In the last decade, municipalities have been faced with vacant housing parcels from foreclosure. Municipalities have struggled to maintain residential buildings and stabilize housing stock. One particular municipality that has struggled with this issue is the City of Blue Island. Blue Island has been slow to recover from the amount of foreclosures it experienced. In addition, Blue Island has faced steady population decrease. According to the Homes for a Changing Region report, the national foreclosure crisis, contributed to vacant units nearly doubled in Blue Island in the past decade. This report will address the following:…
The book The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto was very interesting and gave me a different view on history. I felt the story that was told was very intriguing but it did get confusing at times. There were parts in the book where he would discuss an important person like Adriaen Van der Donck for example in one chapter then he would jump to a new person in the next chapter and then Van der Donck would be mentioned again two chapters later. This was hard to follow because he would jump from person to person and mention many dates that it was hard to keep up with what he was saying. However, regarding his argument that Manhattan is what started America he does an excellent job at proving this. One example of this is “…in…
Yet another account, written less than a week later, from In the Muskoka Territory: The Fortunes and Misfortunes of a Party of Holleyites on a Canadian Canoeing and Fishing Expedition, New York Holley Standard July 24, 1902: The Standard last week abandoned a party of five Holley fishermen on the shores of Muskoka lake, leaving them in the throes of preparation for a week's canoeing trip, and with an implied promise of some further account of their adventures. A greener lot of tenderfeet never invaded Canadian wilds. Some had enjoyed camping and fishing in a comfortable civilized way, but none of them knew much of the character of the expedition they were planning......…
Teddy Lewis, hands restricted with handcuffs, being escorted to the inmate airplane at Southwest Florida International Airport.…
The night was dim, morning light not too close from briming the horizon. This is it.…
Awakening from General Zaroff’s comfortable bed, Rainsford felt he just had the most bizarre dream in his life. What happened slowly came back to his mind. He won in Zaroff’s hunt and then he fell asleep in Zaroff’s bed. Zaroff was the hunter who lived in the enormous building on Ship-Trap Island.…
You have been warned! Dusk was creeping away in the horizon leaving a fresh wound smeared across the face of the sky. Decayed marshes emanated a sour scent; forming a revolting tempest in my nostrils that cascaded like shattered glass through my windpipe. A foreboding aurora dissipated every ounce of bravery in my heart and displaced it with an unprecedented trepidation.…
It’s being outside past midnight on a winter night. It’s a secret - it’s something we’re not supposed to see. The sky is purple but it’s also white. And why is it so bright out? The streetlamps mix the colors into a dynamic palate, with a hint of bronze. And the snowflakes the snowflakes the snowflakes. They’re frozen. Yes they are literally frozen water but that’s not what I mean. It’s chaos but if you look closer it’s not chaos. Look up. Look closer - they’re suspended in thin air, but every time you exhale they start falling again. It’s hushed. It’s a secret. You’re not supposed to look. You’re supposed to wake up the next morning and look outside while you’re making coffee and think, “Huh. Maybe they’ll cancel classes today”.…
Several months ago, when High Island was going through a confusing stage. I sent my resume to Anahuac. The principal called me on Monday and wanted to meet with me today. I specifically told them that I was under contract with High Island. However, they offered me the job and wanted me to discuss the situation with you. I told them that I would meet with Mr. Gubbs on Monday and let them know as soon as possible.…
Frank O’Hara’s poem “A True Account of Talking to the Sun at Fire Island” is a fun account of the speaker’s encounter with the actual sun. This poem is not only fun, but a great comic pat on the back for both the speaker and even the reader. It’s nice to think that the Sun took time out of its busy schedule of waking up the earth’s inhabitants to give the speaker some words of encouragement and to let him know that his work is appreciated. The opening line, “The sun woke me up this morning loud / and clear,” (1) which was amusing because the sun usually signals the beginning of the day already, but this sun took it a step further and vocally woke the speaker. However the speaker reacted much more calmly that I would have. The sun would have been met with maniacal screams and running away faster than humanly possible.…
Back when I was a littlun, my daddy worked in the meat factory and mama stayed at home cleaning the house and making me my dinner. My parents wanted me to be a smarty, so they made me go to school. They also said I was a good singer, so I decided to join the boys choir. Me and my best bud Charles would go down to the river to skip rocks, but sometimes we would go play chicken on the railroad tracks. Sometimes daddy would say “Stephen, wanna come a huntin with me?” and I would tag along behind him while he hunted for pheasant. I never really listened to daddy’s rules, so he decided to send me off to some fancy boarding school. It was at this point in my life where everything started taking a turn for the worst.…
The sun began to rise over the swirling blue sea. It was the fourth day that I had seen…
Describe an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. (650)…
As a student I find myself seated in front of a computer screen for long hours at a time; likewise, it is my obligation as a student to use technology as a resource to further my comprehension in my degree. In my opinion a good excuse to be seated in front of a computer for long hours. It is easy to say that I find a lot of inspiration form online sources, blogs, and social media – which I do – however, I feel most inspired when I step away from the computer screen. I find inspiration in the ordinary; I love to travel and see new things, in this case this is where I found my inspiration. Along my travels to Whistler Mountain in previous winters I saw a portion of land that was clear-cut, but one tree stood alone covered in snow. This piece…
A sour smell drifted through the streets. Not very pleasant to one's sense of smell. Skyscrapers stood tall as if they've been there for millennials. I've been in New York City for two years now living in the projects with my brother and his gang. We came here from Puerto Rico to start a new life and for new opportunities. It's been nothing but trouble. Tigers against eagles, whites against Puerto Ricans. My brother is the leader of the gang. Trying to make a name for himself, claiming territory like he runs the place. The cops are corrupt and unfair. Gang members are beaten senseless without reason and the innocent are thrown in jail for false accusations.…