'Hellish heliport' haunts neighbors

09/29/2010 10:00 PM

By ANN GERBER

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IT IS STILL UP IN THE AIR with no decision from the Illinois Department of Transportation expected until 2011. But some fearful neighbors of the Children's Memorial Hospital proposed heliport atop the Chicago Avenue medical center, east of Michigan Avenue, tell us the plan haunts and disturbs them. "I have nightmares that a helicopter will crash through my window, or into the playground nearby, or come flying through the Olympia Centre in a blazing inferno," confided Shirley Marx, Water Tower condo resident and founder of the New World Van Lines.

"UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE IT WILL NEVER BE A REALITY," Marx continued, "how can we relax and enjoy our homes?" Patty Frost, electrical engineer and spokesman for SOAR (Streeterville Organization of Active Residents) and also a Water Tower condo neighbor, is a leader for anti-heliport forces.

"IT IS ALL ABOUT SAFETY," Patty stressed. "There have been 14 medical helicopter crashes in 2009 and four were at hospitals. Chicago's erratic and dangerous wind patterns, unique to our high rise skyline, and the fact that pilots would have no emergency landing site or escape location in this high density area means the potential for disaster is real." The heliport is opposite the 32nd floor of Olympia Centre.

ALD. BRENDAN REILLY has offered the hospital the use of the Navy Pier Coast Guard landing site, a few minutes from the new children's hospital. And many speculate that with the "abdication" of Mayor Daley, the Meigs Field he royally trashed in the middle of the night, may see a bright new morning.

HOSPITAL OFFICIALS MAINTAIN that every second counts and the lives of seriously ill patients are their concern. "But if sick kids are in a helicopter," reasons Frost, "They have been stabilized and a few minutes will not rob them of the chance to survive......New York City, after a deadly crash, does not allow heliports in the city."

WINDS ARE LEGENDARY in the area from the Drake Hotel to Saks Fifth Avenue. Ropes around the Hancock building are often needed so people can navigate the sidewalks. We have been forced to grab a light pole, on occasion, to keep from being knocked down by the mean-spirited, forceful gusts.

"WHY CREATE A SCENARIO FOR A HORRENDOUS mishap? Why make all nearby neighbors scared to death of what could happen," said Marx. "We know that IDOT has experts weighing all the evidence and we are hopeful they will kill this heliport. The hospital has built it already but there is a big yellow X on the site, awaiting an okay. We pray they never get it. I have seven children, 22 grandchildren ... I love kids and want the best for every child. But nobody needs a potential disaster waiting to happen in their front yard."

Gossip, gossip, gossip

WHO ARE THE COUPLE WHO CRASHED a party on Lake Shore Drive? The usual suspects were there and the hostess was gracious, but some guests were back-stabbing.

WHO IS THE LOYAL MISTRESS forced out of the lavishly furnished co-op she shared with her longtime widowed lover? He promised her she could live there until she died but she never got it in writing and his lawyers were cold and cruel. She was left cash, plus the jewels and furs he gave her through their years together. Moral of the story - Get it in writing.

WOW! WHAT A WEEKEND coming up. Oct. 1 is the opening of the Lyric Opera, Oct. 2 the debut of the Chicago Symphony, and the Media Production Center at Columbia College ... HEY MUFFY, THEY'RE BACK. Sugar Rautbord hosts an Oct. 7 party at Mity Nice for "True Prep" author Lisa Birnbach, expert on all things preppy forever.

PINK-HAIRED BRIT FASHION ICON Zandra Rhodes comes to Neiman Marcus Oct. 8 with her fur collection ... WE OFFER SYMPATHY TO IRENE MICHAELS on the death of her second dog, Taylor ... A CELEBRATION IN PURPLE is Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. at Glessner House for popular civic leader Bunny Selig who always wore that color. Mourners can call 312-326-1480 for details.

IT'S A GIRL, AZA, for Skyline editor Greg Skinner and his lovely wife Kate, their first child and a very special edition.

JOFFREY'S COCKTAILS AND COUTURE benefit last Friday was a disaster, unhappy guests informed us. Overbooked and underplanned, it was as bad as last year's unfortunate party.

LUCKY THE FASHION POLICE weren't on the job at the Parkways Foundation garden party hat luncheon in Grant Park. There were enough badly dressed, ugly hatted femmes to fill all our jails. But we won't name them. At least they tried to look good and it is always a fun crowd and you see gals you haven't run into for years! Volunteer of the Year award went to hard working Laura Barnett Sawchyn, chic in a crimson dress and matching hat. Some guests weren't wearing hats but who cares? Not moi. Standouts at the event were: ELIZABETH BRODSKY, MAMIE WALTON, LYNDA SILVERMAN, NATASHA ISAACS, EVE JAKUBOWSKI, CAROL PRINS, GAIL ZUGERMAN, SHEREE VALUKAS,ALICE TUCKER, JANNIE PEARLMAN, JACQUI MONIESON, SHAUNA MONTGOMERY, SHELLEY MAC ARTHUR, LYSSA PIETTE, ZORINE MORTON, BONNIE LIPE, LISA MALKIN, PEGGY LOMBARDO, PEGGY MARTAY, LYN MC KEANEY, IRENE MICHAELS, WINNIE CLARK, GAY LEFFEL. Hunky guys at Parkways included: KEN NORGEN, STANLEY PAUL, JIMMY KORSHAK, BRIAN WHITE, GREG HYDER, SEAN ESHAGHY. Other attractive guests were: SUSAN GOHL, KIMBERLY GLEESON, ZARADA GOWENLOCK, GALE GOTTLIEB, SUSAN GRIMM, MARCI HOLZER, MIRA HOROWOSKI, KAREN GOODYEAR, LORETA CORSETTI, HATMAKER WITH THE CUTEST CHAPEAU; CARALYNN D'ANTINO, LAURIE DAVIS IN ONE OF THE DAY'S BEST TOPPERS; TONI CANADA, KATHLEEN AMATANGELO, JEAN ANTONIOU, CATHY BELL, SUSAN BOWEY, CYNTHIA BURNS, NANCY LOEWENBERG, ROBIN BERGER,STACIE MCCLANE, DOROTHY WHEALAN, REBECCA SIVE, LIZ STIFFEL and CAROLE STONE.

ACTRESS OLYMPIA DUKAKIS, a fighter for abortion rights, flies here to spark the Oct. 18 Hilton luncheon for Personal Pac, which helps elect pro-choice candidates. Currently the powerhouse Pac is battling Bill Brady, running for governor, who is against abortion even in cases of incest and rape, and who voted against funds for breast and cervical cancer. Brady also voted against a bill that would stop HMOs from forcing women out of hospitals less than 24 hours after delivering a baby.....AT THE PAC luncheon, Hannah Rosenthal and Corinne Wood will receive awards for their pro-choice labors. Co-chairs are Missy Lavender, Mary Liz Lehman, Melissa Widen. Call 312-422-0005.

SAVORING A BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON at RL were Doreen Rogers and Caroline Errington who share Sept. 19. With them were Peter Rogers, Jean Pierre Duteron and Alex Singn.

ACTRESS SCARLETT JOHANSSON'S HUSBAND, Ryan Reynolds and director Rodrigo Cortes attended a screening of "Buried," at the Showplace Icon Theater and are hoping it will be a hit.

CONDO PRICES IN VEGAS HAVE CRASHED, with Trump Las Vegas units down from $600,000 to $167,000 and Turnberry Towers prices tumbled from $550,000 to mid $200,000. Many studio units in Vegas are 25 per cent of original pricing, reports TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

PRETTY BLOND MARIA ZAYAS, former Chicago radio and TV personality, is now doing an NPR radio show on WXPR from Rhinelander, Wis.

EXPERT SPORTS TRAINER Marianne Ronquillo, of the WAC, was lucky enough to have her pix taken with The Stanley Cup when it was at a party in Hoffman Estates. Tiny Marianne is only a bit larger than the silver trophy.

FIVE OF THE WORLD'S MOST GLAMOROUS LATIN WOMEN, Rita Hayworth, Maria Montez, Lupe Velez, Carmen Miranda and Dolores Del Rio come to life in an exciting new book by photographer Steve Starr, titled "Starrlight: Glamorous Latin Movie Stars of Early Hollywood." Meticulously researched, with 100 photographs (many in Starr's fab collection of art deco frames) , this silver linen-bound treasure also has 28 pix of other stars once famous in a world that no longer exists. Starr, a popular figure at top social events, is launching his book Oct. 10, 2010 at a Rumba extravaganza with tango dancers and Latin food. His book offers the true picture of the five Latin stars and how they were betrayed and beloved as they dazzled their millions of fans. Starr combines the fantasyland of the silver screen with the heartbreak and intrigue of their lives. The book is $30. Call 773-252-5171.

KATE WALSH AND BILLY DEC WILL GET AWARDS OCT. 17 from the Piven Theater Workshop at a brunch with Linda Yu as MC. Call 847-866-8049.

THE FIRST O.W. WILSON AWARD has been given to William Bratton, a former police exec, by the Illinois Academy of Criminology for setting new standards for police professionalism. Wilson was our police superintendent many years ago and we moved into an apartment he vacated at 2920 N. Commonwealth.

It was as bare as Mrs. Hubbard's cupboard. But, a friend rented an apartment vacated by a Mafia leader, in the next block, and he found $35,000 in furniture left behind, with drapes, vintage wines, linens. Crime doesn't pay?

"DECOY JEWS" are used in the Netherlands to catch young toughs who target Jews wearing skullcaps. Police, especially in Amsterdam, have been successful in stopping attacks, and also disguise themselves as Decoy Gays and Decoy Hookers to deter muggings and other street crimes.

BELATED ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS to Polly Pancoe and Fred Kortlander.

CONDOLENCES TO AUTHOR SHERRILL BODINE on the death of her mother.

CONGRATS TO MERCADITO, 108 W. Kinzie, on its first anniversary, and its dedicated staff ¡ª partners Alfredo and Felipe Sandoval, Larry Silver and chef Patricia Sandoval.

THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON ran a story and photo on Tobina Kahn, of the House of Kahn, 60 E. Walton and Palm Beach, relating to the increased popularity of estate jewelry. Tobina estimates a 30 percent growth in sales with five-carat and larger stones in big demand.

NPR'S SCOTT SIMON, son of Patricia Simon Newman Gelbin, has a new book, "Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other: In Praise of Adoption," about the two daughters who joined his family. Proud Patti is a granny, thanks to the adoption. Scott is the son of the late TV/radio personality Ernie Simon. His step dad was the late Lincoln expert Ralph Newman.

CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE annual gala is Oct. 8 at the Renaissance Hotel with chairs Jennifer Pfeiffer, Mary Ellen Smith, Matthew Toles. Lynne Jordan and the Shivers will entertain.

MOVIE BIZ FOLKS in L.A. will get their Chicago "fix" Oct. 4 at Rich Melman's La Grande Orange when the Windy City West party blooms. Brenda Sexton has planned lots of local foods, fun and fellowship for homesick (and not so homesick) colleagues laboring in California.

BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES TO MAN-ABOUT-THE-WORLD Jerry Berliant. He's here, there, everywhere proving whirling dervishes do exist.

GIANTS ON THE REAL ESTATE SCENE in Chicago, David "Buzz" Ruttenberg and Michael Supera were inducted into the Realtors Hall of Fame at a recent dinner in the Marriott.

FOR A MERE $6.95 MILLION you can buy financial whiz Jamie Dimon's slightly used eight-bedroom mansion at 25 E. Banks, a real bargain, marked down from $10.5 million, and earlier from $13.5 million. Dimon is CEO of JP Morgan Chase and moved to New York City. Dimon and wife Judith bought the huge estate in 2000 for $4.7 million, a drop in the bucket. OOPS! SORRY. YOU ARE TOO LATE. We just heard the mansion has been sold.

"YOU NEVER SEE A MAN walking down the street with a woman who has a little pot belly and a bald spot." - ELAYNE BOOSLER

CONTACT: annbgerber@gmail.com or 847-677-2232


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