| Weekly Update from Your AldermanView this email in your browser |
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| December 4, 2020 Dear Neighbor, There has been a lot of positive news in recent weeks regarding progress from multiple COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers. In the coming weeks it is expected that vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna will move through the FDA Emergency Use Authorization process, and health care workers in Chicago and across the country will receive vaccines before the end of the year. I attended a briefing led by CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady earlier this week where she outlined the City’s plans for distributing vaccines. Following Federal guidelines, the vaccine will first be given to frontline health care workers, followed by the following groups in order of priority: long-term care facility residents and staff, essential workers, adults with high-risk medical conditions, adults age 65+, and then the general public. I am confident in our City’s preparedness to vaccinate our residents, and currently it is expected that by early summer most Chicagoans will have had the opportunity to receive a vaccine. Visit chicago.gov/covidvax for more information about how Chicago is preparing for the vaccine. Today around 11am there were shots fired between two vehicles on the 5000 block of Sheridan Road. After damaging a car and other property, the offender fled the scene. Thankfully no one was injured in this incident. The Chicago Police Department continues to investigate and if you have any additional information about this incident contact Area North Detectives at 312-744-8263. Please contact Alan Oviedo in my office at alan@48thward.org with questions or concerns about public safety matters in the ward. Many neighbors in the 60660 zip code have been experiencing issues with USPS mail delivery. My office is working closely with the team at Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s office to get these issues resolved. This is a critical concern at any time of the year, but this is particularly concerning during a pandemic and during the holiday season. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused serious staffing issues at USPS, and large numbers of USPS personnel have been impacted. We have been told they are trying to hire people as fast as they can, but are not getting many applicants. Click here if you are interested in applying for a position at USPS. Eight new mail carriers have just been assigned to the 60660/60626 delivery area, and they are working on getting additional resources to the station. Click here to read a full statement about this issue from Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. A neighborhood institution, Wing Hoe Restaurant (5356 N. Sheridan), will be closing its doors next week. Wing Hoe served our community authentic Chinese cuisine for nearly, and they will be dearly missed. Please take the opportunity to enjoy one last meal from them this week! The building Wing Hoe is in was sold and will be redeveloped into a 50-unit residential building. For more information about this development, email dan@48thward.org. Additionally, as we continue to feel the impacts of Coronavirus on our economy, some restaurants in our community have chosen to close for the winter. Decisions like these are never easy, and they serve as a stark reminder of the challenges we are facing during this pandemic. This holiday season, please consider how you can shift purchases away from the convenience of Amazon and toward supporting the entrepreneurs and staff at our locally owned businesses. The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Edgewater Chamber of Commerce have put together holiday gift guides to help as you work your way through your gift list. Click here to view the Andersonville gift guide. Click here to view the Edgewater gift guide. See below for upcoming holiday events and promotions in Andersonville and Uptown. Last week Chicago Public Schools sent out surveys to parents and guardians of students who are eligible to return to in-person learning to gather information on families’ intents to return. If you have not completed your survey yet, please do so by Monday, Dec. 7. Our local principals are also working with families at their schools to share specific plans and collect feedback. Click here for more information on the CPS return to school plan and for the survey. Our office is putting together a list of potential infrastructure improvement projects for the 2021 Aldermanic Menu program, including resurfacing Sheridan Road. If you have suggestions for projects to be considered, please email emily@48thward.org. Have a peaceful weekend. Sincerely, Harry Osterman Alderman, 48th WardPeoples Gas Project Update (ENN and NEON Block Club areas)Parking restrictions are in place and the staging of materials has begun. Crews are scheduled to start on Magnolia next week. Sewer crews are on Lakewood & should move to Wayne next week. More info to follow. Email harry@48thward.org with questions about this project.  Care for Real Holiday Toy DriveThe Care for Real Annual Toy Distribution is one of our community’s most special traditions. While we are unable to invite families into Care for Real to choose toys this year due to the pandemic, we are pleased to find a way to continue the spirit of joy and giving.This year, we hope for our clients to receive a $20 Target gift card for each child in their family. This will allow us to conduct the distribution safely and promote social distancing while still giving families the opportunity to choose a gift for their child themselves. It also gives families the option to purchase the gift of their choice online or via a curbside pickup at Target. Donations for the gift card drive can be made here (add “holiday gift drive” in the special instructions field) or gift cards can be mailed directly to Care for Real Attn: Kate Polgar at 5339 N Sheridan Chicago, IL 60640. To arrange a drop-off of gift cards at Care for Real, please e-mail kate@careforreal.org. We will be collecting now through December 16 and will hold our gift distribution on December 19. We also want to gift families of young children with a new picture or board book through our partnership with a local small business, Play Andersonville. Books can be purchased in-store at 5311 N Clark and placed in the Care for Real donation bin. To purchase online, visit the Play website and choose in-store pick up as your delivery method and gift wrapping. For Gift Wrap Occasion please enter “Care for Real.” The kind folks at Play will then add your book donation to our donation bin.Thank you for your continued generosity as we join together to spread the joy of the holiday season!Communities Taking Care of Each Other Toy Drive Thank you for helping us collect gifts to be distributed to families on Chicago’s Northside who can use some extra support this holiday season. We need gifts for boys and girls ranging from newborn to 16 years old. Gift donations should not be wrapped…. we love to wrap! Items can be ordered online and shipped directly to arrive before December 15th. Please email Lbdfa@hotmail.com for shipping address. Drop-off Locations and Times – Wearing a Masks is Required:ONE Northside Office 4648 N Racine Saturday, December 12, 11:00am -1:00pm*CP4P Office 6415 N Ravenswood Saturday, December 12, 2:00pm – 4:00pm**Offices are closed and will only be open for drop-off during the above designated hours. Thank you for your generosity and helping to make sure kids have a joyous holiday. Public Safety Update “Ask CPD” Digital Public Awareness Campaign This campaign serves to provide residents throughout the City with the opportunity to question CPD on policies and practices, and its impact on their civil rights. Residents from many neighborhoods played active roles in identifying the topics, policies and questions that are being addressed as part of the campaign. To learn more about the public awareness campaign visit Twitter: https://twitter.com/CPDReform/status/1328367225514856448 and/or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechicagosuntimes/posts/10157196331680834 Package Theft Alert During the holidays due to an increase in online shopping, there is an uptick in package thefts. Protect your property using an authorized second party package drop off service. Or make special arrangements to be home on the day of deliveries. If you’re not home, have your packages delivered to your place of work or to a friend or neighbor who is home. View the attached flyer for more information. Bicycle Theft Prevention With the cold weather upon us, we understand some neighbors plan on storing or locking their bicycles some place safely. In doing this, we ask that you take these precautionary steps. First, record the serial number and take a picture of your bicycle. Second, always lock your bike’s frame and wheels with a lock. Third, remove all detachable items on the bicycle and if possible lock the bike to a bike rack. Please click on this link to learn about more bicycle theft prevention tips.  CTA Job OpportunitiesClick here for all available opportunities with the CTA.  Support Young Designers with a Gift to TerritoryDonate here  During the pandemic, alongside surging movements for justice led by black and brown communities across Chicago, Territory teens have been meeting and envisioning safer, saner, and more welcoming public spaces for their communities.During this season of giving, Territory is asking for your support moving “forward to normal” in 2021. Make a donation to help Territory build on these remarkable achievements under Covid:Program staff and youth leaders did 180-degree pivot and designed online programming reflecting the needs of teens living through Covid24 teens from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood came to Territory because they wanted to be in a place where they could have a positive impactThe Territory community came together to address the systemic “digital divide” impacting teens in the Austin community – you donated to ensure that all teens had the tech they need to show up online.Please support young designers today with a gift to Territory.Swift School Solidarity Fund Click here to donate  As our community comes together during the pandemic and its related impacts on the economy, the Swift School (5900 N. Winthrop) community is banding together and forming a Swift Solidarity Fund. 100% of funds donated will be distributed to Swift families in need, and they will be able to use the money however best suits their family. Donations can be made via Venmo. Click here for the flyer with details on how to donate. If you have any questions or need help donating, please email swiftsolidarityfund@gmail.com.20th Police District Toys for Tots DriveDrop off new and unwrapped toys (no stuffed animals) to the 20th District located at 5400 N Lincoln in the drop off box. Drop off any donations by December 20. Wildcat Roaring Races Wildcat Roaring Races is Northside Catholic Academy’s virtual fundraiser, which benefits the students at NCA. The races are held, and the prizes are posted on the Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group for anyone to win. You will have a 1-25 chance to win every race you enter. There are lots of GREAT prizes posted every week!Here’s how it works; items are posted with a picture, description, and line price in the Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group. If you are interested, you will click on the link provided, and the link will direct you to order and pay for your races. Races are hosted via Facebook Live in the Facebook group on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm. ALL ARE WELCOMED! Please invite your family and friends to join our private Facebook group. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity to win a variety of prizes!Please click the link below to join our Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group today!https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildcatsroaringraces  Berger Park Holiday Story WritingHey kids! Write a holiday story and share with the folks at Berger Park, and they will share them with our community! Submissions are due December 18, and should be sent to kristen.rezny@chicagoparkdistrict.com. Stories will be shared on our social media pages.48th Ward Youth Council This year our youth council will go virtual and have a lot of projects planned for this school year! The purpose of this council began with our desire to make a difference in the way youth engage, learn, and participate in the community they call home. The council plans community initiatives and projects that others in the community will enjoy. They get the opportunity to meet with other leaders in our community. If you are a youth in middle school or high school and want to learn more or have any questions contact Alan at alan@48thward.org. Turn In a GunSaturday, December 5, 10am – 2pm 2447 W. Granville Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 Turn in a gun and receive $100 for a gun, $10 for BB-guns, air-guns, and replica guns. No questions will be asked. Click here for more information and visit http://www.chicagopolice.org.  Golem Girl: Riva Lehrer in Conversation with Lawrence WeschlerWednesday, December 9, 6:30 – 7:00pm Register here  Join us for this special interview of Chicago artist and author of Golem Girl: A Memoir (2020), Riva Lehrer. Golem Girl lyrically details Lehrer’s life with spina bifida while asking “what do we sacrifice in the pursuit of normalcy and what becomes possible when embrace monstrosity.”“Golem Girl is luminous; a profound portrait of the artist as a young—and mature—woman; an unflinching social history of disability over the last six decades; and a hymn to life, love, family, and spirit.”—David Mitchell, author of Cloud AtlasHow to Attend:This event takes place on Zoom. Register by 4 p.m. the day of the event. You’ll receive an email with a link to the secure Zoom meeting about 2 hours before the meeting. By registering for this event, you agree to abide by the Library Use Guidelines.Questions about attending online events? Check out our Events FAQs. Accessibility: Live captioning will be provided for this event.Winter Warmth in Uptown December 4th – 31st Click here for full details! WINTER WARMTH IN UPTOWN starts this Friday, December 4th! Throughout December, the Uptown Chamber of Commerce is giving Uptown the gift of warmth in 2 ways: 1) Wilson Avenue will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland featuring sparkle and shine hanging from trees and motivational messages popping up along the street—all to keep visitors and local businesses glowing throughout the holiday season. 2) Help us spread the warmth each week throughout December by shopping locally, carrying out, and giving back. Share and tag your photos on social media and/or submit receipts of ANY local Uptown business for your chance to win weekly prize packages valued at $100 per week from local businesses and our Grand Prize Package worth over $250! Full details at exploreuptown.org/winterwarmth. Together we can warm our hearts while keeping Uptown diverse, vibrant, and thriving. Swedish American Museum EventsPersonal Shopping for the Holiday Season (online or in person)  The Swedish American Museum is excited to offer a variety of personal shopping experiences this holiday season in addition to our curbside pickup. Browse the holiday catalogue for decorations and gifts then place the order using an online form.You can schedule an in person shopping event through our website. Your party of maximum three people will be able to enter the Store during this time. If you prefer to shop from the comfort of your home you can fill out our online form. We will either pick out items for you or we will set up a Zoom or FaceTime call with someone in the Store. Find more information here. Fa la la la Fridays Friday, December 4, 11 & 18 Use code “AlwaysAndersonville” to get…15% off online orders (for shipping or curbside pick-up)20% off Christmas orders from our catalog or holiday store Julmarknad Friday, December 5 Register here Like so many other things this year, Julmarknad will look a bit different. On Saturday, Dec. 5 you will be able to meet our vendors via Zoom to see some of their products and be able to ask questions. Some of the items will be available until Christmas at the Museum for you to browse and buy during a personal shopping time or you can use the link above to visit the vendors websites (all sessions are in the morning and listed below).10:00: Ninni10:20: Dala Ceramics10:40: Premium Designs11:00: Carolyn Aronson11:20: WanderlustHerring, Lutfisk, and Other Fist Traditions, by Richard Tellström Sunday, December 6, 12pmScandinavian food culture is very often something with fish, and in Sweden the fish dishes are many all year around, and especially as a starter at the Christmas Table or “Julbord”.In this online lecture associate professor Richard Tellström from the Swedish Agricultural University speaks about fish traditions through history, the Swedes liking for pickled herring and lutfisk, and of course the sour and fermented herring. And some new fish dishes, as tostada with Lutfisk.Please register for Zoom code Members are free Non-members are $5 Breakfast with Tomten Saturday, December 12  Despite the fact that we can’t gather together for our beloved family event, Breakfast with Tomten, we have come up with a way to continue tradition in a new way. On Dec. 12, 2020 we are offering a family style curbside pick-up of a family style pancake breakfast. You can also pick up an optional activity box for your child(ren)! With the purchase of an activity box, your family with receive the ability to reserve a one on one virtual visit with Tomten over Zoom later that day.Please note: You may purchase pancakes without purchasing an activity box! However, you may not purchase an activity box by itself. They must be purchased as part of a pancake package.Servings include pancakes, lingonberries and syrupSmall Portion Serves 2- $15 for members, $20 for non-members Medium Portion Serves 4- $25 for members, $30 for non-members Large Portion Serves 6- $30 for members, $35 for non-membersActivity Box ($5) includes materials and instructions for 3 crafts, an activity book, crayons and a goody bag. Purchase of activity box also comes with a private reservation for your family to meet with Tomten later that day via Zoom. Place your orders here.Litter-Free Edgewater & Andersonville The Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project is coordinating a Litter Free Edgewater campaign by enlisting community members to adopt a block to care for as a designated Blockhead. We started this in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. As the seasons change and litter continues to accumulate along with snow, Litter Free Edgewater Block Heads continue our monthly clean ups. Learn more: sustainedgewater.org/cleaning-the-neighborhood Click here to sign up.Uptown Branded Merchandise is Back for the Holidays! Start shopping here  The Uptown branded merchandise sale is back with some new winter gear as well as the t-shirts, caps, and mugs that were offered this past summer! By purchasing Uptown branded merchandise, you support the work of the Uptown Chamber of Commerce(we changed our name!) and the Uptown neighborhood. Uptown’s premier business association since 1923, the Uptown Chamber works to nurture a diverse, vibrant, and thriving Uptown. We aim to keep local businesses — and the Uptown business community — a top choice for residents, visitors, businesses, and organizations. Your purchase helps our nonprofit organization help local businesses and organizations through these challenging times. We’re accepting orders of all Uptown Merchandise through 10:00pm on Sunday, December 6th. Once that date has passed, the current sale will close and we will finish the production and shipping process so please make note of the timing when making your purchase. ORDER BY DECEMBER 6th TO RECEIVE YOUR ITEMS BEFORE 12/25! Contact Greg Carroll at greg@exploreuptown.org if interested in discounted bulk orders. That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay December 7 – 28 Mondays at 8pm  From Christmas to Hanukkah to New Year’s, PlayMakers Laboratory rings in the holidays with all new performances of its popular online revue That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, a creative series of stories written by elementary school students, adapted and performed by PML’s professional actors and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. PML’s holiday edition of That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay streams Mondays at 8 pm CT from December 7 – 28, 2020 via Patreon, with a completely new show released each week. Tickets ($2 – $4 subscriptions) are currently available at playmakerslab.org.The December line-up will feature special appearances by former PlayMakers Laboratory company members along with your current favorites. Now in its 19th year, That’s Weird, Grandma features adaptations of stories written during PlayMakers Laboratory’s creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. PML’s ensemble of professional actors, comedians and musicians bring the young authors’ stories to life as raucous sketches, songs and movement pieces, performing first for students in their schools and then for the public. These stories – from hilarious dialogues between unlikely characters to poignant pleas for social change – resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people. Holiday Performance Schedule: Monday, December 7 – Happy Holidays Part I Monday, December 14 – Happy Holidays Part II Monday, December 21 – Happy Holidays Part III Monday, December 28 – New Year’s Celebration That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay includes stories from PML’s “Submit Your Story Challenge,” which encourages students from across the nation to submit stories from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit playmakerslab.org/education Andersonville Chamber of Commerce: Upcoming Events Late Night Andersonville: Fa la la la Fridays – Dec 4, 11 & 18 The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is encouraging shoppers to stay home and shop online (pajamas encouraged!) for the Late Night Andersonville Shopping Series this season. Late Night Andersonville: Fa la la la Fridays will be held for four consecutive Friday evenings starting Friday, November 27 (Black Friday). Participating retailers will all use a consistent promotional code AlwaysAndersonville to grant shoppers access to deals, discounts and offers online between a certain time window each Friday. More information will be posted on the Late Night Andersonville event page, including retailer offers, as it becomes available. Late Night Andersonville: Curbside Pick-Up in PJs – December 4, 10, 11 As a continuation of the Late Night Andersonville series, participating Andersonville retailers will keep their shops open later, until at least 7 pm, on four nights throughout the season specifically for order-ahead curbside pick-up. Skip the shop-in-person social distancing lines, order online during Fa la la la Fridays, and pick-up your gifts, all in one trip to the neighborhood! More information will be posted on the Late Night Andersonville event page, including participating retailers, as it becomes available. Andersonville at Home for the Holidays: Virtual Variety Show – Sunday, December 6 at 7 pm Although we can’t all gather for the traditional caroling and festivities that are often found throughout the Andersonville business district during the holiday season, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce will bring the holiday tunes, warm feels and Shop, Dine & Celebrate with Intention messages directly from the small business community straight to your homes on Sunday, December 6 in an online virtual variety show. Akin to this summer’s Andersonville at Home: A Midsommarfest Experience & Fundraiser, the Andersonville at Home for the Holidays program will premiere on both Facebook and YouTube with live commenting during the experience. Viewers are encouraged to tune in with warm drinks in hand, ready to check out great gift ideas to shop that night. The Chamber will also encourage ordering from Andersonville Restaurants in advance to enjoy during the program. Ask the Expert: The Tooth About Cats & Dogs December 10, 7 – 8pm Join the Uptown Chamber for the first webinar in our Ask an Expert series on Thursday, December 10 from 7:00-8:00pm. The Tooth About Cats & Dogs with Dr. Vaishali Joshi of Wagnolia Veterinary Clinic will feature a brief presentation about basic oral care for your cats and dogs, followed by an open Q&A for your general pet questions. CLICK HERE to register. The Spirit of Chicago 5: Family Ties December 14-16  In this poignant collection of films, relationships are challenged and dynamics are changed when these families reunite in times of celebration or commemoration. Filmmaker Q&A will take place on Saturday, December 19 at 8:00 PM.SWEET CHILD | Directed by Zachery Green | 7 mins Jake makes an unexpected visit to see his son on his birthday. Violating his parole, he kidnaps his son and crosses state lines to show him the time of his life. REAR VIEW | Directed by Stephen Kniss | 17 mins To process the death of his wife, a grieving husband embarks on a road trip with his daughter to the place where it all began, the place where he and his wife fell in love. DUBIOUS RUFFIANS | Directed by Kevin Pickman | 16 mins Two siblings bring their dying mother to the beloved home that they grew up in, holding the current family living there hostage. THICKER THAN BLOOD | Directed by Anthony Williams | 75 mins The youngest of two sons returns to his family home for the first time in three years to celebrate his older brother’s promotion. During what’s supposed to be a joyous afternoon of family, friends, and food, secrets are revealed, masks are uncovered, and some things are said that can’t be taken back.2020 Virtual Concessionaire Small Business & Vendor Expo December 15, 10am – 2pm  The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) will host a Virtual Concessionaire, Small Business & Vendor Expo for local companies to learn about doing business with the CDA. Expo information will include – how to obtain ACDBE/DBE/MBE/WBE/ Certification, as well as up-coming contracting opportunities. Register for this event by completing this form here. Edgewater Village Chicago Happenings There’s something in it for you! Participate virtually in a wide variety of informational, social and cultural programs. Meet new people, join the fun and learn something new. Check out Edgewater Village’s programs, and sign up for the weekly newsletter to learn about more activities, including community events. In this week’s issue, read about a senior home repair program and rental assistance for qualified individuals and a Teleheath Device Drive for Smartphones, tablets and other electronics that will be given to lower income older adults. Edgewater Village Chicago is a volunteer, non-profit organization. It offers programs, social activities and resources geared toward older adults to enable them to age well in community. There are no membership dues; its programs are free and open to everyone. Tasting India – Delicacies of Tangra The brainchild of the Hakka Chinese community who settled in Kolkata nearly 250 years ago – Indian Chinese cuisine is almost a religion on its own. Synonymous with Indian Chinese cuisine is Tangra, meaning tannery in Bengali. The Hakka immigrants worked in Tanneries in Kolkata and opened small food establishments to cater to other tannery workers. Soon, locals started to visit these food establishments and the cooks began to “spice” up the dishes to cater to the Indian palette: upping the heat, adding more Ginger and Garlic, using more Indian produce and offering a myriad of Vegetarian options. Arguably one of the best inventions by the Hakkas is Schezwan sauce. An Indian pronunciation of “Sichuan”—this is a sauce made from onions, ginger, garlic, and chilies with a peculiar Indian-ish taste and it’s so good on literally anything! Back to the Hakkas though… after the 1962 Indo-Sino war, many tanneries closed down and thus was born India’s first and only China Town! After seeing the popularity of their morphed recipes, many tanneries turned into restaurants and other dishes were created exclusively to please Indian tastes: Manchurian, Hakka Noodles and Chopsuey are other popular creations. I’m incredibly excited to cook this menu for you. I grew up on Manchurian and Schezwan sauce and miss it terribly. I’ve received so many requests for this menu that it’s sure to sell out fast! So order up and prepare for you’re tastebuds to be tickled! Form goes live Sat 12/5 at 6 pm! Link to order: https://linktr.ee/Tasting_IndiaCOVID-19 ResourcesChicago Department of Public Health COVID-19 page (Comprehensive information, one-stop shop) 48th Ward COVID19 Resource Guide Small Business Resources, for Business Owners, Employees, & Consumers – Chicago BACP Small Business Resources – Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Guidance: What to do when COVID-19 Has Been in Your Establishment Guidance for Older Adults & Others with High Risk Cook County Health Guide to Walking & Biking Cook County Health Transit Guide48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman*We are operating remotely* Ward Office City Hall Office 5533 N. Broadway, 121 N. LaSalle Room 300, Chicago, IL 60640 Chicago, IL 60602 773-784-5277 312-744-6860 Office hours: Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm; Evening hours available by appointment www.48thward.org |
| Copyright © 2020 Harry Osterman – 48th Ward Alderman, All rights reserved. |