Quick Facts from the Chicago Conservation Corps
September 29, 2008
by Andy Angelos
Together with the Department of Environment, the Chicago Conservation Corps provides environmental training, technical assistance and resources to a network of local volunteers. After receiving training, Corps volunteers are offered sample project guides focused on improving the quality of Land, Air, Energy or Water in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Below are overviews of recommend projects and how the Corps efforts continuously improve Chicago’s standard of living.
Roll Out the Barrel. The program title might conjure imagery of Lincoln Square’s German bars, but Roll Out the Barrel is a neighborhood program promoting the distribution of 55-gallon rain drums. Collecting rain water in urban environments littered with impervious surfaces (paved, buildings, etc) helps prevent both sewage overflow and also fresh water availability.
The Department of Energy offers discount rates for rain barrels, which are easily installed to garage or home downspouts. Common uses for the collected water include watering gardens, washing cars and pets, etc. Collected rainwater is not immediately suitable for drinking and presents a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes if not maintained properly.
Green A Festival. The city of Chicago host hundreds of festivals per year of varying scales. The sprawling Taste of Chicago and impressive Air & Water Show are coupled with more modest events such as the weekly farmer’s market on Division. Chicago Conservation Corps recognizes the amount of waste that can be generated from the food, cups, plates, plastic, etc disseminated at festivals and offers a “Green A Festival Project Guide.” Corps members are encouraged to collaborate with event organizers to promote biodegradable utensils, reusable water bottles, and environmentally friendly cleaning solutions.
As with most Corps program, Green A Festival and Roll Out The Barrel primarily surround education. For information about participating with the Chicago Conservation Corps, visit the registration information page on the city’s website.
Welcome Home, Christine Magnuson!
Tinley Park Celebrates an Olympian Re
September 29, 2008
Receiving a medal in the Olympics is one thing, but when you receive TWO, that calls for a hero’s welcome!
Olympic swimmer, Christine Magnuson, received such an honor when her hometown of Tinley Park honored her in a parade yesterday.
Former Olympian Shares his Experiences at United Center
A Chat with Nikolai Khabibulin
September 29, 2008
by: Paul Banks
Crain’s Chicago Business Video: 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games Review
September 29, 2008
Crain’s Chicago Business interviews Ed Hula, an Olympic expert from Around the Rings, and asks him his thoughts on Chicago winning the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Areas covered:
- Olympics Venues
- Accommodations
- Transportation
- Financing
- Security
- Wild Card
A Healthy Environment for Appetite
September 25, 2008
by Andy Angelos
Human health and environmental issues are intrinsically linked. Both human health and the environment are also connected to food - a familiar topic to Chicagoans. As Theresa highlights through the Enjoy section, culinary treasures are abundant in Chicago’s many ethnic neighborhoods and upscale cultural districts. In addition to restaurants, however, Chicago also boasts a number of food distributors dedicated to locally-grown, small-scale, organic farms.
Chicago based Goodness Greeness is the Midwest’s leading provider of fresh organic produce. Since 1991, the Scaman brothers have supplied regional supermarkets and independent retailers with healthy ingredients to satiate Chicago’s refined palate. Goodness Greeness is also in the business of education, with Rodney Scaman recently speaking at a local health rally about Food Deserts. A Food Desert is a neighborhood disconnected from supermarkets but within close range of fast-food and liquor stores. Not surprisingly, residents of Food Deserts suffer from a disproportionate amount of diet related illnesses. Connecting with people in Food Deserts allows the Goodness Greeness team to distribute both knowledge and produce for happier and healthier Chicagoans.
Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks is another regional company dedicated to healthy lifestyle and sustainable food production. Rather than supply retailers with produce like Goodness Greeness, Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks delivers organic and local food to Chicagoans year round. The company also offers a variety of natural meats, poultry, and dairy products to complement their fresh produce.
Next time you are struggling to choose from one of Chicago’s mind-boggling number of restaurants, add the possibility of cooking a locally grown healthy meal to the list of options. Eating is so complicated in this city!
Finding a Home for the Olympic Village
Every Project Has Its Snags
September 25, 2008
If you’ve seen any tidbit of news this week, you may have heard about the negotiations taking place for development of the proposed Olympic Village.
To recap, Michael Reese hospital is currently vacant and sits on a large parcel of land - 37 acres, to be exact. Whether the space is used for an Olympic Village or a new development project, something needs to be done. Ideally, a private entity would come in, purchase the land and develop it without using taxpayer dollars. This is the situation both Mayor Daley and Bid Chairman Patrick Ryan, Sr. are working towards.
What’s important to remember is that many large scale projects have snags. In this situation, it’s not ideal to have a snag so soon to the submission of the bid book in February, but let’s have a little patience.
This 37 acre parcel of land needs to be demolished, rid of asbestos, then made into a sustainable community that will endure for years to come. The community involvement and questions about this stretch of land is the very reason why I love this city - people care and have opinions.
To that end, let’s keep on watching, but also let the discussions happen that need to happen and remember that it’s our best interest that is in the Mayor’s mind.
Welcome Valerie Barker Waller
September 24, 2008
The Chicago 2016 Committee added a new member to their team! Ms. Valerie Barker Waller joins the group as the Director of Marketing and Communications. Congratulations and welcome!
Paralympic Games Reach New Level of Popularity
September 23, 2008
by: Paul Banks
For the Paralympic Games, times have never been better. The most recently completed Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games was the most successful competition to date. They ended last Wednesday with a total of 472 medal events, (262 men’s events, 176 women, 34 mixed) with a total of 279 new World records set and a total of new 339 Paralympic records broken.
According to a recent International Paralympic Committee press release:
“After 12 days of competition, the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games on 17 September 2008 officially ended a period of record-breaking competition and events. Almost 4,000 athletes from a total of 147 different countries around the world came to Beijing to compete in their respective sport. Some athletes competed in more than one event, but each participated on an elite level. Of those 147 countries, five competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time, including Burundi, Gabun, Georgia, Haiti and Montenegro.”
But what truly made this Paralympics stand out from previous games is the record interest from both fans and the press. The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, covered by about 5,600 media members and staffed by over 30,000 volunteers saw 1.9 million tickets sold and an additional 600,000 tickets given to children, educational and community groups. Sold out events included the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, all Swimming events and most Athletics events. The events were also well attended by the International Paralympic and National Paralympic Committees. The two organizations combined sent about 2,500 officials and representatives. The increased attendance and media coverage reflect the Games’ rising popularity and visibility on the World stage. It conveys the fact that the Games are reaching new audiences on a greater level than ever before. The substantial presence of Committee officials on both the International and National level may indicate a continuation of these trends in the next Paralympic Games.
Perhaps more competitive and attendance records will be broken in 2012?
New Trier High School Coach, Tony Brooks
September 23, 2008
Tony Brooks competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics as a member of the U.S. Rowing team. Now a coach at New Trier High School, Mr. Brooks is looking forward to seeing the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games come to Chicago.
The Chicago Bears Season Opener Honors Olympians
September 23, 2008
On a gorgeous sunny day in Chicago, Soldier Field was host to the Chicago Bears’ season opener. Football fans also welcomed three Olympians and honored them during half-time. Go Bears!!!
