JENNIFER'S CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE! CHICAGO, LINCOLN SQUARE, LAKEVIEW, NORWOOD PARK, SKOKIE
NEIGHBORHOODS UPDATE - SANTA, SCRABBLE & MORE!
CHICAGO - It was learned on Friday by local business owners and community members and groups that the CTA called off a planned one day strike which was schedules to begin on Sunday night and continue on through Monday.
This action was intended to seek the attention of politicians and lawmakers in Springfield who have still not been able to pass a funding bill for Chicago transit, before the CTA's "Doomsday" scenario is enforced.
Click here to see what one community has to say about this situation.
LINCOLN SQUARE - On December 12th, roughly 50 Lincoln Square business owners whose properties were targeted for involuntary acquisition by the city proceeded to rally outside of City Council Chambers, in spite of the fact that they were handed a reprieve by Alderman Schulter.
The City Council was expected to authorize the take over of several properties on the 4800 block of North Western Avenue last week. Under this city ordinance, they reserved the authority to condemn the properties and turn them over to private developers if the owners refused to sell.
Area residents and the Alderman and City Council are still at odds with a resolution. To learn more about the ongoing debate, click here.
LAKEVIEW - Santa Claus paid a visit to the Talcott elementary school. while hanging out in the main office, it was noted Santa was looking a bit light around his stomach.
"Santa's been working on his abs all year," said the man in red, Don Colagrossi , a school engineer.
Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy student Evelin Arellano, 11, is overjoyed she opens jewelry, a gift from Santa that day. The school, 1840 W. Ohio Ave., was one of a few area schools selected to have their Santa wish lists answered by the CPS Central Office. Read all about Santa's visit by clicking here.
NORWOOD PARK - When you decorate your front yard for the holidays, don't forget about the wild animals that live outside your homes on the bushes and trees.
Remember to think about the safety and welfare to nature's pets too. Wild animals can become easily entangled in plastic, other artificial wrappings, and wires and get hurt.
This year why not try to use natural foods and products intended to decorate and to attract the animals to your holiday festivities. Even if you only have a small area to decorate, click here to get some nifty environmentally friendly holiday decorating tips.
SKOKIE - Recently at the Oakton Community Center, a member of the Scrabble Club 340, a Chicago-area club chartered by the National Scrabble Association, 47-year-old Alan Helfgott was playing Scrabble with 90-year-old MJ Matz and challenged the word he used: sclaffed.
When the player was asked to define the word, Helfgott, a student in computer technology, replied, "It means 'to sclaff.' "
Helfgott studies words to prepare himself for a game of Scrabble. He doesn't memorize their definitions, only the spelling of the word matters in the game. You do not need to provide a definition when challenged. The word must simply be listed in the Association's Official Word List, and scalff was a valid word. As a result, Helfgott survived the challenge and Matz lost a turn.
Members of Club 340 get together regularly in Skokie and Chicago to fulfill their competitive instincts, keep their minds healthy and enjoy the company of fellow Scrabble game lovers. Read the entire article by clicking here.
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DEAN'S TEAM "CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD" REPORTER,
JENNIFER GARRITY
