Ex-Ald. Matlak defends zoning moves
BY PETER VON BUOL
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
Ted Matlak, the former alderman of the 32nd Ward, is taking aim at political opponents and critics who continue to criticize zoning changes he allowed during his nine years on the Chicago City Council. He also defended the number of zoning changes he allowed during his tenure in office and said he allowed far fewer changes than those allowed by others.
Matlak, who is now a real-estate broker consultant, said he had decided to pay for an advertisement March 20 in order to get his side of the story in the media. In the ad which appeared in another community newspaper, he gave his reasons for approving zoning changes.
“I have been criticized for allowing Zoning Changes. While it has been easy for critics to confuse people about my record, the fact remains that a great many zoning changes I approved were for little more than legalizing existing buildings, home owner additions (usually a new baby) or to allow a new business,” wrote Matlak.
After he lost a run-off election last year to current Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), Matlak entered the private sector and said he chose to stay away from politics. Matlak said he became upset when his critics started to criticize a private citizen who had requested a zoning change from Matlak while he was still the alderman but which was rejected by his successor.
In his advertisement Matlak wrote, “Continuing to criticize me may be great politics for the current [aldermanic] administration, but it doesn’t solve today’s problems. In a March 6 letter Matlak says people continue to have babies and continue to have personal housing needs that are just not reflected in the outdated 1957 Zoning Map. If you live in a building built or rehabbed within the last decade or more, your home most likely received a zoning change. If you live in a converted factory or other loft style building, your home definitely required a zoning change.”
Matlak told Inside Waguespack seems to want to cling to the 1957 zoning code but that code never reflected reality. A formula approach was used for the old code, Matlak said. Throughout the city, non-residential zoning designations were often given to residential buildings. This was done, said the former alderman, in an attempt to anticipate how neighborhoods would develop. Unless someone applied for a zoning change, the 1957 zoning remained in place.
“For example, look at the buildings which surround the new park and public library in Wicker Park. This is a residential area but some properties are zoned for manufacturing. This is because the 1957 Zoning Code assumed this area would in the future become more of a manufacturing district. Because the owners of the properties at 1715-1721 N. Hoyne never requested zoning changes, they are still zoned for manufacturing. One look at those buildings and you know they were built well before 1957. That’s because the old map applied a standard formula throughout a neighborhood and not the actual reality,” said Matlak.
In his advertisement, Matlak wrote, “The 1957 Zoning Map keeps a 21rst Century community within the confinements of a 20th Century plan that does not account for the existing 19th Century buildings. This is the sacred “Zoning Plan” that my former opponents keep steadfastly arguing should not be changed, regardless of individual circumstance. Indeed it appears there is an active effort to “restore” the entire ward to the outdated map.”
As a member of the Chicago City Council’s Zoning Committee in 2004, he took part in what was billed as an attempt to write a newer, simpler zoning code.
“In 2004, a major effort was made to write a new, simpler code that reflected modern conditions. This was done. As a member of the Zoning Committee, I played a major part in that effort. The second part of that process was to apply that new code to the entire City Zoning Map property by property, to have the underlining zoning actually match what is actually there. This critical step to Zoning Reform was never done. I attempted to apply the new code to the old map on a case by case basis as matters occurred within the 32nd Ward,” wrote Matlak.
When asked about why the critical step to Zoning Reform was “never done”, Matlak said the process to reform zoning is still on-going and eventually that step will be taken for the entire city. Some logistics, he said, still have to be worked out, such as how often, and to whom, zoning change notices should be mailed out.
“Zoning is a very complex issue with real consequences for real people. Like it or not, development will continue, the question is will this development be designed for the needs of this century or the last?” wrote Matlak in his advertisement.
History Museum debates youth violence
BY RICK TILLER
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
A group of community-minded experts debated the problem of youth violence and school shootings at a panel discussion April 1 at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.
Writer Laura Washington chaired the discussion panel for the museum’s In the K/Now program; the debate focused on after school programs and stricter gun laws to combat the problem of youth violence.
“It’s all about acceptance,” said Reba Misters, who associated gun violence with masculinity or “rites of manhood.”
“’How can I be in this clique or that clique and fit in with the other guys?’ To some of these kids it seems like a God-given right.”
The panel was concerned that many of the involved children seem not to evince any value for human life or the neighborhoods they live in.
“A person respects things that they see are going on around them,” said Dr. Elena Quintana, Director of Evaluation for the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention. “They see one person goes home to get a gun and shoot somebody and that’s the solution to a problem. That’s not a reasonable response.”
Dr. Carl Bell, a psychiatrist who has worked with city school issues noted that “statistics clearly demonstrate that if you don’t want problems like this, live in a neighborhood that has block clubs.”
Bell does not believe in reports that media violence promote aggression in children.
“Somebody watches 5,000 people get killed on TV and, yes, their aggression goes up, but they’re back to normal after a half-hour,” Bell said. He acknowledged, however, that he had not seen statistics that include video games.
Both Bell and Quintana also acknowledged that Chicago homicides used to be 900 to 1,000 deaths a year, and last year were down to 455. The troubling part, they added, was that the shooters had shifted from adults to children.
Part of what troubled Misters, meanwhile, was the fact that the shooters at Columbine, Virginia Tech, NIU and Crane School in Chicago “had no military background and were able to obtain antipersonnel assault guns without any trouble.”
L.P. Zoo conference to discuss releasing animals to the wild
Lincoln Park Zoo and the World Conservation Union will host the First International Wildlife Reintroduction Conference on April 15 to 16. By releasing animals into natural habitats, reintroduction programs improve the prospects of survival for wild populations. Conservation biologists from around the globe will convene at Lincoln Park Zoo to share information on the successes and failures of these high-profile conservation endeavors.
The conference will close with a public lecture offering an inside look at the triumphs and tribulations of restoring species to the wild. Lincoln Park Zoo’s Steve Thompson will open with an overview of the up-to-date knowledge presented during the conference, including innovative approaches, challenges and the latest progress in well-known reintroduction programs. Mike Phillips of the Turner Endangered Species Fund will conclude the public lecture by highlighting stories from the field, notably the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park and red wolves to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Educational therapist offers tips to improve children’s esteem
BY CHERI DEMOSS
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
Most parents want the optimal for their child. They hope their child will strive to do their best in school, outside activities, and in life. They want their child to have Motivation. They want their child to grow up to be a responsible person who is trustworthy and respected. They want their child to have Decency. They do not want their child to get involved in drugs or alcohol, suffer from depression, join a gang, or become involved in other self-destructive behaviors. They want their child to be Self-Caring. They want their child to be confident, positive, and successful. They want their child to have healthy and abundant Self-Esteem.
What many adults, teachers, and parents need to realize is that in order to help a child become motivated, decent, self-caring, and esteemed, the adults in the child’s life have to focus on nurturing, supporting, and growing the child’s self-esteem.
Children, like adults, will make responsible decisions, protect themselves from harm, and work to achieve their potential only if they have a strong sense of self-esteem and self-value.
Children, like adults, respond poorly to criticism of their character – of who they are. They respond much better to objective, non-critical feedback about their behaviors. Children, like adults with high self-esteem, naturally choose to act in ways that will lead to positive, rather than, negative outcomes.
At Empowering Options, 2656 W. Montrose Avenue, parents are learning healthy parenting behaviors to build their child’s self-esteem.
Helping your child achieve a strong self-image is completely within your control. It is a process of using praise, catching your child “getting it right,” and giving your child the consistent feeling that you like them. You cannot sincerely praise a child too much or too often.
Artificial, insincere praise teaches a child to be mistrustful. Negative comments and criticism undermines anyone’s, especially a child’s, esteem, and sense of well-being.
Another essential part of building your child’s self-esteem is listening. Children have a lot to say and what they say is a window into, not only their hearts, but into their thoughts and feelings. The goal of listening is to be empathetic, objective, and to understand what is being shared.
Just like you cannot over praise your child, neither can you listen, empathize and understand your child’s perspective too much.
There is not a lot that gives a child the sense of personal power and esteem. Think about it from their vantage point. Children are smaller, not as smart, and physically weaker than adults are. They have limited abilities to make decisions about their lives. Adults tend to disregard what a child says, dismiss what they think, and discount what they feel. Adults often times view a child’s attempts at communicating as, well, “childish.”
Think of when you were little and you tried to share something about your friends, your feelings, or your side of things and your parents dismissed you.
Remember when they misunderstood or twisted what you were trying to share? It is a powerless thing, being a child. Parents who think and act as if their child is a small adult and not a child will miss the hundreds of daily “clues” or opportunities to nurture and grow their child’s esteem. Parents who do not know how to be perceptive, empathetic, objective, and to listen, diminish their child’s self-esteem.
The bottom line is giving your child unconditional praise and affection, and role modeling healthy behaviors, will help nurture your child’s self-esteem just like fertilizer does for plants. Taking the time to listen and respond to what your child is sharing with you helps them feel cared for and gives them a sense of having value. It also helps you to monitor their changing needs.
As you learn to recognize your child’s behaviors you can help your child gradually become more esteemed. The more esteem and confidence you give your child the easier it is for them to learn to feel successful at doing tasks and taking on responsibilities.
Parents who give their child double messages, or who do not consistently set clear age appropriate limits, make their child feel they have no value. Parents that set too many limits or expect their child to “act like an adult” make their child feel like they are a disappointment.
Parents that “hope” their child will “grow up right” but do nothing to get more information about healthy parenting are setting themselves and their child up for failure.
It is not luck that creates successful, happy adults. A child does not accidentally grow up to be a motivated, decent self-esteemed and self-caring adult who makes healthy decisions. It is because the child was given a sense of value and the message that they were liked and likable.
When a child grows up to be confident and self-assured, it is because the child’s self-esteem was consistently nurtured by being understood, listened to and praised.
Empowering Options runs frequent parenting classes and workshops. For times and locations, call 773-338-2889.
Aldermen Flores, Waguespack queried on drug house
BY HAYLEY CARLTON
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
An alleged drug house was one of the topics of discussion at a “State of the Wards” meeting held by the Bucktown Community Organization and Aldermen’ Manny Flores (1st) and Scott Waguespack (32nd) last month.
The moment Waguespack began his “State of the Ward” speech March 18, John Kugler, a local activist and victim of crime, started to question him about the status of a decrepit former commercial garage at 1805 N. Milwaukee Ave. The city-owned building is surrounded by new condos and Kugler says that the building is a source of drug activity. “When are you going to tear it down,” asked Kugler. “You know it’s a drug house.”
“I’ve been there quite a few times,” said Waguespack, who lives next door to Kugler’s daughter-in-law. “I sent them (building inspectors) over there five times this year.”
Waguespack and Kugler got into a back and forth concerning the alleged activity in the building, with the alderman insisting that there isn’t any and Kugler insisting that there is.
“They’ve got an extension cord plugged in outside,” said Kugler. “They’re using electricity.”
“I’ve been out there, and I didn’t see anything,” said Waguespack.
A woman sitting next to Kugler backed him up. “There was a cord coming out of the building.”
Kugler would like to see the building torn down and become a park. While a Waguespack spokesperson previously said that it would eventually become a park, Waguespack says that once torn down, it will become an entry for the Bloomingdale Trail.
This trail is a proposed, linear park which will convert almost 3 miles of elevated train tracks (the Bloomingdale Railroad) into a park. According to the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail website, the park, if built will not see major construction for at least five years, but parts of it may be converted as soon as this year. The track is 15 feet above ground, and runs from North to Armitage and from Lawndale to the Chicago River.
Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail estimates that if built, the park will cost $25 million and would include lighting, web cameras for safety, hand rails and landscaping. It will be mixed use, and would be used by joggers, walkers, bikers and those who want to contemplate nature. Being elevated, it would allow walkers to travel faster than being on the street.
The building has been through a variety of owners and is now owned by the city. Waguespack said that he does not know just when it will be torn down.
A woman in the audience complained to Waguespack about an increase in graffiti in the area. “I’m always calling the city,” said the woman.
Meanwhile in the 1st Ward, Alderman Flores says that he and Waguespack has “a good working relationship. We share a lot of borders.”
Flores says that he would like to see at least 25% of his ward take part in recycling. The ward no longer uses the blue bag program, and now uses blue bins.
He also would like to see more compliance with constituents taking their cars off the street for the street cleaners. “You don’t have to get a ticket.” The ward has signs on the streets to give residents warning “months in advance.” The signs now have lights on top that flash green if you can park and red if you can’t.
Other topics of discussion were slow post office service “we’re trying to do something about it,” said Flores, and the future of a former Burger King on Milwaukee Avenue that is now covered with graffiti and weeds.
Flores says that he lives behind the building and deals with his “toughest constituent,” his wife. Some audience members expressed concern about another bank moving into the area, but Flores said that a bank can’t be denied if it has the proper zoning. “There’s that toughest constituent again.”
The meeting was held as part of the Bucktown Community Organization monthly meeting. Among the organization’s future plans are movie nights in Churchill and the Garden Walk in July. Tim Mullins of the organization said that the Garden Walk will also include painting
on gardens.
Catholic students hold Jewish rite
While the students of North Side St. Benedict Elementary School celebrated the traditional rites of Easter, they also took part in a school-wide Seder meal, the traditional rite of Passover, which is the Jewish custom that celebrates God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery.
St. Benedict Elementary School, 3920 N. Leavitt Street, students of differing grades paired together to experience the “mini-retreat” of Passover. The Seder meal event was celebrated through the collaborative effort between teachers and St. Benedict’s Faith Buddy Program, made up of preschool and elementary school students who work together on faith-based projects throughout the school year. This includes exploration of other religions’ rites and customs.
Students, teachers and staff held the Holy Thursday the Seder at 1 pm on Holy Thursday, March 20 at the Ackerman Center, setting up six stations with meal symbols, in the Jewish tradition, to remind them that God is with them and blesses them. The stations included candle lighting, tasting of bitter herbs and “haroset” which is the sharing of matzah, to represent communal wine and the cleansing each others’ hands. The Passover meal closed with a short reading from the Apostle John’s Gospel.
St. Benedict Elementary School Principal Rachel Gemo noted how the meal celebration illustrated the connection between the Jewish and Catholic traditions, especially to remind Catholic students of their roots in Judaism.
“The students love working together on faith-based projects,” Gemo said, “and traditions like this make our student experience very unique.”
DePaul psychologist studies addict group housing
The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse recently reinstated its group home loan revolving fund initiative, citing DePaul University’s Center for Community Research studies on the “Oxford House” model as supplying the critical data needed to support new funds for the program.
The Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse began establishing group homes throughout the state in 1992 under its community-based funding program. The homes are modeled after the national Oxford House concept, which provides Democratically run, self-supporting, drug-free living for individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
According to Fran Bassett, project manager for the group home loan revolving fund initiative, funding for the loan program was discontinued in 2003 in part because there was no sufficient outcome data at that time to support its continuation.
In 2006, psychologist Leonard Jason, director of DePaul’s Center for Community Research, along with a team of researchers that includes Joseph Ferrari, DePaul professor of psychology, and Brad Olson, assistant professor of research at Northwestern University, released the results of two studies showing that recovering substance users who live together in self-governed home settings attain an abstinence rate of 65 to 87 percent.
Prior to this research, published evidence revealed that a majority of individuals in recovery relapsed after treatment.
“The DePaul study provided an evidence-based approach toward the re-establishment of the group home living initiative,” said Bassett. “When you can say this works and show why, you’ve got a leg up.”
Currently, there are 39 Oxford Houses in Illinois, three of which are located in Chicago. Five Oxford Houses have been established since funding was made available last fall, and according to Bassett, four more houses are scheduled to open this spring. The goal is to add 11 houses this year and a maximum of 20 new houses annually.
Funding for the initiative covers marketing and recruitment of applicants for the program and skills development workshops for residents. Two-year loans of $5,000 for rental fees, furnishings and other start-up costs are available for applicants to establish a house. Houses residents must be employed, pay rent from their earnings and work to pay the loans back.
“This is what community psychology is all about—working collaboratively with communities to solve pressing problems, such as preventing high rates of substance abuse. One cannot underestimate the importance of a safe and healthy home environment to a person seeking to develop long-term sobriety skills,” said Jason.
Jason works in the area of chronic fatigue syndrome and has published on a number of community psychology-related topics, including children and television, smoking and prevention, and substance abuse recovery.
His forthcoming book, co-authored with Olson and Karen Foli, “Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse” (Haworth Press) will be released in May. Jason’s 19th book tells the success stories of Oxford House residents and explains just how the model has worked
for them.
Workshop teaches business methods to gain customer information
The Federal Trade Commission, the International Association of Privacy Professionals and Northwestern University School of Law will co-host a free public workshop on how businesses can secure the personal information of consumers and employees.
The workshop will feature business people, attorneys, government officials, privacy officers and other experts who will provide practical guidance for businesses of all sizes on data security and best practices for developing an appropriate data security program and responding to security problems, including data breaches.
As part of its business education program, the Federal Trade Commission has information to help businesses forge their own data security plans, including an online tutorial, a booklet and a series of articles.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 15 at Northwestern University School of Law Chicago campus, Arthur Rubloff Building, Thorne Auditorium 375 E. Chicago Avenue.
Parish concert April 12
St. Teresa of Avila is hosting the musical concert “All Good Gifts: An Evening of Gratitude” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12.
Seating begins at 7 p.m. A catered reception will be hosted afterwards at the Lincoln Park parish, 1037 W. Armitage Avenue. $10 donation requested. For more information, call 773-528-6650. Extra parking will be available.
Anderson performance art slated for April 16
BY SHEILA SWANN
THE RELUCTANT CRITIC
With illusion and delusion as her inspiration, vanguard artist Laurie Anderson fuses together music, video, and performance to create a poetic and political portrait of contemporary American culture. Her new work, titled Homeland, examines 21st-century America’s obsessions with security, privacy, technology, freedom, and fear. The Museum of Contemporary Art , Chicago, and the Harris Theater present Laurie Anderson: Homeland, Wednesday, April 16, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, marking the first collaboration between the MCA and the Harris Theater.
A native of Illinois, Anderson was born in Glen Ellyn and graduated from Glenbard West High School. Known as one of this era’s most prolific artists, Anderson is a performance artist, visual artist, poet, musician, composer, singer, inventor, and innovator. Situated somewhere between epic poem and mixed media concert, Homeland is, as Anderson describes, her most sophisticated and ambitious personal and political undertaking to date.
Built on the foundation of groove electronics, Homeland’s music features Anderson’s latest work with Tuvan throat singers and new software systems. Anderson performs vocals, violin, and keyboards, and is joined on stage by Jamshied Sharifi (keyboards), Skuli Sverrisson (guitar/bass), and Eyvind Kang (viola), who employ their improvisational skill to make each performance unique. Invoking a surreal atmosphere, Anderson delivers her script, passing her voice through electronic filters, mixing it with digital rhythms and the sounds of her own distinctive and hypnotic violin playing.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Chicago, and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park present Laurie Anderson’s Homeland, Wednesday, April 16, 7:30 pm, at the Harris Theater, 205 East Randolph Drive.
Schlitz returns to the North Side on 75th Anniversary of Prohibition
BY RONALD ROENIGK
PUBLISHER
“The beer that made Milwaukee famous” is now making select locations on Chicago’s North Side famous with the special delivery Monday of the first batch of the iconic brand on the 75th anniversary of it’s return to Chicago following the repeal of Prohibition.
“It was my father’s first beer brand once Prohibition was lifted,” said Jack Glunz, president of the 120-year-old Louis Glunz Beer, Inc., the distributor of Schlitz. When it arrived by train that day “my dad decided to serve it right there at the station,” said Glunz.
Indeed, just as Louis Glunz II tapped his first keg of Schlitz Beer back on April 7, 1933, three generations of Glunz’s were on hand Monday at Cardinal Liquors, 4905 N. Lincoln Ave. for the opening of the first bottle of Schlitz Beer. The Glunz family first supplied Schlitz for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. But it was the 1.5 million barrels of beer that was consumed nationwide in a 24-hour period after the Volsted Act that got Schlitz recognized in Chicago again. That was the official beginning of the end of Prohibition.
Pabst Brewing is re-launching Schlitz classic 1960s formula in long neck brown bottle, a product that at its peak reached second in market share nationwide behind only Budweiser.
The first cases of beer were rolled off a restored horse-drawn “Hoosier Beer Wagon” that must have had folks in their cars on Lincoln Ave. doing a double take as it pulled into the liquor store’s parking lot. “We’re very excited to have Schlitz in our store,” said Chris Melidones, owner of Cardinal Liquors. “We got only 10 cases today and I bet it will be all gone by 5 PM.”
Other North Side locations that were expected to have the beer on hand include The Chicago Brauhaus, Schuba’s Tavern, Southport Lanes, 1000 Liquors, Sheffield’s Bar, the Long Room, Simon’s Tavern, Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Glunz Bavarian Tavern, and the House of Glunz.
Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company was based in Milwaukee and was considered the archetype of working-class beers. It was founded in 1850 but found it’s first success after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 when Schlitz donated thousands of barrels of water and beer to Chicago, which had lost most of it’s breweries. Schlitz ultimately opened distribution points in Chicago and built dozens of tied-houses as part of a franchise concept, most with concrete relief of the Schlitz logo embedded in the exterior brickwork, Schuba’s at Belmont and Southport avenues being one example.
Eteri Andjaparidze to perform
Eteri Andjaparidze, professor of piano and artistic director of AmerKlavier Musical Offering, will perform a recital at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 at the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W Belden Ave. The concert, In Memoriam, is dedicated to great artists’ anniversaries, including the 80th birthday of tenor Zurab Andjaparidze, the 120th birthday of pianist and teacher Heinrich Neuhaus and 70 years since the death of bass Fyodor Chaliapin.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see Andjaparidze in recital, DePaul musicians say. The concert is free and open to the public.
Recycle drop-off April 19
Alderman Gene Schulter (47th), in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, invite people to participate in a recycling drop off event on Saturday, April 19 at DeVry University, 3300 N. Campbell Avenue between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
INSIDE: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Addressing the syringe reuse problem in healthcare
On behalf of the millions of patients who receive injections for anesthesia, pain management, and other health reasons each year, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists applauds the efforts of the Centers for Disease Control, Nevada State Department of Health, lawmakers, and the media to finally expose and correct the frightening infection control problem caused by contaminated syringes, needles, and medication vials that was brought into the light by the recent hepatitis C outbreak in Nevada. As the professional association representing more than 37,000 nurse anesthetists who administer 30 million anesthetics each year, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists looks forward to working closely with these organizations and other healthcare associations and societies to ensure patient safety across the nation.
It is important for the public to know that most healthcare professionals have their patients’ best interests-rather than the bottom line-at heart, and to that end adhere to accepted infection control standards and guidelines when injecting anesthetic drugs or medications.
Unfortunately, and for reasons yet to be determined, there are still some healthcare professionals, including nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists, who put their patients in harm’s way through poor infection control practices when applying this most basic of medical/nursing skills.
As has been reported in the media, this issue goes beyond provider specialty, title, and credentials. In anesthesia alone, there have been several high-profile cases of improper use of needles/syringes/medication vials over the last six months that put many patients at risk.
Simply stated, reusing needles and syringes, and using medication vials in an unsafe and inappropriate manner, is inexcusable and cannot be tolerated. If there are any gray areas with regard to proper usage of needles, syringes and medication vials, then those gray areas must be identified and made black and white. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists is committed to working with the CDC and other groups to put an end to such needless, tragic situations as those in Nevada, New York, and Indiana.
It is disappointing that some of our physician colleagues have weighed in on the Nevada situation involving nurse anesthetists by suggesting on websites and talk shows that doctors never reuse syringes or improperly use medication vials and that only nurses and other healthcare providers do. While the evidence in state health department reports and the media clearly indicates that reuse of syringes and improper use of vials are not uncommon practices among anesthesiologists, the AANA believes the focus of our efforts should be on fixing the problem rather than fixing blame.
If we are to solve this problem and regain the public trust, then denial and finger pointing need to stop and healthcare professionals must work together for the public good.
Patients should never have to fear that the injection they received for the purpose of supporting their health or promoting their healing might actually make them sicker due to a dirty needle/syringe or tainted vial of medication. The AANA will work tirelessly with the CDC and other interested organizations to achieve this outcome.
Wanda Wilson, President
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Park Ridge
Fire department gets new helicopter
A new Chicago Fire Department helicopter equipped with digital audio and video equipment was unveiled last week.
The helicopter on display last week is a Bell model 412EP Twin engine aircraft. At one time, a fire department helicopter was primarily a rescue aircraft, used to place divers and extract victims from water emergencies.
Over the years, however, with the advent of modern video and radio systems, the Fire Helicopter has become an extremely valuable tool for command and control in emergencies.
The audio and video capabilities allow those on board to see in broadcast quality what is going on at an emergency scene, and the images can now be shared immediately with the command center and other agencies.
The pictures can be of normal optical range or can be switched to heat sensing infra red to enable emergency personnel to see through smoke and haze and get detailed information on the origin and spread of fire.
This same technology can be used to spot people using body heat in non fire situations.
The new direct link “Qwikview” camera ground link system was purchased for $205,000 with a federal grant through the Urban Area Security Initiative program.
The helicopter also has the latest in GPS navigation, digital on board video recorders, ultra high power “night sun” search light and radios to cover a broad range of agencies in the Midwest area.
“A big part of our responsibility in city government is to keep Chicagoans safe and secure and to be as prepared as we can be to manage emergency situations,” Mayor Richard Daley said in remarks delivered at Chicago Fire and Police Aviation headquarters, 3954 E. Freeman Dr.
“We are proud of the fact that, when it comes to emergency preparedness, Chicago has a history of innovation,” he said.
“We share the technology and the equipment you see here today with other communities as part of our regional commitment to safety and security,” Daley said.
Also on display was the Fire Department’s new generation command van. It is small enough to navigate side streets but carries enough high-tech equipment to provide communications and command for the largest events.
History Museum to screen films
The Chicago History Museum’s documentary film series, Project Sunday, will feature “King Corn” on Sunday, April 13.
This 90-minute film follows two recent college graduates as they discover the source of America’s food – from planting it to the dinner table.
On Sunday, May 4, “Screaming Queens,” a 60-minute film exploring the transgender community as they began a human rights struggle in 1966 against routine police harassment that they say still continues today.
Project Sunday films begin at 1:30 p.m. and are free with museum admission. The “Screaming Queens” film is presented in advance of the related Out at CHM program on Thursday, May 8. Screaming Queens and Lavender Panthers: A History of Transgender Activism invites activist and transgender expert, Susan Stryker, as she looks at the history of transgender activism in Chicago and throughout the nation. Tickets are $12/$10 Museum members. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.
Steppenwolf playwright wins Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is very proud to announce the Pulitzer Prize Board has awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama to Steppenwolf ensemble member Tracy Letts’ play “August: Osage County.”
“August: Osage County,” a “darkly funny family drama” directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Anna Shapiro, is currently enjoying an open engagement on Broadway, following its sold-out run at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2007.
When their patriarch vanishes, the Weston clan must return to their three-story home in rural Oklahoma to get to the heart of the matter. Letts paints a vivid portrait of a Midwestern family at critical turning point.
Tracy Letts became a Steppenwolf ensemble member in 2002 and is an artistic associate. He is the author of “Man from Nebraska,” which was produced at Steppenwolf in 2003 and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize; “Killer Joe,” which has been produced in Chicago, London and New York; and “Bug,” which has played in New York, Chicago and London. His newest play, “Superior Donuts,” will have its premiere at Steppenwolf in June.
“August: Osage County” opened on Broadway Tuesday, December 4, 2007. The play was voted #1 play of the year by Time, The Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, and TimeOut New York. Charles Isherwood of the New York Times called it “the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years.”
The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is presented annually to a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.
Detective novel selected for One Book, One Chicago
Chicago-born Raymond Chandler’s novel, “The Long Goodbye,” will be the 14th selection for Chicago’s citywide book club, One Book, One Chicago.
“One Book, One Chicago has been a great success and has come to be viewed as the national model for creating similar programs. We look at it as a way to bring people together in all our neighborhoods and to foster the kind of communication that can only help make Chicago a better place to live,” Mayor Richard Daley said in remarks at the Budlong Woods branch Library, 5630 N. Lincoln Ave.
“We hope Chicagoans will enjoy this American classic about a fast talking, hard nosed private detective who finds himself caught in a complex story filled with characters who are trapped between the life they have, and the life they want,” said Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey.
Raymond Chandler is widely accepted as a master stylist who transformed 20th century detective fiction. “The Long Goodbye”, a crime drama that allows readers a glimpse into life in the affluent mansions and gritty streets of Los Angeles during the age of classic crime fiction features Chandler’s great creation, the private detective Phillip Marlowe. Marlowe finds himself in constant conflict with both law enforcement and criminal elements while following his own code of honor and trying to solve a case.
One Book, One Chicago began in the fall of 2001, to encourage all Chicagoans to read the same book at the same time, and discuss a great piece of literature with friends and neighbors.
Chicago Public Library librarians have created resource guides and will conduct book discussions across the city. Many Chicagoans are expected to participate in book discussion groups, lectures, dramatic readings and cultural events.
Mayor Daley also announced the results of a comprehensive study on the Chicago Public Library’s 2007 Summer Reading Program. Nearly 2,000 Summer Reading Program participants and their parents were surveyed about their level of interest and satisfaction with the Summer Reading Program. The results indicate the Chicago Public Library program is steadily growing, highly valued by the community, and both children and parents feel strongly that participation improves reading skills and overall academic performance.
The 2007 Summer Reading Program, City of Big Readers, set new records for the 30 year old initiative, with 44,560 children reading 1.02 million books. The survey indicates that 95 percent of parents say they will enroll their child in the 2008 Summer Reading Program. Participants read an average of 23 books, an increase from an average of 20 in 2006.
One Book, One Chicago can be experienced in virtually every Chicago neighborhood throughout April. This includes book discussions, film screenings, lectures, and panel discussions.
The Outfit Collective, a group of Chicago area crime fiction authors including Sean Chercover, Libby Hellmann, Sara Paretsky, Marcus Sakey, Kevin Guilfoile, Barbara D’Amato, and Michael Allen Dymmoch, will take part in an online dialogue about The Long Goodbye and Raymond Chandler’s influence on the crime -genre at their blog
The Music Box Theatre will be celebrating Chandler’s work with a weekend matinee series throughout the month of April. Chicagoans will have the opportunity to see classic crime noir films on the big screen, with screenplays written by Chandler or based on his novels, such as: “The Big Sleep,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; “The Long Goodbye,” directed by Robert Altman; “Murder, My Sweet,” based on the novel “Farewell, My Lovely” and “The Blue Dahlia.”
Nearly 2,000 copies of “The Long Goodbye” and dozens of DVDs are available at Chicago Public Library locations. At 6 Chicago Public Library branches, patrons can check out a Book Club in a Bag which contains 8 copies of the novel and resource guides.
Previous One Book, One Chicago selections have been “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “My Antonia” by Willa Cather, “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, “The Coast of Chicago” by Stuart Dybek, “In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez, “The Ox-Bow Incident” by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin and “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller.
Children’s Memorial backs federal legislation
In an unprecedented step, nine of the nation’s leading pediatric medical research institutions, including Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park have come together to support a new approach to the continued funding of federal support for pediatric research. This situation has been described as a crisis in terms of finding cures for children’s diseases and averting the staggering financial burden on an already stressed U.S. health care system, as ill children become even sicker adults.
The Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research, which has the support of all the major pediatric research societies, represents leading children’s research hospitals across the U.S., from Boston to Los Angeles. Coalition leaders say that while children represent 20 percent of the U.S. population, only five percent of the funding from the National Institutes of Health is allocated for research on pediatric diseases. They are lining up behind a bill introduced last week by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) that would not only authorize increased funding, but also create a new structure to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of pediatric disease research.
“The funding situation is unacceptable for today, and tomorrow,” said Dr. Thomas Green, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Memorial Hospital. “Currently there simply isn’t enough funding to find cures and better therapies for children who are suffering right now. In addition, when you consider the many serious, life-threatening health conditions that affect millions of adults, like heart disease and diabetes, which have their roots in childhood, you realize that without a concerted focus on pediatric research today, the costs of health care in the future will be enormous.”
Dr. David Williams, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine at Children’s Hospital Boston, a spokesperson for the Coalition, also noted that “The consequences of inaction are clear – we see them already today, as children continue to suffer and bright and talented young researchers are discouraged from entering careers in pediatrics because of a lack of funding for their work. But we can also envision the consequences of investment – not only helping ill children, but also making discoveries that will help advance adult health, particularly adult diseases with genetic components.”
The bipartisan Pediatric Research Center Establishment Act introduced by Senators Brown and Bond will help address this situation by amending Title IV of the Public Health Service Act to authorize NIH to establish up to 20 pediatric research consortia, each funded by a five-year grant of up to $2.5 million per year. Each individual consortium will be a multi-institution network with one leading pediatric medical center at the hub, reaching out to and working with numerous other children’s hospitals and health organizations to conduct basic and translational pediatric research. This model will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of NIH resources that are allocated, as well as creating a wider pool for recruitment of patients for the clinical trials that will be conducted. There will also be collaboration and sharing of results among the various consortia, putting an intense focus on pediatric research and creating lines of communication across the entire U.S. pediatric research community for the
first time.
“Childhood diseases are traumatic to the whole family,” Senator Brown said. “But we aren’t doing enough to prevent diseases and treat childhood conditions. This bill would better coordinate pediatric research that will help generations of children overcome numerous devastating diseases and conditions.”
Senator Bond noted that “Investing in pediatric research is necessary to continue the critical advances we have made in children’s health care. This bill means better health and health care for all children and will give hope to the doctors, nurses, and families who care for critically ill children.”
The impact of this legislation would be to highly focus the priority status of pediatric research inside the NIH, said Dr. Green. “That’s why this new legislation is so important and why it enjoys such broad support among pediatric institutions and all the major pediatric research societies”
The pediatric research institutions in the coalition supporting the legislation are: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Children’s Hospital Boston; Childrens Hospital Los Angeles; the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; the University of Colorado Denver and the Children’s Hospital; St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine; C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan; Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and Children’s Memorial Medical Center, Chicago.
Lincoln Park dentist to work as teacher
Brazilian native Dr. Regina Romero of Lincoln Park enjoys the elegance and fire of Latin dancing as her favorite hobby — “salsa, meringue, bachata, you name it.”
Her second favorite hobby is a little more surprising: bowling. “I love it, and I can do it with my family,” she noted. “And both of those hobbies require good footwork.”
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry Department of Endodontics recently scored a strike by acquiring the services of Dr. Romero as a faculty member. “I’m involved in teaching undergrads, postgrads, and International Dental Degree Program participants,” she said.
Dr. Romero wants her students “to understand the whole picture of root canal treatment, from history, to diagnosis, to treatment and follow-up,” she said. “I want to teach them how to see patients as a whole and be able to associate whatever the patient’s problem is to the whole picture—not only endodontics but periodontics and restorative, too. If you just focus on just one aspect, that often is not the best approach, so I want to integrate various parts of the curriculum.”
She welcomes the opportunity to provide research guidance to students. “Whatever a student’s needs are, I would like to be able to give him or her guidance myself, or be able to direct him or her to a different faculty member where appropriate,” Dr. Romero said. “We’ll be able to work as a team and integrate with different labs in the College, or even a different College in the University.”
Dr. Romero earned her DDS at Bahia Federal University in Salvador, Brazil in 1996, and completed a postgraduate program in Endodontics there in 2000 before coming to the United States. She earned her master’s degree in Oral Sciences from the UIC College of Dentistry in 2004 and began the PhD program, but took a leave of absence from the PhD track to earn an American Certificate in Endodontics from the College
in 2007.
Doctor battles cancer
In August of 2005, Dr. F. Bebawy received what he then thought of as “a death sentence” following a routine colonoscopy.
During the test, his doctor found several polyps and a swollen upper colon. Upon further testing, Bebawy said a malignant tumor was discovered, leading to surgical removal and exploration of the cancer’s possible spread throughout his abdomen. To ensure that all the cancerous tissue was removed—right down to the last cell—George Salti, MD, director of surgical oncology at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, a 551-bed hospital at 836 W. Wellington Avenue, added an unusual element to Bebawy’s surgical treatment—Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
After surgically removing cancerous tissue, Dr. Salti applied the treatment, heated chemotherapy agents that attack any remaining cancer cells in the abdomen. By destroying any cancerous cells that may be left behind, Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy results in improved quality of life and longevity for patients. These chemical agents are circulated between the abdomen and a perfusion pump for a less invasive application. Advocate Illinois Masonic is one of only a few hospitals that offer this procedure throughout the U.S.
Dr. Salti said Bebawy was a perfect candidate for the treatment. He said other potential candidates include those with cancer spread from the appendix, colon, stomach or ovaries, and patients with sarcoma or mesothelioma.
“The infusion of chemotherapy eradicated anything that may have been left behind in one fell swoop,” Bebawy said. “It was at the same time, on the same table as my surgery—the infusion was part of the procedure—so I didn’t have to undergo additional treatment. It hit it all at once, flushing from the inside.”
Since his surgery and treatment in October 2005, Bebawy said he has been “free and clear” of any sign of the disease.
Hospital offers April health programs
Saint Joseph Hospital, 2900 N. Lake Shore Drive, will offer the following health programs in April. Programs will be held in the hospital’s Boikan Conference Center, second floor, unless noted otherwise. Registration is required for events by calling 877-RES-INFO (877-737-4636) unless noted differently.
The six-week program titled Qigong for Stress Reduction and Wellness will be held on Mondays from April 7 through May 12 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Qigong (Chi Gung) is the ancient Chinese art of meditation, postures and flowing movements designed to balance “Qi”(Chi) or vital life force. Join Stephen Bonzak, licensed professional counselor certified to teach Soaring Crane Qigong. Class will be held in the hospital’s Employee Fitness Center on the lower level. There is a $70 fee. Registration and payment are required by Friday, March 28.
A healthy heart screening will be held Saturday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to noon, for individuals to find out their risk factor profile for heart disease. This screening includes a full cholesterol test (HDL, LDL, triglycerides), fasting blood sugar, an electrocardiogram (12-lead EKG), blood pressure screening and heart risk appraisal. Fasting is required 12 hours before the cholesterol screening. A cardiologist, a dietitian and an exercise physiologist will review test results and provide information about a heart-healthy lifestyle on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. There is a $30 fee and registration is required.
A free program titled “The New American Plate” will be held Wednesday, April 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Whole Foods Market, 3640 N. Halsted St. Studies have shown that what we eat may help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and other chronic health problems. In co-sponsorship with Whole Foods Market, the hospital’s chief clinical dietitian Leslee Carver will discuss “The New American Plate” and will give a 10-year update by the World Cancer Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research. A tasting and a tour will follow the lecture. Registration is required and parking is available at Whole Foods.
A free lecture titled Healthy Heart – Healthy Life will be given Thursday, April 17, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. With heart disease being the number one killer, it is never too late to change nutrition choices for a healthy heart and a quality life. Registered dietitian Maggie Wycklendt will review healthy eating patterns followed by a presentation about heart healthy foods and cooking methods. Registration is required.
A certified CPR/First Aid”course will be conducted on Fridays, April 18 and 25, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the Manor Building, 2913 N. Commonwealth. This certification course offers infant, child and adult CPR, first aid and AED instruction. Each participant will receive an instruction book and CD-ROM. Attendance at all sessions as well as successful completion of a post-test is required for certification. This course meets the usual requirements for daycare workers and nannies. There is an $85 fee. Registration is required by calling Ruth Koloms-Gross, R.N., at 773-665-3605.
A one-time class on cardiopulmonary resuscitation for infants and children will be conducted Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Manor Building, 2913 N. Commonwealth Ave. Participants will learn how to perform life-saving techniques on newborns and children up to eight-years-of-age. There is a $25 fee. Registration is required by calling Ruth Koloms-Gross, R.N., at 773-665-3605.
Classes titled Prepared Childbirth will be offered to prepare women and their partners for the childbirth experience, including Cesarean delivery. Breathing and relaxation techniques as well as newborn care will be discussed. There are three options for classes. One option is weekend classes on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There is either a $65 or $75 fee, pending childbirth delivery at Saint Joseph Hospital or elsewhere. The second option is a series of five sessions on Tuesdays starting April 29, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There is either a $50 or $65 fee, pending childbirth delivery at Saint Joseph Hospital or elsewhere. The third option is an express, one-day class on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This class is a condensed version of the five-week series and is designed for expectant parents who don’t have the time to take a full class. Lunch and a tour of the Family Birthplace are provided. There is a $100 fee per family for this one-day class. All childbirth-related classes will be held in the Manor Building, 2913 N. Commonwealth Ave. Registration is required by calling Ruth Koloms-Gross, R.N., at 773-665-3605.
A free balance and fall prevention screening will be offered Monday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Saint Joseph Rehabilitation & Fitness Center, 1525 W. Belmont Ave. Physical therapist Andy Stees will assess participants’ risk for falling, determine if they could benefit from physical therapy intervention and give fall prevention guidelines for the home. Registration is required by Monday, April 14.
A free lecture titled Traditional vs. New Alternatives in Hip Replacement Surgery will be held Wednesday, April 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Hallmark, 2960 N. Lake Shore Dr. Orthopedic surgeon Scott Rubenstein, M.D., will discuss hip replacement surgery, the various alternatives, follow-up therapies and possible risk factors. A complimentary reception and valet parking will be provided. Registration is required by Wednesday, April 23.
Global futurism focus of DePaul conference
Area leaders in business, community organizing and education are invited to explore globalization, technology and complexity in a conversation that kicks off with international futurist and trend researcher Elliott Masie on Friday, April 25, at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd.
The conference will explore how to best prepare adults for global citizenship through collaborative relationships among business, higher education and community organizations. Masie will explore how to prepare for an increasingly complex society, workplace and world; new competencies for global citizenship; how to build better collaborative relationships between business, higher education and community organizations locally and internationally; and how to be part of the solution.
The program continues the efforts of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to engage Chicago’s leaders and citizens in a broad discussion about the future in a fast-paced, complex global arena. The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul and a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ study group, will open the conference.
“If we don’t know what it means to be global citizens and aren’t preparing our students to be global citizens, then we’re not adequately preparing for the future,” said Pamela Meyer, associate director of the Center to Advance Education for Adults in DePaul’s School for New Learning, which is organizing the event. The center engages diverse communities to improve adult education practices by providing a venue for researchers and practitioners to study the most effective and imaginative strategies for curriculum, teaching and mentoring of adults.
The daylong interactive conference also includes a panel discussion on global citizenship and the education of adults featuring a number of high-profile participants such as Willem Schiff, consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Nadalie Bosse, executive vice president of enterprise services at Tellabs and former senior vice president of VeriSign.
In addition, there will be a discussion and book signing by Dan Pink, author of “A Whole New Mind,” which charts the rise of right-brain thinking in modern economies and explains the six abilities individuals and organizations must master in an outsourced and automated world. Pink is a contributing editor at Wired magazine, where he has written about topics ranging from grassroots solar power to the rise of Wikipedia to the economics of creativity. He served as chief speechwriter to former Vice President Al Gore from 1995 to 1997.
There will also be a number of collaborative conversations on emerging trends, reports and facilitated conversations on current adult learning research and best practices, and networking opportunities.
Meyer hopes to bring together international and national leaders in business, community organizing and education at the conference. Seating is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to register early.
The cost to attend the conference, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the DePaul Conference Center, is $175 per person. For more information, call (312) 362-6508.
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