Here's the latest newsletter with news from eastvillagechicago.org. Features include a preview of Monday Feb. 7's EVA meeting with Streets & Sanitation Supt. Manuel Gonzalez; an update on preservation of St. Boniface Church, and plans for a new delicatessen restaurant on Ashland Avenue.

Yes, you have to shovel the sidewalk. It's the law. The Chicago Municipal Code says property owners must shovel their front sidewalks, by 10 a.m. for an overnight snowfall or within three hours of a daytime storm. And you must scatter sand or "similar suitable material" on the icy patches. You do get Sundays off. The ins and outs of snow clearing will be explained Feb. 7 when 1st Ward Streets & Sanitation Supt. Manuel Gonzalez visits the Happy Village for the East Village Association's Feb. 7 meeting, starting at 7 p.m. at Wolcott Avenue and Thomas Street. That is, Gonzalez will be there if Wolcott and Thomas don't need plowing first. Also scheduling an appearance is Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, who has said Streets & Sanitation can be run more efficiently if it weren't organized by ward. Lately the 1st and 32nd wards have experimented with a grid system for trash pickup in adjoining alleys. Moreno told the Tribune and Channel 7 that a full-fl...

Longtime East Village resident Malika Peterson provided this grocery and restaurant proposal. For the business to sell liquor at the Ashland Avenue address, the city would have to end a license moratorium. The East Village Association board will review the proposal at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Leona's, 1936 W. Augusta Blvd. By Malika Peterson Buon Gusto, LLC is a new business with a proposed location at 845 N. Ashland in Chicago’s West Town. The store will be an upscale international grocery, delicatessen and cafe with a distinct menu. The facility will include a 16-person-capacity eating area, deli/kitchen with counter and checkout area. and grocery/gift area. The mission of Buon Gusto, LLC is to provide Chicago, West Town residents and visitors with quality, authentic Sardinian grocery items and prepared foods combined with good service and an atmosphere reminiscent of Old World Sardegna. Our store motto is, "Good Flavor." The gourmet and specialty food market is boo...

By Tom Tomek   For the 2010-11 school year, LaSalle II magnet school admitted 65 new students and will take on an additional staff/teacher position. Student performance is projected to be above the state standard, according to the roadmap for improvement presented to the local school council Jan. 12. In Northwest Evaluation Association reports for the school, 1148 N. Honore St., 69.8% of reading and 82.8% of math scores were above proficiency. The results were cited in LaSalle II's biennial School Improvement Plan for Advancing Academic Achievement report, which can be downloaded here . Points of interest from the LaSalle II SIPAAA report: All of the faculty are judged highly qualified and are dedicated to the students and school community, the report said. According to parent surveys, most parents are satified with the academic rigor and quality of instruction. Transfers to and from the school are low, making for more stable classrooms. All teachers went through Kagan Professiona...

Planning, Preservation & Development committee report by Scott A. Rappe   Despite 11 years of effort to preserve all of St. Boniface, the rectory will be demolished by the end of the month. The church at 921 N. Noble St. is being converted into senior housing by Institutional Property Management through a convoluted scheme structured by several city departments and agencies. Among other things, the redevelopment agreement required money to be set aside in two escrow accounts, one for the demolition of the rectory, the other for the demolition of the church. If the developer found no use for the rectory, the agreement required a demolition permit be issued by Dec. 31, and demolition to be completed by Jan. 30. A market study was commissioned by IPM to determine how many living units the current market would support. It was hoped that the review would show economic conditions would support more than the 75 units needed to make the project feasible. Unfortunately this was not t...

By Scott A. Rappe Some East Village Association members were disappointed after the Jan. 3 vote on Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe. Most were thrilled. Regardless of which side you fall on, the vote holds important lessons on civic engagement. To those who supported the cafe's proposed rooftop deck: Don’t take your victory for granted. Whether it was a friend's encouragement or a passion for Quad Cities pizza and organic baked goods, you felt the issue was important enough to come out, let your opinion be known and maybe join EVA and vote. Next month’s meeting probably will lack the fireworks, but your attendance in no less important. To those of you who opposed the roof deck: Let this defeat be a wake-up call. Having a positive influence on your community will take more than showing up to a meeting and voting against something. Your opposition probably stemmed from bad experiences with other liquor-serving businesses in the neighborhood. You must attend meetings regularly, liste...