Citizen Week of Jan. 16, 2019
| Vol. 2 | No. 23 | www.thechicagocitizen.com
SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY
DEBBIE MEYERSMARTIN SWORNIN AS HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE FOR 38TH DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS The Illinois House of Representative recently held the 2019 inauguration of the state’s 118 legislators including newly elected Debbie Meyers-Martin who now represents the 38th district of Illinois. SEE PAGE 3
Debbie Meyers-Martin (pictured) was recently sworn-in as the new representative for the 38th district of Illinois. Photo Credit: Office of Illinois 38th District Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin
ART SCENE Poetry Foundation Announces Winter/Spring 2019 Event Lineup PAGE 2
TRAVEL
POLITISCOPE
The Waterfront Beach Resort Unveils New Drift Spa in Huntington Beach PAGE 2
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White right? How demographics are changing U.S. politics PAGE 4
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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 16, 2019
ART SCENE
Poetry Foundation Announces Winter/Spring 2019 Event Lineup The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine and the home for poetry in Chicago, announces its winter and spring events. The new season of events, running through May 30, features film, dance, and multi-genre musical performances, as well as poetry readings by poets laureate Tracy K. Smith and Juan Felipe Herrera, among others, and an interactive exhibition by Yoko Ono. “Poetry is for everyone,” says Henry Bienen, Poetry Foundation president. “It is a living art that coexists beautifully with other disciplines, and this new season of events illuminates the connectivity. We look forward to sharing poetry with anyone for whom art lights the way, and hope to inspire a lifelong love for poetry.” POETRY PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS The season opens with poetry and dance in Dances with Words and Music, a sneak peek at the multidisciplinary homage to dance icon Ruth Page before it premieres at the Ravinia Festival. The events get visual in February with the Jun Fujita: Oblivion launch party, which provides visitors the opportunity to take home a piece of Chicago history in the form of a catalog of poet and photojournalist Jun Fujita’s work that was included in the 2017 exhibition at the Poetry Foundation’s Gallery. Cinephiles are not forgotten, as a screening of
visitors can engage with Wish Trees, an art installation on which visitors can hang wishes from the trees—the Chicago debut of Ono’s exhibition that’s traveled to 10 countries. The exhibitions debuts on May 10 with an opening at the Foundation.
The Trip, a road-trip movie around Marfa, Texas, includes a conversation with poet Eileen Myles and filmmaker David Fenster. Music and poetry are celebrated together in the Foundation’s acoustically perfected performance space. F-PLUS, a trio of musicians, team up with soprano Lisa Perry to perform Stein Songs, a composition based on the work of Gertrude Stein. Florian Hecker will bring his multi-channel, evolving sound work, Inspection, to the Foundation with Lampo. During National Poetry Month in April, the Foundation brings together poetry and science for Young People’s Poetry Day, an annual open house for children and their caretakers that includes fun crafts, games, and a reading with poet and children's book author Joyce Sidman. ART IS ALL AROUND The Poetry Foundation Gallery will be alive with new exhibitions in 2019. The Lushness of Print debuts on February 7 with an opening celebration of art and the printed word in contrast with today’s digital-first world. The exhibition is a collaborative project between Samiya Bashir’s Poetry Salon at Reed College and the broadsides produced by Letra Chueca Press, a press that intertwines social justice, craft, and latinidad. Broadsides, commemorative art prints of poems, will
be on display to inspire visitors to consider the power of words as an impactful visual art all their own. In May, the Foundation opens Yoko Ono: Poetry, Painting, Music, Objects, Events, and Wish Trees. Yoko Ono mixes verse and art with an indoor/outdoor exhibition that includes the entire typescript that became Ono’s pioneering book of poetry and conceptual art, Grapefruit. The typescripts are spread in three rows so that visitors can enter the book at any place, or read from beginning to end. In the Foundation courtyard,
ACROSS GENERATIONS AND IN TRANSLATION Several US poets laureate, current and former, will visit Chicago in April for National Poetry Month. Natasha Trethewey and Charles Wright will read together at the Foundation and discuss their craft and careers; then, current US poet laureate and host of The Slowdown Tracy K. Smith will read at the Chicago Public Library Poetry Fest. In May, Juan Felipe Herrera will share the stage with the next generation of poets. Poetry speaks to people all over the world, and does not belong to one language or generation. Renowned Korean poet Kim Hyesoon and her translator and fellow poet Don Mee Choi will present a night of poetry and conversation in translation in February. Later that month, Pulitzer Prize-winner Tyehimba Jess will read alongside acclaimed poet Patricia Smith in a Cave Canem Legacy Conversation on the merits and tensions between poetry read on the page and poetry performed on the stage. Strike a Match with Mahogany L. Browne takes a look at the US pris-
on system, and poetry’s relationship to it and communities impacted by it with workshops and readings that include Young Chicago Authors, the Prison + Neighborhood Art Project, Eve L. Ewing, and Terrance Hayes. The Foundation closes the season by handing the mic to the next generation of poets and readers with a Hands on Stanzas performance. This event, presented with the Chicago Poetry Center, highlights the writing of elementary and middle school students in the Chicago area, who have learned from poets-in-residence and developed their own voices. WINTER/SPRING HOURS AND EVENT DETAILS These are only a selection of the varied events that the Poetry Foundation offers this season. For all event listings and details, visit poetryfoundation.org/events. Except when otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis at the Poetry Foundation, 61 West Superior Street, Chicago. In addition, the Poetry Foundation Library, home to a collection of more than 30,000 books of poetry, is open to the public weekdays and select Saturdays, including Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 16, April 13, and May 4, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m., as well as select evenings, including Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 19, April 16, and May 21, from 4–7 p.m.
TRAVEL The Waterfront Beach Resort Unveils New Drift Spa in Huntington Beach The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, recently announced the opening of Drift Spa, the latest addition to the renovated oceanfront resort and newest spa in world-famous Surf City. Drift is an 8,000 sq. foot full-service coastal spa that features an exclusive sensory experience designed to leave guests feeling calm and carefree. In addition to boasting nine spa treatment rooms and an extensive treatment menu that proudly offers organic and natural products, Drift features separate lounge and spa facilities for men and women that features spacious locker rooms, luxurious whirlpools, and eucalyptus and lavender infused steam rooms. Other lavish amenities include a vitality bar with tea elixirs, a juice bar, and an enchanting spa garden with an outdoor fireplace and seasonal herb wall. Every element of Drift has been designed to create a coastal sanctuary that engages all five senses for the ultimate spa experience. "Drift offers guests a next-level spa experience, blending all natural elements that will elevate your senses and encourage deep relaxation," said Spa Director Jennifer
Reich. "Every step of your journey with us – from the pre-treatment seashell release that carries your worries out to sea to the healing Himalayan Salt Stone Sauna – takes you one step closer to calming the mind, body and soul." Signature treatments at the new Drift Spa include the Drift for Two couples massage with a Coastal Foot Bath, Himalayan Salt Stone Massage and the Vitamin Sea Brightening Facial. Professional treatment lines used at the spa include Naturopathica, Elemis, emerginC Scientific Organics, and Spa Ritual. "Whether you're planning a family getaway or craving a little rest and relaxation, there is truly something for everyone here," said Paulette Fischer, general manager at The Waterfront Beach Resort. "And now with the opening of Drift, resort guests and Huntington Beach locals alike can unwind and refresh at our peaceful coastal oasis." Drift is the latest addition at the resort, which opened the brand-new, nine-story Twin Dolphin Tower earlier this year. "We are proud to see a vision 25 years in the making finally come to life," said RJ
Photo of the Waterfront Beach Resort which is a Hilton Hotel.
Mayer, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Irvine-based Robert Mayer Corp., that owns the hotel. "The resort expansion offers visitors and beach city residents a quintessential Southern California lifestyle
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experience, and we are thrilled to contribute to tourism in world-famous Surf City." For more information on The Waterfront Beach Resort, visit http://www.waterfrontresort.com.
CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 16, 2019
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COMMUNITY
Debbie Meyers-Martin Sworn-In As House Representative For 38th District Of Illinois Continued from page 1 BY KATHERINE NEWMAN
The Illinois House of Representative recently held the 2019 inauguration of the state’s 118 legislators including newly elected Debbie Meyers-Martin who now represents the 38th district of Illinois. “I am very excited. It was a wonderful inauguration and so many of my Southland constituents, friends, and family came down to be with me and that was very rewarding and heartwarming. We had a wonderful reception afterward where many of the mayors and committeeman that supported me came out and it was just a wonderfully exciting day,” said Meyers-Martin. Since the inauguration, Meyers-Martin said that she is motivated and energized to represent her district and ready to get to work. Before taking office, Meyers-Martin traveled throughout the 38th district to speak with residents about what their top concerns were for the region and what they wanted to see done in their communities. From there, she came up with her top three areas of actions which are economic development, health care, and education. Aside from those top three focus areas, Mey-
“IT WAS A WONDERFUL INAUGURATION AND SO MANY OF MY SOUTHLAND CONSTITUENTS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY CAME DOWN TO BE WITH ME AND THAT WAS VERY REWARDING AND HEARTWARMING.” DEBBIE MEYERS-MARTIN Represents The 38Th District Of Illinois. ers-Martin talked more in-depth about where she stands on some of Illinois’ more controversial issues like marijuana legalization and adding a casino to Chicago south suburbs. “There has been a lot of talk about the legalization of marijuana and certainly we know that other states are moving in that direction and have begun to do that. Illinois is a little bit behind pace with that, but I think that if the citizens of Illinois are in favor of this, we are their voice and we have to represent them,” said Meyers-Martin. With regards to marijuana legalization, Mey-
er-Martin said that there are many questions that she still needs to see answered, but ultimately she is an advocate for her constituents and will represent them accurately on the matter. When it comes to adding a casino to the Southland region, Meyers-Martin said that she certainly thinks gaming could be an asset to the economy of her district. “We see millions of people travel through our district and our region going to Indiana and going to Joliet to gamble. I believe that gaming could be an asset to our region and I believe that is something that I would be willing to work towards. I know there were several towns that were vying for a casino in Illinois at one time and I would love to see one of those available licenses located in the Southland,” said Meyers-Martin. More than anything, Meyers-Martin harped on the fact that she is a representative of the people. “I have lived in the Southland for over 38 years and I love the region. I want my office to be interactive with the citizens of the 38th district and I want them to know that I have an opendoor policy. I look forward to having dialogues and conversations with them about policy and about things that they are concerned about,” said Meyers-Martin.
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POLITISCOPE
White right? How demographics are changing U.S. politics Florida, these are also states with difficult-to-seal borders and with well-established immigrant communities.
BY MONICA DUFFY TOFT
When Donald Trump was campaigning to become the U.S. president, much of the discussion about his growing popularity focused on so-called “angry white males,” who had been struggling through years of declining economic opportunities. Their frustration led some of them to adopt and espouse white supremacist ideology. In many media portrayals, these men, their anger and their sometimes extreme views on how to return to economic and political relevance were treated as a new phenomenon. But as a scholar of demography and civil war, I can say definitively that none of this is actually new. Declining opportunities for white males and racist ideology have long been features of U.S. politics, from at least the 1930s until now. So, the real question is, why are we seeing an upsurge of white nativism among white males now – a nativism which combines anger over lost status with a historically bankrupt white supremacist ideology? LAGGING WHITES, GROWING MINORITIES According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s data, all racial and ethnic minorities are growing faster than whites. Interestingly, one of the fastest growing groups in this country is “mixed race” (full disclosure: my children are such, being both Mexican- and Irish-American). Still, at 198 million, non-Hispanic whites remained the largest group of Americans in 2014; followed by Hispanics at 55.4 million, and blacks or African-Americans at 42 million. Those who identified with two or more races stood at just under 8 million. The Census Bureau projects the crossover point at which the non-Hispanic white population will no longer be a majority will occur in 2044. In fact, no one group will comprise a ma-
Monica Duffy Toft
jority. We will become a plural nation of different ethnic and racial groups. DEMOGRAPHY AND DEMOCRACY That powerful shift in the makeup of the U.S. population has created ideal conditions for a political backlash against people of color, including Hispanics, blacks, Asians and especially immigrants of color. One prominent example: President Trump’s lament that the U.S. was being overwhelmed by immigrants from “s-hole countries,” rather than from places like Norway. The backlash also extends to the political leaders who support minorities’ right to be accepted and respected as Americans. These communities of color remain in the minority. But already in some states, white voters as distinct from all whites are in the minority, and nationally, whites are unlikely to remain in the majority for long. In California, for example, nonwhite populations now make up 62 percent of the population, with Hispanic and white populations at near parity at 38 percent each. Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are among three southern states where the gap between Hispanic minorities and white majorities is closing. Like
POLITICS AND POPULATION SHIFTS For two decades, I have been studying how population shifts across nation-states have led to their collapse. In some cases, those collapses have been violent, such as in Lebanon in the 1970s and the Soviet Union in the 1990s. Now, demographic dynamics we previously witnessed in “other” or “developing” states are happening in the U.S. In places where white people have been a demographic majority, white nativism – characterized by the longing for a period when whites were dominant political and economically – arises when some of the majority white population fears for the loss of its stature relative to non-white populations. And in the U.S., non-whites have higher birth rates and make up the bulk of new immigrants. As populations shift in democracies, the key question is which group challenges these changes, when – and how? Is it the expanding minority or the declining majority? Is it a combination of fear and desire for change emanating from both the declining majority and rising minority? FIGHTING FOR LOST DOMINANCE My research reveals that it is the declining majority that tends to act aggressively, often imagining it must preempt a rising minority. Simply put, declining majorities don’t want to yield their status or hegemony. This turns demographic shifts into a struggle about power and dominance, with elements of the majority refusing to cede ground to emergent new pluralities and majorities that might displace them. The result, historically, follows a general pattern: The declining majority resorts to various forms of apartheid, including changes to voting laws, voter suppression and new restrictions on immigrants, and requirements for
citizenship. Examples include Israel’s successive moves to tighten the definition of who is a Jew; Britain’s 2016 referendum on membership in the European Union (for working-class Brits, the immigrants of “color” were Pakistanis and Poles); and the new U.S. ban on immigrants from seven predominately Muslim countries. Only rarely do a declining majority’s efforts to maintain dominance escalate to violence or state collapse, as was the case with the Soviet Union. FROM DEMOGRAPHIC TO POLITICAL DECLINE Mirroring the decline in fortunes of the “angry white male” who supported President Trump is the declining fortunes of the Republican Party. The current U.S. president leads a minority political party whose membership has been in decline for over two decades. President Trump lost the general election by over 3 million votes. The number of U.S. citizens of voting age who identify as Republicans has dropped steadily since 1994, compared to those who identify as Democrat or Independent. The GOP has managed its decline in exactly the same way a declining white majority population might have done: It has resorted to extreme gerrymandering, voter suppression, calls for limits on immigration, and now citizenship restrictions. The president’s angry rhetoric has arguably been responsible for fomenting a rise in overt bigotry, and in rare but an increasing number of cases, violence against non-white immigrants, and ethnic, religious, disabled and LGBTQ minorities. In one documented case, a 56 year-old Trump supporter named Cesar Sayoc mailed a series of bombs to “Trump critics.” His van, in which he had apparently been living, was covered with often violent imagery directed against people of color and political opponents of President Trump, including a sticker featuring then-Representative Nancy Pelosi with
rifle-scope crosshairs superimposed. The partisan divide is further fueled by the conflict over whether non-white immigration is a threat to U.S. security and prosperity. Immigration to the U.S. has been fairly constant since 1990. What has changed is the number of refugees fleeing civil wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Syria who are coming to the U.S. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are 65.6 million forcibly displaced people in the world – a population greater than that of the U.K. – of which about one-third, 25.4 million, are refugees. The numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers has been increasing since 2013. At the end of 2013, the U.S. hosted 348,005 people of concern – which includes refugees and asylum-seekers. By the end of 2017, that number rose to 929,850, with asylum-seekers responsible for the significant increase. The research shows that immigrants are a net drain on national resources for the first few years they are here. But after those first years, the costs and benefits of their participation balance out. WHITE NATIVISM: WHY NOW? Though economic opportunity – and specifically the decline in blue-collar jobs capable of supporting a family – affects the popularity of white nativism, it does not explain its timing. The “why now” of white nativism is due to decades of demographic decline for white Americans combined with a serious decline in public education standards that leads to unwarranted nostalgia and openness to conspiracy theories. Add to that the charismatic leadership of Donald J. Trump, who attached white majority fears of status loss with criminalizing immigrants of color. That has stoked the flames of an already smoking fire. Monica Duffy Toft is the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.
NEWS
Cook County Assessor Releases Senior Exemption Applications Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi recently announced that his office has mailed Senior and Senior Freeze Exemption renewal applications for tax year 2018. Over 300,000 applications were mailed to seniors who received the exemptions last year. The application deadline is February 6, 2019 and annual renewal is required. The Senior Exemption application is part of a booklet sent to eligible seniors. The booklet also contains the separate, income-based Senior
Freeze Exemption application. “It is very important to me as I begin my term as assessor that my office reaches as many seniors as possible to ensure that they continue to receive the exemptions to which they are entitled,” said Assessor Kaegi. “No senior in Cook County should be in a position where they are paying more their fair share.” To qualify for the Senior Citizen Exemption for tax year 2018, a taxpayer must have: • been born prior to or in the year 1953
• owned the property during 2018 or have a lease or contract for 2018 which makes them responsible for the real estate taxes • used the property as his or her principal place of residence in 2018 Beginning last year, a new law increased savings for the Senior Exemption from $5,000 to $8,000 in Equalized Assessed Value (EAV). Also noteworthy is the exemption amount is not the dollar amount by which a tax bill is lowered. EAV is the partial value of a property
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to which tax rates are applied; it is this figure on which a tax bill is calculated. The savings for a Senior Citizen Exemption is calculated by multiplying the exemption savings of 8,000 by the local tax rate. The Assessor does not set tax rates. To qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption for tax year 2018, a taxpayer must have: • been born prior to or in the year 1953 Continued on page 7
CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 16, 2019
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Citizen On The Move
Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly Swearing-In Ceremony and Reception Highlights
Diane Trustee Flossmoor; an unidentifiedSupporter, Supporter,Lori Lori Wilcox, Wilcox, Bloom Bloom Township Township Democratic Democratic Committeemen; CommitDiane Williams, WIllims, Trustee A unidentified teeman; Congresswoman RobinStates Kelly, Attorney States Attorney Kimberly Commissioner an unidentified Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Kimberly Foxx; Foxx; Commissioner DonnaDonna Miller,Miller, a unidentified supporter; supporter; State Representative DebbieMartin; MeyersMayor Martin; MayorChalmers-Currin, Sheila Chalmers-Currin, Matteson; Fountain, State Represenattive Debbie Meyers Sheila Matteson; MichaelMichael Fountain, Honorary Honorary of Commonwealth of the Bahamas. ConsulateConsulate of Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Chicago Urban League Chief Executive Officer and President, Barbara Lumpkin; Dr. Donna Simpson Leake, Superintendent of Sauk Village School District; Congresswoman Robin Kelly; Dr. Blondean Davis CEO Southland Charter School and Superintendent School District 162; Greg Jackson, School Superintendent of Ford Heights.
Rep. Kelly pose for a photo with NBC’s The Voice Season15 top 13 finalist and Matteson resident Sandy Redd. Redd sang the national anthem at Kelly’s Swearing in Ceremony.
Pastors and Clergy of the religious community came out to show their support for Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
Members of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorportated shows support of their sister Congresswoman Robin Kelly. All the photo’s appearing on this page are courtesy of CREDD
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FOOD
FUEL UP FOR A BUSY DAY Family Features - While some may say being busy is good, it's not always good for a healthy lifestyle. With less time to prep, the thought of planning nutritious meals and snacks may feel overwhelming, but with simple changes, you can power through your hectic schedule. This full menu of quick and easy recipes is part of the Atkins low-carb lifestyle, a long-term, healthy eating approach focused on high-fiber carbohydrates, optimal protein and healthy fats. The plan also aims to reduce levels of refined carbohydrates, added sugars and the "hidden sugar effect" - when carbohydrates convert to sugar when digested. You don't see the sugar, but your body does. Consider these tips from Colette Heimowitz, author of
"Atkins: Eat Right, Not Less" and vice president of nutrition and education at Atkins. Fill up with fiber. Fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables, nuts and seeds, low-glycemic fruits and whole unrefined grains, are considered carbohydrates but they don't raise your blood sugar the way processed carbs do. Fiber slows the entry of glucose into your bloodstream so you don't experience the insulin spikes that encourage your body to produce and store body fat. Additionally, fiber can help you feel full longer. If possible, try to eat 25-35 grams of fiber each day. Start the day with breakfast. Start your mornings with a hearty breakfast like an Almond Butter Smoothie Bowl.
ALMOND BUTTER SMOOTHIE BOWL Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 2 1/3 cup plain protein powder 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt 1/4 cup water 8 ounces spinach or kale 1/4 cup almond or peanut butter 1/2 cup fresh or frozen
PORTOBELLO PIZZA Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 40 minutes Serves: 4 Olive oil spray 4 large Portobello mushrooms, stems removed 1/2 cup low-sugar marinara sauce 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese 16 slices pepperoni sausage or 1 chorizo link, thinly sliced Heat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Coat with olive oil spray. Using spoon, scrape out dark gills from mushrooms; discard gills. Place mushrooms stem-side up and top each with 2 tablespoons sauce. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese and four slices pepperoni or chorizo. Bake 20-25 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and mushrooms are soft.
The nutritious combo of protein and healthy fats can set you up for a productive day and prevent mid-morning donut or bagel cravings. For another quick option that takes just 10 minutes, a Power Mug Muffin with Cinnamon Butter can provide the fuel you need to start your day right. Snack smart. If you're in the midst of a traffic-clogged commute, on-the-go snacks can be an ideal solution for the whole family. For a fun, tasty option, try these Portobello Pizzas, full of nutrients and fiber, or these Tuna-Stuffed Deviled Eggs that can help round out lunch at work. Find more recipes to kickstart a nutritious eating plan at Atkins.com.
strawberries 2 tablespoons chopped almonds 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed In blender, blend protein powder, yogurt, water, spinach or kale and almond or peanut butter until smooth. Divide between two bowls. In straight lines, sprinkle strawberries, almonds and flaxseed over smoothie bowls.
TUNA-STUFFED DEVILED EGGS Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 4 8 large eggs cold water 1 can (6 ounces) tuna, drained 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced 2 tablespoons capers, drained, rinsed and chopped 1 teaspoon hot or sweet ground paprika or ground chili In medium saucepan, cover eggs with cold water.
POWER MUG MUFFIN WITH CINNAMON BUTTER Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Serves: 1 Cinnamon Butter: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Muffin: 2 tablespoons golden flaxseed meal 2 tablespoons almond flour 1/2teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon stevia (sugar substitute) 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large egg 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, at room temperature, or olive oil To make Cinnamon Butter: In small bowl, using spoon, combine butter, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; mix well. Set aside. To make Muffin: In coffee mug or single-serving souffle dish, mix flaxseed meal, almond flour, baking powder, stevia and cinnamon. Mix egg and butter into dry ingredients. Microwave on high 1 minute until firm. Serve with Cinnamon Butter. Photos courtesy of Getty Images (deviled eggs and mug dish) Source: Atkins
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Place over high heat and bring to boil. When boiling, turn heat off and cover. Remove from heat and let cool 1 minute. Place eggs in colander under cold, running water 1-2 minutes. Peel eggs under cold, running water and use kitchen towel to dry. Cut eggs in half lengthwise and scoop out yolks. Transfer yolks to small bowl along with tuna, mayonnaise, jalapeno and capers. Stir well until combined. Place egg whites on platter, center-side up, and fill with tuna mixture. Garnish with ground paprika or chili.
CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 16, 2019
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NEWS
Opioids Aren’t Always the Answer for Chronic Pain Patients StatePoint - Decorated veteran Justin Minyard struggled for years with chronic back pain. And though his prescribed opioids provided only minimal relief, he developed a dependency on them. Unfortunately, such circumstances are common, as a growing number of patients are struggling with a choice between addictive pills or the thought of living with debilitating pain. The American Chronic Pain Association found that one in three Americans suffers from chronic pain, pain that persists for months and sometimes years. As the number one cause of disability in adults in the U.S., chronic pain costs as much as $635 billion yearly, more than the cost of cancer, heart disease or diabetes. What’s more, chronic pain is often treated with opioid pain pills, which are highly addictive and result in 115 overdose deaths in the U.S. per day. Minyard initially sustained back injuries while serving as a 9/11 first responder, and injuries during two tours of service in Afghanistan and Iraq further damaged his spine, rupturing multiple discs. “When I returned home, I needed a wheelchair and I developed an opioid addiction from my treatment, which severely impacted my life and the lives of my entire family,” says Minyard. “While surgery got me out of a wheelchair, the pain persisted until I found an alternative treatment option called spinal cord stimulation.” Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an FDA-approved, drug-free treatment option, is a surgically implanted medical device that has helped patients manage their chronic pain without addictive pain pills for over 40 years. Most commonly used to treat low back and lower extremity pain, SCS sends electrical pulses that stimulate the spinal cord, masking the pain message traveling to the brain. Recent technology advances have allowed SCS systems to offer more precise and personalized treatment that better targets individual pain. In particular, the Spectra WaveWriter SCS System from Boston Scientific is the first and only system to simultaneously provide pain relief with a light tingling sensation (paresthesia-based therapy) or without that sensation (sub-perception therapy). Patients like Minyard can choose to combine both therapies to target one specific area of pain or use each as needed to best manage multiple areas of pain. Using a remote control, patients provide real-time feedback for personalized, targeted pain management. “The flexibility in this treatment has the ability to offer patients successful therapy that other forms of pain management cannot,” says Dr. Louis Raso, a pain specialist at The Pain Center in Jupiter, Florida, who recommended a trial of the Spectra WaveWriter SCS
The Chicago History Museum Commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. King Commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King at a family-friendly event held on January 21 at the Chicago History Museum located on 1601 North Clark Street from 10 am -3 pm. Enjoy a production of The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights by Writers Theatre and a musical performance by the Chicago Chamber Choir along with storytelling and crafts that reflect his messages of peace and justice. Museum admission is FREE for Illinois residents on Commemorative Days! Special family-friendly activities and performances are designed to honor and celebrate significant moments and figures in history. No RSVP needed.
Alternative treatment options for chronic pain are helping patients like Justin Minyard.
system to Minyard. “When patients take real-time control of their therapy, they can better manage their pain across multiple areas of the body.” Minyard, who has been off opioid pain medication since his first SCS system implant over eight-and-ahalf years ago, has noticed a significant improvement in managing his pain with the latest technology and is encouraging all chronic pain patients to talk to their doctors about therapeutic alternatives to addictive painkillers. To learn more about SCS and chronic pain, visit controlyourpain.com, a resource from Boston Scientific, who sponsored this message. At a time when opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions, having a greater understanding of alternative treatment options for chronic pain is critical for doctors, patients and their families.
King gave his most famous speech, "I Have a Dream", before the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King at a family-friendly event held on January 21 at the Chicago History Museum.
Cook County Assessor Releases Senior Exemption Applications Continued from page 4 • a total household income of $65,000 or less for [income] tax year 2017 • owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018 • used the property as his or her principal place of residence as of January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018 • been liable for payment of 2017
and 2018 property taxes Beginning last year, the law expanded eligibility for the Senior Freeze Exemption by increasing allowable total household income to $65,000, from the previous limit of $55,000. There is also a new minimum $2,000 EAV deduction for the Senior Freeze, which will help offset increases in assessed value and help ensure that more seniors benefit from the Senior Exemption.
“If you don’t qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption because you exceed the income level, this does not mean you will not be eligible for the standard Senior Exemption,” Assessor Kaegi explained. “The Senior Exemption has no income restrictions and it is important for those seniors who are eligible to apply.” Seniors receiving the Senior Citizen Exemption automatically receive the Homeowner Exemption. Seniors www.thechicagocitizen.com
receiving the Senior Freeze Exemption automatically receive both the Homeowner and Senior Citizen Exemptions. Eligible seniors who have never applied for the Senior and/or Senior Freeze Exemptions in the past may visit the Assessor’s website at www. cookcountyassessor.com and download an application or contact the Assessor’s Office at 312-443-7550 and request a form be mailed to them. Applications for additional exemp-
tions administered by the Assessor’s Office will be available within the next several weeks. “Our office will work throughout the year to reach Cook County seniors through our community outreach programs and help the seniors with the exemption application process,” Assessor Kaegi said. “We will also be working hard to bring more fairness, ethics and transparency to the property tax assessment system,” Kaegi said.
8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 16, 2019
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