Ald. Waguespack News: 12/29/2017

32nd Ward Newsletter

Dec. 29, 2017

As the holidays draw to a close, please remember these helpful things to keep the alley clean and safe:

Recycle your Christmas tree
Break down your boxes and place them in recycling bins
Bag any styrofoam peanuts or package fillers for disposal
Pop air filled pillows to make room for more garbage in your cans
Recycle all glass from parties and crush cans to make more room in bins

We and your neighbors thank you in advance!

Please note that our office is closed on Monday because of New Year's Day, which also affects your refuse collection.

In addition, please remember our furry little friends during your New Year's Eve celebrations. While people love to sound off paper horns and crack open noise poppers as well as set off fireworks, pets aren't aware of what these noises are about and can cause much anxiety for them. Here are some helpful hints from the Humane Society for keeping your pets comfortable.

Have a great holiday!

Scott Waguespack

Alderman

In this Newsletter

Shared Cost Sidewalk Program Opens January 9

Christmas Tree Recycling

Business Beat Meeting

Friendly Reminder from CAPS

Your Ventra Card is Expiring & Fares are Increasing

Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Coat Drive

City Warming Centers

Second Chance Job Fair for Returning Citizens and Individuals with Records

14th Police District Blood Drive

Holiday Schedule Change for Garbage and Recycling

Newslinks

JANUARY 9th Shared Cost Sidewalk Program Opens

The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is an extremely popular voluntary program in which property owners share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City. Thousands of Chicagoans have been a part of this program. The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program cost per square foot charged to property owners is typically below what a private contractor charges. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may qualify for a further discounted rate.

Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of participants is based on availability of funds. The program typically reaches capacity quickly, so you are encouraged to APPLY EARLY. In 2017,the program closed to new applicants a few hours after the City began taking applications. Please note that if you applied for the program in previous years, you must apply again if you wish to be considered for the 2018 program.

Applications will only be accepted through the City's 311 system by calling 311 or through the City's service request website here .

We encourage residents who would like to participate in the program to sign up early on the morning of January 9th.

For more information about the program, click here.

CTA to Provide Free Rides, Extra Service for New Year's Eve

The Chicago Transit Authority will be providing free rides and extra service on New Year's Eve. CTA also offers additional service for Bulls game, WGCI Big Jam this weekend

NOTE: All CTA bus and rail service will operate on a Sunday schedule on both Sunday, December 31 and Monday, January 1, when the New Year is a nationally observed holiday.

The Chicago Transit Authority is a convenient and affordable transit option for traveling to events around Chicago this weekend, including the "New Year's Eve Fireworks" event at Navy Pier. Free rides will be provided through a sponsorship from Miller Lite on CTA buses and trains beginning 10 p.m. on Sunday, December 31 until 4 a.m. Monday, January 1.

For customers traveling to and from events around Chicago this New Year's Eve outside the free ride period, the CTA recommends purchasing fares in advance, which will decrease travel times and avoid long lines at rail station vending machines. Customers can load ahead of time transit value or unlimited ride passes (1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day) to their Ventra fare cards at rail stations, online or at nearly1,000 local retailers (locations available at ventrachicago.com).

Customers can also pay their fares with their personal contactless debit or credit cards and add value to their accounts by using the Ventra App, available for free download via www.ventrachicago.com, the App Store and Google Play.

Full travel details are available at transitchicago.com/alerts. CTA recommends allowing plenty of travel time and purchasing fares and unlimited-ride passes ahead of time. More information about purchasing fares is below.

Extra New Year's Eve Service

Rail: Red, Blue, Green, Brown, Orange, Yellow and Purple lines

Bus: #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #22 Clark, #29 State, #65 Grand, #66 Chicago, #79 79th Street, #124 Navy Pier and #151 Sheridan

United Center Events

Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls - Fri. 12/29 at 7 p.m.

WGCI Big Jam - Sat. 12/30 at 7:30 p.m.

Rail: Green, Pink and Blue lines

Bus: #19 United Center Express, #20 Madison and #50 Damen

Stay in the Loop on CTA Service

Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA) for system travel updates and alerts. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.

Christmas Tree Recycling Locations

Wicker Park Bucktown Business Beat Meeting

Please join the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce

and Chicago Police 014th District at the Den Theater for a Business Beat meeting to engage and exchange about the policing of Wicker Park & Bucktown's commercial districts. RSVP TODAY!

Friendly Reminder from CAPS

During this time of year, many drivers will leave their cars running in order to warm up the vehicle before heading to their destinations. Drivers will leave their cars unlocked and unattended, which leaves the car open to being stolen easily. Please be reminded that it is not a good idea to leave your car unattended while warming up the vehicle. Make sure to pay attention to your surroundings and report suspicious activity should you see anything or any persons who concern you by calling 911. Thank you!

Your Ventra Card is Expiring and Fares are Increasing

Did you know your Ventra card has an expiration date? The first of the original Ventra cards issued in 2013 start expiring in December 2017.

If you've already registered your Ventra card online at ventrachicago.com, you will receive email notification two months before your card's expiration date asking you to make sure your address on file is current, so you can receive your free replacement card in the mail and have your balance automatically transferred to the new card.

If you have not registered your card, you can easily do so by going to ventrachicago.com or via Ventra app, so you can get a replacement card before your card expires and not lose the remaining balance on your card. Alternatively, you can spend down their balance before your card expires and then purchase a new Ventra card.

The Ventra card also has a new look and will be a transit-only card and will no longer include prepaid debit card functionality. For customers who previously opened a prepaid account on their Ventra Card, they can transfer funds to another Money Network prepaid product or obtain a refund. Prepaid customers can call 888.824.8802 for more information.

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Please note that the Chicago Transit Authority will also be increasing fares as of Jan 7.

Full fare rail- going from $2.25 to $2.50

Full fare bus (with card)- going from $2.00 to $2.25

Full fare bus (with cash)- going from $2.25 to $2.50

30 day CTA/Pace Pass- going from $100.00 to $105.00

For more information, please click here.

Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce Coat Drive

The Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce (RVCC) is partnering with Button and Zipper again to collect coats (in good condition) for less fortunate Chicagoans. Bring coat donations to the Chamber office at 3201 N Wolcott until the end of February!

Since 2013, Button and Zipper has been helping Chicagoan's in need stay warm during the city's grueling winter months. In their first year, they collected and distributed 845 coats to Chicago's homeless and at risk youth, increasing to over 5,000 in 2016! Thanks to RVCC for working so hard to help Button and Zipper! We hope you'll consider donating right away!

City Warming Centers

Click here for Spanish flyer

Click here for Polish flyer

Second Chance Job Fair for Returning Citizens and Individuals with Records

The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services and the Safer Foundation are sponsoring a job fair and employment information event, on Monday, January 8th, for returning citizens and individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system. Interested individuals will be pre-screened for the Chicago Transit Authority's Second Chance Program and employment opportunities in major industries like Transportation, Logistics, Distribution, Construction, Health Care and more.

Individuals must register prior to the event. You can do so by clicking here. For more information, please contact Dino Durham at [email protected]g or 773-265-8372.

14th Police District Blood Drive

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

32nd Ward Office

**Please note my office will be closed on Monday, January 1st in observation of New Year's Day. The office will reopen Tuesday, January 2nd**

2657 N. Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

Hours:

Monday - Friday

9 am to 6 pm

Phone: 773-248-1330

Fax: 773-248-1360

Email:

[email protected]

www.ward32.org

Please email or call us with any requests.

Holiday Schedule Change for Garbage and Recycling

Please note the changes to the refuse and recycling schedule due to Monday, January 1st New Years holidays.

All city-collected refuse will be serviced Tuesday through Friday of next week. Residents should ensure all black refuse carts are accessible throughout the week of collection, not solely on their regular day of collection. Additionally, residents should be advised of potential changes to Blue Cart Recycling collection based on their service provider.

(1) The Department of Streets and Sanitation (Zones 2 and 4) will collect recycling Tuesday and through Friday. Residents should ensure all Blue Recycling Carts are accessible throughout the week of collection.

(2) Privately-provided Blue Recycling Cart Service will be collected Tuesday through Saturday. Residents with private-service should continue to put out Blue Recycling Carts throughout the week, according to their typical schedule.

Waste Management (Zones 1, 3 and 6) will collect Monday and Wednesday through Saturday with all collections (except Tuesday's collection) being moved one day; Monday will go to Tuesday, Tuesday will go to Wednesday,Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday will go to Friday and Friday to Saturday.