Annual Pumpkin Parade Set for Oct. 29

The 2016 Pumpkin Jamboree Parade is set for Saturday,

October 29.

The parade will step off at 11 a.m. at Archer and Nordica, travel east on Archer to 55th Street, then continue east to Merrimac, then turn south and end at Wentworth Park.

The annual event is hosted by U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) and 23rd Ward Alderman Michael R. Zalewski. 

The parade will feature entries from local businesses, fire departments, police departments, Scout troops, civic organizations and marching bands.

At the parade's end, the fun will continue costume judging, free hot dogs, refreshments and treats.

Any organization interested in participating in this year’s

Pumpkin Jamboree Parade should contact Frank Salerno at Lipinski’s office at (773) 948-6223.

Here's a bit of Throwback Thursday: to check out a few images from the 2012 Pumpkin Parade on Archer, click here: http://www.swchicagopost.com/2012/10/kids-line-archer-to-see-pumpkin-parade.html

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Updates on Archer Business Concerns

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post

An impromptu update of a handful of concerns in Garfield Ridge was offered at the September meeting of the Garfield Ridge Civic League, by business owner Al Cacciottolo.

The meeting was held at the TCF Bank branch at Archer and Austin. About three dozen people attended.

Perhaps the most visible of the handful of stagnant properties in the neighborhood is the old Garfield Ridge Trust & Savings Bank, 6353 W. 55th St., long an eyesore at the southeast corner of Archer and Narragansett.

“Here’s the problem with that building, and I’ll tell you why,” Cacciottolo told the GRCL audience. “The gentleman that owns that building paid a lot of money for it…$2.5 million. That building is now for sale for $1.9 million. That building is a total wreck inside. They’ve had major damage. I was in there about a month ago. It’s really bad inside. They had 20 feet of water in the basement, so there are mold issues. It’s going to take a lot of money to refurbish that building. I would rather see it just knocked down and something brand-new go up.”

Without revealing specifics, he said that several suitors—including a not-for-profit--have been looking at the 50-year-old building, and something could happen soon.

Cacciottolo said one thing that hampers commercial growth in the community is “the same old problem: everybody who owns property on Archer thinks it’s worth a million dollars. It’s hard to open a new business on Archer when you have to pay a million dollars for a piece of property and then put in another million in repairs.

“I tell you--I know if I had two million dollars, I’d be on a beach somewhere,” he joked, drawing chuckles and “Me, too” from a number of people.

Cacciottolo praised 23rd Ward Ald. Michael R. Zalewski and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn for what he called their diligence in pressuring several property owners to get moving on developing their properties or sell to someone who will.

Several people at the meeting noted signs of hope on Cicero Avenue, especially near 65th Street, after years of stagnation.

“When it came to Cicero Avenue, nobody wanted to be a pioneer,” Cacciottolo said. “Everybody was waiting, waiting, waiting. So then development exploded in Bedford Park (on the west side of 65th and Cicero). And now that the City of Chicago has loosened some of its reins on its regulations, things are starting to happen on the other side of the street. So now there’s going to a hotel on the east side of Cicero, at about 65th Street—and then a hotel at 53rd and Cicero. A Lou Malnati’s [pizzeria] is near 66th and Cicero.

“You watch,” he continued. “Now that these things are starting to happen on Cicero Avenue, everyone and his brother are going to want to get in on it. There will be businesses flocking to Cicero Avenue.”

Cacciottolo reiterated what 23rd Ward Ald. Michael R. Zalewski said publicly earlier this year—that an ALDI concept store will be coming to the southeast corner of Archer and Harlem sometime in 2017.

He said that the recently-shuttered Joe & Frank’s Market building will be razed, along with two other buildings immediately south on Harlem Avenue, as well as “a couple of [nearby] homes” that have been purchased.

The result will be an L-shaped parcel that includes a “brand-new ALDI concept store, similar to the one at 132nd and LaGrange Road,” Cacciottolo said, “It’s going to be nice, it’s going to be clean, set back with plenty of parking. It will be a good addition to the neighborhood.”

He also said that the traditional warehouse-style store operated by ALDI at 5775 S. Archer (near Archer and Lorel) will be closed when the new one is open.

In response to a request for comment, ALDI Valparaiso Division Vice President Matt Thon ended months of silence on the issue and wrote, "We are committed to opening an ALDI store in Chicago at Archer Avenue and Harlem Avenue, with construction currently planned to begin in spring 2017 and an anticipated opening by the end of 2017.

"People have always known ALDI for its great quality at low prices and simple, efficient shopping experience. That hasn’t changed, but we have listened to our customers to provide even more of the products they feel good about. We offer an incredible variety of fresh produce, delivered daily to our Chicagoland stores, as well as USDA Choice meats, the liveGfree gluten-free product line, the SimplyNature line of products free from over 125 artificial ingredients and preservatives and our Never Any! line free from antibiotics, added hormones and animal by-products.

"We feel good about helping our customers save up to 50 percent on their grocery bills, and we look forward to continuing to serve the Chicago community."

Other news
“At Archer and Cicero, where Brandy’s [restaurant] used to be is going to be a Starbucks and a Corner Bakery,” Cacciottolo said, as the audience broke into smiles and nods of approval.

In response to a question Cacciottolo said that the shuttered Danny’s Pizza, 6021 S. Archer, will re-open later this year or possibly in the spring as a pizzeria owned and operated by its former competitor, Villa Rosa Pizza, 5786 S. Archer.

The shuttered Tina’s Pizza, 5440 S. Narragansett, should re-open within weeks as a restaurant/bar, he added. The husband/wife owners are local: “He’s a fireman and she’s a phenomenal Italian cook. They’ve gutted the whole inside, and it’s really going to be nice.”

The next GRCL meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the community room at the TCF Bank branch at Archer and Austin. All Garfield Ridge residents and business owners are invited to attend.

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False Alarm: CPD Cancels Warning About Two Men Luring Schoolgirl

Update from CPD at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, September 21:

"It was discovered that the victim and two individuals are friends. The victim and the two individuals often travel home from school together and were attempting to call the victim over to offer her a ride home. The two individuals thought it would be humorous to wear the masks."

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Original story (below) from Thursday, September 15:

CPD Warns of Two Men Trying to Lure Schoolgirl Near 62nd and Narragansett

Chicago Police sounded a note of caution today (Thursday,

September 15) about two men who tried to lure an adolescent girl into their minivan near 62nd and Narragansett.

Police said that at 2:51 p.m. Tuesday, September 13, the victim was walking home from school when a light-blue Dodge minivan drove alongside her and stopped on the 6400 block of West 62nd Street. The passenger stated, "Come here!" The victim then ran home to safety, as the offenders followed in their vehicle.

The offenders were described as:

●Offender #1 (driver) – Believed to be a male 35- to 45-years-of-age, wearing a black bandana over his face.

●Offender #2 (passenger) - Believed to be a male 35- to 45-years-of-age, wearing a tan Halloween mask from the movie "The Purge" with dark clothing.

An image of the suspects' minivan, released to the press by CPD.

In the wake of the crime, police offered the following advice:

●Be aware of this situation and alert your neighbors.
●Call 911 to report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity in your neighborhood.
●Do not let children walk or play alone. Identify safe havens along your child's route to school and home, such as businesses or trusted neighbors.
●Always be aware of your surroundings. 

Those with useful information to share about the crime are encouraged to call the CPD Area Central Detectives at (312) 747-8380 and refer to case HZ-43446.

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Be Safe, Not Sorry, Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Says at Meeting

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post

Garfield Ridge residents would be wise to be a little more

skeptical and a little less gullible, members of a local crime prevention group said this month.

“Compared to so many other places—city and suburban—Garfield Ridge has relatively little crime, so maybe it’s easy for us to forget that there are bad guys out there who want to separate us from our hard-earned money and our belongings,” said Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch President Al Cacciottolo at a GRNW meeting of about 40 men and women at Valley Forge Park.

In a recent month, Cacciottolo said he was told by a police source that some 114 vehicles parked in police Beat 811 (Garfield Ridge west of Central Avenue) were “opened up” by burglars in search of everything from high-end electronics to loose change to support drug habits.

He described them that way because the vehicles showed no sign of forced entry and were thought to be unlocked.

“That’s 114 people who left their cars unlocked,” Cacciottolo said, saying that police believe the vehicle burglars are a man and woman “just walking nonchalantly down the street, checking car doors. So please, lock your doors. It’s just that simple.”

He added that Chicago Lawn (8th) District Commander Ronald A. Pontecore has committed to adding extra resources to go after and stop the pair burglarizing vehicles in Beat 811.

“He’s really a great guy, and I think you’re going to like him a lot,” Cacciottolo said of Pontecore, noting that the new commander is expected to elaborate on his plans at the next GRNW meeting, set for 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 17 at St. Jane de Chantal Parish’s Ward Hall, 52nd and McVicker.

He also said there is evidence to suggest that an old phone scam targeting senior citizens is hitting Garfield Ridge.

“This just happened today: an elderly gentleman living near 54th and Narragansett received a call from a man claiming to be the police chief of a town where this elderly man’s grandson went to college,” Cacciottolo said. “The man claiming to be a police official told the elderly man that his grandson had been arrested and needs $5,000 for bail or else he’d have to stay in jail.

“So then this [fake police official] hands the phone to a young kid pretending to the grandson, and he starts crying on the phone and says, ‘Oh Grandpa, don’t tell Mom or Dad. I don’t want to get in trouble,’” Cacciottolo continued, adding that the elderly man believed the tale and went to a local bank to withdraw $5,000 cash.

Fortunately, he said, an alert bank official saw what was happening and alerted the elderly man’s daughter as a precaution. She, in turn, alerted police.

“In the end, no money was lost because the [fake police official] never showed up at the house,” Cacciottolo said. “He probably saw the real police car in front of the house, and that scared him away.”

He urged everyone in the room to spread the word to senior citizens on their blocks, regarding to confidence trick.

Also at the meeting, GRNW officials encouraged everyone to call their toll-free tip line, 1-855-811-TIPS, to report non-emergency information about crime in the neighborhood.

“Some people, including seniors, are uncomfortable calling police directly,” said GRNW board member Arlene White. 
This gives them an option to speak with us confidentially and safely—perhaps passing along information that could be important in preventing crime or solving a crime.”

The tip line played a role in the capture several years ago of a man who attempted to rob a local Walgreens at knifepoint.

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. 

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Dogs, Cats, Turtle Blessed at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Thanks to Pastor Julio C. Pena and First Lady Claudia C. Fuentes-Pena of Spirit of Love Community Ministry for leading a blessing of pets--dogs, a couple of reluctant cats and even a turtle--at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 56th and Merrimac, at an outdoor prayer service--inspired by St. Francis of Assisi--on Sunday afternoon, September 18.

(Spirit of Love is now housed at the church, along with Good Shepherd.)

Helping out were Girls Scouts from a from troop sponsored by Good Shepherd.

Here are a few shots we were fortunate enough to snap:

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

Crews hired by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will spray insecticide throughout part of the Southwest Side on Monday, September 19, 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 (abut 7:30 p.m.) and continue through the night until approximately 1 a.m., with licensed mosquito-abatement technicians in trucks riding up and down streets and alleys, spraying an ultra-low-volume insecticide spray up into the air.

On the Southwest Side, the area to be sprayed includes sections of West Lawn, Clearing and Garfield Ridge. The boundaries zig and zag, and go as far east as Central Park Avenue, as far west as Nottingham, as far north as 55th Street, as far south as 71st Street. Here is a the map provided by CDPH, in two pieces:

Eastern section of spray area.

Western section of spray area.

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

https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdph/environmental_health_and_food/SprayZoneWard13_091916.pdf?utm_source=City+to+Spray+Monday&utm_campaign=Chicago_West+Nile+Virus&utm_medium=email

"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--starting in spring--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.

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

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My Z-Mall World Childcare Invites Everyone to Open House on Saturday

Looking for a good child care center for your son, daughter,

Alejandrina Cerna and several students.

grandson or granddaughter (ages 1-7)?

Check out My Z-Mall World Childcare, 6655 West Archer (right next to the popular Coler Chiropractic Center).

Stop by their open house, set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 10.

Food, beverages, school supplies, goodies!

Teachers will be on hand to show you around and talk about why My Z-Mall World (pronounced "My Small World") is an excellent choice.

Newly opened, My Z-Mall World is owned and directed by Garfield Ridge resident Alejandrina Cerna, a social worker with a degree in early childhood education--who also has worked as a teacher in several settings, including catechism at a Catholic parish.

The center includes a bilingual program--conducted in English--that teaches Spanish to children.

My Z-Mall World also serves organic food to the children it serves and even offers tips for parents to do the same.

The center is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Currently, 10 children are enrolled, with space for more.

For more information, call (773) 912-6387.

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