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Our Neighborhood Times Promoting the Voice of the Community
Green Summit Month See page 6
PLAY BALL!
April 28, 2015 | Vol.8 / Issue 5 | Chicago, IL
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East Side Little League began their season Sunday, April 12th, with Clark from the Chicago Cubs throwing the first pitch. Hegewisch Little League had their opening day on Saturday April 18th, with 10th Ward Alderman John A. Pope in attendance.
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Around Town
!
Save the Date Friday,!May!8,!2015! 6!PM!in!the!GWHS!auditorium!
“Fiesta”) A!Grand!Celebration!of!Mexican!Culture! Presented!by!
George!Washington!! High!School’s!! Fuerza Latina $5 ADMISSION & MOTHERS ARE FREE
Experience!Mexican!culture!through!food,!dance,! poetry,!and!song! !
April 28, 2015
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Washington Sophomore brings Lupus to Light Matt Bright mbright@ontnews.com
Cesar Lopez, a sophomore at Washington High School, is a part of the Middle Years Program (MYP). A program designed to challenge freshmen and sophomore students at Washington High School. For Lopez, it did more challenge him, it inspired
than him.
During the program, students are tasked to take up a personal project. The project can be about any topic and Lopez chose one close to his heart. “To begin with, the personal project is a project where you get to choose a topic of your choice. It’s researching more on diabetes, breast cancer etc. or learn how to play the drums, piano, etc. The topic can pretty much be anything you want. I chose lupus because my Aunt Berta was diagnosed with lupus in 2006 I was 8 years old at the time,” says Lopes. “I saw my aunt struggle opening a gallon of milk and I thought to myself “What’s so hard [about] opening a gallon of milk?” I then questioned myself why can’t my aunt do
this or that. So, basically I was curious why she was so sick. When I was introduced to the project I knew I wanted to do lupus right away because I wanted to conduct more research. The project required an outcome [and] I decided I wanted to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America.” As of April 18th, Lopez has collected $246, according to his online donation forms. When asked, why it’s it important to support the cause against lupus, the 15 year old boy from the East side says: “Lupus is a disease that can damage your skin, organs, and/or joints. When having lupus, something is wrong with your immune system. The immune system is supposed to fight bacteria, viruses, and germs. A person with lupus, their immune system doesn’t know the difference between healthy tissue in your system and bacteria,” said Lopez. “Having lupus may swollen your joint or ache. It’s important for, not only me but, others to know about lupus [as well]. Lupus should be more commonly known because five million people have a type of lupus worldwide. It affects me personally because my
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aunt/godmother has lupus [and] I have seen her struggle the past nine years. “I really wanted to raise money because there’s no cure. I believe money should be donated to conduct more research for lupus and hopefully there’ll be a cure found one day.” Lopez also said that people are more than welcome to continue to donate directly to the Lupus Foundation of America by going to www.lupus.org.
Lopez is a bright young student trying to make a difference in his family’s life anyway he can. “I would love to be an orthopedic surgeon or a general surgeon. I plan on going to medical school for four years and then complete my residency. After becoming a surgeon, I plan on having a family of my own; a wife and five beautiful children,” says Lopez. “I have set my goals really high because the higher they are the more challenging they will be and the more I will struggle and know[ing] I’m overcoming them will be the best feeling in the world.”
Sam Gomez, Publisher sgomez@ontnews.com
Washington High School sophomore, Cesar Lopez
STAFF
Christa Torres, General Manager ctorres@ontnews.com Sonia Mayol, Art Director smayol@ontnews.com
Contributors Ernst Lamothe Jr. Advocate Trinity Hospital Yessenia Carreon-Gonzalez 10th Ward Alderman John A. Pope Calumet Ecological Park Association
Lydia Gomez, Office Manager lgomez@ontnews.com
Joann Podkul South Chicago Chamber of Commerce
Matt Bright, Entertainment mbright@ontnews.com
James Brown Jr. Distribution
Advertising Information Call: 773-616-1334
CJ’S HAIR SALON 3648 E. 112th St. Chicago, IL 60617 (773) 221-2141
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info@ontnews.com www.facebook.com/ontnews “Promoting the Voice of Our Community”
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Mother’s Day at Gayety’s Commercial Avenue, South Chicago, IL – Circa ~1930’s? (…a long time ago)
Anyone Look Familiar?
Make History with Us! – Join us Mother’s Day Weekend to create another iconic Gayety’s picture. Date: SATURDAY, May 9th Time: 1:30 – 2:00 pm …PICTURE WILL BE TAKEN AT 2PM Place: 3306 Ridge Road, Lansing, IL (in front of the store) Who’s Invited?: Gayety Mothers, Grandmothers & Children Guest of Honor: Lee Flessor DETAILS: This will be Gayety’s 95th Mother’s Day, and those of you who have been coming for a while remember Lee, Jim’s Dad. Lee dedicated over 75 years of his life to the Gayety. At over 90 + years old himself, Lee will be making a special trip to take the picture with us. We will take the picture as close to 2pm as possible so that everyone stays fresh nobody gets too tired to participate. Also, please park in the back parking lot (instead of in front of the store) so we will have plenty of room to shoot the picture. P.S. If you are a relative / descendent of any of the ladies pictured above, if you can, please let us know you’re coming in advance. (Please email us at: ‘customerservice@gayetys.com’) We would love to get your name, and your relative’s name etc. – maybe a story of the good ole days we can use on our Face Book Page or website. – See you Saturday! B&j
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8th Annual 10th Ward Green Summit watching. With luck, you will be there on one of the Saturdays when the Cook County Forest Preserves offers ropeclimbing on trees, zip-line training and kayaking. Walk the trails of adjacent Powderhorn Prairie and be astounded by the variety of wild flowers including a most unusual find, the prickly pear cactus. Lake Calumet is currently on the verge of public access and the Calumet River itself may have a river walk. Area Forest Preserves/Parklands offer a unique variety of features. Fishing at Wolf Lake
May’s annual 10th Ward, and beyond, Green Summit celebrates green buildings, the area’s open space and green gardens, all identifiable by the Green Summit logos at each site. Before becoming a cauldron for steel production, Chicago’s Southeast Side was a sportsmen’s paradise for fishing and hunting. Although steel-making has largely disappeared from the area, its natural assets continue to draw people to its resources: Lake Michigan, Wolf Lake, Powderhorn Lake, Lake Calumet, the Calumet River and a variety of ponds and marshes, as well as parkland and forest preserves. Wade through the thousands of other people at Calumet Park on a summer weekend, look east from the Beach House at 100th Street across the lake’s southern shoreline and you may see as
far as Inland Steel in East Chicago or the cooling tower in Michigan City, about 50 miles away. What you don’t see is the 300+ miles of lake stretching to the north, that touches Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. Whether you swim, fish, boat, jet ski, or build sand castles, this gift of the glacier is to be enjoyed. Wolf Lake, accessed on the Illinois side off Avenue O between 124th and 128th, has long been known for fishing and boating. Catch it on the Indiana side and you will find one of the world’s best sites for windsurfing. At various times during the warmer months, ILDNR and AWLI offer free kiteflying, canoeing and kayaking events. Man-made Powderhorn Lake, accessed off Brainerd Avenue at 138th Street offers fishing, boating, and osprey
Artist’s Garden - 8951 S. Brandon Ave.
At 87th and the Lake, the Steelworkers Monument will be the beacon connecting past with present while the Steelworkers Memorial Park at that site now provides area residents with a window on the lake. Eggers Grove Woods at 112th and Avenue E is pristine, never industrial. Beautiful any time of year, in early Spring, its forest floor is covered with May Apples and an occasional Jack in the Pulpit, all found close to the newly refurbished gatekeeper’ s house. William Powers Conservation Area, 126th and Avenue O, houses tributes to the former Nike missile site and to WWII veterans organizations, as well as a new Visitors Center. Hegewisch Marsh, 130th and Torrence, stretches out to the Calumet River and retains the hope that Jeanne Gang’s stateof-the-art “Best Nest” Ford Calumet
Environmental Center will be built there. Indian Ridge Marsh, 122nd and Torrence, where a fictional villain in Kevin Murphy’s mystery, “Out of Order,” hopes he has successfully disposed of a weapon, has been newly restored. Heron Pond, 122nd west of Indian Marsh hosts herons, egrets and other water birds. Dead Stick Pond at 122nd and Stony Island is a noted bird sanctuary and site of Sara Paretsky’s detective, V. I. Warshawski’s, dramatic escape from a villain’s trap. Big Marsh at 116th and Stony Island is now Chicago Park District space and awaiting the development of a promised mountain bike trail. Marian Byrnes/Van Vlissingen Nature Area, 103rd and Van Vlissingen, honors the area’s tireless environmentalist and offers soon to be developed hiking trails. The Burnham Greenway starting at 104th and Indianapolis, can be biked, hiked or skated to 112th, where you can turn left and head east to the Indiana side of Wolf Lake or continue south along the greenway to the Illinois side at Wolf Lake. Either route will take you through Bean’s Park at 108th to see what a retired man with a heart condition did to transform an old rail line. The arboretum along this route was developed by John Pastirik honoring those dear to him and the numerous environmentalists who have influenced the conservation efforts in our area.
Lake Powderhorn Canoe Launch
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celebrates open space and gardens The facilities described above are operated by state/county/municipal agencies: CPD, CCFP, IDNR, etc. The following garden sites have been created from formerly trashed-filled vacant lots by community people with training and support from GreenCorps, NeighborSpace, OpenLands, the Master Gardener Program, TreeKeepers, and in some cases, the Chicago Conservation Corps. Gardens provide residents with gardening skills and fresh produce, as well as oases in the urban setting. - South Chicago People’s Park, 9100 S. Buffalo - Buffalo Senior Citizens, 8250 S. Buffalo - Bush Homeowners and Tenants Garden 8457-59 S. Buffalo
- Artists Garden 8951 S. Brandon - Bowen High School, 2710 East 89th Street, a series of GreenCorps gardens - Victory Garden, 8935 Exchange - 8805 S. Exchange Block Club Garden - Dorothy Schafer Park, 89th and 90th and S. Mackinaw: half recreational and the half community gardening training. If we envision a Calumet Region National Heritage Corridor, running from the Indiana Dunes on the east, through the Calumet Region, and ending at the Field Museum, our region offers an incredible array of natural resources and man-made gardens to delight anyone passing through. Story submitted by Joann Podkul
May apples at Eggers Grove.
For more information about the Green Summit or to add your event, please contact us at www.ClaretianAssociates.org.
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Friday, April 24 8th Annual, 10th Ward Green Summit Kick Off at Victory Peace Garden 8915 S. Exchange 2:00pm-3:30pm Volunteer Clean-up 4:00pm-6:00pm Ceremony Food, drumming, storytelling, and more!!! All are welcomed!!
3 Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps.
4 Fighting Invasives: Garlic Mustard Pull 6-7pm @ Gatekeeper’s Bldg Eggers
112th & Ave E. Info: 773991-0613
10 Happy Mother’s Day
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Reuse old calendars into placemats, framed art, packing material, or stylish envelopes.
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THURSDAY
April 29 Environmental Heritage in the Calumet Region – Community Conversations 3:30-5:30pm at Vodak-East Side Branch Chicago Public Library 3710 E. 106th Street. Please bring a photo or an object that tells a story about your relationship to nature in the Calumet region. http://calumetstewardship.org/events/list/calumet-summit2015#.VTVl3mdFDX5
6 Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, utensils, etc.
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Calumet Summit 9-7pm South Shore Cultural Center 7059 S. South Shore Drive Must registrer at http://tinyurl.com/calume tsummit2015
How Green is Chicago's 10th Ward? @ Southeast Chicago Historic Society Museum 1-4
Feliz Dia De Las Madres
Calumet Summit 9-7pm South Shore Cultural Center 7059 S. South Shore Drive Must registrer at http://tinyurl.com/calume tsummit2015
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Fighting Invasives: Garlic Mustard Pull 6-7pm @ Gatekeeper’s Bldg Eggers 112th & Ave E. Info: 773-991-0613
Ditch plastic bags! Make reusable bags out of old tshirts! https://youtu.be/3OtBEkKv0 QI
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Cleaning your dryer's lint filter can slash its energy usage by as much as 30%!
27Each pound of local
FRIDAY
1 Cinco de
Mayo: Health Senior Resource Fair @ Victory Center 9233 S. Burley Ave (Senior Tap, Food, prizes, etc)
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15 Join in with neighbors to purchase infrequently used products such as lawn mowers, ladders, etc.
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2 Spring Time Bird Walk 8am-12pm
Egger’s Grove 112th & Ave E. RSVP 773-646-0436 Wild Ones Native Plant Sale 9-2pm Gibson Woods 6201 Parrish Ave, Hammond Info: 219-844-3188 Backyard Chicken Workshop 10-2pm 8500 Mackinaw Info: 773-738-8969
9 Dia De Los Dandelions 4-9pm
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Annual Garden Healing
10-2pm at the following gardens: 8911 S. Exchange, 8805 S. Exchange, 8250 S. Buffalo, 8233/35 S. Buffalo, 1969 E. 73rd St. Info: 773-738-8969 Nature Block Party & Wetland Planting 1-4pm @ Eggers Grove Forest Preserve 11200 S. Ave E Info: (http://fpdcc.com/eggers-grove/)
23 Wolf Lake Festival 9am @ William
How Green is Chicago's 10th Ward? @ Southeast Chicago Historic Society Museum 1-4
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SATURDAY
@ Calumet Park 9801 A. Ave G Info: 312742-7529 Stargazing until 11pm Special C3 & MWRD Presentation, 9:3012pm location TBA project ideas and giveaways. Info: 773-755-5100
How Green is Chicago's 10th Ward? @ Southeast Chicago Historic Society Museum 1-4
Garlic Mustard Pull 67pm @ Gatekeeper’s Bldg Eggers 112th & Ave E. Info: 773-991-0613
Dish rags are planet friendly!
Fighting Invasives:
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WEDNESDAY
Powers Conservation Area Backyard Chicken Workshop 10-2pm @ 8500 Mackinaw Info: 773-738-8969
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Mulching Mulching A Metal Scrap 7th Anniversary & Customer food you purchase mowers are mowers Appreciation Day prevents a quarter available which convert cut 12-3pm @ 9301 S. Baltimore (Tour, Food, 7am @ Wolf Lake Park, pound of climate will grass convert cut into a Raffles) 2324 Calumet Avenue, change (C02) grass into a natural Info: 773-437-4249 Hammond emissions. natural fertilizer fertilizer Interplanting - Generally, it’s a good idea to interplant quick-growing crops, such Thank you to all the participating partners of this year’s Green Summit: Southeast Environmental Task Force, as spinach and lettuce, with vegetables that take a little longer to develop, such Intergenerational Growing Projects, Calumet Stewardship Initiatives, Southeast Chicago Historic Society, Chicago Park District, as onions and broccoli. By the time the slower crops mature, the faster-growing Forest Preserves, Field Museum, Bronzeville Children’s Museum, A Metal Scrap, Villa Guadalupe Senior Apts., Claretian Associates, vegetables have already been harvested. Chicago Park District, Outdoor and Our Neighborhood Times, South Chicago Chamber of Commerce, 10th Ward Alderman John A. Pope & Office, LISC Chicago & LISC Environment Education, Culture, Arts, & Nature. New York/CSI, Working2gether4peace, Spotlighting Southeast Chicago, Associations of the Wolf Lake Initiatives, SkyArt, the Green Organizer, Natalie Vitaterna,Team fromofthe South Chicago Chamber ofConservation Commerce,Corp speaks to local building aboutDistrict the signs of a& pyramid scheme. Arnold Mireles Academy, Chicago C3, Metropolitan Waterowners Reclamation MWRD, all volunteers.
Festival Sunrise Services
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“You are what you eat” Tour @ Bronzeville Children’s Museum 10-2 Info: 773-7219301
How Green is Chicago's 10th Ward? @ Southeast Chicago Historic Society Museum 1-4
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Congratulations to Marsh Volleyball Team
ONT Staff info@ontnews.com
Big congratulations are due to the 7th/8th grade Marsh girls volleyball team, who have come away with seven first place trophies after a seven month run of playing in different leagues and tournaments! The 7th and 8th grade Marsh girls took first place in the St. Columbanus League, De La Salle Tournament, Queen of Peace Tournament (Burbank), SetonAcademy Fall Tournament (South Holland), Crestwood Rec Center Tournament (Crestwood), Mann Park League (Hegewisch) and Seton Academy League and Tournament. Six girls from this year’s team will be returning next year and hope to have another successful season with their coaches Laura Carrillo, Elena Carrillo and Jaime Carrillo. Keep up the great work girls! You’ve done your school and coaches proud!
Top Row: Monica Flores, Mireya Bautista, Cecilia Jimenez Middle Row: Susana Estrada, Kristina Lopez, Tanya Castellano Bottom Row: Leslie Espinoza, Elizabeth Estrada, Aryana Castellano, Alyssa Montes Not pictured: Coaches: Laura Carrillo, Elena Carrillo and Jaime Carrillo
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Advocate Trinity honors 61-year employee
Laura Ceja, 81, was born at South Chicago Community Hospital on May 25, 1934, which as you know is now Advocate Trinity Hospital. That started a long -lasting connection with Advocate Trinity that has spanned over six decades. She was hired in April 1951 as a PCA after she graduated from high school when her mother, who also worked at Trinity as a nurse’s aide, recommended that she apply for the position.
“As a nurse assistant, I always liked caring for the patients. It made me feel good to make them feel good,” said Ceja. “Whether it was brushing their hair or just taking care of any pain they had, I have always been someone who wants to make someone feel better. I wanted to do anything I could for them. That is why we are here in health care. “ Then she worked as a unit secretary from 1957-1961. Ceja took three years off to care for her two children, Mary and Carlos. Then she returned in 1964 as a unit secretary on 3 South and has been there ever since, totaling 61 years of service.
Her fellow co-workers sometime call her Mother Superior because she used to wear her multi-colored glasses on the rim of her nose while she oversaw the unit.
She also brings the unit fresh baked bread and pastries and washes every chart to make sure no bacteria and infections are transferred. Her first pay check was $62 for 11-days of work. “I just love being here,” said Ceja. “I have seen a lot of changes but the number one thing I believe in is taking pride in the job you do.” Ceja was honored for working 61 years at Advocate Trinity Hospital. There was an employee celebration to honor her and other employees but she was be the featured person. Story submitted by Advocate Trinity
Laura Ceja receives recognition for working 61 years at Advocate Trinity Hospital.
BOWEN HIGH SCHOOL Bowen High School ofrece un programa de honores en pre-ingeniería así como una amplia selección en las artes, un enriquecimiento académico y cursos avanzados en un ambiente escolar acogedor, diverso y hospitalario. !Inscribete ahora y unete a nuestra familia de Bowen High School!
ONE SCHOOL. ONE GOAL. COLLEGE READINESS. Bowen High School offers a new Pre-Engineering Honors program as well as a full array of performing arts, enrichment, and advanced placement courses within a warm, diverse, and welcoming environment. Apply now to join the BHS family!
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