Chicagotalks » In the Loop

No tickets for broken meters in Loop

Chicagotalks — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:42:02 +0000

Mary Winiewski reports in the Sun-Times that

The city’s Department of Revenue has temporarily suspended issuing parking tickets for metered spaces in the Loop today because of problems with broken pay-and-display meter boxes

via City: No tickets for broken meters in Loop :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Transportation.

DIY: TECH cocktail where you can make friends and connections at the same time.

Barbara Iverson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:22:08 +0000

Times are hard. Not every graduate has his or her dream job. What's a struggling young professional to do? When the going gets tough, the techies go networking.

If you have an interest in technology, as in being online, working online, creating a the next "killer app," or just networking to find collaborators to help you create the startup business you know will succeed, first check out the Chicago TECH cocktail site , and then their events. TECH cocktail is an umbrella social network site with lots of local sites, designed as "A community for developers, designers, bloggers, technology enthusiasts & entrepreneurs interested in technology in local communities". As a student, going to events like those sponsored by TECH cocktail, will let you discover opportunities you hadn't heard or thought of. It is a way to meet people to find out about internships, "the next big thing," and to begin to establish your "brand" in the world beyond school. Lest it sound too serious, it is also a social event, where you can meet new friends F2F, instead of online.

See TECH cocktail COMMUNITY in action.

In April, they are sponsoring Startup Weekend , an intense 54 hour event aimed at bringing brilliant tech minds (developers, designers, marketers, etc.) together. The idea is to get people connected and working to create a company (or as many as the community wants) from concept to launch!

The idea of Startup Weekend is to combine fun and business, in a highly interactive weekend that encourages technology entrepreneurship. Over the weekend of April 3-5th, there will be Startup Weekend events in many other cities, pitting Chicago's best minds against the rest of the "technosphere."

To learn more about Startup Weekend Chicago please visit the website. http://chicago.startupweekend.com/ or to register, go to http://chicagostartupweekend.eventbrite.com/

ITA is the host for Startup Weekend Chicago at their Tech Nexus space located at 200 South Wacker Drive – 15th Floor.

Categories:
At Work DIY In the Loop Money Matters New Story Public Techology

“Congo/Women” loom large at multimedia meeting of arts, culture, and social action

Barbara Iverson — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:30:35 +0000

Come to see the exhibit. Learn how to stand with these remarkable, yet ordinary, women. Find out how to stand with them and support their struggle for peace, an end to violence, and health.

CONGO/Women Portraits of War: The Democratic Republic of Congo
Launch of National Exhibition and Educational Campaign: Chicago / Washington, DC / New York City

Opening Reception February 5, 5:00-7:00pm. FREE

Program at 6:15pm

Special Guest Speakers:

Jimmie Briggs Journalist and author, “Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War,”
UN Goodwill Ambassador and Special Envoy for Children and Armed Conflict. Flo Nlandu Member of the Congolese community and New Community Church of Chicago, serving African immigrants from French-speaking countries.

Paid Parking: CPS parking lot available between 9th and 11th Street. Enter off Wabash Avenue.
Local Transportation: CTA bus routes 1, 3, 4. Trains to Roosevelt Station — Red, Green, Orange lines

February 5–14, 2009. Columbia College Chicago, 1006 S. Michigan Ave. Tue-Sat 12-6pm.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment Global In the Loop Politics Public Social Issues

Chicago Bucket Boys

Nick Orichuia — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:27:03 +0000

Jan. 28, 2009

Chicago Bucket Boys from Nick Orichuia on Vimeo.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment City Life Editor’s Choice In the Loop Music Public Videos & Slideshows Youth Matters
Tags:
music street performers youth

Berry Chill ‘berry’ good all year long

Margaret Smith — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:12:20 +0000

Jan. 22, 2009 – Michael Farah’s phone is buzzing again. Leaning back against his chair, he glances down quickly, looking at it vibrate on the table in front of him. He just got off the phone with an investor, but he has to answer this next call, he explains after politely excusing himself. It’s about his trip to Israel at the end of the week, where he’s going to meet with another potential business associate. It seems everyone wants to get their hands on some Berry Chill.

Or, at the very least, be able to enjoy its light, creamy taste in their mouth.

Opened last March, Berry Chill has become one of Chicago’s most popular spots to get a sweet treat. Berry Chill sells frozen yogurt made with live, active cultures, replacing the artificial chemicals found in most frozen yogurts to help maintain a healthy digestive track and immune system. The result is a healthy indulgence that anyone can enjoy.

Especially Chicago citizens, it seems.

With three locations spread out around the city, Berry Chill’s bright, lime green walls, spotless white plastic tables and chairs and bustling business have become common around the downtown area. And, with plans to open new locations in Belmont and at the Merchandise Mart by the end of the year, that image isn’t going away any time soon.

Berry Chill’s success isn’t just all about the yogurt, though. The store has a whole business concept to match its product – promoting a fun, healthy lifestyle that’s all about making people feel good, inside and out.

It all began with 30-year-old founder and CEO Michael Farah. If it weren’t for the Berry Chill baseball cap donned on his head, you wouldn’t even be able to tell him apart from his customers half the time, because he’s always walking around in a baggy sweater with a dish of yogurt in hand.

Farah, an avid frozen yogurt fan, says it all started when he saw all of the popular frozen yogurt stands popping up on the West Coast. He thought he could do it better.

“I really wanted to do an all natural yogurt concept,” Farah said. “There’s a lot of people that are doing something similar, but they weren’t using all natural products, so it wasn’t truly healthy for you – it wasn’t real yogurt.”

In order to fall under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s official definition of yogurt, the product must be produced by mixing authorized dairy ingredients with a specialized culture that contains the bacteria lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus. This yogurt may contain other live and active cultures that are safe and healthy, as well.

Since frozen yogurt is a non-standardized food, however, it is not subject to these standards.In fact, according to the National Yogurt Association’s website, AboutYogurt.com, some “frozen yogurt” products use a heat-treated procedure to develop their yogurt. This process heats the yogurt after culturing, killing the beneficial bacteria and live and active cultures.

That’s not the case with Farah’s Berry Chill frozen yogurt, or yogurt couture, as they like to call it. With the help of local gastroenterologist Dr. Mitchell S. Kaplan, as well as other dairy and yogurt scientists, Farah created a dessert made from real frozen yogurt.It contains 12 different probiotics, microorganisms introduced into the body for all kinds of health benefits. Not only that, but Berry Chill yogurt is both gluten and lactose free.Compare that to the artificial chemicals and the two or three bacterial you’ll find in most frozen yogurts.

“You know, I didn’t want to take an article or just take some research as the fact of what we’re going to go by,” Farah said. “I wanted an actual doctor to bounce off our information from and have an educated discussion about what people need and what people are looking for that have digestion problems.”

That weird, processed taste in your mouth, the bloated, heavy feeling you get after you’re done eating, and that slow, steady gurgling rumbling in the pit of your stomach – it’s these reactions Farah’s tried to avoid with his Berry Chill concept.

“When you go to Coldstone or a Jamba Juice or one of those places, sometimes you feel sick after eating, because they’re using artificial flavoring and artificial colors,” Farah said. “You’re body doesn’t react the right way to eating it.Our yogurt just leaves a fresh taste in your mouth.”

For many, the best part is the calorie count.Without the toppings, each ounce of Berry Chill yogurt couture is about 20 calories, or 120 calories for a small scoop.

“It’s not surprising people have heard about this,” said Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian in the Chicago area and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “Nutritionally, Berry Chill has slight advantages.It tends to have less fat and more protein.”

Blatner also likes Berry Chill so much because the National Yogurt Association gave the yogurt their Live and Active Cultures seal. Frozen yogurt with this seal of approval has at least 10 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture.According to Blatner, these live, active cultures really provide the extra health benefits to your immune system and digestive track.

“Everyone’s becoming more health conscious,” Farah said. “The amount of people that are lactose intolerant is on the rise, people that have gluten allergies are becoming a lot more prevalent, so I wanted to create a product that wasn’t just treated as a dessert.”

Not to say that Berry Chill can’t be your dessert of choice, however.When ordering a scoop of Berry Chill yogurt couture, customers can choose from up to four different flavors.They can have either the light, tangy, standard original or one of the three unique flavors of the month that Berry Chill fans vote for online. What’ll be the choice this time, the sweet and spicy Pumpkin Spice? Rich Chocolate Amaretto? Or Mint Chocolate that leaves a fresh taste in your mouth and on your breath?

Each scoop of yogurt can also be ordered with as many of Berry Chill’s 42 assorted toppings as you like. Three rows of small, metal containers are displayed in the front glass casing, lined up one after another as your eyes are drawn to all the bright colors like a kid in a candy store – literally. For your sweet tooth there’s cereal, chocolate chips, cookies, sprinkles and various candies.You can make your yogurt even healthier, too, with options like granola, assorted nuts and fresh fruit that’s cut daily.

But even after the low calorie count, fresh taste and extra health benefits, Berry Chill still tries to give you more.

Just look at the store’s hours. Looking for somewhere quick to get a yummy bite to eat before you finally head home after a late Friday or Saturday night? Their downtown location on the corner of State and Ontario Street is open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 a.m. on the weekends. According to Benjamin Foreman, a Berry Chill managing partner, customers appreciate it, too.

“It’s just a lot of things other companies aren’t,” Foreman said. “For example, you go to Starbucks and put money on your card, and you don’t get anything from it.With the Berry Chill Culture Club card, you get a 10 percent bonus every time you add money, and 3 percent of each sale goes to a different charity.”

Charities include Girl Scouts of America, Meals on Wheels and the American Red Cross, and Foreman said they hope to cater their charities toward individual communities as they expand.

And Berry Chill delivers via smart cars or Esynergy scooters, a three-wheel, stand-up ride that resembles a Segway. There’s no delivery charge, but orders must be a minimum of $20.

“There’s no frozen yogurt places that deliver,” Farah said. “We wanted to have something different about ours with that.”

Different – maybe that word, more than anything, describes the Berry Chill concept.

“We just kind of wing it,” Farah said. “We experiment and we find out what works and what doesn’t work.”

Categories:
Business Editor’s Choice Food In the Loop Public
Tags:
business downtown food dessert

Writers on Record featuring Booker Prize winning novelist Barry Unsworth

Barbara Iverson — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:10:08 +0000

Categories:
Art & Entertainment City Life In the Loop New Story Public
Tags:
chicago public library writers

Shelter to school conversion sign of the times in South Loop

Christine Iversen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:26:11 +0000

Jan. 6, 2009 – With the demolition of the former Pacific Garden Mission building on South State Street complete, Jones College Preparatory High School is gearing up for big change in 2009. Chicago Public Schools has changed construction plans for the now-empty lot immediately south of the school from an extension to a new seven-story, $130 million building.

The school council announced the change at an open meeting in late November where students, parents and community members gathered to discus the expansion. According to the council, the new building will hold up to 1,200 students, a 60 percent increase over current 750-student capacity.

"I think it's a good thing," said Christina Richards, a student at Jones, "because a lot of people don't like that there's not a gym right now. It will probably bring more people here."

Richards, now a junior, will probably not be around to see the completion of the new facility, as there has been no date set at this time to begin construction.

"It's disappointing because they have been talking about adding a gym and pool since I was applying here," Richards said, "but it's good that future students will get to have them."

The selective college preparatory school will also open its doors to the growing south loop population in connection with the South Loop Elementary School located just south of Roosevelt Road in Dearborn Park.

"With the growing population in the South Loop," said Joseph Powers, the principal of Jones, at the meeting, "CPS would like very much for us to, in addition to serving a citywide function through the selective-enrollment process, serve in some way the neighborhood population as well."

It is estimated that the 2010 census will show that the Loop is the fastest neighborhood in the city. As quickly as the Loop population is growing, so is the number of family households with children, said Von Deluna of the Chicago Loop Alliance.

There have been no official plans to set the enrollment boundaries, according to Tom Kubiak, President of the Local Student Council. Powers emphasized that the community needed to come up with a plan that illustrates how the shift to the new facility would work.

"I think it says something about the community that they are willing to invest so much in our children's education," said Katherine Wright, a resident in Printer's Row and mother of four-year-old Gabby Wright. "I'm seeing more and more children in the area and, it's important that we plan for their future education."

The current building, located at 606 S. State St., will be sold, and the new building will be funded with $90 million in tax increment financing and the remaining $40 million from CPS. Previous plans for the vacant lot included a gymnasium, a library and a pool.

"I've lived here for some time now, and it's quite a switch to see the mission giving way to a new high school," said Wright. "It just goes to show how much the neighborhood has changed. I'm sure that it will continue to do so."

Categories:
Editor’s Choice In the Loop Planning & Development Public Schools & Education
Tags:
chicago public schools jones college prep south loop

Economic Hard Times Hit South Loop

Christine Iversen — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:07:55 +0000

Dec. 10, 2008 – It is touted as being one of the hottest and fastest-growing residential neighborhoods in the city, but despite the rapid rise in development that has occurred in this trendy area, even the South Loop is not safe from the ill effects of the looming recession.

It is perhaps most evident at night, when the myriad of new condominium buildings stand tall and dark against the city's skyline. The construction on most of these buildings has come to an end and residents of the purchased units are fully moved in. But their lit-up windows are outnumbered by dark, empty units.

In an annual West Loop Town Hall meeting in late November, Ald. Robert Fioretti of the South Loop's 2^nd Ward addressed the crowd of constituents about a rise in home foreclosures in the neighborhood.

"They're happening right here in this community," Fioretti said. "In the condos, in homes. We are in a tough economic crisis."

According to Fioretti, there have been approximately 500 South Loop foreclosures in the last year.

"Five hundred families are no longer paying taxes, that means 500 empty homes, 500 boarded-up homes," he said. "And if we don't find a way to end this financial crisis, then we're going to have a city that has a lot of problems."

A report by Appraisal Research Counselors said that the downtown market had only 161 condominium sales in the third quarter of 2008. That is the lowest number of sales since the downturn in 2001 that followed the 9/11 attacks.

"Sales have definitely slowed, as have rentals," said Ken Baker, a Prudential real estate agent in the South Loop. "It's a tough time for everyone, and even with reduced sales prices, not many people have the ability to buy right now."

According to the Downtown Chicago Residential Benchmark Report, there were 74 new-construction condominiums, 62 condo conversion units, 25 adaptive-reuse lofts and one new town home in the third quarter.

Despite the housing crisis, construction and development in the South Loop does continue. While condo sales may be down, the economy has not yet stunted the ever-growing number of students in the loop.

A joint venture of two Chicago-based area estate firms, L&H Real Estate Group and Brownstone Realty & Development Co., has requested a zoning change that would allow for a new dormitory in the East Loop. The current owners of the Buckingham, an existing 456-bed dormitory, submitted the request with the intention to connect the 37- floor building at 51 through 67 E. Van Buren St. to the neighboring building.

The new and existing dorms together would comprise 1,677 beds, which would make it the second largest student housing facility in the city, second to the University Center on State Street, which holds 1,720 beds.

In 2007, according to Chicago Loop Alliance, 2,858 students lived in the loop, a population that is largely responsible for the development of businesses in the once deserted central business district.

"I'm sure that we put a ton of money into the local economy," said Ida Gretch, a student at DePaul University. "Hopefully it will be enough to keep the businesses afloat while they wait for new residents to buy the empty condos."

Categories:
At Home Business City Life Editor’s Choice In the Loop Money Matters Planning & Development Public Youth Matters
Tags:
alderman bob fioretti financial crisis foreclosure south loop

Lollapalooza Contract Under Review By Grant Park Community and Park District

Alyx Sariol — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:29:39 +0000

Nov. 12, 2008 – Residents living in the Grant Park area gathered to express their concerns and offer suggestions regarding a proposed 10-year contract extension with the organizers of the Lollapalooza festival on Monday night.

The last-minute Grant Park Advisory Council meeting was held at the Daley Fieldhouse to discuss the contract, which would keep Lollapalooza in Grant Park until 2018, before the Park District Board votes on matter Nov. 12.

The proposed contract extension between the Chicago Park District, the Parkways Foundation and C3 Presents is very similar to the current 5-year contract already in place, with the exception that the amount of money raised by the festival and put back into the city’s parks will increase.

“It’s basically an extension of the current contract,” said Brenda Palms, executive director of Parkways Foundation. “The money that goes into Grant Park is never at risk whether or not the festival is successful.”

Last year, the festival raised $1.6 million for the Chicago Park District, which was dispersed throughout the city’s parks. They negotiated that a minimum of 10 percent of the money raised is to be pumped back into Grant Park.

“We’re trying to get as much money in Grant Park as possible from Lollapalooza,” said Bob O’Neill, director of the Grant Park Advisory Council. “Last year, over $130,000 was put back into the park.”

Resident Thom Alcazar challenged the details and negotiations of the contract, suggesting that the neighborhood should’ve had an opportunity to compare it to similar contracts in other cities to ensure they are making an informed decision.

“There has never been an intelligent lease that a city has entered into. Are we doing a smart, good negotiation?” said Alcazar.

Along with concerns about the contract details, residents expressed their displeasure with the state of the park after the festival is over. Resident Alison Dallmer noted that months after the festival has taken place, there are still things in the park that are in desperate need of repair.

“For all the great work and all the great money that you’re saying is going in, there is an awful lot of continual disrepair and it’s upsetting,” said Dallmer, noting the crumbling concrete steps along the lakefront.

O’Neill acknowledged the problem and has been filing complaints with the city to get them fixed using the Lollapalooza generated funds.

“We will, as we do with all these projects, get those taken care of,” said O’Neill.

In addition to voicing their concerns, community members offered up suggestions as to how the money should be distributed to enhance Grant Park.

John Methvin, representing the Chicago Skateboarding Association, proposed using the funds to create a permanent skate park replicating a downtown plaza to replace the current temporary facility located at Balbo and Columbus.

“It would be more of a European garden style plaza that would accent the look of Grant Park,” said Methvin, who thinks that skateboarders would be less interested in skating illegally downtown if they had a better facility to use.

Other suggestions included using the funds to improve Queen’s Island, create a natural and organic lawn display in the park, and find a sod alternative to keep Butler Field in better shape.

The Park District Board will vote on whether or not to allow the Lollapalooza contract extension at their regular meeting at 4 p.m. today.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment Business Editor’s Choice In the Loop Local Politics Parks & Public Land Planning & Development Politics Public
Tags:
grant park lollapalooza parks

10,000 Muslims pray at Toyota Park

Chicagotalks — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:51:40 +0000

10,000 Muslims line up behind Imam Jamal Said to participate in the Eid prayer on Oct. 12 in Toyota Park.

Submitted on 10/29/2008

Story by Meha Ahmad

As the Islamic holy month Ramadan came to a close Oct. 12, Muslims gathered to celebrate the Eid holiday. In Bridgeview, about 10,000 Muslims attended the Mosque Foundation’s popular Eid prayer and festivities, which included face-painting and moon bounces for children and a marketplace to buy holiday gifts.

This was the first year the event was held at Toyota Park, Bridgeview’s outdoor sports arena and home stadium of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.

“Every year, I pray the Eid salah (prayer) with the mosque, and this is the best time my kids and I have had at it,” said lawyer Mosa Elmosa, a member of the Mosque Foundation for 13 years who took his five young sons to the prayer, then the marketplace afterwards to choose their Eid presents.

It was a very organized and inspirational event, Elmosa said. Usually, the prayer is split into groups in different venues at different times, to accommodate the large number of worshippers. This year was different with masses of people together.

“There was no division,” Elmosa said. “It felt especially good to be Muslim that day.”

Ihdah Salem, 19, a sophomore at St. Xavier University, had a similar experience. Salem, whose mother is part of the mosque’s Women’s Committee, was at the Toyota Park at 8 a.m. that Friday with her mother and sisters to volunteer and stayed long after the three-hour event was over to clean up. Salem said she was glad to be a part it.

“This was the best Eid prayer I ever experienced,” said Salem, who was impressed with the sight of thousands of her community gathered in one place. “It was really nice to have Muslims from surrounding areas not just the Bridgeview mosque and see everyone come together.”

Mosque officials chose Toyota Park because of the large space and parking capacity. The soccer stadium was also chosen for spiritual reasons, said Imam Jamal Said, the director of the mosque.

“It is also from the tradition of our Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) to lead Eid prayer outside in the fresh air.”

Ramadan is the most spiritual time of the year for Muslims, a month when they fast from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan ends and Eid begins with the sighting of the new moon.

This means Eid is not a predetermined date, which makes reserving a space, such as Toyota Park, somewhat difficult. The Eid was set for Oct. 12 or 13, but Muslims weren’t sure which day to celebrate until Oct. 11 after the moon sighting, mosque officials said.

“We reserved the park for both Friday and Saturday,” said Imam Said, who led the massive prayer. Though both dates were reserved, the mosque was not charged double, but only for the day they used. “We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of Toyota Park officials.”

The mosque is undergoing a $4.9 million expansion project that will more than double its size but currently cannot accommodate the Eid prayer, the most attended of the year. The expansion is expected to be finished in February 2008.

Meanwhile, Muslims have another Eid holiday to celebrate at the end of December.

Most likely, the second Eid prayer won’t be in Toyota Park due to probable weather conditions, said Dahoud Shalabi, the event planner and member of the mosque’s board of directors. However, he and the mosque’s other imams hope Eid can be held at Toyota Park whenever weather permits, he said.

Although many Muslims in attendance had a fun and spiritual experience, there are a few who don’t want a repeat.

“I think if we have to move [to another venue] next year, the expansion’s pointless,” said 21-year-old Jihan Zughayyar of Tinley Park. Zughayyar said she thought the point of the mosque expanding was to fit the community at large. After the expansion is complete, she believes all prayers should be conducted there.

“This year was fun and organized, but I would rather pray in the masjid (mosque) than in a soccer field.”

But it doesn’t look like Zughayyar and others like her will get their way.

The expansion will accommodate the regular prayers, the always-packed Friday prayers, and most likely the nightly Ramadan prayers, said the mosque’s religious director, Imam Kifah Moustapha. But mosque officials said they strongly believe the expansion will not accommodate all the Eid worshippers, especially after seeing the 10,000-plus that filled Toyota Park this month.

Board member Dahoud Shalabi sees both sides of the issue.

“I think both places have khair (benefits),” Shalabi said. “Toyota Park offers space, parking and easy access but Toyota Park will never be bayt Allah (‘House of God’). Still, I truly believe this was a tremendous event.”

Categories:
In the Loop Public Religion & Spirituality

New Schools 2009, Part 1 of 3: Corporate Sponsored Tech School to Open in Loop

Dimitrios Kalantzis — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:50:14 +0000

Oct. 27, 2008 – Starting in fall 2009, high school students more interested in joining the robotics team than playing on a sports team will have a new school to attend in the Loop, Chicago's commercial and financial hub.

The Chicago Academy for Advanced Technology, one of 12 new schools unanimously approved by the Chicago Board of Education last Wednesday, will admit 150 students citywide who are interested in careers in business technology.

More than 76 major U.S. companies, including Microsoft and IBM, have already signed on to support the Chicago Academy for Advanced Technology, offering to teach classes, make presentations and offer paid internships to students.

"There are few schools in Chicago that can rival our industry investment," said Matt Hancock, assistant director of the Center for Polytechnical Education, the non-profit corporation that will operate the new contract school.

This will be the second school the non-profit operates in Chicago. Last year, the center founded Austin Polytechnical Academy , which presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) recently praised.

"Austin Polytech is bringing hope back to the community," Obama said on a Sept. 9 campaign stop in Ohio. Obama said Austin's technology curriculum should be a national model as the U.S. moves to revive its technology industry.

Hancock of the Center for Polytechnical Education, agrees. The academy, he said, will teach students how "to be leaders in the global economy."

The key, Hancock said, is to combine the two existing Chicago Public Schools (CPS) educational models of college prep and vocational education. "Offering college prep without career prep," Hancock said of the two typical CPS high school curricula, "makes no sense. You need both."

Tamra Craig, an account manager at Nortel, another company supporting the new school, is excited about the possibilities of a technology-based high school located in the city laboratory of Chicago.

"It'll be easy to get to," said Craig, who hopes the school's location will attract many more industry employees.

"There are a number of good schools, like Whitney Young and Walter Payton," said Hancock, "that students already commute to from all over the city. Why not commute to the Loop?"

There are more than 75 elementary and high schools in Chicago that are not part of CPS. These include charter schools, performance schools and contract schools, which must first be approved by the Board of Education. More than 12,000 CPS students are currently on waiting lists for admissions to one of these non-CPS schools, almost four percent of the current CPS student population.

Proponents of charter schools say they offer teachers and administrators more flexibility to be creative with teaching methods.

"They're more adaptable to the community," said Christina Vera, director of communications of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.

"Charters are more autonomous," said Vera, and "not subject to bureaucratic regulations."

It is this autonomy, Hancock said, which will shape the student body and staff of Chicago Academy of Advanced Technology. The school is less interested in a student's past academic performance, he said, and more interested in their creative drive.

Admission to the Chicago Academy of Advanced Technology is open to students of all academic backgrounds, but students of math and science schools, like Spencer Academy on the West Side, will be given preference.

The Center for Polytechnical Education is nearing a deal for a Loop location for the school, Hancock said, and will most likely announce it next week. He said a principal has been hired, but declined to release her name, saying she has a "strong track record" from a high-profile New York City high school.

Each year the school will admit 150 new students with a four-year cap of 600. More than 400 CPS students are expected to apply before the 2009 school year.

Click here to read part two of this three-part series.

Categories:
At Work Editor’s Choice In the Loop Planning & Development Public Schools & Education Techology Youth Matters
Tags:
board of education charter school chicago public schools

Free Blues at Columbia Noon on October 30.

Chicagotalks — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:10:18 +0000

Listen to Fernando

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Art & Entertainment In the Loop Public
Tags:
blues concert fernando jones music

“On the Road” Exhibit Parked in Chicago at Museum of Contemporary Photography

Barbara Iverson — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:35:06 +0000

The Museum of Contemporary Photography is pleased to present several coordinated exhibitions in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road. This is part of a year-long College-wide celebration of Beat culture. The centerpiece of this activity will be the original manuscript scroll of On the Road, on view at the Center for Book and Paper Arts. Click the image to read more.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment In the Loop Public

Photographer John H. White shares “PJ” love with students, area photojournalists

Barbara Iverson — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:02:57 +0000

In 1958 photographer Art Kane shot his iconic picture "A Great Day in Harlem" featuring jazz greats assembled on the stoop of a Harlem apartment building. Getting everyone together for the photo was so tricky that it is the subject of a documentary.

On Saturday April 14th, 2007, Pulitzer-prize winning photographer John White and Columbia College Chicago photojournalism or "PJ" students as they refer to themselves, assembled a group of photojournalists from far and wide to show work and talk to students and the public. An effort to take a group photo proved almost as elusive as the day in Harlem, as the group tried to find a space large enough to hold them all, eventually spilling out onto Wabash and taking the shot at Wabash and Congress.

Group tries a hallway, but it is too small. Photo by B. Iverson

Group moves outside and deed is done. Photo by B.Iverson

The official sessions featured Tasos Katopodis, Columbia alum and freelance photographer; Eric Unger, alum, Pulitzer Prize winner, and staff photographer at Crain's Chicago Business; and Pablo Martinez Monsivais, alum, Pulitzer-prize winner and AP photographer who is in the White House pool these days and was the event's keynote speaker.

The "Women in Photojournalism" panel featured Stacey Westcott of The Chicago Tribune; Laura Stoecker of The Daily Herald; freelancer Stacie Freudenberg; Iwona Bieder Mann, director of Dreambox Foto Gallery; and moderator Barbara Iverson, faculty member in Journalism Columbia College's journalism department.

More than 70 photographers, photojournalists and other folks with an interest in photography filled the Journalism Department's mini-auditorium at 33 E. Congress for the day-long event. Student photojournalists from Columbia and other schools around the Chicago-area rubbed elbows with veteran professional photojournalists, including Bob Black, Jason Han and Karen Kring. Kathy de Foe got an award for traveling the farthest as she came to town from Minneapolis.

John White presented slides and spoke on "The Soul of Photojournalism." He emphasized that all the photos he showed were taken near the Loop and Columbia College, and that a good "PJ" could take the mundane, humanize it and make outstanding pictures.

There were raffle prizes donated by Central Camera all day. But the highlight came at the end of the event when the winners of the juried Portfolio contest were announced. Runner-up Réne Edde won a week-long freelance opportunity at Pioneer Press.

First prize, a PAID internship at Crain's Chicago business, a John H. White print and a portfolio critique by Eric Unger went to Tina Wagner.

You can join the photojournalism students' listserv and get more information from their blog.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment In the Loop Public
Tags:
columbiacollegechicago johnwhite journalism photojournalism

Second Bedroom

Chicagotalks — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:00:09 +0000

What is Second Bedroom Project Space?

Story by Amy Rudberg

June 17, 2008 – Second Bedroom is a spare bedroom that Chris Smith has in his Morgan Street apartment in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. Smith and Irene Perez turned it into a project space for artists.

Before they decided to start the project, the bedroom was a storage space for Smith’s excess junk. The idea was triggered while they cleaned and edited the contents of the space. That’s when they realized the room could function as anything they wanted.

They decided to turn the private space into something for the public or in their case, since they are both art students, a space for their community, although they hope it transcends their immediate network of artist friends and acquaintances.

“We are not a commercial gallery, not even a gallery. We like to use the term project space,” said Perez. Their goal is to offer a space where artists can come and be inspired by the place and its surroundings and combine that with their own interests and practice to develop specific projects, create new work or expand their own creations.

It is also a place where they hope a dialogue about art making will come into play. They would like to help emerging artists produce work, which will serve as a catalyst for generating ideas and a forum to get feedback and create exposure.

Since it is not a commercial space, they can only offer artists a space to work as well as promotion of their work through e-mail, blog postings, Facebook and MySpace.

As an artist-run space, the emphasis is on the work and not the commercialism.

Is the space just for visual art?

The space is oriented to give an opportunity to emerging artists that want to use the space to develop, explore ideas and create new works.

In that sense, Second Bedroom is dedicated but not limited to installation art. However, they are open to all kinds of proposals such as readings and other events that can happen at the same time exhibitions are up.

They would like projects that stem from fields other than art, for example, projects with writers, scientists, or anthropologists, but realistically they are not as invested in those fields in terms of community.

If a project like this were to manifest, a considerable degree of artistic merit would seem essential. Keep in mind though that these activities would happen in an apartment where somebody lives, but it is within these parameters that they feel will assist or foster exciting works.

Is the space a temporary or permanent location?

The location is permanent, at least for the time Smith lives in the apartment. They are trying out this project during the summer with the hope they can make it work and enough interest to extend its life.
Do you have a listing of exhibitions?

So far they have the first show scheduled, an installation by Adam Farcus from June 21 to July 20. A blog exists where future events will be posted.

They have a couple of other artists who have expressed interest in working with them, and the goal is to have three shows this summer.

They are always accepting proposals, so anybody who thinks they might be interested in working with them can send an e-mail.

Irene Pérez is the Assistant Director of OSG (Orleans Street Gallery) and is currently working on putting together OSG’s 5th anniversary show. She will be showing two of her pieces at Art on Armitage window gallery from July 1 to July 31. The owner of Art on Armitage, Mary Ellen Croteau, asked her to create these pieces, which are an exploration and a comment on patriotism in the US. While Irene works mainly with fiber, she is a sculptor and not a fiber artist. Materials are very important to her because they relate conceptually to the works. There is also an element of installation in most of her works and an intent to engage the viewer physically and intellectually. Most of her work deals with concepts such a space, memory, and cultural identity.

Chris Smith is an art student at UIC.

Second Bedroom Project Space is located on 3216 Morgan Street, Apt. 4R Chicago, Ill. It’s open on Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment At Play In the Loop Mind & Body Public
Tags:
alternative art art south loop

Call for Better Police Response in South Loop

Chicagotalks — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:48:53 +0000

Story by Autumn Reese

Submitted on Mon, 06/02/2008 – 21:48.

Police officers at a recent South Loop CAPS meeting said crime in the neighborhood has decreased, but a local property manager disagreed.

Jack Beebe said there were prostitution and drug crimes at the upscale high rise he manages at 1620 S. Michigan Avenue.

“We are being called – 1620 S. Michigan Ave. trailer park,” said Beebe. “People are investing in the condos and are then turning around and renting to anyone. We don’t have a doorman, and one problem we are having is with criminal trespass,” Beebe said.

Residents enter the building by punching a code that opens a large glass door, but anyone can enter while the door is open. “We are changing that, but I want to make sure police respond when there is a problem,” said Beebe.

Jennifer Jones lives in the building next door to Beebe’s, and she is concerned.

“Our building does offer a 24-hour doorman, but I can imagine that it is not 100 percent effective. I have been mugged twice in the past year and it is frightening to think that this type of stuff is going on where I live,” said Jones.

Beebe spoke up early at the April 15 meeting and said he was concerned about one case in particular and what he called a poor police response.

“We had an incident where a man had entered the building by following someone who had entered his code in,” said Beebe. “He was going door-to-door knocking and trying to get people to open their doors. We had several residents call 911 and report a suspicious man in the building and no officers responded to the building.”

Beebe reviewed the building’s security tapes and saw the man had left without incident, but he’s frustrated he said because police failed to check out the 911 calls.

Beebe said he would like more officers on foot patrol in the area, or officers who pay closer attention to the neighborhood.

Officer Oscar Torres of the city’s 911 Center told the group police respond to calls based on the nature of the crime.

“We respond to life-threatening calls first,” said Torres. “If someone’s life is immediately threatened, those calls are a priority. I will review the call and see what happened in your situation. I am very sorry that it was not responded to, I will definitely see what happened.”

Officers told Beebe to tell residents of his building to call 911 if a problem arises, because more calls could mean a bigger budget and possibly new officers for the South Loop.

The CAPS officers said there were some encouraging signs. Calls about prostitiution decreased from three to one and citizen complaints about drugs dropped significantly from 15 to 5. However assaults increased from four to seven cases between March 18 and April 14.

Some residents of 1620 S. Michigan called Beebe’s comments shocking.

“It’s scary to think that all of that is going on,” said tenant Stephanie Jenks. “I never really thought about someone following me into the building, but I will be much more careful now. I guess I am most shocked about the drug and prostitution problems. You think prostitution only happens on seedy street-corners in bad parts of town. It’s alarming to think about what is really going on in my neighbors’ apartments.”

Categories:
City Life In the Loop Public
Tags:
caps crime prostitution south loop

Bella Bacino’s will fill your stomach without emptying your wallet

Ivana Susic — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:09:40 +0000

Submitted on Wed, 04/09/2008 – 23:09.

Bella Bacino’s in LaGrange has a great variety of food. I’ve not had a chance to go there for breakfast or lunch yet, but the dinner was supberb. There were so many choices. (Check them out!)

My boyfriend and I ended up splitting a red bell pepper cream soup that was delicious; there was a perfect balance of creamy texture and smooth red pepper taste.

For dinner, we split the special of the night; stuffed chicken breast with spinach, fontina cheese, and red bell peppers. Superb. The chicken was so tender, and the baby spinach and fontina were balanced perfectly. Not one flavor dominated. The mashed potatoes are among the best I’ve had. Anywhere.

The wine list was unbelievable; it took up a whole binder. Our server didn’t know much about wine, so she was kind enough to send over the owner. To say his knowledge about wine was impressive is an understatement. He helped us picked out a bottle of old-vine Zinfadel called Highlands. The vineyard is owned by a long-time friend of his, but recommending this wine was not based on loyalty- it was amazing. It’s one of my favorite wines now! A lot of wines on the list you can only purchase by the bottle. Bella Bacino’s, however, is liscenced to package your leftover wine to take home.

The service was impeccable. We were impressed by how friendly and approacheable the owner was. The food was flawless. Decor was intimate and very pretty. Prices were mid-range (Not including the wine, our bill was $34). Considering portion size and quality, it’s quite a deal.

This is not a restaurant to be missed!

Bella Bacino’s has two locations. The one I visited was:

36 S. LaGrange Road. LaGrange, IL. (708) 352-8882

Their location in Chicago is:

75 E. Wacker Drive. Chicago, IL. (312) 263-0070

Categories:
Food In the Loop Mind & Body
Tags:
restaurants

Temperature keeps rising in the hot 2nd Ward race

Chicagotalks — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:03:23 +0000

Submitted on Tue, 04/03/2007 – 02:03.

With just two weeks left until E-day, tensions between the two 2nd Ward candidates continue to escalate.

The incumbent, Ald. Madeline Haithcock, won’t stop her campaign mailings to voters that call challenger Bob Fioretti a stalker. Now, in the April 2nd edition of the Sun-Times, the alderman calls Fioretti a liar, saying there’s no way he could have knocked on 10,000 doors in the ward.

Fioretti, an attorney who won the most votes in the Feb. 27 election but not enough to win the race outright, fires back in Scott Fornek’s story, saying anyone who doubts such a feat is guilty of “laziness.”

The same day, the Tribune’s Mickey Ciokajlo reports that the National Organization for Women has rescinded its endorsement of Fioretti. This is the second time in six weeks that NOW has withdrawn its support.

Things weren’t quite so heated March 26, when the two candidates shared the floor at a forum sponsored by the Homeowners of Westtown.

Columbia Chronicle’s James H. Ewert Jr. reports that Haithcock was joined at the event by former challenger David Askew, who recently endorsed the alderman.

Askew, the third-top vote getter with 16 percent, said he decided against supporting Fioretti, who won the most votes at 28 percent, because he misrepresented Askew’s record in campaign literature mailed out just before the Feb. 27 election. (Haithcock captured 21 percent.) Fioretti says he merely pointed out differences between on the issues between him and Askew.

Haithcock’s accessibility – or lack of, according to some residents – was an issue, as it’s been at other campaign events. The Chicago Journal’s Haydn Bush writes that Fioretti told the crowd he knows what’s going on in the ward because he’s out and about, while he rarely sees the alderman at community events.

Haithcock’s responded: “I didn’t knock on your door, but I’ve been there for you . . . I’m not the perfect person, but whether you like me or not, I love you.”

It will be interesting to see if love is evident in either candidate on April 9, when the two candidates are set to make what is expected to be their last joint appearance before the April 17 runoff.

Both candidates have agreed to participate in a 6:30 p.m. forum April 9 at Soka Gakkai, 1455 W. Wabash Ave. (Candidates have been invited to informally talk with audience members from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m.) Free parking is available on site; the Roosevelt train stop is just two blocks away.

The free event, sponsored by the Greater South Loop Association, Columbia College’s Journalism Department and Printers Row Presidents, will feature questions from the audience. Those wanting to ask their questions in advance, may e-mail: .

Categories:
City Life In the Loop Local Politics Public South Side
Tags:
2nd ward south loop

Patients, Doctors Rally Against County Hospital Cutbacks

Chicagotalks — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:46:04 +0000

Submitted on Thu, 02/28/2008 – 02:46.

Story by Rachael Koetsier

Hundreds of doctors, patients and other health care professionals gathered at the Chicago Temple on Feb. 25 to protest cutbacks in services at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital. Supporters marched from the temple to City Hall waving signs and chanting slogans, calling on the Cook County Board of Commissioners to restore funding to the Bureau of Health Services.

The cuts in services are due, in part, to a shrinking budget and protesters demanded that the county find new sources of revenue. Last year, there were more than $100 million in service cuts.

Dr. Janice Benson, president of the medical staff at Stroger Hospital, said she has witnessed service cuts firsthand. She said a lack of health care is an injustice, and told of patients who frequently wait hours in the publicly-funded clinics to be seen by a doctor – often having to return the following day due to lack of physicians and resources.

Carrie Gathright, 76, from Chicago’s South Side, said she has been waiting five years to get what is supposed to be an annual mammogram. Gathright also suffers from asthma, and said she has waited weeks to get her inhaler refilled because there were no doctors available to call it in to the hospital pharmacy.

“They have good doctors at Stroger, but they just have too many patients,” Gathright said.

Dr. Enrique Martinez, a physician at Stroger Hospital, said 244 women with abnormal Pap smears and 733 women with pain, unusual bleeding or other symptoms were waiting for gynecological appointments at Stroger Hospital’s outpatient clinics at the end of January. Martinez is chief medical officer for the county’s ambulatory and community health network and watched the number of outpatients drop by 100,000 from 2006 to 2007.

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has proposed a 2008 budget that would provide $96.8 million to the Bureau of Health Services, fill 270 open positions and hire 420 new employees to alleviate long waits for appointments. He is also seeking to increase the county’s share of the sales tax from .75 percent to 2 percent, but has met opposition from county commissioners.

The commissioners have yet to approve his tax increase, which would give Chicago the largest sales tax in the nation.

“The real solution to the problem of quality health care and the budget is putting professionals in charge of the health-care system,” said Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), in a Feb. 8 Chicago Tribune story. Claypool also argued in favor of collecting more than $250 million in back bills from patients instead of raising taxes.

Benson said the county provides care to more than 27 percent of all diagnosed tuberculosis patients, 24 percent of all patients with HIV and 10 percent of emergency room visits. Most of the county’s patients are uninsured or covered under Medicare or Medicaid, according to Benson.

Categories:
At Work In the Loop Local Politics Money Matters Public Social Issues
Tags:
budget cook county downtown stroger hospital taxes

Jones College Prep has record attendance at Open House

Chicagotalks — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:41:54 +0000

Submitted on Mon, 12/17/2007 – 16:41.

Like Chicago’s other magnet high schools — Lane Technical, Martin
Luther King, Brooks College Prep Academy, Lindblom College Prep,
Northside College Prep, Walter Payton College Prep and Whitney Young
Magnet — Jones College Prep accepts students based on a series of exam
scores.

An applicant’s scores on three separate tests — worth 300 points
each — combined with the student’s 7th grade attendance record – worth
100 points – determines whether he/she is admitted as a freshman.

For the current school year, the mean average score accepted at
Jones was 912 out of 1,000, according to Chicago Public Schools. The
high school has more than 700 students and enrolls between 190 and 200
freshmen each fall.

At its Nov. 15 local school council meeting, members said the
jam-packed Oct. 28 open house for prospective students and their
parents is a sign of the school’s improvement.

Eugene Lockhart, the school’s director of admissions, attributed
the huge turnout to Jones’ successful attempts at reaching out to
under-served communities, something the school has done increasingly
the past decade.

Lockhart also said the fact that Jones moved up in the Chicago
Public School rankings this past year contributed to the crowd. The
school is currently ranked the 4th best high school in Chicago.

Because of these changes, the open house turnout more than doubled
since last year, when about 2,000 people attended, Lockhart said.

Some parents complained about the way the recent open house was
run, said Debra Miretzky, a parent representative on the local school
council.

“I had some parents telling me they felt the afternoon was too
narrowly focused on minority student enrollment,” said Miretzky, whose
daughter is a senior at Jones.

According to Student Representative Juan Kimball, all of the
student guide groups and student panels at the open house were
comprised of non-white students. In addition, a video shown that
afternoon touting the school’s recent Blue Ribbon Award exclusively
spotlighted minority accomplishments.

“I think we should have done a better job representing all student
types to show the school does indeed give everyone an equal
opportunity,” said Kimball.

Jones College Prep, a historically black and Hispanic high school,
has diversified significantly since 1998, Lockhart said, the year
school officials decided to pursue an ethnic balance.

“The school racially is becoming more equally distributed,” said Marcia DuBoff, a parent representative.

DuBoff, whose daughter is a senior at Jones, said the current
administration and members of the local school council believe all
races should be represented equally at the school.

In 1998, 1.6 percent of the student body was white, 64.3 percent
was black and 33.5 percent was Hispanic, according to Chicago Public
Schools data.

This year, 29 percent of students at Jones are white, 26 percent
are black and 31 percent are Hispanic. Nearly 13 percent are of Asian
descent, and the rest are of unknown ethnicities.

In contrast, the racial breakdown of students now attending one of
the 114 high schools citywide, 8.9 percent are white, 51.5 percent are
black and 33.5 percent are Hispanic. Asians make up 3.9 percent of the
student body district-wide, and the rest are unknown.

Jones’ principal, Donald Fraynd, who is caucasian, said the
negative feedback parents gave about the focus on minorities at the
open house is actually good news.

“Generally speaking, it’s a lot easier to make white people feel
comfortable again; going the other direction is really hard,” said
Fraynd.

As far as better organizing next year’s open house, Lockhart said
he plans to hold two — one in October and one in November so attendance
will be more manageable.

“That way, most people will be happy,” Lockhart said. “After all, you can never make everyone happy.”

Categories:
In the Loop Public Schools & Education
Tags:
chicago public schools jones college prep south loop

Altar Boyz find humor in religion

Chicagotalks — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:47:43 +0000

Submitted on Fri, 12/14/2007 – 18:47.

Story by Rita Boland

“The old God is making a comeback,” at least off-Broadway in Chicago.

The award-winning musical Altar Boyz reopened Oct. 7 at the 533-seat Drury Lane Water Tower Theatre, 175 E Chestnut St. The show, which debuted in New York in 2004, returned to Chicago after a year hiatus in much smaller venue than the previous site, the 1,950-seat LaSalle Bank Theatre.

Set up like a concert, the 90-minute show takes the audience through the trials and tribulations of religious identification seen through the eyes of a Christian boy band. Spoofing performers from N’Sync to Michael Jackson, the audience is immediately drawn in with the humorous lyrics (“Jesus called me on my cell phone, no roaming charges occurred”) satirizing Catholicism and the syncopated dance moves reminiscent of ‘90s music videos.

“It’s short, there is no intermission, it’s quick and fun. For the 90 minutes we are up there it is song after song with fun dance moves,” said Devin DeSantis, Northwestern University alum who plays Altar Boyz leader Matthew. “I think everybody loves those 90’s boy bands.”

In the lobby, “fans” are encouraged to “lighten their painful and humiliating burden immediately” by filling out an Altar Boyz confession card that may be read during the show to potentially “absolve” the sinner of their burdens. The card warns that confessions are not taken to an actual priest and privacy is absolutely not guaranteed. It adds “absolution results may vary and reconciliation with God may not be for everyone,” and has common side effects that include “inner peace and moral values.”

The show draws on the humors of religious practice and product placement in pop culture. The members, named after biblical figures Matthew, Mark, Luke, Abraham (and Juan) each embody the stereotypical boy band member, and each has a personal struggle to overcome.

Matthew is the glue that holds the group together, and the breakout star. Mark, the “femme” member, struggles with his sexuality, his attraction to Matthew and his place in the anti-gay Catholic Church, similar to recently outted N’Syncer Lance Bass. Juan, an orphan from Tijuana, embodies Ricky Martin with his pelvic thrusting dance moves and thick Latin accent. Luke is the “gansgta wanna be” boy, who reminisces about his “exhaustion” (drunkenness) and his recent stay in “bible camp,” (rehab) like many pop stars recently. Abe, the outsider, is Jewish and struggling to find his place in the band.

“I don’t think it [crosses the line]. This show is very honest, that is one thing the [director] wanted to drive home with us,” said DeSantis. “I think it is a very heartfelt and honest piece of work that just happens to have those almost gay and Catholic jokes.”

In Matthew’s number, “Girl, You Make Me Wanna Wait,” he brings and audience member onstage and sings to her about the challenge of waiting for marriage to have sex (“…you make my Levis feel tight”). The girl is able to log onto the Altar Boyz Web site after the show to see a picture of herself onstage.

Catholic grade school teacher at St. Mary’s in Buffalo Grove Barbara Haravan was delighted after the show. She was relieved because she thought “Altar Boyz” was about recent scandals in the Catholic Church. “I thought it was an inspiration and a fresh and changing view on a damaged [church],” she said.

Under the direction of Stafford Arima and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli (both from the original New York production), the show adds local flavor by casting famed WGN radio announcer Roy Leonard as the “voice of G.O.D.,” the boyz guidance and voice of reason throughout the show.

The show, which was voted “Fan Favorite- Longest Running Off-Broadway Show” in the Broadway.com awards, was originally slated to run through Nov. 25. However, due to “overwhelming demand” the show will continue through March 2, said Samara Harand, Altar Boyz publicist.

“It’s all about brotherhood and the struggles these boyz go through in trying to make the world a better place through song and dance,” said DeSantis.

The show will run through Jan. 6, 2008. Student “rush” tickets are available at the Drury Lane Box Office two hours before the show with school ID for $25. Other tickets range from $45 – $55 and can be purchased at AltarBoyzChicago.com or by calling the box office (312)642-2000.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment In the Loop Public
Tags:
altar boyz drury lane theatre gold coas lasalle bank theatre

Risky Parking Garages in South Loop

Chicagotalks — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:27:23 +0000

Submitted on Fri, 12/07/2007 – 13:27.

Story by Jessica Golden

After growing up and attending school in the suburb of New Lennox, Richard Roye was excited to find a job that would take him to the city. Wondering how he could save the most money on transportation, Roye decided to drive and park in the South Loop and then jump in a cab to his workplace.

After a few weeks of commuting this way, Roye’s car was broken into at the Impark on State and Eighth streets. Not much was stolen, but he stopped driving to the South Loop immediately after the incident.

As South Loop continues to grow with new businesses, residents and commuters, street and garage parking has become more crowded, especially on Wabash Avenue and State Street.

Whole Foods just moved into the area and a few celebrities are rumored to inhabit South Loop’s new condominiums. But one problem remains, and actually is getting worse: theft.

Police Sergeant Bill Ross said there were 11 times more incidents of theft this year than last year on State Street and 2007 is not over yet. He noted that all the break-ins occurred at Standard Parking located at 1101 South State St. and only one incident elsewhere.

But not all South Loop residents have had problems. Erin Sullivan has commuted and worked in the South Loop for three years and she thinks the area is fairly safe.

“I have never had a problem parking in the South Loop and I have parked at dozens of garages and lots, including some on State and Wabash,” Sullivan said.

The garages may be safe. However, on some days the Standard Parking facility has no visible attendants on duty. The garage is dark and is located next to an alley, elevated train tracks and busy Roosevelt Road, which could make it a good target for thieves.

Some of these garages have no cashiers at the exit as well.

Dennis Beninato, a representative of The Greater South Loop Association, said the theft increase could be due to a variety of reasons. One reason could be that more people drive to and from the area. Also, the CTA recently cut a local bus route from South Loop to West Loop, which may cause more people to drive.

Beninato also placed blame on unwatched parking facilities. But Officer Ross said police do patrol the area regularly.

Standard Parking’s manager failed to call back and Impark’s manager, Jim Prendergast, was quick to get off the phone when asked questions about theft in his garages.

“I wouldn’t be interested (in answering any questions). You have a good day yourself,” he said. And he hung up.

But Officer Ross put the number of thefts in perspective.

“It’s remarkable it’s that low,” Ross said. With 300,000 people in the downtown area, a million and a half commuters and steady population growth, it could be much worse.

Categories:
In the Loop Justice & Crime Public
Tags:
crime greater south loop association south loop theft

Drug trafficking problem for South Loop seniors

Chicagotalks — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:30:04 +0000

Submitted on Thu, 11/22/2007 – 14:30.

Story by Dara Belic

South Loop residents learned of a high number of arrests and unchecked drug activity at a senior citizen apartment building in the 2^nd Ward at a recent CAPS meeting. Chicago police officers made 70 arrests in September said Beat 1213 Officer Alex Errum.

“Seventy is a high number for this beat,” said Errum at the Oct. 16 meeting. The number of calls for service has been as low as 30 in previous months, the officer said.

The top three crimes that lead to the most arrests in the area were theft, narcotics and criminal damage. Twenty-five individuals were arrested for theft, 17 for narcotics possession or sale and 12 for criminal damage. Typical theft crimes included car break-ins and theft of property from construction sites, Errum said.

Other recent arrests included 11 for battery, nine for motor vehicle assault, four for deceptive practice, three for burglary, two for robbery and two for criminal trespass.

Several arrests made for narcotics occurred at 318 S. Throop St., a senior citizens apartment building called Academy Square .

Some Academy Square residents at the meeting voiced concerns about the growing “traffic” in and out of their building, which is near W. Monroe St. and S. Racine Ave.

This “traffic” is caused by drug users coming into the building to purchase narcotics and then leaving, which occurs throughout the day and night, said resident Irene Page.

“The drug sales aren’t going to stop until the source is stopped,” said Page, who said she has been woken up on numerous occasions by people yelling and screaming in the hallways late at night.

Another resident, Dianne Kennedy, said drug users are buzzed into the seven-story building by seniors who live there, which is the only way to enter the building.

“You can’t get in unless you’re buzzed in, which makes the people who live in our building equally if not most responsible for this problem,” said Kennedy.

It’s unclear who’s buzzing the drug users in, and whether or not residents allowing them into the building are aware of the drug problem, said Officer Henry Perez, senior citizen liaison for beat 1213.

Because residents are permitting outsiders to enter the building by granting them access, said Officer Paris Edwards, the issue must be taken to the building’s management entity.

“Building management is going to have to deal with this,” said Edwards, who suggested the residents request management hire better security.

Officer Perez had another idea.

“Off-duty police officers should do the security; that way they can investigate at the same time and find out which residents are selling the narcotics,” said Perez, who said he’d contact building management right away if residents agreed with his approach.

They did.

A building supervisor said police will take care of the issue, but she declined to give her name or answer any further questions.

“These people scare me,” said resident Eva Brown, who lives on the second floor. Brown said the drunken arguments she hears some nights prevent her from sleeping.

“It’s a horrible feeling, knowing the building you live in is out of control,” Brown said. “If there were off duty officers working security at night, I’d feel safe enough to sleep.”

Categories:
In the Loop Justice & Crime Public
Tags:
caps chicago police department crime south loop

Refugee camp visits Grant Park

Chicagotalks — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:10:44 +0000

Submitted on Mon, 09/24/2007 – 03:10.

Story by Michelle Diotallevi

The sun beat down on Carmen Agoyosilva outside a mock refugee camp in Chicago’s Grant Park. In a few moments she would tour a Doctors Without Borders camp. Over the next hour, she would get a taste of what a refugee would endure. (See slides of the camp.)

Doctors Without Borders is an independent humanitarian organization that provides medical care to refugees around the world. In a year, the organization is sent out on over 4,700 aid assignments.

Last week in Grant Park, the organization’s assignment was to bring awareness to this vast city.

Agoyosilva visited the camp to become familiar with the plight of refugees and to support the organization. “I like the organization because most of their funding goes directly to people in need,” she said.

Aid worker guides describe a refugee’s typical day: waiting for hours in line for food, water or medical care. Among the tents, latrines and medical and nourishment facilities, pictures from actual refugee camps show real faces in desolate situations.

Charlie Kuzner has worked at the organization’s New York office for three years. She chose this organization because of its ability to reach people.

“What really got me is the scope of the operation, treating 10 million people per year, and the speed at which they are able to actually reach people,” Kuzner said.

Karel Janssens has been all over the world with the organization. In Chicago, he describes what he’s seen within refugee camps.

“I want people to understand what a camp looks like, what refugees face, what refugees go through,” Janssens said. “The people you see in these camps are not wounded rebels or soldiers but are women and children.”

There are 33 million people throughout the world who have been uprooted from their homes by war, according to the organization. But many Americans may be surprised that it is such a large number.

People in the United States do not know about the refugees because these stories receive minimal, if any, news coverage due to the lack of journalists in these areas, Janssens said.

“If there are no journalists, then it is not news,” Janssens said. “And if it’s not in the news then it doesn’t exist.”

Categories:
Global In the Loop Public
Tags:
doctors without borders grant park refugees

Which way to the Grant Bark Park?

Erica Christoffer — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:50:36 +0000

Submitted on Tue, 08/21/2007 – 13:50.

Celebrating its one-year anniversary this summer, the Grant Bark Park was a longtime dream turned reality for South Loop resident Gail Merritt.

Now, if she can only get other dog owners to notice it’s there.

The 18,000-square-foot doggie oasis is tucked just north of the 11th Street pedestrian bridge, between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive, in Grant Park. It features open space dotted with tennis balls for playtime, a tree-lined gravel area where dogs can do their business or just cool off, and a drinking fountain just the right height for the four-legged variety.

Merritt, founder and president of the South Loop Dog Park Action Cooperative (PAC), spent six years working with the Chicago Park District to establish the off-leash dog park.

Motivated by her 6 ½-year-old dog, Chloe, Merritt said she and other volunteers seek to make the South Loop the most dog-friendly community in Chicago.

“We maintain that healthy dogs are happy dogs, and everyone wants happy dogs as a neighbor,” said Merritt.

The only signs letting pedestrians know about the park are posted on the iron gates enclosing the facility.

“Our challenge is to find people to come in with their dogs,” said Merritt.

Since the park opened July 15, 2006, many of the visitors have learned of the park through word of mouth and South Loop Dog PAC’s promotional campaigns. South Loop resident Lisa Niziolek frequents Grant Bark Park with her boxer beagle, Lindy. “We knew about it when we got her and came the first night we brought her home,” she said.

Niziolek, who lives in the same building as Merritt, said she learned about the park from Merritt. Matthew Lopek, superintendent of irrigation of Chicago parks who works in Grant Park, said he didn’t realize the dog park was there for quite some time. “I see a dog every now and then come through, but I didn’t know it was a dog park,” he said.

Jessica Maxey-Faulkner, spokeswoman for the Chicago Park District, said signs have been considered in Grant Park to direct pedestrians to the dog- friendly area, one of 12 in the Chicago park system. However, because money is highly sought after among Chicago’s 570 parks, completion of those signs has not yet occurred, Maxey-Faulkner said. “It’s not something that has required us to spend a lot of money on,” said Maxey-Faulkner.

Instead, the city has focused efforts on informing local interest groups about all 12 of its dog parks through promotional pieces sent out to veterinary offices and neighborhood groups.

“Resources are pretty limited,” said Maxey-Faulkner. This year, the park district’s operating budget totals about $380 million. And, until additional city resources are available, signs will continue to be a hot commodity, she said.

The South Loop Dog P.A.C. has a vested interested in making the Grant Bark Park more visible, not just because the non-profit footed $75,000 of the roughly $290,000 construction costs, but also because the group is fully responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the park estimated at $3,000 a year.

Those funds come through constant fundraising efforts, said Merritt. If South Loop Dog P.A.C. can’t maintain the park on its own, Grant Bark Park would be in jeopardy of closing, said Maxey-Faulkner.

From selling T-shirts and park walkway bricks, to conducting dog washes and silent auctions, the South Loop Dog P.A.C. is always looking for ways to get the word out about the Grant Bark Park and its needs. The group’s e-mail newsletter “Fetch” helps residents stay in tune with current events and issues.

South Loop Dog P.A.C. has several upcoming events, including the Bash on Wabash Sept. 1-2 (sponsored by the Greater South Loop Association), the South Loop Block Party Sept. 8 (sponsored by Dearborn Park Advisory Council) and the P.A.C.’s second annual K9 Karnival Sunday, Sept. 23.

Categories:
At Play In the Loop Public
Tags:
chicago park district dog park gail merritt grant park south loop south loop dog park action cooperative

School year at South Loop Elementary ended with pride, but work still remains

Editor — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:50:32 +0000

Submitted on Mon, 06/11/2007 – 03:50.

Story by Damon Maloney

On a recent afternoon at South Loop Elementary, the sky had turned gray and rain was beginning to fall. Parents sprinted from their cars to pick up children who had completed another day of learning.

In the past, this school had seen its share of rainy days. But during more recent times, including the school year that just ended, its outlook is much brighter.

“School change is really tricky. Not all schools are ready for the same things to take place. You have to create a degree of readiness. As principal, I’m responsible for the lives of the children here. I don’t believe we should let lives be wasted. I’m serious about my work,” said Pat Baccellieri.

According to its 2000 Illinois School Report Card, 66 percent of South Loop Elementary’s third- through eighth-graders failed state achievement tests. Back then, the school’s population was 98.9 percent African American and nearly 93 percent low-income. In 2002, Baccellieri was hired as principal and over the years, neighborhood and school demographics have shifted – as have test scores. Today, South Loop Elementary reports 65 percent of its student body is African American and 37 percent low-income. Meanwhile, test scores have dramatically increased. In 2006, nearly 82 percent of third- through eighth-graders passed state achievement tests. Few disagree that Baccellieri helped turn around the once-struggling school.

“The start of the school year was interesting. I could see that there were a lot of behaviors that really weren’t conducive to learning and the mechanisms for people working together weren’t really there,” said Baccellieri.

The challenge of changing behaviors and bringing people together wasn’t new to Baccellieri. He’s spent most of his life working as an educator, turning around struggling programs. The West Coast native’s first job in the Windy City was in North Lawndale at the Better Boys Foundation, a non-profit social service organization. There, Baccellieri served as director of education, heading a number of after-school programs for area schools.

“Most of the programs were on their last leg of probation with the state. I had to get things up and running, and I did,” he said.

After successfully working with the Better Boys Foundation, Baccellieri’s resume floated around the city. He accepted a teaching position at Saint Ignatius College Prep and worked there for a few years in the 1990s. Then he decided the classroom wasn’t where he belonged.

“When we look at the history of education, we see that urban districts have had a really hard time making change. We see the level of student achievement not getting worse — it just hasn’t gotten better, and I wanted to help create change. As a teacher, you’re busy teaching and it’s hard to be involved in rigorous school change,” said Baccellieri.

He teamed up with Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that provides grants to schools to help students learn about history and encourage them to make smart decisions in life. During this time, Baccellieri worked with three South Side schools, mostly on citizenship education. It still wasn’t enough for the man who wanted more done to improve education for all children, especially those who were disenfranchised.

“In the non-profit world, a lot of people talk about the problems in urban schools. I felt it was critical for me to put my life on the line and say, ‘If you care that much about it then do something,’ ” he said.

After receiving his principal credentials and completing the New Leaders for New Schools program, a non-profit organization that prepares experienced teachers to become principals, Baccellieri worked a number of administrative jobs. In August 2002, he was hired as interim principal at South Loop Elementary. Four months later he accepted the contract position.

According to Illinois School Report Cards, roughly 30 percent of South Loop Elementary’s third- through eighth-grades passed the Illinois Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT) between the years 2000 and 2003. In 2004, Baccellieri’s second years on the job, 49 percent of the students passed. Scored increased another two percent in 2005, and in 2006 jumped to a whopping 81 percent.

Teachers, parents and officials from Chicago Public Schools credit Baccellieri for the improvements.

“I thank him for the work he’s been able to do here. This school has absolutely been transformed,” said Arne Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of the school district.

“He provides the school with a vision of excellence and the means to achieve it,” said Mary Varveris, a second-grade teacher at South Loop Elementary.

Baccellieri is quick to praise teachers, parents and students for the success. “They are the ones doing the hard work,” he said. But he does take some credit for putting the right people and methods.

“There’s a lot of talk about: Do you first change people’s beliefs and then get different results? That ends up being a philosophical debate and doesn’t help kids today,” said Baccellieri. His first moves focused on changing behaviors to get different results.

One of Baccellieri’s first initiatives included improving what students were learning and how lesson plans were being taught. This required adopting the Standards-Based Curriculum Initiative, which allowed faculty and staff to create end-of-the-year outcomes that students ideally would meet at the conclusion of each grade. The test, which focuses on comprehension, fluency, writing and math problem-solving, is administered to each grade three times a year. The results help teachers understand what their students are retaining and what needs to be taught again. It also requires teachers to come up with new teaching strategies. All of this is done in preparation for getting students positioned for the ISAT.

Baccellieri’s next step included getting teachers and staff trained in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The program was originally used in the manufacturing industry, but has been becoming increasingly popular in education systems. Part of the training included creating school rules, and together South Loop Elementary’s faculty and staff decided upon safety, respect and responsibility. They also had to define what that looked like in a number of settings, including the classroom, bathroom, hallway, playground, bus and lunchroom.

“I think a lot of times people assume that kids [who go to school] all know how to behave. I don’t buy that. What school means to me might mean something else to somebody else. We have to teach them what school means,” said Baccellieri. Fewer parents are called to the school today for behavior reasons than when he first started, he said.

Critics point to shifting neighborhood and school demographics and the addition of a regional gifted center as reasons for South Loop Elementary’s increase in test scores.

Duncan and Baccellieri acknowledge the changes, but said those factors shouldn’t take away from the great work going on inside the school.

“I want all of my neighborhood schools to reflect their communities and to open their doors and be welcoming,” said Duncan.

Baccellieri said those who say minority and low-income students can’t succeed anger him.

“It really makes me mad because I think it is racist and classist. It’s rooted in the disbelief that I had to deal with when I came here, that low-income kids can’t be successful. I totally disagree with that,” he said.

Figures provided by Baccellieri show test scores for low-income students improving 30 percent in reading, from 2005 to 2006, to where 75 percent of those tested met or exceeded state standards. Varveris said it shows proof that, “outstanding leadership and collaborative teaching effort” are working.

Darrah Cousino sends her daughter Sammy to South Loop Elementary. She heard about the school from friends and decided to check it out for herself. She was happy with the academic offerings and chooses to travel an hour each way to send her daughter. She admits to not knowing much about the school during its darker days, but is happy with what’s happening now.

“South Loop is a great alternative to a private school. The academics here are demanding and the staff is extremely involved with keeping the lines of communication open with parents,” said Cousino.

Even when the final bell rings at South Loop Elementary, many students continue to be served by the school.

“Not a lot of people can come and pick up their child at 2:45 in the afternoon. A lot of studies show that children benefit from additional activities during non-traditional school time,” said Melissa Trumbull, co-director of the extended-day program.

Students who attend the program are given a hot snack, are expected to at least start their homework, take part in gym class and are given time for free choice. Trumbull said nearly 180 students are currently enrolled.

“Everything that goes on during the regular day affects what happens during after-school,” said Trumbull, noting that the program’s staff has been kept apprised of major initiatives at the school.

She’s noticed improvements in many of the students’ behaviors and academic work, but still feels more can be done to close achievement gaps. She said it bothers her to know “how much all children are capable of and seeing a major disconnect between the [financial] resources in this country and what gets to children. I think it’s a topic that’s given a lot of lip service,” said Trumbull.

Baccellieri is proud of the fact that South Loop Elementary is a better school than it was a few years ago, but admits that there’s still work to be done.

“With all of our kids we’re trying to push them, whether they’re working on, meeting or exceeding the standards. We’re going to keep pushing to the next level,” he said. “I know that the lives of our kids are precious. We have children and families from all backgrounds working together at South Loop.

“My vision is to be one of the best elementary schools in the city. I think it’s well-situated to do that, with the parent support, high quality teacher team and great administration here. We have a lot of people focused on what matters.”

Categories:
In the Loop Public Schools & Education
Tags:
illinois school report card south loop south loop elementary school test scores

Printers Row book fair causes congestion and some frustration

Editor — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:45:12 +0000

Submitted on Sat, 06/09/2007 – 05:45.

Story by Abbey Lechner

The 16,000 residents of Printers Row and the South Loop may find more than books at this weekend’s Printers Row Book Fair; they may also find frustration as they experience difficulty getting around their congested neighborhood.

Founded in 1985, the two-day event now consumes five city blocks of the Printers Row neighborhood. This year, organizers expect more than 190 booksellers and 90,000 visitors from across the country. There will be more than 200 author programs. NEW: Printers Row Book Fair slideshow on flickr.com

Enrique Perez, community activist and vice president of the Dearborn Park Advisory Council, said although most of his neighbors welcome the event, some do complain.

“[Complaints that] I hear every year include, traffic congestion, lack of parking, and just general inconvenience. A few people even want the Book Fair to go away,” Perez said.

Printers Row resident Jake Haar said commuting to work at the hotel Raffaello, 201 E. Delaware Place, will probably cause him trouble.

“I usually catch a cab to work to save time, so it will probably be hard,” Haar said. “There is already too much stuff going on down here making it congested enough,” said Haar, who plans to walk two blocks to the Red Line.

Michael Hernandez, president of the Dearborn Park Advisory Council, said congestion is a problem the rest of the year, not just during the two-day event. He said driving and parking issues continue to be a problem in the growing South Loop.

“There are always inconveniences when driving in this area,” Hernandez said. “With this event, though, the positive outweigh the negative because it is such a cultural event.”

Businesses that line Dearborn Street are sure to be affected by the book fair – but in a good way, they hope.

Daniela from Daniela’s Day Spa, 705 S. Dearborn St., said she expects her business will see 20 additional walk-ins. Although it’s unclear if the walk-ins will return to spend money at the spa, Daniela said it’s a great and easy way to advertise the business.

Categories:
Art & Entertainment In the Loop Public
Tags:
congestion dearborn park advisory council printers row printers row book fair south loop traffic

2nd Ward candidates to appear at forum April 9

Suzanne McBride — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:49:17 +0000

Submitted on Mon, 03/26/2007 – 04:49.

The two candidates vying to be the 2nd Ward’s next alderman have agreed to appear together at a candidates’ forum April 9th in the South Loop.

Representatives for Ald. Madeline L. Haithcock and challenger Bob Fioretti signed onto the event, which could be one of the only times the two candidates meet face to face before the April 17 runoff.

The candidates will begin speaking at the free event, sponsored by the Greater South Loop Association, Printers Row Presidents and Columbia College’s Journalism Department, at 6:30 p.m. April 9 at Soka Gakkai, 1455 S. Wabash Ave.

Audience members will have a chance to ask questions of the candidates that evening; those who can’t attend the forum may e-mail questions in advance .

The setting of a date for the event comes just days after some South Loop residents began receiving a controversial campaign mailing that accuses Fioretti, a lawyer, of being a stalker.

This is the second time the issue has been raised by Ald. Haithcock’s campaign. Just days before the Feb. 27 election, Haithcock’s camp made public a protective order a woman had sought against Fioretti about four years ago, though the order was quickly rescinded. Fioretti has said that a woman who had been harassing him and his girlfriend sought the order.

Still, news of the protective order prompted the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) to withdraw its endorsement of Fioretti the weekend before the February election.

Last week, however, NOW reinstated its support of Fioretti and held a press conference to lambaste the alderman for launching a “vicious attack” that is a “desperate political ploy meant to distract voters,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

Fioretti told the Sun-Times that the woman who sought the protective order broke into his home and one day called him 60 times.

He’s filed suit to stop Haithcock from distributing the campaign mailer. A hearing on that matter is set for April 3, reports the Chicago Tribune’s Mickey Ciokajlo.

Some political observers have said Haithcock is going for the jugular in this hotly contested race, one of 12 aldermanic runoffs, because she’s trailing Fioretti.

In the Feb. 27 election, Fioretti won 27.7 percent of the vote, while the alderman garnered 20.9 percent. There’s a runoff because neither candidate, nor four others on the 2nd Ward ballot, garnered at least 50 percent of the 11,103 votes cast.

Two other candidates who unsuccessfully ran in that election have announced they’re endorsing the alderman. In a recent press release, David R. Askew, who got 15.8 percent of the vote, and Larry Doody, who won 11.6 percent of the vote, asked their supporters to back the alderman.

They said Haithcock’s experience and integrity – she’s been alderman since 1993 – make her the candidates voters should trust.

In the press release, sent out by Askew, Haithcock says she has “adopted and taken several steps to establish neighborhood advisory councils throughout the ward to enhance input on development questions from residents and businesses most affected by a proposed development.”

The advisory councils, the alderman noted, were part of Askew’s campaign platform.

The endorsement of two former competitors may be outweighed, though, by the support Fioretti is getting from unions.

Writing in the March 25 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, reporter Scott Fornek says one union official predicts Haithcock and at least four other incumbents will lose April 17.

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In the Loop Local Politics Public
Tags:
2nd ward bob fioretti madeline haitchcock south loop

The cost of campaigns and the exit interview

Barbara Iverson — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:08:21 +0000

Submitted on Wed, 03/14/2007 – 01:08.

Allison Riggio, writing in The Beachwood Reporter this week, cites some interesting figures about the free-for-all in Chicago’s 15th Ward. Eleven candidates competed Feb. 27 to replace retiring Ald. Ted Thomas. The top two vote getters – Toni Foulkes and Felicia Simmons-Stovall – will face off April 17. Riggio reports that Foulkes spent about $225,000 to win 2,037 votes (34 percent). That works out to about $110 a vote. Simmons-Stovall spent $65,000 and nabbed 1,603 votes (26 percent), which comes to about $40 a vote.
And don’t miss Cyryl Jakubowski’s recent conversation – reported word for word in The Beachwood Reporter – with ousted Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd Ward).

Categories:
In the Loop Local Politics Public