No Stranger to the Clippers

Clearing teen participates in St. Baldrick’s for 6th time

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

Clearing resident Andrew Moser has a date with a pair of hair clippers this month, but it’s old hat for the 15-year-old.

For the sixth year in a row, he will lose his locks to raise funds for the fight against cancer in children.

Moser will be called to go bald at a St. Baldrick's event set for

Sunday, March 18 at The Kerry Piper, 7900 S. Joliet Road, Willowbrook. The exact time has yet to be determined.

His goal is to raise $500 to help fund cancer research. As of Tuesday afternoon, five donors had put up $185. Those interested in helping are encouraged to visit click here:

https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/944696/2018

“I just wanted to do something positive to help fight cancer,” Moser recalled about his start with St. Baldrick’s at age 9, sparked by the participation of his Uncle Eric. “I’ve just stuck with it every year since then.” 

Once he loses his blond hair, he will get his customary kiss of gratitude and pride from his mother, Chelli.

In a photo from 2014, Andrew receives a congratulatory kiss from his mom, Chelli.

“I’m proud of him,” she said. “He was raised to think about the needs of others and the world around him—and this is one example of how he does this. He’s always been a good boy on his way to growing up to be a good man.”

Andrew will be collecting donations for St. Baldrick's in front of Fair Share Finer Foods, 63rd and Narragansett, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 11.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a not-for-profit charity based in Monrovia, Calif. that began in 1999 as little more than a fun idea among three friends, yet has mushroomed into a movement. Last year, St. Baldrick’s participants raised more than $34 million, and the foundation over the years has given more than $127 million in grants to scientific research projects around the world, making it second in the U.S.—only to the federal government—in funding to fight childhood cancer.

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Kennedy HS Hosts 'Social Media' Event

Our friends at Kennedy High School are hosting a "social

media awareness night" for parents, set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 12 in the school's auditorium, 56th and Narragansett.

This event is open to the public, not just Kennedy High School parents.

Here is a description of the event, provided by Kennedy High School:

Is your child on social media? Glued to a smartphone or tablet? Then you need to come to this presentation because although these can be powerful tools, with great power comes great responsibility!

This presentation is called “Social Media Land Mines” because, like with a land mine, you might not see the danger coming until it’s too late. Parents need to know the latest trends and potential dangers and best practices to help your child navigate around these potential dangers.

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For most parents, social media is overwhelming. There are thousands of apps and it’s a moving target; what is popular today is out tomorrow. During this highly interactive presentation you will learn simple techniques and receive powerful resources to help them stay up-to-date with the latest trends and apps to keep your kids safe. 

Who Is This For?
Whether you are tech savvy or have no idea what this whole “social media” stuff is about; whether your child is even using social media (yet) or if they are about to graduate high school, this presentation has something for you. You will not only leave this presentation understanding the potential issues, but with a variety of simple tips and tricks to help guide your child and promote responsible posting.

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Not Your Typical Speaker!
Get ready to be edutained! Robert Hackenson Jr. is a professional speaker and “edutainer” that infuses lectures with magic and illusions designed to reinforce the lessons. With over a decade of experience speaking to youth, parents, and professionals, he has now spoken in 46 states across the country, several provinces in Canada, and around the world (as far as Australia). His unique skills have also earned him numerous appearances on Fox News, PBS and several other local media outlets.

This Presentation Opportunity is made possible for both students and parents by Kennedy High School's Parent Advisory Council. It is paid for by the "Every Student Succeeds Act."

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Seek Info on Theft from Supermercado in Archer Heights

Supermercado Rivera,4334 W. 51st St., one of the Southwest Side's most reputable, responsible, family-owned and operated businesses is going public with video footage of a theft that occurred at 7:27 p.m. Sunday, February 25--in the hope that someone will recognize the thief and call police.

In the video, released to Telemundo Chicago, store surveillance footage shows two women who appear to be customers walking in the store. One woman falls, while the other calls for help.

When employees rush to assist the fallen woman, a third woman is seen stealing merchandise (said to be energy drinks and cleaning products).

Shortly after, the three women are seen leaving the store together and getting into a light-colored Chrysler minivan.

Here is a link to the video:

https://www.telemundochicago.com/noticias/destacados/Fingen-ca_da-para-robar-supermercado-en-Archer-H_TLMD---Chicago-475463073.html

Whether the first woman truly fell on accident--or deliberately to create a diversion--remains an open question, as does whether the first two women are accomplices of the third woman. But clearly, they were all together.

If you have any useful information to share about the crime, please contact police 

For years, Supermercado Rivera has been a clean, bright

store with top-quality meats, poultry, produce and other items. They are independent, locally owned and employ local men and women.

Let's all show our support for them. Stop by in the days ahead and do some shopping. We are. :-)

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Sarcastic Applause for Man Who Reportedly Clapped for Accused Cop Killer

A 35-year-old Back of the Yards man who was scorned by

Eddie Negron

many for allegedly applauding an accused cop-killer, was himself applauded--in a derisive, mocking fashion--by Cook County Department of Corrections officers and supervisors.

Eddie Negron, of the 5400 block of South Marshfield, was given the sarcastic cheer as he was taken into custody by CPD Area Central Detectives after he left criminal court at 26th and California at about 3:45 p.m. Friday on an unrelated charge, according to the popular Second City Cop blog. 

Negron was apprehended and charged with one felony count of robbery in connection with a crime that occurred Friday, Feb. 9 at a retail establishment in the 0-100 block of East Roosevelt Road, according to a statement from CPD.

"Negron was positively identified by an employee of the establishment as the individual who grabbed and pulled the victim's wrist with his hand and left the store without paying for numerous items," the statement continued. "Additionally, Negron left his wallet at the scene."

Bond was set at $20,000, and Negron is due in court on Friday, March 2.

Negron is one of several inmates who reportedly applauded when CCDOC officers escorted convicted felon Shomari Legghette to a criminal court hearing on Feb. 15. Legghette is charged with murdering CPD Commander Paul Bauer earlier this month in the Loop.

Video of inmates applauding Legghette--released to the press by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and seen hundreds of thousands of times on the internet--sparked outrage among law-abiding people across the city and even around the world.

As punishment for applauding, Dart reportedly transferred several inmates to jails outside Cook County, temporarily.

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Rapper on the Rise

Southside Jake succeeds with blue-collar hip hop

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

A rap artist recently gave the Southwest Side a weather-related chuckle, but his continued rise to fame and acclaim is no joke.

Southside Jake, a Garfield Ridge resident, lit up local social media with posts about his “Snow Day” video he pulled together with two other rappers—Kidd Russell and Thé Fatman.

The song is a light-hearted romp through the snow—literally—by three men who have learned that they have the day off because of heavy snow.

South Side Jake (right) celebrates a snow day with Kidd Russell and Thé Fatman.

Weather aside, the rise of Southside Jake (officially Jake Tuton) has been steadily happening in recent years—a success he chalks up to keeping his lyrics real and speaking from experience. His best-known rap, South Side Girl, has become an anthem of sorts and can often be heard on digital jukeboxes at sports bars and other watering holes on the Southwest Side.

“The best and shortest way to describe what I do is ‘blue-collar hip hop,’” Southside Jake explained. “It’s rap music, for sure…but I’m from here. I’m from the Southwest Side. My two biggest songs are South Side Girl and City Kids. So it’s very everyday, very blue-collar, very much about the struggles of the ordinary person.”

It’s “catching the Orange Line, going downtown, Archer Avenue, Weber’s Bakery,” he continued. “This neighborhood’s a lot of firefighters, police officers, union workers. I’m living and breathing that every day--so you kind of write what you know.”

Southside Jake, 32, grew up in the Ford City condominium

Southside Jake in action.

complex. His journey from boy to rap artist started early.

“I grew up listening to music,” he recalled, noting that his influences include rockers like the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Metallica, as well as rappers like Jay-Z and Common, I just grew up with everything on the iPod list, so the music just kind of comes from everywhere.”

He recalled that he “was a little kid writing little rap poems; and then hanging out here in the neighborhood, we’d just rap and freestyle at parties and stuff. And people were like, ‘Hey, you’re actually pretty good at this. You need to pursue it, you need to pursue it. So I branded it and came up with it and at first made some really, really bad songs; and you know, like the whole routine.”

Since hitting his stride as an artist about six years ago, he has enjoyed steady success. He has performed at Lollapalooza three times and notes, "We’re on iTunes, Spotify, AMI jukeboxes all over North America…so yeah, the music has some legs underneath it at this point.”

South Side Girl “was something I had it in my head forever, years before I wrote it,” he said. “There’s something special about our brand of ladies down here (on the Southwest Side). You know what I mean? Cuss you out, no nonsense, call it like they see it; but also beautiful, elegant, like a ying and yang thing. And I thought, ‘Nobody captures that, nobody really represents. There’s something special going on, on the Southwest Side and I don’t know if that’s ever been properly captured, at least on the female side of it.’ I wanted to make a tribute song, I had it in my head forever, and I finally said, ‘OK, we’re doing it,’ and it came to fruition.”

While some may express surprise that a rapper on the rise calls Garfield Ridge home, Southside Jake sees a different picture.

“There are a lot of musicians down here (on the Southwest Side), and there’s more vibrant stuff going on here than most people understand,” he said. “There are some metal bands out here that had record deals in like the ‘80s. There are some really good cover bands. There’s a lot of buzz around here. You pop into Lindy’s on a Saturday, and there’s always somebody playing, or at the Twisted Shamrock. There’s good musicians out here, for sure. Just gotta open your eyes and ears a bit.”

Southside Jake’s newest venture is a project called Kildare.

“There’s a rock guitarist from the neighborhood who’s had a high level of success…Matt Szlachta. He’s in this heavy metal band called Broken Hope, super aggressive stuff, way too aggressive for me, way too heavy…it’s like my world meets his world—guitar infused with hip hop. It’s a huge collaboration that’s been going on, and I’m excited about it. You’ll all hear about it soon.”

Kildare just announced a show on March 15 at The Forge in Joliet. For details, visit southsidejake.com.

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St. Laurence Hosts NCAA Final Four Fun

St. Laurence High School is hosting its 18th annual Final Four Extravaganza on Saturday, March 24.

This year’s event--held at the school, 5556 W. 77th St., Burbank--features a Super Raffle with cash prizes, including a $5,000 grand prize* to one lucky winner. Tickets are $60 in advance, $70 at the door the night of the event, and include free food and drink throughout the evening.

The “Evening of Baskets and Bucks” offers Las Vegas-style gaming amidst the excitement of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

The event will also feature a large craft-beer tasting area. The entire event is open only to adults age 21 and up. 

Supporters of the school are invited to attend and renew acquaintances with friends, faculty, and alumni. Proceeds will directly benefit the students at the Catholic, college-preparatory school.

“As always, we truly look forward to welcoming all of those who share the spirit and the enthusiasm of our St. Laurence community,” said Joe Martinez, school president.

The Final Four Extravaganza includes areas dedicated to casino games, food and beverage service, a raffle, craft-beer tasting, and basketball viewing on large television screens. These activities are open from 4 p.m. until midnight.

The event is sponsored by St. Laurence High School, in cooperation with the Fathers’ Club and Mothers’ Club. 

To purchase tickets, or for additional information about St. Laurence’s Final Four Extravaganza, call (708) 458-6900, ext. 237, or visit www.stlaurence.com, and click on the Alumni page. Link: stlfinalfour2018.eventbrite.com

*Exact grand prize determined by number of tickets sold; grand prize may be prorated.

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Sign Up for Midway Baseball, Softball

Our friends at the Midway Baseball Association have asked us to remind everyone that it's not too late to sign up for baseball and softball for the 2018 season!

Check the flyer below for details. Batter up!

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