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Events & Announcements

Spring Community Meeting Recap

Greetings, Graceland West Community!

Our recent GWCA Community Meeting, held on March 20 at Quantum LEEP Academy, was full of great discussions and exciting updates. We’re thrilled to share the highlights and the full meeting minutes with you.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Quantum LEEP Academy Engagement: Lorell Marin, the founder, provided an overview of the Academy’s plans and expressed eagerness to integrate the community with the Academy’s activities.
  2. 2024 Events and Initiatives:
    • Environmental Focus: The Chicago Bird Alliance’s Native Plant Sale and the Earth Day shrub/tree planting event.
    • Summer Quarterly Meeting: President of Chicago Bird Alliance, previously “Chicago Audubon Society” and possible community potluck.
    • Yoga in the Park: Plans for summer yoga sessions were shared, with a request for community input on preferred times.
  3. Community Engagement and Safety:
    • Kid’s Pollinator Project: Scheduled for Warner Park with options for May 4 or May 11.
    • Historical Homes Focus: For the September meeting, we’re gathering stories and documents about pre-1900 homes.
    • Speed Bump Initiative: Discussions on Warner, Berteau, Greenview and Belle Plaine’s speed bumps.
  4. Cubs Season Update: Heather Way Kitzes provided insights into the upcoming season’s plans, including environmental initiatives and community involvement.
  5. Lake View High School’s 150th Anniversary: Julia Van Vliet highlighted the school’s significant milestone and ongoing community support initiatives. Currently the High School’s track team needs the community’s support purchasing attire. See their Amazon Wishlist.
  6. Budget and Council Elections: An overview of the balanced budget for 2024 was presented, and congratulations to Colin McLeod and Janice Horwich on their re-election to the GWCA Council!

We wrapped up with discussions on old and new business.

Download the Detailed Meeting Minutes Here

Your involvement and enthusiasm make GWCA a vibrant and proactive community. Let’s keep this momentum going! Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming events and initiatives.

Join Us Next Time: Remember to mark your calendars for our next meeting June 20th at Warner Park. We can’t wait to see you there!

Thank you for your continued support and participation in the GWCA.

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Events & Announcements

Get your Cubs questions answered this Wednesday

Join us at Quantum LEEP Academy, located at 1447 W Montrose Ave, for our Spring Community Meeting.

Mark your Calendar: Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00

Here’s what’s in store for you:

  1. Meet Our Hosts: Quantum LEEP Academy Founder Lorell Marin will share insights about the school and their mission.
  2. Special Guest: We’re thrilled to welcome Heather Way Kitzes the Chicago Cubs Director of Community and Government Affairs! She’ll share her experiences, vision and how we can collaborate to make our neighborhood even more vibrant. Let’s explore how we can team up with the Cubs to strengthen our ties with the organization.
  3. Additional meeting topics:
    • GWCA budget vote: Have your say in our organization’s financial future.
    • Semi-Annual Council Election: We’re actively seeking passionate individuals to run for council positions! If you’re enthusiastic about the community, step up and make a difference. 
    • Garden Walk Sign-Up: Get ready for our most beautiful event! Sign up to show your garden.
    • Plant Sale Kickoff: Bring your green thumb and learn about the plant sale we are supporting.

We’ve attached the 2023 Cubs Neighborhood Protection Report that highlights some of the Cubs contributions over the past year.

See you there!

2023_Cubs_Neighborhood_Protection_Plan_Annual_ReportDownload

Q2 Community Meeting – Summer Solstice and Environmental Meeting

June 20 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

SUMMER SOLSTICE ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY MEETING
Thursday, June 20, 6:30 – 8 pm
Warner Park & Gardens, 1444 W Warner

Judy Pollock, President of Chicago Birding Alliance (former Chicago Audubon) will return by neighborhood request and share information on local and migrating birds and their needs.

Neighbors Ben and Sarah Conley are certified TreeKeepers, who will provide support information on habitat for birds and tree care.

Neighborhood updates, Garden Walk sign-up, semi-annual Council election.

Summer Solstice Potluck, bring a finger food app, main or dessert to share. BYO beverages, compostable plates and reusable utensils.

Janice Horwich

Warner Park and Gardens

1444 Warner Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613 United States + Google Map

Q1 Community Meeting

March 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm

  1. Meet Our Hosts: Quantum LEEP Academy Founder Lorell Marin will share insights about the school and their mission.
  2. Special Guest: We’re thrilled to welcome Heather Way Kitzes the Chicago Cubs Director of Community and Government Affairs! She’ll share her experiences, vision and how we can collaborate to make our neighborhood even more vibrant. Let’s explore how we can team up with the Cubs to strengthen our ties with the organization.
  3. Additional meeting topics:
    • GWCA budget vote: Have your say in our organization’s financial future.
    • Semi-Annual Council Election: We’re actively seeking passionate individuals to run for council positions! If you’re enthusiastic about the community, step up and make a difference. 
    • Garden Walk Sign-Up: Get ready for our most beautiful event! Sign up to show your garden.
    • Plant Sale Kickoff: Bring your green thumb and learn about the plant sale we are supporting.

Warner Park and Gardens

1444 Warner Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613 United States + Google Map
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Events & Announcements

Celebrate the year at GWCA’s holiday social

This Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 5:30 at Port & Park Bistro & Bar (bar entrance) come celebrate the year with other Graceland West residents and GWCA members.

The list below highlights the GWCA activities throughout the year.

January GWCA & Southport Neighbors Association 46th Ward Aldermanic Forum, Music Box Lounge

March First Quarter Community Meeting, Lakeview Taproom. This was an opportunity for GWCA Block Reps and 19th District Police to get to know each other. 19th District Police Cpt. DelPilar and CAPS Sgt. Hernandez led the update. 19th District Police Council elect Samuel Schoenberg attended. Alderman Martin provided updates for a Traffic Circle for Greenview and Belle Plaine and an update on construction of protected bike lanes on Clark from Irving Park to Montrose. GWCA approved zoning for renovated and new condo construction on Cuyler.

April Earth Day Cleanup. GWCA has held neighborhood cleanups since its 1979 inception.

May GWCA received not-for-profit status again. Donations to GWCA, not including membership dues, are now tax deductible.

June Second Quarter Community Meeting and semi-annual election, Warner Park. Celebrated the Summer Solstice with an annual outdoor Environmental Topic Meeting. Live Roof and Pizzo Native Landscape were our 2023 panel. The Environmental committee focus includes neighborhood Climate Change, pollinator habitat, stormwater flooding, diesel air pollution, composting, recycling and more. Semi-annual elections are held in June and December for 18-month Council terms.

May Annual Yard & Garage Sale

July 41st Annual Garden Walk. 31 Gardens & 7 Pollinator Sites. Information tables included GWCA information, Master Gardeners, Native Plant Pollinator Pathway and Stormwater Absorption Initiative and Tree Keepers.

September 43rd Annual Neighborhood Fest. GWCA was established in 1979 and our first event was our Fest.

September Third Quarter Community Meeting, Warner Park – this meeting was cancelled. The bike maintenance and safety clinic was postponed and the Alder led bike ride will happen when the new Clark Street protected bike lanes open.

September GWCA Native Plant Pollinator Pathway and Stormwater Absorption Site Gardeners received a Chicago Excellence in Gardening (CEGA) Honorary Mention for their seven parkway sites. 5 sites are available for this initiative at Berteau and Ashland, Belle Plaine and Ashland, Cullom and Greenview, Cuyler and Greenview and Warner and Southport.

October Guys of GWCA gathering, Long Room Chicago

October Children’s Halloween Party, Warner Park

November Gals of GWCA gathering, Long Room Chicago

November 11th Annual Street and Crosswalk all-volunteer Leaf Cleanup. 20 volunteers kicked off the cleanup on Greenview intersections filling almost 100 bags with street and crosswalk leaves in 90 minutes. Our 9-day 2023 goal was 500 bags.

December Fourth Quarter Community Meeting, Port & Park. Semi-annual elections, holiday social & Golden Rake Award.

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Events & Announcements

Who will win the GWCA Golden Rake? Find out Thursday at Port & Park

Every year, our final quarterly community meeting is a celebration and social gathering. This year it will be held Thursday December 7th at 5:30 at Port & Park. We’ll have some fun and announce the winner of this year’s golden rake for amazing work during our annual street leaf cleanup. As always, reach out to info@gracelandwest.org with any questions.

Beat Meeting 1912

November 8, 2023 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

CAPS Meeting where the community and the police come together to discuss crime and concerns in their beat.

Chicago Police Department 19th District

View Organizer Website

Warner Park and Gardens

1444 Warner Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613 United States + Google Map
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Events & Announcements

Reminder – Saturday’s Quarterly GWCA Meeting is CANCELED

Friendly reminder that our previously scheduled quarterly GWCA meeting for September 23rd has been canceled. We hope you all enjoyed the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest and are looking forward to the annual Children’s Halloween Party on Saturday October 28th.

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Events & Announcements

It’s still summer in Graceland West

Although the kids are heading back to school, we still have a month left of our 2023 summer.

Looking back, we kicked off the summer with a very successful and engaging meeting. Special thanks to Rachel Kuipers and Jack Pizzo for sharing their knowledge with the group. Also a warm welcome to Chad Rathmann and Linda Welsh who were welcomed to the GWCA council. All meeting minutes are uploaded to our Archives page.

In July we had an amazing 41st annual GWCA Garden Walk. A very special thanks to all of the gardeners who welcomed the community into their enchanted spaces and to Ben Conley, Chad Rathmann and Linda Welsh for leading the organization of the walk.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail spotted during the 41st Annual GWCA Garden Walk

Looking ahead…

On September 10 we will have our annual neighborhood festival on Greenview between Belle Plaine and Warner. Hopefully this year mother nature will spare us the gale-force winds.

On September 23rd we’ll reconvene in the beautiful Warner Park and Gardens for our Q3 meeting and to vote on important matters related to a business on Irving Park.

Be on the lookout for detailed information about these upcoming events and subscribe to our calendar at the bottom of https://gracelandwest.org/calendar/. As always, feel free to drop a note to info@gracelandwest.org about any neighborhood-related curiosities.

Categories
Events & Announcements

Quarterly GWCA Community Meeting 6/20, 6:30 @ Warner Park and Gardens

Our next GWCA Community Meeting is Tuesday, June 20 from 6:30 – 8 pm at Warner Park & Gardens, 1446 West Warner. We’ll move indoors if weather is more than sprinkles of rain.

Agenda includes a brief business meeting & semi-annual GWCA council election. Then the Garden Walk Committee will kick off registration for the 41st Annual Garden Walk on Sunday, July 16. This will be followed by a distinguished panel that will discuss “What one person, household, school or business can do outdoors (balcony, patio, roof, yard) to help the environment”.

Rachel Kuipers, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design Professional, LiveRoof/Hortech.  LR/H specializes in blue green roof systems, offering stormwater management solutions; native, pollinating, habitat-creating and biodiverse plant mixes, LiveRoof’s network of licensed growers provides locally grown modular green roof systems focused on overall plant and system health.

Jack Pizzo, Horticulturist, Ecologist, Landscape Architect, and the founder and principal of The Pizzo Group. With a talented team of professionals, he creates and manages sustainable gardens and landscapes, restores ecosystems, and serves on conservation boards. Pizzo Nursery native plant plugs are available through their retail partners. The Pizzo Group has received 170+ industry awards.

We look forward to seeing you on the 20th! If you have any questions about the meeting, please reach out to info@gracelandwest.org.

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