WEST SIDE STUDENTS PLAY WHILE TEACHERS STRIKE

PROGRESSIVEWAY MISSION COGIC CELEBRATED PASTOR’S 8th ANNIVERSARY SEPT. 16 IN NEW CHURCH

    Having moved into its newly rebuilt church at 5017 West Chicago Avenue on August 16, the congregation of Progressiveway Mission COGIC is celebrating the 8th anniversary of Pastor Edward F. Silas, Sr., at a special celebration on Sunday, September 16, 4:00 PM. Theme of the event is A Shepherd Working to Bring In the Young Sheep – John 10:11. Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate this spiritual milestone.
    Progressiveway Mission COGIC was founded in 1959 by Elder & Administrative Assistant Obe Hendricks on the site of the new church on Chicago Avenue. In August of 2010, fire destroyed the original building and the congregation was welcomed to share space with New Life and Victory COGIC on Lake Street, under the leadership of Elder Tyrone Sanders.
    Administrative Assistant Bennie Stewart, Superintendent of the Obe Hendricks district, will be the keynote speaker at the September 16 anniversary service for Pastor Silas.
    On December 16, at 4:00 PM, the Progressiveway congregation is hosting the Dedication Service for their new church under the direction of Bishop Robert R. Sanders, Prelate of the Third Jurisdiction in Illinois All are welcome to attend.

COMMISSIONER HORTON PRESENTS PROCLAMATION TO WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Metro. Water Reclamation District Commissioner Patricia Horton presents a proclamation honoring Women’s Business Development Center for advancing entrepreneurial & economic empowerment of women.

    Commissioner Patricia Horton, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, presented a proclamation to Georgia Marsh of the Women’s Business Development Center. The proclamation from the MWRD honors the WBDC’s achievements and is helping to highlight the 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference and Women’s Business and Buyers Mart on September 20 at McCormick Place-West.
    “The MWRD was an early advocate of a policy which supports the legitimate aspirations of women’s businesses within its jurisdiction,” says Commissioner Horton. “We are proud to have been a pioneer in recognizing the economic contribution and attribute of business women in Cook County.”
    Since 2008, the MWRD has awarded 265 projects to women-owned businesses. These contracts have included heavy construction and related projects, professional services projects and job order contracts. The value of these subcontracts is $104,939,151.
    More than 50,000 women business owners have received one-on-one counseling, participated in workshops and entrepreneurial training, and taken advantage of other programs offered through the WBDC. The WBDC implemented creative and innovative approaches to empowering women and their families while striving to influence the larger political and economic environment in a way that encourages and supports women’s economic empowerment.

CHICAGO AREA PROJECT KICKS OFF COMMUNITY DAY FESTIVAL WITH ANTI-VIOLENCE PARADE

A Stop the Violence Parade kicked off the annual Chicago Area Project/Career Development, Training & Employment Services (CDTES) Community Day on Friday, August 24. The parade stepped off from 3800 West Madison Street and ended at Harrison & Albany, site of the annual Community Day Festival, with activities ranging from a job fair and health screenings to free back-to-school haircuts and a puppet show. Theme of this year’s event was Local People Taking Local Action for Local Solutions.
    Parade participants included CAP Career Services clients and staff, West Garfield Park Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, Exodus Drum & Bugle Corps, Grand Boulevard Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, Major Adams Community Center, Youth As Resources, Struggling Youth Equals Successful Adults, Fathers Who Care, and I Count Too. Local residents were encouraged to join in along the parade route. Participants carried signs and banners proclaiming anti-violence messages.
    CDTES Program Manager Geneva Peterson-Castleberry believes that Community Day is a perfect opportunity to strengthen the community and send a strong message to youth and their parents about the importance of taking action to ensure that peace replaces violence in the community. She says the Stop the Violence Parade was so successful that it will be an annual event.

CHUCK SPRUELL CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH PARTY AT PINE VALLEY RESTAURANT

Happy Birthday & a poke in your eye! Chuck Spruell & Walter Tidwell, both pugilists, strike a boxing pose at the birthday party for Chuck at Pine Valley Family Restaurant, 1600 S. Pulaski Rd.

Mr. & Mrs. Fletcher drop in on Chuck’s birthday party. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Chuck Takes the Cake! Friends surround Chuck Spruell as Louise Harper presents him with a birthday cake at Pine Valley Family Restaurant. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Friends since high school, Chuck & John Robertson reminisce about old times. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Professor John Hagedorn, Lawndale activist Valerie Leonard & Sonny stop by to say happy birthday to Chuck Spruell. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Cindy & Pearl wish Chuck a happy birthday. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

MINISTER FARRAKHAN BRINGS CRUSADE FOR PEACE TO AUSTIN

SECRETARY OF STATE WARNS BUSINESSES OF SCAM

Ill. Sec. of State Jesse White is joined by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, and Ill. State Police Director Hiram Grau in announcing the busting of an auto theft ring that stole more than 200 vehicles worth $4 million, including Cadillacs, Land Rovers, Mercedes & BMWs. The joint law enforcement effort, headed by the Secretary of State Police, disbanded the illegal operation and arrested 21 offenders.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is warning businesses to beware of a scam targeting Illinois corporations. A firm called Corporate Records Service is contacting businesses in an attempt to collect a $125 fee to fill out and file a corporation’s “Annual Minutes Records Form.” The Illinois Business Corporation Act does not require corporations to file a “Minutes Records Form” or pay such a fee with the state or any private entity.
“The problem is that the form this bogus firm is sending out looks similar to our Secretary of State’s annual report form,” Jesse White says. “We are concerned that companies are filing the form and paying the $125 because they believe they are filing their annual report with us, as required by law.”
    Although the bogus notice states that the fee must be paid by September 21, 2012, there is no fee due to the state for that purpose. The only fee that corporations must pay is the fee that is paid with their annual report. Illinois corporations should be on the alert for this and other similar attempts to defraud them.
    White is recommending that corporations do not reply to the solicitation. The Secretary of State Police and Illinois Attorney General’s Office are investigating this deceptive business practice.
    If a business has questions or wants to report that it has been a victim of the scam, they are asked to contact the Secretary of State’s Office at 312/814-2201.

CLARK PARK LEADING AEROBICS WORKOUTS AT HSI SENIOR RESIDENCES

Linda McWright, Program Director for Clark Park, 4615 W. Jackson Blvd., keeps seniors active and fit with aerobics exercise classes at the Enola A. Dew Residence, 4603 W. Gladys St., and the Elois McCoy Residence, 4650 W. Van Buren St. For information, class schedule, and registration, call Linda McWright at 773/287-7794. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

A man gets his workout in the aerobics class taught by Linda McWright of Clark Park at HSI senior residences. For information, call 773/287-7794. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Work it. Work it! Seniors taking part in an aerobics class have fun while they get fit under the direction of Linda McWright of Clark Park, 4615 W. Jackson Blvd. Classes are taught at the Elois McCoy & Enola A. Dew Residences of HSI. For information, call 773/287-7794. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

LATIMER MASON, 38, ARRESTED ON LINDER FOR ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICERS

On Sunday night, September 2, at 11:10 PM, uniformed police officers responded to a call of a man with a gun in the 1400 block of North Linder Avenue. Responding officers observed the offender, Latimer Mason, 38 years old, in the backyard. They announced their office and ordered Mason to drop his weapon. Instead, he pointed the gun at the officers and one of them fired at the offender, missing him. Mason was then arrested and the gun was recovered.

Latimer Mason, 38, was arrested on the 1400 block of N. Linder and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer with a Firearm (felonies). He is also charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (a felony), plus one count of Possession of Ammunition and one count of Possession of a Firearm without a valid FOID (both misdemeanors). He appeared in criminal court Sept. 4.

New Leadership, New Energy, New Spirit FRANCIS SCOTT KEY SCHOOL IS ON THE MOVE!

The Francis Scott Key leadership team with students: (left to right) Pete Retsos, Assistant Principal; Principal Margo Giannoulis-King; and Dean of Students Wendell Smith. (Photo by Brad)

There is new electricity in the air at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, 517 North Parkside Avenue, a feeling of hope and excitement as the new school year opens. Much of the credit for this atmosphere can be credited to the new administration and what they are bringing to Key. Margo Giannoulis-King is the new Principal at Key. She was a Principal Intern last year at Phoenix Military Academy High School and is a member of the UIC Principal Urban Leadership Program with a focus on curriculum design. 

Before moving to Phoenix Military Academy, she taught at Kenwood Academy High School, where she was recognized for her creativity and uniquely innovative style. Ms Giannoulis earned her Bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and her Master’s from DePaul. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked in City Hall organizing the Chicago Farmers Markets and mentoring CPS high school students in government. When Key parents sought her out and urged her to apply for the principalship, Giannoulis firmly declined, emphasizing that she was a high school level administrator and teacher. The parents were persistent and finally convinced her to come to Key. In June, when Ms Giannoulis arrived at Francis Scott Key, she determined immediately that the entire school required a change in culture and climate if students were going to excel. She brought with her from Phoenix Pete Retsos to be her Assistant Principal and Wendell Smith, a former Marine, joined the leadership team from Kenwood Academy as Dean of Students. Thus, a high school structure and focus were put into place by leaders with secondary school backgrounds. 

Even as Francis Scott Key advances, students still like to be kids at recess. (Photo by Brad)

There were also changes in the classroom, with 33% of the 17-member teaching staff new to Key. The instructional style was changed to be more individualized, better serving each child’s needs and comprehension. Giannoulis describes herself as an instructional mentor and takes an active role working with teachers and students in the classroom. Already, Key has progressed from Level 2 to Level 1 in test scores. This year, 78% of 4th graders are reading at Meet & Exceed Levels. The staff is starting Saturday classes for ten weeks from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. The school has a Brain Hurricane Tutoring Program to help students master subject material and advance further academically. The new administration launched a student government and called for elections, coinciding with the national political campaigns. Elections were held Tuesday, following a candidates forum. Cleveland Gidney Clark was elected President. 

Cleveland Clark explains his platform in his run for Key School President at the candidates forum. He won the election. (Photo by Brad)

Key is starting a competitive chess club and other clubs and extracurricular activities usually reserved for the high school scene. The students are enjoying the opportunities and variety of options. Mr. Retsos has a background in musical and spoken word production. He says he is working to develop student talent and is inviting professional performers to the school to expose Key students to a variety of cultural experiences. Currently, Key has 305 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through 8, but Giannoulis says those numbers are rising as word spreads of the improvements at Key. The leadership team at Key puts it bluntly: “All Key students have a right to attend the best high schools and colleges. It is our duty to ensure they qualify and succeed!” For information regarding curriculum offerings and enrollment opportunities at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, call Ms Giannoulis-King at 773/534-6230. 

Candidates for Francis Scott Key Student Government. (Photo by Brad)