Tuesday, March 29, 2022

All Exterior Contractors, First Rate Realty, Mike Riordan State Farm Join Forces to Serve Seniors

 Safety Program for Garfield Ridge and Clearing



 
By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

Several leading businesses serving Garfield Ridge and Clearing have forged a partnership to serve the community’s elderly residents.

All Exterior Contractors, Mike Riordan State Farm Insurance and First Rate Realty—all members of the Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce—are teaming up to offer safety inspections of seniors’ homes, all at no charge.

Starting April 15 and running until May 15, senior citizens who live in the 60638 ZIP code are invited to call the Mike Riordan State Farm office at (773) 586-4448 and schedule a free safety inspection.

In each home inspected, workers will ensure that smoke detectors are in place and working; that clean air filters are properly installed, that railings are in place to help seniors with limited mobility, and that clutter does not block exits or impair a person’s ability to move about safely.

They also will change light bulbs, inspect dryer vents; and if the home has no smoke detectors, workers will install them at no cost.

During inspections, seniors are asked to have a friend, relative or neighbor present in the home.


“This is all about safety,” said Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors. “It’s simply a public service from business owners who care about the neighborhood and its seniors.”

Al Cacciottolo of First Rate Realty added, “This is all at no charge. No one will try to sell you anything. This is just something for our local senior citizens—a bit of a helping hand to help them live in their homes independently, for a long time.”

Mike Riordan agreed.

“As a man who has served our community—including senior citizens—for many years, I understand the importance of feeling safe in your own home,” he said. “This initiative is designed to help seniors do exactly that.”

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Monday, March 28, 2022

"The Concert For Moose" is Coming to the Toasted Chicken, and You're Invited

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

If you grew up in  (or anywhere near) the Clearing neighborhood, you've heard of the Hill family--or at least Hill Hardware, which was located at 6314 S. Central and was founded by George Hill in 1909.

Well, a member of the storied Hill family could use a boost right about now. Tom "Moose" Hill, a great-grandson of George Hill, recently was admitted to a hospital with a broken pelvis and hip, as well as other health concerns.

Moose grew up in Clearing, attending Fleming and Grimes grade schools, and then Hubbard High School.

So to cheer up Moose as he recovers, Moose's son, Ed (of the classic rock cover band Ed Hill & The Unusuals) is planning The Concert For Moose, an all-ages, family-fun gig at Toasted Chicken, 9750 South Roberts Road, Palos Hills, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, April 1. The idea sprang from the creative mind of Ed's wife, Kristy.

You are invited! No cover charge. Just stop by, look into the video camera that will be there, say a few words of encouragement to Moose (the video will be presented to him as a surprise). Then order some great, always fresh chicken (check out their menu at toastedchicken.com.)

And sit back and enjoy (or jump up and dance to) some great live music by a band influenced by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix and others.
Toasted Chicken


If Ed Hill & The Unusuals is a band name that sounds a bit familiar, it should. They're the guys who in May 2020, thwarted the pandemic for a few hours when they climbed atop the roof of Mama Luigi's in Bridgeview and rocked a crowd for three solid hours. Read all about it here.

So on April 1, let's stuff the Chicken for the Moose. See you there?


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Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Group Seeks Volunteers for Motorcycle Run to Honor Fallen Military Heroes

Party set for Rhine VFW Post

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

Volunteers are needed to help honor the memory of fallen members of the military.

The Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run's annual Kick Off Party is set for 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at the Rhine VFW Post 2729, 5858 S. Archer.

Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

Admission is $20 per person. There will be food, raffles, a cash bar and live entertainment by classic rock cover band Rosie and the Riveters.

The annual run will be held on Saturday, June 18--starting at the Grundy County fairgrounds and ending at the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall in Marseilles.

The Wall has been described as a stunning tribute to all U.S. service men and women who have lost their lives in overseas conflicts from 1979 to the present. Each year, names are added to honor the sacrifices of those lost in the year before.

Currently, the Wall holds more than 8,000 names. This year, organizers will add the names of the 13 U.S. Military members who lost their lives in the final, chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The black granite Wall, brainchild of Tony Cutrano and Jerry Kuczera, was built with donated material and labor. It is said to be the first of its kind in the history of the United States to give honor to our fallen by name while a conflict is ongoing. The names on the wall represent fallen U.S. military members from such diverse locations as Panama, Lebanon, the Balkans, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti, USS Cole, USS Stark, terrorist attacks in Italy, Greece, Scotland and the current conflicts in the Middle East.

It was dedicated in June 2004.




The annual run attracts as many as 10,000 motorcyclists—many from states outside Illinois, according to Clearing resident Bob “Cooch” Kuczera, a longtime run organizer and veterans advocate.

“The run itself is quite an event…but then the Wall—it’s awe-inspiring,” Kuczera said. “People come all over the see it, to leave mementos of their loved ones, to make rubbings of the names. It’s really emotional to see and talk with families so grateful that they know that they son or daughter, brother or sister, is not forgotten, that they will be remembered always.”

Volunteers will be matched with their interests and abilities, Kuczera said, often selling run-related merchandise to help raise funds to support the wall, said to be the only war memorial in the U.S. that was erected while a conflict was still underway.

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Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Garfield Ridge Goes Green

Archer Avenue is 'Irish for a day'


By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post

Garfield Ridge has once again gone green--if only for a day--as Archer Avenue was the scene of a merry, festive St. Patrick's Day parade.

The Clear-Ridge Men’s Social Athletic Club (SAC) and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150's parade stepped off at noon Saturday, March 12 at Archer and Oak Park, marched east on Archer to Narragansett and then south to the Kennedy High School parking lot. All under sunny skies, although unseasonably cold temperatures (21 degrees, more than 20 degrees colder than average).

Thanks to the men of the S.A.C., as well as the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and everyone else who helped make the parade a fun, family-focused event.

Proceeds of the parade will benefit the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's Get Behind the Vest Program, which purchases protective vests for Chicago Police officers.

The honorary grand marshal of the parade is the late CPD Officer Ella French, who died a hero's death during a traffic stop near 63rd and Bell in August 2021.

Guests of honor included Officer French's partner, Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., who was shot in the head during the same attack and who is fighting his way back through grueling, months-long rehab work--supported by his family, friends, co-workers and the hopes and prayers of thousands of Chicagoans and others.

Kelly White of the Southwest Chicago Post shot a number of photos of the parade staging area (near Byrne School) as well as the parade itself. Here are the best of the shots she took (along with a few shots by our friends), in no particular order. Enjoy!















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