CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS - LOOP, OLD TOWN, OAK PARK, NORWOOD PARK, LINCOLN PARK
LOOP
We're lucky to get to see our dazzling
city in movies and TV shows all the time. The price we have to pay as residents
is dealing with traffic due to street closings whenever a big movie studio
needs to film a thrilling action sequence or to showcase the sprawling
modernity that is our home city. The Loop and River North have been seeing a
lot of movie action since April 2nd while DreamWorks Pictures shoots their
upcoming Christmas comedy called Office
Christmas Party. So don't be alarmed to see a low flying helicopter around
the Clark, Dearborn, State, and Wabash Bridges this Saturday, 4/9, from 7:00pm
- 11:00pm. Follow this link for street closure information that may affect
your commute tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.
OLD
TOWN
Old Town Art Center (1763 N. North Park
Ave.) is welcoming its latest photography exhibit entitled If Walls Could Talk with a Reception
this Sunday, 4/10, from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. The exhibit, by photographer Sanford
Bredine, takes an interesting look at wall art from around the world, and the
stories that they tell of the culture and people around them. This installment
will show until May 5th with Gallery Hours on Tuesdays through Fridays, 10:00am
- 5:00pm.
OAK PARK
Next week from April 10th - 16th is National
Volunteer Week so the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake St.) is holding a Meet
and Match event for anyone interested in volunteering to meet with 30
area nonprofit organizations to find a good match for their time and talents.
The event takes place on Wednesday, 4/13, from 4:00pm - 8:00pm in the Veterans
Room of the Library. Those interested in volunteering from the surrounding
communities of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Elmwood Park, Maywood,
Berwyn, Cicero, and Austin are encouraged to come. Walk-ins are welcome but
pre-registering is preferred and can be done so here.
Any questions can be directed to echadri@oprfcf.org.
NORWOOD PARK
The Wintrust Bank at 6336 N. Milwaukee
Ave. is holding a fun and innovative promotional event in two weeks on
Wednesday, April 20th from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Come in to Wintrust Bank for its
inaugural Swing
into Spring Open House for banking and...baseball. The community is
being invited to the Open House to learn about Wintrust services such as
personal and business banking and retirement preparation while watching the
Cubs vs. the Cardinals starting at 12:40pm and the White Sox vs. the Anaheim
Angels starting at 1:10pm. There will be complementary hot dogs, snacks, beer,
and soda. For more information or to RSVP, call the bank at 773-467-2099.
LINCOLN
PARK
I hate to break it to you but Orkin®
Pest Control placed Chicago at the top of their "Rattiest Cities
List" in both 2013 and 2014. The mild winter doesn't help matters since
vermin have been able to thrive throughout the season rather than die off in
the severe weather. Lincoln Park is anticipating more rodent problems once the
old Children's Memorial Hospital at 2345 N. Lincoln Ave. is demolished for
redevelopment which will disturb innumerable rat colonies down below and force
them upwards to the surface. But the Chicago area is chock full of innovative
ideas this week! Enter the Tree
House Humane Society's Cats at Work program. Sterilized and vaccinated
feral cats are being adopted by families or "hired" by developers to
be natural rodent deterrents. Since cats are social animals, the program sets
up 2 or more cats at a time in areas in need. They come with lightweight
winterized shelters, litter boxes, and heated water bowls. The cats can fend
for themselves by chipping away at the rodent population, or just their
presence is enough to keep the rats away. It's been such a successful program
that there's currently a 2 - 4 week waiting list. Generally a
three-cat-placement costs $500 - $600 for years of pest control without poisons
or dangerous chemicals. On top of that, the program continues to save thousands
of shelter cats from being euthanized. Email Program Manager Paul Nickerson at
TNR@treehouseanimals.org if you think you can benefit from the Cats at Work
program.
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S
TEAM CHICAGO