North Side Leaders Discuss Obama’s Primary Victory
By Peter von Buol
Special to Inside
Despite a long, and sometimes bitter Democratic presidential primary campaign in which U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) defeated fellow U.S. Senator Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY), local Democrats say they are energized by Obama’s victory.
“There’s so much interest and excitement about Sen. Obama’s candidacy since he first announced [he was running for president] in 2007. Regardless of your political persuasion, his candidacy will highlight Illinois and Chicago,” said Ald. Vi Daley (43rd).
According to Daley, both Obama and Clinton were strong candidates and share many similarities.
“The differences between Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama’s campaigns were really minimal in the big political picture. They each had their strengths and their constituents, but I believe the Democrats and Independents will forge a cohesive campaign to move this nation forward regardless of personal or political affiliations. Sen. Obama will work hard to appeal to all voters and represent all of America,” said Daley to Inside.
One of Daley’s colleagues in the city council, Ald. Gene Schulter (47th), who was an early supporter of Obama, told Inside he believes Obama is the type of candidate who only comes along once every few generations.
“For the first time in generations, we will have a candidate who will truly be a breath of fresh air on the national political scene. Often times, at this juncture, the two parties have candidates who are pretty similar. Obama is bright, hardworking, and understands the issues. He understands the importance of federally-funded government programs and how they impact people at the local level,” said Schulter.
Schulter told Inside he believes that if Obama is elected U.S. President, his presence in the White House will help Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.
It will speak volumes to those who are looking at Chicago in terms of the Olympics. This will bring the dollars we need to solve our transportation issues and will make us competitive with Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. A person representing us in the White House will be really helpful to us in securing the Olympics,” said Schulter.
State Rep. John Fritchey, who entered Springfield’s General Assembly at the same time as Obama and was another early supporter of the senator, said he believes its Obama’s character that makes him stand out on the national scene.
“Knowing the character and the skills that he possesses has made it easy for me to enthusiastically support his candidacy. Nationally, his candidacy obviously carries with it importance and historical ramifications, but closer to home, he has been critical to energizing Illinoisians to get [them] engaged in the process at a time when they would otherwise be understandably weary of politics,” said Fritchey.
Interestingly, according to Kimberly Walz, who serves as chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, while Obama’s appeal among young voters has been well documented, she said he also energized older voters who had not been participating in the political process.
“There is a perception Obama has energized the young voters but a lot of older are finally involved. They are knocking on doors, making phone calls and giving money! It’s so exciting that they are doing that!” said Walz, who is a former president and one of the founders of the Democratic Party’s Young Chicago Lakefront organization.
Not all Chicago Democrats are pleased with Obama’s victory. Despite Obama’s ties to Chicago, North Side political activist Peter Zechenko said he believes Clinton would have actually been the better choice for the Democratic Party.
“I’ve honestly felt all along that Mrs. Clinton was the better candidate, for her experience, for her centrism, for her genuine personal strength. And a Clinton-Obama ticket -- far more practicable than Obama-Clinton. [While] Obama is totally compatible with my left-wing political views, but that means he’ll have more difficulty with the right; also, he’s too green -- too controllable by others -- and that won’t change soon. He’s simply not ready. I also am not happy with his Machine political provenance, but then is there any other way to bootstrap oneself in the political world today?” said Zelchenko.
One local Republican leader agrees with Schulter’s assessment that the upcoming general election will be the most important election in decades but he disagrees with the alderman’s choice for president and supports his own party’s pending nominee, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
“This election will be the most important to America as any of the last 40 years. Do we want Jimmy Carter’s second term for the next four years? Government control versus freedom of choice? Socialism vs. Capitalism? Government has proven it can’t run things like the U.S. Senate Dining Room, how can we ever expect them to be able to operate a nationalized [rationed] health care [system],” said Kent Griffiths, a Lincoln Park resident who served as Chicago chairman of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Alderman Daley disagrees with Griffiths and said she believes an Obama presidency will bring about changes that will be positive for the United States.
“It will be an obvious change of direction and sensibility from the nation’s highest office. I believe there will be a change of priorities. There are many challenges in the world. Sen. Obama represents a change in the direction on the national and international scene that will help strengthen our nation and our communities. He represents a change in our approach to war, our approach to the economy and our approach to the advancement of the United States,” Daley told Inside.
Conservative political radio commentator and consultant Dan Proft, who appears on WLS-AM 890, told Inside he believes Obama’s message of “change” has served as a smokescreen for what he intends to do if he becomes president.
“Change could be perhaps the most meaningless word in politics. Change is inevitable, it needs not an agent! The real question is, what does Obama seek to change and by what means will he endeavor to change that which he seeks to change? Obama has been a cliché machine on purpose. He does not want to get into specifics because that turns him into just another politician. Instead he and has campaign have recognized, for many, he is a Rorschach ink blot-people see in him what they want to see-and thus all Obama has to do for political expediency is to be against what they’re against (e.g. people dying in Iraq, Big Oil companies, health insurance companies, etc.),” Proft told Inside.
Armitage Brown Line station reopens
By Wayne Gunn
Special to Inside
The latest renovated El Station on CTA’s third most used route, the Brown Line, was officially opened Friday, June 6, by Alderman Vi Daley (43rd) and CTA president, Ron Huberman, in the station’s spacious entrance at Armitage and Sheffield Avenues. In 2007, the Armitage station ridership exceeded one million riders, officials said.
“The new station now provides the space and amenities needed for the growing demand for service in the community,” said CTA President Ron Huberman. “In keeping with the community it serves, the exterior of the station was preserved. The interior has all of the modern amenities within the historic appearance.” The station opened June 5. A ceremony was held Friday June 6.
“We are delighted that the Armitage station has maintained service during most of the construction process, and are pleased with the techniques CTA used that opened this station 18 months before originally expected. This is a station the entire ward can be proud of.” said Alderman Daley.
Major improvements to Armitage include restoration of the original brick and terra cotta on the station’s exterior, longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains, elevators and accessible turnstiles, wider stairways to improve platform access, more turnstiles to ease congestion, and additional exits and entrances to improve the flow of customer traffic.
Of note, the station features an original glass and ceramic tile mural on the north wall inside the station created by local artist Jonathan Gitelson. The piece, entitled “Chicago ‘EL’ Stories,” comprises 45 photographs depicting memories that have shaped the lives of customers who use the station.
New high school proposed
A community meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 in the Alcott Elementary School Auditorium, 2625 N. Orchard St., to discuss the new “Proposed Alcott High School.”
The meeting is set to include neighbors and Chicago Public Schools officials, according to Ken Feldbein of the Wrightwood Neighbors Association.
Louisa May Alcott School confirmed the meeting will be taking place, but no official there or at the Chicago Public School’s press office was available before deadline to provide more details.
For more information, call the school at 773-534-5460. Alcott School is a K-8 school which has won kudos for having a Chinese Language program for youngsters. The principal is David Domovic, according to the school website.
Townhome plans advance at Columbus Hospital site
Parking to be underground
By Carrie Jackson
Special to Inside
The area surrounding the former Columbus Hospital site, near Deming Avenue and St. James Place, is getting closer to its makeover date.
While the hospital has been closed since 2001, architects and developers had been trying to decide how to best utilize the space, which sits on a lot of prime Lincoln Park real estate near Diversey Harbor.
The revised project, which has received approval from the city, calls for an underground parking garage and a series of townhomes.
“The original plan was to rehab the parking garage and the high-rise on St. James, but now all the parking will be underground,” said Chuck Eastwood, chief of staff of the 43rd ward. “New townhomes will be going up on the 400 block of Deming and St. James.”
A building that houses a temporary sales center will be demolished later this summer, but the current garage won’t come down until the end of the year.
According to Eastwood, they won’t start laying the foundation for the new structures until all the existing buildings are gone, so construction isn’t expected to begin for many more months.
In a neighborhood flier, 43rd ward Ald. Vi Daley wrote that the project to replace the hospital has recently been approved by the city.
“They will be demolishing the garage on Deming and the existing high rise on St. James,” she writes. “These will be replaced with townhomes along Deming and St. James and all the parking will be underground.”
Columbus Hospital, 2520 N. Lakeview Ave., closed after serving its neighbors for 97 years, making it another unfortunate victim of rising demand for real estate and competition in the health care industry.
The plans surround the historic St. Francis X. Cabrini chapel which was previously part of the hospital. Development plans at the site have gone through several phases and changes over the years.
Office of Planning and Development spokesperson Peter Scales could not be reached for comment.
Bank building in Lincoln Park to become theater
By Tracy Yoshida Gruen
Special to Inside
Plans are in the works to transform the historic Fullerton Bank building at 1425 W. Fullerton into Lincoln Park Theater, a first-class, intimate performance venue.
The Landmark Bank building was built in the 1920s and in addition to housing a bank, the building has also been used as a burial garment factory, offices, antique shop and for retail space. In the past, developers considered it for conversion into residential units.
“Bank buildings are not really built to be accessible to the public,” said Walter Stearns, the executive director of the theater that is slated to open in the fall of 2009. “One of the chief challenges is to make it more accessible and open.”
Stearns said their goal is to make the building more “warm and inviting,” to fit with the atmosphere of the theater.
The Lincoln Park Theater will be a modern performance theater that will feature a 299-seat auditorium. It is being designed by John Morris, who previously designed the well-known Steppenwolf and the Lookingglass Theatres.
The building was purchased for $3 million and the conversion will cost between $3 million to $6 million. It is run by non-profit entity that financed by a group of individual donors who are “committed to establishing quality performance venues within the community.”
The major anchor of the new theater will be the award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre, of which Stearns is the artistic director. Stearns said Porchlight has been at the Theater Building Chicago for 10 years and they are “busting at the seams,” in need of more space.
Stearns said that other tenants have expressed interest in being located in the building, such as a children’s theater, dance group and possibly a film-related group. Stearns said they will be “complimentary but not competitive performers.”
The theater at about 18,000 square feet will provide an intimate setting between the actors and the theater-goers. There will only be 10 rows of audience seating.
The theater will offer state of the art acoustics and sound support system, placing it among the premiere venues to experience music and vocal performance in Chicago. There will be a rehearsal space which will double as an art gallery, showcasing the work of local artists. Additionally, there will be administrative space for the resident companies in the lower level of the theatre. A parking lot will adjoin the property.
Preliminary drawings have been completed and they are in the process of interviewing contractors and subcontractors for the project.
Alderman Scott Waguespack of the 32nd Ward said in a statement, “The Porchlight Music Theatre will not only preserve the architectural history of the 32nd Ward, but will also offer an exceptional setting for theatrical performance. I have no doubt that our entire community will benefit from this state-of-the-art theatre.”
Stearns believes the new theatre will revitalize the historic bank building that has kind of faded into the background recently and benefit the neighborhood as well.
Fines increase for abusers of disability parking
Secretary of State Jesse White has alerted drivers that as of June 1 people who repeatedly violate the disability parking program will face increased fines of up to $1,000.
White initiated the new law (PA 95-0430) which says those caught using disability parking placards or disability license plates to park illegally in spaces for people with disabilities will face fines of $750 for their second offense and $1,000 for their third or subsequent offense.
Violators may also have his or her driving privileges, as well as the disability license plates or placard, suspended or revoked.
“It is unbelievable that people without disabilities would time and time again abuse this important program and take parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities,” White said. “The increased fines and suspensions will send a message that if you continue to violate the program you will pay the price financially as well as personally.”
The law also clarifies that placards are not transferable and the authorized holder must be present entering or exiting the vehicle at the time the privileges are being used.
The law also allows for 50 percent of each fine collected to be distributed to the law enforcement agency or agencies that issued the citation or made the arrest, including the Secretary of State’s Department of Police. Half of that fine will go into the Secretary of State Police Services Fund.
The previous fine was $500 and did not increase regardless of the number of offenses.
There are currently over 560,000 permanent disability placards and over 113,000 disability plates in use in Illinois.
Chef to deliver DePaul commencement
Fresh from winning the National Restaurant Association’s Gold Plate Award for operating the “best independent restaurant in the country,” Chicago chef and restaurateur Charlie Trotter will receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address at DePaul University’s College of Commerce graduation ceremony June 15. Trotter was chosen for the honor by DePaul’s business school for his entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
In addition to his flagship restaurant and gourmet retail shop near DePaul’s campus in Lincoln Park, Trotter operates restaurants in Las Vegas and Los Cabos, Mexico. He is the author of 14 cookbooks, the subject of three management books, and the host of a PBS television cooking series. Trotter has raised more than $2 million in scholarships for students attending culinary institutes, $1.5 million for the American Cancer Society and $200,000 for the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
All of the proceeds for his 1999 book, “Lessons in Excellence,” are donated to Providence-St. Mel’s High School on Chicago’s West Side. He also volunteers as an advisory board member for the DePaul’s School of Education. DePaul’s College of Commerce commencement begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Allstate Arena, in Rosemont on June 15. A live Web cast will be posted online.
Child hit by car near zoo
A girl, 9, was hit by a car Thursday, June 5 at 2001 N. Clark Street at 3:45 p.m.
The child was hit by the vehicle the farm exhibition at the zoo.
She was treated and released at Children’s Memorial Hospital.
Officer charged in fatal Bucktown crash
Following an extensive investigation involving an independent accident reconstruction expert, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to bring additional charges against Chicago Police Officer John Ardelean in an accident that claimed two lives last November.
The reexamination of the evidence in the case against Ardelean was supervised by First Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Milan. Initially, the case was charged as a misdemeanor by Chicago Police. Later, it was upgraded to felony charges after a review by the State’s Attorney’s office.
Ardelean was not given a Breathalyzer until approximately seven hours after the accident last Nov. 22 at the intersection of Damen and Oakdale Avenues that claimed the lives of Miguel Flores, 22, and Erick Lagunas, 21. That time gap prevented authorities from ascertaining a timely blood-alcohol level. In addition, the majority of the witnesses said there was no indication that Ardelean was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Paramedics at the scene said that Ardelean did not appear to be drunk. A bartender at the tavern where Ardelean had been prior to the accident testified that the officer only had two drinks. After upgrading the charges, the state’s attorney’s office put the case on before a judge at a preliminary hearing. The judge found there was no probable cause to proceed with the case.
Nonetheless, subsequent to the preliminary hearing the State’s Attorney’s office, Milan conducted a full review of the evidence. As part of that review, the State’s Attorney’s office interviewed more than a dozen additional witnesses and hired an accident reconstruction expert to examine the evidence from the crash scene.
Roger Barrette, of Cooper Barrette Consulting LLC., of Lake Zurich, found that Lagunas rolled through the stop sign and then accelerated, apparently when he spotted Ardelean’s SUV bearing down on him. Ardelean had the right of way and did not have a stop sign at the intersection.
The State’s Attorney’s office has met with the families of the two victims to explain the evidence and the decision.
Man with fake mustache robs bank
Witnesses believe a bank robber who struck a Lincoln Park Fifth Third Bank branch at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 at 900 W. Armitage Avenue was possibly wearing a fake mustache on his face.
The man, in his 40s, entered the bank wearing jean shorts and a baseball cap and handed the teller a note demanding money.
He was given an undisclosed amount of cash.
New sculptures installed
Eight years ago, I founded the Lincoln Park Community Art Initiative, an Illinois not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.
That first year, we placed eight large-scale sculptures throughout the 43rd Ward from May through September.
The 2008/2009 show, newly titled, Lakefront Sculpture Exhibition will install 20 pieces in the 43rd and 44th Wards that will remain on display through May of 2009.
Each Fall a “Call for Artists” is sent out to all artists, registered with the City Department of Cultural Affairs, who reside in Cook or one of the collar counties. The program is funded entirely with donations from businesses, organizations, individuals and institutions in the area.
A kick-off party is being planned for mid-July and everyone is welcome to attend. It is your chance to meet the artists, sponsors and friends of the program. Brochures and posters will be available at that time.
Several pieces were installed this past Monday, June 2 and the balance of works will be completed next week.
All of the current works are being removed and are for sale by the artists. If you would like information on contacting any of the artists, please call my office 773/327-9111 or drop me a note and I will be happy to get that information to you.
I hope you enjoy this year’s works.
Ald. Vi Daley (43rd)
Anti-soccer field group questions safety of turf
The local community group Protect our Parks, which sued the Chicago Park District and the Latin School to halt construction of an artificial turf soccer field for the intended priority use by the Latin School in south Lincoln Park hailed recent public disclosures throughout the country of the hazards of artificial turf which has been earmarked by the Chicago Park District for installation throughout Chicago’s parks, although no definitive tests have been undertaken to determine their safety or environmental impact..
Protect our Parks is calling on the Chicago Park District to use the million dollars of taxpayer money which it says it will pay Latin School for the cancellation of its October, 2007 contract and apply it instead to conducting thorough scientific studies which can demonstrate that artificial turf fields are safe surfaces for children to play on and not, in fact, public health hazards. Many professional sports teams have in recent years abandoned artificial turf in favor of natural grass, including the Chicago Bears in Soldier Field.
With infill made from ground up recycled rubber tires, artificial turf fields have come under increasing scrutiny after samples have been shown to contain numerous hazardous contaminants, including lead, arsenic, and other toxic substances, the activists say. Moratoriums on new installations have been called for in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, while legislators in California and Minnesota have introduced bills to ban further installations. In Europe, Norway, Sweden and now Italy have recommended that there be no further construction of fields with rubber tire crumbs in their countries.
In addition to the chemical dangers, the surfaces of artificial turf can reach extraordinarily high temperatures. This has been demonstrated not only during the hot sunny days of summer, when temperatures of 200 degrees, Farenheit have been recorded, but in October, when artificial turf surfaces routinely reach temperatures of 112 degrees.
Protect Our Parks is calling on the Latin School, 59 W. Blvd., to pledge the use of any money it does receive from the Park District to help pay for clean up of the field. Pending the necessary studies to determine the long term safety and environmental impact of artificial turf, Protect our Parks is also calling for the immediate restoration of natural grass, replacing the “the mess in the South Meadow” due to the construction that was halted by the courts, and its return to a multi-use open space usable by the general public.
School holds spy-themed events
On Tuesday, June 10, the British School of Chicago was “invaded by James Bond-hopefuls” who participated in the school’s spy-themed inaugural Science Fair.
After a full day of spy-themed activities in various subjects – including learning “Spy Film Soundtracks” in music classes and planning international travel for a secret agent in geography – groups of four or fewer students competed for trophies, medals and prizes by displaying their spy-themed entries in the Science Fair. As part of the day’s festivities, students were encouraged to wear spy costumes.
To prepare for the Science Fair, a special agent delivered secret instructions and a dossier containing the details of the challenge to participating groups.
The students dressed in spy costumes participated in a full day of spy-themed activities, including creating periscopes, taking lie detector tests, learning about fingerprinting and code-breaking, and participating in self-defense fitness classes.
Students displayed spy-themed entries in the school’s inaugural Science Fair and an award ceremony with prizes was held for the most scientifically sound entries in the Science Fair at the school, 814 W. Eastman Street.
DePaul buys 18-story Loop building
DePaul University has expanded its physical presence on State Street through its just-completed acquisition of the 14 E. Jackson Blvd. building.
The 18-story, 384,000-square-foot structure becomes the fifth building that DePaul owns along East Jackson Boulevard. The “historic” building is 95-years-old.
Spokesman John Holden said the price of the building was not being disclosed.
The facility expands DePaul’s real estate footprint downtown by roughly 25 percent.
Since the mid-1990s, DePaul’s student enrollment at its downtown campus has grown approximately 35 percent, and in the fall of 2007, 12,688 students registered for classes there.
The Loop Campus is home to the College of Commerce and Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, College of Computing and Digital Media, College of Law and School for New Learning, a program for adult learners, as well as DePaul’s main administrative offices.
“Over the past decade, DePaul has launched more than 200 graduate and undergraduate programs, minors and concentrations, including groundbreaking programs in e-commerce, real estate and information security,” said the Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, DePaul’s president. “This landmark expansion of our Loop Campus will allow us to continue to build on that record.”
DePaul will begin work immediately retrofitting several floors of the building to house graduate programs offered by the university’s recently established College of Communication. Their School for New Learning is expected to relocate there as well. The facility brings DePaul’s downtown holdings to approximately 1.7 million square feet. DePaul’s other properties along Jackson are the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson; the linked O’Malley Place and Lewis Center, 23 and 25 E. Jackson, respectively; and the College of Computing and Digital Media Center, at the northeast corner of Jackson Boulevard and Wabash Avenue. DePaul also owns the Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, and houses students at the multi-school University Center of Chicago residence hall at 525 S.
State St.
Joining Holtschneider for the June 9 dedication were Mary Dempsey, recently elected chair of DePaul’s Board of Trustees; Ty Tabing, executive director of the Chicago Loop Alliance; Robert Kozoman, executive vice president; Jacqueline Taylor, dean of Communication; Marisa Alicea, dean of SNL; and Glen Weissenberger, dean of the College of Law.Taylor said the proximity of the 14 E. Jackson building to DePaul’s other facilities will help the college build on synergies that already exist and become a valuable asset for professionals seeking to upgrade their new media skills. “This new space is a tremendous boon to our new college and will benefit our students greatly,” Taylor said. “The facility’s proximity to the hundreds of employers who provide internship opportunities to our students also is a definite plus.”
Alicea said that the School for New Learning future move to the building will enable further expansion of its respected and oft-imitated programs tailored to adult learners. Meanwhile, the move from the Lewis Center will create space for a long-sought physical expansion of DePaul’s College of Law.
The 14 E. Jackson building is located directly north across the street from the DePaul Center, dedicated in 1993 as the university’s Loop facility and home to its part-time MBA program which is currently serving more than 50,000 students.
The 14 E. Jackson building was completed in 1913 and designed by the prominent Chicago architecture firm of Marshall and Fox (the firm’s other work includes The Drake Hotel in Chicago) as the flagship of the former Lytton’s clothing store chain. Established in 1887, Lytton’s was once one of the premier retailers on State Street and billed itself as “the world’s greatest clothing store.” After many years of ownership changes and declining sales, the store closed for good in the mid-1980s.
The building underwent extensive renovation in recent years, retrofitted to serve modern office and technology needs. DePaul will invest roughly $7 million to enhance the exterior of the ornate terra cotta building and upgrade interior spaces. Approximately one-third of the 14 E. Jackson building’s space is unoccupied, and DePaul will begin to renovate that space for academic programs aimed at adult students immediately. The building currently houses a number of tenants, including numerous retailers along State Street and Jackson Boulevard.
DePaul’s presence in the area dates back to 1957 when it acquired and renovated the Lewis Center. Officials say DePaul spearheaded revitalization in the area in the early 1990s when it acquired and undertook a $70 million renovation of the long-vacant former Goldblatt’s department store, and converted it into the DePaul Center, a mix of classroom, office and retail space.
“A key aspect of DePaul’s identity and mission is its commitment to Chicago’s urban core,” Holtschneider said. “Perhaps nothing more dramatically signifies this commitment than investing in real estate.”
Hospital hires new doctors
Five new physicians have joined the medical staff of Saint Joseph Hospital, 2900 N. Lake Shore Drive. These new doctors are among the more than 550 physicians who represent more than 35 specialties.
The new physicians are Lawrence H. Iteld, M.D., Plastic Surgery, Spencer Land, M.D., Urology, James McCreary, M.D., Internal Medicine, Anthony Rivera, M.D, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Amy Weiler, D.O., Family Medicine.
Thunderstorms damage 249 trees
35 traffic lights went out
On Sunday, June 8, Chicago Streets & Sanitation reported on storm damage from weekend rains and heavy winds.
Spokesman Matt Smith said Streets & Sanitation emergency crews from the Bureaus of Forestry and Electricity “worked for three straight days dealing with damage related to yet another round of storms.”
They say there were 249 trees damaged, 35 total traffic lights out, 15 light poles damaged and 34 wires downed in the city limits.
Run scheduled for June 15
Serious athletes, fitness enthusiasts, families and hospital backers are slated to participate in the Loop the Loop for Kids 5K Run/Walk to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital on Sunday, June 15. The event kicks-off at 8 a.m. at the Merchandise Mart. Registration is $35 and children 12 and under are free. Packet pick-up and in-person registration will be held June 12-14. There will be no race day registration.
The 5K features a CARA-registered course that loops through the streets of downtown Chicago. All participants will be timed and will receive an exclusive Loop the Loop for Kids t-shirt. A post-event party with live music, refreshments, kids’ activities and awards will celebrate the finish.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the patients and families of Children’s Memorial Hospital. Its physicians are on the faculty at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. As a not-for-profit organization, Children’s Memorial relies on philanthropy to help provide care to more than 113,000 patients and their families every year.
CPS creates new district-wide student newspaper
Chicago Public Schools announced June 9 that they will introduce a new weekly newspaper and website this fall that is aimed toward – and largely written by – CPS high school students. The newspaper and its companion website will be the only media products in the Chicago market serving teens exclusively, officials say.
The newspaper will be operated by the daily Chicago Tribune along with the public schools.
“We want to redefine what a high school newspaper can be, so we put a lot of thought into how we can improve the media experience for local teens,” said Scott Smith, Chicago Tribune president and publisher. “This audience represents our city’s future, and the new weekly student newspaper and website will help them be better informed and engaged with their communities.”
100,000 copies of the new weekly newspaper will be distributed to all CPS high schools beginning in September. The newspaper will feature student-generated and student-targeted editorial content, with student contributors receiving on-the-job journalism training by Tribune editors, who will review and edit all content. The newspaper, which has a working title of “The Mash,” also will contain advertisements sold to sponsors by the Tribune advertising department.
The website will host much of that content, serving as an interactive vehicle that allows students to post stories and photos and interact with one another between editions.
“This partnership brings great opportunities for our students to get invaluable work experience alongside professional journalists,” said Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. “It also will be a useful tool to improve students’ reading and writing skills, while keeping them connected to current events.”
The Chicago Public Schools is the nation’s third largest school system. It includes about 130 high schools that serve about 100,000 students.
Play runs at Greenhouse Theater through June 28
The voice of late Chicago Playwright Scott McPherson lives on in Citadel Theatre Company’s production of his long lost first play ‘Til The Fat Lady Sings,’ which opened at Victory Gardens Greenhouse June 5.
Originally performed this past March in Lake Forest, Citadel moved the play to the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater, extending its run from June 5 to June 29. Written by award-winning playwright Scott McPherson, ‘Til The Fat Lady Sings’ is a satiric comedy that finds wit and humor in family traditions. Pat (Ellen Phelps) and her son, Sean (Adam Rife) are descended on by clueless but well meaning loved ones who arrive to offer help during a family crisis.
This includes a hyperventilating neighbor, a lonely divorcee, a failed milkman, two military police and a camera wielding uncle determined to take a family portrait.
Jim Bagley, Literary Agent for the McPherson Estate gave the theatre company his blessing to move the show to a larger and more visible venue in Chicago.
Citadel Theatre Company’s production of ‘Til The Fat Lady Sings’ plays at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chambers host lake cruise
The Chamber’s of Commerce for Lincoln Park and Lakeview will hold a joint networking event on boat June 17.
The chambers will host “an evening of networking, drinks, hors d’oeuvres and unforgettable views of the Chicago skyline along Lake Michigan aboard the Anita Dee II yacht” from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $40 before June 15 and $45 after.
Volunteers sought for Summerfest
The Mid-North Neighborhood Association is seeking additional volunteers for the Mid-North Summerfest.
Those willing to “spend a few hours on June 21st or 22nd at a community festival that benefits local organizations, should please call Nada Riley at 773-727-8102.”
Volunteers work gates and other activities. The Mid-North Summerfest features live music, food, artists and family entertainment. The event takes place on N. Lincoln Park West and Dickens Avenue.
DePaul graduate, 37, appointed city human resources commissioner
Mayor Richard M. Daley yesterday announced the appointment of Homero Tristan as the city’s Commissioner of Human Resources.
Tristan, 37, comes to city government from the law firm of Tristan and Gonzalez, where he was a founding member, partner and manager since 2002. The firm represented corporations and other entities in labor and employment issues, employment counseling and compliance with state and federal laws.
“This is an important position. The Human Resources Department plays a critical role in making sure that the city identifies and hires the highest quality employees possible,” Daley said in a City Hall news conference. “When we do that, we guarantee that city services will be delivered to our residents in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.”
Among other things, the department is in charge of employment and recruiting initiatives, hiring and promotion, labor relations and enhancing the productivity of employees.
It works with the federal monitor on the hiring process and is on the front line of helping the city continue to move forward with the reforms of the hiring process that began three years ago, the mayor said.
“Homero Tristan is the right person for this job. He brings with him experience in labor law in both the private sector, where he was a founding member of his law firm, and the public sector, where he worked with for the National Labor Relations Board and the Chicago Board of Education.
“He is very knowledgeable in the areas of compliance with federal and state laws, employment counseling and labor relations. And he brings the experience of managing his own business, as well,” Daley said.
Prior to starting his law firm, Tristan practiced labor law with the firm of Jackson, Lewis and was an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, where, among other duties he litigated cases alleging violation of federal labor laws and investigated charges of unfair labor practices.
He also has served as a hearing officer with the Chicago Board of Education, where he represented the Board in expulsion proceedings and heard cases involving Local School Election challenges.
Tristan grew up in Chicago and graduated from Quigley South High School. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics degree from Loyola University and a Master of Science in Industrial Relations degree, also from Loyola.
He received his law degree from DePaul University and is a past president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.
“I expect Homero to continue the good progress we have made over recent years in human resources,” Daley said.
“Our goal is to the make the delivery of city services more effective by maintaining professional human resources practices and programs. And we are committed to a hiring system that is transparent, efficient, open and accessible to all qualified applicants.
“I know that Homero is extremely committed to public service and is the kind of strong and dedicated leader who will help our city move forward,” the Mayor said.
Lincoln Park construction worker falls out of building, dies
James Ross, of the 500 block of W. Belden Avenue, died after falling three stories at a construction site last month.
Ross was working on a four-story building construction project Friday, May 23 on the 3400 block of W. Lawrence Avenue when he fell “three or four stories” around 8 a.m., police say.
The man was transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, 836 W. Wellington Ave., in critical condition. He died two days later.
Finger lopped off at Lincoln Park H.S.
A falling window removed the finger from a student’s hand at Lincoln Park High School Friday, June 6.
The student was trying to open a computer lab window at 10 a.m. with several others when the window smashed down onto his hand, severing the finger.
Emergency workers recovered the finger and gave it to medical officials at Children’s Memorial Hospital who attempted to reattach it to the hand of the eleventh-grader, officials said.
Website listed
The website of Riehn Insurance, 4541 N. Lincoln Avenue, was not listed in the May 21 Summer Activity Guide of Inside Publications. The site is riehninsurance.com.
INSIDE: LETTER TO THE EDITOR City treasurer: consider saving stimulus check, not spending
Dear Editor
As I write this letter, many Chicagoans await either a tax refund or a stimulus rebate from the federal government. The latter, a plan put forth in these challenging economic times by the Bush administration, is an attempt to stimulate our economy.
However, I respectfully disagree with President Bush’s idea to revive our economy by encouraging individuals to spend.
Conversely, I believe we are presented with a unique opportunity to use our stimulus rebate to first save and then pay down debt.
Our nation has one of the worst savings rates in the world. We are consumed by a culture of instant gratification.
The truth is, by saving and paying down debt, you are not only helping your personal economy but the national economy as well.
When you deposit funds in a bank, the bank in turn has more money to loan out to individuals and small businesses.
I think the notion of spending some of your rebate is fair, but to totally ignore the idea of saving and paying down debt is at best ill-advised.
Please join me as we try to reach out to as many of our fellow citizens as possible and spread the word that saving first can certainly help our economy.
I believe that the citizens of Chicago will embrace my message and use their stimulus rebate to improve their financial well-being.
Stephanie Neely
Treasurer, City of Chicago
Chicago theater’s prepare for Tony Awards
Two prominent Chicago theater companies are preparing to attend Sunday’s Tony Awards ceremony in New York City, where they are nominated in many categories for Broadway’s highest honor.
“I think there’s no more vibrant part of what makes up Chicago than our theater community. We have more than 200 producing theater companies that put on more than 800 productions every year and draw more than 5 million theater-goers,” Mayor Daley said in remarks at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Randolph St.
“This has a major impact on our local economy and it contributes greatly to Chicago’s reputation as a global city,” he said.
The Mayor said theater brings tourists, whose dollars support hotels, restaurants, parking garages, museums, retail stores and jobs for our residents who work in those places.
It provides jobs for actors, artistic designers, and others who work in the theater and it attracts new residents who come to the city looking for a vibrant arts scene.
“It helps our reputation as an arts destination grow and all of these things taken together enhance our neighborhoods and the quality of life of our residents,” Daley said.
This is a banner year for theater in Chicago, the Mayor said.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater received the Regional Theatre Tony Award for its continuously high level of artistic achievement and will accept it Sunday in New York.
This is the fourth time a Chicago company has received this recognition more than any other city in the country.
And Steppenwolf Theatre’s “August: Osage County” has received 7 Tony Award Nominations this year, including best play and best direction. Half the actresses nominated this year for a performance in a play have performed with Steppenwolf Theatre.
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