CHEVY & JAYNI CHASE TEAM WITH AL RABY STUDENTS TO SAVE PLANET EARTH

 Comedian Chevy Chase & his wife Jayni meet staff and volunteers of the MGR Foundation that works with Al Raby students to advance the green initiative. (Photo by Brad)

Hollywood and Chicago’s Garfield Park community came together to save our planet. No, this isn’t the plot of a Chevy Chase movie, but he is involved. Comedian Chevy Chase and his wife, Jayni, came to Al Raby High School, 3545 West Fulton Street, to launch a new green community schools initiative. Jayni has been involved in the ecology movement for over 20 years and is a board member of the Chicago-based MGR Foundation, whose staff has been working with Al Raby students for several months, sensitizing them to ecological issues and teaching them sustainable methods they can apply in their daily lives.
    Al Raby is the first school selected for this program. For the kick-off, attended by Mayor Daley, students researched energy-saving proposals for each room in the house, as well as the yard and community. The students conducted an energy audit at the school and computed monetary savings from conservation, as well as the benefits to the planet from reducing their carbon footprints.
    Chevy and Jayni Chase expressed admiration for the students’ enthusiasm and said the success of the initiative is up to them. The Chases made a five-year commitment to the school and its green initiative.
    Raby students held a community recycling event, collecting old cell phones, used and unwanted batteries and light bulbs. The Citizens Utility Board provided CFL bulbs to give out at the green initiative launch. More conservation and consciousness-raising events are planned in the future promoting ecology.

Al Raby students in pajamas demonstrate the energy conservation steps that can be taken in the bedroom. (Photo by Brad)

 Al Raby students gather around Mayor Daley and a rain barrel. (Photo by Brad)

 These students provide all kinds of suggestions for making your bathroom ecological and economical. (Photo by Brad)

 Mayor Daley talks green with comic actor Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni, kicking off the Green Community Schools Initiative at Al Raby High School. (Photo by Brad)

 The helmets may be nerdy, but the savings in dollars and to the environment from biking rather than driving or taking the bus are quite attractive, according to these Al Raby students who crunched the numbers. (Photo by Brad)

 Al Raby students consider conservation in the utility room, including installing energy-efficient windows. (Photo by Brad)

ON THE COVER: ST. ANGELA STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR SCHOLARSHIP & ATHLETICS

 Winning 5th graders in the St. Angela Spelling Bee: Stephen Smith (1st), Tim Gant (2nd) & Kurtisha Singleton (3rd). (Photo by Brad)

    Students at St. Angela Elementary School, 1334 North Massasoit Avenue, earned gold medals at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science Region 2 competition. Deja Coleman, 7th grade, studied the question, Can Paper Chromatography Identify Different Black Inks? She won a trip to the State Finals in Champaign, plus $110 in prize money and designation as a Woman In Chemistry.
    Cierra Robinson, 7th grade, studied How Does Increased Electrical Current Affect the Brightness of Red LEDs? She is also competing at the State Science Fair. Isril Parker, 8th grade, prepared his project on, The Effect of different Wavelengths of Light on Current Produced by a Solar Cell. He won a monetary award of $50.
    St. Angela Spelling Bee winners for 5th grade are: Stephen Smith (1st Place), Tim Gant (2nd Place), and Kurtisha Singleton (3rd Place). Spelling Bee winners for 4th grade are: Kaelen Wright (1st Place), Asianna Martin (2nd Place), and Matthew Gardner (3rd Place). Winners of the 3rd grade Spelling Bee are: Kendarius Ellis (1st Place), Kimbria Brown (2nd Place), and Reyna Murphy (3rd Place).
    The St. Angela Wildcats Junior Varsity Basketball Team (4th, 5th, & 6th graders) won the Westside Catholic League championship with a 7-2 overall season record. Volunteer Coaches Ted Donahue, Claybourn Taylor, and Tavius Cooks, Sr., helped guide the team to its championship season. Cedric Redmond is Most Valuable Player and Stephen Smith and Dominic Coleman are Team Captains.
    Twenty student members of the Trinity High School-River Forest Advertising & Design Team (TAD) volunteered to work with St. Angela’s graduating 8th grade class to help them design banners and a Tee Shirt to commemorate the upcoming milestone. Ms Viki Siliunas is the Art Teacher for Trinity High School. Ms Lauren Fiorenno is St. Angela’s Art Teacher.

Cierra Robinson, 7th grade, won gold in the Ill. Junior Acad. Of Science Region 2 City Finals for her project examining, “How Does Increased Electrical Current Affect the Brightness of Red LEDs?” She is heading to Champaign to compete in the State Finals. (Photo by Brad)

 Trinity High School’s Advertising & Design Team help St. Angela 8th graders create banners for graduation. (Photo by Brad)

 The Westside Catholic League Champion St. Angela Wildcats 4th, 5th & 6th grade basketball team, with Coaches Ted Donahue & Claybourn Taylor. Coach Tavius Cooks, Sr., is not shown. (Photo by Brad)

GARFIELD PARK/HOMAN SQUARE LITTLE LEAGUE FORMING

Registration is open for the Garfield Park/Homan Square Little League Baseball 2010 season. Boys and girls ages 5-16 are eligible to play. Opening Day is Saturday, May 1. Volunteers and coaches are needed. To register a child and for information, call Coach Shawn Walker at 312/719-4441 or visit www.teamz.com/garfieldparkbaseball, or e-mail garfieldparkbaseball@yahoo.com. In-person registration is being held every Saturday through April 17. Call for details.
    First Round Baseball Academy is conducting free training and workouts every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Homan Square Park, 3559 West Arthington Street. Contact Coach Frank Brim.

STONE TEMPLE HOSTING WOMEN’S CONFERENCE MARCH 26 & 27

Stone Temple Church, 3622 West Douglas Boulevard, is presenting its 2010 Women’s Conference, entitled Women of Divine Perfection. Bishop and Pastor Derrick and Rishorna Fitzpatrick are hosting the event.
    The conference opens on Friday, March 26, at 7:00 PM, with a Worship Explosion. On Saturday, March 27, the day’s events begin at 9:00 AM with a continental breakfast, a session of praise and worship, and breakout sessions throughout the day.
    Pastor Idella Fullwood of Mt. Pleasant Church, Clinton, North Carolina; Pastor Connie Brooks of Jubilee International Ministries, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and First Lady Veronica Gentry of Newbirth-Spartanburg, Spartanburg, South Carolina, are scheduled guest speakers.
    Registration fee is $25.00, payable by cash or check. For information and registration, call Kimberly Rickmon at 773/762-0013.

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH IS COMING!

Submit Your Work for Publication

    Each April, THE VOICE Newspapers dedicate our issues to publishing the original creations of our readers for National Poetry Month. Send us your best works with a brief biography of yourself to: VOICE POETRY, 5236 West North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60639; or to voicenewspoetry@gmail.com.

PEN> SWORD

EYES ON AUSTIN REGISTERING RESIDENTS FOR LIHEAP

Funding is still available for people who have not yet applied for LIHEAP assistance since September 2009. Eyes On Austin is registering people for the heating assistance program at 5519 West North Avenue.

    Applicants must bring Social Security cards for all household members, award letters from SSA or SSI, current gas and light bills, and pay stubs for the past 30 days. For information, call 773/479-1569

CLARK PARK STARTING NEW SESSION OF STEP AEROBICS CLASSES

Step Aerobics classes are now forming at Clark Park, 4615 West Jackson Boulevard, for people 18 years and older. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 PM. Cost is $15.
    Remember, summer is right around the corner and you want to fit into those warm weather fashions! Shape up and slim down. Call 773/287-7794 for information.

CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE REWARDS ST. ANGELA STUDENTS FOR ESSAYS

FATHERS WHO CARE HOSTS EMPOWERMENT FORUM FOR MEN & WOMEN

A lady in the audience asks a question of the panel of experts during the Fathers Who Care forum. (Photo by Deacon Stephen Dunn)

Rev. Walter Jones, founder of Fathers Who Care, moderates a discussion at the Men’s & Women’s Empowerment Forum. Panel members include: (from left) Rev. Dr. Marshall E. Hatch; clinical psychologist Dr. Alicia LaHoz; fathers’ rights attorney Jeffrey Leving; author & relationship specialist Dr. Michael James; and UIC communications specialist Patricia Bates. (Photo by Deacon Stephen Dunn)

CCA ACADEMY STUDENT ART EXHIBIT CLOSING APRIL 3 WITH GALA RECEPTION

The Community Christian Alternative Academy Invitational Exhibit 2010 at Murphy-Hill Gallery, 3333 West Arthington Street, on the 3rd floor of the historic Sears-Roebuck Headquarters building is a combined effort of the school, the gallery, and Art Forms 22, Murphy-Hill’s nonprofit educational center. This exhibition includes visual art by students attending three high schools: CCA Academy, Youth Connections Leadership Academy, and Innovations High School of Arts Integration. Each is a campus of the Youth Connections Charter School. The exhibition opened February 13.
    The exhibit is closing with a reception on Saturday, April 3, 6:00-9:00 PM. Events include student art discussions, poetry readings, and original one-act plays. The public is invited to attend this closing reception, experience the original art, and meet the student artists.

MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE TURN OUT FOR EMPLOYMENT AT 37th WARD JOB FAIR

Every ten years, the Census hires people to count all Americans. This is the year and they came out to promote the process and hire some workers. (Photo by Brad)

 Jimmy Akintonde, President of UJAMAA Construction, Inc., with Ald. Emma Mitts & Rev. Robinson at the 37th Ward Job Fair. He is General Contractor for the Wal-Mart expansion & is seeking workers for the project. (Photo by Brad)

 Coca-Cola, another 37th ward business, uses Ald. Mitts’ Job Fair to recruit employees. (Photo by Brad)

 The new Menard’s store on Kostner needs workers, so they came out to the 37th Ward Job fair to recruit. (Photo by Brad)

 Wal-Mart is recruiting workers for its only Chicago store and used the 37th Ward Job Fair to put out the word. (Photo by Brad)

 The Chicago Park District participates in Ald. Emma Mitts’ Job Fair to recruit employees. (Photo by Brad)

 The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 134, uses the 37th Ward Job Fair to let people know about rewarding careers as electricians. (Photo by Brad)

 Ald. Emma Mitts chats with neighbors, friends & constituents at her Job Fair. More than 300 people came out to see who is hiring. (Photo by Brad)

 Avon is always seeking dynamic salespeople. (Photo by Brad)

ST. ANGELA STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR SCHOLARSHIP & ATHLETICS

Deja Coleman, 7th grade, is on her way to the Ill. Junior Acad. of Science State Final competition for her research project, “Can Paper Chromatography identify Different Black Inks?” She was awarded $110 in prize money and was named a Woman In Chemistry. (Photo by Brad)

Isril Parker, 8th grade, won gold at the Junior Academy of Science competition, plus a $50 prize for his research asking, “What is the Effect of Different Wavelengths of Light on Current Produced by a Solar Cell?” (Photo by Brad)

 

Winners of the 4th grade Spelling Bee are: Kaelen Wright (1st), Asianna Martin (2nd) & Matthew Gardner (3rd). (Photo by Brad)

 

 Winners of the 3rd grade Spelling Bee are: Kendarius Ellis (1st) & Kimbria Brown (2nd). Reyna Murphy (not shown) placed 3rd. (Photo by Brad)

 Members of the Trinity River Forest High School Advertising & Design Team and St. Angela Art Teacher Lauren Fiorenno work with graduating 8th graders to develop a class Tee Shirt. (Photo by Brad)

 Trinity High School’s Advertising & Design Team help St. Angela 8th graders create banners for graduation. (Photo by Brad)

NOTES FROM THE DEACON

Tune in every Saturday night for the nation’s first syndicated steppin’ TV show: STEP ON IT, at 10:30 PM on DISH Channel 9407 – The Colours TV Network. The program is hosted by The Deacon.
    To advertise on STEP ON IT, call 1-888-725-0359. STEP ON IT is seeking energetic Advertising Sales Reps. Call today and start your high-income television career today!
    Persons interested in becoming a Mason or Eastern Star, call Bro. Beck at 312/494-2620.

ROCK OF AGES CHURCH PRESENTING FREE EASTER CONCERT APRIL 3

Pastor Marvin E. Wiley and Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Maywood are presenting an Easter Celebration Concert on Saturday, April 3, 6:00 PM, at 1309 Madison Street in Maywood. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
    The program features combined choirs, Voices of Praise, Celebration of Life, plus the Youth and Children’s Choirs. The event also features speeches and poems performed by the Precious Lambs Children’s Ministry.

OPEN MIC/POETRY READING AT AUSTIN BRANCH LIBRARY

The Austin Branch Library, 5615 West Race Avenue, is hosting an Open Mic/Poetry Reading on Saturday, March 30, 2:00 PM. Everyone is invited to attend and perform their original works or enjoy the creativity of others. For information, call 312/746-5038.

CONCERN ORGANIZATION WHO CAREs HELPING YOUNG WEST SIDERS APPLY FOR SUMMER JOBS

Concern Organization Who Cares is opening its office at 5902 West North Avenue during Spring Vacation to assist young people ages 14-24 to apply for summer jobs through Mayor Daley’s Youth Ready Chicago. Help in filing on-line applications is being provided April 5-8 from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon daily.
    The jobs include all City and Chicago Park District positions, plus employment in the private sector, paid internships, and apprenticeships.
    Applicants under 18 need to bring a parent or guardian to give permission and all applicants need to provide their Social Security number and present their student ID, if they are attending school.
    There is no charge for assistance provided in applying for Youth Ready Chicago jobs.