Hugo’s Elvis was a smash hit earlier this year when he packed the house at the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center. --File photo

Hugo’s Elvis was a smash hit earlier this year when he packed the house at the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center. --File photo

Welcome to Rocktober

Spread the love

Classic cars, Elvis tribute artist headline a busy month 

By Tim Hadac

Clearing and Garfield Ridge will start—and end–October with some classic fun designed to jog recollections of good times and create new moments to remember.

A classic car show featuring dozens of sweet rides from decades gone by is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 in several parking lots and on the street east of 63rd and Narragansett.

CRRNH WelcomeToRocktober 092822

Hugo’s Elvis was a smash hit earlier this year when he packed the house at the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center. –File photo

The annual event is sponsored by the Midway Chamber of Commerce (formerly Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce) and the Clearing Night Force neighborhood watch group.

“This event is a lot of fun for the whole family, and we’re pleased to partner with the Clearing Night Force to bring it to the community,” MCC President Mary Ellen Brown said. “It’s the type of thing that gets men, women and children out of the house and onto our business strips. That delivers a ‘keep it at home’ message, and having neighbors meet each other helps make connections that can help prevent crime and build a more cohesive neighborhood.”

Owners of classic cars, trucks and other vehicles are invited to display their rides at no charge. Spaces in local parking lots are first come, first served.

The event will include a fall craft show, as well as food trucks.

The car show will also feature DJ Eli Jubiter, sponsored by Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors.

“Eli has three hours to fill, and he’s looking for suggestions on classic rock songs to play,” Randazzo said. “So, what songs remind you of classic cars? Of cruising down the streets of your youth? Of your favorite drive-in restaurant or drive-in movie theater? Send your suggestions to the All Exterior Contractors Facebook page, and they will be relayed to Eli.”

Hit the diamonds first

Before the car show starts, Clearing and Garfield Ridge residents are asked to stop off at the diamonds at nearby Hale Park–just steps northeast of where the car show is–and see another Chicago classic: a 16-inch softball tournament.

Some of the best players in the city will be slugging it out in an all-day men’s tourney hosted by two local non-profits: Brotherhood For The Fallen and Our CORPS Charity.

Funds raised through the tournament will benefit police officers slain in the line of duty, as well as military veterans’ organizations and individual vets.

For details, call Niko Garcia at (708) 724-3606.

The king’s triumphant return

Three months after he packed the house—and nearly brought it down at the senior center in Garfield Ridge, one of the nation’s top Elvis tribute artists will return in an encore show of sorts.

Hugo’s Elvis, a rising young star who has even played Las Vegas, will perform for 90 minutes on stage at Our Lady of the Snows parish hall, 4810 S. Leamington, Saturday, Oct. 22. Doors open at 11:15 a.m., and the show runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Then from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Motown tribute group Fred & Friendz will take everyone on trip down memory lane as it ran through the Motor City.

Between acts, those in attendance will enjoy a pizza lunch.

Invited to attend are all local senior citizens, military veterans and first responders.

Seating is limited, and reservations are required. To make a reservation, call the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center at (312) 745-4255.

There is no admission charge or charge for lunch. The show is paid for as a public service to seniors, veterans and first responders by Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors, Mike Riordan of Mike Riordan State Farm Agency and Al Cacciottolo of First Rate Realty.

Pumpkin parade closes out month

The community’s annual Pumpkin Parade is expected to end the month with an explosion of orange, black and other colors on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Sponsored by the Midway Chamber of Commerce, the event is still in the planning stages, and details will be shared in early October in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound. The traditional parade route is from Archer and Nordica to Wentworth Park..

Several thousand boys and girls, moms and dads, and grandmas and grandpas typically line the parade route—many in Halloween costumes.

Local News

CRRNH_CosmoPhotoMDWArmory_032724

City wants to buy armory at MDW

Spread the love

Spread the love. Has been vacant since 2017 .  By Tim Hadac For decades, it served military purposes, as well as Chicago’s gateway for Presidents stopping off in the city. But the Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., has been mostly vacant since 2017, when the Illinois Army National Guard ceased operations…

Mary Ellen Fox --Photo by Cosmo Hadac

A successful career serving thousands

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . Most folks work for years at their jobs, expecting and receiving little fanfare, then retire quietly. Garfield Ridge resident Mary Ellen Fox planned to retire from her 30-year job in the City Clerk’s Office quietly; and she did, earlier this year. But…

Priscilla Steinmetz, of Orland Park's Bridge Teen Center, has fun March 7 at Congressman Sean Casten's desk in Washington. (Bridge Teen Center photo)

Casten secures $11M for district; invites Bridge Teen founder to State of Union

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten is bringing some big bucks home. Casten (D-6th) announced that he helped secure more than $11 million in federal funding for local community projects. Included in that bounty is: $1.28 million to Evergreen Park for water main replacement. $500,000 to La Grange for storm and sanitary sewer…

Trinity Christian College of Nursing received a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. (Supplied photo)

Trinity, MVCC nursing schools schools receive state grants

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The Illinois Board of Higher Education has awarded nursing school grants to 12 institutions of higher education across the state, including two in the south suburbs, totaling $1.4 million. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills received a grant of $38,316 to focus on improved math proficiency and preparedness of…

biz runnings logo NEW

Runnings holds grand opening in Homer Glen

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The big-box store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen has certainly had a storied past. Once upon a time, it was part of the Kmart chain. That ended years ago. Since then, it has been a Big R, a Stock + Field, and an R.P. Home and Harvest.…

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid celebrates winning the Democratic primary in the 21st House District with Safaa Zarzour (left) and wife Fidaa, who holds their 1-month-old son Mohammad Zain, at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. in Chicago Ridge. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Rashid rolls in 21st House, but Vasquez plans rematch

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid may have rolled to victory over challenger Vidal Vasquez in the 21st House District Democratic primary, but he took nothing for granted. “I am humbled and honored that the voters chose to send me back and I look forward to continuing the work ahead of us,”…

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Anniversary Ferris Wheel features 24 gondolas that each seat up to six people. The attraction will be at the Zoo through Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jim Schulz/Brookfield Zoo Chicago)

Brookfield Zoo Anniversary Ferris Wheel now open

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Brookfield Zoo has been attracting visitors for 90 years. To celebrate the anniversary, the zoo has opened a new attraction that has nothing to do with animals. Last Friday, the zoo opened its Anniversary Ferris Wheel. The towering 110-foot Ferris wheel offers guests unique bird’s-eye views of the park’s gardens, animal…

Congressman Sean Casten, speaking at a Town Hall meeting at Moraine Valley Community College.
(Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Casten romps over primary foes in 6th Congressional race

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Three-term Congressman Sean Casten easily defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District. “First and foremost, thank you,” he said. “Thank you to the voters who have entrusted me once again with their vote. Thank you to the volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls,…

CRR_NH

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound March 20, 2024

Spread the love

Spread the love

Oak Lawn sophomore Jack Dempsey loads up as a pitch approaches during the Spartans 12-5 win over Crete-Monee on March 11. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | Oak Lawn rolls over Crete-Monee to open season

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Oak Lawn traveled to Ozinga Field in Crestwood to open the season against Crete-Monee at Ozinga Field in Crestwood, home of the Windy City Thunderbolts. The Spartans climbed to a big lead early and never turned back as they went on to defeat the Warriors, 12-5. Sophomore starting pitcher…

Neighbors

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A panel of federal appellate judges on Thursday seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law. Bost’s late 2022…

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

By BETH HUNDSDORFER  Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.  Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…