‘Obama-mania’ hits OP retailer
Anyone walking by Afri-Ware, 266 W. Lake St., may have spotted Barack Obama’s face peering back through the store window from several T-shirts. They’re among the many items on sale featuring his image which are flying off the shelves.
Afri-Ware’s “Obama-mania” sale has attracted people of all ages and races, said owner Nzingha Amma Nommo.
The store began stocking its Obama wares-T-Shirts, hats and buttons-at the start of the primary season in early January.
Two out-of-state companies are supplying Afri-Ware with the gear. Shirts sold sparingly early on, said Nommo, but sales picked up significantly after Obama won the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 3 and finished a strong second in the New Hampshire Primary on Jan. 8.
The top-selling item right now is a brown T-shirt displaying an image of Obama’s face with the word “Change” underneath.
One day an elderly white woman came in, Nommo said, inquiring about the Obama gear. In almost a whisper, the woman said she could not have imagined ever having the choice between a black man and a woman for president.
More customers, particularly blacks, have been coming in as Obama racked up victory after victory. Adults are the main buyers, but she has seen an increase in young people buying Obama gear.
“I’ve found that people want to show where they’re at,” Nommo said. “I mean, a picture is worth a thousand words. When people are seeing that shirt, they feel like they’re representing something.”
Golden Apples go to … Austin
The prestigious Golden Apple awards for excellence in instruction were announced this week, but District 97, despite four nominees, was conspicuously absent from the winner’s circle this year. However, two teachers at a high school in neighboring Austin were honored. Samina Khan, a science teacher, and math teacher Donnell White of Michelle Clark Magnet High School were named winners of this year’s Golden Apple award, recognizing Chicago-area teachers. The Michelle Clark teachers, along with eight other winners were surprised with the news at their schools this week.
Then again, Oak Park wasn’t shut out entirely. Donnell White is a longtime Oak Park resident.
Heroes honored
Oak Park’s Fire Department publicly commemorated nine individuals Monday for saving a man’s life, March 3.
That’s when Rick Prescott, 59, collapsed off an exercise machine at Fitness Formula Club, 1114 Lake St., having suffered sudden cardiac arrest. Club staff, members, and a nurse attempted CPR on Prescott, and when that didn’t work, they used a heart defibrillator to shock him. The fire department said Prescott is the seventh person saved in the last five years using that type of defibrillator.
“It’s not often you get to have a second chance at life,” Prescott said with emotion Monday. “A second chance at life is really special.
“I’ve lived in this village since 1962, and never have I been prouder.”
Cited for their heroism were Joe DeCianni, Lisa Gregorich, Dave Harrat, Chris Jaeger, Jeff Long, Amy Mozina, Dr. David Muzic, Kristen Stafford, and Max Vanmany.
DTOP feud runneth over
Downtown Oak Park will hold its annual meeting today to announce new board members and commemorate 20 years running. The meeting is by invitation, but DTOP will hold a public dedication of the fountain on Marion Street at 7 p.m. Coffee and cake will be offered.
Anthony Shaker, meanwhile, who owns multiple properties downtown and is currently battling DTOP and the village in court over a special tax, was slated to present no less than 55 new by-laws for the organization to consider. He says some are “sweeping,” but declined to go into detail.
Shaker asked for 90 minutes to present his new by-laws, and Executive Director Pat Zubak said they were willing to give him the time.
“We really did bend over backwards to accommodate his request,” she said.
Shaker countered, saying DTOP would only give 45 minutes and wasn’t requiring members to stay for the presentation. Instead, he wants to call a special meeting to present his ideas.
“I believe DTOP’s refusal to lengthen this meeting for my presentation, in light of the alleged time-consuming fountain dedication that will take place immediately after the meeting, is just yet another example of behavior calculated to abridge my rights,” Shaker said in an e-mail.
One-third of DTOP’s board will be new members, all running for uncontested spots. Shaker said he wasn’t interested in running for a position.
“No, I don’t even want to have coffee with them, much less sit and discuss things,” he said. “I’d rather go to the blessing of the mysterious non-existent fountain.”
Stay tuned.