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AUSTIN WEEKLY news ■
Vol. 32 No.9
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‘Black Panther’ is must-see viewing says Arlene Jones,
February 28, 2018
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield Park
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Loretto CEO explains hospital’s centrality to Austin Despite threats, George Miller said, the hospital’s not in danger of closing By IGOR STUDENKOV & SUZANNE McBRIDE Contributing Reporter & AustinTalks
George M. Miller, who became Loretto Hospital’s first African-American CEO and president in November 2017, unveiled an ambitious vision for his employer’s future during a service at Austin’s Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield Ave., on Feb. 25. Miller said that the hospital will introduce a number of new services, including opening an MRI unit within the hospital that will allow patients weighing up to 600 pounds to be serviced, a new 16-unit dialysis center, palliative care services and pain management services. Miller said he and his staff are also working to include the hospital in clinical trials and to transform the hospital into a teaching hospital. In recent months, the Illinois has been looking at revamping the way Medicaid funds are distributed. Any change will have a greater impact on “safety net” hospitals like Loretto. Miller said any reduction of funds would force it to cut services and capacity. Miller, however, emphasized that for the See LORETTO CEO on page 4
Courtesy Naeem Karriem/Leland
A GROWING EDUCATION: L A Leland student holds up some fresh produce he picked from the school’s Space to Grow garden last October.
Smart gardens evolve at West Side schools The gardens, installed at Leland and Cather, part of Space to Grow
By BONNI McKEOWN Contributing Reporter
Children at two West Side elementary schools, Leland — at California and Washington Street — and Cather — near Congress and Laramie — are playing and learning on innovative, new water-saving playgrounds with vegetable gardens, porous surfaces and native plants. The Space to Grow program has three purposes: 1) to keep storm water out of the city sewer system, streets and basements;
2) to promote healthy eating and exercising, and 3) to encourage children, parents and neighbors to enjoy being outdoors. Space to Grow is a collaboration between Open lands and the Healthy Schools Campaign. Financial support and partnership comes from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the Chicago Department of Water Management and Chicago Public Schools. Kenneth Varner, community engagement coordinator for Healthy Schools Campaign, said nine schools have joined
Space to Grow since the program started in 2013. Six more are scheduled this summer, with a target of 34 schools by 2021. Varner said Healthy Schools had been advocating for more physical activity and outdoor learning for city dwellers, when the group realized many schools don’t have good places for children to play. Playgrounds can be unsafe and in disrepair, or offer only flat asphalt areas for students to play on. Space to Grow offers improve-
Austin Chamber of Commerce on the move... 773.854.5848 • www.austinchicagochamber.com
See GARDENS on page 9