Students and their parents are encouraged to take part in the free assistance in completing the FAFSA, the first step in receiving any state or federal loans, grants and scholarships.

Sessions are offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 107. The program runs Jan. 29 – April 17. Students are encouraged to apply early to receive maximum amount of financial aid.

For more information, including a complete list of items needed when attending the sessions, please download the program flyer.

Additional Resources for Free FAFSA Assistance:

• ISAC calendar of upcoming events, including FAFSA completion
• ISAC CollegeZone Outreach Centers
• Ladder Up/LIFT FAFSA Assistance Centers

Date: Monday, February 6, 2012
Time: 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston
Location served by: Purple Line (Davis Station) and CTA Bus #201 and #205.

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Time: 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway
Location served by: Red Line (Thorndale Station) and CTA Bus #36.

Information presented will be the same at both meetings. Exhibit boards from the open houses will be available on February 6th for download on the project documents page.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is hosting these meetings to bring citizens up to speed regarding its North Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) project (of parent Your Red program), proposed to bring the North Red and Purple Lines’ stations, track systems, and structures into a state of good repair from the track structure immediately north of Belmont station to the Linden terminal (9.5 miles). This project is one part of the Your Red Program to extend and enhance the entire Red Line.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), CTA and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have initiated the environmental review process for this project and will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

You are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the RPM Project and to voice your thoughts and concerns. Please visit the Red and Purple Mondernization project page for more information and future updates.

Lace up your skates and take a spin at one the Chicago Park District’s ice rinks in parks located throughout the city. These ice rinks are traditionally open from late November to early February, weather permitting. Our indoor rink at California Park/McFetridge Sports Center is open year-round offers figure skating lessons; rat hockey; and open skate time.

The list below shows the nine rinks open in parks throughout the city.
The Park District also manages the Rink at Wrigley located at 1060 W. Addison St. (Addison St. & Clark St.).
For more information on the Rink at Wrigely, call (312) 617-7017 or visit the Rink at Wrigley website.

Bring your own skates and skate for free at all rinks except for The Rink at Wrigley and McFetridge Sports Center, where admission fees apply. Skate rental is available at all rinks for a nominal fee.

For more information visit the Chicago Park District website…

• 50 or more participants
• Use of amplified sound
• Any advertising or sponsorship activities
• Selling and/or distributing food, goods or merchandise (this includes exercise classes or boot camps)
• Liquor
• Tents
• Inflatables
• Stages
• Walk/Run Route
• Specific location reservations

Permit Process

1. Choose a specific location and date for your event (please consult the downloadable maps to the right for lakefront locations). You are encouraged to choose an alternative location and/or date in the event that your first choice is not available. If you are unsure whether or not a permit is required for your event, please refer to Chapter 7 of the Chicago Park District Code or call the Department of Revenue at (312) 742-5369.
2. Complete all sections of the Chicago Park District Special Event Permit Application. All proposed activities and events are subject to the approval of the Chicago Park District. The Chicago Park District will not consider your submittal if the application is incomplete and does not include the $35 application fee.
3. Submit the completed application and $35 application fee by e-mail, U.S. mail, delivery in person, or fax to the Department of Park Services or appropriate Region Office. Submittal of an application does not grant you a permit or confirmation to conduct your planned event; all applications are subject to review. Completed applications with appropriate fees and requested documentation/information must be submitted at least 45 or 30 days prior to your event depending on your permit level; otherwise, late fees may apply.
   Please note: only applications delivered in person will be processed on January 3, 2012 beginning at 8:00 a.m. applications submitted by mail, e-mail and fax, and all applications received prior to 8:00 a.m. on January 3, 2012 will not be processed until January 4, 2012. The Chicago Park District cannot guarantee that all applications received prior to January 3, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. will be processed in the order received on January 4, 2012. Furthermore, only completed applications submitted with the $35 application fee will be processed.
4. The Chicago Park District processes applications for permits in order of receipt. The Chicago Park District will not consider your submittal without a completed application and a $35 application fee.
5. Upon receiving your completed application and $35 application fee, the Chicago Park District will contact you within 14 days to inform you of the status of your application. You will be informed of any remaining fees that must be paid along with any additional documentation requirements. The Chicago Park District reserves the right require additional information or documentation regarding the applicant, applicant’s company, sponsoring company/organization, cosponsors, event participants, event vendors, event activities, or the event itself. Moreover, the Chicago Park District may postpone approval of event permits until receipt of additional requested information or documentation. Failure to submit requested information or documentation in a timely manner may be cause for denial of a park permit.
6. Applicants must submit two documents to satisfy insurance requirements. A (1) Certificate of General Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 naming the Chicago Park District as “additional insured” and the certificate holder for the date(s) of your event including set up and tear down dates. Applicants must also submit an (2) Endorsement document, issued by the insurance carrier. The Endorsement document is issued under the applicant’s General Liability policy of insurance, including coverage for property damage while park property is occupied by the permittee, for the event that reflects that the Chicago Park District is an additional insured for the event.
   Your permit will not be issued if both the Certificate of Insurance and Endorsement document have not been received and approved 48 hours prior to an event.
7. Applicants are required to inform the Chicago Park District in writing of any and all amendments to the original application prior to the event day.
8. Once all of the Chicago Park District’s requirements have been fulfilled, including receipt or all documents and full payment, a Special Event Permit will be issued.
9. Please note: Costs incurred promoting and marketing events prior to the issuance of an approved Chicago Park District Special Event Permit, and changes/modifications relative to the event from the Chicago Park District and/or the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and other City of Chicago departments is at the sole expense and risk of the Event Organizer.

Submit the completed Special Event Permit Application to:

Department of Revenue
Administration Office
541 N. Fairbanks Ct., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 742-5369
Fax: (312) 742-6038
TTY: (312) 747-2001

North Region
North Region Office
6601 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
Telephone: (773) 262-8658

Central Region
Central Region Office
100 N. Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624
Telephone: (312) 746-5962

South Region
South Region Office
3344 W. 71st St.
Chicago, IL 60629
Telephone: (312) 747-7661

If you have any additional questions, please consult or Frequently Asked Questions page. Also, feel free to contact our office with any additional questions: (312) 742-5369.

Wacker Drive Reconstruction Stage 3 Temporary Bus Reroutes 

Overview
This phase of Wacker Drive reconstruction will affect Wacker Drive between Madison and Jackson streets, including traffic crossing Wacker on Monroe and Adams streets.

Other related street impacts

• Monroe and Adams will be closed across Wacker.
• Madison will reopen between Canal and Franklin.
• Franklin will continue to be a two-way street.
• Southbound access from Lower Wacker to Upper Wacker via Randolph will continue to be closed to all traffic.
• Access to/from Congress will continue to be closed to traffic from Wacker.

Get maps and more in the updated Wacker Drive Reconstruction Stage 3 Brochure

Affected bus service
The following 19 CTA bus routes will have routing and/or bus stop changes Downtown (see brochure for maps):

• #1 Indiana/Hyde Park
• #7 Harrison
• #14 Jeffery Express (partial restoration)
• #19 United Center Express**
• #20 Madison**
• #X28 Stony Island Express
• #56 Milwaukee**
• #121 Union/Wacker Express (partial restoration)
• #122 Illinois Center/Ogilvie Express**
• #123 Illinois Center/Union Express (partial restoration)
• #124 Navy Pier (partial restoration)
• #126 Jackson
• #129 West Loop/South Loop (PM Only)
• #130 Museum Campus*
• #134 Stockton/LaSalle Express
• #135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express
• #136 Sheridan/LaSalle Express
• #151 Sheridan
• #156 LaSalle

*The #130 Museum Campus route does not operate during winter, but changes will be effective when service resumes Memorial Day Weekend.

**The #19, #20, #56, and #122 buses will resume their normal routes that were in effect prior to January 2011.

Three additional routes — the #60 Blue Island/26th, #120 Ogilvie/Wacker Express, and #157 Streeterville/Taylor — are rerouted, but will maintain the routings they used during Stage 2.

The 40th Ward would like to welcome Carolyn Eggert as the new Principal of Sullivan High School. Principle Eggert has been with the Chicago Public School System for some time, most recently as an Assistant Principal at Lake View High School. She has served as a principal intern at John Hope College Prep, and taught mathematics and chaired the department at Hirsch High School.

We wish Principal Eggert much success in her new position and are excited to see the new strides she will make with the students and programs at Sullivan High School.

The Chicago Plan focuses on leveraging volunteers in existing programs for youth and workforce readiness. However, through the focus groups and surveys that we conducted, two pressing concerns were voiced: 1) non-profits are understaffed and cannot take the time to recruit and train volunteers, and 2) organizations that would greatly benefit from the use of volunteers don’t know how to go about using them in a valuable way.

To help non-profits solve this challenge, we will help build their volunteer capacity by placing a VolunTEAM member within the organization. VolunTEAM members are retired adults, and semi-retired adult professionals, managed by Executive Service Corps, who will individually work with each community organization throughout the 9-month period.

They will act as volunteer “consultants” given the task of helping to assess and strategically grow the organization’s capacity for volunteerism including: board service, skills-based, pro bono, and hands on volunteering.  Building organizational and volunteer capacity allows non-profits do more of the good and important work they are already doing in the community.

OGDC will also be an advocate for the non-profit sector, connecting this charitable work with different stakeholders. Our ultimate impact: to amplify and increase impact of Chicago non-profits.  

Education Initiative: Success Coaches

The path that leads a child from birth through a postsecondary credential and into a career should be guided by a seamless educational system that helps children access opportunities and find lifelong careers. Yet today, there are many places along that continuum where Chicago’s children get lost – and in astonishing numbers. Despite some progress at all points, improvements in performance have come slowly, and not at a rate that will allow Chicago’s youth to participate in a global economy.

To prepare students to meet academic success milestones include reading proficiently by third grade, high school and college readiness, and career planning, OGDC aims to activate and mobilize resident volunteers to support students along this spectrum, from reading at a third grade level to college enrollment.We will work to promote aSuccess Coaches initiative though media and marketing efforts, to recruit a larger, diverse pipeline of volunteers to focus their energy on helping meet this challenge.

Volunteers will complete activities such as reading with third-grade students, mentoring middle-school students and assisting high-school students with financial aid and college applications. Our ultimate impact: College is a realistic option for more students in Chicago.

The 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.

Schreiber Park’s Interesting History:

As late as 1870, there were fewer than ten families living west of Ridge Avenue in what is now the southwestern portion of Rogers Park. Among these were the Schreibers. Nicholas and Katherine Schreiber had arrived from Mainz, Germany in 1848, purchasing 40 acres of land near Devon Avenue and Green Bay Road (now Clark Street). Nicholas died suddenly just a few months before the birth of his twin sons, Dominick and Michael. Raised by their mother and an older brother, the twins eventually took control of the family farm. They expanded their holdings to 160 acres, and engaged in truck farming. Dominick built greenhouses on the land, and found success in the floral business. In 1877, he built a two-story frame house on Ridge Avenue, near his boyhood home. Twenty years later, the brothers subdivided their land; Schreiber Avenue runs through their former farmstead.

For more information, please call the Schreiber Park Field House at 773.262.6741.

Updates will be posted on our website as Spring approaches.

• Thome and Ravenswood
• Granville and Ravenswood
• Ridge and Ravenswood
• Peterson and Ravenswood

It is our hope that this installation will deter pigeons from flocking to these areas, thereby reducing the waste and disease they bring.