Writing Sample: Frigid Weather Poses Threat to Chicago Marathon
Original Date of Publication: 10.14.09
Nearly 35,000 runners gathered early Sunday morning at Grant Park to take part in the 32nd annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Runners piled on the layers for the 26.2 mile race in mid-thirty degree weather.
The first pack of runners took off at 7:30 a.m. from the start line. Around 1.5 million spectators lined the course, stretching as far north as Wrigleyville and as far south as Chinatown.
Not only was the course crowded with spectators cheering on family and friends, but shed layers of sweatshirts and pants also littered the course where runners had come and gone. All pieces were collected from the course and donated to a local charity.
Low temperatures may have kept hospital visits down this year as well. Only 14 runners were taken to the hospital, all due to minor injuries, which is down from last year’s 61 medical calls.
Original Date of Publication: 10.28.09
The crowd chanted.
Full. Equal. Rights. Now.
Location, Washington, D.C., home to many of the greatest moments in our country’s history.
You heard it in 1963 and you are hearing it again in 2009.
Same setting, different cause.
On both occasions, it did not matter your race, ethnicity, culture, or creed. What mattered was your voice and your presence to fight for equality. In 1963, the Civil Rights Movement was fighting for equality for the African-American population in the United States.
This year, over 200,000 Americans came together to fight for another chance for equality. Equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Now. This was their mission, and they intended to make it known.
With the crowd gathered before the Capitol building, Lady Gaga took the stage. Standing on an equipment suitcase hidden behind the podium, she towered over the microphone and cried out over the crowd.
“Obama, are you listening,” the pop star shouted over the speakers, “Are you listening?”
Broadway Impact, a New York based community of actors, directors, producers, and stage managers, also made their presence known at the rally.
The group sponsored over 25 charter buses, free of charge for passengers, to bring marchers from New York City to the rally in Washington. Several Broadway stars performed at the march, utilizing their gifted voices to reach out and keep the spirit alive in the crowd.
“Settling back into reality and praying for that fire to stay,” Gavin Creel, current cast member of the Broadway revival of “Hair”, posted on his Twitter as he rode the train back to New York.
The fire he spoke of is only the beginning. The march introduced what will be a long campaign for equality. Keeping that flame burning is vital to the cause.
Audio Slideshow: Hank Zemola talks about the 26th annual Belmont Sheffield Music Festival
By Laura Fitzgerald and Kelly Stotmeister
Memorial Day weekend in Chicago begins the kickoff to summer events that bring different neighborhoods in the city together to enjoy food, beer, crafts and oftentimes free live musical performances.
The 2010 Belmont Sheffield Music Festival in Lakeview in late May was one of the first music festivals this summer season, showcasing 10 musical performances and various vendors.
House of Winehouse performed for the festival crowds Saturday afternoon
Sponsored mainly by the Central Lakeview Merchants Association, the 26th annual Belmont Sheffield Music Festival offered free entertainment at a suggested $5 donation that went toward the Lakeview community and grants.
Hank Zemola, the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Special Events Management, was a fundamental contributor to the festival and spoke about the event production.
“This festival started in the late ’70s,” Zemola said. “We decided, ‘lets bring music to the outdoors, it’s less expensive so that people can really enjoy it and feature local retailers on the street’. That was kind of the birth of the event.”
Zemola said that throughout the 26 years the event has been going on, the location has relocated depending on construction and traffic demands.
“We’ve found a home between Roscoe and Belmont,” Zemola said. “We’ve got a really good retail group and it gives a chance for people to come out and kick off summer — it sets the tone for them.”
This year, the festival booked 10 bands, including Mr. Blotto, Wedding Banned, Trippin Billies, and House of Winehouse-an Amy Winehouse imitation band.
“We pick musical performances through a committee,” Zemola said. “We try to keep it fresh so it’s not the same bands over and over again. We look at someone who is maybe on the rise.”
Zemola said that there were economical benefits of summer festivals such as this one, saying that although hard economical times have hit, the festivals will continue throughout the summer, offering residents affordable entertainment right in their own neighborhoods.
“Surprisingly, the economy hasn’t hurt the events, we’ve actually grown,” he said. “People look at value. It’s very economical. I can come [to a festival] with $20 and probably have a pretty good time.”
Cubs Game
Summer 2009 Muggings Target Men in Lincoln Park Neighborhood
A string of muggings occurred this past summer in the north side neighborhood of Lincoln Park. Chicago Police continue to look for answers in the cases of several young men who were robbed and beaten.
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Five of the seven muggings have been linked together while police suspect the other two to be related as well.
All of the victims were men, many in their mid-twenties and walking alone. The victims were confronted on foot from behind by at least four attackers who were of similar age.
The attackers demanded the victim’s wallet and then proceeded to beat the them in the head and face. Two of the attacks landed the victims in the hospital.
Several of the incidents occurred near DePaul University. DePaul campus security is now working with the Chicago Police to ensure the safety of its students.
DePaul Public Safety offers a free escort service to its students from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.. Students may call Public Safety at 773-325-7777 for a ride to any location on campus if they feel their safety is threatened.
As of March 31, 2010, no arrests have been made in connection to the muggings.
His first name is among the top 15 most popular male names in the United States.
The six-letter combo seems generic enough.
Yet, when typed into Google, the search engine renders his persona among its first page of results.
How did Andrew Huff become so prominent on the World Wide Web?
Blogging.
Andrew Huff speaks with journalism students at DePaul University
Huff visited with an online journalism class at DePaul University on Wednesday to enlighten the young, budding journalists on where the media is headed.
Huff started blogging back in 2001 with a simple and straightforward blog about all things in his life and all things Chicago. Looking back at the original site he set up using Tripod, he finds humor in seeing how far he has come.
Over time, Huff noticed many other individuals around the Chicago area breaking into the blogosphere. In 2003, Huff collaborated with designer, Naz Hamid to create Gapers Block, an online publication focused on the Windy City.
