Albany Park

I wanted to find out if these 'residential pick-up truck parking' signs that I see popping up all over the neighborhood are legit. So far I have only seen them on beat up old pick up trucks and one of them seems to have made the front of my home their place of choice to park. Don't get me wrong, people are allowed to park where they want on the street but there are reasons pick-up truck are considered "B" rated trucks and should only be parked on commercial streets. First, Can Mel's office verify that these signs are being passed out legitimately, since his name is on the sign? Second, why is the city not enforcing "B" plates on pick-up trucks? I need assistance in getting rid of the beater truck that has made the front of my home parking spot of choice.

Hi to all the animal lovers in the neighborhood,
This is a stray cat that has been coming around my home. He is badly injured around his ear and really needs someone who can adopt him. He is a very cute Tuxedo cat (see pic - although he looks very startled in the picture!), with all white paws. He is very sweet and aprroachable and needs a loving home. I would guess he is 1-2 years old and he is not fixed. I've been feeding him so he's not starving to death anymore, but he needs his forever home. <3

If you, or if you know someone who would love a lovable little guy to call their own, let me know.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to Roosevelt High School for advancing two students to National History Day. Martha Aguirre and Peria Marin will be representing Illinois with a Senior Group Performance entitled, “Through Immigrant Eyes: Reactions to Reform." Out of more than 20,000 students who participate in the History Fair each year, Marin and Aguirre are among the final 70 who will advance to the prestigious national competition. Aggie Przeslicke is their teacher.

Other northwest side schools advancing projects to nationals include:

**Edison Regional Gifted Center: Joshua Odum, “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity,” Junior Individual Performance.

**Taft Academic Center: Ruby Mustill, “The Jungle,” Junior Individual Website.

Students who advance to the state or national competitions in History Fair have invested a tremendous amount of time into researching, analyzing, and developing their projects. Congrats to all!

Crystal Johnson

On Thursday, May 17th from 7-8:00pm at the Horner Park Field House the last 33rd Ward Advisory Council meeting until September will be taking place. A representative of the alderman will be there and possibly the alderman himself. Please attend if you have any issues that need be be brought to the alderman's attention or are interested in finding out what is going on in the 33rd Ward.

If you are unable to attend please add your issue in a comment below and I'll be sure to address it at the meeting. I'm also including a list of the outstanding items from the last meeting that are waiting on followup from the alderman:

- Policing levels in the 17th district. Does the Alderman think police levels are sufficient? How with the NATO summit effect the police presence in the 33rd ward?

- Street condition on the 4200 Block N Francisco. Sewer is supposedly fixed which caused the pavement to buckle according to a resident who talked to the work crew. Is there any word on when the failed street surface will be addressed?

- Playground flooding at Bateman Elementary School. Playground floods after any rain rendering it unusable. Mandatory recess for the 2012-13 school year necessitates proper drainage. A resident and architect have attempted to get a meeting with the alderman for 2.5 months to no avail. Alderman did call to discuss the matter with no notice resulting in the architect not being able to participate in the discussion. Has the alderman followed up with the architect?

As many of you probably read a few days ago, there was someone parked in a parking spot that my fiance and I PAY to park in that actually is private property. The car was there for two days. Because the car was on private property, the police could do nothing, and we would have had to pay to get it towed away, and of course neither of us wanted to pay for it.

Long story short, I am trying to convince my landlord to get a contract with a towing company. A neighbor suggested to him that he can get a contract with a towing company that will tow when you call them.

Anyone know of any towing companies that issues contracts based on "if someone is parked here, call this number and it will be towed"? We are looking for a non-patrol option, like an on-call service. I heard they are free and they put up signs.

I really need some solid information, as I have to convince my landlord. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Looks like there was some confusion regarding the date of the protest at Horner Park. It looks to be Saturday, not TODAY as was previously posted.

Dear 33rd Ward Resident,

The NATO Host Committee has now corrected itself and says that the Horner Park protest is indeed scheduled for this Saturday morning and not today.

The following is an excerpt from the Facebook page of organizers detailing the activities of the Saturday protest:

On May 19, NATO demonstrators will gather at the Irving Park Brown Line stop, where they will be given hospital gowns with "Healthcare Not Warfare," and, "Clinics Not NATO," written on them. They intend to go door to door in the nearby neighborhood.

At 12pm, the demonstrators will converge on Horner Park at Irving and California, and will then march on Rahm Emanuel's house at 4228 N Hermitage.

Please avoid driving in the area until after 2:00 p.m. this Saturday if at all possible.

Sincerely yours,

Alderman Richard F. Mell

Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, a private management firm contracted by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to manage the North Central Scattered Sites Public Housing Portfolio, has re-opened the public housing community area wait lists. The CHA will be accepting applications now through May 25, 2012 for the re-opening of its public housing community area wait list for Albany Park(1,2,3,4BR), Irving Park(2,3BR), Portage Park(2,3BR) and Avondale(2,3,4BR). Maximum income restrictions apply. ADA accessible units are available. Applicants must currently reside within one of the four communities listed at the time of application and during the screening and offer process.

For more information, please contact:

Cristina De La Rosa
Outreach Coordinator
Buen HOGAR
CHA Latino Outreach Initiative
1347 West Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60642
312.432.8795
cdelarosa@eriehouse.org
or
Evelyn Rodriguez
Outreach Coordinator
Buen HOGAR
CHA Latino Outreach Initiative
4225 West 25th Street
Chicago, IL 60623
773.277.0805
erodriguez@eriehouse.org

www.eriehouse.org

Erie Neighborhood House’s newest program, Buen HOGAR, is a Latino Outreach Initiative of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) with the primary goal of providing education, assistance, and outreach in the Latino community to raise awareness on CHA’s services and programs, and to promote Latino participation. Although Buen HOGAR offers Spanish-language assistance, the services are available to any of the following:
• CHA residents
• Individuals or families currently on a CHA waitlist
• CHA senior housing residents
• Seniors currently on the CHA waitlist
• Seniors seeking housing assistance – currently, there are units available for seniors
• Current CHA Housing Choice Voucher Program landlords
• Prospective CHA residents and property owners

Please be on the watch for a maroon car 4-door small, lots of chrome.

On 5/12/12, a friend's daughter was walking the dog and saw this car parked in the neighborhood (Sauganash Woods). There were 2 men in the car, around 50 years old, one with long dark hair (at the shoulders), possibly Hispanic or Native American. They were looking at her as she walked by.

About 2 hours later, a friend's son was walking the dog and this car pulled up, the driver motioned him to come to the car. The passenger GOT OUT OF THE CAR, started walking toward him and started asking him for directions. My son said nothing to him and immediately ran away from him and ran home. A police report was made.

About 2 months ago, the same described car was in this area and approached another girl. In that incident, there was a man and woman in the car. Male with same long haired description. A police report was made.

What You Can Do

. Be aware of this situation and alert neighbors in the area about the crime.

. If possible, don't walk alone and stay in well lit areas.

. Call 911 to report any suspicious person(s), vehicle(s) or activity in your neighborhood.

. Call 911 and provide a detailed description of the offender(s) including the vehicle description and license plate information.

Talk with your children. We need to keep alert and our eyes open. If anyone sees this car, PLEASE GET LICENSE PLATE AND CALL 911.