I want to say thanks to all of the residents and community organizations that have over the last 28 years helped to beautify the 40th Ward by donating their time, energy and money in developing neighborhood gardens. Over the next several years, Metra will be upgrading their facilities. They have assured me that they will try to be as unintrusive as possible as they can be when they are in the areas that you helped beautify.

Below is a description of the scope of work that Metra is planning to do. If you have any other concerns once the project begins, please feel free to call our office at 773-769-1140.

Many Thanks,
Patrick J. O’Connor

________________________________

Project Details

Beginning in August, residents in the 40th Ward will see construction work on Metra’s Union Pacific North line (pdf). This is the beginning of Metra’s $185M Union Pacific North line bridge and retaining wall construction project.

Twenty-two bridges on the north side of Chicago on Metra’s Union Pacific North line will be completely replaced. Construction will improve clearance on surface streets and give cleaner views. This project is expected to take eight years.

The Balmoral bridge will be the first structure to be replaced. In order to begin construction, Balmoral Avenue under Metra’s Union Pacific North line tracks will be closed for six weeks. The street can then reopen to vehicular traffic but it will need to be closed again for a couple of days when the steel arrives for bridge replacement. The Balmoral Avenue bridge wing walls will extend 35 feet north and south on the west side of the bridge. Work on the east side of the bridge will begin 2012. A retaining wall is needed on the northeast side of Balmoral and will run 90 feet north. There is no need for a retaining wall on the southeast side of Balmoral.

Work will also begin in 2012 along the east side of Metra’s Union Pacific North line from Berwyn Avenue to Foster Avenue as a new retaining wall is erected.

It’s important to note that the Berwyn Avenue pedestrian tunnel will remain open during construction.

The second bridge to be replaced in the 40th Ward will be at Foster Avenue. On the northwest side of the Foster Avenue bridge, the replacement wing wall will extend 35 feet north. The east side of the bridge will be reinforced by the new retaining wall.

Residents in the 40th Ward who may use the Rogers Park and Ravenswood stations will notice a slight change in train schedules. Because of the large scope of the Union Pacific North line bridge and retaining wall construction project, train schedules have been adjusted. A new Ravenswood station will be built, but there will be no disruption of service during construction. The average trip times for Rogers Park and Ravenswood will either improve or be a maximum of two minutes longer.

The complete new proposed schedule is available on www.metrarail.com. Construction updates will be posted on Metrarail.com, but if you would like to be notified when there are updates, please log on to MyMetra and sign up, select the Union Pacific North line and check the box that says “email notifications of service alerts on my train routes.” And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @MetraUPN.

.

.

.

COLLEGES

North Park University
3225 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60625
Telephone: 773.244.6200
Website: http://www.northpark.edu

Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis
Chicago, Illinois 60625
Telephone: 773.583.4050
Website: http://www.neiu.edu

Located behind the school is the Joy Garden, a multi-use site that showcases environmental initiatives and serves as an outdoor classroom for special education students. It features wildlife-friendly plantings; 35 tons of recycled
materials; sustainable elements such as a storm-water management system and permeable pavement; and handicapped accessible components like raised beds and wheelchair-height learning stations.

The Joy Garden is named in honor of project coordinator and Northside College Prep graduate Brianna Birman’s deceased aunt, Samantha Joy Birman, who was profoundly disabled.

To help educate everyone on the importance of an eco-friendly environment were:

• Barry Rodgers, Principle, Northside High School
• Bathsheba Birman, President, Urban Wildlife Coalition
• Brianna Birman,  Project Co-ordinator and Northside Graduate 2009
• John Lough, Chicago Department of Forestry
• Brian Lutey, VP, Green Building Division of Ozinga
• Mike Repkin,  Landscape Designer, Urban Habitat Chicago
• Scott Mehaffey, Landscape Coordinator, Department of Environment
• Mike Coy, North Side Science Teacher and CASE Sponsor
• Chris Pelikan, North Side Special Education Teacher

In this section we have gathered  contact information for all of our wonderful High Schools in the 40th Ward.

.

.

.

.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Mather High School
5835 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Il 60659
Telephone: 773.534.2350
Website: www.matherhs.org

Northside College Prep
5501 N. Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
Telephone: 773.534.3954
Website: www.nscollegeprep.cps.k12.il.us

St. Gregory High School
1677 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, Il 60660
Telephone: 773.907.2100
Website: www.stgregory.org

Almost one million of the most vulnerable residents of Cook County are eligible for our services.For those who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial for them to protect their homes, their employment, their public benefits, or to protect their constitutional or statutory rights.

LAF is dedicated to helping those who cannot afford legal counsel navigate the legal system and understand and safeguard their rights as a step toward achieving economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

You can learn more About LAF, our Services, how to become a Volunteer, and how your Support will make a difference by exploring our website.

LAF provides legal assistance to low-income residents of Cook County in civil cases only.  We help individuals and families with problems in the areas listed below.  LAF does not do criminal, traffic, personal injury cases or wills/estates. 

• Family Problems; Domestic Violence
• Housing; Evictions
• Public Benefits; SSI; Social Security; Food Stamps; Health Law
• Home Ownership; Foreclosure
• Migrant Worker Problems
• Immigration
• Elder Law
• Crime Victims
• Consumer Problems; Bankruptcy; Medical Debt
• Special Education; Suspensions & Expulsions
• Employment Problems; Unemployment Compensation
• Children’s Law
• HIV/AIDS
• Representing  Groups
• Veteran’s Problems
• Nursing Home Problems
  

.

.

Chicago Park District
Telephone: 312.747.2200
Website: Link

From rich pond life teeming with frogs, herons, and dragonflies, to shrubby areas where migratory birds stop to rest, to lush prairies filled with native grasses and wildflowers, the Chicago Park District offers opportunities to explore nature in the city.

Gross Park
2708 West Lawrence
Chicago, Il 60625
Telephone: 312.742.7528
Website: Link

Gross Park is a small park located at 2708 West Lawrence Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. It features four basketball standards, a volleyball court, a soccer field, a playground, and a sandbox. Currently, the park’s advisory council is fundraising for the renovation of the playground.

Youth programs at Gross Park include touch football, floor hockey, soccer, softball, sports camp, an after school drop-in program, and fun and games. For teens, the park offers a teen club, bike camp, sports camp, and weightlifting. Weightlifting is also available for adults. There is a game room and table tennis for patrons of all ages to use

Mather Park
5941 North Richmond
Chicago, Il 60659
Telephone: 312.742.7501
Website: Link

Mather Park shares 13.75 acres with Mather High School where many of the Chicago Park District programs are held. Mather High School features a natatorium, two gymnasia and other rooms for indoor patron use. Outdoors, Mather Park features one senior baseball and four junior softball fields, two combination football and soccer fields, four basketball standards, six tennis courts, four horseshoe pits, a playground, and a sandbox.

Schreiber Park
1552 West Schreiber
Chicago, Il 60626
Telephone: 773.262.6741
Website: Link

Located in Rogers Park (north of Devon Avenue and east of Clark Street), Schreiber Park offers weekday programming for various age groups. Programs include children’s arts and crafts, sports and fitness, dance, games and homework hour, adult walking club, as well as moms, pops & tots.The park’s ping pong table is rather popular.

Schreiber Park hosts many holiday events and is known for both its annual Pine Car Derby Race & Family Fest, as well as its annual National Night Out celebration which helps neighbors get to know each other.

The 1.1-acre park continues to expand its open green space and contains a playground, a soccer field, and a basketball court.

Green Briar Park
2650 West Peterson
Chicago, Il 60659
Telephone: 773.761.0582
Website: Link

Green Briar Park, prominently located on West Peterson Avenue just east of California Avenue, serves its community residents with a number of athletic and unique recreational activities, ranging from a weekly drum circle to jewelry making. The historic fieldhouse features a gymnasium on the first floor and an auditorium on the second floor, which is available for rental for private events and parties.

As part of its after-school drop-in program, Green Briar Park offers homework time. The park also provides bitty basketball, basketball for ages 15-17, teen club, and instruction in recreational tumbling and team tumbling. For those who enjoy all sports, Green Briar Park offers a sports club that provides practice and preparation for regional and citywide athletic tournaments, which may include flag football, wrestling, volleyball, tumbling or floor hockey, for example. There are also arts and crafts classes.

Smaller children join in preschool, playgroup, paper craft, or story telling. For adults, Green Briar offers 5-on-5 basketball, volleyball, 14” softball, senior conditioning, and jewelry making/lapidary. All ages are invited to participate in the park’s interactive drum circle on Friday nights, instrumental music classes, and table tennis.

In the summer, Green Briar keeps children active with an extended day camp ideal for working parents. The camp includes both a morning session and an afternoon session.

Outdoors, Green Briar Park features two basketball standards, two junior baseball fields, a tennis court, volleyball court, playground and spray pool.

River Park
5100 North Francisco
Chicago, Il 60625
Telephone: 312.742.7516
Website: Link

Located at the convergence of the Chicago River and canal, River Park offers a rich wildlife habitat, excellent fishing and a canoe launch.

River Park boasts a swimming pool and an interactive water playground in the summer months. The artificial turf soccer field and running track, as well as the new soft-surface playground, draw visitors from around the city. The park also features seven tennis courts and two baseball fields.

The park’s advisory council, made up of local residents, meets regularly and participates in park events, such as gym showcases and holiday celebrations. Numerous children head to River Park for its strong Park Kids after-school program. Several programs are held in the park’s large auditorium, which is also available for permit by private groups.

Basketball and indoor soccer are two popular programs for both youth and teens. Teens get together for a leadership camp in the summer, and preschoolers gather for play group. Adult programming at River Park includes men’s basketball.

Please contact the Ward office to add your Community Group to our list.

.

.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Rogers Park Community Council
1530 W. Morse Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Telephone: 773.338.7722
Facsimile: 773.338.7774
Web: http://rogerspark.org

Hollywood-North Park Community Association
PO Box 59285
Chicago, IL 60659
Web: www.hnpca.org

Edgewater Community Council (E.C.C.)
6044 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660
Telephone: 773.334.5609
Web: www.sites.google.com/a/edgewatercommunitycouncil.org/home

Bowmanville Community Organization (B.C.O.)
Telephone: 866.837.1006
Web: www.bcochicago.org

North Edgewater Organization of Neighbors (N.E.O.N.)
Email: gnthr1001@aol.com

Ravenswood Community Council
1756 W Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Telephone: 773.784.0400
Facsimile: 773.784.7841
Web: www.ravenswoodcommunity.org

West Edgewater Area Residents (W.E.A.R.)
Web: www.neighborhoodlink.com/chicago/wear

West Andersonville Neighbors Together (W.A.N.T.)
Web: www.westandersonville.org

Address:

The mission of Equality Illinois is to secure, protect and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois. We envision a fair and unified Illinois where everyone is treated equally with dignity and respect and where all people live freely regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Equality Illinois belongs to all those who believe in our vision and mission. We will be accessible to and proactively engage others in our statewide community as owners of our vision and mission.

Equality Illinois believes in the value of others—their opinions and their work. It is our respect for others that builds our collaborations and partnerships.

Equality Illinois believes that everyone should have the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities afforded to them regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Equality Illinois believes that success comes from the highest impact approaches to achieving our vision and mission.

Our Goals

• Promote legislation to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals with regard to safe schools, hospital visitation, inheritance rights, bereavement leave and the many other rights that affect LGBT citizens across Illinois.
• Maintain the visibility of LGBT issues in the Illinois General Assembly, the community and the workplace.
• Oppose legislation which seeks to limit the civil rights of the LGBT community, such as anti-gay adoption bills, constitutional bans on same-sex marriage or attempts to rescind or restrict the Illinois non-discrimination bill signed into law in January 2005 (SB3186).
• Expand statewide grassroots support through an enhanced communication network, technical assistance and on-site support.
• Mobilize support and increase statewide participation in the legislative process through activities such as conferences and lobby days.

In this section we have gathered  contact information for all of our wonderful Elementary Schools in the 40th Ward.

.

.

.
.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Lyman A. Budlong Elementary
2701 W. Foster Avenue
Chicago, Il 60625
Telephone: 773.534.2591
Website: www.budlongschool.com

Stephan K. Hayt Elementary
1518 W. Granville Avenue
Chicago, Il 60660
Telephone: 773.534.2040
Website: www.hayt.cps.k12.il.us

Jamieson Elementary School
5650 N. Mozart Street
Chicago, IL 60646
Telephone: 773.534.2395
Website: www.jamiesonschool.org

Joyce Kilmer Elementary School
6700 N. Greenview Avenue
Telephone: 773.534.2115
Website: www.kilmer.cps.k12.il.us

Mary Gage Peterson Elementary School
5510 N. Christiana
Chicago, Il 60625
Telephone: 773.534.5070
Website: www.marygagepeterson.net

Lyman Trumbull Elementary School
5200 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640-2032
Telephone: 773.534.2430‎

St. Phillips Lutheran School
2500 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, Il 60625
Telephone: 773.561.9830
Website: www.stphiliplutheran.com

St. Hilary Catholic School
5600 North Fairfield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659
Website: www.sthilarychicago.org

Northside Catholic Academy
Primary School Campus
6216 North Glenwood
Chicago, Illinois 60660
Telephone: 773.743.6277
Website: http://www.northsidecatholic.org

Middle School Campus
5525 North Magnolia
Chicago, Illinois 60640
Telephone: 773.271.2008
Website: www.northsidecatholic.org

North Shore Junior Academy
5220 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60625-3502
Telephone: 773.769.0733
Website: www.north26.adventistschoolconnect.org

Rogers Park Montessori
1800 W. Balmoral Avenue
Chicago, Il 60640
Telephone: 773.271.1700
Website: http://www.rpmschool.org

Chicago Waldorf School
1300 West Loyola Avenue
Chicago, Il 60626
Telephone: 773.465.2662
Website: www.chicagowaldorf.org