December --- February 2018/19 TowerTalk News By and For the Park Tower Condominium Community In Our Parks Trail separation means providing one Second, if you haven’t walked or biked Lakefront Trail Revisited lane or path for walkers and another for the trail south of downtown, you’re miss- faster traffic, mainly bicycles. Here at the ing something quite lovely. Space is by Sheldon Atovsky & Bob Shamo northernmost end, the trail has now plentiful and the city has worked hard to been widened enough to allow separate make it inviting and safe. Walkers and marked lanes for each. This particular cyclists use separate paths as the trail stretch also illustrates how the entire winds through the recently-completed length of the trail is now navigable at Burnham Nature Conservatory. There is night thanks in part to tripling the num- public art sculpture, a new harbor, mari- ber of historically accurate lampposts, as na and playground at 31st Street, as well seen in the photo at the lower left. as several beaches with restrooms and concessions. Directly east of Park Tower, at the Berwyn underpass, the trail splits. Cyclists heading south use the original asphalt, while walkers are directed to Chicago boasts an open and public lake- newly-poured concrete adjacent to the beach. This split is maintained south of front, one of the most beautiful in the Foster Avenue; cyclists are asked to ride United States. Parallel to the lakeshore, a new path which is closer to the lake but east of Lakeshore Drive, runs an 18½ and safer because it incorporates exist- mile Lakefront Trail that provides fresh ing underpasses at Wilson and Montrose. air and an unsurpassed view to walkers, runners, cyclists, skateboarders, and all These, then, are the two approaches to This story continues on page 10 . Go to manner of outdoor enthusiasts. Estimates trail separation: Widen the trail with an- www.ptcondo.com/news to read in color are that 100,000 people use the trail on other lane and link to suggested website s and email a busy summer day, with 30,000 cyclists where city addresses. riding it to and from work -- so many, in parkland is fact, that the trail can be a bit dicey on scarce, or busy days. add a second Inside This Issue path as space Two multiyear improvement projects are permits. Holiday Donations ……………………………... 2 making the trail safer and a better fit for those who use it. The Trail Separation In one configuration or the other, the Social Committee Update ……………….... 3 Project is being completed as we go to trail continues to the city where it is Chicago becomes the “Second City” ... 4 press. The Navy Pier Flyover is scheduled about to be altered dramatically by the to wrap in 2019, but a large portion of it Navy Pier Flyover -- more on that in a Terry Gorman, Park Tower Profile ..... 6 is promised by the end of the year. moment -- then on to 71st street where it ends at the South Shore Cultural Center. Assorted Committee Reports …………... 7 Sheldon and his partner, Terry Gorman, Welcome Aboard / Best wishes ……….. 8 ride the trail regularly on their tandem Health Club Report ………………………….... 9 bike and offer here a couple suggestions. First, where the trail separates, please Assessment Gladly Paid ……………...….. 10 use the correct path. When all is finished Summary of Sales & Leases, 2018 …… 11 and appropriately marked, there should be no confusion as to which is for walk- Directory & Dates to Remember ……… 12 ers and which for cyclists. Holiday Appreciation Remembering Our Own and Helping Nearby Neighbors in Need by Frank Muldowney An unassuming storefront just steps when school starts in the fall, and chil- from Park Tower conceals a remarka- dren’s toys are distributed during the ble community service that operates holidays. day-in, day-out with little or no fanfare. Care for Real accomplishes all this with Care for Real distributes a mind- only five full-time employees but doz- bending one million pounds of food ens of unpaid volunteers. Lyle stated Park Tower is alive! It lives and each year to 30,000 people a month. that 92 cents of every dollar raised goes breathes, has a central nervous system, directly to aid, only 8 cents to over- skeleton and skin. Keeping it healthy and head. Monetary donations are welcome humming are, of course, Park Tower’s 32 via www.careforreal.org A $5 cash dona- employees. Most of us nod and smile at tion will feed a person for a week! the ones we see the most; we may even Karen Feller, volunteer coordinator, know their names, at least those who’ve By one estimate, 70 million seniors will mentioned that her charges already given us a personal assist when needed. be living in poverty by 2030. Lyle Allen, include Park Tower residents. She would executive director of CFR, affirmed a But once a year we can do a little more: love to have more, even if for just sever- substantial increase of seniors asking contribute to the Employee Holiday al hours a month. Contact Karen at for help, especially those on fixed in- Fund . Property manager Tim Patricio [email protected] oversees the fund, and in a recent con- comes, grandparents caring for grand- versation he explained how our contribu- children -- about 20% of its clients are tions are distributed. There are three families with children -- as well as factors, each of which accounts for one- single persons and the homeless. third of a given employee’s share: Care for Real considers those it assists • Just being a PT employee to be clients, and most of those clients participate in the food distribution pro- • Length of tenure (some have worked gram. There are canned goods to be here three decades or more) sure, but also fresh fruits and vegeta- • Responsibilities of that employee’s bles, meat, milk and many other nutri- particular position tious foods that would otherwise be But there is a caveat Tim wants us to missing from their diets. Pet food is consider. Beginning this year, tax will be also in great demand. The elderly treas- Lyle Allen, executive director, with volunteer, deducted prior to distribution. In the ure their pets and would otherwise Francisco Villa past, employees were expected to them- willingly sacrifice to feed them. All in all, what a wonderful way to lev- selves declare the amount of tax owed. Organized collection and distribution erage a small amount of one’s time or This change in procedure will reduce by procedures are essential. On the collec- money into a program that has a power- about 30% the amount each employee tion side, the Greater Chicago Food De- ful impact on our community. would otherwise receive at distribution. pository trucks in government surplus The change also adds a procedural step, and greatly-discounted items. CFR As the holidays approach, PT residents so residents are asked to please submit drives its three vans to pick up sched- will find clothes donation boxes at the contributions by Friday, December 14, uled donations from Mariano’s, Jewel doorman's desk and near the Contributions are welcome from tenants and other food retailers. And individu- Management Office. as well as Owners. Checks can be als, churches and similar groups help, Care for Real is located on the east side dropped off at the Management Office, too, by dropping off acceptable food of Sheridan Road, between Park Tower made out to Park Tower but designated and clothing -- repurposing clothing and Tedino’s Pizzeria. for the fund. Owners have another option being another of CFR’s core missions. Donations are also accepted at the rear -- to direct Management to add a one- (Sweaters and warm outer wear are of the building, across the driveway from time amount to their next monthly as- particularly appreciated now that cold the exit doors adjacent to Park Tower’s sessment. weather is arriving.) Management Office. Donation hours are Tim made it a point to say that our em- Having arrived, food is then shelved or 9:00 am to 3:30 pm weekdays and 9:00 ployees greatly appreciate the recogni- refrigerated awaiting distribution by am to 12:30 pm Saturdays. tion and, in fact, the gift itself. As their volunteers, and clothing is sorted, A list of acceptable food, clothing and leader, he sends his appreciation to stacked or placed on hangers. Specialty small household items are at those who choose to contribute. items such as bookbags are available www.careforreal.org/about-us/contact-us/ 222 Committee Focus More Done, More to Come Social Committee People -to -People Lifts Off! Early in October, about 20 people met to discuss the People-to-People project -- that is, small groups of Park Tower residents Towards the end of September, your meeting occasionally Social Committee sponsored a Special to share common interests. The interest Edition TGIF honoring Sue and Jim Kim, areas identified so far are listed below and retiring after 37 years of service looking we are open to more. after our Dry Cleaners/Delivery Room. Board & Card Games Bingo, Backgammon, Canasta, Dominoes, Mah Jong, Poker, Scrabble Community Concern Current events, Intergenerational wom- en’s support, Gardening in the park, Park Tower renters group, Redline-Berwyn & Bryn Mawr rebuilds, Positive spirituality and prayers for peace Arts Appreciation In-house listening to music recordings or performances, Preview films being con- sidered for Movie Nights, Offsite attend- ance at concerts, lectures, films, etc. Physical Fitness Thanks to Betty Terry-Lundy and Mike Magliane for the photos. Ballroom dancing, Belly dancing, Biking, We were thrilled with the turnout.