White Castle near 111th & State #tbt #Ward09

You may well have already seen this photo below on social media taken in the mid-1980s of the White Castle that formerly stood at 111th & State Streets or actually 2 E. 111th street. I'm most familiar with this location since often looking for a hamburger slider fix this was where my folks went. At some point during the 1990s this location was closed and demolished.

Then looking for photos I found an even older photo of the White Castle taken in 1937 according to the information on the photograph. Could be the same building and I don't recognize the neighborhood around it.

Via Pinterest

Of course back in the 1980s the White Castle was surrounded by a post office to the north and then to the east on 111th Street was the YMCA. The post office is still there however the YMCA is long gone though the building itself remains.

I hope you enjoy this look back and a break from the dire news regarding coronavirus.

Fire destroys food pantry #Ward09

[VIDEO] Been quite a while since I've shared a local story on this blog. On Monday there was a fire in Roseland near 111th/Michigan where a church operated a food pantry. You see the story above from WGN.

There is a GoFundMe drive page [CLICK HERE] for this church and also it was reported that Rev. Jesse Jackson is pledging help for this church as well. From ABC 7

Back to school events on August 18, 2018

9th Ward Annual Back to school picnic & health fair

Saturday, August 18, 2018
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Palmer Park
201 E. 111th Street

Of course give Ald. Beale's office a call with any questions! 773.785.1100

BTW the above image was taken from Ald. Beale's new ig page. Give it a look and follow to see what else he's up to!

Also  next Satuday the 56th annual Englewood back to school parade. Here's a post from englewoodparade on ig. To register www.englewoodparade.com or 773.802.1568

🚨🚨🚨Due to street construction please make note of new route🚨🚨🚨If you would like to participate in the historic Englewood Back to School Parade please take a moment and visit our website: www.englewoodparade.org There is absolutely no registration fee... If you are a marching band, tumbling team, dance troupe, drum line, organization etc. We are looking for you... #englewoodparade #englewoodparade2018 #werenglewood #getinvolved Sponsorship opportunities available..... 📕📓✂️📚🙌🏾✏️ Please share! 🚨New Route: 57th and Halsted to 63rd Halsted right on 63rd to Racine left on 63rd Racine South to 65th street🚨

A post shared by @ englewoodparade on Aug 3, 2018 at 7:24am PDT

Early voting has started #Ward09

www.chicagoelections.com

Actually it's started as of this Monday for the March 20, 2018 primary elections. These are the early voting sites in the Ward 9, however, if you want to find out sites for your respective ward feel free to visit chicagoelections.com. The information is from an e-mail blast by the office of Ald. Anthony Beale (Ward 9).

Reminder: Early Voting
March 5 thru March 19, 2018

Palmer Park
201 East 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60628

Olive Harvey College
10001 S Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60628

• March 5th - March 10 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 
• March 11th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
• March 12th - March 16th from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
• March 17th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
• March 18th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
• March 19th  from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

For more information contact the Board of Elections (312) 269- 7900

Government-issued photo ID is not required but is helpful if there is a question about the voter's registration, address, signature or if there are two voters with the same or similar names at the same address.

Whole Foods Market distribution facility open in Pullman

This all occurred yesterday including the bread breaking which is what they do when they open new stores. For example they did the same thing upon opening the Whole Foods store at 63rd/Halsted. This is from the Mayor's ig page.

A post shared by Mayor Rahm Emanuel (@chicagosmayor) on Jan 8, 2018 at 1:50pm PST

And also Elgie Sims - state representative of the 34th District for Illinois - was also in on the action and also posted a college of pics on his ig page also.

Tribune: Planned warehouses could bring thousands of jobs to Pullman

This morning over at our ig account we reposted a screen cap that is a rendering of the future warehouses expected to come near 103rd/Stony Island provided by this Chicago Tribune article. As a matter of fact, these warehouses will be closer to 111th Street near the Walmart. Below I will share the post provided by Ian Lantz who owns The Pullman Cafe.

A post shared by Ian Lantz (@ianlantzart) on Sep 5, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT

Curbed Chicago: Plan to renovate Pullman’s historic 1880 factory building is moving forward

Plans are being made to turn the historic Pullman factory and clock tower - located at 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue - to become a visitor center. In addition there will be a interpretive center and HQ for National Park Service operations. This is an initiative of the National Park Service and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives.

The NPS’ ambitious plan to renovate Pullman’s historic factory building is moving forward https://t.co/ptHf4K9tPO pic.twitter.com/7bDVOaqk7u

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) March 20, 2017

9th Ward events this week

9th Ward Paper Shredding Event!

• Friday, August 19, 2016
  10:00 am - 1:00 pm
  Dollar Function Parking Lot
  319 East 103rd Street

9th Ward Back to School Picnic and Health Fair

• Saturday, August 20, 2016 
  12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
  Palmer Park
  201 E. 111th Street

For more information on these events call 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale at 773.785.1100

Click here to view e-mail

9th ward community meeting

Alderman Anthony Beale

• Please Join Us!
  9th Ward Alderman Anthony A. Beale and City Department Representatives present a 9th Ward Community Meeting
  
  Tuesday, April 26, 2016
  6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  
  Pullman Presbyterian Church
  550 East 103rd Street
  Chicago, Illinois 60628
  
  For more info
  9th Ward Alderman Anthony A. Beale
  34 East 112th Place
  Chicago, Illinois 60628
  773.785.1100

More media on the Pullman Whole Foods distribution center #teamwholefoods

ABC 7 did a story on this Thursday

And then they noted an information session for those interested in a job at the coming Whole Foods Englewood store expected to open this fall. That event should've been held Thursday night at Kennedy King College (@ 740 West 63rd Street).

The Tribune was there at a presser at the site located near 720 E. 111th Street. If you want to forgo reading that article there's a video there you can watch. It shows comments made by Michael Bashaw the Midwest region President of Whole Foods flanked by Mayor Rahm Emanuel & 9th ward Alderman Anthony Beale.

Whole Foods Distribution Center to be built in Pullman

[VIDEO] So more big news for Pullman. They will be home to a new Whole Foods Market distribution center to be located at 720 E. 111th Street. You see the video from our local CBS affiliate. Here's some words from Crain's:

Whole Foods plans to build a distribution facility in the Pullman neighborhood on the South Side that would employ 150 people.

The 140,000-square-foot facility will be at 720 E. 111th St., according to the city of Chicago. The site is currently vacant.

The center, to open in early 2018, will replace an existing Munster, Ind., facility and will serve up to 70 Whole Foods stores in the Midwest and Canada, according to the city.

The city "will consider approximately $7.4 million in tax-increment financing assistance" for the project, according to a statement. The subsidy is being considered "to ensure the site was competitive with the existing facility in Indiana," the statement said.

This is treated as a developing story sooooo I look forward to finding out more about this project in the near future.

Here's a map of the future site below thanks to Google Maps.

Click for a larger resolution

DNA Info: Planners Dreaming Up What's Next for Pullman National Monument

Via Chicago Neighborhoods

Mark Konkol who just so happens to be a Pullman resident talks about the implications of the neighborhood becoming a national monument as declared not long before the February municipal elections:

Pullman’s days as a cute historic district with a pretty cool house tour are officially over. Now, the neighborhood has a shot to be a national model for inner-city renewal, creative public transportation and urban tourism that has the attention of architects and city planners from across the country.

And for that, the National Park Conservation Association and the American Institute of Architects have rounded up some of the nation’s most prominent architects, economists, transportation gurus and historic preservationists for a three-day brainstorming session aimed on creative ways to capitalize on the neighborhood’s new national status.

Starting Thursday, about 40 professionals who know a thing or two about making big plans for urban areas will gather in Pullman to come up with plans for everything from renovating Metra stations and restoring historic ruins to coming up with a blueprint for bolstering local business and safer ways to walk across 111th Street.

“We want to visualize what Pullman might look like in 10 years with the influence of the national monument designation,” said Lynn McClure, the conservation association's Midwest senior director.

I could only envision this is not only good for Pullman but good for neighboring Roseland as well.

Open House for the Method plant in Pullman NEXT Thursday

This information was sent to people on 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale's e-mail list:

• Open House

  Informational Session for the Pullman Community (9th Ward)
  Thursday, September 18, 2014
  7-9pm
  
  Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy
  250 E 111th Street
  Chicago, IL 60628
  (Enter Door #36)
  
  for more information on open positions or to submit your resume, please visit www.methodhome.com
  
  If you do not have a computer to apply for method jobs, no worries... 9/2/14 -10/3/14, please call 773.928.6000 x229 to schedule an appointment to use computers that are available, here you can apply for jobs, upload your resume, and complete a prescreen assessment.

An actual flyer is seen below.

9th Ward Back to School parade, picnic, & health fair

I apologize for this short notice. This event is expected to occur tomorrow afternoon and is worth noting here.

Further information is below:

• Alderman Anthony A. Beale's 15th Annual Back-to-School Parade, Picnic and Health Fair
  Join Alderman Anthony Beale for his 15th Annual Back-to-School Event
  Saturday, August 16, 2014
  
  Parade Kick-off: 11:00 a.m.
  Roseland Little League
  12483 South Michigan Ave.
  Picnic Immediately Following in Palmer Park
  201 E. 111th Street
  
  Alderman/Committeeman Anthony A. Beale
  34 East 112th Place
  Chicago, Illinois 60628
  773.785.1100

Flyer is below

Tribune: State gives Roseland Community Hospital another lifeline

Last month Roseland Hospital located at 45 W. 111th St was the subject of many news stories involved a potential closure and it's finances. At the tail-end we found out that it's CEO was no longer on the job (either fired or resigned) and that ultimately it got $350,000 from the state according to the Sun-Times.

More recently this hospital noted as a place where the under-insured and uninsured can receive treatment is getting some more money from the state:

With the dawn of a new fiscal year, Illinois has again advanced Roseland Community Hospital a round of supplemental payments that will help the beleaguered Far South Side hospital's safety net afloat for at least a few more weeks.

Bill Brandt, the chairman of the Illinois Finance Authority, said the state “advanced everything it could” earlier this week so the hospital “can preserve the status quo and ensure minimum health and safety standards are met while everyone continues to try to figure out a longer-term plan to keep Roseland open in some form.”

The amount of the payments wasn’t immediately available, but Brandt said the money should be enough for the hospital to continue paying its employees and accepting patients for at least the next three weeks.

The reprieve grants a new chief restructuring officer and a team of financial analysts additional time to assess whether the hospital, with its deepening financial woes, will be able to continue on as a going concern.

Officials from the governor’s office, the hospital and a team of crisis management and financial restructuring experts are working to determine what role Roseland can play in the community -- whether it can remain an acute-care, full-service hospital or whether its services need to be scaled back. 

It was noted that the Roseland has been in talks with the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System and Loretto Hospital located on Chicago's West Side unfortunately when the extent of Roseland's financial issues was known talks had broken off. It was estimated that "the hospital needs at least $17 million in the near term to pay down mounting debt and meet current obligations."

NBC Chicago: South Side Hospital Ordered to Move Patients

The reason why patients are being moved from Roseland Hospital is because they're expected to close and will not be admitting any more patients. In reading this article, it's not clear who's ordering the hospital to move patients, however it's clear whom the hospital is pointing the finger at for the financial issues:

The Far South Side hospital reported a $2 million deficit at the end of the 2011 fiscal year and faces closure as they prepare to move their patients.

Hospital officials said they were expecting the state to repay them what they claim they are owed, and that they are devastated by the moving notice.

“I’ve seen this hospital do a lot for this community,” said hospital employee Paulette Perry. “I love my job.”

Community members, workers and union leaders protested the closure last week and rallied again Monday, saying Roseland is the only hospital within an eight-mile radius, and is a lifeline to the South Side community members.

“If there’s nothing here at all, period, then where are they going to go? Just lie in the street and die?" one protester said.

The Roseland Coalition, a community group, said closing the hospital would put nearly 50,000 people in the community at risk and 600 employees could lose their jobs.

The hospital let go 60 workers two weeks ago due to the lack of funding and activists are calling on Governor Quinn to use emergency funds to save the center.

The hospital said they will stop accepting patients Wednesday and said Monday they are sending Quinn a bill once more stating they are owed $6 million from the last four years

In an e-mail where this article was sent was this editorial quote: "Roseland needs a Trauma Center not a hospital closing". Also Roseland Hospital is in a medical district which is expected to revitalize that area, however, it seems to be made difficult with a hospital in the red. Also it has been noted that trauma centers are in very short supply in neighborhoods throughout Chicago's south side.

Here's more required reading. CBS2 also talked about the financial picture of Roseland Hospital last month and Gov. Quinn was said to be concerned about the financial picture and also noted the hospital as part of a medical district. One can only hope that a solution is in the works.

Crime announcement from 6th District Chicago Police HQ

We recently got this crime alert from the GCA. They want a good turnout at the court located at the 5th District Police HQ:

4 Mar 13

Hello 006th Police District Residents:

The Chicago Police Department recently concluded a narcotics enforcement operation targeting violent street gangs in the area of 600-700 E. 79th.

Approximately, two weeks ago, during the course an inspection of a commercial establishment located on the 600 block east 79th (District 6), two investigators from the Department of Business Affairs were assaulted by employees of that same location.

One investigator was held down by three employees of the business while another unidentified individual verbally threatened to shoot the investigator in the head.

Three individuals were subsequently arrested by the Police and charged.

We are asking everyone to take time to attend court with us on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:00 pm at 727 E. 111th Street.

We are asking that you please meet us first at 12:30 pm at the 5th Police District in the Community Room at 727 E. 111th Street and we will walk next door.

With your presence we are letting the Judge know we are concerned about what is going on in our community.

If you cannot make court, send someone else in your place please call 312.745.3641 or e-mail me back with any questions.

There was an e-mail attached with the message Beverly.Taylor-Williams @ chicagopolice.org. Feel free to utilize that if you have an questions.

BTW I may post a reminder at least two days before this event.