Edgewater Beach

Compared to many cities in Europe, Chicago is pretty clean. The two big mistakes in Chicago are:

(1) an overhead rail system — a huge scar on the landscape wherever it goes: who wants to live next to that noise and sight? so the el lines have acquired a sheath of poorer buildings, crime, etc. The cause of this mistake was a decision, years ago, to build cheap: but maintenance expense has far outweighed the initial savings, and now it's near impossible to put the lInes underground. Back when Chicago was less built‑up, it could have been done. (Building the CTA was kinda like buying a Windows computer because they're cheaper than Macs.)

(2) the lack of culvert-type drainage. We drain off rain water via small drains often at corners. Predictably, they clog and fester. A running culvert system, where water drains along the entire street, combined with slightly cambered pavements, keeps streets clean.

But even despite that, we're cleaner than Rome or Marseille or Milan, and (depending on the decade) Paris. Like Moscow, Washington is a showcase, there's big money to keep it presentable.

Hey DK,
Sorry I'm a little late in responding, but I started an Edgewater New Parents Group through meetup.com in January 2012 as a way for new parents who live in and around Edgewater to meet and bring their little ones together for play dates, walks, and more. The ages of the children in the group vary - with 2-week-olds all the way to 18-month-olds. We currently have a walking group that meets every week and some sort of play group each week as well (book discussion group, baby food swap or just hanging out). The best way to find out info for the Edgewater New Parents Group is to go to our page and join the group. And just so you know - although we may bring food or drinks to share, everything we do is free. Here's the page: http://www.meetup.com/Edgewater-New-Parents-Group/

HI Kimberly and all-
A few days ago I decided to contact Kathryn Janicek, a morning producer at NBC. I told her about blasto, that Andy Avalos was kind enough to take up the cause on his Facebook page, and asked her if she'd be willing to do a piece on this disease in order to alert dog owners that if your dog seems ill and your vet doesn't check for blasto—as we know that many don't know to—people are at least armed with the right info to do right by their dog. Of course I said these areas need testing, too. Kathryn wrote back and said a piece was done on it already. Anybody see it? My search came up empty.

I think a little park district pressure is in order. But it won't work if they don't feel are numbers are large enough.
Rose

I have searched high and low and have found NOTHING. The only near local article I found was from a veterinarian, Dr. Ned Bartlett who reported a dog, small terrier/chi type in Jan 2012. Vet stated the dog probley contracted it in the fall of 2011 “recently been diagnosed in the Winthrop Harbor/ Zion/ Waukegan area” That’s the closest I have come_and believe me, I have been posting and looking_so they are blowing smoke
Here:
http://harboranimal.vetstreet.com/blog/alert-blastomycosis-outbreak
List of symptoms is EXTENSIVE.
http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/dogs/dog-health/dog-blastomycosis.html
Currently my dog is slow to move, tires easily, allergies erupting _and I am keeping VERY CLOSE eye on him. It can be mistaken for shedding, tired due to allergies, heat; I will be devastated if this turns out to be a fungal infection. Nearly 18k it has taken Karen already to treat Audrey for only a few months.
This is nothing to play around with.
There have been no report except the letter i sent to Alderman O'Connor in Ward 40. He posted it in excerpt and added that it was/is rare in humans. (not so)
NO ONE HAS FOLLOWED UP HERE
THERE ARE NO SIGNS POSTING WARNINGS OR INFO
THERE HAS BEEN NO TESTING BY ANY AGENCY DEPITE MY LETTER IN APRIL TO DEPT OF HEALTH AND PARK AND REC AND THE MAYOR
I will simply continue to post on all their FB pages untill i contact the vet assoc as suggested