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Trees are one of our most important city assets. Unfortunately, we are losing thousands of trees citywide due to the
Emerald Ash Borer pest. Earlier this week, across the ward, dozens of trees had to be cut down due to the infestation of the borer.
The
Bureau of Forestry process
is to cut the infested trees down, come back within a few weeks to grind out the stumps, and then allow the roots of trees to die for some time before replanting trees. If your tree was removed and you would like a replacement, please contact my office or 311. G
rinding out a stump does not mean the complete removal of all the tree's roots. It can take many years until roots fully decompose depending on the extent of the tree root network. Additional information on the Emerald Ash Borer is available here.
Street sweeping starts April 1st. Although the new schedule is not yet available due to last minute changes in the department, the old ward map routes will be used for the first few weeks of sweeping and then switch to new ward maps. Watch out for the orange signs. We will post the new schedule as soon as it is made public by Streets and Sanitation. Some crews are already cleaning arterial streets; please read all major street signage and check times and dates of sweeping when parking.
Have a great weekend,
Scott Waguespack
Alderman
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| Municipal Election: Voting Information for April 7th |
The runoff election for Mayor is on Tuesday, April 7th.
Click here to find your voting location.
Early Voting
Early Voting for the April 7th, 2015 Run-Off Election will be offered from Monday, March 23rd through Saturday, April 4th.
All 51 Early Voting sites will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 am-5 pm. Sunday hours will be offered at five regional sites throughout the city.
Absentee Ballot
Click here for the downloadable application to request an absentee ballot for the April 7th election. After you download the form, fill in the blanks, print it out, sign it and submit the original, completed form to:
Absentee Voting
Chicago Board of Elections
69 W. Washington St. Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60602
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is April 2nd.
Grace Period Registration and Voting:
There is a safety net for voters who miss the standard March 10 registration deadline. From March 11th through April 4th, voters may register to vote for the first time, update their addresses or file a name change during the "Grace Period" at any of the locations listed here. |
| Celebrating Diversity: Girl Power! |
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| North Branch Works/ IMEC Energy Efficiency Forum |
North Branch Works will be holding an Energy Efficiency Forum for businesses who want to learn more about energy efficiency resources (rebate programs, city programs, etc.), so that they can take advantage of them and save money on their energy bill. Hear from representatives from ComEd, People's Gas, and Chicago's new solar energy program about resources available. Optional tour of the Green Exchange building at the end of the meeting! Click here to RSVP.
Tuesday, April 14th
8:30am-10:00am
Green Exchange
2545 W. Diversey |
| Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce SSA Survey |
The Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce is assessing in need for improvements to commercial areas in neighborhood--mainly along Roscoe, Belmont, Clybourn and Western. This survey is an important part of the process of exploring the idea of creating a Special Service Area (SSA) in Roscoe Village. SSA are expanded local tax districts that fund enhanced services and programs which are paid for by an additional property tax levy within contiguous areas. The enhanced services and programs are in addition to those currently provided through or by the City of Chicago.
Please let us know what needs you feel exist or what improvements you would like to see in the area. The survey is 13 questions and will take less than 5 minutes to complete.
Please click here to take the survey.
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| Easter Egg Hunts |
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Hamlin Park Advisory
This year's egg hunt is joined with Friends of Jahn to bring much needed financial resources to both groups. Don't forget to bring your basket!
Sunday, March 22nd
10:30am
Hamlin Park
3035 N. Hoyne.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Hop over to Senior Citizens Memorial Park! Two time slots will be available for all children at 10:00am or 10:30am. Click
here to RSVP; this event is free! Volunteers are also needed for this event, if you are interested, please click
here.
Saturday, March 28th
10:00am & 10:30am
Senior Citizen Memorial Park
2200 N. Oakley
Bunny Hop & Egg Hunt on Belmont Avenue
Kick off the Bunny Hop at Tribe by taking pictures with the Easter bunny! End your day with activities at State Farm! Click
here for more information.
Saturday, March 28th
11:00am-3:00pm
Tribe
1819 W. Belmont
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| Public Nuisance Ordinance |
The 32nd ward had 19 late night establishments at one point and while the number has gone down slightly, I am not advocating for new late night licenses and had a moratorium put in place to prevent future late night licenses based on neighbors, police and city department input, especially as it related to police data showing increased calls for service to late night establishments. The moratorium has come into question by the Liquor Commissioner for new ward boundaries and has been ruled as inapplicable. While changes need to be made to the city and state code, one of the biggest problems remains in the nuisance hearings process where gray areas in the process trump neighbor and police involvement.
Late night license- Businesses wishing to remain open beyond the legal closing time of 2:00 a.m. may obtain a Late Hour Liquor License. This license is required for the additional privilege to remain open and permit the sale of alcoholic liquor until 4:00 a.m., Monday-Saturday, and until 5:00 a.m. on Sunday. Businesses holding a Tavern, Packaged Goods, or Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity license are permitted to apply for a late hour license.
Late night and other liquor license types
Public Nuisance Ordinance goes into effect when there are:
1) Illegal Acts: Concerns felonies, drugs, or weapons. If three or more illegal acts take place within any 12 month period on the business' premises or on adjacent property while the business is open or within one hour of it being opened or closed for business, a public nuisance case can be filed.
For this type of public nuisance case, the city will initiate a license disciplinary process seeking to suspend or revoke the business license.
2) Objectionable Conditions: Concerns disturbance of the peace, public drunkenness, drinking in public, harassment of passersby, gambling, prostitution, loitering, public urination, lewd conduct, drug trafficking or excessive loud noise. If a business fails to take reasonable steps to correct objectionable conditions existing or occurring while the business is open within one hour of it being opened or closed for business, a public nuisance case be filed. For this type of public nuisance case, the city will initiate a community meeting process.
Dolphin to be shut down
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| 11th Annual Run to Remember |
 The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of our fallen heroes. The foundation provides support and assistance to the families of Chicago police officers who have been killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. The biggest annual fundraiser is the Run to Remember, which is being held on Saturday, May 2nd at 8am. Please click here to register.
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| Prom Goes Green |
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Community Alert: 14th Police District
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| Job Opportunity: United States Postal Service |
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The Bloomingdale Trail/606 weekly update
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| Happening now:
- At Western, metal grating for the ramp approach across the bridge is being finalized.
- Viaduct lighting is wrapping up - crews are on the west end and expect to be finished lighting the undersides of all viaducts within the coming weeks.
- Grating for the Milwaukee bridge is being installed, which is the first step in creating the bridge deck. Also at Milwaukee, steel repair and initial preparation for the steel arch cables is ongoing.
- Sewer connections are being installed between Western and Wood. Western Ave. is back open, expect work at Milwaukee and Damen over the next week. Work should not impact traffic on Milwaukee, and one lane will be maintained in both directions at Damen.
- Steel and concrete deck repairs are occurring on the bridge at Winnebago.
- At Marshfield, crews are working on guardrail installation and bridge deck repairs. Guardrail work on the bridges is also occurring at Honore and Wolcott in the upcoming days.
- Crews have begun excavation work for the Milwaukee/Leavitt staircase and plaza, and are moving forward with pouring stair foundations.
- Installation of guardrail foundations and guardrails continues along the length of the Bloomingdale Trail.
- The third phase of irrigation system components installation continues on the west end of the trail.
Coming up:
- Landscaping work will start back up in the next couple weeks. Crews will be finalizing layouts for trees and shrubs in anticipation of planting.
- Geosynthetic earthen foundation work will be occurring at all the non-steel ramps in coming weeks, including Drake, Whipple (de Burgos), Damen (Churchill), Milwaukee (Park 567), and at Walsh Park.
- Crews have completed the bulk of the path concrete on the Bloomingdale Trail, with some paving work remaining on bridges and other areas inaccessible to the paving machine. Crews will continue hand-forming remaining small sections of the path later in the spring.
Neighbors will always find the coming week's construction schedule at The 606 website under News for Neighbors. Use the link at the website to join The 606 email list for construction and other updates. Call (773) 661-9172 with construction-related questions or concerns, and someone will return your call.
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| 32nd Ward Office |
2657 N. Clybourn, 60614
Ph: 773-248 1330
Fax: 773-248-1360
Email us at:
info@ward32.org
Please email or call us with any requests.
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| Pulaski International Elementary Early Application Event |
| Running for Prosperity |
One of my staffers, Mara Martinez, is running the Shamrock Shuffle 2015 on behalf of
Advocates for Adolescent Mothers. Advocates for Adolescent Mothers is committed to empowering young parents by providing them with the tools, resources, and support needed to break the cycle of poverty, establish prosperity, and prevent child abuse. Their programs include the
Educational Empowerment Program which provides a grant and mentoring to young moms in college and a Holiday Drive, which provides toys and outerwear to homeless and underprivileged young moms and children at Christmas.
Please consider helping Mara reach her goal of $200. If you would like to donate, please click
here.
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| Book Drive Benefiting Jahn School |
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