No bells or whistles. No gossip or political glad-handing. Just neighborhood news, reported plainly and honestly by people who live here.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Puts 'Take Pride in Your Back Side' into Gear
By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post
Just as they did two years ago, when they helped a neighbor in need:
http://www.swchicagopost.com/2012/08/grnw-good-neighbor-program-building.html
...members of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch are
once again leading by example and showing us all the best way to fight blight: not by jumping on a keyboard and complaining in a Facebook group, not by calling 311 or an aldermanic office to demand that government solve a problem, but by rolling up our sleeves and doing it ourselves.
While most Garfield Ridge residents relaxed on Sunday morning, a crew of more than a dozen GRNW volunteers--without a doubt some of the very best men and women in the neighborhood (or any neighborhood anywhere)--gathered at the north end of an alley at 58th Street, between New England and Newcastle, and worked in the heat and humidity to remove weeds, overgrown tree branches and more from the public way.
Why?
To put their words into action, do a good deed, and hopefully
inspire others via their new "Take Pride in Your Back Side" campaign.
Here's how it goes: walk up and down the streets of Garfield Ridge and you'll see some of the best maintained homes, lawns and gardens in the city. Walk up and down the alleys, however, and you might think you're no longer in the neighborhood. Too many alleys are overgrown with weeds and scarred with debris that does not get picked up promptly.
The silent message that such neglect sends to burglars, taggers, gangbangers and others is, "We don't care that much about the back side of our property. Why should you?"
Granted, some people's property looks bad for a reason: the
elderly, the infirm, and a few others have difficulty keeping up. But the vast majority of us can and should do a better job of maintaining the back side of our property.
And that means doing it yourself, hiring someone else (like a local teen), or if you can't afford it, asking family, friends or neighbors to help. Please don't call
the GRNW. While they are great folks, they are not a chore service or a crew for hire.
So anyway, thank you to the men and women of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. May your actions inspire others to do a better job of maintaining property and building a better community.
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post
Just as they did two years ago, when they helped a neighbor in need:
http://www.swchicagopost.com/2012/08/grnw-good-neighbor-program-building.html
...members of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch are
While most Garfield Ridge residents relaxed on Sunday morning, a crew of more than a dozen GRNW volunteers--without a doubt some of the very best men and women in the neighborhood (or any neighborhood anywhere)--gathered at the north end of an alley at 58th Street, between New England and Newcastle, and worked in the heat and humidity to remove weeds, overgrown tree branches and more from the public way.
Why?
To put their words into action, do a good deed, and hopefully
Here's how it goes: walk up and down the streets of Garfield Ridge and you'll see some of the best maintained homes, lawns and gardens in the city. Walk up and down the alleys, however, and you might think you're no longer in the neighborhood. Too many alleys are overgrown with weeds and scarred with debris that does not get picked up promptly.
The silent message that such neglect sends to burglars, taggers, gangbangers and others is, "We don't care that much about the back side of our property. Why should you?"
Granted, some people's property looks bad for a reason: the
And that means doing it yourself, hiring someone else (like a local teen), or if you can't afford it, asking family, friends or neighbors to help. Please don't call
So anyway, thank you to the men and women of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. May your actions inspire others to do a better job of maintaining property and building a better community.
# # #
Friday, August 8, 2014
Another Feather in Archer Heights' Cap, As Catalpa Playot Gets a Re-Design
By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
and
Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post
The Archer Heights neighborhood received some good news Thursday evening, as a team
from the Chicago chapter of the ACE Mentor Program of America unveiled plans to help spruce up the Catalpa Playlot, 4324 South Kedvale.
The dozen or so students and their mentors unveiled a treehouse-type structure they had built, and the reaction from local children was immediate and gleeful--climbing up it, sliding down an attached slide and more.
For more information on the program and the program's plans for the playlot, check out acementorchicago.org.
It was announced at Thursday's event that the Chicago Park District will refurbish Catalpa Playlot in 2015, as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's "Chicago Plays!" initiative. That said, a Park District official later said that 2015 is not set in stone for Catalpa, and the facelift may occur later.
Catalpa Playlot was established in large part through the hard work of Archer Heights Civic Association Parks & Recreation Chairman (the late) Christine Sendzik and her team. In recent years, though, it has fallen on hard times. Gangbangers and other punks have damaged playground equipment, and those responsible for keeping the playlot in good working order--most notably, the Chicago Park District--have clearly failed.
And Park District officials apparently make no effort to hide that. On Thursday evening,
Catalpa Playlot was marred with graffiti on the entrance sign, water fountain, trash can and more. A swing was broken. A tree dead for several years still stood next to the sidewalk. Overgrown bushes in need of a trim stood near a front corner, jagged-metal remnants of poles that were not properly removed were mere steps from a children's water sprinkler play area--and that was laden with green slime that made the concrete slippery.
Fortunately, the Archer Heights Civic Association was on hand to chronicle all that and vow to follow up with Park District officials.
We trust that the Park District will get their act together and do their job at Catalpa, not just for the taxpayers (and their children) who live there, but to honor the impressive work that the ACE teams, their mentors and their donors have made possible for the betterment of Archer Heights. Their efforts have given a kickstart to a playlot that most certainly needed it, and for that the community---and the Chicago Park District--should be grateful.
Part of the implied message of Thursday's event is that when good people rally around a cause and apply their brains and brawn, just about anything good can happen.
# # #
Editor and Publisher
and
Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post
The Archer Heights neighborhood received some good news Thursday evening, as a team
The dozen or so students and their mentors unveiled a treehouse-type structure they had built, and the reaction from local children was immediate and gleeful--climbing up it, sliding down an attached slide and more.
For more information on the program and the program's plans for the playlot, check out acementorchicago.org.
It was announced at Thursday's event that the Chicago Park District will refurbish Catalpa Playlot in 2015, as part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's "Chicago Plays!" initiative. That said, a Park District official later said that 2015 is not set in stone for Catalpa, and the facelift may occur later.
Catalpa Playlot was established in large part through the hard work of Archer Heights Civic Association Parks & Recreation Chairman (the late) Christine Sendzik and her team. In recent years, though, it has fallen on hard times. Gangbangers and other punks have damaged playground equipment, and those responsible for keeping the playlot in good working order--most notably, the Chicago Park District--have clearly failed.
And Park District officials apparently make no effort to hide that. On Thursday evening,
Fortunately, the Archer Heights Civic Association was on hand to chronicle all that and vow to follow up with Park District officials.
We trust that the Park District will get their act together and do their job at Catalpa, not just for the taxpayers (and their children) who live there, but to honor the impressive work that the ACE teams, their mentors and their donors have made possible for the betterment of Archer Heights. Their efforts have given a kickstart to a playlot that most certainly needed it, and for that the community---and the Chicago Park District--should be grateful.
Part of the implied message of Thursday's event is that when good people rally around a cause and apply their brains and brawn, just about anything good can happen.
# # #
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
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.
* * *
The victim refused medical treatment, and she described the attacker as a Hispanic boy or man age 17-18, 5’9 and 140 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, medium complexion.
* * *
A 25-year-old Clearing man was attacked by
three thugs as he walked down a sidewalk on the west side of Midway Airport, at
6100 south, at about 7:45 p.m. Thursday, July 31. The attack was apparently not
random, because one of the three attackers reportedly said, “That’s him.”
The
trio beat the victim with an aluminum pipe, a wooden board and their fists
before stealing his wallet and cell phone. They sped away in a dark blue Chevy
Impala with tinted windows, the victim told police. The victim did not report the
crime until almost 24 hours later, and the CPD incident report did not contain
a description of the attackers.
* * *
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, August 6. 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.
Two 14-year-old South Side boys were arrested and charged with burglarizing a garage near 78th and Keating at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30. The duo allegedly stole two bicycles and fled when neighbors saw them in the victim's backyard and hollered at them.
Police responding to a 911 call spotted the boys pedaling north on Pulaski at 76th Street a short time later and took them into custody. They were positively identified by the neighbors, and the bikes were returned to the victim, a 35-year-old woman.
The two may have been the perpetrators of an attempted burglary three hours earlier at a house near 80th and Kilpatrick. In that incident, a 52-year-old woman coming home from a walk startled two boys trying to break into her home. They fled on foot after failing to gain entry, but damaged the front door and side window.
* * *
An arsonist set fire to a car parked in front of 3634 W. 65th Street at 11:51 p.m. Wednesday, July 30. Neighbors quickly extinguished the fire, police said. A witness who said she saw the crime gave police a description of the criminal, a 17-year-old Hispanic boy with black hair in an Afro style. Police responding to the call apprehended a teen fitting the description at 65th and Kedzie a short time later, but the witness declined to positively identify him, telling police she may know the offender and fears for her safety.
* * *
Burglars entered the
unlocked service door of a garage near 55th and Hamlin and stole a
bicycle, two toolboxes with tools, two vacuum cleaners and two grass trimmers.
The crime was discovered by the victim, a 50-year-old woman, at 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 2.
* * *
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A city gas station that regularly matches and even beats suburban stations on gasoline prices? Yes, it's true! Click on the picture and read all about it:
advertisement
Burglars smashed the
glass of the back door of an apartment near 49th and Keeler, entered
and stole a laptop computer, a cell phone and $600 cash. The crime was
discovered by the victim, a 33-year-old man, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.
Police said they saw blood on the curtains next to the broken window.
* * *
A 53-year-old Archer Heights man successfully
interrupted the burglary of his home near 45th and Kedvale. Driving
home at 12:15 p.m. Monday, July 28, he pulled up in the alley and saw his TV
and laptop computer on the rear sidewalk. The burglar saw him and fled on food
without the items. He is described as a 15-year-old boy, 5’5 and 100 pounds,
wearing a gray hoody and blue jeans. A basement window that had been pried open
was damaged, according to the CPD incident report.
* * *
A 47-year-old woman celebrating with neighbors
at a block party near 58th and New England later learned that her
unlocked garage had been burglarized. She made the discovery at 2 a.m. Sunday,
July 27. Stolen were an air compressor and a pressure washer.
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 68th and Kostner and stole a power drill and a saber saw. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 40-year-old man, when he returned home from vacation at 11 p.m. Monday, July 28.
* * *
Burglars entered the back door of a home near 43rd and Kedvale and stole a TV and a stereo speaker. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 19-year-old man, when he came home from work at 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 30.
* * *
Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 52nd and Springfield and stole a TV, two laptop computers, a desktop computer, several men's suits and $1,400 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, at 50-year-old man, when he came home from work at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 29. Burglars also entered his garage and stole a 2003 Toyota Corolla.
# # #
Monday, August 4, 2014
Rides, Games, Raffles, Music, Food, Fun, All at St. Richard Family Fest & Carnival
Just sharing some information from our friends at St. Richard Parish.
Mark your calendars and bring your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers!
Mark your calendars and bring your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers!
# # #
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Archer BP Meeting and Beating Suburban Stations on Gasoline Prices
By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post
"Man bites dog" is a common phrase in journalism used to describe an unusual and unexpected situation.
The other day, I stumbled across a "man bites dog" story.
I was talking with Abe, the owner of Archer BP, located at Archer and Oak Park.
I talked about the challenge of operating a gas station in Chicago, just four blocks from the suburbs, where gasoline is always cheaper, because of the five-cents per gallon City of Chicago Vehicle Fuel Tax.
Right?
Wrong, I learned, to my surprise.
Despite the city tax, Archer BP's gasoline prices consistently match and even beat the prices of the gas stations on the Summit side of Harlem Avenue, Abe told me.
No, I said.
Yes, it's true, Abe said. See for yourself.
So I did.
At 1:15 p.m. Saturday, August 2, I drove down Harlem.
At 54th and Harlem, I saw this:
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post
"Man bites dog" is a common phrase in journalism used to describe an unusual and unexpected situation.
The other day, I stumbled across a "man bites dog" story.
I was talking with Abe, the owner of Archer BP, located at Archer and Oak Park.
I talked about the challenge of operating a gas station in Chicago, just four blocks from the suburbs, where gasoline is always cheaper, because of the five-cents per gallon City of Chicago Vehicle Fuel Tax.
Right?
Wrong, I learned, to my surprise.
Despite the city tax, Archer BP's gasoline prices consistently match and even beat the prices of the gas stations on the Summit side of Harlem Avenue, Abe told me.
No, I said.
Yes, it's true, Abe said. See for yourself.
So I did.
At 1:15 p.m. Saturday, August 2, I drove down Harlem.
At 54th and Harlem, I saw this:
At 58th and Harlem, I saw this:
At 59th and Harlem, I saw this:
So then I went back to Archer BP at Archer and Oak Park and saw this:
That's right. Archer BP's gasoline was 13 cents a gallon less than Thorntons and Speedway, and 16 cents a gallon less than Shell.
Put 20 gallons in your tank (as I typically do when I fill up), and you'll save at least $2.60 every time you choose Archer BP.
I fill up about once a week, so that's about $135 a year in savings--in my pocket, rather than in the bank account of a suburban gas station.
It's an easy choice for me. How about you?
Thanks, Abe. You opened my eyes and saved me some $$$.
Plus, combine those savings at the pump with Archer BP's current deals on milk and other beverages. Click here for details.
# # #
"Super Sale" is Extended at Archer BP! Big Savings on Milk, Coffee, Pop, More!
--advertisement--
There are already plenty of reasons to visit the BP station at Archer and Oak Park:
** Top quality gasoline at competitive prices. That includes Amoco Ultimate®, which for more than a decade has been rated first in quality by drivers in a nationwide survey.
** BP Driver Rewards, a fuel loyalty program that offers you a five-cents-off per gallon reward for every 20 gallons purchased over at least two fill-ups.
** A clean facility with friendly, helpful employees.
** A wide assortment of thirst-quenching refreshments and delicious snacks.
** Plenty of ice as we head into hot weather.
** A wide range of cigarettes, Illinois lottery tickets, and so much more.
Here's where it gets even better!
Now through
Two ways to save: print out and clip the coupons below, or simply go to swchicagopost.com on your Smartphone, show the coupons when you visit the station and save right then and there!
Either way, please stop by and visit Archer BP--your neighborhood gas station, conveniently located at Archer and Oak Park!
# # #
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