Thursday, November 21, 2024

Stuffed Love Praises Geno Randazzo for Building Charity Food Pantry on Pulaski

‘A Story of True Kindness’ 

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

This week, the not-for-profit Stuffed Love organization celebrates its 14th anniversary of bringing love and hope to people across the Chicago area.

Playing a key role in that celebration is Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors.

In what Stuffed Love officials called “a story of true kindness that has touched Stuffed Love and our community,” they expressed gratitude to Randazzo.

“When we needed a pantry (at the new Stuffed Love food distribution facility at 5522 S. Pulaski), we put out a call for help,” Stuffed Love founder Sarah Dynia said.
Larry Lazarus, Mark Dynia, Geno Randazzo


“In no time, Geno of All Exterior Contractors responded with open arms. He not only donated his labor, but when our fundraiser faced a hurdle, he generously covered all materials in celebration of Stuffed Love’s anniversary.
 
“This isn’t just community support—it’s family. Thanks to Geno and Larry (AEC's project manager), our pantry is now complete, with the doors going up just yesterday. We are incredibly grateful for their kindness, which has made such a difference for us and the community. Thank you, Geno and Larry, for standing with us!”
Geno Randazzo, Mark Dynia, Larry Lazarus

Randazzo, who for years has built a reputation for helping people and groups in need—especially senior citizens, military veterans and first responders—deflected the praise back on Stuffed Love.

“We were pleased and privileged to do all we can to help, knowing that the new Stuffed Love facility is helping feed literally thousands of hungry men, women and children across the Southwest Side,” Randazzo said. “Knowing that people—especially children—won’t have to go to bed hungry is all the thanks we need.”

Background

Sarah Dynia's journey with Stuffed Love began in November 2010 during her eighth-grade year at St. Linus School in Oak Lawn. Driven by a desire to make a difference, Sarah embarked on a mission to spread love and comfort to those in need. Sarah launched Stuffed Love with a simple yet powerful goal: to create hand-stitched stuffed animals as symbols of care and compassion.


She distributed the hand sewn, stuffed pillows to veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and the homeless, as well as children in hospitals.

Stuffed Love later began feeding the hungry and today operates its community food pantry on property that UI Health allows them to use.

To learn more, follow Stuffed Love on Facebook.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Quinn Taking Action to Shut Down Former Halina's Pub Permanently

Calls Sale of Archer Avenue Bar 'Underhanded'

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

The bar that for years has been known as Halina's Pub is shut down and will stay that way for the indefinite future, 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn told a packed hall of Garfield Ridge residents on Tuesday night.
Quinn speaks on Tuesday night.

The alderman's announcement was made at the November meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch/CAPS Beat 811, held at Ward Hall, 52nd and McVicker. More than 200 people attended, at least five times what a normal GRNW/CAPS Beat 811 meeting might attract.

The shutdown comes in the wake of a triple shooting that occurred outside the bar, 7023 W. Archer, just minutes before 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15.

Police said that two men--ages 27 and 31--one of them armed, approached a 28-year-old man (also armed) employed by the bar as a bouncer. An argument ensued between the bouncer and other other two, and there was an exchange of gunfire, police said.

All three men were shot and transported by CFD to the Loyola University Medical Center. The 27-year-old was hit multiple times in the body and was pronounced dead. The 31-year-old was shot in the leg and was listed in fair condition. The 28-year-old employee was shot the torso and was listed in critical condition.

The man slain was identified as Jonathan Joshua Pina, of the 2700 block of West 38th Street.
Pina in 2020.


According to public records, Pina was arrested by CPD in September 2020 near 38th and Rockwell and charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

The shooting occurred on the new bar's grand opening night, which came 11 days after Halina Korniejczuk, the longtime owner/operator of Halina's, retired.

Several days before the shooting, the new owners put a large vinyl banner over the Halina's sign. In Spanish, it welcomed everyone to the new bar.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, GRNW Secretary and co-founder Michele Doherty saw the sign and called Quinn, alerting him to the presence of a new bar.
Crime-scene tape cordons off the bar.

Quinn said he took quick action to notify the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and request that they investigate. In fact, Quinn said at Tuesday night's meeting, two BACP inspectors were inside the bar when the shooting took place outside.

Quinn said he was not immediately aware of the inspectors' findings, and Mayor Brandon Johnson's office declined to respond to a SWCP request for the results of the inspection.

Businesses with liquor licenses tend to be closely scrutinized in the 13th Ward. In fact, Quinn often notes that there is a standing moratorium on new liquor licenses in his ward--and that existing liquor licenses do not automatically transfer when a business is sold.

The alderman said he was caught unaware of the new bar and that its owners had not alerted him, the GRNW, the Midway Chamber of Commerce or Chicago Lawn (8th) District Commander Bryan Spreyne, who was at Tuesday night's meeting.

Quinn said one action he is taking is to change the bar's zoning to a single-family/residential designation, which would prevent any business activity from taking place. The re-designation is subject to City Council approval, but such maneuvers are routinely OKed.

To bolster his argument, he is asking Garfield Ridge residents to sign a petition asking for the zoning change. The large majority of people in Ward Hall signed on Tuesday night. Those who have not yet signed may do so at either of Quinn's offices in the ward: 6014 S. Central, 773-581-1313, or 6500 S. Pulaski, 773-581-8000.

A Southwest Chicago Post message to the bar's unnamed owners went unanswered Tuesday night; but earlier they posted a denial of wrongdoing on social media.

"The incident occurred with unknown individuals," they
The new bar's denial of wrongdoing.
 asserted. "The incident did not occur inside the establishment, our customers were not involved, we are not involved with gang violence, and most importantly the owners had nothing to do with the tragedy. It was out of our control. We want to assure everyone that these types of accidents happen everywhere at anytime, especially at bar businesses. Gun violence is out of control throughout the whole city. Unfortunately, we cannot prevent it.

"We want to make this establishment a welcoming and safe environment for all customers! We send our prayers and condolences. Thank you!"

Also Tuesday night, Quinn characterized the sale of the pub as an "underhanded deal" that was "an attempt to illegally transfer a liquor license around the moratorium."

Korniejczuk was not at Tuesday night's meeting, but a woman who said she had tended bar at Halina's claimed that Korniejczuk paid close attention to ensuring that the sale of the bar was all done legally.

Spreyne said CPD's investigation is ongoing and therefore declined to say whether anyone has yet to be charged in the shootings. He did say that two guns were recovered from the scene.

Video of Tuesday night's meeting is available from the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch at this link: https://fb.watch/vZhEP23kpj/

"Tragic as the shooting was, this situation shows the importance of having our police and elected officials work hand-in-hand with the people who live here," GRNW President Al Cacciottolo said. "As we have so many times over the years, the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch served as the community's eyes and ears to alert the right officials about a potential problem, then we rallied the neighborhood to turn out for the largest CAPS meeting in years. We're going to stay on top of this situation, and we urge everyone to join us and do the same."




  

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Monday, November 18, 2024

Can a Man Beat the Odds and Win the Illinois Lottery? 'Tommy Lotto' Says Yes

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

Every week across the U.S., someone somewhere hits a lottery prize of significance.

But it’s not every week when a prize winner claims that his winnings are the result of his ability to beat the system.

And it’s almost never when a winner offers to share that “beat the system” formula.

But then there’s Tom McGill.

The Garfield Ridge resident has been playing lottery games since the 1980s.

McGill (aka Tommy Lotto) is one of three men who, as a team, recently won $1.4 million on an Illinois Lottery Lucky Day Lotto ticket.
"Tommy Lotto" McGill (center) and his winning crew.


He was given the nickname “Tommy Lotto” when he hit his first lottery jackpot of $1.2 million, by Garfield Ridge Rapper "Special K" aka Johnny Karalow (RIP).

McGill bought the jackpot-winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket for the Monday, Nov. 4 midday drawing at the Mobil gas station at 5448 W. 55th Street.

“After realizing the big win, I went back to the Mobil where I purchased the ticket and shared the exciting news with the clerk, Teresa. I’ve lived in the area for a long time, so we know each other at this point,” McGill said. “I swear the color drained from her face when I told her the news because she was so shocked. Then she burst out laughing and was so happy for me!”

The winning numbers were 13-15-22-29-40.

“We have a group of friends, and we occasionally pool our money and go in on a lottery ticket when the jackpots are big,” McGill added.

The other two men, not identified by name by Illinois Lottery officials, said in a statement, “When Tommy called and said we won, we thought he was kidding. Then he read off the numbers. Our families and neighbors are thrilled for us!”

McGill said, “Now, I can help pay for more of my daughter’s upcoming wedding.”

For selling the winning ticket, the Mobil station will receive a 1% bonus of the prize amount, or $14,000. This isn’t the first time the retailer has sold a big winning lottery ticket. Earlier this year, a $450,000 winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket was purchased at the same Mobil.

McGill said his recent win marks the third time over the years that he has hit a lottery jackpot.

He is a student of Smart Luck Inc., a company founded by Gail Howard, a famous number-cruncher who claimed to be able to use mathematical probability analyses to increase a person’s chances of winning games of chance. Howard founded Smart Luck in 1982 and ran it until her death at age 80 in 2015.

McGill said he plans to reveal the secrets of some of his numbers-based strategies at an exclusive seminar in the near future. Those interested may follow his Tommy Lotto Facebook page and website for details.

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