Dear Friends,  

Trader Joe's is coming to Lincoln Park.  The new store will be at the southeast corner of Diversey and Orchard.  The Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals will hear their petition on Friday, April 17th on the request for a two story grocery store with "non-accessory" parking.  Trader Joe's is requesting approval to construct additional parking (over the minimum required).  This non-accessory parking requires approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.  This project and the extra parking have been long-anticipated by many residents and small businesses in the area.

With the improving weather, the outdoor cafes are opening on many streets. Outdoor cafes are important to creating a walkable community.  Studies have cited the increase of "eyes on the street" with helping to reduce crime and make a street more friendly for pedestrians.  Outdoor cafes apply for a new license every year and most work very hard to be a good neighbor.  I hope you enjoy your visits to our local businesses.   

Lincoln Park High School will say goodbye to their current Principal, Dr. Bessie Karvelas at the conclusion of this school year.  We have enjoyed a great working relationship and she will be missed. Candidates to fill the position will speak at a forum at the school on Monday night, May 3rd at 6:30.  If you have an interest in our local public high school, you should make it a point to attend.

Earth Day activities are taking place all around the area.  If you can't join in a scheduled event please take the time to step outside and do some spring cleaning in your own front yard, parkway or curb lane.  We can all use a chance to get to know our neighbors again and catch up on what we missed while indoors for all these months.

If you can't find your census form or didn't receive one please call 1-866-872-6868.  It's not too late and everyone should be counted!   

Finally, another rite of springtime is the changing of the temporary sculptures in the Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit.  New pieces will be installed in the middle of May.  It's your last chance to visit the current pieces.  They are all available for purchase from the artists.  I would be more than happy to provide you with information on any of the works.

Happy Spring!

Vi  

     Upcoming Events

Sunday, April 18th, 4PM: DePaul University is having a Spring Carnival for you and your children.  Enjoy games, inflatables, prizes, crafts, music, face painting, food, fun and MORE! The event is free but donations of unopened, packages sugar and coffee for the DePaul food pantry will be accepted and greatly appreciated. DePaul Student Center, 2250 N Sheffield.

Wednesday, April 21st, 5:30PM:  Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum continues the Environmental View: Nature Film Series with Caves: Live Beneath the Forest.  Wine, refreshments and snacks will be provided at the reception (5:30). Film and guest speakers (6-8).  Free - call 773/755-5179 to register.

Saturday, April 24th, 8AM:  Green City Market:  Final Indoor Market   The theme for this market is Cheese (it's Cheese Month).  Chef demos at the winter market require reservations visit their  website for additional information.

Saturday, April 24th, 7:30AM:  Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool opens for the season today.  Celebrate with apple cider and snacks until noon.  Enjoy free guided bird walks at 7:45AM and 8:45AM and free history and restoration tours with Lily Pool docents from 7:30AM to 4:00PM. Free.

Save the Date:  May 1st Shredding Day at the Nature Museum 8AM - Noon.  Three bags per person maximum.

CAPS Beat Meetings

Wednesday, April 14th, 6:30PM:  Beat 1812 at St. Vincent dePaul Center, 2145 N Halsted for 43rd Ward residents between Fullerton and Armitage from Sheffield to Sedgwick/Clark.

Thursday, April 15th, 7:00PM:  Beat 2333 at the Inn of Lincoln Park, 601 W Diversey Pkwy. for residents east of Clark between Fullerton and Diversey.

Wednesday, April 21st, 7:00PM:  Beats 1811/13 at St. Michael's, 1711 N Cleveland for 43rd Ward residents (1811) west of Sheffield between Armitage and Fullerton and (1813) for the area between Armitage and North from Sheffield to Sedgwick.

Thursday, April 22nd, 7:000PM:  Beat 1814 at the Old Town Triangle Office, 1765 N North Park for bounded by Fullerton on the north and North Ave on the south and east of Sedgwick/Clark.

     News Around the Ward

Clean and Green  

The Citywide Volunteer Clean-Up takes place this Saturday, April 17, 2010.  You and community groups in your area can make an immediate difference on your block and in your neighborhood by volunteering your time and efforts.    

For two decades Chicagoans have teamed up with community groups and the City of Chicago to help beautify the community by cleaning up and recycling acculumated litter and trash.  It's the perfect time to get outdoors and reconnect with your neighbors, either by working in your own yard and front area or by joining up at a location close to you.  The City will work with you and your community organization or block club to provide all of the brooms, rakes, shovels and bags needed to get the job done on that day.

To register or for more information call 3-1-1 or the 43rd Ward Streets and Sanitation office at 312/742-2158.   

Earth Day Events

Earth Day activities largely take place the same week-end as the City's Clean and Green Day.  Here is a small sampling of events taking place on Saturday.

9AM - Noon:  Join the Lincoln Central Association and your neighbors at Bauler Playlot (Wisconsin and Cleveland).  

Plan to prune bushes, rake leaves and clean-up litter. Supplies will include some gloves, garbage bags, and T-shirts will be given out on a first-come, first served basis.


If you have any of the following, bring them along: work gloves, rakes, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrows, buckets, hoses, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle and rain poncho or jacket. Dress in layers with sturdy shoes.

10AM - Noon: North Pond  Get your hands in the earth for Earth Day!  Join the Lincoln Park Conservancy as they host their 10th Annual Earth Day at North Pond.  You'll be planting wildflowers, mulching park trees to protect their roots and help them grow, restoring shoreline nature trails and picking up litter in the park.

This event is suited for anyone over 18 years of age. To register, call 773-883-7275 or send an email to  volunteer@lincolnparkconservancy.org mailto:volunteer@lincolnparkconservancy.org  

10AM - Noon  Join the Wrightwood Neighbors in cleaning up Jonquil Park to ready it for the coming season.  WNA will supply some gloves, garbage bags and T-shirts.  To make sure they don't run out, please bring your own work gloves, rakes, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrows, buckets, hoses - you name it!  Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes.  Don't forget the the sunscreen, rain poncho, sunglasses, water bottle and the elbow grease!

And don't forget, Earth Day is actually on Thursday, April 22nd.  The Lincoln Park Zoo will have several events to celebrate the planet.  Join students at the Cafe Brauer as they proudly display their projects that demonstrate how the zoo and the Chicago community serve as a "living laboratory" for learning about the process of scientific research and the environment. 10AM, 2021 N Stockton.

6PM - 7:45PM Lincoln Park Zoo concludes Earth Day with a Wine and Wildlife Event for adults at the Kovler Lion House.  Learn about efforts to protect the Serengeti's carnivores from rabies, recover the region's wild dogs and ensure the long-term survival of one of the Earth's most astonishing places - the Serengeti. $40 per person/ $35 for members. 

DePaul Softball Neighbor Day  

The DePaul University Athletic Department would like to invite you, your family  and friends for a fun day with the DePaul Blue Demons Softball Team.  This Sunday, April 18th at 11AM, the Blue Demons will be taking on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a Big East Conference showdown.  Bring your family and friends out to Cacciatore Stadium (900 block of West Belden) for a fun day at the ole ball game.  

Redeem the coupon above at the entrance gate to receive up to four FREE admissions.  

Preseason 2010 softball rankings once again put DePaul back among the nation's elite.  The Demons are looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament this year and building a great home field advantage could be just the ticket to get them there!  

Chicago Police Text Alerts

Did you kow that you can subscribe for Community Alerts and Notifications from the Chicago Police Department  and Nixle!

Receive trusted, up-to-the-minute information directly from the Chicago Police Department. Information is delivered by text message, email and over the web.

You can also subscribe to Nixle alerts as follows:
For CPD crime alerts, text your Zip Code to 888777 from your cell phone.
For CPD daily news alerts, text CPDNEWS to 888777 from your cell phone.

There is no charge for this service except text messaging rates may apply. Check with your cell carrier.

 Street Cleaning Schedule and Alerts

The street cleaning schedule is posted on my website for the entire year.  You can also sign up for street cleaning alerts.  An email will be sent on the Friday before and again the day before your route is scheduled to be cleaned.   Visit my website for the full schedule