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PROVIDING INFORMATION ON RESOURCES AND EVENTS THAT IMPROVE THE LIFESTYLE OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

PUBLISHER : STRATEGIC HUMAN SERVICES VOLUME NO. 11 - ISSUE NO. 37 ISSN 1548-6087 September 17 - September 23, 2009

Serving North Lawndale, East & West Garfield, Austin, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Near Westside & South LawndaleSince 1999, More News, More of Your Issues, and More of Your Community Voices and Faces.

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INSIDETHIS ISSUE

WHERE IS THE

OUTRAGE?PAGE - 3

LOCAL MINISTER

ANNOUNCES

CANDIDACY FOR

STATE CENTRAL

COMMITTEEMAN

FOR THE 7TH

CONGRESSIONAL

DISTRICT

PAGE - 4

THE HOOFERS

CLUB WEST

PAGE - 3

The Honorable Rickey R.Hendon was named MVP (most-valuable-player) as he lead fifteenof his softball mates to victory overthe Southside “Bushwackers” towin the Fourth Annual 16 InchHighland, Indiana, InvitationalTournament on Sunday,September 6th in Highland,Indiana.

Nine teams competed for TheHighland Indiana InvitationalTournament’s coveted trophy. Itrequired that the “Fighting Fifth”win four games over the course oftwo days beating SouthsideChicago teams; “Rolling Dice”(7-3), “Line Drive” ( 10-2), and thenwhipping “The Bushwackers” (8-5) in the semi-finals and again (11-3) in the final for the championshipcrown.

“The Fighting Fifth” had anincredible season compared to lastyear where they finished dead last.The turn-a-round from cellar tochampionship season came aboutas a result of good hitting and solid

SENATOR RICKEY HENDON’S “FIGHTING FIFTH” SOFTBALL TEAM CAPTURES 4THANNUAL 16 INCH INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

pitching. Rickey Hendonlead his team in hitting bygarnering seven hits outof ten-at-bats during thetournament. The solidpitching of ShermanMartin held “TheBushwackers” to a mereseven hits in thechampionship game andhe also came through bigwith a three-run-homer inthe fourth inning thussecuring for him and histeam a win.

T o u r n a m e n tplacement for the top fourpositions was as follows:THE CHAMPIONS –“The Fighting Fifth”,followed by “TheBushwackers,” the“Westside Outlaws” and then the“CTA.”

“The Fighting Fifth” is namedin reference to the district thatSenator Hendon currentlyrepresents. Previously it was called

(L-R) Umpire Ken Beaty, the Honorable Senator Rickey R. Hendon, Umpire Larry (Butch) Danley, team manager SteveKirby (who has partnered with Rickey Hendon over the years to make the team possible and nominated for the ASA 16"Softball Hall of Fame) and 72-year-old Will Beene who pitched for opposing team “Rookies & Veterans.”

“The Fighting 27th” in reference tohis work as Alderman of Chicago’s27th Ward.

Rickey R. Hendon’s passion,besides serving his constituents inthe Fifth Senatorial District of

Illinois is softball. He lives andbreathes softball and has joyouslyfielded teams for over twenty years.

Etare Neged (pronounced: e-TAR-e ne-GED) is a life-forceenergy. His name is also formed fromthe word degenerate, which is splitin half and written backwards.

He is a fusion of fire and ice, lightand dark, the medieval and the post-apocalyptic, the interpolation ofpain, pleasure and rage. He wasborn on the outskirts of Chicago, inArlington Heights Illinois. He wasraised in Indianapolis, only to returnto Chicago as Etare Neged, Artist/MC/Producer.

What NLCN found specialabout Etare is that he is a man whohas survived the evils of cancer andsinusitus as a child. Etare had a rareform of cancer calledNasopharyngeal carcinoma.Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a raretumor in the nasopharynx. Thenasopharynx is located right behindthe mouth and above the throatconnecting to the nasal passage,this is in laymen’s term. It accountsfor fewer than 1% of cases ofchildhood malignancy.

Whereas almost all adultnasopharyngeal cancers arecarcinomas, only 20-35% ofnasopharyngeal malignancies(growths) are carcinomas inchildren.

In the pediatric population,most nasopharyngeal malignanciesare rhabdomyosarcomas (muscletissue) or lymphomas (immunesytem).

His ordeal with cancer hassteered his psychological road mapwith music. As a note, he beganplaying music after being attackedby sinusitis. When he was asked ifhis illness with sinusitis was relatedany to him receiving cancer later,his response was “it may have”. Hissinus illness steered him to playingmusic.

“My first introduction to musicis closely related to my first neardeath experience which was when Iwas in sixth grade” said Etare. Iwas in the hospital for one month

and half of that time I was blind andI had two surgeries because of thesinusitis,” he said. After he got outof the hospital, he went to the storewith his parents and a keyboardcaught his attention. He has beenconnected with music ever since.

What also is unusual about thisrapper is that he is a Northwesterngraduate. He has three sisters, whohave masters or better and they arehelping with his music career.

At one time Etare says, “Ibecame lost a soul with no focus,no direction, no spirit and worseyet, no way to channel this endless

rage. He was almost completelyconsumed by the darkness until oneday amidst all of the sorrow he foundthe light of music seeping up fromthe dungeon below which was hisexperience with cancer.

And now, through High Schoolsports, college, and now working fora major pharmaceutical companyEtare is ready to explode onto themusic scene with his first major solorelease, “Date with Destiny” onSeptember 29. To view a taste of hisalbum cover lead single “Date withDestiny” go to http://www.myspace.com/etareneged.

ETARE NEGED TRIUMPHED CANCERALBUM SET TO BE RELEASED

NLCN publisher Isaac Lewis interviewing Etare Neged with Krunchtime Productionowner Tom Hayes and staff, Veronica.

Etare Neged

THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY NEWS September 17 - September 23, 2009

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The North Lawndale Community News is now publishedweekly by Strategic Human Services. Our purpose is tohelp inform our community on resources, events, and issuesrelevant to them and our neighboring communities. Ourcommunity includes those who live, work, worship in, and/or care about North Lawndale. Our focus is on positive,productive solutions, that will improve the lifestyle of ourcommunity members.

Board of DirectorsFrank Bass, Chairman Dennis Deer, DirectorMarlo Kemp, Treasurer Creative Scott, DirectorCarolyn Lewis, Secretary Marlone Finley, DirectorVivian Lewis, Director Norman Baldwin, DirectorBetty Mason, Director Dr. Betty J. Allen Green, Director

Former Founding Board of Director: Larry Leonard

Advisory Board:Cong. Danny K. Davis, Rev. Randall Harris, Fred Mitchell, LauraWashington, Susan Munro, Marta Foster, Margaret Davis, Larry Leonard

Consulting Editors and Writers:Wilbert Cook, Bill Goosby, Fred Mitchell, Dr. Shemuel Israel,Tamiko Bowie, Danita Bowie, Marquita Ware, Warren Polk, DavidSchultz, Reggie Lewis, Angelic Jones, Mary Moran, Clemolyn(Pennie) Brinson, Priscilla Lucas, Todd Thomas, Kabuika Kamunga,Sophia Karalexis, X’ernona Woods, Zaki A. Muhammad, BenProtess, Demetrius Porter, David Tenario, S. Mike Cook, DavidSchultz, & Marlone Finley

Founding CEO & Publisher: Isaac Lewis, Jr.Production/Layout Coordinator: Marquita WareIT (Information Technology) Manager: Ronnie AllenStaff Accountant:Communications Manager:Resource Project Director: John MooreMarketing Consultant: Dr. Shemuel IsraelAdvertising Manager: Andre StokesAdvertising Consultant:Technical Assistant:Website Consultant: Lamont SimmonsPhotography: Community members and writersStrategic Door to Door Distribution (Weekly) CommunityYouthCirculation: 15,000 copiesDrop Site Distribution: Reginald Lewis and Johnny RayLewis distributed weekly over 280 dropsites, and over 340,685potential readers throughout North and South Lawndale, Eastand West Garfield, Humboldt Park, Austin, Pilsen and the NearWest Communities.Weekly Mail Subscription Rates: $20.00 for 3 months.$35.00 for 6 months $60.00 for 1 year $110 for 2years

The North Lawndale Community News is funded by thededicated work and support of the community, and madepossible with grants from The Steans Family Foundation,TheJohn D. and Catherine MacArthur Foundation, Harris BankFoundation The Leo S. Guthman Family Fund ( Lynne C.Rosenthal), The Soderquist Family Foundation, U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), J-Lab Institute, AfterSchool Matters , SBC (now AT&T), TheIllinois State Board of Education (State Senator RickeyHendon), State of Illinois Depart of Commerce andEconomic Opportunity.DCEO through Sate Rep. Art Turner,The McCormick Tribune Foundation, the National BlackCaucus of States Institute, Advocate Bethany Fund, andcontributions from our community, advertisers, and readers.The North Lawndale Community News was started with agrant from the North Lawndale Small Grants Initiative nowknown as the Small Grants Human Development Corporation,and the Steans Family Foundation.

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NLCN2009 FOCUS

THE NORTH LAWNDALECOMMUNITY NEWS

HEALTH & THE ECONOMYOne of the major issues of the recent presidential campaign

was health care. Health care costs have become an escalatingburden for employers and consumers alike. Research hasshown that total health spending is reduced when consumersbear more responsibility for their health and the expensesrelated to it. One of the best ways to increase life expectancywhile reducing disability is to encourage a culture of self-care practices.

Self care is personal health maintenance. It is the caretaken by individuals towards their own health and well being.Self care includes the actions individuals take in their role ascare givers for their children, their families, and others tostay fit and to maintain good physical, mental, and spiritualhealth.

Extreme self care means making choices and decisions thathonor our soul in everyday living. It means feeding ourselveswhole foods, moving our bodies every day, balancing silencewith activity, and surrounding ourselves with supportive, like-minded people who are committed to improving or restoringhealth and uplifting the quality of their lives as well.

More than 75% of people surveyed in the United Kingdomsaid if they had guidance or support from a professional orpeer they would feel far more confident about taking care oftheir own health. Research shows that supporting self carecan improve health outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.Our intention is to support individuals, families, institutions,and communities in their efforts to practice extreme self care.During 2009, the North Lawndale Community News focuseson cost-effective ways you can improve your health bypracticing self care.

The Economy has made itself the number one issue withgas prices reaching almost $5.00 per gallon and having adomino effect on everything else sold, except housing stockwhich experienced a terrible decline with the high rate offoreclosures. The Chicago metropolitan area reported 5,821new foreclosure filings in December, a foreclosure rate ofone new foreclosure filing for every 499 households — morethan twice the national average. That brought the area’s fourthquarter foreclosure total to 16,949 and its 2006 foreclosuretotal to 57,706, according to Realty Trac.

Even transportation on the CTA went on the rise with one daypasses increasing by seventy-five cents and monthly passessincreased by $10.00 from $75.00 to $85.00. Those are just afew of the increases.

The North Lawndale Community News this year isexpanding on last years financial focus to give attention to itsbroader parent the economy. Saving and making smartershopping decisions will help stop us losing through wastefulchoices. Finding new ways to increase our income is a necessityfor many in an area where gentrifrication is not going to stop.

One of the hardest things to change is behavior. Modifyingbehavior seems to be easy when it comes to pain. Social painlack of money has to be extreme for many to change. 2009should be different for many and of course many will continuetoward economic mistakes and financial ruin.

But in today’s information society there is no excuse for notmaking smart choices. Financial literacy alone is not enough. Lookwhat happened to Lehman Brothers and what’s happening to manyother financial institutions let alone individuals, families. and smallbusinesses.

Solutions come to the internet, books, economic experts,financial counselors and experts, the media and your economicalneighbors.

The North Lawndale Community News will tap into resourcesand share them with you, our reader. So to help you improve yourhealth and your economy keep reading The North LawndaleNews. We say yours because some may not modiy their behavior,except when the pain comes and still some won’t change.. Yourimput is also welcome If you have some information that isbeneficial please submit it. Let’s make smarter health andeconomic moves for life in 2009.

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After reading a recent editorial “AlreadyFar Behind” describing the way our childrenliving in the City of Chicago are being short-changed on their education because of fewerand shorter school days, I have to ask, “Whereis the outrage?” Our children living in Chicagoare just as important as any child living in thesuburbs. We try to tell them that. Our goodteachers and administrators and clergy try toaffirm in them that they are important and areto be regarded with the same dignity as otherchildren in wealthier parts of our metropolitanarea and beyond.

But then there are those who do not seemto care: teachers who consistently put downchildren in the classroom; a teachers’ unionthat cares more about its teachers than aboutthe kids; a business community that seemsokay with the fact that Chicago is producingonly a very small percentage of their futureworkers; a political establishment moreconcerned about hosting an Olympicshighlighting international athletic excellencethan, beyond lip-service, supporting a schoolsystem that provides and encourages localacademic excellence; a black and Hispanicchurch community that somehow seems to beokay with the status quo for our children,willing to settle for ‘less than’ while at the sametime preaching the hypocrisy that our childrencan achieve ‘more than’; and, of course, a stategovernment mired in self-interest andcorruption who don’t have the pelotas to dowhat is right for every child in this state.

As this is happening, some charter schoolsare being opened which are meant to offersomething better. In some cases they do; insome they don’t. Ironically, the schools thatdo offer a quality education that happen toalso have the benefit of a basis in faith andmorals, are the ones who are faltering. Theyare failing, not because of poor education, butbecause of the cost to parents and to theCatholic Church and the Big Shoulders Fund

in general. Catholic Schools continue toprovide a quality education in a safeatmosphere for many poor students in our city.I would venture to say that if the CatholicChurch could provide a free education to thechildren in our city, especially those in poorneighborhoods, we would; it is at the heart ofwho we are and what we teach and try to live.But the reality is that there is a cost. Parentsalone cannot often afford the costs, despitesignificant assistance provided from severalsources based on their financial condition.

What’s wrong with this picture? Catholicschools are getting it right for our kids. Somecharter schools are getting it right for our kids.A few public schools are getting it right for ourkids. But so many, too many of our kids haveto settle for the scraps: while some teachersask to work fewer hours and get paid more;while teachers are pressured to change grades;while state testing standards are lowered sothat we can falsely say that our kids are doingbetter; while those politically connected sendtheir children to private schools or impose theirclout to get their child into one of the few high-achieving schools in Chicago; while mostministers sit back and continue to allow thechildren in their congregations to be under-educated; while parents continue helplesslyto encourage their children to excellenceknowing full well that it will only be by theirefforts and the grace of God that their childwill achieve.

If only we could all work together to bethat ‘grace of God’ for our children. Until thedesire for every child to have the opportunityto achieve their God-given potential takes rootin the collective consciousness of the peoplein this city and state and results in substantivechange, our children – at least those in poorcommunities in Chicago – will continue tosuffer greatly from our failure to really fight forthem and, if they live into adulthood, will havea much harder life because of our failure.

“WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?”Fr. Larry Dowling, St. Agatha, North Lawndale

A new seniors program has come tothe Westside of Chicago. The Hoofers ClubWest is a chair Tap aerobics class forseniors. The Program is Free. The HoofersClub is designed to preserve the culturalheritage of Tap dancing and its music whileproviding Fun and Fitness for today’sseniors. The class is an introduction to Tapfor new participants and a refresher coursefor those who have had Tap before. Theprogram is a chair Tap class but can bedone standing for an increase aerobicworkout according to the senior’s ability.When the instructor Brenda Starr Woodsnamed the program chair Tap aerobicsclass she thought that putting aerobics inthe title would attract more seniors. Shewas surprised to learn that all of the seniorswho joined said it was for the Tap. In factone said she remembered watching ShirleyTemple as a child and she always wanted

to tap.The program started last year in South

East Chicago and was a huge success. Theprogram is sponsored in part by aNeighborhood Arts Project Grant from theCity of Chicago Dept of Cultural AffairsThe Program is Free. The Program alsohas a music appreciation

Components where the class will begiven information on the different stylesof music such as Jazz, Gospel, R&B,Reggae, and Hip Hop with sing alongKaraoke, and Name that tune. The programis held at Homan Square Park, 3559 W.Arthington on Mondays and Wednesdaysfrom 11:30-12:30. Did I mention the Programis Free? For more information contactJackie Guthrie Park Supervisor

312-746-6650 or Brenda Starr Woods773-902-7391.

The Hoofers Club West

9AM-5PM


P o t a t ochips, soda

pop, fried chicken and Cheetosred hots are amongst the foodselection that school childrenhave in the Chicago PublicSchool vending machines andlunch lines. However, did youknow that eating healthy is adirect correlation between thegrades that students arebringing home and theireveryday interaction withpeople, and themselves?

With ADHD, obesity, anddiabetes on the rise amongstour youth CPS administratorsexpress that they are tryingtheir best to help our youth eathealthier lunches by replacingold lunches and vendingmachines with a healthierselection of food in order to re-direct unhealthy eating habits.But according to retired schoolteacher Michael Michelle, prioremployee for the ChicagoBoard of Education “ Thequality of food that a childconsumes is based upon onessocial economic background,even though the city has triedto provide healthier lunches forall of CPS ‘s students.”

But what most don’t realizeis that what is consideredhealthy to one may not beconsidered healthy to anotherbased on studies done by

organic food experts which challenges theFDA’s food pyramid. Where one may believethat pizza opposed to fried chicken is healthy,and chocolate milk to replace soda pop willbuild strong bones and provide betternutrients for the body, studies done byorganic food experts differ. Martha Boyd,Program Director of Urban Initiative for theAngelic Organic Learning Center says “Weget the proper amount of nutrients by eatingorganic foods— ADHD and a lack ofconcentration is caused by foods full ofpesticides and residue which leave childrenless able to learn.” So how do we bridge thegap between organic and healthy eating inthe school systems verses the conventionalway of eating? In effort to building academicsuccess Martha works on projects in differentcommunities to help build the bridge bylinking relationships between local organicfarmers and schools through the UrbanInitiative.

Kevin Trudeau author of “Natural CuresThey Don’t Want You To Know About”indicates that obesity and disease stem froma lack of proper digestion due to the chemicalslike hormones, pesticides and insecticideswhich are in the food. While recent studiesdone by the F As In Fat Report’s on obesityin children being over 30% in 30 states. Whichraises a major problem according to theAmerican Diabetes Association becauseobese children do not get enough magnesiumfrom the foods that they eat which can causeinsulin resistance and later turns into type 2diabetes.

As a result CPS has incorporatedprograms like “Great Body Shop” for childrenin kindergarten through 6th grade whereyounger students learn about healthy mealsand older students learn about weight gain,

eating disorders and fad diets. But withquestions being raised about what’s in thefood, does CPS have a responsibility to investin organic foods for students in order to helpwith the success of academic advancement,and help to cure obesity?

According to Tom Vilsack, Secretary ofAgriculture in a report provided by the adcouncil “Combating childhood obesity andencouraging all Americans to balance healthyeating with daily physical activity is a toppriority for President Obama and me—ultimately, eating well and exercising is aquestion of public health.

Overcoming this epidemic of obesityrequires that we work together at all levels —parents, teachers, community and businessleaders and government — to achievehealthier lifestyles. USDA’s MyPyramid.govprovides a number of tools and resources tohelp all of us move to a healthier lifestyle.” Soif our government and CPS is indeed lookingto move forward on healthy lifestyles forstudents in order to gain academic successand cure obesity should Chicago PublicSchools System invest in organic foods forstudents? For more information on healthyand organic eating for our youth go towww.learngrowconnect.org.

Tali Bakhit is a visionary journalist,writer, entrepreneur, and owner of her owncompany Bon-chic Productions. Born andraised in the inner city of Philadelphia, sheknows the struggles that young AfricanAmerican sisters go through on the everydaybasis. As a writer for the the North LawndaleCommunity Newspaper, Tali has made aloyal commitment to give back to the Sistersand prove yes we can all get along andcreate a since of loyalty. Peace & Light Mysisters.

FROM SISTA TO SISTER: CPS Lunches,What Are Our Children Eating?

Tali Bakhit

Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson, alocal minister born and raised inthe North Lawndale area inChicago’s West Side announcescandidacy for Illinois State CentralCommitteeman for the 7th

Congressional District runningagainst incumbent CongressmanDanny K. Davis who currentlyholds the public office. This wouldbe the first time that the ministerran for public office and statewideoffice.

With all the issues of risingunemployment, foreclosures, andhopelessness, Rev. Hendersonfeels that the local public officials should be heldaccountable and there should be transparency.Rev. Brian Henderson says, “I feel that the currentpublic officials and the community should worktogether to find solutions to the problems

that is plaguing our community all over the 7th

Congressional District. “I’m concerned aboutthe rising crime in our area and it has to do with nojobs in our community for working adults, as wellas young adults and teens. I feel that we needmore jobs in our community and more socialprograms.” Part of the state central committeemember’s job is to slate and endorse candidatesthat represent the best interest of our community.I will not continue to slate or endorse candidatesthat don’t bring jobs, programs, and services toour community.” I want the residents of theseventh Congressional District to know that I willfight for jobs, programs, and services to ourcommunities. I also want to build relationshipswith all our elected officials. Also, I want to havecommunity meetings and reach out to constituentsto relay concerns to all elected officials.”

Local Minister Announces Candidacyfor State Central Committeeman for

the 7th Congressional District!Rev. Henderson believes that

we need more common folk thatcan identify with poor andworking class families that arestruggling in public office. Rev.Henderson says, “I too isstruggling to make ends meet andI can identify with those whocan’t find work and are in despair.I have a Masters and a PhDdegree and I and cannot findpermanent work. I do not havehealth insurance either and I canidentify with those who do not.Again, we need more of thosewho can relate to the common

person and families that are struggling in publicoffice. But more importantly elected publicofficials shouldn’t lose touch with theirconstituents.”

Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson is a communityleader on the West Side and has been active inthe community. He is currently an active memberof the Boy Scouts as Unit Commissioner in theWestern Trails District. He has been active in BigBrothers/Big Sisters, several other communityorganizations. He’s currently an associateminister for First Baptist Institutional Churchlocated at 4220 W. 18th St. Chicago, IL, under theleadership of Pastor Rev. Aaron Brasfield Jr. Thereis a committeeman and committeewoman electedfor a 4-year term for the office. Darlene Burnett iscurrently the State Central Committeewoman forthe seventh Congressional District. For moreinformation about Rev. Henderson’s Campaignfor State Central Committeeman or to get involved,please contact Henderson for State CentralCommitteeman 7th District, P.O. Box 24855,Chicago, IL 60624. Alternatively, call 773-521-0566.


From Left to Right: Marcie Hill, president of From Goodness to Greatness, Otis C. Monroe III, CEOof the Monroe Foundation, and Valerie Leonard, consultant to nonprofits and principal facilitator ofCapacity Building Blocks, join “victory hands” to demonstrate a successful Southside nonprofitoutreach meeting held on Saturday, September 12th at National City Bank, 87th & Cottage Grove. TheSouthside Nonprofit Outreach meeting connected 30 organizations to federal grant opportunitiesthrough Illinois ResourceNet and training through the Capacity Building Blocks program.

Yet at the same time many even amongthe leaders believed in him. But because ofthe Pharisees they would not confess theirfaith for fear they would be put out of thesynagogue; for they loved the praise frommen more than praise from God—John 12:42-43.

Men may worship God, yet they servemoney.

I cannot recall if this is a quote from somefamous or distinguished person in history, butI do know no truer words regarding religionhas ever been uttered.

This thought came immediately to mindthe other day as I was reading about the $1.3million advertising campaign the CatholicChurch plans for the upcoming Christmasseason in an effort to bring so-called “lapsed”Catholics back to the faith. If this wasn’t soserious it would be hilarious.

Just think about it for a moment: Thechurch that claims its lineage from the ApostlePeter is trying to retain/regain membership notby the power of the truth, but through thepropaganda of big-money public relations. Fora faith that claims Jesus Christ as its master, itseems rather unseemly for it to be relying onworldly means to accomplish the miracle itwill surely need to convince anyone that achurch that expresses such faith in moneytruly serves a heavenly purpose.

And that is not only a problem for theCatholics. Unfortunately, most so-calledChristian religions today seem more intentupon serving the duplicitous dictates ofmammon rather than heeding Christ’sadmonition that you cannot serve two

masters.Perhaps if the Pope didn’t live like a

worldly king and the church spent more timetruly serving its believers rather than seekingto control their faith, a better use can be foundfor a $1.3 million than a public relationscampaign based on worldly goals.

At a time when the reign of money in theworld has never been more evident, it is timefor Christianity to either provide a truealternative to its power or simply admit it too,serves the god of the almighty dollar. At leastthen, there wouldn’t be so much hypocrisyconfusing serving Christ with getting paid.

And we might not have so many silk-suited preachers running around in Cadillacsand Leer jets proclaiming the blessings offinances as sufficient evidence of preparationfor life beyond worldly concerns.

Because when money is the object or thesolution to a problem, Christ is already absentfrom the equation.

Also want to add my two centsconcerning Joe Wilson’s “You lie” outburstduring President Obama’s speech last week.Forget his apology. This man was speakingfor white America when he disrespected thepresident. And white America has respondedby donating big bucks to his re-election inSouth Carolina next year. If you want to knowhow far we have moved beyond race in thiscountry let’s see how many Joe Wilsons windup in Congress next year.

And then let’s see how truly uncivilthings get in Washington and around thenation in 2012 when we have a black presidentrunning for re-election.

LANE CHANGELANE CHANGELANE CHANGELANE CHANGELANE CHANGEWhen Money is the Solution The Church is the Problem

A Commentary by Travles R. Lane - [email protected]

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Services Set forMarian Elizabeth Mays-Beckless

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Chicago’s youths face greatemployment challenges as moreexperienced applicants are now applyingfor entry-level jobs. Jobs For Youth, a non-profit that averages over 1,000 jobplacements for Chicago youths (ages 17to 24) from low-income families everyyear, offers youth tips to help in their jobsearch.

1. Building Your Resume: If youhave never done a resume, use a resumetemplate. They can be found easily on-line or in your computer software. Makesure you use spell-check and have at leastthree people look over your resume forgrammatical errors.

2. Phone Etiquette: As you startapplying to jobs, make sure your voicemailmessage is business appropriate. Letmembers of your household know that youare expecting calls for employmentinterviews so that they may also answerthe phone appropriately.

3. Network: It is amazing who you mayknow who may know someone else. It isall about connections. Make a list oforganizations and places you are involvedwith – church, school, community groups,family. Talk to them. Let them know youare looking for a job and what your skillsare.

4. Interviewing: Be 15-minutes earlyfor all scheduled appointments andinterviews. Carry at least three copies ofyour resume and list of references to eachinterview. Maintain a neat and professionalappearance. When in doubt, wear a suit. Do not bring anyone with you tointerviews. And remember, everyone in theoffice is watching you. Be polite toeveryone. Always turn off your cellphone. Remember to send a thank youletter after the interview.

5. Congratulations, You Have a Job! Knowing your strengths and how they areused at work can make you realize howvaluable you are and therefore make youappreciate your job more. Here are a fewpointers so that you can keep working. Know where you want to be with thecompany and know how to get there. Bring new ideas to the job, make yourselfvaluable. Be flexible with job requirements:tasks that look like a pain can turn out tobe a blessing. Be friendly with everyone,you never know who can take you to yournext step. Support your teammates, theywill support you!

About Jobs For Youth/Chicago, Inc.Jobs For Youth/ Chicago, Inc. (JFY)

helps young men and women from low-income families become a part of theeconomic mainstream; and, in the process,provides the business community withmotivated job-ready workers. JFY offerspre-employment training, GED preparationand job placement services to youth thatare between the ages of 17 and 24.Established in 1979, JFY has made over26,000 job placement to help Chicago ’sdeserving youth enter the workforce. Moreinformation is available atwww.jfychicago.org, including a shortvideo about JFY programs and services.

Youth Training andEmployment

Program Gives TopJob Searching Tips

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OFMEATBALLS (**1/2) Not intended to be thekind of fine entertainment cuisine as wasDisney/Pixar’s “Rastquille”: This fourthfeature length computer animation offeringfrom Sony Pictures Animation aims for a moremodest, zanier and cartoon-ish appetizer orsmorgasbord out of “Cloudy with a Chanceof Meatballs”

On a fictional remote island in the middleof nowhere that might have been somethinginspired by Dr. Seuss. The isolated sardineexporter isle, Shallow Falls is hardly Who-ville.But town is more like Amity out of the “Jaws”movies thanks to the same kind of reckless,opportunistic mayor, Shelbourne (BruceCampbell) trying to salvage their trade torecapture the tourist business.

Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) has alwaysfelt he was meant to do something big that

AT THE FLICKSDavid H. Schultz, film critic

was instilled by his mother. As an aspiringinventor since childhood; Flint’s “odd ideas”have only resulted in embarrassment andridicule from the townspeople over hisoutlandish and malfunctioning creations. Whichinclude the fusing of two species into “rat birds”and his lab assistant monkey with a human voicetranslator.

Whether it’s ironic or not this instantlyrecalling the same device used first with betterresults, by the dogs on the remote isle in Disney/Pixar’s “Up”.

Now Flint is trying to save his town withhis latest invention, a rocket machine that canturn water into actual food items from the clouds.Naturally his widowed father, Tim (James Caan)is unsupportive and hi-tech illiterate who wantshis son’s footsteps into his bait and tacticalshop business.

But Flint disobeys his father and disrupts

the ceremonial announcement of MayorShelbourne’s idea to revitalize his town withthe unveiling of “Sardine-land” theme parkled by its onetime baby mascot for the product,Brent (Andy Samberg) who seems more of aglory hound than Flint’s former childhoodbully’

However, Soon after Flint’s fiasco;suddenly the sky begins to rain hamburgersthat signals his success and popularity thatleads to his potential romance with Sam Sparks,an intern who becomes the senior food-weather news correspondent.

But while Flint bask in the glory of hiscreation and ignores how overworked hismachine is becoming. With pressure from themayor, Flint tries to please every one, such asthe strict town cop, Earl Devereux (Mr. T) whoenlists Flint’s assistance to create an ice creamwonderland in town for his son’s (Bobb’e J.Thompson) birthday. (Although repetitiveand sappy at times, whether in live action oranimation; it’s good to have a black fatherexpress his love toward his son on film.)

Initially, Flint is unaware how close hismachine is getting closer to hazardous results.Until later, Flint notices the enormous twistersof spaghetti and the meteor shower ofmeatballs falling from the skies that havemutated; causing chaos and destruction

Unless Flint can somehow redeem himselfwith help from Sam Sparks, Brent and themonkey traveling inside a rocket ship headingto stop this disaster with a computer “kill”flash drive.

Funny enough to amuse adults. Whilebeing silly fun and inventive for a kids’imagination (and perhaps appetite) Still“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” offers aforecast that sustain itself through its humor

See Flickspage 7


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and energy. In as much as it doesvisually. Regardless of the 3D effectthat offers an “Animal House” –likefood fight being thrown down fromthe skies; as well as at the movieaudience.

“Cloudy with a Chance ofMeatballs” may not be as filling toour palate as it should be. But onthe level of fast food; to say theleast, it’s an entertaining snack. PG:90min. A Columbia Pictures Release– Presented at selected theaters

THE INFORMANT! (***1/2)There will be some strange behaviorfrom varied business executives ondisplay in several movies this fall.But there might not be any moreincredibly true and funnier than“The Informant!”

After laboring over such seriousand controversial movie fare as“Che”; director Steven Soderberghshows a softer side by providingamusing dialogue diversion whilestressing some creditability to thisoffbeat, mischievous yet intricatecomedy thriller.

But equally important as thistrue story; The Informant!” achievesits quirky inspiration from theoriginal, comedicly inspiredperformance of Matt Damon thatjust might be distinctive enough tobe Oscar worthy,

Matt Damon has never beenfunnier in being this 30 lbs heavier,mustache and glasses wearing dorkycharacter, Mark Whitacre, a risingexecutive in the 90’s at Decatur ,Illinois -based agri-business firm,Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).Where corn goes in one end andprofits comes out the other. Markstarted out as a bio-chemistresponsible for several profitablefood additives for the company whowas brought over to the businessside. When Mark disapproved ofADM’s operation while workingalongside the big bosses.

But “The Bourne Ultimatum”scripter Scott Z. Burns adds anotherdimension that is a stoke of truecomedy and perceptive geniusthrough his off screen narrativecomments and conversationalremarks that indicates the kind ofactive that goes on his brain.

Mark Whitacre is such a highlyintelligent individual that he’s also

dumb as he is smart that doesn’t leavemuch room for gray matter to his flatpersonality.

From 1992 to 2002, Mark led theFBI and his two vice president co-workers on an elusive and elaboratechase. When he reveals there is a molewithin the company involved in “pricefixing” in the licensing business inJapan. And there is a threat of a virusin the corn known as dextrose that aninformer that mark can’t reveal hisname ort whereabouts; who wants tobe paid $10 million to stop the virus.

But through the course of thisfilm, Mark’s story changes and growsthat begins when the company agreesto let the FBI led by agent BrianShepherd (Scott Bakula) wiretaps intoMark’s company phone at home Hiswife, Ginger (Melanie Lynskey) wantsto tell what he knows.

Instead, Mark gets caught up inthe illusion of working for the FBI tothe point of seeing himself as agent0014, being “twice as smart as JamesBond”. But as everyone begins to fallat ADM, leaving Mark as the last manstanding who with the FBI exposed alot of incriminating stuff that madehim one of the nation’s biggestwhistle blowers.

Yet, what started this charadeturns out to be a fragment of Mark’s“beautiful mind” trying to embezzle$10 million from the company whosepolicies he disapproved. But it’s theexceptional performance from MattDamon in this bi-polar anti-hero thatbecomes the singular and ultimate“mad men” in the cooperate worldthat defines the film so well for whatbecomes Steven Soderbergh’s bestfilm in years. R; 108min. A Warner Bros.Pictures release – Presented atselected theaters

JENNIFER’S BODY (**1/2)Already a typically strange friendshipbetween a dorky but protective bestfriend with the apt nickname “Needy”(Amanda Seyfried) who seems toalways be willing to be interruptedwith her patient, but concernboyfriend, Chip (Johnny Simmons),to follow whatever interest her hotand popular girlfriend, Jennifer(Megan Fox) who charms and teasesher way to get any and every man.

Jennifer invites Needy to hangwith her at local bar club, Melody Laneto hear an underground rock band thatJennifer has a groupie-type interest inits lead singer, Nikolai (Adam Brody)that Needy overhears talking to hisband members about choosingJennifer to bang. for a sexual fling.

Then a bit of a real-life recall, when

the band’s sound system ignites ablazing fire that destroy the club,killing several students that Jennifer,Needy and the band membersmanage to escape. Claiming to beon an adrenaline rush from thetragedy, Nikolai invites Jennifer intothe group’s trailer van, against theconcerns of Needy.

Naturally, Needy’s fears areconfirmed when initially Needydoesn’t understand Jennifer’sbloodied appearance and tar-likegoop that pours out of Jennifer’smouth that are the results of Jennifernow being opposed by a demon forcefrom this band from hell who later goon the radio offering their charity tothe town to seek out new victims.

As the townspeople are not onlyin mourning over the nightclub firetragedy, except for Jennifer’s glibdemeanor in school. The highschool becomes even moredevastated by the sudden brutalmurder of their star quarterback. Alsocaused by Jennifer having lured intothe woods, the star jock to eat hisheart out and leave the bloodiedremains for the gathered and waitingwoodland animals. (sort of a Disneyhone wild-type joke)

Since their childhood shown inflashback that indicates the patternand influence that Needy seems toreside in Jennifer’s shadow. Until,needy observes the darker transitionof her friend’s insatiable appetite formen. Needy has to somehow standup for herself by rescuing the townfrom this pure evil in this horrorcomedy written by “Juno” Oscarscreenwriter and Chicago nativeDiablo Cody who tries to mine someriffs on adolescent behavior into thismovie genre that’s only reflected byher sharp narrative dialogue thatstresses the humor and some humaninsights Cody did in “Juno”

While not a total waste,“Jennifer’s Body”: is not intendedto be a blood fest as advertised. Butwhat it tries to achieve on a socialand intellectual level doesn’t fullymake the grade. When Needy enactsher revenge afterwards on the bandmembers in photo shots over thefilm’s end credits.

The attempts to doing this filmas a parody without being tooobvious and avoid the predictability,kind of short circuits what’s beenbetter done before in films like“Carrie”, “The Lost Boys” to namea few. R: 101min. A 20th Century FoxPictures Release – Presented atselected theaters

Flicks from page 6


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