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Happy New Year! Graceland West 2022 in Review

2022 was a great year of re-emergence (of sorts) after a couple of years of flattening the COVID-19 curve and building immunity.

  • We kicked the year off after hibernating for the winter at our March meeting where we had a great time with Alderman Matt Martin and continued to build our relationship with Lake View High School, specifically their STEM program representatives and our very own Council member and teacher Joanne Yonan. 
  • On Earth Day we cleaned up the streets around the high school with our Congressman Mike Quigely.
  • Our Q2 meeting took place in beautiful Warner Park and focused on the efforts of the GWCA Eco Committee, led by Council member Joel McFarland who is an Openlands certified TreeKeeper.  We also heard from the Alderman’s office and CDOT about safe streets improvements.  More on this topic in 2023.
  • The annual yard sale was moved up to June.  Many thanks to Mark Nehring for his leadership.
  • The annual Garden Walk celebrated 40 years in 2022.  40 years!  Fearlessly led by Donna Forsberg for one last time as she called this year her last as the chairperson.  Mother Nature decided to keep us guessing throughout the day but allowed for plenty of time for all of our amazing neighborhood gardeners to share their efforts with guests.
  • The newly branded Graceland West Neighborhood Fest (formerly GWCAFest) was visited by Gale and Squall who dumped about 2 ft of flooding into the neighborhood, but that didn’t stop Sarah Maxwell, Barb Sullivan, Brad Pierce and their volunteers (including LVHS students) from toughing it out and waiting for the weather to clear for the neighborhood to emerge to enjoy Peg’s famous bake table, Randy’s age-less magic, Lisa B’s smooth vocals, Tacos, Tacos, Tacos (and Margaritas), and flame throwing (aka juggling)!
  • Our Q3 meeting finally brought us back into LVHS where we were introduced to the LVHS Robotics program (which is incredible)!
  • The Halloween party at Warner Park returned after a couple year hiatus and featured some amazing costumes, games and make your own candy apples.  Special thanks to Andrea and Colin McLeod and their volunteers for hosting the event.
  • And sure enough, Mother Nature wasn’t finished with us when she gave us rain and 50 mph winds the morning of our Street Leaf Cleanup and the Pumpkin Smash at LVHS.  Didn’t stop new Council member Paul Monzella from raking Cullom/Greenview until it was pristine. Throughout the week we totaled 182 bags, picked up by the Ward Superintendent the next week.
  • We finished off the year back at the Piggery, our gracious hosts for our March and December meetings, where we enjoyed pizza, pork and socializing.

The GWCA Council would like to recognize our Block Reps who helps to deliver flyers and spread important neighborhood news.  Thank You! 

Also, thanks to all who volunteered or attended any of the GWCA meetings and events and participated in the goal of the association to foster positive relationships between residents of the neighborhood, promote civic engagement and educate community members on issues of common interest such as crime prevention, neighborhood history and preservation, and community improvement.  It takes a village!

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Events & Announcements GWCA Fest

Special Thank You to Graceland West Neighborhood Fest Sponsors and Volunteers

Thanks for a fantastic Graceland West Neighborhood Fest on September 11, 2022. We were delayed past our 3 pm start by a super cell that brought heavy rain and a squall that flooded several blocks of Greenview. Fest Committee and volunteers set up in a downpour and then held on to tent legs to keep them from going airborne. Randy started the Fest with the magic we all craved, Lisa B kept our hearts warm with song. Once weather lifted enough, neighbors began to fill the 4100 block of Greenview until it was packed with attendees from families with infants to a neighbor in his mid 90’s who walked through the rain to renew his membership. Neighbors kept baked goods coming and Peg’s Bake Table sold out. Kids sported painted faces, one dad held umbrellas in each hand to keep kids dry. Many volunteers went home and changed to dry clothes more than once. Mid-Fest, just when we were all hungry, Big Star Taco arrived with three kinds of tacos and a margarita, and then the juggler brought fire to warm us up.

Kudos to the Fest Committee, which included Barb Sullivan, Sarah Maxwell, Brad Pierce and more. They planned the perfect Fest and executed brilliantly, given the challenges mother nature sent their way. Thank you to the 25+ GWCA Members and Block Reps who helped with spreading the word about the event and a very special than you to LVHS students who braved the weather all day. 

Because we were unable to properly thank our sponsors during the event, they are recognized below.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

homemade craft cocktail sponsor

wine & beer sponsor

Brad & Melanie Pierce

pony ride & petting zoo sponsor

Marlene Granacki

juggler sponsor

soda & water sponsor

Chris McGowan & Sandy Wang

game prize sponsor

Tim & Barbara Sullivan

face painting sponsor

tie dye sponsor

bounce house sponsor

Jennifer Brown

port-a-potty & sanitization station sponsor

Dr. Lee Francis & Dr. Michelle Gittler

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Events & Announcements

Rain or Shine! Graceland West Neighborhood Fest

While the weather forecast unfortunately isn’t looking favorable for the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest, our annual festival and most of its offerings including the Big Star taco truck is on as planned. We’ll have coverage from the rain throughout the event as needed. Your participation from 3-7pm, today, September 11th, is appreciated and helps support Graceland West’s initiatives throughout the year ahead. Hope you can join!

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GWCA Fest

Graceland West Neighborhood Fest – Sunday @ 3:00

Graceland West Neighborhood Fest

September 11 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Greenview between Belle Plaine & Warner

Join us for our largest event of the year! All are invited.

Bounce House  Magic By Randy 3:30  Kids Games

Face Painting 4-6  Silly String Battles  Big Star Taco Truck 4:30-6:30

Cornhole + Basketball  Pony Rides & Petting Zoo 4-7  Bake Sale

Juggler 6-7  Beer, Wine & Margaritas  Create Tie Dye T-Shirts

Spin Art  Live Music  + More!

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Events & Announcements

GWCAfest 2021 | Some history

If you’ve been following us on facebook or instagram you’ve seen a few photos from GWCAfests of the past… This year we’ll make some new memories…Sunday, 9/12 from 1-5 pm on the 4100 block of Greenview. More info on Facebook here.

When Graceland West Community Association (GWCA) was just getting started, it was decided that an annual block party would provide a venue for fund raising and a chance for neighbors to meet and talk (“fun raising” ).

Early block parties were pot lucks and our neighbor, DJ Gil Munoz would bring out his gear & provide music. That first year it was decided to have a chili contest – and then they added all of them to the pot luck meal.

As years went on, different people tried different things:

Magic by Randy circa 2007
  • A group of Dads grilled burgers & brats
  • A neighbor and her family members made awesome tacos right there in the street
  • We held a talent contest & discovered some amazing talents in our neighbors (choir members, dancers, kazoo bands, rock bands & more)
  • Neighborhood teens performed (a few have gone on to careers as musicians, some just do it nights & weekends)
  • People sponsored acts like the Jesse White Tumblers, the Roberto Clemente High School Steel Drum Band & a rising new singer LisaB
  • For many years, the party kicked off with a pet parade. Everyone dressed up and costumed & ribboned their pets: dogs, cats, bunnies and even fish (in a bowl in a wagon). One man even brought a pet python!
  • We’ve had the Lake View High School cheerleaders, jazz band & percussionists perform for us
  • We’ve done rummage sales, silent auctions & live auctions to help fund the organization
  • Fortune telling by Madame Sonia
  • Chair massages
  • We’ve tried Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, one year we even did an afternoon party for kids & an evening party for adults only (parents hired babysitters, showered & changed and came back to party with the adults)
  • We’ve moved it around the neighborhood, every couple of years on a new street ! Then for years we did it on Warner by Warner Park & Gardens
  • We’ve had bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoos, dunk tanks and arcade games to amuse the children
  • One of our neighbors, Liz Thomas, painted bean bag & ring toss boards for us to use. And then freshened them up ten years later.
  • One year, using a dog run & a cowboy hat, the Sheriff made his first appearance. For one ticket he would arrest anyone you pointed out to him. Then they had to serve a 15 minute sentence in “jail” or, since this is Chicago, for 2 tickets they could purchase an immediate release (hey, it’s all for the good of the organization).
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Jessie White Tumblers circa 1991


This year we’ll make some new memories…Today, Sunday, 9/12 from 1-5 pm on the 4100 block of Greenview. More info on Facebook here.

Tim McGonegle will be re-creating his role as Sheriff, with some assistance from his Grandson, Dawson. So there’s a new Sheriff in town!

Next year the block party could try something new that you suggest. Let us know what would get you to come next year and whether you could help to turn your idea in to reality at next year’s celebration

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GWCAfest 2021 | Magic by Randy

Magic by Randy at Sunday’s block party GWCAfest

For more than 30 years Randy Bernstein has been delighting children & adults with has own brand of stand up comedy and magic. He has been a perennial favorite at our block parties and we are delighted he will be performing this year at GWCAfest, Sunday, 9/12 at 4 pm in the 4100 block of Greenview. His nuanced performances keep the little ones engaged & adults laughing at his double entendres. Our children eagerly volunteer to “help” Randy perform his tricks. And even up close, sometimes don’t know how the trick worked.

Randy hasn’t been sitting home idle during this pandemic – he created a series of virtual magic show & classes so that children could still enjoy his unique brand of comedy magic.

For more information or to hire Randy for your next event:
www.MagicByRandy.com

(Note:  there is a Groupon available for his virtual sessions)

Want to help? Call or text Barbara Sullivan at 773-727-3419. We need volunteers for 2 hour shifts from 1-3 or 3-5

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We need treats for our bake sale table. Drop off individually wrapped treats, or bring a whole pan. Please wear a mask when baking.

Most importantly: Come, bring family & friends & enjoy the afternoon!

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GWCAfest 2021 | Music by Lisa B

Next Sunday, 9/12 from 1-5 pm
4100 block of Greenview

Want to help?  Call or text Barbara Sullivan at 773-727-3419. We need volunteers for 2 hour shifts from 1-3 or 3-5

We need treats for our bake sale table. Drop off individually wrapped treats, or bring a whole pan. Please wear a mask when baking.

Most importantly: Come, bring family & friends & enjoy the afternoon!

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Live music will be provided by solo artist MUSIC BY LISA B

Lisa lives in Madison, WI, but has been traveling down to Chicago to play at our block party nearly every year since she first performed at GWCAfest in 2001. She has been a frequent supporter of Graceland West Communiy Association and we are lucky to have her come down to help us each year.

Lisa has a successful career as a solo artist, as well as keyboard & vocals for Rachelle & the Red Hot Ramblers. She also is a proud member of V05 – a dance band that will really get you moving!

For more information about Lisa, check out her website at
www.MeetLisaB.com

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GWCAfest 41 – Sunday 9/12, 1-5 PM

Our 41st annual GWCAfest (neighborhood block party) will be held:

Next Sunday, 9/12
from 1-5 pm
4100 block of Greenview

Come buy a beer or pop, or a glass of wine and enjoy the weather, the music & kick back and stay awhile. An opportunity to meet new neighbors (many new ones since our last block party) and a chance to reconnect with those you already know.

This year will be a bit simpler than in past years. Due to pandemic, we are not allowed to have a bounce house – but plenty of other things happening!

Live music by Lisa B all afternoon
Sheriff will be on duty from 1-3
The infamous “Silly String Battles” ever hour beginning at 1:30
Magic by Randy at 4

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Children’s games, baked goods, food, drink & more available all afternoon

In order to offset costs there will be a charge for drinks (soft drinks, water, beer & wine), food, baked goods & children’s games. Cash or Venmo (and we are working on setting up credit card capability).

We are asking everyone to wear a mask and to maintain social distancing. Hand sanitizer & antiseptic wipes will be available

Don’t miss this opportunity to interact with your neighbors!

Stay safe!

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