My close friend of many years and former ambulance partner  (we worked for a private service together in the early 90’s) – Mike Agostinelli was one of the firefighters that was injured in this blaze!  He is the one that broke his leg and is seen near the end of the video.

Even though it has been awhile since this incident and he is very healthy and back to work now, I felt it necessary to publish it here as a tribute to my dear friend and to all those that risk their lives every day, so that we can enjoy ours in safety! (The video has no sound…)

Mike and his company will be drinking some complimentary JavaFit coffee in the very near future!

Mike is still a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Chicago Fire Department, but he is also a professional artist and is tattooing for Da Hot Zone in Chicago!  You can check out his work here:  Tattoos by Miko

Try some today!

The gantlet – chicagotribune.com

By Teresa Sepulveda

It seems like shootings on Buffalo’s, West Side have become a normal things for neighborhood residents. In the last seven months there have been way over, I’d say 15 shootings on the West Side of this small city that are said to be all connected in some way. It’s unbelievable to think that such violence has not been stopped and is continuing to happen. I have heard rumors and have witness law enforcers attempts to stop the crime but in my opinion not enough has been done.

On Sunday, November 29th I turn the corner on Niagara and Virginia to find a swarm of cop and undercover “narc” cars investigating what looked like yet another potential drive-by homicide. I drove slowly pass the crime scene to investigate for myself what could of happened but was quickly swatted away by an officer. The reason for my curiosity was that of I was not only looking for any evidence of someone I knew but also was looking to see if I spotted any news crews at the site. At the time I didn’t notice any reporters. I didn’t think much of that until today when I decided to write my blog about this topic. I had search all over the internet trying to find something about the shooting and nothing not even a sentence was written about it. At that point I said to myself “We are all giving up!” If things like this, which are happening so often that should be stopped are not being covered by the news then what is the point of local news. These people are supposed to inform the community of the violence that’s going on and what’s being done about it. But if nothing is written or said it just makes people think that shooting or any forms of violence are acceptable in our society.

I think about the people who are committing these crimes. Their probably thinking they can get away with anything and they are because of the lack of involvement from law enforcers and reporters. The more we educate the people of our communities the more involved they might become. I have become tremendously interested in the amount of coverage shootings in my community get, in my own experiences I can tell you that the shooting of my boyfriend was briefly covered but was the first of many brutal shootings in my community. Till this day, it has been seven months and still the people who committed this crime are still out there walking the streets of our city, scary! The cops have had little to tell our family, and little has been done to solve his case and many cases of friends I have lost.

I still haven’t found out any information about the shooting, I know it’s not the last my community will see. I just hope things are done before there’s a next time.

I was unable to find any real useful links to helping out our communities. There is no opinion section on the Buffalo Police site but here are some links that I though might help:

Map of Crimes-http://spotcrime.com/ny/buffalo
Report a tip to Buffalo Police-http://www.bpdny.org/Home/Services/Report
Blog about Buffalo-http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=299

Yesterday we collected Andrew’s personal effects.

On moving-in day in late August, we had driven into Manhattan in two cars.  My husband and I and Andrew’s stuff in one car.  Andrew, Robert and more of Andrew’s stuff in the other car.  Florentina was already in the city and she met us there.  My husband had unilaterally chosen the East-side, and never heard the end of it from all of us West-side Highway loyalists.  Still, we got to NYU’s Coral Tower.  Nice location, bustling with the added activity of hundreds of students moving in.  Vainly looking for carts, waiting for elevators, peeking your head around the door 0f your new room.

My heart full of hope for Andrew.  I hoped that after all the difficulties of his mid-year transfer of this past January, it would all be plain sailing for him this year.

It had taken two cars to drive him in nine weeks earlier.   A small cardboard box was all it took to bring home his personal effects yesterday.

But his memory, mine and that offered by others, is larger than life.  My goodness Andrew, you were a splendid  physical Being.  Do you realize how hard it is to have to go on without you? The sun doesn’t seem to shine as bright without your ray.

Then I remind myself that you have only gone from sight.  Just like when you were in my womb, just because I couldn’t see you didn’t mean that you weren’t there.  Just because I couldn’t see you, didn’t mean that you didn’t  fill my heart, as well as my tummy.

But my arms ache for you, my sweet  Andrew.

Mayhem erupts throughout city after appeal to end violence – Chicago Breaking News

Fenger students get acquainted on neutral ground – chicagotribune.com

Ninth Street Market,  Santa Rosa

in the old Lincoln School building

::ZinGZanGZunG presents::

wie ging das nochmal “über sieben brücken sollst du gehen…?” hier müsst ihr nur über eine! und ich würde sagen, es lohnt sich denn rechts und links findet ihr einige DOLLAR- und FREEBIES die von ein paar der designer, dort auf der sim, für euch hinterlegt wurden. und wenn ihr schon einmal dort seid, müsst ihr euch unbedingt noch die shops anschauen. ein bummel könnte teuer werden  

TAXI

Davis Street

Some political pundits are already at it trying to separate the city because of the election of Joe O’Brien as Mayor. They take this giant leap and profess that there has been a resurrection of Main South because of his address. At the sane time they unfortunately play into the false impression that because the last four Mayors lived on the West Side, the West Side got more attention. First and foremost those Mayors were brought up in different sections of Worcester, and when the allocations of funds are distributed in schools and general government even a fool can see that the argument pitting West Side versus other areas lacks credibility.

Matter of fact just for the interest of the uninformed, or those writers too lazy to do the research, more monies have been spent in Main South and South Worcester than any of the other areas combined. Human service needs, enforcement needs, public safety needs, economic development and job creation dollars all have been poured into this area since the late 70’s. So bury that old war cry that the West Side gets special treatment and try at least to stop lighting the fire of disconnect. Do your homework.

Fenger kids tell why they fight – chicagotribune.com

Chicago School Violence Plan Focuses on Potential Victims – NYTimes.com

Attorney General, in Chicago, Pledges Youth Violence Effort – NYTimes.com

Don, who hails from Dyersville, has been with us at Runde’s for about three-and-a-half years. Read on to find out why he may not be as jolly for Christmas as most people would be…

What, would you say, is the best part of your job?
I’d say the attitude of the company and the people in it. It’s laid back and honest. You can do things the way you want as long as you are fair and honest with the customer.

What do customers have to look forward to when working with you?
I will be right up front with them. I’m not going to pull wool over your eyes. This is the way we operate: we are going to let you know about our vehicles, good or bad, the truth. 

Why should customers come to Runde’s instead of any other dealership?
Because they will never be forced to do anything and our laid-back attitude creates no pressure.

What do you like to do around the area?
We usually end up in Dubuque. It’s where we do most of our shopping.

Are you married?
Yeah. I’ve been married for 10 years.

Do you remember your first date with your wife?
I’d say the first time was when we went golfing in Wisconsin.

Kids?
Oh yes. Four boys and a girl. And between the two of us we have 22 grand children with one on the way. Christmas is interesting… and expensive.

This will cover about half of the presents Don needs to get for his family.

Oh wow… you’d probably have to work a couple months just to pay off all the presents!
You have no idea…

What’s your favorite holiday?
Probably Thanksgiving. You get a great dinner and you don’t have to pay for presents. Christmas is great but it costs a fortune!

Is there any vehicle that you would recommend someone to check out?
I’d say take a look at the new Fusion, they are a tremendous vehicle, everyone I’ve sold one to absolutely loves it.

What’s your favorite movie?
Gran Torino – great movie.

What do you like to do on vacation?
I love going out. I love going out west. Our idea of an ideal vacation is to get into a car and just go west without knowing exactly where we’re going.  One trip we went on, we put over 6,000 miles on our vehicle.

Anything you like to do with the family?
We like to get together a lot. Every year we usually go out with my family and they plan a weekend somewhere to get together (last time it was in Wisconsin Dells).

Do you have a favorite sports team?
I’m a Dodgers fan. I’ve been a Dodger fan ever since I was a kid.

What is one invention you can’t live without?
Probably a car - I don’t like to walk very far (laughs).

Do you have a favorite car?
My old ‘67 Caddie convertible.

If you were to win the lottery, what would you do with the money?
I’d travel. I’d probably move out west if I had that kind of money.

Thanks for taking some time out to do an interview with me Don! Good luck with Christmas!

password…

like a sore thumb…