Jay,

Forgive me for: a) Not replying sooner; and b) not replying to any of your previous post...well, at least some of it.:-)

First, you mentioned the 5th district, did you mean ward? Back when I was stomping around Hyde Park it was wards not districts that the aldermen represented. Part of H.P. was in the 4th Ward and part in the 5th. The 5th ward alderman was Leon Despres, who, not too surprisingly, was the one independent in the city council.

Second, as you may have surmised, I've returned from my journey to Chicago. Had lots of fun (at the party perhaps too much fun), saw tons of friends, drank gallons of beer, watched the Bears on Sunday, got to the lake front, ate a couple of Italian Beefs, had a Bill's pizza and the weather was great. I think that pretty much sums it up.< bg >