FROM THE HEART 
The Newsletter of Lincoln Central Association
Winner of Five Consecutive APEX Awards for Publication Excellence
February 28, 2022

WELCOME TO OUR 2022 NEWSLETTER!
Welcome to our 2022 Newsletter! There is so much to reflect on during these wintry days, but I want to reflect on something bigger than Lincoln Central Association and how it is a part of all of us in our neighborhood.

I was thinking about all of the creatures out there (coyotes, feral cats, squirrels, fox, raccoons, even rats!) in the cold, finding their food, their shelter and their safety. They do this by nature’s training. 

My next thought was that all of us have an intuitive sense of how to protect ourselves. Most of us live in warm homes with all the amenities we need. 

I then thought about all of the homeless people we encounter in our community and think about how they do the same. This population doesn’t have any of these comforts. They are intuitively able to find what they need to survive. Is there a way we can be more sensitive to those who are struggling in this cold, wet environment? 

We would like to share the information of a good neighborhood organization that reaches out to those who don’t have the security and safety we have. A donation of warm blankets, hand/feet warmers (the kinds skiers use), hats, mitts, sleeping bags, personal health care items, a conversation and a big hug would go a long way. Think about what you can do individually to assist those in need. Please share local organizations with us and we will put them in our next newsletter!

Finally, please consider joining a committee if you are an LCA member. We are always looking for new participants bringing fresh ideas and having you all get more engaged in the organization. Our committees include Events Committee, Communications Committee, Parks & Beautification Committee, Community Outreach (Public Safety and Infrastructure items), Membership and Engagement Committee, and Zoning Committee. We want to hear your voices and hope you will join us in a broader effort to make good decisions for our neighborhood, inform and create a vibrant Lincoln Central Association!

Keep shoveling until we see the signs of spring just around the corner!

Sally Drucker
President
RECENT LCA NEWS
LCA'S ANNUAL MEETING - MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
On January 27, Lincoln Central Association hosted our annual meeting again via Zoom. During the meeting, dozens of LCA members joined us as we discussed 2021 accomplishments and elected new board members for 2022. We also welcomed guest speakers, Congressman Mike Quigley and Alderwoman Michele Smith who addressed neighborhood issues and also answered questions from members.


Welcome New LCA Board Members!
 
DEBRA DOBBS
 
Debra Dobbs and her daughter Katharine moved to Lincoln Park in 2003. Debra has been an active member of the community, personally and professionally, with a passion to support local businesses. Debra has been a member of the LCA Zoning committee since 2015.

Professionally, Debra began her real estate career in 1984, representing developers for some of Chicago’s earliest loft conversions. Beginning in 1987, Debra moved from development to representing buyers and sellers within the residential real estate market. During her 38 years as an agent, Debra has closed over $900M in sales volume and is honored to work with current clients that she first represented in the very early years of her real estate career.

Debra holds a 5-star rating on Google, Zillow, and @properties reviews, and is also recognized by her peers for her professionalism and integrity - she has received the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award each of the past 14 years, granted to a select group of agents rated highest in overall satisfaction by clients, peers, and industry experts. Debra is also a graduate of the Realtor Institute, a past President of the Women's Council of Realtors, and a graduate of the University of Illinois' Fundamentals of Urban Real Estate program.

Prior to real estate, Debra was a Marketing Director in an advertising agency, a theater producer, and an entrepreneur; at the age of 24 Debra trained in Italy to make Gelato then opened ‘Baci’ in Lincoln Park, the first gelateria in Chicago.

Debra is passionate about and actively involved in local and national politics, advocacy of women's rights and equality, and animal welfare. During her free time, Debra enjoys cooking with her daughter and friends and is known for hosting lively Sunday Suppers
 
DENNIS HACK
 
Dennis is a native of the Beverly neighborhood. He has resided in Old Town since 1977, raising three children in the community. He lives across from Bauler Park and served on the Bauler Park Advisory Council. 

Dennis is the third generation of his family in the steel business in Chicago. He heads two steel service and processing companies: Standard Steel and D.D. Hack & Co. 
Dennis served on the LEED Council, a local nonprofit that advocates for industrial retention, and was named by Mayor Richard M. Daley as a Commissioner of the Chicago Economic Development Commission, to work with DPD and business leaders to retain industry. 

Dennis is an avid cycler who rides the lakefront. In summer he swims Lake Michigan and enjoys the beach. 

Dennis looks forward to bringing his talents to advance the goals of LCA. 
 
ANDREW MASLAN
 
Andrew Maslan is originally from Kansas City and has lived in Chicago for the past 13 years. He resided in many great neighborhoods, including Old Town, Evanston, and River North before settling down with his wife, daughter, and dog in 2018 near Oz Park and Lincoln Commons. We were originally drawn to the area because of the tree lined streets and family nature of the neighborhood and we loved seeing the liveliness of Oz Park in the summer. We are excited by the new development in the area and enjoy discovering local gems, from restaurants and running routes to farmers markets and dog parks. 
 
Andrew received his BA from Amherst College, and his MBA and JD from Northwestern University. He currently works in finance. 

JACOB RINGER
 
Jacob Ringer loves Chicago. He is fifth generation Chicagoan and has fond memories of his father walking him around Lincoln Park as a young boy sharing stories about the houses, restaurants and people in the community. Jacob always knew he was going to return to Chicago after attending college at Tulane University and he settled in Lincoln Park over 13 years ago. Jacob has spent his career trying to improve the community in and around the city. He began his career as Chief of Staff to the CFO in the Office of the Mayor at the City of Chicago. In that role he drove high impact projects in finance, pension reform legislation, public-private partnerships, municipal marketing, municipal bonds and public policy. He also helped deliver over $250 million in new revenues to the City through innovative partnerships and coordinated the first of its kind biannual Municipal CFO Forum conference. In 2018, Jacob wanted to do more and as such, decided to run for Alderman of the 43rd Ward. Block Club called Jacob ‘an active force in the community’ during the election and Jacob ran because he believes the most change and impact a person can make is at the local level.

Outside of work Jacob supports many local nonprofits including The Night Ministry and Lincoln Park Zoo, where he helped raise over $500,000 in two years as President of the Auxiliary Board. Jacob is also currently Vice President of the Bauler Park Advisory Council where he helps organize events to bring the neighborhood together including the first annual movie in the park as well as a Glow-stick dance party that brought over 200 Lincoln Park families together. Jacob is committed to this neighborhood and is always striving to make it better.

Currently, Jacob is co-owner and developer of Sushi Hall, a family-friendly neighborhood sushi restaurant on Clark and Wrightwood, which is scheduled to open early 2022. Jacob lives in Lincoln Park with his wife Dana and their three children, Leo (6), Henry (4), and Sunny (1). You will see them often at the local parks like Bauler and Oz and frequenting their favorite neighborhood spots. 
PUBLIC SAFETY NEWS YOU CAN USE
by Larry Sachs
As mentioned in an earlier LCA newsletter article, CPD’s website, Chicago Police Department, contains lots of interesting and useful information and resources that most people don’t know about or utilize. One such resource is a crime mapping app CLEARMap (arcgis.com). Once on this page, click on Explore Crime to see a crime heat map of the entire City. Then: 1) click on the “four box tool” at the top right to choose a map style for easier viewing (e.g., I like the “Streets” format): 2) type an address (upper left) and the screen will zoom to that location; and then 3) use the + and keys (on the left) to zoom in or out and/or click and hold and drag the screen to adjust location. Each colored dot represents a different reported crime from early 2020 to 7 days ago (I tried adjusting to show only more recent crime, but couldn’t). Click on a colored dot and you’ll see the date, time and location of a particular crime incident.

Why is this tool important? I think being informed about what’s actually happening in your neighborhood vs. being informed primarily by headline news will help you be “situationally aware” and better able to keep yourself, family, friends, and household or business safe.
 
Please stay safe, get to know your neighbors, and take good care of each other.
CAPS MEETING NOTIFICATION
Hello neighbors, you all have the opportunity to be involved in the safety of our community. The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) is your best way to stay connected, contribute your concerns and suggestions. Please visit this site to learn when our next CAPS meetings are taking place. It is so easy to attend via Zoom and your voice is welcome. Join the conversation and help our police hear from the community. Most of our membership is in the 18th District but some of you might be in the 19th District, so look at the map and decide where you want to be a voice. 

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
SAVOR LINCOLN PARK SET FOR MARCH 22 - DISCOUNT FOR LCA MEMBERS
The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring Savor Lincoln Park back to Theater on the Lake! Chicago's favorite indoor neighborhood food festival returns in March. Join us for Savor Lincoln Park 2022 at the iconic Theater on the Lake to enjoy bites and sips from over fifteen of Lincoln Park’s favorite restaurants and bars.
 
Tuesday, March 22
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive
 
Use the promotional code LCASLP22 to receive $5 off tickets at Savor Lincoln Park 2022.
ELPC THINKS WITH CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY
On January 20, The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) hosted a talk with Congressman Mike Quigley to discuss his vision and environmental priorities in Congress.
 
If you weren't able to join this educational event, you can watch the discussion here.
HELPFUL LOCAL LINS
To help local residents find and access local community resources, we will now include links in our newsletters each month. If you have a helpful resource to add, please email it to us at Newsletter@LincolnCentral.org.


From the Heart is an award-winning newsletter published by Lincoln Central Association. We welcome your feedback and story ideas.

LCA has received at least one APEX Award for Publication Excellence in each of the last five years and a total of eighteen since 2016. Additionally, From the Heart is the recipient of four consecutive Constant Contact All-Star.

Winner of Five Consecutive APEX Awards for Publication Excellence
Winner of Four Consecutive Constant Contact All-Star Awards