Chicago Weekend Citizen 12-26-2018

Citizen PRITZKER-STRATTON ADMINISTRATION MAKES PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENT — PAGE 3 Week of Dec. 26, 2018

| Vol. 49 | No. 52 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

WEST SIDE COMMUNITY REVEALS FIRST-EVER QUALITY-OFLIFE PLAN

A Quality-of-Life Plan was recently released for Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the west side of the city. The plan was created through the collaboration of community residents, leaders, and stakeholders and it provides a comprehensive strategy to enhance the communities existing assets and create new opportunities that will improve the quality of life for people living and working in Austin.

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LISC Chicago, Austin Coming Together, and community stakeholders from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood recently gathered to unveil the community’s first-ever Quality-of-Life Plan. Photo Caption: Vashon Jordan Jr.

BUSINESS

ENTERTAINMENT

FASHION

Could Saving With An Online Bank Help Your Money Grow Faster?

Rainbow PUSH Presents Special Tribute To the Life and Legacy of Nancy Wilson

Tips to Keep Clothes Looking Their Best in Winter PAGE 6

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

FEDERAL COMMISSION ON SCHOOL SAFETY RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR KEEPING STUDENTS, TEACHERS SAFE AT SCHOOL After months of research, visiting successful programs around the nation, and receiving testimony from experts and concerned citizens, the Federal Commission on School Safety (Commission) recently released a 177-page report detailing 93 best practices and policy recommendations for improving safety at schools across the country.

Utilizing the information gathered, the Commission report offers a holistic approach to improving school safety, ranging from supporting the social and emotional well-being of students to enhancing physical building security. Acknowledging there can be no one-size-fits-all solution to this complex problem, the final report serves as a resource guide for families, educators, law enforcement officers, health professionals, and elected leaders to use as they consider the best ways to prevent, mitigate, and recover from acts of violence in schools. The recommendations are based on efforts that are already working in states and local communities.

HEALTH

SLEEPING IN CONTACT LENSES PUTS YOU AT RISK OF DANGEROUS INFECTION Contact lenses are worn by an estimated 45 million Americans. Improper care or wear, like going to sleep without removing your lenses, can lead to infections of the cornea like microbial keratitis, which can lead to serious health problems.

Six tales that should serve as warnings are the latest in a series on infections featured in the January issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine and developed through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the EMERGEncy ID Net, an emergency department-based collaborative surveillance network. The CDC reports that an estimated 1 million annual outpatient and emergency visits were due to keratitis.

LAW & POLITICS

GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL CREATING SCHOOL DESIGN-BUILD PILOT PROGRAM Gov. Bruce Rauner recently signed HB 5593 establishing a pilot program for school districts to use the design-build construction delivery method.

The method allows architects, engineers and construction contractors to pick their partners and be hired as a team, expediting project completion by allowing early phases of construction to begin as the building design is still being developed. The legislation permits up to five design-build demonstration projects to be undertaken in Illinois. Each must be shown to be in a school district’s best interest as determined by the State Board of Education. “The State has proven the benefit of using the design-build method on vertical infrastructure projects,” Rauner said, “and by piloting this valuable delivery method tool in the K-12 system, it will help to explore ways to increase efficiency and speed in school construction projects.”

“As a state, we are always looking for better tools to enable Illinois public entities to construct and renovate buildings more effectively and cost-efficiently,” said state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City. “Design-build has proven in national studies to deliver the lowest cost, fastest schedule and highest quality. As Representative, I will look to work with local officials to implement this important cost savings tool.”

West Side Community Reveals First-Ever Quality-of-Life Plan Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

A Quality-of-Life Plan was recently released for Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the west side of the city. The plan was created through the collaboration of community residents, leaders, and stakeholders and it provides a comprehensive strategy to enhance the communities existing assets and create new opportunities that will improve the quality of life for people living and working in Austin.

A local nonprofit, Austin Coming Together, helped to develop a steering committee of 20 community leaders to lead the planning process.

“Since Austin Coming Together was first established in 2010, we’ve always understood the power of collaboration.

That is why we place great value on the care and time it takes to connect the dots between resources and those who need them. We remain dedicated to actualizing the vision of a thriving Austin community,” said Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together.

The steering committee worked with Local Initiatives Support Corporation

(LISC Chicago) to develop a plan that would best serve the people of Austin.

LISC Chicago is a nonprofit organization that works with community partners and residents to help them transform their neighborhoods into resilient and inclusive places that are full of opportunity.

“For the first time, the Austin community came together to create a Quality-of-Life Plan that lays out a collective vision for the Austin community – designed by the residents and stakeholders themselves,” said Jack Swenson, neighborhood program officer, LISC Chicago. “This is how capacity building is taken to the next level, with communities defining a vision for themselves in their own neighborhood where they feel empowered to take ownership over their futures.”

In order to create the Quality-of-Life plan, LISC Chicago brought together over 400 Austin community stakeholders including elected officials, residents and representatives from local organizations and businesses over the course of 18 months to discuss what they each saw as being the needs and priorities of Austin.

The Quality-of-Life Plan goes into

detail about the communities demographics and states that 40.3 percent of households in Austin have an income of less than $25,000 a year, compared to Chicago’s average of 27.9 percent, and 81.7 percent of Austin households identify as black, compared to the Chicago Average of 30.6 percent.

As a result of research and community conversation, seven specific issue areas were addressed in the plan including economic development, education, housing, public safety, youth empowerment, civic engagement, and the community narrative.

Some of the goals of the Quality-of-Life Plan are to minimize the impact of violence in Austin, increase home ownership by Austin residents, create safe community spaces for young people, and increase enrollment in Austin public schools.

The MacArthur Foundation also has recognized the value of Austin and is contributing to the community planning efforts with a four-year, $1 million Vital Communities Grant that will assist Austin Coming Together and its task force leaders in implementing the recently released Quality-of-Life Plan, according to a press release to announce the plan.

Illinois Payrolls Up in Most Industries from Prior Year CHICAGO–The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently announced that the unemployment rate remained at 4.2 percent in November and nonfarm payrolls increased by +5,900 jobs over-themonth, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The October jobs gain was revised downward from the preliminary report (from +10,300 jobs to +6,800 jobs).

Job growth was moderate during the September to November period posting an average monthly change of +4,800 jobs, an improvement over the prior month when the three-month average change was +1,800 jobs.

“Nonfarm payrolls were up over-the-month led by gains in professional and business services and educational and health services

jobs,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The unemployment rate was unchanged in November, but lower than it was a year ago.”

“We are continuing to see the positive impact of the effort to grow jobs in Illinois,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Acting Director Leslie Munger. “Pro-growth initiatives and more effective marketing of Illinois’ assets are resulting in a lower unemployment rate and a growing Manufacturing base.”

In November, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Professional and Business Services (+4,100), Educational and Health Services (+2,700) and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,000). The industry sectors with payroll declines were: Information

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(-1,600), Construction (-800) and Manufacturing (-800).

Over-the-year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by +54,600 jobs with the largest gains in these industry sectors in November: Government (+14,800); Manufacturing (+10,300); and Education and Health Services (+8,300). The industry sectors with over-theyear declines were: Information (-3,300) and Other Services (-600). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up +0.9 percent over-the-year in sharp contrast to the nation’s +1.7 percent over-the-year gain in November.

The state’s unemployment rate is +0.5 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for November 2018, which held at 3.7 percent.

The Illinois unemployment rate is down -0.7 percentage

points from a year ago when it was 4.9 percent.

The number of unemployed workers increased +1.4 percent from the prior month to 273,800, down -14.0 percent over the same month for the prior year.

The labor force increased +0.2 percent over-the-month but was about unchanged over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and are seeking employment.

An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. To help connect jobseekers to employers who are hiring, IDES’ maintains the state’s largest job search engine, IllinoisJoblink.com (IJL), which recently showed 41,669 posted resumes with 94,286 jobs available.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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NEWS

Pritzker-Stratton Administration Makes Personnel Announcement Governor-elect JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor-elect Juliana Stratton recently announced that Dan Hynes will serve as Deputy Governor. Hynes currently serves as a senior adviser to the transition committee and as a senior executive at UBS Asset Management in Chicago, following a distinguished 12-year career in public service as the Comptroller for the State of Illinois.

Hynes was elected Comptroller in 1998 as the youngest state constitutional officer since World War II. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2006 by wide margins. In 2011, President Barack Obama named Hynes as the United States Observer to the International Fund for Ireland, which makes investments in Northern Ireland for the purpose of promoting peace and stability in the region. Hynes also serves as a member of the Democratic National Committee. He received his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University School of Law and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

Other personnel announcements included naming Christian Mitchell as Deputy Governor. Mitchell currently serves as a senior adviser to the transition committee, state representative of the 26th District, and executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Mitchell began his career as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago before entering politics. He served as a deputy field director on Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s re-election campaign and was Midwest Paid Media and Polling Director for President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.

He has consulted for state assembly, city council, and congressional races across the country and was a senior adviser to U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s successful 2016 race. Before being elected to office, Mitchell also served on the senior staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Chicago and is pursuing a Juris Doctor from the Loyola University School of Law. Jesse Ruiz will serve as Deputy Governor. Ruiz currently serves as counsel to the transition committee and is a partner in the Corporate & Securities Group of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and a Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School. Throughout his career, Ruiz has also dedicated time to public service. He currently serves as the President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners and as a Commissioner on the Public Building Commission. He has also served as Vice President of the Chicago Board of Education, Interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, Commissioner on the U.S. Department of Educa-

Governor-elect JB Pritzker

tion Equity and Excellence Commission, Commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee, and Commissioner on the Chicago Public Schools Desegregation Monitoring Commission. Jesse received his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School, where he served as an editor of the University of Chicago Law School Roundtable. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Nikki Budzinski will serve as Senior Adviser. Budzinski currently serves as transition director and previously served as senior adviser to the JB Pritzker for Governor campaign.

Budzinski led JB Pritzker’s exploratory effort for Governor and advised the campaign on political strategy, messaging, and

outreach. From 2015 to 2016, she served as the labor campaign director on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Previously, Budzinski worked in the labor movement for ten years in Washington, D.C., working for the Laborers International Union of North America, International Association of Fire Fighters, and United Food and Commercial Workers Unions. From 1999 to 2004, Budzinski served numerous roles in the Office of the Comptroller in Springfield. Budzinski is a Peoria native and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Alexis Sturm will serve as Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB). Sturm has over 20 years of experience in Springfield working on state fiscal policy, debt management, and administration. She currently serves as the director of cash management and bond reporting for Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza. Sturm previously served in the administrations of three Republican governors and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. From 2015 to 2017, she served as chief of staff and deputy director for debt, capital, and revenue in Gov. Rauner’s GOMB. From 2004 to 2015, Sturm served as director of research and fiscal reporting and senior fiscal advisor for Comptrollers Hynes, Topinka and Munger. Under three governors’ administrations from 1997 to 2004, she worked in senior roles in debt management, revenue and economic analysis after beginning her state government career as a Dunn Fellow in 1997. She grew up in Carbondale, received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Miami University and a Master of Arts in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis.

Erin Guthrie will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Guthrie currently serves as the regional general manager for Uber Midwest in Chicago where she partners with cities and regulators to create safe, positive experiences for customers and residents. From 2013 to 2017, she was a client engagement manager and partnership portfolio manager at McKinsey and Company in Chicago.

Previously, Guthrie worked as a product manager (MBA intern) at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, as an account executive at 4INFO and as a business development manager at Nokia in San Francisco. She received her MBA from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business and Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Stanford University. Guthrie lives in Wicker Park with her husband and son.

Additional personnel announcements will be made on a rolling basis.

The Silver Room Celebrates 21 Years of Service

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Eric William’s (pictured), owner of the Silver Room in Hyde Park, is celebrating 21 years of operation by reflecting on how he got his start. Photo Credit: Provided by the Silver Room

For two decades, the Silver Room has been an iconic shopping destination in Chicago and is known for providing cultural experiences and community events, like the Silver Room block party. This year marks 21 years of operation for the business and to celebrate, Eric Williams, the owner, has hosted two parties and a pop-up shop.

“The Silver Room in many ways means different things to different people, but in essence, it is a retail store that acts as an art space and a community gathering space and from that we have built a community gathering space through our retail store. It is so much more than just a retail store, it has created families, it has created communities, it has created friendships through our events and through our cultural activities that go hand in hand with the actual retail side of it,” said Williams.

The Silver Room got it’s start when Williams was studying finance at the

University of Illinois at Chicago and there was a flea market nearby where he would buy interesting items and then resell them at school, on the train, and on street corners.

“I was selling stuff on Chicago Avenue, I was selling stuff on the trains, I started traveling around the country selling t-shirts, and stuffed animals, and socks, and jewelry. Parallel to that, I am also a DJ and I have a love for music. I was doing so well selling things that I wanted to get my own space and move my stuff inside, but I also knew that I wanted to incorporate my love of art and music in the space.

I bought turntables the first year I had the store and I would DJ and my friends would come and DJ and people would come and shop,” said Williams.

The original Silver Room was located in Wicker Park and after 17 years of operation, Williams decided to move his business to its current location at 1506 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park.

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“Moving to Hyde Park was the best move I could have made. Business is great, the people are great, and the interest in the arts and culture that we provide, not just with what we sell, but what we do inside the space has just been really beautiful,” said Williams.

Williams said that as the Silver Room continues to grow, the legacy that he is intentionally creating is one that will represent inclusion and inspiration.

“I want this store to be known for being inclusive and inspirational to many artists and many people that are looking to do something different or looking to take a different path than maybe their families because that’s kind of my story. This is a great place for artists to find a home and we are very unique in that we did things our own way and did a good job of incorporating the arts, the culture, and the retail and people could see what we were doing. I want people to walk into the store and feel like it’s for them,” said Williams.

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

BUSINESS

Could Saving With An Online Bank Help Your Money Grow Faster?

StatePoint - While there’s no doubt that putting money aside with each paycheck is an essential component to a healthy financial future, it’s important to keep in mind that not all savings accounts are going to give you the same pay back or benefits.

It’s estimated that American consumers are missing out on over $50 billion dollars of interest they could be earning every year. The average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.08 percent, according to the FDIC, with many of the largest financial institutions paying as little as 0.01 percent.

But did you know that the top online banks have interest rates 20 times higher than the national average, according to rates published by the FDIC? Because they have no physical branches, they are often able to pass on that savings to customers through consistently competitive rates.

“A traditional bank savings account is certainly a safe vessel in which to deposit money, but it won’t necessarily help that money grow,” says Diane Morais, president, Consumer & Commercial Banking Products for Ally Bank, Member FDIC, which won the title of Best Online Bank in the

Top online banks have interest rates 20 times higher than the national average, according to rates published by the FDIC.

GOBankingRates Best Banks ranking from 2015-2018.

What’s more, online banks can offer greater convenience and flexibility, since consumers can bank from anywhere on computers and mobile

devices, and there’s no waiting in line or waiting for the bank to open. The most common services and transactions (i.e. monthly account maintenance fees, standard or expedited ACH transfers, domestic and international incoming

Report: Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Face More Financing Challenges than Non-Veteran Small Businesses

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wires, cashier’s checks and personal checks) are free at many online banks.

And most online banks are FDIC insured, so a customer’s deposits are equally as protected as they would be at a traditional bank.

To increase your savings, Morais recommends the following: • Pay yourself first. When you save, you are paying yourself, so be sure your monthly budget includes a line item for savings. You can make it easier to commit to this great habit by setting up automatic transfers to your savings account.

• Do a little research. Find a bank that will pay you a more competitive interest rate on your savings. You may have to do a bit of comparison shopping, but the extra money coming your way will make the effort worthwhile. According to the FDIC, the median balance in U.S. savings accounts is around $5,000. At 0.01 percent interest, that equals 50 cents in interest for the year, however if that money was in a savings account at one of the top online banks, it would earn almost $90 of interest.

To learn more about saving with an online bank, visit www.ally.com.

It is estimated that consumers have about $3 trillion in bank accounts earning a relatively low interest rate. If a portion of that figure belongs to you, consider making your money work harder by moving it to an account with greater interest earning potential.

LISETTE GUSHINIERE Owner, LG Consulting

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the U.S. Small Business Administration recently issued the report Financing their Future: Veteran Entrepreneurs and Capital Access.

The report provides a comprehensive look at the state of entrepreneurship for military veterans, while presenting new small business credit data from the Federal Reserve Banks’ 2017 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS).

“Clearly, aspiring veteran entrepreneurs can benefit from preparation and training to start their businesses and succeed in the marketplace,” said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator of the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. “This report highlights the value of SBA-partnered resources like the Boots to Business entrepreneurship training program, which helps veterans as they navigate the challenges in financing, starting and growing their companies.”

“To solve a problem, it’s critical first to understand its scope. This report presents the most substantial evidence to date of the challenges veteranowned businesses face in accessing capital,” said Claire Kramer Mills, New York Fed assistant vice president. “By understanding how much credit veteran-owned businesses are seeking, where they’re applying, and the nature of their financing challenges, policy makers and service providers can better help veterans overcome financing shortfalls.”

The report found that: • Despite similar demand for financing, veteran-owned small business applicants were more likely than non-veteran-owned small business applicants to experience “financing shortfalls,” where they received less than the amount of credit they sought.

• They have lower approval rates at the most popular lenders, and the amount of SBA-guaranteed loans they have received has increased more slowly over time than for non-veterans.

• This discrepancy in financing experiences could be attributable to the smaller loan amounts that veteran-owned businesses seek, higher credit risk, and lack of information.

For more information on key findings and conclusions of the report, visit https://www.newyorkfed.org

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CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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FASHION

Bill Bakho of BB Lifestyle is Bringing a Revolution in the Skin Care Industry with Organic CBD Oil BB Lifestyle recently announced that it is bringing an organic revolution to the health and beauty industry with its growing range of CBD skin care products. The renowned skincare brand is also offering a wide range of dermatology grade luxury skincare products on its online store that are getting an overwhelming response around the world. Moreover, the award-winning Founder and President of the luxury skincare brand, Bill Bakho has shared several amazing secrets behind the phenomenal success of his company in a recent interview that reveal a lot of information on how his brand became one of the best in the increasingly competitive health and beauty industry worldwide.

“I created BB Lifestyle to inspire others to enjoy their life by taking care of their health, inside and out, while using products that will give the best results possible," said Bill Bakho, the BB Lifestyle Founder, while sharing his inspiration in a recent interview. "From our award-winning and certified eco-friendly packaging to our scientifically developed organic products, every aspect of BB Lifestyle is unique and exquisite in its own way," he added. Bill has been frequently featured on several major media platforms including 400 magazines, radio shows and television.

With its all-natural, organic and vegan ingredients, BB Lifestyle offers products that contain the next-generation HC56Complex™.

This organic compound is primarily the secret ingredients, which set BB Lifestyle apart from the rest of its competition. Moreover,

this proprietary ingredient is a highly potent supercritical CO2 extracted organic CBD oil from Colorado that delivers unprecedented health and beauty benefits, according to a press release. Customers have been using these products for their nourishing, soothing, reparative, antioxidant, and antiaging benefits and have shared inspiring feedback regarding their experience.

"We have worked closely with various doctors and practitioners including some of the leading dermatologists, plastic surgeons and also with the Chairman of Dermatology at UCI," said Bill Bakho, while sharing his professional experiences. "The entire concept of CBD skin care and CBD oil for your skin is basically the future of skincare and we have proudly mastered this secret." He added. The company also manufactures CBD sunscreen, CBD facial moisturizer and several other effective products for men and women worldwide.

Besides making quality products at BB Lifestyle, Bakho has also taught at multiple aesthetic schools and beauty academies to teach the students about skin health, products and ingredients over the years. Moreover, Lupus LA honored Bakho as a Supporter of their foundations as he worked with them on various events; including 5k runs and other charity events for more than two decades now.

Furthermore, Bakho has also worked with over 50 charities over the years in various forms.

In addition to his own luxury skincare brand, Bakho has also created multiple formulations for other skin care companies.

Bill Bakho of BB Lifestyle is Bringing a Revolution in the Skin Care Industry with Organic CBD Oil.

He launched his skin care line called Fenix in Korea, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait.

His own academic background of business and pre-med made him work more closely with the experts from the medical field. Furthermore,

Bakho has been in his industry for 19+ years, working closely with labs and MD's who specialize in skincare and other fields of medicine. For more information, please visit the website at: www.bblifestyle.com

Tips to Keep Clothes Looking Their Best in Winter

This winter, protect your wardrobe from seasonal elements. New tools and old tricks can help your favorite winter gear survive the season in great condition.

StatePoint - Winter is dirty, and unfortunately, all that slush, salt and mud coincides with the use of the delicate and expensive part of your wardrobe, from wool and cashmere sweaters and scarves to swanky party wear.

But you can keep your clothes looking their best this winter, without breaking the bank at the dry cleaners, using the following tips: • Use garment bags: Get a head start on looking your best by ensuring your clothes look good before you even put them on for the day. Store suits, dresses, sweaters and other delicate items in garment bags to keep them safe from dust, moths and other closet hazards at home and when traveling.

• Waterproof: On wet days, consider wearing waterproof shoe covers and tucking your pants into them to protect shoes, as well

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as the hems of your pants, from puddles and slush.

• At-home dry cleaning: Slash your dry cleaning expenditures by up to 90 percent and skip the hassle and harsh chemicals by opting for at-home dry cleaning using your own dryer. With the right product, it will be an effective way to safely and thoroughly clean your special care clothes at home.

For no fading, shrinking or stretching of your winter weather gear like scarves, hats, sweaters and more, consider using Dryel, a quick three step process which works in the convenience of your dryer in as little as 15 minutes. The heat of the dryer activates a cleaning solution to release a steam that removes body soils and odors from clothes, and a fabric protection bag maintains the optimal balance of cleaning agents and heat, allowing the steam to work thoroughly through the

clothes, and then slowly vents the vapors out of the bag and dryer.

• Act fast: When clothes get soiled, it’s important to act fast, particularly when dealing with salt and slush- related stains, which can be difficult to treat. The sooner you deal with stains, the greater the likelihood you’ll be able to restore your clothing to mint condition.

• Landing area: Create a mud room. This can be just a few square feet of space by the entrance to your home and ideally located near the washer and dryer for quick transfer of clothes that need to be laundered. This is also the place to immediately remove boots and outerwear to avoid tracking mud into your home.

This winter, protect your wardrobe from seasonal elements.

New tools and old tricks can help your favorite winter gear survive the season in great condition.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

NEWS

Kenyatta Scott (pictured) is the author of The Violet Book Series, a series of morally based children books. Photo Credit: Amber Green

Local Author Weaves Moral Themes and Examples of Diversity Into Children’s Books

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Kenyatta Scott is the author of The Violet Series, a children’s book that follows the life of a young girl living in a mixed-race and blended family.

Within each book, Scott has very thoughtfully woven a moral lesson into the everyday happenings of Violet and her family with the intention of showing children that doing the right thing is fun.

So far, Scott has released two books in the Violet Book series, Violet Finds A Dollar and Violet Makes A Pizza. The series first launched in 2016 when Scott was able to self-publish Violet Finds a Dollar.

“The first book in the series is Violet Finds a Dollar and that one is all about what would you do if you found something that didn’t belong to you and that is the underlying theme and concept,” said Scott.

“Each book follows a day in the life of Violet and she is learning life lessons along the way.”

In the book, Violet spends a lot of time with her father. She also has a little brother and a step-mom that are represented in the stories.

“Violet is a spunky, rambunctious six-year-old little girl,” said Scott.

“We have her dad, I really wanted fathers to be represented in the book and Violet is learning a lot of her life lessons from dad. I think the focus on daddy-daughter time works to break down that stereotype that fathers are not as prevalent in our communities. She has a little brother Derek, he’s three, and she

also has a stepmom which gives a good representation of blended families.”

The second book in the Violet Book Series is Violet Makes a Pizza and Scott said after she published the second book she had a revelation that Violet is a true Chicago girl with a great love for pizza.

“Violet Makes a Pizza is the second book in the series and it wasn’t until I actually came out with the book that I realized she was really a Chicago girl, she loves pizza and I love pizza too! I knew that this would really represent us well. The underlying moral theme for this one is all about being thoughtful and thinking of others outside of yourself and seeing how you can help somebody’s day to be just a little bit brighter and easier,” said Scott.

The Violet Book Series grew out of Scotts lifelong passion for working with children and wanting to create a better representation of minority characters, families, and role models for them.

“This really came from my passion for communication, my passion for children, and also wanting to inspire our children and share with them the possibilities that are endless and vast if they just put in the hard work and believe in themselves and I wanted to let them know that somebody else believes in them too, all of that added up to creating The Violet Book Series,” said Scott.

To learn more about the Violet Book Series visit www.thevioletbookseries.com.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Rainbow PUSH Presents Special Tribute To the Life and Legacy of Nancy Wilson The Rainbow PUSH Coalition recently presented a special musical tribute to the life and legacy of the iconic, three-time Grammy-winning singer and freedom fighter, Nancy Wilson.

The tribute was held on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s National Headquarters located on 930 E. 50th Street in Chicago. Wilson died on Thursday, December 13 at her home in Pioneertown, Calif. She was 81.

“There will never be another Nancy Wilson,” said Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “A woman of song, style and substance, she was perhaps the preeminent artist of her day,” he said.

International vocalist and actress, Joan Collaso, performed Wilson’s music and Rev. Jackson reflected on Ms. Wilson’s life-long commitment to the struggle for racial, social and economic justice.

Wilson was an early and strong supporter of Rev. Jackson and the civil rights movement in Chicago from Operation Breadbasket to Operation PUSH to today. Now known as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Operation PUSH was founded on Christmas Day, 1971.

Whenever she was in Chicago to perform, Wilson made sure to attend PUSH’s regular Saturday morning community meeting. To help raise money for PUSH and the Civil Rights Movement, she performed year after year at the immensely popular business and cultural event founded by Rev. Jackson, Black Expo.

“She was a magnificent singer and an even better person, committed to civil and human rights around the world,” Rev. Jackson said. “She was a person of infinite grace and sophistication. She sang for us. She marched with us. She stood with us in support of Dr. King. She will live for as long as we remember her and her beautiful music. We will never stop listening to Nancy Wilson.”

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition recently presented a special musical tribute to the life and legacy of the iconic, three-time Grammy-winning singer and freedom fighter, Nancy Wilson. In this photo, Wilson is pictured in 1997.

Photo Credit: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA

Wilson with Lloyd Haynes in a guest appearance on TV's Room 222 (1970).

Wilson in 1968. Photo by Jac. de Nijs / Anefo

An undated photo of Wilson from the National Archives of Brazil.

Wilson and Danny Kaye in 1965.

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From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Boy Erased The truth cannot be converted in the powerful and thought-provoking film Boy Erased, arriving on Digital and the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on January 15, 2019 and on Blu-rayTM, DVD and On Demand on January 29, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Based on the incredible true story of Garrard Conley and his compelling book Boy Erased: A Memoir, critics are calling the film "one of the very best pictures of the year" (Scott Mantz, Collider) and admiring the exceptionally raw and passionate performances from Academy Award® nominee Lucas Hedges (Manchester By the Sea) and Academy Award® winners Nicole Kidman (Lion) and Russell Crowe (Les Misérables).

The critically acclaimed Boy Erased received two Boy Erased from Golden Globe® Universal Pictures nominations Home Entertainment including Best Actor in a Motion Picture and Best Original Song for "Revelation" by actor/ singer-songwriter Troye Sivan and musician Jónsi.

Boy Erased also stars Golden Globe®nominated actor Joel Edgerton (Loving) who lent his talents as director, writer and producer as well as an exceptional supporting cast including Joe Alwyn (Operation Finale), Xavier Dolan (Bad Times at the El Royale), Troye Sivan (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Cherry Jones ("Transparent") and Flea (Baby Driver).

This is the courageous story of Jared Eamons (Hedges), the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, who must overcome the fallout of being outed to his parents (Kidman and Crowe). His parents struggle with reconciling their love for their son with their beliefs. Fearing a loss of family, friends and community, Jared is pressured into attending a conversion therapy program. While there, Jared comes into conflict with its leader (Edgerton) and begins his journey to finding his own voice and accepting his true self.

An uplifting story of acceptance, Boy Erased on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital comes packed with special bonus features that explore the film's important messages and its relevance in today's cultural conversation, taking audiences deeper into the inspiring coming-of-age tale.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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Citizen On The Move

The Calahan’s Foundation Gala Highlights

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson along with Johnathan Jackson recently posed for a photo with the Calahan during their Gala festivities held recently. (Photo by Jimmie Lewis)

The Calahans poses with their honoree Mrs. Jamila Trimuel, Founder & Executive Director of Ladies of Virtue, Non-For-Profit.

Mr. and Mrs Calahan poses for a photo with their Foundation Board Members. (Photo by Jimmie Lewis)

Honoree, Ms. Jacki Robinson-Ivy, Senior Vice President, Northern Trust Bank and Rev. Jasper Taylor, Calahan Foundation Exewcutive Director.

Parents of Hedi Pendleton joined Mr. and Mrs Calahan for a photo during the Calahan’s Foundation gala event. (Photo by Jimmie Lewis)

Holiday Cheers From Around Town!

Members of the Fisk University Alumni poses for a photo during their Holiday Season Celebration. (Photo courtesy of Fisk Alumni)

A Jack and Jill Affair!

Christmas in the Schools Ms.Tragil Wade the sister of Basketball’s superstar Dwayne Wade (Miami); poses with a student from the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School during a recent Christmas Holiday celebration.

Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated South Suburban Annual Holiday Affair held at the Olympia Fields Country Club. Pictured left to right: Danielle Broadwater, Chairperson, Holiday Affair; Yolanda T. Payne; Deadra Stokes; Donna Leak; Latosha Mayes; Candance Tyndall; Gigi Gresham Hinton: Dominique Wallace; Jaronda Hall; Kimberly Orlandi, Co-Chair Holiday Affair.

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10 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

CALENDAR

Give the gift of life, donate blood The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment now to give and help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice.

In November 2016, a 100-foot maple tree fell on Mike McMahon, causing life-threatening injuries.

He needed 11 units of blood during emergency surgery and another seven units to treat the complications. Six weeks following the accident, McMahon was released from the hospital – just in time to spend the holidays with his family.

“I’m grateful for the donors who gave me such an amazing gift – the gift of life,” said McMahon. “I was an occasional blood donor before the accident. Today, I donate as often as I can to help ensure others receive blood when they need it most.”

Now is an important time to give blood. A seasonal decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. In addition, severe winter weather can cause blood drive cancellations and negatively affect the blood supply. Patients like McMahon can’t afford for there to be a shortage of blood.

Give the gift of life – make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a special thank-you for helping meet the urgent need, those who come to give now through Jan. 6 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Chapter, 2200 West Harrison Street 12/28/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., MASICNA Convention, 2301 S King Dr. 12/29/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., MASICNA Convention, 2301 S King Dr. 12/30/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., MASICNA Convention, 2301 S King Dr. 1/2/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., DePaul University Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center, 2235 N. Sheffield 1/3/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., DePaul University Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center, 2235 N. Sheffield 1/8/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., 111 South Wacker, 111 South Wacker Drive 1/9/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and Northern Illinois, 2200 West Harrison Street 1/9/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave 1/14/2019: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive 1/16/2019: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., The Merchandise Mart, 222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor 1/16/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Merchandise Mart, 222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor

Upcoming blood donation opportunities happening now through Jan. 15

Sauk Village 1/6/2019: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. James Catholic Church, 22400 S. Torrence

COOK Chicago 12/26/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Ave. 12/27/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross Chicago

Winnetka 1/8/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Winnetka Community, 620 Lincoln Avenue

KANKAKEE Bourbonnais 12/28/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Bourbonnais Fire Department, 1080 Armour Rd.

DUPAGE Bartlett 1/13/2019: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.,

Bradley 12/27/2018: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quality

Evanston 1/18/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Northwestern University - Phi Kappa Psi, 2247 Sheridan Maywood 1/3/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Loyola University Center for Fitness, 2160 S. First Ave, Loyola Center for Fitness Melrose Park 1/2/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Palatine, 800 East Palatine Road

The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice.

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 751 Army Trail Rd. Oak Brook 1/16/2019: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., The Oak Brook Drake Hotel, 2301 York Road 1/16/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Oak Brook Drake Hotel, 2301 York Road IROQUOIS Buckley 1/11/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Christ Lutheran High School, 201 W. Lincoln Danforth 1/10/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Danforth Community Building, Jefferson St. Gilman 1/3/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Garage Community Center, 140 N. Central St.

Inn and Suites, 800 N. Kinzie Ave. 12/31/2018: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Quality Inn and Suites, 800 N. Kinzie Ave. 1/3/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quality Inn and Suites, 800 N. Kinzie Ave. 1/10/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quality Inn and Suites, 800 N. Kinzie Ave. 1/17/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quality Inn and Suites, 800 N. Kinzie Ave. Kankakee 12/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Riverside Medical Center, 350 N. Wall Manteno 12/27/2018: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 698 N Locust St 12/27/2018: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Church, 175 S Main St Momence 1/14/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Momence Fire Department, 15 N Pine LAKE Fox Lake 12/27/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Fox Lake District Library, 255 E. Grand Lake Forest 1/7/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Gorton Community Center, 400 E Illinois Rd

WILL Joliet 1/4/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Harrah's Casino, 151 N. Joliet St, HOW TO DONATE BLOOD Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Take the Plunge for a Good Cause The 18th Annual Polar Plunge fundraiser, hosted by the Chicago Polar Bear Club (CPBC) is coming up on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 12noon at Oak Street Beach in Chicago. The CPBC hosts an annual Polar Plunge event to raise funds for local families challenged by difficult circumstances. This year CPBC will be supporting three families

and is expecting hundreds of generous Chicagoans to join them in "taking the plunge.” Participants, many in costumes, will strip down and jump into the freezing waters of Lake Michigan together, all in the name of charity!

Since its first fundraising event in 2003, the CPBC has raised over $360,000 in almost

two decades of Plunges, 100% of which goes directly to families in need.

• This year the nonprofit group aims to raise $35k from more than 700 donors to support three local families including the Rogers, Rendon, & Lay Families.

Donations may be made via the CPBC’s website at www.chicagopolarbearclub.com

www.thechicagocitizen.com

All donations are tax-deductible, with 100% of donations going directly to help the families they fundraise to support each year.

Contributions by check should be made out to the Chicago Polar Bear Club, NFP and sent to: PO Box A3616, Chicago, IL 60690.

For more info, visit www. chicagopolarbearclub.com

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

inate exposure to secondhand smoke.

8. Pain medication is personal. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.

9. Make sure your family is up-todate on their vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older.

10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it.

The lifestyle choices you make now will have long-lasting impacts. So, this new year, prioritize your long-term health by forming great habits. _______________________________

MONEY Tips for a Smooth Tax Season

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HEALTH

10 DoctorRecommended New Year’s Resolutions (StatePoint) With the new year upon us, you may be looking for resolutions that will help to keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy in the year ahead.

“This is the perfect time of year to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.”

To help you start the year off on the right foot, Dr. McAneny and the experts at the AMA are offering 10 recommendations to help you determine where you can make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to your health.

1. Learn your risk for type 2 dia-

betes by taking the self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

2. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

3. Know your blood pressure numbers. Visit LowerYourHBP.org to better understand your numbers and take necessary steps to get your high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension -- under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

4. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead.

5. If your health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.

6. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age.

7. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to elim-

(StatePoint) Though Tax Day happens every year, it still seems to take many Americans by surprise. This year, don’t miss the deadline or let this crucial to-do loom large over your head.

To have a smooth tax season, consider the following: • Getting Started Early: If you can, get a head start on your taxes. Filing early is a good tactic for anyone, but particularly those with evolving or complex financial circumstances Not only will doing so help you prevent the anxiety that comes with procrastination, you’ll receive your refund early -if you’re due one -- or give yourself time to prepare to pay any owed taxes.

• Relying on Old Tricks: When it comes to tax preparation, sometimes, using old-school methods is the best way to go. Whether you are just getting started on crunching those numbers or you’re finalizing all the information, a printing calculator like Casio’s HR-170RC includes features that can aid in tax preparation and submission. This model also has some newer tools, like a built-in tax feature that lets you store a frequently-used rate and pull it up at-will, slicing your calculation times by an impressive margin. Other functions include: a reprint key, a check function to scroll up to 150 steps of previous calculations, a grand total function for quick correction of mis-entries, currency exchange calculations and cost/sell/margin calculations.

• Doing Research: The list of what is tax deductible is more extensive than you might realize, so do your research. Keeping good records throughout the year of your expenditures can help you take advantage of these opportunities.

• Having a Refund Plan: Don’t just let your checking account absorb your tax refund only to spend it on an impulse buy. Whether you invest the money in your retirement, sock it safely away for a rainy day or put it towards the purchase of a big-ticket item, such as the down payment of a house, having a plan for your tax refund can help you make the most of

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the money.

This year, have a fuss-free tax season. With a little planning, you can file your taxes efficiently, without headache and at the greatest benefit to your finances. _______________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth Sales Manager General Manager

William Garth Sr. CEO Emeritus

Editorial

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