TOYS
FOR TOTS: More than 40,000 motorcyclists gathered at the Dan Ryan Forest
Preserve at 87th St. & Western Ave., Chicago Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 at 8:00
a.m. for the beginning of the 35th Annual Chicagoland “Toys For Tots” parade.
The weather was perfect; sunny and balmy 64 degrees.
“EVERY
CHILD DESERVES a toy for Christmas” is the motto of the bikers. “This is the
largest motorcycle parade, in the country, which collects toys for needy kids,”
said Robert “Cooch” Kuczera former
president of the “Toys For Tots” organization and this year’s MC. A
Proclamation was received by the “Toys For Tots” organization from Mayor Rahm Emanuel. As
the bikers waited for the parade to begin they were given instructions by "Cooch" who reminded them of safety being first and “no hot-dogging” in the procession.
Santa Claus "Toys for Tots" parade |
BEFORE THE PARADE kicked off at 9:15 a.m. the bikers said the Pledge of Allegiance,
and held a moment of silence for the ten [10] bikers who lost their lives in
2012. "Cooch" introduced Santa Claus, who led the parade riding on a Harley-Davidson,
and the Marine representatives. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck
joined the caravan. Following Santa was a gigantic empty red wagon with Santa’s
helpers and a Christmas train and float.
One of Santa’s helpers, Elena Lopez, a 5-year volunteer with the “Toys For
Tots” organization, is also a licensed motorcycle rider rode in the big red wagon with friends.
AS
BIKERS EXITED the Dan Ryan Woods, Bishop James Wilkowski [a.k.a.“The biker
Bishop”] of the Evangelical Catholic Church blessed them by sprinkling them
with Holy Water as they passed him. Biker "Shade" has held the front position in the parade for the past 8 years. The caravan of bikers traveled north on
Western Ave. and ended at the Lane Tech High School parking lot on Western Ave.
& Addison Ave.; the drop-off point for the toys.
Elena Lopez |
THE
TOYS are donated to the Marine Foundation 2nd Battalion for children
in hospitals and needy families.
BIKERS
CAME from everywhere. Some bikers wore their “leathers”, [leather pants], helmets
and colors identifying their Motorcycle Club [MC]. Each biker carried more than
one toy to the parade strapped on their motorcycle. The bikes were large and
small and of different colors, shapes, models and all beautifully
decorated with a Christmas theme.
MANY MOTORCYCLE CLUBS were represented in the
parade. The MC’s with Latino bikers were Latin American Motorcycle Association
[LAMA], Barrio Riders MC, American Veterans Motorcycle Riders Association of
Illinois Chapter 7, Wildfire Hog Chapter MC, Alpha Doggs MC [a law enforcement
group], and Teamsters Horsemen Association MC, and the Chi-Town Mustang, a
non-bikers group who helped with blocking of traffic every year.
Santa Claus riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle |
CHICAGOLAND
Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade Organization Board of Directors are: President George
Lester Fortier, Vice President Tom Dertz, Secretary/Southside Coordinator Peggy
Estes a.k.a. “The Gate Lady” because she was in charge of the Southside Forest
Preserve entrance, Treasurer Wendy Lanleys,
Sgt. at Arms “Doc” Henderson, Parade Coordinator Joy Black, Product Coordinator
Joe Ziman, Parliamentarian/Historian Maynard Marsh, Northside Coordinator Debbie “Chica”
Giampa and her assistant Sam Johnson, Parking Coordinator “Wendal” who did an great job with parking of the bikes at Lane Tech and other surrounding parking
lots. Again, the Chicago Police Department did a fantastic job giving service
to the bikers.
Bikers Alejandra Lara, Sergio Infant, Margie "GoGo" Reyes |
THE
TOYS FOR TOTS organization had a tent in the parking lot at Lane Tech selling
many different kinds of T-shirts and “Toys for Tots” souvenirs.
MANY
spectators watched the “Toys for Tots” parade lined-up along Western Ave. The
warm weather made the parade a success and festive. It was a colorful and
spectacular parade. I salute the Toys For Tots organization and bikers for their dedication and generosity.
NEXT
EVENT of the “Toys For Tots” organization is a fund-raiser at the Cicero
Stadium, 1909 S. Laramie Ave., Town of Cicero this Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. A pancake breakfast will be served and Santa Claus will be
present to take a photograph with children, free. "Cooch" will read a Christmas
story to the kids. Tickets are $6 per person and family of four is $20. There will be a raffle and a 50/50 drawing. For more
information contact "Chica" at 630/550-3944.
CICERO
POLITICS: The election for officials in the Town of Cicero, IL is scheduled for
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. The deadline for
filing was Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. It’s gearing up to be a real political
“donnybrook”. Cicero is a suburb west of Chicago with a population estimated to
be 84,261, according to the 2011 Census. Their elections are always full of surprises.
THERE are five candidates who have announced their candidacy in Cicero election for Town President:
incumbent Town President Larry Dominick, Juan Ochoa, Lizveth L. Mendez, Joseph
Pontarelli and Ruperto De Loera. The election is non-partisan and the
candidate receiving 50+1 votes is the winner.
IN THE past 20 years,
the racial make-up of Cicero’s population has change dramatically. The town is
now 80% Mexican/Latino and the majority is now registered Democrats. This population
change is causing the landscape of the politics in Cicero to shift. Cicero’s
Democratic Organization Committeeman Charles Hernandez said, “Our organization
has endorsed Larry Dominick because he is good for Cicero; and Dominick has the
full support of all the local elected Latino leaders”. MOVIE REVIEW: “Skyfall” is an action movie with twists and turns. Skyfall is the twenty-third in the James Bond series of spy films. Actor Daniel Craig who plays James Bond takes a lot of risks as 007. The performance by Javier Barden as the villain in Skyfall was thought provoking. The plot was intriguing and has a surprise ending. I give it 1 star.
MOVIE “Anna Karenina” with Keira Knightley as Anna, Jude Law as Alexei Karenin, her aristocrat husband, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Count Vronsky, Anna’s lover, is a passionate love triangle story in Russia written by Leo Tolstoy. The performances of the actors, [especially by Knightley]; the storyline, costumes and scenery was outstanding and entertaining. I give it 3 stars.
MOVIE “Lincoln” is a biopic drama. The portrayal of Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Day-Lewis was superb. This movie is a historical story of the life of Lincoln, the civil war and the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution; abolishing slavery. The film was suspenseful with graphic scenes of the civil war. Performances by all the actors were great. The audience clapped at the end. Day-Lewis should receive an Oscar. I give it 3 stars.