Hi GWCA neighbors,
GWCA Council Members will participate on Alderman Martin’s Ward Council and Green Committee. Launch meetings are in July. Available GWCA Council Members also met with then Alderman Elect Matt Martin, his Chief of Staff Laura Reimers and Director, Constituent Services & Community Outreach, Michael Seawall on May 1 regarding neighborhood needs and goals.
-Council Members Janice Horwich and Joanne Yonan were elected to additional 18-month terms. One seat is open.
Please contact Donna Forsberg to show your garden on August 4 from 1-5. donnaforsberg@sbcglobal.net
All, please take both Surveys:
• Berteau Greenway input: https://forms.gle/PtjorsKPyJS5jhZZ6
• GWCA – Your ideas for the neighborhood and business: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO27x2YGf1-Guc3imm_toqFE9knTzbxeVp2xtaNN1q4QzFKA/viewform
Attendees rated speaker, Botanist Kelsay Shaw, a 10 of 10. Here’s a link to his website: https://www.possibilityplace.com/. Most profound were the documented biodiversity differences from using native shrubs vs. using cultivars. Attendees received a Joe Pye Weed or Swamp Milkweed pollinator plant as we continue our efforts to increase pollinator pathways and stormwater absorption from the Chicago River to Lake Michigan. Wish I’d thought to ask someone to video and live stream via our GWCA face book. 75 minutes in total with questions. We need someone to bring their power cord and a tripod each time. Attendees also commented that our 40th Anniversary Celebration cake was excellent. Rizal invited us all to Tango at 8 pm, fees waived, but by the time we finished the native shrub discussion, a dramatic storm and intermittent heavy rain had us racing for home. Reminder, please let Brad Pierce pick up all the parkway signs.
Calendar additions:
1. Graceland cemetery Tour. Barb, thanks for offering to put this together again. Attendees wanted Sunday, October 6, the first Sunday in October for the tour and suggested 1-3 pm. Don’t know if everyone aware, but as of 2015, GC is now Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum. From a historic perspective, is Pat Butler still giving tours? He was on the panel I did for Lake View History in 2018. Or is there a docent who has expertise in both the cemetery and arboretum features?
2. I’m working with Scout Troop 865 on a second Eagle Scout Project and presume it will receive final BSOA approval in the next few days. It will be a Graceland West Infrastructure Inventory and submitted via the Chicago 311 app. Volunteers from scouts and the Graceland West neighborhood are needed. Sam Cooper is the scout. GWCA, the Alderman’s office and CDOT are working together with Troop 865 on this project. One of the project volunteer days will be Saturday, August 17 and Rizal will have basically a luau with vegetarian dishes and roast pig to come back to. Time TBD. This is similar to the food at our Women’s History Month Event. Below are DCDOT terms we will use. An update with volunteers and the community to discuss status / results to date will be planned, possibly for October or November. .
Pothole in street
PHF
Note where located (bike lane, center lane, curb lane, traffic lane, bus stop, crosswalk, intersection).
Pothole in alley
PHB
This can include potholes in the alley and on the alley apron, because a question when submitting to 311 is where the pothole is located: alley apron, by garage, center of alley, or other. Also note how the alley is paved (in most cases, asphalt).
Sewer cave-in
AAD
These are certainly more severe issues that we want to report to 311 ASAP. If it’s in an alley, it’s technically submitted as an Alley Sewer Inspection Request, and our office can help escalating it. In the typical sewer cave-in request, there is an option to put Alley down, but I’ve been told it should still be input as an Alley Sewer to ensure its inspected appropriately. Other locations for cave-ins include: center of street, curbline, front yard, parkway, sidewalk. Often, a sewer cave-in will look like a pothole or sinkhole within about 5 feet of a sewer structure.
Grafitti removal
GRAF
Include a description of the graffiti and where it’s located (alley, bench, bridge, pillar, door, dumpster, fence, front, garage, garbage cart, hydrant, mail box, pole, sidewalk, etc.). Also note what kind of surface it’s on (siding, asphalt, brick painted/unpainted, cement, garage door, glass, limestone, metal, tree, wood, etc.).
Also very important to note: is the graffiti over 6 feet from the ground? If so, additional equipment may be needed. And is the graffiti hateful, profane, etc.? If so, it may expediate removal.
Dead tree removal
SEE
If they know, they can indicate what’s wrong with the tree and if it’s in relation to a specific insect/pest.
Speed hump repair or paint
SPHU
Document issues in a similar manner to potholes.
Hazard/other
H
I would recommend the scout just document any issues outside of these in detail so we can determine the best way to input it.
Standing water, flooding, crosswalk needs painting, handicap non-slip surface is defective, bad sidewalk, rat area, etc.
Important links
Aldermanic menu fund page: https://www.aldermanmartin.com/menu-money.
ChiStreetwork: https://chistreetwork.chicago.gov/map
Happy 4th to all!
