by BRIAN NADIG A public hearing on the proposed Weber Spur Trail in the Mayfair-Sauganash area will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the Student read story
In 1979 Taft H.S. band played for President Carter, who recently passed away at age 100
by BRIAN NADIG
The recent passing of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter prompted Taft High School principal Ryan Glowacz to follow up on a report that the school band once played for the country’s 39th president while he was in office.
Taft 1980 yearbook had the evidence that Glowacz was looking for.
Yearbook pictures, taken by then-student Clyde Riesche, show the Taft symphonic band, under the direction of Walter Freedman, performing “Hail to the Chief” for Carter when he arrived in Chicago on Oct. 15, 1979.
One of the pictures also shows Roman Pucinski, who at the time was the 41st Ward alderman, standing behind Carter.
Carter died on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100. He was the first U.S. president to reach the milestone.
Glowacz said that the picture reflects the “rich history” of the school’s music program.
“We are one of the few CPS schools with a marching band,” Glowacz said. “It’s kind of cool that that tradition continues.” Taft has its own sports stadium where the band practices and performs.
The pictures are believed to have been taken at O’Hare Airport, Glowacz said. While Carter did not visit the Taft campus while in Chicago, he did make a stop at Thornridge High School in Dolton during his October, 1979, visit to the Chicago area.
Carter made many visits to Chicago during his one term as president, as then mayor Jane Byrne was a supporter of Carter, who lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Issues such as inflation, long lines at gas stations, the Iranian hostage situation and the refugee crisis were too much for Carter, a Democrat, to overcome.
Illinois, which nowadays is considered a solid Blue state in presidential elections, went for the Republican Reagan in 1980.
- Public hearing on delayed Weber Spur Trail set for Oct. 14 at NEIU; Chicago still needs to acquire land
by BRIAN NADIG A public hearing on the proposed Weber Spur Trail in the Mayfair-Sauganash area will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the Student Union Building’s Alumni Hall at Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N. Saint Louis Ave. The estimated $70 million project has been delayed for years, and a - Beacon crosswalk across Caldwell Ave. from Edgebrook area to Bunker Hill Woods in Niles in the works
by BRIAN NADIG A beacon crosswalk near Tonty Avenue is in the works to help pedestrians safely cross Caldwell Avenue from the Edgebrook and Wildwood neighborhoods to the Bunker Hill Woods entrance, according to Alderman James Gardiner (45th). “It’s going to slow down traffic,” Gardiner said at the Oct. 1 meeting of the North Edgebrook - Oct. 20 resource fair at Jefferson Park CTA terminal to address addiction, other heath issues, as free Narcan products available in vending machine
by BRIAN NADIG The next “resources on the rails” community health fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., as commuters can learn about programs to help address addiction and mental health issues. One of those programs is the free - Longtime Jefferson-Edison Park resident & Taft grad Marian Kosel Anderson passes away at 102, remembered for her love of children
by BRIAN NADIG Marian (Kosel) Anderson, an avid dancer and swimmer with a passion for helping children, grew up in Jefferson Park and graduated from Beaubien Elementary School, Taft High School and Wright College. She passed away on Sept. 12 at the age of 102 1/2 years old. At the time, Anderson may have been - Man fatally shot inside Portage Park area smoke shop on Chicago’s NW Side
by BRIAN NADIG A 34-year-old man was fatally shot inside the AbuHashish Smoke Shop, 5612 W. Irving Park Road, at about 9:35 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Portage Park area, according to Chicago police. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, but a witness flagged down a nearby police car and reported seeing
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story. Skip every pop-up.
Get the full weekly edition delivered to your inbox — no interruptions, no waiting. Just local news the way it was meant to be read.
Only $19.50/year — less than 38¢ a week
Subscribe Now
This is just part of today’s coverage. Get the full story - every article, every ad, every page. Subscribe now.
The Latest From Our Community
by BRIAN NADIG A beacon crosswalk near Tonty Avenue is in the works to help pedestrians safely cross Caldwell Avenue from the Edgebrook and Wildwood neighborhoods to the Bunker Hill read story
by BRIAN NADIG The next “resources on the rails” community health fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, read story
by BRIAN NADIG Marian (Kosel) Anderson, an avid dancer and swimmer with a passion for helping children, grew up in Jefferson Park and graduated from Beaubien Elementary School, Taft High read story
by BRIAN NADIG A 34-year-old man was fatally shot inside the AbuHashish Smoke Shop, 5612 W. Irving Park Road, at about 9:35 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Portage Park read story
A man has been charged with attempted kidnapping/enticement in connection with a Sept. 10 incident in which a 15-year-old girl reported that a driver several times asked her to get read story
Browse by Category
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story.
Skip every pop-up.
No pop-up ads — ever. Just stories, the way they were meant to be read
Full weekly edition delivered to your inbox every week — no waiting, no missing issues
Support local journalism and help keep our community connected
Only $19.50/year
That's less than 38¢ a week
Purchase Digital Subscription
Paypal
$19.50
/year
You can submit your payment via Paypal with a Credit Card. You DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT.. Just click the “Paypal Subscribe” button below to iniate your secure payment! You will be directed to a Secure Paypal page in which you can pay with a Paypal account if you have one, or you can select "Pay with Debit or Credit Cardt" option below and process your payment via credit card.
Venmo
$19.50
/year
You can submit payment of $19.50 for a 1 year subscription to Nadig Newspapers' Venmo account using this link. Please include the email address in the comment/note section that you would like the digital subscription sent to.