Saturday, October 31, 2015

Rain-Soaked Pumpkin Parade Marches Down Archer Avenue in Garfield Ridge

Umbrellas were out in force, as the annual Pumpkin Jamboree parade, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3rd), stepped off on Saturday morning, October 31 to march east from Archer and Nordica, ending at Wentworth Park. The steady rain, plus unseasonably cold temperatures, kept curbside attendance way down, from the usual thousand-plus to the low hundreds.

The rain did not dampen the spirits of many in attendance, most notably the congressman and his wife, Judy, who as usual walked the route, bringing good cheer and candy to children at the curb.

At least two high school bands chose to stay on their buses, rather than march. The Mark Twain Elementary School Band, without a bus, marched and even played, much to the delight of the smattering of moms, dads and children at the curb.

Others marching included members of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch (who will be on patrol throughout the night, into the wee hours Sunday, November 1), local schools, Scout troops and everything that makes Garfield Ridge one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago. 

Here are a handful of photos, in the order we shot them.

Thanks to all who came out!

































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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Crime News Update


Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

Three South Side men are in custody after they allegedly burglarized a home near 58th
Hall
and Monitor shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. Eric C. Harris, 27, of 66th and Damen; and Jesse Hall Jr., 25, and Tony L. Jelks, 22, both of 66th and Green, are currently held on $125,000 bond and are set to appear in court on November 12 at 26th and California.


Police said that an alert neighbor who saw the trio’s vehicle facing the wrong way on a street near 58th and Monitor called 911. The same neighbor said the trio was spotted carrying items from a nearby home and loading it into their vehicle.


Harris
Responding to the “burglary in progress” call, a police unit spotted a vehicle matching the description near Archer and Central and followed it as it turned south on Central, according to the police report. Police said they tailed the vehicle for more than three miles before it crashed near 43rd and Cicero, with the driver and passengers bailing out and fleeing on foot and running east into the Sleepy Hollow section of the Archer Heights neighborhood.

Police pursued and apprehended Hall in the alley behind 4317 S. Kilpatrick. They said they arrested Harris after they found him hiding in a garage at 4304 S. Kilpatrick. Jelks was taken into custody after police saw him sitting on the front porch of a home at 4322 S. Keating, and neighbors said he did not live there.

All three suspects were positively identified by the Garfield Ridge neighbor, police reported,
Jelks
adding that they found items in the abandoned vehicle belonging to the Garfield Ridge burglary victim, an 89-year-old man. Those items included a TV and remote control, two wallets and two boxes containing jewelry. They were returned to their owner.


The neighbor who called 911 was praised publicly by Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch President Al Cacciottolo, who gave “a big shout out” and also praised Eighth District police for pursuing and apprehending the three suspects. “Thank God this community looks out for one another,” Cacciottolo said. “This is what police say at CAPS meetings and what we say at neighborhood watch meetings, again and again. If you see something that looks suspicious, call 911 right away and give police the opportunity to at least check it out.”

* * *

Burglars entered La Michoacana, 4336 S. Pulaski, and stole a cash register and $2,000 cash. The crime was discovered by an employee at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. Police said they saw no sign of forced entry.
4336 S. Pulaski

* * *

A robber fired a shot into the floor as he robbed Kwik Mart, 4047 W. 79th St., at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. The robber used his gun at one point to hit a clerk in the back of the head. He made off with $1,200 cash and fled in an unknown direction. He was described as a black man age 18-27, 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, medium complexion, wearing a blue bandanna over his face, and wearing a black puffy vest over a gray hoodie.


* * *

A 25-year-old Ashburn man was robbed of his cell phone by a trio of bandits as he walked just west of 59th and Kostner at 4:19 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, on his way to his job as a baggage handler at Midway Airport. The three men were described as a black men age 20-22, 5-foot-9 and 145 pounds, with brown eyes and medium complexions.


* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 4. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.



A 17-year-old Archer Heights boy was pushed to the ground, punched, kicked and robbed on a sidewalk near 51st and Hamlin at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. The two offenders stole his wallet, cell phone and $50 cash, the victim said. The bandits were described only as black men about 5-foot-6.


* * *

A 23-year-old West Lawn woman succeeded in fighting off another woman who tried to take her purse at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the alley behind 7149 S. Lawndale. The victim was scratched up but managed to hang onto her purse. The empty-handed suspect fled into a waiting, dark green vehicle, driven by another woman, which sped away. The would-be robber was described as a Hispanic woman age 25-27, 5-foot-1 and 140 pounds, with brown eyes, and black hair in a pony tail.


* * *

A 15-year-old Brighton Park boy was robbed on the street near 57th and Pulaski at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. A pair of bandits asked him, “What you be?” before they took his cell phone and fled west on 57th Street. They were described as Hispanic men age 18-20, about 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds.


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Burglars entered a garage near 58th Place and Komensky and stole assorted power tools. The victim, a 46-year-old man, said his son saw the offender running down the alley with the stolen belongings. Police later found two of them—a nail gun and a battery pack—in a nearby blue recycling cart. There was no sign of forced entry, and the offender was described as a Hispanic man age 18-22, 5-foot-7 with curly black hair.


* * *

Burglars entered a home near 62nd and Kildare and stole a TV, two video game consoles, assorted jewelry and $500 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 36-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21.


* * *

A burglar forced open the overhead door of a garage near 55th Place and Central Park and stole assorted tools, a power washer and 10 car batteries. The crime was reported to police by the victim, a 30-year-old man, at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. He said his son saw the offender fleeing in a gray vehicle. The burglar was described as a Hispanic man age 30, 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds, with short black hair and a light complexion.


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Burglars entered a garage near 68th and Karlov and stole assorted clothes, assorted DVDs, dishes and a canopy. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 59-year-old woman, at 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23.


* * *

A 43-year-old Clearing man told police that someone burglarized his apartment near 64th Place and Austin. He discovered the crime at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 when he came home from work and saw pry marks on the front door. It was unclear what, if anything, had been stolen.


* * *

Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 56th and Parkside and stole a weed whacker and an edger. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 65-year-old man, at 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 56th and Massasoit and stole a lawn mower and hand tools. The crime was discovered by the victim, an 83-year-old woman, at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
Burglars entered the service door of a garage near 56th and Parkside and stole a leaf blower. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 71-year-old woman, at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19.



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Burke, Cabonargi Host Workshops to Help Homeowners Appeal Assessments

Want to lower your property taxes by lowering your property assessment?

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael
Commissioner Cabonargi
Cabonargi and 14th Ward Ald. Edward M. Burke are co-sponsoring two workshops for the public entitled “How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment.”


Attendees will learn how to file an appeal and how an appeal is granted. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions.

The first event will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, November 9 at St. Jane de Chantal School, 5201 S. McVicker.

The second workshop will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 10 at Solorio Academy High School, 5400 S. St. Louis.

Alderman Edward M. Burke
Homeowners are asked to bring the 2nd installment of their property tax bill or their property index number (PIN).

 “After a taxpayer files the one-page complaint, the Board will analyze comparable properties to determine if the property is assessed at too high a value,” Commissioner Cabonargi explained. “Taxpayers may also present an appraisal, comparable properties, or any other evidence showing the fair market value of their property.”

There is no fee to appeal to the Board of Review.

Those taxpayers unable to attend this outreach event are urged to file online at CookCountyBoardOfReview.com

For more information, contact Cabonargi’s office at (312) 603-5560 or Burke’s ward office at (773) 471-1414.

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Thursday, October 22, 2015

Feed a Thousand Hungry Veterans at Thanksgiving? It Can and Will Be Done

An ambitious effort to feed hungry military veterans at
Thanksgiving, now in its seventh year, may serve as many as 1,000 men and women for the first time if enough people step forward to help.

“This started small, back in 2009,” said organizer Mike Cozzi. “That first year, our goal was to help feed 10 to 15 veterans and their families at Thanksgiving. We ended up reaching 109 that year.”

The effort, known simply as Veterans Food Drive, will reach its peak this year at the Bridgeview Sports Dome, 8900 S. 77th Ave. Hundreds of volunteers will unload, sort, assess and bag several tons of turkeys and boxed, bagged and canned food items starting at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20 and running all day and much of the evening.

Starting at 10 a.m. the following day, volunteers will work to get the bags of groceries into the hands of veterans in need (who have pre-registered to receive the assistance). Some volunteers will work at the Sports Dome, helping vets who drive up. Others will work on mobile crews that deliver the groceries (about 6-7 bags per veteran) directly to the homes of those in need.

The drive was moved to the Sports Dome in 2014 after it outgrew its previous headquarters, the Des Plaines Valley VFW Post 6863 in Summit.

Cozzi, the son of a Korean War veteran, is known to many
for his involvement in charitable efforts to assist and salute veterans, including Honor Flight Chicago service, in which he uses his booming voice to rev up crowds welcoming World War II veterans as they return to Midway Airport after a day of all-expenses-paid sightseeing in Washington, D.C.

Cozzi was inspired to launch the annual drive when he saw the plight of veterans. "It amazed me that veterans who are returning from service overseas were unable to find work, were struggling to provide the bare necessities," he said.


He added that the drive typically serves "veterans who are unemployed or on some other kind of hardship.”

Some of the vets “wonder how we got ahold of them because they thought they were forgotten. These are individuals who have struggled all along and are living off their disability [checks] or Social Security or retirement from the military, and that’s what they’re limited to. To be able to do something like this, to have such a magnitude of support from the community so we’re able to provide an extensive meal for them, really means a lot.”

Veterans who will be assisted at this year’s food drive are from city neighborhoods, as well as the nearby suburbs and other locations throughout Cook County, as well as some in DuPage and Will Counties.

Those who want to volunteer at the Sports Dome on Nov. 20-21 are encouraged to simply show up during the times listed above, whether they plan to work the whole day or just an hour.

People who want to donate non-perishable food should bring items to the Sports Dome on Nov. 20.

Those who want to donate money to the cause are advised
to visit cruisingforacause.info and click on the appropriate links.

Finally, veterans in need who want to register to receive food should visit the website and follow the “registration” link.

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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Will Patrol Streets to Stop Halloween Crime

Vowing to “step it up” on Halloween, members of the Garfield
GRNW President Al Cacciottolo
Ridge Neighborhood Watch—one of the Chicago area’s most effective, citizen-led crime prevention organizations—said earlier this week they will beef up patrols on Saturday, Oct. 31.


“We need to step it up, and we will,” said GRNW President Al Cacciottolo at a public meeting Monday at Byrne Elementary School, 54th and Oak Park, as he called upon all 110 GRNW members to consider signing up to patrol all day on Oct. 31 and even overnight into Sunday, Nov. 1.

“We’re not anticipating any specific problems [on Halloween],” Cacciottolo said. “We just want to be out in force so if we see anything, we can nip it in the bud.”

He added that while the GRNW’s efforts will include all of police beat 811 (all of Garfield Ridge west of Central Avenue), the group will focus on popular teen hangouts like Valley Forge Park and Byrne School.

Cacciottolo noted that additional lighting was recently installed outside Byrne “to help keep the punks at bay.”

Further, he said that the GRNW is contacting all local grocery stores and convenience stores to ask that they limit the sale of eggs to people age 21 and older on Halloween. Throwing eggs at houses, businesses, passing vehicles and people is a decades-old act of vandalism associated with Halloween.

Founded in 2011 by three people fed up with crime in the area, the GRNW has grown in size and strength and has been credited with helping reduce crime in Garfield Ridge, long one of Chicago’s safest and best neighborhoods.

Born with assistance from the Clearing Night Force, the GRNW has helped start neighborhood watches in city neighborhoods as far away as Hegewisch and as close as West Elsdon, as well as in suburban areas like Central Stickney, Summit and Oak Lawn.

GRNW members do not pursue criminals or get directly involved with crimes in progress, but they do serve as extra sets of eyes and ears for police, providing direction that has helped police solve crimes in some cases and prevent others. Their toll-free tip line (1-855-811-TIPS) played a role in the capture and conviction several years ago of a man who attempted to rob a local Walgreens at knifepoint.

Monday’s event at Byrne was the last public meeting the GRNW will hold this year, although the group’s board of directors will continue to meet and plan strategies for 2016. Watch members will continue to patrol Beat 811, in vehicles and on foot, as they do year-round.

The next GRNW public meeting may be held in the firehouse at 56th and Narragansett in January or February. Details will be announced in the weeks ahead.

“Even though our public meetings take a break, we don’t, and we encourage all Garfield Ridge residents to do the same,” Cacciottolo added. “Keep your eyes and ears open, get to know your neighbors and look out for each other. If you see anything suspicious, something that could be a crime in progress or something that could develop into that, call 911 and report it. Give police the chance to check it out. The worst 911 call is the one you don’t make. So make the call.”
  
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Monday, October 19, 2015

Crime News Update


Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in Sector 1. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

A 40-year-old man from Fairborn, Ohio was shot on the street near Gee-Jay Liquors, 8550 S. Pulaski, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 shortly after coming to the aid of his nephews, who were embroiled in an argument with several men. The victim was hit in the left side of his torso and was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was admitted in fair condition. The shooter and several other men sped away north on Pulaski in a purple Dodge Caravan, witnesses told police. The shooter was described as a Hispanic man with brown eyes, long black hair, wearing a light blue shirt.


* * *

Six gangbangers beat and robbed a 19-year-old Humboldt Park man as he walked down a sidewalk in front of 3800 W. 55th St. at 6:25 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. The man told police he had just left a party when the offenders pulled up in a black SUV and asked, “What you be about?” (street slang for “What gang are you in?”). The thugs then hit the victim with a blunt object, pummeled him and stole his cell phone. He suffered a head wound and was transported via CFD ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital.


* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 813 or 833 (see map), come to West Lawn Park at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 27. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.


A 49-year-old woman who refused to surrender her purse successfully fought off a robber who accosted her at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 on a sidewalk in front of 4800 S. Lamon. The would-be robber, who ran away empty handed, is described as a Hispanic man age 23-24, 6-foot-1 with short black hair and a medium complexion. He was wearing a white T-shirt, gray sweater, and pulled a blue mask over his face before committing the crime.


* * *

Three men robbed a 27-year-old Chicago Lawn man at gunpoint on the street in front of 5226 S. Avers at 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. With a handgun pointed at his head, the victim surrendered his cell phone, gold necklace and wallet with $120 cash. The robbers are described as Hispanic men age 18-20, all wearing dark hoodies.


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A 56-year-old man making a delivery of cash to El Ranchito grocery store, 8327 S. Pulaski, was robbed of a sack containing $300 at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13. The offenders sped away in a silver pickup truck and were described as black men age 25-45, 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds.


* * *

Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 58th Place and Pulaski and stole a stereo from the SUV parked inside. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 26-year-old woman, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14.


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Burglars kicked in the service door of a garage near 57th and Kolmar and stole a battery charger. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 52-year-old man, at 11:40 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.


* * *

Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 66th and Kildare but then fled when an alarm sounded at 4:12 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Nothing appeared to be stolen, the victim told police.


* * *

Burglars were apparently interrupted and scared off by a barking dog at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at a garage near 58th and Kildare. The victim, a 27-year-old man, told police that minutes after he let his dog outside, it started parking at someone in the alley. When the victim investigated, he found his lawnmower sitting in the alley. He also saw that the service door of his garage had been forced open and that a power saw, a power washer and assorted tools were missing.


* * *

The burglary of a home near 62nd and Keating was apparently interrupted, as a number of valuables were left stacked inside the dwelling. The crime was discovered a neighbor who told police that he saw the front door open and kicked in when he came home at 11:13 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. They did steal a TV, according to the victim, a 41-year-old man.



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