What's new in West Chesterfield...

It's good to know that our local schools get visits from local leaders!

The pic above shows Michael LaFaruge President of the West Chesterfield Community Association, Dr. Michelle Willis Principal of Gillespie Elementary, and Toni Preckwinkle Cook County Board President posing for a pic at Gillespie.

Seasons Greetings!

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle brought Holiday Greetings to Gillespie Elementary School at 9301 S State St., on Friday, December 14. During a surprise visit, at West Chesterfield's invite, the president congratulated the school on this year's academic improvement.

West Chesterfield brought Holiday Cheers to the Roseland Community Hospital with its delivery of bundles of Children's gifts to the Hospital on Thursday, December 13.

West Chesterfield's Alonzo Anderson and Michael LaFargue delivered one hundred (100) toys and gifts divided between Gillespie (Tech) Elementary School and the Roseland Community Hospital. West Chesterfield hosts Holiday Toy Drives annually.

Side Note:

Gillespie's relationship is budding with the West Chesterfield Community Association. In November Gillespie and WCCA agreed to collaborate on community garden development in 2013 with the assistance of West Chesterfield's Dr. Jobe Payne.

Michael LaFargue
WCCA President

The pic below is of LaFargue on the left and other West Chesterfield residents flanking Roseland Hospital Vice President of Legislative Affairs Sharon Thurman. Roseland Hospital is located at 45 W. 111th St.

 

Concerned Citizens of Chatham: Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

If you're a graduating senior out of high school  who is a minority planning to attend a four year university in the US, this is a scholarship you should consider. The scholarship is up to $24,000 for four years. Click here to read more details.

As stated all minority graduating high school seniors are encourages to apply although I hope students from Harlan High School will check this information out!

See you tonight for the Hobbit!

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Just a reminder about tonight!

Join The Sixth Ward blog as we celebrate the birthdays of Levois and JP! The Hobbit's opening night is actually on our birthdays (December 14), and we want to see it at Chatham 14 , at 87th & the Dan Ryan (210 W. 87th)

We will make a special presentation 15 minutes before the movie starts.  So buy tickets for the show at the box office, but make sure you are at the theater 1/2 hour before show time!

We will have a table where we will will share info on the blog. Please stop by BEFORE the show and say hi! We would love to meet our readers (not just from the area, but our blog colleagues such as Uptown Update and others)

The price of the ticket is the same as normal, $9.50. 

Chatham 14 does NOT do online ticketing...however you can buy tickets at the box office up to 1 week before showtime!

To summarize:

1. Be at Chatham 14 no later than 6:30 pm
2. Buy a ticket for the 7:00 show 
3. Stop by our table to say hi
4. Be in the actual theater by 6:45pm, where we'll make some short announcements before they show the trailers..

If this goes well, we'll plan another event for when the new Star Trek movie opens May 2013.

We hope to see you there!

e-mail us at blog (at) thesixthward.us to let us know you are coming, before 3pm.

Leap Frog vows to donate $3000 to help 3rd grade student in toy drive

This was forwarded to us by Chinta Strausberg an update on the Beasley School 3rd Grader who wants to send toys to children affected by hurricane Sandy.

On Anderson Cooper’s show, Leap Frog vows to donate $3,000 to help Third grade Beasley School Center student launches toy drive for Hurricane Sandy children

Sam Love, a 9-year-old third grade student at Beasley Elementary Magnet Academic Center, 5255 S. State Street, Thursday appeared on the Anderson Cooper show along with his father, Victor Love.

Anderson surprised Samuel by announcing that Leap Frog heard about his toy drive to help Hurricane Sandy victims and will donate $3,000 towards his project.

So touched by the ravages of Hurricane Sandy, Samuel is holding a Christmas party Saturday, December 15, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at his father’s restaurant, Josephine’s Cooking (aka Captain Hardtimes), 436 E. 79th St.. where Love is asking the public to bring toys for the children in New York.

After watching news reporters showing the devastation Hurricane Sandy has caused, Love sent a note to his principal, Dr. Kim Brasfield, asking for her support in his holding a toy drive for the children who is facing a bleak Christmas. “Since I get so much for Christmas, I think these children should get some toys, too,” said Love.

"When a child places socially responsibility on his or her shoulders to care for others in the world, it is inspiring,” said Brasfield.

School officials agreed to support his toy drive if he would cover the cost of mailing the toys to New York. “I agreed to do that,” said Love who is the grandson of Josephine Wade, who along with her son, Victor Love, Samuel’s father, owns the Josephine Cooking (aka Captain Hardtimes) Restaurant, 436 E. 79th St. in Chicago.

Samuel’s father said, “I am so proud of my son, and I am hoping that the public will support this very worthy cause.”

Admission to Samuel Love’s toy drive is free with a toy or $10.00 if you have no toy.

Concerned Citizens of Chatham: Will the Independence Bank building survive?

7936 S. Cottage Grove -photo by Eric Allix Rogers

Worlee wrote yesterday about the coming takeover by Urban Partnership Bank of the former branch of Northern Trust Bank located at 7801 S State St.:

The corner of 79th Cottage Grove is currently experiencing challenges because of several large outdated structures. These structures attract nefarious activity and leaves a lot to be desired. Also, east on 79th street,is what is considered the worst beat in the City of Chicago by the Chicago Police Department. So the question that many in the Chatham community are asking will Urban Partnership abandon the Independence Bank Building for the old Northern Trust Clock Tower Building. Calls to Urban Partnership have gone unanswered, so we will have to wait and see what will happen.

What will happen to this nice building once Urban Partnership sets up shop at their new digs on State Street?

See you THIS Friday to see the Hobbit at Chatham 14!

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Join The Sixth Ward blog as we celebrate the birthdays of Levois and JP! The Hobbit's opening night is actually on our birthdays (December 14), and we want to see it at Chatham 14 , at 87th & the Dan Ryan (210 W. 87th)


We will make a special presentation 15 minutes before the movie starts.  So buy tickets for the show at the box office, but make sure you are at the theater 1/2 hour before show time!

We will have a table where we will will share info on the blog. Please stop by BEFORE the show and say hi! We would love to meet our readers (not just from the area, but our blog colleagues such as Uptown Update and others)

The price of the ticket is the same as normal, $9.50. 

Chatham 14 does NOT do online ticketing...however you can buy tickets at the box office up to 1 week before showtime!

To summarize:

1. Be at Chatham 14 no later than 6:30 pm
2. Buy a ticket for the 7:00 show 
3. Stop by our table to say hi
4. Be in the actual theater by 6:45pm, where we'll make some short announcements before they show the trailers..

If this goes well, we'll plan another event for when the new Star Trek movie opens May 2013.

We hope to see you there!

e-mail us at blog (at) thesixthward.us to let us know you are coming

CTA Holiday Train - Join us NEXT Saturday!

* Join JP and his family NEXT Saturday to ride the Holiday Train. Meet us at the 95th street platform at 2pm.  Send an e-mail to blog (at) TheSixthWard (dot) us  for details.  See the following for other times & details to ride the train).

The Chicago Transit Authority has now announced their schedule for the Holiday Train, featuring a special car for Santa Claus, with specific stop times.

I have taken my daughter previous years to the Holiday Train, and it was fun. For just the cost of an El Ride, we were able to get to Belmont and take some photos.

The Holiday schedule will be posted here.

This Saturday, families can take photos from 1:45pm - 2:30pm at the 95th street station.

Some suggestions for those considering doing it this year:

1. Go to the beginning of the trip (whether it's Howard or 95th). Even just 2 stops into the "tour", at 79th, the train was quite crowded already.
2. Plan to be there at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule. It will be a lot less stressful.
3. There is a time to get a photo taken next to Santa and in front of the trains. This includes at the very beginning, but also at 1 or 2 major stops, like Belmont. But note-- it's only about 4 minutes to do so. So take your photos and hop back on! (we wound up missing it after the photos)

The dates, times and directions for the 69th, 79th, 87th and 95th el stops:

(Dec 12 Wed - Northbound)

• 95th = 4:16pm
• 87th = 4:19pm
• 79th = 4:22pm
• 69th = 4:25pm

(Dec 14 Fri - Northbound)

• 95th = 4:48pm
• 87th = 4:51pm
• 79th = 4:54pm
• 69th = 4:57pm

(Dec 15 Sat - Northbound)
photos with Santa: 2pm -2:50pm

• 95th = 3:01pm and 7:26pm
• 87th = 3:04pm and 7:29pm
• 79th = 3:07pm and 7:32pm
• 69th = 3:10pm and 7:35pm

(Dec 18  Tue- Northbound)

• 95th = 5:19pm???
• 87th = 5:22pm???
• 79th = 5:25pm???
• 69th = 5:28pm???

(Dec 22  Sat- Northbound)  <---- i="i">When we'll go!

• 95th = 3pm???
• 87th = 3:04pm???
• 79th = 3:07pm???
• 69th = 3:10pm???

Any families want to meet up this year?  E-mail us at blog (at) TheSixthWard (dot) us

Alderman Brookins on the ruling to carry a gun in public

Our neighboring Alderman of the 21st Ward to the west comments on a ruling today in a federal appellate court that rendered any ban on carrying a gun in public in this state as unconstitutional:

Ald. Howard Brookins, 21st, chairman of the City Council black caucus, welcomed the decision, saying allowing Chicagoans to carry concealed weapons would help level the playing field in neighborhoods where law-abiding citizens feel like they need firearms to protect themselves.

"Certain people will have a sense of safety and peace of mind in the ability to do it," Brookins said of conceal-carry. "I know that even people, for example, just trying to see that their loved ones get homes safely are in technical violation of all sorts of weapons violations. If you just walk out to your garage and see that your wife is coming in the house safely, and you happen to have your gun on you, you're in technical violation of our ordinance. So I would hope all these ordinances would be consolidated so there's one set of rules and people would know where the bright line is to what they can and cannot do with respect to carrying a weapon."

Brookins said he's not worried doing away with the state ban would lead to an increase in gun violence as more people walk the streets with weapons. "I think those people have a gun now, they've just been made criminals because they can't legally have it," Brookins said. "And I think the gangbangers and thugs are going to have a gun regardless."

If you were to ask me, Brookins is correct. Sadly we will continue to have those who believe in gun control who still fear that our streets will turn into the wild west. He's also correct in stating those who want guns law-abiding citizens or not currently possess guns. Banning guns isn't necessarily an answer, but what do we do about those who are intent on using a handgun to commit a crime?

Via Newsalert!

Suspicions about ADT representatives...

Information via the Children of Chatham, Chicago FB group. Perhaps we can see if there is any criminal activity involved here:

To all concerned citizens of Chatham...Please be aware that there is a team of people currently in the area of Chatham, that are dressed in uniformed clothing: ie: Jackets and hats with the ADT logos on them. If you suspect that these persons are NOT ADT representatives notify the local authority immediately. I spoke with the ADT staff at the OakBrook headquarters and was instucted to do so as well. These door to door representatives are not to return to your homes day to day without a scheduled appointment. You can also ask this "representative" for identification. The ID's must bear their name and photo along with the ADT logo. Once the name is provided you can also call 800-ADT-ASAP, this number can provide a full physical description of said "representatives", it will also confirm if in fact he/she is an ADT employee. Again, if you believe that the area is being canvased call 911. Be Safe everyone!

So is Ald. Sandi Jackson resigning?

[VIDEO] Yesterday some friends of her said she was and is planning to leave Chicago to move back to DC. Today, Sandi herself says she has no plans to resign. In fact here's some of what was said in the vid above:

"My constituents are people who depends on me to be there for them. And I'm going to continue to work hard on their behalf," Ald. Jackson said. "Whoever these people are who purport to speak for me should stop."

This is what she had said in the Tribune about whether or not she intends to finish out her aldermanic term:

"I will finish my term. I intend to finish my term," Jackson added. "Unless something catastrophic happens -- I could step outside and get hit by a bus today."

Asked whether her husband getting sent to prison would constitute "something catastrophic," Jackson said she would not discuss that.

"I'm not going to entertain questions like that, I really am not," she said.

It has been noted that there are charges that she isn't living full-time in the 7th Ward. In fact you might have seem reader comments here on this blog charging exactly that. She did discuss that as well:

Jackson said she has not yet decided whether to move back to Chicago full time from Washington D.C., where she said her husband is currently staying with the couple's children while he continues to see his doctors regularly.

Well, all the same it was noted that her attendance to city council meetings and city council committee hearings haven't been very good. I'm sure that's where these rumors started but lets remember that both her and her husband are public figures even if Jesse Jr. is no longer a sitting Congressman.

I also recognize that in light of federal investigation into his involvement with Rod Blagojevich or any investigation into Jackson's campaign funds has caused some stress for that family. Indeed it may have contributed to the mental health of the former Congressman. So most of us recognize that this is a trying time for Ald. Jackson's family and being in public life doesn't help surely.

All the same thanks to her attendance issues on the City Council Joe Lake has started an online petition that requests that she resign her city council seat. I'm only curious how many people from the 7th Ward would call for that and they're the most important people Jackson has to consider. People citywide can have their opinions, but what about the constituents of the 7th!

BTW, Jackson is also the Democratic committeewoman of the 7th Ward and stated in the Tribune that she hasn't decided who to support in next year's special election for the 2nd congressional district. What we do know right now is that she isn't going to consider getting into that race.

South Side Third-Grader Launches Toy Drive for Hurricane Sandy Victims - DNAinfo.com Chicago

South Side Third-Grader Launches Toy Drive for Hurricane Sandy Victims - DNAinfo.com Chicago

Unlike most children his age, Samuel Love is not spending too much time thinking about all the gifts he might get for Christmas.

Instead, the 9-year-old is busy organizing a local toy drive to benefit New York children affected by Hurricane Sandy.

“Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. Not many kids my age think about that, but I do, and that’s why I want to make sure kids in New York have a good Christmas,” the third-grader said.

The student at Beasley Elementary School, 5255 S. State St., lives in the Pill Hill neighborhood on the South Side. He said he thought of holding a toy drive after watching footage of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy on TV.

“That’s when I started thinking about how those kids might not get any gifts this year because their parents can’t afford it,” Samuel said.

Some more info if you want to help this young man out!

He is asking the public to drop off new, unwrapped toys all this week at his school or at Josephine’s Cooking, 436 E. 79th St., a soul-food restaurant in Chatham owned by his grandmother Josephine Wade.

On Saturday, Samuel is hosting a Christmas party at Josephine’s Cooking from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is a $10 donation required to get in the door, but “if you bring a toy admission, is free,” he said.

He has set a goal of collecting 3,000 toys to distribute to needy kids in New York. Those who attend the Christmas party will be treated to a free buffet lunch. There will also be a Santa Claus on hand to take photos with children for $10. All monies raised will be used to purchase new toys and then shipped to either a military base or a children’s charity in New York for distribution, according to Samuel’s father, Victor Love.

Let's help the young man out and give other children a Christmas this year!

Trail Prospect: Rail Viaduct in Englewood

Recently Bill Barr on his blog linked to a post at Community Beat about making some of Englewood's abandoned railroad embankments into trails. Then I realized there are some plans being made for exactly that. Hopefully these plans will come to reality in the near future!

BTW, Baar specifically mentioned the Bloomingdale line on the northwest side of town that there is also a wish to turn into some trails.

FOX 32 exclusive: Sandi Jackson expected to resign from City Council

Ald. Sandi Jackson

WHAT!?!?!

Friends of Alderman Sandi Jackson tell Fox 32 News she is preparing to resign from the City Council. They said she's unlikely to complete her current term and could be gone from Chicago next year.

One said Mrs. Jackson would "have no choice but to quit the Council" if her husband, Jesse Jackson, Junior, goes to prison. His lawyers are currently bargaining with federal prosecutors over a possible guilty plea. "If he ends up in prison, of course she'll quit to care for the children," one friend said.

No matter what happens, friends said Mrs. Jackson plans to continue raising her two children in Washington, D.C. Referring to daughter Jessica and son Jesse Jackson III, a friend reported, "Jess and Trey each like their private school. And the family can be much more anonymous in D.C. than in Chicago."

Unbelievable! Then again I realize she's in an extraordinary situation so what can really be said. If she does resign from the city council then Mayor Emanuel will get the change to appoint his own candidate to represent the 7th ward.

This is definitely the other side to possibly considering a run for her husband's old congressional seat in next year's special election which also had been reported today as well. It looks like she wants to quit politics altogether.

Chicago Citizen looking for reporter

From the Quentis Bernard Garth Facebook page:

JOB OPENING! - The Chicago Citizen Newspaper has an immediate opening for a full-time Reporter’s position.

Job Description:

Collects and analyzes information about newsworthy events to construct compelling stories for publication.

Receives assignments from the Managing Editor or evaluates news leads and news tips to develop story ideas.

Gathers and verifies factual information regarding stories through interviews, observation, and research.

Organizes material, determines slant or emphasis, and writes stories according to the Chicago Citizen Newspaper’s prescribed editorial style and format standards.

May be required to take photographs to illustrate stories.

Excellent writing and communication skills are a must.

Must be very proficient in Microsoft Word.

Proficiency in the entire Microsoft Office suite a huge plus.

Candidates must have at least 3 years worth of experience in news reporting. A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations or a related discipline is preferred but not required. Competitive benefit package offered.

Email resumes to Larissa M. Tyler, Managing Editor, Chicago Citizen Newspaper: lmtyler @ thechicagocitizen.com .

Mail to Chicago Citizen Newspaper, 806 E. 78th St., Chicago IL 60619, Attn: Larissa M. Tyler, Managing Editor.

No phone calls please.

Anyone interested? And if you get the job, we at The Sixth Ward would love to connect with you so we can help

The former Williams Clinic

View Larger Map

What you see above is a Google Streetview of the former Williams Clinic located at 408 E. Marquette Road. It was operated by a family of Black doctors and it seemed they offered a number of services at this clinic including a dentist and a pharmacy. In fact here's an obituary for one of the Williams brothers who originally founded the clinic.

Recently I drove by and it hits me that the clinic is close to the motel near Marquette Road & King Drive that had been recently demolished thanks to the activism of a local minster Corey Brooks - who incidentally was interested in succeeding Jesse Jackson Jr. for the 2nd congressional district seat. In driving by, on that motel property was a rendition of how the new community center Brooks hope to build would look.

Then it also hit me, I wonder if Brooks might find a way to thrown in some health care services at his future community center. Indeed perhaps he could find a way to take over the Williams Clinic property which is currently a church.

I do wish to know what happened to Williams Clinic. My dad used to patronize their practice back in the day and continued to do so until it appears that the Williams family were no longer involved in that business. I'm not entirely certain when they closed but surely someone could fill in some details.

BTW, this post is going into some unfamiliar territory as far as a particular issue such as health care. Medical services are necessary no matter your income level and this area around the former clinic is considered low-income. The question to ask here is whether or not it's possible for an independent clinic such as this could exist today. Would the economics of health care today keep independent medical professionals from operating?

Your Chicago: Chatham

[VIDEO] CBS 2 Chicago takes a trip to the Chatham neighborhood with their anchor Jim Williams who himself was a "child of Chatham":

At one time, Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood was one of the best neighborhoods on the South Side — home to many famous Chicagoans, including Mahalia Jackson.

It has seen some changes — some good, some bad. But those that live there now are proud of where they call home, CBS 2’s Kate Sullivan reports.

In 1958, CBS 2 reporter Jim Williams moved into a small, but brand-new home in Chatham.

“Twenty thousand dollars my folks paid for this house, and we moved in 50 years ago,” he tells Sullivan on a tour.

With a policeman father and a teacher for a mother, Williams and his brother rode bikes down the street. Times have changed, but his love for where he grew up hasn’t.

“Well, I mean just look at this, look at how well-manicured these lawns are. Look how they take care of their property. People have a lot of pride here. They’ve always had it and they still have it today,” Williams says.

It seems Chatham is still getting interest in the mainstream press. BTW, Seaway wasn't the first ever Black-owned bank. ;)

Do you think of Chatham as a self-contained community? Do you think the best is yet to come for Chatham?

Black middle class demographics

Over at BlackDemographics.com we see a number of stats and commentary about the Black middle class. I wonder where the Chicago area ranks in that area. So far all I see are Queens in New York and Dekalb County in Georgia. Of course they also address how the Black middle class is in danger.

BTW, remember this post we had entitled "Can the Black Middle Class Survive: Obama Is in the Oval Office but the Black Bourgeoisie is Foundering"? The author - Steven Gray - of the article that provided the basis of that post was interviewed on NPR back in September to talk about his article. You can hear the [AUDIO] below or click the link in the brackets.

EDIT: Messed up on one link and forgot to add another. Sorry.

Join The Sixth Ward Blog to see The Hobbit!

.

Join The Sixth Ward blog as we celebrate the birthdays of Levois and JP! The Hobbit's opening night is actually on our birthdays (December 14).


We will make a special presentation 15 minutes before the movie starts.  So buy tickets for the show at the box office, but make sure you are at the theater 1/2 hour before show time!

We will have a table where we will will share info on the blog. Please stop by BEFORE the show and say hi!

The price of the ticket is the same as normal, $9.50. 

Chatham 14 does NOT do online ticketing...however you can buy tickets at the box office up to 1 week before showtime!


We hope to see you there!

e-mail us at blog (at) thesixthward.us to let us know you are coming

See Potential at Kusanya Cafe

Coming up this weekend!

Join the board of the Kusanya Cafe and others as we partner with See Potential for a special beautification project in Englewood! See Potential installs large-scale documentary photographs onto blighted buildings to visualize the development plans of community leaders, organizations, and local entrepreneurs in Chicago's South Side. See attached flier or details below!

• See Potential @ Kusanya Cafe
  Sunday, December 9th
  2pm-5pm
  At the offices of Imagine Englewood If - 730 W. 69th St.

With your support we hope to open Kusanya Cafe by the spring/summer of 2013, so stay tuned...

The cafe is expected to open at 830 W. 69th Street. The flyer is below:

2nd Congressional District round-up

Donne Trotter isn't deterred by his recent arrest this week as far as his bid to replace Jesse Jackson Jr.

If you're wondering a Republican has declared for this race. Lenny McCallister has thrown his hat into this ring. Time will only tell if he has a chance to win this race. McCallister who's billed as a "working man's conservative" is a media political commentator and had recently moved from the Chicago area.

Also last Friday at the Capitol Fax, we took a look at weighted votes among Chicago and Cook County Democratic committeemen to determine who to slate for the special primary election. This was before Trotter's arrest so who knows where the votes will go for slating.

Also this past Sunday, the prospective candidates for this seat had a debate on FOX Chicago Sunday. Sen. Trotter appeared on the program along with Sen. Toi Hutchison and Ald. Anthony Beale. Beale mentioned the Red Line extension on the program:

Beale, the 9th Ward alderman, boasted that he brought a Wal-Mart to the Far South Side, and predicted he could bring the Red Line there by 2016 or 2017. Beale’s ward includes the Altgeld Gardens housing project, which is a 90-minute bus and train ride from downtown, on a good day. The extension will require hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

 

“Old Man Daley was talking about the Red Line 30-40 years ago,” Beale said. “It’s going to happen. We’re in Step 4 of 7 -- 7 is funding.”

Other declared candidates such as former US Rep. Debbie Halvorson and former state treasurer candidate & Cook County Chief Administrative Officer Robin Kelly declined invitations to appear on the program.