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Hi neighbors,
I’d like to extend my congratulations to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson following his victory in Tuesday’s mayoral election. I also commend Paul Vallas and the seven other mayoral candidates who devoted tremendous time and energy during the campaign out of a desire to serve our great city. Over 19,600 47th Ward residents—approximately 50% of registered voters in our Ward—voted early or on Election Day. On a much more somber note, I extend my sincere condolences to the loved ones of Firefighter Jermaine Pelt and Lt. Jan Tchoryk, two Chicago firefighters who died responding to fires this week on our city’s far south and near north sides.
Early morning this past Sunday, two individuals attempted to rob a man as he was walking on Montrose near Leavitt. As they left the area, the individuals fired several shots at the victim, who was not harmed physically. Several minutes later, a man and a woman were standing on Byron St near Lincoln Ave when several men stepped out of a dark-colored sedan and robbed them. The Chicago Police Department is investigating whether the two incidents are connected, and has issued a Community Alert in connection with a string of armed robberies that were committed across Chicago’s north side. (See the Public Safety section below for a copy of the alert.)
Earlier this week, I met with traffic engineers from our city’s Department of Transportation to identify potential strategies for improving pedestrian safety at the six-corner intersection of Lincoln, Damen, and Irving Park. My office also worked with neighbors on breaking records in connection with our community's annual Ravenswood Ave Cleanup—46 participants collected trash that filled 86 oversized bags.
I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Lucy Nye, who recently joined my office to work on business-related issues and a host of other constituent service needs. Earlier this week, she celebrated a ribbon cutting for the new Dimo’s Pizza location at 4647 N. Lincoln Ave.
I hope you all have a relaxing weekend. Chag Sameach to all those celebrating Passover, and Happy Easter to all those who will be celebrating this Sunday.
Yours in service,
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Government Services and Information | |
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47th Ward Office Diaper Drive
Throughout the month of April, our office is partnering Birth Center of Chicago and Share Our Spare to collect diapers for the National Diaper Bank Network. We a accepting the following items at our office (please note this does not include cloth diapers):
- Diapers size Newborn through 6
- New packages of diapers
- Open packages of diapers
- Small packages
- Large boxes of bulk diapers
- Donate directly online to distribution center
- Swim diapers
- Night Diapers
- Pull-up or potty-training diapers
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LV2 Parking Permits Available
Permits and guest passes for the LV2 - Cubs night game parking zone are available for pickup at the 47th Ward office, and they were also mailed on March 8 to residents with current city vehicle stickers registered to an address in the LV2 zone. Find out more about pick-up at our office on our website.
A major change is coming to the LV2 permit parking zone this year, and we want to make sure you’re aware.
- LV2 permits will now be required for ALL Cubs day and night games and concerts at Wrigley Field, not just night games.
- Restrictions will be in effect from 5pm to 10pm.
- This means that guests of residents in the LV2 zone should have a daily or season-long guest placard on their dashboard if parked in the zone between 5pm and 10pm on any day a Cubs home game or concert takes place.
- Guests will not need a guest placard if they’re parked in the LV2 zone and leave before 5pm.
Residents in the LV2 zone will see minimal changes, as your vehicle should have the annual LV2 permit sticker in the windshield. You should, however, make sure to note the Cubs schedule and Wrigley Field concert schedule to be aware of dates that visitors will need LV2 guest placards.
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Street Sweeping Has Started
The city's street sweeping season begins April 1, so be on the lookout for the orange No Parking signs on residential blocks and move your vehicle accordingly from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Permanent street signs posted along commercial/arterial streets indicate the days of the week and times (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.) for street sweeping. Failure to move a vehicle from a posted no-parking zone may result in a $60 fine during street sweeping days.
Each year, the schedule rotates through 20 sections (taking 2 days per section) between April 1 and mid-November, meaning each street is swept 4-5 times. Whichever section would have been next at the time the season ends is then the first the following year.
Each section is posted for 2 days. As much as possible, the sweeper aims to cover the north side of east-west streets and the west side of north-south streets on the first day, before moving on to the east and south sides on the second day.
Click here to view the 47th Ward 2023 street sweeper map.
How to use the map:
- Click this link to open the map
- Click on the area in the map where you live and view the dates in the legend
- Or, click on the magnifying glass icon to search your address to find the section you're in.
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Block Parties - Jumping Jack Portal Opening Soon
Residents planning summer block parties may apply to our office for a permit to close their street for the day. If this is your first time hosting a block party, or your block hasn't hosted one in the past three years, we ask that you circulate a petition among neighbors. Learn more and apply on our website here.
The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) may provide an inflatable bounce house for your block party. The Jumping Jack Application becomes available in early spring, and the availability fills up very quickly. In 2023, the application will open April 17 on the Jumping Jack website and the program runs May 27 through September 3.
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Construction Updates and Traffic Notices
To receive updates on major construction projects in the ward or to share questions and concerns, please email [email protected]. You can also view a list of major ongoing projects in the ward mapped out at aldermanmartin.com/infrastructure. If you want to find more information about smaller scale construction projects happening near you, consult our Help Desk.
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Montrose Arterial Resurfacing
Over the next month, crews will be installing concrete bus pads in the street at four bus stops west of Western Ave. Those bus pads, which are tougher than asphalt, will ensure that buses do not damage the road surface over time. This is the final step in the Arterial Resurfacing project, through which Montrose was repaved west of Western Ave last year.
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Lincoln-Ashland-Belmont Intersection Redesign
Work on this project is starting up again. The largest part of the project was completed last year; the main outstanding items for this year include building the curb extensions on the final outstanding corner west of Lincoln and north of Belmont (Garfield's Beverage) and repaving the street, which is expected in the summer. Next week, crews will install temporary traffic controls on Lincoln north of Belmont, making space for equipment staging. Throughout the other sections of the project, crews will also begin installing streetscape items, including bike racks, benches, and planters.
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Lakeview Low-Line Phase II Construction Resuming
Work on the second phase of the Lakeview Low-Line underneath the Brown Line tracks at the Paulina station, led by Friends of Lakeview, is resuming. For the rest of April, contractors will complete the pathway and install final concrete footings and plantings.
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Ravenswood Metra Station Construction
Metra has pushed back their station opening date to July. This delay is due in part to supply chain problems (which have delayed delivery of structural glazed tile), and in part to the need to address some leaks and hairline cracks in the new platform before the it is open to the public.
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North DuSable Lake Shore Drive Resurfacing
Starting Sunday, April 16, the Department of Transportation will repave northbound North DuSable Lake Shore Drive from LaSalle Dr to Lawrence Ave and southbound from Lawrence Ave to Irving Park Rd. Crews will work extended evening and overnight hours, in addition to off-rush daytime work, to complete the work by mid-June. All lanes in the southbound direction will be fully reopened to traffic during the morning rush period and all northbound lanes will be fully reopened to traffic in the afternoon rush period.
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CPS Playground Updates
As part of its regular capital improvement program, Chicago Public Schools is currently replacing and updating the playgrounds at Bell and Waters Elementary School.
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Apply Now for Your Perfect Summer Job in the Parks – for Ages 16+!
Earn a paycheck, make friends, keep active, have fun, and make a difference by working in the parks! A variety of employment opportunities are available at the Chicago Park District this summer to suit all interests, schedules, and experience levels. These positions offer competitive wages, opportunities to build life skills, flexible work schedules, and pathways to careers and full-time employment. Another plus: working indoors and outdoors, depending on the position, and having summer nights off.
Positions available for ages 16+ include Lifeguard, Recreation Leader (for Day Camp), and Junior Laborer (park maintenance). Additional positions are available for ages 18+. Learn more & apply now.
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2023 Chicago City Markets Schedule Announced
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is pleased to announce the 2023 summer season of Chicago City Markets. The Chicago City Markets sell fresh seasonal produce, flowers, unique Chicago-made products and rare finds – at Chicago’s longest running farmers market on Daley Plaza and a dozen more community markets in neighborhoods across Chicago. The historic Maxwell Street Market returns to its home at 800 S. Desplaines St. every Sunday from May through October in alignment with the Chicago City Market schedule. A complete list of city-run markets, dates and times are listed below and at chicagocitymarkets.us.
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Public Safety Update
At approximately 4:30am on Sunday, April 2nd, a 54-year-old man was walking westbound on Montrose Ave near Leavitt St when two men stepped out of a vehicle. The offenders attempted to rob the victim, fired several shots toward him, and returned to their vehicle, which drove southbound on Lincoln Ave. The victim was not harmed physically, and responding officers recovered a handgun nearby.
Several minutes later, a 22-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were standing on Byron St near Lincoln Ave when several men stepped out of a dark-colored sedan. Displaying handguns, the offenders demanded the victims’ property, and one of the offenders hit the male victim in the head before the offenders returned to their vehicle. CPD is investigating whether the two incidents are connected.
Separately, the Chicago Police Department has issued a Community Alert in connection with a string of armed robberies that were committed across Chicago’s north side early in the morning on Saturday, April 1st. According to the alert, the robberies were committed by 3–4 Black men between the ages of 18 and 22, wearing dark-colored hooded sweatshirts and dark-colored pants.
Area 3 Detectives are investigating each incident, and the 19th Police District is modifying its patrols accordingly. If you have any potentially helpful information, please contact Area 3 at 312-744-8261. My office will provide updates as we learn them. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office at (773) 868-4747 or [email protected].
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Bureau of Detectives Area 3 - Community Alert
Community Alerts are posted here.
About the Crime:
This alert gives notice to the residents of the 001st, 009th, 017th, 018th, and 019th Districts of recent related robbery incidents. In each instance, occurring during the early morning hours, multiple armed offenders approached victims on the public way and demanded the victims' property by threatening use of force. Upon taking possession of the victims’ personal belongings, the offenders entered into and fled in a waiting vehicle.
Incident times and locations:
- 3500 block of South Leavitt Street on April 1, 2023 at 3:28 AM.
- 200 block of South Michigan Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 5:40 AM.
- 100 block of South Dearborn Street on April 1, 2023 at 5:45 AM.
- 800 block of North Michigan Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 5:48 AM.
- 1900 block of West Montrose Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:12 AM.
- 3600 block of North Lincoln Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:15 AM.
- 4300 block of North Albany Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:30 AM.
- 4100 block of Sacramento Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:33 AM.
- 3100 block of North Damen Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:47 AM.
- 2300 block of North Lakewood Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:50 AM.
- 1000 block of West Wellington Avenue on April 1, 2023 at 6:54 AM.
Offender descriptions:
The offenders are described as three-four African American males, 18-22 years old, wearing dark-hooded sweatshirts, dark-colored pants, and dark ski masks.
What you can do:
- Be aware of these crimes and alert family and friends who live in the area
- Be aware of your surroundings and free from distractions
- If you are confronted by an assailant, remain calm
- Pay special attention to suspicious individuals or vehicles in the area
- Call 911 immediately if you are a victim or witness to a crime and provide a detailed
- description of the offender(s) including any vehicle description and license plate information
- If approached by a witness to an incident, request they remain on the scene when possible or obtain contact information
If you have any information Contact the Bureau of Detectives
Area 3 Detective Division
(312) 744-8263
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CAPS Beat Meetings
We encourage residents to contact their local police district's CAPS office to highlight public safety concerns and discuss issues further with police. CAPS beat meetings return this month and are opportunities for residents to interact directly with beat officers and community policing officers. You can find the full schedule and identify your beat at aldermanmartin.com/your-beat.
The 19th District covers most of the 47th Ward (everything south of Lawrence) while the 20th District includes parts of the ward north of Lawrence. View the district webpages to see more recent crime data and communications from the local district. Find more safety resources and information at aldermanmartin.com/safety.
19th District website
The 19th District CAPS office can be reached at [email protected] or 312-744-0064 to learn how you can get more involved with beat meetings.
Beat 1912 (Clark to Ashland / Ashland to Lawrence)
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10
Chase Park, 4701 N Ashland
Beat 1921 (Damen to the river / Irving Park to Belmont)
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17
Police Auditorium, 2452 W. Belmont
Beat 1931 (Ashland to the river / Belmont to Fullerton)
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 23
Gantz Boys & Girls Club, 2915 N. Leavitt
20th District website
The 20th District CAPS office can be reached at [email protected] or 312-742-8770 to learn how you can get more involved with beat meetings.
Beat 2031 (Clark to Winthrop / Foster to Lawrence)
7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30
Swedish Covenant Hospital - Anderson Pavilion, 2751 W Winona.
Beat 2032 (Clark to Winthrop / Foster to Lawrence)
7 p.m. Wednesday, May 31
Ravenswood Evangelical Church, 4900 N Damen
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All zoning and development proposals considered by our office can be viewed at aldermanmartin.com/development. Provide feedback here. The following proposals will be reviewed by the ward's Zoning Advisory Council in April. | |
4634-44 N. Western Ave
The two current buildings on the west side of Western north of Eastwood contain 7 unoccupied residential units and 3 unoccupied commercial spaces. The owner is seeking a zoning change to build a mixed-use rental project that would involve converting the existing 4-story building south of the El tracks and replacing the existing mixed-use building on Eastwood to the south with a new 6-story building.
The proposal includes 73 residential units: 8 studios (renting for roughly $1,500), 26 one-bedrooms ($1,700), and 39 two-bedrooms ($2,700). The building, which would be across the street from the Western brown line station, would feature 4,638 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, 10 car parking spaces, and 73 bike parking spaces.
The proposal would include 11 affordable units, including 10 affordable two-bedroom units and 1 studio (the Affordable Requirements Ordinance calls for 20%, or 15, of the units to be affordable if their mix is proportional to the building's unit mix; the number of required units can be reduced if the development includes more than its share of larger units, as is the case in this proposal).
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3747 N. Leavitt St
The applicant is seeking a zoning change from RS-3 to B1-1 to put to use an existing, vacant commercial space (approximately 213 square feet). They aim to open a neighborhood ice-cream shop with a walk-up window. They may also seek to have outdoor seating for customers.
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Weekly Bird Walks at Welles Park
Discover our fine feathered friends who share Welles Park. Sigrid Schmidt, member and past president of the Chicago Ornithological Society, is hosting weekly bird walks. Bring your own binoculars and comfy shoes. Walks are extremely casual, so if you are running late or need to leave early, that’s fine. Please dress for the weather. Welles
Park can be muddy after a rainfall so leave your good shoes at home.
Plan to meet at the gazebo at 7:30 a.m. Walks are approximately 2 hours and will be
canceled if raining.
- 4/12 Wednesday
- 4/22 Saturday - Earth Day
- 5/7 Sunday
- 5/13 Saturday
- 5/21 Sunday
RSVP directly to Sigrid by texting or calling with your name to 773-914-8608. For more information about bird walks in Welles Park, email the Greening Committee at
[email protected].
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Welles Park Spring Workday - April 29
Please volunteer between 9am and 12pm on 4/29 to help us clean up the park and add much-needed mulch (wood chips) to the trails and play areas of the NaturePlace.
We will supply tools and gloves but if you can bring extra tools that would be very helpful.
(wheelbarrows, scoop shovels, pitch forks, metal rakes).
Please RSVP to [email protected].
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47th Ward TreeKeepers Events
The 47th Ward TreeKeepers is a local chapter of residents who have completed the TreeKeepers course through Openlands. They organize work days for trained TreeKeepers as well as community events open to all who are interested in caring for our local tree canopy.
Our local chapter has several upcoming events in the ward:
> Tree Walk at Waters Garden/Riverbank Trail: Join the 47th Ward TreeKeepers and steward Pete Leki for a tree walk around Waters Elementary School and the Riverbank Neighbors Trail. We’ll discuss tree identification, how trees help mitigate the effects of climate change, and the history of these community spaces. Saturday, April 15 from 1-2:30 p.m. Meet at the south end of Waters, approximately 2514 W Sunnyside. RSVP here
> Lincoln Square Tree Planting Day: Join community members, the 47th Ward TreeKeepers Chapter, Openlands TreeKeepers and staff while we plant trees on the parkways of the Lincoln Square neighborhood! Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet in the parking lot at McPherson Elementary, 4728 N Wolcott (entrance off of Lawrence). RSVP here
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Sunnyside Savanna Controlled Ecological Burn - April 8
A prescribed burn will be conducted as part
of the ecological restoration activities of the Sunnyside Savanna between 10am and 2pm on the 4500 block of N. Ravenswood Ave. Please do not park on Ravenswood Ave. along the garden!
Burn management helps to maintain native plant communities. A prescribed burn is the use of fire as a management tool in a carefully planned and controlled manner. It reduces the amount of pesticides and invasive vegetation in a specific area and in turn promotes native
vegetation. Fire also burns off dead vegetation and stimulates new plant growth by allowing sunlight to warm the dark soil and return nutrients to the soil.
All persons who conduct prescribed burns are especially trained, equipped and supervised. The fire department has been notified and all permits have been obtained to do this work.
The Sunnyside Savanna is an oak savanna garden previously maintained by the American Indian Center. It features more than 70 native species, fantastic biodiversity, a walking path, and community seating. We hope you'll join us as we continue the stewardship of this unique space.
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Chicago River Day - May 13
Join the Friends of the Chicago River on Saturday, May 13 for the annual Chicago River Day! There are more than 70 participating locations throughout the watershed, including in the 47th Ward at Clark Park and the Riverbank Neighbors Trail. Click here to find all locations and register.
Amazing volunteers come together every year since 1992 to give the Chicago and Calumet Rivers a good spring cleaning on Chicago River Day, part of our effort to create a Litter Free Chicago-Calumet river system. The river system provides critical habitat for all sorts of animals from migratory birds to beavers, mink, turtles and over 75 species of fish. It's health is rebounding but litter remains a stubborn problem. Have fun, get inspired by fellow volunteers, and make a positive impact on the health of the river cleaning the watershed from Lake County to the Calumet.
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Clean & Green Day of Service - April 22
The City’s Annual Clean & Green Day of Service is scheduled for Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023. On this day, residents, school groups and community organizations throughout the City team up to clean and beautify areas in their neighborhood. All volunteer groups, large and small, are welcome to participate. Simply call 311 to register your group and the Department of Streets and Sanitation will lend the brooms, rakes, shovels, and bags for the clean-up projects.
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Hire Trans Now
Hire Trans Now is a Chicago non-profit program offering small businesses free training and consultancy to help make their hiring practices more welcoming and inclusive of trans & nonbinary job seekers.
HTN aims to make trans-inclusion accessible and achievable for businesses by focusing on clear, actionable best practices. Complete this form for more information or contact Silas Leslie at [email protected] with questions or to sign up.
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Hospitality Hires Chicago
Cook County is proud to be a sponsor of the sixth annual Hospitality Hires Chicago (HHC) on Tuesday, April 18, at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago from 9 am to 3 pm. Other sponsors include Choose Chicago, The Magnificent Mile Association, Illinois Restaurant Association, Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, Chicago Loop Alliance, and Near South Planning Board. Both employers (chicookworks.org/HHC6) and job seekers (chicookworks.org/HHC) must pre-register. The fee for employers to register is $200; there is no fee for job seeker registration. Employers should register by Wednesday, April 5, and job seekers should register by Wednesday, April 12. This year’s theme is “hospitality is a state of mind.” The event is expected to include 60 employers, such as Amtrak, Sodexo Live, and Harry Carays Tavern. Employers will come prepared to make some conditional job offers on the spot.
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NE Levy Center Village - April 26 Meeting
The NE Levy Center Village, a collaborative volunteer network that aims to increase the accessibility of resources for older adults in Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Uptown, and the greater NE area, will be holding their next meeting (via Zoom) on Wednesday, April 26th from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Mike Lufrano, Vice President of Community Affairs for the Chicago Cubs, will be our guest speaker, presenting on their efforts (and investments) to help the community and detailing their year-round special event programming. Additional community updates will be shared by attendees. To register for the meeting (and obtain a Zoom link), please email Sean at [email protected].
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Foster Future Fun: Fund Troop 894's Camping by Buying Flowers!
Summer is just around the corner—what better way to prepare for it than by getting your gardens ready with our Flower Power Fundraiser? Please support Lincoln Square’s Scouts BSA Troop 894 (boys & girls) by purchasing from our fundraiser. We receive 50% of the proceeds of each sale, which we will use to upgrade camping equipment and defer camping expenses for our scouts.
Order online before May 15 and get your flowers delivered directly to you for a $6 fee. Let's bring on the summer and get planting! Let's get camping! Thank you for your support! Click here to order.
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Women Making A Difference
Please join us at The Giving Factory for Women Making a Difference 2023 on 4/27 at 6:30pm! Connect with trailblazing women entrepreneurs, be inspired, and feel empowered during this fun evening of networking, volunteering, food, cocktails, and more. Register here.
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Lincoln Square Pottery Studio - Learning Center 20th Anniversary Sale & Show
Lincoln Square Pottery Studio - Learning Center is proud to announce its 20th Anniversary Sale and Show on Saturday, April 22nd. Two decades of hands in clay, spinning vessels, building sculptures and talking art! In honor of its students, volunteers and community, the studio will be hosting the annual event from 6-10pm. The show will feature original artwork by 40+ artists, live clay competitions and a Buy-A-Cup Benefit.
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Friends of Coonley's 18th Annual Spring Fling Auction & Fundraiser
Join Friends of Coonley for its 18th Annual Spring Fling fundraiser and auction from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at Rockwell on the River. Tickets purchased by April 10th are $125/person. Tickets purchased after this date increase to $175/person - so don't delay!
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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Community Job Boards
Looking to work locally? Many of our local chambers of commerce offer job boards to help highlight openings at local businesses. Find more information at the following links:
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47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin
4243 N Lincoln Ave | 773-868-4747
Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
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