Rogers Park

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Walk and Vigil Tonight

Friends & Neighbors,

Please note the two events below.

Join Cease Fire, Organization of the NorthEast
and Rogers Park neighborhood residents for a Cease Fire Vigil in response to the recent shooting on Sunday in the early morning in the area of Jonquil and Paulina.

At 7:00pm on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, we will begin a march around the block, starting from Jonquil and Paulina, followed by a vigil. Please come to show support for stopping violence in the Rogers Park community.
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Chicago

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Immigration Activists to
Rally Downtown Today

Immigrant activists will take to Chicago streets Wednesday for the third time in four months for another march to urge Congress to enact more lenient immigration laws.

The first two marches, in March and May, brought hundreds of thousands of protesters to the Loop and made Chicago a national center for immigrant activism.

The goal of Wednesday's march is to urge the U.S. government to suspend the deportation of illegal immigrants until Congress passes an immigration bill. Activists want a plan that legalizes all illegal immigrants.Wednesday's rally has come together in a less structured way than the first two. A group known as the March 10 Committee, which helped pull together the first two events, is offering support but not playing a central role.

Organizers did not even confirm the route until Tuesday. The march will begin at noon from Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., and proceed east to Grant Park for a 2 p.m. rally. more from The Tribune
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Rogers Park

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NOH Neighbor Wants "shrine" Removed

Ald. Moore, Commander Rottner & Superintendent Erickson,

The North Howard Neighbors Association is requesting immediate City action to clean up the mess at NE corner of the Jonquil/Paulina intersection. The 'mess' is the graffiti and debris obstructing the 'PUBLIC way per the attached photos. After the shooting yesterday morning, at this location, it is difficult to understand why our neighborhood must continue to endure this. Last night people continued to gather here despite several calls to 911. The NHNA further request that this type of 'display' be totally prohibited in the future, on this corner (across from The Harold Washington Memorial Playground) or anywhere else in our community!

Sincerely,
Mike Luckenbach
NHNA














Note: It's unclear who removed the debris but it was not there as of 9am this morning.
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Rogers Park

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Ald. Moore:
"Not Ready to Support Island Groove Liquor License"















Citing "community concern and strong opposition by area residents" Alderman Moore "cannot support the liquor license for Island Groove Cafe at this time" according to Mike Land in a telephone conversation Friday afternoon. Land said that the Alderman also had serious reservations about liquor being served next door to the 7650-54 North Sheridan Road building which has and continues to be a trouble spot. The building is owned by Sargon Isaac who does not enjoy a good reputation with neighbors and whose questioable business practices have stalled the Beachview Development Project.

Alderman Moore is however supporting the PPA license ( Public Place of Amusement ) which does not require a zoning variance ( Special Use Permit ) as does the liquor license approval. In practical terms, the Cafe will still be able to have live music but it will be a BYOB establishment for the time being.

Althought the ZALUC Committee overwhelmingly approved the liquor license application last Tuesday night, Moore wants the owners and establishment to "earn the trust of the community and is willing to revisit the zoning variance at a later date."

Gary Fuschi


North Side bomb threat a hoax

STNG--The Chicago Police Department responded to a bomb hoax on the North Side Sunday morning.
The police Bomb & Arson unit responded to a bomb threat at 8:17 a.m. on the 1600 block of North North Park Avenue, according to police News Affairs officer Marcel Bright.
The threat was “nothing more than a hoax,” according to Bright.

Police Respond to Shots Fired NOH
from 24/7 HowardWatchers
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Chicago

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Blue-chip sponsors see Green in Gay Games

Tribune--While the road to Gay Games Chicago has been a bumpy one, its organizers have lined up an impressive roster of sponsors for the athletic competitions that kick off Saturday, signaling that corporate America is opening its eyes to this lucrative but once-taboo consumer sector.

The 300-plus sponsors include a bevy of blue-chip brands, among them Walgreens, Orbitz, The New York Times, Absolut Vodka, American Airlines, Ernst & Young, Gatorade, Nike, Best Buy, Kraft, Aon, CNA, Chipotle, Merrill Lynch and Motorola.The fact that some of America's top brands are attaching themselves to such a highly visible and international event signals a sea change in corporate thinking.

All told, corporate, small-business and individual donors chipped in $13.5 million of the estimated $20 million in projected revenue and contributed goods and services that will fuel the games, said Sam Coady, co-chairman of the Gay Games Chicago board of directors. This level of support far surpasses any private backing since the launch of the quadrennial games in 1982.

And the fact that early sponsors, including Kraft Foods Inc., Harris Bank and Walgreen Co., did not back down in the face of criticism from conservative Christian groups and the potential for pickets and boycotts sends a signal that increasing numbers of mainstream businesses are recognizing the importance of this consumer sector, said Jim Andrews, editorial director of the IEG Sponsorship Report, based in Chicago.

Everything we do should reflect the diverse society we are," said Niya Moon, a spokesman for Kraft Foods, whose shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to rescind the company's support.

For Walgreens, the goal was HIV/AIDS prevention, spokesman Michael Polzin said. The firm will distribute informational brochures and offer HIV testing at the Hilton Chicago for the first three days of the event.

Conservative groups, including the Illinois Family Institute of Glen Ellyn, last year targeted early-bird sponsors, including Kraft, Harris Bank and Walgreens. The attacks made other companies wary of signing on, and the resistance lasted several months until it became clear the companies were standing their ground, Baim said."No one pulled back, so everyone kept coming on," she said. "And this encouraged others, because some had said they'd come later, when there were more brand names

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion or belief regarding our support," said Kraft's Moon. "But this is about being inclusive and supporting the communities we serve, and they are diverse communities." More...

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Rogers Park

ANNOUNCEMENT

CREATE A NEW ARTS CENTER - WISDOM BRIDGE ARTS PROJECT

We are pleased to invite you to an open-house meeting July 17 to discuss plans and request volunteer assistance in our effort to develop a Community Arts Center in Rogers Park. The Arts Center, to be built on Howard Street at the former location of Chicago’s legendary Wisdom Bridge Theater, will offer workshop and studio rehearsal space, aprojected 125 seat performance space, and a venue for creative development in the arts for residents of Rogers Park and beyond.

Our aim is to provide comprehensive programs for both children andadults in all art forms—theater, music, dance, visual arts, andwriting—conducted by Chicago artists in partnership with the community.

It is our belief that participation in the arts promotes empowerment,personal transformation, and positivesocial change.Wisdom Bridge Arts Project is seeking volunteers to work in programming and fundraising for the community arts center. Here is an opportunity to truly influence public access to the arts. We need your opinions, input, connections, skills, and imagination to help make this happen!

Please join in the process:
Community Arts Center Volunteer Meeting
7 PM Monday, July 17, 2006
at 7543 N. Paulinain the plaza level of
The Gateway Centre
just below the Howard Red Line el stop

Come create with us and RSVP to info@wbap.org
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Chicago

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City proposes $550M LaSalle Street TIF

Crain's--After months of rumors, the Daley Administration formally proposed to designate a 40-block section centering on LaSalle Street south of the river as a tax increment financing (TIF) district.

The city did not immediately spell out who would get money or in what amounts. But under an overview proposal submitted to the Community Development Commission, at least $550 million in property-tax receipts would be diverted from the Board of Education and other local governments over the next 23 years and instead be used to clear land, subsidize new building and redevelopment, and pay for public projects in the area, possibly a proposed Monroe Street express busway.

Another $200 million is allotted for rehabilitation of existing buildings, with $50 million for property assembly.

The projects would be funded by growth of property-tax receipts within the TIF area. The city argues that much of that growth would not occur if not for the subsidies, but some civic groups have argued that it is not wise policy to strip schools of even inflationary growth in tax receipts. More...
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Rogers Park

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2 Stabbed, 1 Dead on 6100 N. Oakley
Tribune--Two people were stabbed, one fatally, during a domestic-related quarrel around 6:40 p.m. in the West Rogers Park neighborhood on the city's Far North Side, police said, citing a preliminary report.
A 20-year-old man suffered multiple stab wounds and was dead at the scene, in the 6100 block of North Oakley Avenue. The survivor, a female victim, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was being treated in critical condition for her wounds, police said.
No further Information available.
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Chicago

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Bond denied for slaying suspect who fled to Mexico
Tribune--On Monday Roberto Ramirez, 26, stood before Cook County Criminal Court Judge Laura Sullivan, who ordered Ramirez held without bond. He faces up to 120 years in prison if he is convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion, prosecutors said.

Melissa Dorner was found beaten and strangled in her apartment in the 6100 block of North Winthrop Avenue on Jan. 24, 2005. Ramirez, whose hair, some clothing and other evidence were found at the scene, had fled to Mexico. He allegedly admitted to a friend that he had done "something bad," police said.

Ramirez was arrested in a Mexico City suburb Jan. 4 following a tip authorities received after an FBI agent appeared on a Mexican TV show in November seeking information about Ramirez's whereabouts. Ramirez was returned to the U.S. about 3 a.m. Saturday, and he made a videotaped confession Saturday evening, police said. More...
More from The Sun Times
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Rogers Park

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Crash brings calls for increased intersection warnings
Pioneer--The intersection of Rogers and Touhy has been the scene of many minor fender benders over the years but on Saturday the crash was serious.
A man in a neck brace was lifted carefully onto the litter and taken to the Chicago Fire Department ambulance as another man in a neck brace sat on the sidewalk.

Paramedics take motorcyclist to waiting ambulance as driver of vehicle waits on the curb.
In the middle of Rogers, a northeast/southwest street, was a motorcycle, facing north, wedged under the undercarriage of a car facing northwest. The bike was parallel to the car as if the rider saw him coming and tried to swerve out of the way or dump the bike.
“It’s always something on this corner,” said one man whose house was directly in front of the accident. He came out when he heard the crash.

“No one ever stops at that stop sign,” said another man. More....

Dangerous Condition



























An electrical conduit lies on the street yesterday after apparently being hit and knocked loose by a truck traveling east on Rogers. Live wires could be seen protruding from the junction box that connected the yellow caution light on the Metra overpass at Rogers, just across the street from Runge's Auto Repair.

Rogers Park

Outdoor Seating at Charmers Cafe

I just happened to be walking past Jarvis Square yesterday and saw the employees of Charmers Cafe emptying boxes, putting together tables and setting up their new outdoor seating area.

Charmers Cafe is located at 1500 West Jarvis Avenue.


Annual Blood Drive

This year's Blood Drive will be a competition between police districts. We want the 24th district to win. Everyone who donates will receive a softball t-shirts. So be sure to stop by the police station (6464 N. Clark Street) on Wednesday, July 26 from 2 - 8 pm.
By donating you lower your blood pressure temporarily, and save 3 lives. For more information, call the 24th District front office at 312-744-2043.

From the Blogs

Report on Wednesday's Community Meeting about 7441 North Rogers
"The proposed condo building to replace the formerly beautiful gray Arts & Crafts house is a 6-unit brick-faced building. It's a slightly less generic design than the new 8-unit building immediately to the east, but certainly not an improvement on what the old house could be if it were restored. " more from Fargo Observer

Update: This proposal is on the Agenda for The ZALUC Meeting this Tuesday at 7pm at Alderman Moore's office .
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