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This morning, the wonderful “gals” at Garland Flowers at 137 South Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park were met by an unannounced street closure on Oak Park Avenue. The Village of Oak Park, the Township of Oak Park and the Seniors Center decided that this morning was the perfect day to partially close Oak Park Avenue to disconnect the old water and sewer service to the soon-to-be-opened Senior Center on the east side of Oak Park Avenue.

If a private real estate concern were to engage in trenching the street, there would have to be permits and notifications. There was not advance notice to either Garland Flowers – a wonderful flower shop, if you’re interested – or Maya Del Sol restaurant over at 144 S. Oak Park Avenue.

Does the fact that the owners of Maya Del Sol restaurant have been critical of the Village’s plan to tear up Oak Park Avenue have any bearing on the situation? What are the plans for Oak Park Avenue? The Village of Oak Park is acting like a three-year-old not making any noise. Parents recognize that when a kid is not making noise, he or she is making trouble. The sound of “crickets chirping” from the Village is troubling.

How much effort does it take to alert business owners that construction will take place? It seems as if our governmental entities – the Village and Township feel that they can be bad neighbors.

From our good friend, Wendy Tannenbaum, President North Avenue Business Association.

IDOT Harlem Avenue resurfacing project:

The contractor will be grinding the asphalt and placing binder south of I 290 the week of May 21st – 25th. They anticipate grinding and placing binder between I 290 and North Avenue the week of June 4th. There will likely be minor curb and sidewalk replacement for the entire Oak Park stretch starting next week and lasting until the end of the month.

IDOT North Avenue resurfacing project (Elmwood to Ridgeland & Austin to Central):

The contractor just recently received permits and has just started to work on this project again. They are currently removing manhole frames in the pavement so they can grind the street. Next week the contractor will be removing and replacing sections of concrete curb and sidewalks. The contractor anticipates grinding the pavement and replacing binder following the concrete work, approximately the week of May 28th. The majority of the work will be done east of Austin Avenue to Central and there will be a two block section of construction between Elmwood and Ridgeland.

Thanks to Wendy for all her hard work and for keeping us up to date on the goings on up around North Avenue.  As Wendy says, “Take your business in a new direction. Go NORTH! Join the North Avenue Business Association. Stay Informed. Get Connected. And support the North Avenue Business District.“

Memorial Day is Monday, May 28^th.

The Combined Veterans of Berwyn and the City of Berwyn – Town of Stickney, will host their annual Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 27. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Windsor and Oak Park avenues and continue down Oak Park Avenue until they reach Mount Auburn Cemetery, 4101 Oak Park Ave., Stickney, where a remembrance service will be held.

The River Forest Service Club and the River Forest Park District present the River Forest Memorial Day Parade which starts at 10 am on Monday, the 28^th of May.

Unless a member of your family is serving or has served in our Armed Forces or you’re a history buff – as am I – you might be forgetful of the fact that the United States has been engaged in combat operations for more than eleven years.  No matter how you feel about the War, everyone must recognize the fact that with service come sacrifices.  At Memorial Day, we are reminded of those who have given their lives for our freedom.

But what’s often overlooked is the sacrifice of the families of servicemen and servicewomen.  And the handicaps that many members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and National Reserves bring back home.

Please take a few moments while engaged in the parties and shopping to remember the reason for Memorial Day?

Mother’s Day is Sunday May 13th, this year. Now almost everyone will agree that everyday should be Mother’s Day. But seeing as how it has been declared that the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day, I’ll just say, “Happy Mother’s Day” and encourage those who have their Mom’s still alive to reach out and let their Mothers know that they did a pretty good job!

After all, you’re still alive – you are reading this – and doing at least as good as everyone else in your circle of friends and family. So, your Mom deserves a “Hello”, “Shout Out” or maybe an “Atta-girl”.

I’ll bet that you know that the busiest day for restaurants is Mother’s Day. But did you know that many Moms do not want to go out on that day?

Since the “economy” hasn’t picked up for many, maybe a dinner of luncheon at your home might be a grand idea. Remember that the way to Mom’s heart may well be her stomach… It worked for Dad so why not Mom too!

“My basic principle is that you don’t have to make decisions
because they are easy; you don’t make them because they are cheap;
you don’t make them because they’re popular;
you make them because they’re right.”
– Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, SCS, STD, President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame.

Tina Valentino is the Editor/Publisher

The free lunch.  Of course, there is no such thing.  And despite of the ultra-inefficiency of the Do Not Call Registry, I have not won a free $1,000 Walmart Gift Card either.  Nothing worth having is cheap as Fr. Hesburgh points out, or easy.  “Things” and “favors” and “special offers” are generally not free.  There are always strings attached no matter how sincere of legit the offer may seem.  Ask any senior who has been the victim of a gypsy scam or burglary, or any poor soul who has coughed up their bank account number to a persuasive peddler only to have their savings disappear.  Our first and foremost lesson should be that our freedom has not been and is not free.  Ask a veteran.  A disabled veteran.

But there are free experiences around us at all times, some offer fascinating lessons in history and tradition while some are just fun and entertaining.  For example, on Monday, May 28 at Noon, the Village of Hillside invites all residents to attend a Memorial Day Observance at the Memorial in the Hillside Commons.  I have attended the ceremony numerous times and visited the Commons’ memorial.  Like Franklyn Park’s memorial and ceremony, Hillside’s always-moving tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is an excellent opportunity to experience, remember and cherish what too many of us take for granted.

On Saturday, May 12, Melrose Park’s Little League Baseball will hold its annual parade, complete with screaming fire truck sirens and public works vehicles full of kids with baseball hats that are too big for their little heads.  But that’s the draw — it’s a free experience that takes us back to our own sweaty, no-uniforms-required sandlot games.  My grandfather always kept a lawn chair and jacket in the truck of his car and, on countless spring and summer nights he wisely opted to watch local t-ball players from the sidelines instead of overpaid MLB prima donnas on television.  You can’t put a price on a kid’s first at bat.

As for myself, you can fine me sitting on the curb outside the Quad at Dominican University in River Forest on Friday, May 4 at dusk for the annual Candle and Rose Ceremony, first held in 1928. Begun by Sr. Constanza, an English professor, the tradition has changed very little over the decades, and is a powerful free experience, pairing graduating seniors bearing lit candles with their partners who carry roses, which they exchange during the program. Candles represent the light of learning, the light of Veritas (truth) passed on from senior graduates. Roses (Caritas or charity) remind those seniors to be “faithful to the teachings and standards of Dominican tradition,” symbolizing beauty, love and compassion.

Its been 30 years already since I carried a rose across the Cloister Walk. But it was just today that I was reminded of Thoreau’s words: All good things are wild, and free.