More about that shooting from Tuesday...

I blogged about on Thursday. I basically railed against the mentioning of Harlan with a certain amount of context. Students from Harlan got shot in this incident near 100th & Michigan. Of course other than the blurb from EveryBlock that included Harlan's address. A young man from another city school died of his wounds and the Tribune wrote more about this incident:

Relatives remember Jeremy Harris as always smiling, always respectful.

So they can't understand why someone gunned down the 17-year-old not far from his Roseland neighborhood home.

"He was my favorite little cousin," said LaRhonda Harris, 33. "When I used to drive past, he used to always stop me just to ask me where I was going. And then once I'd tell him I'm going to the store, or somewhere, he'd say, 'OK, you can keep going.' ''

So the other three teens who were shot (four were shot) attended Harlan according to this story. Harris  still had a Harlan connection however even though he attended another school.

Harris was a sophomore at Wendell Phillips Career Academy High School, 244 E. Pershing Rd., said Monique Bond, a Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman. She said the other teens attended Harlan Community Academy High School, 9652 S. Michigan Ave., a few blocks north from the shooting.

Harris briefly attended Harlan, where he had joined the ROTC, according to his family, who added that he has two older brothers and two older sisters. 

Let's hope the criminals who committed this crime are caught and convicted!

Footworking in Chatham: Battle Groundz takes dance to a new level

This is from Chicago Public Radio's Vocalo blogs, Achy Obejas' Citylife: Adventures in Urban Living


Footworking in Chatham: Battle Groundz takes dance to a new level

Footworking in Chatham from WBEZ on Vimeo.
It doesn’t really look anything like a typical dance club. For starters, the lights are on, blazing. They serve zero, zip, when it comes to beverages. And it only happens on Sunday nights.

But Battle Groundz, on 87th just east of Stony Island in Chatham, isn’t a very typical place. This is where a good bunch of Chicago’s hardcore footwoorkers -- from the South Side, the West Side, the suburbs, even a few stragglers from the North Side -- come to practice, compete, and hang out.

For the rest of the story, check it out here -> Footworking in Chatham:

UPDATED:Does Harlan students get some unfortunate press?

UPDATE 11:13 AM One of the teen boys who were shot in this incident (he was shot in the heat) has died of his wounds. It's unclear in this if he went to Harlan however.

I just got to say this story was difficult to follow. You may have seen this story through our Blotter. And this article made special mention of two young people who were shot, a brother and sister, were students at Harlan. They weren't the only young people involved in this story but yet the nearby high school was mentioned.

BTW, this story took place at 100th & Michigan. Either way not sure what the point of this being brought up in this piece was.

It was easy for me to have a knee jerk reaction seeing a brief blurb about this piece especially reading a brief at EveryBlock. I could've just assumed there was another shooting near Harlan only to find that well this shooting took place down the street. Even worse the Harlan students were victims. The way this article was written it doesn't appear that they initiated anything.

Either way what was said by Ald. Lyle may well be correct, although surely she wasn't the only one saying this. That Harlan gets some unfortunate flack for anything bad that happens in the area.

Study points to need for more after school programs- Is this the reason we are having problems in our community

In Parent and Community Engagement A new study released Wednesday found more than a quarter of Chicago students are in after school activities, compared to just 15 percent nationwide. But of those students who are not, 30 percent spend their afternoons home alone.

That a third of Chicago’s children are not supervised for so many hours worries officials. More funding is needed, said Jodi Grant, the executive director of Afterschool Alliance, which released the Chicago After 3PM at a press conference.

“When we passed No Child Left Behind, they promised $2.5 billion in after school funding,” she said. “We’re at $1.1 billion. We need a lot more from our federal government to be supporting this.”

The results of the Chicago After 3PM report were announced at a press conference that came on the eve a national event called “Lights On Afterschool.” “Lights On Afterschool seeks to bring attention to the need for quality after school programs.

Chicago has been at the forefront of the movement to create a better system of after school programs. In 2006, it was one of five cities to receive an $11 million grant from the Wallace Foundation to focus on out-of-school activities for students.

With that grant, Chicago officials have worked to reduce after school programming fragmentation and inefficiency while improving access and quality. Partner agencies, including CPS, the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Libraries, began compiling their program data in 2003 to determine what areas of the city showed the highest need.

This data pointed to some problems. City agencies found it difficult to provide after school programs in areas that were experiencing an influx of young families, according to a recently released report by the Rand Corporation.

The Rand report notes that after school programs struggled to reach students on the southwest and northwest sides of the city, which had burgeoning populations of Latino families. Meanwhile, they had open spots in schools near public housing projects after the projects were demolished.

“Partner agencies understood the need to provide services where there was increasing demand. However, these groups faced some very real constraints in shifting services to meet growing demand,” according to the report.

Read the entire article http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/859/Study_points_to_need_for_more_after_school_programs?tr=y&auid=7239948

Statement by Seaway Bank over Maywood bank takeover

You can read it at Seaway's official website. I know that this news broke over the weekend, but I think it's necessary to see the official statement from the bank itself. You can also check out First Suburban National Bank website as well.

CHICAGO (October 25, 2010)- Seaway Bank and Trust Company announced today that it has acquired the banking operations of First Suburban National Bank, through a purchase and assumption agreement with the Federal Deposit and Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency declared First Suburban National Bank closed Friday, October 22nd, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.

As of October 21, 2010, First Suburban National Bank had approximately $140 million in deposits and $149 million in assets. Loans of approximately $116 million are subject to a loss-sharing agreement with the FDIC. The four offices of First Suburban National Bank opened Saturday, October 23rd as offices of Seaway Bank and Trust Company.

Walter E. Grady, President & CEO of Seaway Bank and Trust Company said, “This acquisition guarantees all deposit customers of First Suburban National Bank full access to their deposits, regardless of the amount. For First Suburban National Bank customers, the transition to Seaway Bank and Trust Company will be seamless. All First Suburban National Bank branches reopened as Seaway Bank and Trust Company locations. Customers will see the same friendly faces, and all checks drawn on First Suburban National Bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should make their payments as usual.”

To assist customers with the transition, Seaway Bank representatives are on-site at the main Maywood location and each of the other three offices to address customer needs and begin integrating operations.

About Seaway Bank and Trust Company

Seaway Bank and Trust Company is a full-service financial institution that emphasizes quality service and community commitment and offers a broad array of deposit and loan products for personal and business needs. Established in 1965 as Seaway National Bank of Chicago, the founders – a group of local businessmen – sold shares door-to-door throughout the community to raise the $1 million in capital needed to secure the Federal charter. By the end of its first year, Seaway’s assets had climbed to more than $5 million, and the bank has steadily grown ever since. In 2007, the bank converted to a state charter and was renamed Seaway Bank and Trust Company. Seaway Bank has, as of June 30, 2010, total bank assets of $414 million and operates 7 banking facilities. Seaway Bancshares, Inc., is the holding company.

UPDATED 10/27/2010

Who has the scissors to cut City Hall biz red tape?

Greg Hinz:

What's needed to restart Chicago's job-creation engine?

   I talked about everything from finishing the job of expanding O'Hare International Airport to fixing Chicago City Colleges and thinking more regionally in a story in the latest edition of Crain's.

  But the best question may be why the city won't do one thing that seems mind-numbingly obvious: Cut red tape so entrepreneurs can get started.

   Outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley took a couple of stabs at one-stop-shopping for permits and the like, but the fact is, Chicago remains an extraordinarily difficult place for someone with a good idea but little time and capital to get on his or her feet.

This is something worth reading. I hope the Aldermanic candidates are seeing this as I think this may be important for jumpstarting our ward's business areas. We should look as busy and active as many such areas are in other parts of the city.

Via CapFax morning shorts!

Getting on the Map" an Open Studio Exhibit at Tuley Park Cultural Fieldhouse

Thanks to our reader Mrs. Hayes for the information.

‎"Getting on the Map" is an Open Studio exhibit at Tuley Park Cultural Fieldhouse as part of the city wide Chicago Artist Month activities. Open studio is every Wednesday and Thursday 11am to 5pm. Meet and greet artists living and working in Chatham, Burnside and West Chesterfield; Oscar Lester of Chicago State Universi...ty's African American Male Resource Center, Marian Hayes of Cafe Yeye-WCSU radio, Chicago State University, Chris Tomorrow, Floyd Payne, Robert Nelson and Samuel Clark. Also Jim Heard and George Hayes.

Richard Wooten visits Roseland Heights Community Association

On October 26 @ Temple of Glory International Church 311 E. 95th Street. Just three blocks away from that storefront I took pictures of. If you plan to be there feel free to let us know what happened there.

Visit Wooten's official website!

Urban Partnership Bank draws on First Chicago alums to fill executive suite

While it looks like one Chatham neighborhood bank is getting larger as per the failure of another bank in our state, it seems as if Urban Partnership Bank (the former ShoreBank) is still getting their personnel together:

Peggy Myles, 58, formerly a senior banker at First Chicago and later at successors Bank One and J. P. Morgan Chase, will be chief risk officer at Urban Partnership Bank. Her appointment awaits regulatory approval.

She will be in charge of credit risk management and working through delinquent loans.
Kristine Rull, 52, another First Chicago alum, takes over as director of specialized markets, focused on collecting deposits from socially responsible investment groups and handling non-profit customers and relations with foundations.

She also worked with Urban Partnership Bank Chairman David Vitale when he was head of operations at Chicago Public Schools.

And Jan Hoffenkamp, 54, will oversee customer service, facilities and vendor relationships for the bank. She previously was a technology manager at the Chicago Board of Trade.

Still to be filled is the crucial post of chief of commercial lending, a bank spokesman said. There's no word yet on when that position will be filled, he said.

The executive hires are among the first public actions of William Farrow, another First Chicago alum who is the bank's president and CEO, since the bank was formed upon the Aug. 20 failure of ShoreBank.

Remember the church for sale?

That JP Paulus wrote about in December of last year. Well that Church appears to have found a buyer.

Once called New Calvary MB Church, the sign on the property is now for New Start MB Church. I took this picture last week at the corner of 87th Street & Indiana.

Oh yeah that post got JP and Worlee on Chicago Public Radio last year as well.

Seaway Bank buys Maywood bank assets

Chatham's own Seaway bank has bought the assets of First Suburban National Bank of Maywood. This is ironic, as ShoreBank (with a significant Chatham presence) was in Maywood's situation recently.

From Chicago Breaking Business News :

Regulators have shut down First Suburban National Bank of Maywood, Ill., late Friday and sold its $140 million in deposits to Seaway Bank and Trust Co. of Chicago.

Depositors of the First Suburban National Bank will be protected by the purchase deal with Seaway Bank and Trust. The four branches of First Suburban National Bank will reopen Saturday as branches of Seaway Bank and Trust. Seaway did not pay a premium

Firefighter injured in Chatham blaze

Chicago Breaking News:

A firefighter sustained minor injuries this morning after a fire broke out in a home in the Chatham neighborhood, officials said.

The fire broke out about 6:25 a.m. in a 1½-story bungalow on the 8200 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue, said Chief Joe Roccasalva, a fire department spokesman.

He said there were no injuries to occupants of the building, but a firefighter sustained a minor eye injury and was taken to the University of Chicago Hospitals, he said.

He said the house was badly damaged and heat had spread to adjoining buildings, where it damaged the siding on both.

Barbara Eason-Watkins on Harlan

Well she was when this article was published in the Defender the Chief Education Officer of CPS. The position remains unfilled currently however this is what she has to say about Harlan:

She pointed to modifications CPS instituted at Harlan and Harper high schools on the South Side as an example of schools in Black communities benefiting from changes.

“Those were two schools that once struggled to produce satisfactory graduation rates. But with changes we incorporated at both schools attendance and graduation rates have improved and continue to improve,” she said. “Principals play a critical role in a school improving. That’s why it is so important to have the right leadership in place at schools.”

I wonder what those modifications were? As always this is considered very good news.

Oh yeah, need to work on that LSC blog post.

St. James Lutheran Church history...

Just a glimpse of history:

St. James Lutheran Church,at 80th & Michigan, used to be Golgotha Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Rev. Booker Vance is the current head of the church (he has also led another local Ev. Lutheran Church)

One Alderman’s Strategy Includes Taking Risks

Mick Dumke talks about Ald. Lyle and her campaign for re-election as our Alderman. They talk about her blunt announcement that she IS running for re-election in this month's newsletter. If you haven't seen it yet you can read that here!

October 2010 Newsletter

OPEN BLOG: Alumni returning to their elementary and secondary schools

I made visits this week to visit the LSCs of both of my alma maters on the elementary and secondary levels. Oh yeah, this post doesn't leave out those of you who have experience at the middle school or junior high school levels.

Questions: Have you returned to your old elementary or secondary schools? Have you chosen to volunteer when you're able to do so?

Graffiti on the side of a garage

Oh yeah if you're bothered by vulgar language then feel free to not take a look at the picture. It was taken near 87th & St. Lawrence and it was written on a garage.

Pirie School is a local elementary school. This unfortunate graffiti just seems very dumb to attack an elementary school.

On visiting Harlan again!

Click pic for Harlan's website

When Ald. Lyle showed up at the Roseland Heights meeting last month unannounced she mentioned improvements to one of Harlan's courtyards. Wow they largely filled in that courtyard with concrete although there is still grass in that area of the school. I only know this because security directed us through the courtyard to get to the social room where the LSC was meeting.

I remember that there used to be bricks for walkways in addition to perhaps picnic tables or what not if you want to sit down. This looks like a great place to hold an event or two when the whether is warm. Hopefully it will be available to the community if they can figure out how best to do that.

I have to mention that I came a little early for this one and the front doors were locked. If you have public meetings where you expect members of the public the doors shouldn't be locked. Also the students shouldn't have to open the door when they see someone from the outside. How do they know I don't have business with the school and I have another dubious purpose?

Unlike a year ago when I visted the school and followed a tour of the school there wasn't much to see this time. Although they changed the social room which is now carpeted and has new furniture now. Almost a round table for the LSC to conduct their business although the set up is odd. The public is behind the council instead of the council facing the public.

It turned out that I was a little early and when someone let us know that there was a meeting in another room. I had no idea this was for the Parent Advisory Committee. There will be more on that later!

Anyway the room we were in was actually the Department of Post-Secondary Education. This is the college resource center, something we didn't exactly have when I was a student. There was lots of information on the boards for not only Historically Black Colleges, but also the Divine 9 Greek organizations. There were computers there in that room as well that hopefully aides the students in their preparations (whatever they may be) for college.

Should also note that there are flags and pennants for college around the school. It would be cool if there was a way to display them where it could be seen off of Michigan Avenue. You could see a similar display at Jones College Prep (for you old timers Jones Commercial) in the Sloop. I want to know who made it to Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College from Harlan. I hope the next goal for Harlan is to get the Ivy League universities calling, although hey University of Chicago is close enough. :)

You know if they knew I blogged here I have more questions. Other than that expect to see my thoughts on Harlan's LSC meeting here in the near future. And Bennett-Shedd's LSC as well.

Burundi Davis is running for 6th Ward Alderman

JP wrote this post on Sept. 14th, but I edited this to post because I see that Early & Often added him to the list of candidates for Alderman of the 6th. What you see below was largely written by JP, but left it as a draft for over a month. Also refer to our 2011 page where he will also be added. Any more news don't forget to let us know about it! - Levois

We also have another candidate

He currently has a Facebook Page with nothing on it.

He also has a Twitter page as well

His Tweets include:

• Hello 6th ward registered voters. My name is Burundi Davis and i am running for 6th ward alderman.

• I am a recently retired Army veteran that served 22 years active duty. I returned to my native city chicago to serve the community... 

Aldermen lash out over 911 response times

Well let's focus on Ald. Lyle's comments, but this issue requires more attention than what one Alderman might say about 911 response times:

"We have two different agencies that are both directly involved in providing safety for our citizens that stand up at CAPS meeting and community meetings all over the city and they point the finger at each other. It's intellectually dishonest," she said.

"Maybe people should stop lying to the citizens. They begin to understand that it's a lie — and nobody wants to wear the jacket. But somebody is getting paid to wear the jacket. It's very frustrating for us."

As for the 311 hang-ups, Lyle said, "I just thought it was some mechanism that was built into the system. You got too many calls. You don't feel like being bothered. Just disconnect the people after they wait. I don't think that's what taxpayers expect to pay for."