Sponsor News | Sponsor EventsSponsors Showcase | Become a Sponsor Explore the magic all around us at Nature's Magic Show from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library Featuring magician Jeff Bibik — aka The Amazing Bibik — the show takes a magical look at the world we live in through fun and colorful magical tricks and effects For more information and to register, see the Nature's Magic Show with Jeff Bibik web page of the Chicago Public Library website All Featured Events All Forums Use contingent on our Terms of ServiceCopyright © 2012-2025 Local News LLCAll Rights ReservedUnauthorized AI and LLM use is expressly prohibited Enjoy the Little Miss Ann Family Concert from 6 p.m at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library Kids up to 5 years of age will enjoy Little Miss Ann's upbeat and interactive singing For more information and to register, see the Family Concert with Little Miss Ann web page on the Chicago Public Library website Densmore Mountain… North America’s tallest peak has gone by many names While the name of the mountain and the name of the park have changed multiple times since the park was established in 1917 There are five Athabascan languages surrounding the park According to University of Alaska linguist James Kari the groups to the north and west of the mountain (and Alaska Range) use words that translate to “the tall one.” The Athabascan languages to the south of the mountain use words that mean “mountain-big.” The name “Denali” stems from “deenaalee,” which is from the Koyukon language traditionally spoken on the north side The first non-Native record of the mountain came from George Vancouver in 1794 when he referred to the “stupendous snow mountains.” Early 18th and 19th century Russian explorers had several names for the mountain explorer Andrei Glazunov called the highest peak Tenada which is Deg Hit’an Athabascan and means “the great mountain.” This name appears on an 1839 map of the area Another Russian name used to describe the mountain was Bulshaia Gora and means “Big One.” The US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 and a couple of decades later a gold prospector named Frank Densmore explored Interior Alaska and effused about the tremendous mountain Prospectors all along the Yukon River started calling the mountain “Densmore Mountain” or “Densmore Peak.” “Mount McKinley” emerged after a gold prospector named William Dickey used the name in an 1897 New York Sun article Although the new president had no direct connection to Alaska the name Mount McKinley was popularized following the president’s 1901 assassination Renaming efforts began before the establishment of the park and have continued into the present when legislation was first drafted to establish a new national park to protect wildlife there was disagreement over what the park should be named “Mount McKinley National Park” officially prevailed after its legislation was signed into law on February 26 Despite the official decision to use “Mount McKinley” as the name of the peak and the national park the name controversy reemerged when the State of Alaska petitioned the U.S Board on Geographic Names to change the name of the mountain to Denali officially though the Ohio congressional delegation (representing former-President McKinley’s home state) blocked their efforts for the next four decades the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act changed the park’s name to Denali National Park and Preserve The official name of the mountain remained Mount McKinley until 2015 when President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell restored the name Denali to the mountain President Donald Trump issued an executive order to change the name of the mountain back to Mount McKinley The name of the park remains Denali National Park and Preserve From webcams and blogs to articles about history there are many ways to learn about the park Learn how Denali protects cultural resources and enforces the National Historic Preservation Act Two million acres of designated wilderness preserve wilderness character Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go Help clean up at the Canal Origins Park Stewardship Day from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Canal Origins Park The event is hosted by Friends of the Chicago River, who request attendees register in advance at https://www.chicagoriver.org/events.  All Showcase Events The McKinley Park neighborhood’s Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball League celebrated the start of its 20th year at its opening day on Saturday, April 26, 2025, including a parade through the neighborhood, ceremony and ball games at Chicago’s Hoyne Park “This is a most exciting day,” Cook County 7th District Commissioner Alma Anaya said while addressing the crowd youth and their families through year-round programming which range from 4-year-old T-ballers through highly competitive girls high school softball players Illinois 24th District State Representative Theresa Mah lauded the “amazing community” that comes together to support the league “All the parents who are here are something you can’t take for granted,” said Illinois 1st District State Senator Javier Cervantes parents and coaches march in the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Major league baseball alum Curtis Granderson throws out the first pitch at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Members of the youth Cardinals team disembark from the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Omega Delta league founder Danny Gaichas welcomes the crowd at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Major Yankees team await the parade start at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday coaches and parents participate in the parade leading the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Members of the Padres youth team pose at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Members of the youth Cubs team disembark from the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Major Dodgers team walk the parade route at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Cook County 7th District Commissioner Alma Anaya speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Dancers from Ballet Folklorico de Chicago entertain the crowd at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez and members of her Fireflies girls softball team disembark from the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Illinois 24th District State Representative Theresa Mah speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Members of the Fireflies girls softball team wave from the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday 52 leads the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Members of the Major Dodgers team watch the ceremony at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Suzanne Lucio wows the crowd by singing the national anthem at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Cardinals wait for the parade to start at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Cubs team await the start of the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Illinois 1st District State Representative Aarón Ortíz speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Padres team march at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Major league baseball player Curtis Granderson speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Volunteers man the grills at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Illinois 1st District State Senator Javier Cervantes speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Yankees team march in the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday League Umpire Jessie Calderon leads parent coach and player pledges at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Major Dodgers team await the start of the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Illinois 1st District State Senator Javier Cervantes Illinois 24th District State Representative Theresa Mah Cook County 7th District Commissioner Alma Anaya Chicago 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez and Illinois 1st District State Representative Aarón OrtÍz celebrate at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the White Sox team get ready for the parade to start at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Players for the Rockies team ride in the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday Members of the White Sox team march in the parade at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday League head Danny Gaichas speaks at the Omega Delta Youth Baseball & Softball opening day on Saturday In addition to the national anthem led by Suzanne Lucio and the first pitch thrown out by Major League Baseball All-Star Curtis Granderson coaches and parents in their annual pledges of good sportsmanship After the ceremony, dancers from Ballet Folklorico de Chicago entertained the crowd followed by three games from players of the minor 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez also spoke and paraded with her girls softball team Omega Delta’s goal for kids and youth is “to make them better people and better ball players,” said Danny Gaichas “I wish all the teams the best of luck,” Mah said Celebrate the creative addition to the McKinley Park neighborhood's DIY skate park at the New Artist Installation at noon on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Marshfield Courts Party at the Cinco de Mayo Celebration at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Marz Community Brewing Co. The event features a pop-up from the kitchen of Windy City Burgers The Chicago Police Department's 9th District issued an alert about a string of burglaries in the McKinley Park neighborhood and nearby in which a man uses bricks and pieces of concrete to smash storefront windows before entering and robbing the businesses The suspect is described as a male 25 to 40 years of age with a dark complexion The two burglaries in McKinley Park took place shortly after each other early in the morning of Friday 2025: in the 3500 block of South Archer Avenue between 2 a.m Additional burglaries took place on Wednesday in the 4000 block of South Western Avenue in the Brighton Park neighborhood; in the early morning of Friday in the 1700 block of West 47th Street in the Back of the Yards neighborhood; and early in the morning of Saturday in the 3500 block of South Halsted Avenue in the Bridgeport neighborhood Police recommended businesses take precautions and enact deterrents against burglary and immediately repairing any broken security equipment They also said that victims should keep a copy of any video recordings of burglaries request contact information from witnesses and immediately report any suspicious activity Anyone with information should contact Area One Detectives by calling (312) 747-8384, or submit an anonymous tip at the CPDTIP.com website P25-1-034 when contacting police about these or any related incidents The Marshfield Courts skate park at 1644 W in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood kicked off its fifth season with a fund-raiser the evening of Saturday at Subterra gallery in the West Town neighborhood fans and members of the DIY skate park gathered to support the non-profit Supporting donors included both local names and nationwide brands Several artists who have contributed work to the skate park also shared their bios and work samples as a featured exhibit Liam Bergeron and Ezra Bent take in the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Nancy Quiroz gets a new tattoo from artist Luis Salmon at the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Raffle merchandise lines the wall of the the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Attendees examine the artwork and biographies of artists who have contributed to the skate park at the the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Hand-painted signs display the sponsors of the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Marshfield Courts founder Juan Chavez and Marcella Green enjoy the group's fund-raiser on Saturday A timeline shows the development of Marshfield Courts at the Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday and Liliana Ortiz enjoy the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Will Ramirez gets some new ink from tattoo artist Thomas Alva Jr at the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Marshfield Courts Treasurer Zack Rupp and Nick Sanchez enjoy the group's Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday Attendees enjoy the Marshfield Courts Season 5 Fund-Raiser on Saturday at the Subterra Gallery in the West Town neighborhood Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation Join community members and neighbors to remember those who died in the service of the United States at McKinley Park's Memorial Day Parade, 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025, starting from the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library Presented by the McKinley Park Civic Association (MPCA) and William McKinley American Legion Post 231 the parade steps off at the library at 10 a.m ending at the William McKinley American Legion Post at 1956 W The parade concludes at the American Legion post for a ceremony and refreshments The McKinley Park News strives to list every public-facing event that takes place in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood we've listed more than 21,000 neighborhood events of all kinds Top categories include Showcase Events, which highlight performance, spectacle and entertainment, and Featured Events which include significant neighborhood meetings and congregations including at locations highlighted in the above map Attend the 3301 S. Justine St. Development Meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the 12th Ward office The current owners of the property at 3301 S seek to develop the property into a multi-building development that includes a nine-story tall residential tower a one-story retail building and nine townhouses Early voting for 12th Ward residents for the November 5, 2024, United States Presidential Election takes place 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library Early voting for 11th Ward residents of Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood takes place 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at McGuane Park in the Bridgeport neighborhood at 2910 S downtown early voting sites for all wards are available at: For more information on Chicago's voting process and the upcoming election, visit https://chicagoelections.gov QTS Data Centers operates its McKinley Park neighborhood Chicago 1 Data Center at 2800 S offering data center solutions to meet every business and institutional need Contact QTS Data Centers by calling (877) 787-3282, or click here to schedule a tour and discover Chicago's premier choice for data center services Strategically located on a 30-acre campus near the heart of Chicago’s high-demand downtown corridor QTS’s Chicago 1 data center offers flexible and efficient data solutions build and operate the world’s most innovative secure data centers in the United States and Europe We offer innovative solutions so
 you can build with confidence We give back to the communities where we live and work not just through our innovative data centers we engage in a wide range of volunteer opportunities community outreach and community partnerships to help others in need in the U.S QTS Data Centers is a leader in sustainability including its McKinley Park neighborhood campus: Partygoers in 2024 celebrate Chicago's birthday in front of St Chicago.Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood will once again celebrate the anniversary of Chicago’s founding by hosting Chicago’s Birthday Party at the city’s geographic center This celebration brings attendees together to enjoy cake and refreshments and sing Happy Birthday to Chicago in multiple languages “This landmark occasion represents all the ways we are connected and how all communities have built up our city over the years," said 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez “Bringing together people who have made Chicago and McKinley Park home deserves an annual celebration.” Chicago’s Birthday Party takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the street in front of St. Andrew Lutheran Church free event features notable local leaders and personalities leading Happy Birthday in their heritages’ languages with accompanying birthday cakes presented by neighborhood bakers The party is the second occurrence of this now-annual event. The first modest sidewalk birthday party in 2024 has grown in 2025 into a permitted city event supported by dozens of local institutions and enterprises, including funding from major sponsors Swap-O-Rama and QTS Data Centers we are proud to be a part of Chicago’s rich and diverse community,” said Vice President of Operations Justin Joseph “As a sponsor of this incredible celebration we are honored to support an event that brings people together through culture The Chicago's Birthday Party website at https://mckinleypark.org highlights the contributions of event sponsor and how they're contributing to the event Captain Chicago rallies the crowd at the 1st annual Chicago's Birthday Party on March 4 2024.“As QTS expands our footprint in Chicago we look forward to connecting with neighbors and engaging with the local community in support of the Chicago Birthday Party celebration,” said Dave Murray Sponsors also participate to provide in-kind support, including birthday cake bakers Kristoffer’s Cakes and Cadinho Bakery, and Pepsico which is providing complimentary beverages Planned birthday songs with accompanying cakes include those in Spanish each sung by a different leader who then blows out the candles on each cake which are then cut and served after the ceremony More languages and singers will likely be added to this lineup Andrew Lutheran Church Pastor Adam Gawel will lead the Mandarin happy birthday song “I've sung Happy Birthday (祝你生日快乐) more than a few times over the years,” Gawel said Andrew Lutheran Church is an event co-host providing key amenities and infrastructure “It was wonderful to have so many members of our community gathered together at 37th and Honore last year,” Gawel said “We're really looking forward to welcoming the whole community again to come celebrate Chicago's birthday.” enterprises and individuals have pledged support for the event and its promotion with planning and production conducted collaboratively on a volunteer basis Attendees can expect to enjoy live entertainment and ceremony,  including performance by Horizon Science Academy’s band a color guard and gun salute by William McKinley American Legion Post 231 and special appearances by characters like Captain Chicago More performers are likely to be added to the lineup “We are proud to have the geographic center of this great city right here in the 12th Ward,” Ramirez said “Hosting this landmark occasion represents all the ways we are connected and how all communities have built up our city.” “Chicago is more than just where we do business — it’s home,” Joseph said “The people we serve and the communities we uplift are at the heart of everything we do and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our fellow Chicagoans." Note: The McKinley Park News is a volunteering co-sponsor of the Chicago's Birthday Party event Overall crime in Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood increased by almost 6 percent in 2024 compared to 2023 that jump in eight key crime categories is a slowdown compared to the 20 percent increase in crime the neighborhood suffered from 2022 to 2023 The biggest jump in 2024 came in neighborhood thefts and burglaries: an increase of 29 percent and 11 percent Thefts totaled 326 in 2024 versus 253 in 2023; burglaries numbered 50 in 2024 and 45 in 2023 “There also were a number of garage burglaries,” said Chicago Police Department 9th District Commander Joseph Mark “But residential burglaries were not as prevalent.” A slight 3.5 percent increase in assaults — 88 in 2024 versus 85 in 2023 — and two 2024 homicides McKinley Park neighborhood crime decreased in the four other major crime categories the FBI calls index crimes: These crime statistics originated from the City of Chicago Data Portal Focusing on crime in business districts is an important local concern, said 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez “Certainly crime will be a big topic of discussion so that we can all be safer,” she said In the Chicago Police Department’s 9th District — which covers McKinley Park and the surrounding community areas of New City Armour Square and the Lower West Side — overall index crime dropped by 2.5 percent from 2023 to 2024 The biggest reductions in 9th District crime from 2023 to 2024 were motor vehicle thefts Crime increased most in the McKinley Park neighborhood compared with its neighbors which covers Canaryville and Back of the Yards neighborhoods experienced the largest decrease in crime — 7 percent — of all of the neighborhoods adjacent to McKinley Park Bridgeport saw a slight reduction in crime of half a percentage point in 2024 versus 2023 while Brighton Park crime increased by 3.5 percent crime in the eight index crimes remained mostly flat its rate of increase was the lowest over the last few years 2024 is the first year with crime decreases across Chicago within the 9th District and some of its communities View the collaboration between Filipino-American artist Louis De Guzman and SEGA of America, Inc. at the Sonic the Hedgehog Gallery Opening Reception from 6 p.m The reception presents a new Sonic the Hedgehog collection for game enthusiats and art collectors that pulls cues from De Guzman's signature style and original body of work For more information, see the Sonic The Hedgehog in association with Louis De Guzman : Pop-Up web page on the Eventbrite service which highly recommends RSVPs and early arrival for this free event Write and share at the Poetry and Plant Connection from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library Presented by the McKinley Park stewardship group the workshop brings together writers for meditation writing and sharing in the library's side garden For questions, send email to mkpgarden@gmail.com CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police is investigating recent food delivery driver robberies the robberies have been in the McKinley Park neighborhood drivers arrive to deliver food when one or two people confront them with a gun demanding money The robberies took place in the:3700-block of South Wolcott Ave on October 21 (-3700-block of South Paulina Street on October 22 at 10:30 p.m.-3500-block of South Hoyne Avenue on November 7 at 2:00 a.m.-3700-block of South Wood Street on November 27 at 4:30 p.m.-3700-block of South Wood Street on December 16 Anyone with information is asked to contact Area 1 Detectives at (312)-747-8384 Chicago — at the intersection of 35th St and Marshfield Ave Marshfield Courts is a DIY skate park run by local volunteers Follow on IG @marshfieldcourts Pittsburgh Union Progress Families and neighborhood residents can celebrate Earth Month in Westinghouse Park on April 5 and in McKinley Park on April 19 The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy leaders said the two events will highlight the vital role of parks as community gathering spaces while encouraging sustainable practices for a greener future Earth Month festivities include beats by local DJs and opportunities to connect with Parks Conservancy staff and other local conservation organizations. Scheduled partners include the Pittsburgh Park Rangers Tree Pittsburgh and the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition engaging science activities and more.  “Our Earth Month celebrations are all about bringing the community together to enjoy our city’s beautiful parks in a fun and meaningful way,” Director of Education and the Frick Environmental Center James Brown said in the release games and nature crafts, there’s something for everyone These free events are a chance to celebrate and show love for Westinghouse Park and McKinley Park while connecting with amazing local organizations that are working hard to care for our planet.”  Westinghouse Park, located in Point Breeze, is a neighborhood park covering a city block that will also serve as the venue for the 27th annual PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon spanning 79 acres in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood and extending into Bon Air and Knoxville is the focal point of the conservancy’s Community Grove project This initiative seeks to revitalize the park by developing a new community gathering space and implementing various enhancements such as improved pathway connections and expanded ecological restoration sites.   “Westinghouse Park is full of history It was once the estate of George Westinghouse Jr., a brilliant inventor who helped make railroads safer and brought electricity to more people visitors can still find pieces of that past — remnants of his mansion and underground tunnels — right in the park which has been a cherished public space for over a century,” conservancy President and CEO Catherine Qureshi said in the release Our Earth Month celebrations are a wonderful way to bring people together and honor that vision.”  No registration is required. For more details, visit Pittsburghparks.org/earthmonth and follow the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy on social media Additionally, the conservancy offers a wide range of free and affordable programs during April, including a special Earth Month Forest Bathing series. Explore the full calendar at Pittsburghparks.org/events.  The PUP is the publication of the striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Chicago’s Damen Silos, a long-derelict property on the south bank of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal between South Ashland and South Damen avenues, faces pending demolition by its owner Michael Tadin Jr. with the approval of a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed its review of your pre-construction notification,” wrote Senior Project Manager Colin C Smalley in the corps’ authorization letter “Your proposed activity complies with the terms and conditions of the NWP [Nationwide Permit].” “We will proceed with demolition in the near future sometime in the early part of 2025,” Tadin said “We look forward to transforming this property for its future use.” The Damen Silos survey phase plan illustrates property layout and demolition elements.MAT Limited Partnership purchased the site in 2022 by submitting a winning bid in an auction from the State of Illinois which had been trying to sell the property for more than a decade prior The property had been vacant for decades before that Demolition plans call for removal of all buildings on the property by vendor Heneghan Wrecking Inc. under permit conditions that include notification requirements and prohibition of letting any demolition materials enter the adjacent waterway – something not expected to happen Rehabilitation of the property is also conducted under a December 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between MAT Limited Partnership the Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer and the U.S The memorandum mandates special development requirements including memorial markers detailing the history of the site "Since purchasing the Damen Silos property two years ago we have been committed to receiving input from various stakeholders in the community,” Tadin said As reported here in the McKinley Park News, the City of Chicago deferred decision on a permit in October 2023 until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could weigh in. A meeting earlier this year on the silos demolition attracted dozens of commenters to the McKinley Park field house “We value being a good neighbor and steward of this land and that diligence is reflected by this demolition permit approval from the U.S a Planned Development for the site with approval from the City of Chicago must also integrate public-access riverwalk planning Tadin said no use for the property had yet been set we have no final plans for its development as we consider our options." Ed. Note: MAT Limited Partnership owner Michael Tadin Jr. is a co-owner of MAT Asphalt, a Sponsor of the McKinley Park News. For information about our editorial and sponsorship operations and policies, see our About Us page and the Letter from the Editor "Building a Trustworthy News Business." Elizabeth Hanks at age 3 playing in McKinley Park (Courtesy of E.A Maybe it’s something in the riverine waters, but Sacramento seems to have developed a knack for turning out female writers who exquisitely put pen to paper about their hometown. Think Joan Didion, Greta Gerwig chronicles a journey of discovery and reflection during a solo road trip along the titular cross-country highway in search of answers to long-burning questions born of a complicated childhood “I grew up a Sacramento girl,” Hanks writes in an earlier piece commissioned for a coffee-table edition of Gerwig’s screenplay for 2017’s Lady Bird  (she has also written for publications like The New York Times The Guardian  and The Huffington Post) “I don’t remember a time before I lived there and when I moved away I’d already been shaped into the woman I would always be.” Elizabeth Anne Hanks spent her youth in East Sacramento’s tony Fabulous Forties coincidentally across the street from the blue house immortalized in Gerwig’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story fantasized that living in such a temple of upper-middle-class grace surely must be the gateway to a charmed life often still considers the River City to be her home only of living as a child of divorce in Sacramento visiting her increasingly famous father—who dropped out of college and moved away in 1977 to pursue acting as a career—on weekend trips to L.A her mother Susan Dillingham’s undiagnosed mental illness (most likely bipolar disorder) created an ever more staggering level of instability “I lived in a white house with columns and a bedroom with pictures of horses plastered on every wall,” Hanks writes in The 10 in a concise passage brimming with Didion-esque descriptive and emotional exactitude the backyard became so full of dog shit that you couldn’t walk around it The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed her emotional violence became physical violence and in the aftermath I moved to Los Angeles right smack in the middle of the seventh grade when teen herd dynamics are at their most brutal.” The author (at right) with her father Tom Hanks stepmother Rita Wilson and brother Colin Hanks at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards (Photo by Sthanlee B The narrative of The 10 ping-pongs back and forth between Hanks’ early Sacramento childhood an earlier mother-daughter road trip to Dillingham’s hometown of Palatka the adult Hanks hopes to discover her mother’s true origin story to finally separate historical truth from the many layers of “fiction” generated by psychosis “Her relationship with reality was fluid,” she writes “There would usually be a grain of truth that was fed through the meat grinder of mental illness and came out the other side sordid and upsetting.” But the insights she uncovers camping in a van (which she borrowed from her father) across Arizona Texas and Louisiana are far more powerful than mere facts could ever be elegiac deconstruction of the miracle of emotional survival and if Hanks’ connection to a household name gets readers to crack open the book they’ll stay for the raw power of the narrative’s universal pull “ ‘What do I have in common with this person Her dad wins Oscars,’ ” Hanks says of what a book buyer might think if you’ve ever loved a complicated person This is not a memoir of a celebrity childhood and when papa Hanks makes his occasional appearance There are plenty of harrowing moments—just going to the grocery store with a mother in the grip of a full-blown psychotic episode demonstrates how tense daily life could be—but the adult Hanks is always in control of the narrative never veering into maudlin as she steers us on a healing journey toward illumination and acceptance “The biggest gift my dad gave me—outside of unconditional love and a van—was that when he first read [the book] ‘That is an accurate description of your mother That is exactly what it was like to love her and to fear her,’ ” Hanks says And she bounced multiple drafts off brother Colin who helped her thread the needle on a portrait that was both accurate and humanizing including the dedicated mom who for years got up at 4 a.m to drive young Elizabeth to participate in horse shows around the state and the modern mom who helped her daughter dye her hair purple “For every friend I had who was not allowed to come to my house I had another for whom my mom was ‘the cool mom,’ ” the memoirist writes in The 10 with her mother at a horse show in Rancho Murieta in 1998 (Courtesy of E.A To illustrate just how powerfully supportive her East Sacramento circle was Hanks shares an anecdote that didn’t make it into the book her mom—an ardent devotee of AA who had long before battled alcohol and drug addiction—was away at a 12-step meeting and I was getting really hungry,” Hanks recalls She knew a mom from school who lived across the street but maybe next door to it,” she notes ‘Will you come over and cook me dinner?’ The strangeness of that must have been shocking This is why Hanks still comes back to Sacramento regularly to visit the community that helped parent her through adversity “Even though what was primarily being modeled for me was chaos and dysfunction,” she says my younger brothers and my East Sacramento coterie of adoptive mothers signaled what family really meant which was unconditional love and acceptance.” Hanks returns to her old stomping grounds on the heels of her memoir’s release reading from The 10 at her favorite local bookstore She also likes to stop into East Sacramento dive bar Club 2 Me for a whiskey and coke whenever she’s “visiting home,” or grab a sandwich from Corti Brothers but you can’t take Sacramento out of the girl “When you grow up in a place that takes such good care of you that stays with you your whole life,” Hanks says “It’s what allows you to go off and have adventures.” Homecoming Queen – Greta Gerwig and the making of Lady Bird A Long, Strange Trip – Colin Hanks’ documentary All Things Must Pass Our 2011 Q&A with Joan Didion discussing her final original work, Blue Nights Get Sactown's top stories in your inbox by signing up for our weekly newsletter See All>> A network of 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Been a Minute features people in the culture who deserve your attention Plus weekly wraps of the news with journalists in the know Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers A radio journal of news and culture produced from a Latino perspective and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior shape our choices and direct our relationships Your guide to examining how the media sausage is made Important ideas and practical advice: Code Switch features fearless and much-needed conversations about race—and Life Kit offers practical advice on things in life no one prepared you for Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX Reveal is public radio’s first one-hour radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting A weekly program presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser Maria Lazaro-Castillo allegedly was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend Oct Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man wanted in connection with the murder of his ex-girlfriend last month in the McKinley Park neighborhood Tony Hernandez, 48, is accused of fatally shooting 41-year-old Maria Lazaro-Castillo in a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder during an argument the morning of Oct. 13 in the 3800 block of South Damen Avenue “eluding police,” but detectives made telephone contact with him and he “is refusing to turn himself in and has told family members that he will be taking his own life,” according to police reports obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times Lazaro-Castillo had received an order of protection against Hernandez last month but he hadn’t been served with the order at the time of the shooting according to the reports and Miguel Valenzuela Hernandez frequently visits areas of Brighton Park Police urged anyone with information to contact Area 1 Violent Crimes Detective Paul Gentile at 312-747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference No Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale Reducing shootings, armed robberies and burglaries are the top three priorities in 2025 for the Chicago Police Department’s 9th District, according to its just-released District Strategic Plan At the February 26, 2025, meeting of the 9th District Police Council Commander Joseph Mark reviewed the strategic plan and explained how the 9th District expects to reduce crime in those areas including in the burglary-plagued McKinley Park and nearby neighborhoods “We have beefed up police presence on business corridors to try and reduce these burglaries,” Mark said burglaries rose by 11 percent in 2024 compared to 2023 Many occurred overnight at businesses that were closed Perpetrators would break in and steal money from the cash register “Offenders can easily escape via the Dan Ryan or Stevenson Expressway from multiple entrances off Wentworth or Ashland Avenue,” the strategic plan stated The plan highlighted burglary activity between South Ashland Avenue east to South Wentworth Avenue and from Pershing Road north to the Stevenson Expressway Many armed robberies occur overnight in the Back of the Yards and Brighton Park neighborhoods with offenders preying on street vendors who are setting up shop for the day Robbers work in teams with one in a car — usually a stolen vehicle — while one or more brandish guns and demand money The robbers usually wear masks and dark clothing “Robberies have been crimes of opportunity,” the strategic plan stated “The offenders are usually armed with handguns and/or rifles which allow them to easily overpower the victim.” Police are using license plate readers to identify stolen cars and stop the drivers in the McKinley Park neighborhood robberies fell 21 percent from 2023 to 2024 Gang violence in the Back of the Yards neighborhood continues to drive shootings in the district “Identifying the main gang members who are causing the problems is the key to slowing down the violence,” the strategic plan stated highlighting an April 2024 shooting in which four young children at a family gathering were struck by gang gunfire “The tragic shooting exemplifies the loss and despair within the community,” the strategic plan said “Beat meetings are not well-attended because residents are afraid to be seen conversing with law enforcement.” Conflict between Latin Saints and La Raza street gangs is the main cause of this violence “The stronghold these gangs have on the area limit community members from participating in neighborhood events held throughout the year.” Street racing and car caravans remain one of the biggest complaints in Beat 912 which covers most of the McKinley Park neighborhood It’s “a chronic issue all over the city and suburbs,” Mark said Chicago Police Department Officer Gonzalez takes notes at the January 2025 Beat 912 CAPS meeting.“At certain intersections we place small speed bumps” to slow down the street racers adding that police will deploy a team of police cars to disperse street racers because otherwise they may be outnumbered.  More information about local policing in the context of the District Strategic Plan will be available at the next 9th District Police Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library The bi-monthly Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting for Beat 912 also focused on neighborhood crime patterns On a crisp, 19-degree evening on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, nary a soul could be found walking in McKinley Park but three showed up at the field house for the year’s first CAPS meeting joined by three officers from the 9th District Officer Christopher Gonzalez reported the most notable crimes to occur in the period from Nov Although police received 14 reports of shots fired during this time Among the 2,010 calls for service were 13 in which citizens reported persons with a gun Beat 912 arrests totaled 36 in this two-month reporting period Eight robberies – six of them armed – took place in Beat 912 and eleven restaurants and stores were burglarized overnight during this period Another citizen reported that on a recent Sunday morning a silver Dodge Charger was seen firing at least seven shots at a home in the 3300 block of South Bell Avenue and police speculated that the driver targeted the wrong house because senior citizens live there which allowed police to get a good description of the vehicle and issue a bulletin to find it Interested neighborhood residents, organizations and enterprises can connect with local police at the next Chicago Police Meeting for Beat 912 at 6:15 p.m Plan for the 2025 growing season at the McKinley Park Community Garden Meeting at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the McKinley Park field house At the meeting, the McKinley Park Community Garden will be planning programming and activities for the garden for the spring Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the McKinley Park Lantern Festival from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2024, at the McKinley Park field house Sponsored by the Chicago Chinese Culture & Arts Society, the Midwest Asian Health Association and the Chicago Park District paper cutting and more than 20 kinds of traditional Chinese cuisine Meet up for aerobic fitness at the Mustangs Run Club on Saturdays at the McKinley Park field house All ages and abilities are welcome. Sign up in advance on the Mustangs member signup form Watch The Garfield Movie Film Screeing from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library The Garfield Movie shows the world-famous cat and his friends on a wild outdoor adventure runs for 101 minutes and is produced by Columbia Pictures Industries Inc Attend the McKinley Park Advisory Council Meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, February 10, 2025, at the field house in McKinley Park This meeting of the McKinley Park Advisory Council (MPAC) connects residents with programs, resources and initiatives of the community and the Chicago Park District Help out at the Earth Day Park Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at McKinley Park A 41-year-old woman was shot and killed in a car in McKinley Park Sunday morning A 41-year-old woman was fatally shot in a car parked in McKinley Park Sunday morning in the 3800 block of South Damen Avenue when a man approached and shot her multiple times in the head and chest police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said Castillo was taken to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead A mixed-use development dubbed Bridgeport Crossing is being proposed at 3301 S the project site measures over 4 acres at the corner of W and is an industrial piece of land with an existing warehouse on the site.  the multi-building project will have three buildings as well as townhomes The first building will be a one-story retail structure measuring approximately 14,500 square feet and will be located along W A plaza and park will anchor the corner of the site adjacent to the retail building and wrap around behind it nine three-story townhomes will run along S Behind the townhomes and retail building will be Building B a five-story residential building with 73 parking spaces on the ground floor and 72 condominiums on the upper floors 33rd St down into the site behind Building B Justine St wrapping around the retail building a nine-story residential building with 99 parking spaces on the ground floor and 142 condominium units on the upper floors This building will be situated towards the eastern side of the site.  With manufacturing and industrial uses still around this site the east and south sides of the site will have large landscape buffers to create separation 42 affordable units will be included in the project.  the developer is seeking to rezone from M2-1 to C2-3 with a Planned Development designation Approvals will be needed from the Chicago Plan Commission By Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George CardenasAs a current commissioner for the Cook County Board of Review and a former Chicago alderman I’ve witnessed firsthand the growing frustration among Chicagoans due to skyrocketing property taxes City government has become increasingly reliant on this revenue source to fill budget gaps: a practice devastating for families and small businesses alike As I visit neighborhoods like McKinley Park I see and hear residents and shop owners who can only make partial payments and thus face a spiral into losing their homes and businesses Chicago's 2025 Budget is desperately trying to fill a $982.4 million budget gap property taxes once again loom as the likely plug in the ever-widening fiscal breach This continued reliance on homeowners and small businesses to balance the city’s books has reached a breaking point I witness residents facing the threat of losing their homes due to unaffordable tax bills This is not only a fiscal crisis — it’s a moral one Chicago taxpayers may experience more significant tax burdens than is being communicated through press releases Taxpayers need to know how their tax burdens will increase As the Cook County Assessor’s Office finalizes the 2024 assessment where are the public maps by city ward and city neighborhood that show taxpayers the new reality Where are the simple hypotheticals that illustrate to taxpayers how much more they will have to save each month to pay the next 2nd installment tax bill We have a moral obligation to the taxpayers to show them the truth in a straightforward way In the last tax bill, the major governments asked for more than $6.97 billion How much will taxpayers be asked for in the budgets being discussed and into the future We need to paint a complete picture for the taxpayers To address Chicago’s financial struggles, we must prioritize fiscal accountability through regular efficiency audits and enhanced transparency. Cities like New York have set a standard with initiatives like Checkbook NYC a platform that openly tracks municipal spending This allows citizens to see how funds are allocated and helps identify inefficiencies Similarly, Los Angeles County’s audit division conducts periodic reviews, identifying waste, fraud, and opportunities for streamlining processes. San Francisco’s anti-fraud initiatives which include hotlines and departmental education programs Chicago can and should implement a similar system, perhaps through a dedicated Office of Risk Management, that continuously monitors city expenditures, conducts routine audits and applies Lean Six Sigma principles to refine city operations These steps would not only promote responsible spending but also ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively Too many Chicagoans have already been taxed out of their homes this isn’t just a fiscal crisis: It’s a moral crisis too Our city’s over-reliance on property taxes must end We need urgent reforms to diversify revenue and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability we can create a city where people can afford to live Two paramedics were among four people hurt in a crash Nov Two paramedics were among four people hurt when an ambulance collided with an SUV Tuesday night in a South Side intersection A CFD ambulance was westbound on 35th Street with its lights and sirens going when it collided with a red SUV that was northbound on Leavitt Street about 9:10 p.m Two paramedics were taken to an area hospital with unspecified injuries A man and woman who in the SUV were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition as a precaution The Beltzhoover community had a dual celebration on Thursday at McKinley Park First, an unveiling at the park’s Shelter House gave residents the first look at the mural “From Hood to Village,” developed and funded by Voices Against Violence — a longtime nonprofit organization founded by Richard Carrington Sr. — and created by Pittsburgh artist Camerin Nesbit the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy presented two concepts for the park’s Community Grove project and gathered feedback as it moves forward with it this year “The mural reveal and celebration underscores the importance of unity and transformation within the Beltzhoover community,” a conservancy news release stated “This event serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience that emerge when the community comes together to honor those we’ve lost and envision a brighter future.” The conservancy has embarked on the design process for the Community Grove project an initiative that aims to “revitalize the area by creating a vibrant inclusive space that fosters health wellness and community connection,” the release continued. Conservancy staff said combining efforts with the mural unveiling provided residents with an opportunity to “provide input and help shape the park to meet their needs and desires.” “This vibrant mural commemorates the lives of Richard Carrington Jr. and it serves as a beacon of hope and resilience for the entire community,” according to the release said the mural references “the importance of how it takes a village to raise our children. That is what it is referencing making sure we go back to the way times were before when kids were raised in a whole different philosophy. Even the parents They were there for their kids and around for their children.” came up with the mural idea around September Nesbit took their ideas and photographs of Clancy’s son and Carrington’s to begin. “Wavy” Clancy was 17 when he was killed three years ago in front of an Allentown convenience store on Warrington Avenue Nesbit said they decided to add in the two other young men later Both died as a result of gun violence — Wade in 2019 at age 18 and Edwards in 2021 at age 22 Clancy called the artist’s work that covers a large wall “amazing.” But she doesn’t want anyone to feel sad or depressed when they see it “The four people there on that mural had worked with VAV activities and camps,” the VAV director of operations explained I want people to understand that things get done at this building The building [Park Shelter House] just doesn’t sit there. We try to put things there for the community but Richard is trying to transform this from a hood to a village.” Both Evans and Clancy want the Community Grove project to move forward and continue the city’s and conservancy’s efforts to rehabilitate the park, which they and other Beltzhoover residents believe is long overdue, as evidenced by a 2017 Public Source article A master plan for the transformation of the park on the conservancy website dates back to 2016 “This is a safety piece for me because right now [as] the building is not safe as it should be. And we actually don’t have the youth there that we used to have there. No surveillance there all the time.” She believes the project will make it safer and add important park updates such as making more of the park handicapped accessible said her house — she left for a while and then returned — is across the street from McKinley Park enjoying the swing set that ended up being moved to the top of the park and riding her bike on the trails and other areas She would like to see more things for people to be able to have fun have places where they can have a picnic and be able to walk the trails.” Evans said the trails have not been kept up for so long and the pandemic hampered the cleanup there The coming improvements she is looking forward to include a possible new Chicken Hill shelter and pavilions at the bottom of the park. What is in that park area currently the conservancy assistant director of community engagement McKinley Park — nestled among Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover Bon Air and Knoxville neighborhoods — encompasses 79 acres and boasts historical trees according to the conservancy and city of Pittsburgh websites McKinley Park was purchased from Thomas Maple on May 10 at a cost of $63,000 and consisted of 63 acres of wooded hillsides and ravines Knoxville and Beltzhoover residents knew the park by such names as Butcher’s Grove It was renamed McKinley Park in 1902 after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 It is one the city’s oldest parks, along with Allegheny Commons part of Allegheny City and dedicated in 1867 well before its annexation into Pittsburgh in 1907 That means it has needed attention and major work especially because of water runoff and other problems The conservancy led a revitalization of the park entrance in 2013 improving accessibility and saving an important historical feature: a stone wall and steps at the park entrance dating back to the 1930s The completed project included an entrance area parking lot surfaced with porous asphalt that allows stormwater to be absorbed into the ground rain gardens to receive water from the parking lot and accessible walkways from the street to the playground and the basketball court the conservancy shared a $1.75 million grant with three other national organizations to allow for further green infrastructure projects in McKinley Park In 2016 the National Recreation and Park Association and American Planning Association awarded the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy a $435,000 Great Urban Parks Campaign grant While centered around green infrastructure the project incorporated key community priorities for upper McKinley Park also known as Chicken Hill, including restored historical sandstone stairs a new pavilion and gathering space with a built-in slide a universally accessible trail throughout the area and benches made from the trees that needed to be cut down on-site.  The conservancy has worked with VAV and other community groups — the Beltzhoover Consensus Group Hilltop Alliance and Urban Kind — as the Community Grove project unfolds and other park upgrades occurred Tobin said last spring and summer the city replaced play equipment adjacent to the Shelter House and cleaned up part of the Chicken Hill trail The Student Conservation Association and Landforce helped with that work The long time that has elapsed among all the upgrades has caused frustration She noted the conservancy has been trying to close out the Chicken Hill project Some of the other cleanup work on the park trails But a movement forward started last year because the conservancy requested and has been allocated $330,000 from the Pittsburgh Parks Tax Trust Fund Fundraising continues to add more money to the project with the final cost to be determined once the community the partner organizations and the conservancy choose a final Community Grove project concept On its website, the conservancy states that the Community Grove project will “work closely with neighborhood residents and stakeholders to create a vision for the Community Grove and explore opportunities for the space including programming support for youth-serving organizations providing opportunities for nature-based education potentially showcase local art and community history and generally serve as an informal gathering space for residents in a natural setting The project will tie together recent park and trail improvements in the area and strengthen connections between the neighborhood and McKinley Park.” That community engagement process started in January through meetings with the Knoxville Community Council and the Beltzhoover Consensus Group as well as city of Pittsburgh departments involved in parks and construction work A site walk with key community members occurred in March The conservancy surveyed residents in the spring with results presented at the park’s Earth Day celebration in April The conservancy continues to attend monthly meetings of the community groups as it moves closer to starting the design process “One thing the survey and all the meetings made clear,” Tobin said “is the community wants to keep that area as natural as possible It’s the site of an old baseball field the community actually built itself The fencing and backstop are still there.”  Last year those parts were painted bright blue to bring some attention to them and a question for residents centers on possible signage to explain the history of the space The lower part of the park still has recreational sections Tobin said. The proposed Community Grove portion has nothing else there except a trail and some plantings.  “Essentially it’s just an area that gets mowed right now What’s special about it is that it is flat,” Tobin said. And that presents possibilities including erecting a pavilion and a place for picnics The conservancy website lists a project timeline that has the community engagement process ending next month Design and permitting will take place from then until May 2025 Helen is a copy editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Join Alderman George Cardenas for the 12th Ward Back to School Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at the McKinley Park field house The fair will offer free school supplies, community resources and food. Participants are required to wear masks. For organizations and businesses that are interested in participating, contact the 12th Ward office by sending email to ward12@cityofchicago.org or calling (773) 523-8250 Children ages 3 to 13 and their caregivers will enjoy Family Fun: Earth Day Science from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library Stop in for a hands-on nature science activity in honor of Earth Day A parent or guardian must accompany attending children Enjoy the spectacular open-air performance of Midnight Circus at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2024, in McKinley Park Tickets will be available for sale starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2024, from the Midnight Circus website