October 7-13, 2009 by StreetWise

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2 Buy StreetWise only from a badged vendor

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-OUR CITFROM THE STREETS

M I S S I O N: TO

H E L P P E O P L E H E L P T H E M S E LV E S TO S E L F - S U F F I C I E N C Y T H R O U G H G A I N F U L E M P L OY M E N T

StreetWise Vendor Picnic

STREETWISE STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER BRUCE CRANE BCRANE@STREETWISE.ORG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SUZANNE HANNEY SUZANNESTREETWISE@YAHOO.COM DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION GREG PRITCHETT GPRITCHETT14@YAHOO.COM

& VENDOR SERVICES

PRODUCTION & MARKETING MANAGER BEN COOK BCOOK@STREETWISE.ORG DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT GRACE FEDERIGHI GRACE@STREETWISE.ORG

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES MARY FAITH HILBOLDT PROOFREADER ROBERT CASS

Above: Staff and vendors on September 26 at Union Park for the annual StreetWise vendor picnic, coordinated by Director of Distribution Greg Pritchett. Left: Gus Rickette of Auntie Remus Chicken N’ Rib Factory, 5115 W. North Avenue, (773.265.8441), provided the BBQ. (Their new location is coming to 17010 Dixie Highway) Gus’ BBQ dishes up burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs to hungry vendors. Bottom Left: Bruce Crane, StreetWise executive director and his son Benjamin mingle with vendors in the park. Below: Gus’ ribs grilling to perfection. -pictures by Ben Cook

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROB FEDERIGHI—PRESIDENT CHICAGOBROKER.COM

JOHN J. LEONARD MORGAN STANLEY

PETE KADENS—VICE PRESIDENT SOCORE ENERGY

JUDD LOFCHIE—FOUNDER LOFCHIE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

JUDD R. HORWITZ—TREASURER JUDD R. HORWITZ & CO. P.C.

ADAM MEEK BROWNFILED MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES

RAY GILLETTE—SECRETARY NONPROFIT CONSULTING LEE BARRIE KURMAN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. RICHARD BOYKIN BARNES & THORNBURG LLP EMILY BRINKMOELLER OVERSEAS STRATEGIES, LLC DANNY K. DAVIS U.S. CONGRESSMAN, 7TH DISTRICT, ILLINOIS LATONYA ELLIS VERIZON WIRELESS PAM FRYE RETIRED

JASON MERSEY J.P. MORGAN TIMOTHY RAY NEAL, GERBER & EISENBERG LLP JONATHAN REINSDORF STONEGATE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC WHITNEY ST. PIERRE PATRICIA TILLMAN VENDOR REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN WARD THE FORWARD GROUP ERIC WEINHEIMER CARA PROGRAM IRA WILLIAMS CEDA

STREETWISE IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY AND IS SOLD BY THE POOR AND HOMELESS OF CHICAGO. STREETWISE IS A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND IS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN STREET NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION.

1201 W. LAKE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607 OFFICE: 312.829.2526 FAX: 312.829.2623

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World Wise Afghanistan: post election A former warlord seeks the post of defense minister despite a shady background and UN accusations of war crimes. page

Event Calendar Your guide to... The 45th annual Chicago Film Fest, with Uma Thurman and Martin Landau coming to town among others, and the Chicago Book Festival brings Madeleine Albright, Salman Rushdie and Hulk Hogan to the Windy City.

page

Entrepreneur Spotlight

Illinois leads the way

To Roosevelt and beyond...

Breast cancer organizations win legislation that eliminates co-pays & deductibles for mammograms and establishes panels for quality standards.

StreetWise vendor & executive assistant Linda Fisher has had a difficult personal year, but a brighter career is on the horizon as she heads to Roosevelt this spring. page

page

news

streetwise

entertainment

volunteer

Wise Questions page 4 WorldWise page 5 This Week in Chicago page 10 Cover Story page 11-13

The Playground page 14 Vendor Profile page 15

Ginny & the Chef page 6 DineWise page 6 Theatre page 7 Event Calendar Page 8 -9

Volunteer Chicago

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Online at www.streetwise.org

Wise Questions: Silver Room’s Eric Williams SW: Do you think the city of Chicago would benefit from street sales if there were guidelines and regulations?

want to help build a community in this city that needs support.

EW: There are two major issues. First of all, the city feels as though they are losing tax revenue because street peddlers are not claiming all of [their] income, as opposed to business that would claim a higher percentage. Secondly, they see it as a public nuisance. They see street vendors as vagrants and thieves—a lower class of society—not realizing that street vendors add a lot of character to a city. All around the world, markets and vendors are a vital part of the energy and vibrancy of a city. Look at all world-class cities and they all have street vendors and markets. This city is doing itself a disservice by outlawing. I talk to so many tourists who love the vendors and wonder why there aren’t more. Big business and corporations don’t want the competition, so they’ve been proponents of laws to stop vending, especially downtown.

SW: How do you see your business model changing over the next few years based on upcoming trends and the economy? EW: You have to stay on top of things, understanding what’s going on today but not always following [trends]. Pricing is always an issue for some people. I try to make sure I have something for everyone, always changing to keep people interested. SW: What do you do to recharge your batteries? EW: Traveling is number one. I try to get away as much as I can. Also reading, music, running. SW: What makes Wicker Park so unique?

SW: How did you come to opening up your own retail location?

Eric Williams is the owner of The Silver Room, located in Wicker Park. The fashionable boutique carries jewelry, accessories locally designed T-shirts, cufflinks, business card holders and more. 1442 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 773-278-7130, www.thesilverroom.com By Grace Federighi StreetWise Staff

StreetWise: When did you first start selling items on the streets of Chicago? Eric Williams: I started selling the summer of 1989. I was home on summer break from college and did not want to go back to my job at Taco Bell. My friend was selling stuffed animals and T-shirts at a KRS-One "Stop the Violence" concert on the west side of Chicago. He paid me a percentage of my sales. I made more that day than I made in an entire week at Taco Bell. So after that I was hooked. I started to sell sunglasses and T-shirts on my own. SW: What was your sales pitch? EW: The sales pitch was whatever it needed to be. I learned that everyone is different and a "sales pitch" has to be tailored to each individual. Some like a hard pitch, some like just to look, and [with those people] I would take a handsoff approach. SW: What lessons did you learn from selling on the streets? EW: I learned a lot from the streets. I started on Chicago and Rush. A very diverse neighborhood. You had tourists, homeless folks, businesspeople, old money from the Gold Coast, and working-class people. It taught me that not everyone is the same. That is not a bad thing . . . just a fact. Folks react differently to the same stimuli. How you present things and navigate personalities is the trick. I learned to understand personality traits, and that helped me connect with people.

EW: The city really started cracking down on vending around 1991. There were undercover police whose primary job was to stop peddling. I was arrested and had my merchandise confiscated. It was really hard for me at the time because I had no other income. I was trying to make a living and I felt like I was fighting a losing battle. I saw so many honest, hardworking folks trying to feed themselves only to be thrown in jail or have their goods taken by the police. I decided I had to take my show inside. I found a storefront at 1410 North Milwaukee. The rent was only $800 per month, so I took it.

EW: It’s a neighborhood that everyone seems to be rooting for. I think everyone has an idea in their mind of what it is and what it should be. It’s probably one of the fastestchanging neighborhoods in this city. I think you can still make things happen here. People from outside of the city appreciate it because it’s not like downtown—it has its own individuality. SW: What are your favorite eats in Wicker Park? EW: Sultan’s Market, Mana Food Bar, Pot Pan, Crust pizza, Bin 36, Forno. SW: What can we expect next for the Silver Room?

SW: Who has been your biggest supporter? EW: Over the years we have had tens of thousands of customers. We get friends, family, tourists, artists, etc. People have been very supportive of the store, which has turned into sort of a community which expands beyond just jewelry. It is definitely a lifestyle.

EW: Expanding beyond jewelry. New Web site. A cafe, hopefully! SW: At the end of the day, when the revenue has been met, what else is important to the success of your business?

SW: You sell items from artists in your store. How do you decide which pieces are unique and will sell?

EW: That everyone have a good time. That’s what’s most important.

EW: Right now I just choose things that I like. Things that excite me. I will always have the staples like hoops, bands, sunglasses, etc., but I really am excited about finding unique items. Something that I have never seen before.

SW: What advice would you give to our StreetWise vendors when they’re selling the magazine?

SW: What is one of the most important compliments you could receive from a customer? EW: That they understand what the store is about and they appreciate it. I know folks can shop anywhere, but they choose to come here. They respect the integrity and hard work that goes into making something last for so long. SW: What mistakes have you made being in the retail business over the years? EW: Too many to count. The main thing is not to continue the same ones. I am constantly working on that. SW: What are you doing differently now than five years ago to attract business and bring in revenue? EW: I’m opening a new store in January [with] a slightly different concept. Also, I’m starting another company that is more a brand management/marketing company. I really W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

EW: Work hard. Be consistent and honest. Have shortand long-term goals and have fun.

Contributing Writers Ginny & the Chef: Originally a professional chef, Chef J now writes a syndicated weekly column on food and fitness in Chicago. He’s also the president of the Chicago Research Chefs LLC and president emeritus of the Chicago Nutrition Association. Ginny has written nutrition and fitness articles for several local and national publications, such as the Chicago Tribune and On-Health magazine. She has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science and dietetics and a master’s degree in nutrition communications and marketing. Stephanie Taylor graduated from Columbia College Chicago, where she earned a degree in Magazine Journalism. Her work has been seen in the campus newspaper, The Columbia Chronicle. She also wrote for Chicagoland Tails pet magazine, where she interned. Soon she will begin writing for an upcoming art magazine called Upsurge.

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WorldWise

International Network of Street Papers: Street News Service

Afghan warlord seeks government post

By Joanie De Rijke The Big Issue in the North, Manchester UK

eneral Abdul Rashid Dostum is one of the warlords Hamid Karzai courted as he sought to overcome his opponent Abdullah Abdullah and be re-elected president of Afghanistan in August. Dostum fought with the Soviets against the mujahideen, or Muslim guerrillas, in the 1980s, and with the U.S. against the Taliban starting in 2001, when his fighters killed an estimated 1,000 Taliban prisoners of war, largely by stuffing them into metal shipping containers without food or water and leaving them to suffocate, then burying them in a mass grave in Sheberghan, located in the northern province of Jowzjan. Although Dostum was once considered an American ally, U.S. president Barack Obama criticized Karzai’s decision to bring his former chief of staff back from Turkey, where he was exiled last year for kidnapping and beating an opponent. And though Dostum is hated by many Afghans for his murderous record, he’s still revered among Uzbeks in the north, who make up nearly a tenth of the country’s population and form an important voting block, hence Karzai’s interest in having Dostum return. At his heavily guarded majestic house in Kabul, surrounded by his followers and cars covered in stickers praising him, as if he were running for office himself, Dostum insisted he was “not interested in talking to the foreign press anymore because they only write negative things” about him. Relenting, he denied claims that he had added only 50,000 votes to Karzai’s tally instead of millions. “My people in the north wanted me to come back for the elections, believe me. I was receiving phone calls all day long telling me they would only vote if I came back to Afghanistan,” he said. “Once the time came, I was welcomed very warmly—in Sheberghan and Mazar-e-Sharif as well as Kabul. I saw happy faces everywhere. I explained that I was going to work with President Karzai and that the government has granted me amnesty from prosecution on alleged crimes. There will be no inquest, so I can once again participate in government. “That tale of 50,000 votes is nonsense. I think Karzai will win and I am convinced the two or three million votes in the north, from Uzbekis and Turkmens, have made it possible. For that fact alone, the UN and NATO should be grateful—I am helping to encourage the democratic process.” Dostum shrugged off UN accusations of war crimes in 2001, accusing the West of a propaganda campaign against him.“I was said to be trying to secede the north from the rest of the country, starting a civil war. All lies,” he said. “I am not the monster people try to make out of me, and now is my chance to prove that. “I want to leave the past behind. We need to

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Crowds converge on Afghan General Abdul Rashid Dostum in the grandstand to welcome him from exile in Turkey during a ceremony in Shibergan in northern Afghanistan August 17. Dostum returned to Afghanistan on Sunday after being given a government all-clear in the face of threats by his supporters to withdraw support for President Hamid Karzai in Thursday's election. —REUTERS/Caren Firouz

start thinking of the future of Afghans now. Whether it concerns Pathans, Hazaras, Uzbeks, or Tajiks, I want to work toward a unified Afghanistan. I know I have opponents, people who say I cannot erase the past and that I have to pay. The Pathans, for example, they are no great fans of mine. But I hope they are open to changing their mind.” President Obama has ordered officials to follow up on claims that the Bush administration failed to properly investigate Dostum’s involvement in the Sheberghan killings, and the UN has expressed concern about “massive human rights violations.” Yet Dostum believes Karzai’s decision to involve him and other warlords, such as Marshal Fahim, who is suspected of drug trafficking, will not harm Afghan politics. “If they give us the chance to help build the future of this country, I don’t see any problems,” said Dostum. “If Karzai is re-elected I will stay in the country and hope to be appointed to a good

‘

post in government. It is no secret that I would like to be minister of defense and help to repair the security of this country. But I will wait patiently.” Dostum said Karzai would have to live up to his election promises if he is to undermine Pathan support for the Taliban. The warlord favors negotiation with the Taliban but is confident they can be beaten. “It will take time, probably more than five months, but I can take the Taliban down,” he said. “Many Taliban only joined out of fear—they have no other choices.They are not strong fighters led by conviction but insecure, scared men who will be easy to talk into surrendering in return for protection.” President Karzai would be taking a huge gamble in offering Dostum the post he desires. Whether the general will accept a lesser prize remains to be seen. © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

Dostum shrugged off UN accusations of war crimes in 2001, accusing the West of a propaganda campaign against him. ‘I was said to be trying to secede the north from the rest of the country, starting a civil war. All lies.’ W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

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FoodWise with Ginny & Chef J

By Ginny & Chef J StreetWise Contributors (www.ginetics.org, www.researchchefs.us)

Seven Deadly Sins... ...against Health Part 3: Greed ometime in the early 1980s many Americans decided that greed was good. Throughout the ’90s and into the early ”aughts,” they lived beyond their means. Some bought houses they could never afford. Many shopped for trendy clothes, shoes, and accessories. Even the federal government tried to tell us that everything would be fine if we all just went out and “consumed.” Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. Turns out buying more than we can afford is a bad idea. Sadly, many of us got greedy about eat-

DineWise By Lee Barrie & Cindy Kurman Barrie StreetWise Contributors

Kan Zaman’s Lebanese Cuisine Stands Out From the Crowd Chicago’s neighborhoods are filled with plenty of restaurants that are, from the outside, innocuous enough for you to simply pass by without a second thought. They’re typically not using a publicist to spread the word, so you only notice them when a friend you trust gives you a heads-up. This is especially true with Middle Eastern restaurants: there are many of them around the city, but most stay under the radar. We were pleasantly surprised when a high-powered husbandand-wife chef team suggested Kan Zaman, a Lebanese restaurant in River North, telling us it was one of their favorites in Chicago. In a neighborhood filled with stylish, chic eateries, this place is less noticeable b ut worthy of the recommendation. We should say at the outset that we like Middle Eastern food and enjoy it on a fairly regular basis. It has a comforting warmth and enough interesting spiciness to tickle the palate without overdoing it. It’s also a healthy way to eat (in moderation, of course). We’re not experts, but we’ve been in enough Middle Eastern restaurants to have a point of comparison, and Kan Zaman stands up to the competition in a big way. The food is accessible but very good. Entering from Wells Street, we like the casual, comfortable seating and the warm room colors. The front windows open wide, bringing in fresh air and sunshine. A nice display of Lebanese arti-

ing and drinking too.We’ve become used to paying $4 for a huge cup of gourmet coffee, and some people are now willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a single bottle of wine! We hear many folks say, “I work hard. I deserve to pig out if I feel like it.” But pigging out often comes with its own price—obesity. It turns out greed is not good. Choosing what we eat and what we pay for it is one of the most important decisions all of us make every day. It shouldn’t be based on fashion. It shouldn’t be based on what’s trendy or what’s stylish. We humans are basically the same today as we were 10,000 years ago. The nutrition our bodies need doesn’t change from month to month based on Food Network shows, best-selling diet books, or Hollywood stars’ opinions. Good nutrition is based on solid medical research and sound science. Even more importantly, thousands of years of experience have shown us that common sense and basic balanced diets really work. It may be time to get back to basics; it’s certainly time to go back to traditional methods of choosing foods and recipes. There is a huge difference between being frugal and being greedy. In these trying times, when many of us could use some financial assistance, everyone respects a person who can stretch a dollar. However, today, just like in “the good old days,” no one respects those who base their decisions on greed—we all need to reach out and give a helping hand to our neighbors. In the end, greed hurts. facts and artwork envelops the dining room. There are Western-style tables and chairs on one side and cushion-laden Middle Easternstyle seating on the other. Take your pick. We started our meal with the Vegetarian Combo, offering a taste of many appetizers, most of which we’ve tried at other places. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality and quantity of food. The Hummos had just the right amount of sesame tahini, the Baba Ghannouj was flavorful and smoothly textured, the Tabouleh was nicely herbed and chewy. The Falafel was crispy and tasty, not greasy, and the Spinach and Cheese Pie was subtle and flaky. For our main course, we chose to share a Shawarma dinner. As we ordered, we wondered if it would be enough food. No problem—the portion was very large, and we noted how excellent the preparation was; the spiced lamb and beef was moist, tender, and fresh. The Kan Zaman menu offers a large selection of mainly wellkn own, popular dishes. There are nearly a dozen and a half choices for appetizers alone. In addition to the Vegetarian Combo, other interesting selections include Sautéed Mushrooms in a special marinara sauce, Lubia (sautéed fresh green beans in olive oil with tomatoes), Foul Modammas (fava bean dip with garlic and hot peppers), Dolma (stuffed grape leaves), and Grilled Cheese (Lebanese cheese sautéed w ith olive oil and topped with crushed pistachios, tomatoes, and calamata olive). Hot appetizers include Kibbeh (deep-fried bulgur spheres stuffed with ground beef and onions), Arayess (seasoned ground beef and lamb with garlic, onions, and tomatoes), and Makanek (spiced beefand-lamb baby sausages sautéed in garlic and lemon-pomegranate sauce). Salads are an important part of Middle Eastern cuisine, and Kan Zaman doesn’t disappoint, with six familiar selections. Choose the simple Lebanese or Feta salads or go a step further with the Jerusalem Salad, Chicken Salad, Shawarma Salad, and Fattoush. Pita sandwiches are served with delicious Lebanese fries (sea-

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Chef J’s Secret Recipe: Chicken Verde (serves 6)

FoodWise Shopping List: •6 chicken thighs [skin on] •1 lb. fresh collard greens [chopped] •1 lb. fresh mustard greens [chopped] •½ C. fresh leeks [chopped] •½ C. fresh carrots [sliced thin] •1 clove fresh garlic [chopped] •2 tbs canola oil [or butter] •2 tbs cooked bacon [chopped] •16 oz. chicken stock [sodium free]

FoodWise Cooking Instructions: •Combine oil [or butter] garlic and bacon in a large deep pan * with a lid - and cook – while stirring - over medium heat. Add chicken thighs and carrots cook until golden brown. •Place the chopped greens, leeks and chicken stock into the pan. Bring to a simmer. •When simmering briskly - stir until evenly mixed. Cover pan and reduce heat to low simmer. •Slowly cook for at least 1 hour until all veggies are tender and chi cken is well done. * 170 F.

NUTRITIONAL INFO

•Remove chicken, serve on a deep sided plate. •Serve greens “over” chicken, with wide egg noodles or white rice.

soned with Lebanese thyme). Choices include Falafel, Shawarma (beef and lamb), Chicken Shawarma, Kafta Kabob (ground beef and lamb), Shish Tawook (ma rinated breast of chicken kabob), and Hummos. The lunch crowd can enjoy very reasonably priced specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Excellent choices include a variety of kabobs: Beef, Lamb, Kafta, or the Combo. The Mediterranean Sautée offers a choice of chicken, lamb, or beef with sautéed vegetables, potatoes, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Dinnertime entree specials that are worth a try include the Lamb Chops (baby lamb chops charbroiled and served with fresh tomatoes), Quail (juicy marinated charbroiled quails served with tomatoes, onions, and green peppers), and Vegetarian Moussaka (sautéed eggplant, potatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes). Seafood lovers will enjoy the Grilled Salmon, Shrimp Kabob, and Shrimp Sautée. If you’re in River North and want to dine simply but well, we recommend Kan Zaman. It’s been around a long time, and now that we’ve been there, we’re not surprised. It’s also BYOB, so bring along a nice bottle of your favorite. Hours: Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-10 Kan Zaman p.m., Fri 11 a.m.-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun 1-10 p.m. 617 N. Wells 312-751-9600 Prices: appetizers, $4.95-$10.95; lunch entrees, $8.95-$10.95; kanzamanchicago.com dinner entrees, $10.95-$19.95 Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please visit their blog at gotbuzzatkurman.com

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StreetWise Theatre

Barrel of Monkeys’ 8th annual Fancy Schmancy Benefit Barrel of Monkeys’ eighth annual Fancy Schmancy benefit will be held on Friday, October 16, from 7-11 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center’s G.A.R. Hall and Rotunda, 78 E. Washington St., in Chicago. Sponsored this year by Katten Muchin Rosenman and Ernst & Young, the evening offers fancy food, fancy monkeys, and fancy hats, live and silent auctions, and a special performance of That’s Weird, Grandma. All proceeds support BOM’s programming in underserved communities and the Chicago Public Schools. Fancy Schmancy benefit auction items offered for the October 16 event include round-trip airfare for two to New York City plus special tickets to a taping of Saturday Night Live that aren’t available to the general public; American Girl items; Chicago Filmmakers and Chicago History Museum memberships; tickets to the Field Museum, the Frank Lloyd Wright home tour, and the Shedd Aquarium; Hyde Park Art Center and Paper Source classes; and numerous restaurant certificates and theatre, movie, stand-up, and music event tickets. In September, Barrel of Monkeys began its 12th year of serving at-risk Chicago public school students with writing workshops that lead to professionally performed theatrical presentations in That’s Weird, Grandma, which has produced over 600 stories and musical numbers since its stage run began in April 2001. That’s Weird, Grandma continues at the NeoFuturarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., every Monday night at 8 p.m. (except January 25 and February 1, 2010). Special surprises will be included in the Halloween shows on October 26 and November 2, the Thanksgiving shows on November 23 and 30, and holiday shows on December 21 and 28. BOM will also take part in Chicago Sketchfest, the world's largest sketch comedy festival, on Saturday, January

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9, at 2 p.m. at Theatre Building Chicago (chicagosketchfest.net). Barrel of Monkeys is an ensemble of actor-educators whose mission is to create an alternative learning environment in which children share their personal voices and celebrate the power of their imaginations. BOM has served more than 7,500 children in 38 Chicago public schools through creative writing workshops and inschool performances of children’s stories. BOM also engages the broader community in support of the visions of children through public performances of their work. The Barrel of Monkeys staff includes Amanda Farrar,

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executive director; Luke Hatton, artistic director; Elizabeth Levy, program director; Maggie FulliloveNugent, company manager; Laura McKenzie, musical director; and Sarah Goeden, after-school program coordinator. This project is partially sponsored by a CityArts Program 2 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Chicago Public Schools; and hundreds of individuals. Single tickets are $75-$100, two VIP seats are $200, and a table for ten including wine and extras is $1,000. Tickets are available at https://barrel-of-monkeys.ticketleap.com or by calling 773-281-0638.

Chicago International Film Festival DESMONTANDOHOLLYWOOD.BLOGS. & SBSPRESENTATIE.NL

Actress Uma Thurman and director Katherine Dieckmann headline the opening-night event of the Chicago International Film Festival, Thursday, October 8, at AMC River East 21. Thurman and Dieckmann will walk the red carpet at 6 p.m., and Thurman will receive a career achievement award at 7 before a 7:30 screening of their new movie, Motherhood. The high-energy comedy stars Thurman as a beleaguered Manhattanite trying to raise two young kids while balancing the needs of her husband and best friend in the most frenzied city in the world. Between planning little Clare’s birthday party, navigating a neighborhood under siege by tourists and film crews, and dealing with the neuroses of every other frazzled mom on the playground, can Eliza find time to chase her own aspirations as a writer? Anthony Edwards and Minnie Driver round out the sharp-witted cast.

For 45 years the Chicago Film Festival has introduced the best and brightest new films, from last year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire, to Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs (1992). In addition to Thurman, expect to see Martin Landau and Willem Dafoe in person at this year’s festival. Dafoe is scheduled to attend the screening of Antichrist (Mon 10/12, 7 p.m.), in which he stars with Charlotte Gainsbourg. Written and directed by Lars von Trier (Dogville, Dancer in the Dark, Breaking the Waves), the psychological horror story centers on a grieving couple who retreat to an isolated cabin in the woods to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course, and things quickly go from bad to worse. Gainsbourg was named Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in May for her performance. Landau will be on hand for Lovely, Still (Sat 10/17, 5

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p.m.), in which his character returns home one day to find a stranger (Ellyn Burstyn) in his living room. Romance is wonderful, but he worries whether his heart, physically speaking, can keep up. Landau will also discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller North by Northwest (1959) on Sunday, October 18, at 5 p.m. with Hitchcock historian John Russell Taylor; the film has been given a Blu-ray restoration for its 50th anniversary. Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire, is the festival’s centerpiece, with red-carpet arrivals at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, and a tribute following the 6:30 screening. Set in Harlem in 1987, 16-year-old Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) is pregnant for the second time by her absent father, while at home she must wait hand and foot on her abusive, angry mother, played by Mo’Nique. To make matters worse, the 9th grader can neither read nor write. But even though she’s down, she’s never out. Precious, a powerful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome, won three awards at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Its director, Lee Daniels, is the recipient of the Chicago Film Festival’s 2009 Artistic Achievement Award; his credits include 2001’s Monster’s Ball, for which he was the first sole African-American producer of an Oscar-winning film (Halle Berry, Best Actress). Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) stars in the festival’s closing-night movie, The Young Victoria, about the turbulent early years of Queen Victoria’s reign (Thu 10/22, 7 p.m.). Rupert Friend (Pride and Prejudice) portrays Prince Albert, the suitor who became her husband in one of history’s great romances. Set among all the intrigue of the royal court, The Young Victoria also features Paul Bettany (The Da Vinci Code), Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Jim Broadbent (Iris, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince), Thomas Kretschmann (Valkyrie), and Mark Strong (the upcoming Sherlock Holmes). All screenings are held at AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St. For tickets, call the Chicago International Film Festival hotline at 312-332-FILM ($3 handling fee) or Ticketmaster at 1-800-982-2787 (Ticketmaster fees apply). Tickets purchased by phone need to be reserved no later than 24 hours in advance.

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Event Spotlight: Chicago Book Festival Throughout October, the 10th annual Chicago Book Festival celebrates reading as well as the city’s rich and diverse literary history. The lineup includes author appearances, book signings, performances, workshops, and discussions at local libraries, bookstores, universities, theaters, and cafes.

Wed 10/7 12:30 p.m.: Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, presents Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box, her new book featuring her 200 pins, many of which she’s worn at historic events. (Borders Books and Music, 150 N. State St.) 6 p.m.: Sara Paretsky celebrates the release of her latest novel, Hardball, in which private eye V.I. Warshawski uncovers skeletons from Chicago’s racially charged past while searching for a man who’s been missing for 40 years. (57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th St.)

Thu 10/8 6:30 p.m.: Join Tracy Baim, editor and coauthor of Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City’s Gay Community and cofounder of Windy City Times, as she discusses 200 years of Chicago LGBT activism, culture, sports, and academics. (Chicago Public Library Bezezian Branch, 1226 W. Ainslie St.)

Tue 10/13 6 p.m.: Author Sara Paretsky reads from her latest, Hardball. (Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St.; see Wed 10/7)

Thu 10/15 Noon: British-Indian author and essayist Salman Rushdie will read from and discuss his body of work, with a book signing to follow. His 1981 novel Midnight’s Children, won a readers’ poll as the best novel to receive the Booker Prize in its 40-year history. (Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.) 6 p.m.: C.D. Wright, twice a finalist for Canada’s Griffin Poetry Prize, one of the highest honors in that field, will read some of her work on the 55th annual Poetry Day, with a signing to follow. (Fullerton Hall, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.)

Sat 10/17 1 p.m.: Diane Williams Muhammad, who was raised in Englewood and attended Dunbar Vocational High School, was once ranked second in the world in Olympic-caliber sprinting. She discusses and signs her biography, True to Me: An Olympian’s Victory Over Steroids. (Chicago Public Library Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St.)

Tue 10/20 6 p.m.: Barbara Ehrenreich, the author of Nickel and Dimed, reads from and signs her new work, Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. (International House, 1414 E. 59th St.)

Wed 10/21 6 p.m: Washington Post writer Kari Lydersen, formerly of StreetWise, reads from and signs Revolt on Goose Island, her book about employees of Republic Windows and Doors who kept the factory running after its owners abruptly shut it down last fall and Bank of America refused to extend credit. (57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th St.)

Thu 10/22 Noon: Fourth-generation restaurateur Carlyn Berghoff puts her signature “tradition with a twist” spin on many recipes in The Berghoff Cafe Cookbook: Berghoff Family Recipes for Simple, Satisfying Food. Tickets for plated lunch, $25; reservations mandatory at 847-446-8880. (University Club, 76 E. Monroe St.)

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6 p.m.: Victoria Lautman of Writers on the Record speaks with Sherman Alexie, the award-winning Native American author, poet, and screenwriter, about his latest book of stories, War Dances; cosponsored by 98.7 WFMT and the Chicago Public Library. (Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.)

show outlining the history of what was once known as “Polish Downtown,” an area of Chicago that currently encompasses Wicker Park, East Village, River West, and Bucktown. (Chicago Public Library Austin-Irving Branch, 6100 W. Irving Park Road.)

Thu 10/29 7 p.m.: Chicago ghost lore expert Ursula Bielski sets your skin crawling with stories based on her own experiences as well as ghost stories she’s gathered from others. (Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave.)

Fri 10/23 7 p.m.: Mike Farrell, former M*A*S*H actor and author (Just Call Me Mike), presents his most recent book, the autobiography Of Mule and Man. (Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave.)

Tue 10/27 2 p.m.: Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen sign and discuss their new book, To Try Men’s Souls, a novel about the Revolutionary War. (Borders Books and Music, 150 N. State St.) 6 p.m.: Aleksandar Hemon, a finalist for both the National Book Critics Circle Award and National Book Award, discusses his work and its autobiographical themes, from The Lazarus Project to Love and Obstacles. Born in Sarajevo, he came to Chicago in 1992 and was unable to return home when the city came under siege from Serbian forces. (Loyola University Chicago Crown Center Auditorium, 6525 N. Sheridan Road.)

Wed 10/28

Noon: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Taylor Branch presents The Clinton Tapes, a new work that highlights major events of President Bill Clinton’s administration—the war in Bosnia, the anti-deficit crusade, the failure to pass health-care reform in the ‘90s, and the Whitewater investigation—all from the perspective of a historian and longtime friend of the president. (University Club, 76 E. Monroe St.) 7 p.m.: Hulk Hogan, a wrestling champion many times over, presents his book Hulk Hogan: My Life Outside the Ring. (Borders Books and Music, 830 N. Michigan Ave.) 7 p.m.: Journalist Rick Kogan and photographer Charles Osgood introduce Sidewalks Volume II, based on their Chicago Tribune magazine column. They’ll share stories of both the old days and interesting people today. (Chicago Public Library Lincoln Belmont Branch, 1659 W. Melrose St.)

Fri 10/30 Noon: Peabody Award-winning journalist Kati Marton reads from her memoir, Enemies of the People: A Family’s Journey to America, an account of love and survival in a terrorist state during the Cold War. Tickets for plated lunch, $25; reservations mandatory at 847-446-8880. (University Club, 76 E. Monroe St.)

7 p.m.: Author Victoria Granacki gives a lecture and slide WW WW W.. SS TT RR EE EE TT W W II SS EE .. O O RR GG W

This Week In Chicago 25 Years Ago By Suzanne Hanney

CONCORDMUSICPRESS.COM

Little Richard asked to speak on anti-gay platform? Good Golly, Miss Molly!

Editor-in-Chief

he Cultural Citizens Foundation for the Performing Arts would honor Oprah Winfrey, the host of WLS-TV Channel 7’s AM Chicago, during its presentation of The Other Wise Ma n, featuring actor James L. Hicklin III, on Sunday, October 7. The Cultural Citizens board had selected Winfrey “because of her fine visual image on and off television,” according to the October 6, 1984, Chicago Defender . Based on a story by Henry Van Dyke, The Other Wise Ma n had opened the Bronzeville Yuletide season for over 52 years. Its plot involved a fourth Magi who determined from studying the stars that the infant Jesus was destined to be a leader. But on his way to join the other Magi, he stopped to help a dying man and was left alone,“striking out not toward the realization of his life's deepest longing, as he hoped, but only toward misfortune and suffering,” according to the book’s inside flap. “Or so he believed until one blessed, radiant moment.” Shakespearean actor Hicklin was “the only individual in the theatrical world credited with such longevity of a single performance of the same work,” the Defender noted. “During the course of the dramatic presentation, the actor interprets as many as 13 different roles.” The performance benefited the radio ministry of Huel Brooks Gwin, an opera soprano and official soloist of the Methodist Church. Also in the October 6 Defender , columnist Earl Calloway described how rock ’n’ roll superstar Little Richard had arrived at the newspaper’s offices on Wednesday “a little disturbed because someone wanted him to condemn homosexuals.” The musician, born Richard Wayne Penniman, had just told a person on Phil Donahue’s daytime talk show that Jesus had died so that even homosexuals might be saved. “He also made it known that God loves them too,“ Calloway wrote. Little Richard had then described his noholds-barred book, The Life a nd Times of Little Richa rd: The Qua sa r of Rock , and how acceptance of Christ had changed him. Calloway also wrote that all seats for the Jacksons’ Victory Tour had been sold and that the brothers were “thrilled” to be able to perform near Gary, Indiana, where they were raised. It was in Chicago that they first gained recognition, after recording their first single on the Steeltown Records label in Gary in 1968. When the Jacksons thought they would be

unable to play near Gary, they arranged for more than 40 disadvantaged youths from their hometown to attend their concert in Detroit— all expenses paid. They also took time out to meet the youths. Another celebrity originally from Gary, actor and former Oakland Raiders football star Fred Williamson, had stopped in Chicago to work on arrangements for a December 13-17 tennis tournament at the Hyde Park Tennis and Racket Club. Other stars who would appear at the event included Jim Kelly (Enter the Dra gon ), Jayne Kennedy (The NFL Toda y), and fellow athlete and actor Jim Brown ( The Dirty Dozen ). The Defender also described an upcoming women’s rights conference hosted by Cook County State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley. A video entitled “A Law for Victims” would detail the new sexual assault law in Illinois. The 1984 law specified that neither the victim’s manner of dress nor lack of verbal or physical resistance implied consent to sexual penetration; victims could also initially agree to sex and then withdraw consent. Meanwhile, an adjacent wire story reported that one in four out of 1,315 women in a national survey earned less than poverty wages, and nearly one in five fully employed black women were poor (four times the rate for similarly employed white women). W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

O C TO B E R 7-O C TO B E R 13, 2009

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, (second from left), lifts a glass of pink champagne with breast cancer advocates from Susan G. Komen for the Cure along with state Rep. Greg Harris, left, and state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, center, to celebrate the signing of the Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities Act last April 8. Supported by the state's leading breast cancer organizations, the bill eliminates co-pays and deductibles for mammography screening and establishes an expert panel to create quality standards for mammography. (Susan G. Komen for the Cure photo)

Landmark bill:

Breast Cancer By Suzanne Hanney and Stephanie A. Taylor Editor-in-Chief & StreetWise Contributor

n November 2004 Christine Tyler was a 43-year-old AfricanAmerican woman who’d never had a mammogram—until she found a lump in her breast. After a visit to her doctor’s office, she learned it was an aggressive, stage IV cancer.

Today Tyler is a cancer survivor. The office worker recalled her thoughts when she received the news almost five years ago: “Am I going to die?” And “What about my children?” At the time she had four children and four grandchildren. “To this day I really can’t say that it’s hereditary,” she said, noting that no one she knew of in her family had had the disease. “But I believe it’s the lifestyle that we live.” Before her cancer,Tyler smoked, ate junk food and restaurant food, and drank soda and alcohol. “To me those were the key factors that determined the cancer.” She also said in a telephone interview that she hadn’t

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thought she was old enough to worry about breast cancer. That assumption could have been deadly. Breast cancer often develops pre-menopause in African-American women but post-menopause in white women, according to Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade, an oncologist and genetics expert at the University of Chicago, during a panel at the Harold Washington Library on September 22 as part of the MacArthur Fellows Science Series. Moreover, black women die of breast cancer at a rate 116 percent higher than that of white women, according to the Metropolitan Breast Cancer Task Force and the Chicagoland Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. A recent bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly has made the state a national leader in addressing these disparities. Olopade contributed to a University of Chicago study that showed African-American women under the age of 35 have a 50 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer than Caucasians. This risk levels off around age 50; African-Americans over 50 are at less risk than Caucasians. WW WW W.. SS TT RR EE EE TT W W II SS EE .. O O RR GG W

However, Olopade noted that most of the screening guidelines in the U.S. are based on studies that primarily looked at Caucasians. "We need to reconsider how to screen for a disease that is less common but starts sooner and moves faster,” she said. As Olopade told her Harold Washington Library audience, “It’s cheaper to prevent breast cancer than to cure it.” American Cancer Society guidelines recommend yearly mammograms for all women over age 40, along with yearly MRIs for women whose lifetime risk is greater than 20 percent. Illinois has been a leader in early detection with its Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), which offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings to women between the ages of 35 and 64 who don’t have health insurance. The program served 39,554 women last year, according to Shannon Lightner, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. However, the ongoing Illinois budget crisis has meant a 20 percent cut to the IBCCP program this year, amounting to a loss of services to 6,389 women, Lightner said. Women with insurance—especially lowincome women—will have greater access to mammograms since Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities Act in April.

StreetWise Feature

The bill: • eliminates copays and deductibles for mammograms; • requires state government to establish a “patient reminder system” for age-appropriate women on Medicaid or Family Care who haven’t received a mammogram in 18 months; • requires state government to establish “patient navigation” systems for people on state health-care programs; • requires insurers to pay for pain medication and patient therapy; • establishes an expert panel to create quality standards for mammography.

Also, the legislation will raise reimbursement for Medicaid patients’ mammograms to the same level as Medicare, said Mike Grady, director of public policy and government relations for the American Cancer Society’s Illinois Division. Some doctors previously wouldn’t take Medicaid patients because they were concerned about payment rates. “It’s definitely unique. There aren’t any other states that have done anything like this yet, which is why we supported it,” Grady said of the Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities Act.“For women who are age appropriate, it will potentially raise awareness in low-income communi-

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ties where there are disparities. Hopefully, we will catch more breast cancers early. “We’ll be glad to keep an eye on it to be sure it is effective, how the implementation of the law goes or whether we need to be doing more,” he said of the patient monitoring and reminder systems. Referring to the ongoing budget crisis in Illinois, Grady added, “As we go into the next year, our focus will be that these policy-based decisions get adequate funding so they can be effective.” Grady and Sean Tenner, a board member of the Chicagoland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, acknowledged the 20 percent cuts to the IBCCP program for uninsured women, but both called the new law a “win.” “It’s more a net win than a loss because we’ve taken such an innovative approach to breast cancer disparities,” Tenner said. “I don’t know any other state that has taken such a comprehensive approach to fighting breast cancer disparities as Illinois has. Other states and the federal government should follow the lead of Illinois that specifically addresses breast cancer disparities.” These disparities—and dramatic differences in the mortality rates of white and black women in the city—came to light during a March 23, 2007, summit of the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force, which includes the region’s leading breast cancer researchers, organizations, care providers, advocates, and survivors. During the summit at Rush University Medical Center, the Task Force discussed several reasons for the unequal medical care: •African-American women received lowerquality mammograms;

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StreetWise Feature •African-American women received fewer mammograms in general and in a less than perfect sequence; •once their cancer was diagnosed, African-American women received delayed or less effective treatment. Latino women were also a concern, because breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause for cancer death among them. They were less likely to be diagnosed with early-stage tumors, which are easy to treat, than large tumors, which aren’t. Even in rural and downstate Illinois farming communities, women with high deductibles on their insurance policies found it difficult to gain access to mammograms, Tenner said. These factors led the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force and the Chicagoland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to work with supportive Illinois legislators, starting with state Rep. Greg Harris and then House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, both Chicago Democrats. Leading the charge in the state Senate were Sens. Jacqueline Collins, Iris Martinez, Heather Steans, and Mattie Hunter, all Chicago Democrats, and David Koehler, a Democrat from downstate Pekin. Additional breast cancer organizations supporting the bill were the Illinois Breast Cancer Network of Strength, ACCESS Community Health Network, and the Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, as well as leading hospitals. Christine Tyler says now that a patient reminder system would have helped her get a mammogram; as part of her cancer checkup regimen, she now gets mammograms every six months. Shortly after her diagnosis in 2004 she had a lumpectomy, a surgery to remove the cancerous lump, followed by radiation and high doses of chemotherapy. Tyler worked and was insured through her employer until she took sick leave in the middle of her treatment. During a two-month window, she was uninsured but didn’t stop treatment; Medicaid ultimately paid her bills. She experienced surprisingly few side effects from the chemo and radiation except for fatigue and sporadic nausea, but she did endure a week of pain after she received a shot of Neulasta to reduce infection because of the chemo’s effect on her white blood cells. “But it was okay because I was still alive,” Tyler said. “I didn’t mind that kind of pain.”

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Join the American Cancer Society to help create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays by participating in one of five Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks on Sunday, October 18, in Chicago, Orland Park,Aurora, Hoffman Estates, or Libertyville. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year in Illinois, unites the entire community to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about the importance of reducing their cancer risk, and raise money to fund life-saving research and support programs to further our progress against the disease.

The scheduled noncompetitive wa lks a re: •Chicago: five miles, from Lawrence Avenue along the lakefront •South Suburban: 5K, from Centennial Park in Orland Park •West Suburban: 5K, from Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora Northwest Suburban: five miles, from the AT&T Campus in Hoffman Estates; •Lake County: five miles, from Independence Grove in Libertyville. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walks start at 9. For more information, visit makingstridesillinois.com or call 312-279-7376. Participants are asked to collect donations and pledges. Since 1993, five million walkers across the United States have collected more than $340 million to help fight breast cancer through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events.To date, there are 164 Strides events scheduled throughout the country.

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The Playground

Ask Eugene

Crossword

“all the brilliance that will fit” Dear , With regards to your e-mail contact i got during my research in internet I wish to write you this message with all sincerity and i believe we can establish a good business relationship with you. My name is Nana Mensah from The family of Chief Nana Num Mensah Bosontwi Sam 111 of Bogoso village Tarkwa Western Region Ghana. We are a local gold miner we mine in our own family concessions where we are using the local method to mine which has become a big problems for us to extract the gold from the soil because we lack equipments machines to work. We have 93 kilo grams of Alluvial gold dust 23 carats, we can get more from if need be. I will funish you with more details as soon as I hear from you. Waiting to hear from you soonest. Regards, Felix Mensah Dear Felix Mensah or Chief Nana Num Mensah Bosontwi Sam 111 of Bogoso village, I have contacted you as soonest as possible. You bet We contact you in internet! I’m sorry to hear that you are mining using the “local method.” I’m sure that it is taxing your spirits, and hooking up your waifish goat to a plow meant for a bull ox is a misguided approach for your aims (plowing for gold?). Being but a foolish Westerner, I had no idea how much 93 kilograms is, but I’m delighted to inform you that you have 205 American pounds of gold—an impressive yield for using raw goat strength, my friend! As for your offer for more, you should, by which I mean if you have gold and you know where to find it, you should probably get it. Unfortunately, pertaining to my involvement, I must decline, your Chiefness. I am currently navigating a dark cloud of legal trouble due to 16 million Scottish dollars I may or may not have brought into the country for some unscrupulous character who contacted me via a well-written, comma-less letter like yours. Are you in league with this man? If we are to be partners, I demand honesty. If you are, I have no choice but to curse you and your rotten, gold-drenched luck from the blackest chambers of my heart.

You can send Eugene your questions at 1201 W. Lake, Chicago, IL, 60607 or e-mail him at supreme_eugene@yahoo.com. Need to post a legal notice or a classified ad?

Sudoku Difficulty: Medium

Last Week’s Answers

Deadline: must submit 3 Mondays prior to desired publication date. StreetWise publishes every Wednesday

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O C TO B E R 7-O C TO B E R 13, 2009

Entrepreneur Spotlight

This spring: to Roosevelt, a master’s and beyond By Ben Cook StreetWise Staff

treetWise vendor and staff member Linda Fisher has her plate full, but she makes her daily balancing act look easy. Linda’s always worked hard for what she has, and it’s starting to pay off: she found out recently that she’s been accepted to Roosevelt University for the spring 2010 semester. “This is my last semester at Northwestern College, formerly Northwestern Business College, and I’ll be getting a double associate’s degree in business and real estate,” she said. “As far as this spring goes, I don’t know what my classes are yet, but I know that I’ll be majoring in business, and I’m aspiring to get a law degree after that. I might go straight through without taking a break and get my master’s while I’m at it.“ While attending school Linda will continue to serve in her current capacity as StreetWise’s executive assistant, and she’ll sell her magazines in the morning before coming to the office. She currently sells them at Randolph and Michigan from 6 to 9 a.m. during the week, and on weekends she sells on Irving and Oakley; she’s looking for a good evening location as well. She said she’s considering getting another part-time job to provide more financial security. Adding to the crunch is the struggle of being a newly single parent—Linda is going through a divorce with her husband, the father of their eight-year-old

daughter, Joy. Until recently, Linda, Joy, and Linda’s mother and grandmother all shared a residence. That changed on August 4, when Linda’s grandmother had a heart attack on her 86th birthday. She passed away a couple weeks later. “Joy’s taken it really hard— she’s currently in counseling,” Linda said. “I actually got her into counseling before all of this happened because of the divorce. Stuff like that can be hard, and I just wanted to make sure that she could talk to somebody more objectively about it. “When I went back to high school after having Joy, my grandmother pretty much took over Joy and was really protective of her. I don’t think that at any point did Joy realize that my grandmother wasn’t her mother. My grandmother had also raised me and my brother because my mom was working full-time. I’m dealing with her passing pretty well—I understand the facts of life—but [Joy’s] just eight and doesn’t understand what happens when we die. It’s really hard on my mom when Joy asks her if grandma is coming back.” Although Linda relies on public transportation (she sometimes rides her brother’s bus route just for fun to keep him company), she’s wanted her own car for a long time. And it can’t be just any car: it has to be a Jeep. While buying a car might be a bit more than she can juggle at the moment, she remains fixated on the fact that it will happen someday.

Update on: Linda Fisher

“

When I went back to high school after having Joy, my grandmother pretty much took over Joy and was really protective of her...

—Linda Fisher

To all the customers who buy StreetWise from her on a regular basis, Linda wants them to know she loves them, and that their support allows her to keep all the craziness in her life rolling in the same direction—toward a better future that prominently features a Roosevelt diploma hanging on her wall.

Look for the Badge!

Where the money goes...

Please purchase your copy of StreetWise from badged vendors only! For questions or comments regarding our vendor force, please contact Greg Pritchett at (312) 829-2526 or at gpritchett14@yahoo.com.

Vendors buy StreetWise for 75 cents, and the remaining $1.25 goes directly to the licensed vendor.

O C TO B E R 7-O C TO B E R 13, 2009

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more than a magazine.