Covid Cases at their Highest Point
Back to School Survey
Halloweek Activities
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Dear Neighbors:
COVID-19 cases have risen by more than 50% over the past two weeks, and test positivity rates have increased a full percent to 5.2. The case rate in 60614 is higher than the city average.
Hospitalizations have increased by 25% for non-ICU patients since the last week of September—up to 313 hospital admissions per day across the city. Death rates—a lagging statistic—may increase over the next several weeks as health officials fear.
Most cases diagnosed in Chicago were passed to the patient by someone they knew personally. In a gathering of only 10 people, there is a 14% chance that someone is currently infected; the likelihood increases in larger groups. The chance of someone in a group of 50 or more having Covid in 50%.
The city is again asking us all to wear masks and limit social gatherings, even small ones.
We are not alone in Chicago; we are seeing increases in cases throughout Chicagoland,, across Illinois, in other Midwestern states, and throughout the country.
Our Emergency Travel Order covers 26 states and territories, including Wisconsin and Indiana. Chicagoans are urged not to travel to these states and territories, and if they do, they are required to quarantine for 14 days unless they are an essential worker traveling for business. For Wisconsin and Indiana, the Order applies to individuals coming from Wisconsin or Indiana to Chicago for non-work purposes and Chicago residents returning from Wisconsin or Indiana, unless they are an essential worker.
Have you or someone you know gotten COVID? We'd like to publish some stories and reflections, anonymously (unless you'd like to share your personal information). Please email [email protected].
To learn more data about COVID, visit here.
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Phase in School-Based Learning
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced that it will begin bringing students back to in-school instruction beginning with the thousands of students in pre-k and students enrolled in intensive and moderate cluster (special needs) classrooms who cannot be served well enough under any form of remote learning.
All students will begin the second quarter of school remotely. In consultation with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), CPS will decide about in-person learning closer to the start of the second quarter.
Data shows that pre-k students, students in cluster programs, and Black and Latinx students are attending school at significantly reduced rates relative to prior years and other students this school year. CPS also experienced the largest enrollment decline in more than two decades driven by fewer new students enrolling in the earliest grades, including a 44 percent decline in Black students enrolled in pre-k compared to last school year.
CPS has informed us that enrollment in 43rd Ward Schools has dropped more than in any prior year recently, though less than in many other schools. We do not know if these are temporary or permanent reductions.
- Lincoln Park High School lost 79 students
- Alcott Elementary lost 75 students
- LaSalle Language lost 16 students
- Lincoln Elementary lost 83 students
- Meyer Elementary lost 85 students
- Newberry Elemenary lost 47 students
On Wednesday, October 21, the district will send all parents and guardians of pre-k and cluster program students an intent form to indicate whether they would feel comfortable sending their students to school. Parents will be asked to complete the form by October 28 and parents will maintain the option to opt out at any time. Due to the small class sizes for all pre-k and most cluster classrooms, all pre-k students would be able to attend school daily, and most students enrolled in cluster programs would be able to attend school daily, with some cluster classrooms implementing hybrid learning depending on the number of students who opt-in. In-person learning would take place in alignment with the stringent health processes outlined in the district’s reopening framework,
Have you kept your kids in CPS or pulled your children out of CPS this semester? We'd love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected].
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Wrightwood Neighbors Fire Safety Meeting
Wednesday October 28th
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
This Meeting will be conducted Virtually
Join the Chicago Fire Department, Lincoln Park Chamber, and Wrightwood Neighbors Association on October 28th for a neighborhood update. October is Fire Prevention Month.
Sponsored by The Wrightwood Neighbors Association and Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. This meeting will take the place of our regular monthly meeting for October.
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Covid-19 Eviction Prevention Project.
The Lawyers Committee for Better Housing has created the Chicago Covid-19 Eviction Prevention Project.
A team of housing attorneys and support staff are available to provide aid to apply for rental assistance to those facing housing crises as a result of the pandemic. They also offer negotiation support between tenants and property managers to try and keep the tenant housed and the property manager paid.
Tenants can call 312-347-7600 or can visit here for more information.
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Business Education Webinars
Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection is offering two free business education workshop webinars.
Fighting Cybercrime and Meeting Your Cyber Security Challenges
October 21st at 3:00 p.m.
Register by visiting here.
Resources for the Small Business Owner
October 23rd at 9:30 a.m.
ChiBizHub presents the premier one stop shop for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The hub now has an enhanced feature that will allow you to find access to capital in minutes.
Register by visiting here.
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Grant Writing Workshop
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is offering and online workshop to assist organizations seeking grant funding. Participants will receive information about the process, how to qualify, submission guidelines, and complying with the laws regarding grants.
For more information, visit here.
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Small Business Loan Program
The North Branch Works offers low-interest loans for businesses located in and around the North Branch of the Chicago River, including Lincoln Park.
Program Overview
- Startup businesses operating three years or less are eligible for loans up to $25,000.
- Existing businesses operating for more than three years are eligible for loans up to $50,000 or more.
- Loans can be used for business purposes including as working capital, equipment purchase, inventory, and leasehold improvements.
- 2-8% APR with terms from 6-36 months
To learn more about this opportunity, please see this information.
To learn more about membership in North Branch Works, click here. |
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Relief for Arts Venues Through October 23
Theaters and music and arts venues can be eligible for $10,000 in relief through the Performing Arts Venue Relief Program announced by the city.
The city said 120 for-profit and nonprofit applicants will be awarded $10,000 each.
Applications will be accepted through October 23. To be eligible, each applicant must be in Chicago, have a Public Place of Amusement or Music and Dance license and primarily produce or present performing arts programming, including theater, dance, performance art and/or live music or live mixing by DJs.
To learn more and to apply, visit here.
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PPP Loan Forgiveness for Small Loans
If your business borrowed $50,000 or less through the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), you can be eligible for speedy loan forgiveness. To learn how you can qualify, click here.
You can click here for the instructions and here for the form needed to apply. |
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Community and Halloween Activities |
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North Pond Virtual Meetings
Do you care about the future of North Pond?
The Lincoln Park Conservancy will be conducting three public meetings to discuss the restoration of North Pond.
Meetings will be hosted over Zoom. Register to attend one of more of the sessions and submit your questions in advance:
We look forward to hearing from you about this exciting Lincoln Park project! To learn more about it, visit the Conservancy’s website.
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Remote Learning Center
Opens October 26
Greenhouse Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Remote Learning Center was created in reaction to the Covid Crisis and parents need for supervised remote learning. The Greenhouse Theater Center’s 5 theaters are being turned into classrooms for grades 3-8.
Click here to learn more. |
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Celebrate Halloween on Clark Street between Armitage and Diversey; and Diversey Parkway, between Orchard and Lakeview from Friday, October 16 – Saturday, October 31 with spooky specials, virtual activities, and voting on your favorite festive window displays.
This year the Costume Contest will be virtual! Take a picture of you, your kids, your family, or your pet and submit it according to these rules for the chance to win prizes!
You can vote on your favorite Halloween window displays here.
Check out this page for shopping specials along Clark Street.
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Halloweek Activities for Your Family
Are you hoping to trick-or-treat with your family this year? The City is sponsoring Halloweek beginning October 18, you can download a toolkit of ways to celebrate Halloween this year.
The City has listed a variety of Halloweek activities here.
Listed below are some guidelines to help you safely enjoy socially distanced trick-or-treating in your neighborhood.
- Masks aren’t just for trick-or-treaters this year! Everyone—including candy givers—should wear a face covering (multi-layered, covering the mouth and nose, without gaps around the face).
- Leave a light on or hang a Halloweek sign in your window to let others know your house is giving out candy safely.
- Handing out candy? Please socially distance and have hand sanitizer, too.
- Trick or treating? Stay on the move! Less congregating means more houses and more candy.
- Ensure there’s all treats and no tricks. Please don’t reach into candy bowls while trick or treating, and eat candy only at home after washing your hands.
- No Haunted Houses. They are truly spooky and dangerous this year.
- Keep your candy crew small. Trick-or-treating groups should be 6 people or less.
- No house parties large or small this year.
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Halloween Window Painting
Saturday-Sunday October 24th and 25th
Play2Day, 2369 N. Lincoln Ave.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 2 hour time slots
Sunday:10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., 2 hour time slots
Lincoln Common will transform its storefront windows into spooky blank canvases for you to paint your own Halloween mini mural.
Costumes and creativity are encouraged; face masks are required.
All ages can register up to four people per window for $10 per group; registration includes a take-home paint set.
Several Lincoln Common retailers will be offering exclusive discounts throughout the weekend.
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