WednesdayJournal_112625

26, 2025

J URNAL

Armstrong family honors 3 generations of OPRF ties

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Beginning about a year from now the Little Theater at Oak Park and River Forest High School will be known, for the next 10 years, as the Armstrong Family Little Theater in reco gnition of a $100,000 donation from Doug and Betsy Armstrong. The donation, made through the Imagine Foundation, is one of five naming rights donations the Imagine Foundation has received as part of its fundraising campaign to support the Project 2 construction project at OPRF that is revamping the southeast corner of the building. Imagine also plans to raise money for future parts of the Imagine plan of revamping the OPRF campus. Doug Armstrong, who graduated from OPRF in 1980 the same year as Imagine

Special meeting will update plans for the new police station and the renovations to

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The wait is over as Oak Park village leaders finally gathered to discuss designs and cost figures for the village’s long planned police station and Village Hall construction projects Thursday night.

The special meeting held on Thursday, Nov.

PROJECTS on pa ge 14

Oak Park board supports ‘over hire’ of six new re ghters

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Village Board voiced support for an ordinance authorizing salaries and benefits for six new Oak Pa rk firefighters and paramedics not previously included in the pending 2026 village budget.

T he “over hire ordinance” had been recommended by village staf f and the village finance committee to allow the village to hire six new firefighters in addition to the department’s budgeted staf f. T he measure comes after two recent studies of the department concluded current staffing levels are driving high overtime costs and widespread stress among Oak Park first responders.

“Our goal here is to properly support all staf f, and all departments and to make sure that they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely,” said Village President Vicki Scaman. “We’ re reco gnizing the strain that can f all on our public safety personnel.”

Over hire ordinances, which allow the village to hire staf f without creating additional permanent positions, are an important tool to fund public safety ef forts, Oak Park Human Resources Director Kira Tchang told the board at its meeting Nov. 18.

“The village over the past eight or nine

years has adopted over hire ordinances with some re gularity with the intent of being able to ensure public safety staffing levels are met without needing to add additional positions permanently to the budget,” Tchang said. “The benefit of this is that it avoids increasing the levy prematurely or unnecessarily and it creates a pilot environment where in real time the village can assess the impact to service delivery, how the additional firefighters are supporting safety across the village.”

The over-hiring would be paid for in part through overtime savings, Tchang said.

Trustees said the over hire period will allow the village to see the impact that the additional firefighters will have on the fire department’s overtime costs and performance.

“Being able to have a solution that gives us an opportunity to assess where we’re at now looking into the future, I think is the best we could really hope for,” said Trustee Chibuike Enyia. “It gives us time, without necessarily going into that levy.”

The board did not vote on the measure in specific, but it will be included in the 2026 budget the board votes on in December. Salaries and benefits for the firefighters had been included among the unfunded budget requests in the 2026 fiscal year budget village trustees reviewed at the meeting.

“Short-term unfunded requests for fiscal

anksgiving gratitude from GCM

Has there been a Thanksg ing in memory where more urgent, more complex reasons to offer up our thanks for being part these village and neighborhoods ser Growing Community Media

There is the strong and vital pulse of community, of sharing, of generous listening and collective action in times perilous. From the W Riverside, we report on neighbors sho care and love to each other whether it is food pantries being urgently re whistles being blown or a local high school student singing the National Anthem

before a Bears victory. us at GCM gives thanks for the privilege and the responsibility of serving s. We thank readers ho are also donors to our nonprofit newsroom. We thank sers who use our reach to build their businesses. pledge our best ts in the year ahead to be a strong, ccurate and accountable voice for our

year 2026 include six Firefighter/Paramedics at $684,570, based upon $114,095 for entry level salary and fringe benefits,” village staf f wrote in the budget document.

The decision follows board discussion from earlier in the fall concerning a staffing crunch at OPFD, as two sperate studies of the fire department reported that low staffing levels are putting heavy strain on firefighters and command staf f.

Oak Park’s village gover nment commissioned consultant Baker Tilly to study its fire department, with the group publishing its report in September shortly after the labor union for Oak Park’s firefighters released a study it had commissioned on its own.

Baker Tilly’s survey found that well over 90% of Oak Park firefighters feel that the department’s staffing levels leave them overworked and impact their safety on the job.

“The survey highlights the dedication and professionalism of staf f who are welltrained and have access to professional development opportunities,” the report said. “However, the survey results suggest the department is facing significant challenges related to leadership, staffing, adequate apparatus, and resource allocation. Respondents expressed a need for more proactive leadership from the department administration and consistently conveyed concerns about being understaffed and overworked, given the high call volume and the amount of overtime they were working. The survey suggests that these concerns are taking a toll on morale.”

Nearly 70% of survey respondents also said that the department’s staffing levels sometimes delay fire department response times, according to the report

The union’s study recommended that Oak Park hire 9 new firefighters to deal with the crunch. That added staffing, the union’s report said, would bring Oak Park closer to 4 firefighters per fire apparatus, up from a current level of only 3 firefighters.

“This will help ensure that when you or your family call 911, the right number of trained firefighters arrive quickly and ready to protect lives and property,” the study concluded.

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Senior Audience Manager Stac y Coleman

Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

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

Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

Dan Haley Senior Advisor and Interim Editor

According to both reports, OPFD responded to more calls for service in 2024 than it had in any year since at least 2019.

PROVIDED

Oak Park Village Board approved $450,000 in grant funding to conver t 118 Clinton Ave. from a condo building to an a ordable housing rental property

Troubled small condo building saved by village investment

ResCorp will buy Clinton Ave. building, make upgrades, allow current residents to stay

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s village board unanimously approved village funding for a new af fordable housing project on Clinton Avenue. T he ef fort undertaken by the Oak Park Residence Corporation will rescue a small condo association facing heavy infrastructure investments its members cannot af ford to make.

In its presentation to the village board, ResCorp said there are a number of such small and failing condo as-

sociations in the village T he board approved a grant of $450,000 to ResCorp to support converting the condo building at 118 Clinton Ave. into a nine-unit af fordable housing rental property. Board members supported the measure as a way to keep the building ’s current residents from being priced out while adding to the village ’s overall stock of af fordable housing units.

“The more opportunities to leverage these funds to do things like this the better,” said Trustee Derek Eder.

“To keep people where they are, to keep them able to af ford to live in this community and to keep it great and vibrant.”

T he deal with the Residence Corp comes as the building’s condominium association faced “a sizable capital investment need” and was “seeking an alternative to making that investment themselves,” according to village documents.

“There continues to be a number of troubled small condominium buildings here in Oak Park,” ResCorp wrote in its proposal to the board. “The lingerin g economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individual household finances, combined with the rapid r un up in interest rates, has contributed to a lack of reinvestment in condominium buildings, and prospective economic challenges for such condominium owners and associations going forward.”

“The village has identified failing small condominiums as both a challenge facing the community and a difficulty for owners of units in failing associations who may be ‘trapped’ and unable to exit. OPRC is seeking to address this challenge while also increasing the amount of af fordable rental housing to serve HUD’s categories of very low-income and low-income members of our community.”

Once ResCorp takes over management of the property, the building will provide six af fordable housing units for households earning less than 60% of the area median income, including two for households earning less than 50% of the area median income, and three units for households earning less than 80% of the area median income. Current residents of the building will be given an opportunity to stay in their units. ResCorp is offering three, six, and 12-month lease options for current owners to remain following the conversion, according to village staf f.

A previous village board had given an identical grant to ResCorp for an undefined condo conversion project in March 2023, but the grant eventually expired. T he local af fordable housing provider was encouraged to return for grant funding once it found a suitable property for the project, according to village staf f.

Prior to approving this grant, the village ’s Af fordable Housing Trust Fund had an available balance of over $1.7 million.

NAMING RIGHTS

Honoring the Armstrongs

from page 1

Foundation president Stephen Schuler, was active in theater when he was a student at OPRF. He had leading roles in the plays Tartuffe and 10 Little Indians (now known as And Then There Were None).

“I was quite involved with theater so I was in a number of performances there so I have good memories and felt it was a big part of my development, if you will,” Armstrong told Wednesday Journal in a telephone interview.

Armstrong, who is the for mer chief operating officer of the West Monroe Partners, a business consulting firm, said that he and his wife wanted to honor his family’s three generation relationship with OPRF.

Doug’s father Edwin Armstrong graduated from OPRF in 1938. After graduating from Knox Colle ge Edwin Armstrong served in the Marine Corps during World War II and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. He served in the same re giment that raised the flag on Mount Suribachi that resulted in an iconic photo. After the war Edwin Armstrong went to law school at Northwestern and had a long career as a lawyer. He served as the president of Huskie Booster Club, served on and was president of the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education, was an Eagle Scout and served as president of the Thatcher Woods Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

“It really means a lot in reco gnition for all that my dad did,” Armstrong said of the naming the Little Theater after his family.

Armstrong’s two children, Andrei and Svetlana, graduated from OPRF in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Svetlana did poetry readings in the Little Theater. Armstrong’s three siblings, Cathy, Diane and Greg are also OPRF graduates

“I think it’s really a nice way to remember the impact that OPRF had on us, our family,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he had been planning to make a significant donation to the Imagine Foundation’s fundraising campaign anyway but when Imagine Foundation Executive Director Heidi Ruehle showed him the Imagine Foundation list of naming rights options the Little Theater jumped out at him because of his fond memories of performing there while

What else has been named at OPRF?

The other naming rights that have been granted, all of which start no later than Dec. 1, 2026 and last 10 years, have been for the new weight room, a new science lab, the new Green room and a new yo ga/meditation classroom.

A science lab, which was part of Project 1, will be called the Rachel Gamble Smylie Science Lab. Smylie was a 2011 graduate of OPRF who was tragically killed in 2014 when she was travelling in Namibia as a 21-year-old University of Michig an student who was studying in South Africa. $100,000 is being donated over four years by Rachel’s parents, Oak Park residents Sallie and Mark Smylie

T he new Green Room will be named after 2017 OPRF graduate Elizabeth Maguire after a pledge of $50,000 by Maguire’s grandparents Paul and Leah Beckwith. Elizabeth Maguire was a frequent performer in plays and musicals in her time at OPRF

T he new weight room will be named after for mer OPRF football coach Gary

he was a student at OPRF and the desire to honor his father and the rest of his family

“The gift would have been sizable without the naming option,” said Armstrong, who just this month sold his Frank Lloyd Wright designed house on Superior Street in Oak Park and now divides his time between Las Ve gas, Chicago and Pe pin, Wisconsin. “Obviously with the naming option there was a set price and terms and all that.”

The Little Theater is not part of Projects 1 or 2. It is only scheduled to receive a lighting update in Project 4, but the Little Theater naming rights were on the Imagine Foundation’s Naming Recognition Guide because originally another family had expressed interest in it.

The Imagine Foundation has committed to raising $12.5 million for Project 2 and has a goal of raising $15 million. It has thus far given $4 million to OPRF and handed over its fourth $1 million check to the school at the Nov. 20 meeting of the OPRF District 200 Board of Education.

“I’m feeling really confident we’re going to reach our goal,” Ruehle said. “We would like to have all the money raised by the end of next year, if possible, and it will take a few years after to grant all the

Olson in exchange for a $500,000 donation from a host of donors. Stephen Schuler was coached by Olson. Ruehle said that the Imagine Foundation is about two thirds of the way toward the $500,000 goal and that donors to the Imagine Foundation can specify on the foundation’s website that they would like their donation to count towards the weight room naming rights. Olson died in 1999 after having a heart attack while doing a workout on a Stairmaster at the school. He was just 54. T he new yo ga/meditation room will be named the Saddleton Science Studio in honor of the Saddleton f amily of River Forest. Elise and Simon Saddleton, who have three children, one of whom is a current OPRF student, have pledged $50,000 to be paid over three years. T he first payment of $16,667 was made last year and the next one is due by the end of this year

— Bob Skolnik

funds to the high school because people will be paying their multiyear gifts and pledges.”

Ruehle said that she is pleased with how fundraising is going.

“I’m hopeful that we will have over $11 million by the end of this year,” Ruehle said. “I’ll have a more exact number once our annual appeal has been completed and those donations come in.”

According to the Imagine Foundation naming rights guide there are 21 different naming rights options ranging from $2 million in exchange for the naming rights to the new outdoor track facility and the new South Fields to $25,000 for naming rights to the new costume shop, the prop shop or a renovated classroom.

Ruehle said that naming rights, which are a common fundraising tool, are attractive to some donors.

“It’s really beneficial to have them available,” Ruehle said. “It does matter to some people. A lot of people aren’t interested in naming rights. The bulk of our donors are not aligned with naming rights even those who have given at an amount that would be aligned with those but I think it is just a nice opportunity to honor special people.”

Safe Steps for Fall Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Work on Roosevelt Road development plan moves forward

Community members gave feedback to Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan at FitzGerald’s open house last week

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Community members had another chance to learn more about local leaders’ vision for the future of Roosevelt Road.

Oak Park’s village government and the Berwyn Development Corporation hosted a joint open house providing information on the progress that consultants have made on the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan, the new economic development and streetscaping plan the two bodies are developing together. The plan will look to boost residential development, support local businesses and improve road safety along the thoroughfare, which serves as a defining border for suburban Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero.

In March, Oak Park’s village board approved a contract worth $100,000 for The Lakota Group, a project management and urban design firm that had helped develop Oak Park’s Pleasant District streetscaping project, to help develop the plan.

Residents gave feedback to a variety of design concepts at a project open house org anized at FitzGerald’s on Wednesday Nov. 19.

“Physical changes that make a street safer are inexorably linked to better economic development, because people want to be there if it’s safer, people want to be around and go the businesses if it’s safer,” said Kevin Clark, the Lakota Group’s Director of Design. “I think there’s a link there and I’ve seen it in other places and in Oak Park I’ve seen it happen. I think Lake Street is a

e Lakota Group expects to submit a report to Oak Park and Ber wy n leaders on streetscaping and economic development plans by the end of Januar y.

much more desirable place because Marion and Lake Street were redone.”

Eng agement ef for ts since work on the project began have strived to get equal input from Berwyn and Oak Park residents, Clark said.

Ideas the group presented to residents at last week’s project open house included adding crosswalks, building curb bump outs at busy intersections, adding trees and public art to the corridor, utilizing vacant lots for re gular events and supporting “Main Street style” mixed use development.

“We wanted to see how people felt about those different things, is that an acce ptable

type of development that they’d want to see on the street overtime as it redevelops or changes,” Clark said. “This is trying to get a handle on that.”

The Roosevelt Road border between Oak Park and Berwyn has long been a target for development, as this plan comes 20 years after the communities jointly-adopted the “Plan for the Redevelopment of Roosevelt Road” in March 2005. That plan, which took four years to finalize, was “the firstever comprehensive redevelopment study of this corridor,” according to Oak Park documents.

Clark expects the Lakota group’s re port to be finished by the end of January.

To track eeing suspects, RF police use tech to tag vehicles

Goal is to minimize high-speed chases

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest officials took steps to add updated technology to the police department’s options when pursuing a suspect in a vehicle.

At the Nov. 17 village board meeting trustees unanimously approved the purchase of a moder nized vehicle tagging system capable of safely tracking fleeing suspects

The $40,000 cost of five Guardian VX vehicle-mounted launcher systems from StarChase LLC of Virginia Beach, VA, includes mounting hardware, installation support and training as well as one year of maintenance and software support

Police Chief James Greenwood said the cost will be covered through the Illinois Attorney General Organized Retail Crime Grant Program, adding that the yearly subscription for software support and service plan will cost $7,500, which will be funded through the department’s operations budget or future grant awards

The department has utilized a handheld version of the StarChase device since 2024 but only has a single unit. Greenwood said the device “has proven effective in the field” and “has helped us safely manage incidents involving fleeing vehicles.”

In response to a question from Trustee Erika Bachner, Greenwood said the tracking device is only active during a pursuit and not perpetually.

In response to a question from Trustee Katie Brennan about the speed of the device when launched, he compared it to a Nerf dart

Greenwood said StarChase is the sole manufacturer and distributor of this patented technology.

“Their system is unique in its ability to safely tag and track suspect vehicles in real time, and no other vendor offers a comparable product,” he said, adding that other departments are using StarChase products including Downers Grove and Oak Brook.

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Greenwood said he expects complete implementation by early 2026.

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Greenwood told officials that the Guardian VX system allows officers to deploy a GPS tag onto a fleeing vehicle from a safe distance. Once tagged, the vehicle can be tracked in real time, allowing officers to disengage from a dangerous pursuit while maintaining full situational awareness. This approach aligns with national best practices for pursuit management and the department’s commitment to reducing risk to the public, officers and property, he said. Greenwood said in an optimal deployment of the technology, law enforcement officers position their patrol vehicle close behind a suspect’s vehicle, typically within 10 to 20 feet. Mounted on the front grille of the police car, the system launches a GPS tag that adheres to the fleeing vehicle. Once the tag is attached, it begins transmitting real-time location data, allowing officers to disengage from a high-speed pursuit.

He said the Intergover nmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA), the village’s insurance carrier, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have approved use of the technology

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“IRMA has expressed support for the use of this technology as a means to reduce risk and liability associated with vehicle pursuits,” Greenwood said. “IRMA recognizes the value of tools like StarChase in minimizing the dangers of high-speed chases and has provided grant funding to support the purchase of our existing handheld unit. Their endorsement further reinforces the value and safety benefits of this investment.”

This de-escalation reduces the risk to both the public and officers, he said. Meanwhile, dispatch or command personnel can monitor the suspect’s movements remotely and coordinate a safer, more strategic interception once the vehicle stops or slows down. This approach enhances safety while maintaining effective suspect tracking

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Regarding civil liberties, he said the ACLU has reviewed the technology and has publicly stated that it does not raise civil liberties issues when used appropriately.

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“Specifically, the ACLU supports its use in situations where officers have probable cause and do not have time to obtain a warrant, such as during active vehicle pursuits,” Greenwood said.

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“They also emphasize that tracking should end once the suspect is apprehended. These are standards we fully support and will follow.”

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Host

Has liv C

Former Fo

member Mark Forest Township Clerk on No place Margaret Detmer who resigned her post effective Detmer, who was appointed Clerk in 2024 when the previous clerk John Becvar was appointed sor. Becvar re resigned her post. He was reelected to a full four-year term earlier this year. Detmer said that she resigned because of the time commitment of the pa the pressure of being the mother of three small children.

“I need to focus on my family right no Detmer said after participating in her last township board meeting on No three young kids, fi Detmer will serve as a marketing consultant to the township to help transition some of the we

Proviso’s Mary Larry appears unlikely to stay on ballot for Democratic Party post

Valid petition signatures seem well shor t

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

Proviso Township Committeewoman Mary “May” Larry, who is facing a for mal challenge to her nominating petitions for the influential 7th District Democratic State Central Committeewoman seat, will have to wait a bit longer for any resolution, until some election authority other than the Illinois State Board of Elections schedules a hearing.

However, based solely on the number of signatures Larry collected on the nominating petitions she submitted to the ISBE, it’s clear she fell far short of the required number needed to qualify to be on the

March Democratic primary ballot, even if all those signatures are ruled valid.

Of the possible 460 signatures Larr ry submitted, 358 were alle gedly invalid for one reason or another, and many of the remaining signatures were alle gedly signed by people who live outside the 7th Congressional district.

In fact, a review just of the municipalities noted on Larry’s petitions includes numerous towns and cities outside the boundaries of the 7th Cong ressional District, including Berkley, Melrose Park, Northlake, Berwyn, Riverside, La Grang e and even the north suburban city of Evanston.

Should Larry be ruled of f the primary

ballot, the committeewoman race will be between three other contenders, incumbent committeewoman and 37th Ward Alderwoman Emma Mitts, City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin (who is also a candidate for Congress in the 7th district) and 5th District State Senator Lakesia Collins.

The date and time of any hearing on Larry’s case is currently unclear because the ISBE is required to pass legal responsibility for any decision to, most likely, the Chicago Board of Elections.

ISBE Executive Director Bernadette M. Matthews forwarded a letter to Larry stating that “Because the 7th Congressional district is coterminous with the county boundaries or the boundaries of a city that

has a board of election commissioners, the State Officers Electoral Board will not hear the objection to your nominating papers.” Matthews told Larry she would be contacted by the governing electoral authority with “the time and date of the hearing on the objection.”

D90 superintendent search well underway

About 50 applications submitted; decision could come early next year

By GREGG VOSS someone who meets those characteristics

munity members were held, along with separate meetings for teachers and small-group sessions with PTO leadership. River Forest ssociation’s leadership met with ell.

More significantl icipated in a sur provided “some ,” said

” she said. “Someone alongside staf and parents. A problem solver analytical and the tough decisions a long list, translating to long hours, en longer in light of teacher contact otiations with the River Forest Educassociation. A tentative agreement was eached earlier this month.

“It was definitely a busy time,” Avalos said. ou decide to run for public office and onate your time, that’s part of the job.”

Make no mistake, Condon said – there are many, many challenges of being superintendent of a high-performing school district, where two of its three schools – Lincoln Ellementary schools named Exemplary in October by the rt Card. ontinue to find ontinue to be ontinue to refine and e?” he said. “One of the this organization ontinuous improveat’s part of our thinking and acting, the to always be better and in ways that don’t allow us to rest on our laurels.”

mmensely gratifying ondon pointed to the depth of commitment by faculty, staff, the board, families and students, along with his administrative team.

“This has been the honor of my career,” Condon said, adding that he’s going to keep working hard until June 30, 2026.

“If they’ll have me until then,” he deadpanned with a smile.

Village marks one year since o cer’s death

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park will hold a memorial ceremony at village hall to mark the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of Police Detective Allan Reddins. Memorial attendees are encouraged to arrive at the village hall courtyard at 9:45 a.m. Nov. 29, with the ceremony beginning at 10:10 a.m., the exact moment when Reddins was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds last year, according to the village Reddins was the first Oak Park police of-

ficer killed in the line of duty since 1938.

T he ceremony will be the latest of several public memorials held for Reddins in Oak Park this year. His name was also added to monuments to f allen officers during ceremonies in Springfield and Washington, D.C. this year, according to the village.

A Chicago man, Jerrell T homas, 37, is facing a life sentence for 56 felony counts, including first-degree murder, in connection with the fatal shooting Reddins had attempted to

T homas on Lake Street after rece iv-

ing a re port that the man had brandished a firearm inside a nearby bank.

T homas is awaiting trial at the Cook

County Department of Corrections Division Eight facility. His next court date is set for Dec. 9, according to county records.

‘Takeout 25’ publishes a cookbook

Dine-in, order out or now cook at home – local restaurants are ser ved

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

What are the secret ingredients in some of the signature dishes from local restaurants? Now you can know. Takeout 25 is celebrating its 5th anniversary by releasing a cookbook filled with recipes of neighborhood favorites

In the first months of COVID-19 pandemic, Ravi Parakkat envisioned Takeout 25 as a lifeline for local restauranteurs. His thinking was: if every household in the area ordered out $25 worth of food per week that would pump more than $1 million into the local economy.

It worked. Restaurants were saved.

Now the Takeout 25 Facebook page has more than 17,000 members and monthly visits in the hundreds of thousands. Members share restaurant openings, good deals, favorite bites, all in a positive-only format

Parakkat thought to celebrate the successes in cookbook form.

“The idea developed from this five years of community building,” Parakkat said. “How do we put a bow around it?”

Twenty-five restaurants joined the menu roadmap with delights such as

■ fig-honey-brie crostini from Little Gem

■ fried pickles with spicy ranch dip from Rhythm and Blues Café

■ beef stew from Kettlestrings

■ pollo asado from Media Noche Café

■ almond tea cake from Blackout Backing Co.

■ Southern peach cobbler from Chef Daddy’s

Malik Jawid, owner of Khyber Pass restaurant, lent his recipe for lamb ro gan josh.

“It’s been very popular in our restaurant since we opened in 1995,” Jawid said. He wanted to take part in the project to give back. “We love what Takeout has done for all the restaurants since they started. It’s always been wonderful.”

The sentiment is similar for other restauranteurs, including Mayra Fer nandez of Café Cubano.

“Takeout 25 is very dear to me,” she said. “When we were at our worst of our worst.

Ravi walks in the door and said, ‘Would you like to be part of it?’ It rescued us.”

Her contribution is her father-in-law’s picadillo. He was the original chef at Café Cubano and all the recipes there are based on his cooking

The book is a volunteer effort. Both the donation of the recipes and the work it took to pull the publication together. In addition to Parakkat and his wife, Amy’s contributions:

Editors Diane Bartley Connolly and Terri Lackey pitched in. Major financial sponsors are April Baker Homes and U3 Coffee.

Purchase price is $25. Most of which covers the cost of printing, but a percent will go

to the sales location and about $2 will go to further programs run by Takeout 25, which is now a non-profit organization. Cookbooks are on sale at 20 of the 25 restaurants featured, at the Pile Bookstore (7117B W. Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn) and at The Book Loft (1047 Lake St, Oak Park). Both bookstores are new businesses too Bon Appétit!

Harmon avoids $9.8M in

nes a er state elections board deadlocks again

Critics say sta recommendations should have prevailed

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

State Senator Don Harmon will not have to pay more than $9.8 million in fines and forfeitures, after the Illinois State Board of Elections deadlocked for a second time along partisan lines.

As it did in October, the eight member Illinois State Board of Elections — four Democrats and four Republicans — deadlocked 4-4 at its Nov. 18 meeting on a motion to deny an appeal by Harmon of penalties related to his alle ged violation of state campaign finance law.

That effectively allows Harmon’s appeal to stand, due to no board majority having voted to either deny or affirm his appeal. Both ISBE hearing officer Barbara Goodman and the election board’s General Counsel, Marni Malowitz, had recommended denying the appeal.

“As far as I’m concer ned, this case is over,” Malowitz said after the board vote, to which Harmon’s attorney, Mike Kasper, replied, “Agreed.”

“We’re pleased to have this matter finally behind us and to focus all of our energy on solving the real problems facing Illinoisians every day,” Harmon spokesman Tom Bowen said in a statement Tuesday.

Others suggested there are still issues to be decided.

ISBE chair Laura Donahue, who is also a for mer Republican state senator, told Capitol News Illinois that the non-decision leaves the election board “in kind of a limbo” due to having legal recommendations but no definitive decision.

“We won’t have any direction because we’ve had recommendations from the hearing officer, our general counsel and we don’t know what an election cycle is defined (as),” Donahue said, expressing hope that the Illinois Legislature or the court system could fill in the blanks.

Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said in a statement he was disappointed the board ignored the recommendations.

“When the facts support a major violation,

the rules should be enforced — no exceptions,” Curran said. “This decision undermines accountability and further erodes the public’s trust.”

On a separate motion at the Nov. 18 meeting, the elections board voted to remove the case from its docket and also voted for a motion stating that it lacked jurisdiction over constitutional issues, including free speech, that Harmon’s lawyer had raised

Last spring ISBE staff found that the Friends of Don Harmon organization had violated state election law by accepting just over $4 million more than legally allowed. At issue is whether Harmon’s action lifted the caps through the end of that election cycle -for a period of approximately 10 months -- or until he ran in the 2026 general election, another two years later

An ISBE appointed hearing officer found that Harmon had violated the law and recommended to the ISBE that fines and forfeiture be imposed on the Harmon campaign. ISBE General Counsel Malowitz concurred with the hearing officer. But at its October meeting, the board deadlocked 4-4.

The next day The Liberty Justice Center issued a press release saying that it had filed a petition with the ISBE on behalf of Nick Binotti, seeking to have Binotti be part of the case being heard.

The LJC’s involvement in the Harmon case, the press release stated, “underscores a simple principle: no one is above the law — not even those who helped write it.”

In an Instagram post the day before the Nov. 18 ISBE meeting, the LJC stated, “Don Harmon violated Illinois campaign finance law. The SBE’s own hearing officer agreed. If the board deadlocks again, we’re stepping in. The courts can decide whether members broke state law or compel them to act.”

The LJC said that their intervening in the case was “to ensure that this complaint receives full consideration and that the law is not quietly nullified by inaction.”

“His intervention preserves the right to seek judicial review if the board fails to act, promoting transparency and fairness in Illinois elections,” the LJC said on its website.

A new era at Sugar Fixé

New owners aren’t looking to x what’s not broken

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Over the course of 2025, Sugar Fixé has transformed behind the scenes at 119 N. Marion St. in Oak Park. The first change was a set of new owners, including Jacques Shalo, who also owns Kribi Coffee.

At first Shalo managed the shop with plans to partner with a pastry chef from outside the area. When that didn’t work out, the owners reworked the plan. A few months ago, Juan Muñoz, who had been working on the wholesale side of Kribi, took over as managing owner at Sugar Fixé.

“We’ re really seeing what is our place in the community,” Muñoz said. “Especially knowing how much the bakery landscape has changed since Sugar Fixé started. We’re a French patisserie, so making sure that those products are really high quality. I would put our croissants up against anybody else’s. We’re very proud of them.”

ing, and he’s really put a lot of heart into this place,” she said. “Everything was kind of dull with the past owner. It was just hanging on. Now, everything feels updated and fresh and I just love it.”

This sentiment was echoed by cake director, Corrie Pechan, who has been with the bakery since 2018.

“Obviously with any transition, there’s ups and downs, but I feel like we’re in a good place,” Pechan said. “It’s been really nice to see the place get a facelift and have people that seem like they care about the business.”

The interior of the shop has gotten a glow-up. Bench seating along one wall is cozier than in the past and a mauve, purple, pink color scheme is more inviting to the eye.

“It is warm and inviting and cozy. It makes you want to sit and stay,” said Meghan Luther, the front of house manager who has been with the company for 13 years.

good. Yeah, that’s the most important part. That’s why we’re here.”

Muñoz has plans for the future too.

“Looking at how can we expand more of the savory,” he said. “Still kind of staying true to what we do here, but maybe even offering something for a light lunch. So do like a soup in a croissant or soup and scone.”

They will also lean into what the location has been known fo r.

Pastry chef Emma Marvel Petergal, who has been there since 2019, agrees.

“I know we rival what you can get in Paris,” Petergal said.

Petergal is impressed with the new owners and their management philosop hy.

“Juan is very hands-on, very understand-

The insides of the fresh-baked goods matter too.

“We make everything from scratch. We want to offer something that you can’t just go to the grocery store and get,” Pechan said. “Every time I’m doing a cake, a wedding tasting, they’ re always like, design is fine, but we want to make sure it tastes

“Cakes has been something that we are very strong in and have a strong re putation in. Our cake director, Core y, does a phenomenal job, so having her cakes be available inside of the cases pretty much at all times,” Muñoz said. “Something that is beautiful to present and to give to somebody. To bring a cake to a party or to come in here and put a gift to g ether for somebody for housewar ming.”

Intricate entremets, macrons, tarts, iced sugar cookies, and more all fill the cases daily.

You wouldn’ t be wrong if you also recognize Juan Muñoz’s name from elsewhere too. He is an elected Oak Park Township trustee. And he was recently in the news for other reasons. He was detained while protesting at the ICE facility in nearby Broadview.

“It’s difficult when you wear multiple hats,” Muñoz said. “It bleeds into other ones. I want to make sure that its consequences, whatever that might be, are not spilled over into others that did not sign

up for it. With Sugar Fixé, I’ve been trying to focus on the business and the employees. T hey’re the ones that carry the years of experience and the love for the things that they do every day. I’m coming in and trying to put my expertise to grow the business but still keep a highlight on the actual work that is happening, day in and day out.”

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is committed to supporting, creating, and implementing solutions identified in our landmark Community Voices report. Our 2024-25 Community Grants recipients are advancing the strategic priority of mental and behavioral health for youth and young adults.

Our community and those who work tirelessly to support it need your help — we hope you will consider them in your year-end giving.

We recognize and celebrate the Community Grants Cohort:

• A Greater Good Foundation

• &Rise

• Austin Coming Together

• BUILD

• Dominican University

• Family Service and Mental Health Center of Cicero

• The Firehouse Dream

• Front Porch Arts Center

• Kehrein Center for the Arts Foundation

• Kinfolk CoLab

• Maywood Fine Arts

• Nehemiah Community Project

• New Moms

• Race Conscious Dialogues

• Thrive Counseling Center

• YEMBA

• Youth Crossroads

• Youth Outreach Services

PROJEC TS

from page 1

programmatic priorities and budget considerations.”

The review of the concepts comes shortly after village officials publicly discussed a new plan to purchase a building to serve as the new home for the OPPD.

20 at 6 p.m. centered around a review of the 61-page report compiled by consultants outlining a vision for Oak Park’s long-discussed municipal campus project, involving the construction of both a new police station and extensive renovations to Village Hall. The board ultimately voted unanimously to direct staff to pursue a multi-site solution for the project, where the police station is established on a different piece of property instead of on the south lawn of Village Hall as had previously been discussed

The new police station will give the OPPD an up-to-date aw enforcement facility to base its operations and renovations to Village Hall will be focused on making the unorthodox architectural tribute to “open gover nment” work as a modern municipal office building and be more accessible to disabled people

At a meeting Nov. 12, board members heard about efforts by village staff to strike a deal to purchase the U.S. Bank building at 11 Madison St. with the plan to redevelop it into a new police headquarters. At that meeting, the board unanimously approved a plan to acquire the bank site via condemnation if the village can’t reach a deal for the sale

The 37,000 square foot building is listed for sale at $2.65 million and is located only two blocks away from Oak Park Village Hall.

Oak Park Trustee Jim Taglia said the move to purchase a building for adaptive reuse rather than constructing a brand-new building makes sound financial sense

“From what I can see, this is a fiscally prudent approach, it’s far cheaper than a new construction and an efficient use of our capital,” Taglia said. “Time is money in this sort of endeavor, and it’s important to get moving on it. I think everyone on this board has wanted to move on a new site, and members of previous boards.”

Discussions on the shape of the construction project have been delayed several times in recent months as village staff began pursuing the 11 Madison Street option.

The consultants, led by architectural fir m JLK, had outlined plans several concepts for the campus, all of which would’ve seen a new standalone police station built on the lawn south of Village Hall, extensive renovations to Village Hall, a new parking garage— built either above or below ground — and new village board chambers. But those plans came with price figures too steep for Oak Park leaders.

Consultants’ estimates for the total cost of those design concepts range from over $140 million to over $169 million depending on construction timelines. The consultants then prepared a cost-saving study that laid out how the cost of the project could be reduced by reducing the “investment on scope, functionality, and site utilization” for both the renovations and the new construction. The consultants presented updated concepts that put the cost of the entire project at around $98 million for a new police station built on the south lawn, and at around $87 million for a multi-site project.

“In light of increasing fiscal constraints, the design team reexamined the preferred approach with an emphasis on prioritizing essential project elements and identifying feasible trade-offs,”,” the consultants wrote in the report. “Subsequent discussions with the village following the cost reduction exercise led to the exploration of two additional concept alter natives. The Municipal Campus Concept retains both the Police Department and Village Hall on a shared site and introduces an at-grade parking garage.”

“The design team has provided conceptual cost estimates to assist the village in evaluating these options in relation to overall

“I’m sad that we’ve had to pause six months to do this, because I understand the urgency of building the new police station,” said Trustee Brian Straw. “It is and has been a priority for the board, but the opportunity and the significant cost savings with the U.S. Bank site is an opportunity we couldn’t pass up for our community.”

For decades, the OPPD has operated out of Village Hall’s basement, a space considered too small and outdated to suit the needs of a modern village police department. The village has been working to find a path to a new base of operations for the OPPD since at least 2015, when it commissioned a property condition assessment on Village Hall.

Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2027, according to the consultants’ report

The previous village board had hoped to review plans for architectural designs and project financing at a March 18 meeting, the board’s last scheduled meeting before April 1’s municipal Cook County elections in which two then board members — Ravi Parakkat and Lucia Robinson — lost their seats.

This special meeting also comes as the board is in the thick of finalizing Oak Park’s budget for next year. The board is expected to vote on adopting the final budget for 2026 on Dec. 9.

Man arrested for shots red incident last April

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park police arrested a man earlier this month in connection with a reckless firearm use incident in April.

On April 18, a man re por tedly fired four shots through the glass door of a business in the 7100 block of North Avenue after a clerk had remotely locked the door to prevent him from leaving without paying. On Nov. 14 police arrested a 20-year-old Melrose Park man believed to be responsible for the incident, according to police. He is facing a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm, according to police.

Aggravated Battery Arrest

Oak Park police arrested a 29-year-old Forest Park man on aggravated battery charges last week.

Police arrested the man the morning of Friday, Nov. 21 in connection with an alle ged attack at Rush Oak Park Hospital. The man was later transported to the station, processed, also charged with criminal trespass to property and disorderly conduct then held for bond hearings, according to police.

Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase for Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200

DUI Arrest

Oak Park police arrested a 24-year-old Chicago man in the early hours of Saturday, Nov. 22 morning on driving under the influence charges in connection with a crash at the intersection of Harrison Street and Lombard Avenue in the village.

The man had left the scene of the accident and was arrested by police nearby in the 1100 block of Highland Avenue at 1:35 a.m. The man was charged with two counts of aggravated DUI along with driving with no valid license, no insurance and leaving the scene of the accident.

The man was also charged with resisting arrest and felony criminal damage to state supported property, according to police.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department re ports dated Nov. 18–25 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 for 2025 will be held on December 4, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at 201 North Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302. The public hearing can also be attended virtually. To submit public comment that will not be read at the meeting but will be appended to the minutes of the meeting go to: https://forms.gle/ kAPEMKsFBWmuw1Qn7 by 4:30 p.m. on December 4, 2025. Any person desiring to make live public comments will need to submit their name by 4:30 p.m. on December 4, 2025 by going to: https://forms.gle/ t3vtXd9WUgDK1deA8. You can join the meeting in person, on your computer via Zoom link, or by phone. Public comments are given at the beginning of the meeting so please join promptly by 7:30 p.m. To join the virtual Board meeting go to: https://oprfhs-org. zoom.us/j/87145969058?pwd=hE6Xc22IE48IqIvA rdSKP2wvNJ8xaUb.1 and enter Passcode 691573 or telephone in the U.S. 312-626-6799 and enter Webinar ID: 871 4596 9058.

II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2024 were $83,400,000. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2025 are $87,073,000. This represents a 4.40% increase over the previous year.

III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 were $0. The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2025 are $0.

This represents a 0% increase from the previous year.

IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2024 were $83,400,000. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2025 are $87,073,000. This represents a 4.40% increase over the previous year.

River Forest OKs $10M tax levy

An increase of 1.95% over this year

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest trustees on Nov. 17 voted unanimously to accept the estimate of the 2025 corporate property tax levy of $10 million, an increase of 1.9% Officials are expected to for mally approve the levy request at the Dec. 15 village board meeting

T he 2025 levy request of $10,023,843 is higher than the 2024 extended levy of $9,906,493

Illinois tax-cap laws limit the tax levy increases for non-home r ule municipali-

ties such as River Forest to 5% or the level of the consumer price index (CPI), whichever is lower. For 2024, the CPI is 2.9%.

Rosie McAdams, finance director, said that property taxes on new construction are not included in the levy valuation. That figure is estimated at over $2.5 million as determined by building permits issued

T he village b oard also approved the annual tax levy of $1,734,288 for the Rive r Fo rest Public L ibrary, an increase from $1,674,539. T he l ibrary f alls under the auspices of the village but is gove r ned separately.

The current fiscal year runs from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026. The taxes from the 2025 levy are collected in 2026.

Infant Welfare Society’s Holiday Housewalk and Market returns

27th Annual Event Kicks O the Holidays on Dec. 5 and 6

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Since 1916, the Oak Park and River Forest Infant Welfare Society (IWS) has been supporting children and families with health and wellness services. One of its biggest fundraisers, the Holiday Housewalk and Market, returns to Oak Park and River Forest the first weekend of December.

The market, held at the IWS Children’s Clinic on Madison Street in Oak Park, provides a great opportunity to tackle your holiday shopping list. The housewalk provides inspiration for getting your own home decorated for the holiday. This year’s housewalk features four homes with distinct architectural styles and incredible holiday décor.

In River Forest, a house on Thatcher harkens back to an earlier era. Built between 1916 and 1918, the house recently underwent a multi-year restoration. The interiors marry the best of the home’s original features with a newly designed kitchen and butler’s pantry, among other renovations.

The front door sparkles year-round with inset stained-

River Forest house on atcher

glass flowers. The home’s original frescoes span the entry ceiling, and the home is decked out with two trees and fireplace mantles decorated for Christmas.

The home includes a separate coach house and shuffleboard room. Originally connected to the home via an underground tunnel, the shuffleboard room is now connected to the home via a sunroom addition.

During their renovation the homeowners shored up the shuffleboard room, restoring the stone fireplace and remediating water damage They salvaged the original blue and brass chandelier, which the homeowner says weighs roughly 300 pounds. The chandelier hangs above a long table set with Christmas china for the family’s Christmas dinner.

Another River Forest home on the walk was designed in

1915 by architect H. G. Fiddelke. In 1925, architects White & Weber converted the home’s third floor to a Moose Lodge — complete with a log cabin interior and moose hung above the fireplace.

The current owner restored the stairway to the third floor and says the interior of the lodge remains almost all original. From the real log walls to the original sconces and fireplace, the room even includes some period furniture. The cozy setting makes a great part of the family’s holiday celebration, and the adults in the group can visit the original speakeasy bar built into a room at the rear of the lodge.

See HOUSEWALK on pa ge 18

HOUSEWALK

from page 17

The homeowner shares many traditions with her four children, including an ornament tradition that started when she was a child. Her mother and grandmother gave her an ornament every year throughout her childhood and then gave her the ornaments for her own tree when she left home. She is carrying on the tradition with her four children.

She decorates with three different sets of stockings for her children, and each year they have to wait until Christmas morning to discover which ones have been filled by Santa.

In Oak Park, an architect and his family have restored and renovated a home designed in 1909 by architect E.E. Anderson. The home blends the Victorian and Prairie Styles with modern updates, and the homeowners have decorated the home to provide a symbolic journey through the Advent season.

Another Oak Park home hails from a different time period, and the homeowner has gone all-in to match her décor to the home. Commissioned in 1965 by mobster Chuckie English, the Mid-Century Modern home has a Rat-Pack Christmas theme, with décor and collections that reference the 1960’s.

Beyond the twinkling lights and the sparkling trees, the Holiday Housewalk and Market have a deeper purpose that’s in keeping with the season. The event raises vital funds for the IWS Children’s Clinic, which provides necessary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare for thousands of children from underserved families across the Chicago area.

Oak Park home with a Rat-Pack Christmas theme

Before you go

The Holiday Housewalk takes place on Friday, Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the walk cost $70 in advance and $75 at the door. Fast passes, which allow ticketholders to skip the line, are available for $250. Tickets can be purchased online at: https://oprfiws.org/holiday-housewalk

Ticket pickup and the Holiday Market take place at the OPRF IWS Children’s Clinic, at the cor ner of Madison and Humphrey in Oak Park. The market is open Friday, Dec. 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The market will feature three special events. Merry Mixolo gy: Precisely Perfect for the Holidays is a 21-andolder tasting experience featuring Precision Syrups.

The event will feature two cocktails, a mocktail and a syrup covered ice cream dessert. The one-hour event takes place on Friday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 and Saturday, Dec. 6 at noon. Tickets for the special event are $40.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, local cookbook author Mary DiSomma will offer a 15-minute demonstration on making homemade vanilla extract using cognac and vanilla beans. This 21-and-older event is free, but space is limited. DiSomma will also be signing her cookbooks during market hours, and all proceeds from her book sales at the market will benefit the IWS.

Children’s book author Leslie Tuzi will be at the market signing copies of her book, Just the Way You Are. Tuzi will donate one book for each book sold to the IWS Giving Library, a program that makes sure each child visiting the clinic goes home with a free book.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

VIEWPOINTS

Celebrate the Transit Act

Halloween was actually Christmas morning for us planning nerds, as we woke up to discover that in the wee hours of the morning, the Illinois legislature passed a transformative transportation bill.

You may have heard that our public transit system has been facing a funding crisis ever since COVID. This challenge was not unique to Chicago; every transit system in the country was facing the same doomsday scenario I wasn’t sure we had it in us to find a solution — doing hard things seems extra hard these days, and other cities simply couldn’t rise to the e. Philadelphia left its riders stranded by cutting outes and raising fares instead of finding a sustainable astating outcome for vulnerable residents who rely on reliable bus and train service.

CHAVAS

ve credit where credit is due: The Illinois legislature came together to not just find a funding solution but took the opportunity to completely reimagine how we can all for ms of non-car transportation — statewide! a national model for how to prioritize pedestrians, sts and transit riders over cars.

At 1,043 pages, I’m guessing most Oak Parkers haven’t ead the bill and don’t know what it means for them. So my eager intern Claude and I dug in so you don’t have to.

Effective June 2026, the new law reorganizes the region’s transit agencies with a goal of creating “one network, one schedule, one fare,” with more accountability for reliability and cleanliness. It means CTA, Metra, and Pace will actually work together, which is great news for a community like ours, served by all three

Meanwhile, the village can now be reimbursed for the time and resources our police spend responding to incidents on or near transit stations. Hopefully that leads to closer coordination with CTA and Metra police, and a shift from reactive policing to shared strategies for keeping stations safe and welcoming.

Bike riders, this bill has your back, implementing new rules that align state law with how people actually ride. Cyclists will be able to treat stop signs as yield signs (the “Idaho Stop”), ride side by side when it’s safe, and even go the opposite way on one-way streets where allowed. As Oak Park continues to roll out its bike boulevards, making sure people understand what le gal biking looks like will be key, especially now that it’s consistent statewide.

But my favorite part, hands down, is the People Over Parking Act (best name ever)! It eliminates parking minimums for new development within a half-mile of a train station or 1/8 mile of a frequent bus route — and we have a lot of those in Oak Park

I’ve long argued that parking minimums are one of the biggest barriers to building more affordable multifamily housing (https://www oakpark.com/2023/05/23/ oak-park-should-eliminate-parking-minimums). Parking spaces are costly and drive up rents. Removing that mandate makes smaller, more affordable projects feasible, and studies show developments near transit attract residents with fewer cars. More neighbors, less cars? Sounds right-sized to me.

One last note of local pride: Nora Leerhsen, acting CTA president since February 2025, is an Oak Parker. She’s done a fabulous job stepping into a challenging role and made a clear and compelling case for why we deserve this investment. It’s time to give her the job per manently.

Nicole Chavas is an Oak Parker and stalwart Green Line rider who has always refused to live any farther than 1/2 mile from a CTA train stop

In stressful times it can be hard to pull away from the conflicts in the world — local, national or international — and devote a minute, hour or day to being grateful. Once annually, Thanksgiving provides protected space for doing just that.

I’ve enjoyed two intertwined rituals over the last 70 years of Thanksgiving: the family dinner, held in places like Berwyn, Scranton, Indianapolis, Harrisburg and Oak Park and, during the decades I’ve lived here, a mor ning football game labeled with affection, the “Toilet Bowl.”

Why Toilet Bowl? My friend, Tom, one of the co-founders of the game in 1967, said, “All the good names were taken.”

This Thanksgiving, as we have for decades, we’ll meet first for breakfast at a restaurant on Ogden Avenue and then head west to a field near Park Avenue in Brookfield to play the game. Next year will mark our 60th — and final — battle.

Turkeys and footballs kind of look alike, especially when the bird is trussed and

roasted. That’s not an original observation: I recall a Disneyland Thanksgiving pin with an ESPN logo that featured a football styled like a roasted turkey.

But what does football have to do with thankfulness? I can only speak for our game, but it begins with having old friends, spouses, in-laws, kids, maybe some kids’ friends, nephews and nieces piled around crowded tables in places like Tony’s Breakfast Cafe to share a pregame breakfast and stories.

To open our breakfast, Rick — one of the other originators of this game and its meal — greets everyone, zings a couple of old buddies with well-meaning insults, and recalls some of the friends who, due to injury, illness or having passed, are not with us

Then, over Denver omelettes, “hobo banquets,” French toast or other dishes on the varied menu, we talk. There’s no agenda. The conversations go in many directions, including the recounting of memorable moments

ankful for … Sad, sad Roosevelt Road

Oak Park’s forgotten commercial cor ridor on Roosevelt Road is getting some attention. We suppose that’s a good thing. But working again with Berwyn, and interestingly not with Cicero, Oak Park is sinking $100K into a streetscape planning process.

If this seems familiar, it’s because the three suburbs undertook a similar streetscaping project just 20 years ago. That resulted in perhaps the most underwhelming upgrade we ever observed. And the bumpouts-and-benches approach has not aged well.

Roosevelt Road continues as a mishmash of uses and misuses star ting at Austin and stretching to Harlem. The bright spots, and there are a few, are mainly on the Berwyn side of the road. All hail FitzGerald’s, the iconic music club that has only blossomed under its new owners and their serious investment in outdoor spaces. There are also the Berwyn Shops, a retail incubator concept now being copied in Riverside and Brookfield. There are a handful of worthy restaurants, including Autre Monde and Bodhi Thai. And in an easy-to-miss small storefront there is The Pile Bookstore, a little treasure waiting for you to discover.

Morning light

Meaning, grace, authenticity

Those who help instead of harm es to be human

Colorful leaves clinging to limbs, well past their due date, the last to fall

Lamplights in living rooms when the world outside goes dark ws aglow cheering passersby on their way home at night

Merciful memories that replay, rewind, remind Antidotes that boost immunity to society’s toxins

Small acts of kindness

Fellowship and laughter, well met on street corners

Familiars who come and go but aren’t forgotten

Solitude that feels fertile, never futile

ices raised in protest against what must be resisted

Being alive in a time like no other

Heroes in the fight for democracy, country, planet

Best-case scenarios from our better angels

Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary

TRAINOR

Spotting the unexpected in the everyday

Unconventional thinking, unfettered feeling

Hindsight, foresight, insight

Signs of life, signs of the times, signs of things to come

It’s on the Oak Park side of the equation that opportunity knocks as there are some desperate holes to fill. Brick sidewalks and curlicue lampposts are not going to cut it.

Are we happy that Taco Bell got turned away at Austin and the best we could come up with is a maybe-to-be-built car wash? How long will the failed Ino’s fast food sit vacant near Harlem? It cries out for townhouses. The largely vacant and troublesome block-long parcel that was once Associated Tire has some positive activity but needs more help. We’ll be glad to see Community Builders add a handsome af fordable housing building on one of the street’s ugliest parcels. Then there is a range of obsolete and underused mixed-use, two-story buildings that deserve to be better than smoke shops. We count three such vaping-centric uses on the street. That’s not a record we want to chase.

Oak Park’s economic development apparatus at village hall imploded over the past few years. Now it has been rebuilt with another hire just coming on board. Before another bond is issued to undertake a fancy streetscape of Roosevelt Road, we’d urge the village board to direct some focus of the new development team to Oak Park’s quite sad souther n border.

Signs of witty dissent

Good news, pleasant surprises, daily delights

Moments of wonder and amazement, possibility and promise

The treasures of then, the enough of now

The past, at last, yielding to the future

Suffering that leads to less suffering

Children who take the path they were blessed with before they were bo rn

Long-term loving, the quiet contentment of closeness

Listening to our neverending longings

The inexhaustible beauty of the human face

The unanticipated fullness of an unplanned day

Bookshop windows filled with beckoning titles

Books that seem to find us

Mysteries great and small that resist resolution

Restless nights wrestling with thoughts beyond easy grasp

Words that come when summoned, creativity that comes unbidden

Writing, tinged with a twist of melancholy

The slippery slope of alliteration

A good quote that fits the moment

Music that juices the sluice and clears the overgrown path between head and heart

Beauty that brings us to tears

A supportive community that walks its talk

The resolve that keeps us marching, challenges that drive us to solutions

Discovering the voice inside that grows ever louder

Seasons that teach us to embrace change

Reconnecting after long separation

Receptive senses, an outpouring heart

The ocean of air, the bellows of our breath, feeding the fire within

A long unhurried walk among windswe pt leaves and scattered thought

The re pose of safe sanctuary

Surrendering to a nap on a rainy afternoon

Family and friends who remind me how lucky I am

The unending litany of gratitude

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Support our police and re departments

I am a longtime supporter of Oak Park’s police and fire departments. These two parts of village gover nment are critical to our safety and quality of life as people who live and/or do business in Oak Park.

My personal experience has always been highly positive. I have personally benefited from the work of Oak Park fire and police personnel; in fact I have seen how greatly my neighbors have benefitted as well. One of my neighbors still lives in her lifelong home after the Oak Park Fire Department quickly struck her fire so that her home could be rehabbed. Another neighbor with fragile health depends on the Fire Department paramedics to continue to live in her home.

Our fire and police have done so much for us, yet we have sold them short. We have repeatedly elected village gover nments that have grossly underpaid our firemen and police officers and we have consigned our police officers to a sub-standard police station that was intended to be temporary when village hall was built. And our village board dangerously cut the size of the fire department with the excuse of buying a quint, co-owned with River Forest and eliminating a pumper company, saying that automatic aid with surrounding fire departments negate the need for fuller staffing.

A previous police contract functionally froze police salaries, which have been eaten away by inflation. It is not surprising that this environment has led to a police force with over 40% vacancies, resulting in mandatory overtime and tired officers. We are now seeing this situation worsen as new officers quickly leave for higher paid and less demanding police jobs in other communities. Veteran officers who have committed their lives to Oak Park’s safety have reached retirement age and are retiring.

As citizens we need to stand up and demand adequate funding, salaries and facilities for our fire and police We critically need the five firefighters added to the department; this is not increased manning, it is returning the fire department to where it was 20 years ago when the village unwisely decreased firefighter positions.

It is raising salaries to the point where we can retain swor n personnel and maybe allow Oak Park to recruit experienced personnel from other departments. It is acquiring the old Oak Park bank building at Madison and Austin to be remodeled into an adequately-sized and equipped police station that even more strongly reinforces our commitment to the eastern part of the village.

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

■ 350-word limit

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‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

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Igrew up in a law enforcement family, attended OPRF High School and Triton Colle ge, and ear ned my de grees from Lewis University. My connection to Oak Park and River Forest is lifelong. That is why I am concerned.

Recently, Wednesday Jour nal re ported that Oak Park will investigate its Halloween police response, when more than 500 teens crowded downtown and gunshots were re por tedly fired. Police Chief Shatonya Johnson stood by her officers. Yet Village President Vicki Scaman announced that the Citizen Police Oversight Committee would lead the investigation “to provide answers to residents.”

Providing answers is precisely why you hire a chief of police. If village leaders do not trust the chief and her staf f to conduct a proper investigation, they should reconsider her appointment — not because she did anything wrong, but because their actions show a lack of confidence.

On Halloween night, Oak Park received vital assistance from neighboring agencies, including Chicago, Berwyn, Cicero, and River Forest. A River Forest officer

Politics should not guide policing

used a less-lethal pepper ball shotgun to disperse the crowd, following guidelines and without causing injury. However, complaints have arisen, and Oak Park appears ready to review the officer’s actions. That is not Oak Park’s jurisdiction. Doing so could harm interagency relationships that are essential during emergencies. If you ask for help, you should appreciate it.

Oak Park’s decision to reject its F lock camera contract is another mistake. From experience, I believe the two most influential technologies in law enforcement over the past decade are Flock cameras and AI tools. Turning them down will leave Oak Park behind — and make it harder to attract tech-savvy officers.

The suggestion to hire a full-time police oversight staf f member is another step that could alienate officers. The effects are already apparent: several commanders have left Oak Park, including one who stepped down to a patrol role in La Grange — very unusual — and another who

became chief in Beloit, Wisconsin, but left before reaching 20 years of service. These are not typical career moves. They indicate frustration.

Oversight and accountability are essential. Yet Oak Park’s environment — shaped by political interference and interest group influence — undermines morale and effectiveness. Residents should want a department that is well-trained, professional, compassionate, and equitable. Oak Park cur rently has that. Continuing down this path could threaten it.

When I became chief of Riverside, I visited every shift during my first week and asked officers for five changes they wanted. Their requests were straightforward: better squad cars, fair promotional exams, new uniforms, leadership support when they were correct, and more training. We put all five into action within a year.

elected officials definitely have the right to hold police departments accountable. Transparency, oversight, and public trust are crucial for ef fective policing in a democratic society.

But when politicians, advocacy groups, and consultants try to control police departments — setting policy, procedures, training, and even operational choices — they cross a dangerous line. That is not accountability. That is a hostile takeover.

Police departments are not political pawns. They are professional institutions with a mission to serve and protect, guided by law, training, and operational expertise — not by political agendas or media optics. Accountability strengthens departments. Political interference destroys them.

Oak Park must choose wisely.

Tom Weitzel, who grew up in Oak Park, is a retired chief of police in Ri verside, with 37 years of law enforcement experience. He now advocates nationally for officer safety,

Kudos to Fare restaurant

I was happy to see Fare, a new fast-casual restaurant serving healthy food, has opened in Downtown Oak Park. I was doubly happy to see they have set up their trash system in the most user-friendly way with bins for Trash, Recycle and Compost clearly labeled and in a row. I was disappointed to see a water bottle in the compost bin

We all must do our part to educate ourselves about what is compostable, what can be recycled, and what should be sent to the landfill, and then follow through on these lessons.

We have one Earth, and I so appreciate when a business makes it easy for us to do our part. And yes, I fished out the bottle and put it in the right bin!

Melanie Weiss Oak Park

River Forest deserves fair review boards

We are writing to raise concerns about how the village of River Forest handled the recent lighting proposal from the River Forest Tennis Club. Our village government is typically fair and professional, but the process surrounding this proposal has exposed serious problems.

First, a member of the Development Review Board (DRB), Elias Yanaki, presented on behalf of the Tennis Club. He gave a 30-minute presentation supporting the project, acting as the club’s official representative. That is a direct violation of the village’s ethics ordinance, which clearly states that a board member cannot represent another organization in front of the same board they sit on. They may only speak during public comment as private residents — not as advocates for a group with business before the board. This violated both the letter and the spirit of the ethics rules meant to prevent conflicts of interest.

ankful for medical aid in dying

I’m responding to Carolyn Righeimer’s letter [Legalizing physician-assisted suicide, Viewpoints, Nov. 12], which implied that Medical Aid in Dying was snuck through by attaching the issue to a food sanitation bill. Deb’s Law already existed with the same language in both the House and Senate this spring session under bill numbers SB 9 and HB 1328, going through multiple committee hearings. The old number for the MAID bill was changed in May. So there were no clandestine forces at work here. The reality is that 71% of Illinoisans support the option of Medical Aid in Dying. The U.S. has over 25 years of experience with this law, and there has not been one documented instance of abuse. The guardrails in place in the U.S are strict and well thought out. This option is only for the

ter minally ill with horrible end-stage diseases who wish to die at home with family on their own ter ms rather than suffer. These are people who are already dying, who have often explored many treatments and clinical trials. It’s not suicide. No person or doctor is required to participate; it’s an option. For the rest of us, it provides peace of mind that if, god forbid, we end up with a horrid end-stage disease, we have this option. For more details, go to CompassionAndChoices.org

If you support Medical Aid in Dying, please contact JB Pritzker’s office (Google: Contact JB Pritzker) and encourage him to sign the Medical Aid in Dying bill that is currently on his desk.

Roz Byrne Oak Park

anks for friends, family and Opportunity Knocks

Thanksgiving is a great holiday for me because I have a four-day weekend to be with family and a chance to relax. In fact, I am blessed to have family who loves me

Second, the DRB itself is heavily stacked with Tennis Club members. Four out of the seven DRB members belong to the private club. Although Tennis Club members represent only about 1.8% of River Forest residents, they make up 57% of the board reviewing the club’s own proposal. Elias Yanaki recused himself from voting after participating in the public meeting on Nov. 6 (https://www vrf us/events/event/2856), but the damage was done. When three other RFTC members were given the opportunity to recuse themselves, they continued to ignore the ethics ordinance and declined. Tennis Club members are owners of the club, and ethics rules require them to recuse themselves from matters where they have a direct interest. Instead, they have been placed in decision-making roles on a project that benefits their own private organization. Finally, the lighting proposal was sent to the wrong board altogether. This project is

effectively a zoning variance request, which should have gone to the Zoning Review Board (ZRB). When questioned, a village official claimed the Tennis Club’s property is a “planned development.” That is simply not true. The club was built in 1905 — long before planned developments even existed. In zoning ter ms, it’s just an “existing” property, not a planned development. Sending it to the DRB, where standards are significantly more lenient than the ZRB, gave the proposal an easier path than the rules allow. River Forest residents deserve a fair, unbiased, and transparent process We rely on our boards to follow the rules, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure that no private group — especially one representing less than 0.2% of our village — can influence decisions that impact the entire community Paul Harding, FAIA On behalf of concerned families of River Forest

Data demands answers from D97

When my first-grade daughter didn’t qualify for math acceleration despite scoring 99th percentile on standardized testing, I thought I’d misunderstood the rubric. Then I checked the Illinois Report Card.

In 2025, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 approved 276 seventh-graders for math acceleration. That same year, they approved 26 first-graders.

276 to 26. A 10-to-1 ratio.

The grade cohorts are roughly the same size — around 500 students per grade. So why are seventh-graders 10 times more likely to be accelerated than first-graders?

Looking at the complete breakdown reveals a pattern:

Kindergarten through Grade 2: Fewer than 50 accelerations combined Grade 7 alone: 276 accelerations, 62% of all math accelerations in the district

If students’ readiness for acceleration were evenly distributed, we should see similar numbers across grade levels. Instead, there’s a wall preventing early-grade students from accessing opportunities freely available to middle-schoolers.

this disparity, I received no substantive response. When I requested the research supporting the rubric’s thresholds for young students, I was told it was “not readily available.” An FOIA request revealed administrators denying assessment access with just “the answer is no” — no policy or statute cited

This isn’t just about my daughter. After sharing these numbers with other parents, several checked their own districts and found similar patterns: heavy concentration of accelerations in middle school, almost none in early grades

Illinois law requires districts to implement research-based acceleration practices and identify students capable of advanced work. But when 55% of seventh-graders qualify while only 5% of first-graders do, we should ask: Are we identifying readiness, or creating systemic barriers?

so much and friends and staf f of OK (Oppor tunity Knocks) who give a damn.

Ron Turner Oak Park

What’s happening in seventh grade that makes acceleration suddenly viable for 276 students? What barriers exist in kindergarten and first grade that make it nearly impossible?

When I asked D97 administrators about

I’ve documented this investigation at accelerationdenied.com The district owes parents an explanation. What changed between first and seventh grade? Why can’t we see the research? And most importantly: How many ready students are being held back?

Parents deserve transparency. Students deserve equity. The data demands answers. Thomas Hallock Oak Park

Showing up to reduce gun violence

I’m sure I am not unique in always wishing there was something I could do to fight against gun violence. I acknowledge that I do not have wealth or political influence to solve the problem, but I resolve that I will do what I can do toward that end.

I am very pleased, therefore, that on Monday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. there will be a candlelight Vigil Against Gun Violence, Remembering Victims and Supporting Survivors at St. Edmund Church, 188 S. Oak Park Ave. I hope you will join us

As stated in an earlier gathering, its pur pose — an assembly of our broader community to honor all gun violence victims and survivors impacted by the violence — is to lament the tragedy and pain, and to build

community, creating hope, healing and change, supporting violence prevention in all of its forms.

In the words of Rev. Michael Hayes: “Blessed are the peacemakers! You are the peacemakers and Christ has already called you blessed.” It is powerful to assemble in support of a good cause. It matters not at all from what spiritual or moral or ethical basis you come to this position. Your presence reinforces others, demonstrates support, inspires action by others. Please be there. Your presence will certainly make a dif ference. What can you do? Sometimes what you can do is show up!

Sandra Shimon Oak Park

How do they ‘recapture’ past taxes?

Taxes! As if they aren’t high enough, District 200 wants to go back and get more from years past [OPRF OKs ‘recapture’ 2.1M in past taxes, News, Nov. 12]. Even if the state allows it, what are the particulars?

Say I just bought my house and moved in this last year. OK, new taxes from District 200 will be coming but how will the taxes on the past three years be collected? Do I pay for them for

when I didn’t own the house and property or do they go after the owners of those past years? If that is the case, what is it going to cost to do all that checking of records and ef fort to contact previous owners? Hopefully if they need a program to do that, it won’t be like the new tax program Cook County is trying to implement.

Michael Papierniak

Oak Park

Machine politics at its worst

Earlier this month, Re p. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-IL-4, announced he would not seek re-election; timing his announcement for the day after Illinois’ filing deadline for congressional candidates. Privately, however, Garcia had infor med his chief of staf f, Patty Garcia (no relation), well in advance of his public message, giving her time to quietly collect signatures. Even more brazen, Chuy Garcia was the first signer on Patty Garcia’s petition. This is not a savvy political strate gy. This is ballot manipulation, executed out of public view to engineer a successor and shield the seat from competition. For a party that purports to “defend democracy,” this is stunning hypocrisy. I want to commend Re p. Marie Gluesenkamp Pere z, D-WA, for putting country over party by introducing a House resolution to rebuke Garcia. Of the 213 other Democrats in the House, only 22 joined her, including just 2 of 14 Democrats from Illinois, in condemning this blatant manipulation. Their silence speaks volumes. If Democrats are serious about defending democracy, we must be willing to call out our own when we undermine democratic norms for personal or political convenience.

Restructuring our social contract

President Trump’s style of governing troubles many, perhaps most, of us citizens. We may have no clear and concise diagnosis of how it threatens the very existence of our democratic republic. Separation of powers among the three branches of gover nment — executive, legislative, and judicial — is our Constitution’s founding framework, but under Trump, executive power has progressively encroached far beyond boundaries that previous presidents honored. In both the present Congress and Supreme Court, we hear, time and again, “the President’s agenda” trotted out as the ultimate guide for gover nance — the last word! The Constitution, which all officers are swor n to uphold, is perverted or even totally ignored by Trump and his minions. Many in Congress and in academia have been proclaiming that for years now. Appealing to the separation of powers

seems to have had little traction though. Is there another way to frame the dysfunction we face? Back in the ’90s, while serving as the interim pastor, i.e. pastor between pastors, in a number of Chicagoland Lutheran congregations, I wrote a piece intended to point lay leaders to a healthy outcome in the search for their next pastoral leader: “Pick Your P’s: Systems Thinking in Church Organization” is its title. This is the key passage: “Unhealthy group life, in congregations as elsewhere, focuses on person(s), power, and preferences (or worse, prejudices), while healthy group life focuses on principles, priorities, and procedures — that is, on systemic issues.” I propose this as our way to frame the difference, in political contexts worldwide, between autocracy and democracy

A key implication, a bit later in the piece, takes aim at the current dilemma we face:

“No one person should have sole discretion in any decision, unless that authority has been specifically and explicitly granted to that person, in writing.” That should have ruled out the wave — the tsunami! — of Executive Orders that Trump gushed out over the country in his first hours in office. Many of them commandeered powers of Congress; others sought to abolish rights — birthright citizenship is a prime example — enshrined in the Constitution. In 1789, royal rule was abolished in favor of the rule of law when the Constitution was ratified. Recent election results suggest that enough citizens have gone back to our roots and risen up against creeping autocracy. There just may be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s hope.

Illinois lawmakers must ensure this cannot happen again. I urge State Re presentative Camille Lilly and State Senator and Senate President Don Harmon to introduce legislation prohibiting officeholders from quietly signaling retirement to preferred successors ahead of public announcement. Such decisions should be made public in time for others to enter the race, and Illinois election law should ensure that fairness.

Democracy requires transparency. Timing a resignation to block challengers, while privately helping a hand-picked re placement, is the opposite. Re p. García and Patty Garcia should be ashamed. If Democrats are the party of No Kings, we shouldn’t allow a coronation.

Sources: https://www.nytimes com/2025/11/18/us/politics/housecondemns-garcia-election-scheme. html?searchResultPosition=1 https://chicago.suntimes.com/ elections/2025/11/18/jesus-chuy-garcia-ballot-maneuver-congressionalprimary-patty-garcia-marie-gluesenkamp-perez-resolution

Oak Park welcoming?

I don’t recall voting on Oak Park as a sanctuary village.

Our village gover nment touts us as welcoming and says our gover nment will not ask about immigration status. This avoids annoyance and accusations of profiling. It means that people worried about immigration law can get services and makes them less vulnerable to criminals. It would be much better for them, their children and all of us if they were not de facto second-class citizens. Why must our country always have second-class citizens?

Fred Reklau Oak Park

Now our village has decided we will make it harder for people to enforce federal immigration law. This is very different. It is in the category of America’s recent dumbest idea: Defund the Police. Are we wonderful because we are above the law?

Oak Park police deserve commendation

I wonder whether many Oak Parkers appreciate the professionalism the Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest police departments demonstrated on Halloween on Lake Street. These officers did a remarkable job with crowd control. Imagine what this was like for most of them, who had likely never encountered a crowd of 500 kids fanning out in the heart of Oak Park.

The ages of these individuals does not preclude potential violence. A teenager whose frontal cortex has not reached full maturity cannot be trusted to make sound decisions and have crucial impulse control when traveling with a mob.

Oak Park police’s quick calculus had to include: did any of the teens have guns (yes), did any have weapons such as baseball bats (yes), and what if kids attacked each other

O(they did). Given what had already occurred, firing pepper balls on the ground was a necessary action. Once a gunshot from the crowd occurred, the police had to decide how to show strength, minimize injuries to these teens, protect the public and move these kids out of Oak Park. They accomplished all four.

There are three things I am certain of: If the police had not been present, many individuals would have been injured. I also believe many of these kids were testing Oak Park to see if they should assemble here again. And finally, I’m sure a number of officers wondered if they would safely return to their families that evening. Oak Park Chief Johnson, who was on the front line with her officers, deserves a commendation.

Joel Sherr Oak Park

11 Madison makes sense, now make cents

The village’s proposed purchase of 11 Madison St. for the adaptive reuse of the US Bank building for the police department makes a lot of sense Yes, it would remove the property from the tax rolls, but it would spare the village the expense of purchasing, demolishing and new construction at any other location in the Madison Street commercial corridor. What confuses me is the need for “angling” with US Bank over the purchase price [News, Nov. 19]. US Bank has made it obvious that it was abandoning Oak Park. What is this, the fourth location? There has been 109 N. Oak Park, Austin Boulevard & North Avenue, as well as Austin and Roosevelt. Over the years the maintenance inside and outside of each of the four branches has languished with sparse maintenance. In short, they have been a physical symbol of US Bank’s disinvestment in Oak Park, and it is worse in other communities.

US Bank rode into town in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, acquiring Park National Bank. The latter was heralded for its community investments in Chicago and the suburbs, especially Maywood At that same time, US Bank was one of the leading mortgage foreclosure plaintiffs throughout Cook County. And the shells of many of those properties still hollow out city and suburban neighborhoods, kind of like the US Bank branches in Oak Park. Not certain of the legal process the village would have to use to condemn 11 Madison and force US Bank’s hand on the purchase price. Can Oak Park utilize its eminent domain powers? At the very least it would force US Bank to negotiate the value, hopefully expediting the process and getting the village a better price.

Pity the poor ICE agents in Chicago

After just one frost, they found it both too cold and too hot to stay here. Poor guys. Their weapons didn’t protect them from insults, their uniforms were not appreciated, and their masks

didn’t prevent hearing whistles everywhere they went. Maybe North Carolina will be better.

Robert Kleps Oak Park

Make Oak Park an ageism-f ree oasis

ne of my “Favorite Things” about living in Oak Park is the opportunity to take part in innovative programs. Recently, I was a group leader in the Action Community Engagement project (ACE), a pilot program to combat ageism and make our community better for all. The ACE project is sponsored by Yale University, Midwester n University, AgeOptions, CourAGEus, and Oak Park Township Senior Services.

It used research developed by Dr. Becca Levy, a leading authority on how our beliefs about aging influence our health. She is professor of Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health and professor of Psychology at Yale University. Levy serves as a scientific advisor to the World Health Organization’s Campaign to Combat Ageism. Her book, Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live, is based on longitudinal and crosscultural research. The findings that negative or positive beliefs about aging can make a 7.5-year difference in our longevity was breathtaking to me

Marc Blesoff, a longtime Oak Park resident, fellow Wednesday Jour nal writer, and member of the village of Oak Park’s Aging in Communities Commission, was a key player in bringing Becca Levy and this project to Oak Park after reading her book. While Marc was the visionary, he wanted me to share that the ACE project was a team effort with partners, project coordinators, group leaders, over 80 participants, and community allies. I was one of six group leaders who facilitated small groups in Oak Park recently. In group sessions, we were asked to look at both negative and positive age beliefs from our past. I remembered my own grandfather, who had a huge hearing aid that made buzzing noises, with wires coming out of it. English was not his first language. When he came to our house for Sunday dinners, he never asked about my friends or school. He grunted answers to questions we asked. As a young person, he wasn’t someone I strived to be like when I got older. He was a nega-

tive age image for me. I also remembered a family friend, a lively, caring older woman whom I liked being around She was a positive model of an older adult.

When I asked Levy about her experience working here, she told me, “I am delighted to conduct our project in Oak Park. The people I have met who live in Oak Park are kind, engaged, and committed to making the world a better place. Their enthusiasm and dedication are truly inspiring and will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our project.”

I was fortunate to meet Becca Levy in person and be part of her regular Zoom calls with the group leaders. I was impressed by her warmth, caring, modesty, and brilliance. I encourage readers to read her book. To lear n more about Dr. Levy’s research, you can also listen to an interview she did with the American Medical Association at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjiIqQDNPQ

When I asked Marc about his hopes for

the future, he told me, “One hope I have is that, based on the research study findings, Oak Park becomes a real-world example of how cities and towns and communities can identify and reduce both inter nalized and systemic ageism.”

Two activities sponsored by the ACE project are a 13-panel exhibit on reducing ageism and photos of positive images of aging scheduled to open at the end of November. The panels will be displayed in various stores along the Harrison Street corridor, beginning at the Dye Hard Yarn store on the east end of Harrison Street and extending to the Sandra Ross Hair Salon on the west end. Keep your eyes and ears open for more details

Another activity sponsored by ACE and open to the community is an evening of Non-Ageist Humor on Monday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at ComedyPlex, 1128 Lake St., on the lower level. I’m looking forward to attending and excited that the entrance fee is only $1. Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who is currently working on her first fiction short story, scheduled to be published in an anthology in spring 2026.

Great topics for holiday conversation

Politics and religion make for wonderful conversations during the holidays … if you don’t feel like you have to win.

Here’s where I’m coming from.

For several years I was the religion reporter for this paper and for the Wednesday Jour nal. I wrote enough articles to fill a 520-page book titled, The Soul of a Liberal Village. I interviewed people with a wide range of worldviews and theologies — ranging from a woman who was ordained a Catholic priest (seriously) to a Catholic church that still does the Mass in Latin; from a secular humanist group whose motto is “good without God” to the pastor of a Bible-believing Evangelical church; and from Jews to Muslims

HOLMES

inside, I was obliged to let them know one way or another that I understood I was treading on holy ground.

You see where I’m headed?

I was not trying to win. I was trying to understand

I was not being altruistic. I was doing my job.

Nevertheless, at the end of the interview most people thanked me even though they were the ones taking time out of their day to do me a favor. They were the ones taking a risk by being vulnerable When I tried to figure out why, I decided it was because folks rarely experience having someone else attentively attempting to understand them without setting them up for a sale or an ideological knock-out punch as soon as they let down their guard.

they both trace back to Abraham and Sarah — one of several things they discovered that they had in common was the wor ry that their children would become so assimilated to secular American culture that they would abandon the religious traditions that were so precious to those two old men.

Intimacy was achieved. The goal was not to win but to understand.

Years later, I imagined that if they got into a discussion about what’s happening in Gaza, they might disagree — one taking the side of Israel and the other the side of the Palestinians — but because of the understanding that had been built up between them, they would do so as friends and maybe even as brothers.

RICH KORDESH

Flushed with gratitude

from page 19

from past gridiron contests

And then there’s the game.

Speaking for myself, when I get out on that field after the breakfast as a 70-some-year-old and begin to run and throw a ball around with guys and girls of all ages, I feel grateful that I can do this at all.

I’m reminded that I’m mobile for an old guy. Last year after I hit the hard turf, rolled and got up, my son Dave complimented me on how well I could still fall!

My job was to describe them as accurately and with as much empathy as possible — whether I was drawn to or repelled by them. My opinions were ir relevant. My task was to neither judge nor argue, but to get inside them and have them tell me after reading the article, “You got me right.” I don’t think that “you got me right” meant I had pandered to them, but that I set any issues I had observed in a context that explained them to readers according to their way of thinking

meant trying to catch a glimpse of was going on in the interview and heart, and that meant if people trusted me enough to let me ha

Intimac y requires vulnerability

My interviews were transactional in the sense that I was trying to get a good story. But that didn’t seem to bother the people I was interviewing.

One of the events I covered was a meeting with Jewish members of Oak Park Temple and Muslims from the Islamic Center in Villa Park

I had to laugh. In their attempt to be sensitive to the dietary restrictions of both faith traditions they settled on

This holiday season we don’t have to fear discussing politics or talking about religious differences if our goal is not to win but to understand, to frame the exchange as sharing seeking understanding and not as an argument, which by definition means someone has to win and someone has to lose

Religion and politics can be very personal and emotional. I hear many people pleading for us to “lower the temperature.”

The way to do that is not by avoiding talking about it but by building relationships of trust with folks who think dif ferently than we do, bridges of understanding across the chasm of polarization.

We don’t ha to pretend that all

The game itself provides an opportunity to update who can and can’t do what athletically. A niece got a lot faster. A son bulked up. One of the old guys now struggles to slide his feet when he’s supposed to be blocking; a quicker and younger rusher blew past him on the way to the quarterback

The winning coach gets the trophy, built for this clash, years ago: two guys on a wooden block, one kicking the other in the butt. Thankful for the time to gether as well as the traditions that have for med over the years, we then head off to our various family dinners.

As I drive home through Lyons, Riverside, Berwyn or Oak Park after our Toilet Bowl, I take note of other games underway in different parks — mostly guys, but also girls and women — running or crouching in sweatshirts, some of them with Bears logos, stocking caps, jeans or athletic pants, all springing into action after a quarterback barks “hike!” What makes this holiday different? We eat meals every day, some with extended family or friends. We watch football, baseball and other competitions throughout the year Some of us work out with others or play sports ourselves. So why is it, on this day, doing so generates gratitude?

Because we’ve made a ritual of being thankful on this special holiday. We choose collectively to see it through the lenses of gratitude. It’s not that all the suffering and fighting in the world take a 24-hour pause. In fact, being thankful for what we do have can strengthen us to face those problems.

I appreciate the reminder that gratitude can become a habit. Its lens is always in reach. Faith, family, friends and community can help turn it on. Being grateful is a choice, no matter what we’re eating, who we’re covering in the “backfield,” or how our game plan is playing out.

Rich Kordesh grew up in Berwyn and is a longtime Oak Park resident.

Peter Armstrong, 19

Avid golfer, Grace Lutheran member

Peter David Armstrong, 19, of Oak Park, died on Nov. 12, 2025, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Born on Feb. 17, 2006 in Chicago, he grew up in Oak Pa rk, attended Grace Lutheran School in River Forest and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He had a passion for all things sports and was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. His love for spor ts beg an on Oak Park’s soccer and baseball fields where he made many lifelong friendships. It wasn’t until the COVID pandemic that he discovered his ultimate sport, golf. A quick study, he enjoyed a successful high school career with the OPRF golf team, which led to enrolling in the golf management program at Methodist University in were probably made close to home, on the 800 block of Wesley in Oak Park. Block parties, summertime Friday night gatherings, Easter egg hunts, Nerf gun battles, and unspoken shenanigans with his sister and friends filled his years. He was also an avid collector, from miniature statues to golf hats and putters. His collections were symbols of special places and cherished memories. He had a strong faith and was acti in the community at Grace Lutheran Church

Mike

Kunkel, 58

Creative soul

Michael “Mike” Joseph Kunkel, 58, died peacefully at his home y West, Florida, on Nov. 2, 2025, following a brief battle with . True to his legendary spirit, he remained optimistic until his last breath. Born on Dec. 6, 1966, starting at Ascension School, ontinuing through Fenwick and OPRF, teachers and students alike eled at his unflagging cheerful disposition and gift for makry person he met feel seen and valued. Since his passing, ountless people have noted how his irrepressible compassion and est for life made him someone they wanted to emulate, a beacon for w one should live life to its fullest. Mike was pure sunshine. His ositivity, kindness, and boundless joy made the world a brighter

soul, he was drawn to painting, photography, design, and music. He e all, helping others. Despite losing his hearing over 25 years tunate and poured his energy into supporting those in need. As y West community, he was deeply involved with the SMART Ride organization, and helped raise thousands of dollars for individuals living with HIV/AIDS for AH Monroe & MARC House, and the Sister Season Fund, dedicated to helping neighbors facing

SPORTS

Fenwick holds o Nazareth, advances to 6A title game

Friars head to state nals for the second time

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

All season long, the Fenwick High School football team felt it could reach the IHSA Class 6A title game.

Saturday afternoon at Dennis Moran Field in LaGrange Park, the Friars made it real with a thrilling 28-27 semifinal victory over host Nazareth Academy, which was seeking its fourth consecutive state title. The win advanced Fenwick (10-3) to the state championship game for the second time in the past five years; the Friars won the Class 5A title in 2021.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Fenwick senior co-captain Tommy Thies. “It’s the greatest thing I could’ve ever asked for.”

“I’m so grateful for it all,” said Fenwick senior quarterback Jamen Williams (20-of28, 297 yards, 3 TD). “Last year I got hurt and didn’t get a chance to play in the playoffs. For me to do what I’ve done this year, I’ve got to give it all to God.”

Nazareth (11-2) took the opening kickoff and marched down the field to the 1-yard line, but on first and goal, running back Charles Calhoun (22 rushes, 136 yds, TD) fumbled, and Michael Murphy recovered the ball at the two. The Friars then drove 98 yards on six plays as Tommy Thies capped things off with a 46-yard touchdown reception on a screen. Noah Sur’s point-after gave Fenwick a 7-0 lead at the 5:48 mark of the first quarter.

Nazareth tied the game on the next possession as Calhoun atoned for his fumble with a 7-yard touchdown reception from Jackson Failla (11-of-20, 164 yds, TD, 2 INT). Midway through the second quarter, Sur had a 42yard field goal blocked, and Eddie McClain scooped up the ball and got to the Nazareth 44. Gifted excellent field position, the Roadrunners cashed in as Failla scored on a 2-yard keeper

However, Fenwick had a response, and it came in the form of a 12-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Raphiel Stewart with :31 left, resulting in a 14-14 halftime tie.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Williams completed a short pass to Jake Thies early in the fourth, but Thies fumbled and Nazareth linebacker Dylan Wellner recovered. A few plays later, McClain’s 12-yard touchdown gave the Roadrunners a 21-14 lead with nine minutes remaining in regulation.

Down the stretch, Fenwick needed a big play defensively and got it as Josh Morgan made a diving interception at the Friars’ 27 with 4:25 to play

“Coach said I was going to have two big plays, and that’s what happened. I had to make plays,” said Morgan, who also picked off Failla in the third.

Williams and junior Jake Thies (19 rushes, 107 yds; 5 receptions, 117 yards) combined for two huge pass completions of 49 and 33 yards respectively to get to the Nazareth 6. Two plays later, Williams scored on a 4-yard

Tommy ies takes o dow n the sideline on his way to a Fenwick touchdow n during rst half action at Nazareth Academy on Nov. 22.

keeper to tie things at 21-21 with 1:13 left.

“Jamen is one of the best QBs in the state. I’ll stand on that,” Fenwick defensive back Aiden Williams said. “That’s my boy.”

Nazareth drove deep into Fenwick territory on the final drive of regulation and set up Billy Harding for a potential game-winning 33-yard field goal with five seconds left. But a bad snap and hold led to a low kick that sailed wide right as the game went into overtime.

Fenwick had the ball first from the Nazareth 10, and on third down, Williams found Tommy Thies open in the back of the end zone for an 11- yard score. Sur’s extra point made it 28-21.

On Nazareth’s possession, Calhoun scored from a yard out. But instead of a point-after kick, the Roadrunners opted to go for two and the win.

From the 3, Calhoun attempted to go left,

but Jake Thies stuffed him at the line to clinch the victory for the Friars, which ignited a field storm by the Fenwick student section.

“We saw it was a run on the back side, and Jake went and got him. We were more physical,” Aiden Williams said.

“I wasn’t surprised [by going for 2] at all. I knew [Nazareth] wanted to win. That’s a good team, but we came up with the stop,” Jamen Williams said.

Fenwick meets East St. Louis, a 50-7 winner at St. Laurence in the other semifinal, for the 6A title at Illinois State University, Nov. 29, at 1 p.m.

“I’m really happy for our kids. They never stopped believing,” said Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia. “We’ve been working nonstop for this opportunity. Having one more week as a family, that’s why we do this as coaches.”

Fenwick boys basketball waits for football players

Friars’ state gridiron run presents challenges on the court

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

Fenwick boys basketball coach Dave Fergerson is as happy as anybody in Oak Park

about the school’s football team heading to state this weekend. But the Friars’ playoff run made the start of Fergerson’s 2025-26 season more complicated

For example, he’s had to spend the first

week of practice without the eight players who are still playing football. That list includes mainstays like 6-foot senior shooting guard Tommy Thies, 5-11 junior point guard Jake Thies, and 6-1 junior shooting guard

Jimmy Watts

“Super-happy for the football team,” said Fergerson, now in his third season. “Anytime someone has a chance to go to state, not many are fortunate enough to do that. For myself, it

OPRF boys basketball will be fast and furious tons of speed

By MELVIN Contributing Re

For the past three seasons, the Oak and River Forest High School boys varsity team has been led Alex and Alex – Alex Gossett and cent. But with Gossett now playing University of Missouri-St. at Case Western Reserve tively, the Huskies are entering a transitional period.

“We’re at the phase getting very intense,” said sixth-year OPRF coach Phil Gary, “which We’re getting after it every day.

Besides Gossett and Vincent, OPRF saw five players move on from last year’s team, which finished 11-15 and was eliminated in the IHSA Class 4A regional semifinals by New Trier. The Huskies return seven players, including four who saw significant playing time: senior guards Jerome Delaney and Cameron Woods, who each averaged 6.0 points per game; and senior forwards Acoya King (10 ppg, out until January with a knee injury) and Matt Halper (8 ppg).

“This is going to be Jerome’s breakout season,” Gary said. “We’re expecting him to do big things for us.”

For Delaney, who is in his third varsity

C AROL DUNNING

e OPRF High School boys basketball team at practice last week.

season, having the added responsibility as a team leader is something he’s looked forward to.

“Honestly, it feels good,” Delaney said. “I like coaching these young guys and I’m ready to give them more wisdom this year.”

Also returning are junior guard Tyson McLean, senior guard Logan Johnson, and senior forward Darren Law. OPRF’s top newcomers are sophomore guards Owen Towne and Trent Williams, junior guards Alex Lambe and D’Angelo Perkins, and junior forward

C AROL DUNNING

Fenw ick junior Luke Vongluekiat goes up for a lay up during practice last week.

proposes a challenge to see where other guys have a chance to step up.”

The silver lining is that he’s had a chance to see up close a talented group of sophomores

who are going to get key minutes before and after the football players return.

Start that list with 6-0 junior shooting vis Cole Jr., who transfer red from and River Forest.

“He is one of the most athletic guys in the hole state,” Fergerson said. “He’s extremeast with or without the ball.”

ou have 6-0 junior small forward ongluekiat, along with two 5-9 sophomore point guards in Kayonta Williams and ord.

Now add in varsity returnees like senior rett McNally (6-5) and Mikey McMahon (6-7), and 6-3 senior shooting guard Conrad Sperry, and you get the sense that things will be just fine.

In fact, maybe the football players’ extra week will pay big dividends. It all depends on how you look at it, and Fergerson is a glass-half-full kind of guy.

“All the teams we’re playing, they are playing with their full roster,’ he said. “Those

ay, a transfer from Mount Carmel. oung guys are doing really good,” Delaney said. “George is definitely really good; he’s going to be our main scorer this ear for sure.”

“It’s always great to get young talent on the team,” Halper said. “Not only does it them more opportunity, it gives other more opportunity to step up and their spots on the team. They’ve done a really good job of playing with guys older than them. They push the rest of our team in many ways.”

th the 6-6 Gossett and 6-10 Vincent gone, the Huskies will be noticeably smaller in size this season as Gray and King are the tallest players, which each standing 6-5. That means OPRF will rely on speed and quickness more than it has recently.

“We’ re going to play faster and you’ll see us change defenses a lot,” Gary said.

OPRF has a challenging schedule as always. There’s the annual East Avenue Showdown with Fenwick at the Chicago Elite Classic, held at Credit Union One Arena, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.; non-conference games against Deerfield, Niles North and Oswe go; the Pontiac Holiday Classic, Dec. 29-31; the Mid-Suburban/West Suburban Challenge, Jan. 3 at Addison Trail; and the WheatonWarrenville South MLK Shootout, Jan. 17

football players are only going to add. If we can win some of these games without those football guys, that will only improve our roster. [They] bring another level of toughness and speed.”

That’s what Sperry thinks, but he insists there is even more to it. For one, his football teammates will undoubtedly bring a championship mentality to the program.

“Our teams places emphasis on defense and that is going to help us out there,” he said.

The intangible for Fergerson, whose team went 21-12 a year ago and 5-4 in the Chicago Catholic League Blue, is playing hard, especially on defense. That will be key at the outset of competition, where the Friars will play Hinsdale South and Riverside-Brookfield at the latter’s Bill VandeMerkt Thanksgiving Classic this weekend

It doesn’t get any easier. After a home game against Nazareth, Dec. 2, Fenwick plays Cole Jr.’s for mer team, OPRF, on Dec

and 19.

“Pontiac is a great tournament with great teams. If you play four g ames at Pontiac, you’ re playing some good basketball,” Gary said.

The West Suburban Silver is perennially one of the top Chicago-area conferences, and this year, Gary feels Lyons Township should be the favorite. But he adds, “We’ll see how it unfolds.”

OPRF has struggled in recent years, and the Huskies want to return the program to its winning ways.

“We obviously want to have a winning season, that’s always the goal,” Gary said. “We want to augment a defensive identity; if we can guard and defend and make teams play to our strengths, that bodes well for us.”

Halper is ready to do his part in helping change OPRF’s fortunes

“We really want to win,” he said, “whether it’s against Fenwick, Pontiac, or even getting a nice playoff run. We’ve craved to win since the last game of last season, and we’ve never been more ready.”

Monday night in the Battle of the Ridge at Northridge Prep in Chicago, OPRF (1-0) defeated TF South 65-56. Gray led the Huskies with 19 points and eight rebounds. Johnson had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Williams added 14 points.

5 in the Chicago Elite Classic at UIC’s Credit Union One Arena.

They will also play in York’s fabled Jack Tosh tournament over the Christmas holidays, and St. Patrick, Jan. 19, at Fenwick’s Martin Luther King Shootout. The Shamrocks beat the Friars in a Class 3A sectional final a year ago.

“We’ve moved on from that game and want a new mentality for this season,” Sperry said.

The CCL Blue schedule once again is daunting, where the Friars will face Class 3A state champion DePaul Prep, 3A runnerup Brother Rice and Mount Carmel. And that’s just for starters. Add in Loyola and St. Ignatius, and every night will be a fight.

“They are Super Bowl games,” Fergerson said.

Sperry thinks the schedule is “definitely manageable

“I think we’re going to be a hard team to play,” he said. “We play whoever we play, and we play them hard, no matter what.”

NOVENAS

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your

NOVENAS

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your

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: M25001043 on November 4, the Assumed Business Name of GABE THE REALTOR h the business located at: 3526 PRAIRIE AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: EUSTAQUIO VERDUZCO 3526 PRAIRIE D, IL 60513, USA

Published in RB Landmark November 12, 19, 26, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

Published in RB Landmark November 26, December 3, 10, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

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

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

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2025 QUARTER 4

November 26, 2025

THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN CALLED AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. (AFT) IN 2018. THIS QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DESCRIBES HOW AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER (ACT) IS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT AFT AND OTHER EFFORTS.

FROM VISION TO REALITY

POWERED BY COMMUNITY: ASPIRE CENTER SHOWS WHAT AUSTIN CAN BUILD TOGETHER PAGE 3 ASPIRE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION: OUR FIRST 90 DAYS PAGE 4 ANCHOR TENANTS PARTNER FOR THE COMMUNITY PAGE 7

Special thanks to these Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan legacy investors:

Since 2010, Austin Coming Together (ACT) has facilitated collaboration to improve education and economic development outcomes in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Today, we serve a network of 50+ organizations committed to improving the quality of life in the Austin community. Our strategic plan is called Thrive 2025 and outlines how we will mobilize our resources to achieve four impact goals by the year 2025: Quality Early Learning, Safe Neighborhoods, Living Wage Careers, and Stable Housing Markets.

ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

CHAIR

Larry Williams

Broker, State Farm Insurance

VICE CHAIRMAN

Bradly Johnson

Interim CEO, BUILD Inc.

SECRETARY

Jerrod Williams

Law Clerk, Illinois Appellate Court

ACT STAFF

Leadership

Darnell Shields

Executive Director

Research & Evaluation

Andrew Born*

Senior Director of Community Impact

Mia Almond Research Associate

Operations

TREASURER

LaDarius Curtis

Director of Community Engagement, Greater Chicago Food Depository

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Darnell Shields

Austin Coming Together

Directors

Sharon Morgan

Director of Graduate Support & Community Outreach, Catalyst Schools

Reverend Reginald E. Bachus Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church

Deirdre Bates* Director of Operations

Dearra Williams

Executive

Operations Lead/ Assistant to the CEO

Londen Mance

Office Administrator

Alfred Jackson Community Liaison/ Receptionist

Strategic Initiatives

Sandra Diaz*

Service Delivery Enhancement Manager, Austin Community Hub

Emone Moore

Engagement Coordinator, Austin Community Hub

Dollie Sherman

Engagement Specialist, Austin Community Hub

ACT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

A House in Austin

Academy of Scholastic Achievement

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Austin Community Family Center

Austin Weekly News

(Growing Community Media)

Be Strong Families

Beat the Streets Chicago

Bethel New Life

Beyond Hunger BUILD Inc.

By The Hand Club For Kids Cara Catholic Charities

Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures

Chicago Community Loan Fund

City of Refuge

Defy Ventures Illinois

Erikson Institute

Friends of the Children

Friendship Community Development Corp. of Austin

Greater West Town Community Development Project

Housing Forward

i.c. stars

IFF

Tenisha Jones

Executive Management Professional

Reginald Little

Business Development Specialist, Great Lakes Credit Union

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

Founder & CEO, D.W. Provision Consulting Services

Ruth Kimble

Founder & CEO, Austin Childcare Providers Network

Clara Bonnlander

Social Services Coordinator, Austin Community Hub

Ethan Ramsay* Planning and Investment Manager

Grace Cooper Lead Organizer

Nyla Larry Project Coordinator

Natalie Goodin

Special Projects Manager

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Kids First Chicago

KRA Westside American Job Center

Learning Edge Tutoring (fka Cluster Tutoring)

Legal Aid Chicago (fka LAF)

Max Komnenich

Associate Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative In Memoriam

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jack Macnamara

1937–2020

FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR

Mildred Wiley 1955–2019

Arewa EKUA Community Organizer

La’Shawna Bundy Community Land Trust Coordinator

Mary White Community Resource Coordinator

Krystal Cano

Community Resource Coordinator

Marketing & Development

Robbie Gorman Director of Development

Jon Widell

Marketing and Development Specialist

Sydni Hatley

Marketing and Development Specialist

*Also part of the ACT Leadership Team

Manufacturing Renaissance

Mary Shyrese Daycare

Maryville Academy

Mercy Housing Lakefront

New Moms

OAI, Inc.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Open Books

PCC Community Wellness Center

Project Exploration

Renaissance Social Services, Inc.

Sarah’s Inn

South Austin

Neighborhood Association

St. Joseph Services

St. Leonard’s Ministries

Stone Community Development Corporation

The Catalyst Schools

The Journey Forward

The North Avenue District, Inc.

Towers of Excellence

UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work

VOCEL

Westside Health Authority

West Side Forward

Worldvision

Youth Guidance

Powered by Community: Aspire Center Shows What Austin Can Build Together

JBy Darnell Shields Executive Director, Austin Coming Together

ust months after opening its doors in June 2025, the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation is demonstrating what is possible when a community’s long-held dreams are met with sustained commitment, collective action, and real investment. For years, many of the ideas behind this project were dismissed as too ambitious or out of reach. But here in Austin, we always knew what we were capable of. Now, we’re watching those once-distant concepts come alive in real time—translated into programs, services, and opportunities that are already changing lives.

The Aspire Center was built with a clear, urgent purpose: to confront the barriers that have held too many of our residents back from achieving economic mobility. At Austin Coming Together (ACT), our vision has long been to create a truly thriving Austin community. With the Aspire Center, located at the former Robert Emmet Elementary School on Madison and Central, we are closer than ever to realizing that vision.

From day one, the services inside the Aspire Center were intentionally designed to address the needs our residents voice most consistently— access to quality jobs and job training, opportunities to build generational wealth, and accessible legal support. These offerings, led by ACT’s Hub team and delivered in partnership with our anchor tenants, are helping us meet both the immediate and long-term priorities of the community. Already, the early impact has been unmistakable.

Westside Health Authority (WHA), a lead partner in the Center’s development and operations, is providing critical wraparound support that many job seekers need in order to succeed. Residents are accessing case management, job readiness training, transitional employment, permanent job placement assistance, and more—services that ensure people are not

navigating life’s challenges alone while trying to secure stable work.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) is scaling access to hands-on welding and advanced manufacturing training for the West Side through their presence at the center. Participants are gaining industry-recognized skills that lead to living-wage employment, and the demand for these programs continues to surpass expectations.

BMO is offering on-site financial education, coaching, and banking access— helping residents build financial stability, repair credit, open accounts, and plan for the future. On-site legal assistance is available at no cost, including support with expungement, criminal defense, and other services that remove long-standing barriers to employment and opportunity, thanks to the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and Legal Aid Chicago.

Each of these offerings is part of a larger system of support—one that reflects how Austin has always worked best: collaboratively, with shared responsibility and shared vision.

The Aspire Center is not just meeting its goals—it is living out the promise we made to our community. We set out to build a place where residents could access pathways to better jobs, stronger financial futures, and greater stability. Today, we are seeing those pathways fill with neighbors determined to move forward.

This is what we envisioned. And as we continue to grow, we intend not only to fulfill our commitments but to exceed the hopes we all carried into this project. Austin deserves nothing less.

Aspire Center for Workforce

COMCAST FLAGSHIFT LIFT ZONE (FLAGSHIP LIFTZONE ANNOUNCEMENT ON SITE)

In September, Comcast opened the Flagship Lift Zone at the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. This massive $500,000 investment provides free highspeed WiFi and technology offerings including laptops, digital cameras, and meeting pods for virtual or in-person meetings, collaborations or interviews.

This also brings with it a partnership with scaleLIT, with the help of ACT’s Hub team to provide digital skills programming and its Career Pathways Navigators training to the Aspire Center, helping job seekers in the area.

DEFENDERS OF THE COURT

In September, Freedom Defense Center of Austin, in partnership with the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago and Westside Health Authority, hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and community legal resource fair as part of My Block My Hood My City’s #SaveStreetball initiative. Teams were sponsored by Anchor Tenants: ACT and WHA, along with BUILD and Contextos (in-house creative partner of FDCA.

The day showcased the strength and intentionality of not only the interior, but also the exterior of the Aspire Center. A day outside featuring free haircuts, food, and drinks, in addition to legal and community resources to help people know their rights, and come together to celebrate the community.

Innovation: Our First 90 days

BMO GRAND OPENING

In October, fellow ACWI Anchor Tenant, BMO opened their second Austin branch inside the Aspire Center, further establishing the bank’s commitment to the West Side. BMO’s Zero Barriers to Business program will have a strong presence at this branch, aiming to expand access to capital and address the structural barriers that have historically stunted business growth in underserved communities. BMO’s involvement in the Aspire Center is part of a larger, collaborative effort to reimagine the former Emmet Elementary School as a regional hub for job training, small business development, and building community wealth.

OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO

In late October, Open House Chicago hosted their annual architecture and urban exploration festival, and in our first year of operation, the Aspire Center was chosen as a participation site!

The Aspire Center was featured across Chicago Architecture Center platforms as one of Open House Chicago’s new sites, and we are also thrilled to share that the Aspire Center was listed as a top recommendation by Chicago Sun-Times’ Lee Bey!

With nearly 500 guests visiting and touring the space this was an opportunity to help spread the word around the great work of everyone in the Aspire Center and bring some additional attention to the beauty within the Austin community.

With the release of the AFT Highlighted Agenda, ACT is going “on the road!” Our team will be on tour and available to co-host discussions about the new phase of Austin’s AFT quality-of-life plan and its vision and strategy, with block clubs, churches, community organizations, coalitions, etc. Other ways we’ll ensure to update the community on the progress of implementing the Highlighted Agenda are through newspaper sections like this, emails, and social media.

Plan Leaders

Community

Narrative

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Kenneth Varner

Healthy Schools Campaign

Dearra Williams

Austin Coming Together

Reesheda Graham

Washington

The Kehrein Center for the Arts

STRATEGY LEADS

Suzanne McBride

Austin Talks

Cindy Gray Schneider

Spaces-n-Places

Maria Sorrell

Community Resident

Megan Hinchy

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Andraya Yousfi By the Hand Club for Kids

Jai Jones PSPC, The Chicago Community Trust and Community Resident

Adrienne Otkins Community Resident

Michael Romaine The Culture

Keli Stewart Front Porch Arts Center

Kenn Cook Westside Historical Collective

Economic Development

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Roxanne Charles West Side Forward

STRATEGY LEADS

Emily Peters Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Tina Augustus Community Resident

Melissa O’Dell Defy Ventures

Fanya Buford-Berry Community Resident

Baxter Swilley Community Stakeholder

Ed Coleman Austin Chamber of Commerce

Education

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Charles Anderson

Michele Clark High School

STRATEGY LEADS

Pam Price Director of Parent University at CPS

Ruth Kimble

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Cata Truss Community Resident

Housing

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Athena Williams Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Allison McGowan Community Resident

STRATEGY LEADS

Shirley Fields Community Resident

Rosie Dawson Westside Health Authority

Public Safety

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Bradly Johnson BUILD Inc.

Marilyn Pitchford Heartland Alliance

STRATEGY LEADS

Edwina Hamilton BUILD Inc.

Jose Abonce The Policing Project

Ruby Taylor Taproots, Inc.

Youth Empowerment

TASK FORCE CHAIR

D’elegance Lane

Community Stakeholder

STRATEGY LEADS

Aisha Oliver Root2Fruit

Helen Slade

Territory NFP

Dollie Sherman

Austin Coming Together

Chris Thomas YourPassion1st

Civic Engagement

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

D.W. Provision

Consulting Services

Anchor Tenants partner for the community: Westside Health Authority and Jane Addams Resource Corporation

host forklift training at Aspire

By Jonathan Widell Marketing & Development Specialist, Austin Coming Together

Recently, in September, two Aspire Center Anchor Tenants, Westside Health Authority (WHA) and Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) came together for the community to launch a forklift certification training program. The entire program takes place inside of the walls of the Aspire Center.

These cohorts take place over a two week period, and consist of three days of job readiness training from WHA, followed by two days of forklift certification training through JARC. Westside Health Authority helps them get interview ready through mock interviews, builds relationships with their case managers and career specialists/ job coaches, in addition to leaning into the group aspect of the cohort which adds another element where they can help and learn from one another as well. WHA helps make the participants comfortable and reminds them what makes them unique, before helping with job placement upon completion.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation offers the forklifting certification training on site at

the Aspire Center. The training is led by Jose Ramirez from JARC and the training is very hands on, involving both exams they need to pass, filling out the necessary paperwork, and learning about the standing forklift. This program is unique because JARC is not only able to offer the necessary information for people to learn, but they can receive direct training so they are prepared when they are taking the next step in their careers.

While the program is led by WHA and JARC, this is a collaborative effort that leverages other Aspire anchor tenants as well . ACT plays a key role in helping refer people to the program, screening them, and making sure community residents are aware of its existence. Our Hub team serves as the intake coordinators and first point of contact, ensuring that people are being helped and being placed properly. There is also a financial literacy aspect at the end of the training that allows BMO to potentially play a role. This was what we envisioned when this idea started. This program coming together demonstrates the intent and optimization of what was envisioned for the community through the Aspire Center.

The demand has already been so high that the first cohort had to be expanded to accommodate interest, which shows the need for, and the impact programs like this can have in a community like Austin. n

This shows the power of collaboration, when two likeminded organizations come together with the vision of wanting to empower the community with a resource that becomes a service not only for the community, but for Chicago.

JOSEPH GREEN, WHA

Holiday 2025

Your Guide to Holiday Shopping & Dining in Oak Park, River Forest & Forest Park

HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME TO COME TOGETHER.

Our Local Communities Are Interwoven Through Connections & Celebrations.

Happy Holidays!

A

OPRF Chamber of Commerce

Since arriving at the Chamber in October, I’ve been reflecting on what makes Oak Park and River Forest such a remarkable place to live, work, and do business. In the short time I’ve served as Interim Executive Director, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many shop owners, civic leaders, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs who form this spirited, tight-knit community. Their dedication to their craft, and to one another, is what gives our local economy its heart.

The holidays are an especially meaningful reminder that thriving communities don’t happen by accident. They are built through each of us showing up for one another: choosing to shop local, supporting our independent businesses, participating in community events, or simply taking a moment to thank the people behind the counters, kitchens, studios, and storefronts.

ery purchase you make locallysweet treat, a special gift, or a celebratory night out - strengthens our small businesses and keeps our commercial districts thriving. It sustains the partnerships, creativity, and at make Oak Park and River est truly unique.

As you browse this guide, I hope you’ll vorites, revisit familiar , and feel inspired by the breadth of what our community has to of fer. Thank you for supporting the businesses and organizations that work tirelessly to serve and shape this place we all care so much about.

Wishing you a season of connection, warmth, and local joy.

Yoo-Jin Hong Interim Executi ve Director OPRF Chamber of Commerce

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We are proof of what is and of what came before. With over 30 years of experience, our work is more than a portfolio. It’s evidence. Evidence of trust built with a client list that continues to grow year after year. Evidence of a multidisciplinary studio where creative minds—both near and far— come together to craft custom solutions that fit.

Snowflake ornament drop-in workshop is back!

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Wed: 1–6; Sat: 10–5 Sun: Closed except Dec 17

C eleb rat e the delicious

As we edge towards the darkest days, food keeps us looking forward

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Here in immigrant-rich America, we love to eat every culture’s celebration foods. For better or worse (for our waistlines), we think of them as everyday meals. Let’s take a bite of those celebrations as we take a dive into several dishes to delight the season.

Onion Roll – Latke ight

Hanukkah spans Dec. 14 to 22 this year. The eight-day festival commemorates when the Maccabean Jews re gained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple. They only had enough olive oil to burn a lamp in the Temple for one night, but it stayed lit for eight nights

“In order to remind us of the oil, Jews eat a lot of oily foods during this holiday,” Ryan Rosenthal, co-owner of The Onion

River

Forest Chocolates

A candy cane is said to symbolize a shepherd’s staf f. T he crook evokes the shepherd of men that the baby Jesus will become. River Forest Chocolates owner Donna Slepicka remembers that connection and putting candy canes on her Christmas tree, but at her shop on Lake Street in River Forest she transforms them into another treat of the season: peppermint bark

“We crush peppermint, candy canes,” Slepicka said. “My chocolate is couverture. that is very high in cocoa butter, which is the most expensive ingredient in chocolate. It’s creamier and it just has a better fl avor.”

To do justice to that quality of chocolate, it is tempered in-house. That means melting it, then raising the temperature higher, then lowering it in a way that aligns the confection’s crystals. This creates the distinctive snap of high-end chocolate.

At River Forest Chocolates, they add a touch of peppermint oil to batches that will become pe ppermint bark

“That makes it a little more special than what you g et at the grocery or big box stores,” Slepicka said. “When you say Christmas, it is all about peppermint. In

Roll, said. “The Ashkenazi’s, which are a group of Jews that only had potatoes and onion, so they got very creative and made potato pancakes.”

Latkes, as they are called, are popular in many Jewish delis. At The Onion Roll, they start with Idaho potatoes, chopped fine with a bits of onion, salt and pepper. Panko crumbs are added as a binde r. Formed into patties, the pancakes are slipped into olive oil and fried until they are crisp on the outside and soft and warm on the inside.

This North Avenue deli goes a step further. They serve a latke flight – like you’d have a flight of wine or beer tasting.

“One pancake will have applesauce. A second pancake will have sour cream and chive, and the third pancake will be a Nova pancake,” Rosenthal said.

The Nova is topped with hand-sliced lox, rolled around cream cheese and topped with chives. As it’s been said, bet you can’t eat just one.

– Peppermint bark

the winter I think mint because it’s cold out. It is just all the more appealing because it’s minty and it’s fresh. This is just my own take on it.”

C ONTINUED FROM PA GE B1 1

Spilt Milk – “World Peace” chocolate cookie

This time of the year, we see many cards, signs that encourage, even implore Peace on Earth. What ingredients are needed to make that happen? Butter, flour, cocoa powder, egg, sugar, vanilla – mix them together in the right portions and cookies emerge. A cookie with the power of world peace?

“It’s just a small statement,” Nikos Liargovas, owner of Spilt Milk, said. “What holidays is, is about people putting their best ef for ts to be as cheerful as possible, to be as positive, maybe trying to forg et some of the problems that we all have.”

In the fractured and crummy world that we are inhabiting at the moment, the new owners of Spilt Milk bakery figure that chocolate cookies can’t hurt.

“It’s a very simple recipe, it doesn’t have secret ingredients,” Sandra Liargovas, wife and co-owner with her husband Nikos, said. “Something so simple can have such a big name. It’s small things that can make this season and make people’s life better with some small ef fort

“If you put some ef fort in to give some positivity out, some-

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Dec 18, 7:30 pm

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Old Xmas cards – OPRF museum PROVIDED

Holiday card s make a ge nuine, tactile connection

The world might be digital, but a card in the mail delivers like nothing else

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Recently I read an essay in the New York Times by novelist Ann Pachett. Her nostalgia for physical mail struck a chord with me. She wrote, “I loved the mail. In my youth, I ran to the box to see if there might be an envelope whose contents would change the course of my life – an acceptance letter, a love letter, a check.”

To me, there is something special about opening the mailbox and seeing a letter with a handwritten address on it (not those phony ones that try to look like

handwriting!)

Christmas still brings a bumper crop of these correspondences. I reached out to several local enthusiasts of the postal experience to get their perspective on the tradition and future of cards in the mail.

Colleen Fitzgerald is the owner of Fitzgerald’s Fine Stationery. In her downtown Oak Park shop, she designs custom holiday cards and more.

“In a world that moves faster every year, sending a holiday card is a simple way to slow down and connect,” she said. “When someone opens a holiday card, they feel

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Garland F

Silhouette Blue, card design

remembered. It’s a small gesture that can lift a heart, spark a smile, and remind us what the season is really about: connection, gratitude and love.”

Another local card purveyor Gail Eisner of Pumpkin Moon and Scratch ‘n Sniff, both in downtown Oak Park, echoed that personal connection.

“Somebody thought about you and they went to the extent to pick out a card and, address that envelope and get that stupid stamp and get it to the post office. And that is a gift,” she said.

“We don’t touch anything anymore.

Christmas cards, I feel are one of the last things that you get to hold in your hands,” Megan Rose said.

Rose designs cards and stationery. Her Forest Park-based company is Silhouette Blue.

ager Rachel Berlinski think back to a time when long distance phone calls were expensive or not even possible.

“Cards would’ve been a really important way to keep in touch with family that you wouldn’t normally see, especially during the holiday season. How else would people keep in touch?” Berlinski said.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Holiday cards, Fitzgerald's

“It’s so nurturing to send a piece of mail,” she said. “You have to put into the world what you want back from it. It’s a two-way street. You have to start sending them out.”

At the Oak Park River Forest Museum on Lake Street, they have a collection of historic greeting cards. Those made Operations Man-

Keeping the tradition alive, the museum’s gift shop sells a pack of six cards, which are a collection of historic images from the area that evoke the holiday spirit.

“I have some diehard friends that are still doing it. God love them. And again, I love it. And I love the photo card where I get to see the family, the update letter,” Eisner said.

“Christmas is such a nostalgic time of year. People are willing to go the extra step,” Rose said. “Christmas kind of pulls you back in time a little bit. And so much of it is tactile. I hope that it keeps going because I love holding the cards in my hands, putting our friends’ pictures up on the wall and getting to look at them for a couple weeks. It’s such a special time “

Holiday Spectacular presented by

Celebrate the Season!

Upcoming Holiday Events

November 29-December 30

There’s something fun for ever yone this holiday season!

Compiled by Stac y Coleman

Holiday Open House

Saturday, Nov. 29, Noon-4 p.m., Oak Park and River Forest Museum

OPRF Museum’s Holiday Open house will include festive refreshments, games and activities for all ages! Enjoy their Stars of Oak Park and River Forest Christmas Tree and Hometown Legends LEGO Hunt and take advantage of the Small Business Saturday 10% o discount in the gift shop. 129 Lake St.

A Charlie Brown

Christmas Brunch (Live!) at Pleasant Home

Saturday, Nov. 29, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Pleasant Home

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! Enjoy live music, nostalgic holiday spirit and great food presented by Fitzgerald’s Nightclub and the Park District of Oak Park. The Kevin Fort Trio will be playing live at Pleasant Home with a brunch bu et by BABYGOLD Barbecue. Register on the Park District of Oak Park website. 217 Home Ave

Holiday Trivia Night

Monday, Dec. 1, 7-8:30 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

Back by popular demand, test your festive trivia skills at the library! Registration is encouraged but not required for this jolly evening. Bring a team of up to ve people or join a team when you arrive! 3541 Park Ave

Holiday Market

Friday, Dec. 5, 3-7 p.m.

Saturday Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

IWS Children’s Clinic

Get unique and special gifts for your loved ones at the OPRF Infant Welfare Societ y’s Holiday Market. Featuring 22 vendors, the market will be held in the upstairs event space of the IWS Children’s Clinic. 28 Madison Street

“On Christmas Morning we would run eagerly to the playroom fireplace where we had hung our stockings the night before. They were always filled with candy, spiced cakes, cookies, and surprise packages.” - John Lloyd Wright

Home for the Holidays

Saturday, December 6, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park

Join us for a celebration of the season in keeping with the Wright family tradition! Bring your family and friends for a free tour of Wright’s Oak Park Home, decked for the holidays.

Free. Please register at flwright.org.

Concordia-Chicago University Band Christmas Concert

Friday, Dec. 5, 8-9:15 p.m.

Chapel of Our Lord

Enjoy festive holiday favorites at the Concordia University Band Christmas Concert! Conducted by Dr. Richard Fischer, the University Band features 70 players. Admission and parking are free to all 7400 Augusta Street

Holiday Cookie Exchange with Mary DiSomma

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7-8 p.m.

River Forest Public Library

Whisk up some festive treats and visit the River Forest Public Library for their Holiday Cookie Exchange. Bring homemade cookies (and the recipe!) to share with other participants. Not into baking? Cookies from a local bakery are also allowed. The library will provide cookie tins to take your treats in. Plus, local baker and cookbook author Mary DiSomma will share some of her own baking wisdom and cookies as she talks about her book A Gift of Cookies: Recipes to Share with Family and Friends. Registration on the River Forest Public Library website is required. 735 Lathrop Ave.

An [Urban] Christmas Carol - Bah Humbug with Groove!

Friday, Dec. 5, 7-8:30 p.m.

Madison Street Theater

Join the Youth Dance Theater of Greater Chicago for one night in Chicagoland’s only all dance adaptation of A Christmas Carol! The performance is set in modern-day Chicagoland and embodies the same hopeful message as its inspiration. Tickets are available online only. 1010 Madison Street

Holiday Housewalk

Friday, Dec. 5, 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 1-5 p.m. Oak Park and River Forest

Kick-o the holiday season with the OPRF Infant Welfare Societ y’s annual Holiday Housewalk! Four stunning Oak Park and River Forest homes will be festively decorated and open for viewing. Tickets are available on the OPRF IWS website.

Austin Holiday Market

Friday, Dec. 5

BUILD- Austin Campus

BUILD’s Austin Holiday Market is back! Taking place on its Austin campus, the market is known as a celebration of small, local black and brown owned businesses and non-pro t social enterprises. Find a unique gift and get into the holiday spirit by attending! Keep an eye on the BUILD Chicago website for further details. 5100 W Harrison St.

Family Cookie Part y

Saturday, Dec. 6, 1-3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1-3:30 p.m.

A House in Austin (The Big Blue House) Make some delicious holiday memories with your loved ones at A House in Austin’s Family Cookie Party! Come dressed in your favorite festive pajamas and enjoy treats and activities in each room, as well as festive photo ops! Register on A House in Austin’s website for $25 per family, or pay what you can. 533 N Pine Ave

Holly Jolly Gingerbread Part y

Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Brook eld Zoo Discovery Center

Get in the holiday spirit and give back with the Brookeld Zoo at their Holly Jolly Gingerbread Party fundraiser. This event will feature a brunch bu et (featuring cocoa, Bloody Mar ys and mimosas!), gingerbread house

decorating, and special visits from the zoo’s animal ambassadors and Santa himself! Purchase tickets on the Brook eld Zoo website. 3300 Golf Road

Holiday Bazaar

Friday, Dec. 5, 3-9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Liber ty Cultural Center

One of Animal Care League’s longest standing traditions, the Holiday Bazaar is back! Pick up special holiday gifts, snack on some festive baked goods and more!

Plus, if you swing by the ACL adoption center on Sunday the 7th, you can get a picture with Santa! Visit Animal Care League’s website for more details. 6445 27th Pl

Candlelight Walk

Friday-S unday, Dec. 5-7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oak Park Conser vatory

Take in the sights with Oak Park Conser vator y’s Candlelight Walk! Holiday music and refreshments await as you take in the festive atmosphere. Take a stroll over to Mrs. Claus’ holiday garden, where you can meet Santa and get a special treat! Plus, make sure you drop o your wishlist in Santa’s mailbox. Purchase tickets on the Oak Park Conser vator y website. 615 Gar eld St.

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Krampusnacht: A Holiday Hunt!

Friday, Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.

Pleasant Home

For the folklore fans ages 21 and up, enjoy a night of fright and festivities at Krampusnacht: A Holiday Haunt! Santa rewards the nice, but Krampus comes after the naughty, so be sure to keep an eye out for the notorious beast. Enjoy light appetizers and drinks at the cocktail par ty that promises thrills, chills and twisted holiday cheer. Register on the Park District of Oak Park website. 217 Home Ave., Oak Park

Home for the Holidays

Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

Join the Frank Lloyd Trust for a free holiday experience at the Home and Studio! Wright’s Oak Park home will be decorated for the season with a festive tree, poinsettias, wreaths, evergreens and more. B ring friends or family and enjoy a free tour. Register on the Frank Lloyd Trust website. 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park

Winterfest in Downtown Oak Park

Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Downtown Oak Park

Visit Downtown Oak Park for Winter fest to get your local x of the holiday season! Enjoy festive enter tainment, from The Polar Express playing free at Lake Theatre to Canterbur y Carolers and local choral performances. Register for the Cookie Walk to pick up a holiday tin and pick up sweet treats from local businesses. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for Santa! More information can be found on the Downtown Oak Park website.

Cozy Winter Family Singalong

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2-4 p.m.

Forest Park Public Library

Warm up your voices and winter spirits! The Forest Park Library is hosting a winter musical medley for the family. Words will be provided for those who would like to sing along, plus there will be jingle bells and shakers for the little ones. Hot chocolate, cider and co ee will be ser ved. Plus, kids can stick around for an indoor snowball ght! Registration is encouraged and can be completed on the Forest Park Public Library website. 7555 Jackson Blvd.

A direct line to Santa, Bluey, Batman …

Children can send and receive letters from their personal her

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

For the past four years a bright red mailbox has hit the streets around the holidays with the intent to delight young children. Collaboration for Early Childhood sponsors the box and a whole team of elfish volunteers ply their trade to make it seem magical.

The letterbox is usually posted outside the Collaboration’s office at 171 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park. But it goes on the road too, when the organization takes part in events around the area, such as Winterfest, Shop Small, and Santa Saturday.

“We exist to try to bring joy and support to families,” said Wendy Giardina, the collaborations engagement coordinator. “We also take templates to area coffee shops so that kids can fill out the letters to Santa and then they can bring them to our mailbox.”

The organization sends letters too. Using a form on the collaboration’s website, parents can request a letter from Santa or just about any character who is special to a child.

“It could be Batman; could be Bluey; could be, some of them we have to look up because we don’t really know who that is,” Giardina said. “But we do our very best. Last year we got almost 200 letter requests. We have a lot of volunteers that

help us ans of our most joyful programs that we do.”

It’s a way for adults to emphasize something positive going on in a child’s life.

“Parents are able to shout out that their kid is potty trained or that they ’re sweet to their younger brother or that they’re very kind to the new puppy they just got,” Giardina said. “That really goes a long way, when you get it from Santa or whomever your hero in life is.”

T he Collaboration for Early Childhood was established in 2002. It is both publicly and privately funded with the goal to cultivate the whole child from birth to the age of five.

Mailing a letter to Santa

“There really wasn’t any sort of attention paid to anything that happened before kindergarten,” Giardina said. “It was just, oh, those are little kids. But as we all now realize, 90% of brain development happens before you’ re five years old.”

When the organization isn’t coordinating mail, it also supports early learning professionals working in childcare, day care and preschools.

“We try to find ways to help them,” Giardina said. “Get support for things that they need. We do professional development for them. We also support parents of children zero to five with parenting workshops and

groups and tons of activities in the community.”

Though they enjoy the interaction at Christmastime, the organization tries to highlight as many holidays as they can.

“We’ re always looking to find people to help us,” Giardina said. “We recently celebrated Diwali. We had a family come and help us set that up. We try to shout out every holiday that we possibly can with the goal of being inclusive.”

Connect with the North Pole

• collab4kids.org

Donuts and Dreidels: A Chanukah Celebration

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1-2 p.m.

Oak Park Public Library

Come celebrate Chanukah at the Oak Park Public Library! Temple Har Zion’s David Schwar tz will lead children through songs and stories. Plus, there will be snacks! Register on the Oak Park Public Library website. 834 Lake St

Holiday Pajama Extravaganza

Friday, Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m.

Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

Don your favorite festive pajamas and head to the librar y for the annual Holiday Pajama Ex travaganza. Enjoy stories, snacks, music and crafts, plus, Santa will make an appearance! Bonus: Santa speaks both English and Español! 3541 Park Ave.

Winterfest

Friday, Dec. 12, 4-6 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Middle and High Schoolers are invited to the Oak Park Public Library’s annual Winter fest! Come celebrate the season with games, activities and food. More information can be found on the Oak Park Public Library website. 834 Lake St

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 13, 9-10:30 a.m.

Park District of Forest Park Administration Building

Santa is teaming up once again with the Park District of Forest Park for a breakfast to remember! Enjoy pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and hot co ee, with a side of games, coloring and crafts. Make sure to bring your own camera so you can snap a picture of your kids with Santa! Make sure to register beforehand, as spots do ll up. 7501 Harrison Street

Card-making with Ope ration

Rising Spirits

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1-2:30 p.m.

Forest Park Public Library

Make a veteran’s holiday season a little brighter! Write cards to veterans living in Illinois veterans homes and take part in a local tradition. Last year, Forest Park made up more than half of the holiday cards collected for Operation Rising Spirits through the Department of Veterans A airs. Be a par t of the impact this year! Materials are all provided. Registration is available on the Forest Park Library website. 7555 Jackson Blvd.

All Ages Private Lessons for Music, Languages, Academic Tutoring, Theater, Voice, Audition Prep, Logic Pro recording and more! $150 o ! Spanish Immersion K-12 Micro School

$150 off registration fee if used before Jan

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6:30pmChurchdoorsopen

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

6:30pmChurchdoorsopen

6:30pmChurchdoorsopen

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00 ...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

6:30pmChurchdoorsopen 7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

33rd Annual Cookie Walk

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

Saturday, Dec. 13, 10-11:30 a.m.

7:30pm“HomeAlone”screening Admission:$20.00

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

United Lutheran Church

The sweetest $20 you’ll spend this holiday season!

library! Join in on the DIYing with the Austin Branch by decorating cards for the holiday season. Cards and decorating materials will be provided! More information can be found on the Chicago Public Library website. 5615 W. Race Ave

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

...MerryChristmas,yafilthyanimals!

115NorthOakParkAve

DowntheCourtyard gemjewelryboutique.com textus!708-759-0200

115NorthOakParkAve

DowntheCourtyard gemjewelryboutique.com textus!708-759-0200

Hosted by United Lutheran Church and Chicago Church of Christ, the 33rd Annual Cookie Walk is fast approaching. Buy a box and ll it with a variety of holiday cookies, knowing that the proceeds go to local charities. There will also be a ra e and jams, jellies and candles available to purchase. 409 Green eld St.

Cla ssical Blast’s “Dark Side of the Yule”

Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s Nightclub

Mix your holiday spirit with some classic rock in this unique holiday experience! Combining rock hits and traditional carols, holiday standards and beyond, Classical Blast ’s “Dark Side of the Yule” is returning to Fitzgerald’s for one show only and is open to all ages!

Tickets can be purchased on the Fitzgerald’s website. 6615 W Roosevelt Rd

DIY: Holiday Greeting Cards

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Chicago Public Library- Austin Branch

Make and take holiday greeting cards with your local

A Dickens Carol

Friday, Dec. 19, 7-9:30 p.m.

Pleasant Home

Join Oak Park Festival Theater for the world premiere of A Dickens Carol at Pleasant Home! One night only, this staged reading is a new twist on the holiday classic, reimagining the story from Dickens’ point of view and featuring real-life events. Light appetizers and two drink tickets are included in the cost of registration on the Park District of Oak Park website. 217 Home Ave

A Christmas Carol

Friday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m.

Grace Lutheran Church

Join Consonance - Chicago Choral Artists this holiday season for a returning favorite! A Christmas Carol features both arrangements of traditional carols and original music by Benedict Sheehan, and the return of voiceover artist Bill Rohl ng. Tickets are available on the Consonance website. 7300 Division St.

accompanied by a parent or guardian. Doors open at 6:30 and tickets can be purchased on the Rober t’s Westside website. 7321 Madison Street

Home for the Holidays

Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Downtown Oak Park

Get into the holiday spirit with Downtown Oak Park! Marion Street will have free horse drawn carriage rides, and maybe you’ll see Santa as he visits local businesses. Plus, warm up with some free hot cocoa on the Cocoa Walk! Full details are available on the Downtown Oak Park website.

Khanike (Hanukkah)

Celebration with Mameloshn

Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:30-8 p.m.

Temple Har Zion

Celebrate Hanukkah with one of two programs at Temple Har Zion, both featuring the local Yiddish

Monday, Dec. 22, 1:15-2:30 p.m.

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

Enjoy an afternoon of holiday favorites, operatic arias, musical theater gems and pieces from the Great American Songbook per formed by Desir Hassler, Pam Williams, Mike Cavalieri, Lisa Kristina and John Concepcion. close out the concer t, join in yourself! There will be a sing-along of holiday carols. The event is free to the public, though donations are welcome. 178 Forest Ave.

Kwanzaa Celebration

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 6-8 p.m.

Oak Park Public Library

Celebrate Kwanzaa with the Oak Park Public Library! Keep an eye on their website for details, coming soon. Past years have included dancing, drumming, storytelling, and more! 834 Lake St.

Savo r the seasonal

These are dishes that make fall and winter wor th it

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Khyber Pass – Karahi gosht

While this dish isn’t connected to a specific winter holiday celebration, it takes Khyber’s owner Malik Jawid on a sentimental journey when days get shorter, colder and memories gain a nostalgic hold on the mind

“Back home, cozy, family together,” Jawid said. “I remember always enjoying that smelling and being cooked.”

This savory, warm meal comes from northern India and Pakistan. Traditionally made with goat or mutton, at Khyber Pass it’s made with lamb.

“Around that time of the year, it’s a little bit more specially prepared,” Jawid said. “With spices you don’t use usually.”

A kadai is the deep, round, flat-bottomed cooking pan used to prepare the dish. Unlike curries which marinate the meat first, here it is simply sauteed in ghee or oil, then slowly simmered in sauce to delicate tenderness. The method gives the unique taste that is different from curries made with the same meats.

The sauce includes ginger, garlic, green chilies and a special coarse ground spice blend known as kadai masala. The “gravy” didn’t traditionally include onions, but modern recipes add them to balance the tangy zip of tomatoes. Overall, the dish pairs well with naan to mop up the playful combo of sweet, spicey and hot flavors.

Khyber Pass is on Lake Street in Downtown Oak Park

Cucina Paradiso – Pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sage sauce

Customers at Cucina start asking for it about the time PSL lattes hit the menus elsewhere. Once the idea of fall is in the air, tastebuds are ready.

“Servers are coming to us and saying, they’re asking about the pumpkin ravioli,” Mike Bouse, Cucina Paradiso’s operations manager, said. “It’s like, all in good time. if it wasn’t a little bit limited, it wouldn’t be so sought after.”

The fall favorite starts with a puree of pumpkin and ricotta cheese. That is plumped inside egg pasta with fresh herbs and for med into ravioli.

“The sauce is very simple. We take brown butter and

with a little bit of garlic and some sage that we toast in the brown butter. We add stock and white wine to it and then very carefully emulsify it with Pecorino Romano cheese.” Bouse said.

On top goes toasted pepitas and another generous helping of Pecorino.

Sage is spotlighted here. But do you know why fall foods are so often sage-flavored?

“Sage can definitely withstand even some snow. It’ll withstand a free ze,” Bouse said of the herb that lasts longer into cold weather than most others. “It lends itself so well to things like squash, gourds, game meats that would normally be harvested during the fall season – turkeys, venison, that sort of thing. At home, I am pulling sage out of the garden for the T hanksgiving turkey.”

Cucina is on North Boulevard in Oak Pa rk

Daly Bagel – Cranberry orange bagel & gingerbread bagel

Two different bagels, packed with ingredients with deep connections to end-of-year holidays, show up on the menu for a limited time each year at Daly Bagel on Chicago Avenue in Oak Park

Cranberry orange will be the featured special the first week of December, just as we are all fully digested from Thanksgiving and looking for another blast of turkey-time flavor. Whole dried cranberries mix in with bagel dough that gets its liquid from orange juice rather than water

The week of Christmas gingerbread bagels roll out. Most Daly bagels are made with honey, but this recipe calls for molasses to set the right tastebud-bed for chunks of crystalized ginger inside and a ginger topping outside

“We’ll have both flavors again in January. You know, absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Adrienne Guldin said. “You do appreciate it more when it comes back, than if it’s something you can’t get all the time.”

Guldin has a favorite cream cheese combo for each of the flavors.

“We have an apple cinnamon roll cream cheese that I really like with the gingerbread, because you’ve got so many of those spices that just come through them, just warm it all up. For the cranberry orange, I think goat cheese is probably the most popular with that. It’s a nice mix of sweet and sour,” she said.

The Joyful Giving Giving Catalog2025

Animal Care League

Animal Care League o ers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. With over 1,300 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery. Make a di erence in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague.org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Arts Alliance Forest Park

Become a Member and Create With Us! Arts Alliance Forest Park. The Catalyst for Creativity.

Members enjoy a variety of bene ts including discounts to events all while collaborating with other local organizations and businesses including Village of Forest Park, the Park District, Historical Society and the Chamber of Commerce.

Programs include the well-attended StoopSessions, Tellers’ Night, GarageGalleries, Makers’ Market, 48-Hour Film Festival and art installations such as Little Perspectives, Sit & Savor, FiberFlash and the Park District mural with more to come!

Join the only local arts organization that assembles art enthusiasts for the love, fun and beauty of art for only $25! Visit forestparkarts.org/becomea-member

Austin Coming Together

Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s mission is to increase the collective impact of our 50+ member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes for Chicago’s Austin community. Since 2010, we’ve been connecting residents to services, attracting investments for the community, and building capacity for policy change. Recent e orts include co-developing the former Emmet School into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation and supporting the Austin Eats Initiative, a 20+ group focused on strengthening the community’s food access infrastructure. Learn more at austincomingtogether.org

Beyond Hunger

For over 45 years Beyond Hunger has been harnessing the power of communities to create a hungerfree future. Through our food pantry, home delivery program, nutrition education classes, and social services, we provide hunger relief that truly goes beyond basic nourishment. We provide our clients with the tools they need to ensure that no one is left behind in the battle against hunger. We know that this work would not be possible without our community. Whether you volunteer, advocate for those in need, or donate, you are essential in moving our mission forward. With your support, we believe hunger is solvable. Learn more about how you can get involved in the ght to end hunger by visiting gobeyondhunger.org or donating using this QR Code.

BUILD

Since 1969, we have embedded mentors in schools and across neighborhoods to connect with youth who need support. Wrapping young people in the opportunities and care they deserve, we help them build hope, resilience, and a path to a promising future. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school, college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering, and gardening. Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.

Join us in BUILDing a better future: buildchicago.org

CAYR Connections

CAYR Connections, an Oak Park nonpro t, envisions a future where all brains belong. CAYR stands for “Come As You Are,” and our mission is to build inclusive spaces that honor neurodiversity (the natural variation of human brains). Our programs for neurodivergent children and their families - including our upcoming microschool and summer program - provide opportunities for education, connection, and advocacy. Our social club for neurodivergent adults and community outreach programs help create lasting networks of support and understanding. Your donations make this possible and help us expand our reach.

Join us in creating a more inclusive world at www.cayrconnections.org

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

Early care and education is where success starts. It makes everything else possible, and it allows children to reach their full potential from the rst day of kindergarten all the way through to adulthood. We are a communitydriven organization that cultivates the development of the whole child, birth to age ve, by engaging families, local organizations, early childhood educators, caregivers, and health providers to create equitable, nurturing, and interconnected systems of support. Help ensure that we continue to be a place where families thrive!

Investing in early childhood is an investment in the future. Your donation will make a powerful impact! Learn more at collab4kids.org

Community Support Services (CSS)

Community Support Services (CSS) initiates, provides and promotes services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, within their communities, in order to strengthen their independence, self-esteem, and ability to participate in and contribute to community life. We provide supportive employment services, respite care, residential services, community day services and home-based services. CSS serves 51 communities and has a strong presence in Oak Park and River Forest and surrounding areas. We rely on private philanthropy to fully fund all our essential services.

To donate and learn more about services, please visit www.cssservices.com/donate.

Friends of the ChildrenChicago

Every child has hopes and dreams – but far too many children face the challenges of poverty, housing insecurity, and exposure to gun violence.

Friends of the Children steps in early— pairing kindergarteners on Chicago’s West and South Sides with Professional Mentors. We focus on the individualized journey of the child, helping them build skills and create goals while partnering with caregivers to strengthen family stability. What makes us unique? We walk alongside our youth for 12.5 years. No Matter What. Our trauma-informed approach puts the child at the center and surrounds them with a network of support.

Friends of the Children-Chicago isn’t just about prevention—it’s about possibility. Join a child’s team of support by donating at friendschicago.org today.

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

Built in 1929, the Oak Park Conservatory is a Historic Property of the Park District of Oak Park. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Conservatory o ers three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants and two outdoor gardens including a play area for toddlers. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory o ers a wide range of programs focused on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory. From volunteering to educational and recreational opportunities, tours and classes, there is something for everyone to enjoy year-round.

Growing Community Media

Growing Community Media is the reader supported newsroom behind four great local news publications covering our neighborhoods and villages. We publish the Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park & River Forest, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brook eld Landmark. Day in and day out we provide authentic, boots-onthe-ground, fact-based reporting about people and places you know and value. We hold our public o cials and institutions accountable and help our communities stay connected and informed. Your gift to Growing Community Media is an investment in making your neighborhood a stronger and better place to live.

Donate for news that matters to you at growingcommunitymedia.org/donate

Habitat for Humanity Chicago

We at Habitat for Humanity Chicago do more than build homes. We help build thriving neighborhoods by o ering residents small grant opportunities, homebuyer education, and a ordable mortgages through our various programs. Working in the Austin, Greater Grand Crossing, and West Pullman community areas, our wider neighborhood approach guides our work and is sustained by our dedicated volunteers, donors, and partners.

Together, we build Chicago. Join us in investing in our neighbors today: habitatchicago.org/ donate • (312) 563-0296

Hephzibah Children’s Association

Housing Forward

Founded in 1897, Hephzibah Children’s Association is Oak Park’s oldest social service agency. Serving children and families for 128 years, our mission of helping children thrive and families ourish is muti-faceted. We are the only residential treatment program for severely abused, neglected, and traumatized children in need of behavioral intervention from ages 3-11 in Illinois. In addition, Hephzibah o ers foster care services, comprehensive services for children and families in crisis, positive parenting services and an abuse & neglect prevention program. Hephzibah also provides a ordable after-school care and summer camp for Oak Park families of all income levels.

To make a donation, visit hephzibahhome.org/donate-now.

Holiday Food and Gift Basket

Holiday Food and Gift Basket, a program of the Community of Congregations, has been spreading joy in Oak Park and River Forest since the 1970’s. Every year we provide grocery gift cards in November and holiday gifts in December to low-income individuals and families. Our small program has a big impact because of the support of community members like you. We need donors to fund gift cards, sponsors to ful ll wish lists, and volunteers to deliver gifts. Thank you for helping our neighbors in need.

Please visit our website for information on how you can donate, sponsor, or volunteer. Find us at communityofcongregations.org/ holiday-food-gift-basket

Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness.

Ending homelessness means addressing it at all levels, from the possibility of a housing crisis to its permanent resolution. We prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises when they do occur, and stabilize people with supportive services and housing. Housing Forward is a recognized leader in west suburban Cook County, assisting over 2,500 individuals and families each year with our comprehensive wraparound support from the onset of a housing crisis to its resolution.

To learn more or get involved, visit housingforward.org, email or call 708-3381724

L’Arche Chicago

Together is a beautiful place to be…

Quality care for adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities extends beyond the basics of supporting someone with their basic living and medical needs. Everyone deserves an opportunity to live a vibrant and meaningful life. L’Arche Chicago is a highly relational community dedicated to creating a space where everyone’s unique gifts are celebrated. We are committed to the highest quality of care for our core members (adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities). Mutual relationships transform lives at all four of our homes, located in Forest Park, Oak Park, and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

You can make a beautiful impact – Join us by making a gift today! Visit www. larchechicago.org • 708-6601600 • hello@larchechicago. org

League of Women Voters of Oak Park-River Forest

The League of Women Voters

Oak Park and River Forest is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. Locally, we register voters and sponsor candidate forums. We also present civic education programs covering topics such as the decline of local news, ranked choice voting and the problem of mis and disinformation. The League advocates at the state and national level on policy issues including voting rights, immigration and the environment. And the LWV nationwide United and Rise initiative aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters to protect and preserve our democracy.

Visit lwvoprf.org to learn more.

Maywood Youth Mentoring Program

Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to highschool youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, eld trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride. Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management and con ict resolution, etiquette, police/ community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence. Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youths, providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and

The Neighborhood Bridge

The Neighborhood Bridge connects families in the Austin and Oak Park communities to vital resources that strengthen stability and opportunity. Through our Advocate Program and Essentials Pantry, families receive personalized support for housing, food, legal aid, education, and more. This year, we opened the Bridge Center at 38 N. Austin Boulevard, a new Community Service Center built on partnership and hope. Your generosity helps us continue bridging families to the services they need to thrive.

Donate today to support our work: theneighborhoodbridge.org

New Moms

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local nonpro ts, who account for 80% of its usage. We provide community outreach, scholarships, and public programming in ve areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The Nineteenth Century is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the building. Programs are open to all and we welcome all ages to join. Our Monday programs are now being live-streamed as well as available a week later on our website for all to enjoy.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Oak Park Regional Housing Center has celebrated 52 years with the mission to achieve vibrant communities while promoting intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park and the surrounding communities. OPRHC is the only HUD approved non- pro t agency in Oak Park promoting intentional integrative housing stability options while increasing housing inventory. Consider giving a tax-deductible year end donation so that we may reach our goal to raise $25,000 by December 31, 2024! These funds will help us continue to help integrate and invigorate the Greater Westside communities for up to 100 individuals in the rst quarter of 2025!

You may donate at: oprhc. org/donate. To learn more, please call 708-848-7150, or email: info@oprhc.org.

One Earth Collective

One Earth curates vibrant environmental programming that inspires action, facilitates learning, promotes justice, and fosters equity and inclusion to create resilient communities and a healthier planet. We focus our work in 3 areas - One Earth Film Festival, One Earth Youth Voices, and One Earth Local. One Earth Film Fest’s 15th season will take place April 22-28, 2026. We’re excited to welcome Chicagoland audiences live, in addition to our virtual screenings. Join us for captivating lms, engaging discussion, impactful action opportunities and community-building.

Memberships start at $35. Learn more and donate at oneearth lmfest.org/give

OPRF Infant Welfare Society

Since 1916, OPRF Infant Welfare Society has supported families in need through programs including the IWS Children’s Clinic. Each year, 3,000 infants, children, and young adults from birth to age 21 receive medical, dental, and behavioral health services— regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Guided by a commitment to compassionate care delivered with respect and dignity, the Clinic attracts families from across Chicagoland, from nearby Oak Park to as far as Mount Vernon. OPRF IWS is powered by generous donors, dedicated sta , committed members, and caring volunteers. Join us in advancing children’s health. Donate at opr ws.org/donate.

PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation)

Pro Bono Network

Pro Bono Network creates exible pro bono opportunities, removing barriers to attorney volunteerism, to serve people in need. Founded and based in Oak Park, PBN connects attorneys who want to volunteer with workable pro bono opportunities. PBN has supported more than 400 volunteer attorneys and 30 translators who make justice more accessible to individuals in need. Since 2011, PBN volunteer attorneys have contributed more than 36,000 volunteer hours, to serve more than 6,500 clients. We believe in a future where every person has access to legal help and every attorney has the opportunity to serve.

Info@pbnetwork.org Support PBN here: www.pbnetwork.org/donate

Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest

The Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest is a dedicated branch of Rotary International, a global network of community members united in the mission to provide service to others. Locally and internationally, the club champions humanitarian projects that promote peace, ght disease, support education, and grow local economies. Their work ranges from funding college scholarships to providing polio vaccines to 2.5 billion children in 122 countries over 35 years. These e orts rely on community support.

To learn more about Rotary and help create lasting change in our community and beyond, visit: oprfrotary.org/.

St. Angela School

St. Angela School has served the families of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for more than ve generations. We are committed to enriching the lives and futures of our children. We have a storied history and an extended family of generous alumni whose philanthropy provides scholarship funds and whose engagement keeps our campus beautiful. We are richly blessed and deeply grateful for the partnerships that have sustained us through the years. Now, early in our second century, we are proud to rea rm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community. We ask those partners to recommit to our cause as well. Thank you! Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 6262655.

Sarah’s Inn

Sarah’s Inn takes a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence, o ering free, bilingual (English/Spanish) services for survivors and their children, including con dential advocacy and counseling. We also provide a Partner Abuse Intervention Program for perpetrators of domestic violence, Prevention education for youth to build healthy relationships, and Training and Education program for professionals and organizations to create a network of skilled ambassadors. Together, these programs improve the lives of those a ected by domestic violence and help break the cycle for future generations.

Show your support for our ongoing work at sarahsinn.org/donate.

Share Food Share Love Food Pantry

Due to federal cuts to regional food distribution, our food pantry has been put on notice that we will likely not receive supplies that our neighbors in need are especially looking forward to this holiday season. Putting food on the table is a basic human right. Putting food on the table means we can a ord to take a break from our daily worries to feel the comforts of mealtime, togetherness, and nutritional well-being. Putting food on the table is an act of sharing and love.

You can make a real di erence this holiday season. Learn how: sharefoodsharelove.org.

The Joyful Giving

visit OakPark.com

Three Pillars Initiative

The idea to create a youth philanthropy leadership education program was born in 2010 by Rick and Cheryl King, long-time residents of Oak Park. In partnership with the OPRF Community Foundation, they launched the Future Philanthropists Program (FPP), now in its fteenth year.

Given the success of the Oak Park program, and a desire to share this model with communities across the country, the Three Pillars Initiative (TPI) was incorporated in October 2018. TPI’s mission is to work with communities to develop and launch programs that teach the art, science and business of philanthropy to the next generation.

Donate today to support the youth of tomorrow.

Way Back Inn

Since 1974, Way Back Inn has successfully provided long-term residential and outpatient treatment for substance use and gambling disorders. Our mission is to rebuild lives damaged by addiction in a personalized healing environment. This holiday season, we ask that you gift responsibly with the youth in your family. Children who have early exposure to gambling experiences, including lottery tickets, are more likely to develop a gambling problem later in life.

For more information or to make a donation to our program by scanning the QR.

West Cook YMCA

In the last few months, your West Cook YMCA has transformed, expanding our reach to serve youth, families, young professionals, and healthy aging adults. We’ve added tness classes and programs for all ages, extended facility, gym, and pool hours, and invested in new weight equipment and space, all to strengthen spirit, mind, and body. Today, we ask for your support to continue building a more connected and healthy community. Your investment helps to keep and add programs that foster wellbeing, spark belonging, and bring people together across all walks of life. Join us in shaping a better us, for today, and for the generations to come. Together, we are stronger.

For more information, visit westcookymca.org.

West Suburban Special Recreation Association

Association (WSSRA) provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest and eleven other surrounding communities. Donations to WSSRA help provide nancial assistance to those participating in our year-round programs and summer day camp.

To make a donation please visit wssra.net.

Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak

Park

Wonder Works Children’s Museum has been a community gem on North Avenue since 2003. Our small but mighty museum plays a very important role in nurturing young minds, fostering a love of learning, and bolstering social and emotional skills. In 2025, we continued to grow museum access for ALL children through discounted admission for families with nancial needs, sensory friendly play sessions, and social service agency partnerships. As a 501c3 non-pro t organization, individual donations to Wonder Works Children’s Museum are crucial to bringing our mission and programs to life.

Visit Wonder-Works.org/ give to donate and support the museum.

LOVE OAK PARK & RIVER FOREST? JOIN AS A COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR.

If you shop here, live here, or simply love it here, this is your chance to fuel the local businesses that keep our community buzzing.

Become a Community Contributor and help power:

✔ Small business support ✔ Local events & festivals

✔ New business initiatives ✔ A thriving, resilient economy

Plus, you’ll get insider access to Chamber happenings, invitations to special events.

Stay in the loop. Sign up for our Community Connection newsletter. Make your impact today.

SAVE THE DATE - BITE NITE 2026 Friday, January 30, 2026 • 5:30-9:30 PM Nineteenth Century Club, Oak Park Scan to join.

• The biggest foodie night in OPRF is back!

• Bold flavors. Packed rooms. Electric energy.

• 30+ restaurants, a 360° bar, live entertainment, and all the community vibes you can handle.

• Mark your calendars – you won’t want to miss it.

Whether you’re pampering yourself at James Anthony Salon, Elan Hair Body & Sole or Polished Nails and Day Spa, we think you should be able to get all of your banking done in your neighborhood…with people who love the area as much as you do. Byline is privileged to be a part of the Oak Park and River Forest community. Dine at Breakfast House Oak Park, Kyber Pass, or Jerusalem Cafe and shop at The Book Loft, River Forest Chocolates or Val’s Halla Records.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf