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Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen Week of Dec. 8, 2021

| Vol. 5 | No. 18 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaks at a news conference Friday, unveiling that a task force overseen by his office seized millions of dollars of stolen goods this week in its “first major bust” aimed at addressing “organized retail crime.” Credit: Blueroomstream.com

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STOLEN GOODS RECOVERED IN ‘ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME’ BUST, AG SAYS

An unrelated arrest by the Chicago Police Department on Sunday led to a state task force this week seizing millions of dollars’ worth of goods stolen from retailers in what Attorney General Kwame Raoul described as an organized retail crime operation. PAGE 2

1health Streamlines Rapid Test Results for Healthcare Providers and Employers

FASHION: Kendra Scott Partners with Jennifer Hudson to Give $100,000 In Twelve Days

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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

NEWS

Millions of dollars of stolen goods recovered in ‘organized retail crime’ bust, AG says ‘First major bust’ of statewide task force came after man arrested on gun charge Continued from page 1 BY JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD – An unrelated arrest by the Chicago Police Department on Sunday led to a state task force this week seizing millions of dollars’ worth of goods stolen from retailers in what Attorney General Kwame Raoul described as an organized retail crime operation. Raoul announced the raid in a news conference Friday, calling it the “first major bust” resulting from the work of the Organized Retail Crime Task Force overseen by his office. That statewide public-private collaboration includes retailers, online marketplaces, law enforcement agencies and state’s attorneys. “The task force brings together law enforcement from federal, state and local agencies, retailers, online marketplaces, to share information and resources to identify and prosecute criminal enterprises frequently behind these well-organized schemes that can sometimes

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be mistaken for isolated incidents of retail theft,” he said. The task force seized four semi-truckloads of goods found after a search warrant was served on eight storage units at two separate locations. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said the bust announced Friday started with a beat officer who made an unrelated arrest on a gun charge. That suspect was charged with a crime, but the retail theft investigation is ongoing, he said. “So I really want to compliment everybody who’s standing behind me but also a beat officer who made an arrest and said, ‘Hey, there’s some something wrong here. There’s something different, you know, this guy’s got some stolen items in his car,’” Deenihan said. “Then we get our retail crime team involved. And then the communication really starts with the attorney general’s office, and we’re able to recover these items before they go missing.” While Raoul said a complete inventory was ongoing, the task force seized tens of thousands of items, including apparel, beauty products, furniture, food items and electronics from multiple nationwide retailers. Raoul said they’re worth millions of dollars. It took a team of 15 AG investigators and law enforcement officers nine hours to unpack all of the items that were recovered, Raoul said. The task force was launched in response to smash-and-grab incidents and other retail crimes in which several individuals clear out retail merchandise from stores in a matter of minutes. Downtown Chicago has seen several such incidents, including at luxury handbag retailers and other high-end stores. But Raoul said it’s a nationwide problem. “This is something that’s evolving for law enforcement nationally,” he said. “I’ve spoken to (AG) colleagues in California … and in Michigan and they’re sort of following our lead and establishing similar task forces within their state. So this is evolving, the way that law enforcement is being pulled together to collaborate and share information, because we can’t do it alone.”

Stolen retail goods are pictured in a storage unit at an unspecified location before being seized by the state attorney general’s office. Source: Illinois Attorney General’s Office

Raoul also said the schemes are more sophisticated than the smash-and-grab videos that circulate online. For example, the loot uncovered this week appeared to have been stolen “at different points along the supply chain,” he said. “There’s a well-organized secondary market,” he said. “Our goal is to disrupt the criminal enterprises that engage in the overall scheme and send a message to these criminal operations that we will identify them and the destruction they cause to our communities.” Raoul said that often the people seen on videos committing retail theft are not the “kingpins” behind the organized effort. “Frequently, the criminal enterprises behind these crimes are connected to other crimes, such as the drug trade and human trafficking,” he said. Raoul said the “brazen” acts his office is investigating differ from someone “trying to inconspicuously www.citizennewspapergroup.com

put something in their purse.” In response to a question about prosecuting retail crime, Raoul said a bust like the one announced Friday does not “lend itself ” to the type of debate as to whether a smaller retail theft would be punished as a misdemeanor or felony. “These are very brazen acts where, quite frankly, any prosecutor that knows the Illinois Compiled Statutes can find plenty of charges to levy against these criminal actors,” he said. The Friday bust was proof of a level of organization that investigators did not have previously, he said. Deenihan said the retail theft operations were done by criminal networks, “and gangs are involved.” “The goal is to start looking at these as long-term complex investigations to make the community feel safer, the retailers feel safer, and this team has done a lot of work to do that,” he said. The bust drew praise from the Il-

linois Retail Merchants Association. “This seizure is about more than recovering lost goods, it’s about protecting our communities and sending a strong message that these crimes will not be tolerated,” IRMA President and CEO Rob Karr said in a news release. “By working together, we can better understand how these perpetrators operate and work to dismantle these criminal rings that steal tens of billions of dollars a year, using profits from thefts to fund other illicit activities such as illegal firearms purchases, while also depriving local governments of sales taxes needed to fund important services we all rely upon.” Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

NEWS

South Suburban Businesses Rally Around a Greek Organization to Raise Money for Student Scholarships Richton Park , IL November 9th) -Richton Park Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi will host the first Kasino and Kicks, a Sneaker Ball and Casino Style fundraiser event for college scholarships and educational programs Saturday December 11th from 7pm until midnight at Holiday Inn Midway, 7353 S. Cicero, Chicago, IL 60629. This fundraiser event is one of many events that the organization hosts throughout the year to raise money for graduating high school seniors in the south Suburban communities surrounding Richton Park in the form of scholarships for their distinguished educational programs such as the Guide Right and Kappa League Programs, Guide Right provides awareness, education, and exposure to professions, career options, and offer scholarship support for talented students of low-income families. The Kappa League Programs is a career-development program for male students in grades 6th-12th. When local businesses and big corporations found out the organization was organizing the fundraiser, they started donating to the event for their free raffle in order to get more attendees. People from the community support these businesses so it is only natural that the businesses contribute and support the same people that support their business, especially for a great cause. When attendees of the event purchase a ticket, they will automatically be entered into the raffle.

Donating to the event are Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce providing round trip tickets from Southwest, Red Wood Grill gift certificates, Holiday Inn and Hilton & McCormick with an overnight stay, Marc Nolan with a pair of shoes of guest choice, bulls tickets and 32 inch television. Tesla will have an exciting exclusive demonstration for attendees as well as win a Tesla for the weekend. For more information on the event https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/rpacsneakerball Richton Park Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc is a medium size chapter with members who are passionate about giving back to the local community. They believe that they owe the next generation support that will help them follow their dreams and to help them know the importance of giving back. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is a historically African American fraternity. Since the fraternity’s founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never restricted membership on the basis of color, creed or national origin. The fraternity has over 160,000 members with 721 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States, and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Japan, United States Virgin Islands, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, Bermuda and The Bahamas.

University of Illinois creates partnership with Chicago area High Schools A new digital television network is launching in the Windy City. The Chicago Arts and Athletics Network (CAAN) powered by the University of Illinois will highlight the talents of students on and off the field at various High Schools in Chicago and the suburbs. The Chicago Arts & Athletics Network is available online at www. chicagoartsathleticsnetwork.com, along with streaming applications for television and mobile devices, including Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku (TV), iOS and Android (mobile). This educational-based program empowers students to put on headsets and get in front of - or behind - the camera to gain valuable experience in producing live broadcasts. Many schools in the area, have added broadcast journalism or digital media courses to their curriculum or have created student-run broadcast clubs to broadcast sporting events, activities,

band concerts, theater productions, and even proms, homecoming dances, and graduations. Thanks to a partnership with the University of Illinois, schools have received streaming equipment including laptops, cameras, audio mixers, headsets, and software to broadcast events. “We are very excited to be a part of the launch of CAAN,” said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones. “This program is going to put the power of information and media in the hands of the students today who will be the ones using those same tools to shape the world around them in their lives and careers that follow. We’re very proud to be able to offer this trajectory-changing opportunity to Chicagoland families and students.” This program was conceived by MVP Sports Marketing, who saw an opportunity for schools to market and promote their remarkable stories and successes. “In this digital age, it’s important that schools cap-

ture the best moments of the year. We’re proud to collaborate with the University of Illinois and our high school partners to create a program that not only is student-led but will positively impact Chicago area families and students,” said Brian Miller, Founder and CEO of MVP Sports Marketing. All events on this network are free to view and will keep parents, long distance family members and alumni connected. Not only will students receive more exposure, but schools will now have a digital archive of each school year. “We’re extremely excited about the network! It will not only allow us to showcase our students to a broader audience, but it also allows our school community and families to support them [students] from afar. We’re just as excited about the programming opportunities this provides our students. They get to learn new skills in a very exciting and ever-emerging media field,” said Tiray Jackson, Director of Athletics at Perspectives Charter Schools. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Partner Schools include: Bolingbrook High School Bulls College Prep Academy Butler College Prep Academy Chicago Tech Academy Crete Monee High School Evergreen Park High School Gary Comer College Prep Holy Trinity High School Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy Intrinsic – Belmont Campus Intrinsic – Downtown Campus Johnson College Prep Larkin High School Maine South High School Metea Valley High School Mundelein High School North Lawndale College Prep Perspectives – Joslin Perspectives – Leadership Perspectives – Math & Science Perspectives – Tech Proviso East High School Proviso West High School Proviso STEM Academy Rich Township High School

Romeoville High School Thornton Fractional North Thornton Fractional South Urban Prep – Englewood Urban Prep – Bronzeville MVP Sports Marketing is an innovative leader in the creation and development of digital tv networks. The company is founded in Lexington, KY and focuses on live streaming, sponsorships sales, digital marketing and merchandising. Home of Fighting Illini Athletics, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the state’s flagship public university and the largest provider of undergraduate educational opportunities to Illinois residents. Since 1867 Illinois has been the home of new innovations, inspirations and discoveries that change the way the world lives and works. For more information, check out www.chicagoartsathleticsnetwork. com to learn about the different apps and member portals that are available.

4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

TRAVEL

QINGDAO: A CITY WITH YOUTHFUL VIGOR QINGDAO, China PRNewswire -- Qingdao is located at the southern end of the Shandong Peninsular. It is an open coastal city with humanistic charm and advanced natural endowment in northern China. As a famous historical and cultural city in China, Qingdao is also an international port city. It has a land area of 11,000 square kilometers and a sea area of 12,000 square meters. There are seven districts and three county-level cities under its jurisdiction with a permanent resident population of 10.106 million. It is neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer, making it a famous resort for summer. It won China Human Settlements and Environment Award and the honor of “2019 Most Ecological and Competitive City in China.” Qingdao has successfully hosted a series of important conferences and exhibitions such as 2008 Olympic Sailing Game, 2014 World Horticultural Exposition, Global Health Forum of Bo’ao Forum for Asia, Qingdao Multinationals Summit, Global (Qingdao) Venture Capital Conference, 2020 Qingdao LandSea Linkage Seminar, Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum Summer Summit, Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit Qingdao Forum, and World Industrial Internet

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Conference. The successful host of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit in 2018 won high praise from distinguished guests of participating countries. Qingdao is also a renowned football city, movie and television city, fashion city and the capital of sailing boat. It has

also won a series of honorable titles such as “National Civilized City,” “National Hygienic City,” “Top 10 Cities of Wonderful Life in China,” and “2020 China’s Happiest City.” Qingdao is a major node city for the New Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor and

Maritime Cooperation. It boasts the unique value of “dual nodes” in building new development layout. Dedicated to the building of “Belt and Road” Initiative International Cooperation Platform, Qingdao performs the mission of building China-Shanghai Cooperation Organiza-

tion Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone, Shandong (Qingdao) Free Trade Pilot Zone. The city owns many national function zones including the Western Coast New Zone, Qingdao Blue Silicon Valley, High and New District and Jiaodong Airport Economic Demonstration Zone and cultivates famous brand enterprises of Haier, Hisense, Tsingtao Beer and CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. and the unicorn enterprises of Genova, Ririshun Logistics, Juhaokan, Wedon Education, Qingdao Caos, Qingdao TELD, and Newlink Group. Qingdao has tremendous strength in maritime scientific research. It sets up many national innovation platforms such as Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), National Deep Sea Center and National Innovation Center of High Speed Train. In the first three quarters of 2021, Qingdao realized an import and export value of 622.59 billion yuan, up 36.6 percent compared with the corresponding period last year. Next, the city will carry out new development concept and accelerate the pace of building itself into a modern international metropolis with more vitality, strength and unique charm.

The St. Regis Macao Celebrates Festive Season with Distinctive Dining Experiences MACAO PRNewswire -- The St. Regis Macao is celebrating the festive season with a range of exquisite dining experiences at The Manor and The St. Regis Bar this month. The Manor Just in time for the year end festivities, The Manor welcomed Janet Yuen as its new Restaurant Manager. A Hong Kong native, Janet brings with her 14 years of fine dining restaurant experience including key roles in Michelin-starred restaurants. Together with Executive Sous Chef Michele Dell’Aquila and Sommelier David Duan, they form the dream team trio at The Manor. Let the festivities begin with a five-course gourmet lunch on December 24 to 26 featuring Foie Gras Terrine, French Turbot and Pandoro White Chocolate Mousse, priced at MOP588+ per person and additional MOP188+ or MOP388+ per person for a freeflow sparkling or Champagne package. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, The Manor will offer a six-course festive set dinner featuring Brittany Scampi, Artichoke Fagottelli with Red Prawns, Rhug Estate Pheasant and

Panettone paired with Valrhona Dulcey Chocolate and Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream, priced at MOP988+ per person and MOP1,688+ per person with wine pairing. To celebrate the arrival of 2022, The Manor will present a six-course New Year’s Eve dinner featuring Ōra King Salmon and Sea Urchin, Britany Lobster, Saffron Risotto, Seabass and Langoustine, Smoked Pigeon, Japanese Akaushi Beef and Five Chocolate Variation and Gold. Guests are also welcome to choose from a selection of exquisite wines to complement their dishes. The six-course set dinner is priced at MOP1,288+ per person and MOP2,188+ per person with wine pairing. For those who wish to celebrate the festive season at home, the culinary team at The Manor has prepared exceptional take-home delights including the Roasted Whole Turkey Ballotine stuffed with Wild Mushrooms and Foie Gras, 9kg Pomegranate Glazed Bone-in Gammon Ham Set and festive log cake. The St. Regis Bar For rum and chocolate lovers, The St. Regis Bar will be presenting the Xocolate X Rum

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experience where guests can enjoy a set of four different unique rums with chocolates and rum cocktails from December 1 to 31. The Rum Flight, including four Rums and up to eight pieces of chocolate, is priced at MOP488+ while the pure Chocolate Table Experience and Rum cocktail priced at MOP98+ and MOP138+, respectively. To farewell 2021, guests are invited to count down to 2022 in the style of The Great Gatsby at The St. Regis Bar. Millionaire Jay will be hosting the event throughout the evening with unparalleled performances

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by resident artiste Aaron Lo, Rita Portela, Jandira and friends to countdown to the new year. Entrance fee at MOP 588+ per person including one glass of Champagne and a lucky draw ticket. Guests can order gourmet fare including Calvisius Beluga Caviar, Alaskan King Crab, Blackmore Wagyu Beef Tartar and much more to celebrate the New Year at the best address. For more information about The Manor, visit www.themanormacao.com. For reservation, call +853 8113 1300 or send email to diningreservations.macao@stregis.com.

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FASHION Kendra Scott Partners with Jennifer Hudson to Give $100,000 In Twelve Days AUSTIN, Texas PRNewswire -- National jewelry retailer Kendra Scott commits to giving back $100,000 as part of their holiday campaign, “The Giving Gives On.” As a brand with philanthropy within its DNA, Kendra Scott knows that the best gifts are the ones that give back to create good in the world. To launch The Giving Gives On campaign, Kendra Scott partnered with Jennifer Hudson, the Grammy-winning singer and Academy Award-winning actress to create good this season. Aligning with the brand’s Shop For Good initiative, between now and Sunday, Dec. 12, Kendra Scott will donate 20% of the purchase price of the Madelyn Gold Statement Earrings In Multi Mix – selected by Hudson herself – to the Julian D. King Gift Foundation of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Additional celebrities and brand friends will be involved throughout The Giving Gives On campaign to support efforts that enable organizations to help women and youth live their brightest, healthiest, and most empowered lives this season. This holiday season, Kendra Scott is partnering with local communities and organizations by hosting Kendra Gives Back Events with a commitment to raise $50,000 for charitable causes with a donation match of $50,000 from the brand. Now through December 12, Kendra Scott is turning the 12 days of Christmas into 12 days of The Giving Gives On. The brand will be hosting local Kendra Gives Back Events between December 1-12 throughout the 110+ Kendra Scott retail locations nationwide to raise funds for long-standing non-profit partners

and local community initiatives. Kendra Scott also launched a national holiday video campaign, cast with families and individuals who have directly benefited from the brand’s giveback initiatives, highlighting real-life examples of how every Kendra Scott gift has wider impact for good. “As someone who loves giving gifts, I believe the best gifts are the ones that serve a greater good - which is exactly what our jewelry does”, says Kendra Scott. “We create beautiful jewelry that brings joy while giving back. I’ve seen directly how our jewelry gives on, and in the spirit of the holidays, wanted to serve even more communities this year.” Raised and donated proceeds will benefit many giveback partners and specifically organizations such as The Jed Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and Inheritance of Hope. Kendra Scott is a leading fashion accessories brand inspired by the personal experiences, travel and sense of community of its founder and designer, Kendra Scott. With over 2,000 employees, Kendra Scott has over 100 standalone stores across the US and is sold in premiere retailers including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and 600 specialty boutiques worldwide and boasts a thriving web business. Kendra Scott is known for its kaleidoscope of beautiful accessories as well as the innovative and customizable Color Bar™ experience. As the brand continues to grow, the company remains true to its founding philosophy of “Family, Fashion, Philanthropy” and since 2010, the company has given back well over $40 million to local, national and international causes. For more information, please visit www.kendrascott.com/gifting-gives-on.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

FASHION

Hair Extensions Brand Makes U.S. Debut with Teyana Taylor ATLANTA PRNewswire -- Darling, the number one hair extensions brand out of Africa focused on textured hair needs of Black women, announced their U.S. market launch and debut partnership with music sensation, Teyana Taylor. Darling specializes in the elevation of beauty and illumination of confidence, helping women to own their power with the reassurance of great hair. The latest brand under the Godrej North America umbrella, the brand’s U.S. launch today also unveiled its partnership with multi-hyphenate artist, Teyana Taylor, a recognized actress, dancer, choreographer, director, model and singer-songwriter. Together with Taylor, who is currently embarking on her farewell tour, “The Last Rose Petal,” the brand will push forward their shared mission of encouraging women to step into their power. “Teyana Taylor is a confident and powerful woman who encourages others to follow their own paths and embrace their unique styles – we could not have chosen a better ambassador to amplify the attitude and spirit of Darling,” said Kendria Strong, Executive Vice President and Head of Marketing and Innovation of Godrej North America. “We are so thrilled to work with Teyana and are excited for her to showcase the brand during her Last Rose Petal tour. As an artist, mother, and innovator, she embodies the multifaceted nature of women who want it all and creates her future with ingenuity and style.” “Our Darling consumers would also have a chance to win a VIP experience to the tour in multiple locations by visiting darlinghair.com,” said Henry Esiaba, Senior Marketing Manager for Darling. As part of the partnership, Taylor will serve as a face of the brand’s wide variety of styles on her farewell tour – from braids, to faux locs, to ponytails – and display the power and confidence of what it means to be a Darling woman. Together, Darling and Taylor will create gorgeous content of the extensions in action that will be played at the beginning of every tour stop this fall, conduct surprise and delight moments to introduce the brand to consumers firsthand, execute a two-day pop-up experience in Atlanta, GA with styling and mentorship sessions, and much more. “As a woman with natural hair, I fell in love with

textured hair extensions like locs, braids and twists because it fits into my everyday lifestyle,” said Taylor about the exciting partnership. As a woman on the go, it’s important to know that you’re partnering with a brand that not only gives you great style selections but keeps your hair healthy doing protective styling. Darling offers textures that blend perfectly and resemble natural hair, reassuring you that you are going to look your best and feel your best without having to alter who you are naturally. “As a brand ambassador, I’m excited to rock a variety of styles and help empower women everywhere to know that they have IT.” Darling will provide product insight and step-by-steps on how to recreate Taylor’s looks alongside expert insight from hairstylist ambassador and celebrity braider, Xia Charles. The content will live on social media and showcase how Darling empowers the wearer to be her boldest self by inspiring Black women who wear protective styles with superior extensions. Darling’s naturally textured extensions are made with premium quality synthetic fibers that are PRNewsFoto tangle-free, easy to manage and soft to the touch. Available in a range of colors and categories including crochets, braids, ponytails, and locs, Darling’s premium textured fibers blend seamlessly with natural and straightened hair. All Darling product is available for purchase beginning today at Amazon.com and darlinghair.com and will be expanding to additional retailers in 2022. Darling is the number one hair extensions brand in Africa that is now available for purchase in the United States. Each Darling style is designed to showcase the simplicity, sexiness, and versatility of protective styling. The brand’s mission is to provide superior ultra-blendable extensions, delivering texture that inspires black women with protective styles to own their power and be their boldest selves. The extensions, available in braids, locs, crochets and ponytails, resemble and perform like healthy, natural textured hair. Darling extensions are available for purchase online at Amazon.com and in-store at Walmart with additional retailers coming in 2022. Learn more online: @officialdarlingusa #DarlingIHaveIt.

Rochelle Porter Design Unveils Vibrant New Prints And Products ATLANTA PRNewswire -- Today Rochelle Porter Design (RPD) released four new colorful, Caribbean-inspired prints for its stylish premium line of apparel, home décor, and accessories – ‘Kobo Black’, ‘It’s A Colorful Whirled, ‘Stay Warm’ and ‘Midnight Jacaranda’. The sustainable lifestyle brand has also added menswear and unisex sweatshirts and hoodies to its athleisure collection for the first time, and has launched limited-edition gift wrap available now through the end of November in partnership with ComfiArt. “After almost two years of living in a pandemic, I wanted to give

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customers bold unique motifs that are cheerful, bright, and full of hope this holiday season,” says brand

founder and designer Rochelle Porter. “Customers can also feel good about spending their dollar with a www.citizennewspapergroup.com

business that is committed to ethical manufacturing and sustainability from concept to customer.” Porter launched RPD in 2018 with the purpose of evoking joy and happiness through design, while demonstrating that style and sustainability can be compatible. Inspired by her Guyanese roots, Porter personally hand designs all the patterns, which are printed on demand with sustainably sourced materials and eco-friendly dyes to eliminate waste and promote a clean supply chain. Rochelle Porter Design is a lifestyle brand that brings bursts of joy to the everyday. RPD’s home

décor, accessories, and activewear feature vibrant prints derived from the founder’s original artwork and colorful Caribbean roots. Her travel-inspired patterns feature classic motifs with a modern twist. True to its tagline, “Design for abundant living,” RPD believes everyone along its value chain should live well. The company prioritizes fair pay, ethical manufacturing, and the use of sustainable materials. RPD has collaborated with West Elm, and has been featured on The Today Show, Oprah Daily, and Southern Living. To learn more and shop the brand, visit www.rochelleporter.com.

6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

NEWS

Habilitative Systems, Inc.’s First “Race and Health Equity Awards” Recognizes Healthcare and Community Leaders’ Contributions Making Inroads to Equal Access and Eliminating Disparity in Quality Healthcare CHICAGO (Dec. 2, 2021) – Habilitative Systems, Inc., will recognize outstanding individuals Dec. 9 for their work and contributions in tearing down the barriers to equal access and quality healthcare at the HSI Board of Directors’ inaugural “Race and Health Equity Awards” reception. The event will honor healthcare executives and community leaders who are committed to eliminating inequities within the African-American community. The awards presentation will take place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Union Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. The event is free; register at https://bit.ly/3rs7y2Q. “Continued support as a corporate sponsor for this event will help sustain the vital services provided

to those most impacted by race and health inequities and create pathways to healthcare careers by supporting Community Health Worker (CHW) students,” said Cynthia Washington, Chair, Fundraising Committee. “We are looking forward to the professional networking, appetizers, cocktails and learning more about what can be done to narrow the healthcare gap.”

in Chicago and the suburbs, and President and CEO of St. Joseph Joliet Medical Center. • Kimberly E. McCulloughStarks, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and an experienced executive in legislative initiatives, policy development, regulatory reform, human resource management, budget, procurement, and diversity & inclusion programs. • Helen Davis Gardner, M.D., Medical Director of Behavioral Health for Government Programs for HCSC and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Loyola University. To ensure safe practices during the pandemic, guests are requested to provide evidence of vaccination and masks will be optional. For more information, please visit

Individuals who will be honored are: • Donna Thompson, the CEO of ACCESS since 2004, who has been on the front lines of patient care delivery for more than 35 years. • Herbert C. Buchanan, Jr., Regional Operating Officer for AMITA Health, a 15-hospital system

#BlackIsBrilliant Connecting Black Jewelry Designers With Top Celebrity Stylists. We all know that Black talent — actors, directors, screenwriters — have been historically under-represented on the red carpet. What gets less attention is that those who adorn A-listers on star-studded nights tend to be giant luxury brands, not independent designers, including Black fashion and jewelry designers. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a new focus on celebrating and promoting Black creative talent. In the jewelry world, the De Beers Group created an initiative to ensure Black jewelry designers had a chance to have their work seen on red carpets around the world. Their #BlackIsBrilliant program pairs Black jewelry designers, including Matthew Harris of Mateo and Jameel Mohammed of Khiry, with some of the most famed stylists working today to create bespoke jewels for today’s stars, in the hopes that deserving creative work begins to get an equal spotlight in every realm of creative talent. Using natural diamonds from Botswana, a country whose economy has thrived thanks to the revenue produced through diamond mining, sorting and grading, these talented designers are creating true masterpieces that turn a page in infusing high jewelry with modernity and freshness.

https://www.debeersgroup.com/campaigns/black-is-brilliant www.citizennewspapergroup.com

www.habilitative.org or contact Della Akres at 773-854-8313, drakres@habilitative.org. When it comes to illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Covid-19, HIV and access to quality healthcare, communities of color fare worse than white areas. While this is unsettling, HSI has had a significant impact in Chicago for more than four decades. This year, HSI joined forces with major health care institutions in Chicago to launch the Westside Health Equity Collaborative, which was formed to address critical race and health inequities. The organization also is an integral partner in the Collaborative Bridges effort to address rising behavioral health needs and suicide in the African-American community. About Habilitative Systems, Inc. (HSI) For 43 years, Habilitative Systems, Inc. (HSI) has provided quality behavioral health and human services programs to individuals

and families in 15 underserved communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. HSI staff responded to the most pressing needs of society, serving persons with mental illness, disabilities, substance use disorders as well as seniors, and children experiencing prolonged trauma. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HSI has responded once again by partnering with the City of Chicago’s Contact Tracing efforts and the Illinois Department of Health vaccination and testing initiatives. Last year, the organization led a city-wide collaborative effort, the Counting on Chicago Coalition, to ensure an accurate count for Census 2020 that engaged 40 agencies and businesses. Thirteen community areas on the south and west sides of Chicago were targeted for this critical intervention. During this initiative, coalition partners conducted Social Determinants of Health Screenings and referred over 45,000 people with special needs to critical human services.

See what you’re going to owe: Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas posts First Installment property tax bills on website Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has posted the First Installment Tax Year 2021 bills on cookcountytreasurer.com. The First Installment, which is 55 percent of the previous year’s total tax, is due March 1, 2022. By providing an early look at the bills, property owners can plan their finances or make payments before the end of the year. “During the holiday season, it’s good to think about what bills will come due in the new year,” Pappas said. “My office is committed to helping taxpayers keep their homes and seeing these bills early allows people to think ahead about their budgets.” You can download your tax bill and make a payment by visiting cookcountytreasurer.com and following these steps:

• Select the blue box labeled “Pay Online for Free” • Enter your address or 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN) There is no fee if you pay from your bank account. The Treasurer’s Office accepts partial payments but First Installment taxes must be paid by March 1 to avoid a late charge of 1.5 percent per month, as mandated by Illinois law. You can also use cookcountytreasurer.com to: • Search $84 million in available refunds. • Check if you are missing out on $34 million in property tax exemptions, which lower your tax bill. • Read the Pappas Studies, a series of research projects that includes a 20-year history of Cook County property taxes.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

WHAT DOES A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER AND MARINE CORPS VET DO WHEN HE HAS QUESTIONS? HE MAKES A CALL.

If you need someone to talk to about the COVID-19 vaccine, we are here for you. Call 312-746-4835

Chicago.gov/SeniorVax

Chicago Department of Public Health

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

HEALTH CARE TIPS The holidays are a time to celebrate traditions and make new memories. But with busy schedules, holiday obligations, and heightened health and safety concerns, the holidays can also lead to increased stress. For many families impacted by dementia, it can be particularly difficult to navigate the holiday season. Loved ones with memory loss may find it challenging to interact with family and friends. And caregivers may feel overwhelmed by trying to manage everyone’s expectations for the holidays amid flu season and the COVID-19 pandemic. Joyce Mahoney, Regional VP of Memory Care & Therapeutic Programming at Belmont Village, offers the following tips for making the holidays safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Plan ahead Discuss the holidays with your family in advance. Make sure that everyone understands any changes your loved one is experiencing and considers what will be the most comfortable and enjoyable for them—even if that means spending time together from a safe distance, requiring all guests to wear masks, or celebrating virtually instead of in person. Create and share a wish list for useful, safe, and enjoyable gifts. Take the time to anticipate any stressful situations you may encounter and create a plan for how you will address them. Let guests know what to expect While you’re planning, it’s helpful to let friends and family know exactly what to expect. For example, a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia may have trouble following conversations or remembering who you are. It’s important to keep everyone informed on your loved one’s cognitive changes. Guests need to understand these changes in behavior so they don’t take them personally. After friends and family know what to expect, share some ideas for fun, meaningful ways to engage with the person living with memory loss. Maintain routine as much as possible Loved ones experiencing cognitive decline thrive on familiarity and benefit from strict routine. Incorporate special holiday events while maintaining as much of their routine as possible. This can help avoid needless stress and confusion—and provide your loved one with a sense of comfort and control. Build on traditions and memories A loved one with dementia may not be able to participate in every activity they used to, but it doesn’t mean he or she can’t be involved in the holiday celebrations. Modify your traditions or introduce new ones. Watch your favorite holiday movie, bake seasonal cookies, or sing your favorite carols together. Involve your loved one with dementia Get creative and adapt holiday activities to their needs and abilities. Get them involved by asking them to help you make the food, set out decorations, or wrap gifts. Even simple tasks, such as helping send greeting cards, can help them enjoy the holidays and feel more included.

About Belmont Village Senior Living Founded in Houston in 1997, Belmont Village is an integrated developer, owner, and operator of high-quality seniors housing with more than 4000 employees. Its communities are renowned for distinctive design, high standards of life safety, reputation for quality of care and leading edge, award-winning programs. Belmont Village is certified as a Great Place to Work® and has been ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s 50 Best Workplaces for Aging Services since 2018. Learn more about Belmont Village at www.belmontvillage.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

COMMUNITY Raising Awareness of Parkinson’s Non-Motor Symptoms Via Storytelling (StatePoint) With the help of an Airstream trailer traveling the country, people with Parkinson’s disease will soon have a unique opportunity to record and share their experiences and personal stories as part of a program called “Yours, Truly.” Nonmotor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, as a whole, can be more troublesome than motor symptoms, in terms of quality of life. The stigma around these symptoms may also create challenges. As a recent survey shows, caregivers to those living with Parkinson’s disease psychosis are hesitant to discuss Parkinson’s non-motor symptoms involving psychosis with physicians in the presence of patients so as not to embarrass them. “Patients and caregivers are reluctant to talk about non-motor symptoms out of concern for their loved ones,” said Leilani Pearl, senior vice president of communications at the Parkinson’s Foundation. “Having a place to hear and share the unique experiences of others living with Parkinson’s will increase awareness of symptoms and may help others get the care they need.” “Parkinson’s disease affects about 1 million people in the United States, which may present with both motor and non-motor symptoms. Around half of the people living with Parkinson's disease may develop hallucinations or delusions over the course of their disease, but the majority of people don't proactively tell their physicians about these symptoms. That’s why I believe it’s so important to share experiences across languages and cultures,” said Dr. Gus Alva, assistant professor at University of California, Riverside Medical School, Department of Neuroscience. The storytelling campaign is in collaboration with StoryCorps, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.” Sponsored by Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., “Yours, Truly” invites people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners to record interviews about their lives and preserve their story in StoryCorps’ national archive. Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can vary, with people experiencing both motor symptoms (such as slowness of movement, resting tremors, limb stiffness and trouble with balance) and non-motor symptoms (such as constipation, impaired bladder control, anxiety and depression, loss of mental sharpness/acuity, hallucinations and delusions). When people living with Parkinson’s disease experience hallucinations and/or delusions related to their condition, it is known as Parkinson’s disease psychosis. A hallucination is a perception-like experience that occurs without an external stimulus and is seen, heard, felt, tasted or smelled. A delusion is a false, fixed belief despite evidence to the contrary. To share or view a story, access educational resources in English or Spanish, or to find out where you can visit the StoryCorps airstream, visit www.YoursTrulyPDP.com. Already, several Parkinson’s families have shared their stories and added their voices to StoryCorps’ national archive.

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CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

NEWS

Cancer Patients Overlooked in COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout CHICAGO PRNewswire -- Almost two-thirds of U.S. states failed to prioritize cancer patients for COVID-19 vaccinations, despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. Both the disease and treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can leave their immune systems in a weakened state. Available vaccines are highly effective, but initial supply limitations forced the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to make difficult patient prioritization decisions. People ages 16 to 64 with high-risk conditions were grouped into the final part of the first phase, along with people ages 65 to 74. However, this group encompassed 129 million people nationally, leading many states to sub-prioritize. For the new study, researchers sought to determine the proportion of states that elected to follow CDC recommendations. They identified every states’ COVID vaccination webpage through keyword-based internet search and set out to identify information about vaccination for cancer patients. While 43 states included cancer among criteria for vaccination, only 17 gave patients with cancer the same immunization priority as patients aged 65 to 74, and a mere eight precisely defined a qualifying cancer diagnosis. “Although the CDC recommended that all states consider people with significant medical conditions to have equal vaccination priority with people over the age of 65, we found that nearly two-thirds of states did not give equal vaccination priority to patients with cancer,” said study lead author Rahul Prasad, M.D., from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in

Columbus, Ohio. Forty-two states did not clearly define the criteria for cancer patients to receive priority vaccination. This lack of clarity is problematic, Dr. Prasad noted, due to considerable variation within the cancer patient population. “You could have someone diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 who is now 55, in remission, and wondering if they’re eligible,” Dr. Prasad said. “On the other side of the spectrum, someone newly diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer may not be particularly immunocompromised if they haven’t started treatment yet.” Of the eight states that defined a qualifying cancer diagnosis for vaccine prioritization, six limited it to patients currently receiving treatment. Dr. Prasad said the shortfall in the number of states that followed the CDC recommendations is partly due to attempts at streamlining vaccination efforts. “I don’t think anyone intended to push people to the back of the line,” he said. “The efforts were well intentioned, but what ended up happening was that the CDC governing bodies’ definition of high-risk medical conditions was too broad.” Early in the fall, the CDC approved a booster shot for seniors and high-risk individuals. Dr. Prasad said that these booster shots offer an opportunity to better mitigate disparities in vaccine access. “It’s especially critical this time around to make sure these most at-risk people are getting their boosters in a timely fashion,” Dr. Prasad said. Joshua Palmer, M.D., is the co-author. RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

Call 1health Streamlines Rapid Test Results for Healthcare Providers and Employers 1-800-33 SAN FRANCISCO PRNewswire -- 1health, a leading cloud platform for modern diagnostic test management and pioneer of COVID-19 risk mitigation solutions, today announced the release of its newest offering, ResultShare, a powerful cloud-based platform designed to solve the deployment, tracking, and integration of results for rapid test devices. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, employers and healthcare providers are looking for uncomplicated ways to efficiently implement testing and prevention strategies to safeguard their populations. Rapid Over the Counter (OTC) or Point of Care (POC) diagnostic tests offer a simple solution, but challenges with capturing and sharing results with the appropriate parties have slowed adoption. 1health, in partnership with healthcare providers, rapid test manufacturers, and enterprise partners, is now releasing the revolutionary ResultShare platform. ResultShare empowers test device manufacturers and distributors to better reach and serve their growing customer base by enabling simple registration, easy result capture & seamless system integrations. Through the 1health solution, patients are able to register and capture test results in a few, simple steps. Results are uploaded to a secure health cloud where enterprises or healthcare providers can easily access them - pending the patient’s approval. The solution can be applied to virtually any rapid test device and designed for an easy, seamless launch. Further, any organization or provider with the appropriate permissions may access the health

to report:

cloud, making it easy for device manufacturers to leverage ResultShare for both existing customers and new business. “Effectively managing the COVID pandemic is in part dependent on the integration of rapid test information into digital compliance databases, which has thus far been a barrier in the adoption of rapid testing across the country,” said Al Hariri, COO of 1health. “At 1health, we are committed to continued partnership with device manufacturers and distributors to ensure that through our new ResultShare platform, we can promote more widespread usage of these critical diagnostic test devices.” The ResultShare platform builds on the 1health standard of delivering innovative integrations and interfaces that help labs and their customers make clinical testing more accessible and impactful. 1health was also a pioneer in developing and releasing COVID-19 testing and vaccine verification services, allowing companies across the country to safely bring their workforces back onsite. To learn more about ResultShare and other 1health COVID-19 initiatives, visit learnmore.1health.io/ResultShare. At 1health, we’re committed to making diagnostic testing easy and accessible by building the infrastructure that helps labs- and their customers- connect patients to testing and care. Our powerful platform provides end-to-end solutions to help labs streamline their processes, expand their capabilities, and enhance their accessibility while our flexible APIs enable lab customers to drive better patient engagement and compliance through uniquely accessible and impactful solutions. To learn more, visit 1health.io.

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Illegal or Suspicious Dumping to Waterways or Sewers

Waste needs to be prop 1-800-332-DUMP to report: treated and disposed o

can harm our waterway treatment plants. If you Debris and obstructions in waterways can cause something suspicious, c flooding. Our stream maintenance crews and

Waterway Blockages

debris boats work throughout our region to keep our waterways clean and flowing well.

Illegal or Suspicious Dumping to Waterways or Sewers

Waste needs to be properly treated and disposed of or it can harm our waterways and treatment plants. If you see something suspicious, call us.

Odors

What’s that smell? We are working to mitigate odors at our facilities and aim to be good neighbors. Odor reports help us improve our systems, so please do your part: if you smell something, let us know.

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We want to hea We want to hear from you. You can also submit reports at mwrd.org and via our iOS app. You can also su Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

mwrd.org and

mwrd.org

Metropolitan Water Reclam www.citizennewspapergroup.com

10 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 8, 2021

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Everyday player to award-winning streamer

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iamBrandon Award-Winning Streamer and Twitch Partner