March e-Newsletter
Welcome to Uptown Chicago Commission's monthly
newsletter. Comments, feedback and suggestions for
articles are welcome. Please email us at
uptownchicago@sbcglobal.net.
in this issue:
News from the President
Bill Hersh and I managed to sneak in one last meal on closing
day of the Uptown Snack Shop. Lots of folks, including many
UCC members, stopped by to wish the Phillos Brothers, along
with Sandy and Karen, their best as they continue on to their
next adventure. Everyone singing Auld Lang Syne that last
day was especially touching.
"Uptown is great because of the many people dedicated to improving
the quality of life for all." From Keitha Benkowski who has
worked with the Girl Scouts in Uptown for the last 38 years
to those who participated in the latest Wolf Pack Walk around
Uptown Baptist Church in February, you will find UCC members
frequently at the heart of efforts to make Uptown better for
everyone. Isn't that what a great community is all about?
----- James Cappleman
Public Safety
WOLF PACK WALK SUCCESSFUL:
A hearty group of neighbors braved the elements on Saturday,
February 11th to conduct a Wolf Pack Walk around the Uptown
Baptist Church block. Armed with pens, paper and warm clothes
to ward off the snow, we recorded an intensive inventory of
broken curbs, damaged sidewalks, potholes, graffiti, overgrown
trees as well as several sanitation violations. Over thirty
service requests were generated that went directly to the
311 center. Special thanks go out to Irma Perres from the
23rd District CAPS Office for organizing this event. Look
for a cleaner and greener Sheridan Road this Spring.
SEX OFFENDER UPDATE:
A forum on sex offender laws and
issues was held on February 23rd at Illinois Masonic Hospital.
Representatives from the Attorney General's Office, Cook County
State's Attorney's Office and the Chicago Police Department
were on hand to explain the most recent legislation regarding
sex offender registration and restrictions on housing.
We recently learned that current state law restricting child
sex offenders from living within 500 ft. of a school, playground
or child care facility does not apply to the Wilson Men's
Club at 1124 W. Wilson. The law applies only to facilities
with programs directed exclusively at persons under the age
of 18. The Head Start Program, playground and alternative
high school across the street from the Wilson Men's Club share
space with Truman College.
The 23rd District Police Department has been instrumental
in helping to resolve these issues. The UCC is extremely grateful
for the extensive amount of staff hours and efforts that the
police department and other concerned organizations have spent
on this project. The UCC will be sponsoring a similar forum
in the near future.
CITY WIDE COURT ADVOCACY TRAINING MARCH 11:
A special training for Court Advocacy Volunteers will be held
on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at CPD Headquarters, 3501 S. Michigan,
9am - 11:30am. Speakers include judges, prosecutors from the
Cook County State's Atty's Office and Pets Are Wonderful Support
(PAWS). This is a great opportunity to learn about the powerful
effect that the community can have on the judicial system.
For further information contact the CAPS office at 312.747.9987.
A Continental breakfast will be served.
CITY WIDE CALL FOR COURT ADVOCATES MARCH 9:
The Gang Intelligence unit of the CPD has requested that court
advocates and other volunteers from across the city attend
the next court date of Kenyatta White, 9:30 am, March 9, 26th
& California, Rm 208. Mr. White had over 25 gang members attend
his last court date to try to intimidate the witness and the
community. Although this is not an Uptown case, the 23rd District
Court Advocacy Subcommittee and liaison officers are dedicated
to attending this case and will arrange transportation if
enough community members are interested in attending. Contact
Officer Ron Tanaka at the 23rd Dist at 312.744.0064 for further
information.
Newz in the 'Hood
Uptown Snack Shop closed its doors after 47 Years
The neighborhood spot, at the corner of Leland and Broadway,
received a 30-day notice from the new building owner the beginning
of February. The 53-seat diner served its last meals on Saturday
February 25. Brothers Alex, Pete and Ted Phillos opened the
restaurant in 1959, and all were there to close the doors 47
years later. UCC bids them a fond adieu.
Wilson Yard
Wilson Yard will no longer include the proposed multiplex theatre
according to the Feb. 28 edition of Crain's Chicago Business.
Chicago-based Kerasotes Show Place Theatres LLC has dropped
plans to open a 12-screen movie theater after deciding that
the construction costs would be too high.
The project's developer, Holsten R.E. Development Corp., is
moving forward without the theater. Holsten said the change
will allow him to add about 8,000 square feet of street-level
retail space to the project. And Target Corp, may now put
parking on top of its store instead of underground, as originally
planned.
Dog Owner Information
Dog owners now need special permits and tags for their dogs
if they want to use the Chicago Park District's dog parks.
The permit and tag costs $5 per dog,
down from the $35 originally discussed. You should
be able to get this tag from your vet. To get a
permit and tag, a dog's owner must prove that the
dog has a current rabies vaccination, and has been
vaccinated for distemper, hepatitis, Para influenza,
parvovirus and bordetella vaccine, or evidence of
vaccination tithers.
Owners must also have a
City of Chicago dog license. The permits are valid for
a single calendar year, from Jan 1 to Dec. 31 and can
be used at any Chicago Park District dog park.
Parking Permit Information
For those who live in Parking Permit areas. You can purchase
temporary guest passes at the Alderman's office. They are $5
for 15 passes. If you need a Residential Permit Parking Sticker
(good for 1 year) you will need to go to the City Clerk's office.
Nick's Uptown
Nick's Uptown, is rumored to be expanding its business and opening
its third location in the storefront most recently occupied
by the Third Age furniture store on West Wilson Avenue.
Look for it to open this spring!
Upcoming Events
The Uptown Neighborhood Council (UNC)
is sponsoring a neighborhood meeting with a
representative from State Representative Larry
McKeon's office and John Paul Jones of the
Neighborhood Capital Budget Group to discuss the Wilson Yard and the Wilson EL CTA Station.
The event will be at 7pm, Tuesday, March
7th at the Jane Addams Hull House
located at 1136 West Wilson.
There will be
a Cat Adoption Day on
Saturday, March 18 from 12p-4p at
Soggy
Paws, 1148 W. Leland, in
conjunction with
the rescue organization Tree House Animal
Foundation.
UCC's 3rd Annual Kentucky Derby Party will
be held Saturday May 6th - check back for more
information
UPTOWN
CAPS MEETINGS:
20th and 23rd Districts
- Beat 2311: March 7, 2006: 7pm-8pm: Truman
College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave
- Beat 2312: March 21, 2006: 7pm-8pm: 4645 N.
Sheridan Rd.
- Beat 2313: April 12, 2006: 7pm-8pm: Clarendon
Park Fieldhouse
- Beat 2322: April 22, 2006: 7pm-8pm: Buena Park Library
- Beat 2323/2324: March 15, 2006: 7pm-8pm:
Faith Tabernacle, 3750 N. Halsted St.
- Beat 2024: April 20, 2006: 7pm-8pm: Margate Park Fieldhouse
- Beat 2033: April 4, 2006: 7pm-8pm: Methodist
Home, 1415 W. Foster Ave.
YOUR EVENTS:
Send information about neighborhood news, activities and
upcoming events to: uptownchicago@sbcglobal.net.
Get Your Girl Scout Cookies!!!
Long time UCC Director Keitha Benkowski has also been a long
time Girl Scout leader in Uptown. For the next couple of weeks
on Saturday from 10AM - 2PM, you will find her with some Girl
Scouts selling cookies in front of Jewel (at Sheridan and
Montrose).
Stop by and buy!
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