JUNE/JULY 2014

Dear Neighbor,

Summer has finally arrived as we witness Chicago thaw itself from one of the coldest, snowiest winters into a city that comes back to life. There are endless neighborhood festivals and non-stop activities throughout the city. Below you will find a short list of local events, including parades and farmers' markets. We encourage you to click here for a more extensive inventory of summer activities in Chicago.

This year's 45th Annual Chicago Pride Parade is extraordinary and extra special to so many of us. Forever we will be able to celebrate full marriage equality with the acknowledgement that love and family have no boundaries. What an amazing accomplishment we have witnessed in our lifetime. Thank you to those who battled for decades and finally witnessed history being made. It is an honor to share in the sweetness of Pride 2014 with you. Blessings to all of the newlyweds and their families.

The temperature is rising and so are utility bills. To help you, the Citizen's Utility Board has put together the CUB Energy Saver toolbox where you can utilize free online tools to help reduce and manage summer energy costs. Replacing conventional light bulbs with compact florescent lamps is one of many ideas you can employ to make your home more energy efficient. For those who receive our energy bills from ComEd, take advantage of their many Home Saving programs, starting with understanding how your home consumes energy. My home was assessed last summer, and I learned how to save a bundle on my utility bills.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of my staff if we can ever be of assistance to you. Also, be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter

pages to keep in touch and learn more about events in the area.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable 4th of July. I look forward to seeing many of you around the neighborhood this summer.

Very truly yours,

Sara Feigenholtz

State Representative

12th District

45th Annual Chicago Pride Parade

Sunday, June 29

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Join us at the 45th Annual Chicago Pride Parade. Step off is on the corner of Broadway & Montrose. Click here for the parade route. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Fresh Produce:

A Guide to Neighborhood Farmers' Markets

Nettelhorst French Market

3252 N. Broadway St.

Intersection of Broadway/Melrose

(Every Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

Pride and Produce

3179 N. Clark St.

Intersection of Clark/Belmont

(Every Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Green City Farmer's Market

South end of Lincoln Park at the intersection of Clark/ Lincoln

(Every Wednesday and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

A full list of city-wide farmers' markets can be found here.

Community Events

Summerfest

Saturday, June 28, 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

N. Clark St & W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Headlined by 20 hours of LIVE music and surrounded by attractions like the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago History Museum, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool sets the scene for this venue. Festival-goers can visit local artisan booths, featuring a wide array of mixed media and jewelry. More information here.

Taste of Lakeview

Saturday, July 5, 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm / Sunday, July 6, 12:00 pm-9:00 pm

N. Lincoln Ave & W. Belmont Ave Chicago, IL 60657

Located in the heart of Lakeview, at 3200 N. Lincoln Avenue at Belmont, this event is the epitome of iconic Chicago neighborhoods. Featured as one of 2013's can't miss street festivals on WGN-TV, The Taste of Lakeview pairs classic summer festival flavor with delectable local treats, interactive family fun, fashionable vendors and of course music! More information here.

North Dearborn Association's Garden Walk Party

Sunday, July 20, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Entry at The Latin Middle School, 45 W. North Blvd.

Tickets: $30 advance, $35 at the door

Ticket Entry Includes: Admission to 20 distinctive rear gardens, narrated architectural walking tour of historic Dearborn Street, live jazz and classical performances in select gardens and garden vignettes. More information here.

New App Makes Paying For Parking Convenient

In response to calls from constituents who have requested a solution to expiring parking meters, there is a new option to pay for and extend your time when parking in metered areas. Drivers may utilize ParkChicago, a free phone app available for download to pay for parking.

It's easy to create an account using a debit or credit card and then enter the amount of time you plan to park. A zone number that will register your car to the metered location can be found at the bottom of signs. When your time is set to expire, you can receive a mobile notification with the option to extend remotely. This method of payment will save you a trip and save you from hefty fines associated with expired meters.

Using this system is free for transactions 2 hours or more. There is a 35� surcharge for transactions under 2 hours.

REMEMBER: it is important to observe any designated parking restrictions. Be sure to read all signs before utilizing this new system.

In The News...

Chicago Sun-Times - Sneed: 11-year-old thrilled her dad and daddy finally getting married

June 19, 2014

Chicago Tribune - Illinois Child Welfare Group Recognizes Legislators' Fight against Child Abuse

June 18, 2014

DNAinfo - Weiss Hospital Senior Health Fair Coming Thursday

June 17, 2014

DNAinfo - Women's Health Fair to Offer Free Fitness, Self Defense Classes Saturday

June 12, 2014

DNAinfo - Fire Sprinkler Mandate Doused After Fire Marshal Politicians Stand Down