W E D N E S D A Y
September 10, 2025 Vol. 46, No. 11
1980 - 2025
$2.00 @wednesdayjournalinc
J URNAL WJ45
@wednesdayjournal
@oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
2025
Fall
Performing Arts Guide
Special Section Page 16
Term limits talk reaches River Forest board table
Graffiti art battle along the Ike
No conclusions but request for better communication on topic By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
Graffiti on Lombard Avenue bridge support at the Eisenhower Expressway on Sept. 8.
For decades, the south wall of the Eisenhower Expressway has been home to a battle between graffiti artists and graffiti removers
By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter
Mimi Comerford doesn’t remember when the graffiti started appearing on the south wall of the Eisenhower Expressway ditch. For as long as she can recall, big, colorful tags have covered the beige highway wall that runs alongside the Blue Line train through Oak Park and Forest Park. “It’s colorful, some of it is bold and
TODD BANNOR
bright, some it’s not so great,” said Comerford, who owns a building on Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District that backs up right to the Eisenhower. “Sometimes you get profanity. It runs the gamut. Just like all artwork, some is great, some is not in my own opinion.” Graffiti artists in the community have been drawn to this wall for decades. Local street artist TEEL ONE, self-deSee GRAFFITI on page 15
River Forest residents hoping discussion at the Sept. 8 village board meeting would bring clarity to whether those running for future office will be subject to term limits will have to wait a little longer. The exact wording used in a citizen group’s petition that placed the referendum on the April 1 election ballot has caused confusion about whether that referendum is binding or advisory. The Yes votes totaled 53.15%, compared to 46.8% for the No votes. Although several residents have addressed officials at board meetings since April about a perceived lack of action on the term limits question, no residents spoke during the citizen comment segment of the meeting. See TERM LIMIT on page 13
SEPT. 26-27 / FREE LIVE MUSIC * CRAFT BEER & WINE * FAMILY FUN * LOCAL FOOD