Where is Beverly Review on Illinois Infanticide?

I love the the Beverly Review, but I am now worried that it has gone the way of our elected officials and most of the American media - indifferent to universal truths and values.  I sure hope not.   The loved the Beverly Review

The local newspaper has news about neighbors and especially their children in an extensive schools and local sports section.  You get a real feel for the Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods that comprise the 19th Ward, for most part.

Community newspapers usually reflect the hearts of the people who comprise the target demographic.  You get a feel for the most deeply held core values.

Just north of  our lovely Beverly Park at 112th Street is a City of Chicago brown honorary sign renaming the thoroughfare Honorary Dr. Dolehide Way, named for a most gentle Beverly resident and fierce enemy of abortion.  Frequent, Beverly review Contributor Bill Figel wrote,

Although the medical field has changed drastically over the past five decades, Dr. Dolehide's compassionate and gentle bedside manner has always been a constant. He credits the career longevity to his wife, Eileen, whose contributions to church, right-to-life campaigns and family helped offset long hours and weekend rounds at the hospital.
The Dolehide couple dove deeply into the Right to Life movement in the 1960s and has never been afraid to take a stand on issues that are important to them. 

That was in 2014.

Today, our local representatives Fran Hurley and Kelly Burke and State Senator Bill Cunningham have and continue to support legislation that flies in the face of Dolehide legacy and will of local taxpayers, voters and families.

Most voters in this neck of the woods are not comfortable with abortion.   I believe that America lost its greatness in 1973 with Roe v. Wade - if you are OK with the cosmetic murder of a human being, you are probably OK with any else.

Abortion is the original hate crime.

Fran Hurley cast her vote on Illinois HB 40 which would perpetuate the murder of human beings in the womb.  You know, The Vagina is a perfectly wonderful topic for what faux-sophisticates deem conversation and makes a snarky and fun hat worn to show public contempt for President Trump and all who voted for him and many who voted against him and detest abortion.

The "Womb "is a word that stands to be banned by the semiotic-totalitarians who wear pink P-hats and gush over the Personal PAC appointed representatives like Kelly Cassidy and the HB 40 sponsor Sara Feigenholtz.  Fran Hurley needs to keep her head down. Still plenty of 'unevolved' Catholics and Evangelicals in the 35th.  Vagina is Ok.

Fran Hurley voted for this horrible bill meant to overturn the 1975 legislation concerning Roe v. Wade:

“. . . if those decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions unless necessary for the preservation of the mother’s life shall be reinstated.”

Illinois stands prepared to make Infanticide the Law of the Land of Lincoln  Illinois House Bill 2495. 

The Beverly Review has yet to editorialize on this issue - the single most important and life ending legislation in years.  The Beverly Review continues to present the laudable work of our representatives on issues that they should be working on.

This week Beverly Review praised Kelly Burke and Bill Cunningham, who have avoided talking about IllInois Infanticide with their pastors and their constituents,  Cunningham on noise and air pollution and Burke on police 'harms way' benefits) which is like praising your kid for doing her homework or going to wrestling practice.

That's nice.

More nice, is the editorial that howls at the idiots who put up racist stickers on the route of the South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Not what one might call Emile Zola moment.

Nothing about the impending third trimester slaughter of a living child.  Illinois Infanticide?


Where is Beverly Review on the premeditated murder of a living infant?

I suspect that Beverly Review, like the supine Chicago Press, wants a cozy relationship with politicians in power.

I would continue to purchase the Beverly Review, if came right out and said - We are for HB 2495!

It will not.

The Beverly Review, like our Quisling elected officials who are Parade Day Irish Catholics, is ducking a thorny issue.

What would Dr. Robert Dolehide say?

What do readers of Beverly Review say?

So much for the free press.

So much for the Beverly Review.

Shunning? I Ain't Got the Time.

  Shun - Middle English shonen, shunnen, from Old English scunian

Shunning -  Targets of shunning can include persons who have been labeled as apostates, whistleblowers, dissidents, strikebreakers, or anyone the group perceives as a threat or source of conflict. Social rejection has been established to cause psychological damage and has been categorized as torture or punishment. Mental rejection is a more individual action, where a person subconsciously or willfully ignores an idea, or a set of information related to a particular viewpoint. Some groups are made up of people who shun the same ideas

Ever hear this?

Gee, I'm open-minded, but I don't want to hear anything you have to say on the matter.  Are you nuts?  How can you believe that in 2018?

Are you shunned?

Have you shunned anyone?

The late, great John McPolin shunned me from McNally's Saloon, not because I was a Cub fan ( I am not), but because he did not want my Dad, his mortal-friend and arch-beer buddy, to start showing up at McNally's instead of his headquarters at TR's.  " Pat, do me a favor and stay on the other side of 111th for beers, this is the only sanctuary I have away from that miserable old SOB. "

I abided.  That was not real shunning.  Every race , gender and sexual preference shuns.  You think the Amish shun?  The Yoders and Millers got nothing on the Murphys.

It seems that everyone is shunning someone else.   I live in a lovely neighborhood, full of loving people, but even here in this urban Arcadia of Morgan Park some people will no longer speak to you if you did not vote for Trump, or you refuse to put a COEXIST bumper sticker* on your SUV.

Who is welcome in your house?

Who is banished?

Do you fly the flag?

Why don't you fly the flag?

Don't want to - the wind blew off the last six and part of my garage.

I am seeing fewer and fewer political yard signs and bumper stickers, even though the Illinois primary election is only thirteen days from today.

I have a Jeanne Ives sign in my yard, where I have placed Democratic Party signage for more than twenty years.  No big deal.  No one is outraged.   I voted for Jeanne Ives; so what?

I have Jeanne Ives bumper sticker; no has keyed my car.

What I do not understand is all of the verbal and physical shunning going on.

Are you shunned for hoisting the W flag?

Are you a Sox Fan and feel left out of things?

The Hawks suck too.

We are neighbors.  I will cut your grass when you are too sick to do so.  I will snow-blow your walks and drive-way.  I will always wave to you and give you the big howdy.

Do I need to wear pink ribbons, or have blue and black bunting on my trees to know what I am all about?  Hell, no.

I go to Mass.  I go to work.  I speak my mind.  I have a very good time, every waking moment.

I don't have time for shunning.

Oh,  I'll block your ass on Facebook if you act like a jerk, but I'll give you a warm and genuine greeting up at the gas station.

I do not have time to shun anyone.



* Unitarians did not invent this logo - "Piotr Mlodozeniec, a Polish graphic designer, came up with the image in 2001, for a traveling exhibit run by the Museum on the Seam. The museum is a private institution in Jerusalem that describes itself as a “socio-political contemporary art museum.” In its original form, the design only incorporated three symbols—a Muslim crescent for the “C”, a Jewish Star of David for the “X”, and the Christian cross for the “T”.

Gee, why did he leave out cannibals and headhunters?

Saloon Dominos in the 19th Ward

• Chandler's ( closed) 
• The Stadium Club(closed)
• End Zone ( for sale)*
• McNally's Pub (for sale)
• T.R.'s Pub ( closing)
• Beverly Woods Lounge (Closed) 

Ubi Sunt?  

The old watering holes of yore are going the way the way of the buffalo, two-tone wing tips, wing tips and 8-tracks.  Every time I read the news another hoary saloon with deep roots in my neighborthood's history is either closed, closing, or up for sale.  

A micro-brewery opened and Jack Kelly's cardioversion of the fabled Dubliner Pub are oddities among the closings and sales of saloons, pubs and taverns in the 19th Ward.  

The passing of the other joints into history's mist is sad, but not mysterious.  The bar business is tough in the best of times, but in an age that scorns the morning cocktail and salon as deplorable uses of time and money it is not surprising.

Working men and retirees often would gather in the mornings and early afternoons for a cold one and to catch up on community chatter.  This phenomenon has died out, due in no small part to the dangers of driving to a watering and hole and making one's way home.  Also, the stigma of meeting up for a pint before the sun's shadow went past yard arm brands a tippler as pathological boozer.  As such, bars open later and close earlier than did in days gone bye.  Tough to build a decent night deposit on that. 

Anyway, saloons are closing all over the Ward.

Maybe that is a good thing.    Maybe not.

* editorial ht/to Jack Kelly!

Cook County Forest Preserves - Our Greatest Natural Asset for Education, Pleasure and Recreation

 

To acquire … and hold lands … containing one or more natural forests or lands connecting such forests or parts thereof, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna and scenic beauties within such district, and to restore, restock, protect, and preserve the natural forests and said lands together with their flora and fauna, as nearly as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the purpose of the education, pleasure, and recreation of the public.  Cook County Commissioners 1905

1904 had been a tough year for Chicagoans, especially south siders -  Chicago lost the Summer Olympics to St. Louis and the Streetcar and Stockyard Strikes. put many people in financial, physical and even mortal jeopardy - scabs opened fire from rail cars used by the packers to safely transport them to and from the yards and killed several strikers.

Orchestra Hall was completed largely through the subscriptions of the Swift, Armour.  Schwarzschild & Sulzberger packinghouse barons. Very few stockyard workers attended the symphony, I would hazard a guess.

What did working people do and where did they go for relaxation?  What was available to them?  Saloons.  Church.  Union Halls.

The Great Conservationist was in the White House. President Teddy had designated vast tracks of land for the edification, enjoyment and education of the American people.

It seems that in 1905, a few like-minded public servants did the same.

Some brilliant people staked out  68,000 acres of field, wood and water around and within the City of Chicago and gave us the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

This soul tonic of a resource is one of the wonders of living where we do - one wonders if a contemporary public official has the heart and brains to match the vision of the 1905 County Commissioners.

Following the lead of Dr. John Rauch's  Public Parks, City of Chicago (Chicago, 1869), the great sanitarian who fought Yellow Fever and cholera here and beyond Chicago,  some clear headed people put the Forest Preserve into being just after the 1904 strikes and the loss of Olympics.

The 1905 document calling for the creation of a Forest Preserve District was weakly written and it was not until 1911 that the dream came to life.

From that time, the common man, as well as the swell, had his own 'green retreats.' Dan Ryan Woods, Maple Lake, Willow Slough, Joe Louis Golf Course, Brookfield Zoo, Arie Crown Botanic Gardens, Busse Woods, Desplaines River Trail and Camp Dan Beard became places where the grey canyon of La Salle Street, or the red dust of Hegewisch might be forgotten for  a couple of restorative hours.

• Chicago kids could take nature hikes, toboggan, sled, swim, play football, softball and jog.
• Old Timers could take their Kerry Blue, or mixed mutt breed out for a chase of a tennis ball.
• Lovers could neck.
• Families could barbecue, picnic, camp and relax.
• Children at the Nature Stations like Little Red Schoolhouse could learn about the flora and fauna of Cook County
• Teens learned to 'drink responsibly

For one hundred and eleven years, the working stiff and the well-heeled have been afforded a pastoral paradise.

Quality people put this into being.  Let's pray that quality people will preserve the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

All photos of Dan Ryan Woods

How Good Is Snow-Blower Repair Man Mike Greene? My 1994 MTD runs like 2016 BMW

I love the south side culture of " I got a guy."

Needs are fulfilled by word of mouth and respect for the word from a neighbor.

If I were asked by you about stopping seepage in the basement, I bring into my man cave and thrust my finger to east wall and "Behold! Water from the Rock!"  Hell, I am not handy.

Ask me about literature, jazz, history, great places to eat, methods of shirking households obligations ( no problem so big, that I can not run away and hide from it), or treating ladies with fair deference in all matters, I'm your guy.

• Want your furnace looked at?  Call Karen A Mcquillan, (708) 422-0090 and she'll get her old man, Jim, on it Air-Check Heating & Colling.

• Auto Problems? - Go to Kevin Moriarty at Meineke on Western

• Plumbing?  The Kennedy Brothers knock it out of the Park.

• Gutters and Chimneys glutted?  Call Sean Keane at Keane Sweep
• Taxes?  See Pat Biggane

Now, as to leaking basements, I have had my basement sealed three times inside and out. The CSX line runs twenty feet from my front window and the crib shakes like Oprah on a waterbed.  Can't help you. Nothing worked, but the shop vac and Fabrese.

How -some-ever, friends and neighbors, if your snowblower is on the fritz, needs a tune-up or repair, GO AND Call Mike Greene immediately if not sooner.  I called Mike in September and Mike and his daughter picked up my giant sized MTD 1994 purchase, which had beaten back lake effect snow in Griffith Indiana and cleared sidewalks, alleys and driveways here in Morgan Park since 1999.  

I serviced the machine.  Changed oil, repaired the auger and the drive-lines, drained the gas and managed the wheels, but I had not had the whole machine serviced since 1997.

Mike Greene returned (delivered) the snowblower three days later with a modest charge that included straightening the blades, replacement of drive lines, tightening the auger, complete tune up and oil and sparks.  Modest charge.  I keep it on my icebox and look at it when I'm blue.

I just got back from Mass at Sacred Heart and fired up the MTD for the first time. Last week, it was too wet to plow.

The MTD fired up and purred like a kitten (which I also need to replace since Sophie shed her mortal husk).   The plowing was exquisite and I hated to put the thing to rest.

I know that I will have plenty more opportunities today to get behind the plow, but for now,  a huge thank you to Mike Greene, a Proud Member of Operating Engineers Local 150 and a great neighbor.

      

I Shall Arise and Go, And Make Some Corn Bread!

I had a swell Thanksgiving!  Did not overdo the helpings and avoided my usual the Gibraltar-like renditions of smashed garlic spuds and stuffing and decided to forego the traditional fifth helpings.

Took a vigorous walk from the garage to my couch in the basement and watched recored episodes of Cheyenne. Where will he be camping tonight?

It is now Saturday and I made a pot of Brunswick stew* last last week.  My son is stopping by after work this afternoon and the lad can work a fork like his Mom and Pop.

Nothing goes better with Brunswick stew like a golden brown cast iron skillet full of corn bread.

I do corn bread good. Pre heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Butter a good cast iron skillet  9" diameter I used soft Kerry Gold

1. Cup of Gold Medal Flour
1. Cup of Quaker Corn Meal
1. Cup of sugar
1.tsp. of sea salt
1/4 cup of Honey
1. Jumbo Egg from Marianno's
1. 10 oz. can of Green Giant nibblets corn
3 & 1/2 teaspooons of Calumet Brand Baking Powder
1/3 cup of Peanut Oil - Mr. Planters, Please.
1 generous dash of Vanilla extract

Mix it all in a bowl with good sized fork.  Don't mix too well.  Spread it pie tin and toss it in the oven for 25 minutes.  Check with a butter knife for doneness. Dance to doneness~!




When it is 'doneness' let oven cool down to 145 degrees F. and keep corn bread nice and warm until your eaters bang open the back door and squeal, " It it done?"

Then ladle out some Brunswick stew 
Cut corn bread into diagonal slices for dipping.

Use softened Kerry Gold butter for eating corn bread, like an American.


*I use chicken thighs and pork shoulder, corn scraped from the oven roasted cob and replace Greathern Beans for the lima bean - lima beans are just wrong on so many levels.

The First Thing After Mass This Sunday - A Bit of Yardwork

I know the garage is back there. Casa Hickey - a modest raised ranch in Morgan Park.


I get busy.  Drafting poignant, witty and very important indictments of folly universal do not spring unarmed from the HP keyboard like Minerva from the head of Jove, I can tell you.

No siree!  It takes hours of reading, determined distillation of facts and sober application of information to universal truths and Cardinal virtues before this son of 79th Street and blue collar values pounds out some wordage.

I tend to multi-task - taking time to smell the flowers, meditate on my own and mankind's follies, whip up a snack or two, and hold the cat up to whirling kitchen fan until it snarls in rage and just tickles me to death, before I take pen to paper, or finger the keys.

Hygiene is inportant - no dishes in sink, no biohazards in the ice box and no laundry blocking the view of the old flat-screen.

Outside lawn care?  Way down on the Daddy- do list.

My lawn, as I have noted here on many occassions, is a closely cropped collection of Collards, Clover, Cabombaceae, Cactaceae and some grass.

I have a cordial hatred dandelions and excise their presence with immediate and profound violence.

Others I take a liberal dislike, but will tolerate their presence up to a point.

However, this past week I have let things go like Angela Merkel at a U.N. buffet.

I determine to make things right.  I will go to Mass at Scared Heart Church and take in the Gospel message and Father Gallagher's always wonderful treatment of the text and pray the Memorare for the strength, energy and attention necessary to make things right.

One thing could block my intentions and efforts -Vade retro me Satana!

Send Up Some Prayers for Ryan Rusch and His Family, Today

There is nothing more heart-breaking for parents than any child suffering. Those of us who are parents do and should feel for anyone's child, no matter the age, when major health problems threaten their time with us.

Ryan Rusch lives in West Beverly ( The west of Western Ave. - the Cape Cod, raised ranch and Georgian home Beverly working stiff tribe of the 60642 Zip Code).   Ryan was born with a rare heart disorder where only one artery supplies blood flow instead of the standard two.  He and his family have fought for life from the moment of birth.

Ten years ago, three teens decided to beat Ryan nearly to death.  It was a horrific beating, racially motivated by the attacker own words, but not deemed to be a Hate Crime.    Well, that is blood under the bridge.

Ryan added brain damage and all that goes with that, vision impairment, seizures, struggles with attention to studies, to his struggles with the aid of those, but he is one tough kid.  He played football, graduated from St. Rita High School and attended college.  Then heart problems resurfaced.

He is undergoing dramatic surgery as I hit these keys.

We have prayed for Ryan and his family for weeks at daily services in St. John Fisher and at Sacred Heart.  At Sacred Heart, we conclude the readings and prayers of the faithful in preparation for the Celebration of Eucharist with the Memorare.

This very special prayer to Our Lady is a miracle worker.  I taught it to many of the guys at Leo High School who are not Catholic and they said saying this prayer seemed to help them anyway. The words were stange to them, as it is to too many Catholics these days.

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Do me a favor. Send up a couple of Memorares over the next few days for the Rusch Family and all children who suffer from health problems. Send some up for yourself, as well.

It won't kill you and it just might ease some family's burdens.  Say the words,  even if you hate God, religion,  or sentiment.

Send some up for Ryan.

President Skips 2016 Water Hazzard - America the Emerging Nation

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Afternoon at the Beach and Dinner Date in Edgartown
8 hours 42 sec ago
The Obama family headed to the beach on Saturday, their final full day of their Vineyard vacation.
The family arrived at a beach off Pohogonot Road in Edgartown around 1:30 p.m. After spending the afternoon at the south shore beach with friends, the First Family departed at about 5:30 p.m.
Later in the evening the President and First Lady went back to Edgartown for dinner at Chesca's on North Water street. The sidewalk outside Chesca's was blocked off with yellow tape, and the summer crowd lined the street.
Chesca's, a restaurant "marrying gourmet and comfort food on Martha's Vineyard," is owned by chefs Jo Maxwell and David Joyce. According to a meal ticket the restaurant posted on Facebook, the President's party ordered spinach salad, braised beef shortribs, and pappardelle bolognese, and creme caramel for dessert.
The couple arrived at 7:45 p.m and departed at 9:28 p.m. to head home for one last night in Chilmark.

DENHAM SPRINGS  — After floods devastated pockets of south Louisiana, mental scars are already showing on the youngest victims of a disaster that prompted more than 30,000 rescues and left an estimated 40,000 homes damaged.
Children who endured harrowing rescues are returning home to a jarring landscape that even their parents can scarcely grasp: Homes filled with ruined possessions must be quickly gutted. Damaged schools and daycare centers are closed indefinitely. Parents juggling jobs and cleanup work must also line up caretakers for their kids.

Hey, I ain't judging; I'm just saying.   I have 1st World Problems, generally of my own creation.  Yesterday. it rained like a cow peeing on a flat rock and my basement took on water, like a Nazi sub in them black and white movies.  If a neighbor's pooch cocks his leg on one of my three parkway trees, I get 'some moisture,' as the real estate agents say. So I shop Vac'd most of the afternoon and night - no big deal.

I did not toss my fists heavenward and scream, " What kind of a God would do this.?"  I am pretty centered.  I don't take Public Radio, or television seriously at all.  I don't give a hoot to listen to hours and hours of sap about emerging nations.  Ask the Olympic Committee how all of that gushy bullshite about host cities being from emerging nations.  Ask NBC about Rio?   Ask that Turkeybird Ticket Scalper Pat Hickey about the accommodations in Rio's Iron Hotel.  NPR - when a nation emerges, get back to me.

Baton Rouge, Denham Springs and Martha's Vineyard are all in a fully emerged nation that is President-ed by a South Side with You guy who wants this emerged nation to become an emerging nation - to sort of equal things out,

In an emerging nation, the Jefe, Generalismo, or Dear Leader never visits suffering people.  Emerging Nations tend to be run by war-lords and when all of the blood settles, oligarchs.  Dear Leaders do not jet down to famine relief stations, they have Khat, Coco , or betel leaf chawers armed with AK-47s and big Toyota Flat beds with heavy machine guns to do that.  Oligarchs go to hot spots, casinos, springs and The Emerson, or Graystone in L.A. to unwind.

President Obama is taking much needed vacation-time in Martha's Vineyard. Can't fault any family man for that.  Me?  I'd rather go up to New Glarus, Wisconsin.  At least he's not dragging the wife and kids around Civil War battlefields.

Hey, he plays golf; so what.  I read, or watch Maverick re-runs, or go out for a great meal with a gorgeous woman, or catch some live jazz.  Whatever floats your boat.

However, if yesterday's down-pour produced crashing waves along my window sills, I know that my Alderman Matt O'Shea ( D-19th Ward) would be in a row boat outside of my picture window.  Were he on vacation in Sisters Lakes,MI, Delavan, WI, or Flint Lake, IN ( the Irish Rivieras)Matt O'Shea would drive back to his Ward an personally see to it that the elderly, kids and the more delicate of souls were safe.

He would, and has in times of danger, personally put himself out on the line and direct the more robust of heart in salvage and rescue efforts behind the First Responders ( cops, fire fighters and EMTs) already on the job.

You see Matt O'Shea, belongs to the same political party as the President, but not of the same Progressive mindset.

President Obama is exiting the job in January.

In November, America will decide if it is becoming an emerging nation.   If it is, Matt O'Shea will have no business being Alderman of the 19th Ward.

My Neighbors Will School Ag School Vandals

I was publicly shamed when I was about eight years old.  My buddies and I recently watched Jerry Lewis in The Bell Boy at the old Highland Theatre on 79th & Ashland.



We were delighted by Jerry Lewis' antics and  mimiced his facial contortions and spasmodic contortions on our walk home to 75th Place and Wood Street, where we sat on a horseshoe of painted boulders under the street sign and continued to pantomime spastic reactions to everything.  Mrs. McGuinness and her five year old boy Robbie walked behind us on their way home from the Hamilton Dairy store at 75th & Paulina. Robbie had Downs Syndrome.

We began to mock Robbie in the manner of the comic genius so beloved by France.

We followed Mrs,McGuiness who was openly crying, but we could care less - Hell, Jerry Lewis is a movie star. What's her problem.

Mr. Balllina and Mrs. Ballina yelled from their porch, " You little bastards, stop that! Who do you think you are scaring the poor little guy and making his Momma cry."  The Ballinas were older than our parents and childless.  Mr. Ballina worked for the Bell Phone Company and his green truck was often parked in front of our house.  He was a short wiry little guy with arms like Popeye.  He was no where near finished with me and my pals.

Phil and Marie Ballina's corrections had alerted all of our Mom's and we were now about to sail up Shit Creek.

Slaps attendant and exile to our rooms, basements or porches, depending up the level of disgust our mothers had for us, were as nothing to the ticking of seven kitchen clocks up Wood Street and across 75th Place signaled the impending arrivals of Dads.

When Dads came home from shifts, we were properly re-beaten, belted, slapped and vilified according to sizes and ages, but that was not all - No, not by a jug full.

Each Dad shoved each son to McGuiness home up tyhe porch stairs and we each apologized to Robbie, who hugged each of us and said, "Thas Oh Ride Pad, Yus My Bes Frens!"

I learned shame.  The shame of this act of my is still very much with me. I learned not to do cruel things to people at a very early age, or at least I learned what cruelty really means.

We pulled weeds and did sic and fetch for Mrs. McGuinesses for a few days after and not one of us could look one another in the face again without a sense of group shame.

Boys will be boys, until they learn to be gentle men.  Girls can be even more brutal, but they not generally thoughtless.

As we got older we learned and believed that toughness had more to do with be able to take punishment, than dishing it out.

A few days ago some teens in my neighborhood broke into the Chicago Ag High School.  A wonderful woman shared the news of this on Facebook

This was shared with me today. It happened yesterday 6/23/16.

At the Ag School last night someone broke in and harassed all of the animals, tied the mother goat up with a rope, threw eggs at the baby goats, and tied all the chickens legs together. A Police report has been filed. Empty egg cartons were found on the scene. If anyone knows anything about this please contact the 22nd district. Might be a good time to have a conversation with kids about harming animals as local kids are usually seen drinking out in the field behind the school.

The reaction to this universal neighborhood shame and the comments ranged from " arrest the bastards' to " Boys will be Boys,"

On my walks to morning services, last week which takes from 107th & Rockwell, across the CSX rails to Talman Steet, which is a beautiful walk with no two homes alike and varied in design and size.  Last week I saw egg shells all over the sidewalks between 106th Street and 103rd Street on the west side of Talman.

I have had my raised ranch egged by teens in passing cars.  It is a pain to clean dripping yolks and whites off of bricks and windows, but what the hell.

Damage to property is a step toward thuggery.  The next step is cruelty to living things - small animals. Then, it is human beings.

We get our moral shorts in knot when we read about cats being napalmed and dogs used for target practise.

Then we really get to marching and vigil-ing when people get murdered.  Cruelty is easy.

I grew up at time when consequences were important thanks be to God.  The parents today not only must teach their children well, even within a culture that ignores consequences universal.

My neighbors arrested our development into nasty, vicious little bastards, for the most part, back in 1960.

I am angry that kids in my neighborhood would pelt baby goats with eggs and tie up the poor mother, but understand their acting out needs a swift address, by parents and neighbors.

Tying the chickens together?  Awesome!  No. that is wrong too, but I could still get behind that. Chickens are nasty critters. Better angels, you recalcitrant nave!

Seriously, I know my neighbors will get to these kids.

Once we understand cruelty - we will never watch, much less laugh about another Jerry Lewis movie.

Mr. Harold Green - Leo Hero: Facta Non Verba

When Leo High School welcomes Moms, Dads, Students and Staff, the bags of Mickey D's cast-off paper and plastic, battalions of styrofoam trays with chicken bones, legions of Frito-Lay parcels, squads of empty pints of Bumpy Face Seagrim's Gin, scraps of Sun Times Redlines and wet matted bits of penny saver coupon bundles are no where to be seen on the grounds.

Elves must pick up and toss the detritus of modern urban thoughtlessness and 'disappear it' into City of Chicago waste bins on our 79th Streetcape.

This morning I traveled from my home in Morgan Park six miles to the south and west of Leo High School, up Western Avenue (plowed and somewhat salted), east on 87 Street (plowed and somewhat salted) and north on Racine ( unplowed, nor salted) to 79th Street east ( (plowed and salted) and into the Leo Parking Lot ( unplowed at 4:45 AM).

I got out of the Malibu and said my morning Leo Memorare and noticed that the sidewalks and pathways around the school were already cleared.

When snow blankets the pathways and sidewalks, some miracle men must have bolted from their quilty blankets in the Sixteen Degree frost of the morning and cleared  our winter waves of white stuff.

No, my dears, Mr. Harold Green and Army veteran and a family man with the strength of eight lesser mortals did that.

Harold shoveled all of Leo's campus and then cleared the CTA benches for people who wait to swipe their hard-bought Ventra Cards for travel to work and school - not in Harold Green's job description. With all of that done - Harold will drive to Beecher, Illinois, South Holland, Roseland, Brainard and back to Leo High School with twelve students.  Now, some mincing person might offer, " Well, that's his job."

Mr. Harold Green gets to work at Leo High School at around 4AM - rain, shine, snow and trouble: Never late, never absent. During the day, while perched on my rump in the Development cubicle, I see Mr. Harold Green haul, lift, fix and fetch in and out of the school - 'Go to Menards: Get coffee for visitors; Jump Start my Car . . .' and ,one day, just prior to Leo's Annual Veterans Observance I received this inter-office memo :

Pat,

1.  Harold Green will pick up coffee.

3.  Harold Green will set up 3-4 rows of chairs.

4.  Harold Green will set up podium and sound system.

5.  I spoke to Mrs. Latifi and she will have NHS students greet and help older veterans cross the street.

7.  Mrs. Hill will have 1-4 students sing the National Anthem.

Thanks,

Well, it is his job, after all.

Yes, it is.  Have a nice day, Cupcake.

Mr. Harold Green is the Leo High School go-to-guy that educators and most otherwise nice people rarely notice.

I'm not so nice.  I notice.

Harold Green is my idea of a mythological Titan.

Harold Green expects to do his work.  That is all that Harold Green needs to say about it.

I Believe in Neighborhood People and Not Polls Conducted By and For Pols Who Don't Care About People

Polls are conducted by 'scientists' - rather number crunching hired guns.

The Chicago Tribune conducted a poll that give Rahm Emanuel a 12 point lead over the winner of the April 7th 2015 Mayoral Election, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

Polls, are said to be random samplings taken from snatches of would be voters.

Okay.

If I conducted a random sampling of people with whom I come in contact with everyday, you see a diverse cross-section of Chicago demographics.

I start my day at Dunkin Donuts located near my house and operated by a gentleman from Morocco and staffed by a lovely couple from Bangladesh and a gorgeous graduate student from India. The manager lives on 103rd just west of Western Avenue in what most people call St. John Fisher parish.  The manager is Muslim. He is voting for Chuy.

The couple who work with Kareem live in Homer Glen and can not vote in the City election - they are Hindi

The young graduate student lives on Walden Drive in Beverly and is Muslim as well. She has not registered to vote.

Of the this random sampling of persons - Chuy Garcia has 100% of the vote.

Polls.

Now, let's talk people.  I work in Auburn Gresham at 79th & Sangamon in Chicago's 17th Ward.  Guess what?  Rahm's and Father Pfleger's hand-picked candidate of Alderman was beaten by David Moore.

David Moore was told to back Rahm, or else.  David Moore told the messengers to go pound sand, some other similar message. Looks like Alderman David Moore is an independent voice.  An African American Alderman in Ward 17 goes off the Pfleger P . . .Reservation.  Chuy?  I'd say so, but that is not very scientific.  I know the man who helped David Moore win the aldermanic and he is also instrumental in helping Chuy Garcia take the 5th Floor.

I live south of 103rd Street and west of Western Ave. and our homes are somewhat modest and match our incomes ( usually two incomes as Mom and Dad both work).  East of Western around 103rd Street sit pricier big bunglow's for families earning bigger incomes.

Of my neighbors, thick with public pensions and long association with the Chicago, Cook County and State Democratic Organizations there is great distrust of Rahm Emanuel and Governor Rauner.  Tough times and a tougher vote.  From chats with my 19th Ward neighbors ( firemen, cops, CPS teachers, skilled tradesmen, City, County and State office workers), we won't see a sea of red, white and blue Chuy signs on lawns, but we should see my precinct (23rd, 19th Ward) go for Chuy.  Raised ranch and Georgian dwellers, as well as modest apartment dwellers all.

West of the cemetaries sits Mount Greenwood and that will go overwhelmingly for Chuy.

The precinct immediately to the east of Western Avernue and hugging 103rd Street will go again for Rahm.

There are many families in that precinct with 'this close' ties to City, County and State Demographic power-that-be as well as some heavier than whale poop lobbyists living in the bungalows - like Rahm, or not, they will go with the current flow.

Like my Dunkin Donuts poll, very unscientific and all too human.  I see the 19th Ward, like the 17th Ward shifting away from Rahm.

In the end, Chuy will beat Rahm by a whisker, but whisker is all it takes, Rahm will need to do a Deb Mell to win.  That might fly in the 39th Ward of Blagostahn, but no way city wide.

The Tribune, the Big Cat money bags, the Progressives and the academics want Rahm on Five, they need Rahm on Five.  They can't handle the truth.

The truth is that Chicago is about to redeem itself from decades laissez fair civics and lazy-ass voting.

Basta Rahm!  Enough Rahm, Daley, Durbin, Mell, Quinn, Rauner, Marque Kirque Chicago!

Viva Chuy and Chicago might live again.

You Won't Ever See Rahm Emanuel Helping Out A Neighbor -Ald. Matt O' Shea Will Pump Gas and Clean Windshields at Kean Gas

19th Ward Aldermann Matt O'Shea -Doing; Not Talking = Facta Non Verba and likes his neighbors, because he is one.

"Rather than doing the kind of fact-checking that normally goes with a story, you ran with certain stories for not wanting to get beat. There's a pressure that exists in your profession. I would be surprised in any honest exchange that you say that doesn't exist."   Rahm Emanuel
“To learn real human nature you have to go among the people, see them and be seen. I know every man, woman, and child in the Fifteenth District, except them that's been born this summer and I know some of them, too. I know what they like and what they don't like, what they are strong at and what they are weak in, and I reach them by approachin' at the right side.” George Washington Plunkitt

Last Friday at around 3 PM, the Morgan Park Temple of 'Didn't See You at Mass on Sunday. Hickey' - Kean Gas at 111th & Talman was robbed.  The neighbors wondered why no news of robbery had been enough to nterest the Chicago media in doing a clause, or two.  Many said, " Rahm's up for the vote this month and 'don't you know' crime is way down and we have way too many cops on the job?"

Cynical, but well earned; especially these days, when Chicago is run by a Hollywood-dollar fueled misanthrope with 9.5 fingers and zero capacity for neighborhoods.

Our alderman responded as he always does, by going in up to his elbows.

As many of you may know, Kean Brothers' Gas Station, 2632 W. 111th Street, was the victim of an armed robbery last week. The Kean family has operated a business in our community for more than 70 years, supporting countless charitable, civic and parish causes along the way. I am asking that we rally in support of them by visiting the station tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4th to fill up your tank or purchase a few things inside the station. Kean is open from 5:30 am - 10:00 pm. I will be there pumping gas between 3:00 - 6:00 pm, I hope to see you there. Matt O'Shea

Matt is only one of 50 City Council officers, called alderman by real Chicagoans, and the only one who actually works, sleeps and plays with his neighbors.   I catch Matt O'Shea at it all the time - My brother picked me up from surgery on Monday ( SnowMaggedon '15), we took 95th Street east from Christ Hospital to Westen Ave. and Western Ave south - past 103rd the Bro says, " Who's that guy digging the Old Bat ( elderly woman) out of the drift?"  Digging furiously and cheerfully mear the old KODA and the 19th Ward office was . . . .

Ald. Matt OShea -the anti-Rahm.

Well, Damn Me with Faint Praise; I Missed Another Earth Day!

Sometimes there's nothing for it but to grab hold of nearest sharp object and introduce that implement to one of the ocular orifices. Yes, sir, nothing beats a poke in the eye with sharp stick for calling faux miseries to attention.

I was asked if I would care to attend a group Hootenanny at a Unitarian Church in my neighborhood to celebrate our Mother Earth.  I gave this offer some careful consideration, knowing that my acquittance* who dresses like Pete Seeger and speaks like Senator Elizabeth Warren was drawing me out with his suspicions that I am not in fact an Irish Catholic Democrat of the old stripe, but plutocratic fascist in wolves clothing and immediately replied, " Nah."

The jungle hat with the excessively long chin strap launched to nape of his thin neck, " Why not, might I ask?"
Having somewhat composed himself, he arranged the satchel containing plastic water bottles and styrofoam cups gathered along his daily journey among the unwashed who still use those beverage containers,  to show HE meant business.

I paused abit before answering, " I'm Sixty-plus years old with a long life ahead of me. Big Plans," I replied using the script from the AARP commercial with hot GILF walking through an autumnal glade.
Side Note ( She's smug and vacuous to be sure, but I'd take a run at her.)

" You play guitar and banjo!" accused my Progressive Pharisee who added, "What's wrong with you?"

The simple answer would have been "Plenty, Donny, " but I must plunge.

"This is a community's celebration of doing good and turning hands and hearts to our planet's needs."

" I choose to have my gums scraped, Donny. "

" You don't care."

"Who would break a butterfly on a wheel,Donny?"

" I don't understand you."

Indeed.

* In my world, there are great people who make every moment a joy(99% by my gesstimation) and the 1% who suck all of the joy right out of atmosphere (.05%) are Mean People vicious animals to be avoided at all possible costs and the balance I must categorize as

Mean-Well People - sincere, not very bright, self-important, intrusive and bad -tipping social parasites . . .politicians, editorial board members, academics and people you can not avoid, because THEY MEAN WELL.

Jerry Schumacher -God Gets His Gentle Giant in the Line-up

Toughness should always be measured against gentleness and compassion.  The oils of the sacraments are meant to make us supple and never brittle.  Like the leather baseball mitt that we were given as kids from Dads who scrimped to make the purchase, our lives only endure when we apply the oils and massage our hearts and wrap them in good works and intentions.  The softer the soul, heart and head, the tougher the person becomes able to take the shocks and hard ground.

Jerry Schumacher is one of the toughest person's I know.  He has gone home to Christ oiled and tested -gentle and sweet.

Jerry is a couple of years my senior and eons my superior in wisdom, grace and compassion. Eternity will be a very short journey for Jerry.

He was a giant whose legendary athleticism never allowed the mistaken notion that toughness was all about doing unto others with cruelty. Jerry never boasted - he didn't need to; he never bullied- he never needed to; he never listened to gossip, or bad-mouthing of other people -that he never needed.

Jerry loved deeply.

Jerry was too tough a man to ever shout out, " How You Like Me Now?"

Pygmies are prone to that statement.  Pygmies and little kids playing at tough guy.

His biography is impressive with accomplishments.  His life was so much more.  I never once heard Jerry Schumacher utter an unkindness, much less do a cruel or selfish thing to any person.

His kindness mortifies my own thoughtlessness.

Jerry's welcoming boom of a voice and open palms fill out God's starting line-up.

God Bless Us with some men like Jerry Schumacher; we ain't that tough anymore.

He was a graduate of Mount Carmel High School, where he won a Prep Bowl Championship on 1967, and of the University of Michigan. While at playing football at Michigan he was part of a Big 10 and Rose Bowl winning team.
He was later inducted into the Chicago Catholic League and Mount Carmel High School halls of fame. Mt. Schumacher went on to teach at Gordon Tech High School from 1974 to 1978. He was a member of Local 150.
Mr. Schumacher was the son of the late James and Kathleen nee McInerney, fond son-in-law of the late Chuck and Marge Miller.
He is survived by his wife Cathy nee Miller and children Karen (Shawn) Finnin, Katie (Michael) Cawley, Jerry Jr. and Brian (Emily) Schumacher. Grandfather of Kathleen, Brigid, Shawn and Jack Finnin, Stella and Nora Cawley.
He is also survived by his siblings Carole, the late Gene (Lee) Schumacher, Janice (John) Comiskey, Kathleen (Frank) Maloney, Erin (David) Carlstedt, Maureen (Phil) Panatera, Mary Pat (Jim) Rohan, Jim (Julie) Schumacher, and Susan (Tom) Sheahan.
Fond brother-in-law of Michael Miller, Ret. Bat. Chief CFD, and PJ (Joanne) Miller. Proud uncle and great uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Thursday, May 2 from 3 to 9 p.m. at St. Cajetan Church, 2445 W. 112th Street.
A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, May 3 at St. Cajetan Church at 10:00 a.m. Interment  will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Waiting for the White Stuff -Snowmageddon Part III

(Up date at 10:04 AM)

Nothing doing here on the great south side.  Schools cancelled and I got up at my usual time -just in case.

So far the weather is mild and no snow.  Hang, on a while, please.  Dunkin Donuts is not open yet, so I'll head over to the White Hen ( actually a 7-11 now, but like Comiskey Park old nomeclatures die hard) at 103rd & Artesian and grab some zoom-juice and cream.

( fifteen minutes later)

I went up Maplewood and saw Alderman Matt O'Shea getting out of the house.  The boy do work hard.  White Hen (7-11)  aside from a couple of lotto-venture capitalists the place was empty.  "Where's the snow?" I asked.  "Don't ask that later, smart ass," was the genial reply.  Cops and Streets and San Drivers were going up and down 103rd Street.  I pulled out onto that street with my 24 oz dark roast and cream and took a right south on Western.  At 10400 S. Western I noticed that Alderman O'Shea already had the lights on.

Unlike that goof Cappleman in the 46th Ward, or that other 40 Watt intellect Proco Joe Moreno, Matt O'Shea is an old time, walk the ward and actually talk to people about services alderman. I may disagree with Matt on rare occassions, but I respect a person who actually works for someone other than himself.

No neighbors were out when I got home, so into Casa Hickey with my coffee and back to the keys.

No snow yet,  I got my oldest, Nora, up for work - I'll drive her to the Metra at 107th and pick her up tonight.

Snow -light snow coming down.  We may get buried, or we may get another pass from God's dandruff.

Stay tuned.  I will be in the garage test-starting the snow blower.

Brian Egan -Christ's Good Man Goes Home

 Jack, Nora, Pat, Bridget and Brian Egan of St. Cajetan's Parish


I met Brian Egan through St. Cajetan Parish and Kennedy Park activities.  My son played St. Caj football with Jack Egan who was a year older than Conor and my youngest daughter remains very close with Nora with whom Clare went through Three of Seven Sacraments, Pre-K, T-Ball, Soccer, Softball, Basketball and the rigors of eight years of Catholic grammar school on the south side of Chicago. No easy task that.  Brian Egan had their little backs.

All through those years, Brian Egan stood on the sidelines, in the stands and in the dugouts, knelt in the pew and supported not only his babies, but every youngster with his coaching skills which were formidable, his encouragement which was genuine and his love which was never turned off at anytime.

His beautiful daughter Bridget suffered with disease and Brian Egan had her shoulders locked in his grip. His lovely wife Pat had a guy who worshiped the sand, clay and blades of freshly cut Chicago Park District grass in and under her sandals.  Brian Egan, like most south side guys I know,  was life-long overwhelmed by the love of his girlfriend, bride and partner.  Well we should.

Brian Egan was too tall a man to cast a shadow.  I am heartbroken with his passing from our company but comforted that God has a great coach, neighbor and role model for His Saints.  Brian Egan now makes a 'better place' a happier one.

Thanks for being there for all of us, Brian!

Brian J. Egan, age 58, born Into Eternal Life on Oct. 29, 2012, beloved husband of Pat (nee Spellacy) for 32 years; loving father of Bridget (Fiancé Matt Houze), Jack and Nora; dear brother of James (Catherine), Janet (Zeke) Loughrey, Terence (Debbie) Carol (Terry) Kayser and Maribeth (Bill) Foran; fond brother-in-law of Mary Jo (Ken) Brooks and Donna (Jim) Dalton; "Uncle Brian" was also dearly loved by many nieces and nephews and countless friends. Visitation Wednesday 2 to 9 p.m. at the Brady-Gill Funeral Home (Heeney-Laughlin Directors), 2929 W. 87th St., Evergreen Park. Family and friends will meet at St. Cajetan Church 112th St. and Artesian Ave. on Thursday morning for Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Were Back for Brian.org c/o Archer Bank, 3435 W. 111th St., Chicago, IL 60655 are most appreciated. 708-636-5500

Lil JoJo Mourners and Gang-Banger Funerals at Mt. Hope Cemetery

The late Lil Jojo, BDG (dec.)

Yesterday, I paid  a very uncomfortable visit to my doctor at the office on 103th & Pulaski - the fruits of aging and subsequent taxes on the Hickey Meat Bag.  Another such intimate visit scheduled for morning of Monday Sept. 24th and I could not be more pleased.

I am a healthy 59 year old, for no Godly reason at all, but somethings really make my soul sour.  This summer Leo High School buried a freshman, Antonio Davis, who had been murdered by gangsters at 75th & Union, because he bore a resemblance to a thirty-something dope dealer.  Dan McGrath helped the family - Leo paid for the grave site and enlisted the Great Leak Family to cover the burial.  Leo Parents Club paid for an conducted the repast at Leo High School for 400 people.  All of this was done with dignity, grace and respect.  Nearly, every day of the week kids are killed by thugs.

Sometimes, not nearly often enough, a thug catches a round or two, or twelve.  Bothers me not at all; however the celebration of thugs for a thug corpse bothers me no end.  Here are some photos by the Chicago Sun Times Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Konkol who took the time to cover one of the seemingly endless Gang-banger ( Black Gangster Disciple (BGD) funeral in my neighborhood.  God Bless you, Mark! God Bless all Chicago Police Officers!






On the way home, after dropping off the prescription order at CVS.  I noticed a police or media helicopter hovering over what appeared to be Mt. Hope Cemetery from  115th & toward 111th Street east to Talman.  That could only mean that the much anticipated funeral of Rap Artiste and Gang Songster the late Lil JoJo, BGD (dec.) had impacted on the neighborhood.



CPD had scores of Lil JoJo mourners lined up at Kean Gas at 111th & Talman for weapons searches after shooting up the nieighborhood in celebration of the departed Lil Jojo.

That morning, having picked up my twelve Bronzeville and Canaryville Leo Men, I was regaled with yarns and snappy comments on the demise of the young Rap Star Ascendant.  I told the guys to knock off the commentary and say a short prayer.  " Remember, this kid has a mother and family."

We are all going to ground.  However, most of us live our lives and conduct ourselves according to the will of God, because we believe that what we do in life will ride with us into eternity.  That is the only way one can live a happy life.  The poor stupid kid going to Mt. Hope with a number of holes in him would be celebrated by other stupid people in a manner equally as stupid.  They are unhappy people.  One can not be stupid and happy.  One can laugh, act out, fire the 9 out of car windows, smoke blunts, guzzle 40s, offend and violate the sorrow of a family, but they can not be happy.

Mt. Hope Cemetery was an old Dutch burial ground.  The only real man on the 1919 White Sox Team, Buck Weaver, is buried at Mt. Hope.  Buck Weaver received the exact same punishment from that unctious hypocrite Judge Kennesaw Landis as those meted out to the disgracefully ignorant and greedy Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other scandalous Sox.  Buck Weaver was pure, never took a dime; but knew of the larceny and refused to kop a plea.  Buck Weaver was a stand-up guy and he died beloved and mourned by thousands of his neighbors in St. Sabina Parish. Buck Weaver was a Protestant buried from a Catholic funeral home.

Sadly, Mt. Hope has become the final resting place of street lice -Gang Bangers -murderers, felons and thugs.  To be sure every person should have grave - Mt. Hope is the urban Boot Hill.

As I headed up Kedzie toward 111th, I noticed that a great number of blue strobes were a blinking and racing to 115th & Kedzie.  The L'l JoJo mourners must be up to the standard of mischief associated with burial at Mt. Hope -gunfire, racists taunts to Cracker homeowners, threats to toddlers,  the tossing of empty 40s on well-kepy lawns and Crown Royal and Bumpy Face jugs shattered on sidewalks, driveways and streets, and very high speed threats to pedestrians - "#$%^ Y'all, Bidches! WOOOUP! WOOOUP!"

This urban cultural exchange takes place almost daily.

My neighbors are angry. They are not considered worthy of advocacy because they are white, Catholic and ethnic.  The meme being "That is what they deserve for being White Flight Bigots"  That is Evanston-speak - Lake County Lingo - Oak Park Oratory. It has nothing to do with truth.

Today, people in my neighborhood will meet at Kennedy Park on Western Ave. - Alderman Matt O'Shea of the 19th Ward has been positively heroic and out-front in condemning this blight on the community from the many manifestations and enclaves of Gang-banger Culture.  This is not a black v. white flight bigot issue.  This neighborhood is diverse though largely white and Catholic.  My neighbors are African Americans who fled Gresham, Grand Crossing, Englewood and Roseland.  They are neighbors who care for their children and their property.

The owners of Mt. Hope have seemed to dodge any and all responsibility for the Gang Parades to Glory. The cemetery is static - it don't move, of course.

Someone must wear the jacket and take fiduciary responsibility for the clientele.  The owners of the E2 Nightclub certainly did.  They got fines and jail time as I recall and E-2 did not have wheels on it.

What is the responsibility of the Funeral Directors*?  They are contracted.  I know I buried a few loved ones. The problem seems to lie with the funeral procession once it departs form its funeral home and passes through the gates of Mt. Hope.

Here is a funeral director cop-out clause that should be challenged mightily -

This Section 6 shall not apply if the death, personal injury, or property damage allegedly arose from the negligent acts or omissions in the operation of a vehicle by the funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort, or their employees or agents. The operator of a vehicle in a funeral procession shall not be deemed to be an agent of the funeral director, funeral home, or funeral escort unless such operator is an employee of the funeral director, funeral home, or funeral escort and is acting in the course of their employment, or unless the operator was retained as an independent contractor of the funeral director, funeral home, or funeral escort and is performing services thereto.

Perhaps, lawyers in our community should form a coalition and bring suit against any and all funeral directors who make a mockery of mourning, while taking the corpse to Mt. Hope.

NFDA Model Funeral Procession Statute

Section 101-01. Definitions

1. “Funeral director” and “funeral home” shall have the same meanings set forth in Sections _____ - ______ of the State Code*.
2. “Funeral procession” means two or more vehicles accompanying the body or the cremated remains of a deceased person, in the daylight hours, including a funeral lead vehicle or a funeral escort vehicle.
3. “Funeral lead vehicle” means any motor vehicle, including a funeral hearse, properly equipped pursuant to subsection 101-02(a), leading and facilitating the movement of a funeral procession.
4. “Funeral escort” means a person or entity that provides escort services for funeral processions, including, but not limited to law enforcement personnel and agencies.
5. “Funeral escort vehicle” means any motor vehicle properly equipped pursuant to Section 101-02 and which escorts a funeral procession.

Section 101-02. Equipment

1. All non-law enforcement funeral escort vehicles and funeral lead vehicles shall be equipped with at least one lighted rotating or oscillating lamp exhibiting an [amber]** light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of at least 500 feet from the front of the vehicle. A funeral escort vehicle or a funeral lead vehicle may illuminate a rotating or oscillating [amber]** light only when the vehicle is in use in a funeral procession.
2. Any law enforcement funeral escort vehicle may be equipped with a red, blue, or amber flashing light which meet the criteria established in subsection (a) of this Section.

________________________
* Those sections from the state funeral licensing statute that define “funeral director” and “funeral home” would be inserted here.

**States may substitute red, blue or purple lights for amber lights.

Section 101-03. Driving in Funeral Procession

1. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession must exercise due care when participating in a funeral procession.
2. A vehicle in a funeral procession shall follow the preceding vehicle in the funeral procession as closely as is practicable and safe. Any ordinance, law, or regulation requiring that motor vehicles be operated to allow sufficient space between them to enable another vehicle to enter and occupy that space without danger shall not be applicable to vehicles in a funeral procession.
3. The operator of a motor vehicle in a funeral procession may not drive the vehicle at a speed greater than:
   1. 55 miles per hour on a highway where the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour or more; or
   2. 5 miles per hour below the posted speed limit on other streets or road.
4. A vehicle being operated in any funeral procession must have its headlights and tail lights illuminated.
5. The turn signals must be flashing simultaneously as warning lights on a vehicle that is the first vehicle in a funeral procession and which the operator has reason to believe is the last vehicle in the funeral procession.

Section 101-04. Funeral Procession Right-of-Way

1. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Section, pedestrians and operators of all vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which is part of a funeral procession being led by a funeral escort vehicle or a funeral lead vehicle.
2. Whenever the funeral escort vehicle or funeral lead vehicle in a funeral procession lawfully enters an intersection, either by reason of a traffic control device or at the direction of law enforcement personnel, the remaining vehicles in the funeral procession may continue to follow the funeral lead vehicle through the intersection despite any traffic control devices or right-of-way provisions of State or local ordinances, provided the operator of each vehicle exercises reasonable care toward any other vehicle or pedestrian on the roadway.
3. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Section, an operator of a funeral escort vehicle may direct the operators of other vehicles in a funeral procession to proceed through an intersection or to make turns or other movements despite any traffic control device. The operator of a funeral escort vehicle may direct and control the operators of vehicles not in a funeral procession, including those in or approaching an intersection, to stop, proceed, or make turns or other movements without regard to a traffic control device. Funeral escort vehicles may exceed the speed limit by 15 miles per hour when overtaking the funeral procession to direct traffic at the next intersection.
4. Funeral processions shall have the right-of-way at intersections regardless of traffic control devices, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:
   1. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an approaching emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal;
   2. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by law enforcement personnel; and
   3. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession must exercise due care when participating in a funeral procession.

Section 101-05. Vehicles not in Funeral Procession

The operator of a vehicle that is not part of a funeral procession may not:

1. Drive between the vehicles forming a funeral procession while they are in motion except when authorized to do so by law enforcement personnel or when driving an authorized emergency vehicle emitting an audible or visible signal.
2. Join a funeral procession to secure the right-of-way as granted by Section 101-04.
3. Pass a funeral procession on a multiple lane highway on the funeral procession’s right side unless the funeral procession is in the farthest left lane.
4. Enter an intersection, even if the operator is facing a green traffic control signal, when a funeral procession is proceeding through a red traffic control signal at the intersection as permitted under Section 101-04, unless the operator can so without crossing the path of the funeral procession. If the red signal changes to green while the funeral procession is within the intersection, the operator of the vehicle facing a green signal may proceed subject to the right-of-way of a vehicle participating in a funeral procession.

Section 101-06. Liability

1. Liability for any death, personal injury or property damage suffered by any person in a funeral procession shall not be imposed upon the funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort or their employees or agents if the funeral procession was operating in compliance with Sections 101-01 through 101-04 or would have been operating in such compliance but for the operator or operators of one or more vehicles in the funeral procession not exercising due care as required by subsections 101-03(a) and 101-04(d)(iii).
2. Liability for any death, personal injury or property damage that results from, is caused by, or arises out of any action or inaction of any operator of a vehicle in a funeral procession under the control of a funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort or their employees or agents shall not be imposed upon such funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort or their employees or agents if the funeral procession was operating in compliance with Sections 101-01 through 101-04 or would have been operating in such compliance but for the operator or operators of one or more vehicles in the funeral procession not exercising due care as required by subsections 101.03(a) and 101-04(d)(iii).
3. This Section 6 shall not apply if the death, personal injury, or property damage allegedly arose from the negligent acts or omissions in the operation of a vehicle by the funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort, or their employees or agents. The operator of a vehicle in a funeral procession shall not be deemed to be an agent of the funeral director, funeral home, or funeral escort unless such operator is an employee of the funeral director, funeral home, or funeral escort and is acting in the course of their employment, or unless the operator was retained as an independent contractor of the funeral director, funeral home, or funeral escort and is performing services thereto.
4. This Section 6 does not create a new cause of action or substantive legal rights against any funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort, or their employees or agents. This section does not affect any immunities from civil liability or defenses established by another section of the State Code or any immunities from civil liabilities or defenses available at common law to which a funeral director, funeral home, funeral escort, or their employees or agents may be entitled.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/15144333-418/tensions-erupt-at-wake-for-slain-teen-rapper-lil-jojo.html
http://www.nfda.org/government-relations-/model-laws-and-best-practices/254.html