FROM THE HEART
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.
Dear Neighbors:

Lincoln Park has long been known for its eclectic blend of neighborhood and culture, history and nightlife, and boutiques and parks. One of the country's oldest zoos resides mere blocks from trendy eateries, designer shops and remarkable architecture. Beautiful historic homes are complemented by sparking new development.
 
Similarly, Lincoln Central Association is a tapestry formed by individuals of different ages, unique talents and diverse interests. Many join with a desire to give back. Others are drawn by an opportunity to learn.  Some bring experience. Others bring energy. All bring heart. Together a whole is formed  that  is greater than the sum of its parts. That's the magic of Lincoln Central.

We treasure i nstitutional knowledge, yet youth and fresh ideas are encouraged.  Tenured residents, who once helped lead the organization, continue to support, encourage and provide wisdom to newcomers. LCA is not provincial; we have an expansive definition of neighborhood. Some of our most active and valued volunteers and supporters come from outside our boundaries.  Leaders from surrounding neighborhood  organizations  graciously share their wisdom and experience with us. Many are frequent guests at our events. For all of that, we are most grateful.
 
We are now forming our 2018 committees and planning our other initiatives for the year. We'd  love to have you involved. Whether you have an abundance of experience or virtually none matters not. Whether you are a familiar face or someone just getting to know our organization, you can teach us something. And, regardless of where you reside, we'll make you feel at home. 

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. 
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 CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY & ALDERMAN SMITH ATTEND LCA's 2018 ANNUAL MEETING & RECEPTION
Both Officials Stressed Importance of Neighborhood Groups and Praised Lincoln Central's Accomplishments
Congressman Quigley Addresses Crowd

At our recent annual meeting and election, held on Wednesday evening, January 24th at Tobacco Road Tap Room (2239 N. Lincoln Avenue), long-time members mingled with new members and other neighborhood guests to  reflect on shared accomplishments, discuss neighborhood issues and simply get to know each other. The meeting was followed by an LCA-hosted neighborhood reception. 

Special guests included 5th District Congressman Mike Quigley and 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith who both addressed the crowd and stressed the important role neighborhood associations play in helping shape the quality of life in our communities. The congressman complimented LCA on its family-friendly neighborhood events at which he is a frequent guest, noting his enjoyment of biking to the December 2 holiday tree lighting ceremony in Oz Park. Alderman Smith recently referred to  the tree lighting ceremony, jointly hosted by LCA and the Oz Park Advisory Council, as "the most amazing thing Lincoln Park has done in decades."

Alderman Smith thanks LCA.
During her remarks, the Alderman thanked LCA members for their commitment to the community. She mentioned the organization's role with zoning, safety, parks, schools, events and more. She remarked that the  neighborhood associations in Lincoln Park have been involved in every significant improvement and important decision in the neighborhoods for decades. She encouraged those in attendance to learn more about  Lincoln Park's neighborhood groups.

Kenneth Dotson thanked both the Congressman and Alderman for their continued support of Lincoln Central and especially for taking time to attend the event. He also thanked long-time continued
 LUXURY FITNESS CENTER SET TO DROP ANCHOR AT LINCOLN COMMON

Lincoln Common Rendering
In late December 2017, Hines-McCaffery, developer of Lincoln Common on the site of the former Children's Memorial Hospital, announced an anchor tenant had been signed to lease a 33,500 square feet space in the development. 

Hines-McCaffery has yet to announce the identity of the anchor tenant, but  From the Heart has learned from multiple sources in the local brokerage community that the tenant is Equinox , which plans to open a luxury fitness center.

Equinox operates 92 upscale clubs in New York,  Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Houston, and Washington, DC, as well as international locations in London, Toronto, and Vancouver. 

From the Heart  has been not been able to confirm the tenant's identity with any member  member of the Lincoln Common development team but are confident the reported information is accurate.
2018 SPRING ZING TO BE HELD JUNE 2
Event Will Celebrate Its 5th Year

Lincoln Central's popular family-friendly Spring event, Spring Zing, will return for its 5th consecutive year on Saturday, June 2nd. The event will be held at Lincoln Central Park (corner of Lincoln & Dickens) and along Richard "Dickie" Harris Way (the stretch of Dickens between Lincoln & Larrabee). 

Attention Local Business Owners
Businesses interested in being a sponsor of Spring Zing, or other LCA events, should contact us. Hundreds from the neighborhood attend Spring Zing each year. Nintey-five percent of attendees at Lincoln Central events walk to them, meaning they can also walk to your businesses.
BOB SEGAL FEATURED AGAIN 
Photography Appears in Art Deco Magazine

LCA member Bob Segal's  photography
Bob Segal
was recently featured in a three  page photo essay on the inside back cover of the Fall Issue  Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine.  (See issue here.

In 2017, Bob was one of three featured artists at Bridgeview Bank's  Art in the Park exhibiting his photography. His  Lincoln Park Then & Now: A Neighborhood History Through Photographs   was featured at DePaul University's Lincoln Park Community Research Initiative's 2017 Spring Program. An encore presentation was held last Fall at Floating World Gallery.
J9 WINE BAR TO HOST LCA MEMBERS
Reception to Feature Selections of Italian Wine

LCA members will again be invited to a private
wine tasting   reception hosted by LCA member J9 Wine Bar  (1961 N. Halsted). This event will feature a selection of
 Italian wines paired with delicious hors d'oeuvres and  is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. 

The event is free but will be limited to LCA members  current on their dues. RSVPs will be required. The RSVP link will be provided in the February edition of  From the Heart  and posted on LCA's Facebook page.

J9 Wine Bar is a participant in LCA's   Values From the Heart  program.   LCA members  with a
valid membership card receive an on-going discount of 21% at J9 when they present their card.
lp2018
LINCOLN PARK 2018 BREAKFAST
Connect With Elected Officials & Neighborhood Leaders

 Attend Lincoln Park 2018 at Earl's Kitchen + Bar (1538 N. Clybourn), hosted by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, to connect with elected officials, neighborhood leaders and members of the local business community and catch up on what's happening on Lincoln Park.

In addition to breakfast, WTTW's Paris Schultz will moderate a panel discussion with 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins and 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waugespack. Get your tickets here.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, February 13th
LCA Zoning Committee Mtg.
Zoning Committee meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the back room of the Marquee Lounge (Halsted & Armitage). Zoning Committee meetings are open to the public. 

Thursday, February 22nd
  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. 

Wednesday, March 7th    
Lincoln Park 2018
Connect with elected officials, neighborhood leaders, and members of the local business community to catch up on what's happening at the local level at Lincoln Park 2018 at Earl's Kitchen + Bar (1538 N. Clybourn) on Wednesday, March 7 from 8:00-10:00 AM, hosted by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. Learn more.

Wednesday, March 7th    
Wine Tasting Reception at J9 Wine Bar
LCA  member and sponsor  J9 Wine Bar (1961 N. Halsted) will host a complimentary private wine tasting reception for LCA members  on the evening of  Wednesday, March 7th from 6 to 8 PM.  Read more.

Tuesday, March 14th
LCA Zoning Committee Mtg.
Zoning Committee meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the back room of the Marquee Lounge (Halsted & Armitage). Zoning Committee meetings are open to the public. 

Thu rsday, March 22nd
  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, 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). Stay tuned for additional details.

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 free neighborhood reception style event event featuring  dishes from local restaurants and dishes prepared by neighbors using herbs grown in the garden.

Thursday, September 13th
5th Annual Evening in the Garden
Enjoy a neighborhood reception from 6 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 PM.
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A FLORIST WITH HEART
Dilly Lily Blooms on Fullerton Avenue

After careers in accounting and nursing, Rick McVey
Dilly Lilly at 742 W. Fullerton
bought a Lincoln Park flower shop, 
Dilly Lily , a bright and airy retail space at 742 W. Fullerton Avenue opposite the now-under-construction Lincoln Common site. Dilly Lily is in its 20th year; McVey took over two years ago. "I worked in a flower shop when I was in junior high," says McVey. "It was my first love." 

Rick McVey
McVey, an LCA member, grew up in small-town Pennsylvania and misses that kind of  life but remembers vividly driving into Chicago on a blazing hot day and saying, "This is where I belong." He lives in River Forest and enjoys traveling the world in high style with his partner of five years, Eric Hill, an industrial designer who lives three blocks from Dilly Lily. That's how McVey fell into the business. He and Eric often walked by and he remembers thinking "Wouldn't it be fun to own that flower shop?" 

He's got a star-studded client list, thanks to the shop's reputation for luxury arrangements, ranging from former presidents and their families, to touring musicians, TV and film actors and even continued
A COMMITTEE WITH HEART
Values Quality of Life, Preservation and Green Space
By Kathy Jordan

Anne Moore
Lincoln Central's Zoning & Planning committee, chaired since 2003 by Anne Moore, is a vibrant group that concerns itself with maintaining and enhancing our beautiful, lively, urban, historic neighborhoood. After becoming Chair, Anne joined then LCA President Rick Rausch, and Board members Deirdre Graziano 
members in revamping the committee by establishing new guidelines

The committee champions green space
The committee's guiding principals are quality of life for neighborhood residents, green space and historic preservation. The committee works as a group, in a public setting, to hear from and advise neighbors and builders before reporting its recommendation to the LCA Board and to Alderman Smith. 
 
"The purpose of the committee is to be a resource for the neighborhood, a place where people can be heard. Whether it is one homeowner or the builder of a big development, we are called on to represent the community," Moore said.
 
The committee meets the second Tuesday of each month in the back room of the Marquee Lounge. All people have to do to see the committee is make continued 
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Receive  Neighborhood Updates All Month

Between monthly newsletters, Lincoln Central provides frequent neighborhood updates via  our Facebook page. Updates are also made on special member only events and other benefits available to members only.  So follow us on  Lincoln Central's Facebook page  a nd stay updated throughout the month.
meetingAnnual Meeting, continued

Longtime members Vicki Mann, Gary Redeker and David Varnerin
LCA member Judy Johanson for her contributions to the 
neighborhood  in her role as Chair of the Oz Park Advisory Council and expressed appreciation for the contributions of  three outgoing members of the Board, Secretary James Borkman, Betsy Costello and Bob Segal.
 
The crowd listens to Congressman Quigley
The meeting and reception included a "best of Lincoln Central" slide show featuring neighbors enjoying LCA events, key awards won by the organization, and recognition of sponsors who helped  support LCA throughout the year.

Other special guests at the meeting included Carter Harms, Chief of Staff for State Representative Ann Williams, and Alderman Smith's Chief of Staff, Adam Gypalo.
2018 LCA BOARD AND OFFICER ELECTION 
Meet LCA's Board and Officers

The election to fill open seats on LCA's Board was held at the annual meeting.The number of candidates did not exceed the number of openings and, pursuant to LCA's by-laws, the association's President instructed the Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for the candidate slate submitted by the nominating committee.

LCA Board
Pictured at left from left to right are LCA's 2018 Board members: (front row) Kenneth Dotson, President; Kelly Dotson, Kathy Jordan, Vice-President; Donna Gallery; Alex Hlavacek; David Free, Treasurer; (second row) Anne Moore; Robert Rixer, Secretary; and Tiffany Jozwiak. Not pictured are Sally Drucker and Paul Shea who were unable to attend the meeting.

In accordance with LCA's bylaws, the Association's officers are elected each year by the Board of Directors. At a special meeting held after the Annual Meeting, the Board re-elected Kenneth Dotson as President, Kathleen Jordan as Vice-President and David Free as Treasurer. Robert Rixer was elected Secretary replacing James Borkman who left the Board due to term limits.

Read more about LCA's board members and officers and LCA's election process.
Special Note: If you use Gmail, Yahoo mail or other another webmail program, and in some cases on Android devices, you will either need to click on the "Having trouble viewing this email? Click here" link at the very top of the email, or the "message clipped" link at the bottom left of the page. Otherwise you will not see the full email and some of the links will not work. In some instances when using Outlook, only the link at the very top will be available.
INTERESTED IN SERVING ON A COMMITTEE?
Now is the Time

committeeWork on 2018 committee assignments is now beginning. If you have an interest in serving on one or more of LCA's committees, please  contact us   at your earliest convenience.  Committees in 2018 will include: 
  • Parks
  • Communications & Membership
  • Arts & Culture
  • Events
  • Planning & Zoning
  • Community Affairs 
  • Governance
You do not need to serve on LCA's Board of Directors or live within the Association's geographic boundaries* to serve on one of the Association's committees. You must, however, be a member of the organization. 

*Serving on the Zoning and Governance committees require residency within LCA's geographic boundaries.
Dilly Lily, continued lily

the occasional fashion designer. And yes, it's always a thrill to take or fill
McVey in Dilly Lily
a celebrity order. 

"What sets us apart is the quality of our designs and the beautiful flowers we source for them," says McVey of his shop's star appeal. "We find unusual blooms, exotic varieties, and pride ourselves on our use of exciting color combinations." 

Regular folks shop here, too, including international customers who place orders for local delivery and people in the neighborhood who stop in not just for flowers but also for the superb selection of letterpress greeting cards, hand-poured candles, and an assortment of unique gifts. It's a sun-filled, friendly place. Dogs are welcome, with treats inside and a water bowl outside during the summer. 
      
The vast construction site across the street sometimes leaves a filmy coat of dust and dirt on Dilly Lily's windows. Thet get a daily wash, but otherwise business is good and growing, says McVey. He employs a small but mighty staff, including Creative Director Eric Phillips and Wedding Manager Lily Mindich. They've booked wedding and party orders into 2019 and expect a 20 percent bump in sales once Lincoln Common is filled with residents and shoppers. 

Dilly Lilly recently became a participant in LCA's new
Values From the Heart™ program which provides discounts and other special values exclusively to LCA members. LCA members now receive a 20% discount on purchases of flower arrangements in excess of $100. 

To qualify for the discount, members must present their valid LCA membership card at the time of purchase or pick-up. The offer does not currently apply to delivery orders or wedding and event orders. This year, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are excluded.
zoningZoning Committee, continued

an appointment. And neighbors do just that, coming to the committee to ask for help with encroaching lot lines, consumption of yards and protect against back yard patios that do not conform to code.

The committee supports thoughtful new development
Trees are another concern. The ones on the parkways suffer from abuse during building, and many in back yards are removed completely during construction. "I remember  on one plan I saw a circular curly figure in a yard and asked what it was. The builder said, 'a tree.' and I was surprised."  Moore added that the committee is responsible for saving a large tree on a lot that was between two lots, each being built on.  The tree covered all three lots. The owners of the lot with the tree came to the committee and asked for help.  When the committee next saw the plans, the tree was included.


"We are able to get everyone in the same room--builders, architects, neighbors, the Alderman's office--to come to agreement on many issues." Among accomplishments, Moore cites the Lincoln Park Hospital development.  "Rodger Owen, Dickie Harris, Deirdre Graziano, and I spent many hours in meetings to see that the old buildings would be repurposed, not torn down," Moore said.  

LCA President Dotson says of the committee:  "Anne operates the committee with a professionalism that most corporations aspire to. She provides a compass for decision-making and transparency about the process. The neighborhood is fortunate to have a zoning committee of the caliber Anne leads."

As to committee members, "We try to keep it less than 10 and more than five," Moore said. "Typically people who have come before the committee with issues ask to join. Among our members are two architects, one realtor, a retired social worker, an attorney," and an accomplished  Chicago journalist --Moore. Members of the committee in 2017 were: Anne Moore, chair; Craig Saenger, co-chair; Deirdre Graziano; Bob Segal; Dick Ginsburg; Deborah Clarkson; Debra Dobbs; and Donna Gallery. Many will continue to serve in 2018, though some will retire or move to other committees.
 
"Neighborhood associations like LCA provide timely and critical input to my office on zoning matters in the ward," said 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith. "The neighborhood zoning committees are invaluable for their institutional memory as well as on-the-ground information and their well-founded motivation to protect neighborhood quality of life."

As an example of the input the committee provides to the Alderman's office, several weeks ago a longtime neighborhood business notified the Alderman's office that is  had outgrown its existing space and that they would be forced to leave the neighborhood after 30 years if they could not identify suitable space. The business had already identified an ideal location just across the street. Unfortunately, the property would require a zoning adjustment.

The Alderman's office requested that the business and prospective landlord present their plans to the zoning committee to seek LCA's support. Following that presentation, Moore reported back to the Alderman's office that the committee looked favorably upon the zoning adjustment for the following reasons:
  • The property was spot down-zoned years ago for reasons that remain unclear, prior to which it carried the zoning now being requested.
  • Properties surround surrounding the property carry the zoning designation the business is requesting.
  • LCA believes it is important to keep valued business in our neighborhood.
The committee will continue working with the Alderman's office and the business on this process.
HEART SAFETY
Keeping Our  Neighborhood Healthy

The two-sided poster shown below can help discourage crime and also assist neighborhood residents in reporting instances of crime they witness. To obtain copies of this poster, you may stop by the Alderman's office or contact LCA.

Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge

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From the Heart  is an award winning newsletter published monthly by Lincoln Central Association, c o-editors. Kenneth Dotson and Kathy Jordan. Please email any story ideas.

From the Heart  r eceived a 2016 and 2017   Additionally, From the Heart was named a  Constant Contact All-Star in both 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.