JOIN 399 NEIGHBORS. SUPPORT WEDNESDAY JOURNAL. Details on pages 2 and 3
W E D N E S D A Y
December 13, 2023 Vol. 44, No. 24
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JOURNAL @oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
Special section INSIDE
Oak Park rapper Gawne drops new track with Shaquille O’Neal Gawne and Shaq release ‘Chaos’ Friday in O’Neal’s return to music By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
Peace Plan
Protesters in Scoville Park, Dec. 10, demand an immediate ceasefire of hostilities in Gaza MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 9 TODD BANNOR
Oak Park native Luke Gawne reclines in a mansion in Los Angeles, under the glow of the Hollywood sign in a scene from his latest music video, and reflects on how far he has come in his life. Rather, he raps it. With Shaquille O’Neal. Yes, that Shaq, the legendary, ubiquitous NBA basketball player. “I was blown away by Shaq’s passion for rap,” Gawne said. “And him making his return to rap with me is such an honor. He was so passionate and loves rap so much, in every single take he was rapping his heart out. It was such a magical experience.” And, yes, return. O’Neal released four studio albums and more in the 1990s. See GAWNE on page 11
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Note from the Publisher
The future of local news? We’re it.
Here’s why we became a nonprofit newsroom and why your donation is important By Dan Haley Publisher
I
know you believe in independent local news. You are either reading this piece in print or on one of Growing Community Media’s digital platforms. So I know you understand why local news is so vital to each of the neighborhoods we report on. Here’s the worry. Either you take us for granted – we’ve been publishing each of our four newspapers for between 25 and 43 years – and you assume we’ll be here to cover village hall, school boards, elections, business and faith, prep sports and obits next week and next year. Alternatively, you’ve read about the imminent crisis in local news across this country. The two papers a week that just close down. The “ghost” newspapers which publish press releases and pick up copy from the wires but provide no local news. It feels pretty grim.
You understand how this diminishes life in your hometown. Less accountability. Less celebration. Less civil debate on the letters pages. Less community and fewer connections. Here’s your enthusiastic wake-up call. There is a bright future for independent local news. And the good news for our readers who follow the Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review and the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark is that we are that future. But we need you to grow with us. Don’t take us for granted. But sure as hell don’t give up on us either. Four years ago, we knew we had to make big changes as the business model for local news was ruptured. So we became a nonprofit newsroom – Growing Community Media NFP. Lots of rigamarole with the IRS, forming a board of directors, then COVID. You remember. While there is a lot of energy in nonprofit journalism right now, your local papers have created what is going to be the winning model for local news that is going to be sustainable for years to come. And it
is why so many are interested in what we are building.
remarkable news engine we are building then that’s welcome.
It’s a hybrid. We’ve kept print advertising and grown local digital advertising. Our reach into each of our nine neighborhoods is larger than it has ever been. We’ve kept paid print subscriptions and we are grateful for the thousands of you who keep re-upping even as we’ve hiked the annual cost.
Right now donors -- large, small and a few foundations -- account for about 25% of our total revenue. That’s a good start. But we need to grow the percentage along with our advertising base.
And we have critically added a third revenue stream. It’s philanthropy. And that’s where you come in. We need you, our loyal readers, to help pay the freight for our reporters and editors, our technology so that we keep growing our newsroom. Across the bottom of these two pages are the names of 399 neighbors who have made a donation to GCM since our end-of-year fundraising effort began on Oct. 1. That’s a lot of people. Look at this list for the names you know. And then join them by Dec. 31 by making a donation, an investment, in the local news you trust and rely on. Maybe you can afford $5 a month. That’s great. If you can invest more in this
Our year end fundraising goal is $250,000. It will be the most we’ve ever raised in one campaign. We’re on the path to making the goal. We’ve got a $40,000 match running right now. Thirty-three of our neighbors pooled their generous support into this match fund. Every dollar you contribute will be doubled through the close of the year. We need this money to set us up for a great and growing 2024. Donating is simple. Go to GrowingCommunityMedia. org/donate. If you are reading this in print then you’ll find a small donation envelope inside this issue. Fully old school. I promise you it will feel good to be part of building a future for local news in these neighborhoods we all love. With gratitude in advance.
Join our donors and help us make our Dec. 31st goal! Deb & Tom Abrahamson* Skyler Aikerson ALK Snow Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation Leland Anderson Michelle Arnold B Best Family Fund Babou Memorial Fund Cecelia Bacom Carolyn Baird Nick Baker Kathryn Balk Judy Banks-Johnson Timothy Bannon Todd Bannor Katherine Bateman
James Baum Sandra B. Baumgardner Marion & Jonathan Baumgarten Susan Beach Debbie Becker Paul Beckwith Jordis Bednar Stephan Benzkofer Lin Beribak Linda Bernat Vicki Bielanski Mary Bird Marc & Dorie Blesoff* Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin William Bobco Loretta Bober Marcin Bogacz Alice Boomhower Karen Borgstadt Mark Boroughf
Elizabeth Botts David Boulanger Melissa Bowen John Bowes Anne Bowhay Mary Boyaris Tom Braam Martin Bracco Richard Brey Kevin Brubaker Craig Brumund Mark Burger James Burns RJ Busky John Byrne Susan Campbell Patrick & Jeanette Cannon Michael Cassin Marilee Castaneda Joyce Champelli Nancy Chmell
*These are GCM boardmembers and 2023 Matchmakers
Judy Chrisman Lauretta A. Christensen Lesley W. Christien Nancy Clark* Thom Clark Ellen Cleary Kelly Clissold Donald Coe Joseph Coglianese Marty Colchamiro Bonnie Coleman LaVerne Collins* Alice Cottingham Jom Coughlin Ann Courter Brian Crawford* Jolyn Crawford Mary Ellen Creighton Stephen. Crilly David Crossett Jack Crowe Jeff & Ann Currie
Norma Cutsforth Ellen Cutter Wendy & Al Daniels Diane Dannenfeldt Jack & Mary Darnall Dan Davidson MJ Davidson Joshua Davison Judy Davy Pam & Pat Deady Melinda Degucz Janel Dennen* Mary Dickie Timothy Divis Mavis Donahue Clara D’Onofrio Andrew Doten Susan Doyle Suzanne Dubin Mary Duffy Pelzer Robert Dulski John Dumas
William A Dwyer Ella Mae Eastman Matthew Ebbing Erika Edmonson Pat Eichenold Christine Eichinger Ardyth J. Eisenberg Susan Elfant James Elsener Craig Endicott Wendy Epstein Heidi Ewell Deborah Fallahay Carrie Felix Scott Hardesty Kim Fideler Robinson Geoffrey Fingerhut Liz Fischer Liz Fitzgerald Caitlin Fitzharris Michelle Fitz-Henry Heather Fitzpatrick
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Cheryl Flinn Jennifer Ford Maureen Ford Jeffery Foster Kim Freeark Elizabeth Freeland Leslie Fulton Judith Gaietto-Grace Thomas Gallagher* Judith Galleazzi Agustina Gandarilla Elizabeth Gardner Mark Gartland Jim & Louise Gates Christine Gavlin Tony Georgeson Dale Glowacki Jeanne E. Goedert Alan Goldberg Katie Frankle & David Goldman Brian Gomoll Allen Goodcase Michael & Peggy Goodman Gregory Gordon Sudhanva Govindarajan Joyce Gradel Beverly Graham John Grant Bruno Graziano Susan Greenberg Marjorie Greenwald Greffin Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation* Chris & Kori Grumboski Michael Guerin Joan Gumbel William Haddad Carol Hafeman John & Julia Haley* Mary Haley* Kathleen Hall Matthew Hall Josephine Halpin Kristen Halverson Brian Hameister Judith Hamje Bruce & Kathy Hansen Suzanne Haraburd* Roberta Harris Steven & Lenore Harris Nancy Hartman Robert Havey Richard Hay Tom J. Healey MaryAnn Heard
Linda Heffernan Philip & Patricia Heil Joel Heinz Rosemary Hepner Meg Herman Diane Hettasch David Hilbert Charles Hoch Lynn & Alan Hoffstadter* Deborah Holdstein Deborah Holdstein Case Hoogendoorn* Stephen Hopkins Colleen Horrigan Gary Howell Michael Hughes Bonnie Hutchison Kathy Hymson Mary Ann Irvine Alberto Jabiles Amy Jacksic Erik Jacobsen Daina Jakofsky Edward Jepson* John F. Flynn Jason & Tina Johns Steve Johnson Marcile Jones Bernice (B.C.) (Hopkinson) Juettner Barbara Kahn Kara Kalnitz Sophie Kaluziak Bob Kane Sandra Karuschak Art Kazar Randall Kelso John Kelty Pam Kenney Donna Kenyon Terry Keshner Janice Kieckhefer Therese Kielp Philip & CarolJean Kier Geralyn Kilcoyne Susan Klock Troy Klyber Ken Knasiak Dan Knight Paul & Patricia Koko Barbara Kolowski Wendy Kopala Rich Kordesh* Nancy Kovach Jay Kozie Lorraine Kozon
Renata Krempl James Krohe Michael Kruley Ellen Kuner Laurian Kyritz Terri Lackey Hans Lagoni Amy Landefeld Neil Lane John Lattyak Leslie Lauderdale Karl Lauger Lucas Laurel Dennis Lavelle Ginny Lee-Herrmann Dan Lesser Lydia Lewis-Brandt Daniel L’heureux* Elizabeth Lippitt Kathryn Lucht James Lynch Michelle Major Mary Anne Manley James Mann James Marciniak Kate Marek Suzanne Marshall David H. Martin Marylen Marty Ann Masur* Jane McClelland Anna Clare McDermott Judith McDevitt Joe McDonald Sheila McDonnell Donna McKune Bob Mead Christopher Meglan Teresa Melcher David Mendell Ben Meyerson Mike Michaelsen Melissa Mickelberry John Mihelic Carole & Larry Mitchener Betty Moore Maurice & Toni Moore D. Morawski Candice Moretti Leigh Morgan Mary Morgan Lindsay Morrison Gloria Morrissey Robert Moser Woody Mosgers Sharon Moyer
Karen Mullarkey Kerrins Anne Murphy Dennis M. Murphy* Margaret Murtagh Donna Myers* Zachary Nauth Donald Nekrosius* Mary Ellen Nelligan* Eugene & Louisa Newberry Carolyn Newberry Schwartz Michelle Newman Bill Niro Nancy Nordgren Robert Novalich Mary Kay O’Grady Thomas & Christine Ondrla Donna Oswald Kathryn Owens Jennifer Packheiser Lynne Palmore John-Paul Paonessa Steven Parker Elizabeth Parsons Libbey Paul Mary Pellegrini Jeanne Peppler Priscilla Perkins William Peterman Loren Phillips Liz Picone Danielle Pierro Thomas Pivarski James Podraza Al Popowits Joyce Porter Deborah Postlewait Teresa Powell* James Prescott Marvin Price Paul Price Susan Purdie Susan Quinn The Quinn Pasin Family Philanthropic Fund Joan Radovich Brenda Rakers Shirley Redmond Vicky Rehill Ruth Reko Lisa Ridolfi Gayle Riedmann Susan Roberts George Rogers Katharine Roller Ron Roman Alice Rose
Support and donate here:
Diana Rosenbrock Barbara Rohm Rossa Jennifer Royer Mark Ruda Dolores Ruffolo Ann Marie Ryan The Sachem Company Silvana Santilli Marian & Bob Sassetti-Kent Steve Saylors Meredith Schacht Lynn Scheir Tyler Schofield Thomas Schouten Robert W. Schramek Janet Schroeder Jeff Schroeder Kathleen Schroer James Schwartz Laurie Schwartz Sylvie Schwartz Benjamin Sells Dorothy Seman Clancy Senechalle Louis Shorr Brendan Short Brooke Sievers Kimberly Silver Peggy Sinko Renee Slade Joan Slanina Helene Slowik Adrienne Smith Barbara Smith Leslie Smith Mike Smolarek Joan Soldwisch Sheila Solomon* Gisela Sonka Martha Spatz Susan Sporte* Rachel Stark Amy Stearns Michael Stefanik Jill O. Stewart Linda Stewart Laurie Stokes Isaac Stopeck Riverside Financial Strategies Kirsten Straughan Pamela Strauss Robert Streit Meghan & Doug Strubel Fran Sullivan* Michael Surratt Theodore Tamul
Christine Tanner Cheryl Terhorst Margaret Thayer The Conroy Family Roger Thomas Judy Thompson Cecelia Thornton Dana Todd Robert Trezevant* Rogene V. Tubman Beverly Tuck Robert Tucker Anne Kelly Turner Linda Valentine Doug Varn Donald & Mary Vogel* Sandy Vomacka Mary Sue Voth Walter Wahlfeldt William Wallace Margaret Walsh* Marietta Walsh Pam Walsh Joan Monica Wanat Steven Warkentin Barbara Watkins* Vicki Watts Rosemary Weber Mary Weiland Eric & Tina Weinheimer* Marc Weiss Nile Wendorf* Michele Wheeler Jonathan Wilder Dina Wilensky Timothy Wilson Mark & Randi Woodworth Nancy Woulfe Kathy Wyant Kevin Wyderka R. Johnilee Yankow Dean Yannias Victor Yipp Stephen Yogya Darek Yong Margaret Zak Karen Zaremba Julie Zeller Maureen Zinsmeister
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Holiday Sale
25% OFF All Holiday Items Dec 18-31 Shop fair-trade, artisan-made, handcrafted goods this holiday season. Every purchase you make supports our mission of helping fair-trade artisans around the world.
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. 121 N Marion St
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Singers from the Lyric Celebrate December Monday, Dec. 18, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m., The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association Indulge in a fusion of classical elegance and festive spirit with a performance featuring four Lyric Opera singers. Experience the magic of the holiday season as the grandeur of opera takes center stage. Reservations required: ncca. memberclicks.net. A recording will also be accessible from the website one week later. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.
BIG WEEK December 13-20
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Secret Santa Christmas Soiree at the Mansion Friday, Dec. 15, 6 - 11:30 p.m., Pleasant Home Experience the festive spirit hosted by the Official Illinois Black Chamber, Cook County Black Chamber, and Garfield Park Chambers of Commerce. This holiday celebration promises a night of music, dancing, and gift exchange with an open bar and hors d’oeuvres and know that your ticket purchase supports the Field of Dreams Visionary Center. Tickets are limited. 217 Home Ave., Oak Park.
‘Elf’Trivia & Ugly Sweater Night
‘Annie Jr.’
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 7 – 9 p.m., One Lake Brewing Test your knowledge on Buddy and his friends from the 2003 classic film Elf. Don’t forget to wear your best ugly christmas sweater. Be sure to arrive early to secure your team’s spot or make a reservation at linktr.ee/OneLakeBrewing. 1 Lake St., Oak Park.
Friday, Dec. 15 to Tues Dec. 19, 7 – 10:20 p.m. , Madison Street Theater Get ready for the heartwarming Tony Award-winning Best Musical to hit the Madison Street Theater stage this December. Annie Jr. tells the endearing tale of little orphan Annie’s search for her long-lost parents. Brimming with optimism, this family-friendly musical is a must-see for the holiday season. View schedule online. Tickets: $15 for adults, $8 for kids 12 and under at ovationacademy.org/shows-tickets. This allages cast production runs approximately 80 minutes with one intermission. 1010 Madison St., Oak Park.
Home For The Holidays Saturday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., downtown Oak Park This street celebration features a free showing of Polar Express at Lake Theatre (9 a.m.), a special cocoa tasting during the Hot Chocolate Walk (12 – 3 p.m.), a visit with Santa Claus (11 a.m.-3 p.m.), plus live music throughout the district (11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Lake St. & Marion St., Oak Park.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: A D&D Game Thurdsay, Dec. 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., The Actors Garden In Christmas town, the abominable snowman and the nutcracker might be friends, holiday myths thrive, and the threat of a Halloweentown invasion lingers. In this Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) two-shot, become a wintry hero facing Jack Skellington’s dark forces. 909 S. Lombard Ave., Oak Park.
Jeff Tweedy at Unity Temple Thursday, Dec. 14, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., Unity Temple Harmonica Dunn and Robert’s Westside proudly present Jeff Tweedy at Unity Temple. When securing advance tickets, please note the limit of 2 tickets per order. 875 Lake St., Oak Park.
Oak Park Arts District’s ‘Art & Wine Walk’
Sat., Dec. 16, 3-7 p.m. , Maychruk Real Estate Oak Park’s Arts District invites you to its inaugural “Art & Wine Walk.” Immerse yourself in local art, savor fine wines, and enjoy the evening. For $40, participants receive wine tastings, small bites, Arts District discounts, and exclusive merchandise, including a wine glass, tote bag, and a wine bottle from Anfora Wine Merchants. Check-in is located at Maychruk Real Estate. Limited tickets are available for those 21 and above; purchase online. 911 S. Lombard Ave.
Chocolate Peppermint Donuts Saturday., Dec. 16, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Schoolhouse Kitchen + Studio Designed for children 5 to 11. Young chefs get hands-on experience creating their own donut batter and mastering the basics of measuring and mixing. While the donuts bake, the kids craft chocolate frosting and have a blast with sprinkles and crushed candy canes. Each child takes home a box of 6 donuts to share, making it a memorable culinary experience for all. 349 Ashland Ave., River Forest.
Sing-Along Messiah Concert Sunday, Dec .17, 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church Join us for a sing-along Messiah featuring the renowned Apollo Chorus of Chicago. A free will offering will be collected to help fund Housing Forward’s mission to end homelessness in western Cook County. Musical scores will be available for purchase. For more information on this event that promises to uplift your spirit as you engage in this timeless classic, visit www.firstumcoakpark.org/ events. 324 N Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.
Yearn for Peace Saturday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Join us to hear music for the holidays that conveys our yearning for peace, from traditional carols and anthems to modern compositions by Abbie Betinis and Levente Gyöngyösi. 7300 Division St., River Forest.
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Proposed school calendar change draws pushback from OPRF board D200 board members skeptical of having final exams in January By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
An administration proposal to start the school year at Oak Park and River Forest High School later in August and push first semester final exams into January after the Winter Break was met with skepticism from the OPRF school board at the school board’s Committee of the Whole Meeting last week. The school’s calendar committee, which is made of 10 school employees: three administrators, three teachers, and four representatives of other bargaining units at the school, recommended returning to a schedule similar to the one used until the 2012-13 school year. It starts classes a little later in August and moves first-semester finals to January to even out the days in each semester. Such a calendar would also allow OPRF to start the school year at around the same time as the elementary school districts in Oak Park and River Forest do. In contrast, a recent trend among high schools has been to start in mid-August so that first semester finals are taken before Christmas Break. OPRF Principal Lynda Parker sent out an email to parents Dec. 4 outlining the proposal. The email and a memorandum to the board said that the school board would vote on the proposal at its Dec. 21 meeting. “Hold on, not so fast,” was the reaction from the school board. “This gives me great pause and concern because we’re going backwards,” said school board member Fred Arkin, noting the calendar was changed so that students don’t have to worry about finals over the Winter Break. Arkin said that the school should get input from those who would be most affected by the change before changing the calendar. “We should get input from our students
and our families,” Arkin said. “This isn’t something that we’ve been looking at for a long time or expecting to come up almost immediately and I just think we need to take a pause and we need to have more discussion and more study.” Other school board members agreed. District 200 board President Tom Cofksy, whose five children all graduated from OPRF, said that his children went to OPRF under both calendars and that his kids whose took finals before Christmas were relieved not to have to worry about school over the Winter Break. “I do remember the relief of being done,” Cofsky said. But board member Jonathan Livingston said that there would be some benefit to some students to have first semester final exams in January, saying that it would give students more time to study for finals. Board member Audrey Williams-Lee also appeared to be sympathetic to the proposed change in the calendar. Parker said that the main reason for recommending the change in the calendar was to equal out the number of days in each semester. There are six more school days in the second semester because of the number of holidays in the first one. As a result, students who take semesterlong classes, such as civics, have what Parker described as a “richer experience” if they take the class in the second semester. Parker framed the issue as one of equity, saying that the difference in school days between semesters could range from six to 10 under the current calendar. Parker said that if the calendar were changed, teachers would be told not to assign work to be done during the Christmas Break. “The intention is not to have students do study or work over the break,” Parker told the school board. Cofsky wanted to know how many semester-long classes there are. “It seems like the tail is wagging the dog,” he said. Cofsky said that he has asked some students about the proposed change and said
FILE
that their initial reaction was negative. Under the calendar’s committee’s proposal, next year’s classes would begin Aug.19 for freshmen and Aug. 20 for all other students. The final day of the first semester would be Jan 17. School board member Tim Brandhorst said he was also hesitant about moving first-semester finals to January and asked whether the school has considered eliminating final exams entirely. Johnson said that school administrators were in the kicking-the-tires phase of thinking about eliminating final exams entirely. Board member Graham Brisben said that he wanted to get feedback from students before making a change in the calendar. “I’m really interested in the voice of students,” Brisben said. “We need to consider
this a lot further.” The administration got the message and will not bring the proposed calendar change to the school board at the Dec. 21 meeting. “Our team is going to go back and take a look at this before bringing it back to the board for next steps,” Johnson said. After the meeting, Johnson said that the proposal to change to school calendar had nothing to do with the start of the construction project, known as Project 2 this summer. “Nothing to do with Project 2 at all, absolutely nothing to do with Project 2,” Johnson said in response to Wednesday Journal’s question. “This came independently through conversations with the calendar committee. It wasn’t driven by Project 2 at all.”
We’re taking a break By ERIKA HOBBS Editor
What better way to spend the holidays than with friends and family? We think so, too. So this year, to thank our reporters, editors and staff, we’re taking a week off. We will not be publishing a print edition on Wednesday Dec. 27. Our of-
fices also will be closed from Monday Dec. 25 through Monday Jan.1. We’ll return Tuesday Jan. 2. Most of us will not be answering phones or email. However, we know news never stops. If there is an emergency or breaking news, please email me, Erika Hobbs, at erika@ growing communitymedia.org. Happy holidays from all of us at Growing Community Media!
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Why does Oak Park still have federal pandemic funds? A look at how the village board is using American Rescue Plan Act funding By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
While the Oak Park village board of trustees began discussions about how to help migrants, a proposal to use $1 million in unspent American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the asylum-seekers came before the board. It turns out Oak Park still had roughly $4 million in ARPA funds, begging the question: Why wasn’t the money earmarked for pandemic recovery already spent? Oak Park received a total of $38.9 million in ARPA funding to address COVID-19’s impact on the community. A portion of ARPA funding has been allocated in fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024 to address capital needs, village manager Kevin Jackson said in an email. And $3 million from Oak Park’s ARPA lost revenue was only recently allocated in the 2024 budget to fund capital projects. The remaining ARPA funds need to be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026, village president Vicki Scaman said. At the Nov. 20 Oak Park village board of trustees meeting, the board decided to allocate $500,000 in unspent ARPA funding to support migrants, rather than the proposed $1 million. So, what has happened to the other $500,000? Nothing yet, Scaman said. The board has not decided where the rest of the ARPA funding will be directed. One possibility is to support small businesses, Scaman said, and another is to help address the homeless population holistically. Trustee Lucia Robinson said she’d like to see it spent on projects to benefit the community, such as the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape and Utility Projects, during the board’s Nov. 28 meeting. “We do want to be very thoughtful in whatever direction we take with the last dollars that we received from ARPA,” Scaman said. According to the Village of Oak Park
website, eligible uses for the funds include supporting public health responses, replacing public sector revenue loss, investing in certain infrastructure, addressing negative economic affects and offering premium pay for essential workers. “The funds allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are intended to help offset revenue losses resulting from the pandemic, as well as fund other community needs,” according to the Village of Oak Park website. Keeping in mind all the ways the community was affected by COVID-19 is important in deciding how to spend those funds, Scaman said. “To very differing degrees, we’re all still experiencing some level of trauma from COVID,” she said. “There are people that are really still hurting and small businesses that are still hurting and individual families that have not recovered.” When the pandemic hit, the previous village board had to amend the budget and reduce spending, Scaman said, canceling all work that was not already committed and necessary. “We rebounded strongly because our community has always supported small business,” Scaman said. “We are a community that I believe has been built on civic engagement.” Village staff will determine how the $500,000 already allocated for migrant support will be spent, Scaman said. She said she imagines it could fund housing opportunities at the West Cook YMCA and The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel, as well as food, translation and legal services for the asylum-seekers. When the emergency order ends on Feb. 6, additional options may be presented to the village board for supporting the migrants, Scaman said. Additional partnerships would be necessary to continue support, she said. “We really do need to advocate as strongly as we can and present a plan as soundly as we can to Cook County government and state legislators to secure more funding,” Scaman said. “We will be limited as to what we can do on our own.”
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Goedert Center partners with YMCA in attempt to remain open
Nov. 29 during the public comment porThe center also asked for tion of the meeting, throwing their name in the hat for consideration in the ongoing consideration in Forest Park’s discussion of the future of Grant-White, which was closed at the end of the 2021-22 for Grant-White building school year due to declining enrollment.
By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
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Purchase a $100 James Anthony gift card, receive $15 bonus card! (Restrictions apply, bonus card must be used Jan/Feb 24’)
115 N Marion St. Oak Park 708.383.3100 jamesanthonysalon.com
A new partnership between the West Cook YMCA and a local River Forest preschool might be the key to keeping the doors open for families needing childcare. The Rose K. Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education, River Forest, announced its new partnership with West Cook YMCA, on Marion Street, through the December Dominican University’s newsletter, which was sent out to families on Nov. 30. “Through this partnership, we bring the YMCA a NAEYC- accredited program with a documented history of over 50 years of significant positive impact on students’ growth and education, while also ensuring parents a safe and nurturing environment for their children,” the statement said. The partnership comes after news was released last month of the center’s closure in June 2024. Neither Sarah Thomas, director of Goedert, nor Phillip Jimenez, CEO of West Cook YMCA, were able to be reached for comment. Earlier this month, Dominican University announced the closure of the center, following a decision by Fenwick High School, which purchased the property from the university, to act upon an initial exit clause and close the center after two years from its purchase. Goedert families have been expressing their concerns and disappointment at the thought of the center having to close its doors and have been working together to try to help the center’s administrators find a new location in hopes of keeping their beloved community together. This desire prompted Thomas to address the Forest Park School District 91 Board of Education during a special board meeting
Thomas provided the board with information regarding quarterly assessments along with a brief history of the center and information on the need for early childhood education in the area. The preschool has 92 students enrolled in five classrooms, which are at full capacity. Thomas also said the preschool has a waitlist of about 150 students each semester. Thomas said they hope to be able to lease the ground floor of Grant-White, allowing the district to maintain usage of the other areas of the building for their needs. “We believe this could be an incredible opportunity to merge and support the broader community with a lasting and significant positive impact on the immediate future and long-term welfare of the children that we serve,” she said. Jimenez was also in attendance to speak on Goedert’s behalf. Appealing to the previously voiced concerns from board members who expressed concern with relinquishing the building, Jimenez said the preschool would consider any growth or desire from D91 to retake the space in the future as long as enough notice was given to allow them time to relocate. “We don’t want you to feel, like we have heard in other meetings, that it could be an objective,” Jimenez said. No decision was taken by the board during the meeting and Shannon Wood, board president, said the conversation on the fate of Grant-White would be ongoing, with no date set yet on when a decision will be reached. In the meantime, Goedert will continue to seek out locations. “We are currently exploring options for a new location within our area,” read the newsletter. “We feel confident that the mission of the Goedert Center will live on for many years.”
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Gifting made easy... Oak Park Neighbors for Peace and Justice in Israel and Palestine held a vigil on Sunday, Dec. 10, to commemorate the Palestinians and Israelis who have lost their lives during the Gaza war. They called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as an end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Forest Park
Holiday Gift Guide
Use QR code to view the guide or find it on exploreforestpark.com
PHOTOS BY TODD A. BANNOR
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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D97’s students get crafty in Maker’s Fair Middle-schoolers will be selling their homemade crafts and baked goods By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ
Migrant services to move buildings, no longer provide showers The services will not be available from Dec. 19 until Jan. 4. By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
The migrant services provided at St. Catherine-St. Lucy Church will be moving to St. Edmund School building at 200 South Oak Park Ave. The last day for services at St. Catherine-St. Lucy’s will be Dec. 19, but the first day at St. Edmund’s will not be until Jan. 4. Those who want to help during the move can sign up online.
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The move is to acclimate roughly 500 migrants by providing larger dedicated spaces, according to a Facebook announcement. The services will include distributing winter clothing but will no longer include showers. “The need for showers has significantly decreased recently,” the post said. The post also called for additional volunteers to process donated winter clothes on Dec. 11 or Dec. 18 and for volunteers, especially Spanish-speakers, during the last days at St. Catherine-St. Lucy’s. Those interested can email immigrantministry@gmail.com. Certain donations are being accepted from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 11.
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If you are looking for a last-minute present for this holiday season and want to shop local and small, it doesn’t get any better than the Oak Park School District 97’s Maker’s Fair, where middle schoolers will be selling their handmade crafts. Held Friday Dec. 15 at Julian Middle School’s commons on Ridgeland Avenue from 4 to 7 p.m., the event is free to the public. It plans to display various homemade goodies. Susan Raphael, co-president of the Julian PTO, said the event is a great way for the community to support middle school students. “They are so talented,” Raphael said. “The idea is that kids create, it has to be kid-created, their items and they can either display or sell their items.” While only in its second year, Raphael said she was in awe of all the creativity displayed last year as students came together and found various crafts to sell including baked goods, clay projects, 3D printed objects, jewelry, and much more. She was also impressed by the social skills which were also on display. “They are also entrepreneuring too,” Raphael said. “Some kids took their table and made a very nice display; some kids were really into it in terms of presentation.” Rose Super, a 12-year-old student at Julian, said she loved participating in last year’s event. Making all the crafts herself, Super said she made about 30 candle holders, a lot of bookmarks, a few bracelets and about 20 Christmas ornaments. She also made sugar cookies from scratch. “I make crafts all year round,” Super said. “It is fun and when you don’t have anything to do, you can just get it out and start working on it.” Super said she was almost fully sold out last year, and is excited to bring her crafts
PROVIDED
Crafts made by Rose Super, including candles, bookmarks, and Christmas ornaments, will be sold at D97’s Maker’s Fair, along with goodies by other middleschoolers, on Dec. 15. back to the Maker’s Fair for people to buy. This year, she is also adding wreaths to her inventory. The fair also gave Super the opportunity to earn money, about $150, which she then was able to use to buy her friends and family Christmas presents. The fair can also be a great opportunity for students who showcase a side of themselves that might not always be on display. “I think these kids get a bad rap, middle schoolers, [people say] it’s such a horrible age, it’s just a pathway to high school, it’s tough,” Raphael said. “I think these kids are really incredible and they are really talented. It’s such a great age group.” Raphael said she had high hopes for the event and believes it is a great way to bring not only the D97 family but the rest of the Oak Park community together. “It was only positive vibes from this event,” Raphael said, adding that when the flier for this year’s event came out people expressed their excitement. “It is just a great event. I hope people can come to it.” Julian and Brooks middle schoolers who still wish to sign up can contact ptojulian@ gmail.com.
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
GAWNE
Dynamic duet from page 1 But this is Gawne’s story and the duo captured it in the song “Chaos,” that will be released Friday. “I was just an Oak Park kid with a dream and perseverance and hard work got me here,” he said. “Regardless of whether you like it or not, I hope you can appreciate that I am very passionate. I take this seriously and I give this [music] my all.” Born and raised in Oak Park, Gawne first gravitated toward sports, a passion he shares with O’Neal. But in high school, Gawne saw a future in sports disappear after he suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to participate in football and cross-country. “I thought music would be the last thing I would ever do, I was pretty passionate about sports, but my health took a turn, and I was pretty much incapacitated. Sports were no longer an option,” Gawne said. “In fact, I didn’t think anything was an option.” After struggling through high school and graduating from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 2014, Gawne went on to Triton College and then University of Illinois-Champaign, where he left with a degree in accounting and marketing four years later. He recalled his deep struggle with depression throughout those years, saying that was when he found a love for music and eventually put his own pain and anger onto a page first through poetry and then through lyrics. “It was the lowest point in my life,” Gawne said. “I was a young kid. You go from healthy and able to do everything to not being able to walk around the block. I was writing about my confusion. It was a very confusing time and a very hopeless time.” Through rap, Gawne said he was able to put his emotions into words. A lot of his material reflected the dark place he found himself in after his injury, he said. His upcoming song “Chaos” captures that kind of daily struggle and how Gawne manages it. “Somedays feel I gotsta quit/ When anxiety is something that I jostle with/ The monster is/Inside a sarcophagus/ In the pit of my stomach and esophagus/I YELL!/I LIVE ON THE EDGE I’M NOT SCARED OF THESE HEIGHTS”
PHOTOS BY DIEGO GARCIA AVILA
Gawne and Shaquille O’Neal
Laying on the mic But then Gawne took a chance. “One day, I recorded something that I wrote on a $50 USB mic I had at home on GarageBand and I uploaded it to YouTube,” Gawne said. “Overnight, it did three to four thousand streams, and that blew my mind. Half of the comments were kids from my high school like ‘man, this kid is still alive?’ It was really well received which was shocking to me. That was the first time I was like, ‘well maybe there is something here.’” After that, Gawne said he knew almost immediately he wanted to pursue a career in the rap industry, saying it was the only avenue he found that gave him “a lift” out of his depression. Seeing it as the avenue to do something with his life, Gawne dedicated himself to his music, receiving his first record deal at 18. But the celebration was short-lived after he soon found himself tied up in a bad con-
tract with no way out of it. “Almost anyone who wants to sign you in music promises you the word,” Gawne said. “I was on cloud 9, I thought ‘this is it, this is my break, superstardom is next,’ then you start to learn about the reality [of it.] It is not that easy, and everything comes at a cost.” With the help of his mother, who early withdrew from her 401K, Gawne bought himself out of the “career-standing” contract. While it might have seemed like the end of the road to him at the moment, he came back with a vengeance. Gawne released his song “Rise” in 2020 six months later and regained his momentum, saying he learned to not “take his foot off the pedal,” and was writing, recording and shooting music videos back-to-back for two years while he waited for his next big break. Seeing a linear growth in his career, he also began collaborating with other artists, such as Lil Xan. But little did he know his biggest collaboration to date was yet to happen.
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Enter Shaq. In October of 2023, Gawne opened up his Instagram account and saw a direct message from O’Neal, who had a successful music career in the ‘90’s as a rapper and a DJ, asking to collaborate. “At this time, I didn’t know who was running his account. I was a little skeptical,” Gawne said. Gawne said O’Neal sent him a song sample to which he responded with a verse and after a few more back and forths, and a surprise FaceTime call from O’Neal, Gawne found himself on a flight to L.A. to work with one of the greatest basketball players of all time in his return to music. “He called and said, ‘should we do a video for it?” Gawne said. “I was like ‘Shaq, anytime, any place, anywhere, I will be there with my team, you name it.’ It still didn’t feel real until the actual video shoot where we linked up.” The opportunity O’Neal gave Gawne was not lost on him, saying he and his team scrambled to put everything together in time for the video shoot, knowing that O’Neal’s time and guidance was extremely valuable. Seeing O’Neal face to face was an emotional moment for Gawne as he had been a lifetime fan of both O’Neal’s music and basketball career. In “Chaos,” the two perform different perspectives, cultivating the experiences of someone who is “up and coming” and someone who has already made it, a perfect encapsulation of where the two artists find themselves today. O’Neal said it all: “I walked fire already/ It put the flame to me/Put me higher than anybody could aim to be.” But O’Neal and Gawne are not only collaborators. They’re also friends. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity Gawne said he is thankful for and one he is proud to have come out of this unexpected collaboration. “Also, I want to shout from the mountain tops how good of a guy Shaquille O’Neal is as well. As cool as making a song with him was, what I admire the most about him is his character and him as an individual.” While there might be some more future collaborations between the rapper and O’Neal, Gawne is also hoping to continue to take his music to the next level, having his eyes set on winning a Grammy one day. You wouldn’t know it by the melancholy in the beginning of the video. But wait until the end. “Diesel and GAWNE/Yeah we ballin’/So call us G.O.A.T’s.” Fade to echo. “Chaos” will be released Friday, Dec. 8 on Gawne’s YouTube page.
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Oak Park Avenue upgrades: bluestone and bricks By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff reporter
Oak Park’s village board of trustees approved an agreement with TERRA Engineering, Ltd. and subconsultants to complete the design for the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape and Utility Projects for $998,577. After debating the durability and cost of materials for the project, the village board also directed designers to use some high-level funding, including bluestone sidewalks, brick paver streets, and the less expensive colored concrete crosswalks, putting the estimated cost for the project at just under $14.5 million. The design is intended to be completed by fall 2024 with work beginning by winter 2024 or spring 2025. The design work, originally estimated at $750,000, will include outreach to the community about the project. During the Oct. 23 meeting, the village board expressed concerns about the cost of the project. The crosswalks were proposed at that meeting to be brick paver material instead of concrete. The board’s decision to direct designers to use concrete is a change
that represents about $50,000 saved, Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick said in an email. In a money-saving attempt at the Dec. 4 meeting, the roadway material was proposed to be partially asphalt rather than entirely brick. However, after debating the materials, the board decided to stick with brick paver streets as a long-term investment in the community’s infrastructure. “We wanted to stay true to the historic character of that block,” Village engineer Bill McKenna said. Trustee Cory Wesley said he would prefer the previous design, putting the project at roughly $14.5 million rather than implementing the proposed changes at the Dec. 4 meeting and saving roughly $1.6 million. While he said he’s concerned about the cost, he believes the investment is worth long-term improvements and avoiding the potential additional expense of the board changing its mind later on. “I want this to be future proof,” Wesley said. “If we’re going to do this, I want it to be the best it can.” Straw agreed with Wesley, preferring the
more expensive design in exchange for a longterm investment in making the business district a walkable environment. Village president Vicki Scaman said now is the time for the board to change its mind if it decides to. “The better you build up your village, the more people are interested in coming to your village,” Wesley said. Trustee Lucia Robinson said continuity in sidewalk material will be the best return on investment, as pedestrians are more likely to notice that change than drivers noticing a different street material. She said she would rather entertain other cost-saving ideas before going back to the original proposal. Trustee Ravi Parakkat asked if it would be possible to adjust the design to incorporate more brick later on. While it is possible to change the design again, McKenna said he would prefer to not have any wasted effort. “In general, the statistics show that a brick paver street is going to help to slow traffic by a few miles per hour as compared to an asphalt roadway,” McKenna said. “We don’t tend to see a lot of high speeds through this part of Oak Park Avenue in general though. It is relatively congested.”
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The Disability Access Commission has expressed concern about the number of accessible parking spaces between North Boulevard and Lake Street, trustee Brian Straw said. “[We should be] continuing to consult with the Disability Access Commission, making sure we’re going a little above and beyond what is necessarily required to make sure that we have got good access for our neighbors and residents who need those accessible spots,” Straw said. The project can include additional accessible parking spots, McKenna said, as the current design is only conceptual. The streetscape project also supports goals laid out in Climate Ready Oak Park, including an emphasis on pedestrian safety, bike parking, electric vehicle charging stations and more. After giving final direction on materials for the project, the board approved the cost for TERRA Engineering, Ltd. to complete the design. Scaman said the board could look for additional funding to cover the extra cost of higher-end materials, and Robinson suggested unallocated American Rescue Plan Act funds as a potential source.
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
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D90 parents demand reading proficiency The district is providing curriculum review information to the public with a 2025 target for new reading instruction methods By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
River Forest is not a place where having 35% of the district students not meeting state expectations for literacy is acceptable. That is the message parents are sending the school district as it moves forward with a total review of the reading curriculum in hopes of finding a better program to fit the needs of their students. Ted Perlstein, a father of two kids, spoke during the public comment portion of the Literacy Instruction Forum, held Dec. 5 at Roosevelt Middle school. “This is a literacy on fire moment,” Perlstein said. “35 out of 100, we have 40 people in this room. About 15 people in this room wouldn’t meet the state guidelines for literacy. That is crazy.” Perlstein was referring to the proficiency rate for the River Forest School District 90’s Illinois Report Card, which scored the district at 65.9% for 2023, which was still higher than the state’s average of 34.6%, as well as an improvement from their 2022 rate of 61.6%. Supt. Edward Condon told attending parents that the district was also not content with the score. “Part of our district mission is that we are trying to ensure that every child can achieve to the very highest of their ability and we take that seriously,” Condon said. “We can compare district to state performance level, we can compare the district to other districts … but the reality is that we are not satisfied with our performance rates, even though they show growth, and we know there is still work to do.” Perlstein was just one of the many parents that attended the forum organized by the district. The insistence comes as part of a national pushback against the widely used curriculum, Units of Study, which gained popularity in the ‘90s, becoming the primary way for teachers and graduate schools of
AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ
Ted Perlstein, a district parent, addresses his concerns regarding the reading curriculum and reading proficiency in River Forest District 90 during its Literature Instruction Forum on Dec. 5. education to teach children to read across the nation. With this curriculum, developed by Columbia University teaching professor Lucy Calkins’, teachers focused on the idea that children are naturally curious and would use inquiry-based methods to learn to read. But as more research demonstrated that it wasn’t the ideal way to teach reading, many began questioning its effectiveness, saying the curriculum was not all it was cracked up to be. A movement to bring back the “science of reading” began to take place, focusing on teaching children to read through phonics, a sequenced introduction to the sounds and letter combinations used in the English language. D90 was not spared from criticism, with many parents voicing their concerns throughout the past months during the public comment portion of board meetings. The purpose of the forum was to facilitate a discussion about the reading curriculum used by the district and to increase understanding around literacy guidelines amongst the people who are the most invested in the topic, district parents, said Supt. Edward Condon. “We are really hoping that the information you are willing to share with us will inform some of the decisions in the process moving forward that our literacy committee will be pursuing in the upcoming months,” Condon said.
Structured into three parts, the district used the beginning portion to provide a level set presentation to parents, explaining where they currently are and what the review process entails. Alison Hawley, assistant superintendent of instruction, provided a rundown of the curriculum used, an explanation of how the district reviews the new curriculum, and provided the six components of effective literacy instruction that the district looks for in the new curriculum. In the presentation, Hawley explained that the district uses Units of Study for Teaching Reading from kindergarten through eighth grade, but emphasized that they always recognized it was not a “stand alone” program, hence their use of additional programs to supplement it. Hawley also said they are emphasizing the consideration for all learners, which can be portrayed by having “high-quality, diverse materials, access to engagement with text, print-immersive, language-rich, and content-rich environments, and support for home language and bilingualism.” “We have a range of learners in our district,” Hawley said. “We need to be able to be flexible and differentiate and support all of our students. And we have a growing EL population in District 90 … that population deserves to be seen and heard and supported as well.” The second portion of the forum allowed parents, who had been divided into groups
- each with a board member and school administrator present- to speak on their experiences, ask questions, and facilitate discussion while answering the questions provided by the district. According to Condon, these answers will be reviewed by the D90 Literacy Committee. Corina Davis, a district parent, said she appreciated the chance to dive deeper into the topic and their concerns amongst other parents. “I didn’t know what to expect coming in and I felt it was really helpful,” Davis said. “The format of five questions to discuss really focused our conversation. There was a wide range of opinions and viewpoints at our table which informed me and others of how community members think about this issue.” Concerns were also submitted and addressed there, including one referencing the size of the committee — over 30 people — saying it was too big to be effective. “We have had different size committees in the district at different times for different reasons,” Condon said, adding the size for the committee is deemed appropriate as the district wants to be able to include teachers and having more participation ensures a variety of opinion across different grade levels. “We need to ensure that when the final decision is made, it is owned, collectively by faculty and staff.” According to Hawley, the committee operates with sub-committees, splitting up the members and making it easier to process information, helping them cover all their bases and have thorough research to help make the important decisions. Sheba Chiplunkar, a physician and district parent, agrees with Perlstein, saying River Forest is an affluent community and having 35% of students scoring as not proficient is not acceptable. Chiplunkar said the district needs a curriculum that is evidence based. “I want to make sure that our district is going forward and not backwards,” Chiplunkar said. “We don’t want to rush the process, but the process has been vetted before with other districts. We just have to find what fits us.” For now, Condon said parents can expect the district to continue with their current curriculum through the end of the school year while the committee works on picking two programs which would be piloted next year, with a new curriculum in place by January 2025.
14 Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023 S P O N S O R E D
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Donny G’s keeps tradition alive with 21st century flair Elmwood Park spot serves up the flavors Nonna used to make By RISE SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
For many the memory of Nonna’s cooking is just that. … a memory. Five years ago, Donny G’s opened in Elmwood Park at 7308 W. North Ave. to bring back those flavors and special family dinners of yore. Manager George Diamond says, “You hear the older people say, ‘George, oh my God, this is like my grandmother’s recipe.’ It feels good to hear that from them.” Diamond is quick to pass along those compliments to the cooks who keep the traditions alive. The menu runs the gamut: starters cold and hot – baked artichoke hearts are a fan favorite. Entrees range from traditional
favorites, steaks, chops, to chicken dishes (the chicken Vesuvio gets mentioned over and over in diner’s online reviews) and a variety of seafood. Seafood can be prepared several ways: grilled, with lemon butter, Sicilian-style, or on a bed of spinach. The specials lean into fresh fish and veggie offerings, responding to the tastes and trends that have brought Mediterranean cooking into acclaim in the 21st Century. Often on the menu is whole sea bass. Diamond says, “We do weekly specials. Different styles of fish, like a salmon, like white fish, like a frutti di mare with the lobster. Whatever the chefs think is most fresh.” Pasta is fresh too and local. In fact, Donny G’s makes a point to source as many of its ingredients as locally as possible. “We’ll buy from down the street always because people support me. And I support the local business,” says Diamond. Their gelato comes from a local provider. Chocolate, vanilla, macchiato, salted caramel are all regulars on a rotating selection
of about 10 gelatos. Other desserts, like time-honored tiramisu are house made. Sandwiches are popular at both lunch and dinner. The ribeye steak sandwich is a stand-out. Warm bread starts every meal. There’s a bottle of olive oil on each table, but the spe-
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Martinis abound!
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Donny G’s steak sandwich
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Filet Mignon Kabob dinner
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023 15
S P O N S O R E D
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RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
(above) Eggplant Parmesean (left) Avocado salad cial sauce that comes with the bread is a Donny G’s exclusive. Diamond reveals that the recipe, includes olive oil, garlic, rosemary, parmesan cheese, but then he adds, “I’m not going to give the whole recipe. It’s special stuff. They call it secret sauce for a reason.” Wines are also an important component to the meal experience at Donny G’s. There is a mix of California, Italian, Spanish, and French wines. There are even a few from New Zealand. Customers who have a favorite variety that they recall from a trip to, say to Greece, can request them at the restaurant and George and his team are happy to oblige. A full bar offers a range of cocktails and other drinks. A martini is never the wrong opening for a classic Italian meal. Large groups are welcome. The restaurant can accommodate parties up to 120 people. Weekend nights the dance floor starts jumping. Several Friday nights each month feature DJs and every Saturday local professional singers croon Italian favorites and hits from the past century. Reservations are suggested anytime there is a show. One Sunday morning a month hosts a treat: Donny G’s Bubbly, Brunch
and Dance Party. Take-out and catering are both an important part of Donny G’s service to their customers, especially during the holidays. Diamond says a big day for them is Christmas Eve. In addition to all the folks dining in, “The trays are lined up all day long. From there to here with people picking up.” If you place your order in time, this year it can be like Nonna is in the kitchen again, courtesy of Donny G’s.
The details • donnygs.com • donnygs.com/entertainment – Live music schedule 7308 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park Hours: Monday: CLOSED Tuesday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Keep up with Elmwood Park Eats
on OakPark.com
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Oak Park receives gold designation in EV Readiness Program One of 12 municipalities recognized for work to become electric-vehicle ready By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park is the only community to receive a gold designation among the first 16 communities to complete the EV Readiness Program, according to the village of Oak Park. The program includes an EV Readiness Checklist with 131 possible actions. The gold designation indicates the participating community completed additional activities beyond the required 27 activities for bronze status. The program includes bronze, silver and gold recognitions. Twelve municipalities were recognized at
an awards event for their work to become an “EV Ready Community,” meaning they met at least the bronze level. Oak Park is among other communities that have recently adopted policies to increase EV charging in new construction projects, according to the village website. The Village of Oak Park website also includes information on electric vehicles and charging stations. Oak Park has several public charging stations, the locations for which can be found online, but the village also has a “green fleet” to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles required to deliver public services, according to its website. For example, the village uses five electric sedans, in addition to other vehicles, for employees who regularly need to drive around Oak Park. The village also employs 24 hybrid vehicles and most of its heavy-duty equipment,
such as fire trucks and snowplows, with lower-emission diesel fuel. Municipalities were expected to complete several actions, including updating zoning codes for charging infrastructure, implementing new permitting and inspection processes for safe installation of charging equipment and training first responders on how to respond to electric vehicle incidents, according to the village website. The EV Readiness Program was created by the Commonwealth Edison Company, or ComEd, and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus with the intention of helping local communities prepare for more electric vehicles and increased demand for charging infrastructure. Municipalities were invited to participate in the program in the fall of 2022, according to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus website. Climate Ready Oak Park lays out goals
for the village, including achieving a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. “Achieving this EV Ready Community designation at the Gold level is a tremendous recognition and it further underscores the comprehensive steps we have taken to reduce emissions from transportation and reach our goals,” said village president Vicki Scaman in a village news release. According to Business Wire, almost 88,000 electric vehicles are registered in Illinois, the vast majority in northern Illinois. “ComEd is committed to working with communities across the state and the region to accelerate the adoption of EVs – which are proven to lower emissions and create cleaner air for our communities,” said Louie Binswanger, ComEd senior vice president of governmental regulatory and external affairs, in the release.
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Oak Park woman’s lupus support group promotes education, awareness LaShon Gurrola started the group in 2017 after seeing a need in the community
barely walk so she went to the hospital and was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common type of lupus. For the first few years, Gurrola taught herself more about lupus and came to accept her diagnosis. Then she sought out a support group, discovering that none exBy LUZANE DRAUGHON isted in the area. Staff Reporter After attending an educational event LaShon Gurrola, an Oak Park resident regarding lupus in October 2017, Gurrola since 1995, nurse practitioner and lupus reached out to a doctor from the Rush Luliaison at Rush University Medical Cen- pus Clinic, Meenakshi Jolly, for help startter, has been living with lupus since her ing a support group. Gurrola then reached diagnosis in 2011. Her desire to provide out to the Lupus Society of Illinois and educational and emotional support for trained to be a support group facilitator. The group members are mostly referred others with lupus inspired her to start a through word of mouth or support group. from LSI, Gurrola said. About Lupus, an autoimmune dis40 people are part of the ease that can cause inflammagroup, she said, a significant tion and pain throughout the increase from the start. The body, can be hard to diagnosis group meets once a month in as its symptoms vary consida hybrid format and rotates erably and overlap with many topics related to lupus educaother disorders. Gurrola was misdiagnosed with bronchitis tion and advocacy support, by two different doctors before she said, and occasionally has discovering she had lupus that guest speakers. was attacking her airways. “The back end of the group “Looking back at it, from session is an emotional supthe time of my diagnosis, I port to each other,” Gurrola can clearly see 10 years prior said. “It’s part educational DION LANGLEY where I had signs and sympand part emotional support.” toms, but I ignored them, Gurrola said she’s faced thinking, ‘Oh, I’m just doing challenges in both her career too much’” she said. and personal life while living In 2010, Gurrola lost her with lupus. As a nurse, her husband, and the stress of compromised immune system means she grieving his death likely triggered her lu- must be especially careful working with pus, she said. patients, and she requires accommoda“Roughly six months later I got really tions at her job. It’s also a challenge to sick,” she said. “I was having a lot of pain. maintain friendships, she said, because It felt like it [my body] was shutting down.” sometimes she needs to isolate or avoid Gurrola attempted to manage at home, certain activities. using her nursing education, while expe“We often look better than we feel,” she riencing bloating, weight gain, fevers, hair said. “I call it an invisible disability.” loss and skin rashes. One day, she could There’s no cure for lupus. It’s a chronic,
“I’m dealing with something that has no cure. I’m dealing with something that men really don’t talk about.”
COURTESY OF LASHON GURROLA
LaShon Gurrola, (seated, far right) rheumatology staff and care managers gather in the Rheumatology Clinic on World Lupus Day. lifelong illness. Some common misconceptions are that those with lupus are lazy or just looking for drugs, Gurrola said, and are often sent home when seeking medical help. “I just want people to know that we are more than the disease, we are more than the pain, we are more than the fatigue, we are more than the flares,” Gurrola said. LaVita Williams, a woman with lupus in Gurrola’s support group, was diagnosed in 2009. But she said she experienced symptoms for more than a decade prior and was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1998. “I would always get really, really sick,” Williams said. “I would have a lot of pain. I would get rashes. I couldn’t go to work.” Williams said she enjoys helping people and organizing events. With lupus, she doesn’t have the energy she used to. “Now that I have lupus and since I’ve been sick, people tend to think you’re lazy because of the fatigue” she said. “People with lupus are not lazy.” In 2017, Williams said Gurrola told her about the support group. Williams joined, saying the support group helps her learn how to advocate for herself and learn more about lupus. Williams and Gurrola are two of eight founders of Gamma Pi Rho Lupus Sorority, Inc., a non-collegiate sorority for women over the age of 18 who have lupus. The sorority organizes educational
events and fundraises for LSI and the Lupus Foundation of America. “We keep each other motivated,” she said. “We’re not letting lupus keep us down.” Although anyone can develop lupus, 90% are women between ages 15 and 44 and it is two to three times more likely to occur in women of color, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dion Langley, a man diagnosed with lupus in 2010 after two years of misdiagnosis, said men with the disease can be scared to talk about it. “I’m dealing with something that has no cure,” he said. “I’m dealing with something that men really don’t talk about.” Langley and Gurrola met through a mutual friendship, Langley said, and occasionally collaborate on lupus events. He said he does his best to attend events Gurrola’s support group organizes. One event they worked on together, he said, combined live music with educational awareness. “We want to help people,” he said. “Me and her work well together because we love to give, we love to give back.” It took a long time for him to become comfortable with his diagnosis and speak out about lupus, Langley said, but he wants to use his platform as an independent drummer who tours with different bands to spread positivity. “Lupus is not a death sentence,” he said. “But lupus is not just a physical battle, it’s a mental battle as well.”
CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
18 December 13, 2023
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Christmas 2023
Special Advertising Section
CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
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December 13, 2023 19
A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS
Sunday, December 17th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Sunday, December 24th, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Oak Park
2023 holiday services at
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1
820 Ontario St, Oak Park, IL
1
www.fbcoakpark.org St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Oak Park, invites you to join us for Holiday Worship Services. 12/17 Lessons and Carols, 5 pm 12/21 Blue Christmas, 7 pm 12/24 Christmas Eve Rite II Kid Friendly Service, 4 pm Midnight Mass, 10:30 pm
Winter Solstice Celebration Thursday, December 21
7pm In-Person Only Christmas Eve Services Sunday, December 24
3pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages 7pm Choir & Candlelight Service New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31
10am Letting Go and Embracing Mystery 5-7pm New Year’s Eve Sangha Services will be both in-person and live streamed. To learn more go to: www.unitytemple.org
12/25 Christmas Day Spoken Rite II Service, 10 am
St. Christopher's Church, 545 S. East Ave., Oak Park. www.stchristophersoakpark.org
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20 December 13, 2023
CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
Christmas
Christmas and New Year’s Mass schedule
CELEBRATE
First United Methodist Church of Oak Park
324 N. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 SING-ALONG MESSIAH CONCERT, Dec 17, 3:00 PM | Free-will offering for Housing Forward BLUE CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCE, Dec 18, 6:30 PM | Offering hope for the heavy hearted CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, DEC 24: 10:00 AM FAMILY/CONTEMPORARY 6:00 PM TRADITIONAL CHORAL CANTATA Candlelight singing of Silent Night at both FIRSTUMCOAKPARK.ORG FOR DETAILS
December 13, 2023 21
Sunday, December 24, Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine 9:30 a.m. at St. Luke
Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 3:30 p.m. from the Children’s Choir and Cherub Choir 6:00 p.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 5:45 p.m. from Vocal Ensemble with Instruments 10:30 p.m. at St. Bernardine with carols before at 10:00 p.m. from Festival Choir with Instruments
Monday, December 25, Christmas Day 8:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine with festive instrumental music before at 7:45 a.m. from Cantor and Trumpet 9:30 a.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 9:15 a.m. from Contemporary Choir with Instruments 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 10:45 a.m. from Festival Choir with Instruments
Sunday, December 31, New Year’s Eve
9:30 a.m. at St. Luke
9:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine
8:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine
11:00 a.m. at St. Luke
Monday, January 1, New Year’s Day Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from
Christmas at GRACE CHURCH Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve 4:45 pm Carols and Organ 5:00 pm Festive Worship for All Ages especially kids! 10:30 pm Carols and Choir 11:00 pm Festive Choral Eucharist with incense Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day 10:30 am Holy Eucharist In person 924 Lake Street, Oak Park and online GraceOakPark.org
Peace to You This Christmas
CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
22 December 13, 2023
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The Oak Park Catholic Community welcomes you to our celebrations of the Advent and Christmas Seasons! The Parish of Ascension and St. Edmund www.ascensionoakpark.com · 708-848-2703 or 708-848-4417 Ascension Church 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park
St. Edmund Church 188 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park
The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy and St. Giles www.stgilesparish.org · 708-383-3430 St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 38 N. Austin Boulevard, Oak Park
St. Giles Church 1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park
Advent Prayer Services Evening Prayer Under the Wreath
Wednesdays, December 13 and 20 at 6:30 pm at Ascension Church. Gather under the wreath for scripture, song & contemplation.
Contemplative Prayer
Saturday, December 16 at 8:30 am on Zoom Contact d.anderson@ascensionoakpark.com for the Zoom link.
Advent Circle Garden (a meditative prayer experience, open to all)
McDonough Hall on the St. Giles Campus, 1101 Columbian Ave, 2nd Floor Saturday, December 16, 8:30 – 10:00 am Sunday, December 17, 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Monday, December 18, 4:00 – 8:30 pm (Prayer Service at 7:00 pm) Tuesday, December 19, 7:15 – 8:30 pm Wednesday, December 20, 7:15 – 8:30 pm Thursday, December 21, 7:15 – 8:30 pm
The Nativity of the Lord
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24 3:30 pm Mass with the Ascension Schola at Ascension Church
3:00 pm Mass with Children’s Gospel at St. Giles Church
4:30 pm Mass with the St. Edmund Choir at St. Edmund Church
5:00 pm Mass with Children’s Gospel at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church
5:30 pm Mass with the Ascension Choristers and String Ensemble at Ascension Church
5:00 p.m. Mass with Teen Choir at St. Giles Church
11:00 pm Mass with the Ascension Choir at Ascension Church Carols begin at 10:30 pm
7:30 pm Family Mass Community Mass in the St. Giles School Gym Carols begin at 7:00 pm 10:30 pm Christmas Vigil Mass with the Combined Choirs at St. Giles Church Carols begin at 10:00 pm
Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 9:00 am Mass with organ, instruments and cantor at Ascension Church 11:00 am Mass with organ, instruments and cantor at St. Edmund Church
9:00 am Mass with the Praise Choir at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 10:30 am Mass at St. Giles Church
*Certain Masses may be livestreamed; times to be determined. Please see our websites, ascensionoakpark.org or stgilesparish.org, for further information, and to find links to online or livestream events.
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
December 13, 2023 23
Our Community Needs Community Journalism It’s not just about crime reports and board meetings. We also need inspiring, funny, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking stories about our friends, neighbors and children. Perhaps now, more than ever.
Let's build community!
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Would your church like to be in next week’s
Contact Ben Stumpe to learn more! ben@oakpark.com | 708-613-3330
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Where to see holiday displays and lights in Oak Park and River Forest Here are some of the best spots around town to put you in the holiday spirit this year By JESSICA MORDACQ Contributing reporter
With Christmas fast approaching, there are only a few weeks left to soak up all the seasonal decorations. Whether you’ve had your house decked out since before Thanksgiving or are still searching for inspiration on how to adorn your tree and yard, you can look no further than these spots in Oak Park and River Forest.
Oak Park Conservatory The Oak Park Conservatory houses more than 3,000 plants, and a few more than that this time of year. Starting in July, the conservatory begins growing poinsettias, rotating varieties every year. By December, the poinsettias are put on display in the Mediterranean room, the first greenhouse that guests walk through when they visit. “It’s a great room that makes people smile the minute they come in the door,” said Patti Staley, the conservatory’s director. “This is really one of our most favorite times of year at the conservatory.” The poinsettias will be on display through the first week of January. Also inside the conservatory are seasonal arrangements of Christmas cacti, amaryllis and paperwhite flowers. In the outdoors garden, the Winter Greens Market will run through Dec. 17. Here, visitors can purchase decorations, including wreaths, garlands, winter berries and magnolia tips. The conservatory is free, open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the market opens at 11 a.m.
can enjoy its seasonal decorations. Walk through the mansion and greenhouse to experience an array of trees, garlands and lights set up by Park District of Oak Park staff. Florists from Westgate Flower & Paint Shop decorated the Christmas tree in the solarium room. To enjoy Cheney Mansion’s holiday decorations, bring $2 or a non-perishable food donation – both of which go toward local food pantry Beyond Hunger. At 217 Home Ave., Oak Park’s Pleasant Home will also be decorated for the holidays – full of Christmas trees and lights with an antique feel, reflective of the period when the house was designed in 1897. Park district staff transformed the house with help from Pleasant Home’s docents. Pleasant Home offers one-hour tours on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are $5 for adults, while docent-led ones are $10.
Cheney Mansion and Pleasant Home Cheney Mansion, at 220 N. Euclid Ave. in Oak Park, will have holiday hours on Dec. 20 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. so that the public
RIVER FOREST PARK DISTRICT
River Forest sponsored trees
ERIN FLANAGAN-KOPENEC
Light Up The Night in 2021.
Light Up The Night In 2015, Erin Flanagan-Kopenec moved to her northeast Oak Park neighborhood, where she heard that her street used to put out luminaries for Christmas. Feeling nostalgic for the glowing, candle-filled bags that her mom used to place along the driveway, Flanagan-Kopenec decided to reintroduce luminaries to her block with Light Up The Night. “I jumped on the chance to start the tradition up again and loved the way my neighbors came together,” Flanagan-Kopenec said. Year by year, Light Up The Night grew. After posting on the Oak Park Facebook page in 2019, Flanagan-Kopenec got about 10 blocks to participate. In 2020, more than 200 blocks in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park put out luminaries. This year, luminaries will be set up on Dec. 16 at 4:15 p.m. and taken down the following morning. Blocks interested in joining Light Up The Night should choose a captain to https://docs.google.com/forms/ d/e/1FAIpQLSddfsEE8s8IwfowHLAYSu_5aksbe1IL6LL2kXBZ5faqDEKgg/viewformsign up their street. The block captain coordinates handing out flyers to neighbors, purchasing luminaria supplies and coordinating set-up and clean-up efforts. Ascension and St. Edmund parishes are selling $10 luminary kits, including sand,
six candles and bags. Kiwanis of River Forest & Oak Park are also selling $10 kits with 10 candles and bags, available for pick up at 1043 Keystone Ave. in River Forest after contacting Rick@Gillis-Direct.com. “It’s great that we can all come together and create something so beautiful,” Flanagan-Kopenec said. “Walking among the lights is so peaceful, and it brings families and friends together, even if it’s for a few moments.” Check out this map to see which blocks will have luminaries this year.
River Forest’s sponsored trees Dozend of local businesses and groups attended River Forest’s annual tree trimming at the end of November, bringing their own decorations to adorn over 20 Christmas trees. The results of their hard work now line Memorial Parkway along Lake Street and will remain there through Jan. 8. Michael Sletten, River Forest Park District’s executive director, said, “The Park District’s holiday trees are to celebrate the holiday and promote a positive community spirit.” The sponsored trees have lit up downtown River Forest since 2009. To get in the mood for the holiday season, take a walk down Lake Street to admire the community’s trimmings, along with light poles that the village decorated.
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
Oak Park takes a pass on Paid Leave for All Workers Act The village board keeps its current paid leave requirements for village employees
or public works employees all want the same time off around the holidays. “Those constraints are really just designed to ensure that adequate staffing exists, ensure that we’re able to provide the level of service to the community that is necessary,” she said. “Chronic absenteeism” does not apply to taking allocated vacation time, Tchang By LUZANE DRAUGHON said. Village employees can accumulate Staff Reporter up to 180 sick days, which, apart from the Oak Park passed an ordinance keeping fire and police department, can be used to its own requirements for village employ- purchase service credit with the Illinois ees’ paid leave rather than allowing the Municipal Retirement Fund. The large Paid Leave for All Workers Act to go into amount of sick leave possible was also intended to recognize the physical risk effect Jan. 1. PLAWA, a state initiative, requires all police officers and firefighters may face that could keep them from employers, excluding park working for an extended districts and school distime, Tchang said. tricts, to allow employees But using a large amount up to 40 hours of paid leave of sick leave without a in a year, for any reason. documented reason is what The employer cannot deny the “chronic absenteeism” the time off. All municipalphrasing refers to, Tchang ities have the option to opt explained. The phrasing out of this act. does not refer to employees The village board detaking sick leave for genucided to keep its current ine medical reasons or for leave requirements, which helping family members requires employees to nowho are ill, she said. tify and get the approval “It sounds like some of of supervisors for non-sick the things that I’m conleave and give “reasoncerned about have offsetable” notice for sick leave. ting positive benefits, so Leave cannot be uncondiI shouldn’t really be contionally used, under the cerned,” Wesley said. village’s policy. The village provides “When sick leave is used more paid leave than for more than three conPLAWA’s requirements for secutive days, there may both full- and part-time be additional requireemployees, including vaKIRA TCHANG ments or other nuanced cation, sick, personal and Human resources director work rules to prevent compensatory leave, reabuse of leave and chroncords showed. Employees ic absenteeism by employmay also be eligible for ees,” the record states. Trustee Cory Wesley questioned this paid bereavement leave, jury duty and phrasing at the board meeting Dec. 4, administrative leave. Adopting the ordinance to keep curstating that workers are entitled to use rent practice in place removes ambiguthe full extent of their leave. Kira Tchang, human resources direc- ity about what constitutes paid time off, tor and assistant village manager, ac- Tchang said. “The village agrees that paid leave is knowledged that employees can use all their provided leave. But, she explained, critical, and it is provided to all employa problem arises when public safety em- ees of the village well in excess of what is ployees, such as police or firefighters, required in state law,” Tchang said.
“The village agrees that paid leave is critical, and it is provided to all employees of the village well in excess of what is required in state law.”
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
D90’s elementary schools aim to keep the community Donations can be made through Friday at Lincoln Elementary By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
The spirit of giving has been in full gear at River Forest School District 90, as their two
elementary schools have been working to provide warm winter gear to different organizations and causes in the community. Lincoln Elementary’s Heartworks Committee, which is dedicated to charitable efforts on the part of the elementary to support the broader community, will dedicate this week to their winter drive in hopes of donating new winter gear to local children in need. The elementary school will be accepting new winter accessories: gloves, scarfs, winter
hats, and mittens, all to be donated to Hephzibah Children’s Association, a social service agency in Oak Park. “Hephzibah is a long standing, important community organization that helps kids who are victims of abuse, neglect, and trauma and it provides a safe haven for children,” said Kathryn Schmahl, co-chair of Heartworks. “Oftentimes those basic needs are not met.” The drive began on Monday Dec. 4 and will run until Friday Dec. 8 and donations can be
Do you have DIABETES?
I
f you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. This is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes affects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.
The key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely
to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment. Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. The shoes come in 30 different styles each for men and women. These include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available. Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.
708.366.FOOT (3668)
Dr. Linda Lambert
7351 Lake St. (Just west of Panera Bread)
FREE PARKING (on street or lot on west side of building) Aetna, AARP, Blue Cross PPO, United Healthcare, Healthspring, Humana, Medicare Assignment, Medicare Advantage Plans & most other insurances accepted
dropped off at either entrance of Lincoln, on Park Avenue, in River Forest. After learning about the upcoming donation, Hephzibah communications manager Ellen Riggsbee said it was extremely generous of the school to think of them. “We welcome all donations and anytime anyone in the community thinks of Hephzibah, it is an honor,” Riggsbee said. “We love to be in the community, both Oak Park and River Forest.” While in the past the committee has also collected gently used winter jackets, this year they are solely focusing on new winter accessories. “To have them be new is an important part of that [meeting the needs of kids] so kids can feel like they have something of their own and feel special during the holiday time,” Schmahl said. Juliet Yera, development director at Hephzibah, said it was special for children whom Hephzibah serves to receive new items, instead of more traditionally donated hand-me -downs, and it gives each child that receives a brand-new gift a sense of pride and dignity. “It retains the fact that they are worth it and they deserve their first item, it could be their first hat or their first backpack, something that is really special and brings a whole lot of meaning to a child to maybe in foster care or maybe in one of our family-based services and have never received anything new before,” Yera said. “We really like to honor that for them.” The committee said it knows the importance of giving back to the community as it holds two food drives a year, with donations going to Beyond Hunger, a food pantry located in the lower level of First United Church of Oak Park, on Lake Street. This past October, the committee held a donation to provide food to support the Thanksgiving holiday, providing over 469 pounds of food for the organization. A second food drive to benefit Beyond Hunger is already on the calendar, said Schmahl, and will be hosted in April. At Willard Elementary School, on Ashland Avenue, Ashley Graves, chairperson of the Family Care Committee, said the school decided to expand their usual winter gear drive for the holiday season to St. Catherine of Siena- St. Lucy Catholic Church on North Austin Boulevard and their efforts to provide aid to migrant families. In past years, the winter gear drive has been a method to continue to restock the coat closet at the elementary school.
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
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How a River Forest cantor spends his Decembers Michael Costello of Grace Lutheran Church brings his flair for liturgical music to the area
By JACK HELBIG
— who wouldn’t like to play and press all the buttons?” Contributing Reporter Costello ended up transferring to a school Music found Michael Costello early. that specializes in sacred music, LenoirRhyne University in Hickory, North CaroWhen the current Artistic Director of Chicago Choral Artists and cantor at lina, where he got his bachelor’s degree. Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest Costello then went on to Lutheran Theologiwas three, his mother one day heard him cal Southern Seminary in Columbia, South “plunking out the tune” like Schroeder in Carolina, to get a Master of Divinity degree. Peanuts. “Do you want to take lessons?” Costello was ordained as a Lutheran minShe asked. He did. ister in 2006 and has been the Cantor at Grace All of the piano teachers in Lutheran since 2008, where he town thought he was too young. holds the title of cantor rather But when he did finally start than music director because, as taking lessons, at five, his teachhe explained, “That’s the title er told his family that they had that Bach had in his church in to buy a piano for him. He had Leipzig, Germany. So, you know, that much promise. why not do it like the German “I still have that piano,” Lutherans?” said, smiling. “It’s very preAs cantor, Costello is responcious to me.” sible for the all things musical Costello was born in 1979 in at Grace Lutheran. The music Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in a in the weekly service, where decidedly non-musical family. he plays the organ. Working “My mom worked for what at with the Grace Lutheran chilthat time was Bell of Pennsylvadren’s choir. nia,” Costello said. “She was one “We also have our monthly of the first women to be climbing Bach Cantata services,” Costelpoles. My dad was in HVAC work lo said. Plus, weddings, funerhis entire career.” als. “Yeah, you name it.” Still, Costello’s musical gifts How did someone who grew were recognized and encouraged. up in Pennsylvania, and went “When I was young, our pastor to school in North and South wrote an arrangement of ‘AmazCarolina, end up in River Foring Grace’ so that at the age of est, Illinois? 6, I could play on the piano in “So, there was a professor church.” Costello still has the MICHAEL COSTELLO at Concordia University,” sheet music for that arrangeCostello explained, “who was Artistic director, ment hanging in his office. also associated with Grace LuChicago Choral Artists In elementary school, Costello theran Church by the name of became the kid who played for Carl Schalk. His daughter was all school assemblies, and the the professor of oboe at the school choir — a role he conUniversity of South Carolina, Rebecca tinued to play in junior high, high school, Schalk Nagel.” and in college. Nagel would sometimes play at Costello’s In college, he majored in music educachurch in Columbia, South Carolina. tion, thinking he might become a music “One time after church, she said to me: teacher. But secular music just didn’t do ‘Your choir sounds so good. I really haven’t it for him. heard church music like this since I grew up “From a very young age I was drawn to in River Forest.’” She then mentioned that the hymns and the liturgy,” Costello rethe role of cantor had opened up at Grace called. “For some reason even as a child Lutheran Church. that spoke to me.” Costello was too intimidated to apply, but He was also fascinated by the church several months later, Nagel brought up the organ. “Probably because as a little kid position again.
“From a very young age I was drawn to the hymns and the liturgy. For some reason even as a child that spoke to me.”
PROVIDED
Costello conducts the Grace Lutheran choir. “You know, Michael,” she told him, “They’ve interviewed a number of people and they really can’t find someone they like. You ought to throw your name in the ring.” And at that point, Costello thought, “OK, this has come up more than once. I should at least contact them. I contacted them. And a few months later, they flew me up to interview.” At 29, he was hired as the new cantor. And the rest is history. During this time of year, Costello is a blur of activity. There are the special Advent worship services on Sundays and Wednesdays, the Advent/Christmas Concert, the Longest Night Worship service Dec. 21, four services on Christmas Eve, and, of course, Christmas Day. As if that were not enough, Costello is also the artistic director of a choral group, Chicago Choral Artists, and they have an annual holiday concert, Yearn for Peace, Dec. 16 and 17. Chicago Choral Artists was founded in 1975 as the James Chorale by James Rogner. The group changed their name in 1997 to Chicago Choral Artists. This is Costello’s 10th season as artistic director.
Costello described the upcoming concert as a mixture of secular and religious tunes associated with the holidays: “Traditional carols [Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, the Coventry Carol], and some anthems if those people happen to have a religious affiliation or background. There are also some things that are distinctly secular, that speak about peace in a general sense. One piece in particular that has been a pretty big project for us to pull off, called Gloria Kajoniensis [by Hungarian composer, Levente Gyöngyösi.] It’s based on a 17th century collection of prayers. And it’s written in a way that it almost sounds Latin in its kind of background, but it’s two violins, bongos, and choir. It is fast and furious. It’s a wild ride,” Costello said. But Costello would not have it any other way. Costello said that having lots of pots boiling at once “really resonates with his learning style.” “That’s the way my brain works. I get to jump around and do, you know, 50 different things and I’m energized by that. If I sit still and do one thing for too long, I tend to get bored.”
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
C R I M E
Motor vehicle theft results in estimated loss of $15,350 Someone entered a Bensenville resident’s unlocked red Ford F-250 truck that had the key inside. The individual then stole the truck, which had an attached red trailer that contained a lawnmower. The incident occurred during the afternoon of Dec. 7 at the 100 block of North Ridgeland Avenue. The estimated loss is $15,350.
Aggravated battery An individual lunged at a Chicago resident on Dec. 6 at the 1100 block of South Boulevard and a struggle occurred. The individual punched the victim in the face, police said.
Burglary Two individuals burglarized an Oak Park residence on the 900 block of Mapleton Avenue during the afternoon of Dec. 5. The resident allowed one individual into the residence after being told that there was
Theft from motor vehicle
water contamination in the area. The resident later observed a second individual in the residence. After both individuals left, the resident discovered $400 was missing.
An individual stole the front license plate from an Oak Park resident’s 2022 Chrysler Pacifica on Dec. 6 on the 700 block of South Humphrey Avenue. The individual then fled in a grey vehicle.
Arrests ■ A man from Aurora, Illinois, was arrested in Oak Park on Dec. 6 based on an active DuPage County warrant for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was arrested on the 900 block of Lake Street. ■ A boy from Chicago was arrested for aggravated assault against a Chicago resident and criminal damage to property at Pete’s Fresh Market, located at 259 Lake St., on Dec. 7. He was arrested on the 200 block of Lake Street.
Motor vehicle theft Someone entered a Franklin Park resident’s unsecured red 2000 Toyota Camry while it was running, and fled around noon
on Dec. 5. The incident took place on the 1100 block of Washington Boulevard.
Catalytic converter theft Someone stole the catalytic converter from an Oak Park resident’s 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The incident took place between the evening of Dec. 4 and the morning of Dec. 5 on the 0-100 block of Le Moyne Parkway. The estimated loss is $1,000.
These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports dated Dec. 6-8 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
— Compiled by Luzane Draughon
Happy holidays, neighbors. Colin Fane, Agent
December 16, 7:30 p.m. December 17, 3:00 p.m. Michael D. Costello, Artistic Director
Concerts at Grace Lutheran Church 7300 Division Street, River Forest
212 S Marion Street Fl G Oak Park, IL 60302 Bus: 708-383-3163 www.colinfane.com Monday & Friday 9am-5pm Tues/Wed/ Thurs 9am-7pm Saturday 9am-12pm
Chicago Tickets at www.ChicagoChoralArtists.org, 773.658.9799 or at the door. Choral $45 Adult, $35 Senior, $20 Student with ID Artists Free for children 12 and under with paying adult 1901978
I wish all my neighbors a safe and happy holiday season and the very best in the New Year. It’s a true joy to be part of such a wonderful community. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®®
State Farm Bloomington, IL
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
Enthusiasm
(in thoo’ ze az m) noun. Intense interest; zeal; that which promotes unequalled service
Tom Carraher redefines the essence of real estate service. Finding someone who has a true passion and enthusiasm for life and business is rare. Tom Carraher’s enthusiasm for his profession and for his clientele’s best interest is not only infectious, it generates fantastic results as well. The right attitude moves mountains.
Call Tom Carraher at 708-822-0540 to achieve all of your real estate goals.
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase for Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 for 2023 will be held on December 21, 2023 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/MhjCjaj5tFb6Z1QJ6 by 4:30 p.m. on December 21, 2023. Any person desiring to make live public comments will need to submit their name by 4:30 p.m. on December 21, 2023 by going to: https://forms.gle/ uhGNCDpWJjYt82e68. 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/84190372515?pwd=RXdub2Y4RFlQejNBS VdiMC9aM1Bwdz09 and enter Passcode 518028 or telephone in the U.S. 312-626-6799 and enter Webinar ID: 841 9037 2515. II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2022 were $77,805,794.
Tom Carraher
The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2023 are $81,196,400. This represents a 4.36% increase over the previous year. III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2022 were $0.
Realistic Expectation–Proven Results
The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2023 are $0. This represents a 0% increase from the previous year. IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2022 were $77,805,794.
7375 W. North Ave. River Forest 708.771.8040 tomcarraher.realtor.com
The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2023 are $81,196,400. This represents a 4.36% increase over the previous year.
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Homes
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Liz Cardwell of Happy Place Home Styling in the kitchen of her Oak Park home on Dec. 4, 2023. TODD BANNOR
Liz Cardwell aims to make home a L happy place
By LACEY SIKORA Contributing reporter
ike a lot of people, Oak Parker Liz Cardwell found the pandemic gave her a nudge to reexamine her priorities. After spending months at home and teaching her children from her dining room table, she realized the importance of home. With a milestone birthday on the horizon and her kids back to brick-and-mortar school, she decided to take the plunge and leave her teaching career to become a home stylist. Cardwell recently founded Happy Place
Home Styling and said that she is making official what had been a side gig. “Friends and family were always asking me for help to style their homes,” she said. “I’ve been arranging art and picking paint colors for years.” When she and her husband Matt began a large-scale renovation of their Oak Park bungalow in 2022, the project catapulted her headfirst into a new career. The year-long project revamped most of their house, from the kitchen to the bathrooms and common spaces of their homes. See HAPPY PLACE on page 33
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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HAPPY PLACE Bugeting beauty from page 31 The only rooms that remained untouched were the foyer and living room, which Cardwell had finished years earlier with the help of Natalie Papier and Kim Daunis of Home Ec Oak Park. Cardwell called the experience of working with them inspiring. “I loved their approach -- their mix of vintage with other items. When I worked with them, I had just gone back to teaching full time and didn’t have a lot of time to focus on the house.” Cut to 2020, when she had a lot of time to spend at home and began to see her house and her career with fresh eyes. “Home is really important. Especially over the pandemic times. Home became so paramount to our existence. It’s always been important for me to be surrounded by beautiful things, but the pandemic really made me decide to take that step,” Cardwell said. While Cardwell and her husband worked with an architect for the major changes to the home, the style is all Liz. The new kitchen centers on a bright green stove and open shelving styled with art and kitchen essentials. In the adjoining family room, a gallery wall captures the spirit of the family of four. In the basement stairwell and on the landing of the second floor, Cardwell collaborated with muralist Sara Stevens of @ mothandmoonco. Cardwell said that pairing with Stevens is a natural fit, noting, “I
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIZ CARDWELL
Interiors styled by Happy Place Home Styling. ‘We use stuff that’s meaningful to you in a new way,’ said Liz Cardwell. love big color and fun color.” On the second-floor landing, Cardwell embellished Steven’s mural with cut out clouds and flying birds that she lifted from wallpaper leftover from the newly renovated children’s bathroom. In the new primary bathroom, Cardwell went for a moodier look with dark tiled floors, a soaking tub, and floral wallpaper. “We love wallpaper,” she laughed, and indeed the home showcases a number of lively patterns throughout. With Happy Place Home Styling, Cardwell aims to help others make their homes happy places. She likens the experience to working with a trusted friend who can come over and offer you a bit of design advice. “To hire a design firm can seem cost-
prohibitive,” she noted. “I work with no minimum. I’ll make you a mood board. I’ll shop for you.” Cardwell charges by the hour and said that she can look at a project and come up with a good estimate for how many hours the job will take. Some clients like the DIY approach and have Cardwell create a vision for their space while they execute the plan. Others hand over the reins to Cardwell, and she plans, shops fo,r and styles the space. She also offers more pointed help for those who just want a little guidance on choosing paint colors, wallpapers or art selections. “If you don’t have a huge budget, that’s ok,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to have a big budget to get a beautiful place.”
She noted that her eye is helpful in combining homeowner’s treasured pieces with items that are readily available at big box stores. “I can get your grandmother’s cross stitch in a cool frame. We use stuff that’s meaningful to you in a new way.” Cardwell works throughout the Chicago area, in Southwest Michigan and also has worked with remote clients on-line. She can be found at: https://www.happyplaceop.com/ and she highlights special projects on Instagram at: @happyplaceop. Since launching Happy Place in September, Cardwell said she’s leaning into a new stage in life, helping people bring happiness to their homes. “This creative outlet has been so life-giving and energizing. I’m really embracing it.”
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com
VIEWPOINTS
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Why they support GCM 37
Trustee Parakkat’s false assumptions
F
irst, I’d like to commend Trustee Ravi Parakkat on his service to the village, and for his wonderful work with Takeout25. I was however disheartened to read his recent opinion piece [False narratives about the local migrant crisis, Viewpoints, Nov. 22] concerning the current migrant crisis where he accuses others of false narratives while pushing a number of false assumptions based on faulty premises. From his article: “Narrative 1: Permission was sought and received from the village to bring the migrant families to the Oak Park Police Station on Oct. 31. This is absolutely false. There was no approval from, or coordination with, village staff. This is what prompted the declaration of the emergency, and we still do not have a plan.” Honestly, who cares if previous permission for a quickly emerging problem was sought or not when human lives are at stake? More so, it does appear that strong efforts at coordination were largely successful. Clearly, a lot of moving parts had to come into place quickly among involved parties to do the important work of finding a safe place for these fellow human beings to stay. Calls were made by hard-working volunteers to the police station, the village president, local church leaders, etc. Surely, we can agree that the migrants didn’t show up unannounced on their own at the police station. I’m not sure that the point that there wasn’t enough time given to plan makes sense in a situation where time is clearly of the essence. If we are truly the community that we claim to be, it is imperative that we rise to the occasion when human suffering calls for it and we have the opportunity to do our small part to help. He also dismisses the fact that “the actions on Oct. 31 night were taken to protect lives.” Frankly, this I find to be quite deplorable. The temperature was objectively freezing. For Trustee Parakkat to accuse volunteers of lying about their motives for helping human beings get out of freezing temperatures is truly abhorrent. Getting people indoors in a timely fashion was imperative. This was a fast-moving situation and the choices were ignoring human suffering or doing something to help. Saying we shouldn’t have helped because you wanted time to plan ignores the reality of the situation. “Also, there were unhoused people that very same night in encampments in Columbus Park merely blocks away.
CYRUS GUZDAR One View
See CYRUS GUZDAR on page 41
FILE
A
No one wins the ‘blame game’
monumental tragedy, the war between Hamas and Israel, is now in its third month. Many responses to the horrific conflict have been ones of blame and side-taking. Ken Trainor asks: “Who is to blame? Who isn’t?” His column of Dec. 6, “Blame game in the messy Mideast,” is one of the few commentaries I have seen that looks beyond blame to try to understand the roots of this deep and seemingly insoluble conflict. He takes it back through thousands of years of history and to the “mythology chronicled in the Book of Genesis, a wild and turbulent melodrama of family divisions and intrigue.” He places the events that began on Oct. 7 into a broad, historical, systemic perspective. I believe that looking at conflict in that larger context is essential if we are ever going to be able to understand what drives the extremes of destructiveness of which humans are capable. For me, the lens of Bowen Family Systems Theory, developed by psychiatrist Murray Bowen, has been an enlightening guide to understanding how we humans get into conflict and how it escalates. Looking at the emotional process that drives conflict, Bowen drew parallels between conflict on a family level and conflict within and between larger groups and whole societies. When anxiety increases in a family or in a society, the functioning of the system is vulnerable to regression in the following
way: emotion dominates thinking so that the intellectual system is more geared to winning than to finding an accord with the opponent. Polarization is intense and people find it hard to find a middle ground. There is a sense of stalemate and discouragement, as well as increasing danger that the conflict will spread. Every conflict in history is unique and deserves to be understood in its own historical and cultural context, with its own set of facts: people, places, issues, events. Relationships within and between societies are magnitudes more complex than family relationships, yet from the perspective of emotional process they are families writ large. Stripped of the myriad details that make each conflict unique, it is possible to observe an underlying emotional process that is common to all. All the anxiety-driven patterns that Bowen observed in families are involved in large-scale conflict. Reciprocal grievances, blame, attack, defense, and retaliation drive people to increased polarization. Each side seeks allies, and more people are drawn into the conflict. The result is side-taking and projection of the problem to the other side, thus creating the divided “us-them” system. As conflict expands, civil contact between opposing sides becomes increasingly difficult. Emotional cutoff intensifies unity among “us” and isolation from “them,” which
STEPHANIE FERRERA One View
See STEPHANIE FERRERA on page 41
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V I E W P O I N T S
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
O U R
F
Rallying around Shawn
V I E W S
Taking leave
acing a Jan. 1 deadline to opt out or be absorbed into the state’s new Paid Leave for All Workers initiative, Oak Park’s village board chose last week to stick with its own paid leave policy. It was the right decision as its plan is already more generous in time allowed for paid leave than the new state effort. Additionally, Oak Park village government’s overall paid leave policy includes reasonable safeguards to assure that all necessary government functions, especially public safety, are covered adequately at all times. It was an interesting tutorial for trustees, as Kira Tchang, the veteran HR director, walked through the combination of compensation and leave policies already in place. Yes, it is enough to make those of us working outside government to question our career choices for a moment. Generous pensions and leave policies are an offset to the not always large salaries in government. Good for village leaders to continue the more generous leave policy. And good for state legislators and the governor to finally institute a statewide paid leave policy.
Reading in D90 The discussion continues in River Forest’s District 90 public elementary schools over changes to its reading curriculum. The core of the conversation is how to remake a reading curriculum held in esteem nationally until recently when its core precepts came into question. It is clear that the school district is going to overhaul its teaching of reading. There is a committee at work on the revisions, there is a timeline for piloting alternatives, and there is a deadline of one year from now for a new curriculum to be in place. Last week’s well-attended Literacy Instruction Forum was an occasion for the district to explain its current processes and also to hear directly from a group of parents with concerns. And clearly there are issues wider than the reading curriculum underlying this concern. A group of parents made plain that the reading proficiency rate of 66% in the current state report was insufficient for an affluent district. That the district’s performance is nearly twice that of the state overall did not placate anyone — including it should be noted, Supt. Ed Condon. We are all in favor of greater aspirations for learning in River Forest. We simply want to see those aspirations reflect the increasingly diverse and complex student body in the district. “We have a range of learners in our district,” said the outgoing curriculum chief. She specifically mentioned a growing number of Spanish-speaking students who need to have their reading education tailored to allow the greatest success. This can be a worthy discussion as long as it is an open and inclusive discussion.
she said. For her efforts, she received many thanks from Facebook friends. “I don’t know a third of these people,” she said looking at her phone. “You put something out and the world comes,” she marveled. Doug Clayton, technically Shawn’s boss, is also an admirer. “He’s an icon,” Clayton said, “a familiar face. They see him first and he’s warm and welcoming. He always hawn Weakliss has something to say rides his bike to work — rain, sleet, snow, it to pretty much every movie-goer when doesn’t matter. He’s a good guy.” they hand their ticket to him. He calls This is a story about a community where the young women “Supermodel,” a local movie-house ticket-taker can turn their mothers “Supermom,” and male into a celebrity. It’s about a local theater companions “Bodyguard.” People called him company, Classic Cinemas, that hires a kid “Mr. Weekend.” from Maywood with lots of personality “He has a good word for everyone,” said and doesn’t try to stifle it. It’s about a local BJ Richards, who found herself waiting in movie theater that people from numerous the theater lobby on Mother’s Day while her communities patronize, inspiring enough daughter, Dandara, parked the car. During good memories to bring them out on a rainy the ensuing small talk, Shawn mentioned Monday night to honor someone they only his upcoming birthday (May 15). No, he interact with for a few seconds — but over wasn’t planning anything special. In fact, he and over again, spanning an entire childcouldn’t remember ever having a birthday hood. And it’s about living in a digital era party. People would “roast” him or “prank” where a do-gooder’s impulse is magnified him, but never an actual party. and capable of summoning over 100 people Richards, who runs BJ’s Kids daycare to give one good guy from Maywood a birthcenter, is the nurturing type. So she decided SHAWN WEAKLISS day he’ll never forget.” he needed a surprise party and put the word Fast forward five years: With the panout on Facebook, not at all sure they could demic, the Lake Theatre closed for an extended period, so pull it off. The response, she said, was overwhelming. Shawn moved on to other jobs. When I saw him about a “I expected 20 people,” Richards said, “and would have been happy with 20. It was a school night and work night, month ago, he said he was unemployed and that a friend had started a GoFundMe page to help him out. dinner time and rainy. It was also short notice. Yet people According to Kathy Carpenter of Oak Park, who orgacame.” nized the effort: Over 100 packed Brown Cow’s back room, surrounded Shawn has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s by balloon clusters, Happy Birthday signs, and kids Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic syslicking ice cream cones, the scene illuminated by glowtem. To date, we’ve raised more than half of our goal of ing smartphones. A couple of false-alarm “shhhhs!” $10,000 which will cover his living expenses for 6.5 months circulated when it looked like the guest of honor might while he receives chemo, a path he will not have to walk have arrived. alone, thanks to the support of our community. “There he is!” whispers spread, as Shawn finally made Despite the strength and positivity Shawn exudes, he is his way toward us, and then a resounding “Surprise!” Nodding his head and smirking, he waded into the crowd facing not only a health crisis; he is currently unemployed as if he knew all along. Later I asked if he was surprised. and seeking part-time work in the area. … The good news is that Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, especially “Shocked!” he said, as if he were shocked about feeling at this stage, is treatable. With the right medical care, shocked. But he worked the room like a member of the support, and our collective encouragement, Shawn can family, which, for many, he is. overcome this hurdle. Your contribution, no matter how Anthony Clark said, “We all love you, Shawn. You’re big or small, will go a long way in helping him cover medispecial to us.” cal expenses, rent, daily needs, and provide some peace of Clark handed him a $200 gift certificate to One Stop mind as he focuses on his recovery. Comics. I don’t know the going rate, but that sounds like Any referrals for work options would be greatly apprecia lot of comic books. An ice cream cake awaited him at ated. He’d like to work at Trader Joe’s, or Pete’s Fresh the back of the room, adorned with many candles — Market, 20-25 hours a week. If anyone has connections for which he snuffed in one extended blow, to great applause work there, let us know. and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” and “He’s a Jolly Let’s rally around Shawn, our beloved ticket taker, Good Fellow.” friend, helper, neighbor and show him the strength of our And jolly he was. community #ShawnStrong. BJ was relieved. “I’ve been a nervous wreck all day,” The following is a portion of a piece from my new book, “Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community.” The story, titled, “A birthday bash for Shawn Weakliss,” first ran in Wednesday Journal in 2018. It illustrates what a warm-hearted community we live in, but the story’s ending is still to be determined. Shawn could use our help:
S
KEN
TRAINOR
V I E W P O I N T S
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023 W E D N E S D A Y
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
As Growing Community Media attempts to reach our ambitious $250,000 fundraising goal by Dec. 31, we’ve asked members of our nonprofit’s Development Steering Committee to write essays in our Viewpoints section in which these strong supporters of GCM explain why our local news mission is so important to them.
Consider what Support Wednesday you’ve gained Journal, our reading these pages public square
B
efore we moved to River Forest, my husband and I first stopped at the Cozy Corner restaurant in Oak Park for dinner — grabbing a copy of Wednesday Journal on our way in to view houses on the market. It was the first week in January, so we read the “Year-inReview” issue, which helped secure our decision to move into the community. Twentytwo years later, every week I read Wednesday Journal cover to cover, and visit oakpark. com regularly for past articles, updates on pressing news, or — during voting season — to be a locally informed voter for every race. Raising our children here, leading the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation for a few years, and being an ardent supporter of local businesses, I can’t imagine not
KRISTIN CARLSON VOGEN One View
See KRISTIN CARLSON VOGEN on page 41
O
ver 20 years ago, I wrote a Viewpoint in Wednesday Journal, which started a long association with the paper. It was just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, and I wrote about all the flags that started appearing on porches throughout Oak Park. Each flag had a different message. Some flags signaled defiance and anger. Some a memorial for the dead. Some a hope for peace. In hindsight, that time was a lot like now. Single events lead to a diversity of opinions, especially in Oak Park. For example, some write to Wednesday Journal and say don’t spend one penny of tax dollars on recently arrived noncitizen asylum seekers. I have written that, in a humanitarian crisis, everyone needs to step up — public and non-public entities and
JACK CROWE One View
See JACK CROWE on page 40
Editor Erika Hobbs Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Staff Reporter Amaris Rodriguez, Luzane Draughon Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Big Week Editor Brooke Duncan Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs Publisher Dan Haley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer
About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)
‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,
your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left
Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302
H O W
T O
R E A C H
U S
ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-524-8300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $2.00. A one-year subscription costs $48 within Cook County and $60 outside of Cook County. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2023 Growing Community Media, NFP.
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V I E W P O I N T S
$49K for our 49th year
Oak Park Festival Theatre has some exciting news. In the midst of our efforts to raise $24,500 before the end of the year, a donor has stepped forward to match our goal. This means every dollar raised up to $24,500 will be doubled, allowing us to potentially raise $49,000 in anticipation of our 49th season! Since 1975, Oak Park Festival Theatre has welcomed thousands of neighbors from Oak Park and beyond to enjoy “Shakespeare Under the Stars” each summer in beautiful Austin Gardens. This past year marked our 48th successful season and we once again brought nearly 3,500 individuals from 225 unique zip codes into the heart of our community. That’s an average of 150 people per night who had the opportunity not only to take in a wonderful night of live theater but also to peruse storefronts, order from local restaurants, and enjoy what the community of Oak Park has to offer. We take great pride in keeping this annual tradition alive and are doing everything we can to make it easier for audiences of every demographic to participate. This year we introduced “Pay What You Can” nights to
ensure that the ticket price isn’t a barrier to entry. We are also engaging a more diverse roster of artists so that audiences see themselves more accurately reflected on the stage. We are partnering with local educational and service organizations to engage the full spectrum of ages in our community, from teens to senior citizens, with activity beyond the show such as workshops and classes. Please consider making a donation today to strengthen our ability to bring excellent live theater to Oak Park and elevate arts and culture in our village for years to come. Visit www.oakparkfestival.com/donate and give generously, knowing that every dollar you contribute will be matched. With your support, we can confidently continue to tell timeless stories that foster dialogue, strengthen relationships, and speak to our shared humanity. We cannot thank you enough for your enduring support, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
Tom Arvetis
Managing Director Oak Park Festival Theatre
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Fewer bike lanes, more sidewalks shoveled
In the Nov. 29 Wednesday Journal, there was an article titled, “Capital improvement plan includes projects to keep residents moving.” In that article it was stated that Ridgeland Avenue residents would be contacted about potential protected bike lanes in 2024. Having lived on Ridgeland for almost 30 years, I am opposed to such a proposal. Do the number of daily bikers exceed the 340plus single-family homes and their occupants living on Ridgeland Avenue and the impact it would have on their daily lives? Unlike residents on less busy streets, there aren’t many options to load and unload a car or for guest and service vendors to park. Parking in front of my home can make tasks easier than doing them from the alley. Many homes may not have the space for service vendors to park, making it an even greater burden. I am guessing that such daily tasks take place more frequently than the number of bikers on
Ridgeland. I also believe that having a bike lane is a greater safety hazard than not having one. Has anyone tried to enter Madison from a side street? A bike lane close to the curb, with cars parked further into the street, makes it harder to see approaching cars and is very dangerous. If the village is truly concerned about safety, maybe they should shift from the small number of bikers to the larger number of pedestrians and minors biking on Ridgeland Avenue sidewalks. Instead of requiring homeowners to shovel publiclyowned sidewalks and fining them if it’s not done (an unfair tax to homeowners who shouldn’t have to care for public property), the village should consider providing the service to clear sidewalks of snow. That would be a better solution to “keep residents moving.”
Community Forum: The role of affordable housing in assisting Oak Park’s unhoused population 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Monday, December 18 Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room 834 Lake St.
More information: oak-park.us/forums
Mark Schlosser Oak Park
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Ticketing aesthetics now ... climate change later?
eading through the “Full Plan” for Climate Ready Oak Park, I was intrigued in particular by one item: “Update building inspection and permitting processes to reflect net zero criteria and well building concepts.” (Action Item EE05) Currently the village undertakes building inspections but not the kind that would encourage me to reduce fossil fuel use in my home, let alone ensure that I put into place “net zero criteria.” I am free to live in one of Oak Park’s pre-World War I, inadequately insulated houses and not do a thing about it. Not so, an aesthetic transgression. In my case, I received a letter that a “Neighborhood Walk” had discovered that the “soffits” and “fascia” on my garage needed sprucing up. The concept and the vocabulary were new to me. Was the state of my garage really bothering anybody? My friendly neighbor directly across the alley could see my weathered fascia when taking her items to her recycling bin. In a brief chat, I found out that
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et me get this straight. The personal campaign committee of my state senator, Don Harmon, contributed $500,000 to PAC #1. And the PAC’s chairman and treasurer, was attorney Luke Casson, who was Mr. Harmon’s “close associate,” and former political director of the Democratic Party of Oak Park. [Political fund controlled by Oak Park Democrat fined $99,500, News Nov. 29] Did Mr. Harmon have a say about how Mr. Casson spent his campaign’s money? On Aug. 3, the Board of Elections notified Mr. Casson that PAC #1 was going to be fined some $100,000 for late reporting, and he had 30 days to appeal. Instead of appealing, on Aug. 30, Mr. Casson’s law firm first made a $200 contribution to PAC #2, dormant since July 2019 when it paid a $950 fine, also for late reporting, and then left some $5,000 laying around. I wonder why Mr. Casson made that $200 contribution. (At my own bank, Fifth Third, an account inactive for 9 months goes dormant and has to be reactivated). And then, the next day, Mr. Casson transfers all the remaining $150,000 in PAC #1 to PAC #2. And he has something more to do with PAC #2, since it paid some $14,000 in 2017 to a corporation at his home address, and is regis-
not only wasn’t she offended by the soffits but she had received a similar letter about her garage. I eventually did address the violations related to the appearance of those soffits and fascia. The amount I spent on the garage contractor happened to be similar to the amount I had spent on a different contractor who had worked on my attic. That project had improved the air-sealing in my attic and blown in recycled cellulose. This project had yielded compounded benefits for comfort and appearance. Looking at those two projects, I know which one I found to be more rewarding. What if the village inspection and citation process was applied to the urgent problem of climate change instead of alley-way aesthetics? Some residents in Oak Park are consuming energy at exceedingly high rates that are of no benefit to themselves or to others. Knowing the source of the high-
est emissions is specifically a matter between a household and the utility company, but there are tell-tale signs. On any given block, you can see roofs that lose their snow blanket faster than the others. You could say that those homes have less aesthetic appeal than those that keep the soft blanket of dazzling white crystals longer. What if we could cite such aesthetic and climate-change deficiencies? The homeowner should also have the chance to rebut any citations by showing home utility data demonstrating low energy consumption. The village’s tools to address problems that are discovered via the subjective process of a Neighborhood Walk presumably does not depend solely on voluntary compliance but has legal teeth. “The Village has the right to abate violations and/or nuisances at the cost of the property owner and to lien the property to
SUSAN SUBAK One View
recoup those expenses pursuant to Ordinance 2015-0-181 section 106.” What if we used these tools to elicit a significant, positive change in the world? It’s interesting that the Ordinance dates from 1973, coinciding with the year of the OPEC-induced petroleum shortages. The oil embargo stimulated far-reaching energy efficiency programs at that time but more so in Europe than here. Residential energy use is Oak Park’s number one source of local emissions, but we do not have a significant plan for reducing emissions related to existing residences, which make up the vast majority of Oak Park’s housing stock. Fifty years on, Oak Park has a climate plan but is not exactly climate ready. We have tools to address climate change that have not yet been used for this purpose, but first we need to agree that some things are more important than appearances.
This stinks to high heaven tered at the same address as his law firm’s, and that of PAC #1. Did Mr. Harmon have any say about transfer of any of his funds to another PAC, or how it was then spent? One might think that $100,000 is too stiff a fine for 35 late reports. But Mr. Casson did not choose to appeal, and once the 30 days expired, his PAC #1 clearly owed the money. The law’s the law. And “Nobody is above the law.” Remember? And so now the Board of Elections can’t collect the fine from PAC #1, which has been cleaned out. And all Mr. Harmon can say is that PACs have “a duty to comply” with the DON HARMON law? And Casson, a lawyer who was likely well aware of the late filing law, from the 2017 fine of PAC #2, all he can say is that this late reporting, 35 times, was “a scrivener’s error”? There is a civil law concept of “fraudulent
transfer,” applicable to recover assets when they are fraudulently transferred, that is without value in return, to hide them from, and avoid paying, creditors. And bankruptcy law provides that preferential or fraudulent transfers out of a bankrupt’s estate during the year prior to filing for bankruptcy can be clawed back. Both illustrate a legal principle. While it is too early to conclude whether any of this amounted to a violation of any criminal law, were I in law enforcement, as I once was, I would be reviewing campaign laws to see if it did, and if so, evaluatLUKE CASSON ing whether to issue supboenas or apply for search warrants for Mr. Harmon’s and Mr. Casson’s phones, if not also their offices. But I don’t have to wait to draw conclusions on the basis of moral law. In my opinion, this stinks to high heaven. I thought that Mr. Har-
FRANK STACHYRA One View
mon was Mr. Squeaky Clean, who was supposed to be the one to keep the Senate side from descending into the Madiganland of the House. I am a dyed-in-the-wool voter. The last nonDemocrat I can recall voting for was Jon Anderson in 1980 (the best third party candidate for President the country ever produced, who went down in flames, thereby proving the utter futility of all such third party efforts). The last Republican may have been Sen. Charles Percy in 1978, or 1972. But while it probably won’t make any difference, I hereby pledge not to vote for Mr. Harmon again until I learn that he has caused PAC #1, his pet, to pay the fine it owes. If even then. Were Mr. Casson my attorney, he would not be, going forward. Who would trust a lawyer who made this kind of transfer to escape a lawful fine that the entity he controls clearly owes? And were I Mr. Casson, I would be concerned for my law license. Frank Stachyra, a retired lawyer who spent five years as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, with some experience in attorney ethics law, as well as many years practicing criminal defense law, is a 49-year resident of Oak Park.
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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How to disagree and still be friends
nother year, another Thanksgiving. Food, laughs, light conversation. Polite talk, nothing controversial because, frankly, most controversial topics are minefields. We can’t comfortably discuss Israel and Gaza, Trump, Biden’s age, abortion, or climate change. We are so deeply politically divided, we can’t discuss current events without risking a fight. Most disturbing of all, we don’t talk about our liberal democracy. Not good because a healthy democracy requires debate. Autocracies don’t allow it. Dictators make it easy by deciding everything. With self-determination comes the responsibility to pay attention, exchange ideas, and vote. Collective detachment comes at a price. We’ve lost the art of arguing respectfully, defending an opinion, and listening to another’s. We need to relearn how to disagree respectfully, especially in front of children at the big table. Serious conversations teach kids critical thinking, listening, and problem-solving. Probing discussions pro-
vide adults the opportunity for change of mind or, at the very least, empathy for the person with a different idea. Debating can be done poorly or well. Here are 10 tips from an old debater: Resting Face: Especially on Zoom, make sure your resting face is neutral. Do not grimace. Eye Contact: Make direct eye contact, as steady as possible. If your gaze wanders, pull it back. Listen Attentively: Pay attention. Focus on what other persons are saying. If your mind wanders, pull it back. Confirm: Check your understanding of what the other person is saying by rephrasing or repeating their line of reasoning. Avoid judgmental words. Something like, “If I understand you correctly, you are saying …” Stay on Point: Debaters call this direct clash and it is powerful. Address what was last said by the last speaker. Then circle around to other ideas.
Manners: “Please.” “Thank you.” “I appreciate that.” “I can see your point of view.” “Well, that makes sense to me too.” “You are not wrong in that, but have you considered …?” Body Language: Crossing your arms can look defensive. Facts, Data, Examples and Stories: All serve to amplify and explain your feelings on a topic. This involves keeping informed about issues of the day. Keep It Kind: Do not talk over one another; speech becomes noise. Do not pound the table; speech becomes spectacle. Flaring tempers do not flatter. Keep It Short. Let’s not “polite” ourselves into opposing corners, not caring what others think or why. We can disagree and still be friends. We need a certain amount of collective sharing, a chewing of ideas, a testing of assumptions. The best possible result is one we arrive at together. Kumbaya.
KAREN
MORRIS
MURIELLO One View
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JACK CROWE
Support diversity of opinions from page 37 individual citizens — and put winter coats on freezing children regardless of their citizenship status. That’s how we work things out in a democracy. And despite social media in all its multiplicities, our public square is Wednesday Journal and its affiliated publications. That’s why when Publisher Dan Haley asked me to help out with a fundraising initiative to keep the papers on a sound financial footing, I agreed. I just made a donation and wished I could do more. So I’m encouraging all Oak Parkers, River Foresters and other nearby friends to join me by including Growing Community Media, the nonprofit organization that owns these local papers, in your year-end giving. Jack Crowe is longtime Oak Parker who occasionally writes for Wednesday Journal. He is involved in migrant ministry and a project to connect social service providers to West Side residents through a new nonprofit called Neighborhood Bridge at Catherine St. Lucy Church.
If they aren’t old enough to buy, please don’t provide! Preventing underage substance use is everyone’s responsibility.
OakParkTownship.org/Youth-and-Family-Services Oak Park & River Forest Townships
Positive Youth Development (+PYD) supports youth in making healthy choices to lead alcohol and drug-free lives.
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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STEPHANIE FERRARA How conflicts escalate from page 35 in turn fuels the projection process and fear of the other. Large-scale conflict is multi-lateral; as more people are drawn into it, issues and competing interests multiply; more splinters and factions emerge. As current issues activate memories of old grievances, people who have lived together as neighbors turn against one another. Large-scale conflict is also multigenerational. Children born into a divided emotional field are educated on a deep, visceral level to a way of life that perpetuates the divisions. In their writing on the Northern Ireland “Troubles” that kept a level of tension and violence going in those six counties from the 1970s to the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement, Sean Farrell and Robert Mulvihill write: “Willed change threatens individuals or groups with loss of identity, thus reinforcing the very aspects of identity one may be trying to change. Willing others to change, unless accompanied by overwhelming force, rarely works because it usually provokes the escalatory process that inhibit reconciliation and resolution.” I believe that the use of force is a major obstacle to resolving differences between people, whether on a small scale or large. Force begets force, resulting in escalation. As the damage builds up, the number of issues and grievances between combatants increases, fueling further conflict. Another pitfall is overkill. In his writing on aggression, Edward O. Wilson (On Human Nature, 1978) observes that humans are not only strongly predisposed to slide into deep, irrational hostility when faced with external threats, but also inclined to escalate hostility to a degree that overwhelms the source of the threat by a wide margin. A third danger is that force hardens the polarization between the parties. Even when force succeeds in controlling others, it is likely to stiffen their inner resistance which waits behind a façade of submission for the opportunity to retaliate. At an extreme of emotional intensity, when both sides of a divided society come to the point of seeing their own survival depending on the elimination of the other, they are both on the
road to self-destruction. Most of the wars in history have to do with land and the resources it provides, the investment of hard work that people make to developing and defending a territory, the emotional attachment we make to home and homeland. On Oct. 8, the day after the Hamas attack that stunned Israel, Roger Cohen wrote: “Whatever the outcome of the war that has just begun, Israel has not, after all, moved beyond the conflict that has haunted it since the creation of the modern state in 1948: the claims of two peoples, Jewish and Palestinian, to the same narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.” It is hard to think of a challenge greater than that: for two peoples of different cultures to live in proximity and co-exist peacefully on a small parcel of land in the Middle East. Yet there have been times in these past 75 years when many Israelis and Palestinians have done so. Using force to control others appears to be deep-rooted in human behavior, as we see in the wars, invasions, conquests, colonial rule, genocides, and slavery that pervade human history. There are lessons to be learned from this history about basic human nature, and in particular the way humans respond to forcible control. This knowledge is of utmost importance, especially for those in leadership positions who have the power to make decisions that seriously impact thousands of lives. Of course, people will bring up the need to defend ourselves from an aggressor, which is often necessary, but Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. with their adherence to the principle of nonviolence, and the organizing of the Civil Rights Movement, showed us a very different alternative. If there is hope of finding a path to peace for Israel and Palestine, a key ingredient will be the quality of leadership. Both societies are suffering now from what I and some others see as the worst leadership they have ever had. Both are desperately in need of identifying their most reasonable, responsible, principled members and putting them in leader positions. That applies, of course, to our own country as well. Stephanie Ferrera, MSW, became a partner in Center for Family Consultation in 1980. She is in private practice of individual, marital, and family therapy in Oak Park.
CYRUS GUZDAR
Flawed logic, faulty conclusions from page 35 They were left to fend for themselves.” No one is saying that this is a perfect situation with perfect solutions. No one is saying that pre-existing homelessness isn’t also a problem. Any unhoused human being is a sad thing, and a failure of society. I also think it’s possible to help more than one group of people at a time. I wonder, what have you done for those unhoused people at Columbus Park? No one said that moving migrants to Oak Park is a perfect solution but it’s a whole lot better than people freezing to death. You talk about losing a place on a list when the point is that human beings could have lost their lives without the thoughtful actions of local volunteers and churches on Halloween night. “These individuals have made the situation worse, most of all for the migrant families. They have preyed on the misery of the migrant families and have torn our community apart with their irresponsible narratives.” The contention by Trustee Parakkat that those in favor of reaching out a helping hand to migrants are actually making the situation worse for them while preying on
KRISTIN CARLSON VOGEN Assessing the benefits from page 37 having local journalism. How else would I know what businesses are popping up — or closing? Where else can I learn, in a quick few minutes’ perusal, about controversial village and school board votes directly affecting me, my family, and my home? How else can I be fed a steady dose of local architectural gems — both their history and current pictures? Each of us has chosen to live in this unique community. Yes, we are close to Chicago. Yes, we have a robust history of famous residents and progressive policies to welcome all people. And yes, we have academically strong school systems. But it
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their misery sounds like a textbook example of gaslighting to me. I also take issue with the overriding flawed logic that if one cannot entirely solve a problem, then they shouldn’t even try. Or that we should just leave it up to Chicago while we have the resources to do our part to help in some regard. This is not just a Chicago problem; this is a societally widespread problem that we can do our small part in helping with. We claim to be a community of compassion and care for people of all backgrounds. Now is the time to put our (relatively little) money where our mouths are. We can work to get federal and state funds allocated to help, and we have the resources and willpower to help right now. We can work to be the community we say we are and reach out a hand to fellow human beings. “These irresponsible actions are now being justified with false narratives designed to take advantage of Oak Parkers’ big hearts.” I find it a bit condescending that Trustee Parakkat doesn’t give us the credit of being able to balance having “big hearts” with being able to assess the current situation with some basic understanding that such compassion comes with a financial cost, albeit relatively small. I hope that we as a community rise to the occasion, and realize that compassion for fellow human beings isn’t a zero-sum game. Cyrus Guzdar is an Oak Park resident.
is the rich tapestry of our daily interactions woven together by local news coverage that provides our true engagement with each other and our surrounding communities. The parent company of Wednesday Journal converted from a for-profit to a non-profit legal structure a few years ago, becoming Growing Community Media (GCM), which is investing in its future and its staff to ensure it evolves with our needs as a discerning and knowledgeable community. While you consider all that 2023 has brought you over the coming days and weeks, think about how much you gained by reading these pages — and join me in making a charitable contribution to support GCM. Kristin Carlson Vogen is the former head of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. She is now at the Chicago Community Trust. She and her family are River Foresters.
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
Jackie Schulz, 92
Longtime columnist, Symphony OP&RF supporter We have lost the “Matriarch of Forest Park” said one of her longtime friends. Jacqueline “Jackie” Schulz passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2023. She was 92 and died in the home her grandfather had built on Beloit. Jackie endeared herself to Forest Park residents with her weekly “Talk of the Town” column She penned almost 2,500 columns, from April 8, 1970 to August 3, 2017. But even if she hadn’t written a single word for the Forest Park Review, she would still have been a beloved figure in this town. Born on Feb. 25, 1931, she inherited her warmth from her Irish mother and her grit from her stern German father. Jackie started out as a South Sider and grew up in St. Killian Parish. She attended Catholic elementary school, high school and college, including Loyola University, where she graduated with degrees in English and Education. She used her degree to become a Chicago Public School teacher. Her first job was teaching Kindergarten at Jenner School, in the heart of the Cabrini-Green neighborhood. Her class sizes were enormous, with 75 kids in the morning and 50 in the afternoon. Nevertheless, she continued teaching primary grades in public and Catholic schools for 43 years. When she wasn’t exploring her hometown, she was exploring Asia and Europe during the summer breaks. She also brought the world to her door by renting her secondfloor apartment to a succession of immigrant families, most recently a couple from Albania, who took their turns as caregivers as Jackie’s health declined. In addition to her passion for travel, she was a music lover from a young age. She became an accomplished pianist and was also proficient enough to play cello with the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest. According to David Leehey, president of the Symphony, “Jackie was a pillar of the community in Forest Park for decades. I met her when we were both singing in the Oak Park Concert Chorale in the 1980s. Jackie started the Sing Along Messiah that was held annually for almost 30 years. We were members of MacDowell Artists Association and subsequently president and vice president of that organization from 1999 on. She and I put together a chorus and hired Jay Friedman to conduct the one and only performance of the Millennium Festival Orchestra (Beethoven’s Ninth, Jan. 1, 2000). Subsequently I became president of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest board, and Jackie was a longtime board member.” She was a great lover of animals and served as an unofficial veterinarian. People brought their ailing animals to her, said her longtime neighbor Jeri Grant. And if she couldn’t heal them, she took them to the official vet and often paid the bill. When the Review was acquired by Wednesday Journal
O B I T U A R I E S Inc. (now Growing Community Media) in the late 1980s, Publisher Dan Haley became her boss. Haley noted that Jackie never wrote about herself, or her trips abroad. The headline of the story we wrote about her in 2017, when she finally gave up the column, was: “The most interesting person she never wrote about.” There will be a “Celebration of Life” for Jackie on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 13, 2024, at the Park District Administrative Building When Jackie Shultz will once again be “The Talk of the Town.”
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Happy Bishop Raymond Goedert, Holidays 96 Former vicar general, auxiliary bishop emeritus
Raymond E. Goedert, auxiliary bishop emeritus for the Archdiocese of Chicago and former vicar general between 1996 and 2003, died on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Born on Oct. 15, 1927, in Oak Park to Elizabeth A. Wink and John P. Goedert, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1952, by Cardinal Samuel Stritch and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 4 of the same year at St. Giles Parish in Oak Park. He later attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1956. As he was returning to the United States from his studies in Rome aboard of the SS Andria Doria, a transatlantic ocean liner of the Italian Line, the ship collided with another passenger ship, the Stockholm, and sunk 200 miles from New York. After ordination, Goedert served as assistant pastor at St. Gabriel Parish and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Chicago, and Mater Christi Parish in North Riverside. He was also appointed as ecclesiastical notary, Vice Officialis and judge of the Tribunal, archdiocesan consultor, vicar for priests, archdiocesan director of a ministry for the widowed called NAIM, and pastor of St. Barnabas Parish in Chicago. He served as president of the Canon Law Society of America and received the Role of Law Award from the Canon Law Society of America in 1975. Among other things, Goedert was president of the Presbyteral Senate of Chicago and chairman of the Association of Chicago Priests. On July 8, 1991, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago and titular bishop of Tamazeni by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on Aug. 29, 1991. He retired on Sept. 1, 2003. Goedert had seven brothers and three sisters, none of whom survive him. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
SPORTS
Seniors set the tone for OPRF gymnastics
before,” Ruff said. “I feel like it’s also moPerennial sectional qualifiers tivating for the underclassmen to see us working so hard.” vying for first state berths Sophomores Maisie Hoerster, Teagan
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
A familiar varsity lineup for the Oak Park and River Forest High School girls gymnastics team is enjoying one final fling together this season. Five of the Huskies are seniors: fourthyear team members Gabby Morales and Ellie Wolski and third-year members Claire Rezny, Violet Ruff and Jane Walker. “I think the environment [fuels us]. We have a really good team. It’s so much fun,” Wolski said. “I think when you’re committed to a sport and you have so many friends on the team, it keeps you going.” The Huskies still have plenty of goals to accomplish, including their first individual state berths. They have advanced to sectionals as a team the past five postseasons. Walker, Ruff, Morales and Wolski also have been individual sectional postseason qualifiers the past two seasons. There was no 2021 IHSA state series because of COVID restrictions. “With all of us being seniors, we’re really motivated to do the best we can and get our skills, skills we’ve never competed
Lucas and Alexis Henderson also return. Hoerster currently is injured but should return in January. “I’m graduating my whole varsity lineup,” OPRF coach Kris Wright said. “Jane has a really, really good chance [for state] as an all-arounder and in each of her events and the other [seniors] in their individual events. We have a really strong team again this year.” At the 2023 Lake Park Sectional, Ruff tied for 20th on vault (9.0) and Walker was 15th on uneven parallel bars (8.725), scores that were .30 and .40, respectively, from the at-large state cutoffs for those events. As a sophomore, Ruff ’s 9.0 vault missed state by .15 by virtue of a top-five sectional finish. “I feel like vault or [balance] beam, maybe I can qualify for state this year,” Ruff said. “I’ve been really happy with my beam [this season].” Last season’s Huskies scored a seasonhigh 136.15. Their second-highest score (134.85) took second at the Leyden Regional to advance to the Lake Park Sectional, where they finished sixth (133.475). They tied for third at the Silver Meet (134.15) and tied for second in the final overall standings.
STEVE JOHNSTON
Oak Park and River Forest’s Violet Ruff competes on the uneven bars during the Red Devil Estoque Invite Saturday, Dec. 9, in Hinsdale. “Placing higher at sectionals would be cool [this season]. It would be nice if we could go to state [as individuals],” Wolski said. “We have a really good support system from the older girls, but we have a bunch of younger girls and they’re so much fun and they add a lot to the team.” The five seniors competed as all-arounders, Dec. 6, as the Huskies won their West Suburban Conference Silver Division dual 134.50 to 134.40 over Lyons Township. Walker won all-around (35.10) and uneven parallel bars (8.8) and was second on beam (8.75) and floor exercise (8.6). Wolski was second on vault (9.0). On Saturday, the Huskies were sixth
(131.45) at Hinsdale Central’s Kim Estoque Invitational. Rezny (8.35 on beam, tied for 10th) earned a top-10 award. Other teamhigh scores were Wolski on floor (8.6, 12th) and vault (8.8, tied for 15th) and Morales in all-around (33.15, 16th) and uneven bars (8.2, tied for 19th). Lucas competed in place of Walker. The Huskies were fifth at the seasonopening Rolling Meadows Invite, Dec. 2 (65.175). Walker was third on uneven bars (8.8) and Rezny was seventh on beam (8.55). In the invite format, eight gymnasts competed on one event each. Sophomore Taylor Mathias-Edwards was promoted to compete on vault.
OPRF knocks off Glenbrook South in home opener Justin Bowen’s late 3-pointer is the game-winner
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Justin Bowen’s 3-pointer with two seconds left gave Oak Park and River Forest High School a 58-55 boys basketball victory over Glenbrook South in the Huskies’ home opener on Dec. 9.
“It was a big win,” said OPRF coach Phil Gary. “We’ve beaten two [Chicago SunTimes] top 20 teams this year, so that’s good.” It was the second game-winning basket this season for Bowen, who finished with 14 points. Alex Gossett led the Huskies (4-3) with 23 points and eight rounds, while Max Johnson added 12 points and seven assists.
“This can help our confidence tremendously as we head into more conference play this week and then into the Pontiac Holiday Tournament [Dec. 28-30],” Gary said. “It can do wonders.” The Glenbrook South victory was a nice recovery for OPRF, which dropped its West Suburban Conference Silver Division
opener 74-64 in overtime at Lyons Township on Dec. 6. Gossett had 16 points and eight rebounds, Joe Halper 15 points, Johnson 12, Bowen 11, and Jerome Delaney 8. “We missed a couple of free throws down the stretch we should’ve made,” said Gary of Continued on next page
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S P O R T S
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
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Reflections from last week
I MAXINE KRIETER
OPRF’s Max Johnson the LT loss. “Our guys were a little upset because they felt they gave the game away.” OPRF hosts Hinsdale Central in WSC Silver play, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m., then meets Lincoln Park in the Ville Heritage Shootout in Romeoville, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
Fenwick boys Fenwick notched a pair of Chicago Catholic League victories last week. On Dec. 5, the Friars (6-2) defeated host Marmion Academy, 38-22. Nate Marshall led Fenwick with 14 points, while Dom Ducree and Kam Hogan each added eight points. Then on Dec. 8 in the home opener, Ducree had a game-high 18 points as the Friars rolled to a 53-37 win over St. Rita. Ty Macariola added nine points. Following a home game versus St. Laurence, Dec. 12 (after press time), Fenwick faces host Romeoville at the Ville Heritage Shootout. Tip is scheduled for 8:20 p.m.
Fenwick girls With just one returning starter in senior guard Grace Kapsch, it figured that the Fenwick girls would encounter early difficulties this season. So far, that has proven to be the case as the Friars are still looking for their first victory. On Dec. 5, Fenwick (0-9) fell to visiting Providence Catholic 55-38. Sophomore guard Heaven Lee had a team-high 11 points, and junior center Claire Murphy had 10 points and seven rebounds. “We’ve got three sophomores out there who don’t have much varsity experience and it’s taking time for them to adjust to
this level,” said Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson after the game. “They’ve shown what they’re capable of doing, but they have to be able to do it on a consistent basis.” At the Marian Catholic Christmas Tournament on Dec. 9, Fenwick lost both games: 4238 to St. Laurence, then 52-43 to Bloom. In the St. Laurence loss, Kapsch had a team-high 13 points and sophomore guard Cammie Mollis had nine points. Fergerson knows starting the season winless is not ideal. But she also realizes that there’s plenty of time to turn things around, especially as her younger players continue to gain experience. “It’s not fun and doesn’t look the greatest,” she said. “But we’re going to keep fighting, and how we’re playing come January and February is what’s most important.” Fenwick returns to Marian Catholic, Dec. 16, for two more games to conclude the tournament.
Strong start for OPRF wrestling OPRF had a strong weekend, winning three of their four matches to improve to 7-2 this year. On Dec. 8, the Huskies rolled past visiting Lyons Township, 50-21, to raise their WSC Silver record to 2-0. The following day at the OPRF Dual Tournament, OPRF defeated Neuqua Valley 54-20 and Riverside-Brookfield 50-19, but dropped a close match to DeKalb 35-29. The Huskies will compete in the Red Whitlatch Invitational at Hinsdale Central, Dec. 15-16.
n last week’s Tate’s Take, I was critical of how the student body of Oak Park and River Forest High School behaved against neighborhood rival Fenwick High School at a boys basketball game during the Chicago Elite Classic at the University of Illinois Chicago. I’ve received a lot of feedback from the community since. While some of it is positive, a lot has been negative. The criticism comes from those who feel my column took on a “good vs. evil” angle, with the implications being that Fenwick was in the right and OPRF was in the wrong. I assure you it wasn’t my intention to write such a column. If you recall, I didn’t like that the Dog Pound, OPRF’s student section, constantly chanted “[Blank] Fenwick.” I thought it was unsportsmanlike and uncalled for. I also said that Fenwick has been guilty of doing similar things toward OPRF in the past, and this week it was brought to my attention by an OPRF parent that there is an OPRF Barstool Instagram page (unaffiliated with the school), where some nasty, racist comments directed toward OPRF students were posted before the game. Since the page is public, anyone can post. While I cannot confirm that they came from Fenwick students, the graphic nature of the comments would seem to suggest it’s a good possibility. The OPRF parent sent me screenshots of them, and they’re disgusting. In one comment, the poster referred to the looks of the girlfriend of one of the OPRF players, calling her a pig. In another, the poster stated stereotypical things about another OPRF player, saying he had a child and wouldn’t be able to play because he couldn’t find a babysitter. I won’t name the players targeted because these are kids and I respect their privacy. Other comments called OPRF students a “bunch of thugs” and “retarded.” The OPRF parent also has a daughter on the volleyball team. She told me that at last year’s match at Fenwick, several Fenwick students taunted her daughter. Moreover, the parent said when her daughter went to the house of a Fenwick student who is a friend, her friend’s classmates yelled at her and said her college scholarship should be pulled. These are all degrading behaviors and have no place in athletics or in society as a whole. I have been called retarded because of the way I talk and it’s hurtful, so I can understand how OPRF students would be offended. Perhaps that was why they acted the way they did; they were defending their classmates. But two wrongs don’t make a right, and I wish the Dog Pound found a better way to react. What I’m saying is that in retrospect, some students from both schools were guilty of what transpired at UIC. Whether it’s via social media posts or cheering at games, vulgar language targeting the opponent should never be tolerated. My hope is that administrators at both schools address the issue of sportsmanship — before, during, and after games, and I’m confident they will, but students have to take it to heart. And it’s important to note that most students at both schools do not misbehave. There is plenty to like about both schools: students, teachers, staff, and administrators; terrific academics; competitive athletic programs; and a dedication to community service. OPRF is the neighborhood school, one that the community should rightfully be proud of. But we should also be proud of Fenwick being here, and there’s room for both. I’m not perfect, and I make mistakes. In my seven years of covering local sports, I have always tried to report in a truthful manner that is also balanced and fair. While last week’s column was the truth (I think we all agree the OPRF chants were unacceptable), it was unfairly slanted against OPRF. It certainly wasn’t the intent, and I apologize. I know I can’t satisfy everyone, but as long as I stick to my principles, things will work out. Now let’s get back to what this section is all about: chronicling the efforts of our local student-athletes.
MELVIN TATE Tate’s Take
46 Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023 Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.
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DCC Youth and Young Adult Ministry Pastor to develop youth/young adult ministry. Min Req: 1) Masters of Theology or rel; 2) Certificate of License by ECWA; 3) 24 mos exp. Telecommuting permitted. Mail resumes to job location/HQ: ECWA USA, 5644 S. Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60636 Director of Intergenerational Ministries to develop Christian educ. programs/activities. Min Req: 1) Master’s in Theology, Christian Ed, or Educational Studies; 2) 24 mos teaching exp (part-time acceptable) in Christian Ed setting. Mail resumes to job location: ECWA USA, 5644 S. Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60636
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Civil Engineers II sought by APS Consulting, Inc. in Chicago, IL to provide civil engg dsgn services for dsgn of various public infrastructure projects. Reqs: Master’s Deg in Civil Engg, Community & Regional Planning or rltd field. Must also possess exp w/dsgn s/ware incl Microstation & Civil 3D for prep of CAD drawings; official planning publications rltd to layout for sites, subdivisions, & municipal projects; & etc. 20% domestic travel req. Please email your resume to careers@apsae.com; Ref. 101.
The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Engineering Technician II in the Public Works Department. The employee performs layout, draft and design drawings from field survey information and field notes for various engineering and planning projects including existing improvements, right-of-way and various utilities and performs a variety of field inspections. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.
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STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re ALLOCATION OF GLORIA RESENDIZ, Petitioner and ISAAC SANTACRUZ, Respondent, Case No. 2021d450036. The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for temporary and permanent sole allocation of parental responsibilities, child support, contribution to child-related expenses and for otherrelief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before January 8, 2024, default may be Entered against you at any time after That day, and a judgment entered in Accordance with the prayer of said Petition.
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: Y23011210 on November 21, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of TONIC CONSULTING GROUP with the business located at: 1017 N GROVE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: WILLIAM B. BUNKERS 1017 N GROVE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Published in Wednesday Journal November 29, December 6, 13, 2023
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: 2024 Pavement Crack Sealing Project The Work consists of the application of approximately 32,500 pounds of Fiber-Modified Crack Sealing to various asphalt public roadways. The bidding documents are available for download starting Friday, December 15, 2023 at: www.vrf.us/bids Bids must be submitted by Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work. No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening. The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids. ++ Published in Wednesday Journal December 13, 2023
Published in Wednesday Journal December 6, 13, 20, 2023
708-296-2060
OAK PARK HOME FOR SALE BY OWNER
DOWNSIZING SALE
PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE
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DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.
SUBURBAN HOME FOR SALE
ITEMS FOR SALE
PUBLIC NOTICES
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PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Proviso Township High SchooL District 209, Cook County, Illinois, 8601 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, IL 60301, that the District will be applying for the following Application Waiver: Application for Waiver/Modification of State Board Rules and/or School Code Mandates of the Illinois School Code Section 27-24 (105 ILCS5/2724.3). We are applying for this waiver to allow 12 hours of practice driving in a simulator system in lieu of 3 hours of dual controlled car instruction. This request is based upon fulfilling the intent of the Driver Education Mandate in a safer, efficient and innovative way for our student drivers, as well as improving student performance in a time-efficient manner that allows our students to become legally licensed on time. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a public hearing on said waiver application will be held withing the Regular Board of Education Meeting beginning approximately at 7:30pm immediately following closed session on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at Proviso Math & Science Academy Auditorium at 8601 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, IL 60301. Published in Forest Park Review December 13, 2023
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Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023 47
CLASSIFIED BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG PUBLIC NOTICES
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CALENDAR NUMBER: 01-24-Z HEARING 2024
DATE:
January
3,
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, David Hyde, seeking a variance from Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance requiring a 20’ front yard setback to permit construction of a front yard addition with a proposed 6.07’ setback, to an existing dwelling unit with a nonconforming front yard setback of 9.83’, at the premises commonly known as 802 Home Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-18-130-001-0000 (“Subject
Property”), in the R-3-35 SingleFamily Zoning District. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oakpark.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CALENDAR NUMBER: 20-23-Z HEARING DATE: January 3, 2023 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Murphy Dental Group, PLLC, seeking a variance from the following sections of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance for the property commonly known as 100 S. Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, IL Property index Number 16-07305-001-0000 in the DT-2 SubDistrict of Downtown. 1. Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) prohibits dental clinics from being located within the first 50 feet of the street lot line at grade level or on the ground floor of any building within the DT-1 and DT-2 Sub-Districts of Downtown. Murphy Dental Group, PLLC, a dental clinic, plans to operate on the ground floor (and add a 2600 square foot ground-floor addition) within 50 feet of the South Boulevard street line; and
2. Section 11.8 (Buffer Yard Requirements) (A)(2) (a-d) requires a seven (7) foot wide interior Buffer Yard for the addition along the south lot line; and the proposal features a 2600 sf addition that continues a zero (0’) foot existing building line along the south lot line. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oakpark.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
Season’s Greetings
48
Wednesday Journal, December 13, 2023
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
December 13, 2023
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
AT HOME ON THE GREATER WEST SIDE A GCM GUIDE TO HOMEOWNERSHIP
Introducing At Home on the Greater West Side The yearlong GCM project dives deep into homeownership in the area and offers guidance to show that despite barriers, it is attainable
By DELANEY NELSON
Special projects reporter
W
hen Chicago Community Trust asked our publisher in April if we wanted to take part in a yearlong project aimed at boosting homeownership on the West Side, the answer was a no-brainer. Growing Community Media, a media organization committed to equity, would happily and graciously apply to take part in the project. A proponent of community journalism, Dan Haley, president and publisher of GCM and its four flagship papers, has been with what is now GCM since its inception in 1980. When Haley launched the Oak Park Wednesday Journal 40 years ago, his main goal was to cover race and diversity throughout the community. At the time, that coverage included the ongoing racial integration of Oak Park and the greater West Side.
GCM’s At Home on the Greater West Side project is an opportunity to continue covering racial inequities and paths toward change. Our goal is to contribute to closing the racial homeownership gap in Black and Hispanic communities of the West Side. The reality is that Black and Hispanic Chicagoans have lower homeownership rates than their white counterparts. In comparison to the citywide homeownership rate of 45.6%, 40% of Austin residents own a home, as do 23.8% of North Lawndale residents and 27.4% of West Garfield Park residents. “The incessant inequities in housing in West Side communities, goes back forevermore,” Haley said. “It is baked in the cake of Chicago and this country that if you are Black or brown, if you have less resources, that your path to stability in housing is undermined – actively, consciously, undermined.”
Throughout the next 12 months, GCM will commit both print and digital space and resources to homeownership coverage in Austin, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and the greater West Side. Our goal is to produce onthe-ground, community-oriented journalism. We’ll meet community members who have gone through, or are currently navigating, the homeownership process. We’ll connect with community organizations such as the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, Austin Coming Together, the Greater St. John Bible Church, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago. We’ll scour data and reports to learn about appraisals, mortgages, and credit. We’ll interrogate existing government housing programs and provide resources to help you maneuver the system of becoming a homeowner. As Haley said, this grant provides GCM with the opportunity to dig into how “people have found ways through a corrupt system into homeownership or how people have lost their
bid for homeownership through these baked in inequities – to tell those stories, to provide resources for people who are trying to make this leap, and to report the fairly grotesque impact of disinvestment on the West Side.” Be on the lookout for our four public community events for potential homeowners, where we’ll partner with trusted community organizations to share resources and information about the path to homeownership, and, just as importantly, to meet you and hear your stories and feedback. In the next year, we don’t want to just report the news and tell stories. We want to find solutions to the disparities in homeownership in our communities. We’ll introduce you to folks who will share their own homeownership journeys. And we’ll give you resources to show how you can do it, too. Follow us each month in print and at https://www.austinweeklynews.com/at-home/, where you’ll find additional resources and useful information.
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December 13, 2023
AT HOME ON THE GREATER WEST SIDE
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
Homeownership then and now: Why disparities persist ROBERT K. NELSON, LADALE WINLING, RICHARD MARCIANO, NATHAN CONNOLLY, ET AL., “MAPPING INEQUALITY,” AMERICAN PANORAMA, ED. ROBERT K. NELSON AND EDWARD L. AYERS, ACCESSED DECEMBER 8, 2023, HTTPS://DSL. RICHMOND.EDU/PANORAMA/REDLINING/[YOUR VIEW]
From blockbusting to subprime loans — a look at why buying and maintaining a house on the West Side historically has been difficult By DELANEY NELSON
Special projects reporter
A
1969 Chicago Tribune headline said it all: O.B.A. Runs Housing Service to Brake Austin Racial Change. That change, the reporter wrote, “brought fear and confusion” to homeowners in a neighborhood “long famous for its churches, schools, and community traditions.” That change referred to Black families at the time. By 1969, the article said, Austin was 15% Black. “Whether they are called panic peddlers, block busters or good businessmen, hundreds of licensed and unlicensed real estate agents have descended on Austin to take advantage of the property movement and some alarmed residents have resisted,” the Tribune reported. “A group of residents, the Organization for a Better Austin (O.B.A.) have formed a housing referral committee and are striving militantly to keep the neighborhood from becoming totally black.” The effort appeared to be working, the paper reported. That was 55 years ago. The same story, the same dance today? Yes and no. Statistics show that homeownership in Austin is roughly 41%. In North Lawndale, it’s about 24%. And in West Garfield Park, it’s just more than 28%. Those figures show that yes, West Siders can and do buy homes. But the number of people who could buy them isn’t where it should be. The reason, as the Tribune story demonstrates, is far more complex than money.
MOVING TO CHICAGO During the Great Migration, more than 500,000 Black people from the South landed in
A 1930s Home Owners’ Loan Corporation map of Chicago. Through these maps, the federal government classified neighborhoods by their lending risk. Areas the agency deemed to have the highest risk level were colored with red ink. Most “redlined” areas were majority Black neighborhoods. Yellow, one tier above red, indicated a “declining” area. Majority white neighborhoods were often colored green, classified as the best places for banks to lend.
Chicago, sending the number of African Americans to 33% of the population in 1970 from 2% before the migration north began, data from the Chicago Historical Society’s Encyclopedia of Chicago shows. From 1910 to 1930 alone, the Black population in Chicago increased fivefold, from 44,000 to over 230,000, according to a WTTW report. Most settled along Chicago’s “Black Belt” on the South Side, but the West Side also became a large area for housing Black residents. After World War II, “housing-starved” Black citizens flocked to North Lawndale, making it the largest
new Black community created in that period, according to Arnold R. Hirsch in his book “Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago, 1940-1960.” The Chicago Defender, the nation’s leading Black newspaper, in its own way, helped recruit these transplants by running stories during this period detailing racial atrocities in the south and promoting a better life in northern cities. Many Black soon-to-be migrants wrote to the paper for advice and information about securing housing and employment, such as in this archived letter
from a woman in Greenwood, Mississippi, on April 22, 1917: “Sir: I noticed in the Defender about receiving some information from you about positions up there or rather work and I am very anxious to know what the chances are for business men. I am very anxious to leave the South on account of my children but my husband doesn’t seem to think that he can succeed there in business, he is a merchant and also knows the barber trade what are the chances for either? Some of our folks down here have the idea that this Northern movement means nothing to any body but those who go out and labor by the day. I am willing to work myself to get a start. Tell me what we could really do. I will do most anything to get our family out of Barn. Please let this be confidential.” The promise of an alluring, new life in the north, however, didn’t always pan out. The 1930s New Deal brought the Federal Housing Administration, whose purpose was to stimulate new home construction, ensure “economically sound” home loans and create lending guidelines outlining which borrowers should be given loans. The FHA and the Homeowners’ Loan Corporation, however, implemented redlining maps, which classified areas across 200 U.S. cities by relative lending risk — that is, how likely borrowers were to pay home loans back to banks — to determine which areas were worthy of government-backed mortgages and other home lending programs. Places with the highest risk level, D, were often colored with red ink, hence the term “redlining.” Those most redlined: Majority Black neighborhoods. The FHA also supported racially restrictive covenants, which prevented Black people or members of other racial/ethnic groups from buying a property or parcel of land. As WBEZ’s Natalie Moore reported, remnants of these restrictive covenants linger on property deeds across the Chicago area to this day, such as this one: “The restriction of that no part of said premises shall in manner be used or occupied directly or indirectly by any Negro or Negroes. … except house servants or janitors or chauffeurs employed…” These covenants were outlawed in 1948 and are not enforceable today. But because of this redlining, residents of
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
AT HOME ON THE GREATER WEST SIDE
December 13, 2023
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Who owns homes on the Greater West Side? By DELANEY NELSON
Special projects reporter
W
hy do households of color own only a quarter of the nation’s housing wealth when they compose a third of the nation’s households? This is the question that begins a 2021 research report from the Urban Institute, a D.C. think tank that studies among other things, the relationship between housing and finances. A central reason is the racial wealth gap. The study’s analysis uses American Community Survey data, which comes from the Census Bureau. Their research shows that white Americans are more likely to achieve homeownership than households of color. When Black or Latino families do buy homes, they tend to be of lower value than their white counterparts. Because home value contributes to housing wealth, this puts white homeowners at an advantage. Measuring housing wealth is important, the authors wrote, because it can “uncover compromises households of color make to achieve homeownership.” In other words, families of color may sometimes choose small homes or property in less desirable locations to achieve homeownership. But beyond that, this data shows a broader trend of discrimination in the process of buying a home, which contributes to the lower net wealth of Black and Latino families when compared with white families. The racial wealth gap means families
Black neighborhoods across Chicago were denied access to credit, and the increasing borrowing costs made homeownership difficult. It also led to housing disinvestment, setting up Black Americans to be generations behind white ones in terms of the wealth that comes with owning one’s home. But it’s just part of the story.
BLOCKBUSTING THE GREATER WEST SIDE Much of the West Side wasn’t redlined — the practice was made illegal in 1968, while Austin was still majority white and Black families had begun to move to adjacent neighborhoods. At the time, most of Austin was rated “declining,” one
of color are at a disadvantage when it comes to buying a home, and by being unable to achieve homeownership, it’s difficult for families of color to accumulate wealth.
BY THE NUMBERS Research out of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative at nonprofit Prosperity Now showed that in 2017, more than half of white households in Chicago owned their homes. In contrast, homeownership rates hover at around one-third for Black households and 43% for Latino households, the study, cited by the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, showed. The Community Metropolitan Agency for Planning, a regional planning agency, collects
tier above redlined areas. But neither restrictive covenants nor redlining were the only tactics white realtors and homeowners used to keep Black families from moving into neighborhoods. In the 1940s, Austin was a largely white and somewhat affluent area, one that was growing and attractive to Black residents who were being pushed out from the crowded South Side. Real estate agents engaged in “blockbusting,” or sowing fear among white homeowners living next to Black families, by telling them these new neighbors would decrease their property values. As the Tribune reported in 1969, one Austin group worked “militantly” to peddle panic so that eventually, white residents sold
demographic data – from race to income to housing costs – from all of the city’s community areas to produce community snapshots. Its data shows that Austin, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park – all majority Black neighborhoods – have lower homeownership rates than the city as a whole. The homeownership rate in North Lawndale, for example, is more than 20 percentage points lower than the city average. Some have pointed to disinvestment and the exodus of Black people from Chicago as a factor for the neighborhood’s low homeownership rates. And according to a study from Chicago Urban League, Black
residents are more likely to own homes in majority Black neighborhoods, where research also has shown there are higher vacancy and foreclosure rates – both of which diminish the benefits of homeownership and cause further disinvestment. “Black Chicagoans bear the triple burden of having been relegated to the least valued land and then having their property undervalued for being owned by Blacks and existing in a Black community,” the authors wrote. The Urban Institute has also cited high rental cost burdens, lack of knowledge about the housing system and language barriers as impediments to homeownership among marginalized groups. These factors are compounded by the historically racist housing-finance system, and inequitable income, credit access, generational wealth accumulation, as well as historic city disinvestment on the Greater West Side.
their property at lower prices. However, Black Chicagoans — whose housing options were limited — were forced to pay inflated prices on those same houses. White residents in the meantime were promised “something better.” Matt Wilson, economic development planner at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, explained the suburbs were sold to white families as a “pure utopia and the greatest human invention ever.” Part of that utopia promise was that the suburbs were mostly off-limits to people of color due to racially restrictive covenants. Enter white flight. Manufacturers and industries followed white residents to the suburbs, where land was cheaper, Wilson said. As neighborhoods like Austin hol-
lowed out, more houses became vacant, lowering property values in the area and discouraging investment. Meanwhile, blockbusting caused home values to drop by 14% from 1950 to 1980 in majority-Black neighborhoods, according to a study by the Chicago Federal Reserve. “The downward pressure on housing prices came from the onerous financial positions in which blockbusters left new Black residents. Significantly marked up sales prices likely contributed to highly elevated foreclosure rates among those who dealt with blockbusters,” the authors wrote. “The results depict the challenges faced by new Black homeowners in building wealth
See HOMEOWNERSHIP on page B4
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December 13, 2023
AT HOME ON THE GREATER WEST SIDE
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
The benefits of homeownership
‘Being able to own property and own our home is really key to a sense of belonging,’ one homeowner says By DELANEY NELSON and FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Special projects reporters
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ronzeville homeowner Lionel Kimble Jr. has watched the advantages of homeownership firsthand. His mom took out a home loan to help pay for his sister’s wedding. His aunt and uncle used earned home equity to prepare for retirement. “Owning a home is the bedrock of America,” said Kimble, history professor at Chicago State University and vice president and executive director of the Research and Policy Center at the Chicago Urban League. “It allows people once they die to pass on something to their children and grandchildren, which they can use as investments to build wealth.”
HOMEOWNERSHIP Continued from page B3
through housing at the moment many likely became homeowners for the first time.” Government initiatives like the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act, which required banks to meet the credit needs of low and moderate-income depositors, tried to alleviate the effects of discriminatory housing practices. But disinvestment in these neighborhoods persisted. Much of this was by design from the city. As ProPublica reported in 2020, after the 1968 riots, the city never created a comprehensive plan to revitalize Madison Street in East Garfield Park, one of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods, and former Mayor Lori Lightfoot even left it out of her West Side reinvestment plan.
DISINVESTMENT AND HOMEOWNERSHIP Disinvestment leads to inadequate infrastructure and parks, low commercial development and poor schooling – all of which drive property values down. “Why invest in North Lawndale when I can
ments to a home without being Homeownership is a key at the mercy of a landlord or havtool for building generational ing to move if rent prices drastiwealth. It provides homeowners cally increase. with unique opportunities rentYet, the road to owning a ers can’t access, and resources home does not always look the they can tap into to pay for same. Though Franklin’s homeweddings, retirement, and colbuying journey started in 2018, lege, Kimble said. she did not purchase a property Shantel N. Franklin, a real esuntil 2021. Like Franklin, potentate broker who lives and works tial homebuyers may need to on the West Side, has helped Shantel N. Franklin improve their credit score, infamilies and individuals become Real estate broker crease their savings or reduce homeowners since 2020. Franklin is an Austin homeowner. their debt-to-income ratio beA quick scroll through her social media (@Sh- fore moving forward on a home purchase. antelsellsproperties) shows the variety of propBeing informed about the home-buying proerties available for sale in communities such as cess, improving their finances and accessing Austin, Garfield Park and North Lawndale. A available financial tools are key to “getting to the well-maintained single-family home, a beautiful closing table,” she said. As a real estate broker, brick two-unit building and a historic graystone she said she not only helps potential homebuyhome are among the properties she has helped ers find a home, she helps them be ready to buy. get on – and off – the housing market. Purchasing a home can bring financial benefits As a real estate broker affiliated with Coldwell as property values increase over time, helping Banker, Franklin helps owners sell their prop- homeowners accumulate thousands of dollars in erties and helps others reap the benefits of equity. With higher interest rates and increased homeownership. prices, it may not be the best time to buy, WilOther homeownership benefits include having son said. Yet, if house prices continue to increase, the ability to make desired changes or improve- those who buy now may see their property value
take the same amount of money and go out to Oak Park?” said Lionel Kimble Jr., vice president and executive director of the Research and Policy Center at the Chicago Urban League. For example, Wilson said, while banks may not directly discriminate based on race, practices like avoiding investment in certain neighborhoods deepens the racial divide. “(Banks) more indirectly (discriminate) through either not seeing certain neighborhoods as good investments or they don’t want to get involved in certain neighborhoods,” Wilson said. “They’re systematically isolating some populations from lending.” It’s not just banks who have avoided neighborhoods that have experienced historic disinvestment. Affluent people moving to the city are most likely to choose an affluent neighborhood, bringing their income and spending power with them. The result is concentrated wealth – and homeownership – in areas like the Loop and the North Side of the city. Black Chicagoans, on the other hand, are concentrated in areas experiencing disinvestment, with lower home values, less access to loans and fewer opportunities for homeownership. “As a result, the financial resources that the
house can provide between the average white family and the average Black family has disparate returns,” said Kimble. “So Black homeownership, while still a path into the middle class, doesn’t allow Black people and white people to appreciate what middle classness in Chicago means on equal levels.” Not only have Black residents faced greater difficulty buying a home, but they have also disproportionately experienced foreclosure. The financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting real estate crash is an example. That year, the average foreclosure rate in Chicago was 2.9%. Lincoln Park, which is nearly 80% white, experienced a foreclosure rate of 0.4%, with Lakeview at 0.7%. In contrast, Austin, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park all experienced higher-thanaverage foreclosure rates: 5.9%, 7.2% and 7.6%, respectively. One reason for those higher foreclosure rates is that Black and Latino homeowners were more likely to have loans with high-interest rates, or subprime loans. Subprime lending is a predatory practice banks employed to the detriment of Black and Latino homeowners across the country. By
increase within a few years. “I’m somebody who bought back in 2021 and I’m reaping the benefits as of today, in 2023,” Franklin said. Like Franklin, who is also a block president, many who purchase homes in communities like North Lawndale, Austin and Garfield Park are not only overcoming systemic barriers causing low homeownership rates, but also are fostering a sense of pride and care for the community they live in and sharing it with others. “Homeownership gives you that pride to want to step up and want to see better on these blocks and in the community as a whole.” For Kimble, owning a home gives people a connection to a place and is a way to pursue the so-called “American dream,” especially for Black residents. “Since 1619, [Black people] have been trying to figure out where we really fit here. The larger American ethos is owning a home. Making your own way is something that all Americans strive for, and having access to your own home helps Black folks try to make sense of what the American dream is,” Kimble said. “That dream has been denied us for so many years. Being able to own property and own our home is really key to a sense of belonging.”
2006, 54% of African American and 47% of Hispanic mortgage holders had subprime loans, according to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. These mortgages were extremely difficult to pay on schedule, causing many to lose their homes — and their wealth. In 2005, the median net worth for Black families was a little over $12,000, according to the Pew Research Center. By 2009, it was less than half that. As a result, most families of color haven’t been able to accumulate wealth through homeownership in the same way white families did, which contributes to homeownership disparities today. Next up: But that doesn’t mean homeownership is out of reach for people of color. In January, we’ll explore the policies that helped break down historical barriers for those on the Greater West Side and demonstrate how owning a home is within reach as we continue our yearlong series. For an online supplement to see maps and other archived materials, visit: https://www.austinweeklynews.com/at-home/