Her Daily News

By now, we have watched President Obama take the Oath of Office, and with that, he has taken on the tremendous responsibility of seeing this country through today’s trying times. According to Hyde Park resident Byron Houzz, however, the new Chief Executive has had plenty of practice.

“He was president of Hyde Park before he was President of the United States,” said Mr. Houzz this morning, as he enjoyed his morning coffee at Third World Cafe, a coffee shop a mere five blocks from Obama’s Chicago residence. In fact, he enjoyed his coffee so much, he declared that it was “presidential coffee” and that shop owner Robert Raymondo would do well to sell it as such.

Mr. Houzz, who works for Chicago Public Schools, said that he had set up his recording device at home to record today’s historic event: “This is something you play back. These are memories.” Those memories-to-be were on everybody’s lips this morning. Another patron wished Mr. Raymondo a “happy blue year.” Newspapers at the nearby CVS Pharmacy sold like hotcakes, while Obama’s campaign mantra of “hope” echoed in the sentiments of many Hyde Park residents.

“I don’t have any illusions, but if anything, we’re moving in a good direction,” said Kimberly, a University of Chicago graduate student. She said that her first thought when she woke up on this snowy January day was that today is Inauguration Day, and that she hasn’t been this excited about a presidential inauguration since Jimmy Carter’s inauguration when she was a small child.

Third World Cafe employee Diana Sturdivant-England shared some memories of her own. A 1970 graduate of nearby Kenwood Academy, she has lived in Hyde Park for decades, and she was in Grant Park for Obama’s victory speech in November. She remembers a Hyde Park of earlier days - a place of mom-and-pop businesses and neighborhood camaraderie.

She says, “I’ve seen a lot of changes, not always good but you’ve got to change with the times.” Where chain restaurants now stand, neighborhood institutions used to cater to locals. Chess players used to flock to Harper Court to play, but that practice has since stopped. However, Ms. Sturdivant-England is still proud to be a Hyde Park resident - she cites the neighborhood’s diversity as a major asset.

The Third World Cafe is a community-oriented independent business where many University of Chicago students are employed, and all of its coffee is free-trade and organic. According to Mr. Raymondo, President Obama has never stopped by, although the Secret Service has, along with members of the international press. He did mention that another notable local resident has come by more than once - Mr. Raymondo said, “You know who did a couple of interviews here? Bill Ayers.”

The spotlight has been on this South Side neighborhood for many months, and while today is an important day for the country and the world, Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood is standing just a little bit taller today. The road ahead for President Obama and the nation is a long one, but the consensus here seems to be that if anyone is up to the challenge, our newly inaugurated Commander-in-Chief is.