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In This Issue










March 2019
President's Letter
March is arriving like a lion so let's hope it will depart as a lamb.

On February 24 several people gathered at Maze Library to view and discuss "Dark Money."  The group was from all over Chicago, as far west as Naperville and as far south as Park Forest. If you have not seen the film about the impact of Citizens United in Montana, the Oak Park Library has two copies.

There will be no Second Tuesday in March. There really is a second Tuesday but the League will not be meeting. The Nineteenth Century is doing a facelift so the room is not accessible until April.

Find out about the Township of Oak Park Youth Services at Drinks & Dialogue on Thursday evening, March 21 at Shanahan's at 6:30pm.

Please continue to attend the candidate forums throughout March. Be an informed voter and be sure to vote. See the schedule in our calendar of events.

Jan Goldberg, Co-Chair of the LWVCC Criminal Justice Group, sent a 2019 report, "Update on Pretrial Systems." I encourage you to read this report as it summarizes all of the work of the committee since December of 2015. I want to especially thank Beverly Graham and Mary Rose Lambke from our League for their work on this committee.

ERA update - the vote lost by ONE vote in Virginia!

See you at our March League events.

Marge Massarello
State of the Villages Wrap-up
Over eighty members, candidates, and friends attended the State of the Villages Event on Saturday. They enjoyed a scrumptious buffet lunch at Concordia University's Koehneke Community Center while listening to a wonderful harp and flute duet. This was followed with updates by Village Presidents Cathy Adduci and Anan Abu-Taleb. Moderator Dan Haley asked questions about development, equity, and public safety. A heartfelt thanks goes out to the entire committee that made this another successful fundraiser:Kathy Balk, Mary Haley, Marilyn Cantisano, Marge Massarello, Joan Petertil, Peggy Kell, Barbara Smith, and Mary Walsh. Also helping on Saturday were Barbara Ballinger, Mary Rose Lambke, Sandra White, Leigh Eicher, Tara Joyce, and Joan Fiscella.
Drinks & Dialogue
On Thursday, March 21, Drinks & Dialogue will host a speaker from the Oak Park Township Youth Services office. The event will once again be at Shanahan's, 7353 Madison, Forest Park, from 6:30-7:45pm. 
Candidate Forums

We have had two candidate forums so far, with great attendance. If you missed the February 27 River Forest Library and Village Trustee Board forums, you can watch them on our website  Program page along with the Forest Park Candidate Forum videos.   
Coming up on Monday, March 11, we will have the Oak Park Park Board and School District 97 Candidates at the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park. See the complete schedule for the remaining forums here.
Thanks to Elan Long, Jane Hastings, Kathy Balk, Cleraine Camper, Leigh Eicher, and Peggy Kell for helping make the River Forest forum a success. Also a shout out to Kristen Coe and Dan Potter of the River Forest Civic Association for partnering with us on the event.
Legislative Visits
Our legislative visits have begun! Talking and advocating with our local legislators is a time honored tradition with the League. On February 27, Kathy Nesburg, Diane Moses, Fran Sampson, and Carolyn Skipper met with Sen. Don Harmon to talk about League positions on gun violence, redistricting, fiscal policy, criminal justice reform, and campaign finance reform among other topics. 
Witness Slips
There is still time to fill out a witness slip for HB2265, supporting Public School Civics Education in grades 6, 7, and 8. Go here to fill out the slip.


League of Women Voters of Oak Park & River Forest | | (708) 342-0803
  lwvoprf1924@gmail.com | http://lwvoprf.org
P.O. Box 3301
Oak Park, IL 60303-3301