Giving credit to my 18-year old, Lev, for this post today. I was wondering out loud how to best focus on Women’s History Month for Neighborhood News. “Why don’t you talk about women business owners?”

Great idea, kid! And as it stands, women dominate the small business market. The Global Entrepreneur Monitor (GEM) says there are 80 women (small business owners) for every 1 man. Globally, GEM says women were more likely than men to be solopreneurs (1.47 women solopreneurs for every 1 man).

Celebrate women business owners during Women’s History Month with the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce this weekend, March 9 and 10, at their 3rd Annual International Women’s Day Market at Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue.  The event runs from 10am-4pm each day. 

The market features pop-up shops curated by locals, women-owned businesses selling unique products from jewelry, beauty products, home goods, food, drinks, and more. Some of the women-owned businesses include Amy’s Candy Bar, featuring handcrafted chocolates, truffles, caramels, marshmallows, and candy. Andria Green will be featuring hand-block printed textiles and home goods inspired by nature & color, as well as illustrated art prints. Anne E. Terpstra Pottery bringsher ceramics and pottery. Others include Bon Femmes, featuring home decor, accessories, beauty products & clothing. All items at Bon Femmes are made and designed by women with a percentage of every sale donated to a woman led charity, and CHIRP Radio, a woman-founded and led, volunteer-driven, community radio station focused on music, arts, and culture.

In addition to The National Organization of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is sponsoring a Speaker Series at the event. On Saturday at 1:00 pm,  Melinda Herron of 103 Collection, will present ‘The Blueprint: Crafting a Winning Strategy for Retail Partnerships to Scale Your Brand,’ which “unravels the secrets to forging impactful retail partnerships and unlocking the potential to elevate your brand to new heights.”

It’s not all about business, either. Sunday at 3:00 pm Lisa Marsh, of Ms. P’s Gluten Free, presents ‘Getting Healthier One Step at a Time.’ As she describes, “For many of us rapid change doesn’t work well, we try diet after diet to no avail. While there is no magic pill for getting healthier, there are small steps that can be taken to get there little by little. Join me as I tell you how I am overcoming family health tragedies and history, to have a brighter tomorrow.”

The International Women’s Market is free. For more information, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Looking for an inexpensive way to spruce up your kitchen? Painting your cabinets can transform the entire room. Whether you go for crisp white or perhaps a trendy sage green it can really make a big difference without emptying your bank account. But you do need to plan correctly and avoid some common mistakes to get a good outcome.

First, don’t underestimate the length of time this project will take. From prepping to letting paint dry in between coats, it can take a while. Plan to spend at least a weekend or more (likely an entire week) doing a good job.

Second, remove the doors. It will prevent drips while allowing you to paint every surface of the cabinet, inside and out. Also, having the doors lined up in the basement or garage will keep the kitchen open during your project. 

Third, prep the doors. You will need to sand the doors and fill in any cracks with wood filler and let dry completely before painting. Use a damp cloth to remove any dust or particles left behind. You want a smooth surface for the paint. If you really think sanding is not necessary, you must clean the wood thoroughly. Any grease or grime will not allow the paint to properly adhere. 

Fourth, if you are not changing the hardware, make sure to label it. Even if you don’t have a lot of cabinets, it can be confusing later trying to match up the hardware. Number each door and bag the hardware individually numbering each bag to correspond with the door number. 

Fifth, prime your cabinets before painting. Many older cabinets have oil-based paint. Painting over with latex without priming would be a disaster, paint peeling off within weeks. Use an oil-based primer first. But even latex painted cabinets should be primed. It will give your new paint a better chance to adhere properly.

Lastly, let the cabinets dry long enough. The paint may feel dry to the touch after only a few hours, but it takes at least 48 hours for it to cure to a hard durable surface. So, don’t reattach hardware or rehang before then. Also, be careful about the next week or so not to bang or scrape the surface as the paint is still a little vulnerable.

Are you ready to tackle this project? With a little planning and forethought you can really transform your kitchen for a relatively small amount of time, effort and money!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

Filling in this week for the great Sue Moss…welcome to a new month! When March comes in like a lamb (as it’s supposed to this weekend), how will you celebrate? 

Extend winter for three more days (weather-permitting) at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, 201 E. Randolph Street. Free skating lessons (reservations required) from 9-10am on Saturday and Sunday. Rink is open 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Last chance for this winter!

What better way to prepare for St. Patrick’s Day than by attending The Chicago Irish Film Festival,nowcelebratingits 25^th Anniversary! This year’s festival will feature screenings at Theater on the Lake, AMC NEWCITY and the Gallery Theater from now – March 3, followed by virtual programming between March 4-10.

Say Spring with flowers! At Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Avenue, they have their Spring Flower Show, “What’s in a Name?” through May 12, explaining the history and science of botanical nomenclature alongside a beautiful flower show full of blooms. Plant names are an important way of communicating history, culture, and identity. Learn about how to identify plants amongst stunning spring blooms like Tulipa ‘Rococo’, Lilium ‘Josephine’, Viola ‘Matrix Yellow’ and Anemone ‘Giant Blue Poppy’.

This may be the perfect weekend to make a splash! As TimeOut notes: “Brave the cold and head to North Avenue Beach on March 3 for the Chicago Polar Plunge, 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive, which sends thousands of shivering participants into the icy waters of Lake Michigan to raise money for the Special Olympics Chicago. Can’t make it to North Avenue this year? The fundraiser is also offering a virtual edition, giving you some creative freedom to jump into a snow bank, a cold shower or pour a bucket of water over your head as you support Chicago’s Special Olympians!” The plunge begins at 8:00 a.m.

What St. Patrick’s Day would be complete without the Trinity Irish Dance Company? This Sunday, March 3rd (3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) at the Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, the world-famous recent inductee into the 2023 Irish American Hall of Fame will be accompanied by a live rock band. The upcoming mixed rep program will debut a world premiere work by Howard and Associate Artistic Director and longtime company member Chelsea Hoy, in addition to reprising audience favorites.

Here’s to a new month! Enjoy!

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

“Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”

Special Olympics motto

As hundreds of people participate in the Polar Plunge this Sunday,  benefitting the Special Olympics, Dean’s Team Chicago is remembering the Chicago roots of the organization that brought children with intellectual disabilities out of the shadows and into the spotlight –the Special Olympics.

History

 In the 1960s, children and adults with intellectual disabilities lived in the shadows of society, according to the Special Olympics website. They were hidden away in homes or institutions.

They didn’t have the chance to go to school, to work or to play. No-one encouraged them to become a part of the community.

All that changed in July, 1968, when the first Special Olympics competition was held in Chicago’s Soldier Field for young people with intellectual disabilities. The goal was to put a bright—and very public—spotlight on ability, not disability. 

According to a blog post by the Chicago History Museum, the Inaugural games were organized by former  Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne McGlone Burke, then a twenty-three-year-old physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District, and Eunice Kennedy Shriverand the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. Burke conceived of the idea to hold sports competitions for her students after attending a seminar lead by Dr. William Freeberg, a physical education professor at Southern Illinois University, whose research indicated that providing physical fitness opportunities for children with disabilities could lead to improvements and opportunities in other areas of their lives. Nearly 1,000 athletes came to Soldier Field from 26 states and Canada to participate in the 50-yard dash, 300-yard run, field hockey, swimming and jumping. Impressed with the results, after the initial games, Shriver and the Kennedy Foundation took over the operations for what was eventually known as Special Olympics, Inc.

Growth

At the July 1968 games, Kennedy Shriver announced the formation of Special Olympics and that more games would be held every two years as a “Biennial International Special Olympics.” In December 1968, Special Olympics is officially incorporated, with Beverly Campbell, Wallace Duncan and Dr. Frank J. Hayden of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation listed as co-incorporators, as well as Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson.

The movement grew, city by city and state by state, as well as internationally. Participants enjoyed track and field, bowling, basketball, swimming and many other sports added as the years went on.

In 1971, The U.S. Olympic Committee gave the Special Olympics official approval to use the name “Olympics,” according to Wikipedia sources. France sent the first athletes from outside North America to the second games held in 1970. The third games in 1972 saw 10 nations send athletes. The first Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S. 

Inclusion

As Special Olympics Chicago says on its website, the rise of Special Olympics during the last 50 years represented more than a popular sporting event. It marked the beginning of a shift in humanity. Disabled children and adults, often abandoned, institutionalized and isolated, joined mainstream society. They were seen. They were celebrated. Countries that once confined the disabled to prisonlike conditions have now embraced and even hosted the games.

Today 

Special Olympics is the world’s largest program for sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, inspiring greatness in more than 5 million athletes in 172 nations worldwide. Because of Special Olympics, the world has witnessed the courage, character, dedication, dignity and worth of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Chicago has grown to serve thousands of athletes, offering year-round sports training and competition in 22 sports, and Chicago Park District Special Olympics programming is in 24 park locations throughout the city of Chicago.

Polar Plunge 

Sunday, March 3, 2024 at North Avenue Beach is the 24^th Annual Chicago Polar Plunge. Temperatures will be downright balmy, though the water is still March-cold!

This iconic winter tradition is historically the largest and most well-known plunge event, gathering thousands of participants, plus friends, families, and celebrities to support thousands of Chicago’s athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Funds raised will help support Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities programs that provide athletic and life-enriching activities for thousands of athletes of all ages in all 77 Chicago neighborhoods. For more information, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

The best time to shower is up for debate. Some people and some cultures believe showering at night is best as you will remove all the dirt and germs brought in from the outside. Many also believe it can be relaxing leading to better sleep at night. Others like me believe that the morning shower starts your day off well by waking you up. Some people even think the morning shower prepares them better for the day and makes them more productive. But scientists and doctors believe how you shower rather than when is most important!

Temperature and length of time. Long hot showers may feel good at the time but prolonged exposure to hot water can do more harm than good, especially with those who have dry skin or skin conditions like eczema. It opens your skin barrier and decreases the skin’s ability to hold onto water. Showers no longer than 10 minutes and using warm water are best for your skin according to dermatologists. If you shower at night, it should be no more than an hour before bed, preferably 2. Too close to bedtime can change your body temperature and disrupt your sleep. 

Frequency of showering. This is a personal thing depending on your activity level and skin condition. Once a day is usually enough for most people and even less if you are not active or have a skin condition. Use a soap product that labels itself as gentle cleansing. Use shampoos labeled sulfate free. Many people also wash their hair too frequently. Daily washing is not necessary for most people and can cause dry hair and split ends. Be careful exfoliating, use your hands, a soft shower pouf, or a washcloth. Loofahs are too abrasive; your skin naturally exfoliates on its own. Be gentle, scrubbing is not necessary. pay attention to the three areas that are odor producing. Pits, privates, and piggies, the three ps. 

After a shower or bath. Continue to be gentle with your skin. Pat your skin with a towel rather than doing the classic “towel shimmy” rubbing your skin. This is the best time to moisturize your skin. The humidity in the room and your damp skin can capitalize now with moisture. Doctors recommend using fragrance-free cream rather than lotions that have a higher water content. They will better lock in moisture.  Skin health begins in the shower. Maintaining the skin barrier is important and how you shower depends on it. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago