The Chicago Fire Department does not recommend that residents use space heaters, but acknowledges that people may rely on them during cold winter months. To minimize the dangers of space heaters, the Fire Department recommends only using heaters that are UL certified as safe and never use an extension cord with a space heater, which can cause the cord to overheat and burn. Most importantly, never allow a space heater within three feet of anything that can burn, especially bedding.

"Sadly, we have found that fires have started because children have moved a space heater closer to the bed for more heat after parents have gone to bed for the night," said Jose Santiago, Fire Commissioner. "Residents should also check and replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, especially this close to the holiday season. Batteries may have been borrowed for new electronics or toys."

Fire officials also encouraged residents to check to ensure their carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. With furnaces running during normal cold weather, a small carbon monoxide leak might not be noticed, but with heaters running non-stop to match the extreme cold, that small leak could become a deadly source of fumes. Carbon Monoxide detectors are designed to alert you before you feel sick, so if yours goes off get to fresh air and call 911.

January is National Radon Action Month and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is encouraging Chicagoans to test their home for harmful levels of radon.  Radon is a natural colorless, odorless radioactive gas and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.  The best time to test homes for radon is during cold-weather months when windows are shut and elevated levels of radon are more likely to be detected.

"Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk," said Dr. Cortland Lohff, CDPH Medical Director for Environmental Health.  "Taking action to test and fix high levels of radon gas is not only a strong investment for your health but also for your home."

Information on how to test, find a qualified radon professional or obtain a test kit is available at http://www.epa.gov/radon or by calling the Cook County Radon Hot Line at (708) 865-6177.  

You can't see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home.  In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon causes more than 20,000 deaths from lung cancer each year.  And if you smoke and your home has a high radon level, your risk of lung cancer can increase even more.

Radon comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils.  It can get into homes through cracks and other holes in the foundation.  Radon can then be trapped inside the home, where it can build up.

All homes with or without basements should be tested for radon.  Affordable Do-It-Yourself radon test kits are available online and at home improvement and hardware stores, or you can hire a qualified radon tester.

CDPH recommends taking action to fix radon levels at or above 4 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L).  Addressing high radon levels often costs the same as other minor home repairs.  In most cases, a system with a vent pipe and fan is used to reduce radon.

Radon test results are a positive selling point for those putting a house on the market and in many areas is a required part of real estate transactions. In addition, if you are looking to build a new home, there are now safer and healthier radon-resistant construction techniques that home buyers can discuss with builders to prevent this health hazard.

Improving the health and well-being of all Chicagoans by creating safer and healthier homes is a priority in CDPH's citywide health agenda, Healthy Chicago.  Healthy Chicago sets an ambitious sense of purpose for Chicago and engages the city with bold action and goals to make Chicago the healthiest city in the nation.  Visit www.CityofChicago.org/HEALTH

We Got Game is offering youth programs for volleyball, dodgeball, floor hockey, wrestling, basketball, soccer, multi-sports and tot sports at Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Avenue. To view the upcoming class information and register, visit www.WeGotGameChicago.com.

Flu Activity has gradually increased in Chicago over the last couple of weeks indicating that flu season has arrived. The majority of the 23 flu-associated ICU hospitalizations reported from December 29, 2013 to January 4, 2014, were due to the influenza A (2009 H1N1) virus, which has circulated worldwide as a seasonal flu virus since the flu pandemic in 2009. While it's not possible to predict which influenza viruses will predominate through the entire flu season, if the 2009 H1N1 virus continues to circulate widely, young and middle-aged adults may be disproportionately impacted by influenza.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends yearly vaccination as the best protection against the flu and lists citywide flu vaccination locations online at www.ChicagoFluShots.org. Additional flu prevention tips and more information on the flu in Chicago are available online at www.CityofChicago.org/FLU.

Chicago Snow Corps is a program that connects volunteers with residents in need of snow removal - such as seniors and residents with disabilities.

While winter can be hazardous for everyone here in the City of Chicago, it can be especially difficult for elderly and physically disabled residents, who may not have the ability or resources to remove snow from their sidewalks and walkways. Chicago Snow Corps aims to help minimize potential heavy-snow emergencies by pairing volunteers with blocks where elderly and disabled citizens have requested help.

We will continue to collect warm items all winter; as we are told more are needed. Please clean out your closets; someone else can use your children's outgrown jackets and the coats, hats and gloves you no longer wear?  We also welcome donations of pet food, towels and blankets for those pets less fortunate than our own.

On the 3rd Friday of the month The Lincoln Square Friendship Center 2733 W. Lawrence is the home to Friendship Pet Food Pantry. Pet food is provided to folks who are having a hard time feeding their beloved pets.  

Upcoming dates are: January 17, February 21 & March 21 from 3-5pm

If you know anyone who needs assistance, please pass this along.

In their 1st three distribution dates a month's supply of food was given to:

92 cats & 38 dogs!

A group of Community Volunteers helping another group of Community Volunteers

Forward Chicago, a grass-roots, all-volunteer non-profit that builds community where people of all ages are active, engaged and influential, is taking the lead on a volunteer effort that could use your help.   

Those Forward Chicago members who are crafters meet monthly at Sulzer Library and are creating reusable cloth shopping bags for the clients of the Lincoln Square Friendship Center Food Pantry. There are many tasks in creating these bags that you and your children, could be involved with.  Cloth needs to be donated. We will pin and cut bags from simple patterns, then iron, and sew the bags together.

As you may know, Martin Luther King Day is a national day of volunteer service. We will work on this project on Wednesday, January 15 and on Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King Day, from 10:30am-1:00pm at the Lincoln Square Friendship Center 2733 W. Lawrence; the location of a weekly food pantry and monthly pet food pantry.  They have a large space that is available for the community's use; which we want to support. If you have cloth to donate bring it to our office or if you would like to volunteer for one or both days, please call or email dara@chicago47.org.

Save the Date:

The 47th Ward Green Council Brings Us

Home Energy Efficiency Mini-Workshop!

Learn about how you can save hundreds of dollars a year for the life of your house...and more! Tuesday, February 25 from 7-9pm Sulzer Library Auditorium  

Are you a Bridge Player? Do you want to learn Bridge? Play or learn with your neighbors at Sulzer Library on First & Third Fridays, January 17 and February 7 & 21; from 10am-Noon.  

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.   

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).

Chicago River Work (east side) Berteau to Montrose (from Riverbank Neighbors) 

Please check out this updated landscaping plan for the bank.

New to the plan:

• removal of all Ailanthus, honeysuckle and buckthorn (all invasives);
• add soil to the rip rap on the upper sections of the project area to make planting easier and recovery quicker;
• substitute for the elderberry, since we said we have a thriving e-berry community already;
• substituted a cover seed mix instead of the IDOT mix we objected to;
• four species of gray dogwood (stakes) that a vigorous colonizers for the new territories.

These will be substantial new lands, with the bank secured, and planting begun. Riverbank Neighbors will be able to enrich species diversity over time and introduce many new forbs. Habitat for birds and reptiles and amphibs and mammals will be greatly improved.

• 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.
• Ravenswood (east side) between Ainslie and Winnemac some of the landscaping features will be installed before snowfall in preparation for planting in the spring.  Blockades may be in place on the street to make room for the work to be done however there is not a parking restriction when workers are not present.

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