48th Ward Clean & Green Day
Join us tomorrow from 9:00am – 1:00pm for the 48th ward Clean & Green! Contact Ginger (773-784-5277 or Ginger@48thward.org) to volunteer at one of the projects listed below. All volunteers are welcome to join us for a BBQ at our Streets & Sanitation Office, 5853 N. Broadway St. at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate our hard work. We will enjoy music, barbecue and the company of fellow community volunteers.
Painting the Pedestrian Underpass 
Location: Just east of Margate Park Field House; 4921 N. Marine Dr. (meet at the play lot behind the field house)
Interested volunteers will be painting the west façade of the pedestrian underpass at Lake Shore Drive. Folks should be dressed to paint and bring gloves, paint brushes and rolls, sandpaper and paint scrapers, if possible.
“Behind the Edge” Cleaning Area Behind Sheridan Rd.
Location: Just east of the properties between Bryn Mawr Ave. and Berwyn Ave.
Community members are invited to participate in the project to remove litter, graffiti and the problem areas at this location. Participants will be helping to make sure that this area is clean and clear of litter and other debris.
Peirce School Campus & Clark Street
Location: 1423 W. Gregory St.
Invested residents are invited to ensure that the Peirce Campus is clean and safe. Responsibilities include making sure that there is no litter on the schoolyard nor any sort of debris on the school campus. From there, the team will visit Clark St. to collectively remove any trash they may be on the street.
Gateway Gardens
Location: Hollywood & Ridge
Our community’s “green thumbs” will be working on the gardens and park spaces near Hollywood & Ridge; removing weeds and trash and also preparing garden areas for the upcoming season.
Swift School Play Lot
Location: 5900 N. Winthrop Ave.
Volunteers here will be ensuring that the Swift Campus is clean and secure. Folks will make sure that there is no trash on the campus and also ensure that weeds are removed from the premises.
Sprucing up Ridge
Location: Ridge Ave.; between Clark and Broadway
The ETNA Block Club, the Community Christian Church and neighbors will walk this street and remove trash, weeds and other debris to help revitalize this stretch of our community.
Berger Park 
Co-Sponsored by ASCO
Location: 6205 N. Sheridan
The Berger Park Advisory Council will be leading the task of cleaning, de-weeding and planting at Berger Park; not only a park district facility in our ward, but a location of historic significance for the city of Chicago.
Cochran Play Lot
Location: 5550 N. Magnolia
Volunteers will join Sen. Heather Steans and her staff in painting the Cochran Play lot fence as well as remove trash from the park.
Cedar Play Lot
Location: 5311 N. Winthrop
Volunteers will join the EBNA Block Club in fixing up this community park. Volunteers will remove trash and weeds from the park and make sure it is ready for the summer.
All volunteers are invited to the after-party at our 48th Ward Streets & Sanitation Office, 5853 N. Broadway St. as we celebrate the hard work of our community members! To volunteer, or if you have questions, please contact Ginger Williams of my staff at 773-784-5277 or Ginger@48thward.org
Recycling Event – April 21 9:00am – 1:00pm
Bring your electronic waste – basically anything that can be plugged in or runs on a battery (except for very large appliances such as refrigerators). Items accepted include small appliances, printers, cell phones, batteries and ink cartridges.
We will also be accepting the following items to be recycled, reused or properly disposed of: American flags, CFLs, Bicycles (in any condition), Eyeglasses, Fabric (For Edgewater Satellite Senior Center’s sewing class), Musical instruments (for Chicago Public Schools), Paint — oil and latex, Wine corks and Yarn (for Emanuel Congregation’s knitting group)
We are also accepting unopened personal care items such as shampoo, soap and toothpaste which will be donated to Care for Real, our local food pantry.
Finally, shredding of documents will be available at the Ward Yard, 5853 N. Broadway, from 9am to noon on April 21.
Visit Peirce Students’ Work at the Andersonville Galleria 
This week, Alderman Harry Osterman joined 6th and 7th grade students from Peirce Elementary School as they installed their Chicago History Fair projects in stalls at the Andersonville Galleria. Make sure to stop by the Galleria to view excellent work done by students at our local schools – and enjoy some shopping along the way! Thank you to the Andersonville Galleria and the Andersonville Development Corporation for partnering on this project.
New Text Services from ComEd
ComEd has instituted a two-way text messaging capability that allows customers to text their outage to ComEd and enables ComEd to text restoration information back to customers. The expanded outage alert text message program will provide added convenience for customers and help improve their experience.
The new program enhancements:
- Allow customers to text the company to report an outage,
- Offer real-time information on outages, and
- Allow customers to text ComEd to opt into the program.
- To report an outage, customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED)
City Council Update
Children’s Safety Zone Ordinance
Mayor Emanuel’s Children’s Safety Zone Ordinance passed through City Council on Wednesday with a vote 33-14. This ordinance allows for the City to implement Children’s “Safety Zones”, and to use automated cameras to enforce speed limits in those zones and will be implemented slowly over the next year. A “Safety Zone” is defined by state law as an area within one-eighth of a mile from school or park property. I voted against this measure in large part due to feedback from many constituents who expressed their concerns about this proposal. It is my goal to continue to work to make our schools and parks safe through other measures that better serve our neighbors.
Infrastructure Trust Ordinance
The ordinance approving the Mayor’s new infrastructure trust -Building a New Chicago – was tabled at this week’s Council meeting and will be addressed this upcoming Tuesday, April 24 at a special City Council meeting. Over the past 5 weeks, the Mayor’s administration has instituted changes encouraged by Aldermen including mandating that the Trust comply with Open Meetings and FOIA Act rules; include MBE/WBE requirements; and clarified its ethics requirements. I am supportive of implementing new mechanisms for funding badly needed infrastructure projects. I am also committed to overseeing that this Trust will be utilized with discretion and oversight. My goal is to bring our community’s infrastructure into good repair with no additional burden on tax payers. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at 773-784-5277 or Harry@48thward.org
Resolution Honoring James Doyle
James “Jimmy” Doyle was honored by resolution before City Council for his courage in rescuing a 35-year-old man, who was lying unresponsive in a third-floor apartment fire. The victim would have perished if it weren’t for Jim’s bravery and commitment. Jim grew up in the 48th Ward and attended St. Ita’s grade school and parish. His parents still reside on Magnolia in Lakewood Balmoral. Jimmy lives with his wife and children in Edgebrook.
Construction Updates
CTA Summer Construction
Granville will be the first station to undergo improvements this summer as part of the CTA’s Red Ahead program, as explained in this newsletter. The station will be closed for a maximum of 6 weeks and has a new start date of June 1, 2012. Commuters at this station will be notified via signage. To read more about the improvements being made at Granville, click here.
Tantalizing Treasures Sale
Saturday, April 21 from 8am to 6pm
Swedish American Museum – 5211 N Clark Street
Since “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” there are few limits on what may appeal to the ardent treasure hunter.
Among them are antiques, vintage pieces, fine china and crystal, jewelry and accessories, precious metal and gems, fur and leather, artwork and handicrafts, children’s apparel and games, and traditional Scandinavian curios.
Click here for more information
AHS Spring Health Fair
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 from 10a-1p
Bridgeview Bank 2nd floor Bank Level
Click here for flyer
Neighborhood Watch / Positive Loitering in Margate Park
Thursday, April 26 at 8:00 PM at your block clubs location given below.
Please come out to help keep our neighborhood safe and enjoy some time with your neighbors
Gunnison BC NE corner of Gunnison and Sheridan; Castlewood BC NE corner of Castlewood and Sheridan; Margate Park BC NE corner of Ainslie and Sheridan; Carmen/Winona BC NE corner of Carmen and Sheridan; Carmen/Winona BC SE corner of Winona and Sheridan; Argyle/Winmore BC East Side corner of Winona and Broadway; Argyle/Winmore BC East Side corner of Ainslie and Broadway
Dining Out for Life at Crew Bar + Grill
Thursday, April 26
Join Crew for lunch, dinner or drinks to help support Edge Alliance’s crucial work helping those with HIV and AIDS
Andersonville Honors
Thursday, April 26 at the Swedish American Museum
Click here for more information
Upcoming Events – Save the Date
Hot Dog Eating Contest
Saturday, April 28 from 12-3pm
Edgewater Baptist Church – 1401 W Hollywood
Click here for more information
Genealogy Expert to Discuss New Source
Saturday, April 28 from 10am-12pm
Swedish American Museum – 5211 N Clark St
Click here for more information
Fable Festival
Wednesday, May 16 – Saturday, May 20
in non-traditional spaces throughout Edgewater/Andersonville
www.fablefestival.org or call 773-828-9185
Click here for the flyer
An Evening of Hearts and Hugs
