Year: 2015

The McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (MOCNI) have issued a call to Chicago-area food enthusiasts and burger lovers to participate in the 2015 McDonald’s Chicagoland Burger Build Off. Customers can visit www.burgerbuildoff.com to build their dream burger. On the site, guests will follow a series of prompts allowing them to select each ingredient of their customized creation – from the style of bun and beef patty to a wide range of artisan cheeses, fresh veggies, flavorful toppings and tangy sauces. They can then name their burger, share their masterpiece via Facebook and Twitter, and encourage family and friends to vote online to help their burger advance to the next round of competition. Participants can submit their burger creations online through August 23rd. In addition to being recognized as McDonald’s Chicagoland Burger Build Off Champion, the creator of the winning burger will receive a check for $5,000 and a trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort. For a complete listing of contest rules and prizes, visit www.burgerbuildoff.com.

By: Karla Martinez

Summertime is a time to celebrate life! One of my favorite things about summer is making memories with my two little princesses—whether we’re swimming, indulging in ice cream or are playing at the park. But with the harsh effects of the sun’s UV rays and the acid in some of our favorite summer drinks, I can’t help but be more attentive to my health and the health of my family. This summer, I’m sharing some tips on how you can stay healthy and protected, while still enjoying all that the summer season has to offer.

Don’t underestimate the power of the sun. Always wear sunscreen, even if there is a slight overcast. Make sure to always bring a hat and sunglasses that block UV rays with you to protect your face.

Stay hydrated. Drink enough water to prevent thirst. Keep bottles of water around and remind your children to take sips here and there. Sometimes, in the midst of their fun, my girls get so focused on running around I have to stop and remind them to drink plenty of water.

Use the right products. Whether you’re enjoying snacks or frozen limeades with your friends, we often overlook the health of our mouths. I make sure to take care of my oral health by using Colgate Daily Repair which helps repair early teeth and gum damage.

Go natural. Remember Grandma’s tips: carrots give you a nicer tan and help maintain soft and silky hair. Aloe helps heal sunburns, and most importantly, laughter is the best medicine. ¡Nunca olvides sonreirle a la vida! (Never forget to smile at life!)

Caption by Ashmar Mandou

Hundreds of adoring fans spent an unforgettable Saturday evening at the Rosemont Theatre being serenaded by megastar Juanes, during his Loco De Amor Tour 2015. “Chicago, you are always incredible to me,” said Juanes. “You are truly the best city in the world. Thank you for always welcoming us with open arms.” The venue reached pandemonium as Juanes belted tunes from, Es Por Ti, A Dios Le Pido, La Luz, Loco De Amor, La Camisa Negra, even crooning his own rendition of Bob Marley’s hit, One Love to a Joe Arroyo classic, Rebelion.

By: Ashmar Mandou

Alderman Carlos Rosa, Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski Garza, and members of the Chicago Immigration Working Group revealed the Comprehensive Immigrant Integration Plan during a press conference Tuesday morning at City Hall, a crystallized six point plan intended to follow the examples of New York City to make Chicago the friendliest immigrant city. The plan, which addresses language, representation, safety, access to relief programs, will soon be introduced in city council in the upcoming months. “We are excited and ready at city hall to work alongside Chicago’s leading immigrant groups to run these proactive solutions into legislations that will make our city the most immigrant-friendly in the United States,” said Ald. Rosa.

The six point plan will: increase support for pro-bono legal representation in Chicago’s immigration courts; amend the “Welcoming City” Ordinance to apply to all residents and ensure consistency between municipal and county policy; assure language access for city emergency services; create a municipal ID available to all Chicago residents; convene stakeholders to make deferred action relief programs accessible and affordable to city residents; and improve access to city services for immigrant survivors and victims of crimes and rights violations. “Chicago is a place that is always understood itself to be a city of immigrants,” said Executive Director of Immigrant Worker’s Project Ana Guajardo. “With a mayoral promise to make Chicago the most welcoming, a city council dedicated to equal treatment for all of our residents, and leadership from the community itself, we are ready to not just follow the examples of New York City and other places, but to be a leader in best practices for immigrant integration at the local level.” Discussions are still in process in regards to the cost of the creation of the municipal ID. Below are some of the points in detail. To read the full six point plan, visit www.aldermancarlosrosa.org.

Provide pro bono or low-cost representation to low-income immigrants in Chicago’s immigration courts by expanding existing legal services.
Immigrants facing deportation have no right to government-appointed representation in proceedings. In Chicago less than 14 percent of women assigned to the “adults with children docket” in immigration court have legal representation, according to data from Syracuse University. In 2013 New York City launched the first program to provide free representation to low-income immigrants by expanding the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, a public defender program for immigrants in removal proceedings

Expand protections for undocumented immigrants under Chicago’s “Welcoming Cities Ordinance” to align with Cook County policy.
Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” separating local police and immigration enforcement is inconsistent with Cook County policies. Revising the city ordinance to include all immigrants in Chicago and create a clear line separating local law enforcement and immigration enforcement would show the city’s commitment to the immigrant community, and would create consistency between Cook County and city policies.

Support the creation of a municipal identification card for all Chicago residents and assure that the privacy of information provided by immigrant families is protected.
Modeled after the New York and New Jersey municipal identification cards, this city-issued identification card would be accessible to all Chicago residents, and would connect them to services, programs, and benefits, regardless of immigration status, homeless status, or gender identity. The cards would also be considered official IDs for city of Chicago services, including interactions with the Chicago Police Department.

The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago announced the complete program for the 10th Annual Latino Music Festival, the city’s only festival dedicated to Iberoamerican classical and contemporary music. The Festival will present 24 concerts of music from Latin America and Spain from September 10 to November 22 at various city and suburban locations including: The Harold Washington Public Library’s Cindy Pritzker Auditorium; The Art Institute of Chicago’s Fullerton Hall; Instituto Cervantes; Harper College Performing Arts Center; Redmoon Theatre; the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art; the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts; Pianoforte Foundation; Merit School of Music; Old Town School of Folk Music; Symphony Center; Northwestern University’s Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall; Merle Reskin Theatre; and the Athenaeum Theatre.

The Festival opens Thursday September 10 with a special performance at the Redmoon Theatre of a landmark work of socially engaged music from Latin America: the “Cantata a Santa María de Iquique” performed by Chicago’s very own Sones de Mexico at the Redmoon Theatre. The Festival will close Sunday, November 22 with the Chicago debut of the Recycled Instruments Orchestra of Cateura at the Merle Reskin Theater. For more information on the Festival, including ticket purchases, visit http://latinomusicfest.org/.

Caption by Ashmar Mandou

Neither sweltering heat nor a downpour could keep people away from one of the best festivals of the summer, the sixth annual Cuban Festival. From Friday to Sunday, Chicagoans had a chance to listen to some of the best Caribbean beats from Brenda K. Starr, DLG, Luis Enrique, and Miguelito Cuni, Jr., and so much more. On Saturday afternoon, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially kick-off the festival with the help of Lt. Gov Evelyn Sanguinetti, Alderman Milly Santiago, and Alderman Ariel Reboyras.

Caption by Ashmar Mandou

Spectators gathered at The Field Museum to check out the second annual ComEd Icebox Derby Race, the finale to a six-week journey where a group of girls divided into five teams spent their summer converting recycled refrigerators into electric cars. The Icebox Derby program is designed to promote interest in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields and encourages young girls aged 13-18 to pursue careers in STEM. Celebrity host Amandla Stenberg, from The Hunger Games was on site to greet the girls and offer up some sage advice. “I really enjoy seeing young girls go against the grain and discover their true passion. High school can be tough so it’s important that you follow what makes you happy in school and focus on that,” said Stenberg. ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore met with the teams and congratulated this year’s winning team ComEd Icebox Derby winning team the Flaming Zing (Mikayola Martinez, Sara Chin, Mackenna Clayton, Chequita Grant, Morkyra).

The Berwyn Police Department will be issuing additional citations in the overnight hours. This campaign will feature high visibility enforcement combined with a variety of outreach activities including additional law enforcement activity. Extra emphasis will be given to the late-night hours when statistics show the most people drink and drive and the fewest buckle up. The Berwyn Police Department will be conducting a roadside safety check on 09/04/2015 at Harlem and Riverside Drive. The costs of driving impaired or unbuckled are high both financially and emotionally when crashes occur. The Berwyn Police Department is stepping up late-night enforcement efforts making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up.

More than 300 Chicago children and their families gathered at Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown to participate in the Great Chicago Fire Festival summer long celebration of interactive arts programming and performances by Chicago-based artists.

“Ping Tom Memorial park allows our youth to experience more of the city’s rich cultural history, participate in unique workshops and experience art and dance from our very own Chicago artists,” said Jim Lasko, Redmoon’s executive artistic director. “We’ve had a great summer bringing Chicago’s youth together through art and design in our parks since our kickoff in La Villita Park.” The free event featured performances by Ling Ling Dance Company and St. Therese Chinese Catholic School, The Happiness Club, The Remedy, Aerial Dance Chicago, The Actors Gymnasium, Ballet Folklorico Xochitl and DJ Shon Roka.

The closing ceremony of the 2015 Great Chicago Fire Festival is September 26th from 5:30p.m. to 9p.m. It is a free event open to the public and will include multiple performance stages curated by Redmoon.

Photos courtesy of Redmoon.