HOWE SCHOOL DOUBLE DUTCH TEAMS JUMP INTO CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE TIME HAS COME AGAIN

To Celebrate Obama’s Reelection, 

Artist Derrell Spicy Presents his masterwork:

The Time Has Come

18x24 Print $10 Full Color Plus s/h

Perfect For Libraries, Schools, Offices, Homes, Churches, Etc. 

Contact the artist directly  

at derrellspicy@yahoo.com

 or Call (773)259-5420

POWER HOUSE MINISTRIES CELEBRATING PASTOR STOUDEMIRE’S BIRTHDAY

Apostle Sheldon Allen of Faith, Truth & Deliverance Church, congratulates Pastor M.L. Stoudemire of Power House Ministries, with First Lady Thenesia Stoudemire, at his birthday celebration. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

Pastor M.L. Stoudemire of Power House Ministries, 650 N. Cicero Ave., celebrating his birthday with a cake in the shape of the Bible. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

The 6th Annual Family Health Challenge

PICCOLO SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE OPENS BOOKS GALORE HOLIDAY STORE FOR STUDENTS TO FIND GIFTS

The Book Mavens who organized the Books Galore Holiday Store for middle school students at Piccolo School of Excellence, 1040 N. Keeler Ave., are Joanne Lulla, Shondelle Gillens, Erynn O’Mahen, Brooke Roark, Michaelene Roark, Jen Saltarelli, and Deirdre Campbell of Academy for Urban School Leadership. They collected more than 4,700 books and 1,000 stuffed animals from which students selected gifts for younger brothers & sisters. (Photo by Brad)

Seven ladies with an idea, led by Brooke Roarke, brightened the holidays for middle school students at Piccolo School of Excellence and their younger family members. Instead of providing toys for children, their concept was to make Christmas a learning experience by providing an opportunity for older students to select books to give as Christmas presents to their younger siblings.

The women scoured bookstores, used-book sales, library sales, and they put out appeals to friends and the public for children’s books to be donated. The books had to be appropriate for children up to 6^th grade and be in practically new condition. They also accepted monetary contributions that they then used at half-price bookstores and other sales.

Last year, these book hunters obtained and redistributed over 2,000 books at Libby Elementary School. This year at Piccolo, the women raised over $1,000 and obtained more than 4,700 books.

This meant that each Piccolo middle school student was able to select three books they thought their younger family members would like. In addition, each student could also choose a stuffed animal to give a younger brother or sister. All of this was free. There was a gift-wrapping station provided, too, where their presents were wrapped for Christmas giving.

Ms Roark says the point of this project is to provide books to families who probably cannot invest in a family library. It also allows young people to strengthen bonds with younger brothers and sisters by giving them presents they wouldn’t be able to afford to buy on their own. She says it also helps children realize the pleasure that comes from giving to others and making someone else happy, rather than thinking only of themselves. She says it was especially gratifying to see the students concentrating on selecting precisely the right gift book that their younger brother or sister would like.

LAWNDALE RESIDENTS WIN FIGHT WITH CITY HALL ON INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD BIKE LANES

Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein thought he could insult and push around North Lawndale residents by refusing to install bicycle lanes where they wanted them along Independence Blvd. He caved and gave in to their demands. 

North Lawndale residents were fuming over the city’s action installing bicycle lanes along the curb on Independence Boulevard and moving the parking lanes into the middle of the street. They don’t oppose bike lanes, but they feared for their safety in having to enter and exit their cars in traffic. They were also concerned about potential damage to their automobiles parked so far in the street on a busy thoroughfare.

They took their case to Alderman Michael D. Chandler and appealed to him to get the city to move the bike lane between the traffic lane and the parking lane, so they could park their cars at the curb. Alderman Chandler took up their crusade, contacting Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein.

According to the Alderman, when he explained that his constituents were upset, Klein snapped, “Well, what do they know? I hired world-class architects to design Chicago’s bicycle lanes and I’m not changing them!” He said the Independence bike lanes are the same as the bike lanes in the Loop.

But, Klein learned a quick lesson about taking on residents of North Lawndale when they are upset. They held community meetings and pointed out that the bicycle lanes along Douglas Boulevard are on the outside of the parking lanes and that works just fine. They also said the Loop has totally different traffic and parking patterns with no residents parking their cars overnight on the streets in the Loop.

In the end, the Commissioner relented and agreed to give North Lawndale residents what they wanted.

Lesson learned?

Ald. Michael D. Chandler shows where Independence Blvd. residents were forced to park their cars because the city installed bike lanes next to the curb. Residents feared being hit by cars when they entered and exited their automobiles in the middle of the street, and Chandler said he was receiving reports of damage to parked cars. (Photo by Brad)