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Articles by Josh Vanderberg
Commentary: The NIMBY crowd and progressives both find ways to oppose new housing
When it comes to housing, there's a strong strain of conservatism in the suburbs and the affluent areas of Chicago. Homeowners prefer things the way they are now, or perhaps the way they were a decade or so ago. New housing will bring more traffic, more cars, more people, more noise, more deliveries — and, well, change. Many folks just don't want it, not in their backyard. These are all the standard complaints of the NIMBY. It's a decades-old refrain that’s caused a critical housing shortage.
Huskies' Rundell, Friars' Kaminski each win state title in wrestling
Fenwick sophomore Jacob Kaminski went 4-0 at the IHSA individual state tournament to win the 195-pound weight class state championship. (File photo) OPRF sophomore Jake Rundell went 4-0 at the IHSA individual state tournament to win the 106-pound weight class state championship. (File photo) As a pair of outstanding youth wrestlers, Jake Rundell and Jacob Kaminski were pegged for stardom at the high school level.
Offensive? Yes, but still free speech
The First Amendment is, in my opinion, the "sacred" cornerstone of our Republic. The problem with the First Amendment, however, is that it can be so uncomfortably inconvenient. It's easy when we all agree with what everyone else has to say. But it becomes a stickler when we don't. Take the recent case of the 17-year-old high school student posting on his own private Snapchat account an image depicting himself in "blackface." Offensive?
Instead of punishing, teach
Question: If a teacher posts a photo of a lynched black man on social media as an illustration of the history of racism (Teacher, you mean that really happened?!), does that "interfere with or disrupt the educational or working environment, or the delivery of educational support services"? Shouldn't he get a commendation for trying to illustrate (the roots of) today's persistent problems?
'Those Things That Are Best'
I am a retired former employee of OPRF High School. The motto of the school is "Those Things That Are Best". Lately, activities at the school make you very unproud. The kneeling on the football field by the team, the kneeling by two school board members — what an example to our young folks you are! Recently I read in the Sun Times about a bomb scare. What is next? I was proud to be a retired person, but many ask me to explain what is going on at OPRF, and I don't know what to say.
Ivy is not enough
Ivy is not enoughOpinion: Letters To The EditorTuesday, October 24th, 2017 4:09 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintCan growing ivy on stepped walls mask the incongruity of encapsulating Austin Gardens between glass and steel high-rise buildings? The photo illustrating the report of the park board's astonishing acceptance of the Albion redesign does not support this [Late Albion changes will benefit Austin Gardens, Viewpoints, Oct. 11].
Making Professional Development Convenient
Professional development opportunities are the fitness classes of the business world. We all know we need them, but when the business day gets going, there are a hundred different reasons why the latest email to arrive in your inbox is more important than attending an optional class on marketing or financial management. This is on my mind for two reasons: first, I am trying to do a fitness challenge at one of our fabulous local wellness studios.
Friars manhandle Lions
Fenwick quarterback Danny Cronin scrambles away from pressure during the Friars' 28-0 victory against Leo on Friday, Sept. 15 at Triton College. (Photo by Ian McLeod) Fenwick defensive lineman Konrad Skowyra tackles a Leo player during the Friars' 28-0 win against the visiting Lions on Friday, Sept. 15. (Photo by Ian McLeod) Fenwick quarterback Danny Cronin surveys the Leo defense before a snap from center.
Friars manhandle Lions
Fenwick senior running back Jason Ivery looks for running room against Leo. He rushed 23 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-0 win on Friday, Sept. 15. (Photo by Ian McLeod) The Fenwick High School football team scored early and often in a 28-0 win over visiting Leo on Friday, Sept 15. The Friars put together a 7-play, 80-yard scoring drive on their first possession, capped off on a 10-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Danny Cronin to senior wide receiver Michael O'Laughlin.
Oak Park police bust heroin operation
Edgar Lucas, 55, was arrested on Aug. 30, and charged with 17 felony counts of heroin distribution and possession. Lucas, who was an employee of the Austin Pantry, 1 Chicago Ave., is accused of selling heroin from the corner convenience store. The store was closed by the village on Aug. 31. | Photo by Timothy Inklebarger Edgar Lucas, 55, was arrested on Aug. 30, and charged with 17 felony counts of heroin distribution and possession.
It's September. Time to Start Eating Oysters
Many of Chicago's earliest restaurants served East Coast oysters packed in sawdust-filled barrels, sent by rail to the Midwest, unrefrigerated for weeks or even months. Sometimes people got sick from oysters gone bad, and this probably helped lead to decades when fresh oysters were somewhat rare in Chicago. During the past ten years or so, all that has changed, and oysters are now a regular part of many Chicago -- and some Oak Park -- menus.
RFPL Foundation sponsored concert sure to delight with Latin American flair
River Forest Public Library Foundation is generously sponsoring a second after-hours event at River Forest Public Library, this time with ties to Hispanic Heritage month. On Saturday, September 23rd, from 6-8 PM, the Library will have a program of classical music, composed exclusively by Latin American composers. Light bites and Argentinian wines will be served before the performance in the library's second floor fireplace area.
Community Bank Makin' Tracks 5K Run/Walk this Saturday!
The 20th Annual Community Bank Makin' Tracks 5K Run/Walk is this Saturday, September 16 at 8:00am. Advanced registration ends tomorrow. Registration will be closed all day Friday. Race day registration will be open 6:30am-7:45am at the west end of Concordia University Stadium.
Meet Kelly Merydith of Ahimsa Yoga Studio
Welcome, we are looking forward to meeting and helping you be a better you. Welcome, we are looking forward to meeting and helping you be a better you. What does your business do? We hold public yoga classes for teens and adults, 7 days a week. What is "super" about your business? Why is it special? Everyone who comes into Ahimsa feels acknowledged and cared for. The people are what make my business super and special - everyone is kind, caring, and loving. Everyone is working on bettering themselves.
Dominican re-affirms support of DACA
American Dreamer: Paola Montenegro, a sophomore at Dominican University studying business and Spanish, is one of the hundreds of thousands of students qualifying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which is slated to end in March. | ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer Dominican University has affirmed that it will continue to support its undocumented students.
Oak Park buys Car-X land for $1.3M
" T his is an opportunity to have control over what happens in that area." The Oak Park Board of Trustees voted unanimously to spend $1.3 million from the Madison Street Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District to purchase the parcel of land that is now home to Car-X Tire & Auto, 700 Madison St. The parcel of land is intended to be used for a much larger project proposed last year by Jupiter Realty, which would involve assembling parcels of land, including the village-owned parking lot at the...
Men's college tennis returns to River Forest Tennis Club
One of the teams in the River Forest Collegiate Invitational heads for the team bus after a long day of matches. (Courtesy River Forest Collegiate Invitational Facebook page) Fans watching some of the matches at the River Forest Collegiate Invitational. The annual event is free and open to the public. (Courtesy River Forest Collegiate Invitational Facebook page) Multiple matches going on at the same time is a common occurrence at the River Forest Collegiate Invitational.
Mistake-prone Friars lose to Montini
Statistically, the Fenwick High School football team more than held its own against Chicago Catholic League Green Division rival Montini on Friday, Sept. 8 in Lombard. The Friars had more rushing yards than the Broncos (193-156), total yards offense (325-301), first downs (15-12) and time of possession (26:45-21:15). Nevertheless, Montini took the early inside track to the CCL Green title via a 28-7 win.
Recruiting Versus Retention
Businesses are filling Oak Park's downtown real estate as quickly as space becomes available. This help-wanted sign for soon-to-open Altiro hangs in the window of the former Erik's Deli. Friends' stories of dropping off their children at college reminds me of our experience leaving our daughter at The Ohio State University a few years ago. With over ten thousand freshmen coming in each year, they have it down.
The world keeps turning
Business as usual for this giver of untold blessings to poor people looking for place to live. It was a reporter on the scene, who told it as it was. In his sometimes clumsy way, Trump was making the same point as New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who was on the ground in Charlottesville covering the event. She noticed that the far left counter-protesters were intent on instigating violence and tweeted that "the hard left seemed as hate-filled as the alt-right.
Huskies stun Simeon
OPRF senior Terrance Roundy ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries to spark the Huskies' 29-28 win against Simeon at Gately Stadium on Friday, August 25. (File photo) Rush hour traffic coupled with a late start to the game conspired as plausible factors explaining the Oak Park and River Forest High School football team's slow start against Simeon on Friday at Gately Stadium. Luckily, football is a game of two halves.
OPRF Alumna Had a Role in The Beatles LOVE Show
OPRF Alumna Had a Role in The Beatles LOVE ShowFriday, April 14th, 2017 9:30 AMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintPhoto courtesy of Raymond Simpson By Community EditorLisa Simpson just completed 5,000 performances of the Beatles LOVE show in Las Vegas where she is the Emergency Wardrobe Technician and Medical First Responder. She is an Oak Park and River Forest High School '85 graduate who attended the School of the Art Institute.
Shumpert returns to Oak Park this summer for youth basketball camp
Cleveland Cavalilers guard Iman Shumpert enjoys a few moments chatting with a coach and some youth basketball players during his annual youth basketball camp held at his alma mater Oak Park and River Forest High School. (File photo) OAK PARK, IL (April 14, 2017) – Oak Park native and Cleveland Cavaliers' guard Iman Shumpert will host his sixth annual youth basketball camp July 5-7 at his alma mater Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Delivery drivers targeted in Oak Park
Two delivery drivers in Oak Park were targeted – one robbed at gunpoint and the other the victim of an attempted carjacking – while in their vehicles on the evening of April 12. The two incidents occurred about two and a half hours apart in different parts of the village. At 6:30 p.m., a food delivery driver was approached by a man in the 1100 block of North Humphrey, shortly after completing a delivery.
River Forest taps firm to chart course for Lake-Park
Finding a suitable firm to create a successful development at Lake and Park has been a long-standing goal that has not yet come to fruition for River Forest. Now, the village is taking a different approach to get the project off the ground, bringing on a new consultant to do a lot of the heavy lifting and get input from residents and developers even before firms are solicited.
Emil Messina Has Left the Barbershop
Emil Messina, my barber of many years, told me in the video that he'd work until "the day comes." Today, I found out, that day came. Some family health emergency, I was told, and then he retired. That's all anyone at the Oak Park Arms could tell me when I called for an appointment this morning. The front desk said a new barber would be taking over this coming Sunday. Emil worked at the Palmer House ("the world's biggest barber shop, 100 chairs") before he moved into a shop in the Oak Park Arms.
Empty North Avenue building bought by nursing agency
The building formerly occupied by SEIU Health & Welfare Fund was purchased by Asteria Property Management and will soon house Total Nurses Network. Owner Ben Pecaro is seeking permits to overhaul the facade of the building. It's been years since the building on North Avenue, a jarring 1960s-era design faced with large bands of green stone and once occupied by the SEIU Health & Welfare Fund, was occupied. But it soon will be brought back to life and eventually will get a new façade.
Heartbroken Friars fall to Morgan Park in riveting Class 3A final
Fenwick players Damari Nixon (#4), Mike O'Laughlin (#33), Jacob Keller (#1) and DJ Steward (#21) played key roles in the Friars' 30-5 record this season. Fenwick, which lost 69-67 in overtime against Morgan Park in the Class 3A finals March 18, returns all these players except Keller. (Photo by Marie Lillig) Fenwick coach Rick Malnati said the Friars' prized freshman DJ Steward passed first-year varsity status a long time ago during the regular season.
Getting to know Rick Malnati
After working in the family business, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, and coaching stints at New Trier High School and Loyola University, Rick Malnati is making his mark this season as the boys basketball coach at Fenwick (David Pierini/Staff Photographer) Since taking over the Fenwick boys basketball program, Rick Malnati has guided the varsity team to a promising 6-2 start.
Fenwick sheds St. Viator, past frustration to win supersectional
Fenwick cruised past St. Viator 65-36 to win the Class 3A Sears Centre Supersectional title.The Friars (29-4) advance to the state semifinals where they will face Bloomington Friday, March 17. (Photo by Marie Lillig) Senior quarterback Jacob Keller's dream of leading Fenwick to its first state football trophy died when the IHSA shafted the Friars out of a spot in the Class 7A championship game last November. But no one could deny Keller and his teammates on Tuesday night.
Election 2017: River Forest Village Trustee
Election 2017: River Forest Village TrusteeFriday, March 10th, 2017 3:30 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintThe following candidates are running for the office of village trustee in the village of River Forest: Tom Cargie Tom Dwyer Patty Henek Respicio F. Vazquez
Bruce Samuels | Articles | News | OakPark.com
Below are candidate-submitted answers to a biographical survey Wednesday Journal sent out to all candidates running in this year's in this year's elections. What qualifies you to serve on the library board and what motivated your interest in the position? I have served on the Board for eight years which included being chair of the budget and finance committee for three years. I was motivated to serve because I value the library as an institution that is valuable to Oak Park.
Victoria (Vicki) Scaman
Below are candidate-submitted answers to a biographical survey Wednesday Journal sent out to all candidates running in this year's in this year's elections.
Election 2017: Oak Park Library Board
Election 2017: Oak Park Library BoardFriday, March 10th, 2017 4:07 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintThe following candidates are running for the office of library board in the village of Oak Park: Bruce Samuels Matt Fruth Sarah Glavin Mary Anne Mohanraj Brandon Spurlock Maria Meachum Christian William Lee Harris Garrison Johnson Miles Jackson Adam Olson
Election 2017: River Forest Park Board
Election 2017: River Forest Park BoardFriday, March 10th, 2017 3:50 PMShare on FacebookShare on TwitterEmailPrintThe following candidates are running for the office of park board in the village of River Forest: Cheryl Cargie Lynn Libera Gerald Dombrowski Calvin Davis
An Appealing Prospect: Reassessments are Here
Don't wait until next year's tax bill arrives to consider appealing your property value reassessment. You need to do that this year. Oak Park property owners will receive their triennial reassessments within the next few days. River Forest property owners should have theirs by now. What does this mean? Your share of taxes levied in your community is based on the value of your property relative to those around you.
Francesca's Fiore: Make Up Your Own Menu
Before ordering dinner at Francesca's Fiore in Forest Park last week, I chatted with Jodie, the nice lady at the host station. Jodie casually mentioned that at all the Francesca's restaurants – which are now celebrating their 25th anniversary – you can have the kitchen prepare whatever meal you want, whether or not it's on the menu. You've heard about secret menus; this is more of a TBD menu, and you're the decider.
River Forest Library will be at the Health and Longevity Expo
The Library will be one of many exhibitors at the upcoming Health and Longevity Expo to take place at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave, in Oak Park, IL. We will have staff available to answer any questions about the special offerings the Library has for seniors. River Forest Township, who we partner with to deliver senior programming, will be sharing our table.
Oak Park manager gets $11K raise
The Oak Park Board of Trustees approved an $11,000 raise for Village Manager Cara Pavlicek, an increase that brings her annual pay to $177,000. Pavlicek was chosen for the position in January 2013. That year the village manager made $156,961. That salary was bumped slightly in 2014 to $158,526. The board voted Pavlicek at $7,500 raise in 2015.
Bringing Oak Park to a Latin audience
Spanish-speaking television watchers throughout the United States and Latin America have been getting a taste of Oak Park, Illinois since last summer, thanks to restaurant owner Francisco "Paco" Lopez, who owns the Mexican restaurant New Rebozo. That's because Lopez has been highlighting the work of local chefs on his weekly cooking show Vida Mujer, which runs on the Spanish-speaking television network Univision.
OPRF student a Google Doodle finalist
Emma Vejcik is a finalist in Google's national Doodle Contest. | Photo provided by OPRF An Oak Park-River Forest High School student might soon find her artwork distributed on one of the most high-traffic websites on the internet – Google. OPRF junior Emma Vejcik is the Illinois finalist for Google's national Doodle Contest, according to OPRF spokeswoman Karin Sullivan. Supporters can vote for Vejcik's work at Doodle4Google.com through March 6.
Photo Gallery: Riverside-Brookfield at Fenwick boys basketball game
The Fenwick High Schooll boys basketball team gradually pulled away from visiting Riverside-Brookfield in a non-conference game last weekend. Leading 36-26 at halftime, the Friars outscored the Bulldogs 27-12 in the third quarter and never looked back en route to a suprisingly lopsided 89-58 victory. Junior guard AJ Nixon scored 16 points for Fenwick, with teammates Mike O'Laughlin (13 points), Jamal Nixon (10 points) and Damari Nixon (9 points) also powering the offense.
Crime in Oak Park up slightly in 2016
Aggravated assault and battery cases jumped 62 percent in Oak Park in 2016 from the previous year, while motor vehicle theft dropped 13 percent, according to the state's annual Uniform Crime Reporting Index report, which is used to compile crime data. The Oak Park Police Department reported investigating 34 cases of aggravated assault and battery in 2016, up from 21 the year before, while the total number of motor vehicle theft cases investigated dropped to 80 from 92 a year earlier.
The last night at Home
Why the abode we dwell in is not just called a "house." We need an extra word. That word is "home." | Provided This is our last night at 400 Home. Or, as it has been known more formally to a long line of Blue Cab drivers, lost delivery persons, and first-time guests: 400 Home, the Corner of Home and Washington. From room to room, snaking through doorways into hallways, up and down stairs, on tables and floors, brown moving boxes are sealed and labeled and stacked. They line up in all sizes.
Human Nature | Blogs | Community | OakPark.com
Why? Why? Tell 'em that it's human nature When something terrible happens, like the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, people always seem to ask, "Why?" They ask why, it seems to me, because their view of human nature is that we humans are basically good. If our nature is basically good, then killing 49 people is unnatural, and we feel compelled to find some reason for this behavior.
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