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Showing posts from October, 2013

Chicago energy audits branch out

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Federal funds helped Energy Impact Illinois line up 3,500 building retrofits in the Chicago area, says field organizer Vito Greco. Now CNT Energy, the Wicker Park-based nonprofit organizing the yearlong coaching effort, is lining up partners to continue its energy assessments. "Our aim is to create a more whole-home approach," Greco said. "This might include not just insulation and air-sealing, but also lighting, appliances, solar and even water management." The energy-efficiency clearinghouse would channel grants, rebates and free products to owners of houses and and 2-4 unit buildings. Greco will give a progress report on the successor effort at Monday's East Village Association meeting. He'll also have tips on insulating and sealing homes for winter. The meeting starts at 7pm in the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.

Author Adam Levin at West Town Branch Library

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By Jason Nosek , library associate Author event: Adam Levin Please join us at 2pm Saturday Nov. 2 for a reading by local author Adam Levin, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Books will be available for purchase at the library, 1625 W. Chicago Ave. Levin is the author of the novel “ The Instructions ,” winner of both the 2011 New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award and the inaugural Indie Booksellers Choice Award, and finalist for the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. “ Hot Pink ,” his collection of short stories, was a New York Times Editor's Choice pick and a Shelf Unbound Top 10 book of 2012. It contains stories that have won the Summer Literary Seminars Fiction Contest as well as the Joyce Carol Oates Fiction Prize. His work has appeared in a variety of publications, including Tin House, Esquire, Playboy, and New England Review. He lives in Chicago, where he teaches Creative Writing at the School of the Art Institute.

Bringing trees to Augusta Boulevard

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East Village Association board meeting minutes for October 14, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Upcoming speakers Vito Greco from the Center for Neighborhood Technology will give a short talk about its energy programs. For a future meeting, Neal McKnight and Gladys Anselmo will approach someone from zoning to speak about possibilities for East Village, with an aim toward developing a plan to encourage the preservation and construction of single-family homes. Ronda Locke will ask Dietch Pharmacy if it's interested in doing a business minute to discuss current renovations and additions. Red Apple liquor license Red Apple filed suit in circuit court against the city for denying a license. The judge ruled in favor of Red Apple, and the city will appeal. The process likely will take awhile. Miller Lumber LaSalle II school was promised $10,000 a year from the developers. McKnight will write to developers reminding them of the commitment. 1800 W. Chicago Ave. Fifield has contact

West Town crime: August-September 2013

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West Town crime: August-September 2013 West Town crime remains lower compared to last year, according to police figures. Arrests in the news included suspects in a Wicker Park shooting and a Ukrainian Village armed robbery . The East Village Association analyzed statistics downloaded from the City of Chicago Data Portal and published on the Chicago Tribune Crime in Chicago website, comparing them to 2012 incidents. August % change September % change YTD % change Homicide 0 0 2 100% 7 17% Sexual assault 4 100% 1 0% 21 11% Assault 7 -42% 3 -67% 56 -28% Battery 15 -17% 12 0% 98 -9% Robbery 31 35% 21 -46% 238 -20% Violent crime 57 4% 39 -37% 420 -17% Burglary 79 -5% 65 -28% 579 -6% Theft 256 -11% 245 -11% 1,911 -15% Auto theft 54 15% 52 -20%

1611 West Division: Permit parking off limits

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Leasing is under way at the 1611 West Division high-rise tower, marketed as "less than 300 feet away" from the CTA Blue Line. After side-street parking was raised as an issue at this week's East Village Association meeting, Ald. Proco Joe Moreno asked us to share the following statement. Dear neighbor As you may know, as part of the redevelopment agreement for the building at the corner of Ashland and Division, I committed to not allowing residents of this building the ability to obtain permit parking on Marshfield. To that end, at last month's city council meeting, I introduced an ordinance that prohibits residents at the new building from acquiring permit parking on Marshfield. This ordinance will be passed in committee this week, and by the full council next week. Additionally, the City Clerk agreed to not issue any permits allowing parking on Marshfield to residents of the new building "pending passage of the ordinance." In other words, even though

LaSalle II earns top grade; healthcare enrollment opens

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Minutes of Oct. 7 membership meeting Submitted by Stephen Rynkiewicz LaSalle II Principal Lauren Albani announced that LaSalle II school has been promoted to Level 1, giving the language academy more autonomy. Level 1 is the highest of three ratings levels based on growth in attendance and Illinois Standard Achievement Test scores. Top-tier schools score 28 or more points on a 39-point scale; LaSalle II earned 34 points . More information is at cps.edu/schooldata . Landscaping will begin Oct. 21 along Division and Honore streets as part of a campus re-imagination. This summer new playground equipment will be added, along with two basketball courts and a vegetable garden. The campus will be open to the community thanks to an OpenLands grant. Neal McKnight noted that developers of the former Miller Lumber property had pledged to donate to the project. This year the school at 1148 N. Wolcott has an enrollment of 622 chosen by lottery, with half of incoming students chosen from with

Coffee talk, Ashland BRT's route

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East Village Association membership meeting minutes for September 9, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Business Minute: Ugly Mug Café owner Mikky Wright The Ugly Mug Café has been a 10-year dream of Mikky Wright to bring a community-driven coffee shop to West Town. After moving from Seattle to Wicker Park in 1997, Mikky lamented on the lack of cafes in the neighborhood. After owning and operating a few local businesses such as the Alliance Bakery and the Wicker Park Inn, he decided to bring his vision to life and create a vibrant, neighborhood-accessible shop. Sticking to the independent nature of West Town, Mikky created a coffee shop from the ground-up by using local vendors (such as Passion House coffee and Sweet Cakes bakery) and hiring a strong and friendly staff dedicated to the mission that the Ugly Mug should be open to everyone whether for a coffee, a sandwich, or just to stop by and say “howdy.” Ugly Mug is located at 1458 W. Chicago Ave., between Green Zebra and Unite Urb

EVA Monday: Obamacare, LaSalle II

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In Near Northwest Side neighborhoods Avondale, Hermosa, Logan Square & West Town, 28% of adults are uninsured , according to Health & Disability Advocates. This week they're able to size up coverage under Illinois' new healthcare insurance exchange or the state Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. People looking to lower rates from their current coverage, or who have been denied coverage in the past, also can check 2014 rates from the exchange, through insurers that include Aetna, Blue Cross and Humana. Patrick Corcoran, regional outreach coordinator for the state's Get Covered Illinois program, will explain the options at Monday's East Village Association meeting. The Get Covered Illinois website launched Oct. 1 and by 3:30pm had attracted 69,840 visitors. The newly expanded state Medicaid site took 1,100 applications. The responses “certainly validate the strong interest in healthcare in Illinois,” said a
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