a few things otherwise going on in our neighborhoods:

North avenue’s Dunkin Donuts at 6336 W. North Ave. is getting a complete overhaul. Windows are out; scaffolding is up; a peek behind the fencing shows graffiti on the building. But no worries it’s all getting a glow-up. Down the street, the derelict IHOP building that has sat vacant for years is coming down. There are no immediate plans for another building

or business on the lot.

glio – A slice of Rome, a pizza concept, is coming to 809 South Blvd. in Oak , where Angie’s Pantry used to be. Paper is up on the windows. Job listings are out on Indeed. No info yet on an opening date.

The film lining the winThree Fold Bakery, 401 South Blvd, is of f. Coffee machines are shining on the counter, so hopefully they will start rolling out the viennoiserie pastry soon. Takeout 25’s holiday gift card my stery bundles are back. Purchase online in $25 increments, you get one gift card for each $25 spent. Which restaurant your cards are from is a sur prise, which helps spread the love as the slower, colder months of the year are a challenge for all local restaurants. How often do you get that thrill of not knowing – yet knowing it will be something good? Santa yourself ! The five largest purchasers of gift cards will also receive a Takeout 25 cookbook that debuted in November, featuring recipes from 25 local favorite restaurants. Dec. 5 is the deadline for ordering. Card pickup is at The Book Loft, 1047 Lake St. in Oak Park, starting on Dec. 7.

This time of the year, you can play Dirty Santa, but if you want a dirty soda,

head to Candycopia at 717 Lake St. in Oak Park. It’s a drink remix. Classic sodas are amped with creamy add-ins, bold syrups and sweet surprises that Candycopia celebrates every day. Gummy shark in your drink, anyone? Drinks are mixed to order from their own mad-scientist list or create your own concoction.

New Sound Café is open steps from the intersection of Austin & Lake, 5958 W.

Lake St. in Chicago. Housed in a building that was a gospel record stores back in the 1970s, the new café roasts their own beans; has ample seating upstairs for working; and an area that converts to a reservable conference room. Pastries as well as breakfast and lunch sandwiches are available, provided by Hatchery incubatorbased Trini’s Tasty Pastries.

A bit fur ther east at 3504 W. Lake St. in Chicago you can eat lunch on Fridays and brunch, plus lunch on Saturdays at Inspiration Kitchen. Their motto is “Dine well. Do good.” The goal of this social enterprise is to train aspiring hospitality and kitchen professionals. Seasonal dishes, with some ing redients from their own garden, join a re gular menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. Catering is also available.

Eats-out – we are going to try another tur n at gathering, eating and chatting about what foods make us happy. This time, we are going to Café Cubano on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The cost is $35 per person. Alcoholic drinks separate. If you want to join in our table of eight, email me at the address below.

Got news, questions or ideas for this column? Email them to us at Eats@oakparkeats.com.

Cocktails get a twist at new Mira Social

A new bar (with food) opens with handmade drinks in the new Porter building

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Eats Reporter

Mira Social is a swanky cocktail-forward bar on the ground floor of the new, upscale Porter apar tment building at the corner of Marion and Pleasant Streets. Doors opened in early December and the owners plan to evoke the Roaring 20s with a family-friendly, community-focused vibe.

Gabe Nuñez and Victor Vazquez moved from Andersonville three and a half years ago. They loved living in Oak Park and the established restaurants, but they found themselves returning to the city on occasion for a certain type of establishment. Doing that with or without their young daughter was a challenge.

offerings

“You could come in beautiful attire and for a night out, for a celebration of some sort, but you could always come cozy,” Nuñez said.

The interior décor is a swell of soft whites, blue and green plaids on a dark blue ocean. Classy cocktail lounge music, described as Frank Sinatra/Nora Jones, fills the air.

Sip and Savor

1103 Pleasant St., Oak Park

Hours: Mon–Tues, 3:30 – 9 p.m.

Wednesday, 3:30 – 10 p.m.

Thursday, 3:30 – 11 p.m.

Friday, 3:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Saturday, noon – 1 a.m.

“A lot of people in Oak Park have families and to basically get away to go out for dinner to the city, you feel like you’re leaving your kids behind,” Vazquez said. “You’re always on a time crunch.”

Sunday, noon – 9 p.m.

Reflecting that dilemma, they created Mira Social to address what they saw as a missing piece in the area’s

A coastal feel extends to the pan-Mediterranean menu. Ceviches from Mexico, Peru, Italy; oysters from several regions; gluten-free dishes; charcuterie boards are available. Small, medium and large dishes make it easy to have a snack, a meal or share with friends.

But handcrafted cocktails are the raison d’etre.

“We’ll definitely have the classics, and the classics with a twist,” Nuñez said. “You could come and get a re gular old fashioned, but then you could also have a Mira old fashioned. We have a Mira Mai Tai. It’s gonna be pistachio; it’s gonna be green; it’s gonna be frothy; it’s gonna be completely different.”

A full bar will also offer beer selections from locals Casa Humilde and Kinslagher.

Part of the menu and cocktails will rotate with the seasons. In warmer months patio seating will be added. Monday through Friday, there is a happy hour from 3:30 – 6 p.m.

“Also, we’re going to have customer interactive events, whether it’s making cocktails, learning to make charcuterie boards, or it might be a martini night,” Nuñez said. “Mira Social, our goal here is to kind of create a community gathering place. That’s where that ‘social’ comes in. It’s a place that you could feel free to bring in your family, your kids, whatever. It’s not exclusive at all. It’s very inclusive.”

WHAT IS NON-AGEIST HUMOR, ANYWAY?

1128 LAKE ST - LOWER LEVEL

MONDAY, December 8 • 6 – 8 PM • $1 (Scholarships available for the 2-drink minimum)

Yes, we have to be able to laugh at ourselves no matter what age we are, but when I lost my car keys in high school I didn’t call it a junior moment!

ACE (Action Community Engagement) is currently running a project, sponsored by Yale School of Public health and Midwestern University, on raising awareness about and reducing ageism in Oak Park.

ACE is amping up the holiday season with an evening of fun, food, laughter and libations as we explore ‘What Is Non-Ageist Humor, Anyway?’

Jokes will be told, opinions expressed, and comedy sketches acted out by local ACE members. If you get the urge, go ahead and tell one of your own jokes and let the audience decide.

Brought to you by

PROVIDED

Mira Social ow ners Gabe Nuñez and Victor Vazquez

A U.S. ag hangs from an Oak Park Fire Department ladder truck outside village hall at the one-year ceremony in memo ry of Detective Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty last year

REDDINS

Remembering Allan

from page 1

ers, Rev. Adonna Reid, the police department chaplain, re presentatives of police departments from across Cook County, the State’s Attorney’s office, Village President Vicki Scaman and a majority of the Oak Park village board, Cong. Danny Davis, State Re p. La Shawn Ford and the family of Reddins were all present for the hour-long service which included the tradition of an Oak Park police honor guard presenting the colors, the playing of taps and a Chicago police officer on his bagpipe with a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

And there were de ep emotions, too Police Chief Shatonya Johnson told the assembled, “Today is a good day. Don’t join in sor row. I went to bed thinking of Allan. I woke up thinking of Allan. … Let’s think of the times we had with Allan, of his five years with us. … And let’s face it, he is here right now.”

Detective Andrew Vaughan, Reddens’ partner in the detective division, spoke powerfully about their friendship. “He was a brother, a partner, a friend. The pain is still as real as it was then,” he

said. Vaughan described their long ca rides to g ether as they worked cases. “W shared triumphs and fears. … He was genuine and tr ue in a way that is unusual these days.”

Speaking directly to Reddins’ son Jayden, who sat with his f amily in the front row, Vaughan said, “I’ve never met a dad so proud.”

Vaughan said he continues to re pl many moments of their work to g ether in his mind. “He brought calm to chaos He treated everyone with respect. And he made people laugh.”

Stacey Bailey, Reddins for mer pa ner and mother of their son, also spok about Reddins and spoke directly to her son Jayden. “Allan was strong-willed He served with purpose. He did what was right even when it was not easy. Your father’s love is still with you. He is still with you. You are his le gacy. You are my heart.”

Oak Park Police Commander Nathaniel Leitl.

Both Johnson and Nathaniel Leitl, an Oak Park police commander credited with organizing the memorial, talked about the challenges of being an Oak Park police of ficer

“It has been a rough year for our officers,” said Leitl. “The constant criticism (all of law enforcement receives) and now reaching down to the local level. Sometimes fair. Often with inaccuracies.” Leitl

quoted Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling telling a group of police officers to “never lose your why. Why you became a police officer.” Leitl said Reddins always had his “why” and that it was tied to the community and to his family

In making closing remarks, Johnson of fered praise and thanks to her officers and to those from the villages sur round-

ing Oak Park who turn out in support when mutual aid calls are mad e. “Thanks for showing up every time we call. Especially our local partners in River Forest and Forest Park You show up even when we don’ t call you, when you hear tension in a voice (on the police radio).

“To my family of police of ficers,” Johnson said, speaking to the do z ens of Oak

TODD BANNOR

TODD BANNOR

Oak Park Fire Department Chief Joseph Terry (right) and re ghters at the ceremony.

TODD BANNOR

A Chicago Police bagpiper plays “Amazing Grace,” while an Oak Park o cer stands at attention.

OakPark Police Chief Shatonya Johnson speaks at the ceremony.

Honor Guard o cer rings the bell.

Park police in attendance, “Even when you don’ t always receive the thanks, I thank you. I appreciate and love you.” Johnson said, “We need to forg e ahead for Allan.”

Post o ce may be named for Reddins

Before the memorial service for Det. Allan Reddins Nov. 29 at Oak Park’s village hall, Cong. Danny Davis confirmed that conversations are underway to rename the

Oak Park Post Office on Lake Street in his honor.

Davis, who will retire from Congress after the current term, said he intends to make this happen before he leaves offic Davis said he has been in conversation with Vicki Scaman, Oak Park village president, about this honor.

Scaman said she is on board with this reco gnition of Reddins and that his family is also supportive. She credited Trustee Jim Taglia for his work on this ef fort.

Mother of Allan Reddins

PHOTOS BY TODD BANNOR

Oak Park Police

LIGHTS

Neighbors

vs. members from page 1

an ordinance to add lights to the tennis courts at the tennis club, 615 Lathrop Ave., he has a keen eye for what will work, and what won’t.

Adding 24 poles at 30 feet tall, with two LED lights on each pole, covering all 10 courts, arranged around the outside fence, is problematic in his professional opinion.

“The way they are mounted, the lights falling on the property line is 32-foot candles and should be 0.50,” Jeunette said. “The way the manufacturer ran the calculations is just not helpful.”

Those calculations were made by Shinetoo Lighting USA LLC in Buffalo Grove. Jeunette’s recommendation? A larger number of shorter poles and smaller fixtures, “then you can get more control over where the light goes,” he said, adding “the tennis club has chosen to go with one company to do the design and installation, but it’s not the best solution.”

According to the application, dated Sept. 30, the proposed lighting is “in compliance with the Village’s Comprehensive Plan,” “strengthening our community character, identify, and unique sense of place,” and “strengthening our property values and enhancing our quality of life.” To that point, the application noted national Recreation and Parks Association statistics that state property values by tennis and golf clubs are 15% to 30% higher.

But according to Jeunette and other residents who live near the club, like Paul Harding, there is a larger issue.

The village of River Forest’s Development Review Board held a public hearing on the application Nov. 6, which had such a large turnout, it was scheduled for continuation at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the first floor community room of village hall, 400 Park Ave.

According to Thursday’s meeting agenda, the body will listen to further public comments on the matter, then deliberate and make a recommendation to the village board.

According to Harding, four of the seven members of the development review board are club members, including Elias Yanaki, who served as proposal applicant and then recused himself from voting, and Maryanne Fishman, Jane McCole and Ron Lucchesi

“It’s about ethics in River Forest government,” Harding said. “Nobody wants corruption and this is the poster boy for corruption. I respect the village government,

but this is so ridiculous, it’s unbelievable.”

Resident Carey Palmer said during the Nov. 6 public hearing, neighbors asked the board members who were club members to recuse themselves. That apparently has not happened.

When reached via email Monday, McCole, a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, responded with, “Sorry, I can’t talk about the proposal at this time.”

Multiple voicemails were left for Fishman, Yanaki and tennis club president Dan Baker, with no response. Lucchesi’s contact infor mation was not publicly available.

When reached via phone Monday evening, development review board chairman David Crosby was asked whether the matter will come to a vote Thursday, and whether the board members who are also club members will recuse themselves.

“It’s Matt you have to direct those questions to,” Crosby said, refer ring to Village Administrator Matt Walsh.

Walsh said Tuesday morning that “the item may come to a vote on Thursday, depending on deliberations. If the (Development Review Board) is prepared to vote they would be able to, but they can also

continue the topic to a future meeting.”

He also said that all improvements to properties zoned PRI (parks, recreational and institutional) are considered amendments to a planned development.

“The lighting proposal is considered an improvement to a PRI property,” he said.

“All planned development reviews are considered by the Development Review Board.

This planned development process is applied to university projects, park district projects and the Tennis Club’s last application in 2022. The recommendation from the (Development Review Board) then is forwarded to the village board.

“This is the process in our code, and the applicant does not select which board reviews their application.”

The lighting application does have a groundswell of support, as evidenced by the dozens of letters received by the development review board since Nov. 6. One of those letter writers was resident Andy Basney, who is a club member.

“As a member with a young family, I know that finding time for both personal wellness (like playing tennis) and quality family time can be a challenge,” Basney

said. “With court lights, my spouse and I will be able to play after the kids are in bed or after dinner, rather than having to choose between a match and being home for our children’s evening routine. This simple enhancement greatly improves the quality of life for RFTC families by allowing us to do both.”

Resident Jeanne Calabrese, who lives across the street from the club, estimated that just 0.20% of the River Forest population will benefit from the lights.

“The question we all need to ask is why are the wants of so few taking the priority over the whole?” Calabrese said. “This is a small percentage of people, yet it has a huge impact on the community.”

For club members like Basney that want lights, Calabrese added, “I would first ask them, where do they live? If they do not live within 1,000 feet of the club, it’s not going to impact them. It’s a small community, we all live here together and we have to be mindful of all of us living here together.”

Harding thinks so, too.

“I can see where some things you’ve got a difference of opinion, but this isn’t even that,” he said. “The outcome is decided.”

GOOGLE MAPS/SCREENSHOT

River Forest Tennis Club, 615 Lathrop Ave.

Elgin Ave. residents sue village, Crystal Car Wash

Plainti s say the noisy vacuum stations are ‘detrimental to the public health, safety and comfort of the village’

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

For years, Elgin Avenue residents have aired complaints to the village and Crystal Car Wash about the latter’s noisy vacuum stations at 901 S. Harlem Ave. After the car wash, in May, tried to expand for the second time in three years, three residents who live behind the business got legal representation.

Now, Sukrat Baber, Mitchell Ashcroft and Markus Denny are suing Forest Park’s Village Administrator Rachell Entler and its Director of Public Health and Safety Steve Glinke. Baber, Ashcroft and Denny live on Elgin Avenue, just across an alley from the car wash.

Mayor Rory Hoskins and Crystal Car Wash’s owner did not respond to request for

comment. Both Entler and Glinke declined to comment, due to the pending litigation.

The three Elgin Avenue residents’ lawsuit argues that the current car wash isn’ grandfathered into the village code because of the noise from the vacuum stations adde to the south and west sides of the building. Additionally, the plaintiffs argue that Crystal Car Wash is detrimental to the public health, safety and comfort of the village

According to village code, businesses can’t emit excessive noise between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. But Crystal Car Wash has 24 free stations with vacuums and compression hoses that run until the business closes at 9 p.m. and re gularly exceed 80 decibels. Premier Car Wash previously existed at 901 S. Harlem Ave., and when Crystal Car Wash opened in 2018, it was grandfathered into

tions were implemented

According to the filed lawsuit, Premier Car Wash was a legal nonconforming use, and construction of new vacuum stations violates the village’s zoning ordinance that prohibits the expansion of nonconforming uses.

“One of the things that we would like is for the vacuum [stations] on the west side to be removed,” Baber previously told the Review.

ber also previously told the that, for years, dozens of Forest Parkers have asked the village for help with the car wash, and have presented their issues directly to Crystal Car Wash, to no avail. After Baber, Ashcroft and Denny hired lawyers in the spring, and requested an interview with the Review, they said neither the village nor the car wash contacted them about ongoing concer ns

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TODD BANNOR

Mark Denny, Sukrat Baber and Mitchell Ashcro in front of the vacuum sta tions across the alley from their homes on the 900 block of Elgin on Oct. 25.

West Side violence ‘interrupters’ work to make neighborhoods safer

Once a vic tim himself, Hardy works to stem gun violence

By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter

Nekenya Hardy, associate director of outreach and intervention for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, walked onto the stage at the Morgan MFG venue last month during Austin Coming To g eth’s Membership Award event to receive the Illinois Peace Portrait Award for 2025.

An African American male with dreadlocks, Hardy easily fits a g eneral description of countless other young Black males who could be caught in a life of violence. Instead, he is part of the “violence interrupters” who are helping change the lives

of young Black men caught up in the perilous g rip of street life, through a collaborat ive community approach.

A victim of gun violence in 2004, Hardy, 45, was approached by his cousin, Karl Bell, and Alphonso Prater, who were with Ceasefire at the time, asking him not to retaliate against the shooter or shooters but to join them at Ceasefire. He did so in 2005.

Prater along with Har dy are pa rt of the Institute for NonViolence Chicago team of violence inter rupters working the Austin and West Garfield Pa rk communities

Promoted five times since starting with the Institute in 2017, Hardy has 1000 con-

TODD BANNOR

Nekenya Hardy at Grace & Peace Church on Dec. 1.

flict mediations in Austin and is marking a total of 20 years violence prevention experience this year

Growing up in Austin

“I grew up on Massasoit [Street] and Augusta [Boulevard],” Hardy said. “My grandfather and my grandmother were there and I’ve been living there all my life That’s all I knew was the street, right? It was in my household and in my community when I would go outside to play with my friends. It was in school where I went to learn. It’s kind of sad to say, but I really didn’t know that catching a felony and going to jail could tarnish my back ground until I’d already had a felony.”

T here was no Ceasefire or Institute for Nonviolence or any other organization that he knew of during those times that were trying to guide young men to do better, he added.

“My mother, father and cousins all were part of street life,” Hardy said describing that life as selling drug s, joining g angs, partying, surviving.” It was the only way I knew how to survive.”

It’s the same today for young Black male youth.

“We have a bunch of young men out here who want to g et out of g angbanging and selling drug s and who want the better things in life and want to g et out of that type of environment,” Hardy said.

“At the same time, though, they also feel like they need to carry a gun to protect themselves because everybody’s got them.

training cur riculum for the inter rupters.

“Because of our lived experience, it gives us a first-hand approach unfortunately, to what trauma looks like,” Castro said. “We create trainings around conflict resolution, de-escalation and nonviolence to give people the basic tools they need to do the job. What keeps us different is the innovation in the work We routinely check in with the frontline staf f to ask about any new trends they’re seeing in the generation and the cultur e.”

Social media is also utilized for de-escalating situations

T he Institute as a whole received the Excellence in Neighborhood Safety and Youth Development due to impactful work in empowering young people and advancing neighborhood safety through its collaborative ef for ts with other groups in the community

“

I helped them realize they can do without the streets and

once I was able to get them out of street life and show them they could live a productive lifestyle, it kind of went from each one teach one.”

NEKENYA HARDY Director of outreach and intervention for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Hardy’s approach on the street starts with respect. He’s even had to intervene in the lives of his younger cousins who are 31 and 32 years of age.

“I helped them realize they can do without the streets and once I was able to get them out of street life and show them they could live a productive lifestyle, it kind of went from each one teach one,” he explained. “People then start to want to do better. I find out what they want to do and want to be so I can meet them where they are and go from there.”

Samuel Castro, the Institute’s director of strategic initiatives and partnerships, talked to the Austin Weekly News about the

“We were able to help 97 young men receive their CDL license or some type of trade in HVAC and things like that,” Hardy said. “We saw that it changed lives and it makes the neighborhood safer. T he target population we work with are the highest of the highest risk who could be the next pe rpetrator or the next victim of gun violence.”

A respected leader in gun violence prevention, intervention and reduction with their street outreach, job progr ams, behavioral health and wellness and collaborations with other organizations, the Institute is guided by the nonviolence principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Ten year ago in Austin in 2016, there were 459 shootings; statistics in 2025 show, a decrease to 137 shootings, Hardy said.

Hardy credits the decline to the collaborat ive approach the Institute has with the other organizations such as BUILD, Austin Coming To g ether and others.

“It’s also with the help of Commander Andre Parham in the 15th [Police] District,” helping us realize those at the highest risk and giving us the chance to work with them before they take them to jail,” Hardy added. “We already know for the most part who they are but being given the chance to work with them before they go to jail is hug e.”

Homes

A family wedding in the family house

Daughter wanted to be married in the home where she grew up. Her parents helped make it happen

By LACEY SIKORA Real Estate Reporter

When Steve and Julie Scheuring bought their 1891 Victorian in 2000, the young couple had just one child, one-and-a-half year old Leyla. Over the coming years, they welcomed two more children, Elise and Caden, and renovated their sprawling home on Euclid Avenue.

Steve recalls that when they bought the house, “I loved it because I could envision the kids rolling out of bed and going to high school. I also thought it would make a great house for a wedding.”

All three Scheuring kids made the short walk to Oak Park and River Forest High School from the peach-painted home, and this fall, Leyla was the first to host her wedding in the home when she married Jonah Gilkeson on a sunny Saturday in October.

Julie recalls that when Leyla and Jonah announced their eng agement, they gathered with both sets of parents to discuss their wedding plans. She says, “They wanted something pretty relaxed and simple.”

Jonah’s dad said it would be nice if the wedding venue was somewhere memorable and meaningful so that the young couple could go back and visit on their anniversary.

In February 2025, the couple ag reed that the perfect place to welcome friends and family w ould be Leyla’s childhood home, and Steve and Julie knew they had a bit of work to do to get their home ready to host a party.

As Steve puts it, “We knew right then that all of the issues that keep us awake at night owning a home built more than 130 years ago needed to be addressed. Especially, the plumbing.”

See WEDDING on pa ge 20

Leyla Scheuring and Jonah Gilkeson’s wedding ceremony in the dining room of Leyla’s childhood home.

CORE Y KESSLER

MA EV E GIMPL

A welcome sign greets guests at the wedding of Julie and Steve Scheuring’s daughter at their Oak Park home.

A wonderful holiday gift for your grown children!

Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community is for anyone who lives in Oak Park, formerly lived in Oak Park, is about to move to Oak Park, is curious about Oak Park, or might live in Oak Park in the future. In other words, pretty much everyone. You can nd it at the OPRF History Museum, the Hemingway Birthplace Home, and, if you must, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

WEDDING

Close to home

from page 18

The plumbing was installed in 1927, and Steve, who has worked as a local Realtor for years, notes that he was lucky that through his work he has become close friends with his plumber and his son. “We had to get the bathrooms up to snuff,” he laughs.

The couple really got into the wedding planning groove in March and April and began tackling their to-do list one item at a time. Their friends and neighbors helped out, lending advice and items to help them prepare for the big day.

An event planner friend walked the yard with them, pointing out safety hazards. Their backyard paths were 20-year-old tumbled pavers that presented a tripping hazard, so the couple made sure they were George’s Concrete’s first customer of the season to install new, smoother pathways.

Stair rails and added lighting made for safer traversing of the yard and made for better access to the four-car garage, which would be the site for catering.

Julie is an accomplished gardener and says, “Zinnias, dahlias, marigolds -- everything was planted this year with an eye towards flowers that would be blooming in October.”

Leyla and Jonah were paying for the wed-

ding themselves and very involved in the planning, but the couple live in North Ca olina and weren’ t available for detail work With their vision in mind, the Scheurings welcomed any and all hands to contribute to making the day go smoothl Neighbors stepped in to offer coolers and chairs. One neighbor even of a parking space for the porta-potty

Steve checked in with the Cheney Mansion, which is a block away, and discovered they were hosting a we same day. A next-door neighbor also was hosting an OPRF Homecoming pa night, but Steve said it all made for a celebratory atmosphere in the neighborhood, which stretched a bit to cover all the pa ing needs.

The Scheurings admit they ing on the weather gods to provide a weather day and feel very lucky was sunny. Julie laughs, “The plan was to talk to everyone who prays and ask them to pray for no rain for us

The small wedding ceremony for 38 people took place in the family dining room. Julie says, “It was such a special ceremony because we were all packed in shoulder-toshoulder. It was the same room where Elise and Caden were baptized.”

Leyla and Jonah chose Soul & Smoke barbecue restaurant to cater the event with the cleaned-out garage acting as a dining station. The family’s tandem bike was parked in the garage with a front basket full of flowers. The bike served as a photo

A tent, lights, and plenty of music made for a jo yful celebration.

opportunity for guests waiting in line for the buffet. An ice cream truck from Swirl parked in front of the house to provide soft serve ice cream for dessert.

There were games in the side yard, a firepit after dinner and dancing during the night hours. Julie says, “The whole yard was used. It was absolutely perfect. It was just beautiful.”

While they spent the better part of 2025

preparing for the wedding day, the Scheurings say the only thing they would do differently would be to hire a handyman to cover the inevitable bumps that come from hosting a crowd in an old house.

Steve’s older brother took on the role this time. And as to next time, Steve and Julie point out they do have two more kids. Julie says, “I’m assuming we’re on the hook to make this offer to the other two.”

wedding day.

CORE Y KESSLER

RICH DRAB

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

Oak Park: A town without ageism?

AVIEWPOINTS

Shrubtown

CE (Action Community Engagement) is currently running a re search project, sponsored by Yale School of Public Health and Midwester n University, on raising awareness about and reducing ageism in Oak Park. Ninety Oak Park residents over the age of 60 ha been meeting in small groups once-a-week for six weeks, talking about what ageism is, where it comes from, and what can be done about it

MARC BLESOFF

This research is based on the book Breaking The Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live, written by Dr. Becca Levy. It is unlikely that there will ever be a town without any ageism, but raising the level of the ocean causes all the ships to go up ACE participants are now implementing and joining several diverse projects around Oak Pa which are open to the public. Here’s a partial list:

■ Public art to challenge ageism – Come see this exhibit of 14 panels displayed in the Oak Park Arts District on Harrison Street, starting Friday, Dec. 5, and running through mid-January. This art exhibit has only been shown once before, last year in New York City.

■ An evening at the Comedy Plex (1128 Lake St., lower level) – Titled “What Is Non-Ageist Humor, Anyway?” the program takes place on Monday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., $1 admission (2-drink minimum scholarships available). Jokes will be told, opinions expressed, and comedy sketches acted out by ACE participants. If you get the urge, go ahead and tell one of your own jokes and let the audience decide

■ Public photography to celebrate older people – Photos taken by ACE participants show positive images of older people who live in Oak Park The exhibit will be displayed at the Oak Park Township Senior Building (130 S. Oak Park Ave.) as well as on Lake Street.

■ The movie Thelma – A viewing, followed by discussion, will be held at the Oak Park Ar ms, sometime next month.

■ Storytelling to overcome ageism in housing – Gathering stories related to ageism in housing and sharing them with our State Senate will hopefully encourage policies to improve housing opportunities for people of all ages

■ Ageism is a public health issue – Several ACE participants are advocating for our Oak Park Health Department to include ageism as a public health issue on its website and as part of its 5-year plan.

■ Intergenerational community gardening project – ACE participants recently joined with middle school and high school students in an ongoing gardening project. On Feb. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the library, there will be a winter sowing of native plants in milk-jug “greenhouses.” On March 8, from 1 to 4 p.m., we will start to sow ve getable seeds for spring planting. For information contact Laura Stamp at lstamp@ op97.org.

For more information, contact ACE@oakparktownship.org or 708-4452711.

Ayoung woman was on the train, minding her own business, when a stranger approached her, doused her in gasoline and lit her on fire. She was on a train I must have ridden a hundred times when I was her age and on the same public transportation my own daughter takes twice a day, five days a week.

When I rode that train, I worked in an OR in a hospital just west of downtown Chicago. I’d get up at 4 a.m., jump on the first train heading into the Loop and transfer to the Blue Line and ride to its final stop. Like my daughter, I had to be at work by 7 a.m., leaving 8-12 hours later, taking one bus and transferring twice on the subway before making it home. I worried about running into someone hostile, but I never worried about being set on fire.

The hospital I worked at was, and still is, known for having one of the best burn units in the Midwest, and every so often, I’d have to run up there to draw a blood gas. Somehow I felt the pain before I smelled it. As soon as the hall doors opened, you’d get hit with the scent of burnt hair and flesh, and all I could think was that

cliché was true: “Only fatal burns are painless.”

Like that young girl who was recently bur ned on the train, I met another girl on that burn unit, many years ago … a patient who was about the same age. It took all my power not to look at her and cry. Her nose? Gone … and most of her face had chunks of flesh so badly bur ned it looked as if she were wearing a mask. Half her hair was sticking out of one side of her head, and when she called me over, I couldn’t tur n away.

She could barely speak, but she pointed for me to move closer and whispered in my ear, “You’re so pretty.” I had on a mask, a net over my hair, and I realized she only thought that because I was healthy … I wasn’t her

Then she said, “Be grateful every time you look in the mirror. You have everything and you don’t even know it.”

I look around my home and I wonder how come I am here while others are outside on the street, or like the parents of that girl who was just bur ned, glued to their daughter’s bedside

About those lights

The private River Forest Tennis Club sits on Lathrop Avenue. It is squarely in the middle of a lovely residential neighborhood. That makes its application to install lights around its 10 tennis courts problematic.

More problematic, though, is the approval process this application is currently moving through. While we take Village Administrator Matt Walsh’s point that village code specifically dictates its Development Review Board is the hearing body for a zoning variance involving parks, recreation and institutions, there is an obvious conflict in play here. Four of the seven members of the DRB are paying members of the tennis club.

They should not be hearing this application. They cannot reasonably vote on the matter. If they were to properly recuse themselves when a vote is likely this Thursday evening, it would leave a small handful of people to make this recommendation to the village board. (And how many members of the village board are tennis club members?)

We get that this is small-town governance where good people wear multiple hats. But this is a substantive matter that involves legitimate quality-of-life issues for the residential neighbors.

A fairer process needs to be found.

Honoring Det. Reddins

Plans are underway to name Oak Park’s main post office on Lake Street for Det. Allan Reddins. He is the brave Oak Park police officer who gave his life a year ago while trying to arrest a man seen brandishing a handgun in Downtown Oak Park.

Last Saturday in the snowy courtyard of village hall, the department mounted a moving memorial to Reddins’ service to Oak Park and the obvious impact he had on his police colleagues.

Police Chief Shatonya Johnson listed the many ways the department has already found to honor Reddins, including an honorary street sign outside village hall and the bolting of his desk chair to the floor near his desk.

But recognizing Reddins by naming the prominent and handsome post office for him would be a very public and lasting tribute to him.

Cong. Danny Davis said Saturday that he would work to make this happen before he retires from office in a year.

Village President Vicki Scaman confir med the village is on board.

We look forward to the day when that dedication takes place.

Where have all the heroes gone?

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who li ve to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is gi ven us.”

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring

Have you ever thought of yourself as heroic? Maybe you’ thinking, “How would I know until I’m in such a situation?”

Well, we’re in that situation. Like Frodo Baggins, who finds himself at the center of a heroic crucible in the Lord of the Rings Trilo gy, so many people are saying, “I never thought this could happen. I never thought it would be up to us.” Yet Hollywood has been churning out films and TV shows about reluctant heroes — just like us — for almost a century.

TRAINOR

Heroism is a central feature of most of the stories we tell ourselves. Joseph Campbell’s bestknown work on world mytholo gy is titled, Hero of a Thousand Faces. Heroism is central to most of the fairy tales and myths we read growing up. Maybe there’s a reason for that.

We’ve been watching heroic acts on large screens and small and reading about them on the printed page for most of our lives. Have we learned what it takes to be a hero? Have you ever wondered whether, at some point, heroism would be required of ordinary us?

When an “ordinary” person saves someone’s life with quick thinking and little to no regard for their own safety — they almost always say, “I don’t think of myself as a hero. Anyone would have done what I did.”

If that’s true, then we’re all heroes in waiting. Ready or not, our moment is at hand. Do we have what it takes to respond to our current cluster of crises?

My parents’ generation had what it took. T hey grew up in the crisis of the Great Depression. They got past that by winning World War II. That’s why they’re called, “The Greatest Generation.” Born seven years after that crisis ended, I grew up in a culture that celebrated heroism. We believed in heroes — and in government — because they helped us get through the Depression and the war. That belief took a hit in the 1960s when the Pentagon Papers (leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, a heroic whistle-blower) proved that our government was lying to us about the Vietnam War. Richard Nixon’s counter-constitutional shenanigans were

exposed by two heroic journalists (Woodward and Bernstein). And the Catholic Church’s lies about the full extent of the pedophilia scandal were exposed (by heroic victims stepping forward to testify). We stopped believing in heroes in high places, but we erlooked the heroes closer to the ound. Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

My son grew up in the age of superhero movies. Films were lousy with heroes, but they never felt real. It takes more than super powers to be heroic in real life. It takes responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the collapse of the twin towers in New York. Heroes are found among the grassroots, especially in times of crisis. My son is a police officer now, doing what he can.

The Civil War generation that fought to preserve the Union and end slavery was our Greatest Generation; the Depression/WWII generation is a close second. None, however, faced what we are facing: the double whammy of an authoritarian takeover of our country and a furiously escalating global eco-crisis.

Many seem stunned. Like Frodo, most wish it didn’t happen on our watch. But it did, partly because, like hobbits, we sought safe, secure sanctuaries and ignored the danger signs.

Some are born to greatness. Some have greatness thrust upon them. We are the latter. You can curse the darkness, but there’s a better way to look at this. If we triumph over Trump’s assault on decency and democracy — and then save the planet — people will sing our praises for generations to come. We will be the Greatest Generation.

This is the moment we have spent our lives preparing for. We are the heroes of 75 million faces (and counting). Every hero who never thought they were heroic, now knows they had it in them. That means we do too. That’s what Gandalf, the wisest of all literary wizards, ke pt telling the hobbits, and it’s what Fred Ro gers ke pt telling Daniel the Tiger (and our kids):

“There is more in you than you know.”

What does it mean to be a hero? There are so many ways, limited only by our imaginations — and courage

Stop thinking of yourself as under assault. Think of yourself as incredibly lucky.

It is an honor and a privile ge to show up in the nick of time to save the day.

We are the heroes we’ve been waiting for.

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Anyone missing a small red sports car?

In this world of constant stresses and conflicts, when people are wor rying about inflation, immi gration, irrational ICE actions, health care, education and more, here is an intriguing question for Oak Park residents, “Is anyone missing a small red spor ts car?”

It’s a question I have been pondering since this time last year when, from our apartment window, my husband and I first observed a small red canvas topped sports car parked on the open top level of the Holley Cour t Parking Garage.

A few months later, I called the non-emergency police number to notify them. Later, I infor med the parking authority. Months later, I walked by the person monitoring the parking garage and mentioned it to him. He knew that the car was there and noted many people leave their cars for long periods when they go on vacation.

Now that the small red spor ts car has spent a year braving the heat, cold and snow, it has become a source of conversation and questions. Suggestions as to the

provenance of the car include that it’s stolen, the owner has run away from his/her spouse/life, owes money to loan sharks, is in the witness protection program, or has amnesia. An early theory was that there was a body in the trunk, but that was vetoed since the trunk appears small and during hot weather, a dead body smell would have been, pardon the expression, a “dead” giveaway Questions remain: Will the owner ever retrieve the car? Is the car drivable? Are the tires flat/rotten? Will there be a parking fee for the year? Why aren’t any authorities curious about the car?

Perhaps, you know someone who is missing a little red sports car, but if not, what’s your theory as to why such an appealing car is celebrating a year on the roof of a parking g arage?

Of course, if the car ever leaves, then observers will have to return to wor rying about real-world issues.

Deedee Mufson Oak Park

WEDNESD AY

of Oak Park and River Forest

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Complicity. Angry. Amazed. Horrified. Conflicted. Dispirited. Complicity. Horrified. Forgiveness. Justice. Horrified.

Coming to ter ms with ‘Our Nazi’

DONNA GREENE

One View

These were words spoken and repeated as a group of about 30 older women, members of 19th Century Club’s book group, launched a conversation recently about inter related events that had occurred in the 1940s in Ger many and in the 1980s in Oak Park — and what it means in today’s political climate.

We were discussing Our Nazi, subtitled: “An American Suburb’s Encounter with Evil” (Chicago University Press, 2024), which recounts how our welcoming village was divided over the revelation in 1982 that Reinhold Kulle, a longtime, beloved, even “indispensable” custodian at Oak Park and River Forest High School, was an admitted Nazi SS concentration camp guard (Kulle was eventually deported for lying on his visa application).

The book was written (and meticulously footnoted) by Michael Soffer, a for mer OPRF teacher, after realizing his students knew little about the Holocaust and nothing about the events of four decades ago.

Surprisingly, some of the club participants who had lived here at the time — some then, with children in the school — said they had known little about what was going on. Others had known but hadn’t chosen (or hadn’t the time) to be part of the community discussion. And others remained upset all these years later, particularly with what they view as the rise of antisemitism in our nation and even in

How one collapse raised big questions about care, transparency, and where our tax dollars go:

A tree fell in Oak Park not long ago, old enough to have witnessed generations come and go. Its roots ran deep into our shared past, but its fall, quiet and unspectacular, marked a moment of reckoning. It collapsed onto my roof and my car, not from a storm, but from neglect.

And with it came the question: in a town known for high taxes and thoughtful values,

our friendly village. Collectively, we were all incensed with Kulle’s comment (never quoted publicly but reportedly given in executive session after his deportation order) that “I feel bad, very bad. I just wished we had won the war.”

Me? In 1982 I was living in suburban New York. Word didn’t reach me about Reinhold Kulle and his beautiful Forest Park garden, and how kind he was to everyone and how he couldn’t possibly have been involved with — or even known about — the mass murders of thousands in the Gross-Rosen slave camp in the 1940s. This despite the fact that he had received two medals for his service.

The New York Times did not write about the lavish going-away party he was given by school colleagues in 1984 nor the generous retirement package he was secretly awarded (details sealed for 40 years) by school administrators, who declined to take any action against him until the deportation order. (After being deported in 1987 to West Ger many, he collected this pension until his death in 2006.)

I wasn’t then a reader of Wednesday Journal, which covered the case re gularly. The internet was in its baby stages; social media hadn’t been invented. Today, the internet abounds with thousands of links about Kulle because of the book. What might have happened if social media existed back in 1982?

Here are my takeaways from this book and our discussion. (Yes, 20/20 hindsight.)

■ The school board should have immediately put Kulle on leave when he admitted to

having been a Nazi guard. It failed to protect the impressionable teenagers who fell under his spell, who thought they were coming to the aid of an underdog. Some see parallels in how, despite the events of October 2023 and the abduction of Israelis, the Palestinians have become the good guys and the Israelis (think all Jews) the perpetrators.

■ Absent a “smoking gun” — testimony that Kulle had personally shot anyone or seen anyone shot — people refused to believe someone they knew and liked could have done such horrific things. Had people been aware of his re gret that the Nazis lost, would that have changed public opinion?

■ Redemption is possible for many things, but there are sins against humanity that are just not forgivable even when committed decades previously or in one’s youth. And no redemption is deserved when Kulle never asked for forgiveness and denied (lied about) his role.

■ There will always be heroes. There were Oak Parkers who re gularly attended Kulle’s court proceedings in solidarity with the Holocaust survivors who testified. As individuals, we need to strive to be a hero by speaking out, seeking out the truth, paying attention.

Tree that fell, trust that cracked

are we using our resources as wisely as we could?

That tree stood on public land, part of the village’s extensive inventory. We have a forestry department, a beautifully designed digital map of our urban canopy, and a stated commitment to sustainability. Yet this tree was rotting silently, unmarked, untreated, unmonitored. What good is a digital inventory if it isn’t paired with meaningful data, predictive insight, or timely intervention?

This isn’t about blame. It’s about opportunity. What if Oak Park used its resources not just to maintain systems, but to improve them? What if our public services included interactive dashboards where residents could view the health status of trees, track inspections, or request evaluations? What if the value of our taxes could be felt not just in the abstract, but seen clearly in smart, responsive systems that keep us safe and infor med?

We already have the talent, the technology,

■ Going for th, education is crucial. We must teach about the Holocaust and slavery and ICE and other atrocities of the past and the present. Otherwise it could happen again.

Donna Greene, an Oak Park resident, is a volunteer editor for Growing Community Media, which publishes Wednesday Journal.

and the intent. What we need now is alignment: between data and action, between departments and residents, between the money we pay and the value we experience. Let the fall of this tree be a gentle war ning, and a generous prompt. With better tools, transparency, and collaboration, we can turn maintenance into stewardship, and public service into public trust. I believe Oak Park can lead the way.

Franco Zaro Oak Park

By ALI ELSAFFAR Oak Park Township Assessor

For most Oak Park taxpayers, the recently released second installment property tax bills represent an annual tax increase of about 4.5% compared to last year’s bills. But the delay in issuing the bills has led to some important consequences

While suffering from cabin fever during Saturday’s stor m of snow, I penned some poetic paragraphs, which appear below:

Why are the tax bills tardy?

The Cook County Mainframe is from ’88 For decades its handling of taxes was great But they could not find parts to keep the thing humming So the Mighty Mainframe is no longer running.

The new system is “Tyler” and it now holds sway But its work for the county has seen much delay Replacing the Mainframe was viewed as a cinch Yet bills in December are more like the Grinch.

We hope that these changes are finally complete And this year’s late tax bills will never repeat. This year, the Oak Park appeal period ended in August, well before tax bills were mailed. Accordingly, taxpayers may be confused to find that they can again file appeals with the Cook County Board of Review.

Appeals Awakened

It’s easy to see why folks are confused

After this summer’s deadline, appeals were refused

A tally of tardy taxes

But post-appeal mailing of bills is unjust

So the Board said reopening appeals is a must.

Filing dates are expected soon for taxpayers from Oak Park and surrounding suburbs. Oak Park residents who want help filing an appeal can call the Oak Park Township Assessor’s Office at 708-383-8005 to set up an appointment.

Successful 2025 appeals, whether they were filed in the summer or in December, will appear on tax bills in the second half of 2026. Results from these appeals will be issued at some time after the December appeal period closes.

Many residents pay their property taxes through an escrow account that is part of their monthly mortgage payment. Typically, mortgage companies set tax escrow payments based on the current year’s taxes. Late tax bills, however, mean that many companies have had to estimate this year’s taxes when setting escrows.

Mortgages Mistaken

My lender created an escrow

That was based on taxes unknown

Their guess was too high

My bill hit the sky

And now I can’t pay what I owe.

The Assessor’s Office is available to help taxpayers review their tax escrow statements to check for errors and possibly reduce the monthly payment.

Ordinarily, first installment tax bills are due on March 1, and second installment bills are due Aug. 1. But since this year’s second installment due date is Dec. 15, the next due date has been postponed.

March Due Dates Delayed

Mid-December to March is not long to wait

Please, no more non-native trees

I was dismayed to read in OP/FYI, the village newsletter, that the London Planetree is one of five species of tree that our otherwise excellent forestry department plans to plant all over the village in the next few years.

The village foisted one of these on me (well, the parkway in front of my house) and I loathe it. Let me tell you why.

First, it’s not native. Are there not enough native species available? We already know what non-native species get introduced. They belong in England, like the name says.

Second, wildlife knows it’s not native. I have never seen a bird nest in this tree. I don’t even see birds perch in it. And yesterday, my do g started chasing a squirrel, and the squirrel ran past that tree to leap up another tree. The tree may look alive, but it is a dead zone.

Third, it is ugly. The trunk is a splotchy olive-

green and dull yellowish color. Its leaves tur n a lovely shade of paper-bag brown in the fall. It is the last tree to leaf out in the spring and holds those brown leaves well into the winter, long after leaf collection is available. When those dreary leaves finally fall, they gather on top of the nearest sewer cover, creating little lakes

The forestry department told me that they plant this tree because it is long lived. If they keep planting this tree, eventually it will be the only thing standing in Oak Park. If it were an option, I would happily pay to have this thing removed from in front of my house and a native tree planted.

Please, forestry folks, reconsider planting these in Oak Park. President Scaman and village trustees, please explore this further.

Kris Hansen Oak Park

To pay two tax bills that carry much freight

The taxpayers were given a one-month delay

And bills are now due on April Fool’s Day.

The April 1 due date for first installment tax bills will be for 2026 only.

Sticker Shock Fears Allayed

Last year’s second installment bills were the first to reflect Oak Park’s 2023 reassessment. There was great variability in tax changes due to the reassessment, with 35% of taxpayers seeing tax reductions while 39% saw double-digit increases Since this year’s tax bills do not reflect a reassessment, the tax changes are more uniform and stable.

Why did most tax bills increase by 4.5%?

The primary reason relates to higher local tax levies. The taxing districts that serve Oak Park levied a combined $264 million this year, an increase of 3.3% over last year

Some taxpayers filed appeals last year and saw their taxes decline. But whenever one property pays less due to an appeal, the taxes of the other properties pay a little more to ensure that local gover nments receive the full amount of their tax levies. The result is that most tax increases this year are about a point higher than the levy increases

Is there anything I can do to reduce my current tax bill?

If you are eligible for a homeowner, senior citizen or disability exemption but did not receive one, the Township Assessor’s Office can assist you in obtaining a revised bill for a smaller amount. If you received all exemptions for which you are eligible, however, you likely will not be able to reduce your current bill.

This tally of ills from late bills is now done. I hope you found my tax story fun!

Short-sighted federal funding cuts

I am very concerned about the decision of the U.S. Department of Education to decertify federal loan support for large parts of the non-physician health-care providers (social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physician assistants, dental hygienist, and nurse educators) as well as teachers and architects At a time when there is a critical shor tage of all of these health-care providers and of teachers, it seems imprudent to make the process

to attain these patient treatment skills and teacher education skills more dif ficult to attain. One of the most serious causes of the nursing shor tage is the significant shortage of nurse educators who train all nurses. The resulting decrease in funds for the training of these professionals will limit the opportunities for highly talented and promising individuals whose finances limit their ability to af ford the cost of education and training. Frank Vozak Oak Park

GERMAINE CAPRIO

Just give, help others

from page 21

The older I get, the more I realize our lives can turn on a dime.

So this holiday season, instead of worrying about whether the mashed potatoes are lumpy, maybe we could make the world a better place by donating toys to kids who are stuck in the hospital over the holidays, buying a hot meal for someone living out on the street, or volunteering our time at a local food pantry.

No one wants to have to rely on others to feed them or keep them alive, but sometimes that’s where life ends up, and thanks to the generosity and action of strangers, you could be the one who helps someone else survive another day.

So stop whining, stop complaining about how other people are “taking” things from you and instead look at how much you have If you can read this, you have your sight, and chances are you’re relatively healthy, you have a warm home and you’re safe.

Maybe we should change the narrative to, “I’m grateful I can help others” and then just do it. Bring food to the food pantry, give money to that guy outside the Walgreens, say thank you to that cashier or server.

Support the organizations who are fighting to stop the opening of our wetlands to building and our public lands to drilling that will only pollute our drinking water and wipe out species who can’t speak for themselves.

Support small businesses in your town or online, even if they can’t give you that bigbox discount. Remember, they have bills to pay and families to support too.

Volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. See if you can start a story hour there.

Offer to go grocery shopping for someone in need. A neighbor who’s been through a loss or someone you know who doesn’t own a car.

Unfortunately, the list is large, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding something that speaks to you.

Today, you have everything you need, but in five minutes … or five years, you may have much less, and you could be the one telling someone else they “have everything and don’t even know it.”

We all need to wake up and realize most of us have a pretty great life, and it’s time we find a way to help others have one too.

Ger maine Caprio is an Oak Park resident.

Smoke and mirrors at OPRF

At its Dec. 4 public hearing, the District 200 school board is expected to approve the administration’s proposed 2025 levy, which includes recapturing (or clawing back) $2.1 million in taxes from 2023 and 2024, resulting in a projected $14.2 million sur plus for fiscal 2026-2027, which includes expected geother mal rebates. A recent state law allows schools to claw back taxes in the prior three years if they didn’t tax to the max. (1 & 2)

MONIC A SHEEHAN

One View

million PE addition and pool (construction, borrowing and geother mal costs), apparently fearing defeat at the polls Adding to D200’s current fiscal issues, the funding plan also drained $44.2 million from the cash reserve and included $12.5 million in unreceived donations from the Imagine Foundation. (6)

Options-Using-Bonds.pdf

6) 4/28/23 Wednesday Jour nal story “OPRF unanimously decides financing for its Project 2”: https://www.oakpark. com/2023/04/28/oprf-unanimously-decides-financing-for-its-project-2

7) Five Year Financial Projection

The administration points to a spike in special education costs and a desire to maintain the cash reserve at 33% of annual operating expenses as justifications for recapturing taxes, but that’s just smoke and mirrors. Unexpected program increases should be covered by the cash reserve, and board policy only requires 25% of annual operating expenses be held in reserve, a percentage that gives D200 the highest credit rating. (3)

According to the administration, a higher cash reserve level is desired as the county has been late recently with property tax distributions, but the delays were unusual and due to complications arising from a new computer system, according to Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar. (4) D200 should stop stockpiling taxpayer dollars when it can issue short-ter m tax anticipation warrants if distributions are ever delayed. (5)

The underlying reason for the claw back is Project 2’s controversial funding plan. It requires that $3.2 million from the annual operating budget be spent re paying debt certificates for the next 19 years. Counter to best practices and the advice of the board’s Community Finance Committee, Superintendent Greg Johnson proposed the debt-certificate-loophole funding plan, and then-President Tom Cofsky’s 2023 board (Fred Arkin, Gina Harris, Kebreab Henry, Ralph Martire, Mary Anne Mohanraj, and Sara Dixon Spivy) approved it to bypass a voter referendum for the $135

According to Project 2’s funding plan, the Imagine Foundation is behind on its philanthropic donations. It promised $5,750,000 by 2024-2025 but has donated only $4 million. Another $2,750,000 is promised by 2025-2026. (7 & 8)

In June, the foundation oddly claimed that a state grant of $3.5 million (taxpayer dollars) should be counted as part of its promised philanthropic donations. (9) D200’s tax recapture promotion lacks further transparency with no mention that the 2023 and 2024 levies resulted in significant sur pluses, or overtaxation, of $9.1 million and $6.3 million, respectively (10 & 11) These surpluses highlight that the high school’s levy is inflated, due to years of extreme overtaxation following a tax loophole enacted by the 2005 board, with subsequent boards failing to reset (lower) the levy. (12)

Sources:

1) $14.2 million surplus projected for 2025 levy (2026-2027 fiscal year) https://oprfhsorg.community.highbond com/document/710e98d2-e693-4ec0-abf0fc0cf4709a8a

2) 11/11/25 Wednesday Jour nal news story “OPRF set to approve ‘recapture’ of $2.1 million in past taxes”: https://www oakpark.com/2025/11/11/oprf-schoolboard-tax-levy-2025

3) OPRF AAA credit rating: https:// www.oprfhs.org/about/business-office

4) 11/11/25 Oak Park assessor’s letter on late property tax bills: https://www. oakpark.com/2025/11/11/second-tax-billsready-to-go/

5) Tax anticipation warrants: https:// www.iml.org/cms/files/pages/Financing-

Updated 3/15/2023 Project 2 Funding Scenario 4, later renamed Option 2 (see p. 2 for Imagine Foundation donation schedule): https://oprfhsorg.community. highbond.com/document/ada01afa-0cad4112-885c-e0ba9008893d

8) Imagine Foundation donations as of Nov. 20, 2025: https://oprfhsorg.community.highbond.com/document/21251a3abfe9-4727-bfec-8ad1325adbec

9) Imagine Foundation claims $3.5 million state grant as part of its promised philanthropic donations to OPRF: https:// www.oakpark.com/2025/06/10/oprfreceives-3-5-million-state-grant-for-project2-improvements

6/24/25 Oak Leaves news story: “[Executive Director Heidi] Ruehle said that since the Imagine Foundation did much of the work of securing the $3.5 million state grant it will count the $3.5 million in state money towards what the foundation has committed to raise.” https://www. chicagotribune.com/2025/06/24/oprfhvac-system-grant/?share=iygmewi6chf wte2a2tge

10) $9.1 million surplus resulted from 2023 levy (2024-2025 fiscal year): https:// oprfhsorg.community.highbond.com/document/fd179548-6c1f-499f-ac4a-c369f8c3bcee/ 11) $6.3 million surplus resulted from 2024 levy (2025-2026 fiscal year): https:// oprfhsorg.community.highbond.com/ document/b810cae2-5159-473d-a5419e6378b15e40

12) OPRF fund balance and 2005 tax loophole history: https://www.oprfhs. org/about/business-office/fund-balancebackground

Monica Sheehan is a 25-year Oak Park resident and former news reporter. She has been following and independently investigating OPRF and the pool story since 2014.

How about North Ave’s streetscape?

Last week’s Wednesday Jour nal reported and commented on planning for Roosevelt Road’s second streetscape in 20 years. If you live or own a business on North Avenue or nearby, this is bound to be quite frustrating. We’ve long been waiting for our streetscape.

Two separate studies (in 2018 and 2020) found that a North Avenue streetscape is needed for economic development and safety [1, 2]. The need for safety has grown subsequently because drivers are more reckless since the pandemic. Cars are all too often on our sidewalks, sometimes crashing into trees, fences and storefronts.

We had a fatality last year, and there have been others. Curb bump-outs and medians would help a lot.

A streetscape is also very much needed and wanted by the community. In 2018, 1,200 households surveyed (one-third of those living within four blocks of North Avenue in Oak Park and Chicago) said the streetscape is a top (66%) or very important (33%) priority.

Funding for our streetscape has been in state Re presentative Camille Lilly’s capital budget since 2019. We greatly appreciate her putting our project in this budget and keeping it there. But we truly don’t

Shine your light, sing your song

In the heart of the world you will hear a song, A melody where we all belong. Through laughter and tears, dark and bright, We carry each other into the light.

When loneliness whispers soft and low, May gratitude shimmer and g ently grow And when someone stumbles, weary or worn, May your open kindness keep them warm.

When the world feels heavy and storms roll in, May courage rise softly from deep within. For hand upon hand and side by side, We walk this journey, we share this stride.

Bless the helper, humble and true, Bless the heart that knows what to do. A bag carried lightly, a story read slow — Small gifts of love that spread and grow

Sing your spirit, steady and bright, Let your joy ripple far in the night.

For every small kindness, every soft word, Becomes a song to be joyfully heard.

Shine your light, let it ring, let it soar — A gentle tune forevermore.

You are invited to a free concert by Sounds Good Choir this Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m., Pilgrim Cong re gational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park. Val Gee Oak Park

understand why the funds haven’t been released for six years. CDOT has submitted two more plans requested by Re p. Lilly, in addition to the detailed block-byblock plan already created in 2020. Village President Vicki Scaman has tried her best to get our project going. Alderman Chris Taliafer ro suppor ts it, as does state Sen. Don Harmon.

Perhaps it’s time to pursue other sources of streetscape funding.

Sources:

1) Urban Land Institute in partnership with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Revitalization Strategies

for the Nor th Avenue Corridor, Oak Park and Chicago, Dec. 2018 https://ulidigitalmarketing.blob.core.windows.net/ ulidcnc/2019/05/NorthAv_FinalReport_reduced.pdf

2) Chicago Dept. of Transportation, Chicago-Oak Park Traffic Safety & Mobility on North Avenue, May 2020 https:// policycommons.net/ar tifacts/4666515/ cdot-oak-park-north-avenue-traffic-safetyand-mobility-study/5490825/

Judith Alexander

Co-founder of the North Av enue District and its predecessor organization

OBITUAR Y

Mickey Baer, 82 Owned A Matter of Style salon

Michael “Mickey” Baer, 82, died on Nov. 25, 2025 at Selfhelp Home in Chicago. Born on June 27, 1943, in Chicago, to the late Mildred “Millie” Baer and Herbert M. Baer, he was a thoughtful, inquisitive “renaissance man,” ear ning both Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration, de grees from Indiana University. He pursued several jobs before securing a leadership position with Unocal, then Union 76, where he was a key figure in integrating computer technology and software into their workforce. When Unocal downsized, he decided it was time to go into business for himself.

Along with his wife, Susan, the Baer fam-

ily opened “A Matter of Style: An American Hair Salon and Day Spa” in Oak Park in 1995. He and Susan owned and ran this business until their retirement in 2011. His interests extended well beyond business. He was very involved in local gover nance, serving on the Community Mental Health Board for several years and as an active member of Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest. Known for his engaging and personality, he enjoyed playing and watching golf, traveling the world with Susan, dining in fine restaurants, and chatting with everyone along the way.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Anita Segal. Mickey is survived by his son, Shaun Baer, and his wife of 54 years, Susan Baer. Services took place at Shalom Memorial Park this past weekend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the John Wittenberger Society Scholarship Fund at Indiana University: https://imu.indiana.edu/ about/jws/index.html

To run an obituary

Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

SPORTS Fenwick boys nish fourth at RB tournament

Friars win rst two games, then drop the nal two

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Fenwick High School boys basketball coach David Fergerson finds himself in an unusual situation. He’s missing seven players, all of whom are on the football team that faced East St. Louis this week for the IHSA Class 6A title. That’s why he’s putting his team’s fourth-place finish at the 21st annual Bill VandeMerkt Tour nament, hosted by Riverside-Brookfield, in perspective.

“For me, it looks very promising,” Fergerson said. “We’ll be good. I’ve got freshmen out here. We’ll take it for what it’s worth and it is what it is.”

After defeating Hinsdale South 46-38 in the tournament opener, Nov. 25, and Golder 9024, Nov. 26, Fenwick faced the host Bulldogs in the Pool B finale, Nov. 28. The Friars had a rough first half and trailed 36-21 at halftime

“We looked like a young team in the first half. I got on them, and some of my seniors, they answered the call and got on the guys,” Fergerson said. “I thought we grew up a little bit.”

Fenwick (2-2) scored the first 12 points of

the third quarter to climb back into the contest, but RB went on a 16-3 run to take a 52-36 lead going into the fourth. The Friars then went on a 15-0 run to start the final quarter and had a chance to tie the game with 3:43 left as junior Luke Vonglukiat scored and was fouled on the play. But he missed the ensuing free throw, and RB quickly scored the next five points to get breathing room. Fenwick could get no closer than four the rest of the way as the Bulldogs went 4-for-4 from the freethrow line in the final minute to secure a 6457 victory.

Sophomore Kayonta Williams, named to the All-Tournament team, led Fenwick against RB with 25 points. Freshman Gaelle Shangoon scored 11 points, and classmate Corey Griffin had nine points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Vonglukiat finished with eight points and senior Garrett McNally grabbed 14 rebounds for the Friars

“We don’t want any moral victories,” Fergerson said after the RB g ame, “but I think we learned more from this because had we won, we’d think we can turn it off and on, and that’s not the way it goes, especially [against] the (Chicago) Catholic League teams we’re playing. That effort is just not good enough to get a win against them.”

In its final game at RB, Nov. 29, Fenwick played one of those CCL teams, Brother Rice,

Fenw ick’s Luke Vonglukiat (12), Kayonta Williams (2) and Riverside-Brook eld’s Liam Enright (30) and Benjamin Biskupic (22) try to gain control of the ball during the RBHS VandeMerkt Tournament, Nov. 28, in Riverside.

and lost 46-28. Given that the Friars were shorthanded, Fergerson thought the overall tournament performance wasn’t bad. He also knows that once the football players return, his team will get better

“With those seven guys added to the other guys we have, I’ve got a really balanced team, guys who are going to come in and play hard,” Fergerson said. “I haven’t had my full

team the entire time. I still don’t have [all] my guys and won’t for another week or two, but looking ahead, we’ll be OK.”

Fenwick faces OPRF in the annual East Avenue Showdown at the Chicago Elite Classic, Dec. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at University of Illinois Chicago’s Credit Union One Arena.

Bill Stone contributed to this story.

Defense leads the way for OPRF boys basketball

Huskies 3-1 last week; Williams gets All-Tournament honors

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School boys basketball team emphasized defense during preseason practices. Last week, the Huskies displayed the fruits of that labor by taking three out of four games at the Battle of the Ridge round-robin invitational, hosted by Northridge Prep.

“Defensively, we were really good,” said OPRF coach Phil Gary. “We have goals we’re trying to reach every game defensively, and that really entails how hard we’re playing and how connected we are as a team. I thought we did a pretty good job.”

On Nov. 25, OPRF (3-1) rolled past Wheeling 64-49. George Gray had 21 points and five rebounds to lead the Huskies, and Cam Woods added 15 points. The follow-

ing night, OPRF lost to eventual champion Vernon Hills 55-42. Woods had a team-high 15 points, and sophomore Trent Williams added 14 points.

“The game we lost against Vernon Hills, we did a solid job. But our guys thought we could’ve been a lot better defensively,” Gary said.

In the tournament finale, Nov. 29, Williams had a team-high 15 points, Darren

Law eight points, and Gray, Woods, and Owen Towne six points apiece as the Huskies routed Northridge Prep 55-32. Williams was named to the All-Tournament team.

“I have to give all the props to my teammates and coaches for giving me the opportunity to play,” Williams said. “Every time I go out there, I play and do whatever gets our team to win. I’m more excited that we came

STEVE JOHNSTON

Nash takes over OPRF girls wrestling

Fenwick program doubles its roster number

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

T

he Oak Park and River Forest High School girls wrestling progr am has a new leader as Phyli Nash takes over the head coaching reins from Patrick Woulfe, who led the Huskies for the past two seasons.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead this growing progr am,” said Nash, who served as an assistant under Woulfe. “We have 15 girls rostered, and I am extremely proud of the progress they have made so far.”

OPRF returns seven seniors, including Nerissa Blue (155 pounds), Caliyah Campbell (170), Michelle Kpekpe (130), and Isabella Miller, a sectional qualifier last season. Nash says all four wrestle year-round and are considering continuing their careers collegiately. She also likes the experience and leadership that they provide the Huskies.

“Nerissa Blue has shown steady, consistent development and is poised for her best season yet,” Nash said. “Caliyah Campbell, our team captain, is a 2024 sectional qualifier and IWCOA (Illinois Wrestling Coaches Association) All-State wrestler whose power, maturity, and leadership drive our upper weights. Michelle Kpekpe brings strong athletic instincts and a committed mindset as she enters her senior year. Isabella Miller is a two-time IWCOA All-State wrestler competing at 140 this season. Our newcomers have brought great energy, dedication, and a willingness to learn, helping build a strong, supportive team culture from the start.”

Serving as assistant coaches this season are three former OPRF wrestlers: Cam Neuman, Nyle Pascascio, and Tif fany White. Nash says their “experience and investment in the progr am have been invaluable.”

Among the highlights of OPRF’s schedule are the Schaumburg Invite, Dec. 6; the Ottawa Invite, Dec. 30; the Hoffman Estates Invite, Jan. 16-17; and the West Suburban tour nament, Jan. 24.

“We believe we have the talent and depth to compete at a high level in the West Suburban Conference this year,”

out 3-1 in our first tour nament.”

“Trent’s play has been great. He’s our spark off the bench,” Gary said. “He has an aggressive mindset on both ends of the floor. This is going to help him going forward.”

Like Gary, Williams thought defense was the main reason for OPRF’s success and said it’s something that will continue to be stressed all season.

“Since we’re very limited in size,” he added, “we do a lot of running and jumping and speed teams up, which then creates a lot of offense for us.”

Nash said. “Our goals are to continue improving, build confidence in all weight classes, and foster a culture rooted in accountability, g rit, and sisterhood. If we remain disciplined and committed to the process, this group has the potential to deliver one of the strongest seasons yet for OPRF girls wrestling.”

OPRF had its season opener at the Niles West Invite on Nov. 29 cancelled due to the weather. T he Huskies host a WSC Silver triangular meet ag ainst Lyons Township and Proviso West, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m.

Fenwick

Fenwick had four wrestlers in its girls wrestling debut last season. This season, the F riars have added four more and second-year coach Seth Gamino couldn’ t be more pleased with the progr am’s growth.

“Fenwick is very proud of our F riars girls wrestlers,” said Gamino, who also coaches the boys. “They came tog ether and decided they wanted to start the progr am; I am very proud of them and look forward to the future of our girls’ progr am.”

“They” refers to Fenwick’s four returnees: sophomores Aurelia Auteri and Amirah Favela, and seniors Cecelia Andino and Valerie Franco.

“Cecelia is our captain and we have great expectations for her,” Gamino said. “She hit the Beat T he Streets workouts all spring and summer and continued to work all the way up to her season. She’s worked very hard and is going to take advantage of her senior year; she will give all our future Friar girls someone to look up to

“Val wrestles great and has some serious strength,” Gamino added. “She’ll give all opponents problems on the mat. Amirah and Aurelia continue to work hard and are learning more every day. They’ll have three more full seasons and we couldn’ t be happier.”

Unlike last year when they wrestled only when a boys’ varsity opponent also had a girls progr am, Fenwick has a full schedule this year. Notable highlights include the Fenton Tournament, Dec. 5; the Morton Tournament,

Up next for the Huskies is the annual East Avenue Showdown against Fenwick. The game takes place as part of the Chicago Elite Classic held at University of Illinois Chicago’s Credit Union One Arena, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m.

“We’ve got to have a really good week of practice, lock in, and watch some film,” Gary said. “We know what’s at stake Friday.”

“Our mindset is, obviously, we’re looking to get a win,” Williams said. “But we’re looking to make sure our name is heard through that tournament. We know it’s a

Fenw ick girls’ wrestlers: sophomore Amirah Favela, senior Valerie Franco, sophomore Aurelia Auter i, and senior Cecelia Andino.

Dec. 29; the Rickover Tour nament, Jan. 3; and dual meets at Westinghouse (Jan. 14) and Prospect (Jan. 15).

Gamino says the progr am’s continued growth and development is this season’s main goal.

“Being our second year,” he said, “we’ re still lear ning. But every dual and tournament is just as important as the next or last.”

big tournament and a lot of people will be there watching. We’re just getting ready to go out and play.”

Girls basketball

Fenwick (3-2) ended the Loyola/New Trier Thanksgiving Tournament, Nov. 26, with a 43-35 victory over Stevenson. Sophomore Avani Williams and senior Cammie Molis were named to the All-Tour nament team. Trinity (4-0) was scheduled to meet DePaul Prep in the title game of the Elmhurst

Classic, Nov. 29. But the game was cancelled due to the dangerous winter weather. On Nov. 26, the Blazers rolled past Perspectives Leadership 47-13. Chloe Santos had 11 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Zaria Goins and Destinie Roe each scored nine points, and Destiny Sacluti added six points, four assists, and four rebounds. Both Fenwick and Trinity play in the Chicago Elite Classic at Malcolm X Colle ge, Dec. 7. The Friars face defending 4A champions Kenwood Academy at 5:30 p.m., while the Blazers meet Butler at 7 p.m.

SUBMIT TED BY SETH GAMINO

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Plaintiff

vs. CARY ROSENTHAL, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NICK P. ANGELACOS, DECEASED; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF NICK P. ANGELACOS, DECEASED; TAMISHA ANGELACOS; AIDAN ANGELACOS; ALEXANDER ANGELACOS; GABRIEL ANGELACOS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendant 25 CH 1547 CALENDAR NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on January 5, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-21-204-119-0000. Commonly known as 10072 Drury Ln., Westchester, IL 60154. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than the mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 189.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file before bidding. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Lender Legal PLLC, 1800 Pembrook Drive, Suite 250, Orlando, Florida 32810. 407-730-4644. LLS14129-IL INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3277126

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD for the: Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2023 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT

Date of Publication: December 3, 2025 Village of Oak Park 123 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302 �708� 383�6400

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park Program Year 2024 Community Development Block Grant �CDBG� Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report �CAPER� will be available for public review beginning Thursday, December 4, 2025. The CAPER is the Village’s annual CDBG report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development �HUD�. It will reflect the Program Year 2024 results, which began October 1, 2024, and ended September 30, 2025.

The Village of Oak Park invites comments on the CAPER. The

public comment period will begin December 4, 2025, and end December 19, 2025 at 5�00pm CST. The report will be available by visiting the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 and at: www.oak-park. us/cdbg

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any comments concerning the CAPER may be submitted in writing to the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, via: email to Vanessa Matheny, Community Service Administrator, at vmatheny@oak-park.us, or at the Public Hearing to be held from 3�30PM�4�30PM on December 19, 2025. Please send a request to the above referenced email address to attend the virtual hearing. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Published in Wednesday Journal, December 3, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M25001094 on November 18, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of ROAMWELL, A TRAVEL COMPANY with the business located at: 221 OLMSTED ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: ALLISON FAKHOURY 221 OLMSTED ROAD RIVERSIDE, IL 60546, USA

Published in RB Landmark

November 26, December 3, 10, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

Published in RB Landmark November 19, 26, December 3, 2025

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission December 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request from Village Court Holdings LLC for a Special Use Permit under §62-25 to allow a Cannabis Dispensary in an existing C-4 Local Retail District at the property located at 9046 31st Street, Brookfield, Illinois 60513

Legal Description: LOT TWENTY FIVE (25), LOT TWENTY SIX (26) AND LOT TWENTY SEVEN (27) IN BLOCK EIGHT (8) IN BROOKFIELD HOMESITES, A RESUBDIVISION OF BARTLETT AND ROACH ADDITION TO GROSSDALE, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTHEST QUARTER 91/4) OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER (1/4) OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, (EXCEPTING THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING LOTS WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED AND ARE NOT PART OF THIS RESUBDIVISION, LOTS 25 TO 37 BOTH INCLUSIVE AND THE WEST HALF (1//2) OF LOT 38 IN BLOICK TWO (2), LOTS 26 AND 27 IN BLOCK FOUR (4), LOTS 9, 10, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45,46,47 AND 48 IN BLOCK SIX (6) ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OF SAID BARTLETT HOMESITES FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF TITLES, JUNE 30, 1922 AS DOCUMENT NO. 15744. (PIN 15-27-420-024-0000, 15-27420-025-0000, 15-27-420-0260000)

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@ brookfieldil.gov, or 708-485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 25-18. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025.

Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Notice of Public Hearing

Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission December 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday December 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request of Martin Sahagun on behalf of Taqueria El Grande for a variation from: Section 62.290 Required Parking Spaces to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 37 to 15.

in an existing “C4” Local Retail District for property located at 9132 31st Street, Brookfield, Illinois 60513

Legal Description: LOTS 30 THROUGH 33, BOTH INCLUSIVE IN BLOCK 7 IN BROOKFIELD HOMESITES, A RESUBDIVISION OF BARTLETT AND ROACH ADDITION TO GROSSDALE, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE SOIUTH ¼ OF THE SOUTHEATST ¼ OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, EXCEPTING THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING LOTS WHICH ARE INCLUDED AND ARE NOT A PART OF SAID RESUBDIVISION, LOTS 35 TO 37 BOTH INCLUSIVE AND THE WEST ½ OF LOT 38 IN BLOCK 2, LOTS 26 AND 27 IN BLOCK 4, LOTS 9, 10, 37 TO 40, 45 TO 48 IN BLOCK 6 IN COOK COUNTY, ILLIINOIS.

(PIN 15 – 27 – 419 – 047 - 0000)

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@ brookfieldil.gov, or 708-485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 25-17. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025.

Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025

Submit events and see full calendar at oakpark.com/events