Tour highlights Lincoln Park outdoor treasures
BY LAURA BURNS
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
Last Saturday morning, a small group of Chicagoans armed with walking shoes and sunhats took a tour of Lincoln Park with Sally Kitt Chappell to see some “hidden treasure in familiar places.”
Chappell is the author of “Chicago’s Urban Nature: A Guide to the City’s Architecture and Landscape.”
Her presentation and walking tour were a part of the Chicago Public Library’s Read Green, Live Green summer reading program.
The event began at the Lincoln Park Public Library, 1150 W. Fullerton Avenue, with a presentation by Chappell about urban nature in Chicago and then followed with a tour of Lincoln Park.
“I like the history of places and the stories,” Hallee Patterson, a Lincoln Park resident, said after the presentation. “Everybody has a different story about each place so it was fun to see hers.”
The group of around 20 headed outdoors into the July heat last Saturday to begin the walking tour, which began about half a block from the Lincoln Park Public Library where there is a small patch of grass. This section was intentionally allowed to grow into natural prairie in a wild, haphazard way. It is meant to show the landscaping of Chicago before the city and add a more natural feel.
The walk continued through DePaul University’s campus across Fullerton Avenue. The university incorporates a very green, open quad as a main aspect of its campus. Chappell cited this as an educational institution that has significantly added to the urban nature of the area.
The tour exited the DePaul campus onto Belden Avenue and turned east. After walking a few blocks, Chappell led the group to Chalmers Place off Fremont Avenue. This privately maintained open area with a small grassy lawn and a few shady trees is a great example of the English row houses connected by a park. This quiet space creates a refuge from the rest of the bustling neighborhood for the residents of the row houses to enjoy the simple, manicured lawn shared amongst them.
The group then continued east up Belden Avenue through the neighborhood before eventually reaching the actual Lincoln Park. Directly across from Stockton Drive, Chappell pointed out the meandering path of the park as a comparison to the informal English type garden. She commended the Chicago Park District for their competent maintenance of the park to create such a colorful, cheery garden. Across from the Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chappell commented on the French-Italian style garden.
“In this case, man controls nature,” Chappell said pointing out the geometric shapes and the symmetric planting.
Next, the tour walked through the pinetum, a little known collection beside the conservatory where a variety of pine trees grow. After this path, the group continued through another small, winding path through the trees planted alongside the building.
“In England, everyone would see this grassy space and know it was a path, but we don’t think that way so it has to be pointed out,” Chappell said.
The final stop on the tour was Caldwell’s Lily Pool, which is located north of the conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo across from the Notebaert Nature Museum. The famous landscape architect, Alfred Caldwell, designed the area to echo the limestone layers of the Midwest much like Columbus Park does. The path winds around the lily pool and slowly descends to imitate the slow moving rivers of the Illinois prairie.
Chappell concluded the walking tour at the council ring, which represents the Native American past of Illinois. At the ring, the group related their thoughts about the Lily Pool, which they described as “peaceful, meditative, relaxing and lovely.” The tour members discussed the quiet of the pool, which is something of a hidden treasure in the neighborhood before parting ways and heading back into the bustling city streets of Chicago with a greater appreciate of the city’s urban nature.
The chief argument of Chappell’s book states that there should not two fields of landscape architecture and architecture. The design of a building and land is one problem, which can be given one solution.
“Architecture should swim in nature,” Chappell said during her library presentation.
When Chappell first came to Chicago in the 1960s she felt what she calls in her book, “an impoverishment of spirit” with all the metal skyscrapers but no real soul to the Second City. Times have changed and today Chicago is home to many examples of inventive landscape architecture, which Chappell discussed in her presentation.
She used Millennium Park particularly the Cloud Gate and the Crown Fountain to show the way boundaries are dissolving between architecture, sculpture and landscaping.
“It gives you one of those rare natural highs that only public art can give you,” Chappell said referring to what is commonly known as the Bean. “You don’t even need a beer.”
She also cited public art and parks as a way to create community. Chappell emphasized that, by creating more spaces for people to come together and get along, places like Millennium Park strengthen democracy.
“At Crown Fountain I saw a white grandmother smiling at a Mexican grandmother as their grandchildren begin to play together in the fountain,” Chappell, a grandmother herself, said.
Chappell showed many other ways that Chicago has dissolved the boundaries between green space and architecture. She cited parks that connect with residential buildings, wastelands have become recreational sites, industrial sites have become tourist magnets, river quais have built-in cafes, median strips have colorful landscaping, and vacant lots that have become gardens as some of the developments in Chicago’s urban nature that have beautified the city as a whole.
Ping Tom Park, located on 19th street and the south branch of the Chicago River, used to be a railway yard until it was rehabilitated and opened as a park in 1999. It is now a popular recreational site with a playground, a riverfront pavilion and bamboo gardens.
Chappell also discussed the landscaping along Michigan Avenue as a “welcoming human atmosphere that softens the big city bluster of Chicago.” The colorful medians along the Magnificent Mile are one of the first impressions for visitors to Chicago.
Even the business district has incorporated urban nature like the building at 311 S. Wacker where a skyscraper has grown a lawn.
“I would have been laughed at if I suggested this sort of thing in the 1960s,” Chappell said.
In the theme of going green, Chappell showed way the city of Chicago’s government has incorporated green space into architecture with their rooftop garden. Only half of the city hall building is green because the county side of the building does not have a garden.
According to Chappell, urban nature also has the ability to create a “sense of place.” Every great city possesses this feeling that makes people know exactly where they are because of the urban nature and architecture that surrounds them.
“Like when you’re sitting at a cafe, drinking a coffee and you can see the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-ElysÈes, there’s only one place in the world you can be and that’s Paris,” Chappell said.
Chicago has this in many aspects, which she displayed in the next section of her presentation beginning with the juxtaposition of the past with the present. The old Water Tower stands in the shadow of the new John Hancock building in a scene that can only be seen in Chicago. Also, there’s the Garfield Park Fern Room that Chappell described as a “masterpiece of landscape architecture.”
As a city perched on the edge of Lake Michigan, it is only apt that Chicago’s urban nature pay tribute to the Great Lakes with Buckingham Fountain and the Art Institute’s South Garden. Finally, in another tribute to the city’s path there is Columbus Park designed by one of Chicago’s most famous landscape architect’s Jens Jensen. The park replicates the limestone layers beneath the city.
Education and cultural institutions can also play a role in Chicago’s urban nature with their planned campuses such as the University of Chicago, DePaul and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Chappell also pointed out Chicago’s unique museum campus, which consists of Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium.
Chappell wrapped up the presentation by emphasizing urban nature’s ability to create culture, contribute to the economy and social life, improve public health, and most importantly enhance democracy. Events in these spaces of urban nature such as the Taste of Chicago, Venetian Nights, and the 4th of July bring the city as a whole together to celebrate. Chappell playfully told the audience that Mayor Daley loved her book as the last slide displayed a shot with the mayor.
Penguin chick hatches
A rockhopper penguin chick at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago peaked out of its rocky crevice nesting den for the first time ever on Aug. 1. The chick hatched in early July and its sex is yet unknown.
Rockhopper penguins are one of the more northerly penguin species found on islands near South America, the southern Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand. As their name implies, rockhopper penguins live and nest on rocky shorelines, and hop from rock to rock. Their populations worldwide have seen a steep decline over the past 30 years. They are listed as vulnerable due to the impact of commercial overfishing, pollution and global warming.
Day of debate voices varied views
Soapbox speakers exercise free speech
BY PATRICK BUTLER
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
It was more like a Golden Gloves match than the 23rd annual Bughouse Square Debates at Clark and Walton. At the top of the Saturday, July 26 card were State Rep. John Fritchey (D-11th) versus Edgewater’s Joe Morris, 1994 GOP contender for Cook County Board president and onetime US delegate to the United Nations,, duking it out over whether to let the American people choose their president.
Fritchey said it’s only fair, while Morris argued the admittedly convoluted Electoral College system protects the country from “unfettered rules by the majority,” especially in the 18 times we’ve had elections divided by three or more parties.
Up next were Pat Brady, Illinois representative on the Republican National Committee, who plugged John McCain, as did Kevin Dujon of Democrats for McCain.
For the Shermans, it was a family day of sorts, as atheist activist Rob castigated the Governor of Illinois for approving a $1 million state grant to Pilgrim Baptist Church on the South Side while daughter Dawn received the John Peter Altgeld Freedom of Speech Award for successfully challenging a state-mandated moment of silence for student prayer or reflection.
Elsewhere in the century-old park where earlier speakers included famed “Attorney for the Damned” Clarence Darrow and reportedly Eamon DeValera, the American-born Irish president and prime minister, Moody Bible Church pastor Erwin Lutzer followed Rob Sherman with his warning that “God is less tolerant than He used to be,” while Kelly Underwood argued against abstinence education in the schools.
Focusing on a variety of personal freedom issues were blues club manager Joseph Paschen advocating for the right to light up in bars; gun rights activist Don Transue; and Allison Carter of the American Civil Liberties Union calling for “No Torture, No Exceptions.”
Other soapboxers ranged from Mike James, former SDSer and founder of Rogers Park’s Heartland Café to disability rights activist Mike Ervin of Access Living.
According to Diane Ciral, who is retiring after more than a decade as chairman of the Bughouse Square Debate Committee, the variety of speakers – and the healthy turnout despite scorching temperatures – clearly proves free speech is alive and well in Chicago even though it’s been nearly 40 years since soapbox speakers were an almost nightly feature at the onetime cow pasture deeded to the city back in the 1840s as a public park where Industrial Workers of the World organizers and curbside evangelists worked the crowds, especially in the years before the Cold War when cops routinely broke up “radical” meetings.
Once, when an officer pulled a man away for reading “red propaganda,” the man tried to explain that he was only reading the Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson.
“Well, then we’ll arrest him too,” the cop is supposed to have told the struggling soapboxer as he was led to a paddy wagon.
Today, that’s all changed, said Ciral, noting that the annual debates are co-sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, as well as Newberry Library, the McCormick Freedom Museum and the Poetry Foundation.
Hopefully, the next step will be to bring back the speeches and debates, not once a year, but several times a week, Ciral said.
Reporter Patrick Butler served as the Master of Ceremonies of the Bughouse Square Debates.
Revamped Diversey Brown Line station opens
Beginning at 5 a.m. Monday, August 4, customers were able to enter the Diversey Brown Line station via a newly renovated stationhouse located on the south side of the street at 943 W. Diversey, across from the old historic entrance. Since March, customers have used a temporary station on the North Side of Diversey to access Brown Line trains.
Elevators have been installed at the new stationhouse making it accessible to customers with disabilities. Diversey is the eleventh of 18 stations to be completed as part of the Brown Line capacity expansion project.
With the reopening of the new Diversey stationhouse, a total of 84 out of 144 CTA rail stations will be accessible.
Work continues on the North Side of the street. An opening celebration is planned for Thursday, August 7 at 11:30 a.m., according to Ald. Vi Daley (43rd).
The Diversey station closed for construction last summer. In March, CTA opened a temporary station at Diversey, three months prior to the originally scheduled opening date.
Work to lengthen the platforms had been completed and allowed the agency to operate eight-car trains along the Brown Line for the first time. The introduction of eight-car service occurred nearly 18 months earlier than originally planned.
The new Diversey stationhouse replaces one that opened for service on the Brown Line in 1900.
Additional improvements include accessible turnstiles, brighter lighting, new signage – including Braille signs – and a bike rack. Construction crews will continue to work in the weeks ahead to remove the temporary station and install additional bike racks, original artwork and landscaping.
The Brown Line is the third busiest line in the CTA rail system. Prior to the June 2007 closure, the average weekday ridership at Diversey station was 4,378. Prior to closing, total Diversey ridership in 2007 was 604,944; annual ridership in 2006 at Diversey was more than one million. Between 1979 and 2005, annual Brown Line ridership increased by 85 percent.
DePaul hosts summer academy for High School filmmakers
Mention summer camp, and thoughts of canoeing on a lake and hikes through the woods come to mind – not highly-advanced digital video cameras, high-end visual effects and animation labs.
Yet DePaul University’s School of Cinema and Interactive Media is redefining the summer camp this week with its first-ever Summer Academy. A group of area high school students will take part in the week long, hands-on exploration of filmmaking, digital cinema production, computer game development and 3-D animation.
While the level of experience varies among the students enrolled, DePaul associate professor Scott Roberts said that the educational opportunity to work with advanced tools that most high schools don’t have is most important for those participating. To that end, two participants are Chicago Public Schools students who are attending the academy on a university-funded scholarship.
“This is a chance for these students to have access to some of the latest technology and equipment used in the industry and to receive individualized instruction from faculty with extensive experience in the field,” he said. “Whether they are a novice or have a background in some of these skills, the chance to learn is what matters.”
Participants, who have expressed interest in a career in the motion picture, television or video game industry, will work in small groups to finish a short film project as well as a game development project by the end of the week. The students will have access to labs fully stocked with current industry-standard tools, such as Final Cut Pro, Maya 3D, Adobe CS3, Toon Boom, and Microsoft’s XNA game development environment for the Xbox 360. They also will take part in sessions on green-screen studio techniques, and work in DePaul’s state-of-the-art motion capture studio.
Free bus pass for disabled veterans available
The The Chicago Transit Authority announced July 31 that beginning on Monday, August 4, active U.S. military personnel and qualifying disabled veterans will be able to register for the new CTA Military Service Pass that will allow them to ride free on CTA buses and trains.
The creation of a Military Service Pass program was authorized by the Chicago City Council in February.
Earlier this year, the CTA began offering free rides for active duty military personnel dressed in full uniform and began developing a Military Service Pass that could be used to register and identify eligible participants who are not in uniform.
“In response to the City Council’s directive, CTA has worked with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs to make the Military Service Passes available to veterans and military personnel,” said CTA President Ron Huberman. “To facilitate the registration process, and lend greater access to our convenient services, CTA has arranged to make the pass available at six locations throughout the agency’s service area.”
“Each year, millions of Illinoisans choose to utilize the CTA and other public transportation because they have the freedom to do so in the United States. Too often we forget that this nation’s military service men and women risked their lives and made major sacrifices to protect those freedoms, just as they continue to do today,” said Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director L. Tammy Duckworth. “I commend the CTA and the City of Chicago for providing our disabled Veterans and active duty service members with free transit rides and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs is happy to assist in the application process. Our service members have given up so much for us, they deserve the very best benefits when they return home.”
“This is something they truly deserve,” added 11th Ward Alderman James A. Balcer.
“There is no way we can thank our active military personnel enough for all of the sacrifices and risks that they undertake on our behalf, especially those who have become injured or disabled in the line of duty,” said 14th Ward Alderman Edward Burke. “But, I hope, in some small way, the launching of this new program demonstrates our respect.”
Qualified disabled veterans and active duty military personnel not in uniform must have the CTA issued Military Service Pass in order to ride free. Active duty military personnel dressed in full uniform may continue to ride CTA buses and trains free without the new pass.
To be eligible for the Military Service Pass, active military personnel must present an Armed Forces identification card. Disabled veterans must present a valid state identification card along with an official letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs indicating eligibility for a qualifying service-connected disability payment.
CustomDePaul hosts summer academy for High School filmmakersers will receive their Military Service Pass the same day they register by going to one of the following authorized locations on the selected days, where CTA personnel will be on site to take applicants’ photos and confirm their eligibility.
Should military personnel or disabled veterans have any questions or experience any problems while using the Military Service Pass, CTA bus operators and customer assistants are available to assist. The CTA Military Service Pass is an identification card that can only be used on CTA buses and trains; it is not valid for Metra, Pace or Pace Paratransit services.
DePaul students learn about business franchising
The next time you dip an Al’s Italian Beef in gravy or bite into a Nancy’s pizza, your consumer experience may be enhanced by student research from another well-known Chicago institution: DePaul University.
As part of an undergraduate business course, 17 DePaul entrepreneurship students collaborated this summer with Chicago Franchise Systems of Tinley Park – which licenses 60 Al’s and Nancy’s restaurants in three states – to evaluate operations, finances, marketing and service quality at stores in the chain.
The students spent five weeks interviewing franchise owners, employees and customers at six Chicago-area Al’s and Nancy’s restaurants. They studied demographic data for each store; toured the Al’s Beef training facility in Orland Park; pored over the firm’s financial statements and interviewed franchise executives. From their analysis, they provided the executives with their recommendations for improving operations and growing sales, from new methods for tracking store finances to marketing through social media.
“Chicago Franchise Systems gave students full access to their operations and employees; they were looking for fresh ideas,” said Harold Welsch, DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Chair, who taught the course. “They opened their books so students could study cost data, which provided a rare opportunity for an extraordinary learning experience.”
Impressed with the class and its professor, Dave Howey, president of Chicago Franchise Systems, called the students’ research and ideas “very worthwhile,” particularly their recommendations for utilizing social media sites to reach out to young consumers.
“The students provided a new set of eyes and a new point of view. They looked at it from different angles and provided an in-depth, third-party overview, which is very valuable.”
DePaul’s network of alumni played a big role in bringing together the franchise and the students. Michael Stadnicki, vice president of franchise development for Chicago Franchise Systems, earned his undergraduate management degree from DePaul in 2000 and is currently enrolled in DePaul’s evening MBA program.
He studied entrepreneurship with Welsch and credits the hands-on approach of DePaul’s highly ranked entrepreneurship program for his career success. His first foray into entrepreneurship after graduation—Nextdayfunding, a credit card system for taxicabs—started as a proposal that he created under Welsch’s tutelage to win a student business plan competition. He then worked as executive vice president for Francorp, the largest franchise consulting company in the U.S., before joining Chicago Franchise Systems in 2007.
Stadnicki welcomed the chance to work with his mentor again through the class research project and to provide current students the kind of hands-on, practical learning experiences he had at DePaul.
“DePaul is Chicago-based, and Al’s and Nancy’s are Chicago institutions. This provides great synergy,” he said. “Students understand the local brand. Through the project they gained first-hand knowledge about business. It also was very valuable for us to get their insights on procedures, processes, markets, store layout and financials.”
DePaul MBA student and graduate assistant Neil Feuling, a restaurant veteran and business consultant who helped the undergraduate students identify a diagnostic model and utilize industry resources to enhance their final report, said studying an existing franchise is a great way for students to learn about founding their own businesses, according to Robin Florzak of DePaul.
“Students were able to learn about both the exciting and the challenging aspects of owning a business from the individual franchisees,” he said. “You need an entrepreneurial spirit to be able to run these businesses and to grow the franchise.”
Space program narrative selected for One Book, One Chicago program
“The Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe will be the 15th selection for Chicago’s citywide book club, One Book, One Chicago. The book, first published in 1979, tells the remarkable story of Project Mercury, the United States’ first attempt to send a man into space, and the lives of the pilots at the center of the attention.
To kickoff the celebration this summer, a free screening of the movie version of “The Right Stuff” will be held in Grant Park on Thursday, August 14 at 8 p.m. The screening serves as an unofficial start of the Chicago Air & Water Show, which begins the next day. The Library will be present at North Avenue Beach during the Air & Water Show, handing out copies of the book as well as the resource guide and bookmarks.
On display throughout the Harold Washington Library Center through November 1 is an exhibit entitled “The Right Stuff – X-Vehicles and Spacecraft: Then and Now.” With rarely-seen images and objects loaned by the Boeing Corporation, the Motorola Foundation and NASA, this exhibit gives readers of the book and other aerospace enthusiasts a chance to see photographs, technical drawings and renderings of X-vehicles and space vehicles from The Right Stuff era and beyond. The viewer gets a sense of the drama, excitement and ingenuity that characterized our country’s earliest forays into space.
The nonfiction account received the American Book Award that year and was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist.
Chicago Public Library Board of Directors President Jayne Carr Thompson announced this on July 31.
“As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the NASA and the kickoff of Science Chicago, a year-long celebration of science, this book is a perfect choice to remind us how much can be achieved by those with the vision and the courage to take on a challenge such as literally ‘shooting for the moon’,” Thompson said in remarks at a press event at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State. “We hope all Chicagoans will enjoy reading this compelling, yet human, account of the men who first ventured into space. We are excited to highlight Tom Wolfe’s work of ‘new journalism’ and proud to be presenting him with the Carl Sandburg Literary Award at the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s dinner in October.”
One Book, One Chicago began in the fall of 2001, to encourage all Chicagoans to read the same book at the same time, and discuss a great piece of literature with friends and neighbors. Chicago Public Library librarians have created resource guides and will conduct book discussions across the city in libraries, colleges and cultural institutions. One Book, One Chicago can be experienced in virtually every Chicago neighborhood throughout October. This includes film screenings, lectures, and panel discussions at the Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Steppenwolf Theatre and Beverly Arts Center.
The Library is partnering with the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science & Industry and Steppenwolf Theatre to present a variety of programs in October exploring not only the race to space and the real lives of the astronauts, but also Tom Wolfe’s part in the development of the “new journalism” form of non-fiction writing. The author himself will appear at the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center on October 16, for a conversation about his work with journalist Carol Marin.
DePaul University will once again offer a ten-week, graduate level course to explore the book beginning September 10. For more information, including course tuition, visit the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program Web site at www.depaul.edu/~oboc or call (773) 325-7839.
Additionally, Harold Washington College and Shimer College, located on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology, will hold various public programs inspired by “The Right Stuff” and a series of book discussions. One Book, One Chicago discussions will also take place at select Barnes and Noble locations, Literacy Chicago, Gerber/Hart Library, Wright College and Loyola University. Nearly 2,000 copies of the book and dozens of DVDs are available at Chicago Public Library locations. At seven Chicago Public Library branches, patrons can check out a Book Club in a Bag which contains eight copies of the novel and resource guides. One Book, One Chicago programs are open to the public and free of charge. For an up-to-date schedule of events, call (312) 747-8191 or visit chicagopubliclibrary.org.
One Book, One Chicago selections have been “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “My Ántonia” by Willa Cather, “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, “The Coast of Chicago” by Stuart Dybek, “In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez, “The Ox- Bow Incident” by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin, “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller and “The Long Goodbye” by Raymond Chandler.
The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the Harold Washington Library Center, two regional libraries and 76 neighborhood branches. All locations provide free access to a collection of books, DVDs, audio books and music; the Internet and WiFi; research databases, many of which can be accessed from a home or office computer; newspapers and magazines; and continue to serve as cultural centers, presenting author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults, according to Ruth Lednicer, Library Director of Marketing.
Chamber holds outing to Cubs game
Home run! Enjoy pre-game hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at John Barleycorn Memorial Pub, 3524 N. Clark St., and then be sure to “steal” the deal with potential clients and customers during a baseball game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field Wednesday, August 20 at an event sponsored by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce.
Networking at John Barleycorn Memorial Pub will be held from 5:30 7:00 p.m. and the baseball game begins 7:05 p.m. when the Cincinnati Reds take on the Cubbies.
RSVP and pay by August 11. Cost is $30 per chamber of commerce member and $40 for non-member. Only 50 tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Tickets must be reserved in advance.
New members join Lincoln Park chamber
Several new members singed up with the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, 1925 N. Clybourn, as announced last month. The new members are:
·Business Coaching &
Consulting
Vahn Scott Business Solutions
Siovahn Woolum
5201 S. Calumet
Chicago, IL 60615
(866) 668-1716
·Entertainment & Theaters
The Magic of Benjamin Barnes
Benjamin Barnes
439 East End Ave
Hillside, IL 60162
(630) 670-6139
·Health Care
Chicago Vein Institute
Lejla Sunje
4906 N. Western
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 506-7340
·Health Care: Chiropractic
Lincoln Park Chiropractic
Dr. Peter Zid
2202 N. Lincoln Ste. 1
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-2790
·Home Furnishings &
Accessories
Outlook Window Fashions
Dan Pastwa
2051 N. Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-6300
·Hospitals & Medical Centers
Lincoln Park Hospital
Jeremy Clark
550 W. Webster
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 883-3802
·Hotels & Lodging
Hotel Indigo Chicago
Carolyn Martinez
1244 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 787-4980
·Personal Trainers
Chicago Iron Sports
Rudy Tapalla
1962 N. Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-0411
·Restaurants: Casual Dining
Aladdin’s Eatery
Joe Boumaroun
614 W. Diversey
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-6300
·Restaurants: Casual Dining
P.J. Clarke’s
Ann Ensenberger
1141 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-8000
·Restaurants: Casual Dining
Trattoria Gianni
Giovanni Delisi
1711 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 266-1976
·Restaurants: Fine Dining
Tsuki Japanese Restaurant
LaShanda Brent
1441 W. Fullerton
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 883-8722
·Retail
Bellini Baby and Teen Furniture
Jeff Hudgins
1800 N. Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 981-6301
·Salons & Spas
La Maison Du Parfum
Xviara Owens
701 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 787-1747
·Video Production
P3 New Media Group
Peter Braun
401 N. Michigan
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 646-7000
Free play slated for August 25
The City Department of Cultural Affairs Theater introduces Incubator; a series designed to support the creation of new work by emerging Chicago theater companies with the play ““Watering Hole” Monday, August 25 at 7 p.m. at the Studio Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Utilizing Chicago DCA Theater space and resources, participants explore new projects, develop and refine styles, and share their process with the public during a special showcase event. For the inaugural event in the series, Dog and Pony Theatre Company will showcase their work-in-progress, “Watering Hole.”
Started in 2002, Dog and Pony Theatre is committed to producing vital works by new and emerging playwrights whose use of language and convention are daring and highly imaginative.
As an eclectic collective of artists with backgrounds in theatre, public broadcasting, political activism, and religious studies, Dog & Pony is particularly drawn to work with social and cultural relevance.
Chicago DCA Theater is a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. It offers downtown audiences the best off-Loop theater experience, determined seasonally through a proposal process open to the city’s emerging and developing theater companies. Reservations encouraged.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Activist urges continued battle against soccer field
The fact of the matter is, it would be a great injustice on several levels to allow construction of the soccer field to continue in the South Meadow of Lincoln Park:
• Most importantly, because it has broad ramifications -- it reaffirms the cynical cycle of political impunity, in which we allow the powerful to override the public process with deceit.
• More specifically, it takes away a scarce open-use meadowland, the largest of its kind in the area, despite two huge public outcries, one in 2002 and the other in 2008. It replaces this meadow forever with the environmental curiosity known as artificial turf, which is becoming more objectionable the more we learn about it. It greatly narrows the use of this meadow.
• It also forces taxpayers to provide a soccer stadium on public land neighboring the Latin campus, but over a mile from the next nearest high school. Because of its proximity, Latin will be rewarded, getting the greatest convenience from this field -- but now they don’t even have to pay to build it.
• Finally, it ignores the fact that it is a very poor location. A publicly owned field is readily available at North and Larrabee, just a few blocks west, that is next to public transportation and to other high schools and public schools that may use the field (it is approximately equidistant from Latin, Payton, Near North, and Parker). But instead of letting kids use it, the field was leased by the public schools to a small private soccer league. Latin was even offered this land, but they rejected it because they had friends in high places and believed they could get Lincoln Park. There are many other options.
The latest party line is to argue that it would be irresponsible, a waste of taxpayer money, not to follow through. To agree with this cheap argument would be to fall into the hands of their strategy. The fact is that we would not be at this stage if they had not deceived us all. When we asked Gery Chico to stop, to hold community meetings and discuss alternatives, he smiled at us and continued, knowing that the more they built, the more easily they could argue that it was a done deal. That was irresponsible and reckless of them.
I also must correct two of Alderman Daley’s claims, the first being that during community meetings there was significant support for this proposal. Since 2002, there has been only a team of three or four Latin School public relations staff and well-paid adult league organizers who have ever expressed sustained support for this project. That should give an indication of the narrow scope of who will benefit. Even the Lincoln Park Advisory Council was always ambivalent -- because it was overloaded with apathetic and politically motivated players and had not sought community input. They now know they too were deceived. Last month, a more balanced council voted to condemn the project and call for a return to grass.
Also contrary to Vi Daley’s claims, the proposal is absolutely inconsistent with the Lincoln Park Framework Plan. This area has never been considered an athletic area. The four-acre meadow is incorrectly designated in the plan as a mixed-use field, and the plan must be corrected. When I played on Latin’s soccer team, nobody used this field for any kind of sport; instead, we used the area south of the path, where the ball fields are. In my 45 years living here, the only sports I’ve ever seen played on this meadow have been frisbee and the occasional rugby practice.
Alderman Daley has announced that she merely “wasn’t happy” with the underhanded process. Such a soft statement -- that she was merely displeased, and not furious like those of us who were compelled to fight -- shows the political difference between Vi Daley and her neighbor Brendan Reilly, who has demonstrated the proper response of an alderman in the face of an offense of this category. North of North Avenue, we must do the work of opposing this, and Alderman Daley, true to form, has once again staked her tent on the wrong side, far away from the people’s camp. This will be remembered when Michele Smith defeats her in 2011.
This shouldn’t happen here in Lincoln Park. On the field site today, there is a giant hill of dirt now covered with green grass and weeds. This growth is symbolic, a testament to our strenuous efforts. The hill would have been trucked away long ago, but our attorneys forced the project to a complete standstill in May. And this is the selfsame soil where, 40 years ago this month, children were billy-clubbed and teargassed by Chicago Police for standing their ground against Mayor Daley’s father. Today, we did our small part for justice, standing our ground for public land, and we must not lie down on this offense by the younger Daley.
Neighbors and friends, we must all work to challenge this. Not only is it crucial to preserve this meadow as grass; on a broader level, it is of great importance to stand up bravely and oppose these underhanded processes that have become such a hallmark of Chicago politics. We can win this. Protect Our Parks says they are prepared to fight, but to win they need the support of all Chicagoans who truly care about the democratic process. The three things neighbors can do, in order of importance, are to contribute very generously to Protect Our Parks’ legal fund (protectourparks.org/donate); to sign Protect Our Parks’ petition (protectourparks.org/petition) so that they may keep you informed and active; and to attend the Plan Commission hearing on August 21. You can be added to an alert for this event by signing the petition.
I hope you can do all three. But if you do nothing else, you should contribute very, very generously at savelincolnpark.org/donate. There will be a legal battle, it is winnable, and it absolutely must be done. It is worth the relatively small sum we citizens and taxpayers will pay, to demonstrate to the city that we must never reward deceit. What we stand to lose here cannot be measured in financial terms.
Peter Zelchenko of Lincoln Park is a former Latin School soccer player, current AYSO coach and parent and the Co-founder of Protect Our Parks.
Steppenwolf presents repertory of new work
Steppenwolf Theatre Company will hold the 4th annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotation and accompanied by a series of events around the development of new work. First Look Repertory of New Work runs July 23 to August 10 in the Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St. All tickets are $20.
The First Look Repertory of New Work 2008 productions includes “Pursued by Happiness.”
This is about an unexpected meeting between two 40-something biochemists which touches off a whirlwind romance. But when it’s time to meet the parents, a series of shocking revelations test the new couple’s relationship in this dark comedy.
In addition, “Perfect Mendacity” will also be featured.
When a top secret, internal memo from a scientific research facility is leaked to the media, Dr. Walter Kreutzer is forced to take a lie detector test about its origins. With his career on the line, Walter gets tangled up in investigations of bioterrorism and racially motivated killings. As suspicions escalate that Walter’s wife is involved, the play’s riveting plot twists uncover the insidious hypocrisy of government sanctioned discrimination.
The third production is called “Fair Use” where a plagiarism case involving a famous author is the backdrop for this romantic comedy set in a high-powered law firm. A series of questionable love letters fuel this breezy cross-examination of modern dating and relationships.
First Look Repertory of New Work is a developmental process that culminates in performance before an audience, rather than in a staged reading or workshop presentation. Scripts undergo significant revision during the workshop/rehearsal process and may be revised even after being publicly presented during First Look Repertory of New Work. The intent is to develop the plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country.
Chicago 2016 makes appointments
Olympic booster Chicago 2016 announced August 1 that it is strengthening its commitment to sport and athletes, including plans for accessibility, as part of its bid to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Chicago in 2016. To support this effort, William Scherr will take on the position of Director of Sport, and Linda Mastandrea has been named Director of Paralympic Sport and Accessibility.
“As an Olympian, I know firsthand what athletes need to perform at their highest levels,” said Scherr. “I will work to ensure our plan fully supports this notion—including considerations for our venue plans.”
Scherr is Chairman of World Sport Chicago, an organization founded as the living legacy of the bid, and a board member of Chicago 2016. He previously served on the boards of USA Wrestling and the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame. He has also held coaching positions with the U.S. National Wrestling Team and Indiana University. Scherr competed in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, where he won a bronze medal. He has spent the past 18 years as a professional with Goldman Sachs in Chicago.
As Director of Sport, Scherr will focus on building relationships with international, national and local sport federations to ensure sport is represented throughout the Chicago 2016 bid. In addition, he will lead all athlete-related activities, including athlete relations and coordination, and will act as a liaison between the bid and Olympic athletes in support of Chicago 2016.
Scherr will work closely with Doug Arnot, Director of Sport, Venues and Operations for Chicago 2016, who has previously held leadership and management roles on six Olympic Games. Throughout a 30-year career in sport, Arnot has been a coach, administrator and program developer and has held multiple positions in super event management. He founded the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation, the Bay State Games and Winter Games and the National Congress of State Games.
“Athletes are the inspiration for the Games and the role models for today’s youth,” said Patrick G. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “Our plan for the Games places Olympians and Paralympians—and everything they stand for—at the heart of the bid.”
Mastandrea will work closely with the City of Chicago and the International Paralympic Committee on the bid’s accessibility initiatives and its plans for the 2016 Paralympic Games. In 2007, the National Organization on Disability selected Chicago as one of its Accessible America winners, recognizing the city as a national model for its focus on disability issues. Along with Arnot and Scherr in the Sport group, Mastandrea completes an experienced leadership team for Chicago 2016.
Mastandrea is a Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair track and held national and world records in all five distances in which she competed during her career. She is on the board of Access Living and is Vice President to the National Disability Sports Alliance and a member of Legal Committee of the International Paralympic Committee. Mastandrea is an attorney and leads a private practice concentrating on disability law and advocacy.
“From day one, Chicago has placed at the center of its bid a commitment to sport and service to athletes, and these important appointments further strengthen that commitment,” said Bob Ctvrtlik, United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Vice President, International, and a three-time Olympian in the sport of volleyball.
Armed robbery investigation ongoing
The Chicago Police Department is investigating late and early morning armed robberies where a handgun was used to threaten the victims. The robberies have occurred between 11:30 pm and 2:00 am between July 6 and July 12. These robberies have occurred on 1400 N. Astor, 600 W. Belden, and 2300 N. Geneva. The offenders approach victims from behind or around a fixed object while victim is walking and then displays a Silver 9 mm semi-auto handgun with a black handle.
The offenders are thought to be Male, black, between 20-25 years-old., 5’5” to 5’9”, 160 lbs., brown eyes, black hair with a light and medium complexion. One of the men may have a cut on the right elbow.
Police adviser people to “be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking in areas with poor lighting during night time hours, be aware of any persons or vehicles that may be watching or following you. Avoid carrying purses or bags that are visible to others. Place your wallet, cell phone, keys, and others valuables in the inside pockets of your clothing. Avoid carrying an excessive amount of currency and/or credit cards. Immediately call “911” if you encounter these offenders. Remember physical descriptions, clothing, vehicle descriptions, and license plate information.”
Any information, please call 312-742-5778. The robberies occurred in police beat 1812 and beat 1824.
In addition, a commercial robbery occurred in a small retail store on the 1100 block of West Armitage Avenue on July 27 at approximately 9:30 PM. The offender entered the store, displayed a chrome handgun and demanded money from the cash register.
The offender is described as a male white Hispanic, 5’10”, 190 lbs., 40 years of age, black hair, brown eyes, olive complexion, wearing a dirty white “t” shirt and blue jeans.
Zoo researcher questions use of chimps in ads
BY STEVE ROSS
You see it on greeting cards and in countless TV programs and commercials: the exaggerated grin on the face of a young chimpanzee, often one that’s wearing sunglasses or a grass skirt. It’s about as common a ploy for laughs as a pie in the face. Generations have been amused by the antics of Bonzo, J. Fred Muggs, Zippy and, more recently, the business-suited chimps of Careerbuilder.com. A chimpanzee covering its eyes in embarrassment? What’s not to love? But this picture, harmless as it might appear, is giving the public the mistaken and even dangerous impression that chimpanzees have a safe and comfortable existence - and nothing could be further from the truth.
A survey that I and several colleagues conducted in 2005 found that one in three visitors to the Lincoln Park Zoo assumed that chimpanzees are not endangered. Yet more than 90 percent of these same visitors understood that gorillas and orangutans face serious threats to their survival. And many of those who imagined chimpanzees to be safe reported that they based their thinking on the prevalence of chimps in advertisements, on television and in the movies.
In reality, chimpanzees face a severe threat in the wild: their numbers have dropped to about 20 percent of what they were a century ago, as their habitat in equatorial Africa is deforested and they are hunted as bushmeat. And once you know this, it can become more difficult to view chimpanzees as silly subhuman caricatures. Consider that chimpanzees share as much as 98 percent of our genetic makeup. They make and use tools, recognize and identify hundreds of individuals in their groups and learn from others skills like termite fishing. Of course, the reverse is also true: we are 98 percent chimpanzee. Would we condone putting funny clothes on human children so that we could laugh at the way they look like subhuman buffoons?
A progressive society should weigh the moral costs and benefits of practices like these. Misrepresentations of chimpanzees may not be as repugnant as racism, bigotry or sexism. But they can still serve as a benchmark for our society’s moral progress.
The good news is that a growing number of companies, including Honda, Puma and Subaru, have pledged to stop the use of primates in advertisements. The journal Science recently stopped its promotional campaign featuring chimpanzees in hats reading the magazine. That two consecutive Super Bowls have gone by without a major ad campaign featuring a chimpanzee is reason for optimism. Sometimes, success has to be measured in small increments.
Steve Ross is the supervisor of behavioral and cognitive research at the Lester Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Environmental company moves to city
Veolia Environment, the world’s largest environmental services company, has selected Chicago as the location of the new North American headquarters for its four operational groups, Mayor Richard M. Daley said July 29 .
The company made the announcement at a breakfast held at the Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr., at which Daley spoke.
“When a company such as Veolia makes a commitment like this one, it sends a strong message to the business community that that our leaders work together and that Chicago can meet the needs of any company in the world – from the largest to the smallest,” Daley said
“And Veolia’s decision further strengthens our reputation as a world-class city,” he said.
The new headquarters will bring about 60 executive managers and administrative personnel to Chicago in October, 2008, in space that has been rented in the Aon Center, 200 E. Randolph St.
Veolia is the world’s largest environmental services company. The company operates in 68 countries and has 320,000 employees worldwide. The four groups that will headquarter in Chicago employ 31,000 people and the company already has about 1,000 employees in the Chicago area.
The company said it made its decision based on a number of factors, including Chicago’s world-class business reputation, its central location and a workforce that benefits from renowned universities and a diverse culture.
But what is especially pleasing in the Veolia announcement is that the company says that Chicago’s strong environmental and sustainable development initiatives played a big part in the decision, Daley said.
“Since I have been Mayor it has been my goal to make Chicago the most environmentally-friendly city in the nation and I believe we have made great progress toward that goal, the Mayor said.
“Last year, Chicago was ranked as the number one Green City by Business Facilities magazine. And just last month, Chicago was chosen as a winner of the first annual Sustainable Cities Award given by the Financial Times and the Urban Land Institute,” he said.
The Sustainable Cities Award recognized Chicago for leading all cities in incorporating preservation and sustainability practices into its own operations and in the delivery of services to its constituents.
It also commended Chicago for the comprehensiveness of its involvement in environmentally-friendly practices.
At the breakfast, Veolia also released the findings of a first-of-its-kind biennial survey examining how 8,600 people in 14 of the world’s largest cities feel about their city. Chicago residents are among the most satisfied in the world and the most optimistic about their city’s future, according to the survey.
“A long time ago, we came to the conclusion in Chicago that environmentalism makes economic sense. When a city exists in harmony with its environment, it simply looks better and feels better. And we know that shows up on the financial bottom line,” Daley said. “So we are pleased that the study that Veolia announced today confirms that conclusion,” he said.
Police accept school supply donations
The 18th District Police Department is collecting donations of new school supplies for the Near North Community. Collection boxes are located in the 18th District, Near North Station lobby, at Larrabee and Division.
Requested items include notebooks and notebook paper, binders and pocket folders, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, glue sticks, scissors, backpacks and lunch boxes.
Donations will be accepted through September 5.
Chicago officials travel to Beijing for Candidate City Observer Program
Chicago 2016 announced July 31 that representatives from the Olympic bid committee will travel to Beijing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a Candidate City vying for the 2016 Games. The delegation, including Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016 and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, will attend the Games to obtain a better understanding of what it means to be a Host City. Candidate Cities Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan, will also participate in the Observer Program.
“This trip is a wonderful opportunity for us to share our plans and our vision for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as to listen and learn as we watch the City of Beijing host the 2008 Games,” said Mayor Daley.
“The Beijing Games represent unprecedented access to the activities of a Host City, and we look forward to sharing in Beijing’s success as the Games get underway,” said Ryan. “This is an exciting time for the Olympic Movement and we are honored to attend the Games in an official capacity.”
The delegation, which includes members of the Chicago 2016 board and staff, Olympians and members of the Chicago community, will participate in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Observer Program and will have the opportunity to introduce Chicago to an international audience and provide a glimpse into the city’s plans for hosting the 2016 Games. They will also interact with members of international sport organizations to gain feedback and insight that will help strengthen Chicago’s bid. Members of the delegation will also attend the opening ceremony and many sporting events.
“This will be a particularly exciting time in Chicago, and we know Chicagoans are eager to celebrate the Games and show their support for the athletes,” said Ryan. “It will also be a proud time for the more than 100,000 Chinese-Americans living in Chicago watching the Games in Beijing.”
During the Olympic Games in Beijing, Chicago 2016 staff, Olympians and Paralympians and ambassadors from the Olympic Youth Camp will share their experiences on the Chicago 2016 blog at www.blog.chicago2016.org.
Lincoln Park firefighters compete in firemen’s cook-off
BY PETER VON BUOL
SPECIAL TO INSIDE
Firefighters from four Lincoln Park fire engines will compete in a “firemen’s cook off” to be held on Aug. 16-17 at a parking lot located at 2500 N. Clark Street.
Unlike most professions, while on duty, fire fighters live at their fire stations and most of their meals are eaten together. Those who cook for their fire house colleagues are often proud of their culinary skills and it is not uncommon for good-natured discussions about food to take place when fire fighters from different fire houses get together.
In a fundraising event presented by the Park West Community Association, teams of fire fighters from the four fire engines that serve Lincoln Park will compete against one another for the title of Firemen’s Cook-Off Champion. The fire fighters involved in the competition are representing Engine 4, which is based at Division and Larrabee; Engine 14 based at May and Chicago; Engine 22 based at Armitage and Larrabee and Engine 55 based at Diversey and Halsted.
The public is invited to the sample the different dishes prepared by the teams and a panel of judges will decide which team will earn this year’s title and trophy. The event is expected to become an annual competition.
According to Sandra Matson, first vice president of the Park West Community Association, the fire fighters consider the event a serious competition and have not released any information about the dishes they will be preparing.
“It’s a [real] competition, so the actual dishes are still a secret. The types of food include at least pork, beef, chicken and turkey,” said Matson.
While chili is often served at food competitions, Matson told Inside the dish will not be on the weekend’s menu. Admission to the event is five dollars and visitors will be able to purchase the various firehouse entries. Soda, beer and wine will also be available for purchase. The event is open from Noon to 10:00 pm on Aug. 16 and Noon to 8:00 pm on Aug. 17.
The competitors in the cook off won’t be the only fire fighters making a special appearance at the event. Fire fighters who served as models for the 2008 calendar sponsored by Ignite the Spirit Fund (www.ignitethespirit.org), a private charitable organization which provides services and support to families of fire fighters are scheduled to make appearances.
In addition to the culinary competition, the fundraiser will also feature live music. On Aug. 16, the aptly-named local band Four Star Alarm is scheduled to take the stage at 8:00 pm. The following evening, at 6:00 pm, a popular local band, A Band Called Pharisee, will reunite for one night to perform at the event.
According to the web site of the Park West Community Association, the neighborhood organization “is an all-volunteer organization that is devoted to the service and well-being of the community’s residents. The Association [supplies] financial support to key local institutions, [undertakes] civic actions on the community’s behalf, and [produces] social events that strengthen the bonds between the neighborhood’s residents.”
Alderman comments on Aug. 4 storm
There are still almost 1,300 residences without power in this ward [As of Aug. 5 evening]. These 1300 units are located in 23 locations, the largest section has 182 units and all of the rest are within the remaining 22 other areas. City-wide there are over 105,000 residences without power. The same small groupings of outages are spread throughout the City - a particularly difficult challenge. ComEd does not expect to have all of the City back up until sometime on Thursday. They have brought in crews from other states to help with the restoration of power. Like many of you, I expect another dark night in my area of Old Town. Throwing a bag or two of ice into the fridge might help keep your food cold enough to last through this outage. Please call 1-800-Edison1 for the latest information.
There are three city forestry crews working in the ward. Trees that are on live/downed power lines must be serviced by ComEd. City-wide there are over 2,600 trees with major damage. In the 43rd Ward, over 100 trees have sustained serious damage.
Streets and Sanitation crews have been working since just after 8:00PM last night. Streets and San workers will be working overtime for the next few days, at least. Your help in moving debris (small tree limbs, broken branches, etc) to the area where your garbage is picked up would be greatly appreciated. Streets and San trucks will pick-up debris as often as possible.
Over two inches of water fell in a very short time last night. It is going down and all areas with standing water have been reported.
Street light outages have been reported. There are approximately 280 blocks of street lights out citywide. Many blocks will need to be re-set by the Bureau of Electricity once ComEd restores power.
I received a couple of calls today regarding the warning sirens. If you did not hear the sirens or believe the sound was not loud enough please email my office with your name and address. I will bring your comments to the attention of the Office of Emergency Management & Communications.
Please keep an eye on elderly or ill neighbors. If there is anyone that you believe needs help, please call my office. I will post up-dates on my website as I receive them. I want to thank you for your patience. Everyone I have spoken with today has been very understanding and it is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ald. Vi Daley (43rd)
$67 million Grand-State CTA Red Line station reconstruction underway
Lane reductions are in place on Grand Avenue and State Street, as the Chicago Department of Transportation continues work on the CTA Grand/State Red Line Subway station reconstruction.
The $67 million project is rebuilding the mezzanine and platform at the station, the Red Line’s eight busiest with more than 8,000 passengers daily. The project will expand the mezzanine more than 2,000 square feet, and nearly double the entering/exiting capacity by adding fare turnstiles.
The renovation will be the first major update since the station’s construction in the late 1940s. The design will follow the theme established in previous Red Line subway station renovations at Chicago/State, Lake/Randolph and Jackson.
The project highlights include new granite floors and stairs, new glazed tile walls, new stainless steel light trays and energy-efficient lighting, three new elevators and one new escalator, new customer-assistant kiosks and a new CTA communications and speaker system.
“This project further demonstrates Mayor Daley’s continued commitment to public transit,” said Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Thomas G. Byrne. “The Mayor recognizes that a strong transit system is critical for maintaining the city’s economic strength and quality of life.”
There will be traffic and pedestrian impacts. Grand Avenue is reduced to two westbound lanes.
State Street north of Grand is reduced to two lanes northbound and one lane southbound. Southbound traffic must turn westbound on Grand only—no through traffic is allowed.
State Street south of Grand is reduced to one lane northbound only. Westbound turns onto Grand are prohibited.
This configuration will remain in place through December 2008.
In addition, there are CTA customer and nearby buildings impacts.
However, all businesses along Grand and State remain open during construction.
The Grand/State station remains open to CTA customers throughout the project. Some entrances and exits will be temporarily closed at various stages of the project. Signs will clearly direct CTA customers to available entrances and exits.
Funding for the project is provided through the Federal Transit Administration (80 percent) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (20 percent).
Children’s Memorial Foundation announces new vice president and chief operating officer
Children’s Memorial Foundation has announced the appointment of Alice Archabal, 41, as its vice president, development and chief operating officer.
Archabal will oversee the daily fundraising operations and support systems for the foundation, the philanthropy arm of Children’s Memorial Hospital. She will work directly with the foundation president to develop strategies and evaluate plans and systems to support the fundraising programs of the hospital.
“Alice brings a tremendous passion for children’s causes to her work with us as well as a wealth of relevant experience. We look forward to her contributions as we continue to do our part to ensure a healthier future for Chicago’s children,” says Thomas J. Sullivan, president of Children’s Memorial Foundation.
Most recently Archabal served as chief development officer at America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network in Chicago. There she successfully doubled financial donations in just three years and was most recently responsible for an annual budget of $53 million and $600 million of in-kind support. Prior to that she was the senior director of field operations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
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