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Articles by Bill Kopper
Commentary: License plate readers lead to surveillance state
Many residents of Davis are not aware that our City Council voted to install 29 Automatic License Place Reading cameras on our city streets in March 2025. This was a bad choice. I agree with the many constitutional scholars who contend that such systems are a violation of the Fourth Amendment because, among other things, they can be used to help ICE arrest people in our community.
How UC Davis capitulated to Donald Trump and harmed law school students | Opinion
Last week, the UC Davis School of Law, also referred to as King Hall, announced that the university had suspended the operations of the Law Students Association as punishment after the student group adopted a boycott, divestment and sanctions amendment to its bylaws. This was a nonviolent, Palestinian-led movement that calls for a divestment and boycott of and economic sanctions against Israel.
Letter to the editor: Vote for Chris Dietrich for Yolo County Superior Court Judge
I urge you to vote for Chris Dietrich for Yolo County Superior Court Judge. It has been many years since the Yolo County bench has had a Certified Family Law Specialist among its judges. Chris is not only a Certified Family Law Specialist, but one of the finest family law attorneys in the greater Sacramento region. Chris serves on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Family Law Specialists.
Letter to editor: Yolo Children’s Fund Board of Directors is grateful for the service of Marty Ewing
The Yolo Children’s Fund Board of Directors is grateful for the service of Marty Ewing, Administrative Director of the Fund, who unexpectedly died this September. The Yolo Children’s Fund provides grants to children in foster care and the juvenile justice system, who would otherwise go without the opportunities that most other children enjoy. Marty served as the Administrative Director of the Children’s Fund for six years.
Felony Franks to become Surf's Up
Surferlicious salad with shrimp, chicken, catfish, tilapia and whiting. | Photo provided by Surf's Up Surf's UP's Ocean Salmon Burger topped with fried green tomato and fries. | Photo provided by Surf's Up Felony Franks, the fast-food restaurant formerly owned by Deno Andrews, an Oak Park village trustee, will soon take on new life as Surf's Up, which specializes in soul food and seafood dishes of all kinds. Andrews' three-year run with Felony Franks, 6427 W. North Ave., ended last November.
Neighbor's call foils Oak Park carjacking
Police have apprehended two male suspects, one of them a juvenile, following a failed attempt to hijack a vehicle that had just pulled into a garage in the alley behind the 1100 block of Grove Avenue on Jan. 23 at about 8 p.m. According to police, the female driver was still inside the vehicle, with the doors locked, when a man knocked on the window while pulling on the door handle and ordering her out. A second male also yelled for her to exit the vehicle.
Three arrested in River Forest carjacking
The River Forest Police Department has arrested three people – a Chicago man and two teenage boys – in connection with an alleged vehicular hijacking that took place in a bank parking lot on the afternoon of Nov. 15. Shannon D. Mitchell, 20, was charged with vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The two juveniles were petitioned to Cook County juvenile authorities. The charges against the two juveniles were not specified. The victim was at TCF Bank, 800 N.
Saying "No" to Slave Chocolate this Halloween
Around this time of year, walk down the aisles of any local grocery store, and you'll see bags of relatively cheap chocolate candy from all the familiar companies, Mars, Hershey's and so on. We like to give trick-or-treaters some options, and we've found that every year at least one hundred kids or so prefer to go with individually packaged bags of herbal tea (I tell kiddies it pairs well with candy, which it does, and we caution them to have their mom or dad help them make it).
Friars defeat De La Salle in thriller
Fenwick sophomore quarterback Danny Cronin completed 8 of 15 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 31-28 win against De La Salle on Saturday, Oct. 21 in Chicago (file photo) One of the goals that the Fenwick High School football team set this season was to defend its 2016 Chicago Catholic League Green Division championship. The Friars realized their goal via an impressive 31-28 win over De La Salle Saturday afternoon in Chicago.
OPRF soccer cruises to RB Regional title
The Huskies' Brody Bliss, right, scored two goals to lead OPRF to a 4-0 win against conference rival Hinsdale Central in the Riverside-Brookfield Regional final on Saturday, Oct. 21. (file photo) The Oak Park and River Forest High School boys soccer blanked Hinsdale Central 4-0 on Saturday, Oct. 21 to capture the Riverside-Brookfield Regional championship. The Huskies dominated the game and found the back of the net four times thanks to Zach Zobel, James Maguire, and two goals from Brody Bliss.
Huskies lose to Lyons Township
OPRF running back Keith Robinson ran for 128 yards and a touchdown in a 31-14 loss against host Lyons Township on Friday, Oct. 20 in Western Springs. (File photo) Heading into their regular-season finale at Bennett Field in Western Springs, the Oak Park and River Forest and Lyons Township High School football teams already knew that they were going to the IHSA Class 8A playoffs.
OPRF teacher suspended after posting student's image on Facebook
Anthony Clark, the popular Oak Park and River Forest High School teacher and local community activist, has been suspended with pay by District 200 administration officials. Clark confirmed the suspension in a phone interview on Wednesday, explaining that the disciplinary measure was in relation to the fact that he posted a racially charged Snapchat photo showing an OPRF student wearing blackface to his Facebook account. He declined to go into more detail about the suspension.
Dancing in the mirror of life
Diversity is a key part of the Academy of Music and Movement, the dance school founded in 1971 by Stephanie Clemens, and Momenta, their resident performing arts company. People with disabilities are included, even recruited, for classes and dance opportunities. An all-boys class gets males involved. Inclusiveness extends to teachers and choreographers as well. Different cultures and areas of the world influence the pieces performed at shows.
What matters in the end
What makes life meaningful? What really matters in the end? Can you answer these questions for yourself? Do you know how your loved ones might reply? Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, is the non-fiction memoir chosen as this summer's One Book, One Oak Park title. Written by surgeon Atul Gawande, it is available in print, audio, and digital formats.
The king is dead ... long live the king!
Illinois' flagship jobs program is dubbed EDGE — short for "Economic Development for a Growing Economy." It was launched in 1999 by then Gov. George Ryan as a way to create jobs and lure businesses from other states. It began as a modest number of tax breaks for a handful of companies. It has since morphed into a $1B corporate tax giveaway, rife with failure.
Aging is not a disease
On Thursday, June 15, Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, will speak at the Concordia University Chapel at 7 p.m. This is an event for our entire community that will educate, stimulate and put ageism squarely on the map. Old is not bad. Older people are not suffering a disease called "aging." Depending on one's world view, the last third of life actually gets better.
The scariest 2 minutes of senior year
At OPRF High School, public speaking was a required course, and I took it the second semester of my senior year. Harold Radford, our teacher, was a perfectionist and a hard grader who thought every student should reach the heights of William Jennings Bryan, his favorite orator. On the Monday of the week before finals, Mr. Radford told us we would have a very special final exam starting Wednesday of the current week and ending the next day.
Now is the winter of our dystopia turned to spring
The first green shoots of spring reminds us that winter is transient. The snow melts. The power of the sun waxes. We get our shorts out of storage. I have a similar feeling about the Trump presidency. His incomprehensible candidacy and election and the epic failure of the professional predictors caused us a period of shock and disbelief. This was followed by a circus parade of clownish appointments who seemed like an SNL skit — and turned into many SNL skits. Muslims were demonized. Science denied.
New faces, ideas coming to River Forest Park Board
River Forest's new park district commissioners will take a cautious, but measured, approach to their new roles after they sworn in early next month. In interviews conducted two days after their election, Lynn Libera and Cheryl Cargie said they do not intend to forge coalitions on policy and direction with like-minded commissioners. They view themselves and their fellow commissioners as independent. "We will act as individuals, we have a similar way of thinking … and similar agendas.
A night of swing
A night of swingTuesday, April 11th, 2017 1:46 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintThe popular jazz vocalist Mardra Thomas, right, performs with the Brooks Middle School student-musicians during the 10th Annual Jazz Night on April 6. The annual event features a range of district talent on full display, including musicians with the Jazz Lab Band, the Jazz Ensemble and vocalists with the school's Barbershop, Beauty Shop and Shoppettes ensembles.
Fresh eyes coming to River Forest village board
With focuses on community and public service, Patty Henek and Respicio Vazquez, River Forest's two new trustees, will bring a broader perspective to the board. How will they fare? One only need ask the other two officials who won re-election on April 4. The pair will bring measured and balanced approaches to issues, said Village President Catherine Adduci said, who ran unopposed for her second term.
A few modest proposals for hiking revenue
Since there is virtually no chance any more referenda will be approved by Broke Park voters in the next 10 years, here are some revenue enhancement and cost-control suggestions for various governmental units. A. New construction: occupancy permit fee of $25,000 per child under age 18. B. Resale: If the buyer has more children under age 18 then the seller pays transfer tax of $25,000 per additional child. Either fee can be avoided by contracting to send the child(ren) to private school.
Village Manager Assoc. strikes out on election night
It was a long night for the once-powerful Village Manager Association in this year's municipal election, where all three of its handpicked candidates – two for Oak Park trustee and one for village clerk – were defeated by independent challengers. The VMA-backed candidates – incumbent trustees Glenn Brewer and Peter Barber and Lori Malinski, a newcomer running for village clerk – faced an uphill battle from the start with challenges to their nominating petition that persisted through Election Day.
One incumbent drops in Oak Park library board race
It was the most packed Oak Park library board race – maybe ever – with 10 candidates, but the election saw one incumbent fall, one win reelection and three newcomers elected to the board. Incumbent Matt Fruth kept his seat on the board, winning 13.4 percent of the vote, while incumbent Bruce Samuels lost with 7.62 percent. The other three winners for the four open seats were Sarah Glavin with 18.1 percent of the vote, Mary Anne Mohanraj with 17.9 percent and Chris Harris with 10.7 percent.
Challengers sweep Oak Park trustee and clerk election
Deno Andrews and Dan Moroney on election night. Both were elected to the Oak Park Board of Trustees along with Simone Boutet, defeating incumbent, VMA-back candidates Peter Barber and Glenn Brewer. Oak Park has three new village trustees and a new village clerk – none of whom were endorsed by the Village Manager Association (VMA) – marking a possible new direction for village government.
Why were the incumbent trustees defeated?
1 - No VMA slate, which made the endorsement less meaningful. The party looked "dead." 2 - The quality of the opposition was very high, and they were smart candidates who had a vision for our village's future. 4 - VMA candidates trying to make the legal challenge a race issue vs. a legal issue failed to gain traction as it is a false narrative.
After election, winning D200 candidates look to equity
" I think our community is ready. It will be challenging because change is hard, but we have to be open and honest in effectively communicating not just what we're doing but why and how it will benefit all of our students." When new, re-elected and incumbent District 200 school board members convene for the first time next month, one of the issues that will be prominent on their radar is equity.
Developer focuses on Oak Park Arts District
New look for the arts district: Ranquist Development is teaming up with Harrison Street Ventures to build Flexhouse and to rebrand the properties once owned by Chris Kleronomos. New look for the arts district: Ranquist Development is teaming up with Harrison Street Ventures to build Flexhouse and to rebrand the properties once owned by Chris Kleronomos.
River Forest launches Facebook page
River Forest has finally joined the social media sphere. The village's first-ever Facebook page has gone live. The official Village of River Forest Facebook page, quietly launched March 30 and will offer news, seasonal reminders, public safety alerts, updates from the village board and commissions, photos and videos and more. People who "like" the page also can post items and ask appropriate, constructive questions.
State: Oak Park employee not fired for age, race
An Oak Park employee who sued the village in 2016, claiming she was fired for being a whistleblower, also charges she was fired due to her race and age — but the discrimination complaint has been dismissed by the Illinois Department of Human Rights. The whistleblower case, which is in Cook County Circuit Court, is ongoing.
Village president cruises to uncontested victory
It was the most packed Oak Park library board race – maybe ever – with 10 candidates, but the election saw one incumbent fall, one win reelection and three newcomers elected to the board. Incumbent Matt Fruth kept his seat on the board, winning 13.4 percent of the vote, while incumbent Bruce Samuels lost with 7.62 percent. The other three winners for the four open seats were Sarah Glavin with 18.1 percent of the vote, Mary Anne Mohanraj with 17.9 percent and Chris Harris with 10.7 percent.
Gubernatorial candidates come to Fox Rec Center
Guv talk: Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy talk to an overcrowded room at Fox Park in Oak Park about leading Illinois if elected governor. | WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer Guv talk: Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy talk to an overcrowded room at Fox Park in Oak Park about leading Illinois if elected governor. | WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer Guv talk: Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy talk to an overcrowded room at Fox Park in Oak Park about leading Illinois if elected governor.
April 13 is Take Action for Libraries Day
This week, the Oak Park Public Library joins libraries in schools, on campuses and in communities nationwide celebrating the many ways libraries transform their communities every day through the services and invaluable expertise they offer. National Library Week, observed April 9-15, aims to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers.
The VMA is not DOA
The VMA is not DOAOpinion: Letters To The EditorTuesday, April 11th, 2017 12:13 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintCongratulations to Simone, Dan, and Deno. I know you three will serve us well as trustees. Thank you to Glen Brewer and Peter Barber for serving us very well for 8 and 4 years, respectively. You two will be missed. Yes the VMA fell asleep.
Colette, Glenn and Peter, thanks; Deno, Simone and Dan, welcome
Congratulations to Deno Andrews, Simone Boutet and Dan Moroney on being elected to the Oak Park Village Board. We are pleased to welcome them to what we can guarantee will be a time-consuming, challenging, and extremely rewarding four-year journey. We truly have enjoyed getting to know each of them, and we know that they come with exciting ideas, energy and enthusiasm. They are smart individuals who each bring a unique and valuable skill set to the board table.
The VMA: Dead and buried
Is the VMA dead? Failing for the first time ever to nominate a candidate for village president. Not good. Unable to fill out a complete roster of trustee candidates for the first time. Embarrassing. Screwing up the petition-gathering process so that only by a generous interpretation of election law, your undersized slate of candidates even makes the ballot. Pathetic. Offering newbies slots on your slate and having them choose to run as independents instead. Troubling. Having those newbies win. Disturbing.
One tower too many
Choose your battles, we were told growing up. Sound advice, as far as it goes. If you try to fight every battle, you'll burn out. So be judicious and fight the battles worth fighting. But "choose your battles" can also be used as an excuse for not fighting any. The adage only holds true if you occasionally fight one. In my opinion, the Austin Gardens-Albion high-rise battle is worth fighting. It might seem quixotic, i.e. tilting at windmills (or in this case wind tunnels). It certainly won't be easy.
Challengers sweep Oak Park trustee election
Deno Andrews (front) and Dan Moroney (back) on election night at their watch party. The two challengers were elected to the village board of trustees on April 4 along with Simone Boutet. | Photo by WILLIAM CAMARGO Oak Park has three new village trustees and a new village clerk – none of whom were endorsed by the Village Manager Association (VMA) – marking a possible new direction for village government.
Oak Park citizens do not want another high-rise
Oak Park citizens do not want another high-riseOpinion: Letters To The EditorTuesday, April 11th, 2017 12:09 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintIt is obvious from this last election that the Oak Park voters do not want another high-rise building on the corner of Lake and Forest. They want the current zoning to be the guideline for further development. We hope the board will listen to the citizens of Oak Park. Be brave. Refuse to send the Albion plan to the Plan Commission.
District 97 gets referendum relief
Unlike last November — when the outcome of Oak Park and River Forest High School's facilities referendum, which failed by less than 40 votes, took weeks to finalize — the outcomes of the two District 97 referenda were clear even before the votes from all 37 precincts were counted on the Cook County Clerk's website on April 4. And the margins of victory for both measures were relatively overwhelming.
Spring | Articles | News | OakPark.com
SpringOpinion: Letters To The EditorTuesday, April 11th, 2017 12:11 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintThere's no controlling the unfolding of leaves on the trees. The magnolia is in bloom And children are an astounding year older and radically changed. Spring is starting and the life force responds to the sun As do we: Our hearts are lifted as we lift our faces to feel those rays. The plants have an inner wisdom: They know just what to do To make their leaves and flowers.
The art of getting beyond the bubble
Choir Director Meredith McGuire (second from left) sings with the OPRF choir while Patrick Pearson directs the orchestra as they perform in Spain. | Photo by Michelle Dybal Smiles. Smiles on their faces as the plane landed in Barcelona, despite feeling like it was 4 a.m. Smiles as they forged new friendships with fellow performing arts students. Smiles on the faces of the audiences, who speak a different language, live a different culture, but understand the universal joy of music.
7-Eleven on Chicago Ave. robbed at gunpoint
Oak Park police have reported that the 7-Eleven convenience store at 420 Chicago Ave. was robbed at gunpoint by two men at about 10:30 p.m. on April 6. The men entered the business and one approached the cashier and implied he had a gun. The man then said, "Give me everything in the drawer. I don't want to do this to you," and handed the cashier a white plastic bag and told her to put in the money. The other man held the door for the first man during the robbery.
Big Week April 12-19
Housing Forward's 15th Annual Progressive Dinner includes three courses at three different Oak Park establishments. Evening begins with appetizers at Oak Park Brewing Company, then dinner at Winberie's. Dessert at L!ve Café, with sweets provided by the Cheesecake Stand, Happy Apple Pie Shop, Cucina Paradiso and Buzz Café. Three seatings. Cost: $55 per person (100% of your ticket benefits Housing Forward's mission to end homelessness).
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