St. Alphonsus Octoberfest vote at the April 2013 Meeting

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

ST. ALPHONSUS OCTOBERFEST – STREET CLOSURES

Representatives from the Octoberfest Planning Committee reappeared before the SLN Membership to clarify the plans for the 2013 events to take place the last weekend of September.

octoberfest

Image courtesy of Zagat.com

The major change is that the Party moves out to include Southport Ave. in front of the Church. The highlights of the plan are:

  1. Oakdale Ave. will be closed from Southport to Greenview. However, food vendors, merchants and beer booths will be on Oakdale only up to the east driveway of the the parking lot; thereby, reducing the impact on the neighbors. Beer trucks will leave every night.
  2. Southport Ave. will be closed from Wellington Ave. to George St. The Fest will occupy the street from Wellington to the alley north of George St. (basically to the St. Al’s parking lot on Southport) Traffic heading south would be diverted to Lincoln Ave. Cars heading north on Southport will be diverted west on George St to Greenview to Wellington then back on to Southport. The Committee indicated that signs would be placed towards Diversey to alert cars that Southport will be closed. A Fire Lane will allow for emergency vehicles.
  3. Bands: There will be stages for bands in the Church and on Southport near the George St. alley facing north, away from the residences homes.
  4. Security-increased to 10 off-duty police officers. Placed at each entrance point, bar location with increased security later in the evening to help with crowd control.
  5. The Church basement will be used for extra seating and for weather contingency plans.
  6. Groupon coupons will not be used. This caused huge, uncontrollable crowds a couple of years ago.

The Planning Committee feels this plan, though a larger footprint, will have a reduced impact on the residential neighbors, enhance the patron experience and allow St. Alphonsus to fully utilize the fundraiser element for which the event is truly designed around.

The immediate area was flyered (250 total) regarding the plans. A neighbor on 1400 Oakdale and 1400 George (now directly affected) voiced objections to the increased size and noise due the Southport Band Stage. The George St. resident noted that the stage will be right out her back window. No other comments were recorded.

A hand vote was taken. Do you support the proposed plans: In favor YES-12, against NO-8. Tepid support. A letter summarizing the vote was sent to Alderman Waguespack.

Spring Clean-Up Project

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

Volunteers Wanted

cleangreen

Are you sick of the all the litter in our neighborhood?  In conjunction with Chicago’s Citywide Clean & Green Volunteer Clean-up, SLN is spearheading a clean-up project.

  • Date: April 20, Saturday
  • Time: 10AM – 5 minutes late start allowance
  • Where: the Block you live on
  • Goal: To pick up all paper, plastic, cigarette butts  or other man-made litter off our side streets and  have our neighborhood start clean for Spring 2013.
  • Equipment: You, your family, neighbors and friends. Garbage bag and maybe a pair of disposable plastic gloves (purchase at Pittsburgh Paint)
  • Meet:  at east end of your block (east-west streets) or north end (north-south streets).

Please email  South Lakeview Neighbors which block you will take. We will post the names of all the volunteers who cleaned up in the May newsletter. Feel free to email photos or clean-up stories for the website and Facebook.  Look out dirt, here we come.

April Meeting Preview

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

Lakeview High School (1957). Image courtesy of The Chuck Man Collection.

The next South Lakeview Neighbors meeting is Tuesday, April 9. As usual, we will gather for coffee and chat at 7:00 PM in the basement of St. Alphonsus church, at 1429 Wellington. The meeting itself begins at 7:30 PM. Please invite your neighbors, particularly those with kids.

SLN Area Schools

Please welcome the following to our April meeting:

  • Agassiz Elementary School represented by Mira Weber, Principal and Scott Fishman, President of the Friends of Agassiz Board of Directors
  • Burley Elementary School represented by Catherine Plocher, Principal
  • Prescott Elementary School represented by Jennifer Lister, Local School Council Chair
  • Lake View High School represented by Lilith Werner, Principal

The elementary schools will talk about the their programs, admissions, and community orientation. Lake View High School will talk about their recent adaption of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum and partnerships with Microsoft Corporation and DePaul University.

St. Alphonsus Octoberfest

When the Octoberfest Committee came to the March meeting, SLN was somewhat surprised by the announcement that Southport Ave. is planned to be closed. After discussion at the SLN Board meeting the following week, it was felt that the issue should be re-presented at the April Meeting with the membership and surrounding neighbors being alerted to the facts in advance for discussion purposes. See the write-up for the March meeting for details presented by the St. Alphonsus Octoberfest Committee.

This will be a voting issue and the results will be forwarded to the Alderman

“Keepin It Real” Burglary Workshop

Posted on by Steven Stern

All citizens are invited to the “Keepin It Real” Burglary Workshop hosted by the 19th District Community Policing Office. At this workshop you will hear an in-depth discussion on burglary awareness and prevention from a a panel of professional burglars.

Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Time: 7pm – 9PM

Location: Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Olson Auditorium
836 W. Wellington

2009_03_08_CAPS

 For more information, contact the 19th District Community Policing Office
312-744-0064 or CAPS019district@chicagopolice.org