DECEMBER 28, 2022
Vol. VII No. 52 High on still life PAGE 4
In Maywood, Kim Foxx attempts to set record straight
vfpress.news
New plans for old Sears on North/ Harlem, PAGE 4
VILLAGE FREE PRESS PHOTOS IN REVIEW 2022 see more on pages 7-8
Cook County State’s Attorney says she and her office are ‘widely misunderstood,’ By SHANEL ROMAIN Editor
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx visited Maywood to set the record straight about the role and responsibilities of her office, which she said are widely misunderstood, and to explain her position on charged issues like cash bail reform, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. “People have had conversations about our justice system and some people are knowingly wrong, and some people just don’t know,” Foxx said during a community conversation held Dec. 13 at PLCCA, 411 Madison St. in Maywood. “If you watch the news, you will see an incident has happened and usually they end with saying, ‘No arrests have yet been made,’” Foxx said. “People seem to believe that every time an incident occurs, there’s an arrest, and it then comes to our office.” Foxx said her office does not investigate crimes once they occur; instead, they only get involved once police officers make an arrest on a felony charge. A felony is a crime for which See KIM FOXX on page 2
Shanel Romain
Linda Bannon paints inside of her home on Aug. 9. The former teacher got a grant that helped fund her passion for art.
Races for local school boards largely fleshed out Candidates for Proviso area elementary and high school boards had until Dec. 19 to file nominating petitions with county clerk By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Candidates for local elementary and high school districts had until Dec. 19 to file their nominating petitions with the Cook County Clerk’s office. Although people still have until Dec. 27 to file objections to nominating petitions,
which means some candidates who filed could be kicked off the ballot before the April 4, 2023 election, the races are largely set. Below is a rundown of local school board races in districts across the Proviso Township area. Bellwood School District 88 District 88 serves six suburbs, including Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park and Stone Park. Three seats are open on the District 88 Board of Education. All three incumbents whose terms are up have filed to run for reelection: Board President Sondra McClendon, Madalyn Arredondo and board Vice-President Lindsley Griffin.
Berkeley School District 87 District 87 serves six suburbs, including Bellwood, Berkeley, Hillside, Melrose Park, Northlake and Stone Park. Four seats are open on the District 87 Board of Education. Three incumbents have filed to run: Bellwood resident and current board President Calvin Hightower, Northlake resident Nancy Mora and Bellwood resident and current board Vice-President Carlos G. Chavez. Hillside School District 93 District 93 serves most of Hillside and portions of Berkeley, Westchester and Elmhurst. According to the district’s website, five members of the District See SCHOOL BOARDS on page 6