And on the third day...

...after our Great Chicago Blizzard, it looks like this:

The bus stop right outside my building

I got out today, thinking the 'going' would be pretty decent. I couldn't climb over the pile at my bus stop, so I walked south to another, which has a shelter and, thankfully, was cleared of snow. You see, I desperately needed to go the library!

Now some might say, "Hey RPFree, get a kindle, read books electronically! Get with the program, old girl!"

I DO read electronically, but I also prefer to read for an hour or so in bed, before I turn out the lights and while I am doing stetching and back exercises so I won't totally stiffen up overnight.

I figured, after reading Ald. Joe Moore's (Incumbent-49th Ward-20 years 'on the job?') e-mail poofs these past few days, that all would be right on Morse Avenue, and I could freely walk down and do some shopping.

I got a block and a half east of Clark Street, and had to negotiate this, which is a huge task when one uses a cane, as I must:

Their house...notice their porch and steps are shovelled

I finished my shopping, and walked the three blocks east to Sheridan Road, where I could catch the bus back home. On the way, I encountered this EXTREME FORM OF CHICAGOAN LAZINESS:

I actually saw an older (than me) woman, walking toward me with a rolling walker, and stopped to watch if anyone would help her.

No one did, so I and my cane walked back up and helped her get the walker over this stupidity.

She is one of the Russians who live in the neighborhood, and does not speak English well at all, but her shock and disgust were very apparent.

You see, this afternoon was the PURR-fect time to go out and clear snow. It was mostly sunny, about 30 degrees, and the snow was softened enough to push around easily.

But, this being 'Super Bowl Saturday', time must be spent planning for tomorrow's game. Chicagoans, I have found during my 12 years of living here, are like that: very LAZY when it comes to clearing snow. They'd rather wait for all this to melt.

An alleyway, which Ald. Joe Moore previously stated were being taken care of by 'one of his guys'

And this treacherous 10 feet or so

So I got off at the same stop where I embarked upon this mini-sojourn and walked into Leone Park-Beach to take a couple of shots.

The huge ice/snow floes are both way out on the lake AND at the snow-filled shoreline

So here I am, back home. I opened a few windows to allow for some fresh are, and sit pondering:

Is Chicago Transit Authority responsible for clearing their bus stops OR does the CTA take the Blanche duBois approach--'depending upon the kindness of strangers'?

The Repeater: How to make grocery shopping unappetizing

I took this shot at my local Dominick's on Monday.

Needless to say, I am somewhat appalled.

Why is it called "Repeater"?

Why is a mouse trap out in the open?

This particular Dominick's is not very well-managed.

Way back, a thousand years ago (I was sixteen), my oldest brother was Personnel Manager for National Tea....a grocery store very big in Milwaukee at that time. Mouse traps were hidden from the consumer, because, as he said, "We want them to shop here."

If this Dominick's had any competition anywhere near the Ald. Joe Moore (Chicago-49th Ward) sanctioned Gateway Centre (a strip mall with at least 50% NON-occupancy after almost ten years), maybe they would perk up.

But NO...they are a complacent entity, as is Ald. Joe Moore.

Stripped!

Just opposite 1217 W. Chase Avenue is a circular 'focal point' for the turn-around (Chase ends at the Lake Michigan Shore) which is populated by a large Scotch Pine, which attracts wildlife.

One of the neighbors planted sunflowers there this year, and as you see, they are stripped! I believe they were planted for the birds, who must have had some hearty chowdowns this autumn!

The question I have, however, is how much asbestos dust did the poor birds and the many squirrels in this area ingest along with the seeds since greedy Swanette Triem began building her parking lot on the asbestos-ridden remains of the North Shore School?

(See previous post: "Swanette's Lot: Above the Law?")

Swanette's Lot: Above the Law?

Swanette Triem is up to her old tricks--again!

Work has been going on at the former site of the North Shore School, 1217 W. Chase Avenue here in Rogers Park. Matter of fact, the site is about one -half block east on my building.

There is no, I repeat: NO posted permit (as required by law) for the construction of this parking lot!

When she "bought" the demolition of NSS with campaign monies given to 49th Ward Alderschmuck, Joe "always on the take" Moore back in early March 2008, that demolition was halted by IEPA due to asbestos contamination of the grounds.

But dear, greedy Swanette had her crews come in on the weekends. NO precautions were taken to prevent asbestos from blowing all over the entire neighborhood.

As of Thursday, 22OCT2010, you can see that the huge shovel has been stirring up what remains of the NSS rubble, permeating the air with asbestos dust again! And why?

Because Swanette's cheezy, cheap-ass demo crew pushed all leftover rubble into the NSS basement! That's how GREEN the PROGRESSIVE thinking is here in the 49th Ward of Chicago!

Swanette's lovely (SARC) building is the one on the left.

As you see, the retaining walls are up, and that pile of crushed stone is at least 9 feet tall.

Soooo, greed is rewarded in the 49th Ward again! I guess PROGRESSIVE Joe Moore considers that a real triumph, huh?

What a couple of DOPES!

Domingo...and my empathy with him

Domingo: no contract renewal at WNO

(And why would he HAVE to renew? He is the utmost of excellence in his field, as was Pavarotti, and as is Jose Carreras!)

Plácido Domingo, the tenor, baritone, conductor, and opera administrator extraordinaire, said Monday that he will not renew his contract as general director of the Washington National Opera when it expires in June, 2011.

His departure is not entirely a surprise -- Domingo has long been thought to be chronically overextended. But it also means that the company is left without a marquee leader, its most recognizable brand, at a time when nearly every detail of the WNO's future is open to question -- most importantly, whether it will remain autonomous or merge with the Kennedy Center.

Domingo, 69, who has been associated with the opera for 14 years, announced his decision via conference call to the WNO board at a meeting Monday morning, speaking from Los Angeles, where he is also general director of the Los Angeles Opera. He is currently singing there in the starring role in the new opera "Il Postino" and conducting "Marriage of Figaro." Last week, he extended his Los Angeles contract, which also expired at the end of the season, for two more years.

Read the rest here.

Then...

...and now.

Placido, we all grow older, and you have made the proper choice. We have the epitome of your voice via digital recordings.

That, in itself, is the grandest memory you could grant us!

*********

Actually, I don't blame Domingo for 'distancing himself from D.C.' at all.

Not news for all of you, butt we are ALL distanced from D.C.--distanced by a pResident, and his entire administration, and gofer Senators and Representatives--yes, distanced by a man whom we don't know much about. Those of you who continue to drink the PURPLE SEIU Obama Kool-aid--like my local alderman, Ald. Joe Moore D-49th-Chicago)--and if you are 0f Spanish heritage, right now you may be cursing Placido. But why?

Look at his name--Domingo--and look where he is.

Are you there...or are you just another "wannabe"?

Do you not understand what it took for this gentleman to become one of the TOP THREE TENORS in the entire world??

I am certain, if through some connections, I could interview Senor Domingo tonight, he would tell me his life story...how difficult it was to vocalize when one chose not to do so; how demeaning it was to be turned down for the part he knew 'was his'!

Hispanics and Latinos:

GROW UP...GROW TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS!

Not...to destroy them...with your so-called "GANGS".

Right here, Right now...and...

This came in, and of course, I have a reply!

Join Us as We Beautify Clark and Howard


Dear Neighbor,

Join the 49th Ward Green Corps, Chicago Gateway Green and Bank of America for a tree and perennial planting event to beautify the little pocket park on the southwest corner of Clark and Howard.

The event takes place TOMORROW, Saturday, September 11th, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

We need volunteers to assist with construction and planting. We especially need a few people with strong backs or tree planting experience.

Also, if you have them, bring work gloves, shovels and trowels, and wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get muddy, as it may rain tomorrow.

The park is controlled by Bank of America and was created ten years ago as part of the redevelopment agreement between the developers of Gateway Center and the City of Chicago.

Two volunteers from my 49th Ward Green Corps--Jane Alexander and Sue Lannin--approached Bank of America recently about upgrading the park with new trees and plants, and the bank readily agreed.

Bank of America is supplying the trees and plants and many of its employees have volunteered to help with the planting, but we need volunteers from the neighborhood, too!

Please lend us a hand even if you can spare only an hour or two. The result will be another beautiful corner in Rogers Park!

See you Saturday!

Sincerely,

Joe Moore

*********

My Reply:

What you should be doing is to hold a Memorial for all those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. As usual, having no cares outside of your 2.25 square miles of the City of Chicago, you seem to deny this day as a memorial to the end of the lives of 2,996 human beings.

They were from everywhere, Joe, even here in Chicago, and you would do yourself a great favor to consider those who died for freedom in the US.

When will you understand? It's not all about money?. It's about life, and living in this awful 49th Ward.

Beautifying Clark and Howard?

Why not beautify Howard and Greenview?

Or Jonquil Terrace and Ashland? These are within your Ward...why not start there, and get rid of the gangs?

After all, it is YOUR turf, isn't it?

When, and if, you, after 19 years, take hold of the 49th Ward, it could really be amazing.

Drop the "Progressive" stance, and simply consider your constituents, and who they are, and what they do to make their living.

How 'progressive' is this, Ald. Joe Moore?

An emergency demolition was called for (probably after his thugs did a little dirty work by toppling a portion of the balustrade connected to the roof of this building, which was once known a 'Wisdom Bridge Theatre', and in long past days, as 'The Limehouse'.

Now, that the building has been demo'd, this is what the upper part of the 1500 W. Howard block looks like.

Nice, isn't it? The alderman of the 49th Ward of Chicago, Joker Joe Moore, who books himself as a 'Progressive, (ACK!) could not give a sh&t that this fence is down, impeding pedestrian traffic on Howard Street.

In fact, Ald. Joe Moore seems to PREFER these tear-downs within Ward 49. He has done so in the past, by sanctioning tear-downs of North Shore School and the Adelphi Theater, in addition to sanctioning the tear-down of the Norshore Theatre in order to build the mainly vacant Gateway Centre, which is situated at the northernmost boundary of his ward (halfway across Howard Street is the City of Evanston, which continues to allow some businesses along Howard Street (their side), which look pretty scurrolous.

Ald. Joe Moore did NOTHING, again, to save some history of Rogers Park, a great of the 49th Ward of Chicago.

He has done NOTHING regarding the fencing, which has fallen across Howard Street. And I am certain, at this point, that his so-called 'Satellite Office' has been made aware of this FAIL.

The 2011 Primary Elections are closer than you think.

Are you going to vote this putz in again? You know he's been a Joker.

Is that what you really want?

Is this the Joker you want representing you--a 'career' politician, a 'money-grabber' and pretty much a yes-man to Mayor Dick'em Daley?

Demon-crats, be very, very careful of what you wish for, and for whom you vote!

Soooo Junior High!

Find the video at www.weaselzippers.us

This must be a "Chicago" thing...my own 49th Ward alderman, Ald. Joe Moore (D-eranged), uses the same gesture to exhibit his displeasure.

I'll leave you tonight to ponder the answer to this question:

Will Barry and Michelle EVER grow up?

Three little words...

What a Shame: Wisdom Bridge Building Collapse

Found this in my Inbox:

Click to enlarge

And another e-mail from Mike Luckenbach at http://www.nhna.blogspot.com/. Check out more shots there.

Click to enlarge

Great shots, Michael!

Seeing as this is the 49th Ward of the City of Chicago, Dick'em Daley, Mare, I have a feeling that the scheduled demolition of this building was "helped along"!

They could have at least saved the facade, but that's not the way Ald. Joe Moore and his scumbag developer friend, Rich Aronson, work at all.

And just where were Wayne Frazier and his buddies this afternoon, hmm?

Oh, and BTW, a sarcastic shout out to Eva McCann and her partners at Wisdom Bridge, who allowed this building to rot away!

And yet another longstanding piece of Rogers Park history disappears....

Rogers Park Floral

'The Bleeding Hearts'

Perhaps these represent the political fervor amongst the voters of Rogers Park?

Oh...will you continue to vote for Ald. Joe Moore, who calls himself 'progressive',
but as we here in the 49th Ward know and understand,
he is soooo REgressive, and holds us all back from our POTENTIAL!?

In Rogers Park today, there is beauty and then?

It's a tiny triangle at the intersection of three rights of way--Rogers Avenue, Birchwood Avenue, and Ashland Avenue in Rogers Park. It probably never had to be there, but, back in 1953, the American Legion Joyce Kilmer Post 780 (which seems to not be situated in Chicago) set this copper plate in this huge boulder to remind American citizens of just what our armed forces have done for us, how they have helped us continue to be free.

Last autumn, the curbing was re-done on this triangle, bulbs were planted, new mulch was placed, and these magnificent Forsythia seem to be new.

During the four springs now that I have lived here in Rogers Park, each time I pass this small memorial, I stop and think of someone I have known who served, and how courageous they were. It does give pause.

Thank you to all those responsible for the renovation--it looks great!

Just a block and a little more to the west lies Ald. Joe Moore's Gateway Centre where, I found today, (Earthy Day) this scenario:

Truly, Spring has come to Rogers Park and the 49th Ward of Chicago!

The tulips and daffodils are in full bloom; the maples and rosebushes have leaves; and the SKANKY, CA-CA BROWN CHRISTMAS WREATH STILL HANGS BETWEEN THE PEELING COLUMNS!

Nice, professional management of the mall, isn't it?

Omen of Christmas Future, OR?

Today is, as all my sources revealed, the tenth of April, 2010.

This is the facade of the Gateway Centre at Howard and Hermitage in Rogers Park.

The mall is also one of Ald. Joe Moore's "jewels of the 49th ward" .

Jewel, schmewel, I say!

They have not removed the Christmas wreath, YET, and those little lights have been burning since mid-December!

OR...perhaps they are keeping it up to demonstrate how next Christmas will be celebrated?

Click on pix to enlarge

Major Rule #1: The evergreen does not remain green when it is cut down or cut and fashioned into decorations!

Major Rule #2: Paint will not stick to concrete unless it is the proper paint for concrete, and has been properly applied during proper drying/curing weather!

What with all the empty storefronts in the Gateway Centre, wouldn't you agree the place is pretty much "Moore's FOLLY" ?

Ald. Joe Moore and my socks

I bought these, in 1990. Good socks, great socks! I bought them in Milwaukee, when I was living there.

Actually, I have another pair, which is green, but the shots of them on my feet today didn't turn out so well.

However...my socks have been around longer than Ald. Joe Moore has held office...and I think that says something important...something more important than he e-mailed me (again!) today.

You see, every time I see this type of e-mail, I think Joe's parents had his ears 'pinned back'.

But they never felt it was important to have that space between his front teeth taken care of.

But, that is just my personal impression of Ald. Joe Moore.

And...never take it lightly.

But he still looks like this to me:

The Great Alder-Joker....he walks, he lies, he creeps us out...doesn't he?

Menu Money well-spent? NOT!

He's trying to make up for trashing the Adelphi Theater, Bill!

BTW: The spelling of the word theater, in this ad, really bothers me.

"THEATRE"--RE--refers exclusively to live stage productions.

And Joe Moore's 'Menu Money' bamboozle AIN'T that!

More Lost Grandeur of Rogers Park

Norshore Theater Auditorium

Looking east on Howard Street from Clark Street, 1955

What was once a source of entertainment for residents of Rogers Park is now part of the parking lot of the heavily-unoccupied Gateway Centre, a project heavily-backed by Ald. Joe Moore.

RIP: Miep Gies

Anne Frank diary guardian Miep Gies dies aged 100


Miep Gies, the last surviving member of the group who helped protect Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis, has died in the Netherlands aged 100.

She and other employees of Anne Frank's father Otto supplied food to the family as they hid in a secret annex above the business premises in Amsterdam.

Anne's diary of their life in hiding, which ended in betrayal, is one of the most famous records of the Holocaust.

Miep Gies died in a nursing home after suffering a fall at Christmas.

*********
If you haven't, read the book. If you already have, you just might want to read it again.

Because WAR still exists!

The time is coming soon...

...in the 49th Ward of Chicago to remember Freaky NuNu. He was killed the evening of 20DEC2008. Anyone remember that? Just across the street from Ald. Joe Moore's so-called sattelie office. Just across the street from the Jarvis L station.

Anybody out there remember that? Mmm...mmm...mmm. I guess the Ald., Joe Moore, forgot, didn't he. But he never acknowledged anything about Freaky (Isiah) anyway, did he?

I won't post his pictures, because they may have incriminated him.

So, how you doin', BOYZ? And where is his child, if one was expected?