Near West Side Community Development Corp. - Latest news

Chamber of Commerce News, Volume 1

11/10/2009, 11:01 AM

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Near West Side Chamber of Commerce

The Near West Side Chamber of Commerce's first newsletter. Join our mailing list today to stay up to date on the latest and greatest. View newsletter.

Top Ranked Website

11/5/2009, 3:21 PM

Mike Quinlan

Our hard work in covering the West Haven community is getting city-wide attention among professional journalists. www.nearwestsidecdc.org was recently ranked #52 among all city-wide news websites,

making our website the #1 local community-based website

. The Chicago Reporter ranked #16, EveryBlock #24 and the Chicago Journal ranked #31. The rankings were determined among journalistic peers assembled by the Community Media Workshop and commissioned by the Chicago Community Trust.

Chamber Networking Event: October 28th

10/19/2009, 12:34 PM

Mike Quinlan, Near West Side Chamber of Commerce

Mark Your Calendar.

Fun Begins: Wednesday October 28th @ 5:30

Where: Sinha's Brazilian Cuisine

Map It: 2018 W Adams (map)

Are you a business owner on the Near West Side? A resident who wants more places to shop locally? Looking for space to lease in the greater West Haven community?

Please join us as we celebrate the resurrection of our local chamber with our very first networking event. Relax, unwind, and take a break after work to network with us.

Chamber members work collectively to promote, unite and coordinate efforts to revitalize and improve the business community. Learn of the valuable benefits of becoming a member of the chamber while having a cocktail and some fun. The event is $15 at the door. Event includes hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

Courtesy RSVP: greatly appreciated
Questions? Ask Mike (312) 738-2280

Download Flier Here

Learn how the chamber can help market and promote your business as well:

Professional Photography (Photo's of Sinha's featured)
Website Creation (Tonya's Hush Boutique featured)
Multimedia Articles & Reviews (Article of Sinha's featured)
Quality Marketing Materials (promotional handout of Sinha's featured)

American Family Insurance
Angel's Restaurant
Class Hair Salon
D'Aprile Realty
Elite Truck Rental
Gentle Wash Mobile Detail
Jubilee Market
L.H. Interiors
National City Bank
Near West Side CDC
Sankofa Bag Boutique
Sachs Motor Sales
Sinha's Brazilian Cuisine
Second Chance Thrift
Shoomi
Tonya's Hush Boutique
Ward Associates
West Haven Coin Laundry
West Haven Market & Grill

*YES, we changed our name! The Madison-Western Chamber of Commerce is now doing business as the Near West Side Chamber of Commerce, to better reflect the chamber's boundaries.

West Haven Day: Top 10 reasons to join the fun!

8/12/2009, 11:32 AM

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Top 10 Reasons to join the fun on West Haven Day:

10. Carnival Rides
09. West Haven Dance Team Performance
08. Live Musical Bands and DJ Monte
07. Multi-Level Water Slide
06. Safe Summer Basketball Finals
05. Archery Competition
04. Award Ceremony
03. South Shore Drill Team
02. Free Food & Drinks (Everything is free)
01. Having fun with friends and neighbors!

Event: West Haven Day
When: Saturday, August 15th. Noon to 5p.
Where: Crane High School's Athletic Field. 2245 W. Jackson Blvd (map it).
Cost: Free

West Haven Day will be celebrated this year at Crane High School. Festivities start at noon and includes free food and drinks. Free rides and games for children as well. Live music and an award ceremony for participants of our safe summer program. The final playoff game for the 2009 West Haven Summer Basketball League takes place at noon in the auditorium.

Fundraiser with the White Sox

8/7/2009, 2:07 PM

Paulette Boyd

More than 100 Near West Side CDC Board members, friends, donors, partners, staff and youth program participants (baseball league, basketball league, community dance team and mural project) attended the Chicago White Sox vs the Angels night game on August 4^th. Thanks to the Chicago White Sox Charities, the fundraiser helped to raise nearly $3,500 over the ticket price that will help Near West stretch its youth programming dollars.

A special thanks goes to Near West board member, Edwin Dunn, attorney at Baker & Mckenzie, who underwrote the ticket price for 20 teens that attended the game.

In addition, our bus parking pass and refreshments for our teens were provided by another Near West Board member, Howard Pizer with the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls organizations.

It was a perfect night at US Cellular Field, where the crowd celebrated Sox pitcher, Mark Buehrle’s perfect game and a tie ball game in the bottom of the ninth inning – SOX WON!!! Many thanks to the Chicago White Sox Charities and our loyal supporters!

West Haven Mural Project

7/20/2009, 4:53 PM

Paulette Boyd

Damon Lamar Reed, well known Chicago artist and muralist, will be instructing 15 local students to repaint the community mural currently displayed on the outside wall of Victor Herbert Elementary School, adjacent to Touhy Herbert Park Sponsored by After School Matters and Near West Side CDC this summer project will include local students ages 14 to 18 interested in art and wanting will learn key components of mural painting. A stipend will be paid to each student that consistently attends this 6 week project (4 days a week/4 hrs a day) June 29 to early August.

Please call Paulette Boyd, NCP Director with any questions at 312-738-2280.

Change has come to Crane Tech Prep

7/16/2009, 5:05 PM

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Paulette Boyd

On June 6^th, Crane Tech Prep Class of 2009 demonstrated the real positive change that has come to their school. As they “Marched to Excellence” 152 young men and women walked proudly to receive their high school diplomas.

Twenty-six of the graduating class qualified as members of the National Honor Society. More than 30% of the class of 2009 will be going on to higher learning at colleges and universities such as: Alabama A & M, Alabama State University, Ball State University,Chicago State University, Columbia College, Fisk University, Howard University, Malcolm X College, Morris College, Robert Morris University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Xavier University to mention a few.

In total, the class of 2009 at Crane Tech Prep will receive $1million in scholarships and ongoing financial assistance to continue their education. This amazing accomplishment for Crane Tech Prep students is due to their individual diligence, but also the leadership of Crane faculty and staff.

Richard Smith, Principal, and his leadership team has brought internal changes and set expectations for Crane students to succeed by meeting high standards of personal and academic performance.

Congratulations Crane class of 2009 — and many thanks to Crane Tech Prep leadership and faculty/staff! They are truly dedicated to changing lives – “one student at a time”.

Chamber of Commerce reborn on Near West Side

7/14/2009, 11:37 AM

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Lydia Morken, The Partnership for New Communities

News article originally posted here

Visit the Near West Side these days and it’s clear that local businesses – many of them new – are alive and well. Now, after a lengthy hiatus, the Madison-Western Chamber of Commerce has been revived with new leadership and new energy to help these businesses continue to thrive.

“I’ve been down in this area for 28 years, and this is one of the most positive things we’ve seen,” said Bill Phillips, owner of Elite Truck Rental and a chamber board member. He feels encouraged by the new chamber and proud of the work it took to get to this point. “It was an issue, getting businesses and customers to come down here. It’s a whole different area now. The changes are really becoming evident."

Photo: The busy intersection of Ogden and Ashland Avenues forms an eastern border of Near West’s shopping district.

The revamped chamber represents a milestone in this neighborhood’s revitalization. Under the Near West Side Community Development Corporation's (Near West) leadership, a group of developers, planners, property managers, retailers and nonprofit partners has been cultivating commercial business growth as the Madison Retail Redevelopment Initiative (MRRI). Their collaborative effort, supported by The Partnership for New Communities, spurred a virtual transformation of the local business community.

“There is a freshness to a lot of these business owners,” says Mike Quinlan, Executive Director of the chamber and Program Manager of the MRRI. “With all the obvious positive things coming out of the retail initiative, local businesses saw a clear need for a chamber to provide ongoing support and resources.”

Registered chambers have access to important support and resources not available to ad hoc groups or unaffiliated businesses. Chief among these is eligibility for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is channeled through cities. Chambers also serve as respected, institutionalized advocacy platforms for local businesses.

Photo: Long-time local business owner Bill Phillips says Elite Truck Rental has benefited from retail revitalization efforts in Near West.

“Strong business infrastructure provides a solid base for sustained community vitality,” said Maria Hibbs, Executive Director of The Partnership. “Businesses supply goods and services to local consumers, provide jobs and support community activities from Little League teams to street festivals and arts groups.”

An evolution of the MRRI, the resurrected Madison-Western Chamber of Commerce already is having an impact. At one of the first meetings, a catering business owner learned about SBIF (Small Business Improvement Funding) grants, which are available through chambers, and decided to apply.

“In a lot of neighborhoods, community development corporations (CDCs) are very separate entities from chambers, but they’re ultimately part of the same circle,” says Quinlan. “So this is a rare case and opportunity where the chamber and the CDC are really hand in hand and see the bigger picture."

The first orders of business? Finalizing details of chamber membership and working to get new street banners.

“I think we can really be a force in the neighborhood,” says Phillips. “We’re on the right track.”

Madison-Western Chamber Resurrected

6/4/2009, 4:40 PM

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Mike Quinlan

Purpose

The purpose of the Madison-Western Chamber of Commerce is to promote, unite and coordinate efforts to revitalize and improve the business community in order to achieve comprehensive development and enhance the economic life of concerned business people and community professionals in the area. Businesses interested in joing the Chamber please contact Mike, mquinlan@nearwestsidecdc.org

Officers

President: Earnest Gates, Near West Side CDC

Vice-President: Bill Phillips, Elite Truck Rental

Secretary: Wilma Ward, W Ward Associates

Treasurer: Alonzo Harris, National City

Directors

Cyndi Betts-Robinson, Class Hair Salon

Delashone White, Gentle Wash Mobile Detail

Jeff Campbell, National City

Jason Green, American Family Insurance

Jay Sachs, Sachs Motor Sales

Jorgina Pereria, Sinha’s Cuisine

Nancy Jefferies, Sankofa Clothing

Ryan D’Aprile, D’Aprile Realty

Tonya Hunter, Tonya’s Hush

Staff

Executive Director: Mike Quinlan

Near West’s Retail Initiative has merged with the Chamber as a natural step towards building a sustainable membership organization for local businesses.

St. Malachy Hosts Spelling Bee

6/1/2009, 4:40 PM

Monday, June 1, 2009

The Annual 3^rd – 6^th Grade Spelling Bee among the West Side Catholic schools was held this year at St. Malachy School at 2252 W. Washington Blvd on Thursday, April 30th.

Other schools attending the Bee were St. Agatha, St. Angela, St. Catherine-St. Lucy Chicago Jesuit Academy and Children of Peace. Four representatives from each

grade for each school competed against one another to spell words correctly. Like the National Spelling Bee, the students had to remember to say the word, spell the word and repeat the word or be disqualified.The competing students were all ready “winners” because they were selected as the best spellers in their school for their grade. St. Malachy produced the most winners with four students coming in first, second or third place!

It was the first time St. Malachy hosted the Bee and the school rose to the occasion to host almost 100 students and their relatives in the audience.

While St. Malachy has been a school on the West Side for almost 100 years, the auditorium where the Bee was held has a brand new wood floor, giving the room a “new” look. It was put in two years ago by St. Malachy parent volunteers and their sharing parish, Holy Cross in Deerfield, IL.

West Side grocery contenders make pitches

6/1/2009, 12:30 PM

Friday, May 8, 2009

Ed Finkel, LISC Chicago

About 200 West Side residents and other stakeholders heard presentations May 6 at Crane High School from representatives of three grocery chains that would like to locate on the three-acre plot at the southeast corner of Madison and Western.

Jewel-Osco, Food 4 Less and Pete’s Fresh Market are the leading contenders to build the first full-service grocery store on the West Side in four decades, serving residents of West Haven, East Garfield Park and nearby communities that comprise one of Chicago’s so-called “food deserts.” The meeting represented the latest chapter in the ongoing saga to bring a major grocer to increasingly impatient residents.

Photo: Oji Eggleston

The noticeably diverse crowd of about 200 would like to see a grocery store, the first full-service grocer in their community in four decades, built and opened ASAP.

Mary Bonome, deputy commissioner with the city’s newly reorganized Department of Community Development, said the city has acquired 27 separate parcels and will soon close on the 28th and final one, which will make development possible after eight years of discussion and debate.

“We are completing what is proving to be a lengthy acquisition process,” Bonome said, responding to the frustration of some attendees at how long commercial development sometimes takes. “We don’t want it to go any longer than you do. Trust me: This has been a long and very expensive process from the city’s perspective.”

As site co-developer, NCP lead agency Near West Side Community Development Corp. has taken the lead role in shepherding the process, which will produce a linchpin project in the community’s 2007 quality-of-life plan, “Rising Like the Phoenix.”

Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) mentioned that a former candidate for the site, whose possible presence had provoked controversy at the first quality-of-life planning meeting at Near West, is no longer in the running.

“Some people wanted Aldi’s,” he said. “But you know what? I don’t think Aldi’s is a fit for the community.” That comment provoked applause from many in the noticeably diverse crowd, although one person shouted: “Hey, I shop at Aldi’s!”

Photo: Oji Eggleston

Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd, at podium) co-hosted the meeting with representatives of the city's newly reorganized Department of Community Development.

The Department of Community Development will consult with the alderman’s office to determine how to move forward, Bonome said. Among the criteria considered will be timeline, financing, building design, community input, commitment to local hiring and to diversity in hiring, commitment to environmentally friendly features, the level of city assistance needed, and the total project cost.

She noted that the presentations were not specific project proposals and did not contain hard dollar figures, either overall or in terms of city assistance sought. “You’ve seen the first step,” she said. “Potentially, that will be the next step.”

Fioretti added that verbal promises made at the meeting would need to become words on paper in a contract. “It may be a different story from getting up here and making a presentation and saying they’re in favor of something,” he said. At the top of his list: “Who’s got real financing, and who doesn’t?”

The presenters drew from PowerPoint presentations to make their respective cases that they would be the best fit for the West Side. Their order of presentation was randomly determined, Fioretti said.

Jewel-Osco proposes a 49,000-square-foot full service store, with all of the standard departments and a drive-through pharmacy window, said Joseph McKeska, regional vice president of real estate for parent company Supervalu, who showed slides of the store design and site plan, with 175 parking spaces and landscaping.

The store would hire locally for its unionized workforce, McKeska said. With 35 stores in the city – the largest private employer in Chicago — Jewel has invested $176.4 million since 2007, he said.

Asked why Jewel had not been interested during an earlier round of RFPs in 2005-06, McKeska said the chain had been purchased three years ago by SuperValu. Since that time, “there’s been a renewed emphasis to try and build more stores in city neighborhoods,” he said.

Food 4 Less, a subsidiary of Kroger with 14 stores in the Chicago area and four in the city, features all the standard grocery departments, said Chris O’Leary, vice president and general manager of the Midwest division, who gave a “visual tour” via the PowerPoint.

The chain keeps consumer costs down by having shoppers bag their own groceries, offering a Sam’s Club-style “club packs” section with bulk quantities of certain items, and providing a “Wall of Values” that’s shipped directly from the manufacturer without being stored in a warehouse, O’Leary said.

Food 4 Less anticipates hiring 120 “members” for the store, at an average of $13 per hour, and its stores typically have 40 percent full time employees, he said, acknowledging that the lack of baggers would mean somewhat fewer jobs.

Asked why parent company Kroger had not been part of the earlier round of RFPs, O’Leary said the parent company had been expanding rapidly and was in the midst of stepping back to make sure it hadn’t over-expanded. Plus, the city’s land acquisition was incomplete at the time, he said.

Pete’s Fresh Market, which received widespread and immediate applause upon its introduction, has more than 1,000 employees in its six stores on the South and West Sides and anticipates creating 150 jobs at Madison and Western, said company representative Charlie Poulakis.

The family-owned, local chain offers most grocery departments, featuring produce front-and-center, although not pharmacy or liquor, and some in the audience applauded again when hearing the store would lack the hard stuff.

“This is a food desert, not a pharmacy desert,” Poulakis said, perhaps referring to the Walgreen’s across the street. “Pete’s likes to go into food deserts and make an oasis. This site fits Pete’s M.O.”

He shared several reviews from the Web site Yelp! that praised Pete's, including two from North Side residents who said they traveled to the store at 43rd and Pulaski for their produce and one from the chef at culinary school Kendall College, who said students are sent there to shop.

The question-and-answer session that followed revealed further information: All three stores said they accept Food Stamps and LINK cards, all offer organic produce, all provide job training before stores open, all offer manager training to those who qualify, all would self-finance, and all would take about nine months to build.

They differed in other respects: Pete’s would have a salad bar, Food 4 Less would not, and Jewel hasn’t yet determined, although each of the latter two would have pre-made salads. A butcher at Food 4 Less makes up to $22 per hour, at Pete’s $16 per hour, and Jewel pays union wages, but McKeska didn’t know how much, exactly. Pete’s and Food 4 Less envision other retail stores on the site; Jewel does not.

Asked how the city will track local hiring, Fioretti said his office is working closely with Near West to keep track of who’s who, a comment that provoked several minutes of cacophonous shouting about that topic, and possibly others, from a handful of men in the back of the room.

Another question wasn’t so much a question as a wish, praising Jewel for its value and Pete’s for the quality of its merchandise before asking tongue-in-cheek whether they could combine efforts. At this, O’Leary adroitly and purposefully strode to the mike and said, to laughter: “That’s called Food 4 Less.”

Article originally posted at: www.newcommunities.org

TEACHERS...we appreciate YOU!

5/4/2009, 12:11 PM

Monday, May 4, 2009

Paulette Boyd

Near West Side CDC/West Haven School Network will host a Teacher Appreciation event "Jazzin' at Dett" on Thursday, May 14th - 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Dett Elementary school principal, Ms. Bonner, offered to host the event at her school, inviting more than 200 faculty in the community to enjoy live music and refreshments. The West Haven Community Dance Team will perform during a brief program, however, the real message is to say "Thanks" to our local school teachers and all they do for our students!

Teachers should R.S.V.P. to Paulette Boyd, NCP Director, at 312-738-2280.

Crane staff say Spring Into Sports bloomed

4/17/2009, 5:15 PM

Friday, April 17, 2009

Ed Finkel, LISC Chicago

Administrators at Crane Technical Prep High School said the Spring Into Sports week at their school went about as well as they could have hoped.

"It’s a way to keep the kids actively engaged in a positive way,” said Principal Richard Smith. “It’s a lot of kids in this community and surrounding communities coming in, playing, no fighting — just enjoying themselves. And that’s the ultimate goal. I’m very pleased with the way the program is going.”

The broader picture for Spring Into Sports, held during Chicago Public Schools’ spring break, is the concept of community schools, open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or later, chock full of programming for students and their families, Smith said.

“The decrease in violence is based on schools and community groups working together and creating lighthouses, to keep the kids active and not on the streets,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to have to do. And we’ve been doing it here.”

For more on the efforts of Crane and NCP lead agency Near West Side Community Development Corp. to promote positive alternatives to gangs and violence, please click here.

Crane’s athletic director, Bennie Horton, said the week had been well-planned and problem-free. “All the kids were excited,” he said. “I had been a little anxious about whether students would show up during Spring Break. My other concern was, would it be well organized enough? It turned out excellent.”

Markee Williams, an 8th grader at Kohn Elementary, reflected the students’ excitement as he munched on a post-game hot dog slathered in ketchup after his team cruised through the middle-school basketball finals in the Crane bracket, 44-26.

“It’s been real fun,” said the point and shooting guard, who appreciated that event organizers “took time out to think about the kids, and let us play here and have a little tournament for us.”

* * * * *

The high school basketball team comprised of Crane students, many if not most from the school’s Public League squad, threatened to become the comeback kids of the Spring Into Sports tournament but ultimately fell short.

The team, named D-1, trailed 27-11 at halftime of the Crane bracket finals on April 10 to a neighborhood team from the Harold Ickey Homes, called NTA. But D-1 came back in the second 12-minute half thanks to a smothering pressure defense that threw NTA completely out of rhythm.

Competition in the basketball finals proved fierce — but no more so than the other sports.

Eric Young Smith

Set to a mix of commentary and hip-hop samplings from courtside announcer DJ Montee, D-1 climbed to 31-22 with nine minutes remaining. “D-1, trying to make a run,” Montee said. They made it to 31-29 with just under six minutes, finally catching NTA at 34-33 with less than two minutes remaining on a three-point shot by Jarell Taylor.

After NTA briefly regained the lead, another three-pointer by Jeremy Hood provided the dagger, and D-1 prevailed, 41-35. “I got a chance to show people what I could do,” said Hood, a senior shooting guard. “It means a lot. I hate losing. I give it all I’ve got. We unfolded a little bit [in the first half], but we got it back together.”

Joshua Williams, a senior point guard, agreed that playing in Spring Into Sports was something like the NBA All Star Game for pro players. “It’s a lot more freedom to show our skills,” he said. “We had to get this victory. We don’t like to lose in our own gym.”

But the thrill of victory turned into the agony of defeat in the citywide semifinals the next day, when the team from the Orr bracket that won the high school championship built a 24-14 lead with 6½ minutes left. As they had the previous day, D-1 stiffened its defense and pulled to within 24-22 with 4½ minutes to go.

But this time, they couldn’t get over the top. After a series of back-and-forth baskets, the Orr team widened its lead to 36-32, and D-1 had to start fouling. After pulling within 37-34 with 7 seconds remaining, a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer didn’t fall.

That game proved the Orr team's toughest challenge: in the final game, they led 13-5 at the half, kept a lead of 8-12 points for most of the second half, and won 30-20.

* * * * *

The final contests in sports besides basketball may have drawn somewhat less attention April 11, but the competitive juices flowed no less freely.

After the basketball game cleared, the volleyball finals – with six players to a team, four boys and two girls – captured center stage. The winning team trailed 3-0 before reeling off nine straight points on the way to a convincing 21-9 victory fueled by clockwork teamwork: exquisitely laid set shots followed by an unpredictable variety of hard slams and softer but well-placed finishing touches.

Those participating in track-and-field finals, which included sprints, relay races and the long jump thundered behind the basketball teams’ benches on one side of Crane’s North Gym, often needing the help of teammates and other bystanders to avoid crashing into spectators – or the wall of the gym – upon finishing their heats.

The “sooking” sound at one end of Crane’s South Gym at turned out to be arrows piercing and sinking into their yellow, red and blue targets. With staff on hand from Chicago Archery Classes to help youth position their bows and arrows correctly, the tournament commenced in middle- and high-school divisions like the other sports.

“That was kind of fun. I’ll do it again,” said Bill Lee, a small forward on Crane’s basketball team, who had never participated in archery before Friday, April 10.

As the finals got underway on April 11, intense concentration alternated with applause and whoops from those gathered around. “Oh my goodness! That was excellent!” enthused one of the archery staff as a young lady hit the bulls-eye.

Other participants tried their hands at badminton and ping-pong. A Chicago police officer staffing the event took time out to show one young man how to put “English” on the ping-pong ball by slicing his racquet sideways as he hit the ball.

At the next table, a girls’ doubles team seemed to be getting the better of a pair of boys, who were heard arguing about who bumped into whom as the girls shouted in delight after scoring the winning point.

Out in the hallway between the gymnasiums, medal winners began queueing up to get their pictures taken on the three-tiered, Olympic-style stand set up for the purpose.

"Chicago youth sports program more than fun and games"

4/15/2009, 10:31 AM

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Jon Davis of the Chicago Tribune writes of the recent success with Spring Into Sports (4/15/2009). "Chicago youth sports program more than fun and games". Click here to view article.

Link broken? Download here.

Near West Side CDC builds 'Safe Haven' at Crane

4/8/2009, 1:23 PM

"Near West Side CDC builds 'Safe Haven' at Crane" Click Here

Ed Finkel, LISC Chicago's New Communities Program. March 13, 2009.

Link Broken? Download here

Let the Games Begin with SPRING INTO SPORTS

3/27/2009, 12:49 PM

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Paulette Boyd

LISC/Chicago is sponsoring a full week of Olympic style competitive games SPRING INTO SPORTS - April 4 thru April 10 (11am to 5pm). Crane Tech Prep was chosen as one of four hosting community venues across Chicago. Near West Side CDC will coordinate the games, event activities and volunteers.

Throughout the Spring Break week, boys and girls ages 10 to 18 years will compete in archery, basketball, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, track and field. Other non-traditional sports - boxing, judo, swimming and more will be featured/demonstrated prior to and during the week of competitive play.

On Saturday, April 11, Crane will host the city-wide championship games. Finalists in all sports will come to Crane Tech Prep at 11am for "play-offs" to crown the CITY WIDE CHAMPTIONS! A medal ceremony and a dynamic closing ceremony will begin after the final games.

West Haven Students should call Oji Eggleston at 312-738-2280 to register for games or to volunteer. Service Learning Credit hours are available for students that want to volunteer and assist with a wide variety of event/game assignments. Community residents that would like to volunteer should call Paulette Boyd at 312-738-2280.

Click Here to download flier

Gentle Wash Spring Sale and Free Raffle

3/22/2009, 10:43 AM

Gentle Wash is offering a spring sale thru 4/5/09 along with a ** FREE CAR WASH GIVE AWAY **

Entries for sweep stakes must submit email address, name and phone number. Winner will be selected on 4/1/09 by phone or email. The Spring sale consists of a FULL SERVICE DETAIL starting @ only $129.00 regularly priced $169.00 - $299.00 Gentle Wash is a fully equipped mobile car wash and detail service that comes to your home or office. Operating hours by appointment.

For sweep stakes entry email: gentlewash1@yahoo.com by 3/31/09
For info contact: De @ (312) 823-7687 or email: drw2245@yahoo.com

Gentle Wash Mobile Detail is a recipient of Near West’s United Center Economic Development Fund. Click here for a full business review and slideshow.

A bright shoe store

3/16/2009, 10:39 AM

Click here to read "A bright shoe store"

Ashley Bates, Medill News Service

Chicago Journal

Link Broken? Download article here.

Western Avenue to receive extreme makeover

2/28/2009, 10:34 PM

Click here to download streetscape proposal. Allow time for download.

Trees, benches & flower beds, oh my!

Spiffing up Western Avenue

2/19/2009, 11:39 AM

"Spiffing up Western Avenue"

Streetscape project may spur West Side development

Ian Fullerton, Chicago Journal