Special Note: Due to limitations now imposed by LCA's email provider, we recommend that you click on the "click here" link immediately above that follows: " Having trouble viewing this email?" Otherwise, in many cases, the newsletter will cut-off before it finishes and many of the links will not properly work. Outlook and webmail can be especially problematic. If for any reason you experience multiple links not working and/or the newsletter cutting off before it is finished, simply follow the instructions immediately above.
FROM THE HEART - THE LCA NEWSLETTER
Winner of Consecutive APEX Awards for Publication Excellence
LCA's Mission: To Inspire People to Join Together for the Social, Cultural, and Physical Enrichment of Our Neighborhood.
May 21st, 2018

Dear Neighbors:
 
Last fall, Lincoln Central unveiled its new mission statement:  To Inspire People to Join Together for the Social, Cultural, and Physical Enrichment of our Neighborhood. 

Socially, LCA offers a variety of events each bringing opportunities to connect neighbors to each other and to the wonder of our neighborhood. Last week, for example, several of our members attended a complimentary wine reception hosted for us by LCA member J9 Wine Bar. Some who attended met each other for the first time. On Saturday, June 2nd, a record crowd is expected when LCA hosts the 5th annual Spring Zing. And, the 4th annual  Summer Sipper, an increasingly popular neighborhood reception-style gathering hosted by LCA returns on Sunday June 24th. Summer Sipper is held in our beautiful, award-winning Fire Station Park.

On the cultural front,  Donna Gallery, Chair of LCA's Arts & Culture Committee, is leading our outreach to the important cultural institutions in our area. (She is a profiled in this edition of the newsletter.) In the near future, we'll report on an significant cultural initiative Donna's committee is undertaking for the neighborhood this year. Emerald City Theatre, a leading cultural and philanthropic institution in Lincoln Park (and an LCA member) recently honored two  LCA members, Stephanie Free and Bridgeview Bank,  for the commitment they have shown to Emerald City's mission.

LCA's contributions to the physical enrichment of the neighborhood are evident in many ways including our nurturing and support of neighborhood parks, our involvement in the plan to revitalize Lincoln Avenue and our participation in the North Branch Park Preserve Coalition. We also focus on physical safety of our residents by through frequent communication with the Alderman's office and the CPD's18th District on crime concerns and other matters of public safety.

If you have not been inspired to join LCA in the past, we hope you now will be. 

From the Heart,

Kenneth Dotson, LCA President 

P. S. Feel free to call or email at any time to learn more about LCA or if you have neighborhood concerns. | 773.5531.5515 | kenneth@chicago.com
LINCOLN AVENUE REVITALIZATION PLAN TO BE UNVEILED TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 22ND
The Public is Invited to Attend Reception & Presentation
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THE MAGIC IS BACKsz
Spring Zing Returns for 5th Year
Saturday, June 2nd | 1:00 - 3:00 PM | Lincoln Central Park

 
Chicago's Most Thought Provoking Wizard
Lincoln Central's popular family friendly spring event, Spring Zing, will return on Saturday, June 2nd for its 5th consecutive year. This year's event will be bigger and better than ever. (Read about Spring Zing 2017.)
 
Back by popular demand will be noted magician  Sean Masterson, who North Shore Magazine called "Chicago's most thought provoking wizard." Masterson will delight and astonish the crowd with close up magic and mind-bending illusions. Bill Kurtis says of Masterson: "His magic does more than puzzle the mind; it creates a sense of wonder and excitement."

A Real Mad Hatter
Returning for the fifth year will be the always popular balloon art and face painting duo,  A Real Mad Hatter . The kids will also  be able to enjoy the bounce house again this year provided by our friends at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness.  Lakeshore will also be providing carnival games and 9 Square in the Air, the new youth game sweeping the country. Fire Engine 22 is expected to return with lights flashing to welcome children to climb aboard.  We'll also have games, arts & crafts, great raffle prizes and much, much more.

Engine 22
Safety and security will also be on our minds at Spring Zing. Once again the  Community Volunteer Corps  from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago will be on hand to provide bike and pedestrian safety lessons for families. When it comes to safety, that's not all. This year, we've added self-defense lessons for children provided by trained specialists from Lakeshore. ADT Custom Home Services will be on hand to provide tips on the latest in home security options.

Jeff Lawler from Geja's
Let's not forget the delicious treats from popular local establishments. Our friends from Geja's Cafe will once again be on hand to serve their delicious fondue creations. Geja's, always a popular attraction at LCA events, was voted the Best Place to Dine in Lincoln Park in 2017 at the Best of Lincoln Park Awards Vanille and Insomnia Cookies will also be serving up delectable treats. Additional food and beverage participants will be announced next week.

Special guests at the event will again include 5th District Congressman Mike Quigley, State Representative Ann Williams, and 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith.

LCA is an 501(c)(3) all-volunteer not for profit organization. Spring Zing and LCA's other events would not be possible without the "Businesses With Heart" who generously help us underwrite the costs of our events. Please let these merchants and organizations know how much you appreciate their support of the neighborhood and when you have the opportunity we hope you will patronize these merchants.

See photos  from  Spring Zing 2017

INTERESTED IN SPONSORING OR VOLUNTEERING AT SPRING ZING?

Businesses interested in being a sponsor of Spring Zing, or other LCA events, may contact us at 773.531.5515 or sponsorship@lincolncentral.org Nintey-five percent of attendees at Lincoln Central events walk from their nearby homes, meaning they can also walk to neighborhood businesses. See the Spring Zing sponsor proposal.

If you would like to volunteer to help during Spring Zing, please email events@lincolncentral.org. Volunteering at LCA events is a great way to meet new neighbors and connect with neighborhood leaders and elected officials.
4th ANNUAL SUMMER SIPPERsipper
Sunday, June 24th | 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Fire Station Park

Sipper 2017
Celebrate summer by joining us for LCA's 4th annual Summer Sipper, 
a neighborhood reception beginning at 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 24th. 

The event will be held at LCA's award-winning Fire Station Park & Gardens  (Larrabee and Armitage, behind Engine 22's station). 

Sipper 2017
Food and beverages, including delicious offerings from our friends at Geja's Cafe, and J9 as well as other popular neighborhood establishments will be served along with many other delicious treats prepared by our members using ingredients grown in our gardens at Fire Station Park.

Don't miss the Amazing Benjamin Barnes
Benjamin Barnes , one of Chicago's premier magicians and a frequent performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, will again entertain and delight the crowd. Benjamin is in his fourth year performing at LCA events and if you've seen him before, you know why he's invited back time and again.
Tuesday, May 22nd | Victory Gardens Theatre | 2344 N. Lincoln Avenue
Reception: 6:00 - 6:30 |  Meeting:  6:30 to 7:30 PM

The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Central Association, 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith and Wrightwood Neighbors Association invite you to join us for a community meeting on Tuesday evening, May 22nd as we unveil the Lincoln Avenue Revitalization Strategy.
This plan, funded through the  Lincoln Avenue Special Service Area (SSA #35-2015) , will be used to guide improvements to this historic corridor in the heart of Lincoln Park. 

The plan includes recommendations for public way improvements and aesthetics; corridor branding, marketing, and placemaking; and business attraction. The study area for this project stretches along Lincoln from Webster on the south to Diversey on the north. 

Given the significant changes along Lincoln Avenue, from the new Lincoln Common and the ELEVATE Lincoln Park projects, to the construction of the new DePaul University School of Music, we are thrilled to share this plan with the community.

This event is no charge but an RSVP is requested.
SPECIAL NOTICE
Due to limitations now imposed by LCA's email provider, Constant Contact, we recommend that you click on the "click here" link at the top of the email (just above the social media icons). Otherwise, in many cases, the newsletter will cut-off before it finishes and many of the links will not properly work. Outlook and webmail are especially problematic. If for any reason you experience multiple links not working and/or the newsletter cutting off before it is finished, simply follow the instructions immediately above.
LCA HEARTS FOR SERVICEect
Stephanie  and Bridgeview Bank Honored

Emerald City Theatre (ECT) recently honored two LCA members for their community service.
LCA member Stephanie Free receiving award.
The recipient of ECT's 2018  One Fund Supporter Award was Stephanie Free. Stephanie and her husband Dave, an LCA Board member, are Lifetime members of LCA.

The Supporter Award honors a supporter  who shares the values of Emerald City Theatre's One Fund outreach program  - to inspire early readers, particularly low-income youth. For the past seven years, she has been a leader in supporting this program,  both through donations and her personal leadership in shaping the program and passion in inspiring  others to participate.

Bridgeview Bank Group, an LCA member and
Jill Valentine accepts award for LCA member and sponsor Bridgeview Bank.
sponsor, was honored with ECT's 2018 One Fund Community Leader Award which honors a business that shares the values of ECT's purpose of helping children in Chicago creatively face the world.

Over the past two years, Bridgeview Bank has been a leader in supporting ECT's service to 50,000 Chicagoland families and another 30,000 by providing financial expertise, and communications support.

Emerald City Theatre is an LCA member and a sponsor of LCA's upcoming Spring Zing event.
OZ PARK TENNIS COURTS
The tennis courts will be closed the week of   May 21st  for repairs and repainting. Signs are posted on all gates. The nearest courts available are at Jonquil Park   1001 West Wrightwood .
VALUES FROM THE HEART EXPANDS
New Participants to be Announced Soon

LCA is set to expand it Values from the Heartâ„¢ program in which  LCA members receive exclusive benefits not available to non-members. These benefits are made possible by the generosity of neighborhood businesses who want to thank those who support LCA through membership.

One new participant, ADT Custom Home Services, is announced below. A number of businesses will begin participating in the program in the coming weeks. Be on the lookout for an announcement soon.

May member event at J9.
In addition to discounts members are offered exclusive access to private events such as the free reception at hosted by J9 Wine Bar (1961 N. Halsted) where a selection of Australian Wines were paired with c harcuterie and warm conversation.

April Member Sip & Shop at Via Strozzi
Several members also gathered at Italian fashion boutique  Via Strozzi (1971 N. Halsted) on the evening of April 4 for Sip & Shop. Those attending had the opportunity to mingle with other LCA members while enjoying Italian wine and food from Pasta Palazzo. The food was sponsored by our friends at  Bridgeview Bank (1970 N. Halsted). 

LCA members now receive a 20% on purchases at Via Strozzi when they present a valid membership card.
ADT CUSTOM HOME SERVICES JOINS VALUES FROM THE HEARTâ„¢ PROGRAM
Offers Special Savings to LCA Members

ADT Custom Home Services is now offering LCA members in good standing a free in-home security analysis as well $100 savings on any new activation or reactivation of ADT services. (This offer cannot be combined with any other ADT offer.)

To take advantage of this offer, members must contact  values@lincolncentral.org to obtain information necessary to redeem this offer. 

Representatives from ADT will be on hand at Spring Zing to answer questions and offer safety information to neighborhood residents.
MEMBERSHIP CARDS ON THE WAY
If you recently joined LCA or renewed your membership, your new membership cards will be mailed this week.
INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE BAULER PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL?
LCA has served as the fiscal agent for Bauler Park since 1999. Recently the Chicago Park District has asked LCA to assume responsibility for forming a new Bauler Park Advisory Council. (Read more about Park Advisory Councils.)

 If you are an LCA member living near Bauler Park, have children who play there, and/or are interested more generally in our neighborhood's parks and would be interested in serving on the Bauler Park Advisory Council, email parks@lincolncentral.org.
CRAVINGS ON CLARK
Wednesday Evening, June 13 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Enjoy one of Chicago's favorite neighborhood food events as you dine, crawl, and shop along Clark Street and Diversey Parkway in Lincoln Park. 

Indulge in delicious bites from over a dozen Lincoln Park restaurants, eateries, and pubs while enjoying specials and deals at some of Clark Street's unique shops along the way.

A portion of every ticket sold at this year's Cravings on Clark will benefit Lincoln Park Community Services. Get your tickets now. Remember, LCA members receive a special value on Chamber events. Members may email us at values@lincolncentral.org to receive their discount code for this event.

Learn more about the special values available to LCA's members.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, May 24th
 LCA Monthly Board Meeting
LCA Board meetings are normally held the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM in the back room of the Marquee Lounge (Halsted & Armitage). Meetings are open to the public. 

Saturday, June 2nd
5th Annual Spring Zing
Join us for an afternoon of family friendly fun at LCA's 5th Annual Spring Zing from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Lincoln Central Park (corner Lincoln & Dickens). Learn more.

Thursday, June 7
Chicago ity Sticker Sale
The City Clerk's office in cooperation with the Alderman's office will be holding their annual City Sticker sale on Thursday, June 7th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Room 342 of the DePaul Student Center (2250 N. Sheffield Avenue).   Only stickers expiring in June 2018 will be renewed.  Cash will not be accepted. Credit card, check, or money order are the only forms of payment accepted. 

Saturday & Sunday, June 9th & 10th
2018 Old Town Art Fair

Sunday, June 24
4th Annual Summer Sipper
The 4th Annual Summer Sipper will return to our beautiful,  award-winning Fire Station Park & Gardens on Sunday, June 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Summer Sipper is a neighborhood reception style event featuring  dishes from local restaurants and dishes prepared by neighbors using herbs grown in the garden.

Thursday, June 28th
  LCA Monthly Board Meeting
LCA Board meetings are normally held the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM in the back room of the Marquee Lounge (Halsted & Armitage). Board meetings are open to the public. 

Saturday & Sunday, July 21st & 22nd
50th Annual Sheffield Garden Walk

Saturday & Sunday, July 21st & 22nd
Chicago Craft Beer Fest
   Learn more

Saturday & Sunday, July 28th & 29th
Taste of Lincoln Avenue

Thursday, September 13th
5th Annual Evening in the Garden
Enjoy a neighborhood reception from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in our beautiful, award-winning Fire Station Park & Gardens. Hors' d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. Stay tuned for additional details.

Saturday, October 27th
11th Annual Howler at Bauler   
The 11th annual Howler at Bauler will be held at Bauler Park on Saturday, October 27th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

Miscellaneous Dates
The Lincoln Park branch of the Chicago Public Library (1100 W. Fullerton) offers a variety of programs and events throughout the month.
LCA JOINS NORTH BRANCH PARKnbsp PRESERVE COALITION

Read more about the North Branch Park Preserve Coalition's effort to bring a new publicly-owned, waterfront park to life on the banks of the Chicago River.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Tea Gschwender Celebrates 40th
Congratulations to LCA member Tea Gschwender who is celebrating their 40th anniversary in the United States this month.
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GROWING HEARTSpart
Children's Interest in Gardening Taking Root in Fire Station Park 

LCA's award-winning Fire Station Park, located behind the fire station at Armitage and Larrabee, has captured the attention of neighborhood children this year.

Brian and Sawyer Leibfried
One such example is Sawyer Leibfried, son of Brian and Caroline Leibfried.  Sawyer, who is four and a half years old, developed an  interest in gardening approximately 18 months ago on a visit to his grandmother's house in Oviedo, Florida.

"Caroline's mom asked Sawyer if he would like to help with her small vegetable garden and he became very interested in the whole process," said Brian. "Sawyer has deep family roots in Florida, going back to the 1800s on both sets of grandparents. So maybe gardening is in his blood," Brian added.

Looking to find a good place where he could do some planting in
null
Sawyer with Nada Riley
Chicago, the Leibfrieds learned about the gardens in Fire Station Park. In mid-April Brian contacted LCA hoping Sawyer might be able to plant some seeds there. Working with the Park's project lead, LCA Board member Sally Drucker, and LCA volunteer Nada Riley, Sawyer planted his first seeds at the Park less than two weeks later on Saturday, April 28th.

Sawyer prepares to plant
"A few of the seeds Sawyer planted with Nada on the 28th have already sprouted. He is very excited" said Brian. "We thank Lincoln Central Association for the opportunity to be involved in the garden at Fire Station Park."

Sawyer isn't alone among neighborhood children in his excitement about the gardening opportunities at Fire Station Park. A group of students from the Spark Health Club at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, an after-school program supported by Chicago Public Schools OST (Out of School Time), will be transplanting to Fire Station Park later this month plants originally seeded in the school's greenhouse.

For more information about Fire Station Park or LCA's other parks initiatives, please email parks@lincolncentral.org. ( See the volunteer schedule for Fire Station Park.)
A HEART FOR TRAVEL
A Journey to the American Southwest
Palm Canyon Trail
Spring break led us to the American Southwest, where we walked beneath giant palms, savored mid-century architecture, lounged by a pool, hiked the massive rocks of Joshua Tree National Park , and slept in an outdoor bed. Such beauty, natural and man-made. Why hadn't we visited before?

Here's how the trip came about: our college-age daughter had two weeks off in March and wanted to visit her grandmother (my mom) in Scottsdale, Arizona. I'd spent a few weeks in Scottsdale in January helping my mom after knee surgery; I was happy to return but wanted to tack on an adventure.

Palm Canyon Trail
We started in Palm Springs, California, where we rented a small home  in a close-to-town neighborhood. I love architecture and had always wanted to see Palm Spring's collection of mid-century homes, commercial buildings, hotels and motels. And art: we spent a morning at the Palm Springs Art Museum , touring its wondrous permanent collection and an Andy Warhol retrospective. My husband and daughter indulged me but wanted to experience the area's outdoors. 

Can do! We drove to Palm Desert and hopped on the Hike to the  Cross trail, an easy three-mile round-trip up to a lit cross. The next day we set off on a six-mile round-trip adventure on the Palm Canyon Trail to Stone Pools (moderately difficult). We never found the stone pools, but we were thrilled to walk beneath giant palms, scramble up and down rock walls, and hike to plateaus that provided long, wide views of Mount San Jacinto and the Santa Rosa mountains. We were alone together for hours in this desert landscape, probably because we'd set out early. 

Face Rock
From there we set up a base for ourselves in a stylish private lodge just outside the gates of Joshua Tree National Park. Otherworldly is the only word to describe the rock formations within the park. We hiked there two full days; our favorite was the seven-mile round-trip Willow Hole Trail, which had few people on it and had us walking through stone canyons until we reached a pond and its willows. The park is an understandably popular place 130 miles west of Los Angeles; if you're like us and want to be alone in nature, choose hikes that are more than one mile. Continued...
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMONS COOPERATIVE
A Community With Heart
By   Kathy Jordan

Lovely grounds at Neighborhood Commons
A small oasis sits on the edge of Lincoln Central Association's boundaries. It is the Neighborhood Commons Cooperative, an LCA member, which played a significant role in Lincoln Park's Urban Renewal history. Originally part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (DHUD) plan for outreach and investment in the multi-family housing market, the housing offered renters secure and safe homes north side of Chicago. Ultimately it offered affordable housing for many low-to-moderate income residents. Today the buildings and their grounds offer affordable living as well as a quiet reprieve from Chicago's busy urban traffic and congestion. 

Entrance at Neighborhood Commons
"The Neighborhood Commons Cooperative was critical to stabilizing Lincoln Park in the '70s," says 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith. "At the time, Lincoln Park was mostly run down, and the then-new construction brought new committed residents to the neighborhood."

In 1996 the tenant association organized and purchased the property, relinquishing rights to DHUD subsidy and allowing the cooperative to operate independently. A 1998 refinance and grant helped shareholders do extensive rehab of the property so that today, the buildings and grounds offer affordable living as well a quiet respite from busy urban congestion.

"Neighborhood Commons is a staple in Lincoln Park," says former 43rd Ward Alderman Vi Daley." "I enjoyed working with them. They strive to make sure their property is well kept, their children go to the best schools, and they certainly care about the community. There wasn't a time that I didn't hear from the Neighborhood Commons President asking me how we could work together to make the property on North Avenue look more like the landscaping on Michigan Avenue." Continued....
HEARTS & CULTURE donegal
Meet  New Committee  Chair, Donna Gallery

Donna Gallery
Donna Gallery joined the LCA Board in January 2018, and is the chairman of the Arts and Culture Committee. A graduate of Northwestern University with majors in French and art history, Donna received her MBA from DePaul University in the '70s, attending classes at night while working in the banking industry. Her career in banking not only spanned four banks, it used her education in a most interesting way. From the Heart visited with Donna to learn how.

From the Heart : Are you a native Chicagoan?

Donna: I was born here, but we quickly moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. When I was four, we moved back here and lived in the suburbs-Skokie and Northbrook. As a single woman, I lived in Sandburg. It's a good location for a young person.

From the Heart : When did you move to Lincoln Park?

Donna : In 1985, when I married Kenneth Bauer. That's when we
Donna with Kenny Bauer in Rome
bought our current home. The building was in foreclosure and needed a complete remodeling, since the owners had turned it into apartments. The 9-foot windows in the front had been bricked up to half their size. We took the outside back to what it would have looked like in 1882 when it was built. We didn't actually move in until early 1987.

From the Heart:  You were "pioneers" back then. This neighborhood was very different. Do you have any stories to tell?

Donna : We got mugged on our block. Ken and I were walking home, discussing preparations for Thanksgiving and not paying attention. Two kids approached us, and shoved a gun in Kenny's ribs. They wanted money and while Kenny was dealing with them, I ran home and called the police. We had to go to a lineup, where we met all of our neighbors. The boys had been pulling the same thing all over the neighborhood. We were even asked to identify the gun. But I felt badly, too. One boy's mother was standing there, witnessing the lineup. I thought how I would feel if this was my son.

From the Heart: Do you have children?

Donna: We have one son, Max. He's 24 and a photographer, who wants to go into film editing.

From the Heart : How did you begin your career?

Donna : I graduated with a teaching degree, and went to work as a high school French teacher. I was force-feeding French to people who didn't care about it. It was hard. I went from teaching to banking when a friend told me of an opening at First National for a French-speaking person. In 1981 I went to Lloyd's Bank, and was there until the early '90s, when they closed the office. I was asked to go to London, but, of course, I was married and couldn't go. So, I went to Harris Bank for nine years, then to Bank One, which was bought by JP Morgan.

From the Heart : But yours was not the average career in banking.

Chagall's Four Seasons 
Donna : My job was French-speaking services. And through that I had some extraordinary experiences. For example, with my background in both French and art, I became the "man" for mosaics, specifically Chagall's Four Seasons mosaic. I got to watch it being created, and was one of the few guests included among the VIPs inner circle. I had a lot of jealous friends that day. Continued......
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southwestSouthwest, continued
  
Tom's Thumb
On to Scottsdale. We drove five hours through the mountains of Southern California, a place for which I have a newfound appreciation after years of thinking the whole place was traffic and smog. In Scottsdale we settled in at my mom's beautiful home and kept up the hiking, because Scottsdale - known for its resort hotels and golf courses - has the 35,000 acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the largest urban landscape in the U.S. There we hiked the Tom Thumb Trail, a five-mile round-trip, steep but do-able.

Anne Moore on Tom's Thumb Trail
With my vibrant 88 year old mom, we enjoyed  less taxing pleasure in Scottsdale: a leisurely lunch outdoors, shopping glamorous Kierland Commons , a family meal under the stars. And I, a fish, tucked in a long lap swim at my mom's club after ten days as a happy goat, my eyes newly opened to our nation's beauty.

I'm glad we made that trip in March. Unexpectedly, my mom died April 7, following emergency surgery. She died peacefully at home, my sisters and I by her side.
commonsNeighborhood Commons Cooperative, continued

With DHUD as the mortgage insurer, the cooperative follows its
Shirley Hardiman
guidelines with respect to maintaining clean, safe and damage-free property, as well as adhering to Fair Housing Laws and other state and local government agency rules and regulations. "We look out for our neighbors and each other," says Neighborhood Commons Cooperative President Shirley Hardiman. "We believe in our community's common goal of maintaining a clean, safe  place to live and raise a family," Hardiman added.

Governance is the responsibility of a Board of Directors elected by shareholders each year at the Annual Meeting. Management comes from Tailor Made Property Services for the past nine years. Shirley Hardiman says President of Tailor Made Marlene Dau "brought a wealth of experience which the Board of Directors recognizes as one of our greatest assets with respect to the upkeep and viability of the property."

Parents in the Commons are active in their children's schools, including Abraham Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln Park High School and Newberry. Many of the student residents of the Commons have gone on to secure their advanced degrees. 

Sally Nuamah
One such example cited by Hardiman was Sally Nuamah, who completed her doctoral degree in political science at Northwestern University in 2016. Most recently, Sally was named a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University and a Women and Public Policy fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. In the fall of 2018, Sally will begin a tenure track professor position at Duke University.

Ms. Hardiman adds, "We're proud of our children, our intergenerational heritage, our long-standing history in our community and our commitment to make Lincoln Park the best it can be."
galleryHearts & Culture, continued

From the Heart: Not exactly what would be considered banking by your average person. How did that come to be?

Four Seasons Mosaic
Donna: One day, a note landed on my desk, asking me to translate the French on a grubby piece of paper that was attached. It turned out to be Marc Chagall's notes on the mosaic and was signed by Chagall. Very special, not very banking.

From the Heart: What were your early days in banking like?

Donna: Interesting. First National Bank had a worldwide presence. I worked the French Desk which covered France, Spain and Portugal. Others covered different countries. They brought young people from the best schools to work in the bank. We had great after-work parties and cooked native foods. I got paid almost nothing. But it was my first "real" job, so I didn't care.

From the Heart: How did art become part of your job?

Donna: Art was originally part of my job only because of language. In later years, it was part of my career. I worked with affluent folk, many of whom we interested in art. For example, one man wanted to buy a (Gustav) Klimt painting. The bank advised him how to assemble the money needed to make the purchase.

From the Heart: Do you still have your interest in art?
 
Donna: I really like drawing and painting. I paint pictures for friends' babies' rooms. And Ken and I have our own art collection. Art was always part of his life. His father is Austrian and the family owned art galleries. So art is a family thing.
 
From the Heart: How did you get involved with LCA?

Donna: The LCA Zoning Committee was my first contact. The house next door was being built and the owners wanted variances that we objected to. I organized a neighborhood meeting and invited Anne Moore (Zoning Committee chairman) at my architect's suggestion.   We were not successful, but I was asked to join the Zoning Committee. One day, Anne called and said people were retiring from the Board and proposed that I run. She told me I would get a broader view of the neighborhood.

From the Heart: Do you have a goal for the Arts and Culture Committee? 

Donna: I think it's wonderful to get people more exposed to art, however we can do it. People don't understand, or feel silly about it. For me, it's important to have art in my life, whether it's' a play or music or whatever form. It's fun for me to be involved in a group that values that. It makes it more interesting. It's nice if your art is mostly about money. It's more important if it speaks to you.

From the Heart: What would you tell people who are not currently LCA members?

Donna: In my experience, if you want to be aware of what's going on, this is a way of connecting with people in the neighborhood. That's a lovely benefit. If you have an opportunity to do things that bring light, life, joy, and beauty to a place, go for it. How happy does that make you?

For more information on LCA's Arts & Culture committee, email  culture@lincolncentral.org.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY LINKSsafe

Keeping the neighborhood safer
How to get involved in public safety
How to report crime
Tips for using 911
When to use 311
Link your security camera into OEMC

*Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communication
HOST AN AFS FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT FOR THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR

AFS is looking for families to host foreign exchange high school students for the 2018-'19 school year. 
You choose the student who will be the best fit for your family. (Read more about the program.)

Students arrive with their own spending money, excellent medical coverage, and are looking forward to participating as active members of their host families, schools, and communities. For more information, please contact Linda Mellis at 773-327-9123 or afs.mellis@gmail.com.
SUMMER CAMP AT NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM

The   Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum offers a variety of summer camp programs for children. Learn more about these programs.
LCA's events provide affordable sponsorship opportunities and extensive visibility for local businesses. Sponsors returning to Spring Zing for the fourth consecutive year include include presenting sponsor  Bridgeview Bank, the partnership of  Kohl's Cares for Kids and  Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Thomas Ward Insurance ,  Additional confirmed sponsors include the  Lincoln Park Chamber of CommerceLakeshore Sport & FitnessBGD&C Luxury Custom HomesVia Strozzi, ADT Custom Home ServicesEmerald City TheatreElevate Lincoln Park and the George P. White Foundation.

Sponsorship opportunities remain available. If you are interested in reviewing sponsor Spring Zing (download the proposal here), email us at sponsorship@lincolncentral.org or call 773.931.5515. If you wish to participate in other ways, email events@lincolncentral.org.
  THANK YOU GENEROUS SPONSORSsponshi

LCA is a 501(c)(3) volunteer not-for-profit neighborhood organization. Our events are only made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors. Please let these establishments know you appreciate their generosity. 

Most importantly, we hope you will support these establishments whenever you have the opportunity because they support our neighborhood.
Join  LCA  online | Download LCA  membership form | Support your neighborhood parks.
From the Heart  is an award winning newsletter published monthly by Lincoln Central Association, c o-editors. Kenneth Dotson and Kathy Jordan. Please any story ideas to newsletter@lincolncentral.org.

From the Heart  r eceived a 2016 and 2017   Additionally, From the Heart has been named a  Constant Contact All-Star for 2015, 2016 and 2017  based on the open  rates and other metrics associated with this  newsletter in comparison to other Constant Contact clients. Visit our archive to catch up on past issues.