Girl Scouts annual toy drive
Girl Scouts in Oak Park and River Forest are again collecting toys for children on the West Side of Chicago. From Nov. 21 through Dec. 19, community members are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for children up to age 14 to any of the collection sites in Oak Park and River Forest.
In Oak Park, donations can be delivered to: Beye School, Buzz Café, Dole Library, Hatch School, Holmes School, Julian School, Mann School, the front porch of 1166 S. Grove Ave., Whittier School, Wonder Works museum.
In River Forest, please bring items to the River Forest Public Library and Roosevelt School.
Lead found in water supply
A water test in Forest Park revealed slightly elevated amounts of lead, according to village officials, prompting an effort from the municipality to contact water customers and warn them of potential dangers.
Mayor Anthony Calderone said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has not deemed the water in Forest Park to be acutely unsafe, but residents may want to take minor precautions. Regulations allow up to .015 milligrams of lead per liter of water, or 15 parts per billion. A recent sampling of the water supply found lead levels to be .016 milligrams per liter.
A likely source of the contamination, said the mayor, is lead pipes within peoples’ homes.
Residents may want to let the water run from the tap before drinking it or cooking with it, especially if the faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. Also, running hot water through the pipes can dissolve lead more quickly, so it is advised that for cooking, residents draw cold water from the faucet and heat the water on the stove.
The village’s water department can be reached at 615-6268 and can provide additional information on the water supply.
Nursing home owner pleads guilty
The former owner of a Forest Park nursing home pleaded guilty this month to felony charges related to the death of a patient in 2002. According to a statement released by Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, Forest Park LLC, which operated a Roosevelt Road facility as the Pavillion of Forest Park, was ordered to pay $100,000 in fines and sentenced to the maximum 30 months conditional discharge. The conviction on the Class 4 felony of gross neglect came as a result of the death of Shirley Massey, 48, who died at the facility on Sept. 11, 2002.
The former medical director for the Pavillion is Dr. Jason Garti, who was indicted in 2005 on similar charges related to Massey’s death. The case against Garti is still pending, according to the attorney general’s office.
Forest Park LLC sold the facility in 2007.
Brunch on turkey day
Get out of the kitchen for a little while on Thanksgiving and let someone else handle the food. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Shanahan’s on Madison will be serving brunch, complete with mimosas and cappuccinos. Menu items range in price from $9 to $12 and feature a crab mornay omelet, eggs Sardou and breakfast po-boys.
Shanahan’s is located at 7353 Madison and can be reached at 366-0775. After brunch, the bar opens at 7 p.m.
