Clearing (W)

Not sure what I saw at 4:40 a.m., there were headlines on in an alley, I thought they were pulling out of a garabe but headlights didn't move, then a pickup (Ford or Chevy) pulled out with the back full of items covered with a canvas(?). I could see the handle of a lawn mower sticking out.

It's not a junk collector type of truck,

I couldn't tell what color the Pickup was, black, blue or red, but I it was dark in color, it appeared to be a nice looking pickup. The darkness and rain wasn't any help.

The Pickup pulled out of the alley, before heading towards Pulaski, they used their turning signal to turn East toward Pulaski.

That part confused me, if it was a robbery, why use a turning signal? If a garabe was broken into, why obey the rules of the road?

Then again, would someone be moving at that time of the morning?

Another thought, junk collectors don't cover their findings.

I hesitated, but called the police just in case. Not sure what they can do but keep an eye out.

Check your garages in West Elsdon area.

It was good to finally see the huge 'DMS' gang grafitti removed from the wall of a building near 51st and Kolmar...

This info link re: DMS, refers to this gang's 'philosophy'
(originating in NY (as far as Australia!) and now here too in the 23rd ward?--you find t'DMS' along fences, street posts, buildings, along Archer Avenue. (a few interpretations of this acronym, but the more current is: "Drugs, Money, Sex"):

http://pauaprincess.wordpress.com/2007/06/24/youth-gangs-scourge-of-society-or-family-substitute/

Secondly, for anyone who wants to educate themselves about the number of gangs in Chicago, who they are (down to photos, gang symbols, police district maps of where they are) you can take borrow the book through your local library:

http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-where-the-gangs-are,0,2185751.story

For all those who really want to "get to know your neighbors", start here; because these gangs ARE here (though this book
has data through 2011 [copyright of 2012], I believe the district mapping isn't accurate, because it shows the Archer Heights area as having NO gang presence...Heh! NOT!

They ARE present, if not accounted for....as the still gang grafitti shows, the increasing organized crime shows, the rise of gold stores, tattoo parlors and now, pawn shops, shows-- what next, porn shops?). And if this data WAS accurate at the time, then we've really got to worry because gangs are blooming faster than the Spring flowers! Are gangs fighting for THIS turf or east AH? Are we going to have to see their formal presence on future maps of this area of the 23rd ward?

All the more reason to stay on top of the grafitti removal, keep up the police patrolling (and again, many thanks to the police for doing so!), and getting yourself involved as a community resident in reporting any grafitti, any suspicious activity you see. This can't be stated enough....

Today about 10:20 a.m. I walked out of the West Lawn Park building. A man entered the park walking his young dog on a leash. Tailing him was a little dog not more than a year old. The female dog was a light tan short hair. She kept wanting to run and play with the other dog on the leash.

I thought it was strange the man would have one on a leash and not the other. I asked him if it was his dog. He turned to the pup and said, no. She had followed him. I mentioned he could lead the pup to his home, put her in the backyard and call a shelter to pick her up.

He told me he lived in an apartment with no backyard.

I tried to get the pup to approach me as I poured some bottle water into my palm. The pup wasn't interested she just wanted to play.

I have no experience with dogs and didn't have any food to offer.

I hope someone will walk their dog towards West Lawn Park and pick up this little girl. She's a happy little one. She was lean but no to a point of starvation. She doesn't have a collar.

I wished I had a camera. All I could do is discribe her.

The pup has light tan short hair with a little wavy. She's almost a foot and a half off the ground in height. She' very playful and likes other dogs.

Please keep an eye out for her.
I attached a photo of a similar breed.