Third Ward Newsletter November, 2012

Dear Third Ward Resident, Inside this

It's November, which means the holiday season is upon us. During this time of year, it is important to recognize the blessings we have while doing what we can to share them Third Ward 1-5 with others who are less fortunate. In conjunction with Greater Harvest Missionary Bap- tist Church, I am hosting a food drive. Until November 16th, you can drop off non- Update perishable food items to my Third Ward office at 5046 South State Street. Events in and 5-8

This November, it is also time to cast your vote for President of the United States and around the Ward several local offices. As your Third Ward Democratic Committeeman, I can assure you I Important will work diligently to ensure everyone's voting experience is pleasant and fair. The most 8- important thing you can do is vote! Announcements 12

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great start to the holiday season! Third Ward Star 12

Sincerely, November CAPS 13

Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward Third Ward Update New Ward Boundaries For the last three decades, the City of Chicago City Council has engaged in a remapping process in accordance with state law to redraw the city's ward boundaries as dictated by the most recent census. At this point in time, the Chicago Board of Elections has com- pleted its changes and the No- vember Election will reflect the new ward boundaries. Visit http:// library.constantcontact.com/ download/get/ file/1101917229909-900/ Old+Ward.pdf to see a larger map of the old Third Ward. Visit http:// library.constantcontact.com/ download/get/ file/1101917229909-901/ New+Ward.pdf to see a larger map of the new Third Ward. Third Ward Update (continued) September Calls for Service According to 311 City Services, 680 calls were made to 311 from the Third Ward, which generated 815 city service requests in September, 2012. These figures do not include calls made to 911, from cell phones, or requests made directly from Alderman Dowell's office, which means the numbers are likely significantly higher.

Norfolk Southern Retaining Wall Crews from Norfolk Southern recently finished repairing and restoring the retaining wall along Stewart Avenue between 42nd Place and 45th Street. Alderman Dowell worked with Norfolk Southern to address concerns coming from area residents. The new retaining wall looks signifi- cantly better than the old one and will help with the beautifica- tion efforts around Fuller Park.

Stop Sign Request at 23rd and State In responding to requests made by area residents, Alderman Dowell requested the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) conduct a traffic study to determine whether a stop sign is warranted. This was the third time in the last ten years CDOT has conducted a study at this location and found it does not meet the criteria for a stop sign or a pedestrian crossing sign. In addition, State Street is a major arterial where stops signs and pedestrian crossing signs are not allowed. Finally, CDOT determined the large numbers of people who resided on State Street are no longer there and the traffic signals at 22nd and 24th are adequate to facilitate the crossing of people from the east side of State to the west side of State.

New Water Main The Department of Water Management (DWM) crews will soon be installing 1,645 feet of 8-inch water main in W. 58th Street, from S. Wallace Street to S. Stewart Avenue and W. 57th Place, from S. Wallace Street to S. Normal Boulevard. The old pipe dates back to 1890, and needs to be replaced. DWM will do everything possible to minimize inconvenience and noise and to con- duct themselves as good and thoughtful neighbors in the course of their presence.

DWM expects the water main work to be completed by late December 2012. Restoration will follow in mid April 2013. Dates may change depending on weather and other factors. Traffic will be allowed to flow on W. 58th Street and W. 57th Place outside of DWM working hours. When they are working in the street, they have to close it to traffic for reasons of safety. Residents will always be able to reach their home or business, even if it means putting a metal plate in place. Outside of working hours, a lane will be left open for local traffic only. "No Parking" will be posted as needed.

IB High School Coming to the Third Ward Chicago Public Schools officials recently announced the location of five new International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes in neighborhood high schools across the District. Starting in fall 2013, Bronzeville, Farragut, Schurz, Kennedy and Juarez High Schools will offer rigorous IB curriculum in addition to their traditional curriculum.

The IB curriculum engages students in a challenging programme of international education and rigorous assessment that has garnered worldwide recognition for its high academic standards. In CPS high schools, pre-IB Diploma students are selected for enrollment using grades, grade 7 ISAT results and attendance at an information session. Students apply to the pre-IB Diploma Programme before their freshman year and those accepted are enrolled into an honors or honors Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 9 and 10. After grade 10, qualified students enter the IB Diploma Programme, a comprehensive and challeng- ing college preparatory program for students in grades 11 and 12.

Currently, the closest IB High School Programs closest to the Third Ward are located in Hyde Park and South Shore. The Bron- zeville IB High School will be located in the DuSable High School building and will have a neighborhood attendance boundary. The DuSable Leadership Academy and the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute will be consolidated to make room for the new high school and students at those schools will have priority enrollment for the Bronzeville IB High School. Alderman Dowell was a strong advocate for this as she has been pushing for more "schools of choice" in the Third Ward.

Third Ward Update (continued) DuSable High School Landmarked The DuSable High School Alumni Association and its Alumni Coalition has been advocating for landmark status for their his- toric Alma Mater located at 4934 South Wabash. With the support of Alderman Dowell, the legislation was passed at the Octo- ber 31, 2012 City Council Meeting. Special thanks to Moses Jones and Dr. Timuel Black for their leadership and the DuSable High School Alumni Association for their dedication towards making this happen.

To receive the designation the school had to meet at least two of seven criteria set by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Being a critical part of Chicago's heritage, its association with a significant person, and it being an important architecture pro- duced by a significant architect was required for landmark status. The history of DuSable High School's planning and construc- tion, combined with the achievements of its teachers and former students over the years, clearly met those criteria and reflects important aspects of the history of the African American community in Chicago. Read the Landmark Designation Report to learn more about the history of DuSable High School.

Broadband Upgrade Due to a $9 million effort led by the University of Chicago and backed by the state of Illinois, nine South Side neighborhoods will get a broadband upgrade. Gigabit Squared is an economic development firm that focuses on ultra high-speed broadband access. They have partnered with the University of Chicago on the project to bring gigabit-speed service to nearly 5,000 homes, businesses, schools and healthcare institutions over the next year.

Neighborhoods that will be served include Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn, as well as Washington Park, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Grand Boulevard, Douglas and Oakland. The aim is to provide gigabit-speed broadband, about 100 times faster than typical high-speed cable or DSL service, or fast enough for services such as streaming video.

Status of Third Ward TIF/NIP Applications In 2012, Tax Increment Finance (TIF) / Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) grants were offered to homeowners in three Third Ward TIF districts.

The Bronzeville TIF/NIP had 25 eligible applications. Twenty (20) are in process with the Neighborhood Housing Service (NHS) construction team, four (4) have outstanding scofflaw fines to be paid before finalization and one (1) was over the pro- gram income limit.

The second phase of the 47th King II TIF/NIP had fourteen (14) applicants. One (1) was over the program income limit and one was ineligible because the building had six (6) units. The remaining 12 are in process with the NHS construction team.

In the second phase of the Pershing/ King TIF/NIP there was only one (1) applicant. All the work has been completed for that project.

The TIF/NIP is a Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) administered program that provides home repair grants in eligible TIF districts for both single and multi-family residences. Grants are primarily for exterior repairs however; up to 30 percent of the grant may be used for interior repairs that are health and safety related.

The single family program requires that homeowners have a household income at or below 100 percent of the area median in- come (AMI). If the household income is between 100% AMI -140% AMI, the homeowner must match, dollar for dollar, the grant amount.The multi-family program requires that building owners structure their rents so they are affordable to house- holds at or below 80 percent of AMI. Grant amounts are based on the number of units per residence.

New I-GO Location in Third Ward Alderman Dowell is working to develop diversified transportation modes that include not only better roads for cars and bicyclists, but improved public transportation, and now a car sharing program.

Residents near the Illinois Service Federal Savings and Loan at 4619 South King Drive may be wondering why they see a car sitting in the parking lot after hours. It's not an abandoned auto but a vehicle in the I-GO car sharing program of Chicago.

Through the work of 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell I-GO representatives were placed in con- tact with Illinois Service officials to work out the arrangement that led to the location at the bank. A brand new 2012 Toyota Prius Hybrid is currently available at the location. Third Ward Update (continued) New Third Ward Business - Ferguson Enterprises Ferguson Enterprises has opened a new location in the Third Ward at 1829 South State Street. Founded in 1953, Ferguson em- ploys around 17,500 associates in approximately 1,300 locations and serves customers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Carib- bean and Mexico. In the United States, Ferguson is ranked by trade publications as the largest distributor of plumbing supplies and pipe, valves and fittings (PVF). It is also the third largest distributor of heating and cooling equipment (HVAC/R) and the second largest company within the waterworks industry.

The company is committed to growth - of their business, their people and their support of the communities in which they do business. They have a unique culture and a tradition of supporting civic, cultural, educational, and environmental activities through participation and financial contributions.

Troubled Businesses Calumet Liquors The owners of Calumet Liquors failed to produce the required structural engineer's report and required permits. Consequently, they will remain vacant and secure until further order of court. The adjacent grocery store and Le Fleur de Lis Restaurant will remain open. The next court date for Calumet Liquors is: January 31, 2013, 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 1111 at the Daley Center.

Jimmy's The case involving multiple violations at Jimmy's was continued to November 13th, 2012, 9:30 a.m. in the hearing room of 805 City Hall. The community is encouraged to attend.

Alderman Dowell and the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance Last month, Alderman Dowell spoke to the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance (PDNA) in order to meet her new constituents in the South Loop that resulted from the ward remap- ping. The event was held at the McCormick Hyatt Hotel where Alderman Dowell was introduced by Cook County President, Toni Preckwinkle. In the picture from left to right: Alderman Pat Dowell; Tina Feldstein, President of PDNA; Tim Bradford, Committeeman of Richton Park; and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Events in and Around the Ward Rental Housing Expo Featuring approximately 40 housing-related agencies and service providers, the Expo is co-sponsored by the Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) and the Chicago Rents Right committee, which provides landlords and tenants with assistance in meeting their legal obligations. This event features free resources to explain rights of tenants and landlords.

Service providers will assist landlords and tenants with building code violations, laws pertaining to evictions and lockouts, infor- mation on conflict resolution and other related matters. The event will also offer bilingual workshops on topics ranging from fair housing laws to bed bugs.

Participating agencies include the Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chi- cago, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Spanish Coalition for Housing, Access Living and others.

For more information on the Rents Right Expo, call (312) 744-3653.

Where: Adam Clayton Powell School (7511 South Shore Drive) When: November 3, 10am to 2pm

Chicago Public Schools Public Hearings on 2013 Budget Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will host two additional public hearings for parents, teachers and community stakeholders to learn about and comment on the amended budget for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY 13). Sign-up for public participation at the hearings will take place at each location from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The two meetings will happen simultaneously. Visit www.cps.edu to read the presentation that was given to the Board and to view the interactive budget as amended October 2012.

Where: King College Preparatory High School (4445 S. Drexel Blvd.) Where: Walter Payton College Preparatory High School (1034 N. Wells St.) When: Monday, November 5th, 6 to 8 pm Events in and Around the Ward (continued) City's Bike Share Program Public Meetings Chicago's bike share system will provide a convenient, easy-to-use transit option available 24/7. It is envisioned for point-to- point short trips, or as alternative option for a multi-mode commute. Users will pick up a bike from a self-service docking sta- tion and return it to the station nearest their destination.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) today announced five public meetings to introduce Chicago residents and businesses to the city's new bike share program, and has launched a website for Chicagoans to suggest locations for bike share stations.

At the meetings in late October and early November, representatives from CDOT and Alta, the bicycle provider and operator, will discuss the new program and answer questions. Attendees can suggest locations to install bike stations in the proposed service area.

Chicagoans can also use a new website -- www.chicagobikes.org/bikeshare -- to suggest locations for bike stations and receive additional information on the program.

Chicago's initial bike share service area will will be generally bounded by 63rd Street and Devon Avenue, and from Lake Michi- gan to California Avenue. The service will launch in the Spring of 2013, and by the end of the year, will have 400 stations and 4,000 bikes in the system.

The meetings will be held in the North, South and Central regions of the service area. They are free and open to everyone, with no RSVP required. All meeting locations are accessible by CTA. For more information about the Bike Share Program and a complete list of public meeting locations, please visit www.chicagobikes.org/bikeshare. The public meeting in the Third Ward is:

Where: Charles Hayes Center (4859 S. Wabash) When: November 7, 2012, 6:30-8pm

Bronzeville Speaks III There are changes happening all around the City of Chicago, particularly regarding schools. It is vital that the communities af- fected by these changes have a voice and are able to express their priorities and concerns. The Bronzeville Community Action Council and the Chicago Public School's Department of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) are committed to engag- ing in meaningful conversation with parents and other community members. For further info on Bronzeville Speaks III or to RSVP (seating is limited, deadline is November 5th), please contact Rachel Willis @773.553-3213 or [email protected].

Where: Charles Hayes Center (4859 S. Wabash) When: November 8, 2012, 6-8pm

The Plant Vertical Farm's Anaerobic Digester Come out and help The Plant celebrate the ground breaking for their renewable - and remarkable - biogas system. Engineered by Eisenmann Corporation, the new anaerobic digester is a critical component to The Plant's goal of being a sustainable, net- zero energy vertical farm and food business operation. This digester will be the first of its kind in the City of Chicago, and demonstrates the value of organic waste for renewable energy.

Once completed, the digester will divert 5,000 tons of organic waste from landfills annually to produce a methane-based bio- gas. This biogas will be fed to a generator that will produce electricity and heat for The Plant and its businesses. Importantly, this process will require no additional use of fossil fuels.

This project would not have been possible without the support of Alderman Pat Dowell, as well as two generous grants by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's Food Scrap Composting Revitalization and Advancement Pro- gram (F-SCRAP) and its funding from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). It has also been supported by a loan from the Chicago Community Loan Fund.

For more information on the ceremony or about the digester, please visit http://www.plantchicago.com/ or contact Melanie Hoekstra at [email protected].

Where: The Plant Chicago (1400 W. 46th St.) When: November 9th, 2pm Events in and Around the Ward (continued) The Great Skate at Fuller Park Every Friday Beginning November 9, 2012, Fuller Park will be hosting The Great Skate. They got the wheels; you provide the thrills, spills and chills. No personal skates permitted. Skaters must use skates provided by Chicago Park District and must wear socks. The Great Skate is free of charge. Call (312) 747-6118 to reserve your skate size. Reserved skates held only 10 minutes af- ter your reservation time. Reservation line opens Thursday night before skating from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. only.

Where: Fuller Park (331 W. 45th Street) When: Friday Nights beginning November 9, 2012 Family Skate: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. All skate: 13-Up: 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

South Side Collaborative High School Fair The South Side High School Network is part of Chicago Public School's (CPS) Department of Family and Community Engage- ment (FACE). They will be hosting their inaugural South Side Collaborative High School Fair to provide 7th and 8th grade stu- dents and their parents with information about the different high schools in the South Side High School Network including:

Selective Enrollment: Jones College Prep, King College Prep, and South Shore International College Prep

Magnet: Kenwood Academy

International Baccalaureate: South Shore International College Prep, Hyde Park, and Bronzeville

Military: Chicago Military Academy

Careers to Education (CTE): South Shore International College Prep, Simeon, CVCA, and Dunbar

STEM: CVCA

Neighborhood: Bowen, Hirsch, and Phillips

Charter: Noble Street (Comer), University of Chicago (Woodlawn), and Young Women's Leadership Academy

Small: Daniel Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine

For more information about each type of school, please click on their types above (Selective Enrollment, Neighborhood, etc.). For more information about this event and to register, please visit www.southsidehsnetwork.org.

Where: Apostolic Faith Church (6320 S. Dorchester) When: November 10, 2012, 9am to 3pm

Love & Live: Breast & Cervical Cancer Awareness for Mothers and Daughters The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force will be providing free mammogram screenings to uninsured women of color during the entire month of November. Come on November 10th to get signed up! This event is funded by the Institute for Translational Medicine at the University of Chicago and The Urban Health Initiative at the University of Chicago Medicine. Re- freshments will be served. For additional information, please contact Natalie Watson at 773-834-9770. To register, please visit: http://communitygrandroundsnov10.eventbrite.com.

Where: Coppin Memorial A.M.E. Church (5627 S. Michigan) When: Saturday, November 10, 2012, 11am to 2pm

Dream FIERCE Presents Laurence Fishburne's Riff Raff Dream FIERCE Productions is dedicated to bringing live theater in Chicago to all audiences. Join them this November for their production of Laurence Fishburne's Riff Raff. Riff Raff is a cautionary tale that takes an unflinching look at the drug world while addressing issues of addiction, crime, and violence. Too many of our young people who are filled with promise become casual- ties of these circumstances. Through this production, Dream FIERCE wants to help our youth avoid the dangers, choose to live better lives, and embrace their full potential. For more information, please contact Senaj Miller at (708) 439-9908 or [email protected].

Where: Coriolis Lab Theater (410 S. Michigan) When: November 16th and 17th, 7:30pm

Events in and Around the Ward (continued) Indoor Farmers Market Sponsored by Faith in Place, enjoy a wide range of seasonal, sustainably-produced goods from local farmers and vendors at this indoor market. Take home limited produce, honey, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and a wide variety of specialty items.10% of proceeds go to the Farmer Crisis Fund. Link is accepted. For more info, email [email protected], call 312.733.4640 or visit www.faithinplace.org.

Where: Coppin Memorial AME Church (5627 S Michigan) When: Saturday, November 17, 2012, 10 am -2pm

Parent University Save the date! The Bronzeville, Englewood, and South Shore Community Action Councils are hosting this Parent University event that will feature workshops on:

Health and Wellness Parenting and Family Development Skills

Safety and Violence Issues CPS: Understanding the System

There will also be food, games, prizes, and more. For more information, to RSVP, or to inquire about vendor tables, please call Carl Hurdlik at (773) 553-1554 or Willis Meyers at (773) 577-0556.

Where: South Shore International College Prep (1955 E. 75th St.) When: Saturday, December 8, 2012

Alderman Dowell and Greater Harvest's Holiday Food Drive As the economy continues to recover, there are many families and individuals who are still struggling to put food on their ta- bles. These challenges are particularly felt during the holiday season. Alderman Pat Dowell in conjunction with Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church, is collecting non-perishable food items for needy families for Thanksgiving. From October 22nd, 2012 to November 16th, 2012, you can drop off your food donations to Alderman Pat Dowell's Third Ward Office located at 5046 South State Street. Washington Park CTA Redline Construction Meeting Due to the major reconstruction of the Red Line, the Washington Park Advisory Council is hosting an Advisory Council meeting to discuss the use of Garfield Boulevard/55th Street and how the Washington Park Community will be affected.

Where: Washington Park Refectory (5531 S. Russell Dr.) When: Saturday, December 8, 2012, 10am to noon Important Announcements CPS Announces School Closing Guidelines and Seeks Public Input On October 31, 2012, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) released draft guidelines that will be used to help the public understand the criteria that will be used to determine various school actions the district may take this year.

CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett stressed that these are only draft guidelines and that no decisions have been made on any school actions, and that no schools have yet been placed on any lists. She also underscored that a rigorous community engage- ment process must be implemented before she allows any actions to move forward.

Some changes from last year's guidelines include: Differentiating criteria for school consolidation, reassignment boundary change, closure, or phase-out from criteria for co-location Removing academic performance criteria, to focus on the District's space utilization challenges Adding space utilization criteria Over the next 21 days, the public will have the opportunity to comment on the draft guidelines. Copies of the draft guidelines are available at cps.edu/2013guidelines. Comments can be submitted via email to quality- [email protected]; via fax to (773) 553-5345; or by mail to: Chicago Public Schools, 125 S. Clark Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, attn: CEO's Office re: Draft Guidelines. Public comments must be received by Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. Important Announcements (continued) Metra Strategic Plan Public Meetings Metra is continuing its efforts to develop a new strategic plan, a critically important document that will guide their agency for years to come. During their first round of public outreach in July, they received a significant amount of feedback from key stake- holders.

To provide an update on the process and give more details about the plan, Metra is hosting a second round of public open house meetings this November. These meetings will be held in coordination with Metra's annual budget hearings to provide "one-stop shopping" for the public to give Metra their thoughts on near-term budget plans and longer-term agency strategic direction. The materials for the open house meetings, including a link to provide feedback, will be posted at www.metrarail.com/strategicplan by October 29, 2012 and feedback will be accepted through November 12, 2012.

The public meetings in the City of Chicago will be:

Where: Metra Board Room (547 W. Jackson Blvd., 13th Floor) When: Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 4-7pm

Where: Chicago Union Station Great Hall (210 S. Canal) When: Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 4-7pm

Free Training through Chicago's Community Kitchens Want a job in food service? Chicago's Community Kitchens food service program includes: hands-on experience in a state-of-the -art industrial kitchen while preparing thousands of nutritious meals for children and older adults throughout Cook County, em- ployment and life skills classes, fifteen-hour ServSafe® sanitation course, professional resume and letter of recommendation signed by staff, textbook and study materials, a uniform, transportation assistance, a two-week internship in a commercial kitchen such as a corporate cafeteria, hospital, hotel, catering company or restaurant during the final weeks of the program, and breakfast and lunch for the duration of the training period. Additionally, Students are tracked for one year and eligible for job placement assistance during that period.

To be eligible, students must: Be 18 years of age or older Have a minimum sixth-grade proficiency in math and reading Be drug and alcohol free - applicants need to be clean for at least three months prior to acceptance into the program Demonstrate a real and continuing interest in developing a career in the foodservice industry Successfully complete the application, basic skills test, drug and alcohol assessment and interview

This 14-week training program meets Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact the Recruiting and Training Manager at 773-843-5414 to apply or to get more information.

Back of the Yards Wal-Mart is Hiring There is a new Wal-Mart store coming to the Back of the Yards neighborhood in the 3rd Ward and they are hiring for cashiers, grocery, pharmacy, courtesy associates, and office and hourly supervisor positions. For more information and to apply for a job, please visit www.walmartchicago.com/jobs.

Polling Place Information and Texting Service Later this week, a mailing will be sent to all voter households in Chicago with their new ward and precinct numbers and the Poll- ing Place location and Polling Place address information for the November 6, 2012 General Election. Under the redistricting ordinance approved earlier this year, the new ward and precinct lines will be in effect for the purposes of voting, polling place assignments, and overall election administration.

Also, there is a new and easy system for voters to verify their Polling Places. In addition to receiving a mailing and being able to look up information on www.chicagoelections.com, voters can now text their simplified voting address (i.e. 5046 S State) to (312) 361-8846. The text message system will send you a message back with your November 6th Polling Place location.

If you experience problems with this service, any of the polling places, or have any questions, you can contact the Chicago Board of Elections at (312) 269-7976 or Third Ward Democratic Committeeman Pat Dowell's Office at (312) 373-3303. Important Announcements (continued) Hot Chocolate 15/5K Run On November 4th, 2012, the Hot Chocolate 15/5K Run will result in street closures that will impact Third Ward resi- dents. The race begins at 7am at Grant Park, but street closures will be in effect from 6:30am to 11am. Click here to view a complete chart of street closures. Visit www.hotchocolate15k.com/chicago or call (888) 856-7947 for more in- formation.

Hyde Park Township Property Tax Appeals The Office of Cook County Board of Appeals Commissioner Larry Rogers wants to make you aware that the Board of Review is now open to accept property valuation assessment appeals for Hyde Park Township from October 22, 2012 until November 20, 2012. The Board of Review now has the ability to accept on-line appeals. All property owners need to do is visit their website at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com and follow the prompts.

Doing Business with the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Manage- ment & Communications Join representatives from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and the City's Depart- ment of Procurement Services for a discussion about OEMC contracts and the City bid process. Learn what products and services OEMC will need to procure in the next twelve months and what will be expected of vendors.

Where: City Hall Bid and Bond Room (121 North LaSalle, 3rd Floor) When: Friday, November 16, 2012. 2pm to 4pm

Chicago Department of Public Health Request for Proposal (RFP)- Division of STI/HIV, HIV Housing Services The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program will distrib- ute funds under RFP RFP DA-41-2932-09-2012-001 will fund three (3) categories: DA-41-2932-09-2012-001. Community Residence Operating Support Housing Information Services Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

Funds are available to not-for-profit organizations located within the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, McHenry, and Will counties.

The RFP will be available online on October 31, 2012 at the following link: www.cityofchicago.org/health. Hard copies of the RFP can be obtained as of Wednesday October 31, 2012, from the Chicago Department of Public Health, DePaul Center, Room 200, 333 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60604. To arrange for a pick- up or to request a mailed copy call (312) 745-0379. ALL PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 4:00pm CST ON November 23, 2012.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Discounts From November 1 through November 11, 2012 Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's Circus comes to the Allstate Arena and from November 14 through November 25, 2012 at the United Center. You can save 20% on weekend shows and 40% on weekday shows by going to www.ticketmaster.com, at the box office, or by calling (800) 745-3000 with the offer code MSQUAD. Free parking is available for both locations. For more information, please visit www.ringling.com.

Two Phillips High School Students Awarded Scholarships Phillips High School recently took some of its students on a tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Their college tour included stops at Miles College in Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Rust College in Mississippi, and the University of Memphis. Two of their top students were awarded full-ride Presidential Scholarships to Miles College. Congratulations Jada and Lexus! Your hard work and determination is pay- ing off! Important Announcements (continued) TRC FREE Health & Wellness Activities & Offerings for Seniors The Renaissance Collaborative's Senior Village located at 346 East 53rd St. has several resources and programs for sen- ior citizens. Please call TRC at (773) 891-2429 for more information. The programs at TRC include:

Tai Chi Classes - Anna York: Rev. Anna York, an authorized Chi Kung teacher, teaches Tai Chi Tao and Chi Kung to residents and community members on a weekly basis. Classes consist of slow, gentle movements that improve strength, balance, and coordi- nation. Deep breathing, energy work, core development, and self-massage are all part of the class. Movements are also adapted for all abilities and conditions!

Exercise Classes - Body Parts Fitness: Specializing in senior fitness, BodyParts is an award-winning exercise program. Twice a week, a certified fitness specialist leads participants in strength training, low-impact aerobic exercise, floor and chair exercises, and fitness assessments!

Health Screenings & Wellness Club- Provident Hospital: The regional Health Center at Provident Hospital is committed to providing ongoing basic screenings and counsel- ing for blood pressure, diabetes, and weight to seniors residing in the building and the surrounding community. In addition, Provident also facilitates a monthly wellness club on-site, featuring guest speakers in various wellness practice areas!

Gardening Club: Seniors gather in the winter to plant seedlings, create holiday decorations, and participate in craft activities. As Chicago warms up in the spring, seniors bring the seedlings outside and grow a variety of plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables. Through the summer and fall, seniors continue to plant and cultivate while enjoying the outdoor garden.

Nutrition Education - University of Illinois Extension: EFNEP, the Expanded Food and Nutrition program is a federally funded program conducted by the University of Illinois Extension. Twice a month, a trained facilitator teaches seniors how to improve their nutrition habits, help- ing them: obtain knowledge about food, develop food shopping skills, manage their food dollar, handle food safely, prepare more nutritious foods, and become self sufficient!

Countless Other Activities! Other popular activities include but are not limited to: Wii Bowling, Walking Group, Bible Study, Bingo, Grand- family Support Groups, Movie Matinees, Strolling on the Rooftop Garden, and frequent outings! Members also have access to our state-of-the-art Fitness Facility!

For all activities, participants must be 55+. For Tai Chi, BodyParts Fitness and to use the fitness facility: Participants must have a doctor's release form, a signed TRC waiver of liability that you can pick up at the TRC front desk, and a workout partner or buddy!

TRC's Senior Computer Training Program Build your computer skills, obtain digital literacy training for job placement assistance, and learn Microsoft applica- tions: Word, Excel, & PowerPoint (with certification). The TRC center will house 20 computers and also have open lab hours during the week (with an on-site monitor available to provide you with any assistance)! The course will be 1-2 weeks long, is free of charge, and is open to all seniors ages 55 or over. The required documentation to enroll is a com- pleted application, a copy of ID & Social Security Card, and a copy of Resume (if you want job placement assistance). For more information or to sign up, contact Sean Dolan at (773) 891-4143 or [email protected].

Bronzeville Park Bronzeville Park located at 3400 S. Indiana, offers the shortest pathway from hospital to home. Bronzeville Park pro- vides nursing and therapy care after a hospital stay. Their goal is give you the care needed to get back home and they would like to invite you to come take a tour. If interested, please call (312) 842-5000. Important Announcements (continued)

Business Alert Armed Robberies in the 002nd District About the Crime: This alert gives notice to businesses operating in the 002nd District (Wentworth) of an increase in robbery related inci- dents have occurred during the month of October. In these incidents, victims are delivery drivers who are robbed at gun- point by multiple offenders when making a delivery. Incident times and locations are listed below: 4800 Block of S. Champlain Ave. on October 26, 2012 at approximately 8:30 PM. 4800 Block of S. Champlain Ave. on October 29, 2012 at approximately 7:20 PM.

About the Offenders: Offender descriptions vary, but are generally described as: 3-4 Male/Black offenders between 15-22 years of age, 5'2"-5'10", 150-160 lbs.

What you can do: Always be aware of your surroundings Business owners should always request customers to leave their porch/vestibule lights illuminated for the driver. Drivers re-contact customer upon arrival. Instruct driver (s) not to exit their vehicle until they make visual contact with customer. If upon arrival driver determines location is vacant/abandoned leave immediately. Be suspicious if the caller indicates change for large currency denomination is needed. If you are confronted by an assailant remain calm Remember any unique physical characteristics (scars, limp, acne, teeth, etc...) Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information Dial 9-1-1 immediately and remain on scene when possible If you have any information Contact the Bureau of Detectives - Area Central at (312) 747-8380. Third Ward Star

Many of us who live and work in the Third Ward were deeply saddened by the passing of Bobbie Johnson on September 28, 2012. Ms. Johnson was a registered nurse and community activist who spent much of her career working in underserved neighborhoods. She was a strong advocate for Chicago's youth, particularly in organizing educational field trips for youth from Bronzeville. She also promoted community and cultural pride by hosting annual Juneteenth celebrations. Ms. John- son served as the Republican Committeeman for the Third Ward and was very active in the redevelopment process of the Rosenwald.

On October 31, 2012, the City Council of Chicago passed a Resolution that was introduced by Alderman Dowell honoring the life and work of Bobbie Johnson. The loss of Ms. Johnson will be felt by many and we extend our deepest condolences to her family and many friends. We can take some comfort in knowing that her legacy will continue to improve the lives of others and inspire more community activism. November CAPS Attending and participating in the Chicago Police's Community Policing Program (CAPS) is one of the best ways to address crime and quality of life issues in your neighborhood. By attending CAPS meetings, you can share important information with the police that will assist them in making arrests and preventing crime as well as receive valuable information about resources that promote homeowner and community safety.

Visit www.chicagopolice.org to find out what district you live in and click on each district title to learn more about what is happening in your neighborhood.

1st District 2nd District 131/132 133 211 212/214 213/215 Nov. 20th @ 7pm CANCELLED CANCELLED Nov. 6th @ 6:30 Nov. 14th @6:30 Hilliard Homes Oakwood Shores St. Elizabeth's (30 W. Cermak) (3711 S. Vincennes) (4058 S. Michigan)

7th District 221/223 224 225/231 233 711/712 Nov. 20th @ 6:30 Nov. 15th @ 6:30 Nov. 8th @ 6:30 Nov. 21st @ 6:30 Nov. 27th @ King Center Hall Branch Library Coppin AME Church Hyde Park Neighbor- 6:30pm (4313 S. Cottage (4801 S. Michigan) (5627 S. Michigan) hood Club 7th Dist. Station Grove) (5480 S. Kenwood) (1438 W. 63rd St.)

9th District 915 924/931/933 925 934/935 Nov. 13th @ 6:30 Nov. 6th @ 6pm Nov. 21st @ 6pm Nov. 20th @ 6pm

9th Dist. Station Park Federal Bank St. Gabriel's Church Westhaven Homes (3120 S. Halsted) (1823 W. 47th Street) (4500 S. Wallace) (850 W. Garfield)

Aldermanic Office of the Third Ward Aldermanic Office Hours 5046 South State Street Monday—Wednesday: 9am to 5pm Chicago, IL 60609 Thursdays: 12pm to 8pm (ward night from 6-8pm) (773) 373-9273 Fridays: 9am to 1pm f. (773) 373-6852 Every Third Saturday: 10am to 1pm [email protected]