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Friday, March 1, 2013
VOICE NEWSBOYS LAUNCH KICKS FOR AFRICA SHOE DRIVE
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VOICE newsboys & Coordinator Taj directing KICKS FOR AFRICA, a project collecting gently worn athletic shoes to ship to African teenagers with messages of friendship and invitations to correspond with Chicago youth. (Photo by Isaac Jones)
Paperboys for THE VOICE Newspapers are collecting gently worn athletic shoes to ship to young people in Africa. THE VOICE teens came up with the idea for the project while discussing how many pairs of shoes each has under his bed but aren’t being worn because they are out of style. They decided to investigate the possibility of sending the shoes to teenagers in Africa and including messages to the new owners of the shoes. The messages will contain greetings to the African teens from the Chicagoans, plus contact information like facebook pages, handles on Twitter, and mailing addresses for building relationships between American and African youth.
Shoes are being collected at THE VOICE Newspapers, 5236 West North Avenue, and VOICE paperboys are asking fellow students at their schools to participate. Deadline for collecting shoes is March 21. KICKS FOR AFRICA is being coordinated by Taj, a dance therapist and fitness coach who works with THE VOICE.
For information on KICKS FOR AFRICA, to donate shoes, or to establish a collection site at a church or school, call 773/889-0880.
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MAYOR EMANUEL, ALD. MITTS & CTA ANNOUNCE 100 NEW JOBS AT FREEDMAN SEATING
Alderman Emma Mitts welcomed Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Forrest Claypool to Freedman Seating Company, 4545 West Augusta Boulevard, to announce the injection of up to $8.25 million and the addition of 100 new jobs at the West Side factory as a result of CTA’s purchase of 300 to 450 buses requiring light-weight, durable seating manufactured by Freedman Seating, the 120-year old company based in West Humboldt Park. Approximately one-third of the new jobs will require highly skilled trade positions, including machinists, computer numerical control operators, welders, and engineers.
Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation joined the Mayor and CTA President for the announcement. “A world-class transit system is a key component of our city’s economic plan,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By modernizing our bus and rail fleets, we are providing our passengers with a more comfortable, safe, and reliable transit system while making critical improvements that boost the local economy with new jobs.” In January 2013, the Chicago Transit Board approved the awarding of a $148 million contract to Nova Bus for the purchase of at least 300 new 40-foot buses that will replace older model buses that are nearing the end of their useful life. As part of that contract, CTA’s specifications call for lightweight seating options to reduce vehicle weight and fuel costs, and that are also durable enough to withstand heavy-duty use in all seasons.
CTA chose Freedman because of its proven seat design that is durable, lightweight, and capable of providing comfort to passengers while contributing to greater fuel efficiency for the new buses. Freedman Seating currently employs more than 500 workers. The contract from CTA will require Freedman to produce 11,100 seats for the 300 new buses (37 seats per bus). If the CTA exercises its option to order an additional 150 buses, it would mean an order of another 5,500 seats from Freedman. Freedman Seating is also committed to two of the Mayor’s signature economic development initiatives, including its longstanding relationship with City Colleges of Chicago as part of the College to Career program. Freedman is supporting Skills for Chicagoland’s Future by hiring the city’s unemployed. Freedman Seating also works with Austin Polytechnical Academy High School.
Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation joined the Mayor and CTA President for the announcement. “A world-class transit system is a key component of our city’s economic plan,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By modernizing our bus and rail fleets, we are providing our passengers with a more comfortable, safe, and reliable transit system while making critical improvements that boost the local economy with new jobs.” In January 2013, the Chicago Transit Board approved the awarding of a $148 million contract to Nova Bus for the purchase of at least 300 new 40-foot buses that will replace older model buses that are nearing the end of their useful life. As part of that contract, CTA’s specifications call for lightweight seating options to reduce vehicle weight and fuel costs, and that are also durable enough to withstand heavy-duty use in all seasons.
CTA chose Freedman because of its proven seat design that is durable, lightweight, and capable of providing comfort to passengers while contributing to greater fuel efficiency for the new buses. Freedman Seating currently employs more than 500 workers. The contract from CTA will require Freedman to produce 11,100 seats for the 300 new buses (37 seats per bus). If the CTA exercises its option to order an additional 150 buses, it would mean an order of another 5,500 seats from Freedman. Freedman Seating is also committed to two of the Mayor’s signature economic development initiatives, including its longstanding relationship with City Colleges of Chicago as part of the College to Career program. Freedman is supporting Skills for Chicagoland’s Future by hiring the city’s unemployed. Freedman Seating also works with Austin Polytechnical Academy High School.
Friday, February 22, 2013
HOPEWELL PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR CELEBRATES 76th ANNIVERSARY
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The Hopewell Choir in concert. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)
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Pastor Torrence Ivy of Thompson Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church enjoying the concert. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)
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On January 1, 1937, the Hopewell Gospel Chorus was organized under the pastorate of Elder Robert Jordan. In October 2010, Hopewell moved to its new Church home at 1400 South Kolin Avenue. On Sunday, February 3, the Hopewell Choir celebrated its 76th Anniversary with a festive concert.
Guest churches participating in the celebration were: True Faith Primitive Baptist, Mt. Pilgrim Primitive Baptist, Traveling Zion Primitive Baptist, Hopewell U.P. Baptist Church, God Will Provide, Canaan M.B. Church, Greater Star M.B. Church, New Life Holiness, and Temple of Deliverance.
Bishop D.W. Patton, Jr., is Senior Pastor; Elder Archie Randle III is Executive Pastor; Gerald Pittman & Marcus Williams are Ministers of Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church.
Sister Stacy Mills-Johnson of Mt. Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church is Mistress of Ceremonies for the Hopewell Choir 76th Anniversary Concert. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)
Brother Brian McIntosh of True Faith Primitive Baptist Church congratulates the Hopewell Choir on carrying God’s joyful message in music for 76 years. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)
LINDA McWRIGHT HONORED BY HSI SENIOR RESIDENTS
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Barbara Carrington & Mary Alice Atkins present Linda McWright an award of appreciation for bringing her popular aerobic exercise class to the senior residents of the Habilitative Systems, Inc. apartments. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)
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Seniors gather in the Enola Dew Apartments Activity Room to thank Linda McWright for directing the popular aerobic exercise class for them. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)
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Residents of the Habilitative Systems, Inc. Elois McCoy and Enola Dew Apartments for seniors thanked Clark Park Program Director Linda McWright for bringing exercise classes to them at their apartment complexes. They presented an award to McWright, who teaches a popular aerobics class for seniors. For information on Clark Park senior programs and classes, call 773/287-7794.
COMMANDER NAVARRO DECLARES NORTH AVENUE A HIGH THREAT LEVEL GANG CONFLICT AREA
In response to increasing violence along North Avenue in Austin, including at least one recent murder and several shootings, plus demands from businesses and residents for police to clear gang members and drug dealers from the commercial strip, 25th District Commander Kevin B. Navarro has designated the 5400 & 5500 blocks of North Avenue as a High Threat Level Gang Conflict Area.
This empowers officers to disperse individuals who are loitering and engaging in narcotics sales or are criminal street gang members. If the offenders are in possession of illegal drugs or weapons, of course, they will be arrested. But, the high-crime designation also allows police to stop and arrest lookouts and hawkers for the drug dealers. If people return to North Avenue after being dispersed by police, they are subject to arrest if they fail to obey the police order promptly or return within sight or hearing of the location where the order was issued and engage in further gang loitering within 12 hours.
Commander Navarro announced that he has assigned additional patrol officers to the North Avenue Corridor emphasizing enforcement to set the tone for the coming summer season. Police are issuing citations for lesser offenses and expanding enforcement to arrests when the same subjects are observed repeating the offenses.
Police are focusing specifically on gang gathering sites at Leamington & North Avenues, the gas station and McDonald’s at Laramie & North, the 5400 & 5500 blocks of North Avenue, and North Avenue from Mayfield to Austin Boulevard.
In addition, vice officers are conducting license investigations of problem businesses along North Avenue. Cases of violators are currently pending in court. Commander Navarro says the goal is to ensure compliance and make sure that businesses operate responsibly.
“We want businesses in the district,” Navarro says, “but responsible ones. My goal is to see a noticeable difference on North Avenue, so that the neighborhood residents and businesses can return a great avenue to what it should be.”
Friday, February 15, 2013
MORE THAN 300 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN REP. FORD’S 6th DR. KING DAY HEALTH CHALLENGE
The 6th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Health Challenge sponsored by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford attracted more than 300 students to Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park from Chicago, Berwyn, Hillside, Oak Park, and nearby communities for a day of exercise, nutrition, and fun. This year, they also got the chance to watch President Obama’s inaugural address.
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