By William S. Bike
AA MEETINGS
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, in the basement at 1220 W. Lexington St. The meetings are closed format, meaning they are for people with drinking problems or AA members only, and not for family members. Call (773) 346-1475 for more information.
SAFETALK
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Illinois Chapter,will host a safeTALK alertness training to prepare anyone age 15 or older to become a suicide alert helper. The training will be held Saturday, March 14, at 10:30 a.m. in Arlington Heights, IL. Email [email protected]
FREE EVENINGS
The Art Institute of Chicago offers free admission to Illinois residents every Wednesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. It is located at 111 S. Michigan Ave. Log on to www.artic.edu.
BENTON HOUSE INFO
At Benton House,3052 S. Gratten Ave., find out about public benefits such as supplemental nutrition assistance and citizenship application help. Food pantry hours are noon to 2 p.m. Fridays. Enjoy movies most Mondays at 7 p.m., senior exercise Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., yoga on Tuesdays at 8 p.m., and open basketball games Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Call (773) 927-6420 or email [email protected]
BOULEVARD NEWS
The Boulevard of Chicago at 3456 W. Franklin Blvd. provides medical respite care and housing services for homeless adults discharged from area hospitals. Call (773) 533-6013 or log on to www.blvd.org.
BURNETT NEWS
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. of the 27th Ward holds regular Ward Night meetings open to the community on Mondays at 1452 N. Sedgwick St. from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and on Thursdays at 4 N. Western Ave. from 7 to 9 p.m.
Call (312) 432-1995.
CAC NEWS
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) will host its annual benefit Thursday, April 2, at the Knoll Showroom, 811 W. Fulton Market. Call (312) 491-8888.
CAC created the new Envision Grant program, an unrestricted award opportunity for Chicago-based new media artists making time-based work in the fields of digital, electronic, computer, internet, virtual reality, and video-game art. Applications open Friday, May 1. For more information about the program, visit: https://chicagoartistscoalition.org/resources/cac-grants/envision-grant, email [email protected], or call (312) 491-8888 x1004.
CAC is located at 2130 W. Fulton St.
GALLERY NIGHT
The Chicago Arts District Second Fridays gallery night happens every second Friday of the month from 6 to 10 p.m. This walking tour of 25 Pilsen galleries and art spots includes performance art and shopping opportunities. Admission is free. Begin your tour at 1945 S. Halsted St. For more information, call (312) 738-8000.
NURSE CONSORTIUM NEWS
The Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium helps foreign-educated nurses attain licensure in Illinois.
National Council Licensure Examination predictor tests are available to demonstrate probability of passing the nursing exam.
The organization’s website at www.chicagobilingualnurse.org also lists jobs available for nurses. For more information, call (773) 838-1870.
BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection offers free business education workshops every Wednesday and Friday at City Hall. For more information, call (312) 744-2086 or email [email protected]
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services reports that Community Services Block Grant Scholarships are available for those enrolled or planning to enroll in college or vocational training. Contact Jenny Schuler at [email protected] or (312) 746-7291.
HR MASTERMIND
The Chicago HR Mastermindis a free monthly meetup of more than 1,100 human resources practitioners, service providers, students, and Chicago-area professionals in job transition who come together to expand networks and solve problems. Arrive eager to be of service, and leave ready to make an impact. Visit www.HRHotSeat.com for a calendar of upcoming events.
WOMEN’S PARK NEWS
Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens will host a free candlelight yoga session on Friday, March 6, 7 to 8 p.m.
The parkwill host advisory council meetings at 6:45 p.m. on the Tuesdays of March 10, April 21, June 9, July 21, Aug. 25, Oct. 6, and Dec. 8.
The park is located at 1801 S. Indiana Ave. Call (312) 328-0821.
CHICAGO IS NOT BROKE
Editor Tom Tresser of CivicLab, who published the book Chicago Is Not Broke,is asking people to host a “book meeting in a box” at their homes. He will send ten books to you plus a discussion guide. You invite people to your home and either give or sell them the book. He supplies a link to a pre-recorded personalized video introduction that you play for the attendees. If you bring those folks back together after they read the book, Tresser will join that gathering via a live video chat.
Contact Tresser at (312) 804-3230 or [email protected]
DE LA SALLE NEWS
The De La Salle Institute Meteor Mock Trial Team competed in the Kane County Mock Trial Invitational against 20 schools from across the state. Two Meteors garnered prestigious plaudits: Mackenzie Capers (Bronzeville) won Most Outstanding Witness, while Jonathan Valenzuela (Bridgeport) earned Most Outstanding Attorney for cross examining the plaintiff. De La Salle students Peter Brennan, Isabella Brogan, Samantha Brost (Bridgeport), Chelsea Guardiola, Judith Hernandez, Ivan Martinez, and Nadiyah Muhammad also competed.
De La Salle recently welcomed guest speaker Scott Merkin to address students in the first-period journalism class. Merkin has worked in journalism nearly 30 years and served as the Chicago White Sox beat writer for the mlb.com website since 2003.
Winners of the school’s writing contest for the second academic quarter are senior Lyree Brunson and junior Alyssa Mulhearn.
De La Salle’s varsity girls’ basketball team participated in the Lausanne High School Martin Luther King Classic in Memphis, TN, posting a 57-32 victory over Lausanne. The students also visited the Lorraine Hotel and Civil Rights Museum, where they learned about Martin Luther King’s life.
Head varsity baseball coach Chris Hall was chosen one of the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Class 3A area coaches of the year.
The PUSH for Excellence 30th Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast honored student Alexandre Coleman, awarding him its Dr. King/President Johnson Faith in Politics: Game Changer STEM Award for the impact he and others have had addressing poverty, economic injustice, and educational inequality. Coleman won for his two years of work with the Dream Hustle Code Team, which he serves as a student ambassador to encourage other students interested in STEM.
Lyree Brunson recently won Meteor of the Month.
Student Michael Zanin was chosen the Illinois High School Hockey League’s Junior Varsity Division One skater of the month recently.
The girls’ junior varsity basketball team won the 2020 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference White Division championship on Feb. 6, defeating Trinity 36-28 at St. Ignatius.
Students Nyiah and Nina Penny have signed letters of intent to attend Indiana Tech University in Fort Wayne, IN, and join the Warriors’ women’s volleyball program.
De La Salle is at 3434 S. Michigan Ave. Call (312) 842-7355 or log on to www.dls.org.
DUSABLE MUSEUM
The DuSable Museum of African American History is free to all every Tuesday. The museum is at 740 E. 56th Pl. Call (773) 947-0600.
LEGAL DEFENSE
First Defense Legal Aid,5100 W. Harrison St., provides representation to people in custody, informs people of their rights, and organizes volunteers to help.
For more information, call (773) 434-4162.
DONATIONS WELCOME
First Trinity Chicago Lutheran Church Community Center welcomes donations of clothing, shoes, and hygiene items. Volunteers accept donations on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon. The church is located at 643 W. 31st St. Call (312) 842-7390.
GLESSNER EVENTS
The Glessner House Museum offers free admission on Wednesdays.
During Mattie Williamson Week, celebrating the Glessners’ cook of 20 years, events will include a historic cooking demonstration on Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. (tickets $25), the A Servant’s Life lecture on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. (tickets $15), a six-course dinner in the dining room on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. (tickets $750), a presentation and dessert with Mattie Williamson on Thursday, March 12, at 8 p.m. (tickets $75), and a Gosford Park movie screening on Saturday, March 14, at 7 p.m. (tickets $15). The museum will celebrate Fanny Glessner’s bedroom restoration with a grand opening on Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. (tickets $20), which includes a book signing featuring author Bruce Goldfarb’s new Fanny Glessner biography, 18 Tiny Deaths. The museum will explore her famous Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death during the Murder in a Nutshell event on Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. (tickets $15).
The museum is located at 1800 S. Prairie Ave. Log on to www.glessnerhouse.org.
GPAC MEETINGS
The Grant Park Advisory Council holds meetings on the third Wednesday of every month, except December, at 6:30 p.m. at the Maggie Daley Field House, 337 E. Randolph St. Next meeting is March 18. See www.grantparkconservancy.com.
GWTP JOB TRAINING
Greater West Town Partnership, 500 N. Sacramento Blvd.,offers job placement and training programs in wood products manufacturing and shipping and receiving. Call (312) 563-9570.
HONORING VETERANS
Honor Flight Chicago,a not-for-profit organization,flies veterans of the U.S. armed services to Washington, DC, at no charge for a day of recognition and sightseeing. For information on signing up a veteran for a flight, or to make a donation, log on to www.honorflightchicago.org.
SHE KILLS MONSTERS
Hyde Park Community Players at University Church,5655 S. University Ave., will present the play She Kills Monsters,whichtells the story of a woman learning more about her deceased sister, a Dungeons and Dragons master, by playing the game herself. Performances will be given the Fridays and Saturdays of March 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 8 p.m. and the Sundays of March 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5. Log on to http://hydeparkcommunityplayers.org.
LOW-COST INTERNET
Internet Essentials makes it possible for people receiving public assistance to qualify for low-cost internet service. Log on to internetessentials.com.
NEW BASKETBALL COURT
The Martin Luther King Jr. Boys & Girls Club at 2950 W. Washington Blvd. unveiled a new basketball court during a February event featuring athletes in town for the National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend, including former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Sky’s Cappie Poindexter. Nike sponsors the court. Call (773) 696-9715.
LAGRASSA PERFORMANCE
Singer/songwriter Denise LaGrassa and her quartet will perform rhythm and blues, soul, and folk/jazz music at Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S. Wabash Ave., on Friday, March 6, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Call (312) 427-1190.
MARKET NEWS
Maxwell Street Market, Desplaines and Taylor Streets, is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sundays, year round. It offers many types of merchandise including tools, clothing, furniture, collectables, and food. Parking is free on Desplaines from Harrison to Polk Streets and from Taylor Street to Roosevelt Road.
MILLENNIUM PARK NEWS
The Millennium Park Ice Rinkremains open until Sunday, March 8. Skating is free. Skate rental, skate sharpening, and locker rentals are available for various charges. The rink is at 1 N. Michigan Ave.
MENTORS SOUGHT
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls seeks adults to be mentors for youngsters. Learn more at MercyHome.org/ChicagoGazette.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER AND PARTY
Nativity of Our Lord Parish will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner and party for those age 21 or older on Saturday, March 7, at Nativity of Our Lord Church Hall at 653 W. 37th St. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner starts at 7 p.m. Tickets for $55 or $500 for a table of ten. Enjoy prizes, raffles, entertainment, cash bar, and catering by Harrington’s. Reservations required; no coolers allowed. Post-dinner entry after 9 p.m. is $10; no RSVP necessary. For more information call (773) 927-6263 or log on to www.nativitybridgeport.org. Ad book opportunities also available.
[email protected] will offer free rush hour concerts presented by Roosevelt University and Grace Place on the Thursdays of March 26 (brass chamber music), April 16 (woodwind chamber music), and April 30 (classical guitar); each includes a post-concert reception. Grace Place is at 637 S. Dearborn St. Log on to www.roosevelt.edu/ccpa or call (312) 341-2352.
SHAMROCK’N THE BLOCK
Old St. Pat’s Church,700 W. Adams St., will launch a new block party called Shamrock’n the Block on Desplaines Street on Saturday, March 14. Call (312) 648-1021.
FLORES PHOTOS
Rangefinder Gallery at Tamarkin Camera, 300 W. Superior St., 2nd floor, will hold a booksigning and reception for the book I Must Leave by local photographer Jose D. Flores Jr. on Friday, March 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. The book features street photography by Flores in Oaxaca, Mexico. Call (312) 642-2255.
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE
Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Crime Victims Services Bureau helps those dealing with the effects of crime. Call (800) 228-3368.
CONTACT ROBINSON
State Representative Lamont J. Robinson (D-5th) wants to hear what residents think are the most important issues in the community. Contact him at (773) 924-4614 or at his office at 5048 S. Indiana Ave.
SAINT GABRIEL NEWS
Saint Gabriel Elementary School encourages families of potential students to schedule a tour of the school, located at 4500 S. Wallace St. Call (773) 268-6636 or log on to www.saintgabes.com.
SAINT IGNATIUS NEWS
Saint Ignatius College Prep will host Gloriam on Saturday, March 7, featuring dinner and a silent auction and raffle.
Current, former, and future Ignatians are welcome to join with Saint Ignatius to march in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 14, stepping off at noon at Balbo and Columbus Drives. Meet there at the float at 11 a.m. Email [email protected]
Saint Ignatius will host a Chicago Bulls outing Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m., and a Chicago White Sox outing on Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m.
The school is located at 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd. Call (312) 421-5900.
SHRINE NEWS
The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii will host its Winter Spirituality Series: Pilgrimage for the Planet on Saturday, March 28, 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Lenten Bible study will be held the Wednesdays of March 11 and 25, and April 8 and 22 from 6:45 to 8 p.m.
Stations of the Cross are scheduled for Fridays in Lent, now through April 10, at noon.
The shrine is located at 1224 W. Lexington St. Call (312) 421-3757 or log on to www.ourladyofpompeii.org for more information.
PENNY SOCIAL
St. Mary of Perpetual Help All Saints-St. Anthony, 1039 W. 32nd St., will host its Penny Social, featuring raffles, prizes, and giveaways, on Sunday, March 8. Log on to stmaryofperpetualhelp.com or call (773) 927-6646.
ST. MATTHEW NEWS
St. Matthew Lutheran Church offers food for the needy at its Comedor San Mateo Soup Kitchen.
The church campus is at 2108 W. 21st St. Call (773) 847-6458.
SIXTH GRACE NEWS
Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church,600 E. 35th St, and the Presbyterian Women will hold a Women’s Day worship service on Sunday, March 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the theme 2020 Perfect Vision for God’s Work. Speakers will be Elder Barbara Baker and Deacon Carole Ayanlaja. Enjoy fellowship in Register Hall after the service. Call (312) 225-5300.
TRIVIA NIGHT
South Loop Neighbors will host a trivia night on Wednesday, March 11, at a location to be determined. Email [email protected] or log on to www.southloopneighbors.org.
TRAUMA HELPLINE
The toll-free TURN Trauma Counseling Helpline,(833) TURN123, operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. TURN stands for The Urban Resilience Network, and the helpline assists those experiencing trauma caused by exposure to violence. The organization also provides trained ambassadors to visit community events and schools to educate about trauma.
SUMMERLAB
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools will host Summer Lab, Monday, June 22, through Friday, July 31, featuring a day camp, theatre training, summer school, sports, dance, and recreation. Log on to SummerLab.org.
UIC INFO
Get the latest update on dental sciences at the 33rd annual Clinic and Research Day, set for Thursday, March 5, at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. People from other health care professions and anyone interested in dental research are welcome to attend to learn more about scientific activities at the College. For information contact Amsa Ramachandran at (312) 413-1160 or [email protected] or log on to https://dentistry.uic.edu/research/clinic-and-research-day.
The UIC College of Engineering received a grant from Break Through Tech to increase women’s representation in technology careers by encouraging more young women to complete computer science majors.
UIC will lead a $14.6 million, multi-center research project to determine which of two drugs — azithromycin, an antibiotic, or roflumilast, an anti-inflammatory medication — is the most effective at treating COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD, an umbrella term for a number of lung conditions that make it difficult for a person to breathe. For information, call (312) 413-0637.
SAFE ZONE
Meeting online buyers or sellers in person now is a little safer for both UICpersonnel and the general public, thanks to the University of Illinois at Chicago Police. The department opened its district station front lobby to the public as a Safe Exchange Zone, where people can carry out legal swaps, sales, or purchases on campus as well as make child custody exchanges. Open 24 hours, the area has video surveillance and a seating area. The station is located at 943 W. Maxwell St., and parking is available.
OPEN HOUSE
Urban Autism Solutions will hold an open house celebrating the UAS West Side Transition Academy’s grand opening on Tuesday, March 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 1220 W. Lexington St. The academy works with disadvantaged students with autism and disabilities. Email [email protected]
BLOOD NEEDED
Vitalant,the Chicago area’s largest blood center, is facing an emergency need for blood and platelets. To donate, visit vitalant.org or call (877) 258-4825.
HIV+ WOMEN
The Women’s Treatment Center offers free assistance with online applications for enrollment into the Illinois Ryan White Part B Program for HIV+ women. Call and schedule an appointment at (312) 850-0050, x4994. The center is at 140 N. Ashland Ave. Log on to www.womenstreatmentcenter.org.
PEOPLE
Marion Louise Warren, daughter of Gazette Chicago reporter David Warren and his wife, Rebecca, was born Jan. 27, weighing 7 lbs., 4 oz.