By William S. Bike

FOOD FOR KIDS, ADULTS
The Academy of Excellence III, 1255 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605, a private day care center, is a participant in the School Federal Food Program, part of the Child and Adult Care Food program. For more information, call (312) 913-1234.

STAIR CLIMB
The American Lung Association in Greater Chicago Fight For Air Climb is accepting registrations for two stairclimb challenges at Presidential Towers, 555 W. Madison St., on Sunday, March 21. Sign up at www.fightforairclimb.org. The World’s Greatest Urban Stairclimb Challenge tests endurance, with participants climbing all four towers for a total of 2,340 steps. Climbers also can form teams of four to tackle the towers together in the Stairclimb Relay Challenge. For more information, call (800) 586-4872.

SEX ABUSE THERAPY
Group therapy for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse will be held for 12 weeks beginning in mid-March; a group for spouses, parents, and adult children of those abused also will meet. Sessions are sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Sessions for male adult survivors begin Tuesday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. at a downtown location. Sessions for women survivors begin Thursday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in Evergreen Park, IL. The family group will meet downtown at 10 a.m. beginning Saturday, March 13. Call or e-mail Kathleen Leggdas at (312) 534-5268, leggdas@archchicago.org, or Matt Hunnicutt at (312) 534-8267, mhunnicutt@archchicago.org.

FAFSA HELP
The Center for Economic Progress (CEP) can help students obtain full public benefits available to them, increasing their opportunity to receive the grant maximums. This year, the CEP is launching Financial Aid U, a program to help make college a reality for more than 500 low-income Chicago students. Financial Aid U will host 20 college access events where it will guide students through completing the government’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The CEP is located at 29 E. Madison St. Call (312) 252-0281 or log on to www.economicprogress.org.

CAF ROUNDUP
The Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave., (312) 922-3432, ext. 254, will host the following events: Wednesday, March 10, 12:15 p.m. lecture, The Daniel Burnham Memorial by David Woodhouse Architects; Wednesday, March 17, 12:15 p.m. lecture, Chicago: City of Steel; Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturdays in the Studio for high school students; Sunday, March 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Family Studio Sunday; Wednesday, March 24, 12:15 p.m. lecture, Last Four Miles: Completing Chicago’s Lakefront Parks; Wednesday, March 31, 12:15 p.m. lecture, Walter Frazier: Frazier, Raftery, Orr, & Fairbank Architects, Houses of Chicago’s North Shore, 1924 to 1970. For information, log on to www.architecture.org or call (312) 922-3432.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Chicago City Council will meet in the council chambers in City Hall, 2nd Floor, 121 N. LaSalle St., on Wednesday, March 10. For more information on City Council committee meetings, visit www.chicityclerk.com/Meetings_calendar_normal.php.

CPD MEETING
The Wednesday, March 10 meeting of the Chicago Park District will be held at 4 p.m. at 541 N. Fairbanks Ave. in the 8th Floor boardroom. For more information, call (312) 742-7529 or visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/docs/308f95f2-2e78-4801-b53c-da1e31edf381_document.pdf.

OLD HOLLYWOOD
Join solo dramatist Roberta Randall for the Power of Glamour, a performance evoking Old Hollywood and movie stars Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, and Marlene Dietrich, who enchanted the world and left a legacy through their films. The performance will be held Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at the Chicago Public Library Roosevelt Branch, 1101 W. Taylor St. Call (312) 746-5656.

HAROLD WASHINGTON ROUNDUP
The Chicago Public Library Harold Washington Center presents free financial literacy programs in partnership with the Federal Reserve and its associates to help participants understand the business of money, gain control of their finances, and learn practical money skills for life. All Money Smart programs this month will be held Tuesdays at noon in the seventh floor Chicago Authors Room at the Harold Washington Library at 400 S. State St.; among the topics are First Time Home Buyer on March 9, Refinancing Your Home on March 15, and Ten Proven Strategies to Secure Your Financial Future March 23. For a complete listing of Money Smart programs, visit www.chicagopubliclibrary.org.

The Writers on the Record series with Victoria Lautman continues on Thursday, March 11, at 6 p.m. as Lionel Shriver talks about her tenth novel, So Much For That, which presents the story of a crumbling marriage resurrected in the face of illness.

The Chicago Public Library partners with Columbia College’s Fiction Writing Department to present the 2010 Story Week Festival of Writers.

Events taking place include:
Gavin Cologne-Brookes moderating a discussion with author Joyce Carol Oates on Monday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m., and Donna Seaman hosting a discussions with Oates at 6 p.m.

Authors Aleksandar Hemon, Achy Obejas, and John Dale discussing their work in a conversation moderated by Patricia Ann McNair on Tuesday, March 16, at 6 p.m.

Authors Mort Castle, Maggie Estep, David Morrell, and Kevin Nance discussing their work in an event hosted by Joe Meno on Wednesday, March 17, at 2:30 p.m.; the writers also will read from their work at 6 p.m., followed by a performance of story, words, and music by Peter Schumann, founder of Bread & Puppet Theater, along with Columbia College students.

A publishing panel, Books Under Pressure, will be held Thursday, March 18, at 11 a.m. Author Donna Seaman, associate editor of Booklist and Chicago Public Radio book critic, will be joined by literary agent Michelle Brower, bookstore owner Linda Bubon, author John Dale, and publisher Johnny Temple.

MORE MINORITY MUSICIANS
The Chicago Sinfonietta, 70 E. Lake St., will expand Project Inclusion, a diversity initiative, by creating music ensembles. Fewer than 3% of orchestral musicians performing with the top 1,000 orchestras are people of color; Project Inclusion aims to increase the number of minority musicians playing in orchestras across the United States. For information, visit chicagosinfonietta.org or call (312) 236-3681.

CTA BOARD MEETING
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) board will meet Wednesday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at 567 W. Lake St. in the board room (2nd Floor). For more information, click here.

FINANCIAL AID
Students seeking financial aid for higher education are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To help students receive as much aid as possible, City Clerk Miguel del Valle and Ladder Up have partnered to give students free help for FAFSA completion on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. through March 30 in Room 107 of City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle. St. For more information, contact Ladder Up, an organization that helps working and underserved families obtain financial assistance, at (312) 458-9105 or visit www.goladderup.org. For Del Valle’s office, call (312) 744-6578.

MONEY MANAGEMENT
City Treasurer Stephanie Neely’s office provides free money management classes. Log on to www.chicagocitytreasurer.com or call (312) 744-8122 for details.

DE LA SALLE ROUNDUP
The Chicago Catholic League chose De La Salle Institute student-athlete Gary Young to receive the Tony Lawless Award for being the top senior in his respective sport; Young plays on De La Salle’s varsity bowling team.

Three De La Salle wrestlers recently placed at the Chicago Catholic League wrestling tournament: sophomore James Buss won in the 285-pound weight class, while junior Angelo Rivera and senior Jacob Bugajski placed third in the 160- and 130-pound weight classes respectively.

De La Salle is located at 3455 S. Wabash Ave. and at 1040 W 32nd Pl. Call (312) 842-7355 or log on to www.dls.org.

LITTLE LEAGUE
Planning is underway for the Donovan Park Bridgeport Little Major League, 3620 S. Lituanica Ave., for boys and girls ages six through 14. The league seeks sponsors for teams. For information, call (312) 747-6111.

FIORETTI HONORED
Friends of the Parks, a non-profit organization focused on improving parks in Chicago, honored 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti with its 2009 Legislative Award on Feb. 4 at the Chicago Cultural Center. For more about Friends of the Parks, log on to www.fotp.org or call (312) 857-2757.

BOTANICAL FASHION SHOW
The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance will host Fleurotica, a botanical fashion show, on Friday, March 26, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the Garfield Park Conservatory’s Horticulture Hall, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Guests will view artistic wraps, clothing, and hats made from flowers, plants, and leaves. Tickets cost $100 for the reception only and $175 for the reception and reserved fashion show seating. Proceeds will benefit the conservatory’s public programs and education initiatives. Reservations are required; call (773) 638-1766, ext. 28. For more information, visit www.garfieldconservatory.org/.

HAYMARKET WORKSHOPS
Haymarket Center will host Saturday workshops for professionals assisting addicted clients and patients: March 13, Ethics and Credentialing; March 27, Co-Occurring Disorders: The Interactive Effects of Psychiatric Impairment and Chemical Dependence; and April 10, Improving Outcomes for Families. All sessions are held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 20 N. Sangamon St. and include lunch. Registration (with continental breakfast) begins at 8:30 a.m. Each session costs $105 or $70 for students and seniors; continuing education credits provided. Call Carol Blyskal (312) 226-7984, ext. 314.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency encourages Illinois youngsters to apply for the annual Governor’s Green Youth Award, which recognizes outstanding environmental protection and conservation projects by Illinois students. For an application and additional information, log on to the Illinois EPA website at www.epa.state.il.us/green-youth/index.html or contact Deirdre McQuillen at (217) 558-0073 or Deirdre.McQuillen@illinois.gov. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 19.

ANDREW JACKSON BENEFIT
The Andrew Jackson Parent Council and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame will host Did You Know, Andrew Jackson Language Academy’s annual benefit, at the hall, 1431 W. Taylor St., on Thursday, April 8, from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets cost $40 per person or $75 per couple, which includes food, drinks and ten raffle tickets. Proceeds will benefit students’ technical needs. The evening also includes a live auction, bucket raffles, a giving tree for direct technology donations, and entertainment. To donate goods and services, buy tickets, or request more information, e-mail AjlaFundraisingTeam@gmail.com, call (773) 534-7246, or mail a check to AJLA Parent Council, 1340 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607.

LAWYERS PROVIDE GRANT
Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth, a program based at the Chicago Bar Assn., 321 S. Plymouth Ct., works to promote one-on-one mentoring relationships between disadvantaged youth and members of the legal community. The group recently gave Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network a $5,000 grant for its mentoring program. For details, log on to www.ucanchicago.org or www.lawyerslendahand.org or call (312) 554-2041.

TASTE OF LEXINGTON
Lexington College, 310 S. Peoria St., hosts its annual Taste of Lexington on Thursday, March 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. at its West Loop campus to raise scholarship funds for the next generation of women leaders in the hospitality industry. Participants will have opportunities to meet students, faculty, and staff; tour campus facilities; enjoy student-prepared hors d’oeuvres; and learn about degrees in hospitality management. Gale Gand, nationally acclaimed pastry chef, will sign her latest book, Gale Gand’s Brunch! For sponsorship opportunities, to register, or for more information, call (312) 226-6294, ext. 228, or e-mail pr@lexingtoncollege.edu.

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC
The Lincoln Chamber Ensemble will perform Sunday, March 21, at 4:30 p.m., in Notre Dame de Chicago Church, 1334 W. Flournoy St. The program includes the world premiere of Kevin Allen’s Transfiguration, a three-movement work for string orchestra, oboes, and horns, along with Allen’s Concerto for Trumpet and Strings. DePaul University music faculty member Ross Beacraft will be the trumpet soloist. Also scheduled is Handel’s Concerto Grosso in D Minor, Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 11 in E Flat Major. Advance tickets cost $20, $15 for seniors and students, and $10 for children younger than 13; all tickets cost $5 more at the door. Call (815) 806-0066 or go to www.lincolnchamberproductions.org.

LUPUS INFO SESSION
Join the Lupus Foundation of America Illinois Chapter (LFAI) for coffee and a presentation on Managing the Wolf: Resources for Lupus Patients by Sonya Loynachan, MPA, LFAI health promotion manager, on Saturday, March 6, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Dominick’s at 1340 S. Canal St. Admission is free, but register at (800) 2-LUPUS-2 or sonya@lupusil.org.

MERCY HOSPITAL ROUNDUP
Mercy Hospital and Medical Center presents two free information sessions on Tuesday, March 9, at 2525 S. Michigan Ave. At 6 p.m. in the second floor Joyce Auditorium, medical staff will explain Lap-Band, Mercy’s minimally invasive weight loss surgery. Registration required; call (312) 567-BAND (2263). At 5:45, learn about Smoke No More, Mercy’s eight-session smoking cessation program, which costs only $50 and teaches participants how to become non-smokers for good. Topics include developing a personalized quitting plan, dealing with recovery symptoms, controlling weight, reducing stress, and fighting urges to smoke. The event will be held in the 12th floor conference room. For more information, call Linda Thompson at (312) 567-2477.

TAX HELP
Through Thursday, April 15, Robert Morris University students enrolled in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (which is certified and sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service) will prepare income tax returns at no charge for low and moderate income households (generally $49,000 and below) every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 6 p.m. in Room 301 at 401 S. State St. For more information, call (800) 762-5960 or visit www.robertmorris.edu.

NAVY PIER ROUNDUP
Navy Pier events this month include Toddlin’ Thursdays, which runs 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each Thursday through April 8 at the Family Pavilion Stage, with seats reserved for toddlers to enjoy various acts.

Family Fun Days run through Sunday, April 25, and feature gospel choirs, holiday and cultural celebrations, variety shows, dancing, cooking demonstrations, sports clinics, and special appearances. For events’ dates and times, visit www.navypier.com.

The Chicago Flower and Garden Show runs Saturday through Saturday, March 6 through 14. Log on to www.chicagoflower.com.

Call (312) 595-PIER or log on to www.navypier.com. Navy Pier is located at 600 E. Grand Ave.

CITY TREASURER ROUNDUP
City Treasurer Stephanie Neely reports that millions of dollars are available for Chicago small business loans through the City Treasurer’s Small Business Development Fund. Her office also offers free money management classes. Log on to www.chicagocitytreasurer.com or call (312) 742-0981.

NOTEBAERT MUSEUM ROUNDUP
Located at 2430 N. Cannon Drive, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day; weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The museum offers a variety of daily events including animal feedings and butterfly releases.

Through Sunday, April 11, the National Geographic “Crittercam” will show The World Through Animal Eyes.

Through Sunday, May 9, the exhibition The Birth of Coffee will be on display.

There will be a Green Cleaning Demonstration Thursdays and Saturdays through March 27 at 1:30 p.m.

Human Footprint, a film that shows our impact on the environment, will be shown Thursday, March 18, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The End of Suburbia, a film that explores the American way of life, will be shown the Thursdays of March 11 and 25 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Additional events are scheduled in March as well. Call (773) 755-5111 or log on to www.naturemuseum.org.

NOTRE DAME ROUNDUP
Notre Dame de Chicago Parish, 1334 W. Flournoy St., will host the Stations of the Cross, followed by a dinner of soup and bread, at 7 p.m. on each Friday in March.

There will be Lenten reflections and hymns Saturday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Call (312) 243-7400.

QUEEN OF PEACE ROUNDUP
Sixteen Queen of Peace seniors have been named as 2010 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Illinois State Scholars rank in the top 10% of high school seniors from 752 schools across the state. Queen of Peace’s 2010 Illinois State Scholars are Julia Amador, Emily Boyle, Anna Dron, Nicole Frederick, Kelly Gierman, Paige Jeffrey, Heather Kierzek, Allison Kirwan, Kelly Kosiewicz, Sara Majewski, Marcella Perez, Diana Rodriguez, Sara Seweryn, Michaele Strauch, Erica Vrkljan, and Natalie Watson. Queen of Peace is located at 7659 S. Linder, Burbank, IL, (708) 458-7600.

ST. IGNATIUS FUNDRAISER
Saint Ignatius College Prep will hold its Puttin’ on the Ritz/Midnight in the Garden of Athena fundraising auction on Saturday, March 20. Cost is $60 per person. Raffle tickets can be purchased online, from auction committee members, or at the event. Among items to be raffled are a full-year student tuition and cash prizes. Sponsorships of the event are available at various giving levels. Volunteers for the event also are needed. Donations of auction items are welcome. For more information, call (312) 432-8406, e-mail Marcia Spingola at marci.spingola@ignatius.org, or log on to www.ignatius.org.

ST. JOSEPH’S TABLES
Santa Maria Addolorata Parish, 528 N. Ada St., will host a St. Joseph’s Table celebration on Sunday, March 21. The Mass is at 10:30 a.m., and the blessing of the table will be held at noon in the church hall. Food will be served until 3 p.m. There will be a children’s representation of the holy family as well. Call (312) 421-3122.

St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish, 1039 W. 32nd St., willalso will host its St. Joseph’s Table celebration on Sunday, March 21, following its 10:30 a.m. Mass. Call (773) 927-6646.

SHRINE ROUNDUP
Shine at the Shrine is a variety show scheduled for the Shrine of Our Lady Of Pompeii at 1224 W. Lexington St. Volunteers are needed as entertainers and workers. Auditions are Sunday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show will be Sunday, April 25, after the 11 a.m. Mass.

There will be palm weaving workshops on Saturday, March 20, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost is $35

A Lenten day of reflection and reconciliation, Lent: Climbing the Mountain Road, will be held Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. presented by Mary Ann Spina, pastoral associate, Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield, IL.

Call (312) 421-3757.

PUTTING ON THE DOG
South Loop Dog Park Action Cooperative (SLDogPAC) is charged by the Chicago Park District to maintain both Grant Bark Park and the small dog run in Coliseum Park on 14th Street between State Street and Wabash Ave. The SLDogPAC is supported by membership contributions and donations, and it relies on volunteer work for park maintenance and to support initiatives, such as installing dog waste bag dispensers, that will make the South Loop both more dog friendly and more pleasant for all residents, whether or not they own a dog.

For more information or to join, visit http://southloopdogpac.org/join/.

SOUTH LOOP CALENDAR
The South Loop Historical Society (SLHS), an initiative of East-West University, has produced a 2010 calendar with photos of the South Loop. For more information about the calendar or other SLHS events, log on to www.SouthLoopHisotry.org, or write to Judy Bacon, South Loop Historical Society, 819 S. Wabash Ave., Eighth Floor, Chicago, IL 60605.

SLN ROUNDUP
The South Loop Neighbors Photo Contest and Show, which is scheduled for August, is seeking committee members in the areas of sponsorship garnering; judges; poster and flyer designing, writing, and distribution; and framing, distribution, and hanging of the photographs, and more! For more information, e-mail PhotoShow@southloopneighbors.org.

SLN has retained several officers and directors and appointed some new members to its board. New to the board is Jaqi Green, who is now the SLN’s vice president in charge of membership. There also are four new directors: Nicole Batsch, Emily Colantino, John Ro, and Marie Balice Ward. Three of the officers continue in their posts: Dennis McClendon, who has been retained as president; Marilyn Peterson, secretary; and Carole Hanzyk, treasurer. The board also includes three continuing directors: Dan Flavin, Bonnie McGrath, and Kathleen Moyer. Greg Borzo, director, and Helen Kaplow, vice president, resigned from the board.

The SLN holds public meetings on a regular basis at Grace Place , 637 S. Dearborn St. Log on to www.southloopneighbors.org or e-mail info@southloopneighbors.org.

SOUTH LOOP SCHOOL SCIENCE STARS
South Loop School sent four students to the Chicago Public Schools Area 9 Science Fair competition and all of them placed. Samantha Cousino won first place in the botany division and Renee Jacoby won first place for behavioral science as well as having the top score for the competition. Both will move on to the City Wide Science fair to be held at the Museum of Science and Industry Thursday, March 18, through Sunday, March 21. Anna Griffith took second place in microbiology and Sabrina Mendoza won honorable mention in biochemistry. South Loop School is located at 1212 S. Plymouth Ct. Call (773) 534-8690.

JEWISH LIFE UNDER 40
Steven M. Cohen, a leading a sociologist of American Jewry, will share his current research on patterns of Jewish engagement among American Jews under age 40 in a lecture, From People to Purpose: The New Ethos of Innovative Jewish Leaders Monday, March 8, at 6 p.m. at the Spertus Instiute of Jewish Studies, at 610 S. Michigan Ave. The cost is $18 for non-members, $10 for members and $8 for students. For more information or to buy tickets, call (312) 322-1773 or visit www.spertus.edu/programs/lectures/cohen_2010.php.

SADOWSKI PROMOTED
Jeffrey Sadowski has been promoted from club director at the Valentine Boys & Girls Club, 3400 S. Emerald Ave., to Boys & Girls Club Chicago senior vice president of operations. Sadowski is in his final quarter of the MBA program at the Loyola University Chicago Graduate School of Business, and his academic achievements were acknowledged by his being inducted into the Chicago Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honor society in business and management. Call (773) 927-7373.

MUSICAL AUDITIONS
VanderCook College of Music, 3140 S. Federal St., will hold auditions for musicians, singers, conductors, and teachers on Monday, March 29. For information call (312) 225-6288 x230, or log on to www.vandercook.edu.

MURDER ON SKID ROW
Based on a true story, Murder on Skid Row is the first novel by Chicagoan Charlene Wexler. Told from the point of view of an idealistic young dentist who opens an office on Madison Street’s Skid Row in the 1960s, Murder on Skid Row takes the reader back to a place that was an integral part of Chicago for decades—but one today’s public officials and city-beautiful boosters would rather have us believe never existed. Toss in humor, pathos, and a murder mystery, and you have a gripping historical thriller. Murder on Skid Row is available through Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere. Published in 2010 by Author House, the book sells for $21.49 hardcover and $10.99 paperback.

PEOPLE
Freida Curry has joined the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) in Chicago as director of its Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center. The WBDC is located at 8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 400, and can be reached at (312) 853-3477 or www.wbdc.org.

The Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools has named Janine Markowicz, fifth-grade teacher and assistant principal at St. Pius V School, 1919 S. Ashland Ave., a Distinguished Service Award winner for 2010.

Send news of events to be held “around the neighborhood” by the 15th of the month before the month they are to occur to William S. Bike, Around the Neighborhood, Gazette, 1335 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607-3318, fax (312) 243-4270, or email pr@gazettechicago.com.