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.

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Shots fired at tow truck driver
A 26-year-old tow truck driver reported that gangbangers flashed gang signs at him and then fired at him and his truck as he left the 7-Eleven at 55th and Kostner at 4:15 a.m. Sunday. Aug. 21. The driver was not shot, although he was cut from broken glass, police said. He refused medical care. The shooter was described as a Hispanic man age 20-25, wearing a black shirt and dark blue jeans. He was with others in a gray, four-door BMW.

Forgot to turn on alarm, home burglarized

Burglars forced open the basement window of a home near 86th and Kolmar and stole $20,000 in cash and coins, as well as a silver tiffany necklace, according to the victim, a 43-year-old man. The victim said he discovered the crime when he came home at 9:50 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21. He added that he had forgotten to turn on his burglar alarm system before he left.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 834 (see map), come to Bogan High School at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 1 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. 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.

Wood trimmer taken from garage
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 62nd and Monitor and stole a wood trimmer. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 60-year-old man, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Woman discovers garage burglary
Burglars broke into a garage near 67th Place and Lawndale and stole a lawn mower, a car jack, a drill set and two lawn tables. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 42-year-old woman, at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17.

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Stone statues and more missing from garage
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 68th and Kedvale and stole assorted power tools, lawn tools, a bicycle and two stone statues. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 33-year-old woman, at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17.

A dozen purses and more taken by burglars

Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 51st and Kilpatrick and stole a TV, four tablet computers, 12 designer purses and $1,300 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 40-year-old woman, at noon Tuesday, Aug. 16.

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Cash taken in home burglary
Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 47th and Kenneth and stole $500 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 43-year-old woman, at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20.

DJ gear missing from garage

A 38-year-old West Elsdon told police on Thursday, Aug. 18 that someone burglarized his garage near 58th and Karlov on July 24 and stole nearly $15,000 worth of disc jockey equipment, including speakers, amplifiers and a mix table. The victim said he decided to report the crime after he saw a TV news report about several men wanted for burglaries in the area.

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Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts Will Serve Pancakes, Raise $$$ for Cop Vests

A pancake breakfast to raise funds to purchase protective

vests for police officers is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, September 11 in Brennan Hall at St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 54th and Natoma.

The event is hosted by the Knights of Columbus Padre Pio Council 12926 and Boy Scout Troop 475.

Admission is $7 per person, $4 for children age 12 and under. Breakfast will include pancakes, sausages, eggs, juice and a beverage (coffee or milk).

Proceeds will be donated to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's "Get Behind theVest" campaign.

According to a CPMF statement, "A vest isn’t bulletproof forever. It wears out. It breaks down. It needs to be replaced every five years. And just one bullet permanently damages a vest, making it unusable. Chicago police officers are responsible for replacing their own vests. At $500 or more per vest, in addition to other equipment and uniform expenses, the costs can quickly add up. That’s why we need your help. Your donation ensures that every officer out there protecting you is protected. Our goal is to raise $4 million to replace the 8,000 outdated vests in use by Chicago police officers."

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Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Chief Praises Garfield Ridge Community

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post

A top police official heaped praise upon the Garfield Ridge neighborhood recently, calling its work to prevent crime and promote safety extremely important.


Leading that work is the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch,

CPMF founder and executive director Phil Cline (right).

said retired CPD Supt. Phil Cline, himself a former Garfield Ridge resident. He made his observations at the GRNW’s August meeting, held Monday, August 15 night in the gym at Byrne Elementary School. About 90 people attended, with folding chairs hastily unfolded to accommodate the larger-than-usual crowd.

“What you’re doing in this community—with your signs, your support—means a lot to cops. Cops don’t get that a lot,” Cline said. “So when they see these signs--blue lives matter, we support our police, our police are gr8--that makes them feel good that they’re working in this community. It really does. It makes a big, big difference, so please continue to do that.”

He added citizen support for law enforcement comes at a critical time, when police officers and their families feel a heightened sense of anxiety in what many see as an anti-police mood among some communities, including much of the larger news media organizations in the city and across the country.

On the more general topic of crime prevention, Cline said that “a lot of people talk about keeping their neighborhood safe, but not everyone turns that thought into action. Those who think that keeping a block, a neighborhood, a community or an entire city safe is solely the job of the police are just wrong. It takes everyone working together to solve problems; but more important, it takes everyone working together to anticipate problems so that they can be addressed before they happen.

“When I was a police officer working a beat—and I was a Chicago cop for 37 years—we always knew what neighborhoods or blocks involved neighborhood watches,” the retired top cop continued. “You knew that when people were invested in the safety of their own homes and communities, that you could trust them and work with them to address crime and public safety.”

Crime prevention is more than working with police, Cline added. “It’s about communicating with each other. Telling your neighbors that you left your garage door open, taking in a package that has been sitting on a neighbor’s front porch, keeping an eye on a neighbor’s house when they’re on vacation, making sure that all the kids on the block are safe and making good choices. That’s the kind of neighborhood we all strive for, and that’s what Garfield Ridge is, thanks to you.”

Cline founded and directs the Chicago Police Memorial

Foundation, a non-profit established in 2004 to “honor the lives of our fallen heroes. The Foundation provides support and assistance to the families of Chicago police officers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty,” according to a description on its website.

He urged everyone at the meeting to consider participating in the CPMF’s candlelight vigil, set to start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Gold Star Families Memorial and Park, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive. Those interested in attending also will have the opportunity to read the names of fallen officers. For more information, visit cpdmemorial.org.

Also at the GRNW meeting, the group saluted the world champion Clear Ridge Senior League baseball team. Most were there in uniform, along with manager Mark Robinson, CRLL Vice President Ryan Aderman and others. The audience gave the boys a prolonged standing ovation.

The team later led the audience in a standing ovation for nine-year-old Isabella Marusarz, a St. Symphorosa student who raised $100 for police by drawing pictures of police officers and then selling them to relatives at a family party.

Arlene Norton-White introduces Isabella Maursarz and her proud parents.

GRNW President Al Cacciottolo noted that a number of the group’s members plan to serve as a volunteer court advocates for a day on Wednesday, Aug. 24 and attend a court hearing for several Little Village residents charged with stabbing and robbing a 36-year-old Garfield Ridge woman on Saturday, June 4 in the 6900 block of West Archer. Those interested in joining the GRNW as silent witnesses supporting the victim and demanding justice are encouraged to contact the GRNW at email@garfieldridgenw.com.

GRNW officers also thanked Byrne Principal Chantel Angeletti for her leadership in getting the school’s youngest students to make thank-you cards for police officers—which are now displayed in the lobby of Eighth District headquarters, 3420 W. 63rd St.

“It was a good experience,” Angeletti said. “Eight police officers—six of whom are fathers of students here—came to the school and spent time with the kids.”

Angeletti also said that Byrne will host an open house on Thursday, Sept. 8—with a fundraiser following at the Potbelly sandwich shop at 57th and Harlem. Potbelly will donate a portion of all sales from 5 to 8 p.m. that evening to Byrne.

The last such fundraiser netted $600 for school, she noted.

Finally, GRNW board member Arlene Norton-White noted that the group plans to host its fall Sell-a-Bration event on Sept. 24 in the Kennedy High School parking lot at 56th and Narragansett. Donations of empty wicker baskets and gift items to fill them are needed. Those interested should email the group at email@garfieldridgenw.com.

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City Will Spray Insecticide in Parts of the Southwest Side on Wednesday Night

Crews hired by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will spray insecticide throughout part of the Southwest Side on Wednesday, August 17, in the evening.

The insecticide is designed to kill mosquitoes that may be carrying the West Nile Virus. Areas targeted are those where infected mosquitoes have been found in recent days.

Weather permitting, the spraying will begin at dusk and continue through the night until approximately 1 a.m., with licensed mosquito-abatement technicians in trucks dispensing an ultra-low-volume insecticide spray.

On the Southwest Side, the area to be sprayed includes all of Chicago Lawn and the eastern section of West Lawn. The boundaries zig and zag, and go as far east as the railroad tracks just east of Bell, as far west as Pulaski, as far north as 59th Street, as far south as the railroad tracks along 75th Street, Here is the map provided by CDPH:

Here is a link to a larger version of the map:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdph/food_env/general/West_Nile_Virus/ProposedSprayArea_South8172016.pdf

On Tuesday, August 16, spraying will occur in parts of Dunning, Jefferson Park, Norwood Park and Portage Park communities on the Northwest Side.

Also on Wednesday, August 17, spraying will occur in parts of East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and West Garfield Park on the West Side.

"When our mosquito traps indicate that the West Nile virus may pose health risks in a community, we take action quickly," said CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita, M.D. "But spraying is just one step to protect our city, residents must also take appropriate steps to protect themselves."

CDPH reminds residents to take precautions against mosquitoes that may carry the virus, including:

• Use insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
• Eliminate standing water. This includes emptying water from flowerpots, gutters, pool  covers, pet water dishes and birdbaths regularly.
• Keep grass and weeds short to eliminate hiding places for adult mosquitoes.
• When outside between dusk and dawn, wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing including long pants, long sleeve shirts, socks and shoes.
• Check that all screens, windows and doors are tight-fitting and free of holes and tears
• Check on neighbors regularly who may need additional assistance, including the elderly.

Each year, CDPH conducts a mosquito surveillance, prevention and control program to protect residents from West Nile virus and other diseases spread by mosquitoes.

Though mosquitoes found to carry the Zika virus are not native to Chicago, CDPH has launched a recent campaign, #StopZika, to educate residents traveling to Zika-infested regions how to protect themselves. The campaign also reminds residents how the department is working to prevent mosquito-borne viruses that are endemic to Chicago, including West Nile virus.

In addition to spraying, CDPH's mosquito abatement program includes dropping larvacide in catch basins, which helps limit the number of mosquitoes that can carry the virus, and regularly testing mosquitoes caught in traps throughout the city.

The material being used to control the adult mosquitoes, Zenivex™, is approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has been widely applied to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas across the city. The spray will be applied by licensed mosquito abatement technicians from Vector Disease Control International, described by CDPH officials as a leader in the mosquito control industry. Guiding the crews through the streets will be supervisors from the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. 

While the spray is not believed to be harmful to people or pets and is routinely sprayed in residential areas across the nation, residents of targeted neighborhoods may choose to stay indoors and close their windows while spraying is underway, as an extra precaution. CDPH staff are leaving door hangers in parts of the affected areas to notify residents that the spraying will occur.

"Spraying to kill adult mosquitoes is an effective component of an integrated pest management program," added CDPH Environmental Health Medical Director Cort Lohff, M.D. "It is our expectation that this effort will further limit the mosquito population and prevent cases of human illness in Chicago."

As part of ongoing response efforts, CDPH will continue to collect mosquitoes from traps located throughout the city and test these mosquitoes for West Nile virus. Using results of these tests, CDPH will determine the appropriate steps to be taken in order to best protect Chicago residents. On August 2, CDPH sprayed in the Auburn Gresham, Chatham and Washington Heights neighborhoods. 

West Nile virus cannot be transmitted from person-to-person. Instead, it is transmitted strictly through mosquitoes.

# # #

Why Clear Ridge is OUR Team

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
and
Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

There’s a lot to like about the Clear Ridge Little League’s 2016 Senior League world champions.

But before we get to that, we urge everyone to remember these names:

Jake Gerloski
Tom Doyle
Julian Lopez
Gage Olszak
Zach Verta
Mel Morario
Tim Molloy
Bob Palenik
Paolo Zavala
Mike Rios
Jake Duerr
Noah Miller
Dave Navarro
Gary Donahue
Joe Trezek
Mike Skoraczewski,
Manager Mark Robinson
Coach Will Trezek
Coach Ray Verta

They battled their way into the history books, and they will have a place of honor there always.

OK, so here’s what’s best about this team: they truly are our team.

Why?

First, they are the face of the Southwest Side. Look at their

last names and you’ll see a mixed bag. They look like a typical block in Clearing or Garfield Ridge—and like their parents and grandparents, they know what it is to set aside ethnic differences, grab the same rope, pull in the same direction and achieve a goal.

Second, their work ethic mirrors what we find all across Southwest Side neighborhoods. These 16-year-olds have in their brains and brawn the same blue-collar “get it done” ways of their parents and grandparents. They’re strong, steady, hard working, persistent and dedicated to excellence. They are battle-tested when it comes to facing and overcoming adversity, as well as bouncing back from defeat, as they did when they faced a tough Burbank team weeks ago.

Third, like their parents and grandparents, they are not

braggarts or showboats. That was wonderfully clear in their post-game press conference in Bangor, after they won the title—as well as their TV station appearances here in Chicago, earlier this week.

Simply put, the Clear Ridge players and coaches were just regular joes—but refreshingly so, in our opinion. No Dizzy Dean-style tall tales for news reporters. No Muhammad Ali-style putdowns of opponents. No Broadway Joe Namath-style predictions of future greatness.

No bursts of superlatives, colorful adjectives or curse words.

Just a steady stream of aw-shucks modesty from a group of kids and their coaches from Southwest Side neighborhoods where actions always speaker louder than words, where folks roll their eyes at loudmouths, where a man is what a man does.

The same Southwest Side neighborhoods where the CRLL players were hailed as conquering heroes on Saturday afternoon—but within an hour or so they were back home, cutting the backyard grass, watering the lawn, picking up after the family dog, taking out the garbage and getting ready for church and then work on Sunday, as one team mom told us.

Speaking of team moms, they—and team dads—are among

the unsung heroes in all this, supporting their sons in so many ways, large and small. But they’re OK with being unsung. “We’re the strongest ones in all this, in some ways,” one mom told us. “But hey, this is what a mom does, what a dad does. We lead by example, quietly. It’s no big deal. Save your praise for the boys.”

And that’s why this team is our team. They are us.

Well done, Clear Ridge, well done.

# # #

City Will Spray Insecticide in Parts of the Southwest Side on Wednesday Night

Crews hired by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will spray insecticide throughout several Southwest Side neighborhoods on Wednesday, August 10, in the evening.

The insecticide is designed to kill mosquitoes that may be carrying the West Nile Virus. Areas targeted are those where infected mosquitoes have been found in recent days.

Weather permitting, the spraying will begin at dusk and continue through the night until approximately 1 a.m., with licensed mosquito-abatement technicians in trucks dispensing an ultra-low-volume insecticide spray.

On the Southwest Side, the area to be sprayed includes parts of Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Back of the Yards and West Englewood. The boundaries zig and zag, and go as far east as Ashland, as far west as California, as far north as 47th Street, as far south as 63rd Street, Here is the map provided by CDPH:

Here is a link to a larger version of the map:

http://files.constantcontact.com/8c03ed2f101/c15e8357-649b-4237-8fc8-d05623a6e897.pdf

Similar spraying will occur on Tuesday, August 9 on the Northwest Side:

http://files.constantcontact.com/8c03ed2f101/991cdb27-1d0e-43a7-94c7-98c3cdc671aa.pdf

"When our mosquito traps indicate that the West Nile virus may pose health risks in a community, we take action quickly," said CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita, M.D. "But spraying is just one step to protect our city, residents must also take appropriate steps to protect themselves."

CDPH reminds residents to take precautions against mosquitoes that may carry the virus, including:

• Use insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
• Eliminate standing water. This includes emptying water from flowerpots, gutters, pool  covers, pet water dishes and birdbaths regularly.
• Keep grass and weeds short to eliminate hiding places for adult mosquitoes.
• When outside between dusk and dawn, wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing including long pants, long sleeve shirts, socks and shoes.
• Check that all screens, windows and doors are tight-fitting and free of holes and tears
• Check on neighbors regularly who may need additional assistance, including the elderly.

Each year, CDPH conducts a mosquito surveillance, prevention and control program to protect residents from West Nile virus and other diseases spread by mosquitoes.

Though mosquitoes found to carry the Zika virus are not native to Chicago, CDPH has launched a recent campaign, #StopZika, to educate residents traveling to Zika-infested regions how to protect themselves. The campaign also reminds residents how the department is working to prevent mosquito-borne viruses that are endemic to Chicago, including West Nile virus.

In addition to spraying, CDPH's mosquito abatement program includes dropping larvacide in catch basins, which helps limit the number of mosquitoes that can carry the virus, and regularly testing mosquitoes caught in traps throughout the city.

The material being used to control the adult mosquitoes, Zenivex™, is approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has been widely applied to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas across the city. The spray will be applied by licensed mosquito abatement technicians from Vector Disease Control International, described by CDPH officials as a leader in the mosquito control industry. Guiding the crews through the streets will be supervisors from the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. 

While the spray is not believed to be harmful to people or pets and is routinely sprayed in residential areas across the nation, residents of targeted neighborhoods may choose to stay indoors and close their windows while spraying is underway, as an extra precaution. CDPH staff are leaving door hangers in parts of the affected areas to notify residents that the spraying will occur.

"Spraying to kill adult mosquitoes is an effective component of an integrated pest management program," added CDPH Environmental Health Medical Director Cort Lohff, M.D. "It is our expectation that this effort will further limit the mosquito population and prevent cases of human illness in Chicago."

As part of ongoing response efforts, CDPH will continue to collect mosquitoes from traps located throughout the city and test these mosquitoes for West Nile virus. Using results of these tests, CDPH will determine the appropriate steps to be taken in order to best protect Chicago residents. On August 2, CDPH sprayed in the Auburn Gresham, Chatham and Washington Heights neighborhoods. 

West Nile virus cannot be transmitted from person-to-person. Instead, it is transmitted strictly through mosquitoes.

# # #

Yes, the downtown news media ignored us again. But so what? Let's have fun!

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

Of all the angles I could write about in relation to the world champion Clear Ridge Little League Senior All-Stars, this is not one I had planned to pursue--because frankly, I'd rather just have fun in the moment and celebrate this great team from Garfield Ridge and Clearing.

But since so many Clearing and Garfield Ridge residents have raised the "What about us?" question--comparing the downtown news media's almost non-existent coverage of the CRLL's 2016 triumph to the big, big, big deal that the same downtown news media made over Jackie Robinson West's second-place finish in the 2014 Little League World Series--I'll address it here.

Let me say at the outset that I thought it was great that the news media made a big, big, big deal out of JRW's run in the LLWS. It's exactly what they and all champions should get. (Sadly, of course, it all crashed to the ground when the JRW scandal was later exposed, and adults--as some of us so often do in this world--ruined it for the kids.)

I'd say there's no denying that most of the downtown news media almost entirely ignored the Clear Ridge team's World Series run--and when they belatedly tried to report it at Sunday's rally at Hale Park, almost every TV station represented only sent a camera operator--almost no reporters. Pathetic.

That led to an embarrassing situation where several of the CRLL players actually had to do the jobs of the news reporters who weren't there and hold TV stations' microphones while Manager Mark Robinson offered on-camera comments. So the players knelt in the grass (to stay out of the camera shot) and did it.

They were good sports, but the fact that they had to do it reflected poorly on the TV stations that could not be bothered to send a reporter to report something good about the Southwest Side. (NBC 5, which did send a reporter, was a noteworthy exception.)

OK, so why the difference? It's a question that has been posed by many in local Facebook groups, and people have asked me, a news reporter and editor, to explain it.

Here's what I think.

First, this being Chicago, let's tackle the racial angle right off the bat. It's all too easy for Southwest Siders to roll our eyes, say "Guess our kids are the wrong color" and leave it at that. I think that's a mistake, because it's a lot more complicated than that.

Race, in my opinion, is only one factor here. Did JRW get more coverage because they were black kids from the South Side? I'd say yes, and I'd chalk it up to white liberal guilt in the hearts in our city's news editors.

Many in the news media in 2014 bent over backwards to lionize the JRW team--so much so that some of the coverage bordered on condescending and had a disturbing, unintentionally racist tone of, "Hey, these black kids are smart, focused, disciplined and championship caliber. Who knew?" And shame on the news media for that. They made themselves look bad and they shortchanged the JRW kids, who deserved coverage that was straightforward and fair, not fawning and fake.

But there are other reasons why JRW got so much more coverage.

• They were a younger team of boys playing in the storied Williamsport, Pa. Teams of 16-year-olds playing in Bangor, Maine, are of less interest to the news media. Should not be that way, I know, but it is.

• The JRW league officials and their allies (including South Side activists like Father Pfleger) were a lot more media savvy, in terms of knowing who to call in the downtown news media and knowing how to get their attention. By comparison, we Southwest Siders don't have that skill because we kind of keep to ourselves out here.

• In the wake of the JRW scandal, the news media is a lot less likely to jump into the water with both feet when a Little League team wins a big title. Every editor I know has that "what if" doubt in the back of his or her mind. No news organization wants to feel like it was duped.

• Most, if not all, of the downtown news media treats the Southwest Side as flyover country. It's an old joke--I first heard it almost 40 years ago--that you'll only see our neighborhoods on the news when there's a murder, a fire or a racial incident. (And these days, add to that the occasional sucker-punch story portraying our communities as "cop neighborhoods"--which in liberal parlance is a bad thing that, to them, needs no elaboration because it's a code word.)

So yeah, the Clear Ridge team has been short-changed by the downtown news media.

But my view--as a lifelong Southwest Sider--is, so what?

If we measure ourselves by whether or not the downtown news media pays attention to us, we'll forever be frustrated.

Who needs that? Life's too short.

I say, let's focus on our championship team and give a pat on the back to the players, coaches, league officials, CRLL families and everyone who had a hand in the team's World Series triumph.

Really, let's just have some fun!

As a Garfield Ridge resident and business owner, that's what I'm doing. I just got back from a Garfield Ridge printer, a union shop, that is printing hundreds of congratulatory window cards that will be distributed at the rally on Saturday at Hale Park. See you there?

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