Environment & Health News
The McKinley Park Community Garden, which is returning to the neighborhood for the 2018 growing season, has opened up registration for garden plots at its new, permanent location between northbound and southbound Damen Avenue. The first-come, first-served registration of plots runs through March 10, or until its capacity of 24 plots is full.
Interested gardeners should register online as soon as possible in order to secure a plot, which costs $50 for the growing season. After the sign-ups, a garden meet and greet event on March 17 will let gardeners socialize and learn about the site plan, garden workdays and garden events for 2018.
Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) is renewing his calls for cleanup of the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River, more commonly known as Bubbly Creek. The extremely polluted waterway, which gets its name from century-old slaughterhouse sludge still pushing bubbles to the surface, suffered another befoulement by diesel oil this past fall. Lipinski said the cleanup related to this event should now allow a stalled U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to move forward.
"I would like to ensure that we are taking every feasible action to restore the creek to an ecologically healthy state," Lipinski said in a letter written to the corps and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). " I believe that some of the work planned for Bubbly Creek may help prevent or mitigate future oil spills and other pollution."
Read more: Lipinski Calls for Bubbly Creek Cleanup to Move Forward
Combating teens' false perceptions about their peers' use of alcohol and marijuana is one focus of the substance abuse awareness program rolled out this week in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Staff from the Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) began their advocacy and information campaign as part of the McKinley Park Underage Drinking and Other Substances Prevention Coalition (McK-UDOS).
"By providing teens with accurate information versus their perceptions, they are more likely to make better decisions when faced with drinking or marijuana use," said Vernalynn De La Rosa, MAHA substance abuse prevention program coordinator and point person for the McKinley Park program. "Adolescents at this stage of development are greatly influenced by their peers."
"We want to focus on youth because prevention must start at an early age," said MAHA Executive Director Dr. Hong Liu, also noting the multilingual aspect of the campaign. "Since we target the immigrant community, it is important that we create campaign materials that are culturally and linguistically appropriate."
Read more: Youth Substance Abuse Awareness Program Rolls Out in McKinley Park
The Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) is spearheading a program to reduce youth alcohol and marijuana use in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Its McKinley Park Underage Drinking and Other Substances Prevention Coalition (McK-UDOS) looks to bring together community organizations with resources to enable education, awareness and advocacy.
"We are trying to connect with schools, agencies, businesses and community members to collaborate with our coalition," said MAHA Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator Vernalynne De La Rosa. "The goal is to reduce underage drinking and marijuana use."
Read more: Youth Substance Abuse Program Building Coalition for McKinley Park
Continuing its ongoing sponsorship of neighborhood events, the McKinley Park Advisory Council sponsored a Halloween 5K Fun Run/Walk through McKinley Park the morning of Saturday, October 28. Costumed runners and walkers of all ages enjoyed a brisk couple turns around the park, with proceeds benefiting the Council.
Read more: Advisory Council Brings Halloween to the Park for Fun Run
