News - Rogers Park, Chicago

The Rogers Park - West Ridge Historical Society is Hiring

By Charlie on March 16, 2011

The Historical Society has moved to new headquarters and is poised to increase the visibility of its programs and expand its membership. The Board of Directors (BOD) seeks a an energetic organized part-time Resource Manager who can manage the Society’s day to day activities and help bring the organization to the next level of fund raising capacity, marketing and outreach.
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At least 10 hurt in extra-alarm fire near Loyola @ Chicago Tribune

By Charlie on March 14, 2011

At least 10 people have been injured, most of them seriously, when an extra-alarm fire broke out in an apartment building on the south end of the Loyola University campus -- forcing some of the residents to jump out of windows. At least eight people were listed in serious-to-critical condition, another two in serious-to-good condition and one in fair-to-good condition, according to spokesmen for the Chicago Fire Departrment. Firefighters used ladders to rescue several people from windows at 6244 N. Winthrop Avenue but some jumped and landed in a narrow courtyard closed off by locked gates, according to Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. Read the entire Chicago Tribune article here

Spring Workshops 2011

By Charlie on March 14, 2011

Greenleaf Art Center is located in Rogers Park one block west of Clark on Greenleaf Avenue. It is conveniently near the Rogers Park Metra train stop, and is easily accesible via the #22 Clark Street bus. Plus, the Art Center has plenty of free parking. Greenleaf Art Center provides studio and exhibition space for over forty area artists and is home to five business enterprises. Since its inception in 1990 by Kathie and Denis Paluch, it has grown to become a vibrant part of the Rogers Park arts community. The center hosts a variety of exhibitions, open studio events, art salons and creative workshops throughout the year as well as art classes for both children and adults.
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Stories to Tell

By Charlie on March 09, 2011

For the past five weeks, our newly hired intern, Bob Spoerl, has contributed weekly “original content” stories for this website. A couple of his stories have been about major issues or events. This week’s article is about the local crime rate; in his other stories Bob has covered timely matters such as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s “State of the County” address that she delivered at the New Field School, and about local reaction to the CTA’s capital planning meetings, where the possible closure of certain established El stations had stirred a lot of concern. (No worries; the meetings focused on long term strategic capital plans. No closures are imminent.)
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Crime by the Numbers and Beyond

By Charlie on March 07, 2011

By Bob Spoerl for rogerspark.com Jody Weis’ abrupt mid-week leave from his post as Chicago’s Police Superintendent got me thinking: What do the numbers say about crime in the 49th Ward? Fortunately, the Chicago Police Department makes it relatively easy to obtain data about crime reports on a ward-by-ward level. It’s easy; anyone with an internet connection can get these numbers. But I thought I’d make it easy for you in case you don’t want to sift through the data yourself.
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Illinois moves to close troubled nursing home

By Charlie on March 05, 2011

Saying they wanted to avoid more casualties, state authorities took steps Thursday to shut down the troubled Alden Village North nursing home, where numerous disabled children have died in recent years. "We don't want another tragedy to occur," said Michael Gelder, the governor's senior health policy adviser. State officials said they notified Alden that they planned to revoke its license, which would effectively close the facility. An Alden spokesman said the facility would appeal and remain open. Read the entire Chicago Tribune feature and see video here

Efficient Politics, Inefficient Policy

By Charlie on March 02, 2011

By Brian White: In a political campaign, each candidate wants to boil his or her message down to as few words as possible. The term "forensic audit" is a perfect example of the efficient use of words. "Forensic" calls to mind technicians in lab coats collecting and examining minute bits of evidence to uncover much larger truths. Think TV show CSI. "Audit" implies accountants crunching numbers, making the audit target sweat. Think IRS. That's a lot to pack into two words.
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It’s Sonny in Rogers Park

By Charlie on February 28, 2011

Bob Spoerl for rogerspark.com Imagine being in the middle of Tahrir Square in Cairo during the recent Egyptian revolution. It’s something that’s not imaginary, but real for Ismail Ibrahim. He was there on Feb. 11. “Never in Egypt did I imagine this would happen,” says the 65-year-old Rogers Park resident. It was a dream come true for him, something that causes the practical businessman to jump up out of his seat. Ibrahim is perhaps best known in the 49th Ward as the owner of Sonny’s Food Store. Ismail’s friends know him as Sonny – in fact, everyone calls him that.
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Charter school says it’s private, though it gets millions in tax dollars

By Charlie on February 24, 2011

Teachers see an attempt to stop them from unionizing A Chicago charter school that has received more than $23 million in public money since opening in 2004 is arguing that it is a private institution, a move teachers say is designed to block them from forming a union. In papers filed with the National Labor Relations Board, attorneys for the Chicago Math and Science Academy on the city's North Side say the school should be exempt from an Illinois law that grants employees of all public schools the right to form unions for contract negotiations. Read the full Chicago Tribune article here

Joe Moore Wins by a Huge Margin

By Charlie on February 22, 2011

100% of precincts are in and Ald. Moore has 72% of the vote and another term. Numbers stand as Joe Moore with 6857 to Brian White's 2665 votes.

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