Citizen Week of Jan. 9, 2019
| Vol. 2 | No. 22 | www.thechicagocitizen.com
SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY
SNEAK PEAK CHICAGO SNEAKER CONVENTION HOSTED IN SOUTH SUBURBS Sneak Peak Chicago recently hosted a sneaker convention at the Matteson Community Center. The event provides an opportunity for people to buy, sell, and trade a variety of urban streetwear items from limited edition sneakers, to hats, and clothing, and other fashion brand memorabilia. SEE PAGE 7
Sneak Peak Chicago sneaker convention was recently held at the Matteson Community Center. Photo Credit: Sneak Peak Chicago/ Micheal Garren
ART SCENE
Lifetime TV series Bring It! is back again live on-stage at the Chicago Theatre PAGE 2
TRAVEL
POLITISCOPE
Top Tips for Choosing a Cruise During Upcoming Peak Booking Period PAGE 2
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The John Birch Society is still influencing American politics, 60 years after its founding PAGE 4
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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 9, 2019
ART SCENE Lifetime TV series Bring It! is back again live on-stage at the Chicago Theatre Featuring the legendary Coach Dianna Williams and her team of Dancing Dolls, comes the jam-packed heart-pounding experience called Bring It! Live. After three acclaimed touring seasons, the hit Lifetime TV series Bring It! is back again live on-stage at the Chicago Theatre on July 18, 2019 with never before seen routines and an all new fan vs Dancing Doll stand battles. The 2019 summer tour will feature an all new interactive show with hotter-than-ever performances inspiring fans of all ages in an evening packed with motivation, inspiration and formation. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets start at $38.75 (plus applicable service charges) with pricing subject to change. VIP packages are available at all price levels.
The deluxe VIP package includes premium seating, a souvenir tour program and photo opportunity. The add-on VIP package includes a souvenir tour program and photo opportunity and can only be purchased if accompanied by a valid ticket to the live performance. Limited supplies are available. Bring It! returns with all new episodes on Lifetime beginning Thursday, January 17th at 9pm ET/PT or anytime on mylifetime. com. As the brand-new dance season begins, Coach D has decided to break her biggest rule and the change shakes the Dollhouse to its core. For the first time EVER - BOYS will be dancing alongside the team and this new addition creates chaos. With new team captains and a new assistant coach, the boys and girls will have to learn to work together to keep their heads in the battle if they want to be number one.
After three acclaimed touring seasons, the hit Lifetime TV series Bring It! is back again live on-stage at the Chicago Theatre.
TRAVEL Top Tips for Choosing a Cruise During Upcoming Peak Booking Period Cruises are a popular vacation option for travelers and January to March is one of the best times to book a cruise. With nearly 50 percent of all cruises booked during this period, known as wave season, the cruise lines ramp up their marketing and promotions to entice potential passengers. Travel advisors within Travel Leaders Network are available to help travelers sort through all of the options and find the best opportunity and best ship for their budget and vacation plans. "Many people, especially first-time cruisers, are not aware of the breadth of cruise experiences that are available to accommodate their travel desires," said Roger E. Block, CTC, president of Travel Leaders Network, which is one of the largest sellers of cruises in North America. "River cruises and ocean cruises can offer a variety of different itineraries and onboard atmospheres, but there is always something for everyone and our travel advisors help their clients sort through the available options." Whether it's for a cruise in the sunny Caribbean or breathtaking Alaska, historical Europe or South America -- many of the industry's most-respected brands feature some of their best offers during wave season. This includes all types of cruising experiences, ranging from deep water ocean vessels to small luxury ships and river cruises. Whatever type of cruise or destination interest, Travel Leaders Network has an agent that can help customize vacations to fit the needs of every traveler. The period from January through March has traditionally been known as "wave season," the time of year when cruise lines roll out their biggest deals and most enticing perks, in hopes of filling up staterooms for the coming season. Here are some tips that help travelers narrow their cruise choices so they can take advantage of special wave season offers. WHAT TYPE OF SHIP IS BEST Large, oceangoing vessels that travel to the Caribbean and Alaska are like floating cities, with lots of choices for dining, activities and entertainment. They're great for families with
friends they meet on board. The kids' clubs and teen lounges are off-limits to adults, but there are lots of other spaces for the mature members of the group to enjoy, including the ship's fitness center, spa, theaters, lounges and casino. Most ships also have adults-only spaces.
The cruise industry’s biggest reservations period of the year, known as Wave Season, begins in January.
children. River cruises, like the ones that ply Europe's waterways, are smaller ships and provide a more intimate experience. They can travel close to the center of cities and towns. Onboard activities emphasize the cuisine, history and culture of the destinations. CULINARY ADVENTURES These cruises make sure the food is as appealing as the destinations. With innovative partnerships with well-known chefs and culinary experts, the cruise lines offer a way to immerse oneself and deepen one's understanding of a region by taking a journey that feeds the senses with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of local and authentic flavors. Expanded onboard cuisine options to shore excursions will often focus on flavorful, regional ingredients, cooking styles, demonstrations and tastings. JOURNEYS THAT QUENCH THIRST Whether it is aged wines, craft beers or fresh cocktails, many people travel to experience the fine taste of local beverages. Certain cruises offer an opportunity for tastings and to learn from mixologists, sommeliers or famous brewers either onboard, during shore excursions or both. These cruises provide opportunities to try
different selections that bring the rich history and culture of the people alive. Travelers may tap their own beer, blend their own wine, or explore a region rich in the history of the local vineyards. EXPEDITION CRUISES FOR THE EXPLORER For adventurers who would enjoy smaller ships that can travel to more remote destinations, they may love an expedition cruise. These ships, equipped with sturdy, inflatable boats called Zodiacs, take vacationers to the shore for land-based excursions or to spots in the water for activities such as deep-sea snorkeling or diving. Smaller ships also allow passengers to disembark more frequently, often with two or three landings or shore excursions per day for unique sightings and adventures. MULTI-FAMILY OCEAN ADVENTURES Family-oriented cruise lines have ships that offer fabulous children's programs that have a mix of fun and educational activities. Some have water slides and roller coasters, bungee jumping and zip lining, as well as art and cooking courses that the whole family can enjoy. For teens, there are exclusive areas where they can play games, watch movies, learn to be a DJ or just relax. Teens also tend to make good use of the pools and sports facilities with the new
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SMALL GROUPS AND INTIMATE GATHERINGS There are other factors that can help travelers maximize savings above and beyond a wave season promotion. Through the Distinctive Voyages program, available on nine cruise lines and only available by booking with a Travel Leaders Group travel advisor, clients will also receive a private welcome reception, a complimentary shore excursion and the service of a dedicated Distinctive Voyages host. The added amenities, available at no extra cost, are a nice way to upgrade a vacation experience without spending more. These amenities are combinable with other national promotions offered by the participating cruise lines. ADDITIONAL PRICE SAVINGS AND TRAVEL TIPS When travelers are flexible on travel dates, they may find it is less expensive to sail on one date versus another. Additional savings can also be found on airfare. While it's not always feasible depending on the destination, one can save even more by leaving from a port close to home. For those traveling long distance, it is always advisable to arrive to the port city at least a day before the ship sails. This gives vacationers a chance to explore the port before departing, and also relieves the stress and worry should they experience flight delays or even misplaced luggage -- all of which can add to the expense of the trip. Whether one is a veteran cruise passenger thinking about that next trip, or a traveler who has always wanted to go on one, now is the time to start planning a voyage for 2019. Travelers who need help planning their next cruise may contact one of the more than 4,000 cruise specialists at Travel Leaders Network.
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CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 9, 2019
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HIS DREAM NEEDS YOUR VISION. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington for a dream. Over 50 years later, people are still marching because of his vision. Comcast celebrates Dr. King’s legacy with a one-of-a-kind interactive digital mosaic made up of pictures and videos of people sharing their vision of his dream. Join countless others inspired by Dr. King and share why you’re still marching at
VisionsOfKing.com
Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. Represented by Greenlight. ©2019 Comcast. All rights reserved.
4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 9, 2019
POLITISCOPE
The John Birch Society is still influencing American politics, 60 years after its founding BY CHRISTOPHER TOWLER
The retired candy entrepreneur Robert Welch founded the John Birch Society 60 years ago to push back against what he perceived as a growing American welfare state modeled on communism and the federal government’s push to desegregate America. Although Welch’s group has never amassed more than 100,000 dues-paying members, it had garnered an estimated 4 to 6 million sympathizers within four years of its 1958 formation. As a scholar of political history and social movements, I find many parallels between today’s far right and its predecessors. Just as the John Birch Society emerged in the midst of the civil rights movement, today’s far-right movements formed as a reaction to the election of Barack Obama – a milestone for racial equality. THE BIRCHERS The original “Birchers,” as John Birch Society supporters are known, were Republicans who believed their party had grown too moderate. Like the tea party movement that arose half a century later while the nation debated expanding health care coverage, same-sex marriage and immigration reform, they objected to the federal government’s growth, and ardently opposed federal intervention into what they considered to be state and local affairs. Birchers expressed a belief in domestic communist conspiracies. They went so far as to accuse President Dwight Eisenhower and Chief Justice Earl Warren of being communist dupes and agents – building on the legacy of Sen. Joseph McCarthy whose movement of predominantly Midwestern Republicans found the society’s agenda appealing. Although these allegations relegated Welch to fringe status as a political leader, the John Birch
Christopher Towler
Society amassed a national base among staunch conservatives. In their heyday, far-right groups that subscribed to “Welchian” conspiracy theories propagated their views on over 500 radio broadcasts each week – with the John Birch Society alone producing a program on 100 stations – and a widely circulated newsletter. A string of Birch bookstores doubled as local headquarters for meetings and distribution centers for fliers, films, rally tickets and bumper stickers, spread its influence. Even though Welch understood racism and bigotry would hurt his cause, the John Birch Society’s opposition to the civil rights movement attracted Americans sympathetic to racist paranoia. For example, it consistently published reports accusing civil rights leaders of communist subversion and alleging that people of color were plotting to divide the country and control the world.
In 1964, backing from the John Birch Society in Republican primaries, such as California, secured the right-wing-backed candidate Barry Goldwater’s Republican presidential nomination. “All those little old ladies in tennis shoes that you called rightwing nuts and kooks,” Goldwater’s organizational head reportedly told him about the campaign volunteers who appeared to be Birch sympathizers, “they’re the best volunteer political organization that’s ever been put together.” Despite Goldwater’s loss to incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson in a landslide, many political scientists and conservatives believe that Goldwater’s failed bid made way for the modern conservative movement by passing the torch to Richard M. Nixon’s “silent majority,” ending decades of liberal dominance. CONTEMPORARY COUNTERPARTS The John Birch Society is also
directly linked to conservative politics today. Most notably, Fred Koch, the father of David and Charles Koch, was among the Birch Society’s first 11 members and its main financial backers. The billionaire Koch brothers have pumped massive amounts of money into libertarian causes and conservative political campaigns for decades. As investigative journalist Jane Mayer explains in her book “Dark Money,” Fred Koch strongly encouraged his sons to follow in his political footsteps, something Charles and David did in general. For a time, both brothers belonged to the Birch Society, but they had moved on by the 1970s. Additionally, in their exhaustive examination of the tea party movement, political scientists Christopher Parker and Matt Barreto argue that Obama’s election instigated the rise of today’s far right. Much like how the John Birch Society arose as a rejection of progress on civil rights, tea party supporters felt anxious about what they saw as the “real” America slipping away when the country chose a black man to be its president. Just as Birchers called Justice Warren a communist for overruling state and local segregation laws, the tea party labeled President Obama a socialist because of his plan to expand health insurance coverage. And, similar to Birch Society claims that the civil rights movement was a treasonous ploy to divide the country, Trump and his surrogates paint the Black Lives Matter movement as a force working toward the collapse of social order. Moreover, in 2017, as the Trump administration got underway, violent incidents involving white supremacists and mass shootings were becoming more common. Yet, Jeff Sessions, Trump’s attorney general at that time, tasked the FBI with
compiling a report on so-called “black identity extremists” with the “potential to incite irrational police fear of black activists.” DONALD TRUMP From the start, Trump’s incessant and loud questions about whether Obama was born in the U.S. and his attacks on immigrants echoed the Birch Society’s obsessions. By openly courting voters who had been tea party supporters, Trump mobilized enough of the Americans who were anxious about their country’s future to make it to the White House. Since taking office, Trump’s farright supporters have tolerated his efforts to delegitimize many political institutions, including the intelligence community and the judiciary – taking after the reactionary right 60 years earlier. By abandoning a traditionally conservative need for institutional stability, I believe that Trump echoes the John Birch Society’s willingness to oppose uncomfortable change in society at any cost. Today, while much of the John Birch Society exists online and through its bimonthly magazine, The New American, some conservatives are trying to reboot local chapters of the nonprofit corporation. The society, which does not divulge how many current dues-paying members it has, maintains it is not a political, but rather an educational organization. However, it welcomed the tea party with open arms in 2011. And, in a 2016 interview, the group’s CEO argued that Trump “captured” a movement built on the political causes the Birch Society had championed for decades. Christopher Towler is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at California State University in Sacramento.
NEWS BIC USA Partners with DonorsChoose.org to Support Handwriting Education for 60th Anniversary In celebration of BIC USA’s 60th anniversary, the world leader in stationery products, lighters and shavers has allocated $60,000 of an original $100,000 donation in 2018 to DonorsChoose.org to fund handwriting projects and classroom requests.
This funding will reach 5,500 students nationwide, including more than 450 K-12 students in underserved areas of Illinois. “According to Hanover Research, 15 minutes of daily writing promotes individuality, enhances motor skills www.thechicagocitizen.com
and improves cognitive development,” said Linda Palladino, senior brand manager, BIC Consumer Products USA. To learn more about BIC 60th anniversary and the handwriting projects it’s supporting, please visit www. us.bicworld.com.
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NEWS
Village of Dolton Holds Truth and Taxation Public Hearing And Approves Tax Levy BY KATHERINE NEWMAN
A public hearing was recently held in the Village of Dolton to approve a proposed property tax levy. The Mayor of the Village of Dolton, Riley Rogers, along with the Board of Trustees answered questions from residents about the proposed levy and the hearing concluded with a unanimous vote to approve it. Ordinance number 18-019 levying taxes for general and corporate purposes for the 2018 tax year for the Village of Dolton was approved by the board of trustees and will result in 3.33 percent increase in total property taxes to be levied for the 2018 tax year compared to the 2017 tax year. During the public hearing, several residents raised questions about why the Village of Dolton has an unbalanced budget and who was responsible for previous financial decisions that were made. “Years back, we did not have separated accounts the way that we should have and over the years as we got financial audits it was recommended that we split the funds and we followed that directive, however, going back to 2010 or 2011 all the money that came in came into one bank account, the general fund. There was water money coming in there and TIF money coming in there and that money
Village of Dolton Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to approve an increase tax levy that will raise property taxes by 3.33 percent. Photo Credit: Village of Dolton
should not have all been in that account to make sure that we could see what money was meant to go where,” said Trustee Jason House. The newly approved tax levy will move the Village closer to a balanced budget, but one Trustee spoke out about his thoughts on the value of this levy. “We can raise the levy and we can raise fees, but if we don’t fix it internally nothing is going to change. Even with this levy being raised
January is ‘Radon Awareness Month’ in Illinois January is ‘Radon Awareness Month’ in Illinois which is designed to increase aware- ness about the presence of radon. Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is recognized as the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It’s estimat- ed nearly 1,200 people in Illinois develop radon-related lung cancer each year. The Illinois Emergency Management Agen- cy (IEMA) and the American Lung Associa- tion in Illinois (ALAIL) are joining forces this month to increase public awareness of radon risks and ways to reduce radon exposure. IEMA and ALAIL announced recently the continuation of statewide contest that en- courages students to use their creative talents to promote radon awareness. The Ameri- can Lung Association has begun accepting submissions for the annual radon poster and video contests. The Illinois Radon Poster Contest is open to students ages 9-14. Entries are due by March 1. Prizes include $200 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place. For more information about the poster contest, visit https://www.lung.org/local-content/illi- nois/documents/2019-illinois-radon-poster. pdf. High school students can also
compete for prizes by participating in the Illinois Radon Video Contest. This contest requires for students to produce a creative 30-sec- ond YouTube video about radon. The video submission deadline is March 8. Videos can be created by an individual student, group of students or classroom. Student prizes include $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place and $250 for seven honorable mention videos. New this year, the winning video may ap- pear on the big screen in local movie theaters across the state. The top 10 videos will also be entered into a ‘most views’ contest to develop students’ marketing and outreach skills. Win- ners will be provided a link to share with their friends. The video with the most views will receive an additional $300. Additionally, the schools of the top three winners will receive $300, $200 and $100 for first, second and third places, respectively. All videos, entry forms and release forms must be submitted by March 8. Details about the video contest are available on the Amer- ican Lung Association in Illinois (ALAIL) website at https://www.lung.org/local-content/ illinois/documents/2019-illinois-radon-vid- eo-official-rules.pdf.
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we still have a deficit,” said Trustee Duane Muhammad. Others were more confident about the value of the added tax dollars. Trustee House said that as a whole, the Village of Dolton has been adopting the financial recommendations that they have been given and are working to find the best ways to move forward regardless of the deficit. “This will cover us so that we can take care
of the City of Chicago in the way that we have negotiated our settlement but we do still have financial challenges and have to look at ways of covering the budget and also making sure that as we are raising taxes the services that we are getting for our taxes are getting better and I think that has been the biggest challenge. We are paying the taxes but we are not always seeing the services and that is what we are going to work on,” said Trustee House.
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NEWS
Experimental Stem Cell Therapy Speeds Up Wound Healing in Diabetes The healing of wounded skin in diabetes can be sped up by more than 50 percent using injections of stem cells taken from bone marrow, a new study in mice shows. The research, led by scientists at NYU School of Medicine, focused on a chain of events in diabetes that makes skin sores more likely to form and less likely to heal. Namely, the body’s failure in diabetes to break down dietary sugar creates molecules called free radicals that can wreak havoc on cells and damage their DNA. These free radicals also trigger an inrush of immune cells and chemicals meant to fight infection that, researchers say, instead kill normal cells and cause diabetic skin ulcers. These wounds, they note, can take twice as long to heal as in healthy mammals and are prone to infection. Published in the January issue of the journal Diabetes, the study showed that the injected stem cells restore a cell signaling pathway called Nrf2/Keap1, recently shown by the NYU team to be disrupted in diabetes.
The rebalancing brought on by stem cell therapy, the researchers say, decreased wound healing time to 21 days in treated diabetic mice compared with 32 days in untreated diabetic mice. By contrast, normal mouse skin wounds usually heal in 14 days. “Our study shows that in mice, stem-cellbased therapies can stimulate the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway to counteract inflammation and restore some of the skin’s tissue-regenerating abilities impaired by diabetes,” says senior study investigator and plastic surgeon Daniel Ceradini, MD, an assistant professor in the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone Health. The early-stage stem cells used in the current study are the kind that have the potential to mature into more than one kind of cell, but then specialize to serve within a particular mammalian organ like the skin. While essential to the formation of the body in the womb, pools of stem cells also persist in the adult body, where they can be triggered to serve as replacement parts when tissues are
damaged, the goal of regenerative medicine. Previous research by the NYU team had shown that in human diabetes, stem cells do not contribute normally to tissue regeneration. This led the team to test what injections of donated stem cells, known to deter an immune response, might do to correct the dysfunction. Ceradini, director of research in plastic surgery at NYU Langone, says that if future experiments prove successful, his team’s stem cell therapy could help in the healing not just of diabetic skin ulcers but also in repairing damage to diabetes-inflamed blood vessels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest figures show that more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, for which researchers estimate that one in 10 will develop some form of diabetic skin wound, typically a foot ulcer. Although rare, some of these can result in the need for amputation. Researchers have estimated the annual health care costs in the United States from skin wounds related to diabetes at more than $9 billion.
Study first author Piul Rabbani, PhD says “other than keeping wounds moist and covered,” there are few treatment options for diabetic skin ulcers. She cautions that, although several labs have reduced the inflammation behind skin ulcers in early experiments, clinical trials using stem cells are still several years away. Rabbani, a research assistant professor at NYU Langone, says the research team next plans to develop an experimental stem-cell based therapy for testing in larger mammals. Funding support for the study was provided by the American Diabetes Association Pathway Stop Diabetes Accelerator Award 1-16-ACE-08; National Institutes of Health grants P30 CA016087, S10 OD010584, and S10 OD018338; and New York State Stem Cell Science grant C026719. Besides Ceradini and Rabbani, other researchers involved in these experiments, performed entirely at NYU Langone, are Marc Soares, MD; Sophia Hameedi, BA; Rohini Kadle, MD; Adnan Mubasher, MD; and Maria Kowzun, MD.
New program makes Park Forest home a classroom for skilled trades learning A new joint venture between the Village of Park Forest, Prairie State College (PSC), and South Suburban College (SSC) is making it possible for young adults to gain real-world experience in a variety of construction trades. Known as the South Suburban Trades Initiative (SSTI), the program extends learning from the classroom to the jobsite — an abandoned home owned by Park Forest. “After decades of pushing fouryear college degrees, it’s time to think about also encouraging young adults to set achievable, near-term goals that do not require a four-year investment of time and money,” said Hildy Kingma, Park Forest’s Director of Economic Development and Planning. “Let’s face it — not every young person is suited to four years of college. Too many either do not complete the coursework required for a degree, or, if they graduate, are unable to find a decent job. Almost all are left with serious student loan debt,” Kingma added. “One viable, short-duration alternative for young adults involves completion of coursework associated with a variety of career and technical programs offered by PSC and SSC,” noted David Tracy, Park Forest’s general contractor who is managing the rehab project. “Another oppor-
A new joint venture between the Village of Park Forest, Prairie State College (PSC), and South Suburban College (SSC) is making it possible for young adults to gain real-world experience in a variety of construction trades.
tunity involves pursuing skilledtrades union apprentice programs offered locally by all of the trade groups — plumbing, painting, carpentry, electrical and many others,” Tracy said. “SSTI is a workforce development program and Park Forest is providing the jobsite — an abandoned home now owned by the Village” noted Kingma. “The home will be fully rehabbed and then sold with the funds used to continue SSTI work next year.”
“The carpentry work is being done by students from the SSC Building Construction Technology program and our furnace is being installed by students from the PSC HVAC certificate program,” said Tracy. “We are also pleased to note that two union apprentice programs are adding their skill sets associated with plumbing and painting,” he added. “These union apprentice programs are a vital component in the near-term and long-term process www.thechicagocitizen.com
of building a future skilled-trades workforce”. Partial funding is being provided by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) through their “Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Program”. “The Village of Park Forest is matching the IHDA grant,” noted Kingma. Students who receive their certificate from either SSC or PSC will receive assistance in finding a job. Or, the graduates could apply for entry into a union apprenticeship
program. “Regardless of the path chosen, it’s important to note that there is a real shortage of men and women qualified to work in skilled trades such as carpentry, HVAC, plumbing and electricity,” Tracy added. “A big part of the workforce problem is negative perceptions about skilled trades. Young adults often see vocational jobs as a grueling line of work offering no career advancement or financial and job security”. The reality is that jobs in the trades are high paying and can be supported by generous benefits. According to the Georgetown Center, the United States has 30 million jobs that do not require a bachelor’s degree and pay an average of $55,000 per year. For more information on the HVAC certificate program at PSC contact Chad Vlietstra (708-7092941 or cvlietstra@prairiestate.edu). The person to contact at SSC is Eugene Damiani (708-257-0773 or EDamiani@ssc.edu). The Chicago area Painting and Drywall Finishers apprentice program is accepting applications at their website: www.pdc14apprenticeship.org. Information about the plumbers apprentice program is at www.plumberslu130ua.com. They will also have a special 4-week sign-up drive beginning January 22, 2019.
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FOOD
Comfort Foods Warm Up Chilly Day Cold winter weather calls for comfort food like these delicious and moist pumpkin bars. Start your favorite movie and warm up your chilly day with a cozy blanket, a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of some of these incredible Spiced Pumpkin Bars. Find more dessert recipes at culinary.net. SPICED PUMPKIN BARS 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 4 eggs 15 oz can of pumpkin 1 2/3 cups sugar 1 cup cooking oil 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted) Pecan halves (optional) In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat
together eggs, pumpkin, sugar, and oil on medium speed. Add the flour mixture; beat until well combined. If desired, stir in chopped pecans. Spread batter into an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350° F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. In a medium mixing bowl beat together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Frost pumpkin bars. If desired, top with pecan halves. Cut into squares. Store, covered, in refrigerator up to 3 days. Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens. Source: Culinary.net
Sneak Peak Chicago Sneaker Convention Hosted In South Suburbs Continued from page 1 BY KATHERINE NEWMAN
Sneak Peak Chicago recently hosted a sneaker convention at the Matteson Community Center. The event provides an opportunity for people to buy, sell, and trade a variety of urban streetwear items from limited edition sneakers, to hats, and clothing, and other fashion brand memorabilia. This particular sneaker convention was started by Micheal Garren, a Tinley Park resident and self-proclaimed sneaker-head, who noticed a gap in Chicago’s sneaker market and a lack of opportunities for collectors to buy, sell, and trade with each other. “There is a big event, Sneaker Con, that only comes to Chicago once a year if that and I’ve been doing this for so long and know so many different people of all different ages who buy, sell, and trade sneakers and being in a big marketplace like Chicago it just felt like we could use more than just that one big even per year,” said Garren. Being able to use the Matteson Community Center is ideal for Garren because it’s close to
I DO THIS BECAUSE I’M A SNEAKER-HEAD BUT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS I’VE SEEN IT CHANGE TO WHERE THERE ARE KIDS THAT ARE DOING THIS JUST TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT SHOES.” MICHEAL GARREN
Tinley Park resident and self-proclaimed sneaker-head
home for him and he said it is easier for people to access than the large Sneaker Con event that is typically hosted in Schaumburg. “Sneaker Con, when they do come, they are all the way up in Schaumburg and where I’m at in Matteson is literally 10 minutes away from Indiana,” said Garren. “There are 12-year-old kids that come to these things and they are expecting their parents to chauffeur them around and when you gotta tell your mom to drive you two hours to an event it is a little harder than a half hour or 45 minutes.” Over the past decade, Garren has seen the sneaker market change and grow. When
he first got started it was much more about collecting, today he says it is also a lot about profit. “Every weekend Jordans release, and that’s how the market has accumulated over time. Jordans used to release like twice a year so there really wasn’t a need to go somewhere to buy, sell, and trade but now with them coming out every weekend, and some stores have tier levels to where private-owned boutiques get more limited releases, that’s where the market comes into play,” said Garren. Because more sneakers are coming out but in smaller quantities, there are instances where a shoe might be released at a reasonable price but retail for 20 times that amount after it is sold out. “Obviously when a product is limited the price drives up on it. For example, there are shoes out there that release for $130 that are going for $2500. The markup on that is like $2200 and that’s the reason why a lot of people are doing this. I do this because I’m a sneaker-head but in the last 10 years I’ve seen it change to where there are kids that are doing this just to make money off the fact that there are so many different shoes,” said Garren.
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8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 9, 2019
Make rent a thing of the past. With a down payment as low as 3% for modest-income buyers, Bank of America makes affording a new home easier than ever.1 To get started call 1-800-641-8603 or visit your local financial center. BankofAmerica.com /FirstHome
Available for fixed-rate purchase loans with terms of 25 or 30 years and on primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Borrower(s) must not have an individual or joint ownership interest in any other residential property at time of closing. Maximum purchase loan-to-value is 97% and maximum combined purchase loan-to-value is 103%. For loan-to-values >95% any secondary financing must be from an approved Community Second Program; ask for details. Homebuyer education may be required. Restrictions apply regarding co-borrowers. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply.
1
Bank of America, N.A.,
Equal Housing Lender Š2018 Bank of America Corporation. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. AR98CFM5