June 6th Ward Newsletter 2009

Your monthly message from Alderman Freddrenna M. Lyle

Volume XI, Issue 6

June 2009

Graduations, Picnics…Summer is Here! ALDERMANIC MESSAGE Congratulations Graduates and their families. Thank you for supporting them, lifting them up and being the village that surrounds them. We salute all the graduates and especially those we honored at our Annual Graduates’ Reception. It was wonderful to see such talented youth and served once again to prove the phenomenal work our teachers do each and every day. In our never ending attempts to become more effective legislators, Black elected officials across Illinois have been collaborating in groups big and small. From the Black Elected Officials of Illinois, to the Chicago Black Caucus, to the South Side Black Elected officials (the West Side also has a group) we are working together to empower our community. In May the South Side Black Elected Officials took a trip to Springfield to meet with our legislative leaders and the Governor. Gov. Quinn met with the entire group for 45 minutes, taking questions and listening to our concerns. It was the highlight of the trip with one exception. Calling all of us by our first names, he couldn’t break the habit of calling me Freddie. Oh well. It was the first time Aldermen had taken their constituents down to the seat of power in Illinois and it really did have an impact on the resources allocated to our Wards. We will be repeating this journey next year and will be looking for residents to join us. Aldermanic Message continued on Page 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pg. 1 Aldermanic Message Annual 6 Ward Picnic & Marketplace Pg. 2 Aldermanic Message Continued Vehicle & Residential Zone Sticker Sales Food Pantry Facts from St. Columbanus & St. Gelasius Pg. 3 FYI and Save the Date Pg. 4 Sacora Shern…Someone you should know! Chicago Summer Events 2009 6 Ward Schools’ Top Two Students th

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Join Alderman Lyle, her staff & volunteers for a fun-filled day at the 6th Ward’s

Annual Picnic & Marketplace

Alderman Freddrenna Lyle will host the Annual 6th Ward Neighborhood Picnic & Marketplace on Saturday, July 18th at beautiful Tuley Park, 501 E. 90th Pl. (King Dr.) from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of food, fun, entertainment, shopping and more. Bring a chair or blanket and have a good time. Be sure to have your Community Organization, Church, or Block Club sign up for a table. If you would like to be a vendor at the event, space is still available. For more information about the picnic or if you are willing to volunteer, contact Francine Smith, picnic coordinator, 773.846.7006.

Newsletter 1

Aldermanic Message continued from page 1.

Now for the bad news. New parking meter rates have hit the south side. There should be no meters in our Ward that charge $2.00 per hour and if you run across one please contact me. Our rates increased to 1.00. However in most cases the meters run 24 hours a day. Recently I took the Revenue Department on a tour of our Ward’s meters because we need to end the meter collection on streets where people live above the stores to allow overnight parking. Also we have already agreed that the parking meters along Cottage Grove near the Churches will not be active on Sundays. I don’t know if new signs have been posted on the meters so let me know if you see anything differently than you have read here. More bad news, the City is laying off more than 1000 employees. You may not have a family member that is hit with a lay off notice, but this cut is going to affect all of us. Our garbage collection will be slower. Wastebaskets on the commercial streets will not be picked up on the weekends. It will take even longer for sewer, water, electricity and transportation to respond to citizen’s complaints. I needn’t tell you why this is happening because you’re seeing it everywhere. Ten (10%) percent of the City’s work force was asked to give up 17 days of pay between now and December. That comes to one month of our salary. What happened to the other 90% you ask? Well 30,000 other employees either are in Unions that said no to taking any additional furlough days or are members of the Police and Fire Departments who have never agreed to take one single furlough day. So you can expect to hear the 10% of us who are being asked to balance the budget out of our pockets screaming. It’s illogical and really, really unfair. I thought you should hear it from me first.

Vehicle & Residential Zone Sticker Sales at the 6th Ward Office The City Clerk’s office will sell Vehicle and Residential Zone Stickers as well as Parking Guest Books in the 6th Ward Office once again this year on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 16th ----10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11th ----9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Representatives from the State of Illinois’ Cash Dash and Bright Star Programs will also be available to assist you. For more information, call 773.846.7006 This service is provided by Alderman Freddrenna Lyle and the City of Chicago for your convenience.

Food Pantry FACTS from St. Columbanus & St. Gelasius The numbers tell the story about hunger in America and right here in Chicago. Here are all the facts: January – December 2007 # of households served: 11,638 # of Individuals served: 35,946 January – December 2008 # of households served: 15, 630 # of Individuals served: 51,329

Freddrenna M. Lyle

Total food distribution for 2007: 378,205.12 pounds Total food distribution for 2008: 574,096.45 pounds The increase in one year from 2007 to 2008 for households 3,992 (up approximately 35%) and for individuals 15,383 (representing an increase of 43%). The Greater Food Depository is seeking donations to help provide families with the necessary nutrition for good health. Your contribution will go directly to helping St. Columbanus & St. Gelasius operate their Food Pantries as well as assisting the Greater Food Depository. For more information about how you can donate to this worthy cause, call 773.224.1022.

Newsletter 2

Watch the 6th Ward Scene

F. Y. I.

CAN-TV Channel 19 Every 1st and 3rd Thursday, 6:00 p.m. & Every 1st and 3rd Friday, 1:00 p.m. June Guest, Dorothy Brown, Clerk-Circuit Court July Guest, Todd Stroger, County Board President

SAVE THE DATE!!!

SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM- Youth Ready Chicago …It’s time for the young people of Chicago, ages 14-24, to apply for summer jobs, apprenticeships and internships. The application deadline has been extended to July 6th. If you have questions call the Jobs Hotline 877.587.WORK or go to youthreadychicago.org. Mayor Daley’s SUMMER TRACK PROGRAM… Kids ages 9-14, join the “6th Ward Running Rebels” for the City’s Summer Track Program. There will be weekly practices and Olympic style track meets featuring running, long jump and the softball throw. The program runs from Monday, June 22 to Saturday, August 15. For information about registration, practice times, locations, contact Keith Harris in Alderman Lyle’s Office 773.846.7006. Englewood Farmer’s Market…Come out on Thurdays from June 18th – October 29th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Farmer’s Market will be located at 63rd & Union near Kennedy-King College and the Englewood Health/Senior Satellite Centers. The market will feature fruit smoothies, vegetables & fruits, baked goods, and prepared food. Programs will be presented such as yoga, health screenings, top chef cooking demonstrations and family & children’s workshops. You can also sign up for a Farm Tour! Business Stimulus Networking Events…Black Pages International announces a series of Business Stimulus Networking Events. Business owners are asked to bring a give-away product or service to exchange with other business owners to increase business-to-business transactions. The meeting is schedule for Thursday August 20 10 am-2 pm 210 W. 87th, Chatham Ice Theater, Chicago 708.798.2700. 2009 City Wide Annual Distribution…On Saturday, June 27th, Greencorps Chicago will host its City Wide Annual Distribution Day. Community gardeners in Chicago are eligible to receive a variety of flats of annual flowers. To receive plants for your community garden you must preregister by June 19th at 4:30 p.m. and you or your organization must be a certified Greencorps community garden with a completed form and attachments on file. The south side pick-up location is St. Ailbe Church, 9100 S. Stony Island. To pick up plants you must check-in from 9:00a.m. to10:00 a.m. and attend a 30 minute plant care and maintenance presentation. Volunteer gardeners are needed at several community gardens in the Ward. Contact the office for details 773.846.7006.

26th Annual Chicago Blues Festival (FREE) Friday, June 12 – Sunday, June 14 12:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Grant Park – Jackson Blvd. & Columbus Dr. Vehicle & Residential Zone Parking Sticker Sales Tuesday, June 16 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 6th Ward Office – 406 E. 75th St. Mortgage Relief Project Hosted by Senators Collins & Thapedi

Tuesday, June 23 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Kennedy-King College 6301 S. Halsted St. Learn about new government programs that can help you lower your mortgage payment and avoid foreclosure.

St. Dorothy Church hosts its 3rd Annual Block Party Saturday, June 27 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Outdoor Mass at 5:00 p.m. FOOD, GAMES, DANCING, WATER SLIDE & MORE also a 3-on-3 basketball tourney

Annual 6th Ward Family Picnic and Market Place Saturday, July 18th 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuley Park 501 E. 90th St. (90th & King Dr.) Call the Ward Office for more info 773.846.7006 Nat King Cole Park Basketball Classic 8500 S. King Drive Registration August 3-6 Skills Camp August 10-28 Tournament August 29 & 30 Times TBA Annual 6th Ward Bike Ride (Rescheduled) Saturday, September 12 Bike Clinic8:00 a.m. - Bike Ride 9:00 a.m. Ride from Meyering Park 7140 S. King Dr. ride to Tuley Park 501 E. 90th Pl., Return to Meyering Park for light refreshments

Newsletter 3

6th Ward Monthly Meetings Thursday, July 9, 6:30 p.m. Northern Trust Bank 7801 S. State St. NO MEETING IN AUGUST Saturday, September 12, 10:00 a.m. Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church 8100 S. Calumet Ave.