» Spotlight»
BY JOEL FISHER
A N old adage has it that in
the Spring a young man's
fancy turns to thoughts of love.
With the lack of snow, warm
breezes, and budding trees this
writer's fancy turns to thoughts
of a model, clean, desirable
place to live — namely, here.
Perhaps it is too much to reason
that Robbins could become a
picture book village over-night,
but with a little constructive
planning and civic interest the
could change quickly.
As an example of what civic
minded citizens can do is best
shown by the progress made in
then ew sub-division of Home
town, lying just west and north
of Robbins. This suburban de
velopment grew from a prairie
four years ago to a town of
over 6,000. While it is not the
intentiono f this column to mis
lead you on the facts and try
to compare the Village with a
fully developel, improved com
munity for Whites, I do pro
pose to show how people work
ing together, can accomplish
almost any desirable aim. Home
town has a modern police force
of 54 volunteer members; head
ed by a single salaried chief.
The force is equipped with one
police car with a two-way radio.
This was a contribution of the
people. Their new police station/
lacking a jail,, was also given
by the public. Each member of
the force, ranging from profes
sional man to common laborer,
has been thoroughly trained by
Chicago and Cook County Po
lice. Along with the average
home owner, they are working
together to see that law and
order are maintained; and they
have gained the respect of most
outsiders. In contrast, Robbing
police are poorly trained, lack
worth-while equipment, and
seem to work in confusion, at
times. They are not supported
by the people as a whole, and
the funds for rectifying the
situation are just not forthcom
ing. With more careful plan
ning and active interest on the
part of the citizens, we too,
could have a modern police
force.
This particular comparison of
our' police with those of Home
town’s is not the only facet in
a series of comparisons that
could be made with communi
ties even smaller than Robbins.
The Village of Alsip, just north
of Robbins, on the other side
of the canal, is a closely knit
group of home owners who are
interested in the many issues
that they must face personally.
Last week a homeowner’s as
sociation of Alsip filed suit
^against the City of Chicago ton
hrestrain the city and Cook Coun
ty from polluting the Calumet
Canal and the Des Plaines
River. The people claimed that
raw sewerage is being emptied
into these outlets and as a result
are polluting the weUs in Alsip.
They further asked the Sanitary
District to run tests to deter
mine the degree of pollution.
Although they were rebuffed in
this particular case and told to
ask Worth Township to present
their case, the effort on their
parts as interested citizens could
serve as an example to the
Village of Robbins. Right now,
we are in the midst of a quarrel
over sewers and water in the
Village. The oneness of the
officials can even be discounted
as the majority of the Trustees
seem to say, “Let George do
it.”
I he last comparison that 1
shall make at this time is one
that is perhaps most needed in
the Village of Robbins. It is
calling for the officials and the
citizens to prove that they are
interested in the welfare of the
Youth of this village. Last year
the people of Oak Lawn, realiz
. ing that their children should
have adequate and supervised
recreational facilities, set out
to get the Town of Oak Lawn
to build a club house for the
youth. When they were told
that the funds just didn’t exist
and the people could not stand
another tax raise, they began
to get public subscriptions and
contributions for the building.
Soon the “kitty” swelled to over
$20,000.00. The craftsmen and
builders contributed their pro
fessional know-how and the
average man in the street did
the actual labor. At the end of
the year, they had erected a
<■$36,000.00 building and field*
house for* their children. Could
it happen in Robbins? Surely,
it could if the people wanted
it. We just don’t have enough
active, well planning, willing
workers and parents in Robbins.
SPOTLIGHT does not mean
to condemn all the parents and
those interested in helping the
youth of this community get a
good start, and I would like to
bouquets to Mrs. Ernestine Wil
. Hams for her efforts to help the
boys and girls themselves. She
is working on a plan which will
help the children to earn money
for themselves and help keep
them actively employed after
school hours. At this particular
time we do not have all the
facts, but Spotlight passes this
tip along to any boy or girl
between the ages of 12 through
high school age to see Mrs.
Williams as soon as possible
to get started to earn money for
yourself. Her address is 3726 W.
141st street, Robbins. Don’t put
off until it is too late. Plan to
see Mrs. Williams right away.
Remember that Spotlight will
help any worthwhile organiza
tion or group try to work out
plans for helping the youth of
this community.. We need a for
um of all active groups because
we are all working for the same
thing. By pooling our resources
we can be more effective. Don’t
forget to read Spotlight in the
Eagle each week. That’s all,
see you next week. Drive care
fully; the life you save might
be mine.
For Renter,,4'S
and Lawndale. Call LAwndal'e
2 - 9376, ROckwell 2 - 9168 or
FUlton 5- 1623.
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COLA'S HI-WAY DELICA
TESSEN, 2910 Claire Blvd.
TRIANGLE DEPT. STORE.
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S. & S. SODA FOUNTAIN
1147th and Robey Street
Harvey, Illinois
M. & M. GROCERY
135th and Homan Avenue
McCRARY'S HARDWARE &
PAINT STORE, 137th Street
(Next door to Post Office)
GEO. WALKER'S Groceries &
Meats, 3112 West 139th Street
AMERICAN FOOD STORE
Corner 139th & Lydia Avenue
TURNER'S GROC. & MKT.
Cor. 137th & Claire Blvd.
COMMUNITY BAR & GRILL
139th & Claire Boulevard
JACKSON LIQUOR STORE
3231 West 137th Street
GEORGE
STUDIO
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FUlton 8-1616
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