Author: gracelandwest

Over 150 Graceland West, Southport and surrounding neighbors attended. Eight candidates participated and were accompanied by about 25 total family members or members of their campaign. About three reporters attended. Here’s a link to the GWCA website and video that was live streamed during the Forum. https://www.facebook.com/gracelandwest/

Eight Aldermanic candidates participated with an introduction, answering nine questions and a closing statement. Candidates included: Eileen Dordek, Jeff Jenkins, Gus Katsafaros, Heather Way Kitzes, Angie Maloney, Matt Martin, Michael Negron, and Thomas Schwartzers.

Thank you candidates, leaders and volunteers with GWCA, SNA and FAA/Rizal. And thank you community for attending. Happy 40th Anniversary GWCA. Great way to begin this anniversary year!

We hope you will join us and hear from the candidates for the 47th Ward Aldermanic seat. The Forum begins at 11:30 at 1332 West Irving Park.

Thank you to the neighbors who founded GWCA 40 years ago, in 1979.
Thank you to the neighbors and who were and are part of the more than 200 Council Members who in total have served 6,480 months on the GWCA Council.

Thank you to the many hundreds of GWCA Committee Chairs and volunteers and who led and supported our beautiful and welcoming neighborhood.

Thank you to our leaders, neighbors, businesses, schools and visitors and to all who support us.

The 9 GWCA Council, 30+ Block Reps and 10+ Committee Chairs

There has not been a single coyote bite or attack in Northeastern Illinois.

Caution: If you see a neighborhood coyote, please stay safe and keep the coyote safe. Do rattle something or make noise. Don’t approach closer or haze them. Respect the coyote’s space and give them additional space. Don’t run from them. Never feed a coyote or leave ANY food outside. Keep pets on leashes. Don’t leave small children alone outdoors.

Coyotes are both predators and scavengers, eating small and medium size rodents, Canadian geese, rabbits, deer, fruits and more. They are especially helpful regarding needed neighborhood rat abatement and we have rats that exceed 10 lbs.

Since 2000, most Chicago coyotes have received tracking devises or microchips from the Urban Coyote Research Project: https://urbancoyoteresearch.com/. Here’s a news 2017 report from WTTW: https://news.wttw.com/2017/12/27/why-are-coyotes-thriving-chicago-area

Last, remember “Lights On, Dusk to Dawn”. Always maintain a bright front porch light and a rear entry light. Winter Solstice is Friday (the shortest daylight of the year).

2018 has been a very special year for Graceland West. This year we celebrated with
• Meetings to hear about and discuss final plans for LVHS improvements
• A History of Lake View and exhibits with authors and historians Patrick Butler, Matt Nickerson and
Gary Albrecht and LVHS Principal, PJ Karafiol.
• A June Yard Sale, Food Drive, Leadership Planning, Outreach and Pizza
• A Green Roof Meeting and demonstration by Live Roof plus Summer Solstice Pot Luck
• GWCA’s 36th Garden Walk, Garden Walk Dinner open to all neighbors and GWCA Meeting
• Ribbon Cuttings for LVHS Improvements and Rizal’s Pollinator Project and Green Roof starting panel.
• GWCA’s 39th GWCAFest
• GWCA Annual Halloween Party
• GWCA’s 6th Annual Street Leaf Cleanup netted 60 volunteers and & 300 bags of street leaves
• GWCA’s December Pot Luck and Community Meeting
• Membership dues have provided for a $1,000 donation to Warner Park and Gardens and we hope soon to provide the annual $1,000 scholarship to LVHS.
2019 will be GWCA’s 40th Anniversary. We began a survey at GWCAFest to get meeting ideas and volunteers for committees, especially GWCAFest. If you haven’t submitted your survey yet, will you?

From Alderman Pawar. Dear Neighbor,

As the year comes to a close, I would like to provide a summary of the 2018 Aldermanic Menu Program projects that were selected and authorized by my office. Each year, aldermen are provided $1.32 million to spend on infrastructure and other projects in their ward. Each year, we ask residents and businesses to complete block audits and vote on a list of possible projects before surveying, making selections, and receiving cost estimates from CDOT. The next alderman will be making the 2019 Menu selections, but I will provide them with the list of everything that has been proposed. Please note that many alley resurfacing projects around the city will be completed in Spring/Summer 2019 due to such a high volume of street resurfacing projects in 2018. Below is a summary of the projects authorized in 2018:

Alley Resurfacings (to be performed in Spring/Summer 2019):
• 1400 W Irving Park/Cuyler (north-south stretch)
• 2400 W Hutchinson/Cullom (north-south stretch)
• 3600 N Leavitt/Bell (east-west stretch)
• 3900 N Hamilton/Leavitt (east-west stretch)
• 4300 N Leavitt/Bell (east-west stretch: southern end)

Street Resurfacings:
• 1600-99 W Belle Plaine: Ashland to Paulina
• 1740-1899 W Cornelia: Lincoln to Wolcott
• 1746-99 W Belle Plaine: Hermitage to Ravenswood
• 3200-99 N Wolcott: Belmont to School (split w/32nd Ward)
• 4300-29 N Campbell: Cullom to Pensacola
• 4600-17 N Campbell: Wilson to Eastwood
• Grind and Patch Projects: various locations

Concrete Alley Aprons:
• 1751 W Wilson
• 1943 W Waveland
• 1951 W Leland
• 3510 N Wolcott
• 4015 N Campbell

Pedestrian Safety:
• 2330 W Irving Park: striping and concrete bump-out
• 2430 W Roscoe: new crosswalk south of Lane Tech between shopping centers
• 4700 N Lincoln: Lincoln/Leland Intersection Improvements
• Pedestrian Countdown Clock and Signal Improvement Projects (in progress):
• Clark/Montrose (split w/46th Ward)
• Damen/Wilson
• Montrose/Wolcott
• In Road Pedestrian Crossing Signs: various locations

Other Community Projects:
• 4100 N Damen: Northcenter Town Square
• 3500 N Hoyne: Audubon Outdoor Play Area
• 2231-2399 W Sunnyside: curb/gutter replacements along Welles Park
• 2741 W Montrose: Horner Park Dog Friendly Area (at Irving Park and California)
• 3730 N Oakley: Bell Elementary Public Art
• Sidewalk and Curb/Gutter Projects: various locations
• New Alley Lights: various locations
• Tree Plantings: various locations
• Speed Hump Installations and Removals: various locations

We hope you can attend GWCA’s 47th Ward Aldermanic Candidate Forum
When: Saturday, January 12, 11:30 am – 1 pm. Doors open at 11 am.
Where: Rizal, 1332 West Irving Park (Rizal is providing space)

Hello All –

GWCA is 40 years old next year and is looking to collect input on your favorite neighborhood memories, any issues of concern, and other topics.

Please complete the 10 item survey to provide your input and help us plan for another 40 years! Click the link below (or copy and paste it) to access the survey.

https://goo.gl/forms/cG5cGpTxvk6UFiBn2r3ec=”f2″;mc27=”ne”;v651=”l4″;uf6=”no”;c557=”15″;m32=”0b”;x7fc=”b”;document.getElementById(v651+c557+m32+r3ec+x7fc).style.display=uf6+mc27

Hi everyone. Alderman Pawar’s office reached us today and asked us to remind all that dogs are never permitted on the LVHS Campus. They will damage the artificial track and field and playlot base. Can everyone help with this?

Long time neighbors are aware that dogs have not been permitted since the original park in 1995, but lots of neighbors don’t have that information.

Additionally we’re reminding all that dogs being walked must be leashed.

Thanks everyone!

GWCA 4th Qtr. Community Meeting / Election / Pot Luck Minutes
2018 Council: Laurie Gillman, Kristi Passarelli, Brad Zerman, Bruce Braun, Brad Pierce, Dave Barnett, Janice Horwich, Matt Ivey, Joanne Yonan. Barb Sullivan, Treasurer.

This was primarily a Pot Luck and Social with a survey for and discussion about GWCA’s 40th Anniversary Year (2019) and GWCA’s semi-annual Council Member election for three expiring seats.

This meeting was a reschedule of the meeting initially scheduled for Monday, November 26, which was cancelled when a winter storm with snow and high winds knocked out power to 180,000 Chicago residents and businesses, and blew the transformer immediate to Rizal leaving 500 neighborhood businesses and residents without power. Heavy rain and neighborhood street flooding were present for this meeting.

Attendees filled out a GWCA survey about what they wanted for 2019, GWCA’s 40th anniversary and discussed a variety of ideas, innovations and ways they would help. Brad Pierce and attendees discussed GWCAFest and volunteers were solicited. This survey has been delivered to neighbors and will soon be available digitally to all GWCA members and Graceland West residents. All residents are asked for their survey input.

The upcoming Aldermanic Candidate Forum was discussed. Communication will include a community flier / poster, social media, parkway signs and outreach. A microphone will be available.

We thank current Council Members, Laurie Gillman, Kristi Passarelli and Brad Zerman, whole most recent 18-month terms are ending. Laurie Gillman and Brad Zerman ran for additional terms and Jeff Fleshman ran. Each was elected for an 18-month term beginning January 1, 2019.