CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS - ROGERS PARK, LOOP, LINCOLN PARK, EDISON PARK, EVANSTON
ROGERS PARK
Heather and her husband, Josh moved into their first home this winter. The new homestead came with a yard. Believe it or not but they had never owned a yard before. Even though it was small - this long rectangular strip behind their Rogers Park home - it daunted them. They did not know about lawn care.
As spring approached, they'd ask themselves questions like, "Standing on grass in bare feet is great, but is it really worth the work?" They considered ripping out the lawn and replacing it with flowers and veggies. This patch of grass, smaller than a putting green, intimidated them; it was like a shaggy brown bully that wouldn't leave them alone. Click here to read the article and learn more.
LOOP
By now, everyone around town has asked this question, "Did you feel the earthquake?" The first rattles of an earthquake centered 175 miles from Peoria near West Salem in southeastern Illinois, which came at 4:36 a.m. Friday. The aftershocks came about six hours later.
All is relative, of course, as this wouldn't be a "big one." The strongest Illinois-centered earthquake ever registered on the Richter scale was 5.3 in 1968. Illinois averages a temblor a year, yet rarely do we notice.
This particular quake shook skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop, though with each passing hour it seems to be a little less important. At first the U.S. Geological Survey estimated its strength at 5.4, then revised it to 5.2. The aftershock registered in at 4.6. Click here for more information.
LINCOLN PARK
Tabula Tua, a classy tabletop shop in Lincoln Park, is hosting its 5th annual warehouse sale Friday, April 25th through Sunday, April 27th. Shoppers can find substantial savings ranging from 40 to 70 percent off on select handcrafted furniture, tableware, and home accessories. The sale will be held just a few blocks east of Tabula Tua at 853 W. Armitage Ave.
For more information, call the store at 773-525-3500 or click here for more goings-on.
EDISON PARK
This past Earth Day volunteers agreed to work the Dunning-Read Conservation Area to help protect close to 20 acres of open space. They gathered a lot of help to make a difference. About 50% of the land is considered wetlands, and the other half has been identified as an oak savannah area. With a group of students from the nearby O.A. Thorp School, the group, numbering more than 30, planted trees and plants and collected 20 bags of trash. To see photos and read more about this green group click here.
EVANSTON
Evanston Police Officer Brian Brandenburg earned the title of "hero," fire officials said Tuesday.
Brandenburg and his partner were the first to arrive at an Evanston house fire on Monday. They were in the area when they heard a radio call and sped to the blaze. They officers arrived before firefighters on 2100 block of Wesley Avenue.
"We were right around the corner so we were on the scene almost immediately," Brandenburg said. "The street was filled with smoke. There was very clearly something on fire. We ran up to the house and one of the tenants said his aunt was still in the house."
Brandenburg's partner, Officer Ron Blumenberg, tried to enter through a back door but could not due to the thick black smoke.
"I crawled in on my hands and knees. I was low to the ground, and there was air down there," Brandenburg said. Read the entire article by clicking here.
JENNIFER GARITY & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
