 |
| Attorney Jorge Montes & Blanca Jara explaining the process for service at the Expungement Workshop. |
A
SUCCESS: The first Expungement Workshop in Little Village took place on
Sat., Sept. 17, 2011 and drew more than 270 individuals who were anxious to
clean-up their criminal records. The workshop, held at the New Life Church, 2657
S. Lawndale Ave., was sponsored by the Little Village Community Council,
Attorney Jorge Montes, Baltarza Enriquez, H.O.P.E.; Blanca Jara, Hispanic Liaison/Office of
the Clerk of the Circuit Court and State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez.
ALSO SERVING on the Workshop
Committee were Ambrosio Medrano, Luis
Carrizales from Enlace/Chicago, Jesse
Barazza, Little Village Community Council; Reggie Gonzalez, Mayor’s Latino Affairs Council, Charles G. Hernandez, Democratic
Committeeman/Town of Cicero; Mario
Martinez, Little Village Community Council; Elizabeth Young, Cristo Rey High School and Israel Rodriguez, Confederación de Federaciones
Mexicanas [COMFEMEX].
THE
PURPOSE of the workshop was to aid ex-felons expunge or clean up
their criminal record. Eight defense attorneys and one immigration attorney volunteered
their time to assist, inform and give guidance to the attendees.
ATTORNEYS at the workshop were:
Camila Gardner, Eric Shaw, Juan Baltierres, Jose Gonzalez, Alma Alvarado, Beth
Johnson, Jesus Salazar, Neil Toppel and
Rosa Silva. All of the attorneys did a tremendous job helping their
clients. Plans for a 2012 workshop are being considered with the addition of
the Pilsen community.
ATTORNEY MONTES said: “Everyone these days is increasingly
involved in preserving our environment and in recycling. That's a great
thing, but there probably is no greener activity than that of helping recycle
lives. Our first-ever expungement workshop in Little Village helped close
to 300 people in at least giving many of them direction and hope that they can
get a second chance in life. Montes
& Associates is proud to have been part of the team to start what will
become a yearly event."
MANY
THANKS to all the volunteers who helped make the Expungement Workshop a successful
reality!
 |
| Eloisa Siguenza |
MOLE FEST: Forty contestants competed
in the Universidad Popular 6th Annual “Feria del Mole” by
serving their secret mole recipe to 1,500 attendees. The Feria was held
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 at the Arturo
Velasquez Westside Technical School, 28th St. & Western Ave.
in Little Village. Visitors attending the fest had an opportunity to taste test
homemade mole from different regions of Mexico and vote for their favorite.
[Mole is a Mexican sauce and comes in various flavors and
ingredients, with chili peppers as the common factor. The classic mole version
is the variety called mole poblano, which is a dark red or brown sauce served
over chicken or meat.]
THE MOLE cook-off was festive and
lively. Entertainment of live Mexican music was played by local groups which
had several visitors dancing. Contestants dressed in authentic costumes,
scarves and jewelry native to their state in Mexico. Their tables were also beautifully decorated with hand-made
Mexican pottery and flowers.
THE COMPETITION was fierce. All of the
moles represented were delicious, having their own distinctive and secret favors.
Most contestants served their mole in a
“cazuela” [thick
heavy clay caldron], but constantly stirring in order to keep the mole from
burning.
 |
| Ahiren Bernal, Francisco Garcia Flores, Jefe Delegacional, Milpa Alta, Mexico & Nancy Oviedo |
“LA REINA DE MOLE”: Eloisa Siguenza was crowned the first
place winner, as maker of the “The Best Mole In Little Village.” A wreath of
beautiful flowers was placed upon her head and a colorful sash stating, “La
Reina de Mole”, was draped over her shoulder. Eloisa
received a plaque, a $500 cash prize and a trip to Mexico City to attend the
International Mole Expo and Fair in October.
ELOISA, a humble winner, accepted her prize saying, “Muchas gracias. Y quiero invita a todos
ustedes en el Estado de Oaxaca en el Corazón [heart]
de México.” “Many thanks. And I want
to invite all of you to my State of Oaxaca.” Her home state Oaxaca is
in heart of Mexico.
SECOND PLACE winner was Tomasa Roman who received a cash price
of $400. Winner of the best “Decorated Table” was Carman Celio, she received $250 and winner for the best “Cultural
Dress” was Marcelina Hernandez, who received $150. I congratulate Universidad Popular for
another success event!
 |
| Cuahutemoc Morfin |
CLEAN-UP:
Pilsen activist
Cuahutemoc Morfin led 50 community residents to take matters in their own
hands and cleaned up an unsafe area below a viaduct. The viaduct, near 24th
St. & Western Ave., is where parents with their children cross every day to
get to school. A group called “Eyes of the Community”, organized by Cuahutemoc
Morfin and Lindsey Rose, organized
the clean-up campaign Saturday, July 23, 2011. “There are deplorable and
neglected sites in the Pilsen community that need to be cleaned up,” said
Morfin.
MORFIN WAS a strong aldermanic
candidate in the 25th Ward who supported the enactment of the
Chicago Clean Power Ordinance. “I made the Ordinance the centerpiece of my
campaign. We will not compromise the health of our children and families in our
communities,”
said Morfin.
EYES OF THE COMMUNITY will be organizing future cleaning and recycling
projects. For more information call Morfin at 312/287-6610.
 |
| Harry Yourell |
FARWELL:
To a good friend,
Harry “Bus” Yourell, a World War II veteran and an honest and hard working
politician. “Bus”, 92, died Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. He was a Democratic
Committeeman in Worth Township, State Representative, Cook County Recorder of
Deeds and a Commissioner with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District [MWRD]. I’ve
knew “Bus” for 30 years. He was a down-to-earth kind of guy, who loved politics,
dancing and had a good sense of humor.
“BUS” TOLD this story at the “Meet The Candidates” dinner meeting
hosted by the Hispanic American Labor Council, at that time he was running for
re-election as Commissioner with MWRD. “Bus” said, “rumors were flying around before I appeared at
the Cook County Democratic Party Slating Committee that I was too old to run
again”. Bus continued: “When I took the podium, I made my usual
pitch and said I’m going for the senior vote and I ended by saying; I have my
own hair, I have my own teeth and I don’t use Viagra!” “I was endorsed unanimously,” Bus said
proudly.
HISPANIC LABOR always supported Yourell
because he consistently backed Union people, veterans and the underserved. For
his military service, he earned a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. He was a
loyal Democratic Party leader, winning 40 local elections. It was an honor to have known Bus.