Quarterly GWCA Meeting – 2nd Quarter 2023

June 20, 2023 @ 6:30 pm 8:00 pm

Details to follow

Warner Park and Gardens

1444 Warner Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613 United States
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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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Halloween Party – Saturday October 29th

The goblins are haunting, the monsters will mash, it’s time to get ready for a Halloween bash!

The Graceland West Halloween party returns to Warner Park after a two year hiatus; Saturday October 29th at 10:30 AM. Come in costume and be ready for spook-tacular games, pumpkin decorating, candy apple creation and more.

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the event. Please email info@gracelandwest.org if you’re willing to lend a hand.

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Events & Announcements

Quarterly GWCA Meeting 6/23, 7:00 @ Warner Park and Gardens

Warmer Park and Gardens

Join GWCA this Thursday 6/23 at 7:00 at Warner Park and Gardens (1444 W Warner) for a great meeting which will include:

  • TreeKeepers – coming to talk about tree care and native trees.
  • Representatives from the 47th Ward and CDOT – coming to share a proposal for protected bike lanes from Irving Park to Montrose and to discuss other safe streets possibilities in our neighborhood.
  • The launch of registration for the 40th Annual Garden Walk.

The council is looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday. Don’t hesitate to reach out to info@gracelandwest.org if you have any questions.

GWCA Halloween Party

October 29, 2022 @ 11:00 am 1:00 pm

The 2022 Graceland West Halloween party will take place on Saturday October 29th from 11:00 to 1:00. Bring your costumed little ones and be ready for pumpkin decorating, make your own candy apples, mummy and ghost races, pin the stem on the pumpkin and other games…oh yea, and lots of candy and other treats!

Warner Park and Gardens

1444 Warner Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613 United States
Categories
Events & Announcements

Warner Park and Gardens Gazebo

Warner Park and Gardens let GWCA know that they needed to remove the gazebo.  It was getting rickety and needed extensive repairscialis generic usa It is not necessary to consume Sildenafil Soft Gel Capsule everyday. You can log onto a viagra online for sale cute-n-tiny.com popular online shop and buy this product to stimulate your sensual organs and enjoy a happy sexual life. buy cheap levitra Most importantly, it helps treat any kinds of sexual dysfunction. It comes in doses of 5 mg, 10 mg and the medication should be taken at least generic viagra wholesale 2 to 3 times daily. to continue to be safe.  They love that all are enjoying the park and gardens and making cherished memories.

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CAPS MEETING REPORT – GRACELAND WEST AND OTHER CRIME TIPS

At the November 19th CAPS meeting, police discussed followup to a gang related shots fired incident on the 1400 block of Warner and subsequent arrests saying it is gang related. Police emphasized that neighbors need to call 911 on anyone who doesn’t seem like they belong in the neighborhood, and just seems to be waiting around (anywhere within the neighborhood). As extreme as it sounds, the officers encouraged us to call even if the guys don’t seem to be doing anything wrong.

When a neighbor calls 911, they are supposed to tell the operator that they are calling from a known gang assembly place, and then report what they’ve seen.

This time of year, it’s likely the guys will just be sitting in cars. The officers said they really need to collect license plate numbers so they can track the gang. The officers asked that if at all possible, a license plate number be given to the 911 operator.

ADDITIONAL CRIME TIPS:

EYES ON THE STREET: Call 911 immediately to report CRIME or SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY HAPPENING NOW. Report descriptions of people, vehicles and tag number if possible and direction of escape. Alert your phone tree after calling 911.

  • Crime in progress
  • Someone looking into windows, yards or cars
  • Someone with a sob story at your door requesting money
  • Someone ringing your bell with brochures from Lambs Farm (they don’t fund raise door to door) or something similar
  • Someone being followed or someone following you
  • A group gathering to drag race, smoke dope, deal dope
  • Someone you think might be applying graffiti
  • An occupied parked car that seems suspicious
  • A moving van at a neighbor’s house and you know they aren’t moving

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GRAFFITI: If you have an iPhone or droid, download the Chicago Works app from iTunes or Google Play. Photo the graffiti and email it to 311 along with the address. A copy will go to the alderman’s office too.

Call 311 to report that someone broke into your garage or your bike or lawnmower was stolen. It’s important to REPORT ALL CRIME because police get better information re patterns AND REPORTED CRIME INCIDENTS determine how police coverage is allocated.

LIGHTS ON. A well-lit neighborhood deters crime and makes the neighborhood welcoming to neighbors. Please light your front and rear entries from DUSK TO DAWN all year and report street lights out to 311.

LINE OF SIGHT. If your home is hidden behind a privacy fence, overgrown shrubs, untrimmed trees and your neighbors or police can’t see you coming or going from the street or alley, it’s time to LIGHTEN UP and eliminate hiding spots. Walk across the street. Can you and your neighbor easily see your front entrance, basement and first floor windows and rear entry at all hours? Can police drive by and see that all is OK? Look at your neighbor’s houses. Can you see their entry points easily?

PHONE TREE. Keep contact info for neighbors on either side, across the street and across the alley behind you. Call them after calling 911 or 311. Register on and Post to EveryBlock and Nextdoor.

LOCK DOORS AND WINDOWS. If you’re gardening, raking leaves or shoveling, LOCK YOUR DOORS AND KEEP THE KEY IN YOUR POCKET. Also use ventilation locks on your basement, first and second floor windows. (They’re the locks that let a window open for ventilation, but not enough to climb in).

PHOTOGRAPH OR VIDEO AND INVENTORY your valuable items and keep a copy off site. You can inscribe your driver’s license number on electronics.

ENJOY YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Active, happy neighborhoods deter crime. Vary your routine a little too. Use both your front and back door, not just one. GET TO KNOW three new neighbors well this winter and PLEASE JOIN GWCA: www.gracelandwest.org

 

 

 

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WARNER PARK TAKES IMMEDIATE ACTION FOLLOWING GUN SHOTS AND ARRESTS

GWCA has been following all the conversations trending on Everyblock (www.everyblock.com) and Nextdoor (www.nextdoor.com) websites, as well as inquiries through the GWCA website, since the gunshots occurred in Warner Park recently. One of our GWCA council members contacted a Warner Park representative and she updated us on the changes they are making in the Park which are discussed below:

A newly Installed Mercury halogen lamp was mounted on the high post near the garage. This will illuminate the back part of the yard and gazebo and will run 24/7 during the winter.  The benches located on the west side closest to the garage have been removed. This should help dissuade loitering.  The benches will be installed in a new location in the spring.

The area has been cleared of any high standing shrubbery, including the larger blue spruce, to improve the view from Warner to the alley and eliminate niches. Removing the gazebo is under consideration and might be done if this problem persists. For the moment though the gazebo will stand. The gazebo is lighted.

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GWCA believes Warner Park has taken all necessary action regarding suggestions from the Alderman’s office and police department.  Some have also suggested that the garden be fenced but Warner Park representatives believe that would be counter to the intention and purpose of the park. The other suggestion was to have video surveillance operating. The Warner Park representative said she would investigate this option.

GWCA plans to discuss, at its next meeting, making a contribution to Warner Park to help offset some of these security-related costs. We are very appreciative to have access to such a wonderful space in the neighborhood and for the Park administrators’ swift action and concerns for its neighbors’ safety and well-being. If you have any questions or comments, you may make them here or via GWCA site www.gracelandwest.org.

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GUN SHOTS LAST NIGHT IN WARNER PARK (MON NIGHT)

BELOW ARE TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION FOR YOU TO REVIEW REGARDING LAST NIGHT’S INCIDENT:

The first is reprinted from “Crime in Wrigleyville and Boystown” online publication which may be viewed directly at:

http://crimeinboystown.blogspot.com/2014/11/shake-up-shots-fired-man-beaten-in-lake.html

 

UPDATE: A full update is now up. Our original report follows.

————-
A series of gang-related incidents broke out in a normally quiet section of nearby Lake View Monday evening, with at least six shots fired and one man being beaten as the events unfolded between 9:40PM and 10 o’clock.

No one was struck by the gunfire. And an officer on the scene said the incidents were related—part of “ongoing gang things.”

We believe four people were taken into police custody during the incident, which appears to have involved predominantly-Hispanic gangs.

A CWB reader who estimates 10 shots were fired on her block reports  a “good response from CPD.”

Please note the preliminary nature of the following information:

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Police responded to the area of Clark and Southport after a series of 911 calls reporting shots fired and a man with a gun. Officers eventually found six shell casings outside of a home in the 1400 block of Warner.

A number of individuals were detained along Warner and on side streets while others fled into nearby alleys and yards. Initial indications are that the people who were rounded up in the immediate area had been targeted by rival gang members.

Witnesses reported seeing a silver or gray Altima with tinted windows flee the scene westbound. It is not clear if it was involved in the shooting.

As police searched the area, one unit came across a battery in progress near Lake View High School in the 1400 block of Irving Park Road. Several Hispanic men fled the scene in a white van while one or two others scurried into a nearby alley.

Officers believe they located the van minutes later near the Ravenswood Metra Station.

Early information to CWB has two individuals from the van being taken into custody with a third person going in from the 1400 block of Irving Park, and a fourth from Warner.

None of the individuals who were targeted in the gunfire wished to involve police in the matter. Most of them were released after police completed contact cards.

A reckless conduct case was opened at the Irving Park scene, which police say was related to the shooting attempt.

 

 

The below is from an email received from the Alderman’s office early this morning prior to the story unfolding further:

Commander confirmed that two shell casings were recovered at 1454 W Warner and that no one was hit. They have two in custody. He is keeping his tactical teams in the area and investigating the source of the gang activity, and we are working on that with them.

At this point, it is important that people call 911 if they see groups of young men who are not from the neighborhood congregating in Graceland West. In the meantime there will be an increased police presence around the neighborhood.

 

If you would like to read or participate in ongoing discussions on this and other neighborhood subjects, I highly recommend downloading the ap “EVERYBLOCK” and you will see all the on-goings in and around Graceland West.

 

GWCA still needs block reps for communication and outreach – Please email brad@skyprocessing.com if you are interested and we can discuss further. Also, please email brad for Crime Prevention Tips which are also part of the membership materials.

 

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