Flyer and audio for Sandra Wortham for state representative

Recently we received an e-mail wondering why we hadn't posted any materials from the Wortham campaign. We had in the past posted at least a flyer and a pic of a billboard but there isn't a lot of materials to be had from her campaign. I was given an e-mail address for Ms. Wortham and I got some audio and a flyer. This would certainly fit on the radio as the audio for her opponent Richard Wooten although that was used for robocalls.

The audio is below you can click the player or click the link in the brackets [AUDIO]

Basically the audio contains the voices of Sandra Wortham and her father Thomas Wortham III and especially notes their relation to the late police officer Thomas Wortham IV. It offers her goals as our state representative and mentions the issues of public education, public safety and jobs. Let us know what you think of Ms. Wortham!

Friends of the Parks has set up a Thomas Wortham IV Playground Fund

Friends of the Parks has set up a Thomas Wortham IV Playground Fund. In partnership with the Wortham family, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Police Department and the community, a new children’s playground will be constructed in Cole Park at 85th Street and Martin Luther King Drive across the street from his parents’ house. The new playground will be named the Thomas Wortham IV Playground.

Thomas Wortham IV was the President of the Cole Park Advisory Council and was active on a city-wide Park Advisory Council Network. Thomas committed his time, energy and vision to improving Cole Park. As President of the advisory council, Thomas worked on expanding recreation programs for youth, improving the children’s playground and the running track. At 30 years of age Thomas Wortham IV was a dedicated and respected community advocate who was a model for his community and all of Chicago. His loss on May 19th was devastating to all Chicagoans.

The Thomas Wortham IV Playground will be designed and constructed in Cole Park. The playground will be accessible to children of all abilities. The goal is to build the Thomas Wortham IV playground in the fall of 2010 during a two-day community-build event with volunteers from the Police Department, his family and friends and Friends of the Parks. The cost of the playground is expected to be $225,000. Contributions can be made to the Thomas Wortham IV Playground Fund in c/o Friends of the Parks, 17 N. State Street, Suite 1450, Chicago, IL 60602 or at www.fotp.org

Should Brown Memorial Park be renamed Brown/Wortham Memorial Park?

I wondered how the community would memorialize Officer Wortham and my meetings with Mr. Brown, the brother of Sidney Brown came to mind.



Brown Memorial Park located at 634 E. 85th Street was named for fallen Fireman Sidney Brown who was a Chatham resident. Brown Park has been overlooked by both residents and the Chicago Park District and is not used as much because it lacks bathroom facilities. Several years ago an overzealous developer attempted to approach the park district about acquiring a portion of the park.



I had the pleasure of talking to Officer Wortham several years ago about Brown Park because the Cole Park Advisory Council also oversees Brown Park and I know that he wanted to upgrade the park as well. Also, I met the brother of of Sidney Brown at Brown Park during his annual Memorial picnic celebrating his brother and other fallen African American firefighters. During the picnic fire trucks come out so the kids can get on and see them up close as well as interact with fireman. During this meeting Mr. Brown discussed that he would like to see a memorial for fallen African American firefighter.



So why not honor both fallen officers by naming the park in their honor with a memorial garden/section at the Park that shows those who serve and protect us that we care. Also, start the rebuilding process at that park. The park is a blank canvas and it has enough space that all residents in our community can participate whether they are young or young at heart and all other in between.as well as the business and the faith based community can participate so it is truly a community park.

Memorializing our veterans

We at the Sixth Ward Blog want to honor those who gave their lives for our freedoms, and those around the world.

We appreciate their service.

This particular Memorial Day hits us hard in our community as a veteran we have to now remember, Thomas Wortham IV, lost his life in the line of duty.  However, it wasn't in the Middle East or on our streets in patrol -- it was serving his family and community, and struck down at a very young age.

We thank him him and many others for their sacrifices, and hope each of us in the community can honor their sacrifices by making our own community, and the world around us, a better place.



If you have any stories, photos, etc. of our troops(those who have gone on, and those still with us), please let us know

Thank you!

Services for Officer Wortham

Was updated in the round-up of Cole Park fellowship stories. The Sun-Times' Stella Foster offers a schedule more in keeping with what Ald. Lyle indicated it was:

A SAD REMINDER: Off-duty Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV, who was fatally shot last week on the South Side, during an armed robbery outside of his parents' home, will have visitation Thursday at the Leak and Sons Funeral Chapels, 7838 South Cottage Grove, 3 to 8 p.m. The funeral on Friday at the Trinity United Church of Christ with the wake at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m.

This columnist sends deepest condolences to the family on the loss of this precious 30-year-old war veteran and police officer. I am just happy as heck that the alleged shooters have been arrested. Now, if they could only throw those merciless cowards six feet under the jail. The Leak family is donating their services. . . . as always for fallen policemen. That is so gracious of them to do so.

Evil that struck Wortham lurks around corner

Mary Mitchell:

No more than two weeks ago, I talked to Thomas Wortham III, the slain man's father.

I was in Cole Park for a press conference that was hastily called by the Rev. Jesse Jackson to bring attention to a spike in violence that was occurring in Chatham.

The Wortham home sits directly across the street from the park.

From his front doorway, the elder Wortham can see everyone from the walkers who come from the suburbs to use the walking track, to the young thugs who are trying to stake out a territory.
...

In recent months, there have been three shootings in or near the park.

"The people who did the shooting don't come to the park every day. They drive by. They are running by and are not the regular people who use this park. They come here because they know this park is neutral," Wortham told me that day.

So far two young men, Paris McGee and Toyious Taylor, have been charged with killing Wortham's only son.
They are being held without bond on charges of attempted robbery and murder.

None of these men lived in Chatham: Floyd lived in the 3700 block of South Princeton. McGee lived in th 6300 block of South Ada, and Taylor lived in the 4300 block of South Lamon.

Young men like these are urban terrorists who prey upon those they see as easy targets.

Let's keep Cole Park neutral. Let's never allow any thugs from outside this community to claim it. And let's also find a way to let them know that their activities will not be tolerated in Cole Park either.

Via Capitol Fax morning shorts!

At the prayer vigil

To be honest, it didn't seem like too much like a prayer vigil (only about 10 minutes of prayer).

This was more of a show of support for the family and neighbors who knew Officer Worthem and his family. That's OK, because this was less than 24 hours after this happened, and healing and a sense of community are definite needs at this time.

Many people lingered after the prayer, and it seemed like neighbors were re-connecting with each other.

There will be a greater focus on the prayer aspect on Friday 28 at Ruggles school. Click the link for info. We encourage you to come out to that and to know your neighbors and listen to how the Lord wants to lead you in our community.