The World is Yours daycare

We've talked about the positive aspects of more day care centers in the neighborhood.

But isn't the phrase "The world is yours" popularized by the movie Scarface, starring Al Pacino? And haven't the ganster rappers taken on Scarface as a role model?

i remember even Master P mentioning Scarface on "Dancing With The Stars", of all places.

While parents might recognize the phrase, is that really a good association for a day care center? Aren't these day cares supposed to be places where we develop kids who will not be attracted to thug life?

Taste Chatham- The Pan African Cuisine Destination

Our community has become a destination point for Pan African Cuisine, dishes inspired from ingredients indigenous to the continent of Africa. So during the holiday weekend go out and taste Chatham. Here are some restaurants to try

Yassa African Restaurant - African Fusion
716 E 79th St
(773) 488-5599
Dishes from Senegal and other African Countries

Cafe Trinidad- Afro Caribbean
555 E. 75th Street
773.846.8081
Traditional Caribbean dishes

Soul Vegetarian East- Vegetarian Soul Food
205 E 75th Street
(773) 224-0104
Traditional Soul Food with a twist

Army & Lou's Restaurant- Southern Soul Food
422 E. 75th St.
773-483-3100
Traditional Soul Food dishes

Izola's Restaurant-Soul Food
522 E 79th St.
(773) 846-1484
Traditional Soul Food dishes

Captain's Hard Times Diner- Soul Food
436 E. 79th St
(773) 487-2900
Traditional Soul Food dishes

If I missed any, please feel free to add your favorite.

Remembering Mary Pegue Pullins (1901-2010)

Alderman Lyle alerted us about one of our oldest residents passing away. She sent us a link to her obituary, appearing the Chicago Sun Times.

Mary Pegue Pullins came to Chicago to make her fortune, becoming a pioneering steelworker and union leader who didn't mince her words -- she once admonished her preacher nephew that if she wanted to gamble at the greyhound track, that was her right.

She was one of Chicago's most-senior citizens. Her family said she was 108 years old. In 1961, she registered her birthdate with the Chicago Board of Elections as July 3, 1901.

Mrs. Pullins died May 21 at her South Side home.

She sang with gospel great Thomas Dorsey and gave birth to a law enforcement officer, Richard Pegue, who was killed in the line of duty in 1946 at age 25, according to records. That officer begat a beloved Chicago disc jockey, "dusties" spinner Richard Pegue. He passed away last year.

Hard work and faith kept Mrs. Pullins going, as well as positive affirmations. Her family plans to decorate the lining of her casket with her motto: "Forward Forever, Backward Never."

Mrs. Pullins was born Mary Magdelene Sykes in Monroe County, Miss.

One of the many things her family will miss about her is her unofficial role as their genealogical librarian and witness to history.

She told her family that her father's grandfather was sold to the Sykes Plantation, where the family got its name, her niece Rhoda Hatch said.

Mrs. Pullins' uncle wound up buying the land where slave ancestors worked, a source of great pride for her.

"That was always meant to kind of engender drive in those of us who were descendants," said her nephew, the Rev. Marshall Hatch.

Mrs. Pullins' mother was her role model. "Her mom was a little wisp of a woman who was very firm," said her nephew. "When she felt this white man was trying to cheat her children and underweigh the cotton her children picked, she had to be restrained."

Mrs. Pullins came to Chicago because it was "a promised land" for Southern migrants, her nephew said.

She worked as a maid and played "policy" -- the numbers. When she won, she sent for her brother Elijah -- Hatch's father -- to join her. Two more siblings
followed.

When her nephew was a young, earnest preacher, he tried to talk her out of gambling. "I said, 'Aunt Mary, you don't have any business going to the dogtrack at your age,' and she said, 'Now, baby, I won the policy in 1939, and I sent for your daddy, and your daddy met your mama under the L tracks on 43rd Street. Now policy is the reason you're in the world, baby. The father's in everything.' "

In 1920, she married her first husband, Murray Pegues. (The family later dropped the "s" at the end of Pegues.) She gave birth to a son, Richard Earl, in 1921. He survived service in World War II but died on her 45th birthday when a rape suspect overpowered the Park District officer and shot him with his own gun.

His son -- her grandson --grew up to be a beloved icon of black radio, "dusties" DJ Richard Pegue.

After her first husband died, she married Samuel Pullins, a hotel valet and steelworker. She began working at U.S. Steel in World War II and became a union organizer. "She said she made the bullets that killed [Italian dictator Benito] Mussolini," her niece said.

A white foreman once called her 'sister,' and she replied with what her niece called a "Mary-ism," saying: "'My daddy never told me I had a brother who looked like you. If you want to talk to me, call me by my name or [employee] number."

Even into her 90s, she worked as a caregiver for some people who were a decade or more younger, her niece said.

She stopped driving at 96.

"She turned in her license," her niece said. "An elderly man ran into some
people on the street, and she said old people shouldn't have licenses."

Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) brought her to City Hall to be recognized for her
achievements by the Department on Aging. "She told the mayor about his father,
and who the mayor was before that, and who the mayor was before that," said
Lyle. "She could recite all of this history."

When she arrived at her polling place to vote for Barack Obama for president in 2008, Lyle recalled she said: " 'I'm voting for that smart young man. God ordained this.'"

She was a longtime member of Christ Universal Temple and she always wore a hat, every day.

A public viewing is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Carter Funeral Chapel, 2100 E. 75th St. Visitation is at 10 a.m. Friday, with services at 11 a.m. at the chapel. Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island.

She is also survived by a great-granddaughter and two great-grandsons.

Forgot to mention from the May 2010 newsletter

If I had a copy of the May newsletter I could've gotten this out in a timely fashion.

PUBLIC MEETING OF THE POLICE BOARD

The next public meeting of the Police Board is scheduled for Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.

Members of the public are invited to attend and address questions or comments to the Board. The Superintendent of Police and the Chief Administrator of the Independent Police Review Authority also attend the meeting.

Prior sign-up is required of those wishing to address the Board contact the Board’s office by 4:30 p.m. of the day before the meeting to add your name to the list of speakers.

In addition to receiving input from the community, the Board reports on disciplinary actions and other matters, and receives a report from the Superintendent.

In light of what's been going on in this community since during the spring I think we need to continue to encourage residents to make visits to the various boards of city government. Especially the Chicago Police Board and to be sure I never thought of them as having open meetings. Here is a schedule of meetings for the Chicago Police Board, I hope we can make more in the future!

Also did anyone reading this blog attend this Police Board meeting on May 20th? Let us know in the comments or send an e-mail, please. ;)

Reminder: tomorrow's pre-emptive prayer strike at Ruggles School

Just a reminder about tomorrow's pre-emptive prayer strike....

Now, i know there are many who are sick of "rallies" and want "action." To be honest, this event may disappoint. For this event, we would focus more on the ACTS prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication) rather than planning to do this or that .

The hope is that people will build prayer (especially for our community) into their lives, and  their daily physical walk becomes a walk with God, where we not only talk but also listen for Him in our day to day lives.  From that, He will guide us to appropriate action.

The other hope is that you will see neighbors who have a similar spiritual perspective, and you can connect with them for future action (in addition to prayer).

JP Paulus and his family will be there. How about you?

A pre-emptive prayer strike against the violence before it happens in our community!

“Back to the Basics”
A Praying City - Chicago

What: Neighbors simply gathering to pray for our neighborhood before summer begins.

When: Friday, May 28, 2010, 6:30pm – 7:30 pm
(but many will gather by 6pm, and continue later in the evening)

Where: Ruggles Elementary School Park, 7831 S. Prairie, Chicago IL 60619
(on 79th, 2 blocks west of King Drive, 4 blocks east of the Dan Ryan)

Bring family and a friend – or 5!

For more information, contact Ms. Brown at 773-712-4203

May 2010 - 6th ward monthly newsletter

May '10 6th Ward Newsletter

I realized last night after recieving a couple of e-mails last night for either future ward meetings, ward summer events, and even an anti-violence rally scheduled for tonight that I had yet to recieve the newsletter via e-mail. As a matter of fact it was noted in an earlier iteration of the newsletter that there was an error on the time of the next (June 12th @ 10 AM) ward meeting. Although it was noted that this iteration was handed out at the May 5th ward meeting and I see it has been corrected.

I found this version online at Ald. Lyle's official website. You can check out earlier newsletters here as well.

Lee Bey: School’s out for…ever at old Kennedy-King College

Photo by Lee Bey

Lee Bey's Vocalo blog documents the demolition of old Kennedy-King College located near 69th and Wentworth. In January his blog also let us know that the City Colleges of Chicago has slated this complex for demolition. The former site of KKC is expected to be green space.

Hmmm, green space? Not that we can go wrong with more green space, but I think we should look at more commercial uses for this site as well. What do you think this site should be used for?

Zipcars and I-Go racist?

Zipcars and I-Go have a system where residents can essentially "rent a car" for a day or even a few hours.

It helps the environment by not adding unnecessary cars, and saves people money by not having to maintain a vehicle (and insurance for days they aren't driving), as well as parking spaces, which in some parts of our neighborhood would be helpful.

Did you know that both companies have zip (as in zero) cars south of the 90-94 split, and east of I-57? I posted an entry on HR Block's "Best of Both Worlds", which this year, in practice was perceptually racist. Seems like a similar thing here, where the cars seem concentrated in white areas of the city.

While there are certainly some areas they should avoid, there are areas that are safer than the North Side where they have several locations! For example, my block is 4 times safer than where i used to live in Uptown!

Is there anyone out there that wants to advocate for Zipcars or I-Go?

Some potential areas include the parking lot near 87th & the Dan Ryan (many people park there anyway, to go to the El), Walgreen's at 75th & the Dan Ryan (it's fairly active, open 24 hours, and seems fairly safe)

Check the locations for Zipcars and I-Go, and let us know what you think.

Any other ideas for locations? Anyone else interested in participating?

Note: Levois wrote about this over 1 1/2 years ago, with a comment posted from I-Go

Hey there-
I handle marketing and communications for I-GO; a coworker of mine just flagged this post for me. As a matter of fact, we do maintain a car in your area, in the South Shore neighborhood, at 1809 E. 71st St. At present, it happens to be a Toyota Scion xB five-door station wagon. You can find out more about membership in I-GO and how to reserve that car (as well as any of the vehicles in our 200-car citywide fleet) by calling us at 773-278-4446 or going to our website at www.igocars.org. It's $75 to join ($25 for a credit and license check; $50 for initiation fee; $25 annually to renew), and most of our members reserve cars on a short-term hourly basis (although we do offer day rates as well that are competitive with rental agencies). (The hourly rates vary, but average around $8 or so.) I-GO pays for the gas, insurance, reserved parking, and maintenance. Our entire fleet is low-emission vehicles; about half of those are hybrids. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and urban congestion is a big part of our mission. Currently, we're in more than 30 neighborhoods in Chicago, Oak Park, and Evanston, and we've got just over 10,000 members -- a number that's been rapidly growing, in large part due to the ongoing energy crisis and rising cost of gas. The average car sharing customer saves thousands of dollars by giving up their car or by making a car-share vehicle their family's second car option. Check us out!

Craig Keller,
ckeller@igocars.org

It's been over 18 months, and still nothing south of the I-90-94 split! There ar eplenty of places to house them, most notably the malls at 87th & the Dan Ryan, but also elsewhere in the community.

Maybe i-Go and/or Zipcar can sponsor a table at the 6th ward picnic this summer, and take some surveys as to where a truly local placement could be made.

Couple found trapped by their own junk!

From Chicago Breaking News...of a couple who were trapped by their own junk!

An elderly couple who authorities described as hoarders were found buried alive under mounds of trash in their South Side two-flat Monday night and may have been there for as long as three weeks, authorities said this morning.

"It (the residence) was packed from floor to ceiling," said Police Lt. Dale Kingsley.

Police conducting a well-being check at the request of a neighbor about 6:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of East 69th Street in the Grand Crossing neighborhood detected an overpowering odor and called the Fire Department to make a forced entry, police said.

A fire official on the scene said couple had not been heard from for three weeks and the 75-year-old woman had injuries that resembled rat bites. Both she and her 76-year-old husband were taken to Jackson Park Hospital in critical condition, but a nurse there said this morning their conditions were improved, although they still were in intensive care.

(more on the website)

Thankfully, they are still alive!

However, it's a stark reminder that we need to know our neighbors, and check in on them every so often.

We complain about trash...but we need to be humble enough sometimes to ask for help, and be generous (and not selfish) to give things to people who may need them. Or, if you need the money, work with someone to sell things on e-bay!

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.

Fake cop can't fool real thing

This seems so incredibly tacky. I know that this case has nothing to do with what happened to Officer Wortham, but what this man did was in incredibly bad taste.

Herman Thompson, 41, of the 500 block of West 62nd, threatened to beat up a chef at Izola's Restaurant, 522 East 79th St., Saturday morning, according to charges filed by the Cook County state's attorney's office.

When Chicago Police arrived, he brandished handcuffs, told the officers he was a Cook County sheriff's officer and yelled at the chef to "take your --- to the kitchen!" according to a police report.

But Thompson couldn't produce a police badge, and the Sheriff's Department hasn't heard of him, according to the report.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Thompson -- who's charged with assault, impersonating a peace officer and trespassing -- held on bail of $15,000.

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!

Peace Rally at St. Marks Church

Thomas Wortham's death should not go without an appropriate community response, and demand for resources and services
that can ameliorate conditions that exist within the Chatham
community because of many social conditions that have been
unduly thrust upon the community.

Speakers will include:
- Chicago Alderman Freddrenna Lyle
- Reverend Jon E. McCoy
- The Avalon Park Community Council

The senseless violence in Chicago must stop; something can be done. Stand up and collectively let your voices and concerns be heard.



PLEASE STAND WITH THIS FAMILY AND THIS COMMUNITY
AT A PEACE RALLY ON.


WEDNESDAY
MAY 26th
6:00 PM
ST. MARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
8441 S. ST LAWRENCE AVENUE

More stories about the Cole Park fellowship

UPDATE: The Alderman alerted us in the comments that the times for the wake and funeral was changed over at the Chgo Breaking News link below so the updates are reflected in the quote. Hopefully the schedule of events will be verified.

Well first this is first. Funeral arrangments have been made for the late Officer Thomas Wortham who was murdered across the streets from Cole Park last week:

Visitation is scheduled from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at  Leak & Sons Funeral Home, 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave. A wake is scheduled Friday at noon 10 a.m.at Trinity United Church of Christ, 421 W. 95th St., with the funeral expected to begin at 1 p.m 11:30 a.m..  Burial will follow at Lincoln Cemetery in southwest suburban Alsip.

Next CBS2 has a report from yesterday's fellowship at Cole Park. This event was planned not long after the shootings in Cole Park during the month of April. The first warm day was when this was to take place. Unfortunately it took place without Wortham who was President of the Cole Park Advisory Council. The video report is accessible below.

Click picture to watch video

Here's more from the Chicago Tribune. They seem to discuss what I'm sure many believe may be the root of the violence occurring in this community:

Many longtime residents of Chatham, one of Chicago's best-known black middle-class neighborhoods, have grown concerned over the increasing crime they attribute to Chicago Housing Authority residents moving to the area. According to the agency, 118 families have used vouchers to relocate from public housing to Chatham. That is less than 1 percent of the neighborhood's households.

Lewis Jordan, the CHA's chief executive officer, said complaints that former public housing residents are responsible for an increase in crime in Chatham are unsupported by the facts.

Kassandra Scott-Ward, 59, was 8 years old when her family moved into their Chatham home. Back then, children knew where their teachers lived and neighbors raised chickens or horses and grew fruit trees in their yards.

Now, "these people have moved into a community without having a sense of community," Scott-Ward said.

Jordan said the distribution of former residents of CHA high-rises has not been concentrated in any particular area, but throughout the city.

Finally Mark Brown has a column:

People are already looking for ways to honor slain Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV, some even suggesting that Cole Park, where he served as president of the advisory council, be renamed for him instead of legendary singer Nat King Cole.

I would respectfully endorse an alternative suggestion, also involving the park, that seems more in keeping with the selfless life of service that Wortham led as a soldier, police officer and community leader.

In the weeks before his death, Wortham was working to secure the park and allow for the reopening of the basketball courts that had been shut down last month after a pair of shooting incidents.

Let's get that accomplished for him, immediately, even if it means starting out with a full-time police presence.

Returning that previously peaceful park to the people of Chatham should be our top priority, as it was to Wortham, both for the immediate benefit of the neighborhood's residents and for the symbolic impact of the broader community taking a stand that his death is not acceptable.

Finally a foundation offers the police officer's family with a check:

The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation on Saturday presented the family of slain officer Thomas Wortham IV with a check for $50,000.

Funded entirely through donations, the foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to honoring the lives and memories of fallen officers. Among its goals are providing support and financial assistance to families of officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.

That article was short, but it should be noted that the check was presented to Wortham's family by the foundation's executive director and former Police Superintendent Phil Cline.

The Cole Park Unity Day-Update

The Cole Park Unity Day event was well attended. The crowd included politicians, police, community organizers and the most important attendees residents. the crowd was estimated at over several hundred.

A quick observation from JP, who attended with his daughter:

The vibe around the park was similar to when my family was looking to buy a house at 84th & Vernon. We decided to walk around the neighborhood, and walked to the Park.

There were families everywhere, peaceful...and great place where our family could fit.

The main differences from that first visit to Cole Park that i noticed were: "celebrities" and major city/state officials, police officers, and the several dozen bikers (in support of fellow biker, Tom Worthem,. My daughter, riding her tricycle, told some of them she wanted to join them. They all smiled, and added to the community feeling).

Here are a few pictures from the event.

The Black Star Project presents The Deborah Movement

The Deborah Movement

Women as Mothers, Prophetess, Judges, Warriors and Leaders Working to Eliminate Violence in Chicago

Wednesday Nights

6:30PM

The Black Star Project

3509 S King Drive, Ste 2B

Chicago, IL

Call Dorothy at 773.285.9600 for more information or www.blackstarproject.org

City's Food Deserts Shrinking, But Far From Gone

Tribune:

Gallagher's report in 2006 found 633,000 Chicagoans lived in neighborhoods without major supermarkets, limiting their access to healthier and fresher foods. Since then, Gallagher found, the city's food deserts had shrunk by 1.4 square miles, benefiting nearly 24,000 people.

Since 2006, a new grocer, Food 4 Less, moved into West Englewood, affecting 307 blocks and roughly 40,000 people, the report found. But Chatham lost a Cub Foods outlet and a Dominick's store, reducing food access for nearly 142 blocks and about 16,000 people.

However, a Food 4 Less recently opened in Chatham, Gallagher said, but it was after data had been collected for the study.

The Cub Foods that was in Chatham was replaced by a Food4Less. Of course as this article indicated that was after the date had been collected for teh study.

I know the focus was largely on low-income areas, however, if you've been following the news surrounding Officer Wortham's death Chatham is considered a middle-class neighborhood. Far from being a low-income area.

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.

The violent world of police beat 624

A hub of crime in Chicago police beat 624 is located at the intersection of 79th & Cottage Grove:

The most violent part of Chicago? It's a section of Chatham, the largely middle-class, African-American neighborhood on Chicago's South Side that has long been a bastion of black lawyers, cops, plumbers and other professionals, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found.
...
An unwanted spotlight was cast on Chatham last week, when Thomas Wortham IV, an off-duty Chicago cop, was shot to death by robbers trying to steal his new motorcycle as he left his parents' home.

But the current epicenter of violence in Chicago sits five blocks north of there -- what the Chicago Police Department calls Beat 624.

The department divides the city into beats, 279 in all. And Beat 624 ranks No. 1 among them in violent crime for the first three months of 2010, according to the Sun-Times analysis, which takes into account the total number of major violent crimes reported -- all of the murders, sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated batteries and aggravated assaults in every police beat.

Beat 632, where Wortham was killed, ranked 17th.
...
Perhaps even more surprising, the analysis shows that three of Chicago's traditionally highest-crime police districts -- Englewood on the South Side and Austin and Harrison on the West Side -- didn't have any beats in the top 25. 
...
Beat 624 is bordered by 75th on the north, 80th on the south, King Drive on the west and Metra's railroad tracks on the east. But police say the violence is concentrated in a 24-block chunk of the beat, mainly along a spine of crime -- 79th Street, one of the South Side's main east-west routes.

Twenty-eight of the beat's 66 violent crimes were robberies. Two were murders, two were sexual assaults, and the rest included shootings, beatings and stabbings.

Police Cmdr. Eddie Johnson did his own analysis of the department's Gresham District when he took over there in 2008 and determined that 624 was "our worst beat."

"Our public violence -- robberies and shootings -- was extremely high, so I created a violence-suppression team, with a sergeant and eight officers," Johnson said.

He also formed a bicycle team whose officers are focusing on Beat 624, and he has assigned two foot-patrol officers to 79th and Cottage Grove, at the hub of crime.

Officers "have driven robberies down about 60 percent on that beat," Johnson said. "[Crime] is still higher than you want it to be. But, as bad as it is, we are seeing success."

Police sources said the department plans to deploy citywide crime-fighting units this summer to problem areas in Beat 624. Other citywide gang and narcotics units regularly operate in the Gresham District, the sources said.

Still, community leaders, retired cops, shopkeepers and others who live and work there said they believe the Police Department is understaffed in the Gresham District, emboldening the crooks in Beat 624.

I think this article is worth a full read.

From Chicago Breaking News, a short story about West Chatham's Bungalow District...

A South Side neighborhood has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency says West Chatham Bungalow Historic District has made the list.

The National Park Service is recognizing the neighborhood that's bounded by Perry and Stewart avenues and 82nd and 79th streets.

The state says the district includes 260 brick bungalows. The neighborhood's bungalows were a favorite of working-class families and date back to between 1913 and 1930.

Nice to have some good news...even though it will be overshadowed by our tragedies.

This isn't the first time our historic bungalows have been designated. We posted about the South Park Manor District in 2008. There are signs which designate this area as such. The Chicago Bungalow Association has a PDF file which goes into more detail about that district.