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September 9, 2020 Vol. 41, No. 6 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

D97 relents on pushing students past kindergarten Evaluation of admissions policy after upset parents push back By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

TOGETHER JUST ONCE: OPRF students lined up along Scoville Avenue, Sept. 4, to collect packets of materials they need for the start of remote learning.

West Sub seeks cash infusion from state Pipeline has already benefitted from state, federal funds By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

After receiving an additional $44 million in state and federal funds this year

over last, Pipeline Health, the owner of West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park and Chicago’s Weiss Hospital, is seeking further special funding from Springfield. And according to multiple officials, Pipeline is linking receipt of more state funds to its ability to continue operating those hospitals. It is uncertain if added state funding is possible, according to an August letter from the state to Pipeline obtained

by Wednesday Journal. In a statement issued Sept. 4, a Pipeline spokesperson wrote, additional funding is “critical to our ability to continue to serve as a lifeline for the community.” Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said Saturday that he has been talking with Jim Edwards, the California-based Pipeline CEO, and that while Edwards is appreciative of the added funding alSee WEST SUB on page 16

A group of District 97 parents are breathing a lot easier now that the school board and administrators have adjusted their approach to reviewing a board policy related to kindergarten admissions. According to board policy, a child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 of that school year in order to enroll in kindergarten and 6 on or before Sept. 1 of that year in order to enroll in first grade. Traditionally, D97 has allowed parents of children with summer birthdays to delay kindergarten until their child is 6 years old. But last month, the district notified some parents who had decided to wait a year before enrolling their children into kindergarten that those children will instead be automatically enrolled in first grade. “My daughter turns 5 years old Friday, so technically she should start kindergarten, but we were planning on holding her back this year, because she’s not ready,” said Tammy Himes Meyer during an interview back in late August. “I don’t think my daughter should miss out on a full education, because she was born two weeks before her due date and 11 days before an arbitrary cutoff,” Meyer said. “All my daughter needs is more time. She just needs one more year of preschool to be a little more mature and ready for kindergarten.” When Kristina Matarazzo-Moran and her husband See D97 KINDERGARTEN on page 14

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S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

Berwyn Eats is celebrating Cermak but for nearly 50 years authenticity has been a key ingredient in every dish served at the cornerstone establishment. Roast duck, Hungarian goulash and breaded There is a pork tenderloin are among the most popular restaurant suited to dishes, but Czech Plaza also serves many beloved curb just about any yet lesser known Czechoslovakian dishes. craving on Cermak Czech Plaza’s version of Svíčková -- sliced Road in Berwyn. tender beef roast with creamy vegetable gravy Michaela Chromeckova helms the kitchen at Czech Plaza and brings thirty years of With the annual and bread dumplings -- is served with a bit of cooking experience to the plate. Taste of Cermak cranberry sauce, fresh whipped cream and lemon event canceled due as tradition dictates. The rich gravy is a decadent Italian treat? Anthony’s Pizza, 6237 Cermak Rd., to COVID concerns, treat well-suited to snuggling up with both the has been serving up pizza slices and other Italian fare for 34 years. it has become more bread dumplings and tender beef. The unassuming shop relies important than “Our Svíčková is on foot traffic and top pizzas ever to show some just like my grandma with quality ingredients like love to the array of made,” said Czech Grande cheese and house made restaurants scattered Plaza owner Monika throughout “The Hubackova. “We go red sauce to keep pies flying Corridor.” out the door. Pizza may be the through at least two star of the show, but according “Some people might pots every day.” to Anthony’s manager and see it as a hodgepodge Hubac k o v a co-owner Anthony Cosmano, of restaurants,” and Chromekova there’s another dish worthy of said Erika Corona never cut corners. recognition. Owens, division Everything Czech Plaza’s version of Svíčková from director of chamber the liver dumpling “Our pizza is unique services at the soup to the authentic because of the combination a seafood fix should swing by Las Islas, 6516 Berwyn Development kolacky are house of crust, sauce and cheese,” Cermak Rd. The independent restaurant was Corporation. “But made at Czech Plaza. said Cosmano. “People might once part of a larger restaurant group but coyou can really The labor-intensive not realize our Italian beef owner Angelica Gonzalas takes pride in her see the history of approach pays off sandwich is one of the best establishment’s approach to seafood preparation. Berwyn reflected in in food quality, but Looking for a beertail? Check out the things on our menu.” A generous outdoor patio welcomes guests to the restaurants on value still abounds at Las Islas michelada Seasoned, thinly sliced roast Cermak.” order a refreshing michelada to enjoy alongside Food Writer the restaurant. Pop beef simmered tilapia ceviche and serrano chili salsa. The spicy Berwyn remains by to show support in jus, or gravy, tomato juice-based beer cocktail spiked with lime proud of its rich for one of the last is piled high and rimmed with tamarind paste is Las Islas’ Czech history, and no restaurant on Cermak bohemian restaurants on an Italian embraces Bohemian fare and a sense of nostalgia in Chicagoland. roll and stuffed signature drink. as earnestly as Czech Plaza, 7016 Cermak Rd. A Just like the michelada, people eagerly order with peppers. Looking for an newly constructed bar is attracting customers, A n t h o n y ’ s langostinos. The small crustaceans -- much beef sandwich smaller than a lobster and larger than a crawfish recipe goes – are served in the shell for an indulgent handsback as far as on eating experience. the sandwich “The langostinos are special because of the does in spice blend we use on them,” said Gonzalas. “The The banana split from La Michoacana Classic C h i c a g o only person who truly knows the recipe is my history. Purists husband, Noe. We have many requests to bottle topped with pecan, pistachio and pine nut ice will appreciate up the spices and sell them.” cream. A n t h o n y ’s No matter if you have filled up on Bohemian classic take on fare, Italian beef or an array of Mexican seafood, this iconic and no visit to Cermak Road is complete without a slightly messy sweet treat from La Michoacana Classic, 6533 sandwich. Cermak Rd. Cermak An assortment of ice cream, paletas and fruit Road is no drinks entice guests and draw repeat customers. stranger to Bring a pal to share their beasty banana split next its fair share time you find yourself on Cermak. of well-loved Happy Eating! Me x i c a n restaurants, Langostinos are a signature dish at Las Islas in Anthony’s pizza peddles a memorable Chicago-style Italian • Discover more amazing Berwyn delights but folks looking for Berwyn at OakParkEats.com/berwyn-eats Beef Sandwich.

Travel “The Corridor” to experience a world of tastes

MELISSA ELSMO

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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West Sub is in the hands of ‘pathological elites’

few months after Pipeline Health closed Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, I traveled to the offices of Dr. Nabil Saleh, a pediatrician who has practiced at the hospital since 1978. Saleh’s offices were inside Westlake’s Professional Office Building. Although the hospital proper had shuttered, the office building adjacent to it was still open, quietly getting on with things in the shadows of Westlake’s emptiness. Commentary “It used to take less than an hour to get a result from a test done in this hospital when Westlake was open,” Saleh said back in January. “It’s 30 seconds between my office and the hospital. They would do the test and call me with the results in an hour. Now the patient has to take my order, go to another hospital to get the test done and the results will probably not be available for a day or two, which delays the diagnosis and the start of treatment. That could have an impact on the patient’s condition.” And more than likely, that patient is Black and Brown and poor. Last week, Wednesday Journal reported that Pipeline representatives have been telling lawmakers their continued operation of West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, which they purchased along with Westlake and Weiss Memorial in Chicago last year, is contingent on more state funding. I don’t trust anything Pipeline says because the company has shown itself to be untrustworthy. Earlier this year, Pipeline paid Melrose Park $1.5 million related to a lawsuit the village filed shortly after the company closed Westlake. According to the lawsuit, Pipeline representatives lied to Melrose Park’s mayor, community members, and other elected officials about their intentions for the roughly century-old hospital, which was one of the only places in Proviso Township where the poor and indigent and home-

MICHAEL ROMAIN

less could go for low-cost care, particularly mental health care. Pipeline promised state regulators that they would keep the hospital open and affordable for at least a few more years — a promise they had to make in order for the state to sign-off on their purchase of the three hospitals, Melrose Park’s lawyers said. Not a month after finalizing the purchase, Pipeline announced the closure, throwing a whole community into chaos and darkness. But it wasn’t so much the closure itself that alarmed me. It was the way Pipeline went about its business. In the weeks leading up to the hospital’s closure, I spoke with a Westlake maintenance worker who said Pipeline routinely shorted his pay; a half-dozen physicians and nurses, Saleh included, who said they never even saw the face of a Pipeline representative before the surprise announcement that the absentee California company was closing their hospital weeks after buying it; and a state lawmaker who said that when he complained to one of Pipeline’s principals about the company’s apparent deceptiveness, the guy reportedly hung up on him. Pipeline also allegedly alerted EMTs to bypass Westlake’s emergency room and moved vital equipment from the Melrose Park hospital to West Suburban in the middle of the night. They kept employees in the dark about the pending closure and responded defensively when community members so much as inquired about how the hospital’s closure might impact their physical health. I’m currently reading Chris Hayes’ insightful 2012 book Twilight of the Elites, in which he describes what he calls “elite pathology.” Our country has produced a class of high-achieving 1 percenters who are “less accountable, more prone to corruption and self-dealing, more status-obsessed and less empathic, more blinkered and removed from informational feedback crucial to effective decision-making,” Hayes writes. This is true of Republicans and Democrats (albeit Republicans much, much, much, much more). Liberals and conservatives. White elites and Black elites.

Pipeline was able to get away with the stunt they pulled on Melrose Park because of a deregulatory law signed by private equity millionaire and right-wing Republican former governor Bruce Rauner. One of Pipeline’s principals — the guy who allegedly hung up on the state lawmaker — is Dr. Eric Whitaker, a millionaire and very close friend of former president Barack Obama, also a millionaire, who blessed Chicago with millionaire Rahm Emanuel, who closed dozens of mental health clinics and schools in Black and Brown communities with Pipelinian abandon. This elite pathology is what, perhaps more than anything, caused a Donald Trump presidency. And if we want to prevent a Trump second term, we have to deal with the pathology’s root causes. And one of those root causes is the monetization of everything, even medical care. “Health care has been monetized in a way that has caused a breakdown between physicians and patients,” Dr. Saleh told me. “So the physicians and nurses became only providers, and the patients became enrollees.” Saleh said he knows many pediatricians who are quitting, frustrated about losing control over their ability to provide decent, humane care that doesn’t require them to treat people like data points and units of value. The doctor said he graduated from Alexandria University in Egypt, “one of the oldest universities in the world,” and has practiced medicine in Africa and England. So he has a certain distance from this “elite pathology.” The U.S., he said, needs something similar to England’s National Healthcare System, in which “everyone is equal when it comes to health care and the standard of care is uniform and applies to the prime minister as it applies to anyone in the street. “The U.S. is a totally different system than many of the developed countries in the world,” he said. “Even Canada has a form of nationalized health care, which makes access easier. It’s not luxurious, but it’s more than adequate, it’s timely, it’s cost-effective and it’s equal.” That idea, in our great American meritocracy, is what our electable politicians might call impractical. Which is precisely why we need to reimagine our politics.

D97 unveils new ‘anti-racism curriculum’ New Black history course at Julian, books on racism, anchor new instructional emphasis By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Last week, District 97 administrators released a statement outlining a range of measures that will comprise what they’re calling the district’s Anti-Racism Curriculum for the 2020-21 school year. This school year, Oak Park public elementary school administrators explained, the district will pilot its first African American history course at Percy Julian Middle School, and engage students at both Julian and Brooks in reading Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. The book is a version of Kendi’s award-

winning Stamped from the Beginning but adapted for young readers. The Oak Park Public Library and the E-Team, a coalition of area stakeholders that provide resources to children in Oak Park, will be leading discussions among parents and community members about the book, said D97 administrators. Administrators added that the district will also utilize climate and culture coaches and social workers to help support the anti-racism work, and incorporate “teaching and learning materials that are designed to reduce bias, support understanding and appreciation of culture, class, language, ethnicity and other difference.” District administrators said they’ve collaborated with a range of stakeholders, including the D97 Diversity Council and the E-Team, while building out the first steps in its antiracism curriculum. And teachers are working with resources provided by Teaching Tolerance, a national organization started by the Southern Poverty Law Center that provides free social jus-

tice and anti-bias resources to kindergarten through high school educators. The district has also directed parents and guardians to other resources, including the New York Times Magazine’s 1619 Project — an ongoing initiative that “aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.” The announcement of the new curriculum comes several months after the May 25 death of George Floyd prompted a national reckoning on race, with many governing bodies in Oak Park releasing statements in support of Black lives and denouncing racism. In June, D97 Supt. Carol Kelley urged families and community members to “engage in conversations about how we as a society must do better.” Kelley also directed community members to various reading lists and other educational resources designed to fight racism. Stamped was on that list.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Votes for Women

September 9-16 The Statue of Liberty: What it Means Today Monday, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m., Zoom with the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

Join Mary Meg McCarthy on the U.S.’s current response to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Free. Register: nineteenthcentury.org

Barriefest Saturday, Sept. 12, Noon to 5 p.m., South East Oak Park Enjoy an afternoon outside and catch a FitzGerald’s Truck Concert touring the neighborhood. See Jim Haptonstahl (noon to 12:45 p.m.), Sima Cunningham of Ohmme (1 to 1:45), Gem Tree (2 to 2:45), Rosalba Valdez (3 to 3:45) and Casey McDonough of NRBQ, The Flat Five and The Western Elstons (4 to 4:45). More: jimhap.bandcamp.com, ohmmemusic.com, simacunningham.bandcamp.com, gemtreemusic.bandcamp. com, rosalbavaldez.com. Please practice social distancing guidelines and wear a face covering. Rain date, Sunday, Sept. 13. Brought by SEOPCO.

Writing Matters: “The Best Cook in the World” Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m., virtually with the Nineteenth Charitable Association See Bill Young in conversation with Pulitzer-prize winner Rick Bragg. Part cookbook, part memoir, Bragg’s work is a loving tribute to the South, his family and his mother. Free. Register: nineteenthcentury.org. Book may be purchased from The Book Table.

“Her Voice” Art Exhibition

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2 to 3 p.m., Zoom with River Forest Public Library In honor of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, history presenter Leslie Goddard explores the long struggle for women to gain the right to vote, from when the first call was issued at Seneca Falls in 1848 to when women finally gained suffrage in 1920. Women worked tirelessly, giving speeches, writing letters and petitions, gathering signatures by the thousands, and persevering in the face of opposition. Register: riverforestlibrary. librarymarket.com/events/votes-women

What’s Cooking? Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 to 3 p.m., Zoom with the Oak Park Public Library Join fellow cooks to discuss Toni Tipton-Martin’s Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African-American Cooking. “Through recipes and stories, cook along with pioneering figures, from enslaved chefs to middle- and upper-class writers and entrepreneurs.” eBook available on Media on Demand/Libby. Register: oppl.org/calendar

Ovation Academy Fall Offerings Sign up now for Broadway Academy, after-school classes, private lessons and more with offerings in-person and virtually. More: ovationacademy.org. 1010 Madison St., Oak Park.

Reception Friday, Sept. 11, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Online with Expressions Graphics View the fourth annual juried show of women printmakers and guest artists, running through Oct. 17 (tentative closing reception date). To view works and attend opening: expressionsgraphics.org/hervoice-2020. September is also membership month. Check out Print & Screen Club Membership or EG Studio Membership. More: expressionsgraphics.org/membership. 29 Harrison, Oak Park.

Native Gardens Through the Seasons: A Virtual Walk Saturday, Sept. 12, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Virtually with West Cook Wild Ones Take a live, behind-the-scenes look at native gardens throughout the seasons with three experienced home gardeners, two from Oak Park and one from Berwyn. This tour will help gardeners learn how to bring native plants into their own yards, how plants perform year-round and which beneficial wildlife they attract. Also, learn about soil, spring maintenance and how to transform difficult areas. Moderators invite questions. Free; $10 donation accepted to support programming. Brought in partnership with the Interfaith Green Network. Register: westcook.wildones.org/2020/08/03/2020-garden-tour

9-11 LemonAid 2020 Friday, Sept. 11, or donate anytime While the tradition started in 2002 on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae in River Forest is going virtual this year, supporters can still help local organizations with a donation that supports the Oak Park - River Forest Community Foundation. Donations will be matched thanks to the Hunt Family Challenge. Gifts of $25 or more can request a LemonAid lawn sign. Lemonaid masks for children and adults are also available ($15). More: 9-11lemonaid.com.

Reimagining Policing - Constructive Community Solutions Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Virtually with the League of Women Voters Improving community safety depends on how well residents and professionals work together and invest in developing a renewed vision of best practices. Join a panel discussion and learn about current trends, opportunities and examples. With LaDon Reynolds, Oak Park Police Chief; Sharon Welch, League of Women Voters Illinois; Colleen Sutkus, Sarah’s Inn; Anita Pindiur, Way Back Inn and Grateful House. Free. Register: lwvoprf.org/events-and-programs.html

Yoga in The Park Fundraiser Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 to 11 a.m., Reiger Park or Virtually Join Sarah’s Inn Associate Board and & Then There Was Well owner and instructor Marissa Grott for a yoga fundraiser. Buy raffle tickets for a chance to win wine, yoga classes and local gift cards. Also Sept. 20 and 27. Space is limited both live and in-person. In the field across from the new Sarah’s Inn, 1526 Circle Ave., Forest Park. $20 each; $50 for all three dates. $10, raffle tickets. Register: sarahsinn.org/events

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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ART BEAT

COVID doesn’t stop the Marching Huskies

101 OPRF students make music in whole new way By MICHELLE DYBAL Arts Editor

Two evenings each week, screens are shut off and 101 teens make their way to the field at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Even with masks covering most of their faces, their expressions cannot be hidden. It is the joy of being a Marching Huskie. “I’ll never forget our first day that we were together in person,” said Anthony Svejda, the head marching band director at the school. “I got chills just standing there watching this evolve because they were doing what they wanted to do. And they were restricted, but only with a mask and distance, and still able to do what they love to do — that’s be around each other while making music, being part of something greater than themselves.” “The kids, you can see in their faces, you can see in their behavior, even though they’re masked, you can still see joy in their eyes,” he said. Yes, the Marching Huskies performs at halftime shows at Friday Night Football. And they are a group that, in past years, puts in hours of practice at an away camp in August until their muscles hurt. They keep going nearly every weekday from then until late October to show what they can do at marching band competitions, something that happens in a normal season three to four times each fall. Most years they bring home some plaques and trophies along the way. But football is not slated to happen until possibly late winter. Competitions are canceled. For Svejda, who also teaches band and jazz at OPRF, it made him think, marching band “is its own activity; it does have a lot of things it does on its own.” “You don’t know what marching band means to these kids,” Svedja said in explaining what band parents and possibly teachers only understand. “And, in a sense, it’s providing an opportunity to be involved in an organization where you can collaborate with every group, every type of person, every grade level, every gender for that matter. It’s inclusive — everybody who wants to be part of it can do it.” For such a large group of students to make music and perform drills — the many precision steps and movements that make up the visuals of a marching band show — during a pandemic, meant the group needed a safe way to practice and create a show together in person. Svejda used the guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control, Oak Park’s Department of Public Health and the Il-

linois Department of Public Health to create a plan to keep OPRF students safe while participating in marching band. It was submitted to school administration and approved. The team working with Svejda includes Patrick Pearson who wrote the drill. He also coaches color guard with Melissa Majnarich. Joe Morecek coaches drumline and Yulia Block is the frontline coach. Drew Fredrickson, assistant director, also acts as sound engineer and what Svejda calls the “producer extraordinaire.” He will be putting the show together through recording and editing of separate smaller sections of students. “We have four breakout groups … but we can break it out even more than that, into eight groups or more, but it is student leaders that are running the show,” Svejda said. “We are providing that direction, but they are the ones doing it because we can’t be in all eight or 10 groups. It’s been a really eyeopening experience for all of us in that the students are making this happen, they’re leading.” Meanwhile, other sections, no more than 10 at a time, spaced 10 feet apart, will record their music with Fredrickson on the field to capture the ambient sound. Once these parts are recorded and combined in editing, the music will be played over the PA in the football stadium while about half of the Marching Huskies at a time perform to the music they’ve played. These videos will be recorded without sound and then edited together with the audio track to create the finished piece, which will look like a complete show of 101 Marching Huskies performing on the football field. Rehearsals started Aug. 17, he said, and “They understand how important it is to continue this in that space, but what’s unique is they also have to do that outside of the space because if someone was to go and do something that potentially would create a challenge for the ensemble, that could stop everything,” Svejda said. Everyone needs to have their own instrument, cannot touch anyone else’s, cannot bring it into the school building and sanitizes it between practices. Temperatures are checked, a questionnaire is filled out and hands are sanitized at check-in stations before entering the practice field. Meetings only take place outside; if it rains, practice is canceled. Anyone wanting to participate in this version of marching band also signed a COVID-19 waiver. It was the students who chose the music, selected last spring to be performed at football games — “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire and “High Hopes” by Panic at the Disco. While the themes are still appropriate, the mode of performance is completely different from what was imagined.

Photo by Tim Eastman

NEW FORMATIONS: The Marching Huskies rehearse at Oak Park Stadium. “This is ambitious,” Svejda said. “Even if the end result is so, what was the process? What did these students learn along the

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Tucker takes a pass on 2021 election

ob Tucker served two terms on Oak Park’s village board. When he left the board two years ago, it was reasonably assumed he would run for village president in 2021 as a potential successor to Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb. That is not going to happen. Tucker told me Sept. 3 that for a combination of reasons he is not making the race. “I don’t take commitments lightly,” he said. “So I’ve tried to make a careful decision.” He cited what he described as what’s best for Oak Park, for his family and for his work as COO of a nonprofit focused on lending in Chicago’s disinvested West and South sides, in making the decision to sit 2021 out. “There is a bit of sadness that I’m not doing it. But I can’t pull the trigger,” he said. Since spring Tucker has hosted some 30 local people for coffee — more often beer — in his backyard on Ridgeland Avenue to gauge their opinions on the race. “People were so supportive,” he said. “What kind of a politician goes on a ‘listening tour’ and then decides not to run?” What brought him to the decision not to run in a race he believes he would have won? Tucker was candid with his assessments: This is rightly not the ideal time for a white man to run. While he considers himself to be “pretty far left” politically, that makes him “middle of the road” in Oak Park. Current political tensions locally and nationally are a concern though he says he has “a pretty thick skin.” Even so, he said, “the tone of local politics might be turning good people off.”

DAN HALEY

Most immediately it seems clear from the conversation that his wife – “the wisest Oak Parker, my wife Vicki” – was not enthused about a race. Then there is his job at the Chicago Community Loan Fund. “Those who know me best know that I’m in my dream job,” he said. And in the midst of the racial reckoning finally underway, Tucker said his work has never been as intense or as important. “For 30 years CCLF has been talking the language of investment in communities of color,” Tucker said. “Now in the last three months the whole world is talking our language.” He sees this rising interest in the nonprofit’s work hard against a pandemic-fueled recession as an opportunity and challenge that will last for years. He said he could not do both his job and serve as village president simultaneously. He is happy to see three women already in the race for village president. “That’s great. We need more women.” He said he is hoping for “a really open and democratic race for village president.” He said he is also hoping more people of color will join the race for both trustee and village president. I asked him to explain more about how his race impacted his thinking on running. “I’m as white a man as there is,” he noted. That said, Tucker added, “I wake up each morning as the only white person in our house,” referring to his wife and their two sons. He is also the only white person on the management team at his job. “But I’m still as white as I can be.” Six months out from the local election he said it is too soon to handicap the race. He is waiting to see who ultimately makes the race and wants to see policy positions from each candidate. He does not rule out making an eventual endorsement in the race.

“I’d give a fair warning for those getting in now. This is going to be a tough time to govern. This is going to be a slog.” He said the next village president will oversee serious budget deficits and have to face notable spending cuts. He said serious candidates will also acknowledge just how high the tax burden is already in Oak Park and how that will limit new spending. The next president and trustees will “have to put their heads down and do the work. Governing can be incredibly boring. And in some ways it should be,” he said referencing spreadsheets and detailed financial statements. The conversation turned to equity and to policing. When asked, he agreed that, in his final year as a trustee, the board “didn’t get as far as we should have” in passing a wide-ranging village policy on equity. “More could have been done. It was a missed opportunity.” On the current village approach to police reform Tucker said the village board should acknowledge that “in general Oak Park policing is good. But why can’t we create change and become the model for the nation? Acknowledge what we do well. Then address the deficits. “This is a moment to bring people together. Let’s talk about how we got here. Why we got here,” said Tucker, adding that the conversation should include a couple of trustees, the village president, representatives of young protesters, the business community and the police chief, LaDon Reynolds, who he sees as a great asset. “In the great wonderful experiment that is Oak Park, everyone needs to feel safe,” he said, noting that those protesting have “hugely important voices.” Tucker said the property damage caused last week by a small group of protesters at the home of Abu-Taleb “is clearly unacceptable and now clouds the message. We can’t lose the message.” I’ve been a fan of Bob Tucker’s approach to governing since I met him 10 years ago. Smart, calm, self-deprecating and not a bad listener. This will be a different race without him being a part of the debate.

Deno Andrews tries for second Oak Park trustee term Says his work as public official not yet done By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park Village Trustee Deno Andrews has announced he is seeking a second term as trustee in the upcoming 2021 election. Andrews, who was elected trustee in 2017, told Wednesday Journal he hopes Oak Park residents will vote for him again to so he can continue his “work toward greater government transparency, racial equity, affordable housing, environmental sustainability and financial sustainability.” Andrews also said he intends to continue work on the “new issues we face as a community including COVID-19 recovery, policing and public safety, and the continued need to keep tax growth to a sustainable amount.” According to Andrews, many factors contributed to his decision to seek reelection,

Oak Park Village Trustee Deno Andrews including the rewarding nature of working as a public servant. “I find the work to be important and longlasting and rewarding in many ways,” he said. In his four years on the board of trustees, Andrews believes he has worked to grow

and preserve services while showing pragmatism in village financial matters. “I think I’ve been an effective trustee who has been able to balance providing the services to the community that are needed and, at the same time, being able to keep property tax increases at sustainable levels, year after year after year,” Andrews said. If elected for a second term, Andrews intends to continue working on rethinking overnight parking. During a July 27 village board meeting, Andrews requested the village board discuss revamping the overnight parking system to make it more equitable, which resulted in a direction to village staff to create a plan and timeline for further discussion. “I came up with a very novel plan to provide enough parking for people who need it and still have empty streets throughout most of the village,” said Andrews. In the last few months, the current village board has embarked on issues related to policing and racism in Oak Park. With his term about to end, Andrews would like to see that process through in his second

term. “Once we make whatever improvements to our local policing that we’re currently working on, we can’t just stop looking at it and say, “OK, we did that. It’s done,’” Andrews said. “The work is more continual.” Andrews also believes it’s important to have some “consistency” on the board. “I think that I’m a very reasonable trustee who really looks at all sides of an issue and makes decisions that benefit the village as a whole,” Andrews said. Andrews joined the village board in 2017 alongside Trustees Dan Moroney and Simone Boutet. Moroney has not yet made a decision on whether he intends to seek reelection. Moroney said he plans to decide by November. Boutet has already announced she is not seeking reelection as trustee but is instead running for village president. Andrews said he has no intention of running for village president at this time in his life, due to his busy schedule as a working husband and father. “It’s never been in my life plan to be the village president.”

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Fair Oaks murder causes public frustration Lack of police updates By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The deaths of beloved community members and highly accomplished lawyers Leslie Ann Jones and Tom Johnson rocked the wider Chicago area, after the married couple sustained fatal multiple sharp force injuries in their Fair Oaks Avenue home April 13. Almost six months later, the Oak Park Police Department has given little in the way of updates into the double homicide investigation, leaving some people frustrated and concerned. Ann Jones and Tom Johnson “It’s begun to feel like it’s a cold case,” said Diane Redleaf, a neighbor and former it’s unacceptable for it not be solved,” said colleague. Redleaf, who acknowledged that many murFrom the onset of the investigation, po- ders go unsolved. lice stayed mum on a multitude of details, Former colleague Bob Lehrer believes including whether they had found a murder that any communication from police would weapon, knew of any suspects or the type be better than the current silence. of assistance they have received from other “Even if police said, ‘We’ve done what we law enforcement agencies, including the can. We’ve reached a complete dead end. We West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force really have no evidence to point to anyone and the FBI. in particular,’ that would be better than the Even now, the police have little to say situation now,” said Lehrer. when pressed for information. Lehrer, an attorney himself, stated that “There are no new updates to be shared,” police are able to give plenty of updates Detective Sergeant Angelo Epsicopo wrote without compromising the investigation. in a Sept. 8 email to Wednesday Journal. “They don’t have to disclose names or Redleaf believes that the investigation anything like that, but just give a summary may have taken a backseat after protests of what’s been done,” said Lerher. and calls for police reform swept the nation Rita McLennon, former colleague and in the wake of George Floyd’s death. neighbor said she checks the internet every “Yes, they’re under fire but that would morning for updates into the investigation. suggest they need to do a better job of re“The first thing I do is Google the Oak sponding to the community and being more Leaves and Wednesday Journal for upresponsive,” Redleaf said. dates,” said McLennon. The investigation and the frustration surThe lack of information police have given rounding it has become a common topic of the community she finds deeply frustrating. discussion among friends and neighbors of “We know that it’s an investigation, so Jones and Johnson. they can’t talk a lot. But there’s some things “I’ve had this conversation with around a that they can say to reassure their family dozen people,” Redleaf said. “I think people and friends and the community that, you are starting to feel like we should have heard know, something is going on here,” said something by now.” McLennon. The lack of police communication has McLennon called the gruesome nature of also caused Redleaf to worry about the safe- Jones and Johnson’s deaths an “extraordity of the neighborhood. nary murder” that is not “typical of Oak “You start to worry. You start to wonder Park.” because police had indicated that neighbors “It’s just really a great concern for all of had nothing to worry about,” Redleaf said. us, and we all need to have some sense that “There were things that were said early on I the police are still working on this,” said think that made people who were neighbors McLennon. and friends feel like the police investigation For local artist Margot McMahon, who was proceeding expeditiously.” worked with Jones on the Oak Park Area Arts The crime at the center of the investiga- Council, the murder has added a new layer to tion is deeply upsetting and the limited in- the national discussion of police practices. sight the public has into the process of solv“The silence about Tom Johnson and Lesing it has engendered consternation. State Farmlie Jones death has contributed to tides of “I think murder is rare in Oak Park. It’s anxiety Bloomington, IL and ebbs of low feelings with uprare with people too who are leaders of the wells of great sorrow,” McMahon said. “I’m 2001290 community. I think there’s this sense of cautious about a breaking point.”

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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‘Extremely high’ number of mosquitoes and West Nile Virus found locally By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

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Fall is Prime Planting Season There is a perennial misconception that any fall planting will not provide enough time for plants to get established by spring. As a result, this time of year I find myself fielding questions about whether it’s Scott too late to plant. McAdam In fact, here are two big reasons why fall is the best time for planting:

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First, the root system does not go dormant like the above-ground portion of a tree or shrub. With little energy demand for the above-ground stems, almost all of that energy is directed toward root growth. A wellestablished root system provides an excellent foundation for water and nutrient uptake, come spring, for optimal growth. Second, there is decreased pressure from drought stress. Because the daytime highs and nighttime lows are cooler, the much lower evaporation rate allows the soil to maintain moisture following planting. When planting in the fall, plant the tree properly by digging your hole no deeper than the height of the root ball. Also, do not overwater—it is possible to kill your plant with kindness. Planting too deep and providing too much moisture impairs the root zone’s ability to sufficiently exchange oxygen. Our Garden Center hours: MondayFriday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phone: 708-771-4903.

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An increased number of mosquitoes and higher levels of West Nile Virus (WNV) among mosquitoes tested in Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest have led to spraying in these towns, an action by the Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District (DVMAD) to control the adult mosquito population. In contrast, no spraying was done locally in 2019, according to DVMAD. This year, however, dry conditions and high temperatures have caused ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive and reproduce heavily, and enough mosquitoes have tested positive for WNV to make transmission to humans likely. Mark Tomek, a biologist at DVMAD, said in an email that the problem is bigger this year than in past summers. “West Nile Virus and the mosquitoes that carry the virus are some of the highest we’ve seen in a long time in the Chicago suburbs, especially in Oak Park,” said Tomek. He explained that high temperatures coupled with dry conditions have promoted both WNV transmitting mosquitoes and the transmission cycle between host birds and infected mosquitoes. “The number of mosquitoes we have collected this summer has been extremely high, even if not noticeable by many residents,” Tomek said. “These mosquitoes are generally considered ‘quiet biters,’ active at or after dusk and mostly biting unnoticed (though the itchy welts will still appear after

some time!).” WNV, said Tomek, was “essentially nonexistent” in 2019. In 2018, DVMAD saw some of the highest numbers since 2012. This year, DVMAD is using more sensitive testing processes, which can find the virus at lower levels; this might partly explain an increase in 2020. But not completely. “Either way, this does not make up for the astounding number of positive mosquito pools we have been finding, and these findings match other local district and health department results,” said Tomek. As a result, the risk of human transmission of WNV over the past three weeks “has been significantly increased and high this past week,” Tomek said. No human cases have yet been reported, “though based on the rate of infection in mosquitoes and the high number of vector mosquitoes, this is unlikely. Many cases of WNV are mild and mostly go undiagnosed (headaches, fever, possibly being falsely labeled as COVID),” said Tomek. In a very small percent of cases, less than one percent, severe encephalitis can occur, which can cause brain damage and even death, said Tomek. And there’s more. The invasive Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, capable of transmitting multiple viruses including Zika and Dengue, have been detected in fairly high numbers this year, both in the city and extending into Oak Park, said Tomek. In the past few years, the numbers of these mosquitoes have been low, but the increase now suggests “they may be here to stay and likely grow in prevalence.” They’re

active all day long, unlike the WNV-carrying mosquitoes, which only come out at dusk. They’re aggressive and persistent. But, Tomek said, any virus these mosquitoes can spread would need to be introduced into the population first. So for now, Zika and Dengue don’t need to be added to anyone’s list of things to worry about. According to DVMAD, residents should take the following steps to eliminate mosquito populations: ■ Throw away all trash that can hold water, such as cans, jars, bottles, etc. ■ Clean rain gutters/downspouts to prevent water from standing in gutters or on flat roofs. ■ Change water in bird baths, wading pools, etc. at least once a week. ■ Maintain swimming pools properly. ■ Remove or turn over containers, buckets, wheelbarrows, etc. which may accumulate water. ■ Screen rain barrels to prevent adult mosquitoes from depositing eggs on the water’s surface. ■ Aerate ornamental ponds and stock with goldfish or other surface-feeding fish to control mosquito production. ■ Dispose of any used tires without rims to prevent water accumulation. To avoid WNV-transmitting mosquitoes, don’t go out after dusk. If you do, wear longsleeved shirts, long pants, sock and shoes. Loose fitting, light colored clothing is best. Appropriate use of insect repellents per manufacturer’s instructions is recommended.

River Forest Library reopens gradually By MARIA MAXHAM Contributing Reporter

The River Forest Public Library, 735 Lathrop Ave., is open to the public at limited capacity and working hard to provide services to patrons even with COVID restrictions in place. Currently, browsing, checking out library materials, computer sessions, copying, printing and faxing are all available in person, but visiting the library is a little different than it was in pre-COVID days, with guidelines in place to ensure social distancing and safety of both patrons and staff. Upon arrival, for example, visitors might see a staff member stationed at the entrance to limit the number of people in the building at one time. And patrons may need to wait until someone leaves before they are allowed to enter since the total occupancy has been reduced. Visitors are asked to limit their

time in the library to 30 minutes or less. Inside, to facilitate social distancing, furniture has been removed or spaced out. The elevator is limited to one person or family at a time, and restrooms are limited to two people or one family at a time. Fewer computers are available, and sessions are limited to 30 minutes or less. Equipment will be cleaned by library staff between uses. Patrons are allowed to browse books and shelves but are asked not to reshelve anything themselves; browsed and returned items are quarantined before being re-shelved. Rules for kids are different too. Anyone over two years of age is required to wear a mask, and children under the age of eight must be accompanied by a responsible caretaker. Toys and games in the Children’s Room are currently unavailable, but prebagged coloring and activity sheets and craft supplies are available for children to

take home. When patrons have selected items to bring home, they can go to the lobby desk to check out their items. But they’re encouraged to use shelf-checkout stations throughout the library. All materials must be returned to the exterior book drop, and returns will be quarantined for seven days, which is why patrons might see books still on their accounts after bringing them back to the library. Current hours are from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. A daily closure from noon until 1 p.m. allows the building to be cleaned and staff to take a meal break. The library is closed on Sundays. A wide variety of virtual activities is offered for all age groups, including story time for tots, tween meet-ups, and senior discussions.

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Workers take campaign against bakery to Oak Park By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Eunice Carson stood outside of Pete’s Fresh Market, 259 Lake St., Oak Park, the afternoon of Sept. 3 to demonstrate how the COVID-19 Report/ing Card, a cellphone app works. “They go in and say who they work for and can give the companies a grade,” Carson said. The reporting tool is the latest weapon in a pitched battle between Black workers and the owners of Bimbo Bakeries USA’s Cicero factory, where the workers manufacture Little Bites muffins and other products sold at Pete’s and other stores. The tool allows employees at the Bimbo plant in Cicero to anonymously report on workplace conditions, including whether or not there’s adequate PPE, social distancing on production lines and common areas, and hazard pay, among other things. The app is also for workers at a Hostess Bakery in Galewood — another site the workers consider problematic, albeit not quite as problematic as Bimbo. During a press conference held earlier in the day, members of the labor organization Black Workers Matter, which worked with volunteers like Carson (who doesn’t work at the plants) to develop the app, detailed a range of longstanding complaints against Bimbo. The workers have complained for months about unsafe working conditions at the plant, that include a lack of personal protective equipment and no social distancing that has exposed them to COVID-19. Since April, the workers said, two employees at the plant have died and at least four workers who publicly complained about Bimbo to local media have been terminated as part of

what Black Workers Matter members believe is a pattern of retaliation against them by plant management. The workers also complained about a pattern of discriminatory behavior by plant management toward Black workers, racial segregation in the plant’s workforce and a pattern of favoritism toward the plant’s Hispanic workers. Bimbo representatives have consistently denied the workers’ claims. In a statement emailed to Wednesday Journal in June, a spokesperson for Bimbo said that the “safety and inclusive treatment of our associates is our highest priority. “Since purchasing the Cicero bakery two years ago, we have invested in this facility and worked to overcome the checkered history of race relations that existed prior to our acquisition. We have and will continue to work diligently to create an environment that is safe and equitable for all associates.”

A representative with Bimbo was not available to comment on the most recent allegations. “We didn’t start in the street, we started by sitting down with the company at the national level,” said Dan Giloth, an Oak Park organizer affiliated with Black Workers Matter. “We tried to work this out. We sat down in February and laid out the issues. They didn’t take us seriously. Then COVID hit. Bimbo had a plant in Wuhan. They had a plant in Italy. They knew what to do. They dragged their feet. And then sanitation people started telling us the plant wasn’t clean. Workers started complaining. They spoke to their manager. They spoke to the press. They spoke to the Cicero Independiente. In April, two workers died. We believe these deaths could have been avoided.” Giloth read a statement written by Dennean Paul, who works in the sanitation department at the Bimbo plan. Paul stated that the “racism at Bimbo is unbelievable” and said that she “trained people for positions I couldn’t get.” The Black workers said that they can count on one hand the number of Black supervisors employed at both plants and complained about the racial stratification of the workforce. “We got four lines in the plant,” said Dion Paige, who works at Bimbo. “They’re always segregated. The Black people and the Mexicans work separately on the lines. We should be working together.” Shay Mitchell, a Bimbo employee who has recently filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over the working conditions at the plant, said that “we are being discriminated against, we are being retaliated against.” Mitchell said she was suspended two days after complaining to a production manager at Bimbo about widespread racism at the plant.

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Giving back is on the menu Trio of fundraisers feature food-focused partnerships

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By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Even during these challenging times, a boutique grocery store and numerous local restaurants have chosen to support a trio of local philanthropies. Thanks to more than a dozen generous restaurants our community can fight domestic violence, homelessness and food insecurity one bite at a time.

Sarah’s Inn/Groceries Doing Good Domestic violence is on the rise as a result of the pandemic according to Carol Gall, executive director of Sarah’s Inn. A unique partnership with Carnival Grocery, 824 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, is designed to help the organization raise funds to provide the resources necessary to support victims and their families. “We are thrilled that Carnival Grocery has provided such a unique and generous opportunity for the community to support Sarah’s Inn,” said Gall. “With both National Domestic Violence Action Month and Sarah’s Inn’s 40th Anniversary in October, this partnership came together at the perfect time. “ Carnival’s “Groceries Doing Good” program provides an opportunity for customers to support local charities by purchasing the groceries they normally purchase. Through the end of October any Carnival shopper who mentions “Sarah’s Inn Account 2021” will have 20 percent of their total grocery bill donated to Forest Park based Sarah’s Inn. “Supporting local non-profits has always been a priority for me and I am thrilled they are partnering with Carnival as part of their 40 Year celebration,” said Carnival owner, Arthur Paris. “We’re looking forward to welcoming supporters of Sarah’s Inn, doing all we can do contribute to their mission, and partnering with other local non-profits in the future.”

Beyond Hunger/Dine Out for Hunger Due to COVID-19 job losses, large numbers of Americans are facing food insecurity for the first time. While always essential, food pantries have become even more critical during the global pandemic.

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September is Hunger Action Month and Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake St., Oak Park, has partnered with several local restaurants to raise awareness and keep the pantry stocked. “We are very lucky,” said Teri Miller, Beyond Hunger’s development director. “Our local restaurants are always willing to work with non-profits.” In addition to encouraging anti-hunger advocates to play Hunger Action Bingo, Beyond Hunger’s mission has inspired Lou Malnati’s, Cucina Paradiso, Big Guys Sausage Stand and One Lake Brewing to give back in creative ways like matching donations or donating a percentage of their food sales. Additionally, Buzz Café, Mulata Café, Jimmy’s Place and One Lake Brewing will have donation jars out in their restaurants throughout the month of September. “All of the restaurants have been upbeat and excited to support Beyond Hunger,” said Miller. “We hope this event opens up conversations and people participate in Hunger Action Month.” Details can be found on Beyond Hunger’s website.

Housing Forward/Feast for Good For more than a decade, Housing Forward, 1851 S. 9th Ave., Maywood. partnered with local restaurants to host an annual progressive dinner to raise funds for their mission to transition individuals from “housing crisis to housing stability.” COVID-19 turned the world upside-down capsizing the legacy event and forcing the team to rethink its approach to their annual fundraiser. Erik Johnson, development and communications chief at Housing Forward, is excited about the virtual “Feast for Good” benefiting Housing Forward. The monthlong event encourages community members to help end homelessness by supporting a rotating group of local restaurants which have committed to give back 10-20 percent of dine in and carry-out sales. Participating restaurants include Billy Bricks Wood Fired Pizza (September 2-8), Kettlestrings Tavern and Connie’s Family Restaurant (September 9-15), Jimmy’s Place and New Rose Catering (September 16-22), and Cucina Paradiso and Big Guys Sausage Stand (September 23-29). “We took a leap,” said Johnson. “We were pleasantly surprised how generous our restaurant partners have been especially during these difficult times. These restaurants are our heroes because they want to feed our mission.”

@OakPark

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

Reopens after deep cleaning completed By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea, 702 Lake St, closed Friday, Aug. 29 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. While temporarily closed, the café was thoroughly sanitized. Fairgrounds coffee issued the following statement: “It has come to light that a Fairgrounds employee at our Oak Park location has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee has not been in our café this week, did not exhibit symptoms and is fortunately feeling fine. Out of an abundance of caution, we have shut down the café effective immediately to ensure the safety of our team and all guests.” The employee realized they had been exposed after a roommate tested positive for COVID-19 and sought out a test despite being asymptomatic. The employee had not been in the coffee shop for six days when Fairgrounds was notified of the positive test.

Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

According to Jordan Aluise Hinke, vice president of marketing and communications at Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea Merchants, the positive test prompted an immediate internal discussion with all staff members. All staff members were required to get tested for COVID-19 and Fairgrounds offered financial support to those who may not be able to afford a test. All employee test results received to date have been negative. “The best news is the employee who tested positive is just fine,” said Aluise Hinke. “This has been a successful and effective response.” Fairgrounds has implemented strict COVID protocols in all their locations including temperature checks, frequent sanitizing of all surfaces, and use of plexiglass partitions. Signage and floor markers encourage proper social distancing and the café does not accept cash to limit contact between customers and team members. “Transparency is key no matter what.” said Aluise Hinke “We have abided by very strict measures at Fairgrounds and because of that we were able to prevent the spread.” Fairgrounds committed to pay employees through the duration of the closure and the Oak Park location reopened on Friday, Sept. 4.

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After staffer tests positive, Fairgrounds closes coffee shop for a week

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Black Caucus unveils anti-racism agenda

Criminal justice reform, police accountability at forefront By RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinois

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus released its agenda at a news conference on Sept. 3, including “sweeping reforms” meant to address systemic racism in the state. The agenda is focused on four pillars of policy: Criminal justice reform, violence and police accountability; education and workforce development; economic access, equity and opportunity; and health care and human services. State Senate Majority Leader and ILBC Chair Kimberly Lightford opened her remarks at the news conference by noting, “This is the moment that I have dreamed of, that I have prayed for, that I have worked toward my entire life.” “This is a time when I stand on my parents’ shoulders, and their parents’ shoulders, and their parents’ shoulders and their parent’s shoulders,” she said. “We’re finally here … today as the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, to present to you our agenda to end systemic racism that has oppressed our people for as long as we’ve ever known.” The news conference focused on the first pillar as the ILBC emphasized a need for ending mass incarceration, enacting police reform and strategically investing and redirecting state funding to reduce violence in Illinois communities. “We respect, admire and honor our officers. But legislatively, we must address bad actors and racism in law enforcement,” Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, said.

“Here in [Chicago], Blacks make up 75 percent of the CPD shootings, 30 percent of the population — come on now.” The news conference was held at the Westside Justice Center, a Chicago-based legal-aid clinic that provides legal assistance to low-income and underserved communities in the city. Three speakers from the Center shared testimony of systemic racism in Illinois. Brendan Shiller, civil rights attorney and founder of the Justice Center, was one of those speakers. “This city had more than 500 murders before September. … We have a flood of pain coming to our communities over the next several months and couple years,” he said. “We know how to stop the flood, we know how to stop crime and violence. It’s education, it’s health care, it’s housing, it’s mental health, it’s jobs, it’s youth recreation — this ain’t a secret!” According to Shiller, after Chicago had 771 recorded murders in 2016 — the most since 1996 — a sizable investment in youth employment that created 40,000 more jobs in 2017, led to decreased crime the following three years. Lightford also announced a series of hearings to discuss each pillar of the ILBC agenda that would continue until lawmakers return for the fall veto session. The first such hearing took place shortly after the news conference, Tuesday, with the Senate Criminal Law and Special Committee on Public Safety holding a joint hearing on police training and the use of force. The hearing stretched beyond three hours and was at times contentious. Discussion regarding punishment for officers who violate use-of-force standards and ending qualified immunity

were tabled for later hearings so that training, hiring and accountability practices would remain the focus of the hearing. Individuals from the American Civil Liberties Union and the University of Illinois Chicago gave conflicting testimony to that of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in regard to appropriate use of force and racism and white supremacy infiltrating and affecting police departments. They also disagreed on the degree to which the “Blue Wall” — an alleged phenomenon where officers will not report other officers who have broken the law or engaged in gross misconduct — is a problem in law enforcement. All parties agreed on the need for more data, with many noting it is problematic that reporting on use-of-force varies for each department and jurisdiction. Both law enforcement representatives and police-reform activists requested that universal standards for reporting use-of-force be codified into law, as well as making enforcement data more accessible for study by public institutions and legislative bodies. While none of the pillars of the agenda have been filed as legislation yet, Lightford said bills would be ready for the fall legislative session. “We will have our legislative initiatives prepared for the veto session and we do intend on taking up all of the veto session to address them,” she said. The legislative leaders of the Democratic Party issued statements backing the ILBC. “The Black Caucus is showing us the path to a better Illinois. I look forward to being an ally and helping win approval of needed reforms,” Senate President Don Harmon said in a news release.

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Halloween hiatus?

COVID-19 will complicate trick-or-treating By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The village of Oak Park has yet to determine whether or not it will permit kids to go trick-or-treating this year. “That’s the million-dollar question that we don’t know the answer to yet,” said Oak Park Public Health Director Mike Charley. He’s hopeful it might be possible, but it is too soon to know. While many Halloween costumes come with a mask, Oak Park has a historically colossal number of trick-or-treaters that go door to door each Oct. 31 and large gatherings of people contribute to the spread of COVID-19. At the state level, no decisions have been reached yet regarding the safety of allowing children to trick or treat during the pandemic, according to Charley, who has been in contact with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). “They’re considering whether or not they

should allow for Halloween and/or give some sort of pointed recommendation to local taxing bodies,” said Charley. “We’re sort of on standby right now waiting to hear back from the state to see what their recommendations are.” The trick-or-treating topic has already come up among local government officials. “It is something we’ve been discussing internally already for the last couple of weeks actually,” said Charley. Trick-or-treating in Oak Park is a wildly popular tradition. Homeowners in Oak Park, particularly on the east side of the village, see as many as 800 trick-or-treaters out collecting candy per year. Charley said he had already spoken with an east side resident curious about this year’s trick-ortreating. “We haven’t made any decisions yet,” said Charley. “You got to be adaptive and you got to be able to make decisions and changes quickly during a pandemic.” Charley is optimistic that trick-or-treating will happen this year, but it will depend on the number of positive COVID-19 cases and how the infection rates are trending. “I would say that it’s likely that trick-ortreating is something that’s going to occur,

WICKED MAKERS/Youtube screenshot

SWEET DELIVERY SYSTEM!: DIY YouTubers, Wicked Makers, have created a social distancing candy slide from plumbing PVC and Halloween decorations. but we don’t really know yet,” said Charley. Once Charley knows, he said he will make the information known to the community by issuing a public health order. The scariest thing this Halloween will

likely be COVID-19, but Charley thinks the virus will influence the costume choices of children should they be able to trick or treat. “Everyone’s going to be a physician or a nurse this year.”

Is Drechsler Brown a historic structure?

Developer seeks demolition before building mixed-use project By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Drechsler Brown & Williams Funeral Home could be laid to rest and the property resurrected into a multi-story apartment complex. As part of the development process in Oak Park, the proposal to demolish the 140-year-old white clapboard structure will go before the Historic Preservation Commission on Sept. 10. Development group Focus has filed for a certificate of appropriateness to allow for demolition of the funeral home which is located in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District. Focus’s intention is to build a multi-unit apartment complex -- under 12 stories -- on the Drechsler property, 203 S. Marion St., according to John Lynch, head of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation (OPEDC). The complex may have a small space for retail, around the size of a coffee shop. “The Historic Preservation Commission has to say it’s appropriately slated for demolition,” said Tammie Grossman, Oak Park’s development customer services director. “It’s appropriate to demolish that building

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Drechsler Brown & Williams Funeral Home if it’s not a contributing structure to the overall sense of the historic preservation district itself.” Come Sept. 10, the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission will meet to determine if the building does indeed contribute to the historic district in a virtual public meeting with Focus. Focus previously came

to the Historic Preservation Commission June 17, when the commission decided to take no action to give the developers the chance to hold a public hearing. “If the Historic Preservation Commission says they cannot demolish the building, then the applicant has the right to take it to a court hearing before the village board,”

Grossman said. If the commission gives its approval, Focus can file for a demolition permit to raze the funeral home and its garage structure. The Historic Preservation Commission would then provide an advisory review of Focus’s proposed structure to the Plan Commission. Neither Lynch nor Grossman have received preliminary renderings or plans from Focus. In that June 17 meeting, it was revealed former Plan Commission Chair David Mann has been hired as the project’s architect. Mann is no longer affiliated with the commission as his term as chair ended in May. The mayor of Oak Park has not yet named a successor. Focus has built multiple buildings in Oak Park, including Euclid Commons the multibuilding residential, retail and parking complex at Lake Street and Euclid Avenue. While Focus has not actively pursued development opportunities in Oak Park in recent years, Lynch said he has remained in contact with the development professionals at Focus. According to Lynch, Focus has had “mixed experiences working” toward developments in Oak Park. “I’ve known them professionally for a long time and spent a lot of time with them to try to let them know what was going on here and that there had been some changes in outlook and a desire to bring the kind of development that they do here,” Lynch said.

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

Board review policy from page 1

Matt heard the news, they were alarmed. “We have a 5-year-old with a June birthday and our plan was not to enroll him in kindergarten this year, but wait until next year, based on the advice of his pediatrician. We just became aware of this last week,” they said on Aug. 28. “School starts next week.” Kristina said that she and her husband flirted with the idea of moving out of Oak Park and enrolling their daughter in a pri-

vate school before the district notified them and other parents like them several days later that they would be allowed to delay their child’s kindergarten enrollment without missing a grade, after all. When contacted last week, Amanda Siegfried, D97’s communications director, said that there was no “sudden change in policy or practice that went into effect this year. After identifying inconsistencies in our procedures this summer, the district and the board of education made a decision to formally review the associated policy].” Siegfried said the issue is scheduled to first appear before the board during a meeting on Sept. 22. She added that there were only a small number of families for whom any change to the policy would apply — no

more than a few dozen. In a statement released Aug. 28, the board said that while the policy is under evaluation, “as a matter of basic fairness and trust we should honor commitments upon which people have relied.” The board added that any changes to the policy “affecting student admissions will not be effective until the 2022-23 school year.” Meyer said that while she was relieved after learning of the board’s decision, she nonetheless wants to make sure that whatever policy changes the board makes are equitable. “I believe in putting an equity lens on everything and in this case, an equity lens should be applied,” Meyer said.

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

C R I M E

Oak Park police seek help locating missing infant

The Oak Park Police Department and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are seeking the community’s assistance in locating a monthold boy, who they believe may be in the company of his parents, Jasmin Salgado, 26, and Jorge Pesce, 27. Julian Pesce was born last month at West Suburban Medical Center and has been missing since Sept. 2, according to police. Pesce, born Aug. 5, is Hispanic with light brown hair and brown eyes. He weighs 9 pounds and is 1-foot, 11-inches long. Jorge Pesce has visible tattoos on his neck. Anyone with information regarding Pesce’s whereabouts are directed to call the Oak Park Police Department 1-708-386-3800.

Armed robbery Three men, one carrying a firearm, robbed a person they met through social media at 7:10 p.m. on Sept. 4 in the 700 block

of Lake Street. According to police, the offenders and the victim spent time hanging out together then eventually went for a drive, during which one of the offenders produced a firearm and demanded the victim’s cellphone. The victim handed over the cell phone and then exited the offenders’ vehicle. The estimated loss is $200.

Burglary ■ Someone removed a 1-by-8-foot glass window on the front door of Cignot, 101 N. Marion St., and entered the business at 2:03 a.m. on Sept. 2. Once inside the offender removed pipes, torch lighters, and batteries. The estimated loss is $300. ■ Someone broke into a vehicle, ransacked its interior and removed a black bag containing a HP Surface laptop, white Apple AirPods with pink case and a silver wallet containing a driver’s license and credit cards during the overnight hours of Sept. 1-2 in the 700 block of Garfield Street. The estimated loss is $1,200. ■ Someone entered a residence in the 1000 block of Gunderson Avenue after cutting open the screen door and unlocking the rear door between 12:30 and 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 2.

Oak Park keeps an eye on Black Lives Matter mural

Vigilance to dissuade further acts of vandalism By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

People passing by the Black Lives Matter street mural on Scoville Avenue in Oak Park may have noticed the occasional presence of a vehicle marked with Village of Oak Park parked nearby. The vehicle, and the people within it, are meant to keep watch over the mural and deter vandals from defacing it. After the mural was defaced in early July, a rotations of vehicles from the village started parking nearby. “Following the vandalism of the BLM mural, the Public Works Department and the police department were coordinating construction activities on Lake Street and keeping traffic out of the area and then also just to show a presence in the area to dissuade anybody that was thinking of doing anything illegal to the mural,” said Village Manager Cara Pavlicek. According to Pavlicek, no village official guards the mural around the clock. When

police officers or public works officials are on duty and need to write reports, they now go to the mural to do so. “They are out there writing reports and not just like sitting there watching,” Pavlicek said. No new staff members have been hired to do surveillance on the area. All village personnel at the mural are existing staff who are on the clock and no one collects overtime pay to keep watch. “We’re not having people work overtime,” Pavlicek said. A large portion of government work comes in the form of writing reports and doing paperwork, according to Pavlicek. “We believe that this is part of their job, and they can do it from that location,” said Pavlicek. Village staff and police officers doing paperwork near the Black Lives Matter mural makes it unlikely that vandals will attempt to deface it – a definite kill-twobirds-with-one-stone situation. The mural won’t always have someone from the village guarding it. The situation is temporary, according to Pavlicek. “We don’t think it’s going to continue in perpetuity.”

The offender then removed car keys, a black leather wallet and a purse containing another wallet with credit cards and identification. The offender then ransacked one of the vehicles parked in the rear carport and then drove off in the victim’s 2019 Mazda CX. The estimated loss is $32,000. ■ Someone entered a residential garage through an unlocked service door in the 300 block of North Cuyler Avenue between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sept. 5 and removed a silver Schwinn bicycle, a black Bianchi bicycle and a wireless Bluetooth speaker. The estimated loss is $1,250.

Motor vehicle theft ■ An unlocked 2008 blue Toyota Prius, possibly left with the keys inside it, was taken from the 1000 block of Adams Street between 7 p.m. on Sept. 1 and 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 2. The vehicle was recovered by Illinois State Police at 7:27 a.m. from Sept. 3 in the 300 block of South Western Avenue in Chicago.

Theft ■ Someone removed a 3-by-5-foot rainbow pride flag that was hanging from a front porch in the 300 block of South Taylor Av-

enue during the overnight hours of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The estimated loss is $15. ■ A woman reportedly stole a cellphone from another woman at about 5:20 p.m. on Sept. 4 in the 900 block of South Euclid Ave. According to police, the offender approached the victim, asked to use her cellphone and then walked off with it after the victim handed it over. The estimated loss is $800. Police described the offender as Black, with a thin build, between 5-foot-3-and 5-foot-4, and her in long braids. She was last seen wearing a Victoria’s Secret “Pink” brand White Sox shirt, black leggings and Nike Air Jordan tennis shoes. These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports Sept. 1- Sept. 7 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest. Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 9:30 AM

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MILLS PARK

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(Pleasant St entrance)

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3:00PM FIELD PARK (Berkshire St entrance)

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ALL COVID PRECAUTIONS CAREFULLY MET, MASK REQUIRED

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

PROSTESTERS

Standoff over resolution from page 1 funding already received, more state funding is being directly linked to the company’s ability to remain viable. “Yes, that is the way they talk about it with me,” said Abu-Taleb. Don Harmon, Illinois State Senate president and an Oak Parker, said he remains “an advocate” for West Sub and that discussions are ongoing between the governor’s office and Pipeline. But he said the state is asking Pipeline to verify the total additional amount of funding it has already received during the pandemic before any further funding could be considered. Harmon said Pipeline has told him that they are “committed to both hospitals and I take them at their word. Though the closing of Westlake is still fresh in people’s mind.” Pipeline purchased three Chicago area hospitals from Tenet Healthcare in 2018 – West Sub, Weiss on the city’s north side and

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM Westlake in Proviso Township. It promised to continue operating all three but reneged on that pledge and quickly closed Westlake. State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-8th) said he has been told the state has effectively ended discussions with Pipeline over additional funds. “My understanding is that the hospital is reporting that they are so far in the hole and the governor has refused to help them with the money they need to stay open,” said Ford, who added he received that information from a lobbyist in Springfield. Ford served on the board of West Suburban Medical Center, but he resigned after its acquisition by Pipeline Health. In a Sept. 4 statement to Wednesday Journal, a spokesperson for Pipeline said the company is still in talks with Governor J.B. Pritzker and other elected officials seeking additional financial support. Pipeline’s statement reads: “We have been in discussions and continue to be with the Governor’s office and other elected officials about obtaining supplemental funding for services at West Suburban. As a safety net hospital serving an 85 percent African American and Hispanic

Westlake closing caused West Sub worries The closure of Westlake Hospital immediately prompted worries that West Suburban would follow suit. On Sept. 11, 2019, former Westlake employees filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Pipeline, claiming the company violated the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act by not providing notice of termination to more than 500 Westlake employees at least 60 days in advance. “Pipeline Health’s flagrant manipulation of the system endangers not only the former patients and employees of Westlake Hospital, but also everyone in the Chicago and Oak Park communities, especially those that currently rely on Weiss and West Suburban for health care and employment,” the lawsuit claimed. The lawsuit also accused Pipeline of creating a shell company “for the sole purpose of acquiring -- and then immediately closing -- Westlake Hospital” as part of a strategy developed to benefit Pipeline’s investors, despite Pipeline officials telling the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board that the Westlake would stay open for at least two years after the purchase. A complaint filed Nov. 11, 2019, stated that Pipeline hospital had no interest in operating Westlake and decided to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead of spending the money to run the hospital. The class-action lawsuit is still pending, according to attorney Ari Scharg of Edelsen PC, who is representing the for-

mer Westlake employees. The class-action lawsuit is just one in a string of lawsuits filed against Pipeline. After Pipeline reneged on the promise to keep Westlake open, the village of Melrose Park filed a state lawsuit on March 7, 2019 accusing the company of “fraud” and “conspiracy.” The village of Melrose Park filed a second lawsuit against Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board and Pipeline, challenging the board’s decision to approve the closure of Westlake. Scharg represented Melrose Park in both cases. Pipeline agreed to pay the village of Melrose Park $1.5 million to settle the two lawsuits. Scharg has represented parties with grievances against Pipeline in four different lawsuits, including the filing of two whistleblower cases, wherein Pipeline terminated the employment of people providing information about Westlake’s closure to Melrose Park. The whistleblower cases were dismissed by agreement of the parties. Scharg has also represented five former Westlake employees in front of the National Labor Relations Board. A closure of West Suburban Medical Center, Scharg said, would be “terrible.” “Their whole thing with closing Westlake was that West Sub is so close and that there’s not going to be any absence of healthcare options in the area because of the proximity of West Sub,” Scharg told Wednesday Journal.

Oak Park, confirmed those discuspatient population and with approximately 40 percent of sions but called them exploratory our patients on Medicaid, and said “no formal arrangement” this support is critical to our would follow. Rather, he said, West ability to continue to serve Sub might be added to the mix of as a lifeline for the commudischarge options its staff considnity. As the COVID-19 crisis ers for Rush patients. continues to discriminately Ford raised questions about Pipeinfect these historically line’s plans. underserved communities, “The question is, where is the supplemental funding could commitment [from Pipeline]?” DON HARMON not come at a more critical State Senate president he asked. “Are they committed to time.” being all about profit or are they The Pipeline statement for about making sure they provide the first time identifies West Sub as a “safehigh-quality health care for the patients that ty net hospital,” an official designation althey serve?” lowing added state and federal funding. The Ford worries the impact the hospital’s mix of patients, largely what percentage are possible closure will have on Chicago’s Auscovered by Medicaid, distinguishes a safety tin neighborhood. net facility from a more typical community “This is devastating for the Austin comhospital. munity, because many gunshot victims go When contacted, Pipeline Health co-owner Eric E. Whitaker refused to comment on there,” Ford said. “This big corporate organization has the status of West Suburban. Pipeline Chief come in and bought hospitals in high-poverStrategy Officer BJ Krech said he is “not ty areas or areas that serve high-needs paaware of any pending closure of West Sub.” tients with Medicaid and patients without “The only thing closing that I’m aware of insurance,” said Ford. “And they’ve closed with Oak Park hospitals is the closure of the skilled nursing unit at Rush Oak Park,” them down.” Ford compared Pipeline officials to venKrech said. ture capitalists, believing Pipeline acquired Krech said he’d been in discussions with Rush Oak Park on a potential collaboration the three hospitals for the purpose of asset between the two hospitals regarding care co- stripping. “They’re those people that buy businesses ordination as Rush, pending state approval, and then they bankrupt them,” Ford said. will transition that unit out of service. Dan Haley contributed to this report. Bruce Elegant, longtime head of Rush

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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oakpark.com/real-estate email: buphues@wjinc.com

Homes

Stronger than a storm Oak Park neighbors are there when you need them By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

all it a thunderstorm, call it a derecho, call it what you will, but whatever blew through the Chicago area on Monday, Aug. 10 was surprising in its intensity. According to Oak Park Public Works, the storm hit the village around 4 p.m. and left more than 40 trees and large limbs blocking roadways, four trees on houses, 12 trees on vehicles and eight traffic signals without power. Initially, over 40 locations in the village were without power, and by Friday, Aug. 14, nine village locations were still without power, leaving 76 households affected. Unfortunately, the 700 block of North Grove Avenue was one of the locations that lost power. Fortunately, however, this block has been through plenty of storms together. With neighbors reaching out to neighbors,

they took it all in stride and made sure that everyone was safe, had emergency power and, perhaps most importantly, found a spot to charge their phones. Joe Raschke has lived on what he calls the lucky side of the block for almost 25 years. The west side of the block doesn’t lose its power during strong storms, but the east side is not so lucky. According to Raschke, the other side loses power frequently. “It happens every year for a couple of hours, and then every other year, it happens for a few days,” Raschke said. Over the years, Raschke says he and other neighbors have reached out to ComEd about the issue. It seems the east side of the street has a connection that runs from Chicago Avenue all the way to North Avenue, which resulted in that entire location being without power during the latest storm. The west side has a newer connection at Kenilworth Avenue that helps keep the lights on. Raschke says that over the years, the block has developed a sharing mentality, and now whenever there’s a power outage, extension cords stretch from west to east side, with See NEIGHBORS on page 19

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

PLUGGED IN: Whenever there’s a bad storm that knocks out power to one side of the block, those on the “lucky” side of the 700 block of North Grove lend a hand to their unlucky neighbors by stringing extension cords across the street. It’s made the block a close-knit group.

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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GRAND SPRAWLING HOME with an abundance of interior and exterior living areas. 5 BRs, upstairs laundry, 3 full & 1 half BAs, 3 fireplaces, full basement with recreation room. Grand two story family room incorporated into an open plan kitchen. Hardwood floors throughout main level. ............................................ $815,000

CITY LIVING CONVENIENCE in a charming village atmosphere. This large Cape Cod is not a drive-by. Ten large rooms with four bedrooms, four full baths, and a huge 1st-floor family room with a wet bar. Three-season room, and a kitchen with 42” oak cabinets. .............................................................................. $575,000

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LOVELY BRICK HOME offers wonderful space with beautiful views of the spectacular lot! Original details with two story foyer and hardwood floors throughout. This elegant home is beautifully constructed and large enough to accommodate family and friends for years to come..............................................................................................$1,299,000 BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC HOME offers everything for today’s modern living. Custom-built home has the highest quality finishes. No detail was missed. Brick and stone exterior, wrap-around porch, eleven-foot ceilings and oversized windows. LL has 2,000 feet of living area............ ........................................................................................................$1,295,000 MAGNIFICENT CERNY ENGLISH TUDOR Is a spacious home that offers quality and stunning details throughout. Bright and open floor plan with great flow of grand sized rooms. Offers 5 bedrooms, 3 full/1 half baths. This home is a rare gem --- vintage flair with exceptional upgrades.............................................................................$1,249,000 ELEGANT CRAFTSMANSHIP can be found throughout this 5 BR French Normandy home. Sophistication is evident from the moment you walk in the door. Impressive foyer, formal LR with fireplace and built-in benches, family room, separate formal DR, updated kitchen, home office. .................................................................................$1,100,000 LOVELY SPLITLEVEL HOME offers newly refreshed contemporary style and wonderful space. Home offers three bedrooms, three brand new bathrooms, beautiful front entryway, vaulted ceiling family room, sunroom, game room, deck, spectacular backyard, attached two-car garage............................................................................... $599,000 LOVELY BUNGALOW offers wonderful space for family and entertaining. Original details blend seamlessly with all the current updates. Four BRs and 3 updated full baths on each level. Kitchen opens to family room. Full finished bsmt offers rec room, laundry area, bar & wine storage ................................................................................................... $569,000 LOVELY CENTER ENTRANCE COLONIAL offers wonderful space! Deep lot, large deck, and original details throughout the home. Features include large living room, sunny sitting room, hardwood floors, updated kitchen, family room, full finished basement, and a two-car garage...............................................................................$448,800

OAK PARK HOMES

1224 N EUCLID • OAK PARK

CHARACTER & CHARM throughout this home! The living room features a wood-burning fireplace and built-in cabinetry, a large dining room, neat and clean basement, privacy fence. Delightful and well-maintained home in a great location, OP’s popular and desirable FLW district. ........................................................ $376,500

RIVER FOREST HOMES

FRENCH COUNTRY ESTATE built for flexible living. Fully renovated and expanded to preserve the feel and charm of a 1946 home, with all the conveniences of modern amenities and finishes. Sits on a private, double lot. Large pool, 5 BRs w/BAs, 2nd Fl laundry, private office, finished basement. ...........................................................$1,749,950 BURMABUILT BUHRKE HOUSE combines Tudor revival & chateau style architecture elements. Gorgeous décor and impeccable attention to detail and care found in house and landscaped grounds, extends to fabulous in ground pool and patios. Perfect for entertaining. ................................................................................................$1,650,000 STATELY SOUTHERN COLONIAL blends old world craftsmanship with elegant modern updates ideally located. Grand foyer, elegant LR with fireplace, recently remodeled gourmet kitchen, mudroom, family room, large basement with den/office. Meticulously maintained and ready to move in. ........................................................................ $1,599,000 STUNNING FRENCH NORMANDY house that has been remodeled and refinished from top to bottom. New wiring, plumbing, hvac, all floors, generator, roof work, and more. Just drop in your furniture and enjoy, from the fantastic front entrance all the way to the basement. .............................................................................................$1,398,000

THREE STORY GRAND VICTORIAN on 100 x 218 lot in the heart of the Frank Lloyd Wright district. This estate features 6 Bedrooms, 2 Full baths, 3 fireplaces, many historic details including double front entry doors sourced from the Historic Pullman Estates section of Chicago. ...........................................................................................$650,000 BEAUTIFUL SIDE ENTRANCE COLONIAL with 4 BRs, 2 full & 1 half baths features a spacious center family room, cooks’ kitchen with mud room, gas fireplace, built-in shelving & art glass windows. Beautiful woodwork & hardwood floors throughout. Finished LL. Front & back heated walkway. ............................................................... $639,000 CLASSIC OAK PARK HOME on a large corner lot in the Harrison Arts district. This four BR, three BA home boasts four levels of living space. Tall ceilings, hardwood floors, vintage leaded glass windows, updated kitchen with breakfast bar. Finished 3rd floor, newly finished basement........................................................................................ $549,000 TURN KEY LIVING awaits you in the 3 BR, 2 bath ranch all made up and ready to go! All new stainless steel appliances and granite counters highlight the twenty foot long eat-in kitchen. The expansive finished lower level practically doubles the size of the living space. Two car garage. ..............................................................................................$314,900 DUTCH COLONIAL with rehab already started, already gutted. Originally 2 bedrooms, but now open to new floor plan and added bedrooms and baths. Could be a flip or a great home to live in. ............. ............................................................................................................$185,000

ELMWOOD PARK HOMES

BRICK HOME on a beautiful block! Move-in condition with an open floor plan, this four-bedroom, four-bathroom house checks all the boxes. New white cabinet kitchen with Granite counters and stainless appliances, 2 fireplaces, LL family room, large deck, swimming pool.... ............................................................................................................$524,950

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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NEIGHBORS

Shoulder to shoulder from page 17 neighbors powering neighbors until there’s a fix. Raschke says that the houses on the west side all have outdoor outlets and plenty of extension cords ready to go. A few weeks ago, there were eight cords stretched across the block. Over time, Raschke says people’s priorities have changed. “Usually, people want to plug in their refrigerators and freezers,” Raschke said. “Often, they’re charging their computers now, too.” What hasn’t changed is the old hands inviting the new neighbors to participate. Raschke acknowledges that those who are new to the block may not feel comfortable asking for help, so he and a few others make sure they know how the system works. “We let them know it’s OK to do it indefinitely,” he said. “It’s pennies on the dollar. Why buy a generator?” Neighbor Steven Bankes, who has lived on the block for 17 years says he’s not sure when the tradition started, but says, “Now, as soon as it looks like a storm is coming, we grab extension cords. Newer neighbors might feel awkward about asking, so Joe and I will go out and broker these connections for them.” Merritt Kahan is one of those newer

neighbors. She recalls moving onto the block about two years ago and wondering why there were so many long extension cords left in the garage by the previous owners. She says that during the recent storm, she got a text from a neighbor saying “as soon as the storm is over, we’ll get you plugged in.” And just like that, her house was up and running. She credits the Raschkes with setting up a socially distanced internet café on their front porch the morning after the storm. A coffee maker and power strips on the front porch allowed neighbors to charge their phones and get a caffeine fix. The Berman and Brotman house on the block set up their own internet café in their yard, letting those who needed Wi-Fi access to work from home sit in their lawn, and Kahan says the complimentary tray of seltzer water was just another way her neighbors go above and beyond. No one ever expects payback for the favor, but Kahan says the most houses have established a way to say thank you. “Everybody has a different thank you gift,” Kahan said. “We went to the Daly Bagel, the Bankes did wine. Another family got black and white cookies. It feels so good, there’s reciprocity for sure.” For Kahan, this neighborliness is what makes Oak Park special, and she notes the feeling transcends the occasional power outage. She points out that Bankes created a “conversation curb” in his front yard years ago to watch his kids. The spot has now become a neighborhood

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

CLOSE KNIT: From left, Liam Neuman, Merritt Kanan, Zachary Neuman and Alex Neuman hang out outside on Thursday, Sept. 3, outside at the “conversation curb” on the 700 block of North Grove Avenue. gathering spot. “Most people put their fire pit in the backyard; he put it in the front,” Kahan said. “It’s a good, socially distanced place to gather.” Bankes says that the spot has proved popular during the pandemic. “It’s something kind of uniquely Oak Park,” Bankes said. “Because of the proximity of the houses, people tend to share more

now. You kind of want to see your neighbors.” Kahan agrees. “I know everybody in Oak Park thinks they have the best block in Oak Park, but we definitely feel that way,” she said. “In a crisis, everyone is so helpful. There’s so much camaraderie and neighbors helping neighbors.”

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

VIEWPOINTS

My bout with COVID p. 25

What’s in a name?

hat does the name “Donald J. Trump” represent? D is for Democracy that has been severely damaged during the Trump administration by his demonic drive to establish a dictatorship and a Trump Dynasty. In this pursuit, the needs of our nation have been sadly neglected. O is for the Oath of the Presidential Office and pledging support for our Constitution, which has not been honored by Trump who appointed felonious associates and advisors whom he promised to pardon if they were indicted in pursuit of executing his illegal plans. To date, eight have been indicted. Trump’s response to these arrests has been a shower of obscenities against the prosecutors and judges. N is for Trump’s Narcissism, which is on full display when he substitutes his “knowledge” for the knowledge of educators and medical, scientific and legal experts. In addition to confusing folks about what is truth and what is fiction, he has eliminated many of the past programs that helped protect our environment and natural resources. Also, he does not believe in climate change. A is for Trump’s Alienation of our allies and various alliances which he accomplished by abandoning treaties such as the Paris Accord and the Iran Nuclear Peace Treaty. His blustering, negative language has made him and our nation a laughing stock around the world. In contrast to this uncooperative behavior, he has abused his Presidential authority with his devotion and loyalty to Russia. He has allowed and encouraged Russia to interfere with our elections. It is both puzzling and frightening that Trump has honored and believed Russia’s word over that of the U. S. Intelligence community and their investigative reports. L is for Lying which is his native language. This non-stop behavior is directly out of Hitler’s playbook. “Lie loudly and often and the lie will become truth to the listener.” Additionally, he uses insulting, dishonest language against women. Trump’s tweets of exaggeration and accusation, lack truth and have chipped away at our country’s established laws, resulting in chaos and questioning of what to believe. D is for Trump’s Disgusting Dirty Deals in his greedy effort to get money for his Dynasty. He pursued illegal actions seemingly without concern because he believed, as sitting President, he could not be indicted or his personal use, so he fraudulently took funds that had been contributed to his charitable foundation, his election campaign, and his failed university. (Some folks sued about these absconded college funds, but the cases were quickly settled and hushed.) J is for Justice, a word that is meaningless to Trump. Much of our Justice Department has been impacted by Trump’s corruption, causing many directors to leave their posts. Attorney General Barr has been a willing collaborator with Trump, justifying his unconstitutional actions. To help himself in his re-election effort, Trump even tried to blackmail the Ukrainian President, withholding delivery of Congressional authorized military equipment, desperately needed by the Ukraine, in his efforts to get their cooperation.

HARRIET HAUSMAN One View

See HAUSMAN on page 30

Echo Theater Collective board president Cheryl Lynn Tomblin

What is the solution?

feel that I have spent the majority of my life passing through only semi-aware of the color of my skin. I grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, south Maywood, and went to Proviso East High School where the halls were full of Black and Brown kids trying to figure out their next steps. I remember hearing about friends of friends getting shot. Some gang-related, some police-related. I remember believing I wasn’t “that type” of Black person. I remember how worried my mother was anytime my brother didn’t come home. I remember when I helped her bail him out of jail with the money I saved working as a summer camp counselor at our local park district. I remember being told that I wasn’t “really” Black because of the music I listened to, the clothes I wore, or the guys I dated. I remember believing that was true. I believed that if you wanted to succeed then you would. Simple. Get good grades in school, keep away from drugs, don’t have a kid before you’re ready. This was my mantra through high school and college. And if I did all these things, I would have a life worth living. When I would hear about younger kids getting shot, my mind was wired to think that they were somewhere they shouldn’t have been. I attributed the constant presence of police in our neighborhood to gangs and/or drugs, or living in a bad area. I remember being blind. I moved out of Maywood and eventually settled in the relatively mixed community of Berwyn, just a few towns over. Occasionally, I still travel through Maywood, and almost 20 years later I notice that not much

has changed. Many businesses such as daycares, restaurants, and stores have closed down. Maywood has no grocery store. It is a food desert. And the first question I ask myself is “Why?” The second question I ask is “Who is to blame?” And lastly I ask, “What is the solution?” As if things weren’t bad enough for such a community, the coronavirus pandemic opened a can of worms that had been sitting on the shelf of this nation, stewing for centuries, waiting to explode. It showed that government mechanisms such as our welfare, Social Security, and health care systems, along with this nation’s ideologies on race, policing, housing, and education, are rife with a disparity that only supports the haves. Meanwhile, the voices of the have-nots have been squelched to the point of docility and complacency for far too long. Many of us, myself included, now fully see how the slave revolts of the 1700-1800s, the Civil Rights Movement of the ’60s, and the marches of the ’90s did not solve the racial conflict that still exists in this 21st century. The killing of George Floyd was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. It’s what made that can of stewing worms finally explode. And now, instead of trying to put those worms back in the can and placing it back on the shelf to ignore for another 50 or 100 years, we need to deal with them, and we need to deal with them together. We cannot stay blind and silent any longer, thinking that the socio-economic discord

CHERYL LYNN TOMBLIN One View

See TOMBLIN on page 30

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

O U R

V I E W S

An unstable West Sub

est Suburban Medical Center is an institution in Oak Park, in Austin, in River Forest. Founded on Austin Boulevard in 1912, West Sub was a vital player in each of these communities. It remained an independent community hospital with a strong and earned reputation for 82 years. But starting in the 1990s, pressures began to mount on standalone community hospitals and West Sub’s independent board sold it off to Loyola Hospital. A culture clash, tied in real ways to Loyola’s Catholic heritage, made this a bad match and, remarkably, a few years later West Sub regained its independent status. That didn’t last long. Over the past 20 years West Sub has cycled through four ownerships. Resurrection. Vanguard. Tenet. And now Pipeline. For profit. Nonprofit. Catholic. Sectarian. Leadership has come and gone. It was just two years ago that California-based Pipeline Health bought Tenet’s lonely three hospital outpost in Chicago. It quickly reneged on its promise to maintain all three when it closed nearby Westlake Hospital. And in that process, Pipeline shed a good bit of whatever limited credibility it had. Today we report that Pipeline has its hand out in Springfield looking for a special cash supplement which its vague public statement implies is vital to its future operations. This from a now two-hospital group which has already collected $44 million in special funding from state and federal government during this COVIDwracked year. We hear conflicting messages over whether West Sub has a shot at additional state funding. Depending on who we are talking with, negotiations with Gov. J.B. Pritzker are ongoing or they are dashed. It should become clear in the weeks ahead. Is Pipeline playing chicken with the suggestion it might not survive? Too soon to tell. What is clear is that West Sub is not in a stable position. Too many owners. Too much stress on health care. And roots which are withering in its home communities.

Into winter We lurch toward solutions these days, inventing and collaborating in the face of this uncontrolled illness. Nowhere has that been more apparent than with our restaurants. From the depths of March’s despair with full closure of all indoor dining, resourceful villages and eatery entrepreneurs remade themselves in spruced up and protected parking lanes and parking lots. Now fall is almost here, COVID exposure is rising anew, very few diners want to sit inside a restaurant, and so the danger to our independent local spots is accelerating. We seem to have a dining-out plan through Halloween (though we still need a plan for Halloween). After that how many layers might diners put on to eat hot soup in the cold? Does a tented parking lot with flaps and heaters feel open enough for our comfort? Time for more reinvention — or before next spring arrives we’ll be permanently missing many of our favorite and defining local restaurants.

V I E W P O I N T S

A grand, grandboys summer

‘W

ash your hands,” I say for dinosaurs, you insisted you saw a real dinothe 20th time. It’s important. saur on a skateboard. Bryce lives in a world of There’s a dangerous virus reality inflation. loose. Despite the heat and the noon-day sun Tyler sweeps past, shaking (sorry, “star”), we were not about to go inside his head with dramatic flair. “It’s unapprountil Tyler caught something. After many, priate to wash our hands.” many nibbles and strikes that got away, Tyler Every time we’ve been together this past finally landed his sunfish. Amid much mersummer, there has been a moment or two to riment and high-fives, we proclaimed, “Let’s commit to memory. So I keep my notebook have lunch!” which did not include fish. handy. As we washed our hands (no longer unapBryce composes a song called “Mr. Sticker.” propriate since they were covered in fish “Hi, I’m Mr. Sticker. I put stickers everyslime), I congratulated Tyler on his persiswhere. I put them on satellites. I put them on tence. Tyler, who tends to speak in polished trees and plants. I put ’em on houses and cars. sound bites, said, “Never giving up is always I put ’em everywhere, even on lamps, even on the right choice.” couches and boxes and people too. I put ’em on “Did somebody tell you that?” food. I put ’em on pillows, on Play Doh. I put ’em on butts. “I figured it out on myself,” he replied. The End.” Catchy. This summer we had much fun with the Slip ’n’ Slide We discuss the upcoming seasons in their backyard — them and their favorite parts of each: splashing, me soaking it all Fall – Their birthday, leaf piles, in from my deck chair — Halloween until our penultimate day Winter – Snow, Christmas, sledtogether when they sprayed ding me with the hose although I Spring – Not too hot, not too cold, explicitly warned them not just right. Flowers, but not freshto. I responded like any oldercut grass (Bryce says he’s allergic) but-wiser, doting, nonviolent Summer – Beaches and lakes, ice grandfather would — I and ice cream, shade grabbed the hose and sprayed Our trip to Brookfield Zoo is a the bejeebers out of them. great success because they manage Then, as they ran screaming to talk Papa Ken into buying them around to the other side of a giraffe and dolphin — but not just the house for cover, I filled any “stuffies.” These are connected the spent Super-Soaker and via a harness to a stick so they can mercilessly hunted them take them for walks. down. Their soldier/police On the drive home, Tyler says, officer dad would have been “Bryce, are you thinking what proud — and laughed his PHOTO BY RAY HEISE I’m thinking?” I feel like I’m in an butt off. Tyler reels it in, with advice from Bryce. episode of Pinky and the Brain. On our last day together, Bryce, I’m relieved to report, canthey came to Oak Park. not read his mind. First order of business “My dolphin is going to live in Africa,” Tyler explained, was pancakes, so we revisited our memorial booth at “in a pond next to your giraffe.” Well, at least he’s not tryGeorge’s. They haven’t installed the plaque, yet, but I’m ing to take over the world. sure it’s coming. At my place, the boys plundered my One morning I point to where two planets have been visPlay Doh stash for old time’s sake, then we visited with ible all summer in the southern sky from their back deck, Daddy via Zoom — all the way from Camp Lemmonier “when the stars come out.” in Djibouti, Africa, where he is serving his country in Tyler points to the sun shining through the trees to the ways I can’t even imagine. east as it climbs the blue vault and says, “There’s already But the real combat was on our side of the world as the a star out.” boys got into one of their periodic tussles. Mom admonThat day we visited their buddy Serafina and her ished Tyler for retaliating, and he put up the usual deGrandpa Ray in LaGrange, which includes a pond stocked fense, “But he did it to me first!” Bryce, off to the side, said with fish. As I bait their hooks with night crawlers, I (sotto voce), “Treat people like you want to be treated.” can’t help noticing that worms clearly feel pain when you I was about to ask, “Where’d you hear that?” and then impale them on a hook, a fact that somehow escaped me I remembered. He heard it from me in one of our many when I was 12 and last baited hooks on a regular basis. post-conflict conferences. The things we do for love … and new experiences. I was overwhelmed. He remembered something I said. Serafina caught something almost every time she put The Golden Rule. He doesn’t live by it, but he has it comher line out. That’s how charismatic she is. She landed mitted to memory. It’s a start. Rare are the moments when a large-mouth bass, a catfish and four sunfish. Bryce we can catch a glimmer of possibility that we might have caught a catfish and a sunfish but insisted his haul totaled had some impact. Something to cherish as I regretfully go on a temporary three. Ray documented each with a photo, however, so the hiatus, now that the boys are back in school, in-person. evidence is against him, but he received praise for showI’m at an at-risk age, COVID-wise, and I want to see how ing great promise as an angler — with his natural gift for all this settles out before I return. I hate pulling back, but exaggeration. I’m trying to be smart. Like a cat pinning down a flopping fish, Bryce asks, In the meantime, we will Zoom. “What does exaggeration mean?” Well, it’s like the time With my notebook handy. we went to the zoo and after seeing all the animatronic

KEN

TRAINOR

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

by Marc Stopeck

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

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

Growing Community Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf

My bout with COVID-19: Stupid gets as stupid does

s a 68-year old male with an underlying medical condition (mild high blood pressure) I made a point of taking all COVID-19 precautions seriously. Social distancing, hand and surface hygiene and, most importantly, wearing a mask. I’d educated myself on the known realities of COVID-19, was smart, disciplined and aware. And from March 16, when I flew back from Guatemala ahead of the world closing down, till early August, it worked. Then I got, in a word, stupid. I had looked both ways before stepping off curbs, so to speak, thousands of times, only to forget once. I didn’t wear a mask during a 30-minute car trip to and from a winery in Michigan in early August and, bam!, 96 hours later I had COVID-19. Back home on Wednesday, Aug. 19, I suddenly felt very tired, with mild but persistent labored breathing and a frustrating dry cough. No fever or headache, but absolutely no energy either. Three days later, I realized I couldn’t smell or taste food. A few days after that, my nephew’s girlfriend came back positive, and the next day my sister-in-law tested positive. My brother, who did not accompany us to the winery, tested negative, as did the other two people in our vacation party. I wish I could tell you what I was thinking, but the truth is, I wasn’t thinking. And I’m paying for it.

Two weeks after the first symptoms, I developed a fever for the first time. It went from 99.6 to 100.4 over three hours. Acetaminophen brought it back down to 99.6. This is scary stuff, being at once able to breathe in slowly and fully, yet not making a difference in my energy level. My routine settled into water, rest, sleep, monitor symptoms and take acetaminophen at night. My doctor referred to the many variables related to COVID as “nebulous,” but he stressed hydration, and monitoring my temperature and blood oxygen. After feeling better this past Monday and Tuesday, I went shopping for basic necessities. After all, the nurse from the IDPH had told me, under their protocols, I was considered “off quarantine” as of Aug. 31. Wrong. I don’t care what someone from the state or local health department tells you, if you have any symptoms at all, stay home, stay down, and rest. Because Tuesday night it all went to hell and I felt worse than at any time since the second day of my COVID symptoms: 101 degree fever, heavy fatigue, and a largely unproductive cough. My concern now is not that I’ll die, or even be hospitalized. My fears are of potential damage to my lungs and heart. This virus has killed dozens of firefighters

BILL DWYER One View

See DWYER on page 31

Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@ wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

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ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $38 within Cook County and $45 outside of Cook County. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il 60302. © 2020 Growing Community Media, NFP.

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

emai: LWVOPRF1924@gmail.com

A PUBLIC FORUM FOR OUR VILLAGES A VIRTUAL EVENT

Wednesday, Sept. 16th 7:00 – 8:30pm

Reimagining Policing Constructive Community Solutions

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Christian Harris

Business Owner and Director, Oak Park Library Board

Colleen Sutkus

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Anita Pindiur

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Improving community safety in part depends on how well residents and professionals can together develop a renewed vision of best practices and invest in its development. In a better world, what would you like to see, and what will it take?

Way Back Inn and Grateful House, Maywood

Sharon Welch

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Maximalist demands are self-defeating

We write to express strong support for Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb and our dismay at the harassment and vandalism he and his family experienced during a recent virtual village board meeting. While in their own home, they faced a crowd estimated by Wednesday Journal as 100 individuals. We were pleased that the misguided resolution on defunding the Oak Park police was debated and then defeated during this meeting. We applaud Anan’s eloquent closing remarks. As a nation and as a village, we should support and strengthen our democratic government institutions and use these to address the pressing issues we face, including racism and the need for police reform and accountability.

Abandoning these institutions and processes to the vocabulary and theater of maximalist demands is a mistake. It is not what we expect of mature political leaders. Treating our representatives as we would never wish to be treated ourselves, trespassing on and destroying their property, and seeking to intimidate them has no place in the U.S. or in Oak Park. The issue is not placing property or tranquility over human lives. It is recognizing that how we treat each other in the public sphere translates directly and powerfully into how we value the lives of our fellow Americans.

Mark and Evelyn Segal

Oak Park

How to replace the VMA I read Doug Wyman’s letter on a candidate running for village president as a Democrat and found his narrow argument to have a logic flaw [Do we want a Democratic president of the village? Viewpoints, Sept. 2]. If the Democratic Party of Oak Park aspired to take over village government, it’s not necessary to run candidates as Democrats. The norm in many suburbs is to have a local political party not named “Democrat” or “Republican” and run machine politics through that party. Conversely, candidates who seek to get on the ballot as a “Democrat” or a “Republican” don’t particularly build the power of DPOP or whatever the GOP has going on these days. It’s a technical matter of getting on the ballot. Wyman misses the Village Manager Association system. While I have some criticisms of it, the VMA had good points. But being mad at candidates getting on the ballot as Democrat or Republican is not going to bring back the VMA. The VMA served three main functions: 1) It screened candidates. 2) It provided training, a crash course on public policy from the Village of Oak Park perspective. 3) It provided the campaign infrastructure to get

candidates elected. I propose that some combination of citizens, taxing bodies & perhaps UIC create a nonprofit institute that trains candidates before they run for office, to provide a similar function to the VMA. People who aspire to run for office could then pay to take courses to prepare themselves to serve as elected officials in municipal government, township government, school districts, park districts, library boards, etc. My vision is that this would be available as at least online courses across Illinois. This seems sufficiently politically neutral to justify spending a modest amount of taxpayer money to support the institute. The hope would be that having better prepared elected officials would improve the quality of services (and maybe save some money). And I would also hope that having a formal training process would lower the barrier for women and people of color to run as elected officials. I doubt the VMA is going to rise like a phoenix. But replacing the functions of the VMA might be worth the time, energy and money it takes to create something new.

Carl Nyberg Chicago

Help restaurants, wait on construction

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I was so pleased to see the village helping restaurants by giving them increased outdoor space. Now to hear that they are going to begin construction on a block of Lake Street earlier than previously announced and are limiting the time for outdoor dining all over is very disappointing. If it will be too

cold to do construction later, put it off until next year. If the costs are a bit higher, think about the lost tax revenue when businesses close for good. New sidewalks are not a crisis; the virus is.

Joyce Porter Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

a u o y e r A ? t s i t r a l a c o l ONLINE & IN PRINT

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

V I E W P O I N T S

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Where was WJ’s coverage of the ‘mob’?

Am I the only one who thinks it strange that Wednesday Journal, our “local” source of news, did not publish the very disturbing photo available from Mayor Anan Abu Taleb of his yard after it had been trashed by youthful self-styled revolutionaries on Aug. 25 — and even more disturbing, failed to editorially chastise their actions. But not to fear. The Oak Leaves, our other source of local news did publish the photo on the cover of their Sept. 3 issue along with a lengthy and well-balanced article. Even more embarrassing, is the publication of the same photo on the editorial page of the

Sept. 3 issue of the Chicago Tribune accompanied by a blistering editorial condemning the actions of this mob. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, Wednesday Journal had neither the picture nor the words.

Jean Guarino

Oak Park Editor’s note: Photos of the damage were included in Viewpoints, p. 25, along with several letters about the protest. Editorials by Michael Romain (p. 3) and Dan Haley (p. 5) directly addressed the protest.

What a drag

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What a dispiriting edition of the Wednesday Journal (Sept. 2). Few reading experiences could convey the dysfunction of Oak Park government so well. First was the report of protester misbehavior at the Mayor’s house, and Dan Haley’s commentary on the same. From this we learn just how divided and dysfunctional our village board is. The board cannot even agree among themselves to express disapproval of the protesters going into the Mayor’s yard and breaking pots and committing similar mischief. All of this was triggered by a proposal by Trustee WalkerPeddakotla to “defund” the police. The mayor blames this trustee for being behind the unruly protests and the trustee denies. This is just embarrassing. Next, we hear how restaurants in our village are struggling and how many are reliant on outdoor dining. I myself have marveled at how lively Lake Street just east of Oak Park Ave. is, with so many restaurants with outdoor seating. Finally, the village government has delivered! But no. We hear, for example, of Kettlestrings — a most pleasant place — which has been granted the privilege of keeping outdoor dining open until mid-November.

But no later! If the owners of that establishment are clever enough to attract outdoor diners later into the year, why not let them try? Surely, a motivated village government could find a way to deal with snow removal. The bad news from the village continues. That vibrant section of Lake Street? Those restaurateurs must close their outside seating by Sept. 8 because the village engineer previously scheduled street work after that date. Nothing later is possible, according to that same (unelected) engineer. (The engineer did offer to speak with the restaurateurs to clear up “confusion,” but not to compromise, and he apparently did not even do the former.) How many of these businesses will close for good and how many people will lose their jobs, all because village government and its engineer are not sufficiently motivated or clever to make all of this work? Our village government and bureaucrats have forgotten that the village exists to serve the residents. The residents do not exist to facilitate construction projects.

Jerry Bowman Oak Park

It’s time

It’s that time of the year when the evergreen branches in outside planters Have dried and are turning orange. Time takes its toll. The days are like dominos, one jostles another and they all fall down Sequentially. They fall like autumn leaves from a tree when the winter wind blows Or like pages being riffled in a book. Sometimes time seems suspended when nothing much is happening. Sometimes time is invisible when a person is engrossed and dimly aware Of passing minutes, hours and days. Finally to wake up and reenter the real world.

Joanne Selden Oak Park

V I E W P O I N T S

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‘Trickle Up’ can offset inequality

The wealthiest 20 Americans currently own as much as the bottom half of their country’s households taken together, and the top 1 percent of incomes account for about a fifth of the national total. This lopsided wealth distribution is a worldwide problem, and it is getting increasingly worse. Why? The November 2019 Scientific American article, “Is Inequality Inevitable?” explains a simple mathematical model called the “Yard Sale.” It shows that if you have, say, 1,000 people making business exchanges, and these trades include tiny mistakes in the trade value, then eventually one person ends up with all of the money. A “trickle up” of money forms to narrow wealth ownership. In our complex, internet world, I assume there are multitudes of these slightly unbalanced transactions. To counter this bug in capitalism, I suggest a simple framework based upon the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Every year each permanent Alaska resident receives a dividend from this fund. The amount has been around $1,000 per person per year since 1982. How do we get money into a national American Citizen Fund that will provide annual dividends to every American? We find the “Trickle Up” streams and take an equity percentage. This is not a tax that goes to the government. The money goes to a National American Citizen Investment Fund that pays dividends to all of us directly.

Robert Sullivan

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

Protesters’ actions hurt their cause Thoughts on destruction at the Mayor’s house Editor’s note: We are reprinting this letter, which ran in last week’s Viewpoints, because we inadvertently left off the name of one of the trustees. We regret the omission.

In their effort to show how little we need police protection, thugs/vandals destroyed property at Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb’s home. Do the vandals see the irony of their acts? So who would they call if their property or lives were in danger? Reviewing our funding priorities is a good idea. Outright defunding is not a thoughtful response. And vandalism just provides their opposition with scorn for their stance.

Shelly Uslenghi Oak Park

Democracy is at stake I wanted to tell Journal readers how much I appreciate reading the weekly commentary by Michael Romain. His column “A con as old as Jim Crow and older” in the Aug. 26 issue was an enlightening wake-up call about the illegalities surrounding voting that have occurred and may continue to occur without voter vigilance. Romain is justifiably outraged, and we all should be. Our democracy is truly at stake.

Mary Swiontoniowski Oak Park

Oak Park

The undersigned members of the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees condemn the acts of vandalism and property damage to the home of Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 25. A rally organized by the youth group ROYAL and by Freedom to Thrive took place in Fox Park near Mayor Abu-Taleb’s house at 6 p.m. on the evening the village board was set to discuss policing issues. In the midst of our meeting, protesters left the park and took the rally to the Mayor’s home, trespassed in his backyard, threw eggs at his house and extensively damaged his wife’s garden. They spray-painted graffiti on the public sidewalk and street. These actions prevented the Mayor and police chief from participating in the meeting which resulted in the meeting being adjourned. As a result, the police-reform initiatives up for discussion and progress have been stalled.

These actions damaged more than Mayor Abu-Taleb’s property and his family’s sense of security. ■ They disrupted the democratic process. ■ They discredit the protestors’ cause. ■ They dissuade people from running for office. ■ They cost the taxpayers money in requiring a police response and a public works response. We call on the young people who damaged the Mayor’s property to step forward and take responsibility for your actions. Political advocacy does not give you the right to commit crimes. We call on the adult organizers of this rally to take responsibility for their role in these actions and condemn vandalism, property damage and violence in all its forms. We further call on the adults to model peaceful protesting and productive methods for advocating for change when working with youth.

Trustee Deno Andrews Trustee Simone Boutet Trustee Susan Buchanan Trustee Dan Moroney Trustee Jim Taglia

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

TOMBLIN

Get involved from page 23 that exists in this nation doesn’t affect us because we go to the better school or live in the better neighborhood. We are all part of this problem. We all have to be a part of the solution. Of the questions I previously posed regarding my hometown of Maywood, the most important is “What is the solution?” I don’t have a concrete answer for that question, but one thing I do know is that the litany of Black men and women being killed by police officers; the billboard view of the systematic disenfranchisement and under-served black community; the national unrest due to our current president being devoid of leadership qualities, compassion and empathy for the citizens of this nation is starting to turn the tables of “common” thought. I want to think that the people of south Maywood are realizing they do not have to stay complacent about the governing of their town. That they realize their voices can make a difference and they must step up to that challenge of doing so. I am thinking differently and, of late, am not walking so discreetly through this veil of being “not that type of Black person.” I am every type of Black person because the systems that are in place in this nation can hold me back just like they can my neighbors in the town where I grew up. My heart goes out to all the families who have suffered the loss of a loved one or friend due to police violence and this raging pandemic. My spirit goes out to all of those people protesting in the streets and making their voices heard. They are the next generation fighting for the continued rights and liberties of the many.

HAUSMAN

Trump spells Trouble from page 23 This outrageous maneuvering by Trump led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives. Trump’s zombie Senate, which allowed no testimony or witnesses, permitted him to remain in office. Note: Trump’s view of justice and fairness is to appoint almost 200 federal judges to ensure court decisions in his favor. T is for Terrorizing immigrants. Using a plan of “hate and fear,” Trump called legal, asylum-seeking families “drug dealers, rapists, and criminals.” This hate was spewed mostly toward Black and Brown folks from Mexico, Central America and South America. He used his edict of “zero tolerance” to separate families. Approximately 2,500 children, ages 3 to 16, were orphaned, traumatized, and placed in cage-like enclosures

V I E W P O I N T S

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Q&A with Cheryl Lynn Tomblin How did you get involved with Echo Theater Collective? In January 2018, I was asked to compose the score for Echo’s production of Blues for Mister Charlie by then board president Matt Walters. I was immediately interested because of my musical background. I teach piano, guitar, violin and cello at the Friendly School of Music in Berwyn and private lessons (once in-home, now remote) in the Oak Park area. After meeting Maui Jones, Echo’s artistic director, and observing how impassioned he is about the work that Echo does, I became enlivened by what an organization like Echo would bring to Oak Park and the surrounding communities. In the fall of that year, Maui approached me about being board president. While working on Echo, we all exchanged a lot of personal history and discovered that we came from similar experiences, but each had our own unique journey that brought us to this place in time. I had to think about taking on such a commitment because of my personal life. I’m a single mother of a now 3½-year-old who has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus and, also, I work full time teaching music and working as account manager at Kagan & Gaines Music. My daughter’s schedule can get hectic with weekly OT/PT, doctor’s visits and just overall care. But ultimately, I said yes because I believed in the work Maui was doing and I believed I could contribute to that in some way. What inspired you to write this essay? When Maui asked me to write a letter I

said yes, hesitantly at first, because I’m not used to being so public about my personal life. Nor am I known for standing on a soap box to spout my political views. Politics and history have never been my strongest suit. There’s so much information that is constantly being uploaded into those subjects that it has always been challenging to keep up. But after President Trump was put in office, after people began to acknowledge that white privilege exists, after George Floyd was killed, I began to pay more attention. And started to get angry. And started to reflect on why these things were still happening and why certain communities seemed to be suffocating under the cloak of their own complacency. As I began reflecting on my journey to becoming a 37-year-old black woman, it was time for me to share my story. I hoped it would reach someone who felt the same way and felt held back because of it. My hope is that it might help transform someone into a person of action who wants to create a positive change in the world we live in. I think people are starting to pay attention. And the fact that these protests are still going on is because all too often throughout history, people — especially those unaffected by social injustice — start to forget. And we are tired of letting people forget. We are tired of people staying comfortable

while people of marginalized communities continue to go without. I’m tired of people thinking that going without is their baseline and that they aren’t able to achieve and deserve more. I’m tired of driving through the streets of Maywood and seeing that things haven’t changed. It honestly makes me say, “Maybe I’ll run for mayor and finally give this community what it needs.” Echo Theater Collective is not just a theater group. We are an organization of community action, with theater as our means of communication. We are not here to simply entertain you. We are here to inform. The opening night of Blues for Mister Charlie, I noticed that our audience was predominantly white. I remember standing next to an older Black Woman who asked, “Why aren’t there more of US here?” And that question has stayed with me. Now that we have moved to this online platform, I think we have popped the bubble that was sheltering Echo. And I love the direction we are heading in. Though Echo’s audience base originally started in the Oak Park community, we have reached so many others. And our message is getting to the ears of those who may have been sitting on the sidelines, acting and pantomiming through life, and forces them to get into the game and take action and make positive change.

Some of them may have, like me, thought that they were not “that kind” of Black person too. No matter the circumstances we’ve been born into and the vicissitudes we have individually had to overcome, we deserve the equalities that

will allow us to flourish as human beings. We deserve to have our voices heard and our stories told. I hope that these words find you well and that you choose to never sit on the sidelines. That you continue to tell and share

your story. But most importantly, that you continue to echo love. Cheryl Lynn Tomblin is the board president of Echo Theater Collective, P.O. Box 1645 in Oak Park. This essay first ran in the Echo Theater Collective newsletter.

while their non-criminal parents were either deported or incarcerated. As of reports dated July 31, 2020, there are still close to 200 children who have not been reunited with their parents. Note: T also stands for the Topsy-Turvey Tax amendment which Trump helped push through, providing tax breaks for insurance companies, large corporations, and the wealthiest 1% of our population. He “stuck” the middle class with paying the bill, but first offered them small checks to distract them from realizing the truth. R is for Racism, rampant in the Trump administration. Trump proudly announced his White Supremacy and White Nationalist views, but denied being a racist. His actions certainly refute this. He used raucous rhetoric against non-whites and ridiculed some religious practices. He bashes truth as “fake news” and has the Fox network cooperating with him. His rallies reinforce and stoke racism as a way to influence his supporters. Unfortunately, these folks are not true Republicans. They are “Trumpers,”

the Party of Trump. U is for Utilizing the role of the presidency for personal desires and gain. He undermined and intimidated opponents and used violence to control others. Out of another page from Hitler’s book, Trump has organized his own personal armed militia to harass protesters and civil rights marchers. His troops have also been used to interfere with problems individual cities have had, only to provoke more violence. M is for Manipulation. Trump is using any means possible to help him win another election. He had the Postmaster General replaced with one of his largest campaign donors. This Trump-supporting appointee slowed mail delivery, removed mail boxes, and sorting equipment was removed or mutilated, to disrupt the “Vote by Mail” system that Trump opposes. Additionally, Trump has tried to minimize the importance of the Census count. By insisting on some new rules and projecting fear concerning personal information disclosures, he hopes to limit funding for some states and possibly

even change their representative count. P is for the Pandemic that Trump has tried desperately to ignore, calling it a “simple virus” and a “Democratic Hoax.” The relentless path of this virus has perilously infected every area of the United States and the world. Trump’s cavalier attitude about the virus and his defiance and demeaning of sage advice and guidance offered by medical specialists and scientists were tragic mistakes. As a consequence, the risk of infections has increased; illness and death rates have mounted; our economy is in trouble; millions are out of work; and so many families are losing hope. Meanwhile, adding to this “Perfect Storm,” Trump is trying, in court now, to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, insuring almost 30 million Americans, at a time when their insurance is needed more than ever. Why is President Trump so perverse? Now that we’ve determined what the name “Donald J. Trump” represents, isn’t it about time we elect a president who will care about America and our diverse population?

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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A G I N G

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

Tired of being tired and wired

s this a Quentin Tarantino movie? The shooting of five African Americans at a South Side pancake house was the last straw for me, or so I thought. They were having Sunday brunch after church. OK, the Sunday ritual of going to church and then to a pancake house is not sacred, but it’s intensely normal, maybe even normative, as the sociologists would say. Screw that. They’re just lucky they weren’t shot inside a church. The intended victim, shot several times, was apparently holding a child. And the guns just keep pouring in to Chicago. Then I found out that the baby-faced teenager from Illinois who ran merrily down the street in Kenosha shooting and killing was driven there by his mother. My neck contracted an inch or two. I turned the channel when I saw photos of people cavorting in the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the recent commemoration of MLK’s March on Washington. I was at that march in 1963, too far back to see much, wearing a skirted suit, low heels and pantyhose, terrified of being arrested and losing my teaching job. Since then I’d lived in D.C. for a total of seven years. I never saw anybody in the reflecting pool. When I took my granddaughter to the Lincoln Memorial at night a few years ago, it was crowded but hushed. It hurts. About a month after the first “smash and grab” happened in the Loop, on Michigan Avenue and in the neighborhoods, I had to go downtown to Michigan Avenue for a doctor’s appointment. I took the el — against everyone else’s advice — but I wore a mask, and held a wipe in my hand, so that everything I touched was touched by the wipe. I got off at my usual stop, State and Lake, and began my favorite walk, Wabash to Wack-

er as it curves around to Michigan, and north on Michigan over the bridge. Everything about that bridge says Chicago, and I love that bridge (though I recently discovered it has carvings of a native American being killed by a white man). I passed the Wrigley Building and from there to Chicago Avenue, as far as I went, most windows were still boarded up, a month after the first looting. Big, beautiful stores and tiny boutiques, still boarded up. I asked someone why and he said, “I guess they’re prepared for the next time.” I was sure there wouldn’t be a “next time.” A month later I returned to the doctor. This time, following a second looting, the boardingup was more permanent and many stores had permanently closed. The big stores had created vestibules of boards outside their regular entrances. They were painted and professionally decorated with logos. You would have to pass through them to get to the regular inside door, and a looter would have to take precious time from mayhem to tear them down before getting around to smashing the store windows. This second looting was pure bullshit. Does anyone really think that a thousand-dollar handbag will make your life matter? If so, to whom? And why? There are people out there dying for you. Do you even know who John Lewis was? Do you know how hard we all worked to get Barack elected? Are you registered to vote? As my mother would say, “Get in town and buy a paper.” And while you’re at it, wear a mask. We have gone through so much and learned so much. I keep telling my grandchildren they’re living through history: the huge demonstrations around Black Lives Matter, the coronavirus, the mind-numbing behavior of the worst president the country has ever had. We’re very tired. And wired. And tired of being wired. At least I am.

MARY KAY O’GRADY

House Hunting?

What must be changed We need significant police changes to protect white and black villagers. We need to end qualified immunity and arbitration in contracts. We need to move some police finances into social workers who can deal with domestic disputes, mental illness and homelessness, so police are freed to focus on robberies and burglaries. Police must be thoroughly trained in de-escalation, and the use of lethal force must be restricted. We must prohibit the use choke holds.

Tom Ard

Oak Park

Don’t defund our police

There should not be any defunding of the Police Department. If funds are needed for social services, then the whole budget needs to be looked at or increased to fund the social services. No funds should be taken away from our police. We expect to re-

main as safe as is possible here in Oak Park. Most crime seems to be from people who do not live here!

DWYER

As I finish writing this piece on Friday, Sept. 4, I am feeling better than I’ve felt since I fell ill. After getting my symptoms update Friday, my doctor called movement of my symptoms “A pretty typical course.” He said the general medical wisdom is to quarantine until experiencing a day free of fever and cough. For me, he suggested three or four days free of fever or cough before rejoining the world. To those who haven’t contracted COVID-19, I have this to say; look both ways before stepping off the curb, every time, no exceptions. Because there’s a big old bus out there just waiting to run you over the moment you get stupid.

from page 25 and cops, not exactly your general image of “snowflakes.” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said he “had a rough go” battling COVID symptoms. Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez described his experience with covid-19 as feeling “like I was 100 years old.” Rodriguez continues to suffer from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. We’ll just have to wait and see in my case.

Carol Umlauf Oak Park

Emailed every Friday morning!

Find a Realtor. Find a home. Get a list of Open Houses. Every week, every day in

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

Mary Browne, 97 A life lived locally

Mary Agnes Browne (nee Kirsch), 97, a longtime resident of Oak Park, died on Aug. 21, 2020. Born in Syracuse, New York, on Oct. 16, 1922, her family moved to Oak Park in 1927 when she was 5 years old and she lived almost her entire life in the house her parents built on Woodbine Avenue. She attended Oak Park schools and Oak Park churches. She did two years at DePauw University before returning home to help take care of MARY BROWNE her father. She was an executive secretary at Marshall Field’s downtown store and loved working on the same floor as the restaurants and food section. She met her future husband, William (Bill) Browne at a church social, where he impressed her by fixing the record player. They nurtured a family and a business in Oak Park. In addition, Mary contributed her time and support to many local efforts, volunteering for school functions and PTA, as a member of the board at the Nineteenth Century Club (especially the Scholarship Committee), the Women’s Guild at the First Presbyterian Church, the Infant Welfare Society, the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Oak Park and River Forest Day Nursery, the Oak Park Country Club, Phi Sigma and others. She was “Mom” to four children; keeper of traditions; occasional gardener, handy with needles, thread and yarn; recounter of family history; household manager; a rock when someone was sick; creator of beautiful holiday tables; a talented baker; and competitive at Spoons, Chinese Checkers and Double Solitaire. She traveled with Bill to many foreign locations and was always happy to come home. Her favorite other place was Door County, Wisconsin, where she walked the beach, explored the peninsula, and spent time with her extended family.

O B I T U A R I E S She left behind good memories of a life well and graciously lived. Mary was the wife of the late William B.; the mother of Meredith Upward, Carolyn, J. Danforth (Carol), and Nancy (Frederick Herbine); grandmother of Benjamin (Jennifer), Andrew (Danielle), Stephen, Michael, Lauren and Quinn, and great-grandmother of Ryan, Gavin, Nolan, Conrad and Carolyn Claire. She was the daughter of Agnes Mackie Kirsch and James Lewis Kirsch, also of Oak Park. A private family service will be held, followed by internment at the First United Church of Oak Park Memory Garden. A larger celebration of Mary’s life may be held in the future. No flowers, thanks, but donations to the Ridges Nature Sanctuary (www.ridgessanctuary.org/donate) or the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association (www.nineteenthcentury.org/donate) are appreciated. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.

Jean Lena, 89

‘Operator Jean’ at West Sub Hospital Jean D. Lena (nee Riccio), 89, longtime resident of Oak Park, died on Aug. 28, 2020. Born in Chicago on July 27, 1931 to Eugene and Eulalia Riccio, she was proud of her 35+ years as a switchboard operaJEAN LENA tor at West Suburban Hospital, where she was known to many as “Operator Jean,” before retiring in 2005. Before her career as an operator, she worked many years as a bridal dress consultant at Carson Pirie Scott and Gilmore’s department stores. She loved cooking for her family and friends and loved gardening and fixing and decorating her home. Her kitchen door was always open with something good cooking on the stove and perhaps some lively conversation. Her family was her world.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Jean was married for 53 years to the love of her life, the late Ronald C., who died in 2007. She is survived by her children, Karen (Frank) Cartwright, Richard (Kathy), Tom (Jennifer) and Diane Lena; her grandchildren, Lauren (Timothy) Trisler, Jean, Frank (Jamie) and Madeline, Charlie and Molly Lena, Christine, Matthew and Michael Lena; and her great-grandchildren, Jack, Audra and Carmella. She was the sister of James (Joellen) and Eugene (Patricia) Riccio. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, the late Maggie Cartwright, and her sister, the late Marie Wolande. A visitation was held Friday, Sept. 4 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home followed by a private Mass at St. Edmund Church and burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Lillian Kay Sargeant, 82 Kindergarten teacher

Lillian Barton Sargeant, 82, died at Belmont Village in Oak Park on Aug. 30, 2020 after a lengthy illness. Born in Neillsville, Wisconsin to the late Esther Kramer and Leo Barton, she grew up in the LILLIAN KAY SARGEANT Chicago area and graduated Northern Illinois University in 1961 with a degree in education. She later went on to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education. At Northern Illinois, she met her husband Roger, whom she married in 1961. She spent her entire career teaching kindergarten, which was her passion and her gift, and retired from Western Avenue School in Geneva in 2006. She loved her family, her dogs and especially all young children, who adored her in return. She will be remembered for her caring nature, her red velvet cake and her inability to be stumped when it came to celebrity gossip. She was always up for a lively

and intense debate on Illinois politics. Lillian is survived by her daughter, Susan Buczkowski; her son, Thomas Sargeant; her daughter-in-law, Jodee Sargeant; her grandsons, Franklin and Leo Buczkowski; her nephews Jeff Barton and Scott (Mary Kay) Barton; her great-nephews, Jack and Spencer; her sister-in-law, Valerie Barton; her niece, Lauren (Jeff) Habes-Wojcik; and her great-nieces, Mia and Page. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger, in 2018 and her brother, John Barton, in 2012. She is also survived by many friends who loved her. Lillian lived the last two years of her life at Belmont Village in Oak Park. The family would like to thank the amazing staff for their remarkable, devoted care and kindness for which we will be eternally grateful. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable contributions in memory of Lillian Sargeant be made to Brain Support Network, P.O. Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026, www.brainsupportnetwork.org.

Shirley Rentner, 88 Loved cooking, sewing and family

Shirley M. Rentner, 88, a resident of Oak Park for over 65 years, died on Sept. 2, 2020. Born in Oak Park on Aug. 3, 1932 to the late George and Bessie Hackl, she married Robert R. Rentner in 1952. She loved cooking, SHIRLEY RENTNER sewing and spending time with her husband and family. Shirley is survived by her husband of 68 years; her children, Bob (Terry), Sue, Tom (Chris) Rentner, and Cathy (Phil) Barry; her grandchildren, Shawn, Christopher, Heather, Colleen, Alexandra, and Ellen; and her great-grandchildren, Emma, Eli, and Katleyn. She is also survived by her sister, Lois (Bernie) Wierenga, and her brother, Leslie (Marge) Hackl. Interment is private.

Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home

Since 1880 Family Owned & Operated Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director 203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191

Growing Community.

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM New local ads this week

YOUR WEEKLY AD

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

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.â€“ 5:00 P.M. MONâ€“FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

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

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

HELP WANTED

Job Title: Paid-on-Call Firefighter Description: The Village of Riverside Fire Department is seeking applicants for the position of Paid-on-Call Firefighter. Additional Status Information: This is not a full-time position. Qualifications: - In good physical condition - Reside within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of the Village of Riverside at time of appointment - Be 18 years of age at the time of application - Possess a high school diploma or GED - Possess a valid driverâ€™s license with a good driving record Miscellaneous Applications are reviewed in October 2020. Application deadline is Friday, September 25, 2020. The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HELP WANTED

Actuary (Combined Insurance Company of America - Chicago, IL) Lead projects analyzing claim, persistency, & business mix trends for A&H & Life insurance products. Reqts: Must have Masterâ€™s deg or foreign equiv in Econ, Mathematics, Statistics, Applied Finâ€™l Mathematics, Actuarial Sci or a rel ďŹ eld +2yrs of exp in the job offd or a rel position. Employer will accept pre-or post-Masterâ€™s deg exp. Must have 2yrs of exp w/in the supplemental A&H insurance industry. Must have 2yrs of exp: conducting product exp study & proactive product performance monitoring to improve persistency & proďŹ tability; recommend corrective actions on pricing, underwriting, claim process & sales, & achieve mgmt goals utilizing various d/base systems; spreadsheet prgms & business analytics s/ware, incl Excel, VBA, SQL, GGY AXIS, Qlikview, R Studio & PowerBI; creating & maintaining dashboard reports in PowerBI, reconciling data, writing data script & set analysis, updating report documentations, preparing ďŹ nâ€™l exhibits to meet different stakeholdersâ€™ reqts; enhancing the process & improving efďŹ ciency of regular reports for business mgmt or to support regulatory & ďŹ nâ€™l reporting needs utilizing d/base manipulation & prgmg skills; dvlpg quantitative & qualitative criteria, new analytics alerts & reports to detect poor performing business areas, claim pattern changes, & regional sales changes as well as communicating the analysis & ďŹ ndings; analyzing ďŹ nâ€™l results & reviewing othersâ€™ analytical & technical work products in Excel, SQL, or other spreadsheet/database s/ware; providing technical training to team members, incl d/base knowl & query skills; managing multiple project priorities from various stakeholders; leading & managing deep dive exp review projects; anticipating project needs, deďŹ ning project scope, & dvlpg alt solutions; conducting actual to expected exp studies; conducting claim & lapse studies; & constructing & evaluating predictive models to support business portfolio mgmt goals. Must hold ASA or FSA designation. To apply go to www.chubb.com/ us-en/careers & Search Jobs by keyword # 333469. EOE.

PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS Riverside, IL (pop, 8,875) The Village of Riverside is a mature, historic community located 11 miles west of Chicago in Cook County. Riverside is primarily a residential community originally conceived and planned in 1869 as a model suburb by Frederick Law Olmsted. The Village operates under the President â€“Trustee form of government with an appointed Village Manager. The Public Works Superintendent is a challenging, stimulating position that is hired by and reports to the Director of Public Works. The Village maintains over 34 miles of water main and pumps approximately 250,000,000 gallons of water per year to over 3,000 accounts utilizing no elevated storage tanks. The Public Works Superintendent is primarily responsible for the operation of the water system. The Public Works Superintendent performs complex supervisory, administrative and professional work in planning, organizing, directing, and assists with supervising the operations of the Department of Public Works. Positions supervised include clerical, administrative, maintenance and professional staff as assigned. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate a combination of educational and relevant experience to fulďŹ ll the requirements of the position. The Public Works Superintendent must possess and maintain a Commercial Driverâ€™s License and an ILEPA CertiďŹ ed Water Supply Operator certiďŹ cation of Class C or higher. Salary $85,000 +/- DOQ with a range of $80,000 to $105,000. Send cover letter, resume, anticipated starting salary and ďŹ ve work related references to Cathy Haley, Village of Riverside, 27 Riverside, Riverside, IL, 60546 or email credentials to chaley@riverside.il.us. First review of resumes will occur on September 11th, 2020. Equal Opportunity Employer.

You have jobs. We have readers! Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified! Call 708-613-3342.

HELP WANTED

ROOMS FOR RENT

CITY RENTALS

ITEMS FOR SALE

WANTED TO BUY

ACCOUNTING & INVENTORY Oak Park Foods Sales Company looking to ďŹ ll an Accounting & Inventory Analyst position - Responsible for a variety of ďŹ nancial duties including the management of sales invoicing, monthly portfolio sales reporting, oversight of accounts receivable and accounts payable, management of inventory models, monthly inventory reconciliations and month end closings. Advanced QuickBooks and MS Excel proďŹ ciency is essential to the success of this position. Please direct questions and resumes to jennifer.lieberman@ krugernorthamerica.com

AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957

4BDRM/2BA SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE FOR RENT 4br/2ba, fridge, stove, washer/dryer, bsmt, lvng rm, dining rm, enclosed front porch, central heat. Avail Sept 1st.

VINTAGE HOWELL RED CHAIRS 6 beautiful vintage red chrome steel dining chairs by furniture maker Howell (St. Charles, IL) from the 1950s. All chairs in great condition. Small tears in two of the seats and extremely minor tear in third. Other three are in excellent condition. Wear is consistent with age/vintage condition and all chairs have been temporarily repaired to prevent further tearing.

WE BUY RECORDS!! We pay cash for your jazz, soul, punk, metal, rock, reggae, country records! Give us a call at 773-3726643. We make house calls!!

ELECTRICIANâ€™S HELPER PART-TIME Part-time Electricianâ€™s Helper. Must have own transportation. Call for more info. 708-738-3848

SUBURBAN RENTALS

HAPPY KIDDâ€™S WEST INC. 6928 W 16th St Berwyn, IL 60513 We are seeking a Director and 2 teachers. Director must be qualiďŹ ed and have Associateâ€™s degree or equivalent. Teachers must be director or teacher qualiďŹ ed. Mon thru Fri. working with Infants to 6 yrs old. Compensable salary negotiable based on experience. Call 773-619-5545 or fax resume to 773-728-5437.

COZY TOWN HOME FOR RENT Cozy Town Home for Rent. Two bedroom, One Bath, with partial ďŹ nished basement and washer and dryer. 1 block from the amazing Lincoln Elementary School. Walk to the Blue Line, Grocery Store, Cafe, Ice Cream Shop, and great parks. One parking space included. Tenant pays all utilities. One month rent and one month security deposit required. Credit check required. Owner pays water and refuse. $1450. Available October 15, 2020. Please email townhomeoakpark@gmail.com for inquiries.

PARTTIME VISION THERAPIST Late afternoon and pm hours weekdays and possible Saturdays Work one on one with patients to improve vision skills.Training provided. Fax resume to 708-771-0513 or email to eyegirls@att.net

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

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M

property management, inc.

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

Apartment listings updated daily at:

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am â€“ 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

$50 app fee for all applicants over 18.. 708 363 0270

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT RIVER FORESTâ€“7777 Lake St. *1116 sq. ft. suite *569 sq. ft. with patio RIVER FORESTâ€“7756 Madison St. *926 sq. ft. OAK PARKâ€“6597 North Ave. *598 sq. ft. 6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. *3 and 5 room suites Strand& & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

GARAGE/YARD SALES Chicago

COMMUNITY YARD SALE 5900 BLOCK OF WALTON STREET SAT SEPT 12 8AM TO 4PM

Clothes, shoes, toys, household appliances, furniture, etc. Forest Park

GARAGE SALE 908 BELOIT SAT 9/12 8AM TO 1PM

Lots of designer purses, designer cabinets, tools, furniture tables, vintage kitsch, lots of eclectic goodies! No early birds. Oak Park

END OF SUMMER GARAGE SALE 629 S TAYLOR AVE SAT 9/12 8AM

Price is $100/chair or $500/set of 6. Delivery available. 773-780-6315

CEMETERY LOT FOR SALE CEMETERY LOT FOR SALE Woodlawn Cemetery. Sec. Green Lawn part 2. If interested call 708-903-3568

AUTOS FOR SALE FORD INTERCEPTOR 2008 FORD CROWN VIC INTERCEPTOR 62K miles. $7500, 2013 FORD TAURUS INTERCEPTOR 140K MILES. $8500. Call Pearson 773-540-7650

ITEMS TO BE GIVEN AWAY TOSHIBA TV 18 inch Toshiba older model TV in good shape. Non-ďŹ‚at screen. 708-903-7053

CEMENT

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, ďŹ‚ags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers â€“ lead, plastic â€“ other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

AIR CONDITIONING/ HEATING AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges â€˘ Ovens Washer â€˘ Dryers Hot Water Heaters Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

CEMENT

MAGANA

Books, DVDs, CDs, mini-pinball machine, picture hanging kits, and much more.

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N

ITEMS FOR SALE

COMMERCIAL Â˜ INDUSTRIAL Â˜ RESIDENTIAL

CABINET AND HUTCH Beautiful ranch oak cabinet and hutch, bought at Marshall Fieldâ€™s. Cabinet dimensions 49W x 28H x 18D. Hutch dimensions 49W x 29H x 11D. $199.00 708-488-8755 DECK FURNITURE 48â€? white table, small side table, 4 chairs with matching umbrella and cover. Best offer. 708-528-0896

Wednesday Classified 3 Great Papers, 6 Communities To Place Your Ad, Call: 708/613-3333

â€œQUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATIONâ€? ESTABLISHED IN 1987

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 Â‡ )281'$7,216 Â‡ 3$7,26 67(36 Â‡ &85% *877(56 Â‡ 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* Â‡ 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ?

ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ? ď ?

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

CLASSIFIED CEMENT

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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

CEMENT Residential Commercial Industrial Licensed Bonded Insured Free Estimates · Veteran Owned

Drives Walks Patios Stamped Concrete Curbs/Gutters Garage Floors Foundations Parking Lots Water Control

devegaconcrete.com · 708-945-9001

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

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

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

FLOORS

LANDSCAPING

KLIS FLOORING INC.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

New hardwood ﬂooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-ﬁnishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

GARAGE DOORS Our 73rd Year

Garage Doors &

Smart Door Openers

Sales & Service

Evergreen trimming & more. Hand weed removal. Clean-ups. Call 24 hrs.

708-447-1762

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

Free Estimates

PLASTERING

www.forestdoor.com

McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

(708) 652-9415 HANDYMAN

Small & big work. Free estimates. Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE

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

Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

ROOFING

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

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

708-296-2060

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

773-637-0692 Ask for John

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

MIDWEST ROOFING All types of roofing repairs Commercial - Residential Call for free estimate

773-637-0692

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certiﬁcation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20004227 on August 27, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of POP-UP MUSIC SCHOOL with the business located at: 244 WESLEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MAGALY CORDERO-DIETZ 244 WESLEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal 9/2, 9/9, 9/16/2020

Let the sun shine in...

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020 AT 7:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, September 24th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a text amendment to Chapter 62 of the Village Code of Ordinances to add curb cuts from a public street to new residential structures as a special use.

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365 PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments.

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss

Written comments may be provided prior to the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Elyse Vukelich, Village Planner, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, evukelich@brookfieldil.gov or 708485-1445. The application may be viewed by contacting the Village Planner. Please reference PZC Case 20-08.

In re the marriage of Maria I. Martinez, Petitioner and Ruben Martinez, Respondent, Case No. 20 D 005511.

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 9/9/2020

LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020 AT 7:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, September 24th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for a sign variance at 3845 Prairie Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PIN 15-34-432-037-0000; 15-34-432-014-0000; 15-34-432015-0000; 15-34-432-016-0000). Legal Description: Lots 15 and 16 in Block 30 in Grossdale, a Subdivision of the Southeast ¼ of Section 34, Township 39 North, Range 12, East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois and Lots 17, 18, 19, and 20 in Block 30 in Grossdale, a Subdivision of the Southeast ¼ of Section 34, Township 39 North, Range 12, East of the Third Principal Meridian in Cook County, Illinois. The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Elyse Vukelich, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 at evukelich@brookfieldil. gov. 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 9/9/2020

Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Maria I. Martinez, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, e-file your Appearance and Response to said Petition with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, on or before September 23, 2020, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal August 26, September 2, and September 9, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE SERRANO LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LLC 1144 LAKE STREET, SUITE 201 OAK PARK, IL 60301 STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the marriage of KAREN WOJNAROWSKI, Petitioner and ABDEL RZAQ KAYED, Respondent, Case No. 2020 D 004989. The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before October 5, 2020, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal September 2, September 9, September 16, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: September 24, 2020 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 02-20DRC: 1011 Lake Street, Rush Oak Park Physician’s Group APPLICATION: The Community Design Commission (“Commission”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Rush Oak Park Physician’s Group, seeking a sign variance from the following sections of the Sign Code of the Village of Oak Park, to permit installation of one (1) wall sign on the rear elevation (south) of the building where there is no street frontage at the premises commonly known as 1011 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL, Property Index Number 16-07-126012-0000 in the DT Downtown Sign Overlay District: 1. Section 7-7-15 (D) (1) (b), which section requires that wall signs for buildings located on corner lots shall only be placed along the front or corner lot line. The proposal features a “Rush” sign for Rush Oak Park Physician’s Group located on the south elevation of the building facing a parking lot where there is no street frontage; and 2. Section 7.7.15 (D) (5), which section requires that wall signs shall be located on the sign frieze or the sign

band of the building immediately above the first-floor window and below the second-floor window sills in the case of a two-story building. The proposal features the “Rush” sign located on the ground floor advertising a tenant located above the second-floor window sill. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection with the Zoning Administrator, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@ oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 24, 2020. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal September 9, 2020

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: September 24, 2020 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 03-20-DRC: 505 Washington Boulevard, Fenwick High School APPLICATION: The Community Design Commission (“Commission”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Fenwick High School, seeking a sign variance from the following sections of the Sign Code of the Village of Oak Park, to permit installation of one (1) wall sign on the west elevation of the newly constructed parking garage that is approximately 73 square feet and is located just below the fifth-floor window sill and one (1) approximately 32 square foot directional wall sign on the south elevation at the premises commonly known as 505 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park, IL, Property Index Number 16-07-421-011-0000; 1607-421-020-0000 & 16-07-421-0210000 in the Residential Sign Overlay District: 1. Section 7-7-15 (D) (1), which section requires that wall signs within residential districts shall not exceed 40 square feet in size. The proposal features a sign on the west elevation that is approximately 73 square feet in size; 2. Section 7-7-15 (D) (5), which section requires that wall signs shall be located on the sign frieze or the sign

band of the building immediately above the first-floor window and below the second-floor window sills in the case of a two-story building. The proposal features a sign on the west elevation located just below the fifthstory window sill; and 3. Section 7-7-12 (S), which section requires that a directional sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet. The proposal features a directional sign on the south elevation approximately 32 square feet in size. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection with the Zoning Administrator, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing

due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@ oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 24, 2020. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal September 9, 2020

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Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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LEGAL NOTICE The Village and Park District of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Friday September 25, 2020 for the following: Village and Park District of Oak Park 2021 Comprehensive Tree Maintenance Bid Number: 20-140 Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708-3585700 and stopping by the office located at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Information is also available from the Assistant Public Works Director, Rob Sproule, rsproule@oakpark.us and the Village’s website http://www.oak-park.us/bid.

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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A mandatory pre-bid meeting shall be held on Wednesday, September 16 at 11 a.m. at the Taylor Park Picnic Pavilion in Oak Park. Proposals received from bidders who do not send a representative to the pre-bid meeting shall not be considered. The Village and Park District of Oak Park reserve the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700. Published in Wednesday Journal September 9, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certiﬁcation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20004121 on August 18, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of ALMOST ANYTHING IMPRINTING with the business located at: 62 NORTH HERBERT ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: KATHRYN EILEEN MINAGHAN 62 NORTH HERBERT ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546, USA Published in RB Landmark 08/26, 9/2, 9/9/2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION MWD ASSET SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.TINA MCDONALD A/K/A TINA N. MCDONALD, JOANNE MCDONALD, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC Defendants 10 CH 36359 500 EASTERN AVENUE BELLWOOD, IL 60104 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 3, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 22, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 500 EASTERN AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-09-311-0580000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $311,057.79. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a

mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g1).IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, Alexander Potestivo, POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 263-0003. Please refer to file number 113876. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com Attorney File No. 113876 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 10 CH 36359 TJSC#: 40-1855 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3154976

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 23, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 24, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 125 SOUTH LOMBARD AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-302-0150000 The real estate is improved with a yellow vinyl siding, one story single family home with a detached two car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN

POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 268445 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 19 CH 00561 TJSC#: 40-595 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 19 CH 00561 I3154996

of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 11, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 28, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 439 S. TAYLOR AVE. #2/3-B, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-321-0311006, Property Index No. 16-08-321031-1007 The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The

Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-04531 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH08990 TJSC#: 40-2114 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2019CH08990 I3155206

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FFMLT TRUST 2005-FF11, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005FF11 Plaintiff, -v.BRIAN HOLLOWAY Defendants 19 CH 00561 125 SOUTH LOMBARD AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF CSMC 2018-RPL12 TRUST. Plaintiff, -v.KARL A. REESE, ROSALYN CUMMINGS-YEATES A/K/A ROSALIND CUMMINGS-YEATES, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019CH08990 439 S. TAYLOR AVE. #2/3-B OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment

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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: 1-800669-9777. Wednesday Journal Landmark Forest Park Review

Wednesday Journal, September 9, 2020

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