Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas Happy New Year !

On behalf of Chatham Avalon Park Community Council its Board of Directors wish all a safe and Happy Holiday Season. May all of your request for health, wealth, happiness and love be granted. We thank the Lord for all of the blessings he has bestowed upon us, and continue to be thankful for the blessings that are to come. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Sub-Area 3 Meeting December 9th 2010

Candice Calhoun-Watkins Sub area III vice President will hold a sub area meeting at Urban Partnership Bank 7936 S. Cottage Grove Ave. tonight at 6:30 p.m. If you live from 79th to 83rd Cottage Grove to King Drive, please plan to attend.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

REMINDER: CAPCC DECEMBER MONTHLY MEETING AND CHRISTMAS PARTY MONDAY, DECEMBER 13th 2010!

Remember the last meeting of the year will be held at the Northern Trust Company 7801 South State Street 6:30 p.m. Come and greet your neighbors, Mr. Cornell, United States Postal Service Manager as he retires but brings the Postal Inspector to address our concerns. Pastor Miller new Pastor Crerar. Detective area 2 burglary and others. Help us celebrate the holidays as we will have our normal festive foods.Happy Holidays!!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Sub Area 6 Meeting November 22, 2010

Rev. Dr. Marc A. Robertson will hold a Sub Area 6 meeting on November 22, 2010 at the Northern Trust Company 7801 South State Street Chicago, IL. 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
If you reside between 83rd to 87th street King Dr. to Langley, please plan to attend.
For more information, please call 1866-272-1215

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Educate or Die

St. Mark United Methodist Church 8441 South St. Lawrence Ave Chicago IL. 60619 on Saturday November 20, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will hold a conversation across generations to share lessons about race, racism, white priviledge and white supremacy that we learned the hard way. Panel discussions, Youth Symposium, spoken word and musical performances will occur. Featured speakers are as follows: Rev. Charles Woolery, Pastor First Wesley Academy and Phillip Jackson The Black Star Project. This free event is sponsored by St. Mark's UMC Ministry on Race and Religion, Hartzell's Society Committee. First Wesley Academy UMC, The Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers program (CAHMCP), Afriware books, Hip-Hop Dextoxx, and The Black Star Project. For more information or to RSVP, call 773-285-9600

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Washington Burney Arrangements

Arrangements for Mr. Washington Burney are as follows: Thursday, November 11, 2010 at Park Manor Congregational 7000 S. Martin Luther King Dr. 9:30 a.m. pre-pass, 10:30 a.m. Wake
11:30 a.m. Funeral, Oakwood Cemetery 1:00 p.m. Interment

Monday, November 8, 2010

Chatham Monthly Meeting Reminder and change

The monthly Chatham Avalon Park Community Council meeting will be held at the Urban Partnership Bank, formerly Shore Bank 7936 S. Cottage Grove Ave Chicago IL. 60619. The President of the Bank will be in attendance. Additionally, Mr. Cornell Manger, United States Post Office 78th Cottage Grove will be in attendance. Please plan to attend 6:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Condolences to the Family of Washington Burney

Condolences are extended to the Family of Washington Burney, President Emeritus Chatham Avalon Park Community Council. In addition to being one of the founding members Mr. Burney was a staunch fighter for the Chatham Community and the community at-large. Even at 94 years young Mr. Burney enjoyed playing golf, telling jokes and sharing his years of wisdom . We can not begin to say all that he meant to our organization and our community. He will be dearly missed. Additional information will be forth coming.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Condolences to the Family and Church of John Warner, Pastor Crerar Presbyterian Church

Condolences to the family of Pastor John Warner the longtime Pastor of Crerar Presbyterian Church 8100 S. Calumet.Pastor Warner was an active Pastor at a progressive Church, Crerar. When ever the pastor would say " The doors of the church are open" it was truly meant. Numerous block clubs, community organization, accepted his hospitality, beyond that, Pastor Warner was a quite storm that provided both inspiration and direction to his church and our community, he will be greatly missed.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Condolences to the Family of Mrs. Rose Wheaton

Condolences to the family of Mrs. Rose Wheaton longtime member of Chatham Avalon, and former President of the 79th and St. Lawrence Ave. block club. Mrs. Wheaton was an avid member and volunteer for years. We pray with and for the family on their loss, she will be missed but never forgotten.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

"Making Your Dollars Work For You"

Chatham Avalon Park Community Council will hold a Banking Expo on Saturday, October 30, 2010 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. at St. Mark United Methodist Church 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave. Chicago, Il. 60619. With the Economy continuing to be the hot topic in the news. Come out and hear about the products and services to "Make Your Dollars Work For You". Ask the question everyone wants to know, are our banks investing and loaning money in our community?
Participants are: Seaway National Bank, Urban Partnership, Chase, TCF, Illinois Service Federal and PNC Banks. Refreshments provided. For additional information, please call 1-866-272-1215.

Chicago Fire Department to Give and Check Fire Detectors

On Saturday, October 30, 2010 The Chicago Fire Department will be despensing and checking Fire Detectors in the Chatham Community. Fire personnel will be in the area of King Dr. to State Street from 83rd to 87th Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please inform all of your neighbors within the area and take advantage of this benefit.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Historic Chicago Bungalow Association Seminar Series

The HCBA's popular Seminar Series "Keeping Warm with Energy Efficiency" will be held at three different sites during October. On Thursday, October 14th 6:30- 7:45 p.m. Beverly Branch Library 1962 W.95th street, Thursday, October 21 6:30-7:45 p.m. West Belmont Branch Library 3104 N. Narragansett Ave. Monday, October 27 6:30-7:45 p.m. Avalon Branch Library 8148 S. Stony Island Ave. If possible please plan to attend one of these informative seminars.
To make reservations call (312)822-0505. All are free of charge.

City of Chicago Water Department Attends CAPCC Meeting

Tom Laporte, from the City of Chicago Water Management Department, attended the Chatham Avalon Park meeting and answered questions and concerns regarding the flooding that occured within our community. Tom indicated he would like to partner with any block clubs to futher address specific issuses and provide effective solutions by bringing out teams to identify cause of flooding and possible solutions. If a block can provide over 50% participation he would be happy to come with his team to that block to assist. Tom Laport can be reached at 1-312-742-1029

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Chatham Monthly Meeting Reminder and change

Because of the holiday on Monday, Northern Trust Bank will be closed. The Regular Chatham meeting will be held at Chatham Feilds Lutheran Church 8050 S.St. Lawrence Ave. 6:30 p.m. Mr. Tom Laport, City of Chicago Department of Water will be in attendance. If you have concerns re: the recent flooding, please plan to attend.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Blog Question

With the coming of the new Whitney Young library, the Walmart Superstore and Aldi Superstore in the Chatham Market, what other types of development would you like to see going up in Chatham? Will this create enough new jobs in Chatham? Leave your comments on the comment line.

Blog Question

Which blog best serves the interests of Chatham, the Sixth Ward blog or the CAPCC blog, and why? Leave your comments on the comment line.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Midway Document Destruction

On Saturday the 6th ward had an overwhelming success with the Shred-A-Thon. The truck was full to the brim, and they will return on Thursday, October 7, 2010 for anyone that was unable to get their shredding done. The truck will be parked at the J & J Restaurant on 75th & King Drive from 9am to 12noon.

Monday, October 4, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Rahm Emanuel to Make Mayor's Run at Izola's in Chatham Today

Rahm Emanuel to make his official announcement for his run for Mayor of Chicago at Izola's Restaurant this morning. He begins his citywide 'Tell It Like It Is' listening tour in Chatham with a stop near 79th and Rhodes Avenue.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

20-Year-Old Man Shot in Chatham

Around 10 p.m. in the Chatham neighborhood, a 20-year-old man was shot in the left thigh during an attempted robbery in the 8400 block of South Rhodes Avenue, police said. The 20-year-old man was shot and badly wounded yesterday evening in the Chatham community. The victim suffered multiple wounds to his chest and one to his leg, Chicago police said. The man went to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

No one was in custody in the shooting.

2nd brother shot dead this month within blocks of home

Street violence struck a Chatham family for a second time this month when an 18-year-old man was fatally shot, just weeks after his younger brother was gunned down in the same area, police said.

Jajuan Brooks had gone out for pizza when he was shot in the chest and leg around 6:35 p.m. at East 79th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, police and family said. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died.

Brooks was shot not far from where his brother was gunned down earlier this month, said Gresham District Capt. Ruth Wedster.

Jeremy Brooks, 17, was shot several times by one of two people who confronted him about 2:15 p.m. on Sept. 2, police said. He stumbled behind a church near 78th and Cottage Grove and collapsed.

"They're not the kids who hung out on the street," their uncle, Michael Tribett, said in a telephone interview Thursday night. "They spent all their time together. They waited on their mother because she's a senior citizen."

The brothers' mother, Sheree Tribett, could be heard crying, grieving over the family's latest tragedy. Michael Tribett said another of her son's had just arrived home from work and was being told of the slaying.

Tribett said a turf war has taken hold of the neighborhood, but his nephew stayed in the house all the time unless he was running errands for his mother. The brothers were the third and fourth of eight siblings.

When the 17-year-old was killed, police said the shooting may have been gang-related and that he might have been the younger relative of a top gang member. Police said then they feared a retaliation shooting could take place.

Whitney Young Branch Library Environmental Remediation and Construction

There will be a public meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the Whitney Young Branch Library, 7901 South Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60619 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This meeting will address cleanup of parcels adjacent to the existing library to enable future construction of a new "state of the art" library. It is the intent of the Public Building Commission of Chicago to apply for a U.S. EPA Brownfields grant on each of three parcels of land as an aid in cleaning up the affected parcels. A copy to the grant proposal is available for public review and comment at the Public Building Commission of Chicago, 50 W. Washington Street, Room 200, Chicago, Illinois 60602. A description of the planned cleanup, and tentative will be presented at the meeting. Interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Man shot in head, neck in Chatham dies

A 22-year-old man who was shot in the head and neck Wednesday night on the in the Chatham neighborhood has died from his injuries.

Marlon Dubose of the 7700 block of South Champlain Avenue, was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m. at Stroger Hospital, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Officers and paramedics responded about 8 p.m. to the 600 block of East 79th Street and found Dubose with gunshot wounds to his neck and head, police said.

Preliminary reports said he was approached by two male suspects, one on foot and the other was riding a bicycle. The person riding the bicycle fired shots, striking Dubose multiple times. Both suspects fled northbound from the scene, police said.

Dubose was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No one was in custody for the shooting. Calumet Area detectives were investigating.

CYLC

CYLC

Congratulations, Gabrielle! You're enrolled in the Fall 2010 Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C... Your session information and current account balance are below. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

Wow, everyone the time has come for Gabrielle's fundraising period. I received confirmation that our initial down payment of $350.00 was credited to Gabrielle's conference tuition account four days ago. Trv remainder of the balance is to be paid through two remaining payments of $770.00 due August13, 2010 and the remaining balance due September 1, 2010. From now through October 28, 2010 there will bean opportunity for you to give toward her Junior National Young Leaders Conference, but in order for her to attend the tuition must be covered by August 13, 2010 $ 770.00 and September 1, 2010.remaining balance due.

The conference will consist of six days of leadership training:

Day One Voices of Leadership

The Leader Within: Insights into Leadership The Impact of Leadership Traits

Character

Communication

Goal Setting

Problem Solving

Respect

Teamwork

Day Two Voices of Freedom

Field Study Experience: Behind the Scenes of History and

News

The News Museum: The Interactive Museum of News on

America's Main Street

Around and About Capitol Hill: Walking Tour and Photo

Opportunity

Leadership Focus Groups

"Capturing the Experience" Reflection Activities

Freedom of Expression: Opinions and Decisions

Day Three Voices of Struggle

Travel to Harpers Ferry - Site of a Civil War Rebellion

Testing the Times: Would You Follow John Brown?

YOUR CONFERENCE COSTS Conference Tuition: $1,910.00 Travel (to and from conference): $772.90 (Gabrielle and her Mother (Debra) Lodging $88.20 per night (five nights for Debra) Incidentals (phone calls, souvenirs) & Lunches and Dinner: $164.00 (six days for Debra, 2 days lunches for Gabrielle) $100.00 for incidentals Pay Pal # alphab51@vahoo.com

Choices and Consequences: Loyalties and the American

Civil War

History One-on-One Discovery Experience

"Capturing the Experience" Reflection Activities

Facing the Music: The Impact of Freedom of Speech

Day Four Voices of Courage

Tributes of Valor and Sacrifice: Tour of Our Nation's

Memorials

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Field Study Experience: National Museum of American

History

The Residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

White House Photo Opportunity

"Capturing the Experience" Reflection Activities

The Process of Social Activism

Day Five Voices of Change

Leaders Take a Stand: Student Collaborative Projects

Leadership in Action: Closing Keynote Speaker

A Learning Adventure

Day Six Taking Leadership Home: The Road Ahead

Making a Difference at Home

We, the Future: Continuing the Voices of Leadership

AVAILABLE FUNDS

Your Savings: $5.55

Family Contributions: $500.00

Total Available Funds: $500

OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL $2,853.00

Conference Costs: $3,353.00

Available Funds: $500

Debra Banks

Citibank Savings Account for Deposits only # 58000334988 Gabrielle Banks

Make Checks Payable to South East Community Housing Association 8153 S. Rhodes Chgo. II. 60619

Chatham Avalon Park Community Council Hosts A Sub-Area IV Meeting

Chatham Avalon Park Community Council

Hosts A

Sub-Area IV Meeting

It is imperative that you attend this meeting, your

Participation is critical and necessary for the survival and growth of our community. We are seeking your attendance and input. Numerous items which have a terrific impact on you and our total community will be addressed.

Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Place:The Northern Trust Company

( Community Room) 2nd floor

Chicago, Illinois 60619

Time: 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm

(AGENDA)

I. Opening Keith Tate

II. Sub- Area Operations Overview Maryellen Drake

III. Sub-Area IV Update Elgie Sims

Area Block Presidents

Area concerns/ Hot spots

IV. Crime Prevention Earl Williams

6th District Police Dept.

V. Upcoming Community Events Keith Tate

VI. Adjournment

Keith Tate, Maryellen Drake, Elgie Sims

President CAPCC Executive Vice CAPCC Sub Area IV Vice

 

For more information, please contact the CAPCC office at 1-866-272-1215 visit our blog at

www.chathamavalonparkcommunitycouncil.blogspot.com

. or our website at www.capcc.org.

Friends & Neighbors of the 8100 Block of South Rhodes

August 9, 2010

Friends & Neighbors of the 8100 Block of South Rhodes

Gabrielle Banks 8153 S. Rhodes has been selected by the Congressional Young Leaders Conference (CYLC) to attend the Junior National Leadership Conference

http://www.cylc.Org/ijrnylc in
Washington D.C. This is a distinguished honor and we would like her to participate in October nominated by Ms. Smith, her seventh grade Language Arts teacher at Beasley School. Gabrielle was subsequently selected by CYLC and confirmed as attending one of the October sessions. We v acknowledge all students that have been awarded honors this year at our block club party on the 28

th of August. We've begun our fund raising campaign and are looking forward to you participating ii some capacity. We are suggesting donations of $25.00 to $100.00. There are three ways to donate:

1. Take the opportunity to use the PayPal account we've set up through our e-mail account he
alphab51@vahoo.com.

Or make checks payable to South East Community Housing Association if at all possible so that donations might remain tax deductible and send them to 8153 S. Rhodes Chgo. II. 60619

Or deposit directly to Gabrielle’s saving account @ Citibank after Sept. 1 acct# 588000334988

For full details of the accounting and itinerary.see the attached document. We are looking forward to Gabrielle's journey to Washington D.C. and will keep you posted through various means of correspondence. For those who like pictures we'll be sure to take plenty.

Once again we thank you so very much for your donations. Truly, it takes a community.

Debra, Joseph, and Gabrielle Banks 8153 S. Rhodes

Chgo. II. 60619

Contact Mobile # 773-484=3390 773 651-0195

Chatham Avalon Park Community Council Hosts A Sub-Area IV Meeting

Chatham Avalon Park Community Council

Hosts A

Sub-Area IV Meeting

It is imperative that you attend this meeting, your

Participation is critical and necessary for the survival and growth of our community. We are seeking your attendance and input. Numerous items which have a terrific impact on you and our total community will be addressed.

Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Place:The Northern Trust Company

( Community Room) 2nd floor

Chicago, Illinois 60619

Time: 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm

(AGENDA)

I. Opening Keith Tate

II. Sub- Area Operations Overview Maryellen Drake

III. Sub-Area IV Update Elgie Sims

Area Block Presidents

Area concerns/ Hot spots

IV. Crime Prevention Earl Williams

6th District Police Dept.

V. Upcoming Community Events Keith Tate

VI. Adjournment

Keith Tate, Maryellen Drake, Elgie Sims

President CAPCC Executive Vice CAPCC Sub Area IV Vice

 

For more information, please contact the CAPCC office at 1-866-272-1215 visit our blog at

www.chathamavalonparkcommunitycouncil.blogspot.com

. or our website at www.capcc.org.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

SILAS PURNELL COLLEGE EXPO

The Chesterfield Community Council

6th Annual

SILAS PURNELL

COLLEGE EXPO

Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

@

Tuley Park Field house

90th & King Drive

Admission: FREE

Come and meet representatives from Colleges and Universities throughout Illinois and Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Financial Aid/Scholarship Information will be available

Register to Vote at the expo

Seminars: Preparing for the ACT

By the Chicago Public Schools

College Loans (Loan Consolidation, Forbearance, etc.)

By Sallie Mae & the Illinois Student Assistance Comm.

State (Member) Scholarships

By State Rep. Marlow Colvin Office

For More Information: 773-651-3958 or visit us at www.chesterfieldcommunitycouncil.org

Sponsors: ICE Chatham 14 Movie Theater, State Rep. Constance Howard, State Senator

Donne Trotter, Chatham Food Market & Walgreen’s

Monday, September 27, 2010

South Side churches offer prayers, HIV tests

hiv612.jpg

Isaetta "Marie" Walton (left) executive director of Recovery 2000, Inc., labels Jermaine Bell's HIV test today during testing at Southlawn United Methodist Church, part of the First Ladies Health Day in Chicago. Several black churches in Chicago and surrounding suburbs provided free screenings . (Heather Charles/ Chicago Tribune)

After services at Southlawn United Methodist Church let out Sunday, members not only exchanged hugs and handshakes and mingled over coffee. They waited to get their gums and cheeks swabbed.

Around 40 people at Southlawn in Chicago's Avalon Park community were tested Sunday for HIV during the First Ladies Health Day. More than two dozen predominantly black churches -- with a combined membership of around 35,000 -- offered free HIV screenings to strip away the stigma associated with the disease.

"That's really where the power of the church comes in is to say, `Hey, you belong. You're part of us,' " Southlawn senior pastor Robert Biekman said.
Following a national trend, African Americans in Chicago shoulder a large share of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, according to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Blacks represent around 37 percent of the city's population yet account for 56 percent of people living with HIV, according to the foundation.

Once known to have shied away from addressing the diseases plaguing their communities, many black churches have become advocates for awareness and education of HIV and AIDS.

Sunday's event, which also included blood-pressure and diabetes screenings, was brainstormed this summer at the First Ladies Luncheon. About 100 wives of pastors from mainly black churches in the Chicago area, as well as a few female pastors, attended and decided to champion HIV testing, said Jamell Meeks, chairwoman of the luncheon and wife of the Rev. James Meeks.

"We wanted to increase the awareness in other communities and in other churches," Jamell Meeks said, adding that 75 percent of the churches that participated Sunday never before offered HIV testing. "This seemed to be the best way to get started."

The First Ladies did just that. Several people tested positive for HIV, said Tracey Alston, a spokeswoman for the event Sunday.

Though he said he uses condoms and isn't promiscuous, Jermaine Bell patiently waited for his screening at Southlawn. He had just gotten out of a relationship.

"You never can be too sure," said Bell, a cigarette and a cup of coffee in hand.

Bell, 32, of the Chatham neighborhood, wasn't concerned about a stigma linked to HIV, and he called on anyone who might be at risk for having the disease, such as drug users and prostitutes, to get tested.

Carl White, 22, of the South Shore neighborhood, was one of several people sitting near a closed-door room waiting for his turn to be swabbed.

"I'm not real nervous," White said, adding that he was getting tested, "just to make sure that I'm being safe. That's all."

Damon Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, urged a handful of congregations Sunday to get tested and to seek treatment if needed.

"Your hand controls your destiny," Arnold said. "It opens the clinic door, or not."

Friday, September 24, 2010

Open Forum

We, at the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council, invite our viewers to make suggestions on how you might think economic development in Chatham would best occur. Don't just think of how some project could be green, but, for example, help promote development and revitalization of 79Th Street, and how it would be profitable and lucrative for the community and at the same time create job opportunities and training for high-wage positions for our young people. Leave your comments on the comment line.

Commentary

Open Letter to Mayor Richard M. Daley: Since you are retiring, you could prompt the next mayor to put in a bid for the Summer Olympic Games for Chicago (2020 is absolutely out of the question) for 2024 or 2028, and have built many luxury residences like the 90-story Trump Tower where the former site of the Sun-Times was--many IOC members, themselves the world's rich and famous are former sportsmen (not the highly paid professional athletes in the United States since the beginning of the big-money era of 1985 onward), many of them are billionaires who really don't need a bonus salary contract, who simply won't live in Chicago with all its harsh and brutal winters if there are no real luxurious places for them to live--like the jet-set in New York City. You got to have a place where Mick Jagger, Prince Albert of Monaco, and the high-end polo players of Argentina, would buy a multi-million dollar condo apartment, for example. And real places for them to seriously party year-round. Have the next mayor listen to Donald Trump, SERIOUSLY!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Condolences to the family of Rev. James L. Demus III

Condolences go to the family and Park Manor Christian Church (600 E. 73rd Street) on the passing of their Senior Pastor, James L. Demus III. Rev. Demus pastor since 1985 was both inspirational and advisory in day to day conversations. Known not just as a preacher but as community organizer, consultant, growth activist and motivational speaker, his talent and conversation will be missed. We pray for and with the family.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Blog Question

What type of economic development would you like to see in Chatham? Leave your comments on the comment line.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Summer is Not Yet Over...Still Time to Get Fresh Produce at the Chatham Food Market!!!

Fight obesity and reach your target weight with a good serving of fresh produce. Make sure you stock up on fresh produce for the late-summertime season with great grocery shopping at Chatham Food Market, 327 East 79Th Street in the heart of the Chatham retail strip! http://www.chathamfoods.com/

Oh, Michelle, My Dear, My Darling...We Have a Note to Send You!

In order for Chatham to produce the much need jobs, businesses and opportunities for our young people, the main industry in the neighborhood is must be high technology research and development. How about all the the residents and civic leaders of Chatham banding together and asking the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama to aid in gathering the financing for facility development in the creation of the Chatham Council on Infrastructure and Facility Development? Chatham really needs new infrastructure like a fitness center, ice-skating rink, athletic and aquatic center and the like Ms. Obama would be a great help in having Chatham band together and approach Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Bill Cosby, about being benefactors to facility development in Chatham with an all-new state-of-the-art athletic and aquatic center that is superbly well equipped with a fitness center, weight room, indoor tennis courts and with Olympic-size swimming and diving pools and NBA league-type basketball courts, at 79Th & Rhodes, an indoor ice-skating rink at 84Th & King Drive, a two-story "Bucktown-Wicker Park"-type public library at 79Th & King Drive, a YMCA and YWCA right next to each other at 76Th & South Chicago, a Boys and Girls Club at 75Th & South Chicago, and a Starbuck's at 79Th & St. Lawrence. Let's start by creating a letter-writing campaign to: The Honorable Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, First Lady of the United States, ATTN: Private Secretary for Correspondence, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20025.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Follow-Up Block Club Summit

St. Dorothy's Church at 450 East 78Th Street will hold a Follow-Up Block Club Summit at the church at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2010.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

CAPCC Monthly Meeting

Reminder
Chatham Avalon Park
Community Council Meeting
September 13, 2010
Northern Trust
7801 S. State
2nd Fl.
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Guests will be:
Mr. Coleman - CTA
Mr. LaPart - Warter Department
Mr. Madarus - Dept. of Transportation

Friday, September 10, 2010

Evergreen Park police retire slain officer's badge

Thomas E. Wortham IV was an Evergreen Park police officer for less than a year, but his service to the community will never be forgotten, officials said.

Wortham was honored at Tuesday night's Evergreen Park Village Board meeting during a ceremony that featured the retirement of his badge.

"He will never be forgotten, and his star will always shine brightly," Evergreen Park Police Chief Michael Saunders said. "Officer Wortham died doing a job that he loved."

Wortham, 30, was shot and killed May 19 during a robbery attempt outside his father's home in Chicago. A graduate of Brother Rice High School, Wortham was a Chicago Police officer for three years when he died. A member of the Wisconsin National Guard, he also served two tours of duty in Iraq.

But Wortham began his law enforcement career as a member of the Evergreen Park Police Department, where he served from September 2006 to May 2007.

"He will always be held in the highest regard," Mayor James Sexton said.

Saunders said: "Officer Wortham did not lose his life, he gave it. ... Officer Thomas E. Wortham IV will never be forgotten."

New planter installations







View the planters installed on Cottage on September 6, 2010. Locations are: 8435, 8100 and 8006 S. Cottage. Cottage grove planters take on new look, thanks to Harlan, Park Manor, Tanner schools and Leiana J. Gary Cottage Grove Planters Society.

Daley: 'I want not love, I want respect'

Mayor Richard Daley embarked on the start of what amounts to his farewell tour on Thursday, telling Chicago residents he wants respect, not love, as they remember his 21 years in office.

"You have to have passion. You really do. And you have to love the city and love its people. And sometimes people won't love you, but that's all part of life," Daley said at a morning Chicago Public Schools event. "I want not love, I want respect. No love, but only respect. That's what you want. You want respect."

By Thursday evening, Daley was getting a bit of both amid a torrent of complaints both great and small at the first public hearing as his administration crafts next year's city budget, his last as mayor.

More than 300 people packed a ballroom at the South Shore Cultural Center and applauded Daley before offering him input as he tries to close a record $655 million shortfall.

Lincoln Park resident Allan Mellis called on Daley to reconsider his decision not to seek re-election next year. "Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you for your vision for the city of Chicago and all that you have done to see that vision has become a reality," he said.

Mellis then asked the mayor to bring back the July 3 Grant Park fireworks and restore longer hours at public library branches, both casualties of budget cuts.

Police issues also were on people's minds after high-profile summer violence.

Park Manor resident Ted Seals reacted angrily to Daley's call for somebody to step forward to help solve the slaying of police Officer Michael Bailey. "How dare you?" Seals said, his voice rising as he stood at the microphone in front of the mayor. "For 11 years, we've begged you to do something about the rising violence in Park Manor."

When one man drew raucous applause after calling for police Supt. Jody Weis' immediate resignation, the mayor asked the crowd to calm down. "Come on now, be serious," said Daley, with Weis sitting immediately to his right.

Others came with more prosaic concerns, such as Christina Patterson of the Chatham neighborhood. She drew applause when she said the neighborhood wants people ticketed for not picking up after their dogs. She also called on the city to install catch basins and new curbs and sidewalks to prevent flooding.

The other two public hearings will be held -- Friday at Westinghouse College Preparatory High School, 3223 W. Franklin Blvd., and Sept. 16 at North-Grand High School, 4338 W. Wabansia Ave.

Daley will present a spending plan to the City Council in October. Aldermen must then approve a budget by December. All of it will play out against a political backdrop of Daley not seeking re-election in February and the alderman's job up in each of Chicago's 50 wards.

Earlier on Thursday, Daley again said he would not endorse anyone in the contest to succeed him. Before a crowd that included many Latinos, the mayor touched on the subject of ethnic and racial political rivalries, saying it was OK that people tend to back others like themselves.

"People are naturally proud, and there's nothing wrong with people saying I like to identify with that individual who they believe is well-qualified and can speak on behalf of not only the Latino community, but on behalf of the entire city," Daley said. "In the end result, what everybody wants is an individual that will be as passionate as anyone else, as committed and hardworking."

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

IMPORTANT! New Date for September 6th Ward Meeting

The date and location of the September Ward meeting has been changed.
The Sept. 9th Ward Meeting has been cancelled.
The new date and location is:
Thursday, September 23, 2010
6:30 p.m.
Miracle House of Prayer
8638 S. Michigan Ave.
Please call 773-846-7006 if you have any questions and PLEASE pass the word.
Thank you,
Rosemary McDaniel
6th Ward Service Office
406 E. 75th Street
Chicago, IL 60619
773.846.7006
773.846.9104 (fax)

Overnight campout to honor slain officer to be annual event

Tents, campfires and children laughing at night will hopefully become an annual sight in the Chatham neighborhood's Nat King Cole Park, residents said today as they pledged to make an overnight campout in honor of fallen police officer Thomas Wortham IV into a summer tradition.

More than a hundred people crowded into the South Side park for a Friday night "Peace in the Park After Dark" sleepover, meant to show community strength in the face of violence that has become an increasing fact of life in the long quiet neighborhood.

Dozens of children played games and stayed up way later than they should have, said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle, 6th, who stretched out on an air mattress herself.

"I was about to start making the rounds to some of these tents to let people know it was bedtime," she said.

By 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the young campers were standing shoulder to shoulder, patrolling the park on litter duty under the watchful eye of Canada Killam, a member of the Wisconsin National Guard who served with Wortham.

"I bet they wish they went to bed earlier now," Lyle said with a smile.

On Friday night, former gang members talked to the kids about serving time in prison, a message that hit home for Jaquan Dailey, 12.

"They said nobody came to visit them. Their supposed friends and family suddenly weren't there for them," Dailey recalled, as he waited in line for breakfast.

Wortham -- who had been head of the Cole Park advisory board - had talked of organizing something to reclaim the park after two shootings there worried people in the area that they were losing the fight against violence.

Instead, Wortham himself was fatally shot in May across the street from the park, outside his parents' home by a group of people trying to take his new motorcycle.

Lyle said that Chatham has a proud history of community involvement that both Wortham and the campout embodied.

"We're going to have to fight for this park, and we're going to do it. We're going to hand this park down to our children, just like it was handed down to us," Lyle said.

As the campers settled in for the night Friday, Wortham's mother Carolyn said her son was likely watching them from heaven with approval.

"I firmly believe he is looking down on this and he is having the time of his life," she said. "This is what he was working toward. This is what he wanted to happen."

Kewanis Carr, 14, was already looking forward to next year's Cole Park sleepover after staying up until 1 a.m. with friends at the inaugural event. But she vowed to be ready for the sudden onset of autumnal weather that had campers shivering in their tents.

"Next time I'll be better prepared," Carr said.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Sixth Ward Alderman Freddrenna Lyle's home burglarized

Sixth Ward Alderman Freddrenna Lyle is the victim of a burglary, according to published reports.

The Chicago Tribune says a thief broke into her home in the Park Manor neighborhood sometime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday.

Police say the burglar made off with laptop computers, cameras and other electronics. Nobody was home at the time of the burglary.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Residents reclaim park with overnight campout










































































































Chicago police Officer Thomas Wortham IV would have liked what took place at Nat King Cole Park in his old South Side neighborhood Friday night.

As the skies darkened, dozens of children, community leaders, and Chicago police officers gathered to set up tents and fire up grills before settling in for the night. The overnight campout, dubbed "Peace in the Park After Dark," represented a step toward Wortham's goal of reclaiming the park from growing violence in the community.

"He would be happy, he would be smiling," said Wortham's father, Thomas, as he surveyed the scene. "He wanted this park to be a safe haven for people in the community."

Two springtime shootings at the South Side park shook the sense of security long enjoyed by area residents. Then in May, Wortham, who had been head of the park's advisory board, was shot outside his family home, just across from the park, by robbers who were trying to take his new motorcycle.

In recent years, the park had ceased to be a gathering place for many community residents. Wortham's father said that at night, the park typically sees little activity, just a few people taking a walk or a handful of teenagers playing basketball.

But on Friday evening, the park was alive with activity as children dashed about, eating hot dogs and hamburgers, while adults set up games and chatted.

"This is a way for (kids) to see police officers just as people," said police Supt. Jody Weis, who was on hand early Friday evening but didn't plan to spend the night. "These types of events... break down a lot of those barriers that unfortunately exist when they shouldn't."

The campout was organized by the Chicago Police Gresham District and community leaders including Ald. Freddrenna Lyle, 6th, who planned to be among the 100 or so overnight campers.

"I don't really see police together like this, just hanging out," said Joseph Dean, 14, a freshman at Harlan High School. "It's kind of cool."

Wortham's mother Carolyn said that the campout was a testament to everything her son worked for.

"I firmly believe he is looking down on this and he is having the time of his life," she said. "This is what he was working toward. This is what he wanted to happen."

In the Park After Dark Total Success
In honor of our fallen chathamnite Tom Wortham iv the Wisconsin Army
Reserves
which Tom served two tours, The Chicago Police dept.6th
district,Commander Eddie Johnson, Supt.J.Weis, Deput.J. Jackson,SGT.D.
Betts,Judge C. Walker, Rev. K. Dean, Fr. Pfleger, R. Holt, G. Brooks of
Caps, L. Millan Chicago Park District and Alderman F. Lyle were all present
and most importantly many youth from throughout the community which assured
success.
Copy and paste this link into your browser to an ABC7 Chicago story:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7649836&pid=7649167

And this link to a story from CBS2Chicago:

http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=73887@wbbm.dayport.com

Chatham residents to camp out to honor slain cop

In the weeks before he was gunned down across from Cole Park in the Chatham neighborhood, Chicago police Officer Thomas Wortham IV had been a leader in efforts to reclaim the park from encroaching trouble and violence.

Two shootings at the South Side park in the spring had shaken the sense of security long enjoyed by area residents and led officials to take down the basketball rims in an effort to stave off further trouble.

As head of the park's advisory board, Wortham worked to restore the park as a haven for children and families. On Friday, the slain officer's mission will be carried on with an overnight campout at the park in the 300 block of East 85th Street.

Set to sleep beneath city lights and the open sky are about 50 young people from the neighborhood. They will be joined by officials including Gresham District Cmdr. Eddie Johnson, 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle and members of the military who served with Wortham.

"It will send the message that the park is safe," Johnson said.

Lyle said the campout is one way to show shaken community residents that they should continue to use the neighborhood's parks and amenities.

"We want to keep a sense of normalcy," the alderman said. "We're not giving up on (the kids) and we can't give up on the community either."

The campout will be a chance for the children of Chatham to experience sleeping outside and roasting s'mores -- new experiences for most of the kids who plan to attend.

"It will provide our children an opportunity to sleep under the stars," Lyle said.

It's also a way to make a dent in the violence that's been troubling the community, she said.

"You eat an elephant one bite at a time," the alderman said.

Wortham was shot in May outside his family home, just across from the park, by robbers who were trying to take his new motorcycle.

He was an Iraq veteran, and Lyle and Johnson both said they were impressed that Wortham's military peers are coming to lead the camping activities.

"This is what Tommy would have done," said Sgt. Canada Killam, who served with Wortham in the Wisconsin National Guard and was his college roommate. "Those of us who are left want to make sure just because he was stolen, his ideals are not."

Friday, September 3, 2010

Don't Let Them Say We Are Too Lazy to Write A Letter to Michelle!

In order for Chatham to produce the much need jobs, businesses and opportunities for our young people, the main industry in the neighborhood is must be high technology research and development. How about all the the residents and civic leaders of Chatham banding together and asking the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama to aid in gathering the financing for facility development in the creation of the Chatham Council on Infrastructure and Facility Development? Chatham really needs new infrastructure like a fitness center, ice-skating rink, athletic and aquatic center and the like Ms. Obama would be a great help in having Chatham band together and approach Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Bill Cosby, about being benefactors to facility development in Chatham with an all-new state-of-the-art athletic and aquatic center that is superbly well equipped with a fitness center, weight room, indoor tennis courts and with Olympic-size swimming and diving pools and NBA league-type basketball courts, at 79Th & Rhodes, an indoor ice-skating rink at 84Th & King Drive, a two-story "Bucktown-Wicker Park"-type public library at 79Th & King Drive, a YMCA and YWCA right next to each other at 76Th & South Chicago, a Boys and Girls Club at 75Th & South Chicago, and a Starbuck's at 79Th & St. Lawrence. Let's start by creating a letter-writing campaign to: The Honorable Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, First Lady of the United States, ATTN: Private Secretary for Correspondence, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20025.

CBS 2's Walter Jacobson's Perspective on the Gangs in Chatham

Please copy this link and put it into your browser for video:

http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=73860@wbbm.dayport.com

Teen shot dead in Chatham alley

Teenshot612.jpg



A Chicago police officer searches an alley near 79th and Cottage Grove where a teen was shot dead Thursday afternoon. (Mike Anzaldi/ for the Chicago Tribune)

A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed this afternoon in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, authorities said.

The shooting happened about 2:15 p.m. in an alley near East 78th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue.

The teenager was shot several times by one of two people who confronted him, Chicago police Sgt. Antoinette Ursitti said.

The victim staggered behind a church near 78th and Cottage Grove and was taken to Jackson Park Hospital by ambulance, officials said.

The shooting may have been gang related, Ursitti said.

Police turned out in force in the neighborhood, with a swarm of officers in the area with M4 rifles, because, a police source said, the victim is the younger brother of a top member of the Gangster Disciples and police fear a retaliation shooting.

Officers were searching for the suspects in the area of 78th and South Champlain Avenue.



The 17-year-old boy -- identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as Jeremy Brooks -- was shot at 2:16 p.m. in an alley near the 700 block of East 78th Street, police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala said.

Two gunmen approached the teen and one fired in his direction -- striking him multiple times, police said. The suspects fled after the shooting.

Brooks, of the 7800 block of South Ellis Avenue, was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, according to the medical examiner's office.

A large number of gang-enforcement officers were sent to investigate, police said. The slaying is believed to be gang-related and may have been a retaliation murder.

Per Alderman Lyle and representatives of the 6th district police this WAS NOT an act of random violence but the settlement of "Beef" over a female.

Put this web link into your browser for WGN-TV 9 News video:

http://www.wgntv.com/search/wgntv-teen-shot-killed-chatham-sep2,0,7661166.story

Blogger Wanted!!!

We, at the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council, are looking a blogger willing to report stories about our community to the viewing audience. If you know computers, Internet, and website architecture, join our blog as a contributor. For more information, please call the CAPCC Office at 1-866-272-1215 or visit the CAPCC Blog at chathamavalonparkcommunitycouncil.blogspot.com. You may also visit our website at http://www.capcc.org/.

CAPCC Wants Chatham Restaurant Review Critics!

We, at the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council, invite any of our residents to be restaurant review critics of our Chatham neighborhood restaurants and provide reviews of the local cuisines and report to this blog about their culinary experiences. For more information, please call the CAPCC Office at 1-866-272-1215 or visit the CAPCC Blog at chathamavalonparkcommunitycouncil.blogspot.com. You may also visit our website at http://www.capcc.org/. Also leave your comments on the comment line. Bon appetite!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Annual Labor Day Outdoor Cookout at the Chatham Food Market!!!

Stop by for the annual Labor Day Outdoor Cookout, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, September 4, 2010, with great grocery shopping at Chatham Food Market, 327 East 79Th Street in the heart of the Chatham retail strip!

Man injured in East Chatham shooting

A 29-year-old man was shot in his leg this morning while he was talking on the street with friends in the East Chatham neighborhood.

Officers were alerted about 3:30 a.m. to the 7900 block of Ingleside Avenue, said Police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak.

Preliminary reports said the man was outside talking with friends when the group heard shots and the victim realized he had been shot.

Soon after, the victim and his friends saw a green or blue Chevy fleeing the scene, Kubiak said.

The man was taken to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center where he was stablized, Kubiak said.

No one was in custody. Police are investigating.

Chatham residents to camp out to honor slain cop

In the weeks before he was gunned down across from Cole Park in the Chatham neighborhood, Chicago police Officer Thomas Wortham IV had been a leader in efforts to reclaim the park from encroaching trouble and violence.

Two shootings at the South Side park in the spring had shaken the sense of security long enjoyed by area residents and led officials to take down the basketball rims in an effort to stave off further trouble.

As head of the park's advisory board, Wortham worked to restore the park as a haven for children and families. On Friday, the slain officer's mission will be carried on with an overnight campout at the park in the 300 block of East 85th Street.

Set to sleep beneath city lights and the open sky are about 50 young people from the neighborhood. They will be joined by officials including Gresham District Cmdr. Eddie Johnson, 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle and members of the military who served with Wortham.

"It will send the message that the park is safe," Johnson said.

Lyle said the campout is one way to show shaken community residents that they should continue to use the neighborhood's parks and amenities.

"We want to keep a sense of normalcy," the alderman said. "We're not giving up on (the kids) and we can't give up on the community either."

The campout will be a chance for the children of Chatham to experience sleeping outside and roasting s'mores -- new experiences for most of the kids who plan to attend.

"It will provide our children an opportunity to sleep under the stars," Lyle said.

It's also a way to make a dent in the violence that's been troubling the community, she said.

"You eat an elephant one bite at a time," the alderman said.

Wortham was shot in May outside his family home, just across from the park, by robbers who were trying to take his new motorcycle.

He was an Iraq veteran, and Lyle and Johnson both said they were impressed that Wortham's military peers are coming to lead the camping activities.

"This is what Tommy would have done," said Sgt. Canada Killam, who served with Wortham in the Wisconsin National Guard and was his college roommate. "Those of us who are left want to make sure just because he was stolen, his ideals are not."

Monday, August 30, 2010

Urban Partnership Bank, formerly ShoreBank, names new directors

Urban Partnership Bank, which rose out of the ashes last week of failed ShoreBank, has created a board of directors that has five members so far.

In addition to the two top bank managers of David Vitale and William Farrow, the board currently includes Eileen Kennedy, Daniel Lupiani and Jerome Szott, according to a Friday report on the Chicago Tribune's Web site.

An Urban Partnership Bank spokesman said Friday that the final size of the board has not yet been determined.

Mr. Vitale, a former First Chicago Corp. senior executive, helped create Urban Partnership Bank out of ShoreBank, which was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. last week.

He is Urban Partnership Bank's executive chairman. Mr. Farrow is Urban Partnership Bank's president and chief executive officer.

ShoreBank was unable to avoid failure despite lining up $150 million in private investments in hopes of securing another $75 million in federal bailout funds. The plan for federal funds ran aground after the Federal Reserve board said that the sum wouldn't be enough to keep the bank solvent over the long haul.

Ms. Kennedy and Mr. Lupiani are former First Chicago executives and Mr. Szott a former employee of National Bank of Detroit, the Tribune reported.

19-year old Woman Shot in Chatham

One person was wounded yesterday in an overnight shooting, according to Chicago Police.

At 6:41 p.m. in Chatham, a 19-year-old woman was shot in the left foot in the 700 block of East 80th Street.

Get Smart! Get It Fresh! Get It at the Chatham Food Market!!!

Fight obesity and reach your target weight with a good serving of fresh produce. Make sure you stock up on fresh produce for the late-summertime season with great grocery shopping at Chatham Food Market, 327 East 79Th Street in the heart of the Chatham retail strip! http://www.chathamfoods.com/

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Cole Park Classic showcases future stars

Although Scottie Pippin and Michael Jordan have retired and gone into the basketball hall of fame, the game goes on. Darnell Graham the Commissioner, facilitator and all around man for the Lyle, Cole Park Classic was all smiles as young men showed their skills and played their best to be in the finals at the Classic on Sunday. As Graham stated "it"s all about the kids". The games will start today at 1:00 p.m. with the younger children (grammer school ) and the older young adults (high School) championship at 6:00 p.m. For all roundball fans come out to Cole Park 8500 King Drive today and watch the future stars perform.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Blog Question

Would you like to see the casino buses come back to Chatham and park in front of the new library site now under construction along 79Th Street between King Drive and Vernon Avenue? Leave your comments on the comment line.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Gun that killed cop bought in Miss. in scheme run by student

The gun that killed Chicago police Officer Thomas Wortham IV in May was purchased in Mississippi as part of a weapons trafficking scheme organized by a college student, authorities said Thursday.

Quawi Gates, 27, a student at a Mississippi college, was sentenced this week to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of gun trafficking there, federal and local law enforcement officials said.
Chicago police and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said they made the connection to Wortham's slaying after Gates was implicated in a scheme that involved buying guns in Mississippi and allegedly selling them to the Gangster Disciples street gang in Chicago, authorities said.

Four firearms have been recovered in Chicago, authorities said.

At his sentencing hearing in Mississippi on Wednesday, prosecutors presented evidence that Gates also trafficked the gun used to kill Wortham, said ATF spokesman Todd Reichert.

Chicago police Cmdr. Keith Calloway, who was Wortham's supervisor at the time of his killing, attended that hearing to make sure the judge understood that Wortham, a member of the Army National Guard who served in Iraq, was a good man.

"I told the judge it was evil and unconscionable that ... somebody would be providing weapons to these gangbangers," Calloway said Thursday.

Police Superintendent Jody Weis added during a news conference Thursday that Gates' actions "put countless lives in jeopardy and directly contributed to the murder of one of the finest officers to ever wear the Chicago Police Department uniform."

Wortham, 30, who was assigned to the Englewood district, was shot outside his parents' house during an attempted robbery.

Four men approached Wortham as he left the Chatham home and tried to steal his motorcycle. Wortham and his father, Thomas Wortham III, exchanged gunfire with the four, killing one of them. The other three have been charged with murder.

Gates, an Englewood native, attended a magnet elementary school before graduating from Bogan High School in 2002.

His younger brother Quawim Gates, 25, said he looked up to him as a father figure.

"The person that they're describing, who they're characterizing, I don't even know who that person is," he said.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Annual Labor Day Outdoor Cookout at the Chatham Food Market

Stop by for the annual Labor Day Outdoor Cookout, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, September 4, 2010, with great grocery shopping at Chatham Food Market, 327 East 79Th Street in the heart of the Chatham retail strip!

Blog Question

At a recent CAPCC Monthly Meeting it was announced that a hotel will not be built on a site in Sub-Area I. What do you think should be built? Another hotel proposal? Leave your comments on the comment line.

New Tip in Michael Bailey Case, According to Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis

Chicago police said Wednesday that detectives are investigating a new tip in to the shooting death of Chicago police officer Michael Bailey, who was gunned down outside his Park Manor home just over a month ago. See this clip from CBS 2 Chicago:

http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=73713@wbbm.dayport.com

And from ABC7 Chicago:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7630494&pid=7629519

Man gets 10 years for trafficking gun used to kill officer

A 27-year-old man responsible for the illegal purchase of a gun used in the slaying of Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV in May was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a firearms trafficking scheme involving weapons brought from Mississippi to Chicago, authorities said today.

Quawi Gates of the 2100 block of West 71st Street in Chicago pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another to cause a federal firearms dealer to keep false records, according to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Four guns bought by straw purchasers for Gates in Mississippi were confiscated in violent crimes in the Chicago area in the hands of Gangster Disciple street gang members, the release stated.

One of the four guns was used in Wortham's slaying on May 19 outside his parents' home in the Chatham neighborhood, according to the ATF. Gates did not take part in the shooting itself.

Gates was sentenced in federal court in Mississippi. His prison time will be followed by three years of supervised release. He will also be ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $200.

See the WGN9 report:

http://www.wgntv.com/search/wgntv-gun-used-in-cops-murder-linked-to-trafficking-case-aug25,0,2282350.story

Saturday, August 21, 2010

SPECIAL REPORT: Feds Seize ShoreBank: Branches will reopen as Urban Partnership Bank; Shore Bank Seized by FDIC, Will Re-open Saturday




Shutterstock

On Friday, ShoreBank, the South Side bank known for its community lending, was seized by the Feds. Its assets were turned over to its management team and will be reopened as Urban Partnership Bank, the Sun-Times is reporting.

Urban Partnership Bank "has indicated that they will maintain ShoreBank's focus of providing loan and deposit products and services to individuals and small- to mid-sized businesses, with a special emphasis on the underserved" neighborhoods, according to a fact sheet issued by the FDIC, according to the paper.

Most of ShoreBank's $2.14 billion in assets was acquired.

ShoreBank's 15 branches will reopen Saturday morning as branches of Urban Partnership Bank and will get a new board of directors. ATM debit cards and checks can be used as usual.

ShoreBank has become renowned nationally for its support of low-income borrowers. According to a report the bank filed, during the first six months of this year, the bank lost $39.6 million and lost $119 million in all of 2009, partly due to bad loans to apartment buildings.

Federal regulators on Friday seized ShoreBank, the fabled South Side bank known for its community lending, and turned its good assets back over to its management team to be reopened as Urban Partnership Bank

It is the 15th bank in the state closed this year because of the recession.

Those regulators walked into ShoreBanks' busiest branch, located at 79th and Cottage Grove and took it over.

A spokesperson said customers should not be worried about their money, but some people we talked to hope the new bank will continue to extend loans to people in the neighborhood.

Some people said ShoreBank would help when other banks would say "no."

"I'm hearbroken. It's just like losing a family member because I've been knowing them ever since 1996 and they've always been friendly and take care of customers," said one ShoreBank customer while watching watching regulators go in and out of the bank.

"I've been banking here for 15 years. Some of my friends ask me about buying a house or starting a business. They want to get loans and they do here," another ShoreBank customer said.

Regulators said a lot of those loans ultimately did in ShoreBank.

All of ShoreBanks' branches in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland will re-open under new management Saturday morning.

ShoreBank started out as "South Shore Bank" back in the 1970's. It was one of very few banks that would extend credit to low income families, mostly on the south side so they could buy their first homes or start a business. The problem for ShoreBank was making so-called jumbo loans to people buying multi-unit apartment complexes.

ShoreBank had more than a year to raise $150 million to save it. That failed, so now the bank is called Urban Partnership Bank. Whichever name is on the door, regulators say deposits are safe.

"They money is fully protected. The transaction the FDIC entered with Urban Partnership Bank, the new bank here, the way it was structured, all deposits were taken over by all the new banks whether you had five dollars or five hundred thousand dollars. David Barr, spokesman with FDIC said.

The new owners say whatever business customers had at ShoreBank will continue under Urban Partnership Bank. They have deep roots in Chicago. The new CEO is a former executive at the old First Chicago Bank which is now Chase.

ShoreBank, the South Side lender that carved out a national reputation by successfully lending in low-income urban neighborhoods for three decades, was seized by regulators Friday after an extraordinary rescue effort featuring the nation’s largest financial firms fell short.

But all was not lost for the neighborhoods ShoreBank has served for more than three decades.

The new management of the bank, led by former First Chicago Corp. senior executive David Vitale, acquired $1.54 billion in deposits and most of ShoreBank’s $2.14 billion in assets from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and will reopen ShoreBank’s 15 branches in the Chicago area, Cleveland and Detroit Saturday morning as Urban Partnership Bank.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. agreed to share losses on $1.41 billion of those assets. The management-led buyout team agreed to pay a 0.5% premium for the deposits and received an asset discount of $146 million.

For the FDIC, the estimated hit to its insurance fund from the failure will be $367.7 million.

In a special news release, the FDIC said the team was the only bidder for the bank and its bid saved the federal fund set aside for bank failures between $250 million and $334 million over a plain liquidation of the bank.

Backing Mr. Vitale and his team were many of the same financial giants — like Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. — that had committed $150 million in fresh equity to ShoreBank in the spring to try to forestall the failure.

Other investors highlighted by the FDIC were Bank of America Corp., American Express Co., Harris N.A., General Electric Co.’s equity investments arm, PNC Investment Corp., State Farm Insurance Cos., Wells Fargo & Co., Key Community Development Corp., Citigroup Inc., the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The FDIC emphasized that it went through its normal bidding procedure for ShoreBank, whose Wall Street bailout has provoked a firestorm on the political right because of suspicions that the Obama administration strong-armed the big financial houses into supporting ShoreBank. The administration has consistently denied that.

Urban Partnership will pursue much of the same mission that drove the founders of ShoreBank when they acquired the old South Shore National Bank in 1973 with the plan to invest in rehabbing the housing stock of the middle-class neighborhood that at the time had been hurt badly by white flight.

ShoreBank was profitable for most of its existence until it was swamped by an avalanche of bad loans in the worst recession since the 1930s.

The failure marks a severely disappointing cap to the careers of ShoreBank co-founders Ronald Grzywinski and Mary Houghton, who earned national acclaim from the likes of President Bill Clinton for demonstrating that banks could earn profits while lending in the inner city. Both left the bank earlier this year, as Mr. Vitale, 63, a longtime resident of Hyde Park on the city’s South Side, agreed in the spring to lead the rescue effort.

The FDIC noted that the board and executives “who presided during the deterioration of the condition of the institution will not be retained.”

Mr. Vitale will serve as chairman of Urban Partnership Bank, while his longtime lieutenant and former First Chicago colleague, William Farrow, will be president and CEO.

It’s unclear whether there will be any role for current ShoreBank CEO George Surgeon, a more than 30-year veteran of the bank who agreed to take over its leadership nearly a year ago. A spokesman for the bank said he didn’t know what Mr. Surgeon’s future role might be.

In a release, Mr. Vitale said, “Urban Partnership Bank will provide access to financial services and support to distressed neighborhoods in order to help transform distressed neighborhoods into strong, stable communities.”

None of ShoreBank's new leadership was available for comment Friday evening.

Given the severity of ShoreBank’s loan losses — the $2-billion-asset bank suffered a net loss of over $100 million last year — it’s remarkable that a bank dedicated to carrying on its work is emerging from the wreckage. Lenders in far better shape that have gone through the FDIC’s failure process generally have been absorbed into larger banks.

To be determined later: What happens with the assets other than the Chicago-based bank, which are held by holding company ShoreBank Corp., the spokesman said. They include several non-profits, an international for-profit subsidiary that fosters micro-lending in poor countries and Ilwaco, Wash.-based ShoreBank Pacific, a separately chartered lender catering to “green” businesses.

ShoreBank Pacific CEO David Williams last spring said he was in talks with outside buyers in the event that ShoreBank failed. He didn’t return a call Friday requesting comment.


Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/Feds-Seize-ShoreBank-101219834.html#ixzz0xFqpSsp1

Also:
http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=73636@wbbm.dayport.com

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7621839&pid=7621555

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/shore-bank-seized-by-fdic-will-re-open-saturday