24/7 North of Howard Watchers

Shooting on Bosworth

2011-11-12T18:40:00.005-06:00

Many of us heard the very loud gunshot. Many of us called. According to police at the scene, it was a domestic related shooting rather than a gang-related shooting.

Later in the afternoon, our new interim police commander was on the street with the officers. Commander Rouselle is very proactive and involved in his post - a very welcome sight. He makes every attempt to attend all CAPS Beat meetings too.

FYI - our next CAPS Beat 2422 meeting will be Tuesday, November 22 at 5:00 PM at the Willye White Community Center* 1610 W Howard. There will be refreshments as it's the last beat meeting of 2011. It's also your chance to voice your opinion on the future of our beat meetings - when, where and what time. It's also your chance to get the straight scoop from the police on the Marshfield incident last night and the incident today and all others for the month.

*Meeting place was changed today 11/14/11

Peace Walk and Dedication

2011-09-18T12:35:00.004-05:00

Please make a little time Wednesday, September 21 to join Neighbors in
a Peace Walk. There will be a re-dedication of the Peace Pole at
United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W Morse beginning at 6:00 pm. The
Walk will proceed up Ashland to Triangle Park at 7700 W. Hermitage for
the dedication of the new Peace Pole recently placed there by the
Triangle Park Park Advisory Council via a grant.

Please note 9/21 is also the UN International Day of Peace. These
events are hosted by United Church of Rogers Park and Triangle Park
Advisory Council. Please join us along the way if you can't make it
at 6:00 PM on Morse Avenue or join us in Triangle Park before 7:00 PM.
It's a great way to meet new people, to express hope for peace, and
to make a statement just by being there for a few moments. The link to the Triangle Park website and the flyer is in the headline.

The Alderman Speaks About Violence

2011-09-15T18:56:00.005-05:00

At last, the 49th ward alderman has chosen to put a few words on the Internet (click headline) about the latest violent act at Pratt and Ashland. A few weeks ago, a 23 year old was shot and killed by one of three teenagers at Bosworth and Jonquil. Neighbors sent emails and made phone calls to the ward office voicing their outrage that there was no statement from Mr. Moore. There were also complaints about a shrine tended in the wee hours of the morning by a vehicle blocking the intersection blaring loud music. Still, we heard the sound of silence from the ward office.

Now, a few weeks later, a shooting incident south of the North of Howard area has sparked a thread on Chicago.Everyblock.com starring the alderman. It's a great site and I hope the readership is huge. I hope more neighbors will sign up for email updates from every post because there are some very interesting witnesses to violence, gangs, drugs and general frustration felt in Ward 49.

It may be a tiny step but it's more than we've had before. Now when Joe can send out an email blast that he is going to crack down on slumlords harboring known anti-social elements/criminals living in subsidized housing I may volunteer to be on that committee! My requests to him resulted in sending his chief of staff to 'meet and walk around the area' with the managers or owners of the some of the problem buildings here. To paraphrase my question "...and the result was?" "Oh, we have to establish a relationship first". That is more or less the end of that story.

Certainly, everyone is entitled to an opinion and the usual supporters have commented about this great North of Howard neighborhood. What was ommitted was the number of times they have been victims of muggings! Indeed, crime is everywhere, but we seem to have more than our share in this tiny 2x6 block area. Of course, there are other pockets of crime and problem buildings scattered throughout the ward but that's the key word - scattered. This area is too small to properly apply the term scattered. It's packed with social service agencies, subsidized buildings, storefront churches, broken promises and the long term result of enabling. The code of silence or apathy runs deep here. Tenants and owners alike are not too involved until the problem is on their front steps.

Just nudge me when a real 49th ward email blast comes out about crime instead of the happy hour Fridays, the next TV appearance, the budgeting process, etc. There's no such thing as 100% so let's deal with the problems too.

CAPS Beat 2422 August Meeting

2011-08-23T21:16:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, 'downtown' cut back on the CAPS program and the
24th has changed some beat meetings to accomodate officers shifts.
Unfortunately Beat 2422 was moved from 7:00 PM to 5:00 PM and to the
4th Thursday of the month. Unfortunately, many of the regular
attendees are just getting off work at that time. The 24th would like
to see how a sector meeting would work between Beat 2422 and 2424.

Below is the schedule I was given for the next few months. I hope you
can work this into your schedule because the officers need to hear
from you. If you are not comfortable discussing problems in a public
meeting, please contact the CAPS office at (312)744-6321 and discuss
with one of the officers. However, an hour of your time by enough of
you for your neighborhood just might make the difference. It's your
neighborhood - not the anti-socials.

August 25th 5pm will be at 1610 W. Howard - Willye White Community Center

September 22nd and October 27th will be at 7340 N. Rogers at 7pm.
Pottawattomie Park -- Field House

November's meeting will be on Tuesday the 22nd 5pm at 7450 N. Rogers to
discuss how the meetings worked at 7340 N. Rogers with Beat 2424.

More on Saturday's Shooting/Murder For Hire

2011-08-09T19:32:00.003-05:00

Special thanks to the 24th District Police for getting these young men off the street.

Thanks to the watchers who make a difference. Are the rest of you ready to start watching and getting involved a little more?

Update on Jonquil Shooting Suspect

2011-08-08T22:39:00.003-05:00

Here's an update from Mike Luckenbach's blog. (click headline) I heard one shot a little after 12:30 AM. I thought it was a gunshot but for a poor neighborhood, there's ample money for illegal cherry bombs. In this place one can become numbed by the constant noises of the hood. Loud cars blasting stereos, people yelling instead of using doorbells, sirens all hours of the day and night as firetrucks also respond to certain 911 calls.

Sadly, the shooting comes as no surprise to the few of us who have complained to the powers that be about the many problem buildings with problem tenants. Do I need to re-post the addresses? 1549, 1542, 1546 W. Jonquil, 7700 N Marshfield, and the Howard Theatre building for starters. Just click on any link over the years and years of posts and you will probably find that very little has changed. Howard Street has nearly disintegrated. But the willingness to continue a failed social experiment is still strong and supported by people who don't live in this area.

I would urge the ward office to start Follow Me Any Night Walks on Jonquil and other core streets and have a real eye-opener. Hopefully the non-resident owners and supporters will be invited to attend.

CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting Reminder!

2011-04-13T19:24:00.002-05:00

Please attend the April CAPS Beat 2422 meeting, Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 pm at
Willye White Community Center, 1610 W. Howard. There will be changes
made to upcoming beat meetings!

Dates and times will be changed in all beats in District 24 -

CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting Reminder

2011-03-09T21:19:00.005-06:00

The March CAPS Beat 2422 meeting is Thursday (tomorrow) March 10 at 7:00 PM at the Gateway Senior Residence Community room, 7450 N. Rogers.

If you're concerned about problem buildings, dubious activity on your street or in your building, you might consider participating - in person. There will be officers in attendance to discuss issues with.

It's YELLOW This Year

2011-02-19T17:54:00.007-06:00

I've avoided this election as I find it BORING for the most part. However, I received a call today to inform me that the boys and girls have done another post card. At least this time they left me out of their politiwork and when it was read to me it appears they cleaned up their English grammar this time.

The bright yellow card was sent to Northpoint residents.

Northpoint consists of 12 large apartment buildings in this small area owned by AIMCO. Back in 2002, Moore and a few others rubberstamped their approval so AIMCO could get a $15 million loan to 'rehab' the buildings providing HUD and IDHA extended the program, for I believe, 30 more years beginning in 2012. Every election year this noise is made - and the new lease hasn't even kicked in yet! It's really old news folks.

Front of Card:

Joe Moore Fought to let you stay in Rogers Park (with the following quotes)

"Thanks to Joe Moore, my family and I won't be priced out of Rogers
Park." Brenda Dunkins

"Joe Moore made sure the Northpoint apartments were repaired and
upgraded to ensure safer, more modern homes for you and your family." no name

"Joe Moore worked hard to guarantee the affordability of Northpoint
apartments and your home for at least another 23 years until 2034." no name

Back:

Moore office address on 1774 W. Greenleaf

A Special Message for Northpoint tenants to vote 2/22 and lists
polling places NOH

These were mailed with 44 cent stamps and mailed 2/16. Just like the famous PINK one of the last election! Hummm....anyone want to convince me the crew had nothing to do with the PINK one now?

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, on my way home from running errands, a man was placing bright colored sacks in doorways. I told him they'd be emptied and tossed all over for good residents to pick up. They were 'gift' packages from Ben Myers who is trying to convince people to write him in as alderman. The contents are jars of herbs and seasonings. One jar I just checked has an expiration date of 1/16/2011! Don't forget to check your front door!

So far I've had robo calls for White and Moore; a phone poll asking me if the election was today would I vote for Joe Moore, and the usual BS tree killers in my mailbox. I'm looking forward to Wednesday 2/23 aren't you?

Beat 2422 Meeting Cancelled 2/10/11

2011-02-10T08:33:00.005-06:00

Due to the extreme cold the February monthly CAPS Beat meeting - tonight - has been canceled.

I noticed a comment this blog is dead! Not so and neither is the blogger. But I'm not ready to purchase a scanner, quit my job to sit home and post everything I hear. Some calls turn into a 'nothing' while others turn into an issue. If you see it on another blog then enjoy it. If it's been posted for hours on neighboring blogs and/or the media there's no need for me to repeat when I finally get home is there? You might want to check with the 24th on accuracy on any criminal event.

We have several of the same problem buildings we had when the blog started. Thankfully, one of the big pains, Jay Johnson, has gone into foreclosure, the buildings are supposed to be in receivership - when I hear the real scoop, I'll post it. Of course, if you're in a investigative mood you can always check the status on Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

As for upcoming elections! It's sleepy time on most of them - there's no fire to put out on any of them. It would be great to see a high volume of voters but no one can predict the future - only check on history and make comparisons.

In the meantime, stay warm!

CAPS BEAT 2422 Meeting Jan 13

2011-01-11T07:59:00.003-06:00

The first meeting of 2011 will be Thursday, January 13, 7:00 PM at 7450 N. Rogers at the Gateway Senior Residence in the community room. We are collecting addresses of problem buildings so the powers that have the ability to deal with them can start early and often!

Due to the lovely January weather, there will not be any flyers - so word of mouth and emails will be the vehicle of communication. Thanks for passing the information to your friends and neighbors.

Also, please pick up a calendar for 2011 meetings. As last year, we will hold meetings on ODD NUMBERED MONTHS at 7450 N. Rogers and on EVEN NUMBERED MONTHS at Willye White Center at 1610 W. Howard.

It's your neighborhood - and like it or not - it's up to all of us to do something to make it better. Let's make 2011 a safer neighborhood North of Howard.

Ornaments, Cookies and Books and Gifts

2010-12-08T07:02:00.004-06:00

Interested in making holiday ornaments? There will be an Ornament Making Class on Saturday, December 11 at the Willye White Community Center at 1610 W. Howard from 10-11 am.

The Park Council will be there with a book and bake sale to meet and greet neighbors. The council voted at last months meeting to do some fundraising with home made baked goods and childrens books. In addition, we are hoping to set up a collection box for canned goods and small items for families in need for this holiday season. Please stop by and make a small donation for the kids.

Beat 2422 Meeting

2010-12-08T06:48:00.004-06:00

Those who regularly attend CAPS Beat 2422 agreed with me that this area needs a monthly meeting - not a quarterly one as prescribed after the cutback in the program that sent CAPS officers to patrol our streets.

The next Beat 2422 meeting is tomorrow at 7:00 PM at Willye White Community Center, 1610 W. Howard. Perhaps we can learn more about the shooting of a person and a vehicle last night on Howard.

On a side note - the Willye White Park Advisory Council will be setting up a collection box at the center for donations of canned goods and small items such as children's gloves, small toys, games for children in need this holiday season. If you'd like, please bring a donation to the beat meeting or drop in Saturday morning (see previous post) for the book and bake sale.

Blither and Blather

2010-11-21T23:41:00.001-06:00

Do you get dizzy or confused reading the news?

Odd, now candidate Rham would use TIF dollars to hire police in one article. In another, the city council wants to provide affordable housing via TIF dollars – barring a Daley veto. Meanwhile another article reminds us that Quinn wants to raise income taxes.

Now here, in Ward 49, we’re trying to create another wheel, a RIF! What that boils down to is some of us can soon get up and go to work, see our checks chopped by Quinn then diced by Cook County then sliced again for a special assistance fund for landlords providing ‘low income housing’.

Why this select group? What is this select group going to do for the community? Screen tenants better? Enforce the rules that go with ‘affordable housing’? Are they going to live in their own buildings and keep the loiters and noisemakers at bay? Or are they just going to get their boilers and roofs fixed on the taxpayers dime?

No one is talking much about EDUCATION or CRIME. Maybe they think it will go away if we’re taxed to the hilt?

Missing Rogers Park Woman - Could Be Armed

2010-11-20T15:37:00.002-06:00

A possibly armed woman who suffers from mental disorders has disappeared in the Rogers Park neighborhood and police are asking for help in finding her.

Police say if you encounter her, do not approach her but call 911 or Belmont Area detectives, (312) 744-8266. Click Headline for full story and description.

No CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting Tonight

2010-11-11T07:48:00.001-06:00

Remember - there's no beat meeting for 2422 tonight.

There will not be a November meeting. The date fell on Veterans Day and in observance of a national holiday we will not be meeting.

Shooting NOH

2010-11-04T08:08:00.005-05:00

A neighbor near the area called last night about a shooting. A tipster sent the link - click the headline for the full story.

Thanks For the News clip!

UPDATE:

Just after 10pm on November 3rd, 7600 block of N. Paulina, aggravated battery with a firearm. One male adult shot in the head, arm and abdomen. Male offender fled in a red or maroon older model vehicle towards triangle park. The victim was in serious condition at time of report. Police received several calls of shots fired at 5am on the 4th, police responded and were impressed by the number of callers.

According to the sergeant I spoke to, the offender walked up to the victim, fired and fled.

Celebrate All Souls Day At the Polls

2010-11-01T10:54:00.006-05:00

The cycle of life – here’s a reminder of the traditions and religions from other cultures. Day of the Dead

Ironically, tomorrow is election day and it falls on All Souls Day! Please vote so the robo calls will cease and desist for a few days. We all know Chicago Elections are a Tradition!

Halloween Walk

2010-10-30T07:25:00.001-05:00

Bring your sage sticks, incense, candles, flashlights, glowsticks, bells, tambourines, drums or noisemakers to frighten the evil spirits away!

Tonight - Saturday, October 30 at 8:30 PM. Meet up at Willye White Center, 1610 W. Howard. We'll walk through the three parks North of Howard and Rogers Beach.

Please join us - don't read about it - participate in it!

A Whole New Can of Worms

2010-10-26T22:53:00.007-05:00

RIF, TIF – Look out taxpayers

“This is an effort to preserve affordable housing if there is another housing boom, said Marilyn Pagan-Banks, executive director of A Just Harvest and a leader in Northside P.O.W.E.R. “TIF’s do work, and can work, and the whole process can be reformed,” said Pagan-Banks.”

The article states volunteers spoke to “…landlords and tenants to design this idea.” I shudder to think of some of the landlords our hard earned tax dollars might go to. Some of the landlords in this area North of Howard are non-resident owners who could care less about their tenants or the community as a whole. So what if the single mom, her kids, grandkids and ‘the man’ with the ankle bracelet are disturbing everyone’s peace up and down a whole block? The absentee landlord doesn’t lose sleep from his tenants year round antics. So we deal with anti-social behaviors, kids tearing up flower pots, terrorizing and or killing small animals, shooting like cowboys, beating one another up all the while, the absentee landlord is deaf. Ben Myers wants to be alderman but cant’ manage his tenants

We have too many absentee’s here so, this RIF proposal and the presence of Pagan-Banks should set off a light bulb. If you recall, she and Danny Boy Romero had a brilliant idea of getting TIF money to train people for union construction jobs on the Howard El. However, their church organization that was all set to do the ‘training’ wasn’t certified. Translation: The organization was frothing to get the TIF money. Oops! Northside Power Strikes Out

So, there were discussions with an unstated number of landlord and tenants. Where were the big outreach meetings to everyone who pays taxes for input? I attended that June 2009 meeting where the old rhetoric of ‘stand up if you believe’ and ‘will you support us’ filled an afternoon meeting. If this ward could have more meat and potatoes and less drama – we might actually be progressive!

If you find the Medill article less than balanced, researched, be sure to check out the insert box or ‘Fact Sheet’ and make sure you put extra cash aside that could possibly help some of the problem buildings posted on this blog for the past 5 years. You may live next to one. You may have had bullets land in your home, hit your car….but we need to be sensitive here neighbors. We should just keep paying for the oversights, lack of planning, lack of proper management and above all, lack of proper screening. A good landlord keeps rents down so he can keep good tenants and he screens them, does background checks and has the right to insert language in the lease concerning drug use and obnoxious behavior.

The term troubled building is a fairly simple equation: Any building that has frequent complaints from neighbors and/or has had 2 felony arrests in a 6 month period.

If you want a better understanding of TIFS, there will be a gathering at Loyola Park Field House on Saturday, October 30 at 3 PM.

Come and learn the facts about TIFs:
Tax Increment Finance (TIF) 101
What it is and WHY IT HAS TO GO!

Presented by:
Tom Tresser
Green Party candidate for Cook County Board President
Lead Organizer for No Games Chicago

More Info on TIFS

CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting TONIGHT

2010-10-14T08:16:00.003-05:00

Please attend the monthly CAPS Beat 2422 meeting tonight at 7 PM -

Willye White Community Center
1610 W Howard

Come and discuss your issues or come to learn how to deal with issues. It's your neighborhood and it will only take one hour of your time.

Discrimination Against Taxpayers

2010-10-02T22:33:00.005-05:00

How nice of our Uber-Liberals

The term charities can be misleading – while their services may be free or on a sliding scale, it would be interesting if the Sun-Times would post the salaries of the directors of these free-water organizations. Most make more than $70k a year. How do they come up with a salary amount like that if they can't afford water? Translated that means they make more than most middle class workers in the non-charity world. You know, the world most of us live in – the real one with taxes, deadlines and penalties.

Couldn’t some of these organizations afford to pay? If totally strapped in these rough times, couldn’t they cough up a sliding scale for the water bills? Do we also assume this included free trash pick up as well?

There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

Rogers Park Garden Group 2010 Fundraiser

2010-09-24T08:02:00.004-05:00

Many of us have plants from this wonderful fundraiser in our gardens. Many unattractive corners and spaces have been transformed into eye-catching sights thanks to the financial grants of the Rogers Park Garden Group.

If you’ve never stopped by before this event is a must attend!

Click the headline for their website!

Shots Fired NOH

2010-09-22T06:39:00.003-05:00

How many people in the vicinity of Paulina/Jonquil and Juneway area heard shots fired last night? It's so abnormal to be on the phone with a neighbor and be interrupted by the neighbor saying "did you hear that - sounds like gunshots".

We hung up so the neighbor could dial 911. Got an update call that several squads were in the vicinity.

GO HOME

2010-09-16T07:09:00.003-05:00

The revelers and/or tourists were having a grand ole time close-by Tuesday night around midnight. It's a work night for some people and I hope most neighbors slept through it. The night voices nearly overpowered my own radio in my own home.

Finally I heard a voice on a bull horn telling everyone to GO HOME. The same noise wafted in last night. If it's rainy tonight maybe they'll STAY home?

OH and voters - make sure you understand that you can sign only one petition for a candidate seeking the same office as another. The petition requesters fail to notify people of the rule. So if you sign John Doe's petition on Monday and it's notarized and submitted into the system - it's done. If you sign a petition for Mary Smith who's a candidate for the same office on Wednesday your signature isn't valid for her. I do love the transparency in government, don't you?

Lastly, I don't need a petition requester reeking of alcohol begging me to sign the sheet if not for the candidate then sign it for him! I couldn't help but wonder if he's getting paid per name......

Get That Receiver Soon

2010-09-12T18:40:00.006-05:00

The other night I was asked why 24/7 wasn’t updated more often. Well, it is summertime for starters and it’s always healthy to find new interests since nothing seems to change much North of Howard. For more than five years I’ve posted photos of mismanaged buildings, reported gunshots fired, dealers in doorways, hookers on Howard, gambling in the public way and still, not much has changed.

7712 N Ashland had the front gate closed and locked Friday night – but still no locks on the front door. According to two sources, one new owner has been working on the back door to keep the squatters out – and hopefully soon the front door?

There have been complaints of people loitering, dealing and making a lot of noise at a certain corner. When I asked for a specific building I was given a well-known address. 7700-06 N Marshfield.

Not much has changed at this property. The gates and doors are unsecured just as they were when I was invited to visit years ago. Hopefully the hallways are cleaner.

On one Friday walk, we noticed the door on this property. On Friday’s walk we checked on it. It has been repaired but was not locked as was the other entry door on the north. The interior doors were unlocked allowing anyone to walk right into the place.

Note: The interior door knob on an exterior door! Maybe that’s all that was in the handyman’s inventory.

However, in all fairness and since it’s public knowledge if one knows where to look, it may as well be shared.

There may be some change underway

Neighborhood Walk Tonight

2010-09-10T07:15:00.002-05:00

Meet up at 7:00 PM at 1610 W. Howard, Willye White Community Center.

CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting TONIGHT

2010-09-09T06:32:00.002-05:00

Tonight:

Gateway Senior Building
7450 N Rogers

7:00 PM

We are scheduled to have a guest speaker from the CHA unit that handles scattered site housing. However, they will work with neighbors and their CHAC counterparts on problem section 8 properties near scattered site housing.

Lights OUT on Howard

2010-08-28T21:55:00.002-05:00

Neighbors - the street lights are out on Howard from the El (Paulina) to Marshfield.

Please call 311 to get their attention. Remember to ask for a referral number too.

Howard Street is pitiful enough in daylight but after dark with no lights it's the ultimate blight.

Woman Shot on Paulina

2010-08-23T18:34:00.005-05:00

There were shots fired on the 7700 block of Paulina in the early morning hours. A neighbor called later in the morning to report crime scene detectives around Paulina/Jonquil. A female on a bicycle was taken to the hospital. Click the headline for the small blurb that did make the Sun-Times

I took the long way to the el this morning but the detectives were gone. One woman exiting a building on the corner said she heard 5 shots around 3 am. Another person told me the incident was around 4 am further north on Paulina.

At any rate, shots were fired again in our neighborhood and this time a person was hit.

HOT - 7712 N Ashland Online Auction

2010-08-12T23:54:00.028-05:00

Wow, look at what you can purchase for just $1000! Auction – 7712 N Ashland.

Of course, you will also purchase the Code Violations. According to a very trusted source who does real estate law – the TOP floor of 7712 N Ashland sold July 1 for $75,000. *Thanks Chris for the auction and code links!

So I printed the information from the email including snapshots from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds for the Beat meeting. Still, the representative from the ward office insisted that someone lives there. Maybe – but who would want to live in a building where squatters and party people are running in and out all night? Who would really want to live in a building without a door knob, lock, or any kind of security?

It was suggested that with the ward’s help, corporation counsel could be contacted to put this place into receivership. "The city as well as Fannie Mae have the authority to have a receiver appointed to address these problems." Fannie Mae owns the other 3 units.

Any neighbors residing near 7712 N Ashland may contact me or call the ward office with this suggestion. Is it any wonder that the decline of any neighborhood is hinged on this type of quick sale to investors? This property has flipped several times since the first foreclosure. In between flips - non-resident 'owners' rented to anyone and their clan.

CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting

2010-08-11T07:35:00.002-05:00

The August meeting will be at Willye White Community Center at 1610 W. Howard, 7:00 PM.

Remember, what happens 5 blocks or 5 miles may eventually have an impact on you - this is your neighborhood. There's no such phrase as 'It's Not My Problem'.

Abandoned Buildings & Illegal Parties

2010-08-10T06:56:00.001-05:00

Illegal Parties

Illegal parties are taking place within your
community and are causing disturbances
and dangerous situations. Please be aware
of the possible indicators of an illegal party
taking place within your community.

• Occurring in a vacant or abandoned building
• Charging admission
• Sale of alcohol without a license
• Curfew violators
• Overcrowding
• Excessive noise
• Drinking on the Public Way
• Fights and other disturbances
Call 911 when you suspect an illegal party is
occurring. You can also TXT2TIP the police if
you receive information that an illegal party is
going to occur at 274637 (CRIMES) or call
your local district community policing office.

“Safe Neighborhoods are Everyone’s Business”

Oddly, the above press release from the 24th District came out just after another episode at 7712 N Ashland. A big party was going on in the place and spilling onto the parkway. This building was finally put into troubled buildings in January. It's been foreclosed upon, there have been auctions, a 30 day notice to vacate was sent on June 6, 2010. There was a court date with the next follow up in January 2011!!!

There are two real estate lock boxes on the fence. One neighbor who was interested went to see the place and learned that one floor had allegedly been sold. So perhaps the alderman's office can finally get this story sorted out. To date the myriad emails I've been copied on seem to argue with the neighbors who have to deal with this mess instead of helping them. The ward office needs to ensure that the place is secured and kept that way. Someone put a padlock on the front door and since photos don't lie - the whole door knob has been removed.

Neighbors, keep your eyes open for the signs and symptoms of squatters, burglars and the illegal parties. Apparently the powers that be feel that they'll get to heaven by enabling poverty and anti-social behavior. Meanwhile, we get hit in the pocket multiple times - taxes to pay for others rent, the police and fire departments, our city council and their follies and the greater scheme countrywide. By the time all is said and done maybe we'll have a buck or two for ourselves. There should be a more earthbound solution.

Wild Night On Howard Street

2010-08-08T00:29:00.005-05:00

After ten or more minutes of what seemed like non-stop sirens, I looked out and saw blue lights on Howard. Undercovers, squads, ambulances, and police were everywhere and yes, the crowd was spitting nasty.

One male told me 'a girl got beat up and the cops came and beat the shit outta everybody'. Yeah right kid. There's always that slant when the police have to show up in large numbers. But then in certain minds, beating a woman is acceptable behavior.

People complain that the police don't make arrests on the spot for even minor infractions of the rules. The police say their hands are tied thanks to the bleedin' heart liberals amending the laws, yet the trouble makers on the street claim brutality. One officers response was "yeah right, how about they were beating the shit out of my officers?"

As one ambulance tried to leave Howard and turn on Ashland, members of the crowd decided to amble across Ashland as slowly as possible. The ambulance honked at them to move and they turned and yelled the phrase we hear 24/7 "f*ck you assholes".

I considered dialing the alderman's number so he could come clean up the graffiti but decided against it. He and David Orr and their followers made this mess but they're neither brave nor bold enough to admit it. Isn't that one step to solving a problem? Admitting there is a problem?

National Night Out - 2010

2010-08-02T08:03:00.005-05:00

This year National Night Out will be held Tuesday, August 3, 2010 in Warren Park, 6601 N Western Avenue from 6-8 pm. Organized marches will start at designated locations to show our solidarity and take a visible stand against crime.

Take back our streets
Strengthen our neighborhood spirit
Partner with local police to fight crime
Send the message to criminals that our neighborhoods are organized and fighting back!

Outdoor Police Roll Call
Information for Seniors
Meet and Greet Neighbors
Children Activities

If you can't participate in a walk to Warren Park, you could always sit outside with your neighbors.

The above information from the flyer....click on the headline for the CAPS website for more information.

Take Note Pet Owners! P.A.W.S. Fundraiser

2010-07-30T07:52:00.005-05:00

FUNDRAISER FOR P.A.W.S., COMEDY STYLE

Kendra Stevens, local performer and producer, will put her birthday to good use this year and celebrate by raising money for a cause that is very dear to her: P.A.W.S.. Stevens will be hosting a show at The Glenwood (6962 N. Glenwood Avenue), a dog-friendly bar located in Rogers Park, just across the street from the Morse red line stop from 3 - 6 pm on July 31st. Local performers will entertain the crowd while the food and alcohol flow.

A $10 donation will buy your first drink and additional $5 drink tickets can be purchased, good for any drink. There will be a 50-50 raffle and drawings for pet-themed gifts as well. All proceeds will benefit P.A.W.S. through Stevens' triathlon effort later this summer. Those who cannot attend, but would still like to donate may visit Stevens' fundraising page through the P.A.W.S. website here.

The lineup includes members of the all-female comedy group "The Kates" and other members of the local comedy scene. Kristin Clifford, Kelsie Huff, Nellie Huggins, Sarah Weidmann, Carrie Bain, Alexandra Tsarpalas and Kendra Stevens will all be performing.

Treat The Disease - Not The Symptom

2010-07-20T18:25:00.009-05:00

When the phone rings at 7:30 AM, it’s never an invitation to a rock concert in this neighborhood. Na, it’s usually a neighbor calling about something shaking on the streets. This time it was on Jonquil where several squad cars had gathered and the neighbor said one had a rifle and entered the red brick building, 1542 Jonquil. So I walked a roundabout way to the el the morning of July 15, 2010.

While watching from a distance, a man walked past so I inquired what was happening. He stated he was the resident manager for the yellow brick building, 1546 Jonquil next door, of Wells Street Management fame. Apparently, two youth were taken into custody for shooting at windows in his building with a BB gun from the Myers building, 1542 Jonquil. The front door of 1546 had two new bullet holes in the glass the week I was putting up CAPS flyers! For those of you who don’t’ attend CAPS meetings, the matter was brought up…a woman mentioned kids shooting and killing a mother raccoon and her four babies in the Jonquil/Bosworth alleyway.

Both are problem buildings…the Wells Street building was the scene a few weeks ago of the two characters ordering pizza and robbing the delivery persons. They were finally caught in the act and arrested. The delivery person gave a positive ID and hopefully will follow through when it’s time for court.

Then the email blast came out after all the wild spring and summer North of Howard that a task force is going to get rid of graffiti in Ward 49. I’m not a fan of graffiti, but this big blast seems to be more of a PR attempt to treat the symptom instead of the disease. Part of the disease is pretending these issues aren’t really happening and are just heat-related and will go away. Well here’s a newsflash - problem buildings are up and running all year. Until such time that the alderman faces the facts instead of prefabricated fiction, problem buildings will take over like weeds in the many undeveloped spots on Howard Street and elsewhere.

Then we all know what comes next – it’s up to the police and the ‘good’ neighbors to clean up the problems! Some neighbors do their part…we’re a split neighborhood thanks to politics. Many subsidized tenants are either afraid to dial 911 or are part of the problem. Too many homeowners drive into their garages and stay inside except to walk the dog. So we have two groups of people ignoring what’s happening outside until it lands in their front door. Then the hankies fly and the cell phones come out. Oh, FOUL….

Then we have the outsiders with 630 prefixes touting the usual rabble rousing hate noise that those homeowners are going to drive the poor out of their homes. The rabble rousers who don’t live here, don’t hear gunfire, (or have bullets fly through their windows) don’t see kids getting abused, being left alone…the usual social issues we see day in and day out. Please…the damn 30 year Northpoint contract doesn’t start until the current one expires in 2013. Put that on your bullhorns and election flyers.

In the meantime, if you’re out on Howard Street, you may hear certain people calling neighbors and cops every name in the book…. just like statements from this Sun Times article.

Where were the ward graffiti blasters last Monday night around 7 PM? They could have blasted the young women yelling across Howard Street about knifing each other. One woman had her toddler in the car – so what’s the future of that child? That’s the disease – the graffiti is the symptom.

I hope the alderman has a great birthday bash and Friday night beers with the constituents. Perhaps he can put my May request to discuss certain buildings arrests and calls for service on his agenda. That request was made as a beat co-facilitator – not a blogger just so there’s no confusion.

It would be highly political if the disease instead of the symptom was taken off the back burner and made a top priority. I’d like to think that little girl who heard her mother and the other women threatening to have a knife fight has someone brave enough to break that pattern.

Don't Forget CAPS Meeting Tonight

2010-07-08T07:57:00.001-05:00

CAPS Beat 2422 meets tonight -

Gateway Senior Apartments
7450 N. Rogers

7:00 PM

Good Weather - Good Food - Good Purpose

2010-06-28T22:55:00.003-05:00

From Lake Effect News

Thanks Lorraine

Rogers Park Men Can Cook

2010-06-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

There will be some terrific music, great prizes for the grilling winners, delicious food - and it is all for a very good cause - the children. You will help send underprivileged area children to summer camp to enjoy field trips to museums and other activities in a safe environment. Help make a summer memory for a child.

Click on the headline for the whole scoop and entry guidelines!

Live music from Sullivan High School Steel Drum Band, The School of Rock, and nostalgic 60's music and world music from DJ Maliq.

Meeting Tonight and Thursday Night

2010-06-08T07:08:00.004-05:00

Community Safety Meeting with
Commander Michael Wick

Tues. June 8
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Willye White Recreation Center
1610 W. Howard Street

Agenda
We will ask Commander Wick
For 5 ways The Police, the Park District,
and The Community
Can work together To create A safe summer
In our 3 parks North of Howard Street

ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
Sponsored by the Parks Safety Committee.
For More Info, please call 773-973-4912

*************

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 7 PM

THE CAPS BEAT 2422 MEETING
WILLYE WHITE COMMUNITY CENTER
1610 W HOWARD

WEEKLY Neighborhood Walks EVERY FRIDAY 7 PM
PARK GAME NIGHT for those who don't want to walk -
EVERY FRIDAY 7 PM

MEET UP AT WILLYE WHITE CENTER
1610 W HOWARD

For more information: email howardwatchers@aol.com or JOIN us and participate!

Neighborhood Hour

2010-06-03T23:24:00.005-05:00

Let's have Neighborhood Hour. That's tomorrow and every Friday at 7 PM - 1610 West Howard, Willye White Center.

Just a reminder to turn off the TV, hit the snooze button on the computer and join us for a neighborhood walk OR Park Game Night.

For those who don't care to walk - you may enjoy playing board games in Willye White Park with the kids. Bring a friend, a neighbor, the kids and the family dog.

LIGHTS OUT ON HOWARD Still

2010-05-31T21:39:00.003-05:00

I've had several neighbors call about the lights being OUT on Howard Street since last week. If you live in the area - please call 311 and report it. You might also mention it to the alderman at tomorrow's Satellite Office at the Howard el.

Weekly Neighborhood Walk -

2010-05-27T23:30:00.004-05:00

It's a holiday weekend but we will walk! Canine neighbors are welcome too.

Meet up:

Every Friday - 7 PM
Willye White Community Center
1610 West Howard

We're still accepting volunteers for Neighborhood Nights to play board games with kids in the park. Come on out and join us.

Wisdom Bridge Is Falling Down, Falling Down...

2010-05-26T23:09:00.007-05:00

One of my all time favorite songs is “Do You Believe In Magic” by the Lovin’ Spoonful. So what’s that got to do with a building collapse? Well, a lot of people are having a difficult time grasping the concept of “Do You Believe In Coincidence”. We just heard the 49th Ward zoning committee approved the plans for Wisdom Bridge, upzoning for the 7 storey building etc. The email blast said the community approved the latest plan. However, there never was a call for a show of hands – just the usual procedure of show and talk. It’s supposed to – and I hope – be an economic development on Howard. However, that’s what was said about the Gateway Mall a few years before I moved here. I stated twice in the public meetings that if this building is also home to NFP’s here, then there’s nothing for me to purchase to boost the economy. But…back to today.

This morning was the first time pedestrians could walk on the north side of Howard following sidewalk replacement after fiber optics went during the dead of winter. They cut a strip in the middle of the sidewalk, installed the fiber optics and patched it with cement that was rough due either to a speedy patch up or the cold January weather. So for a few days, we ALL had to walk on the south side of Howard.

So what happened this afternoon? Part of the façade of Wisdom Bridge Theatre fell onto the sidewalk on the south side of Howard.

Of course, another email blast came tonight to let us know the roof collapsed and no one was injured. That’s good – but the tone of the email almost seemed joyous. Or maybe I’ve just seen too many catastrophes in 8 years up here. Last week I saw several squad cars and a paddy wagon from the train as it pulled into the Howard Station. I walked down Ashland to Rogers to learn that a man had been murdered in his apartment. Then last night I heard yelling – which happens a lot in front of certain buildings here. Around 10:15 pm or so, I heard tires squealing and more yelling. I looked out and saw undercover police, blue and whites and lots of officers scouring residential yards across the street. I heard tonight that they caught their person – what else – drugs.

Mr. Aronson and Mr. Moore – you have a lot of work to do on Howard Street. Since neither of you LIVE here – please put thought into what the BIG PICTURE is if you dare speak the words economic development. I really can’t envision North Shore residents parking behind the Howard Theatre and walking to this site for a fabulous evening of dining and theatre if the gunslingers are shooting and the drug dealers are asking them “you straight?”. That’s what we have been dealing with – isn’t it time to change something here?

This is what the North Shore folks will see if some meaningful plans aren’t put into action.

In closing, at least the demolition crew did it right. Note the water spraying as the façade came down. Spraying is required by the EPA to stop dust contamination from asbestos etc., but was NOT done when the Lerner Building was torn down, the Adelphi Theatre and the North Shore School. AND, all three are un-developed, barren patches or holes in the ground.

NOH Walks and Neighborhood Nights

2010-05-20T07:00:00.003-05:00

For those who want to do their civic duty but don't care to walk - please help with Neighborhood Nights in conjunction with Walks. The non-walkers can play board games with the kids outside at Willye White Community Center while the other neighbors walk. We can use tables and chairs from the facility. The chess club also meets on Friday evenings, maybe they'll join us.

Two neighbors have offered to volunteer on the games - please contact me so we can do our first event tomorrow, Friday, May 21 at 7:00 PM. Meet up at 1610 West Howard.

Hooligans Tear Down Fence

2010-05-16T10:50:00.004-05:00

Late Thursday night, a group of 12-15 males were out and about with nothing positive to do. So after playing fisticuff for awhile they decided to do a little property damage. Pushing back and forth on a fence, they finally tore a section apart. Realizing their little game had resulted in damage, one crawled inside, propped up the fence and exited through the owners front gate. The two comrades buzzing back and forth on bicycles were keeping a protective eye out for the police (who were called before the incident).

So the owner is replacing the fence at a ballpark figure of about $500 not counting his time. Had the broken fence collapsed on a pedestrian someone would have tried to sue. So the man had no choice but to tear down and replace. After all, the Crusaders only show up to protect the perps - the hell with the good neighbors who want and deserve a safe, quiet neighborhood.

Then there's the woman who allows the kids to hang out of screenless windows yelling down at their friends. Last night the F word was resonating on the crisp night air. If mom or guardian is talking to the kids that way, is there any doubt why the kids have an attitude?

Real nice neighbors we have.

Meeting Tonight - Beat 2422

2010-05-13T08:02:00.002-05:00

If you live between Juneway to the North and Jarvis to the South, Clark to the West and the Lake on the East - you live in Beat 2422.

Tonight is the monthly CAPS meeting. Please attend.

7450 North Rogers
Gateway Senior Residence - Community Room
7:00 PM

Two Shot - Silver Car Involved....

2010-05-10T07:10:00.002-05:00

OK, still want to convince some of us that there's nothing going on here?

Happiness Is A Happy Kitten

2010-05-06T22:57:00.002-05:00

Happiness is……having Snoopy to play with!

Police Roll Call on Howard Street

2010-05-06T22:37:00.003-05:00

In response to the gunfire lately and to last night’s shooting incident, the police held roll call tonight on Howard Street. Thanks to the alderman and neighbors who were able to attend on a few hours notice. It was a tad chilly - but we're tough, right? And we're tired of hearing gunshots right? Have we had enough?

What would an event be without the Bojo Brothers? They're standing at attention too.

The next CAPS Beat meeting is Thursday, May 13 at 7:00 PM at 7450 N. Rogers, Gateway Senior Residence in the community room. Please attend - it's just an hour of your time but an hour that might help improve the neighborhood.

And to everyone’s surprise, the demolition of an eyesore on Howard.

Male Shot NOH

2010-05-05T23:40:00.003-05:00

Shortly after the Wisdom Bridge meeting adjourned there was more gunfire tonight. This time a male was hit in the ankle or leg behind the facility. The whole area was closed and had yellow crime tape around it. I left the alderman a message that yet another gunslinging episode happened shortly after he left.

Two neighbors reported hearing gunshots early this morning - so there is something ugly going on in the neighborhood.

This is not 'occasional violence'.

Kitten Tossed Like Trash

2010-05-05T11:12:00.002-05:00

A neighbor called about 7:00 this morning apologizing for the early hour but wanted to know if I had any cat food. He said he was walking his dog and a woman passed him, reached into her purse and tossed this kitten behind a wrought iron fence. He hoped the smell of cat food would lure her close enough to grab.

By the time I grabbed a can of soft food, tied my shoes and ran around the corner, there he was with a jealous dog and this little girl in his arm. It’s been a traumatic morning for little orphan. She was tossed away like trash, rescued by a man with a dog, transferred to me for a bus ride to the vet. Dr. Hauk at Broadway Animal Hospital was great and so was the staff. He asked where this happened and he knew the intersection of Howard/Rogers and Greenview. He suggested the name SoHo since it was South of Howard!

She tested negative for HIV/Feline Leukemia, is flea and ear mite free and is now sleeping. After such an experience for one kitten, one dog and two humans, maybe we can re-think the need for businesses on Howard. We need a good vet in walking distance for our pets and for outrageous emergencies like this.

Thank you neighbor for being a caring person. God only knows what would have happened to this baby if you hadn’t been at the right place at the right time.

Gunslingers on Howard

2010-05-01T21:20:00.004-05:00

Before Sandy’s at the corner of Howard/Bosworth opened this morning, the gunslingers shot out a store window and one or more vehicle windows parked across the street on Howard. There was glass in the street in front of the Caribbean American Bakery.

The walk up and down Howard to the mall is not a scenic route is it?

Perhaps instead of promoting the same old developers and ill-thought out social experiments, the man who calls this his ward should do some serious thinking. It's almost an election year – the least he could do is clean up North of Howard. It's time for a SLUMLORD SUMMIT. If any of the innocents get hit by these gun toting idiots, it’s on his hands and a few others who do NOT LIVE HERE. Is that what it will take? Another gunshot victim?

Howard Street - Progressivism in 2010

2010-04-30T00:32:00.004-05:00

New business Howard/Paulina – cell phones and other electronics – We now have how many similar stores? Remember it used to be a greasy spoon that was closed down by the neighborhood.

Howard facing East -

From Dunkin Donuts to an African Restaurant to a Pizza Joint to a Fast Food Joint, this corner has had more than its share of loitering problems.

Old Lerner Building site – what next, who owns it, what’s the plan?

Graffiti – Wisdom Bridge building – now owned by Rich Aronson who has another plan to present next week…….exterior modifications that is – no economic business plan to provide real businesses or economic growth.

We’ll see if Aronson is still pushing for a Boys and Girls Club across the street from the new Willye White Park District facility. How many times will he mention that they tried to put it in a public building at the upcoming meeting? Any wagers?

AT LAST!!! A business that is not selling cell phones, shoes, grease or dollar items. A real live business that we hope will thrive.

The new façade on the Caribbean American Bakery is crisp and clean. A good business with tasty meat pies and pastries.

On the other corner at Bosworth/Howard – the Broadmoor East has undergone a dramatic transformation. These storefronts are new and could be the home to more progressive businesses to spur the economic growth of Howard – with the right plan and support.

While we are happy for our neighbors on Morse – many of us feel that Howard has been totally abandoned save for ‘let’s build on the Wisdom Bridge' site a nice commercial strip that will be home to the myriad of Not For Profits we have here. Not much economic growth in that. These damned detour signs keep popping up as symbolic reminders it seems.

Because at the end of the day, we have very little to look forward to when we watch Howard Street continually decline into an abyss of grease, shoes, cell phone stores, dollar stores, sprinkled with vacant storefronts and the occasional promising business.

Why? Well, like it not, we have been sold to the lowest bidders who hide under the mantle of saviors of the poor. They put a roof over the heads of the poor while mismanagement runs rampant. Repairs are postponed and there are far too many improperly or unscreened subsidized tenants running rampant on Howard and other side streets.

This sight greeted the rush hour pedestrian traffic Monday morning. 1625 W. Howard, subsidized apartments in the Howard Theatre building where dubious people hang out. Either someone lost the key or – there was a brawl. Does it matter? This is Howard Street in 2010. Our streetscape money was funneled to Morse Avenue a few years ago with the rationale being the rehab of the Howard El, the Willye White Center would ruin it. The reasoning was finish the projects before the streetscape begins. OK, they’ve been completed for nearly two years now….will we ever get our turn? Will we ever feel proud to walk down a thriving street with real businesses?

Or have we been tossed to the birds?

Silver Car Owners - Beware

2010-04-13T19:19:00.005-05:00

This morning one of the three neighbors who contacted me about the John Wayne shootout yesterday called. More shots were heard around 1:15 this morning shortly after everyone went to sleep after the unnerving event yesterday. The neighbor reported another silver car had the window shot out in the latest aftermath.

A dumbfounded young man was standing in the street looking at his vehicle. I walked over to him on my way to work and told him what transpired yesterday. We looked a little closer and there was a bullet hole in the rubber seal around the drivers window that lay shattered in the seat and on the pavement. The police had left a report in the seat.

As the victim told me, he lives on another street and only parked here because he couldn’t find a parking space last night. So he gets to pay for the repair and may get a hike in his insurance premium thanks to the cowboys just because his car was silver. We have some serious issues going on.

Shots Fired NOH - Again

2010-04-12T22:46:00.007-05:00

People were outside arguing and yelling on the sidewalk and inner courtyard of 7628 N Bosworth while the janitor was cleaning outside. It was between 8:00 and 8:30 this morning.

A nearby neighbor heard gunshots, looked out the window, and saw people scattering. Two cars sped away in each direction before the police arrived. One parked car took a few stray bullets. Another neighbor was up and saw a big gouge in the wall. After following the mark on the wall, the neighbor noticed a stray bullet had come through the dining room window, gouged the wall and found it on the floor. I wonder how the politico’s and the enablers would like finding a spent bullet on their floor? What if the neighbor had been walking past the window in that split second?

What if someone had been in this car?

At that hour in the morning children are going to school, people are going to work and we have the anti-socials playing John Wayne.

While some may blame it on warmer weather – many of us know the underlying issues behind these events. Instead of free fiber optics on the menu money ballot for this area, maybe the NOH representative(s) should have asked for more police.

You may contact your alderman at: WARD49@CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG or AldMoore@aol.com

Another Fire At Northpoint

2010-04-06T20:04:00.011-05:00

There was a fire this morning around 9:00 am in one of the Northpoint buildings facing the cul-de-sac in the 7600 block of Ashland. Years ago, during the rehabbing of the 12 subsidized buildings, there was a fire in the same courtyard in one of the east buildings.

Today’s fire allegedly was deliberately set by a non-tenant who lived off and on with the leaseholder. The non-tenant, according to neighbors, suffers from mental disorders and when off her medication has angry outbursts. Tonight several tenants are without homes due to smoke and water damage, it is not known if there were any injuries.

One tenant who works the night shift was asleep when the fire broke out. All tenants in and near the building were evacuated while the firemen extinguished the blaze. The person who set this fire needs help as do those who may have lost everything. They're all victims of a set of rules that don't work and aren't enforced by the agencies who put them in place.

UPDATE: Thanks to info from the 24th - there was only smoke and water damage to the other apartments in the building - no displacements with the exception of the unit where the fire was. The non-tenant was taken by the police to Lakeshore Hospital for treatment and evaluation. She made verbal threats to damage Northpoint over eviction procedures even though she is not the leaseholder. The address is 7639 N Ashland.

Photos by Tim Jackson

Moore Staffer Makes Top Ten List

2010-04-05T17:49:00.003-05:00

1,320 expenditures to 156 different persons were made from the Vice Mayor of Chicago’s expense account from 2006 through late 2009. All 1,320 expenditures were to individuals rather than vendors. All 1,320 expenditures were made on either the 1st or 16th of the month and most expenditures were regular and bi-monthly, more like payroll than expense reimbursements. 807 payments were annotated with “Regular Salary” and 389 payments were annotated “regular time.” The top 10 recipients of expenditures from the vice mayor’s expense account from 2006 through late 2009 were:

Your Opinion on Neighborhood Nights?

2010-03-29T19:05:00.004-05:00

I received the following email recently. So I will ask for readers opinion:
*******

Last summer, the 1100 block of Thorndale in Edgewater became a site of great community building through an effort called Neighborhood Nights. You may have read about it in Time Out Chicago Magazine or in The Chicago Tribune

I was hoping you could share your advice as we prepare to organize Neighborhood Nights for 2010.

Do you think Neighborhood Nights should take place on Howard?

Perhaps this is also a question your readers could share thoughts on as well.

I appreciate your advice.

Best,
Dan

________
Dan Kleinman
President & Organizer
TheNeighborhoodFirst.org

"We are all the community."

Spring Concert at Willye White Park

2010-03-21T22:51:00.004-05:00

There will be a spring concert tomorrow night, Monday, March 22 at 6:30 PM at the Willye White Community Center. The concert will feature the youth who are participating in the P.A.U.S.E. music program. They have learned to read and play music after school and are presenting their second concert.

Please stop in and applaud the hard work of both students and instructor!

Light refreshments will be served following the concert.

Willye White Park Community Room
1610 W. Howard
Chicago IL 60626

773 262 5051

Spring Equinox is TODAY!

2010-03-20T10:52:00.003-05:00

Ancient traditions and rituals are still being celebrated around the world to welcome Spring. Hope you enjoy the National Geographic article.

Inner City Hoops at Willye White Center

2010-03-15T20:48:00.003-05:00

Every Friday through April 23, the Inner City Hoops League is playing basketball at Willye White Community Center. Youth 13-15 from area schools are participating and everyone is welcome to come cheer on the teams. Games are between 5:00 – 7:30 PM.

The Willye White Park Advisory Council is participating too – we’re selling hot dogs, chips, cookies and bottled water with proceeds going toward after school and summer camp tuitions for underprivileged area children. During the Holiday Break, we sponsored several children who attended the two week Park District winter camp. We are currently sponsoring children in several after school programs with our 80% discount coupons. Parents pay the other 20% and volunteer time to the park when needed. Stop in, grab a hot dog and enjoy a basketball game.

If you are interested in our council and fundraising, please join us tomorrow night at 7:00 PM for our monthly Park Advisory Councils meeting at the facility at 1610 W. Howard. We’re working on a summer fundraiser and all ideas are welcome!

CAPS Beat 2422 Meeting - March 11

2010-03-10T20:45:00.004-06:00

It's almost spring - it's time to come out of hibernation. Join us at our monthly CAPS meeting for your neighborhood. If you live in the North of Howard area, as well as south to Jarvis and east to the Lake, come join us tomorrow, March 11 at 7 PM.

Beat 2422
7450 N Rogers
Gateway Senior Residence
7:00 PM

Bring your concerns, your ideas, give an hour of your time! It's our neighborhood, let's make it a safe, clean one together.

Moore: I'll Take LAST Year's Salary, Thank You Very Much

2010-03-08T10:34:00.007-06:00

Joe Moore's salary is hanging in there despite the economic downturn!

Recall, in a cowardly display of avoidance of accountability, astonishing even by Chicago alderman standards, on July, 26, 2006, our brave City Elders lashed themselves to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), awarded themselves automatic, no-additional-vote-required cost-of-living increases, from 2006 until the end of time. Moore voted for it.

At that time Our Best & Brightest also wrote a clause into law that allowed an alderman, by filing an affidavit with the City Clerk, to each year keep last year's salary instead. Now you might have thought their intent was to allow a way for individual aldermen to express their frugality, they're not in it for the money, they're just grateful for the privilege of serving.

Well, last year the CPI actually DECLINED, by 3.5%, and who'd of thunk it, that affidavit mechanism turned out to be mighty handy in weathering the storms of a down economy. Last year was the most popular year ever for the affidavit filings! 38 of our 50 Village Elders decided that, upon reflection, gosh darn it, I'm worth it, people LIKE me, in 2010 they'd rather stick with their 2009 salary, thank you very much: $110,556, rather than the CPI-adjusted $106,644.

Guess what Moore did?

THE CHICAGO WAY: Not All Furloughs Are Equal
By DAN MIHALOPOULOS, Chicago News Cooperative, February 4, 2010

See How Many Furlough Days Mayor and Aldermen Took Last Year
By DAN MIHALOPOULOS and JUAN-PABLO VELEZ, Chicago News Cooperative, February 4, 2010

More background on recent trends in aldermanic salaries on the Broken Heart:

Annual Aldermanic Salary Survey 2009

Cook County Stupid Water - Beware!

2010-03-06T12:13:00.011-06:00

Here’s another great example of our governing bodies ineptitude. Please fire all employees who partook of the Stupid Water. There seems to be a pattern of forgetfulness from code violations to ‘omitted’ or LOST and NOT FILED property taxes coming back to bite taxpayers and property owners. A prime example of milking the cow twice.

Read this Crock on Omitted Property Taxes from Lake Effect News.

Why isn’t there an investigation or audit on the Cook County Treasurer and Assessor, the Building Department, the and oh yes, the legal counsels of the city who forget or fail to post their vital information a timely manner? Suddenly in hard economic times, every department is scrambling to produce revenue and there seems to be no regulation on how it is done; who the real culprit is, and heaven forbid, an admittance of wrongdoing and a pass on collecting their own mistakes.

But the property owner can take his/her FREE time, look up their information online then spend more FREE time and probably money, to ensure their evaluation has been properly filed and recorded. So what are we paying taxes and fees for and to whom?

The government employees cash their paychecks though don’t they? Maybe their budgets should be chopped to cover their mistakes, inept public servants should be fired or wages garnished to make up the shortfall.

“State statute allows assessing bodies to recover taxes that were missed or omitted, regardless of whether the assessor failed to assess the property correctly — at no fault of the taxpayer.”

At least the sun is out today!

Budget Cuts for Illinois - What's Your Idea?

2010-03-01T21:55:00.006-06:00

OK, What’s your budget idea for the Governor?

Some of the ideas in the post are sensible, maybe even long overdue, while others are way overboard. Come on Rogers Parkers, let the chatter begin.

Unveiling The Wisdom Bridge Theatre Plan

2010-02-22T22:49:00.015-06:00

Frankly, the building proposed to replace the Wisdom Bridge Theatre and adjoining vacant, worn down building next door did not appear to be what the meeting was about. It was political drama – again. A veil to hide the real intent(s). Mr. Aronson stood next to an architectural rendering of his vision for a building and tried to persuade people who came out on a miserable night of his intentions. The rendering was one of the ugliest attempts I’ve seen in a long time, and many others voiced that opinion. While I arrived late I heard all that needed to be heard. This proposed building will have affordable living units in the upper levels and the first floor will be a ‘theatre and restaurant’. But (there’s always a but isn’t there?) the real intent came as Aronson explained making office space available to area NFP’s and tried to make the comparison of the ‘wonderful’ new home on Morse now occupied by Rogers Park Business Alliance fka DevCorp.

Then he continued by tossing out one more hint. Boys and Girls Club. He mentioned a fellow RPBA board member who does NOT live North of Howard but sits on the Cotter Boys and Girls Club and how serving the underprivileged children in the area is necessary....and how the Cotter BGC didn't get to move into the Willye B White public, taxpayer funded park facility in a secretive takeover attempt after 12-13 long years of broken promises. My god how this gang is still burning from real community input over that attempted theft!

Mr. Aronson can make his donation to the underprivileged children in this area, check payable to the Willye White Park Advisory Council. He can join our council and see that we are providing 80% discounts so the underprivileged children can attend after school winter sessions with plans for spring and summer camp too! He can join us in fundraising for these underprivileged children any time he wants to. The alderman has all of my contact information, email, work, home and cell phone numbers if Joe cares to share and build that bridge with us he wrote me about last June.

But to try and persuade people that the proposed building with living units upstairs, a theatre and fine restaurant on the ground level that will pull people from the suburbs to desolate Howard Street to enjoy an evening out is too much – when disclosing the concept of also housing the Cotter Boys and Girls Club in the same building. Sounds too busy to me. He hasn’t any strong theatre leads yet – and I sincerely doubt that there will be in the setting he described. What this sounded like was a new building for certain area NFP's and a B&GC and with affordable living units – nothing more. Otherwise, we would have heard about all the theatre/restaurant contacts and leads and less about the area NFP’s and the fellow board member who obviously will not stop until he and the forces get a new building for the west side’s Cotter Club. That’s not developing a dead street at all. As for mentioning the high number of at risk or low income population here, well, who put them here? Who went along with the plan that this 2x6 block area should be a haven for low income and social service agencies anyway? The community or 30+ years of ‘progressive liberal’ non-visionary planning?

Naturally, a new building with lights and a theatre and restaurant would fit the concept of creating life on Howard Street. Mr. Aronson stated there had been issues with squatters; he mentioned the safety/crime concerns on Howard. In spite of his statement that he lives in Rogers Park – he does not live North of Howard and the crime issues are in several buildings here! Beat 2422 has the highest crime rate in the 24th District. It’s old news. Even the Pivens exited the theatre plan years ago. There are several Wisdom Bridge alumni – William Petersen of CSI fame for one and how many other Chicago born actors have been contacted to start up a theatre? Why? Because of the demographics and the crime for starters – as well as a building that was ignored for 26 years.

Possible contamination abatement was mentioned too. Of course, just across the alley from the Wisdom Bridge Theatre is the empty hole that was the long vacant Lerner property. For years we heard the land was contaminated from the printing chemicals and also from a dry cleaners that had been on the land. Oddly, once upon a time there was a dry cleaners on the corner of Ashland and Rogers too. When Runge Auto Shop was dislocated thanks to the manipulations that created the half empty Gateway Mall, the Runge’s wanted to relocate to that corner. They heard the contamination saga and were allocated a space around the corner from the property they wanted. Somehow that contamination was abated because Howard Area now has a day care center on that very corner.

Of course, I’m just a citizen journalist who’s been a quick study in the machinations of getting things done, who gets what, when and how. There was a former electrician attending who claims to be a journalist who will have his own spin on tonight – but he’s in with the crowd and also does NOT live North of Howard. But as I always say, Anything Goes North of Howard. I certainly hope I’m wrong on this one!

The Curmudgeon Speaketh

2010-02-16T20:54:00.004-06:00

It’s always good to read a new essay from Sandy Goldman, our own Rogers Park Curmudgeon.

We all have mixed feelings about the Scott Lee Cohen fiasco – but the Dems should have vetted every candidate. Period. Now we have more power plays – remember the methods used to place Todd Stroger in office?

Did we appreciate that?

Is this any different?

Coming Soon To NOH

2010-02-16T20:44:00.003-06:00

The North side of Howard Street is under construction. It seems AT&T is installing fiber optics. The sidewalk east of Bosworth was dug up and patched last week in spite of the cold weather. This morning, the work continued from Bosworth to the Willye White Community Center.

I must have missed that email notification. But it's a good thing, right? The workmen had fun posing for the neighborhood blog.

Circus of Greed

2010-02-15T10:14:00.008-06:00

If this Circus of Greed wasn’t costing us money it would almost be amusing. Bring on the popcorn and peanuts. Here we have the alleged cream of the political and educational crop raising red flags, being investigated - yet who pays for it? Put this scenario into an online game and we could enjoy and participate – but as it is, We Pay for Principal Perks …article from Sun-Times.

Just last week, Mr. Reverend - Senator Meeks did the work for the political whiners to banish Local School Councils to hopefully keep the taxpayers unaware of their sneaky little games. The comment section is full of rebuttals to Meeks proposal!

If the day ever comes when taxpayers and voters are given the respect deserved – we won’t need Reverends playing second fiddle and message person for Huberman types and whiners to cover their back sides. In fact, if it gets done right, we won’t have any Reverend Senators – it’s known as Separation of Church and State. Make the choice Mr. Meeks, et all like you, it has to be one or the other title but not both.

Blog Note: Years ago, Whitney-Young (a magnet school) sent my eighth grader a letter of acceptance. That was fine except the letter was mailed before the citywide deadline. ALL letters of acceptance were to be mailed after the deadline. So this is nothing new.

Morning Snow Journey

2010-02-10T19:30:00.005-06:00

How many of you took part of this Journey from Rogers Park to the Loop this morning?

CAPS Beat 2422 Reminder

2010-02-09T22:42:00.009-06:00

Join your neighbors and your beat officers at the February monthly CAPS Beat 2422 meeting at Willye B White Community Center. That's Thursday, February 11. Please note in 2010 we are alternating meetings between the Gateway Senior Residence on odd months and Willye B White Community Center on even months. All meetings begin at 7:00 PM.

There will not be a November meeting. The date fell on Veterans Day and in observance of a national holiday we will not be meeting.

The Snow Dance

2010-02-09T19:21:00.006-06:00

The snow shovels were dancing in the foyer when I went downstairs this morning. So I grabbed one and went for a waltz on the porch, the steps, the walkway and finally on the sidewalk

We did a repeat performance tonight before the accumulation got packed down. The brick path through the front yard can wait for another time. Mother Earth is capturing the flakes, molding them as a blanket for the flowers sleeping beneath.

The snow pile grew a few inches after the second round! Why take a photo? Why not? It’s a moment in time to compare with another in June when the hostas, ferns, geraniums and lilies salute summer.

Of course, my neighbor was on his third dance with the snow. His main snow pile is in the back yard but here’s the front snow pile. Sorry Mr. P…it doesn’t compare to my mountain!

Here are some little things we seldom notice until we must stop and experience nature in her splendor.

Cohen Exits - Next?

2010-02-07T19:28:00.004-06:00

Please don't pass the Stupid Water again.

Machine Hacks vs The Human Connection

2010-02-03T07:02:00.006-06:00

Factors in yesterdays dismal voter turnout pale in comparison to the tax dollars spent to hold this early election. Some election judges were embarassing and a whole lot more. Post from Lake Effect News.

24/7 heard and experienced first hand that some voters were asked for an ID as proof of residence. It should be uniform but it isn’t. It was ironic when I gave the judge my name and her response ‘I remember you’! It was funny when others at her table asked if I was going to watch polls. So if the judge remembered me, her co-workers for the day knew me, why the drama of asking for an ID? That's what the book is for isn't it? So we’ll wait and see if Mr. Fagus responds to my email about this.

One of the upshots from yesterday: Will Toddler try to veto the election?

On a bittersweet note – one candidate I met at the Howard El won my vote. While this candidate did not win yesterday he is a winner. He personally called voters and listened to their concerns; knocked on doors North of Howard and left messages yesterday for anyone he thought may need a ride to the polls. He put the real human touch into his campaign – not an automated message from some incumbent pushing the machine plow. That is the difference between grassroots and machine hacks – the human connection.

Be Heard - Go Vote Tomorrow

2010-02-01T18:51:00.002-06:00

After listening to all six phone messages left during the day – here are the options you have tomorrow. I hope the winners call me again when it’s all over. After all, if my vote is important – my voice is even more important. So is yours. So get out and vote and then we’ll make some music or noise -

Chicago Tribune Endorsements and the Sun-Times Endorsements

If you choose incumbents…well, c’est la vie. If you choose new faces and ideas, kudos to you.

Expanding The 4th of July

2010-01-27T19:05:00.006-06:00

It appears that financial problems bring common sense back into play now and again. While I’m not a native of Chicago but have lived here for a long time, I think this upcoming change is an Excellent Idea. Times change and it's perfectly acceptable to expand a tradition. At least the City isn't axing the fireworks.

There were many years when we lived close enough to walk two or three miles to and from the event along the lakefront. That was very enjoyable. But it could become troublesome if there were guests and we had to pack the blankets, the food, the kids, and the mother all the way to Grant Park for the fireworks. It was hell trying to get on a train or a bus back home. It was equally hellish if we drove.

This does indeed make the celebration more community oriented and inclusive to those who don’t want to make the trek. And at long last, the fireworks will be held on the 4th of July!

Oh Mighty Mirror

2010-01-24T10:31:00.006-06:00

Mom painted the bathroom last summer and put this thing in the hall. At first glance I thought she’d betrayed me and sneaked another cat up here. I bristled up and circled around the intruder. She explained what it was and has kindly left it for me to gaze into! I stop several times a day and admire my handsome self. Oh mirror – my window to my soul!

Where's Toni Preckwinkle?

2010-01-22T07:07:00.016-06:00

Even though endorsed by the 49th Ward for Cook County President, I have yet to see one sign for Toni Preckwinkle have you? Hopefully the weather will allow a walk outside this area where real free thinkers may have placed an endorsed candidate sign.

But the windows of desolate Howard are filled with signs for Dorothy Brown. This ensures a name recognition vote for Brown from dead trees by some voters. Then there will be the Stroger clingers on who will give him a pity vote.

But this is North of Howard and anything goes. Surely our leaders could get out the voter knowledge for Ms. Preckwinkle if they’ve endorsed her. Otherwise, Brown's employee who diligently campaigns for her is doing a better job of promoting her than the local party is doing for their endorsed candidate.

AND, you can bet the farm that he’ll be doing his usual illegal activities within 50 feet of the polling place on election day.

Toddler's Strange Family Tree

2010-01-19T21:54:00.006-06:00

County Board President Todd Stroger defended his hiring record, saying that he has “never” hired friends or family.

And while he asserted that troubled steakhouse busboy Tony Cole was qualified for his job at the county, Stroger said it was unfair to judge all county hiring by individual.

“He is not the whole county,” said Stroger. “This one person has become the poster child for the county.” Read entire story on Clout Street

*Uh Toddler, who is Donna Dunnings, remember her? What is your relationship to Donna Dunnings?

Hint: "Stroger also gained notoriety when he fired his cousin, former Chief Financial Officer Donna Dunnings, over the hiring and firing of a former steakhouse busboy who was paid $61,000 a year."

A Cousin? Duh. Toddler, please define family for us.

And there are people who will religiously vote for him again. That’s the frightening part.

RPGG Gardening Grant Proposals

2010-01-16T19:14:00.014-06:00

Call for Gardening Grant Proposals – Adopt the Public Way

The Rogers Park Garden Group (RPGG) is delighted to make available a limited number of public gardening grants up to $1000 for the improvement of spaces in our neighborhood’s public way. From Juneway Terrace on the north, south to Devon Ave. and from the lake west to Ridge Avenue, spaces in the public way such as parkways, parks, playlots, sidewalk gardens, building frontage potentially qualify. In addition to funding, the RPGG can also make available garden advice and resources. Fill out and submit a grant application for your area. The deadline for applications is February 15.

In 2009, the RPGG awarded 17 grants to individuals, schools, houses of worship, organizations, and businesses for public way projects. A presentation on the projects can be seen in this link.

Adopt the Public Way is made possible by the generous contributions of the Rogers Park Garden Group members, donors, and sponsors, and by the proceeds from our Spring and Fall sales.

For more information, visit RPGG or email rpgardengroup@comcast.net.

Our Own Piece of Ponzi

2010-01-13T00:22:00.010-06:00

It may look worse in Englewood – but we don’t live there. This is Rogers Park – home of progressivism right? Again, progressive is supposed to be the opposite of regressive unless they changed the meaning and forgot to alert us.

Thankfully, Sandy Goldman shared the glory of Howard Street in this essay otherwise, these haunting images would be our only knowledge of the street.

One Year Ago….Just Look At The Progress!

Going west toward the Howard el are more haunting windows…all empty.

Until we reach Our Own Piece of Ponzi

In the summer of 2009, Eva contacted the ward office about the tires on the old Lerner property that moved mysteriously to the Wisdom Bridge property. She was told by Wayne Frazier that he didn’t think John Terzakis owned the property any longer. He was allegedly supposed to look it up and get back to her but like so many things here in 49, it just didn’t materialize.

PIN 11-30-405-009

Not much has changed since 2007 or since 2002 – the beginning of my tenure watching this street.

CTA Hate Crimes, Panhandlers, and Hoarders

2010-01-11T08:03:00.006-06:00

There’s a flurry of CTA news lately. The blue line was halted after a man fell onto the tracks. Someone fell from the Howard station onto the tracks in a state of inebriation. Today from the Tribune we have: Hate Crimes on CTA and Panhandlers on CTA

Long time CTA riders have many stories like these. The trios do card tricks and the rider loses. But the rider doesn’t know it’s a trio – until they all exit and run. Then we have the person reading scriptures yelling hellsfire and damnation to the whole car. Need I mention the cell phone conversations we can't help listening to?

There were times we'd sit in the station while police scoured the cars following an intercom warning that a known pick-pocket was on board. I haven't experienced that in awhile. Many of us can remember when there was more than one CTA person in the engine car too.

It’s dangerously amusing to watch the transfers on the Howard platform – it’s surprising more people don’t fall into the tracks. They hop off the Skokie yellow line and run up or across the platform even if there’s no connecting train in the station. Calm down, there will be another train.

Then we have the Purple line riders who arrive at Howard and have their stuff scattered all over the seat. It’s really a burden for them to allow another paying passenger to sit down. They groan and sigh as they move their overstuffed carryons. One man actually pointed out another empty seat to me and told me to sit there.

Yes sir! I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you – but someone else will! Have a good week and be safe on those platforms.

Beat 2422 Calendar for 2010

2010-01-07T20:40:00.007-06:00

Beat 2422 - 2010 Meeting Dates

· January 14 - Gateway Senior Apartments
· February 11 - Willye White Community Center
· March 11 - Gateway Senior Apartments
· April 8 - Willye White Community Center
· May 13 - Gateway Senior Apartments
· June 10 - Willye White Community Center
· July 8 - Gateway Senior Apartments
· August 12 - Willye White Community Center
· September 9 - Gateway Senior Apartments
· October 14 - Willye White Community Center
· November – No meeting – Veterans Day
· December 9 - Willye White Community Center

All meetings begin at 7:00 PM
This year Beat 2422 will meet alternately between the Gateway Senior Apartments 7450 N. Rogers on odd months. So we’ll see you there next Thursday.

The even months, Beat 2422 will meet at the Willye White Community Center at 1610 W. Howard.

FOR ADDITONAL INFORMATION:
Chicago Police Department
024th District Community Policing Office
(312) 744-6321

Note: It’s never too late to start a block club or organize neighborhood activities or walks.

Feel free to send me an email: howardwatchers@aol.com

The Crazy Chain of 2010 - Get Linked Up

2010-01-06T07:19:00.004-06:00

“Illinois pols cannot ask for more in taxes until they reform how they spend the tens of billions they already collect each year. Trouble is, many of the candidates for governor and for legislative seats see more revenue as the paramount remedy.

That is, having dug a deep hole, they want to fill it with more of your tax dollars -- while simultaneously digging the hole deeper.”

To read more here’s the January 3, 2010 Chicago Tribune Editorial

In just three days since the editorial was published, the headlines are bizarre.

There’s the possibility of Rahm running for Mayor, Berrios winning the three way assessor race, the police department dropping the entrance exams to meet their shortfall. Meanwhile, profile after profile pop up on 21 murderers released by the governor – of course, he put a halt to that program.

Further down the crazy chain and locally, we have two versions of the Chicago plumbing inspector convicted of taking brides to overlook code violations at 1637 W Granville. Chicago Tribune coverage

In the Sun-Times article, the inspector takes the fall which he probably deserved – but why the mistrial for the developer/owner? Where’s the money trail? What happens to any condo owners who are left holding the bag for this mess? Where’s their story? Sun-Times coverage

Here's To Good Memories

2010-01-01T00:37:00.002-06:00

Last summer a friend mentioned he was taking his 13 year-old daughter to see the Ides of March in Elmwood Park. I googled the July 4 event and discovered another of my all time favorite bands was playing that night too. Some friends and I went and escaped to the 'good old days'. We go to see The Buckinghams every chance we get.

Two members are from the original band, Carl Giammarese, the lead singer, and Nick Fortuna on bass. "Newer" members are Bob Abrams on lead guitar and vocals, Tom Scheckel on drums and Bruce Soboroff on the keyboard.

Not only are the Buckinghams great performers - they're genuinely nice gentlemen. Now wouldn't it be fun to have a Rogers Park concert? Click the headline for a direct link to their website. Hope you enjoy the music.

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T18:45:00.007-06:00

We're settling in for the big hoopla at midnight!

But first, we begged and pleaded until Mom got out the good stuff! Yum, Cosmic Catnip!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Terrorist Undies

2009-12-29T10:02:00.003-06:00

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration was on the defensive Monday over how a Nigerian man who tried to destroy Detroit-bound Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day held a valid U.S. visa, was allowed to board the plane in Amsterdam even though he was on a terrorist watch list, and was able to bring an explosive substance undetected on the aircraft. From the Sun-Times

Meanwhile, Abdulmutallab, who was allegedly in the US database of suspected terrorists, is recovering at our expense. Diagnosis: Torched Man Things

Santa Is Airborne

2009-12-24T16:58:00.003-06:00

The Jolly old fellow and his faithful raindeer have begun delivering presents.

May everyone have a peaceful and happy holiday.

Cheerful Tidings

2009-12-20T17:56:00.001-06:00

Kayla - please call your parents

2009-12-17T07:57:00.004-06:00

Kayla - Everyone is trying to figure out what to do with their life. It's part of being human...one day we want to be rock 'n roll stars and another day we want to be social workers. That's the beauty of having choices - as long as we make sensible and positive choices.

We don't know what your disagreement was with your parents but you made a choice to leave. Try to understand that part of growing up is dealing with issues with parents, teachers, friends and yourself. You may be angry, upset and afraid but try to see how your parents may feel too. There are mediators who can help all of you work through this.

Try putting your anger and pride to the side and call your mother.

The Ambassadors

2009-12-17T07:48:00.002-06:00

There are new neighbors to meet every morning. Here’s Minnie in her bright sweater held by Mom because she is camera shy.

This bright eyed little lady is Jewelry but Dad says they call her Jewel for short. She was curious and posed for the photo.

It’s impossible not to smile at these happy little faces that open many doors for humans to interact. We have a lot to learn from our animal ambassadors.

Rickover Student Is Missing

2009-12-14T07:47:00.001-06:00

Help The US Census in Rogers Park

2009-12-12T09:08:00.007-06:00

In this economy with the unemployment rate in the double digits – please consider helping yourself and Rogers Park by applying to do census work. It is important work that needs to be completed – especially in areas of low income. The amount of monies funneled back into these neighborhoods for starters is contingent on neighbors being counted. Accurately.

To take the practice test visit this Census Link

We hear the same reason over and over – there’s not enough funding…well, here’s one source to assist in receiving some of that funding. Many neighbors will be wary of a stranger knocking on their door, but if the face and name are familiar perhaps they will cooperate.

It’s money in your pocket and it’s future money for your neighborhood.

Weekend Events In Rogers Park

2009-12-11T17:52:00.006-06:00

Places to go this weekend in Rogers Park

Do Unto Others....

2009-12-10T08:07:00.005-06:00

Here’s a neighborhood story that never hit the blogs to my knowledge. It’s unfortunate these young people have experienced the unwelcome attitudes of their peers.

Refugee Teens...from the Chicago Tribune

Business Alert - Armed Robbery

2009-12-09T18:57:00.005-06:00

I'm not sure if this incident happened today but 12/9 is the date on the alert. Business owners and customers - please be alert to what is happening in our neighborhood. What happens on your street has its effect on everyone's street.

It is OUR problem.

Reminder, Beat 2422 meets tomorrow, December 7 at 7 PM 7450 N Rogers.

Help Rename Triangle Park

2009-12-08T21:15:00.001-06:00

Community Alert - Forcible Entry

2009-12-08T20:58:00.001-06:00