Chicago Technology Loan Program

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By Tina Jenkins Bell, BAPA School Liaison

According to Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer LaTanya McDade, CPS has and will continue to disburse laptops and iPads to schools to lend to students in need of technology to access remote learning instruction, lessons, and activities. In a PBS Chicago Tonight interview on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, McDade said 100 CPS schools received 1100 devices last week during spring break to distribute to students in need. Another 400 schools received a total of 60,000 laptops or tablets this week, which also marked the transition from enrichment to remote learning. McDade said, for the next two weeks, from April 20 through the end of the month, another 37,000 devices will be distributed.

Does your child need a laptop or tablet to access remote instruction? Contact your school for assistance.

Pandemic Curriculum

Not sure if your student is putting in enough instructional hours?  Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer LaTanya McDade, in a Tuesday, April 14, 2020, PBS Chicago Tonight interview, offered these guidelines.

Pre-K – 60 minutes

K-2 – 90 minutes

3-5 -120 minutes

6-8 -180 minutes

9-12 -270 minutes

Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Update

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As we all keep our social distance it’s more important than ever that we are a community of neighbors helping neighbors: check on one another, follow the common-sense rules for keeping yourself and others safe, and remember to support local businesses. Thank you to all medical people, first responders and others who are staying on the job to make sure our country keeps running. BAPA will keep sharing community information and updates in The Villager, in our weekly enews, on social media and at www.bapa.org.

 BAPA staff is currently working from home and can be reached via email: Mary Jo Viero, Executive Director, mjviero@bapa.org; Grace Kuikman, Assistant Director and Villager editor, gkuikman@bapa.org; Brittany Wiley, Business Liaison, bwiley@bapa.org; Cathriona Fey, Community Outreach and Improvement, cfey@bapa.org; Tina Jenkins Bell, School Liaison, tbell@bapa.org; Gary Jenkins, Community Safety Liaison, gjenkins@bapa.org; and Talie Leeb, office manager, tleeb@bapa.org.  

BAPA Cares Resources

Now more than ever, businesses and community residents need access to resources that will help them weather the pandemic financially, physically and emotionally. The new BAPA Cares resources website provides links to a wide variety of local, city, state and federal programs that can provide the kind of help you need. Click here to connect. https://bapa.org/bapa-covid-19-response/

Ways to Help

Maple Morgan Park Community Food Pantry, 11030 S. Longwood Dr., needs donations of money and dry goods to meet increased emergency needs for people in 60643 and 60655. Needed are boxed cereal, canned chicken, tuna and salmon, bottled water and juice, pancake mix and pasta, as well as cleaning and hygiene products such as soap, disposable face masks, sanitizing wipes and diapers. Monetary donations also needed to purchase food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository; place cash and checks made out to Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry in sealed envelopes. Info: 773-239-3013 or Karen Overstreet kkeoverstreet@aol.com

19th Ward Office staff and volunteers continue fundraising, organizing and delivering meals that are prepared by local restaurants for first responders, medical personnel and seniors. Support this ongoing effort through the GoFundMe https://www.19thwardmobile.com/gofundme/

Turpin Cares is collecting food, hygiene products and donations to help homeless people and others in need in nearly communities. Find out what they need and how to donate www.turpincares.org/donate

Get details and sign up for the Meal Train https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/ok62yl?fbclid=IwAR2FI6-PzvxYQz-ZrDLwtdXpCMfgcWJ3aaPuKYvzYeqkoCqACeOtLY5HLtM providing meals for OSF Little Company of Mary ICU, Emergency Room and Nursing Staff.

Quilters Trunk, 10352 S. Western, and 19th Ward Office are providing fabric to make face masks for medical personnel and first responders. Here is how it works:  Find plastic bags with 4 pieces of fabric (enough for 8 masks) in the blue tub that is being placed at The Quilter’s Trunk front door; make masks with two different fabrics (inside and outside); place completed masks back in the plastic bag and return them to the blue tub.  Questions? info@thequilterstrunk.com

At Beverly Bakery, 10528 S Western, the little food pantry in the front hall is open for those in need, accepting donations and giving food away, weekdays, 2 to 4 p.m. Beverly Bakery is also taking orders for carryout food weekdays until 1 p.m. Info: 773-238-5580.

Ways to Stay Healthy

Find teletherapy opportunities locally and learn about staying mentally healthy in The Villager

Telehealth services for those at risk of COVID-19 are available through OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center for people who show COVID-19 symptoms or are at a high risk for contracting the virus, but do not require emergency or inpatient care. To seek care through the program, call 833-673-5669. OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary also offers expert advice on staying well during the pandemic, including a live chat. Click here to access the website

Beverly Yoga Center is offering classes online through their website

Barre it All Fitness offers online classes at www.barreitallfitness.com  and click “on demand access” to sign up.

Do Good Movement, daily yoga for adults and children at thedogoodmovement.com.

CORE Fitness and Physical Therapy offers a “virtual studio” option, Pilates and fitness classes 7 days a week, and physical therapy and telehealth appointments. Registration/info

Beverly Barre offers live Instagram workouts; get details at www.facebook.com/beverlybarrechicago/.

Treadfit is posting workout challenges on Facebook, www.facebook.com/treadfitbeverly/.

Things to Do At a Distance

The Great Connections Beverly Discussion Group is now online to read and discuss excerpts from classic texts with powerful relevance to modern life. To join, RSVP Felicia@thegreatconnections.org. Questions? Email Felicia or call 773-677-6418.

Chicago Public Schools remote learning continues. Visit your child’s school website, cps.edu/remotelearning and https://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Remote-Learning-Guidance-for-Parents.pdf .

Edna White Community Garden and Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will be planting gardens to supply fresh produce to the Maple Morgan Park Community Food Pantry. Keep up on the details and learn how to volunteer at the Edna White Garden Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/221301244573122/

Chicago Public Library tutoring and homework assistance through Brainfuse, 2 to 11 p.m. A valid library card may be necessary to access services. Visit https://www.chipublib.org/faq/covid-19-closure/?_ga=2.132876046.1049224494.1586298026-405817805.1550598832#covid-19-closure

The Chicago Police Department has compiled a list of Internet Safety tips for parents and school aged youth https://home.chicagopolice.org/about/specialized-units/special-investigations-unit-siu/internet-safety/

Community Resources

The City of Chicago has a created a Coronavirus Response Center website to provide residents with access to the latest information on a range of topics regarding COVID-19. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home.html)social&utm_campaign=osf_covid19&fbclid=IwAR3gtSzDv1_mP4BoIGabuou5zEbhv9d_8V1Ch7xO1jB4z8Xtu6RX3gsBoc0

19th Ward Service Offices, 773-238-8766 or ward19@cityofchicago.org.

Get COVID-19 updates from the Chicago Department of Public Health at Chicago.gov.

Eat, Drink and Shop Local

Our restaurants and stores need your business! Purchase gift certificates, order carryout meals from restaurants, shop online. Dollars spent helping our business neighbors helps our community stay strong. BAPA is updating local business info www.bapa.org. If you have a business update, email info to Brittany Wiley, BAPA Business Liaison, bwiley@bapa.org.

Food and Drink

For many of the following businesses, details about their hours and offerings are available on their Facebook pages.

County Fair Foods, 10800 S. Western, is open from 7 to 8 a.m. for senior shoppers only; all others can shop after 8. Countyfairfoods.net.

Southtown Health Foods, 2100 W. 95th St., is now limiting 10 customers at a time in the store. Curbside pickup and juice bar orders accepted via phone, 773-233-1856.

Markland Hubbard Gourmet Provisions, 1739 W. 99th St., 773-233-0632, is selling coffee by the cup or by the pound, as well as some pastries and gourmet packaged foods from Stonewall Kitchen and Frontier Soups. More about Markland Hubbard http://marklandhubbardgourmetprovisions.com/

 Ain’t She Sweet Café, Beverly, 773-840-3309. Carryout & Delivery through GrubHub.  Details https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aint-She-Sweet-Cafe/403602009999677

AndySunflower Café, 312-961-3171. Mobile, drive-up orders. Andysunflowercafe.com.

 Bani’s Beets, 773-599-9764. Curbside pickup and delivery.

Nine One One BBQ Shack, 773-238-9111. No-contact curbside delivery.

Americanos, 773-941-6787. No-contact curbside delivery and margaritas-to-go.

Original Rainbow Cone, 773-238-7075. Carry-out or delivery.

Waldo Cooney’s Pizza, 773-233-9781. Delivery.

Pizzeria Deepo, 773-840-3087. Curbside pick-up.

Horse Thief Hollow, 773-779-2739. Curbside pick-up Tues. through Sat., 4 to 9 p.m. New carryout menu. Horsethiefbrewing.com.

 Nicky’s Grill, 773-233-3072. Carryout & delivery. Nickysgrillandyogurt.com.

 Fox’s Beverly Pub, 773-239-3212. Carryout & delivery.

 Franconello, 773-881-4100. Curbside pickup and delivery.

Beverly Bakery and Café, 773-238-5580. Pick-up and delivery, until 1 p.m.

Calabria Imports, 773-396-5800. Curbside pickup and delivery, Mon through Fri., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Manzo’s Burger was temporarily closed; check in at 773-779-5945 or manzosburger.com

Swanson’s Deli, 2414 W. 103rd St., 773-239-1197, is open for pickup and delivery, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon. through Fri., and is now offering meal kits along with regular menu and take home meals.

Open Outcry Brewing Co., 773-629-6055. Curbside pick-up and delivery. https://www.facebook.com/openoutcrybrewing/

 Two Mile Coffee Bar, 773-614-8115. Order over the phone for pick up (assistance available on request).

Ken’s on Western, 773-238-0234: Free delivery and curbside pick-up, 4 to 8 p.m.; daily specials in addition to the regular menu.

Top Notch, 773-445-7218. Carryout.

 Hearty Café, 773-881-1000 carry outs; delivery via Uber Eats, Door Dash and Grub Hub.

 Lume’s Pancake House, 773-233-2323.  Curbside pickup, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 Barracos 95th Street, 773-881-4040. Area locations open 24 hours for carryout and delivery.   https://www.facebook.com/BarracosPizza/

Business Services

SCORE mentor Kevin Scanlan is offering free virtual mentoring.  See Kevin’s profile here.  For more information, email bwiley@bapa.org.

Support Local Businesses

Despite closures, businesses owners are staying connected with customers. Check out these options.

 Brach’s Auto Center, 10333 S. Western, provides all repair services with free vehicle pickup and drop off, no contact dropbox, and vehicle sanitization after service. Info: 773-238-0606 or https://www.brachsautocenter.com/

 Beverly Records, 773-779-0066. Shop via Facetime appointments.

 Turkey Chicago, 773-941-4751. Shop online or via social media.

 Belle Up, 773- 233-2442. Shop online or via social media.

Bookie’s – Chicago.  Shop online including digital and audio books. Bookiesbookstores.com.

Tranquility Salon.  Shop online. Tranquilitysalonco.shop.

Olivia’s Garden, 10730 S. Western, opens Sat., May 2, 10 to 4 p.m., limit of 12 customers at a time for social distancing. Details on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10224390245330844&set=gm.1894135247383272&type=3&theater

City Grange Beverly will be opening May 9 at 1818 W. 99th Street, using social distancing with customers and delivery  Find more info on Facebook  or the website 

Running Excels, 773-629-8587. Curbside pickup and delivery within a 5 mile radius; regular store hours open. Details  https://www.facebook.com/RunningExcels/

C&D Family Farms offers products from some of the favorite vendors from the 95th Street Farmers Market on their website https://farmersfreshdelivery.com/. The opening of the market has been postponed until further notice, but items ordered through C&D will be delivered to Beverly/Morgan Park on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Check in at the 95th Street Farmers Market Facebook https://www.facebook.com/95thstreetmarket/ for updates.

 

Worship

Beverly Unitarian Church is offering worship services via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyUnitarian/ on Sundays, 10:30 a.m. followed by Zoom coffee hour chat. Archived services are available on the church’s YouTube page).

Trinity United Methodist Church, offering services at http://www.chicagotrinityumc.org and church Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Trinity-UMC-of-Beverly-149497191741709/, Sundays 9:30 a.m.

Morgan Park Presbyterian Church is offering video streaming and phone-in worship. Details https://morganparkpres.org/health/?fbclid=IwAR0AbkjqyBI1GSULQHkQ3Jj72styLK2n6545_3UZTVo8CiNlvps-W0-giO4

THINGS TO DO IN THE APRIL GARDEN 

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By Barbara Gyarmathy 
Garden Club of Morgan Park Beverly Hills 

 

Spring has returned! Hopefully you had some time over the winter to ponder your sleeping garden, browse gardening magazines and spring catalogues or even read an article or two about adding native plants and practices to your gardening routine.   

We are excited to go outside and get started, but we need to wait, to take time. Current information our declining pollinators recommend that we leave some of the winter debris in place for a while, as many insects over-winter in leaf mulch or hollow stems. Do not rush to clean up or cut down. Let it warm up and do a little at a time.  After all, gardening is about the love of the journey.   

The frost-free date for our neighborhood is May 15, but there’s still a 50-50 chance of frost on that date. 

April garden tasks: 

Cut ornamental grasses to 4-6 inches before new growth starts. (For sesleria, cut back only to where the stems are green at the bottom.) 

Cut back dead material from perennials, cutting stems in small lengths so the debris can be left on the ground to naturally fertilize the area. Originally, every plant community on earth lived in healthy soil that was sustained by the plants themselves. 

Begin to divide and replant perennials (except peonies and bearded iris) as growth begins. Dig around the plant and remove the entire clump. Using a sharp knife or spade, divide the clump into sections, then replant and water well.  Resist the urge to work the soil too early. It can damage the soil’s structure and reduce air pores. To determine if the soil is dry enough to work use a spade to turn over a slice of soil about 6 inches deep, then take a handful of soil and squeeze it into a ball.  If the ball crumbles easily, it’s safe to work.  If it stays in a tight ball it is too wet. 

Do not apply mulch around plants until May. Covering the soil too early will delay it from warming up. 

For a colorful welcome to your home, plant cool-season hardy annuals such as pansies, violas, kale, primroses, ranunculus, sweet peas, snapdragons, bacopa nasturtiums, calendula and sweet alyssum in containers  

Prune clematis. Early flowering species that bloom in April to May require little pruning; they flower on “old wood” (the previous year’s growth). Early double and semi-double mid-season cultivars, which bloom in May and repeat bloom in fall and flower on old and new wood should be pruned lightly when buds swell, removing dead and weak stems. Late, large-flowered cultivars such as autumn clematis need a hard spring pruning. 

Prune hydrangeas. Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood while others bloom on new wood (the current year’s growth). Knowing which hydrangeas species you have planted will help your gardening efforts.   

Plant lettuce, cabbage, peas, mustard, broccoli and collard greens now. Wait until mid-May for the soil to warm to plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or basil outdoors. Consider using “no-till” gardening methods: Layer three to five sheets of black and white newspaper on the soil and then add layers of composted organic material lasagna-style. Plant directly into the layers. 

Transplant trees and shrubs before bud break. Visit www.urbanext.illinois.edu/treeselector to choose trees that grow well in Chicagoland or www.urbanext.illinois.edu/shrubselector to choose new shrubs or replace invasive ones. 

Call your local University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener helpline at 773-768-7779 with any questions. Master Gardeners answer calls about plant selection, tree and shrub health, vegetables, insects, diseases and more. You can also visit the Hort Answers website. www.urbanext.illinois.edu/hortanswers, for answers to common gardening questions. 

(The Garden Club of Morgan Park Beverly Hills was established in 1926. Members are dedicated to beautifying the neighborhood and educating themselves and others about garden caretaking,) 

Amidst Massive Work and School Closures and Banned Playdates, Outdoor Physical Activity Important

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According to Dr. Jack Maypole, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and a father of three, social distancing may be a necessity to prevent the spread of the corona virus but physical activity outdoors is not.

In fact, allowing children to play or exercise outdoors can be mental and emotional health boosts for them and their parents. In addition to a constructive activity, playing and exercising outdoors offers these benefits: improves the mental and emotional wellbeing in children; helps them soak in Vitamin D, which contributes to children’s growth and strengthens their bones. Vitamin D also stimulates serotonin (the hormone that regulates mood and happiness) in the brain. Also, outdoor activities and exercise allow children to experience normalcy and give them a break from the worry and bombardment of news regarding the threat of the corona virus. Though experts do encourage outdoor activities as a family, they discourage use of playground equipment (unless parents are willing to sterilize or wipe down equipment prior to their children’s use.)

A less stressful alternative might be to offer children an outdoor activity that links to a future event for which they can participate. BAPA’s annual Memorial Day Ridge Run occurs May 25, 2020, and elementary school aged children can participate under the banner of their school. Parents, whose children wish to participate, do not have to rush to sign their children up for the race, nor do they have to wait for students to return to school to sign up. However, they can use BAPA’s 2020 10-Week 5K Youth Training Program as a constructive outdoor activity that will both prepare youth for the Ridge Run and give them something positive to anticipate.  Click here for a PDF of the training program.

The training program offers constructive week-by-week activities in which youth can engage individually, in two-person teams, or as families. Parents can connect to our Facebook page, entitled BAPA’s Ridge Runners, to share their children’s progress and training experiences as well as be cheered on by a larger community of Beverly area runners. These activities will hopefully give students something for which to plan and anticipate.

For more information, contact Tina Jenkins Bell, School Liaison

 

Eat, Drink and Shop Local

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Responding to the coronavirus requires us to maintain a safe distance – not what we’re used to in our close-knit, sociable community. Even from home we can work together to make it through these unprecedented times and stay informed on what is changing and what is needed. Below is a list of Beverly/Morgan Park restaurants offering carry outs & delivery and businesses offering special ways to shop. 

For many of the following businesses, details about their hours and offerings are available on their websites or Facebook pages.

County Fair Foods, 10800 S. Western, is open from 7 to 8 a.m. for senior shoppers only; all others can shop after 8. Countyfairfoods.net.

Southtown Health Foods, 2100 W. 95th St., is open. Reach them on Facebook or at southtownhealthfoods.com. Offering groceries as well as a variety of beauty and healthcare products.

 

Ain’t She Sweet Café, Beverly, 773-840-3309. Carryout and delivery through Grubhub. Details

Beverly Bakery & Café, 773-238-5580. Carryout and Delivery. 7am-2pm Weekdays, 7am-1pm Weekends. Details

Barney Callaghan’s Pub -773.233.6829 – open 3pm – 7pm for curbside beer pickup.  $15 domestic cases, $25 import cases.

Horse Thief Hollow, 773-779-2739. Carryout and free local delivery Tuesday-Sunday 4PM-9PM, 25% off Crowlers on Tuesdays, merchandise available for purchase. Details

Open Outcry Brewing Co., 773-629-6055. daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., delivery or curbside pickup. Order 32-oz Crowler cans, kitchen menus items, gift certificates and merchandise. Credit card only.  Details

Swanson’s Deli, 773.239.1197 – open for pickup and delivery 10am – 3pm.  Now offering meal kits along with regular menu and take home meals. Details.

Pizzeria Deepo, 773-840-3087. Carryouts, curbside pickup. Details

Nine One One BBQ Shack, 773-238-9111. No-contact curbside delivery. Carryout. Facebook page 

Top Notch, 773-445-7218. Carryout.

Barracos 95th Street, 773-881-4040. Area locations open 24 hours for carryout and delivery.  Details https://www.facebook.com/BarracosPizza/

AndySunflower Cafe: 9920 S. Western Ave. Accepting mobile, drive-up orders. Details

Manzo’s Burger – 773.779.5945 – open for curbside pickup and delivery – For delivery orders please text your order and address to 773-349-0453. We will be delivering from 95th st. to 127th st. from Pulaski to Ashland  Details

Nicky’s Grill, 773-233-3072. Carry out and delivery. Details and menu

Ken’s on Western, 773-238-0234. Free delivery within 2 miles or curbside pick-up, 4 to 9 p.m. Details

Calabria Imports, 773-396-5800. carry out or delivery. Details

Fox’s Beverly Pub, 773-239-3212. Carryout and delivery, lunch and dinner. Details

Americano’s, 773-941-6787. 11060 S. Western Ave. No-contact curbside delivery and Margaritas-To-Go! Details

Franconello, 773-881-4100.  Curbside pickup and delivery, heat and serve meals and sauces. Wine Delivery Details

Bani’s Beets, 773- 599-9764. Curbside pick up and delivery. Details

Hearty Café, 773-881-1000 carry outs; delivery via Uber Eats, Door Dash and Grub Hub. Details

Two Mile Coffee Bar, 773-614-8115. Available for carry out. Place an order over the phone or through mobile ordering system for rapid pick up. Curbside assistance available upon request. Details

Pizzeria Deepo, 773-840-3087. Pay and order over the phone for curbside pick-up. Details

Retail Specials

Beverly Records, 773-779-0066. Shop via Facetime appointments or in store. Details

Running Excels, 773-629-8587. Shop by phone or by FB messenger. Curbside pickup contactless payment and free delivery within a 5 mile radius. Details 

Turkey Chicago. Shop online or via social media.  Details

Belle Up, 773- 233-2442. Shop online or via social media.  Details

Bookie’s – Chicago is open for shopping online including digital and audio books.

Steuber Florist 773.238.2013 – taking orders 10am-2pm Monday-Friday

Brach’s Auto – 773.238.0606 – All services available, FREE vehicle pickup and drop off, no contact dropbox, vehicle sanitization after service

 

Businesses Temporarily Closed

Beverly Arts Center 

Ohana Ice & Treats

Original Pancake House, 773-445-6100

Capsule Chicago

Starbucks 103rd and Longwood Drive

Health and Fitness

Do Good Movement: Daily adult and children yoga. Details

CORE Fitness and Physical Therapy: Posting daily workout challenges on Facebook: Details

Beverly Barre: Live Instagram workouts: Details 

Beverly Yoga Center: Online classes available: Details

Treadfit: Posting workout challenges on Facebook, Details

Barre It All Fitness, (872) 256-1397, Live Stream Classes 5am-7pm. Details

Fit Code: Unlimited Virtual Training Sessions for 21 days with a donation of your choice. 70% of the donation used to buy gift cards from local businesses and 30% goes to trainers at Fit Code. Details

Dance Gallery 773.445.8910 Streaming workouts and dance classes on Facebook Details

 

Mental Health

Beverly Therapists – 773.310.3488 – offering teletherapy

Begin Within Therapy– offering teletherapy

Mirjam Quinn & Associates – offering teletherapy

C&D Family Farms has made arrangements with a few 95th Street farmers market vendors to distribute their products on their website. Coming soon at cdfamilyfarms.com will be products from Honey and Jam, Feed Your Head vegan meats, Long Table pancake mixes and bread from Breadman Baking.

Eat, Drink and Shop Local

Our restaurants and stores need your business! Purchase gift certificates, order carryout meals from restaurants, shop online. Dollars spent helping our business neighbors helps our community stay strong. BAPA is updating local business info on this page. If you have a business update, please email info to Brittany Wiley, BAPA Business Liaison, bwiley@bapa.org.

Infographic with 25 ways to support small businesses

 

 

Local Catholic Schools to Lead South Side Irish Parade  

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“Thankful for Catholic Elementary School Teachers,” representing 16 area schools, is Grand Marshal of the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Leading the parade in the Grand Marshal unit on Sun., Mar. 15 will be principals, teachers and staff from Beverly/Morgan Park parishes, Christ the King School, St. Barnabas School, St. Cajetan School, St. John Fisher School and St. Walter. Other area schools marching as Grand Marshal are Most Holy Redeemer, Queen of Martyrs, St. Bede the Venerable, St. Benedict, St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Christina, St. Ethelreda, St. Gerald, St. Germaine, St. Linus and St. Margaret of Scotland.  

The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, co-chaired this year by Jim Smith and Tim McSweeney, selected the Grand Marshal because they are thankful for all the hardworking individuals who dedicate their lives to educating Chicago’s Catholic school children.  

“The South Side Irish Parade was founded on the themes of faith, family, community and Irish heritage and local Catholic elementary school teachers go that extra mile every day evoking the themes and inspiring our students,” Jim Smith said. 

Serving as the 2020 Parade Honoree is the Tom Hopkins Foundation. The foundation was created by the children of the late Tom Hopkins, or “Papa Hops,” to assist families affected by cancer and to support youth athletics. The foundation keeps Hopkins’ spirit alive by hosting the Papa Hops softball tournament at Kennedy Park every summer. Over the past five years, the foundation has raised thousands of dollars to support local families affected by cancer as well as to support athletic departments and youth athletics at ten Catholic elementary schools.  

The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off from 103rd and Western Avenue at noon on Sun., Mar. 15, marching south to 115th Street.  Preceding the Parade at 11:30 a.m. is the Emerald Isle Mile race sponsored by Running Excels. Run details and sign-up are available at runningexcels.com.  

The parade will be a celebration of Irish heritage, featuring bands, floats, dancers, 2020 South Side Irish Parade Queen Bailey O’Connell, families, dignitaries, vehicles and fire trucks. Also expected to appear are a few leprechauns, St. Patricks and Irish wolfhounds.  

The event is family friendly, and has a strictly enforced zero tolerance for alcohol policy along the parade route.  Pubs and restaurants along Western will be open for business and invite parade-goers to stop in and celebrate responsibly.  

Steeped in family tradition and neighborhood pride, the South Side Irish Parade was started in 1979 by best friends, Beverly/Morgan Park residents George Hendry and Pat Coakley. Sitting around Hendry’s kitchen table, the friends fondly remembered their experiences at the original South Side Irish Parade on 79th Street. That parade moved downtown in 1960.  

Hendry and Coakley wanted to create something for their children. With the help of their wives, they gathered 17 children from nearby blocks and on a rainy St. Patrick’s Day, Sat., Mar. 17, set them to march – kids only – around the 10900 blocks of Washtenaw and Talman in the first South Side Irish St. Pat’s Parade. One boy was dressed as St. Patrick, one girl was named parade queen, boy scouts carried the American flag and other pushed the “float” – a baby buggy decorated with shamrocks and the 26 county flags of Ireland.  

The theme of the parade was “Bring Back St. Pat,” and neighbors stood on their porches, waving at the marchers.  

The following year the gathering moved to the side streets around Kennedy Park, with 300 participants – including a bag piper! — marching, pulling wagons, riding bikes and walking dogs.  

On Mar. 15, 1981, the parade marched down Western Avenue for the first time. The rest is local history, and you can read more on the parade website, southsideirishparade.com.  

Crafting for a Cause

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By Kristin Boza 

Crafty residents of Smith Village have joined together in the Crafting for a Cause group that knits and crochets a variety of items for those in need. Their latest project aids Blankets for Baby Rhinos, a global organization that provides knit blankets and funds for food for animals affected by poaching in South Africa. 

Crafting for a Cause, led by Smith Village human resources director Karen Jellema, was created by residents who wanted to get together to knit and crochet, but also wanted the work they produced to benefit others. The group developed a list of organizations to help support throughout the year, including veterans groups, NICU babies, and homeless individuals. 

“There is a definite problem with poaching in Africa, in particular for rhinos that are poached for their horns. Young rhinos are dependent on their mothers for a few years; when poachers kill the mother, it can be a death sentence for the baby left behind,” Jellema said. “The blankets keep the babies warm, as they are under terrible stress. The animal sanctuary rehabilitates the baby rhinos and other animals to eventually release them into protected national parks where they will be safe from poachers.” 

Jellema said that volunteers at the animal sanctuary reduce the stress on the baby rhinos by taping their ears and eyes shut, which helps to reduce sensory input and gives the rhinos the ability to recover quietly from their stressful situation. “Their instinct is to run, which can cause injuries. Volunteers work 24/7 with the babies to feed them milk from bottles. From there, they eventually reintroduce their hearing and sight once the rhinos begin to trust their human caregivers.” 

The 13 participants in the crafting group are benefitting from the work as much as their recipients. “We do it because we enjoy reaching out to those in need. Also, there are many studies supporting the idea that actually doing this type of tactile work boosts mental well-being. It’s also beneficial to come together every other week to talk and work together for a greater good,” Jellema said. “It’s a great feeling to see our tables piled high with sweaters, scarves, hats, and other items that we made together.” 

Crafting for a Cause is open to interested crafters in the community. Additionally, the group accepts donations of yarn or cash to purchase supplies. Contact Karen Jellema, KJellema@SmithSeniorLiving.org or 773-474-7355. 

Your Guide to Recycling Almost Everything, Part 1 

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Your Guide to Recycling Almost Everything, Part 1 

 

Hazardous and Electronics Waste Collections 

The Green Sanctuary Group of the Beverly Unitarian Church will host two household hazardous waste collections in 2020, Sat., May 2 in the 9th Ward and Sat., Aug. 1 in the 19th Ward. Exact locations will be announced closer to the dates. 

The City of Chicago’s only site that accepts household hazardous waste is 1150 N. North Branch St. (Goose Island). This site also accepts electronics and is open Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Thursdays, 2 to 7 p.m.; and the first Saturday of the month, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

Following is a list of where and when you can drop off electronics, televisions, Styrofoam/foam packaging, small appliances, waste motor oil and other challenging materials: 

Electronics & TVs 

900 E. 103rd St. (103rd & Cottage Grove) – 3rd Friday of every month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

2300 W. 52nd St. (52nd, one block east of Western) – 3rd Wednesday of every month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

3800 S. Iron St. – 2nd Friday of every month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

ONLY the listed items are eligible for recycling. Give to the drivers at the site. Do NOT leave in parking lot. 

Computers, monitors 

Televisions 

Printer, fax, scanner 

Keyboards, mice 

Video game consoles 

Portable digital music players 

Digital converter boxes 

Cable and satellite receivers 

Small scale servers 

 

Styrofoam/Foam Packaging 

A drop off container is open 24/7 at Dart FOAM RECYCLING, 7575 S. Kostner Ave., located between Pulaski and Cicero, north side of 76th Street. Questions? Call 800-288-CARE. For large deliveries call 773-838-2515. 

Instructions:  

Foam should be in clear, sealed bags. 

Foodservice containers should be wiped clean or rinsed. 

NO packaging peanuts, straws, lids, plastic wrap or foam insulation will be accepted.  

Old Motor Oil 

Any Jiffy Lube or Quick Oil service center will accept used motor oil and anti-freeze. 

Fluorescent Bulbs, Lamps 

Lowes Home Center and Menards accept fluorescent bulbs and lamps. 

Unused Prescription Drugs 

The CVS at 3951 W. 103rd has a box for unused pharmaceuticals and OTC drugs. Do NOT throw drugs of any type in the toilet or sink, or in garbage that will go into the landfill.  

Alkaline Batteries 

Alkaline batteries cannot be recycled. Although they are not considered hazardous waste, they do contain trace amounts of mercury.  

Rechargeable batteries are inexpensive and come with chargers from Amazon or Batteries Plus. Batteries Plus takes car batteries, alarm batteries and all rechargeable batteries. Nearby locations: 6227 W. 95thSt., Oak Lawn, and 16205 S. Harlem, Tinley Park. 

Small Appliances & Metals 

Most small appliances are mainly composed of metal so they have useful materials that are pretty easy to recycle. Home appliances account for 10 percent of steel recycled in the U.S. each year. Microwaves have computer chips in them that contain valuable metals like gold.  

Drop off small appliances as well as Aluminum, copper, brass; auto parts; ferrous metals, stainless steel; radiators at South Chicago Iron & Metal, 1313 W. 74th St., Mon. through Fri., 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sat., 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

If you buy an appliance or television at BestBuy, the store will accept your old appliance.  

If you want help in getting your electronics or Styrofoam to the collection centers cited above call Eileen Klees of the Green Sanctuary Group, 773-708-5111, and leave a message. A good website to learn more about how, when and where to recycle just about anything is www.earth911.com. 

(Thank you to Eileen Klees for researching and compiling this comprehensive list. Part 2 will cover blue bin recycling, and be published in the March issue of The Villager.) 

Brews & I Do’s: South Side Wedding Event Planned at Open Outcry  

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South Side couples are invited to attend Brews & I Do’s, a wedding event featuring local businesses. Sun., Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Open Outcry Brewing Company, 10934 S. Western Ave. 

Attendees can grab a beer and a bite to eat while they meet wedding professionals, listen to music, 

sample food, check out decor ideas and get help with planning their wedding.  

Now in its second year, Brews & I Do’s features vendors specializing in all of the most requested categories: photography, floral, wedding planning and coordination, honeymoon and destination wedding travel, music, beauty services, catering, desserts, staffing, fitness, event rentals and more. 

“Our goal is to showcase the talented and experienced wedding professionals in and around Beverly,” 

said Cristin Geimer of Redberry Floral, one of the event organizers. “This year, we’re planning even more 

fun surprises and we can’t wait to plan some weddings over a couple of beers.” 

The event is organized by four local wedding professionals: Geimer, Megan Amelio of Bridie Travel Co., Laura Hayes of Anticipation Events, and Diego Ivan Martirena of Maplewood Photography, in partnership with the team at Open Outcry Brewing Company. 

“We are thrilled to host Brews & I Do’s again this year,” said John Brand, owner of Open Outcry. “The 

event drew a big crowd last year and we love collaborating with local businesses to help couples plan 

their big day.” 

This year, event attendees can enter to win a honeymoon trip to Mexico. AMResorts and Bridie 

Travel Co., one of the event organizers, will give away a three-night stay for two at Secrets Maroma 

Beach Riviera Cancun resort. The resort is tucked away on secluded Maroma Beach, voted the world’s best beach by the Travel Channel for four years in a row. The adults-only, all-inclusive resort features white sand beaches, stunning ocean views, elegant suites, several pools, swim-out rooms, gourmet dining and chic lounges. For complete rules and details, visit www.beverlybrewsandidos.com. 

Brews & I Do’s admission is free. Reservations are not required, but attendees are encouraged to register online at www.BeverlyBrewsAndIDos.com.  

Participating vendors include Anticipation Events, Barre It All Fitness, Bridie Travel Co., Delectable 

Delights Cupcakes, Holly Carey Beauty, Krystle Harte Permanent Makeup, LB Event Rentals, Loquacious 

Culinary Events, Maplewood Photography, Meg Made Art, Morgan Park Academy, Party All Nite DJ, 

Party Pros Inc., Redberry Floral, Shon Myles Productions, and You Glow Girl. 

For more information, visit www.BeverlyBrewsAndIDos.com . 

Healthy New You in 2020 

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By Kristin Boza  

What better time than a new decade to get healthy for once and for all? Bloom Natural Solutions to Wellness, owned by Candice Cuevas, helps people set and accomplish goals, explore new foods, reduce cravings, and increase energy. 

Modifying your lifestyle is not easy, and many people fail numerous times before sticking with a new way of living. Cuevas, an integrative nutritional health coach and licensed clinical professional counselor, blends her experiences in the mental health field and nutrition to help people understand the ‘why’ behind their cravings. 

“Over and over during the course of my career, I noticed how nutrition affects mental health. I also was trying to find a way to stop my migraines for good — without the band-aid of medications,” Cuevas said. “After becoming a certified health coach, I developed a six-month, hands-on program to help people learn and implement healthy habits.” 

Cuevas will basically hold the hands of her clients during their bi-weekly sessions as she comes to their home to clean out pantries, give a lesson in reading labels, identify movement goals, and head to the grocery store for instructions on which aisles to avoid. “Everyone’s health goals are different, but the basics include finding healthy alternatives to sugar, caffeine, and other foods that make you feel sluggish. There is no diet or calorie counting in my program; instead, the idea is to lead a healthier lifestyle and implement good habits,” she said. “How you feed your body will affect you mentally; we’ll work together to learn where your cravings are coming from and how to handle them.” 

Accountability is another essential aspect of the program; Cuevas is determined to hold her motivated clients responsible for following through. “Many of my clients feel lost or trapped; they know they need to lose weight, but nothing else has worked. They are seeking alternative suggestions to get on track and get out of their slump,” she said. 

Two things anyone can start doing are taking probiotics and moving more. Cuevas recommends taking a probiotic at night to improve gut health; if someone has a digestive condition, however, ask your doctor first. “Probiotics are essential to support your gut health, which in turn supports your mental and physical health. Take the probiotic two hours after you last eat at night; when you’re sleeping, your body has the opportunity to repair itself, and probiotics can give your body that essential boost,” she said. 

Secondly, incorporating even the smallest movement changes can make an impact. “The more you move, the more opportunities you give your body to wake up naturally without ingesting sugar. Take a walk around the block, take the stairs at work, or even just get up and stretch. Little adjustments like that can go a long way,” Cuevas said. 

To learn more about Bloom Natural Solutions to Wellness, visit www.BloomNaturalSolutions.com. Mention BAPA and get 10% off your program price.