Kelly's Update

Well, between my travel and a rash of staff illness, last week’s newsletter didn’t happen. Let’s try this again - last week’s comments will follow a brief update as we head into Veto Session. 

First, I just want to thank everyone who spent the last several days showing up for our neighbors. Candace and I have been volunteering with the incredible folks of Protect RP who have been coordinating our area’s rapid response efforts to the ICE invasion of our communities while also providing support to folks in other parts of the north side quickly standing up their own rapid response efforts in real time as agents flooded north side communities all over the lakefront. Several times a day, one of us will just jump up, grab our whistle and phones and head over to a location where a report of possible ICE activity has happened. In addition, we’ve been among the folks showing up at our schools at drop off and pick up times to monitor for activity at those sites. Saturday, we helped Protect RP and Rad Rogers Park and others put together a pop up community gathering to acknowledge the impact of the raids on our neighbors, share stories of support, and encourage our neighbors to support the small businesses along our commercial corridors of Clark, Morse, and Howard as well as similar business districts in other impacted communities. The turnout was awe inspiring, and as I joined the other organizers for tacos and margaritas at the end of the rally, the street was still hopping with folks cheering, chanting, marching and loving our community. Read down to last week’s update for some resources on how you can get connected and find your best way to be helpful. Or sign up here for a virtual training Wednesday morning! These have been extremely popular and fill up quickly, so register ASAP.

Rep. Cassidy attends gathering with Protect RP and community members this past weekend

It’s Tuesday morning and I’m in Springfield preparing for the start of the first week of Veto Session. Since this is our first time together since adjournment in May, I’m expecting that there will be a lot of folks with a lot of things to say in points of personal privilege when we convene at 1pm. After that, we’ll break to meet in caucus for briefings on many of the issues we expect to consider this week, including transit, energy, elections, immigration, and budget. It’s unlikely that any major legislative packages will advance this week, with committee and caucus action likely consuming most of our time this week and floor action mostly happening in the second week 10/28-30. I don’t think we’ve ever been in session Halloween week before, so that should be interesting. As we get more information about specific pieces of legislation, we’ll share it out on our social channels. 

Jack the dog in front of the Governor's Mansion and ready for Veto Session!

Rep. Cassidy's commute to the House Floor and Halloween treats for her colleagues!

LAST WEEK’S MESSAGE

On Friday afternoon, I left Chicago heading to my hometown in Florida to celebrate our oldest sister’s 70th birthday. I left feeling the weight of what’s happening on the streets of our city, guilty over not attending protests or being available for ICE watch activities in our neighborhood, guilty over feeling guilty about going to my sister’s birthday. I watched reports on news and social media that seemed impossible to believe and began to hear from friends and neighbors upset about the role the Illinois State Police and other local law enforcement appeared to play in arrests at the ICE facility in suburban Broadview. Very shortly after, reports of ICE deploying tear gas in the middle of a neighborhood street impacting small children, and a shooting of a woman in a vehicle by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents followed. Doing my best to get accurate information, I felt like I was missing critical pieces of the puzzle while also feeling detached from my family’s celebration as I worried about the situation at home. 

There’s a whole lot to unpack in those couple of sentences, but honestly this is more about the impact of the overwhelming flood of information and trauma we’ve experienced these last weeks as the ICE invasion of our state and city has escalated. Many of the folks I talked to in Florida were either unaware or minimally aware of what’s been happening in Chicago. We’re living it, so it seems hard to fathom that there are those who have not been exposed to this news, but that’s very much the reality of the situation. The news of the raid on the building in South Shore where children were ripped from their beds in the middle of the night was alarming when I shared it, so much so that folks frequently questioned if this really happened. Not in a “I don’t trust you” kind of way as much as a “how is this not the first thing on the news every day” kind of way. And that’s a really good question. But it’s also our reality. Whether because they’ve tuned out or because the media sources they depend on aren’t elevating these stories, there are a whole lot of folks in our lives who literally have no idea what we’re seeing every day. And frankly, perception is reality. It can’t possibly be as bad as we’re saying because it would be front page news if it was. So, when Governor Pritzker says that when you witness lawless activity by ICE or other law enforcement you should immediately video tape it, he’s right. But you should also make sure the people in your lives who trust you and love you but maybe don’t live here or don’t truly get what you’re describing see it too. 

Speaking of perception is reality, I’ve really been struggling with how to react to the engagement of Illinois State Police and Cook County Sheriff’s Police in activities in Broadview at the request of the village, whose small police department has been overwhelmed by the escalating actions of ICE and other federal authorities. The Governor’s Office and Illinois State Police sent statements describing their reasoning for intervening, and there’s truly no question that the situation on the ground was untenable and someone was going to be seriously injured or worse if allowed to escalate. The refusal by ICE to remove the illegally constructed barriers that put everyone in the village at risk added to that reality. The litigation in other states pushing back on National Guard deployment also hinges on the engagement of state and local law enforcement as a key part of the argument against escalation. 

At the same time, I was hearing from people who had been on the ground on Friday who felt that the actions of the State Police and Sheriff’s Police were assisting ICE with carrying out their illegal campaign of terror even more efficiently than before. Some folks I heard from in the areas that were targeted for the most aggressive and violent ICE actions believed there were more ICE agents available to come to their area because they weren’t needed to protect the facility from protestors. Perception is reality, and we need to accept that.

The Unified Command unit including Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff’s Police, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has been utilized in other high profile high risk situations with relative success, including deploying and protecting the “free speech zones” at last year’s Democratic National Convention without significant incidents or pushback. As an aside, I struggle with the oxymoron that is a free speech zone while again understanding the utility of the concept. I also fully understand that there are activists to whom the idea of confining their protest to a government designated space is anathema and expected that there would be folks who would refuse to comply and be arrested.

None of us have ever been through anything quite like this before, so we are all going to have to make mistakes, adapt, regroup, and keep trying to keep each other safe. The reality is that the people who are truly making us unsafe are the untrained, desensitized agents sent here to cause chaos, harm families and communities, disrupt our routines, sow discord among neighbors, and generally try to tear our city and state apart. We can be angry with each other when something goes wrong, and the folks who have reported bad behavior by our law enforcement deserve accountability and justice. I encourage everyone with video or photos from encounters with local, state, or federal law enforcement to ensure that the people involved can access them and utilize the proper channels for filing complaints. I further encourage our law enforcement leadership to examine tactics, public communications, and outcomes and adapt to ensure that people aren’t left to question the motives and the role of ISP in future encounters. Unfortunately, this is likely going to be our reality for some time, especially as National Guard deployments have begun.

I encourage anyone who is concerned about the ongoing occupation of our city to seek out ICE Watch training and connect with your local rapid response teams. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is the coordinating hub for these teams and is hosting online trainings every Tuesday and Thursday: Register here. Our office has a supply of Know Your Rights cards that you can share with neighbors and local businesses that also provide good instructions on what to do if you witness ICE activity as well as Hands Off Chicago signs and a limited supply of emergency whistles being utilized to signal the presence of ICE in the neighborhood. Reach out via phone or email to make sure we have what you need before coming to the office in case we need to restock. Here’s a handy guide to ways folks who want to be helpful and better informed about what’s happening on the ground. 

Ultimately, we have to look out for each other. If you find yourself concerned about a neighbor or family member taken into custody, know that the system has been working very slowly in terms of making location and status information available. If you’re concerned about someone that’s been taken into custody, calling the ICIRR Family Support Hotline is your first step to getting connected. The ICE Locator System is slow, but should also be checked: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/

We head back to session next week 10/14-16. At this time, it’s not clear whether we’ll take up the transit package that week or in the second week of session at the end of the month, but I’m very interested in seeing the feedback on our survey on funding sources for transit reform: bit.ly/ILTransitSurvey

Rep. Cassidy delivers acceptance speech for the Moxie Award

Rep. Cassidy poses alongside other Moxie winners

Ribbon cutting for Transistor in Edgewater



From Left to Right: 14th District Intern Aidan Wong, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Transistor owner Rafael Rivera, 48th Ward Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppnworth, Director of Business Services and Programs with Edgewater Chamber of Commerce David Oakes

Rep. Cassidy with Merriam Levkowitz reading a story for the Andersonville Farmers Market's Drag Queen Story Hour

Need to Know Info

We have added some new resources to our Know Your Rights Resources page. Keep up to date with new information by visiting our website.

You may have friends and family from outside of Chicago seeing what is happening in our amazing city and asking how they can help. The handy document above offers a list of things folks can do to help spread awareness of the situation in the city as well as help fund ongoing efforts to resist the Trump administration's occupation of Chicago. 

Following the recent and ongoing government shutdown, many constituents have expressed concern regarding the status of their SNAP, CCAP, WIC, Medicaid, Early Intervention, or TANF cash benefits. The Illinois Department of Human Services has issued the following statement: .

The federal shutdown will not impact October benefits for current IDHS customers. This includes but is not limited to SNAP, CCAP, WIC, Medicaid, Early Intervention, and TANF cash benefit customers.

Regularly scheduled benefits will continue to be issued and our offices will remain open and ready to assist you.

IDHS is monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates on our website.

For more information and future updates, visit the IDHS website

The offices of State Representatives Kelly Cassidy, Eva-Dina Delgado, and Ann Williams are asking for your input on revenue proposals to fund transit. You can click the image above or use the QR Code to take our Transit Revenue Proposals Survey! This is a follow up to our Transit Town Hall, hosted a few weeks ago, that you can read about in our previous newsletter.

The office of Alderwoman Maria Hadden is collaborating with Law Center for Better Housing and Northside Community Resources to host a Tenants Rights Training at Sullivan High School on Tuesday, October 14 at 6pm. Renters can come and learn about their rights and get their questions answered.

Exciting news! Illinois EPA’s next EV Rebate Program application cycle opens on October 28, 2025 with $14 million available for rebates this fiscal year.

Program updates for FY26 include:

• Vehicle price cap of $80,000
• $2,000 rebate for eligible EVs ($4,000 for low-income applicants)
• Cap on the income of applicants
• Change to the definition of low-income applicant
• Expanded 180-day window to apply after purchase

Applications and instructions will be posted on October 14, 2025, giving Illinois residents time to plan their EV purchases. You can find more information at their website here.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Transitional Housing. This funding opportunity will support transitional housing services for persons whose housing needs arise from or are a cause of their victimization. Eligible clients include adults (and, when appropriate, their dependent children) and victims of crimes, including, but not limited to, domestic violence (including intimate partner violence), human trafficking, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, and forced labor.

The program narrative must thoroughly explain housing models and rent structures. Applicants are responsible for including personnel costs in their budget and budget narrative needed to accomplish program requirements. Funding for this program is limited to salary and benefits for personnel providing direct services and direct supervision of victim service providers. If the chosen housing model involves the agency serving as landlord, landlord and service provision roles must be listed as separate staff. Applicants must explain how these roles will be clearly distinct. A case manager position is mandatory for each program.

To learn more and apply please go to ICJIA's Website.

Taxpayers have the opportunity to pay outstanding eligible tax liabilities and have related penalties and interest forgiven, provided the taxes are paid in full during the amnesty period.

An eligible tax liability is tax debt due from periods ending after June 30, 2018 and prior to July 1, 2024.

Eligible tax liabilities and returns must be paid and filed in full October 1, 2025 through November 17, 2025 to qualify for the waiver of penalty and interest.

Check out the website here for full program details, eligibility, and guidance

Click the image above for a flyer explaining the expanded eligibility and for a list of organizations that can help you apply.

Cook County is launching the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, a $15 million program that will assist households that have experienced a substantial increase on their property tax bills in recent years.

Under the direction of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund will provide one-time payments of $1,000 to eligible households.

Limited funding is available.

The application portal is now open until October 31, 2025.

The application process will be conducted in two phases to help the County ensure that relief goes to eligible households while reducing the burden on applicants and simplifying documentation needs. 

You can apply here.

The Chicago Housing Authority is pleased to announce that their affordable waitlist is now open for The Concord at Sheridan. If you are currently looking for a home you can go to their website for more information and to fill out an application.

Applicants must be able to meet the following criteria to be considered for housing: 

• Income limit requirements 
• Work requirement
• Occupancy guidelines 
• The unit will be the family’s primary residence 

Applicants must also meet our Rental Policy requirements, which are: 

• Credit/criminal background check 
• Income and asset verification 
• Citizenship Verification 
• Social Security Card 
• Picture ID 
• Birth certificate or passport 

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP is now open for priority filing. CEDA Energy Services is here to assist income-eligible households in Cook County with utility bill assistance for heating and electricity.

Current priority eligibility includes:

• Older adults (60+)
• Person(s) with a disability
• Families with children age 5 & under
• Households that are disconnected or in imminent disconnection status

All income-eligible households can apply starting November 1, 202. Visit CEDAorg.net/Bills to learn how to apply or call (800) 571-2332. 



Flyers are available in English and Spanish — please share them with loved ones and community members who may benefit.

You can get more information and see more about applying for LIHEAP at the CEDA website here.

The Japanese American Service Committee can help seniors through the process of applying for the Illinois Department on Aging's Community Care Program. This program focuses on enabling older adults (age 60+) to remain independent and safe in their own homes, and delay or prevent nursing home or other residential placement. In this program, the State of Illinois pays full or partial costs for eligible seniors. A case manager visits your home to determine eligibility and an appropriate care plan.

For more information please visit their website or click on the image above.

211 Illinois was made aware of a fraudulent phone scam falsely claiming affiliation with their organization. A concerned caller reported receiving a phone call from an individual claiming to be a “supervisor with Illinois 211” and offering to help pay their utility bill. The scam involved a false promise: if the caller paid half the amount owed, “211” would cover the remaining amount.

Unfortunately, after sending money, the individual received no assistance. They contacted 211 again—only to learn it was a scam.

To be absolutely clear: 211 Illinois does not employ supervisors, does not offer direct financial assistance, and never asks for money in exchange for services. Their role is to connect people to verified local resources for help; however, they do not process payments or provide direct cash assistance. Please do not share any personal or financial information with anyone claiming to be from 211 and requesting money or banking information.

Neighborhood Shoutout

In community with members of the 14th District and Loyola University, we mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Sister Jean, who passed away last week at the age of 106.

Loyola President Mark C. Reed offers the following highlights of Sister Jean's contributions to the Loyola community: 

In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom, grace, and inspiration for generations of students, faculty, and staff. Her ministry was one of presence, and she was part of the fabric of our daily lives at Loyola.  

Born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on August 21, 1919, she joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937, taking the name Sister Jean Dolores. A native of San Francisco, Sister Jean taught at several Catholic schools in both Chicago and California before first coming to the Lake Shore Campus in 1961 to teach at Mundelein College. She held numerous roles at Mundelein over the next 30 years until the college affiliated with Loyola in 1991.  

In 1994, Sister Jean took on an academic advisor role with the men’s basketball team and later transitioned to team chaplain. She long maintained a key role in supporting the team, offering both spiritual support and practical advice on the players’ game performance. Sister Jean became an international celebrity during the 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament, accompanying the Ramblers as they reached the Final Four for the first time since their historic 1963 national championship season. Sister Jean added to her fame with the Ramblers reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2021 and additional NCAA and NIT appearances in 2022, 2024, and 2025. 

In addition to her work with Loyola’s basketball team, Sister Jean also held weekly prayer groups for students and started a program called SMILE (Students Moving into the Lives of the Elderly), which paired Loyola students with residents of The Clare, the assisted living community on the Water Tower Campus that she called home for many years. She received many honors at the University, including an induction into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and receipt of the Sword of Loyola in 2018.

Information regarding arrangements can be found here.

Photos from Sister Jean's 103rd birthday celebration. The Governor proclaimed April 21st Sister Jean Day when she turned 103 in 2022. The Loyola Red Line stop was also named in her honor as "Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM Plaza."

District Events

Step into spooky season with this hands-on Halloween cookie decorating class in Chicago! In this creative and beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn how to decorate a one-of-a-kind mashup cookie set featuring spooky twists on iconic characters and themes:

• A moody Wednesday Addams ghost
• Mischievous Labubu in Halloween form
• A stitched Sally-inspired patchwork heart
• A swirling crystal ball with mystical patterns
• And a dramatic Elphaba witch hat

You’ll use colorful royal icing and a variety of decorating tools to bring these designs to life, learning piping, flooding, layering, and wet-on-wet techniques along the way.

Click here to find dates, times, and tickets.

The 24th Police District is hosting an Affinity Community Conversation on October 16th at 10am where they will be sharing resources available to help:

• Immigrant and Refugee Communities
• LGBTQ+ Communities
• Religious or Ethnic Groups
• People with disabilities
• Other vulnerable or underrepresented groups 

October 16th at 10:00am

6464 N Clark St.

Participatory Budgeting season is fast approaching in the 48th Ward! Participatory Budgeting is a process where the community comes up with project ideas for the $1 million infrastructure budget the ward gets and then votes on them!

Join the 48th Ward green council to brainstorm project ideas related to green space and sustainability and be on the lookout in future newsletter for more Participatory Budgeting engagement meeting dates!

Thursday, October 16 from 6-7:30pm

1129 W Bryn Mawr with a Zoom option

You can register online here.

The Wintrust Bank/Loyola Station Branch is sponsoring a program presented in partnership with the Friends of the Edgewater Library and The Edgewater Branch Library to kick off National Friends of the Libraries Week. 

Historical re-enactor Bob Stark will allow the audience to travel back in time to meet one of our country’s Founding Fathers — an accomplished writer, scientist, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Benjamin Franklin is the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War.

The program takes place Sunday, October 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Edgewater Branch Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

CMAA provides free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to adult immigrants and refugees with limited English proficiency in both Chicago and Elgin. Classes range from beginner to advanced levels, focusing on preparing students for workforce integration and participation in society. Higher-level students can attend civics-focused ESL classes that include information about citizenship, health resources, and community resources relevant to life in Chicago and beyond. All classes incorporate employability skills and workforce readiness, ensuring students are prepared for the Chicago job market or further education opportunities.

Classes are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings throughout the week, as well as on Saturdays. Fall classes begin on October 13th. Students are encouraged to commit to the full length of the class term for maximum benefit.

Please check out their website for more information and to sign up.

Rogers Park Cleanup will be hosting a trash pickup event on October 26th at the Willye B. White Park Fieldhouse (1610 W. Howard). The cleanup will last from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and you can register here. Make sure to wear a costume if you want!

It's time for the annual 48th Ward Halloween Decoration Contest! Every year, 48th Ward neighbors decorate their homes and share pictures on social media for the chance to win a prize from a local business!

Whether you cover the outside of your home in skeletons and cobwebs or spruce up a corner of your apartment, now is the time to show off your Halloween spirit! Take pictures of your decor and post them with the hashtag #48thSpookyDecor. Be sure to tag @the48thward so they see it. Like other posts under the same hashtag and the 48th Ward will put them to a vote in their October 30 newsletter. 

The USA Wheel Gymnastics Team , Willye White Park and your favorite Circus School are hosting Wheel Weekend Oct 17-19 with Gym and Cyr Wheel workshops and performances led by top coaches from around the world. Stop by for a free show or workshop.

Free Circus Show:

On Saturday, October 18 @ 7pm, HarvestFEST presents a free show at Willye White Park with live performances featuring the high-energy breakdancing moves of the Uptown Breakers, the dazzling circus acts of the CirquesExperience Show Team, the incredible skill of the Wheel Gymnastics USA Team, including the mesmerizing Cyr Wheelers Becky and Alex from Madison Circus Space and more!

Oktoberfest After Party:

Stick around after HarvestFest for the 8pm Oktoberfest Party with delicious, warm pretzels, Oktoberfest beverages and waters/juices for the kids. Oktoberfest ticket proceeds will be donated to Rachel Joyce Waller Foundation. 

Classes and Workshops:

Students aged 13+ with any level of experience are welcome to participate in one or multiple workshops throughout the weekend, like wheel spirals, spins, dismounts, hangs and more. A full list of activities can be found here.

Enjoy a free circus show, refreshing drinks, and snack on delicious, warm pretzels. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season!

Join Gerber/Hart on Wednesday October 15th at 6:30 PM for a panel discussion about Latinx Activism and Journalism with Robert Castillo, Mona Noriega, and Manuel Hernández-Nuñez moderated by Tracy Baim! This event will include discussion of organizations such as Alma, Amigas Latinas, and Queer Nation Chicago as well as the newspaper En La Vida. En La Vida is featured in Gerber/Hart’s current exhibit “Windy City Times @40: Breaking News. Breaking Silence,” which will be available for viewing before and after the event in the Sandfield Gallery.

Get ready for Tailwind for Tools 2025, The Recyclery's annual fundraiser and bike party! Mark your calendars for October 19th, 3-7pm at 1502 W Jarvis Ave just steps from Howard Street, where everyone is welcome. Join a celebration of the bike community with food, drinks, games, alley kitten races, live music, raffle prizes, and more. All proceeds support The Recyclery's programs to get more people on bikes, keep parts out of landfills, and promote sustainable communities.

October 19th

3pm-7pm

1502 W Jarvis

Kick off your Halloween celebrations with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. Dress up in your best costume and enjoy Trick-or-Treating through the Andersonville business district from 12–3 PM on Saturday October 25th! You can find a map of participating businesses here!

On the same day Farragut transforms into the most haunted street in Andersonville! Join the Chamber from 11AM–3PM at Clark & Farragut for Fright on Farragut. Show off your costumes, play creepy games, snag some candy, and dance along with DJ Lexie. The fun isn’t just for human monsters, bring your furry friends for the Pooch Costume Contest from 12-1PM, sponsored by Urban Pooch!

Join the 48th Ward Office for their annual Halloween parade! Show up in costume and walk together from Bromann Park to Women and Children First where they will have candy, games, and more!

Saturday, October 25 from 10-11am

Meet at Bromann Park (5400 N Broadway)

You can also sign up to volunteer here.

Join West Edgewater Area Residents Association at Andersonville’s newest park, Park 599, for a family-friendly Halloween event! Have a blast with pumpkin decorating, kids games with guaranteed prizes, candy, treats, tattoos, Halloween crafts, a live DJ AND SO MUCH MORE. Come in costume and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win big prizes!

October 26th

2:00pm-5:00pm

Park 599

1623 W Edgewater Ave

Theatre

Enjoy two hour long solo performances from local creatives, comics, and performers at Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan.. There will be a short intermission between shows. You can learn more here.

Here’s The Exit is thrilled to present the Chicago premiere of wayfinding by Whitney Rowland, an exquisite new story about grief, connection, and finding the way home. Jane is an emotionally-numbed new widow. Harrison is an inattentive, self-sabotaging fiancé. In seeking escape, these two strangers collide, tangling their life lines and setting them on a time-bending journey. Catch this new show at the Berger Park Coach House (6216 N. Sheridan Road) from October 6th-18th!

Written by: Marjorie Muller

Directed by: Kayla Menz

16-year-old Dot still hasn’t gotten her period. Lucky for her, there’s a Witch in the woods who can get it started. However, in exchange, Dot must offer her the life of a man who has wronged her. And who better to offer than a math teacher? When Dot gets her elusive first period and becomes witness to the Witch’s murder, they become bonded in literal blood, sending Dot down a path of self-understanding, bitterness, and perhaps a little bit of violence too (as a treat). The Sporting Life is a ‘this girl is a woman now’ story brutally snapped open to expose the, sometimes literal, entrails of growing up girl.

The Sporting Life runs October 17th-November 22nd

The Factory Theatre

1623 W Howard St

You can learn more and purchase tickets here.

Based on the book by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Originally published by Simon & Schuster, used with the permission of Pippin Properties Inc

Adapted by ensemble member James E. Grote

Music and lyrics by George Howe

Directed by ensemble member Amanda Link

It’s Halloween! Duck, Pig, Cow, and Hen can’t wait to throw a party. But when mean ol’ Farmer Brown refuses to allow the festivities, it’s going to take some clever trickery to enjoy the tasty treats. Join the beloved barnyard crew as they teach Farmer Brown that sometimes a little scare can be big fun, in this musical adaptation from the beloved Click, Clack, Moo series. 

Recommended for kids 5 and up and their families. Click Clack BOO! is the fifth musical adaptation in Lifeline’s popular Click Clack Moo series.

For more information and tickets click here.

Weekly Markets

The Andersonville Farmers Market is back at a brand new location at 1500 W Winona! The market will be there every Wednesday through October 22nd from 3pm to 7pm featuring over 40 local vendors!

The last 2025 Andersonville Farmers Market will be Wednesday, October 22nd.

Click here for a list of vendors and pop up vendors!

Glenwood Sunday Market (GSM) is a farmers market in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, devoted to providing local, sustainably grown, and produced foods that are also organic whenever possible. Composed entirely of farmers and food artisans who work in a local food shed, their mission is to make sustainable, regionally produced foods accessible to the whole community. 

The last 2025 Glenwood Sunday Market will be Sunday, October 26th.

You can learn more about vendors and food access programs here!

Youth & Teen

What is the Queer Youth Ensemble? It's a paid program where you can collaborate on a collective vision with other young LGBTQ+ artists from around the city. You’ll learn how to use theatre as a tool for social change, while sharpening skills like public speaking, project management, and self expression. By the end of the program you’ll create a culminating group project that addresses issues that matter to YOU.

Why join? Participants report that they benefit from lifelong friendships, professional mentorship, access to resources, and artistic growth. The About Face team fosters a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment where LGBTQIA+ youth can thrive as artists, leaders, and agents of change. 

Participants will be paid a $75 stipend per 3 hour session. Meals and snacks will be provided.

After School Matters has a brand new program at the Broadway Armory Park where teens can learn and earn a stipend while learning to play Latin music (salsa, cumbia, etc) and adjacent genres (afro-beat, R&B).

No musical experience necessary but its welcomed. Teens can still apply at afterschoolmatters.org and look up Latin Music Project @ Broadway Armory. If you have any issues contact the ASM instructors email listed on the flyer.

Need help with your homework? Want to improve your math, writing, or reading skills? The Teacher in the Library is back at the Rogers Park Library!

Location: Rogers Park Library, 6907 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60626

The teacher will be available at the following times:

Monday, 4 PM to 7 PM.

Tuesday, 4 PM to 6 PM.

Wednesday, 4 PM to 7 PM.

Thursday, 4 PM to 6 PM.

For more information, call (312) 744-0156.

The Teacher in the Library is funded by the Chicago Public Library Foundation, 

dedicated to the curious.

Fight Like a Girl is a boxing and leadership development program that helps girls aged 10 and up build confidence, develop a growth mindset, and, build healthy habits. Participants will learn the fundamentals of boxing and how to transfer lessons from boxing into other areas of their lives. Fight Like a Girl is run by Box United, a nonprofit on a mission to help girls use boxing to build physical and mental well-being.

The following locations are free programs for all Chicago girls.

North Side: Rogers Park 

• Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 PM
• Loyola Park Field House: 1230 W Greenleaf Ave, Chicago, IL 60626

South Side: South Shore 

• Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 PM 
• Pump High Energy Fitness Center: 1945 E 71st Street 

*The first 30 minutes of program each day is reserved for homework or individual training. Coaches will be available to provide academic support during this time. If fighter's don't have homework, they are able to practice boxing independently or with a coach until group training starts at 4pm.

ComEd today announced it is now accepting applications for $175,000 worth of college and trades scholarships made available through its Future of Energy scholarship program. Now through November 16, 2025, students who are pursuing a future career in energy, either through a trades training program or a STEM-related college major, can apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

The Future of Energy scholarship program offers financial assistance to cover tuition and education-related expenses for both college and trade programs. The program awards up to $10,000 for college STEM programs, and up to $2,500 for trades schools, such as electrical and line work, HVAC, mechanic/electric vehicle, drafting and design, and plumbing and construction. In addition to the financial award, selected applicants enrolled in a college program may also be eligible for internship opportunities with ComEd.

To qualify for scholarships, students must be enrolled in an eligible two or four-year college or trade program, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8, and submit an application along with two references. Find more information or apply for the ComEd Future of Energy scholarship at ComEd.com/FutureofEnergy.

For more information on ComEd's workforce and education programs, please visit ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs.

Hiring

Click the image above for full job description document.

Chicago House empowers persons living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS to

lead healthy and dignified lives, through housing and compassionate,

client-centered support services. They are hiring a paralegal:

The paralegal will assist the legal director in providing holistic and

affirming legal services, self-help legal assistance, and legal education to transgender and gender expansive people; assist policy advocacy efforts and support the overall mission of the TransLife Cares Program. This position is primarily remote but will require some in person work including staffing drop in clinics on the north, west and south sides of Chicago. The primary practice areas of the program are legal name changes, public benefits appeals,

criminal records sealing and expungement, employment law (wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment) and housing and public accommodations discrimination.

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The PRB is currently seeking candidates for a newly-created Commissioner role. Commissioners must be attorneys licensed in the State of Illinois. This is a part-time contractual role that will be paid an hourly rate. 

Illinois Senate Bill 19, which recently became law, allows the PRB to “appoint commissioners to assist it in such manner as it directs and may discharge them at will.” Commissioners must be attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Illinois. They are required to take trainings at the start of their service and before they take part in any hearings, as well as continuing education throughout the year. Commissioners will be compensated for the training hours. The PRB is in the process of identifying an initial group of Commissioners to help pilot this new role. During this pilot phase, the precise work that Commissioners will perform is subject to change.

To apply or learn more about this opportunity, please email a resume, including a list of references, to the PRB Chief of Staff, Melissa Brandenburg at Melissa.m.brandenburg@illinois.gov. 

It’s that time again, Illinois! IDOT is hiring 1,600+ temporary Winter Highway Maintainers across the state for the 2025–2026 snow and ice season. Help maintain and repair roads, bridges, and more — and keep Illinois moving safely this winter.

Requirements:

✔️ HS diploma or equivalent

✔️ CDL B with N or X (Class A by year 3)

✔️ 1 year clean driving record

You can apply here!

Compassionate caretakers wanted! Join Misericordia, Heart of Mercy and be part of a community where every day is about connection and empowerment. As a Direct Support Professional, you’ll work with residents with disabilities, helping them achieve goals and thrive. If you’re seeking purpose-filled work, click here to learn more and get started.

The MWRD is an award-winning wastewater and stormwater management agency. They have been protecting Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and other local waterways from pollution for over 130 years. Also, for 20 years they have been leading efforts to reduce flooding throughout the Chicago region. They have contributed to technological advances that have changed how the world treats wastewater and how communities manage stormwater and flooding.

If you are looking for new career opportunities, consider the MWRD. You can visit their online employment center to apply and learn more about employment opportunities and the selection process. 

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626