WELCOME

Welcome to the 40th Ward website. We hope that if this is your first visit, you'll visit more often, and if you've been here before, we hope you'll enjoy the improvements that you'll see as you page through our new site.


Our Neighborhood News

The recent flu scare reminds all of us of the importance of prevention. We eat more healthy foods and we exercise. The Chicago Park District provides many activities or you can walk or bicycle along our river trail.

We are fortunate to have some private facilties also such as the Cheetah Gym at 5248 N. Clark, Curves, 5360 N. Lincoln, and Galter Life Center at Swedish Covenant Hospital, 5145 N. California.

If your child is entering the Chicago Public Schools, there are health requirements that help prevent disease.

It is our privilege to help parents meet these requirements.
We urge you to start now and not wait until the last moment.

O'Connor Offers Free School Shots for Kids

Children who are entering schools can receive free innoculations at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave.

Where: Schreiber Park is North of Devon and East of Clark.
When: June 11, August 13. & Oct. 8 10:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.

Please bring innoculation records with you if you have them. Free innoculations are available for all children. If you child is entering a private school, please check with your school about their requirements for vaccinations.

The following notice is from the Chicago Public Schools website.

In the state of Illinois, students must provide proof of required immunizations and health exams before Oct. 15, 2008, or they will face exclusion from school.

Students should provide proof of physical examination to the school if:

• He or she is entering school for the first time (at any grade level).
• He or she is entering kindergarten, 6th grade, or 9th grade (ages 6, 11, or 15 for un-graded programs).
• He or she is entering preschool and kindergarten up to age 6 (a physical exam and a lead screening is required).

Please note: Students who entered 5th grade in 2007 who had a physical exam between August 2006 and September 2007 will not be required to have another physical exam before entering 6th grade in 2008.

In order to assist parents in meeting this mandate, CPS has partnered with 25 school-based health centers and various mobile healthcare providers, including the City of Chicago's Department of Public Health, to offer immunizations and physical examinations at select school locations. All necessary documentation is downloadable in both English and Spanish.

City Stickers on Sale at 40th Ward Office

In order to make the purchase of City of Chicago automobile stickers more convenient for you, stickers will be sold in our office.

Where: 5850 N. Lincoln Ave
When: June 4, 2009 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and July 13, 2009 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.

City Clerk Miguel Del Valle is making this service available.
For the 2009-2010 vehicle sticker year, there will no longer be a separate annual residential permit parking sticker. If you purchase an annual residential parking permit, your new vehicle sticker will now include your residential parking permit zone number (as depicted ). The permit parking zone number is printed right on the vehicle sticker.

In addition, residential parking daily passes have been redesigned into an easy-to-use, label-type format.

Please note: a current city vehicle sticker is required to purchase an annual residential permit parking sticker. Proof of purchase must be presented at the time of purchase.

Still Time to Reserve a Tee-Off

We are kicking off the outdoor season with what is a perfect opportunity to meet and play with your neighbors and other elected officials. Join us for our Annual 40th Ward Golf Outing on Saturday, May 30 at Warren Park.

Be sure to call 773-769-1100 to reserve your Tee-off time. Fore!

The 25th Annual Children's Holiday Celebration December 13, 2008

For the past 25 years Alderman O'Connor's old friend Santa has visited the 40th Ward a little early each year bringing smiles, cheer and gifts for 300-500 waiting children. This year was no different than past visits, in addition to the gifts, candy and song Santa and his helpers gave away two bicycles and a wagon to three very happy children.

Alderman O'Connor wishes to thank Northside College Prep for hosting this years event. The volunteers who purchased and wrapped hundreds of presents for all those smiling children. And lets not forget the man in the big red suit, Santa.

Photos from the event.



Mayor Daley Cuts Ribbon On Engine Company 70 Firehouse August 16, 2008

On Saturday, August 16, 2008 Mayor Richard M. Daley cut the ribbon on the new Engine Company 70 firehouse, located at 6030 N. Clark Street, a new facility that will provide the latest in firefighting technology and communication for residents in the neighborhoods of Edgewater, Rogers Park and Andersonville.

The new $9.3 million firehouse, was built by the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC) and includes a modern design to accommodate better living, remote training and an office workspace. The one-story, 16,000-square-foot facility will replace the old Engine Company 70 firehouse, located at 1545 West Rosemont Avenue.

"As our City grows and changes, one thing remains the same -- our commitment to revitalizing our neighborhoods," Mayor Daley said. "Firehouses like this one serve as valuable resources for a community and contribute greatly to the safety and quality of life of its residents. These facilities also meet the needs of a diverse fire department, one that has men and women putting their lives at risk for Chicagoans every day."

Joining Mayor Daley at the Engine Company 70 ribbon cutting were Fire Commissioner John W. Brooks, 40th Ward Alderman Patrick O'Connor, PBC Executive Director Erin Lavin Cabonargi and other public and elected officials.

"The new home of Engine Company 70 is equipped with the latest technology and accommodations for our firefighters and paramedics, improving our quality of service to every community of the city," Fire Commissioner John W. Brooks said. "It is also designed to serve as a district training center to allow fire & EMS companies to stay closer to their service communities while receiving the latest instruction on fire suppression and rescue and EMS. It is a modern, environmentally friendly facility that we can all be proud of."

The new Engine Company 70 is also a green firehouse, designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's guidelines for a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design - or LEED - silver rating.

The new firehouse includes solar panels, an exhaust heat recovery system and drought-tolerant landscaping. In addition, recycled materials were used where possible, including the benches in the locker rooms, which are made of recycled wood.

"The Public Building Commission of Chicago has long been committed to incorporating the most up-to-date elements of sustainable design into every public facility we build,” PBC Executive Director Erin Lavin Cabonargi said. “Both the design of the Engine Company 70 firehouse and the construction of the firehouse incorporated environmental concerns. In fact, we share the City's commitment to incorporating green building concepts into every public facility that we build."

The new Engine Company 70 firehouse also features:

• A satellite training facility that allows for teleconferencing and remote instruction
• An outdoor training pad that provides ample space for staff from Engine Company 70 and other area fire companies to train in various scenarios
• A large apparatus bay capable of housing a variety of rescue vehicles
• A circular driveway that allows vehicles to exit and to return more quickly and more safely
• A fully-equipped physical training room for firehouse personnel
• Locker rooms and bathroom facilities to accommodate the needs of both male and female firefighters and paramedics

The facility is the seventh to be opened under Mayor Daley's Neighborhoods Alive 21 program, which includes firehouses and police stations. Nearly 20 firehouses and police stations will be replaced under this ambitious program.

Photos from the event.