By Steve Rhodes
Posting throughout the site will be sporadic during the holiday break, though you can always find us commenting on the news on the Beachwood Twitter feed.
A few items of interest today:
* The Great Chicago Christmas Credit Card Fiasco of 1966.
“As Christmas approached in 1966, Chicago’s banks gave criminals the best gift of all: free credit cards.
“They didn’t do this intentionally, of course, but that holiday season the city’s banks put thousands of credit cards into criminal hands, with disastrous consequences. Although embarrassing and costly, the Chicago credit card fiasco did have an upside: It eventually led to consumer protections that are still with us today.”
* Last Christmas For 132-Year-Old Church?
“It’s been around for more than 130 years, but St. James Catholic Church on 29th and Michigan in Chicago will likely be torn down in the new year unless it’s saved as a historic landmark.”
* Stranger Provides Best Gift – A Kidney – For Grandma.
“For 60-year-old Donna Fitzmaurice and her family, this year brought home the true meaning of Christmas.
“‘Giving something of yourself that nobody else ever would, and giving it to a stranger – making life better for someone else – that’s the greatest Christmas gift I could ever have gotten,’ the Burbank grandmother said Monday.
“Earlier this year, Joseph Trent, 26, of Palos Hills, an electrician, offered to donate one of his kidneys to someone in need, and that someone turned out to be Fitzmaurice.”
* Bears Need Help From Packers To Make Playoffs.
We get it. It’s “ironic.” Does every reporter writing this story think they are the first to point this out? One even asked Lovie Smith if he’d have a hard time rooting for the Packers – even though saving his job may depend on a Green Bay victory. Are we children? Or, better question, are they?
* Kraft Isn’t Just Staying In Northfield, It’s Expanding.
“Northfield avoided major economic problems in 2012 when Kraft decided against relocating from the near-north suburb.
“Kraft, which moved to Northfield in 1992, split into two companies this year, and entertained the notion of moving its international headquarters to Chicago.”
Macaroni & Cheese better watch its back.
* Cool Holiday Train Photo. (via Grid Chicago)
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Insta.
Posted on December 25, 2012