Have no fear
Cook County CIO Lydia Murray spoke at a City Club of Chicago luncheon on Tuesday about the county’s efforts to update key technologies in 2014. Murray’s father, a pastor, and mother, a speech teacher, were both in attendance to hear her speak. “No pressure,” Murray joked before beginning her address. “I will have a report of how many times I said ‘um’ at the end of this.”
Ship of trees
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw has arrived in downtown Chicago with over 1,200 Michigan Christmas trees, according to the Associated Press. The ship, which came from its homeport of Cheboygan, continues the tradition of the Rouse Simmons ship, which began delivering Christmas trees to Chicago in the late 19th Century. The Christmas trees will be delivered to Navy Pier on Saturday and then distributed to low-income families.
Birthday Rahm
Mayor Rahm Emanuel celebrated his 54th birthday last Friday by embarking on a special tour of the “Opening the Vaults: Wonders of the 1893 World’s Fair” Field Museum exhibit, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported. The mayor’s wife, brother Ari Emanuel, children and real estate broker Paul Levy also attended the tour.
On the block
Auction of 19 pieces of art owned by longtime collector and ex-Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson is scheduled to take place Saturday at Oak Park’s John Toomey Gallery, according to the Chicago Tribune. Thompson, who is a partner at the law firm Winston & Strawn, wants to make room in his office for a new collection that includes work related to former President Abraham Lincoln.
-Tom Butala