Happy Thanksgiving Proviso!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Proviso Township. Even in difficult economic times, we all have much to be thankful for each and every day. Take a moment to say what you're thankful for today.

As a reminder, the Proviso East Marching Band will be the star attraction in the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Don't forget to tune in and catch the Pirates.

Also, Congressman Danny K. Davis will provide free Thanksgiving Day dinner at Wallace's Catfish Corner, 2800 W. Madison, Chicago, Illinois from Noon to 3pm on Thanksgiving Day.

If you have something of important happening on Thanksgiving Day or just want to give thanks, post it here.

Village of Bellwood and Mayor Frank Pasquale Open Second Computer Center!!!

Bellwood's second Community Resource Center opened recently offering residents free computer access.

The new center is located at 145 Eastern Ave. and will house about 40 computers. The cost of the building and the computers was about $130,000 with the majority of the funds coming through grants from the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, and Tax Increment Finance funds, because job training will take place at the center.

Bellwood Mayor Frank Pasquale said the new center is a way of investing in the village's youth. Good Job Bellwood!!!

Congressman Danny K. Davis, 7th District for Senate!!!

Congressman Danny K. Davis, from the 7th District, is garnering support for the US Senate seat that has been vacated by President-Elect Barack Obama. Most recently, State Representative Eddie Washington, 60th District representing Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City, and Lake County Residents announced their support and urged Governor Blagojavich to appoint Congressman Danny K. Davis to replace President-Elect Obama as U. S. Senator. A few weeks ago more than a dozen elected officials and hundreds of Illinois residents urged Gov. Blagojavich to appoint Cong. Davis.
Davis continues to build momentum around the State of Illinois. Here's to Congressman Davis and hoping he gets the nod! If Davis gets the nod for Senate, a number of people are rumored as possible successors to his Congressional seat. Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers, Jr. is a possiblity. State Representative Karen Yarbrough, and former Davis Chief of Staff Richard R. Boykin are also possibilities. If Rogers and/or Yarbrough get the nod for Congressman, it is rumored Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch could replace Rogers and/or Yarbrough. Stay tuned.

Bellwood SD88 Students Become Tomorrow's Promise!!!

Fifth Third Bank, Concordia University Chicago, Bellwood SD88 and Proviso Township High Schools Disrict 209 launched Tomorrow's Promise: Vision 20/20, an innovative program that gives 22 academically talented 6th graders the opportunity to go to college six years from now for free. The 22 students, who were introduced at a news conference on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at Concordia University, must attend the Roosevelt Middle School, the Proviso Math and Science Academy, and Concordia University Chicago, and they must maintain all As and Bs from now through college to complete the program successfully. If so, all college expenses will be paid by Fifth Third Bank and Concordia University. On hand for the announcement were Dr. John Johnson, President of Concordia University, Chip Reeves, Marketing President of Fifth Third Bank, Dr. Tom Jandris, Dean at Concordia, Barbara Burnett, Director of Research, Assessment and Evaluation at Bellwood SD88, Althea Busby, Board Member in SD88, Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Board President from PTHSD209, and former SD209 Superintendent Robert Libka. The event was covered by Channels 2,5,7 and CLTV and was entirely run by the students.

Grady Rivers, Jr. Running For Mayor of Maywood...Change We Can Believe In???

Sources close to the Proviso Insider report that Maywood SD89 Board President and Proviso Township Clerk, Grady Rivers, Jr. is running for Mayor of the Village of Maywood. Rivers, a lifelong Maywoodian, has reportedly formed a slate called the Maywood Alliance Party (MAP). The MAP slate is rumored to be a list of Maywood heavy weights led by Rivers. Peggy Moore-Alexander is slated for Clerk, Cederick L. Fuller, Melvin L. Lightford, Sr., and Pedro A. Villarreal are all slated for Village Trustees. Moore-Alexander is the cousin of Cook County Recorder of Deeds Eugene "Gene" Moore, the former Village Manager, former Village Trustee and former candidate for Mayor. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the ticket. Lightford is the hardworking father of State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford and will bring tremendous muscle. MAP's opponents will be the incumbent party currently running the Village, the Maywood United Party (MUP). MUP is led by Mayor Henderson Yarbrough and a group of incumbents or former incumbents running for re-election. Can the MAP party beat MUP? Is the MAP slate Change We Can Believe In?

Happy Veterans Day!!!

The Proviso Insider would like to thank all of our nation's veterans for their service and dedication our country!

Congratulations President-Elect Barack Obama

The Proviso Insider would like to Congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama. His implausible journey to become the nation's first African-American president began on a cold February day in 2007, and the Insider was there. The son of an African father and a white woman from Kansas truly represents "Change We Can Believe In."