Located behind the school is the Joy Garden, a multi-use site that showcases environmental initiatives and serves as an outdoor classroom for special education students. It features wildlife-friendly plantings; 35 tons of recycled
materials; sustainable elements such as a storm-water management system and permeable pavement; and handicapped accessible components like raised beds and wheelchair-height learning stations.

The Joy Garden is named in honor of project coordinator and Northside College Prep graduate Brianna Birman’s deceased aunt, Samantha Joy Birman, who was profoundly disabled.

To help educate everyone on the importance of an eco-friendly environment were:

• Barry Rodgers, Principle, Northside High School
• Bathsheba Birman, President, Urban Wildlife Coalition
• Brianna Birman,  Project Co-ordinator and Northside Graduate 2009
• John Lough, Chicago Department of Forestry
• Brian Lutey, VP, Green Building Division of Ozinga
• Mike Repkin,  Landscape Designer, Urban Habitat Chicago
• Scott Mehaffey, Landscape Coordinator, Department of Environment
• Mike Coy, North Side Science Teacher and CASE Sponsor
• Chris Pelikan, North Side Special Education Teacher

The Swedish American Museum Center is a nonprofit educational activity center for the celebration and interpretation of Swedish American history and culture.

In 1975, it was the dream of Kurt Mathiasson, one of the leaders of the Andersonville community and a Swedish immigrant, to preserve the Swedish-American heritage in Chicago. The first museum was a small storefront log cabin in which family histories were collected. During the U.S. Bicentennial Year, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, officially opened the Museum in its original location. In1987 he Museum moved to its current location and underwent a Phase I renovation. The King of Sweden returned to celebrate the new beginnings of the Swedish American Museum Center. In1997 the Museum completed its Phase ll renovation adding new gallery space and the donations of the Nordiska Museet exhibit to its permanent collection and display.

A New Face in Andersonville was completed in May 2009. The renovation has been an exciting project, and it’s only the beginning of transforming the Museum into a more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient space. There is new insulated glass on the first floor storefront and entry; new vestibule (airlock) at the entry to reduce cold drafts into the Museum and the Kerstin Andersson Museum Store; new energy-efficient lighting in the lobby and gallery spaces.

Passersby on Lincoln Avenue can see the outer walls of the new 20,000 plus sq. foot library/media center which will include a classroom space as well as an area for a professional library.

The project which started 2 summers ago, has already provided the following improvements:

• New blue lockers were installed. Additional lockers were added, allowing about 75% of the student body to have their very own, unshared lockers!
• Beautiful new blue padded seats in the auditorium replaced the original wooden ones. The stage area has new curtains for and a new hardwood floor.
• All new floor and ceiling tiles were installed throughout the building.
• A new intercom system in classrooms and hallways replaced the old, outdated model.

This summer’s work will include:

• New bleachers and hardwood floors in the gym.
• Renovation of the pool area.
• Air conditioning through the building.
• Renovation of all classrooms to provide new white dry erase boards to replace blackboards, a multimedia hook up including a 42 inch flat screen monitor.
• Complete boys and girls locker rooms locker rooms and pool renovation.
• Creation of 2 new classroom spaces.

Check back for information about the Open House for the community to see all the amazing work that has been done.

Click to enlarge.

Lookman Muhammed, a junior at Lawrence Hall Youth Services located at 4833 N. Francisco in the 40thWard recently won the 15th annual city sticker design contest. The junior’s artwork will be seen on 1.3 million vehicle stickers beginning in June 2010. He also receives a $1,000 savings bond to help with his continuing education.

More than 300 students in grades 9 – 12, representing 39 Chicago high schools, entered the vehicle sticker design contest. A panel of honorary judges narrowed the entries to the top 10 designs. The public then voted online and at City Hall computer kiosks to choose the winning design. Nearly 17,500 votes were cast by the public to choose this year’s contest winner.

“I am excited to win this year’s contest. I wanted my sticker to remind people of the time when Daniel Burnham was an architect and all his work in the city,” said Muhammed. “I’d like to go to school at UIC and the savings bond will help me do that.” Lawrence Hall art teacher Janice Gould noted that she uses the vehicle sticker art contest as a teaching tool in her classroom. “The art contest teaches students about timelines, research and composition. Lookman challenged himself to win the contest. He rose to that challenge and that is why all of us at Lawrence Hall are so proud of him.”

Winning Design (click to enlarge)

Second place winner Cooper Zajac, a sophomore at Lincoln Park High School, receives a $500 savings bond. Kevin Zaragoza, a junior at Prosser Career Academy, captured third place and receives a $250 savings bond. The remaining art contest finalists each receive a $100 savings bond. They include: Jose Estrada, junior at Steinmetz Academic Centre; Tomas Tapia, Jr., junior at Marine Math & Science Academy; Gioia Marzullo, sophomore at Guerin College Prep; Fajiona Celepija, senior at Mather High School; Latasha Wilson, senior at Corliss High School; Diana Solorzano, junior Mather High School; and Michael Tonner, sophomore at St. Ignatius College Prep. In addition, all finalists receive an honorary resolution at a January awards ceremony with City Clerk del Valle in City Hall.

-

The Atlantic Bar and Grill, located at 5062 N. Lincoln Avenue is a warm and friendly authentic Irish pub. With great food, twelve different beers on tap, live music every weekend and sporting events shown on a multitude of large flat screen TVs, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Atlantic Bar and Grill is open seven days a week serving lunch daily.

Coach DeVinney has been instrumental in training high school track and country at Mather High School for 10 years.  While the high school has no actual track to practice on, the team has gone on to win 5 state-wide championships using the school’s hallways to train and by running outside through the streets of Chicago. Many team members have gone on to win college scholarships because of their hard work and dedication.

Coach DeVinney has not only devoted his time but has also supplied such necessities as proper gym shoes and equipment to those team members who are not be able to supply these items for themselves.

Channel 2 News aired a segment highlighting the ingenuity that team members have used in making the hallways of Mather “track friendly”.  Video Link

Not only was the television airing of this accomplishment by the team members of Mather High School a great recognition,the broadcast also brought awareness to the community.  Coach DeVinney has been receiving phone calls and e-mails from people who want to help out and donate to a great cause.