As June marks a month of celebration in LGBTQ+ communities nationwide, the Western suburbs and West Side are no strangers to the festivities. Looking to celebrate? Here are concerts, parades, scavenger hunts and other events you don’t want to miss.  Oak Park/River Forest Flamy Grant Concert Saturday, June 1 Pilgrim Congregational Church, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hailing from western North Carolina, vocalist, songwriter and drag queen Flamy Grant will offer a free, family-friendly performance at Pilgrim Congregational Church on Lake Street. Blending folk, gospel and roots, Grant hopes to shift th ..read more

The cost of water and sewage services in Forest Park will increase slightly June 1 to account for inflation, officials said.  “This is a normal process that we go through every year, and it reflects a standard rate of increase for water and sewer charges that we received from the City of Chicago,” said Michelle Melin-Rogovin, commissioner of streets and public improvements, at a May 28 village council meeting.  At the meeting, three commissioners and Mayor Rory Hoskins voted to increase the rates. Commissioner Maria Maxham was absent from the meeting.    Beginning June 1, resid ..read more

After 103 years of serving the area’s veterans and community, American Legion Post 414 is closing its doors.  It held its last honor guard service on Memorial Day, when dozens of Forest Parkers in red, white and blue joined American Legion members on the front lawn of the Park District of Forest Park to remember those who died while serving the country. They also said farewell to Post 414.  American Legions across the country have been experiencing declining enrollment in recent years, largely a result of low membership and lack of participation among younger veterans. Those re ..read more

Grab your colored pencils and crayons! This cicada has been waiting 17 years to be this colorful! Snap a pic of your final work of art to Editor Erika Hobbs at erika@growingcommunitymedia.org to be featured in next week in the paper and online. JPEGs and PDFs accepted. We’d also love to see you! You can drop off your cicada art at 141. S. Oak Park Ave.  The post Cicada coloring contest  appeared first on Forest Park Review ..read more

Are you interested in receiving the physical copy of our newspaper each week? Check out this link to become a subscriber. The post Print Edition: May 29, 2024 appeared first on Forest Park Review ..read more

June 16, 1999, Forest Park Review: The tot lot at Circle Avenue and Lehmer Street was renamed Veterans Park in 1999. Veterans from VFW Post #7181 held a dedication and raised the flag on the new flag pole at the park. The post Veterans Park, 1999 appeared first on Forest Park Review ..read more

Mike Thompson, a Vietnam era veteran, talks of how “devastating it is for longtime members” when American Legion Post 414 shuts down this summer. VFW and American Legion posts are closing all over the country. The principal reason is declining membership. “The post is down to 25 members,” said Joe Byrnes, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. “We tried membership drives, but that didn’t work. The 25 members that are left will be transferring to other posts.”  It isn’t just the lack of members; the Post building at 500 Circle is in urgent need of repairs. It’s over a cent ..read more

I chose the headline above to describe the 2024 annual meeting of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, held on May 8, for several reasons. It’s a take-off on the name of the new craft brewery, Casa Humilde, moving into the space at 7700 Madison St., most recently occupied by another craft brewery, Exit Strategy. The two brothers who own the new business, Javier and Jose Lopez chose the name Casa Humilde, i.e. Humble House, because although they strive to brew first class Mexican beers, the atmosphere the brothers hope to create will have a “mi casa es tu casa” vibe. Jose explained, “We wa ..read more

It has been a remarkable, exciting week for those of us at Growing Community Media. Over the past four years, dating to our remaking as a nonprofit newsroom, we’ve been reinventing the model for authentic, local news. We don’t want to repeat for you the travails which have put local news across America at risk.  Instead, we’re focusing on the future. We started with the simple truth that people still want to know and understand what goes on in the town they choose for home. They want an independent newsroom with local roots doing the reporting.  We’re building the plane as we’re flyi ..read more

The building where the beloved neighborhood grocery store Ed’s Way once stood is no more. After the rubble is removed, a 10-unit townhome will go up at 946 Beloit Ave. The May 17 demolition marks the end of an era for a community staple of more than 30 years. In February, Forest Park showed its appreciation for the local business by giving Beloit Ave. the honorary street name of Ed Nutley Way after Ed’s Way’s owner. Photos by TODD BANNOR Demolition of the former grocery store Ed’s Way in Forest Park Friday May 17 , 2024. Erica Benson for Growing Community Media Juan Uva of BM ..read more