What they lacked in numbers they made up for in spirit.
Several dozen men, women and children walked from Hale Park to Wentworth Park on Saturday morning, in a show of solidarity with and support for police officers, firefighters and all first responders. The event was organized by Garfield Ridge resident Chuck Dryden, a leader of local efforts to show support for police by tying blue ribbons around trees, light poles, railings and more. Among those taking part were 13th Ward Alderman Marty Quinn and Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch President Al Cacciottolo. Thanks to everyone who came out! A good first effort--something to build upon for the future...
New farmers market launching on the Southwest Side!
The West End Farmers Market starts Wednesday June 3 and will run every Wednesday though October 14--from 3 to 7 p.m.--at European Chalet Banquets at The Mayor's Mansion, 5445 South Harlem.
The new market is sponsored by the Garfield Ridge Retail Entertainment and Amusement Team (GRREAT), an organization dedicated to the economic revitalization of the Garfield Ridge neighborhood. According a GRREAT press release, the new farmers market
will showcase "farmers from Illinois and Michigan and their efforts to grow fresh produce the way it was meant to be. These farmers are early to rise and work their land to provide fresh quality produce. From luscious fruits to bountiful and colorful vegetables, you’re sure to find something delicious to bring to your table--along with fresh produce, local honey, eggs, jams, jellies and homemade bread."
Old favorites and hot new entertainment acts can be
found on the main stage lineup for this year's carnival at St. Joseph Parish.
Taking the stage from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 4 will be six of the hottest DJs in all of Chicago: Alex Peace, CZR, Gino Rock & Romo, E Rock Rodriguez, Kickin’ Da Hype Luis, and DJ Babaloo.
Two bands will get the weekend off to a rocking start on Friday, June 5.
** High-energy punk rock/pop punk band Let It Fly
commandeers the stage at 6 p.m. and will take everyone on a two-hour joyride of "music that makes us wanna throw things, in a good way," the three-man band says. Let It Fly counts among its influences The Misfits, Green Day, The Ramones, AC/DC, Blink 182, Foo Fighters and more.
eclectic cover bands in Chicago history--will own the stage from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Saturday, June 6 starts off with a smile, as the World's Honkiest Polka Band plays from 6 to 8 p.m.
The smile turns to a sneer at 9 p.m., as Hairbanger's
Ball, one of America's best and most successful 80's big-hair rock tribute bands, blows away the audience for three solid hours of music inspired by the likes of Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Motley Crue and more.
closing out the four-day fest with a bang and a twang.
Hillbilly Rockstarz
The group bills itself as "Chicago's very own country super group, specializing in covering the latest hits in country music, along with many of your classic favorites" and will cover a pickup truck's worth of today's country hits, as well as covers of favorites by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline.
In addition to great musical entertainment, the four-
day event features thrilling carnival rides, fun games of skill and chance, and a food tent will offering such traditional carnival treats as
hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, pizza, Italian beef,
tacos, tamales and corn-on-the-cob. Cotton candy, ice cream, soda and water also will be available. The beer tent will be open as well.
Planning on enjoying all four days of fun? Buy a four-day “all you can ride” wristband for $50 (cash only) through June 3 at St. Joseph School, 5641 South 73rd Avenue (708-458-2927) or the St. Joseph Parish rectory, 7240 West 57th Street (708-458-0501)
The Carnival Committee at St. Joe's is encouraging everyone to stop by and have a great time: parishioners, alumni, friends of the school and parish, as well as everyone in the larger community. That's you!
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 thug armed with a five-inch knife robbed The Sock Shoppe, 4012 W. 63rd Street, at about 11:25 a.m. Monday, May 4, forcing the owner to hand over about $500 cash. The robber then fled on foot north, between the building and the West Lawn Branch Library. The victim described the criminal as a black man age 25, 5-foot-10 and 120 pounds, with black hair and a dark complexion.
* * *
Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 812 (see map), come to St. Symphorosa School at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 13. 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 thugs robbed a 35-year-old disabled man of his cell phone as he stood inside the CTA Orange Line Pulaski station, waiting for a southbound bus to take to his Ashburn home. The victim, who walks with a cane, hollered "Give me back my cell phone!" as the robbers walked away quickly through the parking lot west of the station. The crime occurred at 3:47 p.m. Tuesday, May 5. The robbers are described as black men age 17-19, 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds,wearing gray hoodies and black sweatpants.
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A 35-year-old West Elsdon man
told police that someone broke the lock on the service door of his garage near
53rd and Kolin, entered and stole two bicycles, a lawnmower, a grass
edger, a weed trimmer and a snow blower. He discovered the crime at 6:45 a.m.
Monday, May 4.
Burglars pried open the front
door of the Metro PCS cell phone store, 8117 S. Pulaski, and stole 46 cell
phones and two laptop computers. The crime was discovered when a burglar alarm
was tripped at 7:24 a.m. Monday, May 4, according to the manager, a 27-year-old
Homer Glen man. Video surveillance showed only that the crime was committed by
three men age 17-19.
Get this free window sign and show your support for our 8th District Police!
Head over to Archer BP, Archer and Oak Park, for yours!
A manager at Burger King,
5211 S. Cicero, told police that when she arrived to open the store at 4:53
a.m. Wednesday, May 6, she discovered the restaurant burglarized, with a cash
drawer thrown on the floor. She claimed that about $1,900 cash was missing,
according to the police report.
* * *
Burglars forced open the
service door of a garage near 71st and Hamlin and stole assorted
construction tools worth about $2,500. The crime was discovered by the victim,
a 45-year-old woman, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.
* * *
A South Side real estate
agent managing a vacant home near 61st and Kolin told police that he
discovered the dwelling burglarized when he visited on March 17, although he
did not report the crime until Tuesday, May 5. He said that about $1,600 worth
of copper piping had been torn from the house.
Burglars forced open the side
door of a home near 66th and Hamlin and stole a watch and assorted
jewelry. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 64-year-old man, at 3:45
p.m. Wednesday, May 6.
* * *
Burglars entered the rear door of a home near 66th and Kostner and stole two TVs, an Xbox video game console and about 10 games, an iPad, a telephone, assorted jewelry, two pairs of Nike Air Jordans and a laptop computer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 41-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7.
Burglars forced open the overhead door of a garage near 54th and Keeler and stole a lawnmower, a set of Beats headphones, an iPad, two iPods, a pair of sunglasses, two pairs of gym shoes and two gym bags. The crime was discovered by one of the victims, a 43-year-old man, at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 7.
* * *
Burglars pried open the front door of an apartment near 87th and Keating and stole a iPad, a tablet computer and about $485 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 35-year-old man, at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8.
* * *
Burglars forced open the overhead door of a garage near 53rd and Millard and stole assorted tools, an air compressor and a nail gun. The crime was discovered by a neighbor, a 20-year-old woman, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 8.
Hale Park Fieldhouse, 6258 W. 62nd Street, later this month.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students senior citizens (age 60 and up) and are available at Hale Park now. For more information or ticket reservations, call Hale Park at (773) 229-1032.
Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31.
In 19th century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter.
The production is directed by Lauren J. Polenske, assisted by Amanda Case, with musical direction by Jason Baumann.
Cast:
JEAN VALJEAN.......................................Rob Sorensen JAVERT................................................ Brian Baumann THE BISHOP OF DIGNE.......Branden Lancaster-Williams FANTINE....................................................Sarah Sands THE FOREMAN....................................... John Wognum LITTLE COSETTE.......................................Sydney Hall THENARDIER........................................Michael Murphy MADAME THENARDIER..........................Nancy Alvarez YOUNG EPONINE.................................Stephanie Vega GAVROCHE.........................................T.J. Saylor-Lohse EPONINE...............................................Sandra Mendez COSETTE........................................Maelee Richardson ENJOLRAS...............................James Edward Dauphin MARIUS......................................................Rocco Ayala COMBEFERRE...................Branden Lancaster-Williams FEUILLY........................................................Jake Stern COURFEYRAC........................................John Wognum MONTPARNASSE...........................................Joe Streit BABET................................................... Thomas Moran
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.
* * *
Two South Side men, said by
police to be admitted gangbangers, were arrested and
Blaise M. Smith
charged with unlawful use of a weapon when they were apprehended near 79th and
Springfield at 5:26 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Police said that Dante Thomas, 21,
of 73rd and Greenwood, and Blaise M. Smith, 22, of 76th and Kingston, were part of a crowd of nearly 100 people attending a gang-related wake at the Southwest Memorial Chapels funeral home (formerly McInerney & Sons) at 7901 S. Komensky. Police said the
crowd flashed gang signs at police and passersby, many shouting “F~ck the
police! They killed JJ!”
Dante Thomas
Police said that the guns they confiscated from Thomas
and Smith were loaded, and one was reported stolen from Tennessee. Bond was set
at $350,000 for each man. Smith is due in court at 51st and
Wentworth on May 5, and Thomas is set to appear on May 15.
* * *
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, May 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.
A pregnant woman told police
that a man kicked her in the stomach during an argument in a parking lot at
Ford City Mall, 7601 S. Cicero. The 29-year-old South Side woman said the
incident occurred at about 10 p.m. Friday, April 24. She reported it to police
about 12 hours later, because she said she was having contractions. She was
transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The victim described
the attacker as a Hispanic man age 23, 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, with brown
eyes, black hair and a dark complexion.
A 43-year-old Scottsdale
woman told police that another woman threatened her with a handgun while she
was driving her car near 83rd and Cicero at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April
28. The victim said the offender pulled alongside her in a 2000-05 Buick
LeSabre and threatened to kill her—saying, “B~tch, I told you I was going to
kill you”--before speeding away south on Cicero. The victim told police she had
never seen the offender, described only as a black woman age 40-45.
* * *
Two men employed by a towing
company told police that a man from a rival company pointed a gun at them and
made a verbal threat at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, April 29 on the street near 55th and Keeler. The victims gave the offender’s name to police, who are following
up.
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A 27-year-old Scottsdale man
told police that someone broke through the rear window of his home near 78th and Komensky and stole an iPad, a pair of Beats headphones, an Xbox video game
console, a bottle of Gucci Guilty cologne, three pairs of Nike Air Jordans and
about $25 in loose coins. The crime was discovered by the victim at about 5
p.m. Wednesday, April 29.
* * *
Burglars cut through a
chain-link fence at the north end of a storage yard belonging to 2-in-1
Construction, 4344 W. 45th St., and stole a Bobcat vehicle and an
undetermined amount of steel rebar. The crime was discovered by an employee at
7 a.m. Monday, April 27.
Get this free window sign and show your support for our 8th District Police!
Head over to Archer BP, Archer and Oak Park, for yours!
Burglars forced open the rear
door of a home near 63rd and Kilpatrick and stole assorted jewelry,
two cameras, an iPad, a cell phone, a TV, a Yamaha music keyboard, $2,000 cash
and about $300 in Mexican currency. The crime was discovered by the victim, a
43-year-old man, when he came home from work at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30.
* * *
Burglars entered a garage
near 44th and Komensky and stole a bicycle and a lawnmower. The
crime was discovered by the victim, a 47-year-old woman, at 5:30 a.m. Monday,
April 27.
Burglars tried but failed to
break into a home near 51st and Newland. The crime was discovered by
the victim, a 32-year-old woman, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 27. The home’s door
was damaged, and the CPD incident report did not speculate on how or why the
crime had been interrupted.
* * *
Burglars forced open the
service door of a garage near 60th Place and Lawndale and stole a
generator, a snow blower, a TV, 24 units of women’s hair care products and 24
bottles of Irish Spring liquid soap. The crime was discovered by the victim, a
45-year-old man, at about 4 a.m. Wednesday, April 22. He told police that he
had left the garage’s service door unlocked.
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Burglars pried open the front
door of an apartment near 87th and Kostner and stole a camera, two
camera flash units, two camera lenses, three memory cards, batteries, battery
chargers, cables and a TV. The crime was discovered by the victim, a
31-year-old man, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25.
A second grader who says he "just wants to grow up" is the focus of a St. Baldrick's event
Isaac Ruiz
set for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 11 at Lee Elementary School, 6448 S. Tripp.
Isaac Ruiz, 8, has been fighting medullablastoma brain cancer since April of 2014, and his teacher, Brigid Jacobsen, has organized the event to raise funds and awareness for cancer in children, as well as rally support for Isaac in the West Lawn neighborhood and across the Southwest Side.
Needed are volunteers to staff the event, licensed barbers and beauticians to shave heads, kid-friendly entertainers to keep the mood festive, donations of money to help the cause, and people willing to get their heads shaved at the event and solicit pledges.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation describes itself as "a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government" and which offers "hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers."
Those who want to help in other ways are encouraged to call the school at (773) 535-2255 or email Jacobsen at blberry@cps.edu.
Background
Isaac is the youngest of Nilsa Dominguez and Alexander Ruiz's four children, which includes Alani, 15, Bria, 14, and Elijah, 9.
Before he was diagnosed with cancer, Isaac "started getting sick at school at lunchtime, throwing up, and the school was always calling me to pick him up," Nilsa recalled. "We thought he had some kind of stomach problem. When I took him to the pediatrician, he said that Isaac had a lot of allergies, so he changed his diet to solve the problem."
One weekend, Isaac had a severe headache and was taken to a hospital emergency room, where physicians said the problem was migraine headaches.
But Nilsa remained skeptical.
"I work in the medical field, and I knew there was something wrong," she added. "So I took him to the Lurie Children's Hospital neurology department. Everyone said I had a good mothering instinct, and so I wanted to keep going. When I got to the neurology department, I told them I wanted a simple explanation about what was going on.
"They took a CT Scan, and within five minutes they came back and told me Isaac had a brain tumor and they needed to operate right away," Nilsa continued. "The headaches were from brain and spinal fluid gathering in his body."
After the surgery, Isaac had radiation for six weeks during the summer of 2014, with a small dose of chemotherapy with the radiation. Chemotherapy, in turn, lasted six months.
Resilient as an eight-year-old boy can be, Isaac "just goes with the flow," Nilsa observed. "Kids with cancer don’t know negativity. They’re just strong.”
Faculty, students and others at Lee School have been supportive, ensuring that Isaac stayed up to date with his homework and offering support to the family. During Brain Tumor Awareness Month, teachers and classmates put up ribbons around the school. They have also made up a banner with the children’s handprints. Isaac sees it everyday.
Then there was a time Isaac kept coming home with pieces of hair.
"We found out that five little girls were cutting their own hair, putting it in little ponytails and giving it to Isaac so he could donate it [to an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients]," Nilsa explained.
Today, Isaac's test results look good, and doctors are cautiously optimistic, "but they won’t say Isaac is in remission yet, because 65 percent of children with cancer relapse within two years," Nilsa said. "After five years, the [relapse] numbers go down dramatically. That’s what we’re hoping for. For us, there is nothing but hope, there can’t be anything else."
