This week we spent some time doing senior visits and checking on our older residents. One of our visits was to Moogoong Terrace Apartments where we learned that the residents in collaboration with HANA Center decorated Korea’s tree for the Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit. There was such a beautiful sense of pride in all the seniors as they talked about their wonderful experiences. The tree, according to the Museum of Science and Industry, is decorated entirely with paper ornaments, including handcrafted items such as Beoseon (traditional Korean socks), Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes), and traditional Korean drums made from recycled materials. All of these beautiful items were handcrafted by 33rd Ward senior residents and I can’t wait to take a trip down to the Museum to see them. I encourage you to go too! 

The Museum’s exhibit, now in its 80th year, will run through January 8th. You can learn more here. According to the museum, United States military active-duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers and Illinois teachers (pre-K through 12th grade) receive free Museum Entry for themselves by showing a valid occupation/military status I.D. when purchasing tickets onsite. The Chicago Public Library, Cook County Commissioners, and our office have a museum pass that can be checked out; however, our office only has one, and tends to be in high demand. Please call our office if you’re interested in trying to reserve it. 

I hope this beautifully handcrafted work gets you in the holiday spirit and helps us think about all the labor that has gone into preparing and making the holiday feasts that many people will enjoy this weekend. I would also encourage you to tip well and generously and to be kind and courteous to all the people who are working throughout the weekend. 

In This Week’s Newsletter

Quick Links 

*Want more information on community opportunities and job postings? Check out our Community Bulletin!

*Block party applications are open! Read more under “Form” on the Neighborhood Services page, and apply here! 

Property Tax Support, November 28th – December 12th

Earlier this month, property tax information was sent out to residents of Jefferson county and West Chicago. If you find this information incorrect or if you believe you’re eligible for an exemption our office is here to help. To determine your eligibility, please check the Cook County Assessors Office website.

On Wednesday, November 30th, we will be partnering with the Cook Country Assessors Office to host a Property Tax Appeal Workshop with a representative from the Cook County Assessor’s office from 2-6pm. This event is to help our neighbors file their property tax appeals and file for exemptions. To reserve your spot, please RSVP here.

If you’re unable to attend the Property Tax Appeal Workshop, our office will be offering support starting November 28th through December 12th. If you need support with filing your appeal or exemption, you must make an appointment with our office by calling us at (773)-840-7880 or emailing us at info@33rdward.org

Winter Snow Shoveling Program

With winter quickly approaching, we would like to get a head start with our annual Snow Shoveling Program. Each year this program matches snow shoveling volunteers with those in need of the service, i.e seniors and people with disabilities. If you are interested in volunteering or need the snow shoveling service, please use this link to ensure your spot in the program. Once you enroll, we will be in contact with you to ensure you have all the information you need for this program.

Currently, there is a push for a city-wide ordinance by Better Streets Chicago that seeks to establish sidewalk snow and ice removal become service for all citizens. Click here to read more.

Avondale Community Visioning Sessions

Hey Avondale! Avondale Neighborhood Association and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning are hosting three public meetings to kick-off the community visioning process for the upcoming Avondale Community plan. To learn more and read the existing conditions report, click here.

Avondale Visioning sessions:

• Tuesday, November 29th 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
  • Avondale Logandale Elementary (3212 W George St)
• Thursday, December 1st 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Brands Park (3259 N Elston)
• Saturday, December 10th 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
  • Guild Row (3130 N Rockwell St)

Virtual Public Community Zoning Meeting, December 7th

NOTICE: A Public Community Meeting has been scheduled to discuss a proposed zoning change at 2837-2843 W Belmont. The meeting will be held Wednesday, December 7th from 6pm to 7pm. Neighbors can register to attend this virtual meeting at this link. Neighbors can also register a comment or question using this link.

Please contact our office with any further questions at 773.840.7880 or at joe@33rdward.org. To review the proposal, visit https://33rdward.org/zoning-proposals/. 

Let’s Get Vaccinated!

Last week, our office co-hosted a flu shot event and we are happy to know that many 33rd ward neighbors received their vaccine. If you were not able to attend, click here for the list of the City’s flu and COVID vaccination events.

Neighborhood Events

1. St. John’s Episcopal Church Annual Thanksgiving Dinner, November 24th

2. 17th District Blood Drive, November 29th

3. Geography Trivia Night, December 1st

4. Friends of Haugan Winter Wonderland, December 3rd

5. Front Porch Christmas, December 10th

6. Handmade Holiday Bazaar, December 10th

Youth Opportunities

1. CPS Families Child Tax Credit

Chicago Public Schools families may be eligible for up to $3,600 per child through the expanded federal Child Tax Credit program.

To find out if you’re eligible, and to apply for this credit, visit GetCTC.org/chicagops, a simplified tax filing tool that takes just a few minutes to complete and does not require any tax documents. Some families may also be eligible for an additional $1,400 stimulus payment. Families have until mid-November to claim this money. More information can be found on this flier.

2. Skating, Hockey and Figure Skating Workshops, Sundays from Now – December 18th

Chicago Youth Foundation is a proud women-led initiative that brings the joy of ice sports to Chicago youth to improve their social and academic well-being and empowering them to find success through sportsmanship and teamwork. Below are the 3 FREE classes children can choose from.

Learn to Skate Workshop (for children that do not know how to skate)

• Students will learn the proper skating techniques needed to participate in our hockey or figure skating programs.
• Ice skates will be provided; Students must bring their own helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and warm gloves
• Students should wear layers; including long sleeve shirt, light jacket, sweatshirt, with leggings, sweatpants, or jeans.

Hockey on your Block (for children that already know how to skate and would like to learn how to play hockey)

• Students will learn the proper techniques of advanced skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting, and playmaking.
• Hockey skates will be provided
• Students must bring their own hockey equipment and stick

Figure Skating on Your Block (for children that already know how to skate and would like to learn figure skating)

• Provides a safe and fun environment with group skating instruction that follows the framework of United States Figure Skating (USFS) to serve the needs of both recreational and competitive skaters.
• Figure skates can be provided 
• Helmets are optional.

Class size is limited to only the first 40 students who register online. If your children would like to participate in our 2022 fall workshops click this link.

River Park Advisory Council Thanksgiving Donations

River Park Advisory Council is collecting donations for people in need through Thanksgiving. Items they are collecting include

• Non perishable food items (ex: canned goods)
• Personal care products
• Cleaning supplies
• Winter coats (adult sizes small, medium, and large)
• Hats & gloves
• Bath towels

They are accepting locations by the front door of the field house located at 5100 N Francisco.

Know Your Rights, Remedies, and Resources Virtual Seminars, November 2022

Safer Foundation is partnering with the Women’s Justice Institute (WJI) to conduct a series of webinars to help people who are incarcerated and people with arrest and conviction records know their rights, know their remedies and also help connect them to legal and reentry resources. Below is a list of their upcoming webinars. Registration is required.

• Housing and Driver’s Licenses: November 29th 4 PM – 5 PM

WBEZ Chicago Wants to Hear From You

Have you been ghosted by a CTA bus or train lately? For example, waiting for a bus that is scheduled to come in 5 minutes but it doesn’t arrive to the bus stop for another 45. Lately, many people have experienced something similar with CTA trains and buses. 

CTA recently announced the roll out of an improvement plan that addresses wait times, increased safety, and bus tracking technology. However, WBEZ Chicago would like to hear feedback from CTA riders about what they’d like to have fixed first and if riders have any questions for the people in charge at CTA. Your input would help WBEZ report on the CTA and would allow them to ask CTA officials the questions that matter most. To have your feedback heard, please visit their website. 

Trilogy Winter Clothing Drive

Trilogy is a community mental health agency located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. This year they are having a winter clothing drive for Chicagoans in need. If you are able to donate they are accepting donations in Albany Park at 3737 W Lawrence Ave Monday through Thursday from 11am – 4pm. If you have questions on what kind of clothing items they are looking for, please contact them at (773)- 508-6100. 

ComEd Warning about Holiday Scammers 

ComEd urges families and businesses to be on the lookout for impersonators looking to steal money and information from unsuspecting individuals. Scammers posing as ComEd employees will call homes and businesses from a number that appears to be from ComEd and threaten to turn off electric service unless payment is made to a bogus website or phone number. Sometimes imposters will visit in person to collect personal information that can be used to steal identities or access bank accounts.

Tips to Help Identify Scams

ComEd will never call or visit your home or business to:

• Ask for direct payment with a prepaid cash card, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, or
  third-party payment app like Cash App, QuickPay, Venmo or Zelle;
• Demand immediate payment
• Ask for personal information (such as a Social Security number, driver’s license
  number of bank information)
• Ask for your ComEd account number
  unless you contact us first to enroll in a program or service.

Tips to Help Identify a True ComEd Employee

• All ComEd field employees wear a uniform with the ComEd logo and visibly display a
  company ID badge with the logo and employee’s name.
• ComEd recently changed its logo, so customers may continue to see the former ComEd logo on uniforms, badges and vehicles until the logo is phased out.
• If customers are ever unsure about whether a person knocking at their door is a true
  ComEd employee, they are encouraged to close and lock their door, and call ComEd (800-334-7661) from a trusted phone number. A true
  ComEd employee will not mind waiting.

Swedish Hospital Health & Wellness Events, Fall & Winter 

Below you can find a list of upcoming community events hosted by Swedish Hospital. All events are free and RSVP is required to attend. If there are any questions they ask that you give them a call at 773-878-6888 or visit their website at swedishcovenant.org/events. 

• Family Fridays: a two hour “open house style” event featuring fun activities, nutrition lessons, food samples, seasonal tips, and more for families. Stop by at anytime during the event time.
  • Friday, December 16: 4:30 – 6:30 PM
• “More Color” Nutrition Workshop: This one-hour interactive workshop is designed to help families with meal planning, cooking and healthy eating by focusing on tips and tricks to incorporate more color into every meal. Includes hands-on nutrition activities for parents and kids along with recipes, cooking demos, taste testing and more
  • Tuesday, December 20: 4:30 – 5:30 PM
• Bystander CPR / AED Training Session: Learn about the importance of “hands-only” CPR and how to respond in an emergency situation. At this session, you will learn how to properly perform chest compressions and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Please note: Bystander CPR Training is different from a full-certification course.
  • Thursday, December 15: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
• Monthly Cooking Series: This class features tips on meal planning, shopping on a budget, and incorporating healthy foods daily. It is part of their monthly cooking series, led by Annie Scott, Community Outreach Registered Dietitian.
  • Tuesday, December 6: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, December 13: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
  • Tuesday, December 20: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
• Teen Hangout: Designed especially for students in 8th through 12th grade, this monthly gathering creates a safe space for fun, games, snacks and more. Stop by to hang out with friends, work with a study group, participate in a community service project, play board games or join in various topical discussions. Light refreshments provided.
  • Wednesday, December 28: 4:30 – 6:00 PM

Small Business Spotlight: Holiday Edition

This Saturday, November 26, is Small Business Saturday. Amid the hustle and bustle of the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, don’t forget about small businesses throughout the ward! Earlier this week, Block Club published a Shop Local guide for Avondale, Irving Park, and Albany Park.

There are also two Albany Park holiday pop-ups – sponsored by the City of Chicago’s Small Business Storefront Activation Program (a Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection program) — and administered by the North River Commission. One shop, Ms Ella’s Healing Kitchen, was profiled in Block Club earlier this week.  Another space called LOCAL: an artisan pop-up, located at 4730 N Kimball features an array of vendors. Visit the North River Commission’s holiday pop-up information page to learn about more vendors and hours.

Last, but not least, our office is also preparing our annual holiday guide for small businesses. If you have a small business you love and want to be sure we highlight, click here to add them to a form. 

Business Resources

1. Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) Lawrence/Pulaski TIF District NOW OPEN

Application period ends November 30

The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) opens for applications starting Tuesday, November 1 at 9:00 am in the Lawrence/Pulaski TIF district. The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply on their own. Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply. 

Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf and do not have to be repaid. Apply at chicago.gov/sbif by Nov. 30, and register for an informational webinar at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 2 bit.ly/nov22sbif.

2. Business Grant Applications

• Founder’s First Grant — A total of $100,000 will be awarded to 30 businesses in Chicago in the form of cash and full-tuition scholarships to a stellar accelerator.
  • Grant money can be used as growth capital to hire or rehire premium wage jobs.
  • Cash infusion can be used to purchase, fix or enhance equipment necessary to help you manage growth challenges and scale for the future.
  • Founder identifies as one of the following: Latinx, Black, Asian, Women, LGBTQIA+, Military Veteran, or located in a Low to Moderate Income area.
  • TO QUALIFY: Must be located in the state of Illinois and have a current staff of 2-20 employees. Will have the ability to add 1-2+ net new premium wage jobs in the next 12 months. Your company must be a service-based business and at least one revenue stream serving other businesses. Must be a for-profit company with annual revenues between $100K and $3 million.
  • The application deadline is February 4, 2023.  Please email chicago.jobcreators@foundersfirstcdc.org with any questions about the Job Creators Quest Grant.
• Innovations for Healthy Living – Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities funding opportunity
  • Granted by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) as part of the America’s Seed Fund. This opportunity is for eligible SBIR/STTR entities to develop technologies and products that address health disparities while engaging and empowering individuals and communities.
• Upskilling Initiative
  • Provides professional development grants to businesses that serve employees aged fifty (50) and older who are currently earning up to $16 an hour. Training funds will be disbursed in $2,000 increments, pending a guaranteed commitment from the employer of a $1.50 or more per hour wage increase respectively after the training is complete.

For more business grant information please, visit North River Commission’s website.

Employment Opportunities

1. North River Commission is hiring

Join their team in making our communities healthier and safer! Position descriptions are on their employment page. Excellent benefits include health, dental and vision coverage and 401k retirement plan. Paid time off is provided for vacation, holidays, sick time, family leave, and medical leave. 

2. CTA Job Fair, November 18th

3. CTA’s Find a Job Fridays

MonkeyPox Resources

The monkeypox virus is spread through close contact with body fluids, sores, shared bedding or clothing, or respiratory droplets (kissing, coughing, sneezing, etc.).

Vaccinations for MPV are currently available in Chicago for adults 18 and up. Because of the limited availability of vaccines, you must meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

COVID-19 Resources

1. At-Home Vaccinations:

Get your whole family vaccinated at home! CDPH is offering vaccination appointments at home for up to 10 family members. Click here to set up your appointment!

2. Receive Your Updated COVID-19 Vaccine At Home!

3. At-Home Vaccinations Incentive

Through August 30, any Chicagoan age 5 and up is now eligible to receive a $50 gift card for booster COVID vaccine doses (regardless of zip code) via the City’s At-Home vaccination program. 

Per CDC rules, this bonus is only being offered to individuals that have not received more than $100 in COVID vaccine incentives from the City. Incentives will be provided while supplies last.

Click here to schedule your appointment

4. Vaccinations

CPS Students: 

– Permanent sites
– Mobile Events
– School-Based Health Centers
–  Sign up for weekly COVID testing at CPS

33rd Ward Vaccination Events

1. Theodore Roosevelt High School

2. Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome

* More information on City testing sites here!

Community Safety Updates

1. 17th District CAPS Meetings

The 17th District has resumed beat meetings in-person. 

Information about Beat Meetings here.

Please contact the 17th District Community Policing Office / CAPS, if there are any questions or concerns.

Email: caps.017district@chicagopolice.org

Telephone: 312-742-4588