Dark streets

A reader wrote in pointing out how pitch black the stretch of Berwyn is from the El Red Line stop east to Winthrop. This is exactly the area that Rocco Lopez tragically lost his life when he was stabbed in the neck on the night of Saturday September 19th. While there is a street light just east of the tracks, this street is also covered by trees which block the little light this one street light provides. Our suggested solution? Either more street lights, or ones like this one below (which can be found all over Lakeview and Lincoln Park, by the way) which not only light the street, but the second light shines on the sidewalk, below tree level, as well.

Please call (773) 784-5277 or email (info@masmith48.org) Mary Ann Smith, as well as call 311 and ask that the city improves the lighting in this stretch of Berwyn (and any other area you feel is not properly lit in Edgewater). If you've called, let us know the response in the "comments."

4th Annual Andersonville Desert Crawl

October 11th 2pm - 5pm

Purchase tickets and register here, and then pick up your passport at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., starting at 1PM. Participating restaurants:

SUGAR ROUTE- ($25 in advance)Ann Sather; George's Ice Cream and Sweets; Hamburger Mary's;In Fine Spirits;La Cocina de Frida;Noodle Zone;Piatto Pronto;Painted Light Photography & Framing hosting The Swedish Bakery' Ranalli's; Svea; The Landmark of Andersonville hosting Taste of Lebanon; The Coffee Studio; The Galleria hosting Terry's Toffee.

SPICE ROUTE- ($25 in advance) Andie's; Big Jones; Charlie's Ale House; Fireside;Foursided hosting Ann Sather & The Swedish Bakery; Huey's; Kopi; Middle Eastern Bakery; Scout hosting M. Henry; Starbucks; The Wooden Spoon; The Coffee Studio; The Galleria hosting Terry's Toffee.
EVERYTHING NICE! ROUTE- ($40 in advance) - Both Sugar & Spice Routes

For more information, contact the Andersonville Development Corporation

Sister and son of last Christmas' hypothermia victim identified

On December 25, 2008 a homeless man died of hypothermia in the Cedar Park playlot on Winthrop, as reported by the ECB. According to WBBM 780, both the sister and the son of the victim, 52-year-old William Petrusaitis, learned about his death through one of their reports online and has them wanting to know more. The son, Justin Petrusaitis, had never met his father.
Source: WBBM 780

Free Energy Efficiency Workshop Tomorrow

Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 p.m.
Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway

Presenters will discuss steps that homeowners, condominium owners and renters can take to make their homes more comfortable while saving energy and money.

Information on rebates and tax credits for energy upgrades will be distributed.
　
Co-sponsored by:
Edgewater Community Council
48th Ward Office of Alderman Mary Ann Smith

Vinosonic - Sunday

In Fine Spirits is proud to announce the most thought provoking tasting of the year taking place in the neighborhood this Sunday, September 27, at Experimental Sound Studio on Ravenswood [5925 N]. In this event wine plays the supporting role to music as 11 compositions created for this benefit will be played for the first time by 11 composers from the US, Canada, and the UK. Each piece will be paired with a different wine to enhance your tasting pleasure and your donation of $15 goes directly to keeping the studio running this year. Doors at 5pmMusic and Wine from 6-8pmRSVP to Lou Mallozzi at Lou@exsost.org

For more information click the link below
www.Exsost.org

Flu Shots

Flu Shots October 8
The City of Chicago and Alderman Smith's office will be offering free flu shots on Thursday, October 8, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. The shots are for the seasonal flu only, not the H1N1 flu.

There are no age or income restrictions to getting the free shots. If you have any questions about the flu vaccine or shots, please call 311 and ask for the Department of Public Health.

Reminder - Tickets still available

Don't forget.....Taste of Edgewater is tonight!

Shots Fired?

A reader writes in:
"Listening to my police scanner...8:40pm this evening that shots were fired behind 1010 Hollywood. The report stated a shot was fired, there was someone on the hood of a car and then what sounded like an explosion"

If anyone has any further information please post it in the comments section

Additional Info on Berwyn Stabbings from LEN

Check out this article from Lorraine Swanson's Lake Effect News with updated information on Saturday night's stabbings on Berwyn. New details are revealed, but the offender and motive still seem to be unknown.

Edgewater stabbing victim's family agonizes over death

From the ChicagoTribune:
The family of a man fatally stabbed Saturday night in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood says it's been thrown into turmoil by the unexplained killing.

"We just don't know to deal with it," said Gloria Lopez, whose son Rocco Lopez was stabbed in the neck as he walked to an "L" station about 7 p.m. with a friend.
....
"At this point, we really don't know what the altercation stemmed from," Officer Veejay Zala said.

Lopez's grieving family says left behind are five brothers and sisters, a wife and three children, one of whom is autistic.

"That's why it's very hard," said Lopez's mother.

His wife, Maria, said she has only told the oldest of their children about their father's death, worrying about the reaction of the younger two. She also said she's unemployed and the family depended on the income her husband earned as a dishwasher at a restaurant in The Breakers retirement home.

Read entire article

More on stabbings

Man stabbed to death in Edgewater
September 20, 2009 6:27 AM

A 32-year-old man was stabbed to death Saturday evening as he was walking with a friend in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood on the North Side.

Rocco Lopez was walking in the 1100 block of West Berwyn Avenue when he was stabbed in the neck, said Chicago Police Officer JoAnn Taylor, a police spokeswoman.

Lopez, 32, of the 2100 block of South Spaulding Avenue, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, said the Cook County medical examiner's office. His friend was not injured.

The motive of the stabbing is unknown. Belmont Area detectives were handling the homicide investigation.
ChicagoBreakingNews.com

1 Dead in Edgewater Stabbing (CBS2 Chicago)
Two stabbed, one fatally, in Edgewater neighborhood (Chicago Sun-Times)

Murder at Berwyn & Winthrop

Last night Berwyn was shut down between Broadway and Winthrop, apparently due to a stabbing murder. This was around 7pm. When we asked a police officer what happened he responded "don't worry about it." Thanks to to Uptown Update readers who shared the following:

"I was driving home to my place at Berwyn/Kenmore and saw someone lying in the middle of the street outside the shoe shop/Pause on Berwyn-- when I was there there was just a CTA vehicle near the man with a group gathered. I went back out to see what was going on and
apparently there was a stabbing--according to the people I spoke to it took CPD 15 minutes to show up. I don't know more than this but it's scary, and ther'es a big group outside and more sirens."

"I walked into the Jewel on Berwyn at just before 7 tonight and came out to find a fire truck and a ton of people standing around at the corner of Berwyn and Winthrop at around 7:10 tonight. There was a man lying in the street who looked seriously injured and I heard folks mention a stabbing. Does anyone know any details?"

Man Jumped & Beaten at Granville Redline stop - for $10

Seven men jumped and beat a man at the Red Line's Granville stop Wednesday night, getting just $10, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Three were later arrested.
Source: NBC Chicago

UPDATE: More details here from CBS2 Chicago, apparently the man was hospitalized with a broken hip.

Featured Business: Styles

Looking for a good salon to get your hair cut, colored or styled? Check out Styles, an Aveda salon, located in Andersonville at 5335 N Clark just north of Summerdale between Balmoral and Berwyn. The prices are reasonable, and the stylists are fun and friendly and do a great job whether you are a man or woman. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are highly recommended.

LEN: Osterman Beach beachouse meeting

Check out the Lake Effect News' article on yesterday's townhall meeting at St. Gregory’s Orthodox Church regaring the new beachhouse at Kathy Osterman Beach.

Street Resurfacing

From Alderman Mary Ann Smith's office:
Resurfacing has begun on 44 blocks in the 48th Ward. Aldermanic staff surveyed every street in the Ward to prioritize the need for this work.

Phase One, which is being paid through Alderman Smith's aldermanic discretionary fund, will be completed shortly. Phase Two will be done either later this fall or next spring using State money. Special thanks to Representative Harry Osterman for shepherding these funds to the 48th Ward. The total project cost is more than $1.7 million.

Phase One
Berwyn: Broadway to Magnolia;
Lakewood to Clark
Bryn Mawr: Lake Shore Drive to Sheridan
Edgewater: Glenwood to Clark
Elmdale: Glenwood to Greenview
Glenlake: Kenmore to Winthrop;
Glenwood to Greenview
Kenmore: Catalpa to Bryn Mawr
Magnolia: Ridge to Hollywood
Norwood: Glenwood to Greenview
Rosemont: Kenmore to Winthrop
Wayne: Ridge to Early
Winthrop: Balmoral to Catalpa; Bryn
Mawr to Hollywood; Ardmore to
Thorndale

Phase Two
Ardmore: Ridge to Clark
Balmoral: Glenwood to Clark
Berwyn: Sheridan to Winthrop
Farragut: Glenwood to Clark
Glenwood: Gregory to Bryn Mawr
Greenview: Thorndale to Norwood
Hollywood: Ridge to Clark
Kenmore: Balmoral to Catalpa; Ardmore to Thorndale
Magnolia: Lawrence to Ainslie
Norwood: Greenview to Clark
Olive: Glenwood to Clark
Rascher: Glenwood to Clark
Rosemont: Sheridan to Kenmore;
Winthrop to Broadway
Summerdale:Glenwood to Clark
Thorndale: Greenview to Clark
Victoria: Ridge to Clark
Wayne: Bryn Mawr to Hollywood
Winthrop: Ainslie to Argyle; Foster to
Berwyn; Granville to Rosemont

Happy 30th: Women & Children First

Check out this article in the Windy City Times about bookstore owners Linda Bubon and Ann Christopherson's 30 years running Women & Children First (5233 N Clark). They will also be hosting a 30th Anniversary celebration and benefit gala with a buffet dinner, drinks, dancing, fund-raising auction & entertainment on October 3rd at the Breakers. For more info and tickets click here.

Revised details for the upcoming Gang Summit

If you are planning to attend the Gang Summit on Monday 9/21, please be aware that the start time and location have been updated.

Retail coming to Edgewater CTA Redline Stops?

Thanks to the Uptown Update for pointing this website out:
http://www.ctarealestate.com/opportunities_retail.html
It looks as if the CTA's real estate provider, Jones Lang Lasalle, is actively marketing vacant CTA space. While none of the Edgewater locations are listed, if you scroll down to the bottom of the website on the link above you will notice that locations at the Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale & Granville stops "are expected to be available in the near future." Are upgrades to these stops' retail space coming?

Next week: Taste of Edgewater

(click to enlarge)

For more info & tickets: Click here

From LCDC:

A Reader reader recommends....

Featured in the Chicago Reader:

Sunshine Cafe
5449 N. Clark
(773) 334-6214

Asian, Japanese LUNCH: Sunday; DINNER: SUNDAY, TUESDAY-SATURDAY CLOSED MONDAY BYO RESERVATIONS NOT ACCEPTED

Noodle dishes—from nutty buckwheat soba to chewy wheat udon—dominate the menu at this home-style Japanese restaurant. Most come swimming in large bowls of broth with generous servings of vegetables or meat. A brief selection of equally impressive main courses includes sukiyaki, shrimp tempura, and a pleasantly sweet chicken teriyaki. Prices are rock-bottom—many consider it one of the best bang-for-your-buck places in Chicago. —Laura Levy Shatkin

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/essential-japanese-eating/Content?oid=1191812

Community Meeting

The Chicago Park District will begin work on a new beach house in the fall, and would like to bring community members up to speed on the details of this project.

Come to a free community meeting:
Tuesday, September 15 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
St. Andrew's Church, 5649 N. Sheridan Rd, President's Room.

Sponsored by:
State Representative Harry Osterman
48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith
Association of Sheridan Road Condo and Co-Op Owners

Edgewater Home Tour

Don’t miss the 21st Annual Edgewater Home Tour featuring Magnolia Glen.

Sunday, September 20, 2009
from 12 noon until 4 p.m.

The tour begins at:
Bethany Lutheran Church
1244 W. Thorndale Ave.

Donation of $25 includes refreshments.
For information, call 773-506-4849.

Lights out on Broadway?

A concerned reader tells us "Thought you should know and post that the street lights on Broadway (not the traffic lights) between Elmdale and Ardmore are out and the gangbangers are swarming. If you can put out an alert that would be great. I called 311 but they didn't seem to interested."

TimeOut Chicago highlights Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview's positive loitering initiatives

Check out their piece on recent positive loitering events which have been staged in north side communities, including Edgewater's Neighborhood Nights on Thorndale held over this past summer.

Gang Summit on Monday 9/21

A community wide gang summit sponsored by the State's Attorney's Office Community Justice Center will be held at 6:30PM on September 21st in the auditorium of Swedish Covenant Hospital, 2751 W. Winona*.

This informational session will identify which gangs "control" which neighborhoods, how to recognize gang members, how to differentiate between gang members and loiterers, how students can avoid gang recruitment as well as how they can engage in counteractive and productive activities. The target audience for the summit will be parents, students and community residents, however the session is not open to students.

*The start time and address for this event have been updated since the original posting.

2nd Annual Edgewater GRalley, Saturday September 19th

As summer winds down, get ready for guitars and grillin' along Granville's back alleys. Uncommon Ground is preparing to host Edgewater GRalley '09. The event runs from noon until 10PM, and will feature music, food, beer gardens, a kids corner and more.

Clean the Beach

Volunteers Needed!

Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m.-noon

Join State Representative Harry Osterman and the Alliance for the Great Lakes in cleaning one of Edgewater's signature public spaces, Osterman Beach (directly north of Hollywood Avenue).

For more information, contact Jared Desecki,
Office of State Representative Harry Osterman,
5535 N. Broadway, 773-784-2002,
jared.ostermanoffice@gmail.com

Andersonville Welcomes Mista

Fresh. Natural. Organic. That's all their website (coming soon) tells us about them at this point, but by walking by its obvious this new Andersonville eatery serves up pizzas, salads, wraps and lasagna. We've yet to stop into the place, located in the old Sprint store between a salon and Big Jones at 5351 N Clark, but it looks promising so thought we would spread the word.

Goal: 3,000+ Signatures In A Week

Citizens of the 46th Ward and beyond keep pushing to be heard on the controversial Wilson Yard TIF plan. They are poised for the next round when 46th Ward Alderman Helen Shiller goes before the CDC next Tuesday asking for another $54 million of taxpayers' money.

A new Wilson Yard TIF petition is up and ready for signing. The petition has 2 goals:

• Deny the $54 million TIF monies
• Retire the Wilson Yard TIF in 2011

The goal is to collect thousands of signatures and a strong show of support for the meeting on Tuesday, September 8. You can help make that happen now. Please sign the petition if you are in agreement, and help to support the efforts of our neighbors in the Uptown community. Feel free to send the petition to your neighbors and ask them to sign and forward it on.

Click here to sign the petition!