HIGHLIGHTS THIS ISSUE Officially Speaking . .3 Park Stuff . .6 Spirit of Rogers Park . .10 Arts Beat . .17 Food Fun . .18 Volume 4, Issue 2 June, 1999 Published by the Rogers Park Community Council (circulation: 10,000) Building Safe Blocks By Sandi Price ogers Park is the land of creativity and two commu- vention with a bad landlord can take longer than is and nothing has happened," says Carol Goldman, RPCC R nity policing initiatives prove this fact. The Rogers acceptable. Repair of the damage lock / door is essential Housing Initiatives Director. The new program is Park Community Council and the Chicago Police in providing security for the family. designed to assist neighbors increase their personal Department's 24th District CAPS (Chicago's Alternative Once the victim of the crime completes a report with safety in the home. "Sometimes neighbors don't know Policing Strategy) program have initiated two pilot pro- the police, the Victim Advocacy Support Program (VASP) what technology is available in the field of personal secu- jects -- one to assist survivors of domestic violence and of the Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC) provides rity and/or they don't have the money to make the neces- the other to assist senior and disabled neighbors. follow-up to survivors under the age of 60 and offers sary improvements." Building Safe Blocks is a CAPS program funded by support and services. The Council for Jewish Elderly's The safety project is offered by the Rogers Park the Allstate Insurance Company. In January, each police Victim / Witness Assistance Program works with all senior Community Council, Council for Jewish Elderly (CJE), district advisory committee received a $15,000 allocation crime victims. and Edgewater Community Council (ECC) in collabora- to be used for innovative projects that would increase per- The new service of lock replacement allows sur- tion with the 24th District Advisory Committee. The sonal safety and security, home / neighborhood safety, vivors an opportunity to increase their personal safety RPCC, CJE, and ECC are all funded through the City of automobile and highway safety, youth-at-risk programs while remaining in their home. Chicago's H-RAIL program (Home Repairs Aiding and neighborhood revitalization efforts. Independent Living) and are able to provide home repairs Senior and Handicapped Neighbor Safety and install enabling devices for income-eligible seniors Domestic Violence Assistance The second initiative is to provide safety enhance- and disabled. Unfortunately, H-RAIL funds cannot be The DV Safety program will work with survivors of ments for our senior and handicapped neighbors. used for the safety improvements. domestic violence who are in need of lock and/or door Through the project, safety repairs can be made If you are interested in either safety initiative, contact replacement due to criminal activity. "On many occas- including installing deadbolt locks, peepholes, and the Rogers Park Community Council at (773) 338-RPCC. sions, locks on survivors doors have been broken due to window locks. Repairs are available for eligible individuals in the 24th the violence of the offender," states Dana Nate, VASP Many seniors and handicapped persons become Police District. Director. "Some landlords are unwilling to change locks easy prey to criminals due to their inability to see who is or make the necessary door repairs. The victim is literal- at the door, their inability to hear the door bell, and easily Sandi Price serves as Chair of the 24th District Advisory ly left sitting wide open." Although landlords are required jimmied window locks. "Many times they do not realize Committee. to provide reasonable security for their apartments, inter- that they are at-risk because it's always been this way Early Childhood Council Formed To Improve Day Care In Rogers Park By Kate Sachnoff new local network is working to improve and expand tion problems. ECAC will assist early childhood providers nizations. They have discussed ideas for shared pro- A early childhood development options for area in procuring funds for expanded, higher quality, and more gramming and coordinated planning for grant applica- youngsters. According to a study released last coordinated services. "Many smaller agencies like mine tions. In addition, they have participated in a study con- month, Rogers Park is the 10th worst neighborhood in and individual providers are not experienced in applying ducted by Loyola University's Center for Urban Research Chicago in terms of formal childcare available for working for grants. Through the Early Childhood Advisory Council, and Learning regarding child safety information. families. For the 3,628 children ages birth to five years in I learned about upcoming opportunities and found help to The next meeting of ECAC will be on June 17. working families in Rogers Park, there are only 556 request improvements for our playground," said Azieb Providers or parents in the community who are interested spaces in childcare centers and licensed day care homes. Gebrehiiwet of Eyes on the Future child care center (1329 in the Early Childhood Advisory Council are invited to The study was prepared by the Illinois Facilities Fund for W. Loyola). One of the goals of the group is to update contact Kate Sachnoff via e-mail at [email protected] the Chicago Department of Human Services and the members on funding opportunities, facilitate mentoring by or by telephone at (773) 769-1717. Ounce of Prevention Fund. more experienced members, and link providers to hands- A network council has been formed to improve ser- on help and training. Kate Sachnoff is a Master's level Social Worker, providing vice coordination and attract funding to upgrade and Carol Ronen, 17th District State Representative said staff support to the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC). expand early childhood development programs in the "My hope is that working together will strengthen all the She is a longtime Edgewater resident with a dozen years of Rogers Park, Edgewater, Andersonville and Bowmanville groups serving small children in our community. We want experience working on early childhood issues including raising neighborhoods. The Rogers Park Community Council to expand resources for parents. The ECAC is giving me her 10-month-old daughter, Sasha. (RPCC), along with help from State Representative Carol guidance on legislative Ronen, is administering the project. "The Chicago goals and government Community Trust deserves kudos for its investment of a funding priorities based planning grant to fund the start-up of the Early Childhood on their vast experience Advisory Council," said Cary Steinbuck, RPCC Executive with families". Director. Legislative advocacy is Early childhood programs include childcare centers, one of the ways in Head Start, Licensed Day Care Homes, License-Exempt which supporters of Day Care Homes, and preschools. The group also seeks early childhood pro- to support at-home parents and nannies and relatives grams are far more who are caretakers of young children. Participants in the powerful when they new group include private and non-profit providers of pro- work together. "This grams, such as Lake Shore Schools and Lawrence Hall new voice can certainly Head Start; religious-based providers; Loyola University help as we work for Chicago; the Rogers Park and Edgewater Community changes that are sorely Councils; the Day Care Action Council; and the Chicago needed by all providers, Public Schools. such as increased Participants say the Early Childhood Advisory wages," said Sue Udry Council (ECAC) is a community network where providers of the Day Care Action can learn from one another. "It is so important to have a Council. forum where people who struggle with the same prob- ECAC has applied lems can exchange ideas and solutions," said participant for State funds to sup- Roberta Buchanan of the Howard Area Community port the collaboration Center, a multi-service agency located in the north of and has pointed partici- Howard community. ECAC aims to aid in the coordination pants in the direction of of service delivery by creating a forum to share informa- funding opportunities tion about service gaps, new programs, and underutiliza- for their individual orga- 2 ROGERS PARK 2000 CAPS In Command How Well Do You Know Rogers Park? By Commander David V. Boggs At what West Rogers Park eatery does this lion n April 29 we celebrated the sixth anniversary of the resident, joined us in thanking community members for stand guard? O Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). I had their participation in CAPS. As Cook County's prosecutor, the honor of being able to personally participate in State's Attorney, Devine told those community residents many of the activities held in the 24th District on what is in attendance how effective CAPS related initiatives such now known as "CAPS Partnership Day." I am proud to see as Court Advocacy are in addressing crime. Our hats are that the promise of CAPS is being fulfilled as we move full off to the dedicated members of Beat(s) 2411, 2412 and speed ahead into our seventh year. 2413 for their on-going efforts and participation in CAPS. In Sector One, an outdoor rally was held at Warren In Sector Two, a "Community Night Out" was held, Park. State's Attorney Richard Devine, himself an area beginning at the corner(s) of Clark, Jarvis and Rogers. This intersection is the connecting point for Beat(s) 2422, 2423 and 2424. These beats are among our most active when it comes to developing crime prevention strategies. Many of the people who participated on this evening have been involved with community Send your correct response by June 30, 1999 to RPCC, 1772 W. policing since it's inception. Some were Lunt Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626. The winner of a $25.00 gift actually instrumental in bringing community certificate to the new Gateway Bar & Grill will be selected by policing to the 24th District.