Infrastructure Update   

W. Eastwood Avenue from Damen to Leavitt

Until late August, the Dept. of Water Management (DWM) will be replacing the old 1891 water main under Eastwood Avenue between Damen and Leavitt. To see the residents' notice click here. 

N. Wayne Avenue from Irving Park to 600 Feet South

The sewer main under the 3900 block of Wayne Avenue is currently being replaced by DWM private contractors and the street is not open to traffic from 8AM to 4PM on weekdays (M-F). To see the residents' notice click here. 

W. Montrose Avenue from Lake Shore Drive to Damen

The City of Chicago is performing a number of arterial resurfacing projects around the city that include Montrose Avenue, from Lake Shore Drive to Damen Avenue. Crews are reconstructing curbs & gutters, adjusting utility structures and resurfacing only those sections of the streets that need repair. Other improvements include adding concrete bus pads at bus stops to prevent the common asphalt "push-ups." The entire project is expected to be completed July 4th.   

Peoples Gas Main Replacement

Construction crews from Peoples Gas and their contractor Northern Pipeline continue their multi-year gas main replacement project in the 47th Ward. Sod has now been laid (grass seed in some instances) in a number of areas throughout the ward to restore damage to city parkways. Please remember the tips below to care for your sod once it has been installed. 

Sod Care Tips (Courtesy of Landscape America)

1. Start watering IMMEDIATELY after the sod is laid. For the first 7-10 days.  Keep a close eye on your turf. Give it just enough water to keep it from drying out. After that, apply an inch of water every 7 - 10 days.  Walk on the sod - especially the edges - so the edges and turf make contact with the soil.
   
   To measure an 1" of water coming from a sprinkler, place a coffee can on the lawn in the midst of the sprinkler. A good watering once per week is usually better for your lawn than light daily watering. Once your lawn is established it is generally better to water in the morning hours.
2. By about the 10th day, allow the sod to dry out enough to mow it. Make sure your mower is in good mechanical condition with a sharp blade. Set your mower on the highest setting and mow the lawn very carefully. The frequency in which you will have to mow your lawn depends on weather conditions.

Metra Track and Bridge Construction along Ravenswood 

• Montrose: Frame, Reinforce and Pour Abutments
• Wilson:Install Structural Steel
• West Side Ravenswood- Irving Park to Berteau (Wall 9): Drill, Set and Pour Soldier Beams/Install Lagging
• West Side Ravenswood- Grace to Irving Park (Wall 10): Demo existing crib wall
• Lawrence: Install Temporary Platform (in Sears Parking Lot) and Install SOE

Metra Traffic Closures and Detours 

• Montrose full closure is now OPEN but will CLOSE again from 7/2/12 to 7/13/12    
• Wilson Detours will continue until August 2012.
• Irving Park to Berteau Detours will be up until November 2012.
• Grace to Irving Park Detours will be up until November 2012.
• Parking has been restricted between the CTA tracks and Ravenswood on all streets from Grace to Berteau to accommodate u-turns while the road is closed.  The south side of Bernice has parking restrictions from Lincoln to Ravenswood to accommodate two-way traffic until Ravenswood is reopened.

For more information, visit the infrastructure section of our website or contact Bill Higgins at bill@chicago47.org or 773-549-2745.  

1. Ask a Friend to Help: A simple, albeit crucial, way to gain peace of mind while traveling is to ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your house while you're away.
2. Check our website to find when street cleaning will occur on your block: Ask your friend to move your car for you, if your vacation and street cleaning coincide. Or move your car to a friend's block that won't be having street cleaning.
3. Don't Tip Off Criminals on the web or with your phone message. In a world where it seems everyone is blabbing about their business on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, it's important to stop and think: who exactly is reading this stuff? Voice mail can be another culprit to telling folks you aren't home. Callers don't need to know that you're not home -- they just need to know that you can't come to the phone right now.
4. Curtains Closed -- or Open? Before you leave for vacation, you may decide to close your curtains to prevent people from peering inside your home to see whether you're there. Leave your curtains exactly as you usually keep them when you're home, since noticeable changes could hint that you're not around anymore -- especially if your curtains are uncharacteristically left closed for two weeks. Move expensive items, like a computer, stereo system, jewelry or cash, especially if they're visible from the window.
5. The Lights Are On But No One's Home: Don't leave your lights on at home throughout your entire vacation in an effort to make it look like someone is in the house. Criminals keeping an eye on your house will notice lights flipping on and off, and will probably assume someone is doing the flipping. Hook up timers to lamps.
6. Stop Your Mail & Newspapers: Either place a "stop" order on mail and newspapers OR arrange to have a friend or neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers while you're away.
7. Pull the Plug: Unplug your television, computer, toaster oven and other appliances to protect them from power surges. Do this to save power as well. According to the Consumer Energy Center, many appliances use power even when they're turned off.
8. Remove Your Spare Key: That plastic rock isn't fooling anyone. If criminals figure out you're away on vacation, it's likely that he or she will check your porch for a spare key. So reach under the mat, into the mailbox, above the door frame or into the flower pot and remove your spare key before you leave on your vacation.
9. Lock all Doors and Windows: Even if you think they are un-reachable - lock them anyway.

The City of Chicago Department of Public Health offered health tips to avoid injury and illness especially helpful over the next few days and into the 4th of July Weekend.

STAY COOL, STAY HYDRATED, STAY INDOORS

• Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day to avoid dehydration and ensure that children stay well hydrated;
• Wear loose, light cotton clothing;
• Avoid or minimize physical exertion and direct exposure to the sun;
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses;
• Do not let anyone sit in a hot, parked car, not even for a few minutes;
• Visit one of the City's temporary cooling centers. Call 3-1-1 to find the closest one.
• Sign up for extreme weather alerts by visiting www.AlertChicago.com and clicking on the Notify Chicago.

FOOD SAFETY - for cookouts and picnics, temperature is key to avoiding foodborne illness.

• Use a meat thermometer to make sure all meat and poultry are properly cooked - ground beef hamburgers to 160°F and hot dogs to 165°F
• Use a clean plate when taking food off the grill
• Keep hot food hot (140°F or above), and cold food cold (40°F or below)
• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours

The symptoms of most types of food poisoning include severe cramps, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.  Symptoms can begin from 30 minutes to three or more days after eating contaminated food. If symptoms are severe or last longer than two days, contact a doctor or health care provider.

WATER SAFETY - whether at the beach, on the lake or in a swimming pool, take safety precautions.

• Supervise young children around water
• Avoid alcohol while supervising children and before or during swimming, boating, or waterskiing
• Always use life jackets and secure personal flotation devices - do not substitute air-filled or foam toys for safety gear
• Shower before enter a swimming pool and do not swim if you have diarrhea
• Be aware of the local weather conditions and forecast, especially watch for thunderstorms with lightening
• Know and obey the posted warnings that indicate beach conditions
• Pay attention to lifeguards or posted instructions.

SUN AND HEAT SAFETY- protect yourself against sunburn and heat illness.

• Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside
• Increase your fluids - drink more liquid than your thirst indicates; avoid alcohol
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loosing-fitting clothing
• Heat exhaustion symptoms - heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, pale or flushed complexion, and fast and shallow breathing
• Heat exhaustion treatment - move the person to a cooler place; remove or loosen tight clothing; and apply cool, wet cloths; give cool water to slowly drink
• Heat stroke symptoms - hot, dry skin, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache, high body temperature, confusion/dizziness and slurred speech
• Heat stroke treatment - call 911; quickly cool the person in a cool bath or wrap wet sheets around them; if the victim refuses water, is vomiting or shows a decreased level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink

MOSQUITO AND TICK SAFETY - camping, hiking or in your own backyard, guard against insect illnesses.

• Apply bug spray or repellent for anybody over 2 months old. 
• Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis and other serious infections
• Avoid being outside during prime mosquito-biting hours, dusk to dawn, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions 
• Avoid tick-infested areas, such as the woods and high grasses, and use repellent containing 20 percent DEET or treat clothing with the repellent, permethrin
• Remove ticks attached to the body using a pair of tweezers and call your health care provider if you develop a rash, fever or body aches during the 1 to 3 weeks following a bite
• Check with a veterinarian about preventing tick-borne diseases in pets as they can carry ticks into the home
• Don't stand for standing water, pools of water are where mosquito lay their eggs. For example, large puddles, baby pools, bird baths. 
• Call 311 to report standing water, or dead birds.  

1. Protection from Heat in Cars - don't leave pets in a car alone - EVER!
2. Proper Outdoor Housing and Water - that means shade.
3. Protection from Over-Exertion -  panting, disorientation, anxious expression, weakness - lower their temperature gradually & call the vet.
4. Hot Asphalt and Feet Protection - keep to the sidewalk or grass.
5. Beach and Water Safety -  don't throw your dog in the water, start in shallow water, never leave them unattended.
6. Safety in Travel - fresh water, bowl, ice-packs in their crate, sunshade on the car windows, spray bottle with water to cool him down.
7. Parasite Prevention - heartworm happens even in the city.
8. Plan Ahead for Summer Vacations - plan ahead, arrange for careful, responsible care. It will bring peace of mind. 

For more information on this event, please click here.  

Feel free to send us your upcoming community events so we can include them in our newsletter.

Do you have a suggestion or comment for Ald. Pawar? Please contact our office at 773-868-4747 or email info@chicago47.org.