Thursday, April 7, 2011
Trio of newcomers to take it slow, then grow as board.
Perhaps it's fitting that on the very next morning after Tuesday's election, library board candidate-elect Mary T. Small was headed to the River Forest Public Library. The political newcomer — and library regular — said she leveraged an e-mail campaign to local condo dwellers and various "movers and shakers" to help win the seat. Small, Thomas Smedinghoff and Claudette Zobel triumphed in the four-person race for three seats. Jennifer Rice Epstein lost to Zobel by 80 votes. (Totals here.) Said Rice Epstein: "I am not sure if I'll run for any local offices in the future, but if I do, I will not launch my campaign less than a month after I have a baby. I wasn't able to get out and meet people as much as I could have, and I wasn't prepared …
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Keep it here for election news, updates, anecdotes, photos and more.
12:14 a.m. OK, folks. That's going to do it for today. We'll be back tomorrow with more stories from the contested races, and we'll try and get comment from the candidates in the uncontested races, too. Meanwhile, here's one more look at the latest results in the contested races. They're taken from the Cook County Clerk's Office Election 2011 results website. Oak Park Village Board Oak Park River Forest High School District 200 District 97 referendum Oak Park electricity plan referendum Park District of Oak Park Board of Commissioners River Forest Library Board 12:02 a.m. And another one.... One Newcomer, Two Incumbents Win OPRF District 200 Board Seats 11:21 p.m. Just posted two stories: District 97 Referendum Passes Citizens for …
A look at polling places in Oak Park and River Forest.
Oak Park-River Forest Patch has compiled a handy map — posted on the right side of this page — displaying the polling places and precinct information for voters headed to the polls on Tuesday. Just zoom in and click away. Unsure of your precinct? Simply fill out your address on the "Voter Information" page on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website. There, you can find your polling place, a sample ballot and a list of your elected officials, as well as their contact information. Have more questions? The clerk's website has a helpful FAQ section, which addresses all types of voter concerns, from instructions on how to send an absentee ballot to securing assistance for voters with disabilities. Keep your browsers pointed to Patch throughout …
41.870577
-87.779201
Barrie Center
1011 S Lombard Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 33
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1256827
/locations/3894742
41.900565
-87.778948
Andersen Center and Park
824 Hayes Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 8
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1256819
/locations/3894743
41.89099
-87.78803
Oak Park & River Forest High School
201 N Scoville Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 24
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245498
/locations/3894744
41.877178
-87.794141
Fox Center and Park
640 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 16
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1256834
/locations/3894745
41.901375
-87.814377
Trinity High School
7574 Division St, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 10
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297204
/locations/3894746
41.898251
-87.782238
Dole Learning Center
255 Augusta St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 11
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245212
/locations/3894747
41.8796
-87.803839
500 S Maple Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Senior Center; Oak Park Precincts 27 and 38
/articles/where-to-vote-3
/locations/3894748
41.886775
-87.794447
Oak Park Township
105 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 35
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246495
/locations/3894749
41.902005
-87.798017
Horace Mann School
921 N Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 4 and 5
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245413
/locations/3894750
41.880015
-87.778495
Village Hall, Village of Oak Park
123 Madison St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 15 and 21
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246066
/locations/3894751
41.88809
-87.77701
Stevenson Center and 49 Lake Teen Center
49 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 30
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1256845
/locations/3894752
41.881348
-87.784493
Percy Julian Middle School
420 S Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 34
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245942
/locations/3894753
41.880977
-87.794306
Oak Park Arms Retirement Community
408 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 34 and 35
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1525768
/locations/3894754
41.87996
-87.78078
Park District of Oak Park
218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 40
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246061
/locations/3894755
41.90157
-87.80602
7200 Division St, River Forest, IL
Dominican Priory Campus; River Forest Precinct 3
/articles/where-to-vote-3
/locations/3894756
41.87923
-87.82528
River Forest Civic Center Authority
8020 Madison St, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precincts 8 and 9
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297313
/locations/3894757
41.886842
-87.819547
River Forest Village Hall
400 Park Ave, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 5
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297324
/locations/3894758
41.888114
-87.82451
River Forest United Methodist Church
7970 Lake St, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 4
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297141
/locations/3894759
41.891988
-87.813884
Roosevelt Middle School
7560 Oak Ave, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 7
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297202
/locations/3894760
41.90163
-87.79933
Field Center and Park
Woodbine Ave & Division St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 44
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1262377
/locations/3894761
41.866618
-87.801783
West Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church
1154 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 29
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245364
/locations/3894762
41.888174
-87.779864
Heritage House
201 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 28
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245616
/locations/3894763
41.904152
-87.791255
St. Giles Parish
1025 Columbian Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 2. Note: polling location is at St. Giles Gleeson Building
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246326
/locations/3894764
41.888648
-87.795493
Oak Park Public Library Main Branch
834 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 22, 23 and 27
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246216
/locations/3894765
41.876023
-87.781861
Longfellow School
715 Highland Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 3 and 9
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245949
/locations/3894766
41.89059
-87.814
First Presbyterian Church of River Forest
7551 Quick Ave, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 6
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297080
/locations/3894767
41.89014
-87.800199
The Nineteenth Century Club
178 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 20
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245540
/locations/3894768
41.868327
-87.795133
Abraham Lincoln School
1111 S Grove Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 17 and 38
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245937
/locations/3894769
41.890791
-87.783156
William Beye Elementary School
230 N Cuyler Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 26
/articles/where-to-vote-3
244968
/locations/3894770
41.902227
-87.816874
Frances Willard School
1250 Ashland Ave, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 1
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297307
/locations/3894771
41.895254
-87.797679
Oliver Wendell Holmes School
508 N Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 18 and 19
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245108
/locations/3894772
41.886817
-87.776492
The Oaks
114 S Humphrey Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 32
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246052
/locations/3894773
41.883921
-87.8017
1025 Pleasant Pl, Oak Park, IL
Mills Tower, Oak Park Precinct 39
/articles/where-to-vote-3
/locations/3894774
41.882924
-87.796994
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
325 S Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 41 and 42
/articles/where-to-vote-3
246236
/locations/3894775
41.867993
-87.782782
Washington Irving School
1125 S Cuyler Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 25
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245410
/locations/3894776
41.90118
-87.82198
Dominican University
7900 Division St, River Forest, IL
River Forest Precinct 2
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1297627
/locations/3894777
41.898517
-87.781755
Whittier School
715 N Harvey Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 10
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245989
/locations/3894778
41.87166
-87.790032
Oak Park Conservatory and Conservatory Center
615 Garfield St, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precincts 6 and 31
/articles/where-to-vote-3
1262371
/locations/3894779
41.898912
-87.78828
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
744 Fair Oaks Ave, Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Precinct 14
/articles/where-to-vote-3
245060
/locations/3894780
Friday, April 1, 2011
OPRF dad looks to join District 200 board.
John Phelan, 45, has a strong personal connection to OPRF High School. He and wife Amy have two children currently attending there, and four more on the way soon at younger grades. Phelan is aiming for a spot on the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 school board, comprised of seven members serving four-year terms. This year, six candidates — Phelan, Margaret Lattner Skiver, John Bokum Jr. and incumbents Ralph H. Lee, John C. Allen IV and Sharon Patchak Lyman — are looking to fill three vacant spots. (Editor's note: Bokum, Lee, Allen and Patchak Lyman were all sent candidate questionnaires; only Lattner Skiver and Phelan returned them.) Professionally, he's been a labor lawyer for about 20 years, currently working for AT&T…
41.89099
-87.78803
Oak Park & River Forest High School
201 N Scoville Ave, Oak Park, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-john-phelan-district-200-board-member
245498
/locations/3861428
Former OPRF grad looks to joing school board.
Margaret Lattner Skiver, a lifelong resident of Oak Park, is a former teacher and graduate of OPRF High School vying for a spot on the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 school board. The board is comprised of seven members serving four-year terms. This year, six candidates — Lattner Skiver, John Phelan, John Bokum Jr. and incumbents Ralph H. Lee, John C. Allen IV and Sharon Patchak Lyman — are looking to fill three vacant spots. (Editor's note: Bokum, Lee, Allen and Patchak Lyman were all sent candidate questionnaires; only Lattner Skiver and Phelan returned them.) She currently works as an IT manager. Lattner Skiver has two sons, one of whom currently attends OPRF. Her teaching experience includes six years at St. Luke…
41.89099
-87.78803
Oak Park & River Forest High School
201 N Scoville Ave, Oak Park, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-margaret-lattner-skiver-district-200-board-member
245498
/locations/3861432
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Former educator brings experience to District 97 Board.
Jim O'Connor, 38, brings over ten years of experience working in public education. He's served four years as a high school teacher math and science teacher in Arkansas and Chicago, six as a principal at the Kipp Ascend Charter School, and one year as a district administrator in Elgin District U-46. He now works in education public policy, focusing on excellence and equity in the education system O'Connor and his wife, Hannah, have two children: a daughter who is a kindergartner at Irving Elementary School and a three-year-old son. Four candidates — O'Connor, Denise Sacks and incumbents Bob Spatz and Peter Traczyk — are running for the four vacant seats in this uncontested race. (Editor's note: Sacks and Traczyk were sent candidate …
41.879678
-87.799371
Oak Park Elementary School District 97
970 Madison St, Oak Park, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-jim-oconnor-district-97-board-member
246152
/locations/3844890
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Liz Fischer, a River Forest homemaker and writer, runs for District 90 School Board.
Liz Fischer, a homemaker and writer in River Forest, is one of three candidates running unchallenged on the District 90 School Board ballot. Ralph Martire and incumbent James Weiss will also appear on the ballot. (Editor's note: Weiss was sent a candidate questionnaire, but has not returned it.) Born and raised in Oak Park, she attended OPRF high school and has lived in River Forest since 1997. She has three children with husband Bruce, including two currently in the District 90 school system. Fischer said she decided to run for the board because she sees it as a way to give back to her community, working toward a brighter future. In her spare time she enjoys Pilates, hockey, cycling, and browsing in bookstores. Patch: District 90's Board …
41.888236
-87.818877
River Forest School District 90
7776 Lake St, River Forest, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-liz-fischer-district-90-school-board-member
1297319
/locations/3844129
Fiscal policy think tank director runs for District 90 board.
Ralph Martire, a River Forest resident, is one of three candidates running uncontested for a spot on the District 90 School Board. Liz Fischer and incumbent James Weiss will also appear on the ballot. (Editor's note: Weiss was sent a candidate questionnaire, but has not returned it.) Martire currently serves as executive director of a bipartisan economic and fiscal policy think tank called the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Patch: District 90's Board of Education has recently been considering a full-day kindergarten program. What are your thoughts on this? Ralph Martire: Full day kindergarten is certainly a good idea, and merits consideration. It can help in a child’s development (socially as well as academically), and has the…
41.888236
-87.818877
River Forest School District 90
7776 Lake St, River Forest, IL
/articles/meet-your-candidates-ralph-martire-district-90-school-board-member
1297319
/locations/3844132
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The League of Women Voters of Oak Park-River Forest compiles online stump speeches.
You just can't thank the League of Women Voters enough. They're a passionate group of civic-minded volunteers, and they aim their keen eyes on the local issues affecting residents. They explain topics and weigh in where appropriate. At occasional breakfast sessions, they hash out the local impact of national politics. And recently, they sponsored the Candidates Fair at Oak Park-River Forest High School, a forum where residents were invited to meet and greet those seeking election for public office. Luckily, they had the foresight to tape the candidates' pitches and upload them to their YouTube channel. Here's the link. It's a valuable resource, and one that we'd like to point you to while making those critical choices at the ballot box…
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Residents throw support behind 'Triple J' candidates.
- OPINION
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Saturday, March 26, 2011
Editor's note: The following letter was sent to us Friday by Lisa Lowry and Kelly O'Connor. The upcoming April 5th elections will determine numerous issues of importance to our village.There are referendums and candidates who represent various priorities for our youth in this community. For a moment we ask you to consider this question. What kind of environment do we want our high school to be? What kind of educational environment do we want our kids to be in 40 hours a week? Currently we have a teen drug/alcohol use rate that nearly doubles the national average. This is alarming, but not fixed in stone. Our kids have spoken, loud and clear and now as responsible adults we need to listen. Please remember USE is typically underreported …
John Mulu
7:12 am on Tuesday, December 20, 2011
There have been some really cool shopping app recommendations over the past couple of days...I ended up downloading the 'Should I Buy It?' app someone recommended and it is awesome! I was shopping for shoes and was able to quickly share them with my friends to see what they thought of them. Here is the link again to download: http://bit.ly/sibifm33 more ›