St. Sym's Football Homecoming Parade

A sure sign of fall in the Clearing neighborhood is the St.

Symphorosa homecoming parade, held earlier today from the church and school down Austin Avenue to 63rd Street, then west to Hale Park.

Sunny skies and mild temperatures were a perfect setting for today's parade and game against the Rockets from Our Lady of the Ridge.

St. Symphorosa has long had--and continues to have--a good student athletics program, thanks to the many parent volunteers, parishioners and of course, the boys and girls themselves.

Check out the video below.

Go get 'em, Vikings!

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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An 18-year-old Chicago Lawn man, said by police to be a gangbanger, was stabbed and beaten to death shortly after he got out of his friend's SUV to urinate in an alley near 66th and Kilpatrick at about 1:30 a.m. Monday, September 30.

Jesse Gonzales of 61st and Rockwell died of his injuries at Christ Hospital and Medical Center.

Police responding to a call of a battery in progress said they saw Gonzales lying on the ground in front of 4711 West 66th Street. He had a large laceration to the left side of his head, and police found a bloody, three-foot metal pole on the ground nearby. He also had several stab wounds in his side.

Gonzales' two friends in the SUV, whom police described as admitted gangbangers age 17 and 22, said that the victim was chased by three thugs who saw him in the alley---first north through the alley, then east on 65th Street, and back south on Kilpatrick to 66th Street.

Gonzales' friends did not rush to his aid because one of them has a mobility limitation and did not want the other to leave the vehicle, police were told.

The three attackers are described only as white Hispanic men age 20-29, 5'5 to 6'0 and 160-220 pounds, two with "bald" hairstyles and the third with long hair.

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A 30-year-old Garfield Ridge man scared off two criminals trying to break into a neighbor's garage near 51st and Rutherford. The man told police that he heard loud noises in the alley at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, September 29. When he went out to investigate, he saw two burglars trying to break into a nearby garage. Upon seeing the man, the two would-be criminals ran away south down the alley. They are described only as 5'5 to 5'7 and 130-155 pounds, one wearing a gray hoodie and the other a black hoodie.

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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. Tuesday, October 8. 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.

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Burglars entered a home near 54th and Kenneth and stole two old BB guns and 25 blank checks. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 66-year-old woman, when she arrived home at 9:30 a.m. Monday, September 30 and found her home ransacked. Entry was apparently made via a rear window, where a torn screen was discovered.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live

in Beat 812 (see map), come to the Clearing Branch Library at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 9. 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.

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While a 65-year-old man worked in his garage near 57th and Tripp, a burglar snuck in the house via the apparently unlocked back door and stole $150 cash from the victim's wallet. The crime occurred at about 3:00 p.m. Monday, September 30, the victim told police.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live

in Beat 814 (see map), come to Vittum Park at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10. 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.

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Burglars removed a window from the service door of a garage near 68th Place and Springfield, entered the garage and stole a medical bag with basic health monitoring equipment, and Army uniform and helmet, a car radio, a bicycle, a shovel and a rake. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 67-year-old woman, at 6:30 a.m. Monday, September 30.

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Chicago Police Bust Two Clearing Men, Seize Drugs and Stolen Guns on 63rd Place

Just released by CPD at 7:04 p.m.

Chicago Police Arrest Convicted Felons, Seize Drugs and Stolen Guns

Search Warrant in Chicago Lawn (8th) District Recovers More Than $1.2 Million In Drugs

CHICAGO -- Chicago Police arrested three men and recovered four guns and more than $1.2 million in narcotics as the result of a Narcotics Division investigation that culminated

Naftali Centeno

Wednesday night in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District.

Raphael Torres, 59, of the 6500 block of W. 63rd Place was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and a warrant for an unrelated investigation. Naftali Centeno, 31, of the 6500 block of W. 63rd Place was charged with three counts of Possession of Controlled Substance, three counts of Unlawful Use of Weapon by Felon, Possession of Cannabis - More than 5,000 grams, and a warrant for an unrelated investigation. Sergey Mordvin, 33, of the 6000 block of N. Sheridan Road was charged with Possession of Cannabis - 30-500 Grams.

Prior to the seizure, Narcotics Division Squad E-1 team

Raphael Torres

members received information enabling them to secure a search warrant targeting Torres. Upon execution of the warrant on Wednesday night at his residence on the 6500 block of W. 63rd Place , officers recovered 166 pounds of cannabis with an estimated street value of more than $1.1 million. Additionally, police seized quantities of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, and cocaine. Four firearms, two of which previously were reported stolen, also were recovered on premise, along with $44,000 in cash.

Centeno, a convicted felon, was scheduled for bond court today along with Mordvin. Torres, also a convicted felon, was scheduled for bond court on Friday.

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St. Jane Ladies Set to Serve Spaghetti

Our friends at the St. Jane Ladies Guild are inviting everyone to a spaghetti dinner on Wednesday, October 9, in Ward Hall,

File photo. Illustration purposes only.

5159 South McVicker.

Doors open at 4:00 pm.  Dinner includes salad, bread, spaghetti or baked mostaccioli, meatballs or sausage, dessert and a beverage.

Meal prices are $7 for adults, $4 for kids 10 and under. Carryout meals are $8 each.

Split-the-Pot tickets will be available during the dinner. The winning ticket will be drawn at the end of the evening. Winner need not be present.

We at the Southwest Chicago Post encourage everyone to stop on by, have a great meal, meet your neighbors and support the Ladies in their charitable endeavors.

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GRNW Sell-A-Bration Event a Success

Congratulations to the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch for today's Sell-A-Bration event at Kennedy High School--several dozen people selling rummage items, craft knick knacks and more to hundreds of local men, women and children on a beautiful early-fall day.

The sale was yet another successful GRNW event to fight crime indirectly by promoting neighborhood pride and encouraging us all to get out and meet each other.

Want to join the GRNW and help make Garfield Ridge a safer and better place? Please join them at their next meeting, set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 21 at Bridgeview Bank, 6366 South Archer.

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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 27-year-old Chicago Lawn man was shot in the shoulder as he drove his pickup truck near 50th and Karlov at about 4:00 a.m. Sunday, September 15. The victim told police that he was driving north on Karlov, watching a drunk friend and another person walk home, when two gangbangers appeared on foot and started flashing gang signs.

Moments later, according to the victim, one offender threw a brick at his truck and the other drew a pistol and started firing at him. The victim said the side passenger window shattered, and he felt pain in his right shoulder. He sped away north on Karlov and drove himself to Mt. Sinai Hospital.

The offenders are described as white Hispanic men age 18-20, 5'5 to 5'9. The victim said he did not know what gang they were from, since he himself is not a gangbanger and does not recognize signs.Police reported that they noted gunshot damage of the truck's tailgate and found red plastic shards and a landscaping brick on the street at 50th and Karlov.

* * *

A 50-year-old Garfield Ridge man told police that he was stabbed in the leg during an argument with two men in an alley near 53rd and Nottingham at about 11:00 p.m. Friday, September 13. The offender who stabbed him in the right thigh is described as a white man age 40-43, 5'8 and 160 pounds, short blond hair, wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans. There was no description of the other man.

Both offenders fled in a burgundy four-door vehicle. The victim made his way to the Subway sandwich shop near 54th and Harlem, where he called police. He was treated and transported by CFD ambulance to MacNeal Hospital.

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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, September 24. 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.

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A 16-year-old West Lawn boy told police he was robbed as he walked home from Hubbard High School, near 63rd Place and Springfield at 8:30 a.m. Friday, September 13. He said that two offenders forcibly took his cell phone and a yellow metal chain and ran away north on Springfield. One is described as a black man age 25, 6'2 and wearing a gray sweater. The other is described as a white Hispanic man age 20, 5'5 and wearing a brown sweater and beige pants.

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A warehouse near 39th and Karlov has been burglarized for the third time in recent weeks, according to its manager. The 43-year-old Chinatown man told police that he discovered the most recent incident on the morning of Monday, September 16. He said that about $25,000 worth of copper tubing has been stolen. The CPD incident report did not indicate if there was any sign of forced entry.

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Want to help a crime fighting group and shop at the same time? Check out the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch's Sell-A-Bration, set for 9:00 a.m. at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 28 in the parking lot of Kennedy High School, 56th and Narragansett. Stop by and shop for the best rummage items from Garfield Ridge's closets, attics, basements and garages--as well as new craft items.

* * *

A 24-year-old La Grange Park woman renting a residence near 58th and Merrimac told police on Monday, September 16 that someone had stolen her 42-inch flat screen TV from the garage at the address. She said she had discovered the crime at 5:50 p.m. Friday, September 13. There was no sign of forced entry, and the victim claimed that her landlord told her that son stole the TV to fuel his gambling addiction. The landlord reportedly said that she has no ability to compensate. The incident report indicated that the suspect, a 20-year-old man, remains at large.

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Burglars pushed in a window air conditioner at a first-floor apartment near 63rd and Karlov, entered and stole a .357 magnum hand gun, two TVs, two laptop computers, a printer, a Blu-ray disc player, exercise gear, assorted jewelry, $5,000 cash and various other items. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 27-year-old man, at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 11.

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Want to make your home more secure---and more elegant

at the same time? Check out this Southwest Chicago Post article about glass block windows!

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Burglars entered a house near 53rd and Long and stole a computer, a TV and a bottle of cologne. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 35-year-old man, at 10:00 p.m. Monday, September 9. The CPD incident report did not say how or where entry was made.

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Burglars forced open a rear window of a home near 50th and Karlov and stole a tablet computer and a digital camera. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 32-year-old man, after he returned from shopping at 3:00 p.m. Monday, September 16.

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Burglars forced open the back door of a home near 73rd and Ridgeway and stole a TV, assorted tools, a hunting knife and a set of silver spoons. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 43-year-old man, at 5:55 p.m. Monday, September 16.

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A 48-year-old woman returning from a five-day vacation found an open front door at her home near 61st and Mason. The crime was discovered at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 17. She found that burglars had stolen a TV, a laptop computer and a PlayStation3 with video games. There was no sign of forced entry, and she told police that when she left for vacation, she had put her house key in the mailbox.

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Burglars entered the rear of a home near 53rd and Kenneth and stole assorted jewelry and $200 cash. The crime occurred at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 11. The victim, a 76-year-old woman, told police she had left home briefly to run an errand and left the rear door unlocked because her husband was pulling weeds in front of the house.

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Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 61st and Komensky and stole a bicycle and the license plates off a 1998 Ford minivan parked inside. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 41-year-old man, at midnight Wednesday, September 4 but not reported until Sunday, September 15.

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Thirty More Reasons Why Archer Heights Is One of Chicago's Most Beautiful Places

Our friends at the Archer Heights Civic Association

presented their annual House Beautiful Awards at their September meeting.

More than two dozen homeowners (and a couple of exemplary businesses) were saluted for doing their part to keep Archer Heights what it has been for decades---one of Chicago's best and most beautiful neighborhoods.

Click on the image below and see the winners for yourself.

Our congratulations to those who won awards this year, and our thanks to the good people of the Archer Heights Civic Association, one of Chicago's most active and effective neighborhood advocacy organizations. The AHCA does an excellent job of speaking truth to power and rattling the right cages to get things done, but they also understand the importance of celebrating all that is good about the neighborhood, and they do that with pride.

If you live in Archer Heights or own a business there, the AHCA is the group to join!

To learn more about the AHCA, call 773-843-2232 or attend the next meeting. AHCA meetings are always the second Wednesday of the month, with the exception of July and August, at UNO Veterans Memorial Campus, 47th and Kildare, and always start at 7:30 p.m. All Archer Heights residents are encouraged to attend.

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