6 (1)

Archer Avenue goes green for a day

Spread the love

The Southwest Side Irish (as well as many more “Irish for a day” friends and neighbors) flooded Archer Avenue with good cheer earlier this month, at the Midway area’s only St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Hosted by the Clear-Ridge Men’s Social Athletic Club and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the Chicago Working Families’ Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade was dedicated to the memory of the late CPD Officer Ella French, who died a hero’s death last August during a traffic stop near 63rd and Bell.

Organizers said that some $100,000 in parade sponsorship revenue will be donated to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s “Get Behind the Vest” initiative, which purchases protective vests for CPD officers.

Organizers said about 75 businesses and community groups marched in this year’s parade. The Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade was started in 2017 by the IUOE Local 150, and participation from labor organizations, corporations and community groups has grown steadily each year.

“We are overwhelmed by the support that the parade received from our partners this year, and I am so proud to be a member of this community,” said Parade Chairman James M. Sweeney, who also serves as president-business manager of Local 150. “From the unions and companies who bought sponsorships to the neighbors who donated $10 or $20, everyone united to support the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our safety. Officer Ella French’s death was heartbreaking, and we hope that our effort can play a small role in stopping future tragedies. This parade started as a way to bring the neighborhood together for an afternoon, and seeing it step up to serve such an important role is something we should all be proud of.”

Top sponsors of the 2022 Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade included the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, the Chicago Building Trades Council, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Laborers District Council, Teamsters Joint Council 25, Pipefitting Council of Greater Chicago, McGill Asphalt, McHugh Concrete, Gatwood Crane, Megent Financial, Taylor Excavating, Ullico, Friends of Silvana Tabares and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization.

–Photos by Kelly White

24

6 1 1

1 2 1

2 2 1

3 2 1

4 1 1

5 2

10 1

12 1

14 1

15 1

16 1

17 1

18 1

19 1

20

21

23

26

27

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

Local News

Evergreen Park native Abbey Murphy is enjoying success at the collegiate and international levels as a member of the Minnesota and U.S.women's hockey teams. Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota Department of Athletics

Hockey gold-medalist Abbey Murphy among college athletes to strike NIL deal with White Sox

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Four college athletes who attended area high schools have been named CHISOX Athletes for 2024, an NIL initiative created by the Chicago White Sox. Notre Dame offensive lineman Pat Coogan (Marist), Minnesota hockey forward Abbey Murphy (Mother McAuley) and Illinois soccer player Yulexi Diaz (Solorio) are among the athletes…

Swallow Cliff Chapter Regent Audra Gray (from left), Natalia Muzurek from Stagg High School, Nathan Christopher Powers from Oak Forest High School, Kristina Elizabeth Raloff from Tinley Park High School, Jamal Awadalla Morad from Oak Lawn High School, Swallow Cliff Chapter Good Citizens Chairman Malinda Clickner-Pocznok, and Illinois State Good Citizens Chairman Lynn Gray. Not pictured are Theresa Brady from Evergreen Park High School, Jahaziah Renee Morris from Chicago Christian High School, and JohnAnthony V. Alvarado from Shepard High School. (Supplied photo)

Swallow Cliff Chapter NSDAR awards students

Spread the love

Spread the loveAt its February meeting, Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, held its annual Youth Awards program to honor the DAR Good Citizens Award winners. Seven local high schools nominated outstanding seniors to be candidates for the DAR Good Citizens Award. To be eligible for this award, students had to…

Reavis’ Alyssa Juarez dribbles the soccer ball down the field during a game against Stagg on March 28. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Girls Soccer | Stagg, Reavis looking for more

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent The final match of March for both Reavis and Stagg ended in a 0-0 draw on March 28 in Burbank. The Rams (2-4-1 entering this week) are led by third-year head coach Konrad Dziedzic. This season’s team captains include seniors Alaina Hernandez and Olivia Smcyz. “The captains play a…

balls

Sports Bits | Aaliyah Flores named St. Laurence hoops MVP

Spread the love

Spread the love• Shepard alum John Economos was named to the National Hellenistic Hall of Fame. Economos was a Regional News-Reporter Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 1995. • Marist boys basketball coach Brian Hynes was named District 3 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. • St. Laurence freshman Aaliyah Flores was…

Baseball in a mitt with a black bat low angle selective focus view on a baseball field

College Baseball | Saint Xavier and St. Francis combine for 68 hits, 11 HRs

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent In a showdown between two of the top teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, St. Francis (Illinois) won a strange and windy doubleheader over Saint Xavier, 21-4 and 30-14, on March 26 in Chicago. Yes, those were baseball scores. The teams combined for 68 hits and 11 home…

A rendering of the new Brother Rice baseball field. Construction is expected to take place this summer. Brother Rice photo

Brother Rice baseball field to get major upgrade

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is getting an upgrade to its baseball field. The project has been in the planning stages for years, but the Covid-19 pandemic and projects around the school have put it to the back burner. But the school announced last week that the project will commence this summer.…

The Vikings’ Matthew Carrano loads up at the plate. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus gets 500th career win

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom Staff Reports St. Laurence defeated Naperville North on March 30 to give longtime Vikings coach Pete Lotus his 500th career victory. The Vikings beat the Huskies, 3-0, in Burbank. Two days earlier, Joe Olsen and Enrique Villanueva combined to allow just one run on four hits over five innings, and senior Matthew…

Pro Soccer Brief | Fire II draw with Philly

Spread the love

Spread the loveThe Chicago Fire II played its first home MLS NEXT Pro game of the season and tied the Philadelphia Union, 1-1, on March 27 at SeatGeek Stadium. Harold Osorio scored his first goal of the season and goalie Patrick Los was busy making eight saves.

Chicago Red Stars standout Mallory Swanson and goalie Alyssa Naher will play for the U.S. women's team against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Red Stars’ Swanson and Naeher heading to SheBelieves Cup

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Two Chicago Red Stars are heading to the SheBelieves Cup with the U.S. women’s team. Forward Malloey Swanson and goalie Alyssa Naeher will be among the players representing the U.S. in a game against Japan on April 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Stars’ Nadia Gomes will be…

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson reacts after scoring a game-tying goal against Orlando on March 29. IMAGN photo

Swanson scores in Red Stars’ draw with Pride

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After missing most of the 2023 NWSL season due to surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson knew she would have to ease into things in 2024. First-year coach Lorne Donaldson was expecting Swanson would return to form five or six games in.…

Neighbors

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…

Remembering Lee Milner

Remembering Lee Milner

NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now.  Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again.  The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall.  Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now.  Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…

Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending

Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending

By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…