On this day in 1870, The New York Times dubs baseball "America's Game."
The 47th Ward Office will be CLOSED: 12pm-5pm, Wednesday, November 27 Thursday, November 28 & Friday, November 29 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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Dear Neighbor,
Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving, and I have a lot to be thankful for. We have accomplished an incredible amount of work since last Thanksgiving and I want to take a moment to recognize some of our outstanding community partners and neighbors who are making a difference in our community. I am very fortunate to have such great partners and great neighbors. This year, I'd like to thank:
- Meghan Gutierrez, Heidi Bush, Dara Salk, Betzi Poole and leaders from the 47th Ward faith-based community for working so hard over two years to start a new food pantry in Lincoln Square, the Lincoln Square Friendship Center. This food pantry serves many individuals, families and pets in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.
- All the 47th Ward Front desk volunteers. We have a small army of volunteers that contribute to our constituent service operation. These volunteers donate hundreds of hours of their time to help you and the 47th ward office. I am so thankful for their public service. A special thank you to: Marilyn, Ken, Joni, Carol, Char, Bette, Jeanette, Keith, Rhoda, Mary, Tom, Ross, Brad, Lenore, Kerie, Mark, Alexa and Karen.
- Mariano's, Barrett & Porto Real Estate, & Sy Taxman for working with my office to create the Mariano's Senior Shuttle. This free round-trip shuttle takes seniors from various complexes to Mariano's to go grocery shopping and then back home again. Mariano's, Barrett & Porto, and Sy Taxman have worked so diligently to become great community members and partners. The senior shuttle is one of many partnerships we have planned. More to come soon!
- Ravenswood School, the Friends of Ravenswood School, Cornelia Grumman, Wendy Vazquez, and Adam Walsh for their thousands of volunteer hours to help make the funding for the Ravenswood School outdoor playground project a reality. Their hard work and impressive grant-writing resulted in a $750k grant award from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency! This $1.3million project will help manage stormwater more effectively, reduce localized flooding, and create new outdoor play spaces (including a turf field and a mini amphitheater) for Ravenswood School students and the surrounding community.
- McPherson School, the Friends of McPherson School, Kim Silver, and Bob Farster have spent countless hours organizing, fundraising, and building community. They are currently working to remake McPherson's outdoor playground by bringing together various funding sources. Kim was instrumental in working with GROW47 and my office to identify private funds for their playground project. More on this project soon!
- Audubon School, The Friends of Audubon, and Principal Ken Fitzner for working with my office and GROW47 to identify funds for their playground project. Together, they have been fundraising, writing grants, and working with my office to make this project a reality. As a result of their advocacy, my office is allocating $100k in aldermanic menu funds towards Phase 1 of the project.
- Queen of Angels and St. Andrew's for earning the title of a National Blue Ribbon School! Both schools were recognized for high levels of academic achievement in 2013. I want to congratulate Principal Byrns Kelly, Principal Ackerman, the teachers, parents, and students for collectively working to achieve Blue Ribbon status!
- Our local small businesses for making our neighborhood such a great place to live! Remember November 30th is national Small Business Saturday - enjoy your local businesses.
And, of course, I would like to thank you. Serving as your alderman has been an incredible honor and opportunity. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.
And, finally, I want to thank my dedicated 47th Ward team and our 47th Ward Streets and Sanitation crew. The 47th Ward Team works so hard in service to you. A big thank you to Ernie, Jim, Bill, Dara and Charna. Thanks also to Erick Norton (47th Ward Superintendent) and the dedicated men and women of Streets and Sanitation. They work very hard to keep our streets and alleys clean and do so without any fanfare.
2014 Budget
On Tuesday, November 26, 2013, the Chicago City Council passed a balanced budget for FY2014. I voted YES on the 2014 budget.
I am also very pleased to announce that the 2014 budget included funding for the Chicago City Council Office of Financial Analysis. The enabling legislation for the office is set for a City Council vote in December. This new office will be independent of the executive branch but will report to the legislative branch. The COFA will automatically provide analyses on the following issues:
- a financial analysis of the mayor's proposed annual budget
- an annual budget options report of potential cost saving reforms and efficiencies
- a summary and analysis of the City's annual audit
- a review of proposed public-private partnerships and asset leases
- a review of the annual financial analysis
- an analysis of rating agency actions
- other analyses upon the request of the chairman of the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations
To date, the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, the Civic Federation, and the Better Government Association have come out in support of the COFA proposal put forward by Ald. Pat Dowell, Ald. Michele Smith, Chairman Carrie Austin, Mayor Emanuel, and me. On to a full council vote next month!
Now back to the budget. Here are some highlights from the budget:
- As of November 4, a total of 505 new police officers have been hired in 2013. A total of 742 will have graduated the academy by the end of the year;
- Includes an additional $4 million in Streets and Sanitation to double the number of tree trims, improve graffiti removal, and rodent abatement.;
- The City will treat 35,000 trees for emerald ash borer
- Creates 12,000 summer jobs for youth in Chicago
- Allows the City to open the first new domestic violence shelter in over a decade
I voted for this budget because it continues to address the City's structural issues without raising property, sales, or gas taxes in 2014. However, without pension reform in 2014, the 2015 budget could result in a large property tax increase and service cuts. In 2014, the focus must turn to Springfield and I know our local state legislators (Senate President Cullerton, Sen. Steans, Rep. Williams, Rep. Harris) are working very hard to pass pension reform. I will keep you posted on efforts in Springfield and how those efforts impact individuals and families in Chicago. In the meantime, I want to again thank all of you for the opportunity to serve.
Be safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
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Upcoming Ward Nights
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Wednesdays5:00pm to 7:30pm
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2013-2014 Residential Pickup Permits Now Available
If you drive a pickup truck or van for your personal use, you need a residential permit to park legally overnight on a residential street.
Simply bring your truck/van into the 47th Ward Office. Note your city sticker and license plate numbers. 47th Ward staff will ensure the truck is not used for commercial use and issue you a permit.
More information is available here. If you have any questions please contact the 47th Ward Office.
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2013 Street Sweeping
The 2013 Street Sweeping Schedule is available on our website. Street sweeping ends Monday.
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Winter Parking Bans
From December 1, 2012 to April 1, 2013 certain arterial streets in Chicago have two additional types of parking restrictions related to snow fall. One pertains to times when there is 2 inches or more of snow on the street and the other restricts overnight parking, regardless of snowfall. See maps here. Please call or email the 47th Ward Office with any questions.
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As you may recall, in April 2013, CTA and CDOT announced a vision for a center running Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on Ashland Avenue between Irving Park Road and 95th Street to provide a fast and reliable north/south transit connection for 16 miles through Chicago. The vision reflects the planning process and community engagement undertaken in 2012.
Over the summer, CTA and CDOT met and heard from various key stakeholders about this plan. They are now holding two public open house meetings as an extension of this outreach to gather additional input from the public. CTA and CDOT are still developing the Ashland BRT design, and considering options and modifications, including the implementation of additional left turns, based on continued feedback from the public.
The public open house meetings will summarize studies of the project impacts, including traffic analyses, which have been performed as part of the formal Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with federal government requirements. The Environmental Assessment is now complete and available on CTA's website and in hard copy at several community locations, listed below. CTA and CDOT would like your comments on the Environmental Assessment, which can be made at the public open houses, by mail, or by e-mail (AshlandBRT@transitchicago.com). The formal public comment period for the Environmental Assessment ends on December 20th, 2013.
CTA and CDOT will consider the results of the analyses, potential impacts and strategies for mitigation, and all public comments before moving forward with the next phase of the project. In addition, there will be additional public input solicited as part of the next design phase, scheduled to occur in 2014.
Details of the public meetings and how to access the Environmental Assessment are included below. Additional information about the project can be found at www.transitchicago.com/ashlandbrt.
The times and locations for the public meetings are:
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
BENITO JUAREZ COMMUNITY ACADEMY
1450 W. Cermak Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Served by Pink Line (18th Street) and CTA Bus Routes #9, #21, #60
And the closer to our ward, approx. 2 miles south:
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
PULASKI PARK FIELD HOUSE
1419 W. Blackhawk Street
Chicago, IL 60642
Served by Blue Line (Division) and CTA Bus Routes #9 and #56
The Environmental Assessment is available on CTA's website OR
If you would like a hard copy, contact Bill Higgins in our office and he will give you the info on how to get one.
Alderman Pawar has supported the study of the proposal to determine if it can be modified to minimize the impact to our community while providing the greatest transit benefit. To date the CTA or CDOT has not required any formal opinion from the Alderman or City Council but we have relayed the comments, questions and concerns to them and will continue to do so. We do encourage all residents with any comments to submit them directly to AshlandBRT@transitchicago.com or at the meetings.
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Goodbye Golden Angel and Farewell George
After 62 years in the restaurant business, George from Golden Angel at 4340 N. Lincoln Avenue, has retired and the restaurant is now closed. We want to thank George for his contributions to the community and wish him well in his retirement. We'll all miss the welcoming atmosphere and good food that George and his staff provided to us, but we look forward to Lou Malnati's coming to our neighborhood.
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Welcome New Business: The Space, Avery Innovations & Big Fork Brands, 2707 W. Lawrence.
Just over a year old, we welcome a start-up, shared office environment called The Space, located in family friendly Lincoln Square at 2707 W. Lawrence. Contact: lanceavery@gmail.com 312.206.9444. Cost: $300/month. What's Included: 24 hr. access, Wi-Fi, cable, coffee, tea, office supplies, desk, office chair, basement storage, test kitchen use, private meeting space as needed, discounted rental for party use. We have a couple of office desks available to rent on a monthly basis.
Avery Innovations, LLC
Specializing in concept through commercialization, they are a boutique culinary consulting firm supporting entrepreneurs, ingredient companies, processors, and consumer package goods companies alike.
Skills & Abilities:
Culinary Sales & Marketing Support
Culinary Presentations
Trade Show Support
Product Development
Culinary Training
Recipe Development & Testing
Food Styling & Photography
All Things Bacon & Sausage
Ingredient Scouring & Co-Manufacturing Support
Food Blogging & Article Writing
Public Speaking & Panel Speaker
Menu Development
Entrepreneurial Startup Support
Nutritional Fact Development
Restaurant Business Strategies
www.averyinnovations.com 312.206.9444 lanceavery@gmail.com
Big Fork Brands established in 2011 in Lincoln Square by husband and wife duo Lance and Ann Avery. Big Fork Brands specializes in handcrafted, artisan sausages, made in Chicago, using all-natural pork and nitrite-free, hickory smoked bacon. They use Duroc hogs that are vegetarian fed and raised in open pastures, or in deep-bedded facilities that allow them room to move around and enjoy the open air and sunlight. It's their belief that happy hogs make the best tasting sausage and bacon makes it even better.
Some of their current restaurant clients include Stephanie Izzard of Girl and the Goat (we sell to her second concept Little Goat) and Frank n' Dawgs.
Some of our retail clients include: Sunset Foods, The Green Grocer, and the Dill Pickle Coop.
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OpenWall: 1+1=Commuity 2013 Opening Reception
Alderman Pawar's vision of highlighting the works of local artists in his office has been realized through the OpenWall initiative curated by Patricia Larkin Green. Every quarter the OpenWall committee determines a theme, then selects and displays artwork in this public space.
The latest exhibit, 1+1=Community, features the artwork of OpenWall committee members (the first 1) plus one artist of their choice (the second 1) who lives or works within the 47th Ward. The show runs from November 18th to January 3rd.
This new installation features a stunning array of paintings, pottery and photography, and it attests to the depth and breadth of the talent of the artists living and working in the neighborhood. The public is invited to mingle with the alderman and his staff, the local community and the artists to discuss their works at the opening reception on Friday, December 6th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Featured Artists: Maria Ponce Berre, Tam Dillman, Kelly Feldmiller, Patricia Larkin Green, Nicole Hollander, Jayson Lawfer, Rachel Lechocki, Bill Moran, Melisa Oro, Petr Poliak, Maggie Rife Ponce, Diane Ponder, Carolina Reyes, Agustina Diez Sierra, SPEstes and Bonnie Zak. To learn more about the artists and the event, please check out the OpenWall blog at http://openwall forartists.blogspot.com/ and leave your comments.
Curator Patricia Larkin Green said, "I am a fast believer that artists thrive in a supportive community. As artists we are most vulnerable when we are taking risks. Artists need to create, to exhibit and see each other's work. OpenWall supports our artistic community."
Alderman Ameya Pawar said, "This is how transparency looks to me. I want the office to be a place where people feel they can come inside and interact. The walls are for the artists."
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Coyotes are being sighted in the neighborhood. They have been sighted at multiple locations including along the river, Grace and Lincoln, and Wrigley Field. For more information on Coyotes, please see our website. Please know that there has not been a documented attack by a coyote on a human in more than 30 years in Illinois. If you see an aggressive coyote or one that returns regularly to the same location please report that to our office or 311.
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C4 Receives Six Workplace Honors in Two Years!
Recognized nationally as an ideal place for employees to work, C4 is pleased to announce they have been honored for a second year as one of The Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces. Also for a second year, C4 has been selected as one of Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, and one of the National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The Top Workplaces awards are determined by WorkplaceDynamics, an independent research company. More than 70,000 employees were surveyed about how they feel about their workplaces. The highest response, 68 percent, of those surveyed said that they feel genuinely appreciated at their company. This response far exceeded other evaluating factors like pay and benefits. C4 employees are their backbone; they are so grateful to each and every one of them for their professionalism, commitment and dedication to our mission. For more information about C4 workplace honors, please click here.
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Two 47th Ward Children Selected to Perform with Moscow Ballet
Two lucky children from Chicago's 47th Ward have been selected to join 40 professional dancers from the esteemed Moscow Ballet in the 2013 production of the "Great Russian Nutcracker." The young Chicago dancers join 54 other talented youngsters and their professional counterparts at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2013, at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois.
The afternoon performance also features a concert of holiday songs and carols by Chicago's Southport Performing Arts Conservatory's (SPACE) choir. Tickets start at $26 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-320-1733.
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Dara Reports
Winter Safety Tips for Dogs on chicago47.org.
Volunteers Needed for Senior Christmas Luncheon. Once again, Alderman Pawar and Northcenter Chamber of Commerce will be bringing holiday cheer to our ward's revered seniors on Monday, December 16, 2013, at St. Benedict's Catholic Church 2215 W. Irving Park Rd. If you are free even for an hour or two between 8AM and 1PM or if you want to spend the day with us, we need help to set tables and serve the seniors lunch, please call Dara at 773-868-4747 or email dara@chicago47.org . Your participation will be greatly appreciated and I promise you'll have fun!
Also, if you own or know a business, restaurant or service who would like to contribute a gift certificate or an item for a door prize at the luncheon, we would welcome their help.
They will be thanked on our table tents and by the seniors who will show their support.
Do you have a van? Our van volunteer has a new job this year and is unavailable for our Holiday Luncheon! We need a van to pick up the food for our luncheon. Call or email: dara@chicago47.org.
St. Benedict Church Community Thanksgiving Dinner, November 28. A group of caring, local friends started this Thanksgiving Dinner 24 years ago in an effort to serve their community and to ensure that no one went without a holiday dinner. The tradition continues and the need is great. See Flyer Below
Once again our good neighbor Rebecca Zemans is showing her lovely jewelry and has sent a ticket for the One Of A Kind Show. The One Of A Kind Show will be held December 5 - 8 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL. For specific times, see below.
Thursday, December 5: 11am - 8pm Friday, December 6: 11am - 8pm Saturday, December 7: 10am - 7pm Sunday, December 8: 10am - 5pm Like every year, we will be waiting for you in Booth #7087. For your complimentary ticket, please click here. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program/LIHEAP General Enrollment Application Period Opened November 1. Click here for more information.
Kidical Mass - Roscoe Village. Upcoming ride 12/1. Meet at Audubon School (3500 N. Hoyne) at 10am for 10:30am departure. Click here for more information. Donations Needed! Our three local pantries will distribute items to our neighbors (and their beloved pets) in need. - Personal care/hygiene items: toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc.
- Pet food - especially canned cat food, litter, toys, treats, collars, leashes and beds.
- Winter coats, gloves, hats and scarves for all ages.
Your friends, church group, scout troop, business or school can organize a drive! Let us know how we can help. You may bring your donations to our office Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Sulzer needs your old games. Thanks to our neighbors who have donated games for the Sulzer's Game Night! If you have games that your family no longer uses, please bring them to the 47th Ward Office or to Sulzer Library. Their ever-popular "Game Night" could use a few more board games like Sorry, Chess, Life, Uno, Jenga, Rummy Cube, etc.
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47th Ward Infrastructure Update
Check out the infrastructure map on our webpage!
The Chicago Cubs have provided some additional funding for some infrastructure improvements in the 44th 46th and 47th Wards. In the 47th ward we will be getting new residential street lighting on: W Byron (Clark to Ashland), N Janssen (Addison to Irving Park) and N Greenview (Addison to Irving Park).
Lawrence Avenue Streetscape
The Lawrence Avenue Streetscape is underway. We have posted a draft of the streetscape design on our website if you would like to review the details.
Brick paver installation is underway. Some work on the Claremont Plaza and adjacent alley was delayed to confirm an engineering issue which has been resolved.
Work on the sidewalks continues on the south side of Lawrence, on schedule to be completed to Damen by the end of November. Next year the project will be completed from Damen to Clark St. Landscaping features will be installed on the whole stretch in 2014.
Chicago River Work (east side) Berteau to Montrose (from Riverbank Neighbors)
The project will be funded and supervised by the MWRD, the public entity in charge of treating our wastewater and managing the North Branch and North Channel of the Chicago River. Riverbank Neighbors has had stewardship along this section of river bank for many years. The goal of this project is to stabilize the eastern bank, especially the northern end, from Montrose to Berteau Street. They will do this by inserting seawalls, corrugated sections of heavy iron deep into the bank some feet off shore, and pinning them into deep strata of clay with long iron holdfasts.
The top of the seawalls, when installed, will rest at normal water level, leaving them inconspicuous in their important task. From the edge of the seawall limestone fill will be added to armor the bank against scouring from flood events. This newly created contour will also be planted with appropriate native species of forbs, grasses, shrubs and trees to provide bank stability, habitat for wild things, and beauty (for us).
All work will be done from the river side, using barges, so as not to badly impact existing plantings. Temporary construction fencing will seal off the work area from November 17th until springtime. Pathways will not be open and access to the river's edge will not be permitted. Riverbank Neighbors understands this safety precaution and appreciates the District's plan to perform the work during the wintertime, when the site is less visited by families and friends. In the end, the project will hopefully secure the eroding bank and provide large new areas for planting, new paths and river access, more beauty and happiness for neighbors and visitors.
Western Avenue Roadway Repairs
Western Avenue from George Street to School Street will be reciving spot repairs over the next few weeks. This is part of the Chicago Department of Transportation's Arterial Street Resurfacing - Term North Area Project, in the 47th Ward.
Construction has begun. The work will include ADA sidewalk, curb and gutter removal and replacement, milling the existing asphalt pavement, asphalt paving, bus pad concrete pavement construction, and pavement markings.
During construction, temporary "No Parking" signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work. All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed by December 16, 2013.
NOTE: NO DEMOLITION OR REPAIRS WILL BE DONE TO THE OVERPASS AT THIS TIME. Demolition of the Belmont overpass and reconfiguration of the streetscape has been planned and is awaiting funding approvals. This is not expected to begin until 2015.
METRA Traffic Closures and Detours Around Ravenswood Avenue
- Leland Ave Full Closure will be up until April, 2014.
- Ravenswood from Lawrence to Leland Ave Full Closure will be up until April, 2014 on the west side of Ravenswood.
For more information, visit the infrastructure section of our website or contact Bill Higgins at bill@chicago47.org or 773-549-2745.
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Community Events
For details on the events listed below, please see the events section of our website.
November 28 Thursday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Community Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Benedict Church
St. Benedict Church Social Center, 2215 W. Irving Park Road
December 1 Sunday 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade
Western Avenue & DeVry University, 3300 N. Campbell Avenue
December 3 Tuesday 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Sulzer Game Name at the Library
Sulzer Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 3 Tuesday 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment
Horner Park Fieldhouse (Downstairs Banquet Hall), 2741 W. Montrose Avenue
December 4 Wednesday 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Chicago River Bridges author talk at Sulzer
Sulzer Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 6 Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Bake Sale and Arts & Crafts Fair at Gateway to Learning/Friday
Gateway to Learning, 4925 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 6 Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Holiday Bazaar, Gateway to Learning/Friday
Gateway to Learning, 4925 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 6 Friday 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
OpenWall Opening Reception, 1+1=community!
47th Ward Alderman's Office, 4243 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 6 Friday 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Holiday Showcase & Open House at Chase Park
Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Avenue
December 7 Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Bake Sale and Arts & Crafts Fair at Gateway to Learning/Saturday
Gateway to Learning, 4925 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 7 Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Holiday Bazaar, Gateway to Learning/Saturday
Gateway to Learning, 4925 N. Lincoln Avenue
December 7 Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Seeds of Change Marketplace
Berry Church, 4754 N. Leavitt Strett
December 7 Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Irish Christmas Market at Montrose Green
Montrose Green, 1819 W. Montrose Avenue
December 8 Sunday 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Senior Kultura IV at North Center Satellite Senior Center
North Center Satellite Senior Center, 4040 N. Oakley Avenue
December 10 Tuesday 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Acid Reflux: Could It Be More Serious?
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 814 W. Nelson Street, Ringel Rooms, Center for Education
Want to put your community event in our newsletter? Check the guidelines on our website.
CAPS Meetings. If you would like to get to participate in community policing or express concerns about crime happening in your area, please consider attending your beat meetings. A schedule of beat meetings is available on our website. If you have any questions about CAPS or need additional information, please contact Jim Poole at 773-549-4462 or jim@chicago47.org. 19th District CAPS Office (All areas of the 47th Ward south of Lawrence) 312-744-0064 or CAPS019District@chicagopolice.org. 20th District CAPS Office (All areas of the 47th Ward north of Lawrence) 312-742-8770 or CAPS020District@chicagopolice.org.
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