Gage Park High School Robotics Club

 hopes to clean up the competition at the FIRST Tech Challenge.

Marc Irwin
Published: November 4, 2011

3 students from Gage Park High School have been working very hard to prepare for the FTC regional qualifier at Malcolm X college on Nov. 12th. While most Gage Park students were enjoying their fall intercession, Adonny Barrera, Stephany Barrera, and Rashad Foster were building, programming, and designing a robot that they believe will "clean up" at competition.
FTC, or FIRST Tech Challenge, is a worldwide competition designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Each year the game changes and teams have a mere 6 weeks to prepare for their events. This years competition, called Bowled Over" involves flipping and stacking miniature milk crates and picking up raquetballs on a 12' X 12' enclosed arena.

The teams' coach Mr. Irwin has swayed busy professionals with his entushiastic attitude and heartfelt dedication to donate their time, expertise, and money to the cause. Bill Dods owner of Advance wheel corporationhas donated a 4000 square foot facility where the team practices daily. Independent entrepreneur and machinist Paul Jenskovec has allowed the team to use machinery to fabricate pieces for the robot. He has also donated more than $1200 to date on plastics, aluminum, field mat, and various hardware. They have gained experience with lathes, mills, welding, drill presses, belt sanders and taps. Retired engineer, Bruce Petersen, has lent the team his years of product development experience. His foresight has been invaluable in helping to decide which ideas will work and which ones  are fatally flawed. CPS graduate Daniel Galan has maintained team communication, flyers, brochures, and more behind the scenes help in recruiting as well as helping the drive and programming team.

The team still needs more students. The team has a very strong chance to gain sponsorship for FRC, especially if they fare well in this months contest. Any student or adult that is interested in joining as a mentor or a team member should contact Marc Irwin at mirwin66@gmail.com. Students can have a great time being a part of a great project, have the opportunity to receive scholarships, and build lifelong skills.


Courtesy of Chicago Lawn Portal

R.A.G.E. Public Meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 15th

Asiaha Butler

OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS OF GREATER ENGLEWOOD.
We know there LOTS to talk about in Englewood, from Education, Post Office/Libraries Closings, Englewood Film Festival, CMAP Land Use Plan, Aldermanic Ward Remapping and more!  Let's find solutions together around these issues in our neighborhood!
Refreshments will be served at 6:15pm, arrive promptly!

For more info please contact us at 866.845.1032, or email joinrage@gmail.com. Don't forget to sign up for RAGE email updates at www.RAGEnglewood.org or text RAGE to 55469 for mobile updates!
Thank you!

R.A.G.E. Members are homeowners, stakeholders, business owners, professionals, students, parents and grandparents fighting against the stereotypes that often stigmatize Englewood. RAGE unites with all who wish to FORCE change in Englewood! We hope to see you Tuesday, November 15th!


Courtsey of the Englewood Portal 

ALDERMAN SAWYER SUPPORTS MAINTAINING LIBRARY FUNDING IN THE 2012 BUDGET

6th Ward Chicago
Published: October 31, 2011

Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer of the 6^th Ward supports maintaining library staffing and hours of operation at its current levels.  “This is not the time to be laying off workers,” Alderman Sawyer said, “the city council must do what it can in order to maintain services.”
Not only is the library facing a reduction of nearly 33% of its staff but there will also be a reduction in hours.   Furthermore, in communities that are facing challenges in bridging the digital divide there needs to be an expansion in community resources provided by the public library system, not a reduction.  Job searchers need to be able to look for jobs, update their resumes and print out cover letters at our public libraries.  Alderman Sawyer joins those who believe that the reduction of hours will disproportionately affect lower income communities.
While joining others who are looking for alternative savings or revenue that could offset covering the cost Alderman Sawyer is focused on a serious political reality.  Funding for the Chicago Library System was never intended to be covered by the corporate fund, the initial ordinance called for all operations to be handled through a real-estate levy.  Many years ago the decision was made to transfer a part of the budget to the corporate fund, a decision which is leading to the service cuts requested in this budget.
“Right now it seems like we are asking our workers and communities to once again pay the cost for the politicians’ short term political decisions.   That’s not right and I can’t support it.”


Courtesy of the Englewood Portal

From the Mayor's Office: Amendments to 2012 Budget Proposal

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

• Download this Press Release

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that he has reached an agreement with City Council members on several items in the proposed 2012 budget and will submit formal amendments to his budget plan on Monday.
“We have held to our principles, followed through on the tough choices and that’s a win for Chicagoans and their future,” said Mayor Emanuel.
Mayor Emanuel was joined at the announcement by Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations, Vice-Chairman Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Budget Director Alex Holt.
“This process is about working together to reach a balanced budget plan that will provide the people of Chicago with quality services, while keeping those services affordable to taxpayers,” said Alderman Austin. “These amendments will help accomplish that goal.”
The amendments to the mayor’s budget plan will include the following:

Libraries

• Restoring $3.3 million to the library budget to allow for a full six-day-a-week schedule when school is out, during the summer months and over holiday breaks, providing children with more library access when they are away from school.
• The reduced schedule on Monday and Friday mornings will resume during the school year with agreement from the unions.   The move will restore more than 100 of the planned library layoffs.

City Vehicle Sticker

• Maintaining the weight threshold for heavier passenger vehicles at 4,500 lbs.
• Increasing the tier for lighter vehicles by $10 (from $75 to $85) and the heavier tier by $15 (from $120 to $135). 
• The planned increases for truck stickers will remain as proposed. Stickers for motorcycles will remain at their current rates. Discounted sticker fees for seniors will also remain at current rates. Several groups, including veterans, the disabled, and government entities will continue to receive sticker fee waivers.
• The amendments to sticker fees will be revenue-neutral to the original proposal.
• Increasing fines (from $120 to $200) for sticker scofflaws and late fees (from $40 to $60). 

Fee waivers

• Extending a discount on fees for water services to all non-profit organizations with less than $250 million in assets.
• The three-year phased-in discount will be 60% in 2012, 40% in 2013 and 20% in 2014 and beyond.
• The amendments will result in approximately $12 million in lost revenue for the water and sewer funds over the next three years, which will be absorbed by the fee increases scheduled to begin next year. 

Streets and Sanitation

• Restoring $1 million worth of lot cleaning, weed cutting and graffiti removal services.

The changes in the budget proposal will be cost neutral in that the additional $4.3 million in corporate fund expenses will be offset by the additional revenue from increasing the fines and enforcement for vehicle sticker scofflaws.
Mayor Emanuel announced his budget plan last month that included $417 million worth of expense reductions to help close a $635 million gap between expected revenues and expenses next year.

Important Info For CDBG Funded Agencies

Download

Fall 2011 Career Expo

 

When: November 17, 2011, 10 am–2 pm

Where: Kennedy King-College, Building W Atrium, 6343 South Halstead, Chicago, IL 60621

If you are currently unemployed, underemployed, a student, a veteran, or just curious to know what the job market has to offer, don't miss this career expo!
Dress for success and bring copies of your resume!
Click here to see the full flyer

Daley College Open House

Courtesy of the Manufacturing Technology Institute, on November 10, 2011 the Manufacturing and Logistics programs of Richard J. Daley College will host an Open House.

There will be two sessions: 10 am to 1 pm;  and again from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Our students will provide demonstrations of advanced manufacturing technology and faculty will be on hand to answer questions and provide detailed information on our programs.

Refreshments will be provided.

We hope that you will be able to stop by and see our state-of-the-art machine shop. To view the official announcement for the event, click here.

Illinois Dream Act Information Night

 

When: November 8, 2011, 4 pm

Where: 5630 S. Rockwell, Chicago, IL 60629

Governor Quinn signed the Illinois Dream Act on August 2nd, 2011! 

Now what does this mean for our students and community?

Come to Gage Park’s IL Dream Act Information Night for:

 

• Scholarship opportunities for undocumented students

• College resource guides for students and counselors

• Information on how to prepare for college as an undocumented student

• Learn more of how to get involved in the community around this issue

   

Tuesday November 8th, 2011 @ 4:00 pm

Gage Park High School Auditorium

5630 S. Rockwell

Chicago, IL 60629

For more Information, Please Contact Sarah Mesick of the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) at 773-471-8208 x 17

Rebirth of a Nation

*Additional co-sponsor: Organization of Black Students @UChicago

Free & open to the public.

Panel 12:00-1:30

Small group discussions 2:00-3:00

Facilitated by local community-based organizers:

Veronica Morris-Moore, Fearless Leading by the Youth (FLY) / Southside Together Organizer for Power (STOP)
 
J.R. Fleming, Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign/Hip Hop Congress
 
Jamika Smith, Director, National Block Club University (NBCU)
 
Atty. David Kelly, aka Cap D, Hip Hop Artist/Bd. Member of IMAN (Inner-city Muslim Action Network)
 
Dr. Chandra Gill, Motivational Speaker, Author (Champions Break Chains) & CEO of Blackademically Speaking

Aisha Truss-Miller, Affinity Community Services

Teen Volume

Teen Volume Book Discussion 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: 

Mon. November 28, 2011

Time: 

6:00 pm

Location:
West Lawn
4020 W. 63rd Street
60629

Program: 

Teen Volume

About this event:

Join a book discussion for teens at your neighborhood library today!

The book Chains be discussed.

Please be sure to call your local branch library to sign up in advance for each discussion; confirm the dates and times; and reserve a copy of the book to be discussed.

Registration Required