Free concert on Valentine's Day

Free Jazz Concert

(featuring Chris White on piano http://www.chriswhitepiano.com/)

When: Feb 14 Time: 2:00 p.m.
Where: North Shore Baptist Church 5244 N Lakewood
Chicago IL 60640 Berwyn and Lakewood
Phone: 773-728-4200

Don't be scammed

We thought we would share this info, as there have been many door to door scams of late throughout Edgewater and Uptown. Realize that census workers will not begin visiting households until May. We'll repost this info then as well.

How to Identify a Census Field Representative

Safety first! If you are visited by someone from the Census Bureau at your home, here are some recognition tips to assure the validity of the field representative:

•Must present an ID Badge which contains: photograph of field representative, Department of Commerce watermark, and expiration date.
•Will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the regional office phone number for verification, if asked.
•Will provide you with a letter from the director of the Census Bureau on U.S. Census Bureau letterhead.
When in doubt, please call the Chicago Regional Office for verification.

Man charged in 1984 Edgewater stabbing

(photo from ABC7 News)

Chicago police have arrested Melvin Green, 44, in connection with the murder of Sheila Johnson, pregnant mother of four, in 1984. She was found stabbed 27 times in her Edgewater apartment on the 5800 block of N Winthrop 26 years ago, and new DNA evidence led to Green after the cold case squad revisited the case in 2008. Green is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and first-degree murder.

Sources: ABC7 & Chicago Tribune

Break-in on Early

A reader informs us of a break-in in his building Friday night:

"Just thought my neighbors should know that my 3-flat apartment building on the 1300 block of W. Early had a break-in into our basement last night (February 5) around 8pm. They entered through a window that can be accessed through our front yard. There were some crashing sounds in the basement, and then the power was shut off to the whole building. Thankfully, when my roommate and another neighbor went down to the basement to turn the power back on, the burglars fled through the same window. Thankfully nothing was stolen (we think), but a lot of things were taken out and thrown around from a storage closet.

The police informed us that a gang of approximately 12 teenagers have been burglarizing and vandalizing basements recently. And as your recent article showed, most crimes are down but burglaries are still up! So let's everyone be careful out there and catch these guys."

Twelve Angry Men (benefiting Pierce School)

Peirce School MPTSO

and
Raven Theatre

present
a Benefit Performance of
Twelve Angry Men

Sunday, March 7, 2010
3:00 PM
at Raven Theatre
6157 North Clark Street

Enjoy the Raven Theatre production of Reginald Rose’s courthouse drama,Twelve Angry Men, directed by Guest Artist Aaron Todd Douglas, while supporting the arts at Peirce School. All proceeds from this performance will be used to help fund the Raven Theatre Outreach Program at Peirce School. Now in its fourth year, this program provides weekly drama classes to Peirce fourth graders and has proven to greatly enrich the social, emotional and academic development of the students it serves.

Tickets are $25 and include a Dessert Reception.
This play is recommended for ages 12 and up.
To purchase tickets, contact Solveig Roverud at chicagosol@sbcglobal.net or (773) 275-5727.

LEN: Window Dressings

Check out this article from the Lake Effect News covering Edgewater's Artists in Motion program. Through the program, artists are able to feature their artwork in the windows of vacant storefronts, bringing a better look to the neighborhood while allowing artists to display their work.

Super Bowl @ St. Andrew's Inn

Ole St. Andrews Inn, 5938 N Broadway St
Check out their Super Bowl Party Specials:

JUMBO WINGS OF FIRE $0.75 each
FISH & CHIPS (all you can eat) $11.99

Or,

ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET $12.00
*St. Andrew's Chili
*BBQ Rib Tips
*Polish sausage w/ sauteed onion
*Homemade cole slaw
*Fries

All House drinks $4.00
Beers: Bedele, Schlitz, Stroh's, PBR $2.75
Shots: Tequila, Kamikaze, Washington apple

Plus great give-aways!

Man struck and killed by Red Line train at Loyola station

Photo via sierraromeo on Flickr

Around 4:30 this morning, a man reportedly emerged from under the L platform at the Loyola station as a northbound Red Line train was departing. He proceeded to walk on to the tracks and was hit.

Chicago Tribune article

Ole Ole workers file lawsuit

Four Ole Ole employees filed a federal lawsuit against their employer on Thursday, February 4th, seeking back wages and proper compensation for time worked that would be considered overtime. Workers are owed over $100,000 in back pay as they were not being paid and working solely on tips according to Restaurant Opportunities Center.

Read more here on NBC5 and Gapers Block.

CPD: Crime down in Chicago

Total Crime in Chicago Drops for First Month of 2010

CHICAGO – Today Chicago Police released preliminary crime statistics for the first month of the year, recognizing a 3.7 percent decrease in crime overall compared to the same time last year. The murder total was down 16 percent, with 12 of the Department’s 25 Districts reporting zero murders through the end of January, and another nine showing double digit or greater decreases.

"Going in to 2010, we announced our commitment to intelligence-based policing strategies and employing best practices to fight gangs, guns and drugs in our neighborhoods, keep young people safe, and engage businesses and community organizations to increase public safety," said Superintendent Jody P. Weis. "I am encouraged that the city's crime rate continues to fall."

Violent crime in Chicago declined by 9 percent compared to last year and was led by sharp decreases in criminal sexual assaults, which were down nearly 30 percent, and aggravated assaults, which dropped by almost 20 percent. As violent crime decreased in all categories, robbery also was down 6.4 percent and aggravated batteries down 3 percent. Sixteen Districts showed solid decreases in total violent crime, with the top five districts dropping an average of around 32 percent.

Other crime drops showed in property offenses, which overall dropped 2.2 percent through the end of January. Down 9.5 percent, theft offenses reflected the greatest property crime decrease, followed by a slight half percent dip in burglary. Arson increased 25 percent (nine more incidents than 2009) and motor vehicle theft was up just over 22 percent.

At the end of January, Chicago Police recovered 74 more firearms than it had seized last year during the same time period. A total of 791 firearms included weapons which were seized from multiple caches uncovered during the successful execution of several search warrants last month. Gang Enforcement Section officers recovered 11 firearms along with ammunition and $35,000 of cannabis from a residence in the Morgan Park community on January 10.

Two weeks later, Harrison (11th) District and Narcotics Section officers recovered a total of 16 guns and narcotics valued over $27,000 after receiving unrelated tips from community members.

"Many of these successes are the result of strong partnerships: the hard work of police officers and the participation and assistance of members of the community. We cannot underestimate the value of partnerships," said Weis. "I am grateful for our strong outreach efforts and the assistance and commitment of so many of Chicago’s residents."

Chicago Police closed January with other search warrant success, including the Austin (15th) District’s efforts to arrest four offenders involved in a West Side fencing operation. Some of the recovered stolen items were returned to the rightful owners after police held a public viewing of property.

Other notable arrests included Town Hall (23rd) District officers’ work to apprehend an offender who forcibly attacked a senior citizen in an Uptown robbery last month, as well as arrests in two separate Area Three and Area Five arson incidents on the City’s North and Northwest Sides.

Superintendent Weis said he was "encouraged that the strategies put in place in 2009 continue to have a positive impact on the city's crime rate as we look to new and innovative ways to reduce crime in 2010. However, the reduction in the overall crime rate that we have experienced thus far only motivates us to achieve even more reductions in crime over the remainder of the year."

According to preliminary statistics through the end of January 2010:

Violent Index Crime is down 9.0 percent
Homicide – down 16 percent
Criminal Sexual Assault – down 28.9 percent
Robbery – down 6.4 percent
Aggravated Assault – down 19.7 percent
Aggravated Battery – down 3.0 percent

Property Index Crime is down 2.2 percent
Burglary – up 4.1 percent
Theft – down 9.5 percent
Motor Vehicle Theft – up 22.4 percent
Arson – up 25.0 percent

###

Seeing the light in Edgewater Beach

A reader wrote in with an update regarding street lighting, and tells us "The 5550 block of N. Kenmore has gotten two new lights installed already and boy do they make a world of difference! Today I also saw them working on putting up new lights in the 5400 block."

Open Mic Night

Epworth Church (located at Berywn and Kenmore) is hosting an open-mic event tomorrow night from 6-8PM in their parlor. It is a benefit for a local neighbor who is having financial difficulties, but donations are not required. Coffee, tea and pastries will also be provided. All are welcome to stop in and listen, or bring an instrument and perform a couple of songs.

Winter Fun Day

State Representative Harry Osterman invites you to join him for the 2nd Annual Winter Fun Day tomorrow, February 6th. The event runs from 1-4PM, and will be held at the Broadway Armory located at 5917 N. Broadway.

The Winter Fun Day will feature music, free refreshments and a bouncing castle for kids. This is a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend!

Community Massage Therapy

Location: Yoga Now Edgewater Location (5852 N Broadway)
Dates: Sun 2/14/2010
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:15 PM
Cost: $15
Enjoy receiving supportive massage while resting in gentle poses which invite the body into relaxation and restorative peace. During this one hour session, each participant will be guided into basic, restorative, effortless floor postures (sivasana, baddha konasana, childs pose, spinal twist...), allowing the body to unwind and renew itself. Personal meditation practice is welcome. Each participant will receive 10-15 min of individual hands-on attention throughout the session which may include hand/foot reflexology, head/neck work, or gentle passive stretching. As the seasons continue to change, herbal heat packs may be placed on specific areas of the body to further relieve aches and pains

Who does that?

Tonight around 10:30pm a taxi was witnessed being pulled over on the Lakeshore Drive bike path just east of the Bryn Mawr exit ramp facing south. If you know the location, there is no "street" to drive on besides going west under the underpass. Apparently this cabbie had a better idea.

Missing Endangered Person

We received the following notification from the CPD via Nixle:

Endangered Missing Person: STOCKSTILL,DONALD

(18 years old, Male, 5'06,175lbs)

Chicago Police Dept seeks your help in locating a missing "at risk" person:

STOCKSTILL,DONALD (18 years old, Male, 5'06,175lbs)
Last seen wearing a dark hoodie, dark jeans and dark shoes.
Last seen: Lawrence ave and Sheridan Road, Feb. 03 2010

Subject was being transported to River Edge Hospital in Forest Park Il. when he fled the vehicle.
If you have information that can assist in helping safely locate STOCKSTILL,DONALD, please call 911 or AREA 3 SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT AT 312-744-8200.

Another honor for Great Lake Pizza

Great Lake has been named the best pizza in the Midwest by Rachel Ray's "Every Day" magazine. First it was GQ naming it the best pizza in America despite few people knowing that the place existed at 1477 W Balmoral, and now it seems to garner a new award every other week. What do you think - worth the hype or over rated?

Grow Your Own Vegetables in the Parks

From Alderman Smith's office:

The Chicago Park District is looking at developing more vegetable garden plots in park areas this year. If you are interested in vegetable gardening in a park setting, please email your name, address and phone number and your preferred park location to Ernie at the Alderman's office: ernie@masmith48.org.

Smith: Nursing home initiatives pay off

Alderman Mary Ann Smith's office reports in her e-Newsletter that progress is being made on her efforts to improve conditions in neighborhood nursing homes. Smith played an integral part in pushing the City Council Committee on Health to hold their first hearing into the situation. In addition, a special audit and inspection was conducted by investigators from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services at Somerset place (5000 N Sheridan) in Uptown. The result of the inspection were numerous fines and a threat to shut down the facility if the owners do not quickly remedy safety breaches.

Steep Theatre's "Harper Regan" Extended

Steep Theatre has extended its "Harper Regan" play through March 28th after completely selling out the entire original run. The show is performed on Thursday through Sunday. Visit the Steep Theater's website here for more show information or to purchase tickets ($22).

Get out and VOTE

Don't forget to vote today. If you're unsure of your polling location, you can find it here.

Mystery Building

We're curious about this building located at 1475 W. Berwyn Ave., just east of Clark St. Currently it appears to be a residential building, but its general scale and large entrance seem to suggest that at one point it had another purpose. I'm thinking maybe it was a community building, perhaps a VFW hall or something similar.

Does anyone know what it used to be, or have any ideas?

Positive Loitering Seminar

No upkeep @ the Clarovista?

A reader writes to us who is currently renting a unit at the Clarovista building located at Broadway & Granville, indicating that the building is not kept clean. He states that the carpets are not routinely cleaned or vacuumed, and they have become so worn down that they are likely needed to be replaced as their condition has deterorated so badly. Management has been contacted, but has indicated that they have no funds to hire a cleaning service. Do you live in the Clarovista? Can you confirm these claims? Tell us in the comments section.

Construction underway at Osterman Beach

A reader shared this photo, indicating that construction has begun on the new beach house at Osterman Beach.