Punk nightclub among 40 North Side properties sold
By Peter von Buol
Special to Inside
In a blockbuster real estate deal worth nearly $20 Million, 40 properties clustered on the North Side, including the home to a decades-old punk-rock nightclub with a four a.m. liquor license, were recently sold by a single buyer to an investor.
Located at 1315 W. North Ave., the home to the EXIT nightclub was sold for $950,000. When the club first relocated to North Ave. from its original Wells St. location, the neighborhood still had an industrial r, in recent months, it has been without its dance-floor as its dance-floor license was not renewed by the City of Chicago.
“It’s still an issue with the City [of Chicago], and I have resources working to put smiles back on all our faces. I wish it was as easy as talking to one [city] official and making it right, but this is Chicago. Getting things done is never that easy,” wrote the club’s web site administrator, Corey, in a message to his patrons.
32nd Ward Chief of Staff Paul Sajovec said the nightclub dance floor was closed after neighbor complaints of disruptions.
The most expensive property in the real estate transaction included a factory parking lot located at nearby 1414 N. Noble Square which was sold for $1.7 million. Due to its proximity to the Home Depot, the site may be attractive for retail development.
Many of the residential properties included in the sale are condominiums and lofts located in Wicker Park and its surrounding neighborhoods. However, a few of the residential properties are larger, including a multi-unit residential brick building in the East Village neighborhood at 1085 N. Paulina Ave. which was sold for $1,125,000. Another building which was also sold for more than a million dollars, a 102-year-old three-story mixed commercial/residential building with four apartment units located at 2108 W. Division. The property was sold for $1,120,000. Attempts to reach Brouwer and Rodriguez were unsuccessful.
The name of Richard Brouwer is not unknown in Chicago. For years, the voice of Brouwer, of the Alsip-based Brouwer Brothers Steamatic steam-cleaning company, has been heard on local radio ads, but it is not known if this is the same person or not. A prominent Cutbero Rodriguez was listed on the internet as a business mogul from Portugal. Calls were also placed to a management company and visits to several of the transferred locations and emails and calls to some of these sites did not yield further information either.
Volunteers improve school playground
Agassiz School Principal, Mira Weber, met with volunteers,Antonia Scholz, Dan Werly and Aruna Subramanian to discuss one of the projects they undertook this month at the school, 2851 N. Seminary Ave. A group of 20 volunteers improved the outdoor playground area, painted a mural and assembled benches for a renovated park space.
Stiffer penalties proposed for gas tank bandits
Bill enlivened after chief of staff’s gas taken
With thefts of gasoline from automobile gas tanks on the rise around the country as the result of skyrocketing fuel prices, Rep. Fritchey (D-11) July 17 announced that he has filed legislation to increase the penalty for theft of motor fuel from a vehicle to a Class 4 felony. House Bill 6667 would create a distinction for the theft of gasoline from a vehicle and increase the penalty associated with the crime.
Rep. Fritchey said he was inspired to draft the bill after learning that the gas had been siphoned out of the car belonging to his Chief of Staff, Les Kniskern. Currently, fuel theft from a vehicle is treated the same as other types of theft under the Illinois Criminal Code, punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, usually resulting in a fine. Rep. Fritchey’s legislation would provide for potential penalties of 1-3 years of prison time.
Reports of gasoline thefts through the puncturing of a gas tank are also on the rise nationally. This desperate act also poses the danger of the gasoline being ignited by a spark when a hole is drilled into the tank. Rep. Fritchey stated that he hopes that the stiffer penalties provided in his bill would further act as a deterrent to potential thieves.
Rep. Fritchey’s bill has already received support from organizations representing car owners.
“AAA supports HB 6667 and the call for increased penalties on those who siphon gas from others’ vehicles,” said Brad Roeber, president of AAA Chicago. “We’re hoping this bill will help those that choose to siphon gas understand that this act is more than stealing; it’s endangering the safety of motorists.”
While he works to advance the legislation, Rep. Fritchey recommends that car and truck owners invest in a locking gas cap as one way to protect themselves from having their gas tank siphoned.
“Stealing the gas out of somebody’s car is potentially much more problematic than a random theft of property,” stated Rep. Fritchey. “Not only can it result in somebody not being able to get to work or their home, but it could also result in somebody being stranded in a remote location at any hour.”
On Sunday, July 13 Kniskern went to start his 2006 Chevy Colorado, which was parked on an open parking pad off the alley behind his home in Lincoln Square. The engine turned over and stalled, and on the second try he noticed a flashing warning light indicating “low engine fuel.” Looking at the gas gauge, the needle was at the bottom of the red empty mark.
He then called AAA to get a few gallons of gas to put in, making sure he had enough to get to the gas station. He also filed a police report.
The fuel gauge had been above 3⁄4 the day before in a 20-gallon tank, so Kniskern guess it was about 16 gallons of gas that had been stolen. “Nobody ever thinks this will happen to them,” said Kniskern. “But the consequences could have been much worse had I – or any other driver – been stranded away from home where conditions were not safe. I appreciate that Rep. Fritchey immediately saw the problems gas theft from a vehicle could cause, with regard to the safety of the driver.”
CTA to notify customers cards expiring
Fighting lawsuit for failing to refund expired CTA cards
The Chicago Transit Authority, currently battling a pending class action lawsuit for failing to refund expired CTA cards, said July 10 they will now notify customers who purchased a Chicago Card Plus four years ago that the cards will begin to expire in August and that they can receive a free replacement Chicago Card Plus card.
Approximately 36,800 cards will expire between August 26 and October 5.
The CTA will send e-mails to customers 45 days prior to the day the card is scheduled to expire.
The e-mail will outline simple steps to verify the cardholder’s address online. Following verification, a replacement card will be mailed to the cardholder. The CTA will not send a replacement card unless the address is confirmed by the cardholder.
Customers who do not reply to e-mails from the CTA will receive a letter via U.S. mail to the address currently associated with the card.
The Zimmerman Law Offices, 100 W. Monroe, is a co-counsel.
Customers are encouraged to update their Chicago Card Plus account online now to assure that the CTA has the most accurate e-mail and address information for the account.
Chicago Card Plus is a farecard with its balance kept in an online account. All Chicago Card Plus accounts will need to receive a new card after four years use.
New shop offers all the beads a girl needs
By Lindsey Reiser
Special to Inside
Every girl and girl-at-heart knows what it’s like to have merchandise fever; you suddenly need to buy things, a lot of things, and they rarely bring the satisfaction they so temptingly offer on the shelf of clothes, jewelry, or shoe store you’ve chosen to raid. There is a trend, however, taking over Lincoln Park that both indulges and slakes this need. A crop of do-it-yourself shops have sprouted up in the area over the past few years; one, most notably for the bauble-lovers, being enBeadia.
EnBeadia opened with a bang early this summer on Armitage and Howe, a general buzz within the store inviting curious passers-by in from the street. Inside, the long beading table was laden with a buffet of appetizer goodies, and customers were offered champagne as they shopped. Owner Millie Ortiz-Formentini was buzzing from shopper to shopper, constantly offering advice or hailing a staff member to assist the overwhelmed browsers. Alderman Vi Daley stopped in for a perusal, later commenting on her visit, “I thought her shop was very nice, and I’m excited that Millie’s there. It’s great to have a unique shop where the owners and customers can interact like that.”
It’s no surprise that Ortiz-Formentini is good at what she does; creativity is in her blood. Before her location of Lincoln Park enBeadia, she opened the original store with her partner Sue Miranda in Edgebrook in 2005, and grew up collecting costume jewelry under the tutelage of a likewise creative-minded mother. Wishing to move from her home in Glenview to the city, she sold her half of the Edgebrook location to her partner, and opened her own location here. She’s no stranger to the area; one of her first family homes was on Armitage and Bissell, where her son, oldest child, was born.
As far as finding a good location for enBeadia, Ortiz-Formentini does seem to have found a niche here. The nearest bead stores are in Old Town and Bucktown, and with other DIY shops, such as 1154 Lill Studio and Park West Ceramics dotting the neighborhood, they are certainly channeling Lincoln Park’s creative crowd.
The great thing about enBeadia is the services they offer. The previously food-filled table at the opening is used for beading customers and employees alike. After buying your beads you can sit down and assemble your masterpiece alone or with assistance from the staff, or you can have them string the item for you, for a fee of $7. Whichever you choose, Ortiz-Formentini seems personally dissatisfied until a brilliant piece of jewelry, or at least it’s concept for later home-work, is complete.
“Be careful ladies”, she calls to two customers, clearly engulfed in the sea of bead choices. “This stuff is addictive!” It’s understandable why the shoppers are a bit lost, as beads line the walls and tables, with every color of the spectrum present. Virtually every culture is represented as well; Ortiz-Formentini gets her beads from all over the world. Pearls from China, semi-precious stones from India, Czech glass, African beads, and Swarovski crystal from Austria are just a few of the items available in the shop.
EnBeadia also offers classes for all ages, including basic and advanced beading, basic and advanced wiring, and traditional and non-traditional silk knotting. Those at the store are particularly excited about their wiring lesson on August 5, led by their friend Tara Bacci, who makes the trip to Chicago monthly from Michigan just for this class. Ortiz-Formentitni’s daughter Bree, a recent high-school graduate, also teaches her own classes called Brees Bees, a series of children’s courses where kids learn basic beading, make their own beaded doll clothes, and craft whimsical charms called Deep Pendants.
There’s no doubt that enBeadia is a family affair. Many class attendees are mother and daughter or grandmother and granddaughter pairs, pictures of whom you can see experimenting with their creations on enBeadia’s blog. During the interview Bree sat at the crafting table getting items ready for their upcoming sidewalk sale, stringing their popular new Obama/McCain beads, which feature each candidate’s party symbol and their name engraved on African bone. The Obama beads are the more popular seller. “Well, we’re in Chicago!” Ortiz-Formentini explains.
More extraordinary than the shop are the stories that have been generated by it. Ortiz-Formentini’s personal friend, customer, and likewise jewelry maker was just featured in the Chicago Sun-Times for her courageous battle with skin cancer. After her doctor told her she had five months to live, she began to make jewelry for her family and friends, wanting to leave behind something special to remember her by. Through her dedication to cancer treatment and her craft, she overcame the illness, and is now cancer-free.
“There’s therapy in beading”, Ortiz-Formentini comments on her friend’s story. “I think women are creative by nature, so making jewelry can be very therapeutic.”
Therapeutic or not, the creations that come out of enBeadia, not to mention the quelling of merchandise fever, are nothing short of lovely. If you must spend your money on fashion, why not spend it on an expression of your own? Visit enBeadia’s website and blog for updates and sales at www.enbeadia.com, and the store is now offering flyers good for one free beading class.
Grocery store rehab under construction on Clybourn Ave.
Jewel-Osco announced last week that it will open a 16,000 square foot store at 1910 N. Clybourn Avenue in Lincoln Park.
The store, named “Urban Fresh, by Jewel,” is scheduled to open this fall and is designed as a specialty grocery store “catering to the unique shopping needs of busy, on-the-go professionals and time-sensitive commuters.”
One of the store’s key offerings will be a variety of ready-to-go meal solutions, ranging from gourmet sandwiches to dinner entrées. The store will carry produce and organic offerings, as well as a selection of fresh meats and seafood, Jewel-Osco marketing people say.
“The smaller-format store is an exciting complement to our larger, more traditional grocery stores,” said Keith Nielsen, president of Jewel-Osco. “We hope to learn as much as possible from the effort, paying close attention to customer feedback, so we can deliver the best experience for our shoppers.”
The construction and design of the new Urban Fresh store is being applauded by Chicago Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd) who said the store would be beneficial to area residents.
“The store will be a welcomed addition to the community,” said Alderman Waguespack. “Everyone is pressed for time these days and the store will make life a little easier for our residents.”
Jewel-Osco, which operates 32 stores in Chicago, is the second-largest private employer in Illinois, with more than 36,000 employees.
The location at 1910 N. Clybourn is vacant. It is part of a building that operates a storage facility. The store front location once housed a Sunflower store operated by [Jewel parent company] SuperValu, but it was closed earlier this year.
Jewel-Osco public affairs director Miguel Alba was asked what are the dollar figures associated with the project and said since this deals with proprietary business issues, he will abstain from commenting.
The store is under construction now and all operating permits are in the city’s approval process.
Lincoln Park Zoo recognizes National Zookeeper Week
In recognition of the valuable and important role zookeepers perform in caring for some of the world’s most imperiled species, Lincoln Park Zoo joins zoos across the nation in celebration of National Zookeeper Week July 20 to July 26.
Zookeepers are vital advocates and educators about wildlife conservation. The very survival and existence of some species is literally in their hands. Two species cared for at Lincoln Park Zoo have become extinct in the wild – the Guam rail and Micronesian kingfisher. If it were not for the care provided by zoo caretakers these species would vanish from the planet, officials say.
Zookeepers and scientists are working diligently with breeding and habitat conservation efforts so that one day these species may return to the wild.
Zookeeping is a unique, complex and constantly evolving discipline that is both challenging and rewarding. Whether it is New Year’s morning or Christmas day, animals need constant care and there are always devoted and dedicated zookeepers on hand serving as guardians to some of the planet’s most endangered creatures.
Stop by the zoo during a “Keeper Chat” to learn more about zookeepers and the animals they care for. Keeper chats happen daily between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at various locations throughout the zoo.
For more information about the National Zookeeper Week and the rewards and challenges of being a zookeeper, visit lpzoo.org.
Boy hit by foul ball departs hospital
Seven-year-old Dominic DiAngi of Frankfurt, who got hit by a baseball at a Cubs game, went home from the hospital Wednesday, July 16.
Dominic was at his first Chicago Cubs baseball game with his 9-year-old brother Dane and his dad, Peter DiAngi when he got hit in the head by a foul ball off Ted Lilly’s bat on Thursday, July 10.
Paramedics took him immediately to Children’s Memorial in Lincoln Park where he was in intensive care suffering from a broken skull. Since then he has been improving daily and is ready to go home.
On Saturday, July 12 Cubs players Ted Lilly and Derrek Lee visited the boy who himself is baseball player on his neighborhood team, said hospital spokeswoman Julie Pesch.
Zoo eggs to hatch soon
A female Chilean flamingo tended to two eggs on July 16 while Lincoln Park Zoo staff anxiously hold their collective breath in anticipation for flamingo chicks. This is the first time in the zoo’s 140-year history that their flamingo flocks have laid eggs. For a flamingo to incubate not only one egg, but two, is particularly unusual.
Incubation is approximately 4 weeks, so if all goes well, chicks should be hatching in late July and early August.
Chilean flamingos are a gregarious species of flamingo native to South America. Their conservation status is listed as near threatened and in need of protection.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Does State Rep. have upper hand on rivals?
Dear Editor:
State Representative John Fritchey recently achieved passage of a tough campaign finance reform law in Illinois. The hard-won legislation sets new fundraising restrictions on the powerful political dynasties that have held sway in our state for decades. He should probably be praised for it.
Some have argued that Fritchey’s efforts are a bald-faced attempt to shine light on the background of his arch-rival, Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Fritchey, as a scion of the redoubtable Banks family tree, arguably stands to gain much from one-upping both the Mell dynasty that brought up Blagojevich and the Madigan dynasty that brought up Lisa Madigan. It is no secret that Fritchey would like to go much higher in politics, and state’s attorney and governor are naturally in his sights.
Fritchey minces few words, mentioning Blagojevich every time he touts these new laws. The chief criticism I would have of him in his efforts is that, if he really wishes to put a fair face on it, he should spend less time calling attention to his rivals. These jabs make his project smack loudly of political rivalry rather than an honest concern for cleaning up government.
After all, the William Banks family tree that created John Fritchey and has sustained his career is itself mired in the same palm-greasing and conflicts of interest that make them all such a threat to democracy. Some believe the Banks family is the worst of the bunch in many ways. Fritchey married into this powerful family and has been its highest-profile beneficiary in Illinois.
My old friend John Fritchey would want us to believe he is cut from different political cloth. It may well be true: I think he is an honest soul. But if he really wants to refresh us -- to truly break the mold in American politics -- he should avoid ever mentioning his rivals and instead spend his time acknowledging his own highly questionable political provenance, openly discussing the strange causes and effects of these advantages. Such unprecedented candor will cause him to be cut off from Banks & Co., but it will earn him a legacy of respect from the rest of us -- his true political family.
Peter Zelchenko
Lincoln Park
Whole Foods shopper: festival park damage is complicated predicament
Dear Editor:
I read your article in the July 16-22 issue on the controversy over damages to Jonquil Park at last year’s Whole Foods Market Flavor Fest. I’m disappointed the article doesn’t describe what kind of damages occurred there, or what the advocates for Jonquil Park allege occurred anyway. The article doesn’t say. I’d like to know. And I’d like to know more about the talks that took place between Whole Foods and Jonquil Park. What is Whole Foods’ position on this? The article doesn’t say. And while the article says repeatedly that the fest will be at Wrightwood Park this year, it doesn’t tell us where Wrightwood Park is! What’s the address? Since I intend to attend, I’d like to know.
I’m a long time shopper of Whole Foods. I like that they have contributed to raising the consciousness about healthier eating and made healthier foods accessible to the public, but I object to their closing all their juice bars in all their stores. I object to their what seems unnecessarily high prices, their putting out of business the small, locally-owned health food stores. I object to their buying up the competition (Wild Oats) and closing of the best juice bars in the Chicago metropolitan area (in the former Wild Oats in Hinsdale), but I also believe in placing responsibility where it belongs. I can’t determine who’s responsible for any damages because I don’t have enough info. The article doesn’t provide it. I don’t know who to side with in this case.
I went to the Flavor Fest the last two years. Last year I remember the ground being very muddy and sloppy. I think it had rained the night before and/or the morning of the fest. When I arrived, the ground was pretty tore up. Is this the damage in question? I remember vendors complaining about this and being upset at whoever was responsible for taking care of the park during the fest. Astonishingly, in addition to the rain, the park’s sprinklers had also gone off repeatedly that morning, according to vendors. I remember wood chips or sand being poured in the muddiest places.
If damage to the turf is the damage in question, while I understand the park’s loss, I don’t see that it’s Whole Foods fault, not with the information I now have. If it rains, it’s not Whole Foods fault, and if the park’s own sprinklers go off, neither is that unless the park gave over control of them to WF for the fest.
All eventualities including weather in all it’s varieties should have been considered by all involved during the arrangements. A little foresight. Rain combined with thousands of feet tramping on their soil should have been considered by the park as a possibility before they agreed to having the fest there. Under those potential circumstances, who would be liable should have been written into the contract (if there was one). A tarp like the ones used by professional baseball could have been employed on the days before the fest and overnight the night between the fest days. A little foresight.
The loss, the hurt feelings, the question of who’s responsible for the bill would have been avoided or answered already if the words from one of the founding fathers of our nation, Benjamin Franklin had been remembered, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Rick Soderquist
Note: The Jonquil Park Advisory Council alleges $13,000 worth of damage was caused by the Whole Foods Flavor Fest 2007 as a result of fork lifts and tractor tromping on muddy soil at the fest as reflected in past Inside coverage.
HIGHER EDUCATION
DePaul taps new education dean
Marie Ann Donovan has been selected to serve as interim dean of DePaul University’s School of Education, where she has served as an associate professor and associate dean.
“Marie brings her passion and a proven track record of leadership to this position,” Provost Helmut Epp said. “Her extensive experience and deep knowledge of the School of Education both within the university at large and in its relationships with the state of Illinois and other accrediting bodies will be a great benefit to DePaul.”
An active member of the Associate Deans’ Council, Donovan joined the School of Education faculty in 1996, specializing in early childhood education. Her research interests include family literacy education, vocabulary acquisition and development, and children’s literature for building family literacy.
A resident of Chicago’s West Lincoln Park neighborhood, Donovan was instrumental in helping the School of Education create a new joint degree program with DePaul’s School for New Learning and has been a driving force behind the development of new joint five-year degree programs with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She has served as chair of the teacher education department and is a member of the school’s Executive Council.
Donovan, who earned an Ed.D. from Harvard University, leads the second-largest school of education in the Chicago area. The School of Education offers degree programs in early childhood education; elementary and secondary education and physical education; special education; bilingual/bicultural education; curriculum studies; educational leadership; human services and counseling; and language, literacy and specialized instruction.
“I am honored to be chosen for this position and hope to build on the school’s reputation for excellence while strengthening our public and private school networks and partnerships,” Donovan said.
Donovan replaces Clara Jennings, who stepped down from the deanship after six years to embark on a two-year scholarly leave, after which she will return to the SOE faculty. DePaul will launch a national search for a new dean in the fall.
In related news, associate professor Carol Wren and assistant professor Christopher Worthman will join Sally Julian as associate deans for the school, serving on an interim basis for the 2008-09 academic year.
Art Institute school names new president
Barry MacLean, Chairman of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has announced the appointment of Wellington Reiter as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s fourth President.
Reiter, who joins the School of the Art Institute on August 25, is a recognized architect, artist, and urban designer, and currently holds the position of Dean of the College of Design at Arizona State University.
In addition to his academic role, Reiter was instrumental in shaping a new university campus in the heart of downtown Phoenix that unites progressive academic, architectural and public art agendas.
Previous to this appointment at Arizona State, Reiter was a member of the faculty in the Department of Architecture at MIT from 1990 to 2003 and the Professional Advisor to the Career Discovery Program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
Trained at Tulane University’s School of Architecture (1981), North London Polytechnic, and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (1986), he began his teaching career at the Rhode Island School of Design. Through his professional and academic roles, Reiter has received numerous awards including multiple AIA Honor Awards for Urban Design, the Kepes Prize for interdisciplinary design from MIT, and four awards from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
Reiter was recently named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He assumes the presidency from Tony Jones, who will be appointed to the position of Chancellor of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
“We are honored to name Wellington ‘Duke’ Reiter to the position of President,” said Barry MacLean. “Duke’s work at the intersection of architecture, city planning, and education makes him ideal to build upon the School’s success; like the School itself, Duke’s design practice takes him across disciplines in a way that resonates soundly with the mission of the institution.”
In keeping with the nature of the School of the Art Institute, Reiter’s work spans several disciplines including public art, buildings and museum installations. An example of his cross-over appeal includes the entry pavilion for the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park (2003) His drawings of speculative urban conditions are in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and San Francisco MOMA; furthermore, they will be featured in the Venice Biennale in the fall of 2008. Vessels and Fields, a monograph on the work of Reiter, which demonstrates his dedication to drawing as an investigative tool, is available from Princeton Architectural Press.
“I can think of no other city in the United States that has developed such a dedication to the arts as part of its civic obligation. Given the rich history of art, design, and urbanism in Chicago, my goal is to see the School of the Art Institute continue its vital role of educating artists, designers and intellectuals, as well as shaping and informing the cultural fabric of the city,” said Reiter.
As President, he will be responsible for all academic, financial, operational, and fundraising activities. While managing the annual budget, he will be setting the future strategic direction of the institution.
Reiter succeeds Jones, who has held the position eighteen years. Professor Jones’s stewardship has significantly expanded the size and status of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to an “internationally renowned school of art and design.”
Since 1986, the student population has more than tripled in size; over 20 percent of the student body hails from overseas, representing 40 countries; and over a quarter of the student body lives in the school’s downtown residences.
The campus, based at 37 S. Wabash Avenue, has grown from a single building to seven buildings occupying over one million square feet.
Record number of North Park students to study abroad
Thirty North Park University students will study abroad in fall 2008, setting a new institutional record.
“According to the Institute for International Education’s 2006 Open Doors report less than one percent of all students enrolled in US higher educational institutions study abroad for credit,” says Jennifer Pope, Director of North Park’s International Office. “In the last four years, North Park has been averaging 2.9% of our student body studying abroad each year on semester- or quad-length study abroad programs. I expect that we’ll far exceed four percent in the 2008-2009 school year.”
Fifteen of the 30 study abroad students will participate in the University’s longest running exchange program, in Jönkoping, Sweden. Founded in 1976, the exchange with Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola pairs North Park students with one year of college-level Swedish with roommates for a fall semester in Sweden. The Swedish students join their US counterparts on North Park’s campus, 3225 W. Foster, for the spring semester so that friendships begun abroad may continue.
Of the remaining 15 fall study abroad students, 11 will participate in the International Student Exchange Program, of which North Park is a member. Students from that essentially take each other’s place for a semester; they pay tuition, room, and board to their home university, and receive services from a host university in exchange. North Park students will study in Uruguay, Ghana, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, France, England, Finland, and Chile.
North Park students, Winona Fuller and Emily Germann will study abroad at two of North Park’s sister schools. Fuller will study at Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Having already spent a semester studying in Morelia, Mexico, with North Park, Fuller is looking forward to furthering her Spanish language skills and completing course work for her major in Global Studies. Germann will study at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea. Studying in Asia was important to Germann because of family history there. Her grandparents were missionaries in Indonesia, China, and Mongolia, and her father spent his childhood in various parts of the region. Though she intended to study abroad for the fall semester, Germann was also invited to spend the summer there. A business and economics major, Germann will take courses in the culture, business and technology of East Asia.
Stephanie Bonin will participate in the Uganda Studies Program, a program run by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. While a student at Uganda Christian University, Bonin will take courses in African history and politics and Biblical Studies. A final North Park student, Joseph Davis, will be completing an international internship during the fall semester. As part of his Youth Ministry degree, Davis will work with youth at Fisher’s Creek International Church in Gothenburg, Sweden.
In the spring, North Park anticipates sending another 28 students off-campus on a variety of programs.
Dudycz elected Northeastern University chairman
The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University has elected three new officers. Former Illinois State Senator Walter W. Dudycz was elected Chair, Jin Lee as Vice Chair, and Carlos Azcoitia as Secretary. They each will serve a two-year term.
Dudycz, a member of the NEIU Board of Trustees since 2005, served as a state senator from 1985 to 2002 and was assistant majority leader from 1993 to 2002. He served as executive director of the Illinois Racing Board from 2002 to 2003. A retired Chicago Police Department detective, Dudycz is also former director of the Cook County Sheriff’s Alternative Program.
Dudycz is an alumnus of NEIU and a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Gabro Council, Fraternal Order of Police.
Lee, also a member of the NEIU Board of Trustees since 2005, has been director of business planning and development for the Albany Park Community Center since 1997. Previously he served as executive director of the Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Human Relations Task Force of Chicago and a member of the Asian American Advisory Councils for the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois State Treasurer.
Azcoitia, a member of the NEIU Board of Trustees since 2006, recently retired as principal of John Spry Community School. Since 2004 he has served as a member of the Education Accountability Taskforce of school administrators to help shape a new Illinois Department of Education. Previously he served as Deputy Chief Education Officer for the Chicago Public Schools. He earned his doctorate in educational administration from Northern Illinois University in 1989.
The board is slated to meet five times this year. Their last meeting was June 12 during which they considered the 2009 budget. They considered naming an auditorium after Donn Bailey, the 22-year director of the Center for Inner City Studies who passed away last year, tenure recommendations, library reserve limits, classroom building and masonry repairs and student insurance guidelines.
Group: North Side gets better Streets & San service than South Side
The City of Chicago has denied a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by a community group investigating whether the South Side receives less attention from the Department of Streets & Sanitation than North Side neighborhoods are given.
On Friday, May 23, the community group Action Now submitted a FOIA request for Streets & Sanitation to provide detailed operational data regarding South Side service, the number of vehicles and workers assigned to each of Chicago’s 50 wards, and the methods of notification community members receive for street-cleaning activities.
Action Now requested the information in support of an ongoing South Side Community Cleanup Campaign aimed at helping the city remove trash from south side neighborhoods in advance of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Washington Park.
On Thursday June 5, the city denied the FOIA request, stating that the request “poses a series of questions seeking answers that either they [Streets & Sanitation] do not have or would not be required to answer.” However, at an Action Now press conference outside the City Hall headquarters of Streets & Sanitation on the same day, a department spokesperson shared detailed service information that Streets & Sanitation had immediately on hand for ten Chicago wards with Action Now and citywide news media.
Action Now believes that the department’s ability to immediately provide service details for those ten wards on June 5 clearly proves the existence of the requested data Furthermore, these operational details are public information that is in no way confidential and, as such, the city has no standing to deny the FOIA request.
The many community residents and local officials, including Chicago Aldermen and Chicago Police Department leaders, who support the South Side Community Cleanup Campaign stand behind it because “they know that without the assistance of local residents, the goal of a trash-free South Side cannot easily be reached. The requested statistics will help the campaign focus residential efforts on the neighborhoods that need the most attention.”
City officials maintain the city services are delegated equitably.
Olympic boosters discuss the arts
An international symposium, titled “Olympic Arts Festivals: Recent Experiences and Future Designs,” has just concluded in Chicago. More than 100 Chicago-area arts and culture leaders, municipal and university officials and Chicago 2016 bid committee personnel met for two days to discuss Chicago’s potential contribution to the tradition of staging Cultural Olympiads. The University of Chicago and the newly formed Chicago Consortium on Olympic Studies, multidisciplinary body of scholars who study aspects of sports and the Olympic Movement, sponsored the conference.
Conference participants were welcomed by Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan. “Chicago has an incredible tradition of cultural institutions and programs. Not only do we have more than 100 ethnic communities, we also have wonderful institutions that promote culture constantly,” Ryan said. Dave Bolger, chief operating officer of Chicago 2016, also spoke at the conference
Conference attendees heard detailed analyses of recent Olympic Arts Festivals from international experts Beatriz Garcia, Craig Hassall, Jeffrey Babcock and Miquel de Moragas. Intensive small group and plenary discussions were held on the Olympic Movement’s cultural mandate and how Chicago can respond with imaginative and inclusive offering.
According to John MacAloon, conference organizer, Chicago was the perfect city to organize the event.
“This is the earliest in any Olympic Games bid process that a potential Host City has gathered to focus on the crucial arts and culture dimension of the Olympiad,” he said. “The enthusiastic and thoughtful participation of so many leaders is testimony to the place of arts and culture in our city’s life and vision.”
Major Chicago architectural groups, science and history museums, performing arts organizations, ethnocultural heritage centers, environmental groups, university and secondary school educators, community associations and popular festival organizers were among those represented at the meeting.
Sydney Cultural Olympiad Chief Craig Hassall told the concluding session, “To insure a vibrant and innovative cultural Olympiad, you must start early to get all of the design, organizational, and financing issues right. This wonderful meeting demonstrates your commitment to this task.”
Participants were feted at a reception and jazz performance at the Hyde Park Arts Center, which is near to the proposed site of the Olympic Stadium in Washington Park.
Remarks by Xinjie Li, Cultural Consul of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, highlighted the event.
On June 4, the International Olympic Committee announced a short list of Candidate Cities that moved on to the international phase of the bid process. Chicago is competing for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games alongside Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan. The Host City will be selected October 2, 2009, in Copenhagen.
Chamber of Commerce seeks feedback at forum
Voice an opinion on how the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce can better promote business and publicize success through member publications at a “Feedback Forum” on Tuesday, August 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m at 1925 N. Clybourn, Suite 301.
Feedback Forums were created for members to provide feedback and recommendations that help shape Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce future programs.
For more information about the August 5 Feedback Forum, contact Jennifer Payne at (773) 880-5200 or at jennifer@lincolnparkchamber.com.
The next Feedback Forum is scheduled for Monday, September 8. The topic then will be Chamber of Commerce events.
Olympic Committee holds rally
Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan held the rally “Chicago Believes” at Millennium Park on Monday, July 14, to celebrate the International Olympic Committee’s selection of Chicago as a Candidate City, as well as to honor the Beijing Games and our U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams.
The evening featured performances by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Latin music sensation the Bandoleros, Chicago tenor Rodrick Dixon performing an original anthem for the bid, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Cirque Shanghai and the Christ Universal Temple Ensemble.
The program showcased historic Olympic moments that have a connection to Chicago and included a send-off to members of Team USA as they prepare for the Beijing Games.
Space for the first 7,000 spectators was be available for free on the Great Lawn of Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Demonstrations of Olympic and Paralympic sports, as well as a chance to meet many Olympians and Paralympians, occurred during the afternoon with performances at night.
Chicago 2016 is engaged in a competition with three other cities, Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro, in the bid to become the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Study to measure health of Chicago River canoe riders
Like to exercise and play outdoors? Those who do may be eligible to participate in a research study that looks at the connection between outdoor recreation and public health.
Friends of the Chicago River is partnering with the University of Illinois School of Public Health on a multi-year research study called CHEERS - Chicago Health, Environmental Exposure and Recreation Study.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is funding the study. The CHEERS research team will track the health of people before and after they recreate on the river. Friends is working with the CHEERS team to help make people aware of the study. The CHEERS team will be at five canoe trips this season and Friends’ Flatwater Classic Canoe & Kayak Race.
Interested in participating? Learn more about CHEERS by visiting their new website cheerschicago.org.
The site explains other ways to participate in the study as well as what incentives are offered to people who participate.
The CHEERS team will be at Friends if the Chicago River sponsored canoe trips including a July 20 “Downtown Canyons: Canoe trip between the skyscrappers;” an August 2 “Loop the Goose: Explore the Chicago River’s only island;” and the August 23 canoe trip “Ecology of the River: Discover the plants and animals that call our river home.”
For more information about this study, contact Cynthia Fox at (312) 939-0490, ext. 13 or cfox@chicagoriver.org.
Daughter of Lou Gehrig’s disease victim throws out first pitch
For Christine Barrett, the Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants baseball game on July 13 was more meaningful than any game she has watched from inside the “Friendly Confines.” On July 13, Christine attended the Les Turner ALS Foundation’s 14th Annual Lou Gehrig Day fundraising event. At the pre-game party, held at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., guests bid on the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the afternoon game. As the top bidder of this coveted auction item, Barrett was anxious when she took to the mound of the ballpark to throw the first pitch. She wanted the pitch to go smoothly, as she threw the ball in memory of her father, James M. Barrett, who lost his battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) on May 5, 2008.
“As a Cubs fan, being on the pitcher’s mound at Wrigley Field was extremely exciting, and the experience was extra meaningful for me,” said Christine.
Christine’s mother, at home in North Carolina, proudly watched her daughter throw the first pitch of the game on WGN’s broadcast. Other relatives and friends also tuned in to see Barrett pay tribute to her Dad’s memory. When the family looks back at James’s journey with ALS, this positive experience will help ease the difficult feelings associated with the challenging moments.
Held on Sunday, July 13, Lou Gehrig Day featured a pre-game catered party emceed by Lin Brehmer of 93XRT at the Vic Theatre followed by the Cubs-Giants game. Through ticket sales, the auction and a raffle, the event raised more than $86,000 for the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
“It’s always nice when someone who has a personal connection to ALS throws out the first pitch,” said Wendy Abrams, executive director of the Les Turner ALS Foundation. “For the past two years, a patient and his wife have been the top bidders of this prize, and last year, the couple’s young son threw the pitch. We’re were happy to see Christine bid for and win this opportunity.”
ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neuromuscular disorder that slowly robs patients of their mobility and ability to communicate, ultimately leading to total paralysis. There is currently no cure for ALS, but treatment and interventions can help alleviate some symptoms, improve quality of life and prolong survival by delaying respiratory failure. The clinical progression can vary widely; however, patients typically live with the disease two to five years after the onset of symptoms. ALS knows no racial, cultural or socioeconomic boundaries and follows no pattern.
Kennedy Expressway sculpture to be cleaned, polished
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the local quality of life through public art, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Chicago Gateway Green announced that Virginio Ferrari’s sculpture, Being Born, will be cleaned, polished and receive general maintenance prior to the 25th anniversary of its original installation. The public artwork, located at the triangle intersection of Ohio, Ontario and Orleans Streets is undergoing conservation as of Friday, July 12. For the next two months, the sculpture will be surrounded by scaffolding as experts work to restore the artwork to pristine condition.
Some of the landscaping around the sculpture will also be updated as part of the project, with restoration and conservation scheduled for completion by September 13.
Originally located on corner of State and Washington Streets, the 20-foot stainless steel sculpture, Being Born, was completed in 1983 and dedicated by Mayor Harold Washington on November 9, 1983.
The sculpture was relocated to the downtown feeder ramps for the Kennedy Expressway more than a decade later and became the first public art installation by Chicago Gateway Green on the region’s expressways. To raise money to build this park, Chicago Gateway Green held their first Green Tie Ball at this location in September 1991, and the site and sculpture were rededicated by Mayor Richard M. Daley on August 9, 1996.
The sculpture and surrounding beautification effort at this major gateway into the city was dedicated as the “DePorter Gateway,” in honor of Donald J. DePorter (1942-1996), a civic leader who envisioned a more beautiful city and who founded Chicago Gateway Green. The ongoing maintenance and landscaping at this site is made possible by Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group, which is owned by Donald DePorter’s son, Grant DePorter.
Being Born celebrates both art and technology, and pays tribute to the industry that commissioned and fabricated it. The original sculpture was donated to the City of Chicago by the Tooling and Manufacturing Association (previously known as the Tool and Die Institute). Sculptor Virginio Ferrari explains that “the circular element symbolizes the precision and skill of this industry. The two stainless steel elements fit exactly into each other, symbolizing the process of die making.” The openness of the outer circle suggests that the industry continues to grow.
Other partners in this project include Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Department of Transportation.
In 1978 the Chicago City Council unanimously approved an ordinance stipulating that a percentage of the cost of constructing or renovating municipal buildings be set aside for the commission or purchase of artworks for those building. The purpose of this law is to provide the citizens of Chicago with an improved public environment by enhancing city buildings with quality works of art by professional artists. The Department of Cultural Affairs, Public Art Program is charged with administering this law in cooperation with other city departments.
Chicago Gateway Green is solely dedicated to greening and beautifying the region’s expressways, gateways and communities, Chicago Gateway Green was founded in 1986 to benefit the environment and improve the quality of life for millions of Chicagoland residents and annual visitors. Currently maintaining over 300 acres of land along local expressways through its Expressway Partnership, the non-profit organization has set the standard for comprehensive urban landscape design and environmental stewardship.
The project budget is just under $60,000 with funds provided by the Public Art Program Conservation Fund.
CTA plans more concessions in train stations
The Chicago Transit Board July 16 approved a five-year $4.2 million contract to outsource certain real estate management responsibilities of CTA properties. Jones Lang LaSalle will focus specifically on three tasks: serving as CTA’s real estate broker, securing concessions at CTA stations, and increasing efforts to establish transit-oriented development across the CTA system. The outsourcing of real estate management responsibilities will help to improve operational efficiencies and enhance revenue opportunities for the agency.
“Improving service for our customers goes beyond buying new buses and rail cars. It is also about providing value-added services that make transit a true convenience in every aspect and strengthen CTA’s relationships with the communities it serves,” said CTA President Ron Huberman. “Rail stations should be more than a place where riders board and exit trains. We want to provide convenient services for riders to access, some place where they can drop off dry cleaning on the way to work and grab a latte as they head in to the office. Transit-oriented development will position CTA as an anchor within communities and help attract further capital improvements through commercial and residential development.”
“Aggressively pursuing opportunities to generate additional revenue while enhancing services for riders is the real vision of what this contract is expected to bring to CTA,” said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Carole Brown. “We look forward to working with Jones Lang LaSalle to achieve our vision.”
Jones Lang LaSalle Americas LP —a financial and professional services company specializing in real estate—was awarded the contract for select Management Oversight; Concession Property Management; and Transit-Oriented Development.
The task of managing concession and development opportunities for the second largest transit agency in the country requires a dedicated effort beyond what CTA’s internal resources can currently provide. Rather than increase staffing levels, outsourcing these responsibilities to an experienced vendor will allow the agency to maximize potential real estate opportunities.
Jones Lang LaSalle will be responsible for creating an effective transit-oriented development strategy such as grocery stores adjacent to stations, mixed-use development, and hotel and retail outlets. The vendor will also act as broker to buy and sell real estate on behalf of the CTA, review and analyze regulations, develop strategies for underutilized properties, provide general guidance and assistance for the real estate program, and negotiate and manage concession agreements.
Through a key subcontractor, this company has worked for the past 11 years with the Massachusetts Bay Area Transportation Authority in developing and increasing real estate revenue.
In 2007 CTA generated more than $6.04 million in revenue from CTA-owned property such as retail concessions at rail stations and storefronts located near rail stations, Park & Ride facilities, Under ‘L’ parking and office space.
Prosecutor’s office commends arson witnesses
A pair of Chicago Cab Drivers whose quick thinking helped catch two arsonists were among those honored by Cook County States Attorney Richard A. Devine when he presented the 2008 Arson Prevention Awards July 17 at the Criminal Courts Building.
The awards, which are given by the Illinois Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, recognize citizens and officials whose cooperation and bravery led to the conviction of dangerous criminals.
In addition to the cab drivers, 10 other civilians will receive recognition and monetary awards for their assistance that has led to the successful prosecution of nearly a dozen individuals for arson.
Also being recognized are twenty members of the Chicago Police and Fire Departments, a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, a doctor at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood and a Sheriff’s Detective from Mercer County in downstate Illinois.
The Illinois Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention was created to encourage citizen cooperation with state and local authorities in the investigation and prosecution of arsonists. To report a suspected arson, individuals are encouraged to call the I.A.C.A.P at 1-800-252-2947 or their local law enforcement agency.
City sponsors free summer opera
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents its tenth annual free summer opera, Djamileh. A little-known gem by the composer of Carmen, this delightful opera follows the devoted, beautiful Djamileh in her quest to win over the blasé young nobleman Haroun. The sparkling mosaics of Preston Bradley Hall and its newly restored Tiffany stained glass dome serve as the backdrop to this tale of love in an Egyptian palace. An opening performance of music for oud and percussion explores the sounds of the Turkish nobleman’s court, setting the scene for an evocative evening.
Performances are on Sunday, August 3, 3:30 pm; Tuesday, August 5, 7:30 pm; and Thursday, August 7, 7:30 pm at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street. Admission is free but tickets are required. Tickets (limit four per person) must be obtained in person at the Storefront Theater Box Office, 66 E. Randolph Street. Hours are noon – 6 pm, Tuesday – Saturday. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call 312.742.TIXS.
The opera is directed by Patrizia Acerra and features Katherine Pracht (mezzo-soprano), Cornelius Johnson (tenor), and Bill McMurray (baritone), with members of the New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago under the direction of Maestro Francesco Milioto. The Summer Opera Chorus, which is comprised of some of Chicago’s brightest young students, is directed by Dr. Dana Brown. The set and costumes will be created by designers Carol Blanchard and Kurt Sharp. The opera is performed in English.
The opening musical presentation, performed by Chicago native Ronnie Malley (oud) and George Lawler (percussion), will consist of pieces from the Arabo-Andalusian tradition such as 1001 Nights, as well as classical Ottoman Turkish selections, including compositions by 18th century court composer Dimitrie Cantemir. Invoking the melodic ambiance that once resounded through the majestic homes of Mamluks and Sultans, this music sets the scene for the opera.
The opera tells the story of Haroun (Johnson), a spoiled young nobleman, who changes his mistress with every new moon, sending his servant Splendiano off to the Cairo slave market to buy them. The beautiful Djamileh (Pracht) has the misfortune to fall in love with Haroun and begs Splendiano (McMurray) to help her. He smuggles her in among the new girls so she can try once more to win Haroun’s heart. If she should fail, she agrees to give herself to Splendiano. The mysterious dancer entrances Haroun who buys her, and Djamileh gains one more chance to prove her love. When her identity is revealed, her loyalty and love wins Haroun’s heart.
City sponsors free jazz at Millennium Park
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Millennium Park and the Jazz Institute of Chicago present the savory sounds of Chicago jazz during six free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion this summer. Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz highlights jazz from Chicago, Central America, the Middle East and beyond. Every Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz concert kicks off with young, aspiring musicians from Chicago-area high schools as part of the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links Student Ensembles. Groups like the After School Matters Jazz Band improvise and show off their chops before the pros take the stage.
50 years of Bossa Nova featuring Paulinho Garcia’s Orquestra Brazzilli is slated for Thursday, July 24, 6:30 pm.
Celebrate the music of Brazil and 50 years of the Bossa Nova. This marriage of subtle Brazilian rhythms and American bebop jazz inspired the famous song “Girl from Ipanema” by StanGetz and Joao Gillberto. By blending jazz sensibilities with his native roots, Brazilian-born Chicago guitarist and singer Paulinho Garcia takes us on a journey to discover how the Bossa Nova came to be. Accompanied by the warm, pristine vocals of Grazyna Auguscik and a star-studded cast of Chicago musicians including Greg Fishman (saxophone), Jim Gailloreto and The Hawk String Quartet, this innovative ensemble is joined by special guests, Julien Labro (accordion) and bossa nova master musician João Donato (piano).
The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble will perform Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 pm. Inspired by Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra, the fifteen-piece Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble continues its multinational quest of incorporating Afro-Cuban jazz, Brazilian jazz, flamenco, Central American and Peruvian folkloric rhythms into their compositions while staying true to Latin jazz traditions. Founded by Mexican-born trumpeter/composer, Victor Garcia and Nicaraguan-born pianist/composer, Darwin Alejandro Noguera, tonight’s concert features Chicago’s finest Latin jazz performers, with guests Steve Turre (trombone, shells); Paoli Mejias (percussion); Howard Levy (piano/harmonica) and Brian Lynch (trumpet).
Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers Large Ensemble is sceduled for Thursday, August 7 at 6:30 pm.
The Chicago-born, Iraqi-American trumpeter and vocalist Amir ElSaffar fuses traditional Iraqi Maqam music with modern jazz in a new work written for a 16-piece ensemble of Arabic and Western instrumentation. In this concert, ElSaffar contrasts the Iraqi modalities with the heavy grooves and free textures of jazz, while still maintaining the feeling of the blues. The ensemble includes Chicagoans Jeff Parker (guitar); Rudresh Mahanthappa (alto saxophone); and Zafer Tawil (‘ud, violin, percussion) as well as Amir ElSaffar (trumpet, santoor, vocal); Tareq Abboushi (buzuq); Kinan Abou Afach (cello, ‘ud); Jason Adacewicz (vibes); Jeb Bishop (trombone); Geof Bradfield (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet); Carlo DeRosa (bass); Dena ElSaffar (violin, viola, jowza); Naeif Rafah (nay); Dave Rempis (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet); Nasheet Waits (drums) and Wanees Zarour (buzuq, violin, riqq).
Kelan Phil Cohran and The Legacy of Sun Ra is slated for Thursday, August 14, 6:30 pm. Composer, pianist and poet Sun Ra’s cosmic philosophy, rooted in the swing music of Fletcher Henderson led many to experiment with connecting new and old jazz traditions. Former Sun Ra band member, trumpeter, educator, composer and fellow shaman Kelan Phil Cohran continues to redefine this music. Cohran’s ensemble of instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers join his sons’ Hypnotic Brass Ensemble to celebrate the revolutionary tradition of Chicago’s creative music. Robert Irving III directs and performs on piano.
Celebrating Nat King Cole will be held Thursday, August 21 at 6:30 pm. Chicagoan Nat King Cole came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist, then switched to singing, becoming one of the most popular and best-known vocalists of all time. Jeff Lindberg’s Chicago Jazz Orchestra with Chicago chanteuse Audrey Morris along with Nat’s brother Freddy Cole – whose suave, elegant, and articulate vocals are among the most respected in jazz – pay tribute to the dancing fingers and velvet voice that wooed millions of listeners all over the world.
Mike Reed’s People Places and Things Octet will play Monday, August 25 at 6:30 pm.
Drummer Mike Reed’s People, Places and Things Quartet expands to feature three legendary Chicago jazz figures from the 50s and 60s: Art Hoyle (trumpet), Ira Sullivan (multi-instrumentalist), and Julian Priester (trombone), performing new music as well as re-inventions of the music they performed decades ago. Rounding out the octet will be Chicago musicians Greg Ward (saxophone), Tim Haldeman (saxophone), Jason Roebke (bass) and Jeb Bishop (trombone).
Michigan Avenue bridge work scheduled
Construction work on the Michigan Avenue bridge over the Chicago River will begin early next year, according to Phil Nevin, Planning Director of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Assoc.
“Improvements will include installation of a new upper-level sidewalk, replacing the existing railing with a replica of the original design and the installation of new lighting of the sidewalks, roadways and flags,” Nevin writes in a neighborhood flier.
$25 million needed to repair Buckingham Fountain
Parkways Foundation, which raises private funds for projects within the Chicago Park District, announced July 21 an initiative to raise $5 million to support the $25 million renovation and restoration of the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain in Grant Park. One of Chicago’s most iconic attractions, Buckingham Fountain will not be changed aesthetically through the renovation. However, the infrastructure and sculptural elements require extensive repair to preserve Grant Park’s crown jewel. The renovation is scheduled for the 2008 – 2009 off-season which begins Sept. 2, 2008, re-opening of the fountain is scheduled for April 1, 2009.
“Parkways Foundation decided to launch this initiative because historic preservation has been a main focus of the organization since its inception,” said Denise Stefan, president of Parkways Foundation. “Parkways has funded park projects throughout Chicago neighborhoods, raising millions of dollars toward historic preservation, programming initiatives and environmental enrichment. We are happy to have the opportunity to do the same for Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park.”
In addition to replacing deteriorated infrastructure and addressing conservation treatment of the fountain’s sculptural elements, the renovation will include a restoration of the perimeter pathways and rehabilitation of the surrounding landscape. The Fountain also will be updated to include complete American Disabilities Act accessibility improvements. The most noticeable changes will include the restored pathways and landscaping at the four corners of the fountain site, which were altered from the original 1927 plan. In the 1930s, the plan changed from simple linear paths to a complex oval layout with a radiating network of paths, interplanted with Hawthorne trees. By 1985 the oval paths were completely removed and replaced with grass, and the Hawthornes began to deteriorate. Through this renovation, the original plan of simple linear paths will be restored and lined with benches for additional seating, complemented by new trees in the corners of the landscape.
“Buckingham Fountain has become Chicago’s greatest and most recognizable icon for millions of tourists that visit our great city each year, as well as an architectural icon for those of us who call Chicago home,” said Timothy J. Mitchell, Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO. “Announced last year during the 80th birthday anniversary, the renovation and restoration of this fountain will be funded more than half by private funders. Public-private partnerships are essential in helping preserve not only our neighborhood parks, but important landmarks that represent the history and grandeur of Chicago to the rest of the world.”
The renovation project team is headed by Thompson Dyke & Associates, in collaboration with Klein & Hoffman Structural Engineers, Delta Engineering, McKay Lodge Fine Arts Conservation Laboratory, UrbanWorks Architects, Charter Sills Lighting Design, and Wet Fountain Design.
Parkways Foundation has secured a commitment from Charter One to donate funds to the renovation project, marking the first corporate gift pledged to aid the initiative. Donation levels will be determined as more project details are confirmed.
Restoration was performed on the fountain in 1994, concentrating solely on the central portion of the fountain. The 2008 renovation is necessary, as the pool bottom surface of the 280-foot outer basin slab has disintegrated and requires complete replacement. In addition, plumbing and electrical piping are severely corroded, and 80 years of freeze-thaw cycles in Chicago’s climate have caused natural deterioration of the granite, marble and bronze sculptural elements.
In the coming months, Parkways Foundation will announce ways Chicagoans can contribute to the renovation efforts to preserve Buckingham Fountain.
For more information about the Buckingham Memorial Fountain renovation or to donate to the cause, please visit www.restore
thefountain.com.
Feds say county jail overcrowded, inadequate
The Cook County Jail – the nation’s largest single-site county jail – systematically violates inmates’ federal constitutional rights, according to the findings of a 17-month investigation made public July 17 by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Key findings of the investigation conclude that the jail has failed to adequately protect inmates from harm and serious risk of harm, including physical harm caused by inappropriate and excessive force used by staff and violence by other inmates; failed to provide adequate medical and mental health care, including suicide prevention; and failed to provide adequate environmental conditions, including fire safety and sanitation, all resulting in unconstitutional living conditions.
The Cook County jail consists of multiple buildings located on 96 acres on Chicago’s West Side, with a daily population of approximately 9,800 adult male and female inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial in the state criminal court system. In 2006, the jail admitted 99,663 inmates. It is staffed by approximately 3,800 sworn law enforcement officers and civilian employees.
The comprehensive findings were contained in a 98-page letter that was delivered on July 11 to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger and Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. The federal investigation, which began in February 2007, was conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal civil rights law that authorizes the Attorney General to investigate and root out systemic abuses of persons confined in adult detention and correctional facilities. The law allows the United States to file a lawsuit to force correction of deficiencies 49 days after the appropriate local officials have been notified of the violations. The county officials were given some time to study the findings as a courtesy before they were made public today.
“The Cook County Jail has an obligation to provide conditions of confinement that do not offend the Constitution and take reasonable measures to protect inmates from harm,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “This investigation clearly found that the jail failed that test. We are hopeful that county officials will continue the cooperation they demonstrated during the investigation so that remedies for these serious violations can be brought about.”
The findings letter commends jail staff for providing complete cooperation during the investigation, adding they were receptive to on-site recommendations made during two week-long visits conducted last year from June 18-22 and July 23-27. The letter concludes with 18 pages of specific minimal remedial measures that should be implemented to correct the constitutional shortcomings, which attorneys and expert consultants identified during the site visits and by reviewing documents dating back to January 2006.
Conditions at the jail since 2006 have resulted in serious harm to inmates, the letter states. Three inmates committed suicide in the first four months of 2008 alone, and the investigation identified multiple preventable inmate deaths and a preventable amputation, due to inadequate medical care. In 2006, separate incidents of unchecked inmate violence resulted in two inmate deaths. In a one-week period in March 2007, the jail documented 35 inmate fights, requiring 27 uses of force, and the confiscation of 46 weapons held by inmates.
“Lack of adequate security staff, insufficient direct supervision ..., a dilapidated physical plant, inadequate policies and procedures, and an overcrowded environment combine to result in an unsecure facility that is dangerous for everyone on the premises,” the letter states.
And despite the existence of court orders, “a myriad of unconstitutional practices remain” at the jail, the letter adds. The current court orders either do not include specific provisions governing the deficiencies found or have not resulted in lasting or effective corrective measures.
Inmates are regularly subjected to inappropriate and excessive use of physical force, the investigation found. Frequent use of force was attributed to: officers too often responding to inmates’ verbal insults by physically striking them, often with the active assistance of other officers; to inmates’ failures to follow instructions; or as punishment – even when inmates provide no threat to anyone’s safety or to the jail’s security. Even when the initial use of force was reasonable, officers sometimes continued to engage in physical force after inmates were brought under control or were effectively restrained, the investigation found. The letter cites one example in which an inmate was hospitalized and placed on a respiratory ventilator after being beaten by several officers
Inadequate supervision puts staff as well as inmates at risk, the investigation found. Unsafe conditions, an increased risk of violence, and an abundance of undetected dangerous and illegal contraband has caused serious injury to inmates. In less than two months in the spring of 2006, inmates reportedly engaged in at least seven separate knife fights that resulted in serious injuries to at least 33 inmates and seven correctional officers, including one inmate death.
According to the letter, inmates were required to ask repeatedly and sometimes futilely for necessary medical and mental health treatment. One inmate was punished for repeatedly asking to have surgical staples removed from his head and sutures from his arm. Overall, the jail’s incomplete or faulty medical and mental health assessments contribute to constitutionally inadequate care.
The letter notes that all corrections and security functions at the jail are administered by the Cook County Department of Corrections under the Cook County Sheriff, while health care services are provided by Cermak Health Services of Cook County, a part of the Cook County Bureau of Health. “Although health care and security issues require a degree of separation in all correctional facilities ..., the complete division between corrections and health care operations at CCJ results in serious administrative problems, including increased frustration, communication breakdowns and finger-pointing,” the letter states.
In addition, electrical hazards were found throughout the housing areas, and plumbing deficiencies abound, the investigation found. One tier, designed to house 44 inmates and which was holding 60 during a site visit, had exposed wiring in the dayroom, all three sinks in the toilet area were out of order, and two of the three showers were inoperable. These deficiencies were not unusual: the findings letter states that a review of work orders generated between February and July 2007 showed 2,715 work orders uncompleted, including many that were more than four months old.
Some of the worst conditions were identified in the jail’s intake unit, known as the Receiving, Classification, and Diagnostics Center (RCDC), which was singled out as especially egregious in most every area. “The RCDC is chronically overcrowded, cramped, chaotic and insufficiently staffed,” according to the findings. |
