Inside this issue:

Third Ward

Update

1-6

Events in and

around the Ward

6-10

Important

Announcements

10-12

Third Ward Star 12

May CAPS

Schedule

13

Third Ward

Newsletter

May 2012

Dear Third Ward Resident, Between the annual Clean and Green, Streets and Sanitation's Tree and Graffiti Blitz, and the CTA's Station Renewal Program at the 35th Street Green Line Station, the Third Ward received some nice sprucing up this last April. Such efforts do not have to be limited to a certain time of year. I will continue to bring these types of initiatives to the ward and want residents to know my office is always willing to assist block clubs, community groups, and citizens with cleaning and greening efforts. There are several events in May that give residents the opportunity to meet other people in their community while staying informed and involved regarding issues that affect them. As we move into warmer months, there will be an increasing number of outdoor events like Bike the Drive that will be occurring throughout the summer. Be sure to attend the 2012 Green Festival at Navy Pier to learn more about how you can live greener and healthier lives. The 2012 GospelFest will be in Bronzeville at Ellis Park on June 23rd and 24th. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is taking applications for community partners who wish to exhibit at the event (see below for more information). Also, mark your calendars for my Third Ward Town Hall Meeting on June 7th at 6pm at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. I hope everyone has a safe and happy month of May. As always, if you need anything, you can always contact my office at (773) 373-9273 or e-mail me at ward03@cityofchicago.org. Sincerely,

Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward

Third Ward Update

Be A Community Partner at the 2012 GospelFest The 2012 GospelFest will be June 23rd and 24th from 11am to 8pm at Ellis Park (37th/Cottage Grove) and is accepting applications for community partners. A Community Partner is an or-ganization, group or business that provides reciprocal promotional value to the event. The guide-lines are as follows:

1) All Community Partners must be non-conflicting with Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) sponsors and pre-approved in writing by DCASE. 2) Community Partners must submit a Certificate of Insurance.

3) No 3rd party involvement/promotions allowed. 4) Community Partners will be provided with one (1) 8ft. table and two (2) chairs within a shared tent. 5) Space is limited. DCASE has the right to decline any Community Partner for any reason. 6) Community Partners are not allowed to sample or sell product - only literature, coupons and signage are al-lowed within the assigned promotional area. 7) No category exclusivity will be given to Community Partners.

Community partners who do not adhere to the above guidelines will not be able to participate in the event. To

get an application, please call (312) 744-6630. The application deadline is May 14th.

Third Ward Update (continued)

New Water Main Projects South Wells The Department of Water Management will be constructing 918 feet of new 8 inch water main with complete service connections at South Wells from West Root Street to West 43rd Street. Construction is expected to begin in June with completion expected for August.

West 48th Place Crews will soon be installing 1,286 feet of 8-inch water main in West 48th Place, from S. Halsted Street to S. Wallace Street. The old pipe dates back to 1890 and needs to be replaced. The work including restoration, is expected to be completed by late June. Dates may change depending on weather and other factors. The Department of Water Management will make every effort to minimize any inconvenience to residents. After the

work is complete, residents will have better availability of water for fire protection and domestic use.

Public Transit Updates 35th Street Green Line Station As part of the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Station Renewal Program, the 35th Street Green Line station has received comprehensive improvements. A CTA "Renew Crew" conducted inspections and made repairs as needed. Additionally, the crews power washed the platform, made improvements to lighting, painted, replaced broken glass panes, and more. The 43rd Street Green Line station received an upgrade last year. For a complete list of repairs made to the 35th St. Green Line station including a slideshow with pictures of the upgrades made, please visit www.transitchicago.com.

ADA Upgrades Construction has begun along 47th Street (from Normal Avenue to State Street) for the CDOT Arterial Street ADA Ramp Construction project. G & V Construction will be the General Contractor for all work and URS Corporation will perform Resident Engineering services for the City of Chicago. Minor asphalt pavement removal and replacement and landscaping will follow. Work is scheduled to be completed by June 1st. LED Bus Tracker Signs Last fall, the CTA unveiled its new LED Bus Tracker displays for bus stops throughout the city. These bright and easy-to-read signs display estimated arrival times for the next four buses serving that stop. The Third Ward recently re-ceived LED Bus Tracker signs at Garfield and Halsted (Stop ID #10536) and King Dr. and 51st St. (Stop ID #2218). To learn more about the LED Bus Tracker Program and view a list of locations throughout the city, please visit www.transitchicago.com/sheltersigns.

Park Updates Taylor Park It's been a few years since new grass was laid, but Taylor Park is getting reseeded and the baseball fields are being up-graded. As a result, the park will be closed for this season. Lowe Park Funding has been allocated to construct an addition to Lowe Park field house. Design is 70% completed and another community meeting is being scheduled to review the design and timetable. Movies in the Parks Every summer, the Chicago Park District features family-oriented movies at park locations throughout the city. The Movies in the Parks schedule for the Third Ward is:

Wentworth Gardens, Saturday, July 7th - Fast Five. Williams Park, Wednesday, July 18th ­­­­-- Good Deeds 24th/Federal, Friday, July 20th --- Dolphin Tale

Third Ward Update (continued)

CDOT Service Calls for the Third Ward The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has received 17,106 service calls for the Third Ward since 2003. CDOT has

completed 17,050 of these requests for a completion percentage of 99.7%. These requests include everything from repairing

lights to their Small Gang Project. Below is a table that shows the types and number of requests made and completed for 2011

and 2012.

Third Ward Calls for Service for March, 2012 According to 311 City Services, 507 calls were made to 311 from the Third Ward in March, which generated 732 city service requests. These figures do not include calls made to 911, from cell phones, or requests made directly from Alderman Dowell's office, which means the numbers are likely significantly higher. Ten Most Frequent Calls for Service for Streets and Sanita-tion Below is a chart with the top ten service calls for Streets and Sanitation in the Third Ward for the month of March, 2012. These requests were re-ceived by constituents via Alderman Dowell's office, community meetings, calls to 311, and our Ward Superintendent Anthony Johnson.

Third Ward Update (continued) Vacant Lots The Third Ward office has received several calls regarding vacant lots that are in need of mowing. We had an unusually warm winter this year, which has lead to more growth of weeds and grass in these lots. Additionally, the city's mowers are being re-furbished and will not be available to our Streets and Sanitation Ward Office until early May. Please be patient and know these lots will be attended to as soon as possible. Forestry and Graffiti Blitz On April 18th, Streets and Sanitation conducted a forestry and graffiti blitz in the Third Ward. Trees and tree debris were re-moved at three locations on S. Wells and S. Prairie and 57 trees were trimmed at various locations along S. Vincennes, S. Prai-rie, S. King, E. 42nd Pl., E. 41st St., S. Green, S. Michigan, E. Bowen, S. Union, and W. 51st St. Additionally, graffiti was re-moved at 21 locations along W. 51st St., S. Ashland, E. Garfield, S. Justine, S. Laflin, S. Marshfield, S. State, S. Wells, 14th Pl., 4th St., S. Bishop, S. Calumet, S. Michigan, S. St. Lawrence, and S. Wabash.

Troubled Businesses Bronzeville Gourmet Pizzeria (4300 S. Michigan): A 90-day Notice to Correct was issued for maintaining a sign over the public way, a 90-day Notice to Correct was issued for maintaining an awning over the public way, a 90-day Notice to Correct was issued for maintaining five light fixtures over the public way. Illegal Business at 5430 S. Michigan: An Order to Cease and Desist was issued to 5430 S. Michigan due to public events being held without a Public Place of Amusement (PPA) License. The police have been notified to make arrests if public events occur there in the future without the proper licensing.

Third Ward Clean and Green On April 21st, several community groups, block clubs, and individuals pitched in to help clean vacant lots and city-owned prop-erty throughout the Third Ward. Special thanks to the Chicago Youth Program, Pickens Memorial Temple, the 400 East Block Club, the Girl Scouts, Bernard Loyd with the Forum and the Organized and United Residents (O.U.R.) Block Club , Firman Community Services, 46th St./Vincennes Block Club, Pilgrim Baptist Church, the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church, Progressive Community Church, and Operation Alley C.A.T., for all their hard work and dedication.

The Resident Association of Greater Englewood organized over 100 volunteers!

Pilgrim Baptist Church had a large group of volunteers who

cleaned the area around the church.

Liquor Licenses Explained Alderman Dowell has taken a tough stance against problematic liquor licensees in the Third Ward. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection seeks to prevent such problems by not issuing a liquor license to businesses that will likely have a negative impact on the surrounding community. Below is some information you can use to understand the different types of liquor licenses, what is involved in obtaining one, and what constituents can do if they feel a potential or existing liquor licensee is problematic.

The three types of liquor licenses commonly sought in the 43rd Ward are:

Taverns: bars, nightclubs, taverns, pubs, and lounges

Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity: restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, theaters and bowling alleys

Packaged Goods: grocery stores, convenience stores, and liquor stores

An applicant must submit a completed application for a liquor license to the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and pay an application fee. (continued on next page)

Third Ward Update (continued)

If you receive a notice, you have 40 days from the date of the application to send a formal objection to: Local Liquor Commissioner

Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Greg Steadman

121 N. LaSalle St, Rm 805 Chicago, Il 60602

The Liquor Commissioner has 45-90 days to review an application and any objections to it, including whether the issuance of the license would create a "deleterious impact" on the health, safety or welfare of the community which means:

adversely affects nearby property values

results in an increase of violations of law

substantially increases noise, litter, or traffic congestion If the Liquor Commissioner rejects the application on the basis of a deleterious impact, then the applicant has 20 days to submit a proposed "plan of operation" detailing the steps the applicant will take to mitigate any deleterious impact the issu-ance of the license may cause (e.g., restrictions on hours of operation, display of signs, trash pickup, security). There are examples of such plans of operation on the City's website at www.cityofchicago.org. If the Liquor Commissioner determines that the applicant's plan is reasonable, then the license may be granted conditioned on compliance with the plan of operation. While there is no mechanism in the law for a public hearing on a plan of operation, the Liquor Commissioner can take into account the input he receives from the public in crafting or approving a proposed plan of operation. Rules 9, 10 and 11 of the Liquor Commission's Rules give you important details of how the process works. The Third Ward office wants to hear your concerns so we can represent your views and have input. To ensure community input in a liquor license decision, we often seek voluntary agreements with the applicant. These can take the form of letters to the community or binding agreements with community associations which can be independent of a plan of operation or can help create one. But you must also send your objection in writing to the Liquor Commissioner. This is the only valid way for the community to object to a liquor license application. If a plan of operation is not approved, then the Liquor Commissioner may formally deny the application, and the applicant can appeal within 20 days to the License Appeal Commission. If the applicant appeals and wins, the License Appeal Com-mission can approve the liquor license without any plan of operation. If the applicant loses, it may appeal the case to the courts. More detailed information on liquor licenses can be found at the Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection's web-site at www.cityofchicago.org/bacp.

Liquor Licenses Explained (continued)

Alderman Dowell's Votes on the Speed Camera and Infrastructure Trust Ordinances At the two most recent City Council meetings, I cast votes on two ordinances that will affect all residents of the city. I cast a no vote for the ordinance authorizing placement of speed cameras near schools and parks and voted in favor of the Chicago Infra-structure Trust ordinance. Last week, I cast a no vote against the speed camera ordinance because it fails to do what it proposes in a cost effective manner. The placement of the cameras is solely based on the data quoted to City Council members and that data does not necessarily indicate a specific need for the cameras. Under the camera ordinance, input from myself or constituents will not be used in determining the placement of the cameras. In other words if residents near a park or school know that speeding occurs on a routine basis, there is no mechanism to in-clude that information when determining camera placement. Reducing the speed around parks and schools can be achieved just as effectively by the strategic placement of stop signs, speed bumps and other traffic calming strategies, which could also be done at a much lower cost. For these reasons I voted against the speed cameras. On Tuesday, I voted in favor of the ordinance authorizing the Chicago Infrastructure Trust. This aggressive plan to invest in our obsolete infrastructure is not a privatization plan as some have called it. When it was first proposed I raised several issues con-cerning aldermanic oversight, the lack of conflict of interest rules, provisions for open meetings and freedom of information inquiries, and a requirement that transactions performed by the trust meet the city's minority- and women-owned business requirements. I outlined these and other reservations in a Chicago Tribune column I wrote earlier this month with my col-league Alderman Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward. I am happy to say that voicing our concerns had an impact that led to revisions and negotiations. (continued on next page)

Mayor Emanuel agreed to changes in the ordinance, which put an alderman on the Infrastructure Trust Board and guaranteed a City Council vote on all projects involving city money, assets or property. He also inserted a provision requiring trust-funded pro-jects to follow city bidding procedures and another barring board members with a financial interest in a deal from voting on it. The Mayor also said he would issue executive orders requiring outside review of trust deals and finances. Our neighborhoods have crumbling roads, dilapidated viaducts, and hundreds of miles of decaying water mains that are more than a century old. We must do something, but we don't have the money and city residents don't want to pay higher property taxes. The Trust is needed and will draw investment to Chicago. It also has the potential to jump start our economy and put thou-sands of people back to work. For these reasons and the future of our city, I voted in favor of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust

Third Ward Update (continued) Alderman Dowell's Votes on the Speed Camera and Infrastructure Trust Ordinances (continued)

Events in and around the Ward NATO Host Committee Community Briefing The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will be holding meetings in Chicago on May 20th and 21st. Leaders, delegations, and rep-

resentatives from over 60 countries will be visiting Chicago as part of the summit. The community briefing will provide information on

what residents should expect and will include a panel discussion with city officials. Anyone interested in attending can register online at

http://chicagonato-may03.eventbrite.com/. For information regarding the summit, go to www.chicagoNATO.org. To be notified of major incidents, traffic disruptions, weather alerts, and other similar events, sign up at www.NotifyChicago.org. This service is provided all year, not just for the upcoming summit.

Where: DuSable Museum of African-American History (740 E. 56th Pl.)

When: May 3rd from 5:30-6:30pm

Free Basic Computer Classes

Starting May 7th, the Second Faith Temple Community Outreach is hosting a seven-week basic computer skills classes that will cover keyboarding, internet, e-mails, Microsoft Word 2007, and more. Registration ends May 2nd, so do not delay. To register or get more information, please call (773) 624-0799 or e-mail sftbob@sbcglobal.net.

Where: Second Faith Temple (424 E. 49th St. - side door)

When: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm for seven weeks beginning May 7th

Healthy Food Chicago Community Meetings

The Departments of Housing and Economic Development ( HED), Public Health (DPH) and Family and Support Services (DFSS) working with the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) are leading an effort to develop a citywide plan - Healthy Food Chicago - that focuses on food's connection to health. They are beginning the public engagement phase of the plan and will be holding a series of public meetings beginning the end of April through mid-May.

At the public meetings, you can come hear more about the draft plan and provide feedback on the strategies developed so far, including ideas to:

* Grow Food * Improve Access * Build Demand * Enhance the Food Safety Net * Expand Food Enterprises

Please RSVP or request special accommodations to: info@healthyplaceschicago.org, or call 312-573-7786. To read the draft plan, click here. You can download the event flyer with the locations of all the public meetings by clicking here. For more infor-mation, please visit www.healthyplaceschicago.org. The public meeting closest to the Third Ward is:

Where: Apostolic Church of God (6320 S. Dorchester) When: Tuesday, May 8th from 6-8pm

Events in and around the Ward (continued)

Walk Bronzeville

Centers for New Horizons is pleased to be hosting their 2nd Annual Walk Bronzeville: Joining Together to Fight Childhood Obesity, One Step at a Time. Last year's event was a huge suc-cess and this year promises to be even more fun. Attendees can receive free health screenings, watch cooking demos, partici-pate in fitness workouts, enjoy martial arts demos, and play games. Check out the promotional video, visit www.cnh.org, e-mail walkbronzeville@cnh.org, or call (773) 373-5700 for more information.

Where: Begins at Centers for New Horizons (4150 S. King Dr.) and ends at Mandrake Park (900 E. Pershing) When: Friday, May 11th, 2012, 10am

Bronzeville Retail Corridor Land Use Plan

The Bronzeville Alliance in collaboration with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the City of Chi-cago's Department of Housing and Economic Development, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Metropolitan Plan-ning Council, is working on a Bronzeville Retail Corridor Land Use Plan that encompasses three retail corridors: 43rd, 47th, and 51st Streets. The plan will produce policy recommendations that will guide retail investments and commu-nity development decisions for years to come. You are invited to attend a public meeting to have your ideas and concerns heard. For more information about the plan and the community meeting, please contact Kendra Smith at ksmith@cmap.illinois.gov or at (312) 386-8774 or visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/bronzeville.

Where: Charles Hayes Family Investment Center (4859 S. Wabash) When: Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 9am to 11:30am (registration starts at 8:30am)

47th Street Special Service Area Meeting

Alderman Dowell in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Economic Development and the Quad Commu-nities Development Corporation, will be hosting community meetings for area business owners and residents to inform and discuss the creation of a Special Service Area on 47th Street from St. Lawrence Ave. to State St. A Special Service Area (SSA) is a taxing district that is an economic development tool. Created by state statute and city ordinance, SSAs are an additional real estate property tax levy that fund additional municipal services in a defined dis-trict. Examples of services include: public way maintenance, beautification, landscaping, advertising/marketing, busi-ness retention/recruitment, parking, and safety. All of the examples would be used to improve 47th Street, but the initial emphasis would be to improve the safety and cleanliness of the area.

Where: St. Paul’s C.O.G.I.C. (4550 S. Wabash) When: May 17th, 2012 from 6-8pm Where: Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church (4622 S. King Dr.)

When: May 31st, 2012 from 6-8pm

Eden Place Nature Center Farmer's Market

From May 19th to October 20th, 2012, the Eden Place Farmer's Market will bring fresh local produce, community connections, as well as fun and educational outdoor activities to Fuller Park residents. Interested vendors should contact Tiffany at 773-624-8686 for more information.

Where: Eden Place Nature Center (43rd Place and S. Shields) When: Every 1st and 3rd Saturday from 8am to 3pm

Events in and around the Ward (continued)

Third Ward City Sticker/Residential Zone Parking Sticker Sales and Will-Call

Revenue from the City Vehicle Sticker helps fund the repair, maintenance and improvement of the more than 4,000 miles of Chicago's streets and roadways. City Vehicle Stickers are issued annually and are valid as soon as they are applied to the wind-shield. In other words, as soon as you get your new City Vehicle Sticker, remove your old sticker and replace it with the new one. City Vehicle Stickers expire on June 30th of each year. A Chicago resident with a vehicle that is used in the City of Chicago must purchase and display a City Vehicle Sticker. The purpose of residential zone parking is to limit parking on designated streets in densely-populated or highly-trafficked areas to area residents and their guests only, for either all times or for certain days/hours. Vehicles parked in a residential parking zone during applicable days/hours must display a City Vehicle Sticker with Annual Residential Zone Parking or an unexpired, one-day-use Daily Residential Parking Permit. The zone number on either the City Vehicle Sticker or the Daily Residential Parking Permit must match the permit number posted on the street signs. Use the Zone Look-up tool to determine whether or not a Chicago address is in a residential parking zone, and if so, which zone number. On Saturday, June 2nd, 2012, the Third Ward Aldermanic Office will host their annual 3rd Ward Residential Parking Sticker sales event. In addition to purchasing the stickers online, Third Ward residents can obtain their residential stickers by going to the Third Ward office (5046 S. State). Money orders and checks are the preferred method of payment. The cost of a passenger City Vehicle Sticker is $85 and larger passenger City Vehicle Stickers are $135. Senior citizens, age 65 and older, are eligible to receive one sticker for $30. Annual Residential Zone Parking is $25 and Daily Residential Parking Per-mits are $8 for 15 permits. To purchase a City Vehicle Sticker, residents must bring their driver's license or renewal form and know their vehicle license plate number. In addition, this year's City Vehicle Stickers contain the vehicle make and model as another security feature. You can also take advantage of the new Aldermanic Will-Call Program that allows you to make payments in advance in order to avoid waiting in line on pick up day. Will-Call envelopes will be available at the Third Ward office. Constituents need to include the following in each will-call envelope: renewal form (if applicable), check or money order made out to the City Clerk, and a copy of their driver's license. All information must be filled out on the envelopes, which are due to the Third Ward office no later than May 23rd, 2012. For more information on the will-call program, contact Allyson Allison at (773) 373-9273.

Third Ward City Residential Sticker Sales Where: Third Ward Office (5046 S. State St.) When: Saturday, June 2nd from 10am to 1pm

Expungement Summit

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown is hosting a full-service expungement summit for adults and juveniles. Volun-teer attorneys will be on-site to assist with expungement and sealing applications. Information on employment, job training, health care, and other services will be available. for more information, please visit www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org or call (312) 603-5200.

Where: Apostolic Church of God (6320 S. Dorchester) When: Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 (Registration starts at 8:30am, event ends at6pm)

Senior Activities at the Southwest Regional Center (6117 S. Kedzie)

Conditions that Take Your Breath Away May 9th from 10:15am to 11:15am

This nurse's discussion focuses on the signs, causes, and symptoms and treatment options for asthma, bronchitis, and emphy-sema. Preventative, emergency, and self-management strategies will also be covered. Breathe Easier About What to Eat May 21st from 9:45am to 10:45am

Too often people find themselves wasting time and money on foods that claim to be good for curing all of life's ailments. Learn what foods can make up a healthy diet to help you breathe easier. Asthma/COPD May 17th from 10:15am to 11:15am Aging can make it difficult to exercise without being short of breath, especially for people with a history of respiratory illnesses. This pharmacist presentation will help you identify potential problems that may be contributing to your shortness of breath and review treatment options that are available to you. For ongoing monthly events and activities at the Southwest Regional Center, please call (312) 747-0440 TTY: (312) 744-6777. The Englewood Satellite Center located at 653 W. 63rd St. also has monthly activities. For more information about these activi-ties, please call (312) 745-3328.

Events in and around the Ward (continued)

Summer Programs for Taylor and Fuller Park

Events in and around the Ward (continued)

Bronzeville TIF-NIP Community Meeting

The Tax Increment Finance-Neighborhood Improvement Program (TIF-NIP) is a Department of Housing and Eco-nomic Development (HED) -administered program that has been providing home repair grants in eligible TIF districts since 1999. The program provides home repair grants for both single and multi-family residences. Grants are primarily for exterior repairs however, up to 30 percent of the grant may be used for interior repairs that are health and safety related. Grant amounts are based on the number of units per residence. Alderman Dowell has allocated $1 million in funds from the Bronzeville TIF District for homeowners who live in that TIF District to make home repairs. There will be an informational meeting to inform residents of how the program works. Eligible residents will receive notification via mail. However, you can also visit www.cityofchicago.org to find out what TIF District you live in.

Where: Phillips High School (244 E. Pershing) When: June 6th at 6pm

Third Ward Townhall Meeting Along with newsletters and other community meetings, the Third Ward Townhall Meetings are another way in which Alderman Dowell can keep her constituents informed and hear their concerns. On June 7th, Alderman Dowell will be hosting another Third Ward Townhall Meeting, which will cover various upcoming events, activities, initiatives, and developments in the Third Ward.

Where: Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (4543 S. Princeton) When: June 7th, 6pm

An Afternoon of Jazz

Enjoy great jazz, food, and fellowship while learning about how the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is changing lives. NFP offers an array of free prenatal health services for teen mothers that have reduced subsequent pregnancies, in-creased employment opportunities for parents, and improved the health and school preparation for children. A buffet brunch will be served and the Mofitz Project will be entertaining with great jazz music. Complimentary parking is avail-able on the east side of the building. Tickets are $50. To order, please call (773) 891-2500.

Where: Parkway Ballroom (4455 S. King Dr.) When: June 8, 2012 from 11am to 2pm

Important Announcements

Chicago Green Festival This year's festival will feature 125 visionary speakers, 350 green exhibitors, hands-on workshops, green home prod-ucts, family activities, organic beer and wine, local organic food, kids zone, green jobs info, cooking demos, live music, eco-fashion, and more. For more information, visit http://www.greenfestivals.org/chicago/.

Where: Navy Pier (Exhibition Hall A) When: May 5-6

DBE and 8a Certification

The Hacia Small Business Development Company will be discussing the benefit of receiving 8a and DBE certification. There has been an influx of government funded projects and the set aside funds associated with those dollars for disad-vantaged firms. Come see how to take part and what it takes to get certified as a DBE & and 8a contractor at this free event. Please RSVP at www.haciaworks.org or emedina@haciaworks.org. For more information about Hacia and this seminar, please visit www.haciaworks.org or call (312) 666-5910.

Where: HACIA - 901 W. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 205, Chicago, IL

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. When: Thursday, May 3, 20124:00pm to 6pm

Important Announcements (continued)

Bike the Drive On Sunday, May 27th, you can enjoy the striking skyline and the shimmering water of Lake Michigan as you cruise up and down the entire length of Lake Shore Drive for MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive. The event enlists hundreds of volunteers who are there to ensure that you'll have the best experience possible. A handful of bike shops will be on hand, as well, with services for sale, like basic tuneups and flat tire repairs. Additionally, SAG vehicles will be available for riders who need sup-port. The event begins at 5:30am, but the Active Transportation Alliance recommends beginning no later than 7:30am. The route begins at Columbus Drive and Jackson Drive; the round-trip distance encompasses 30 scenic miles, with the northern turn-around point at Bryn Mar Avenue, and the southern turnaround at 57th Street.The funds raised by MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive are a crucial part of the Active Transportation Alliance's work to improve biking, walking and transit in the region. For more information about Bike the Drive and to register for the event, please visit http://bikethedrive.org/.

Where: Starting point is at Columbus Drive and Jackson Drive When: May 27th, 2012 starting between 5:30am and 7:30am

Maifest Chicago Come out and enjoy German food, beer, culture and gemutlichkeit at Maifest Chicago. This is the first festival of the summer and Maifest wants to extend the invitation to everyone throughout the city. For more information, please visit www.dankhaus.com or e-mail dank@dankhaus.com.

Where: Lincoln Ave. at Leland When: May 31st through June 3rd

Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council Public Meetings The Chicago Department of Transportation in partnership with the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council is hosting its second round of community meetings for the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020. This round of meetings will give the public the opportu-nity to review and comment on the draft 202 network. They also allow participants to learn more about possible street treat-ments, proposed bike facilities, and challenges for the next steps. The second round of meetings are as follows:

Copernicus Center (5216 W. Lawrence Ave.) - May 22nd, 4-8pm

Gary Comer Youth Center (7200 S. Engleside) - May 31st, 4-8pm

Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center (1401 S. Sacramento) - June 6th, 4-8pm

77 S. Dearborn (lobby) - June 9th from 10am to 4pm Webinar #1 - June 11th from 12-1pm. Reserve your webinar seat at http://goo.gl/IEV2k Webinar #2 - June 13th from 6-7pm. Reserve your webinar seat at http://goo.gl?CQSS9

Register for a Booth at the 13th Annual AccessChicago AccessChicago promises t be the largest gathering of services and products for people with disabilities in the Midwest, and it is the only event of its kind in the Chicagoland area. AccessChicago will take place on Thursday, July 19th, 2012, from 10am to 5pm at Nay Pier in Festival Hall A. Participating in this year's event gives you the unique opportunity to connect with over 3,000 people with disabilities, increase the name recognition of your organization, and network with companies that have similar missions. Prices for booths vary based on size and type of organization (i.e. city, non-profit, etc.). For complete infor-mation including pricing and the exhibitor application, please visit http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/city/en/depts/mopd/provdrs/accesschicago.html or http://goo.gl/PZ5Tp.

Fundraising Opportunities at Soldier Field Every year Sportservice at Soldier Field opens up a limited number of concession locations to non-profit groups for fundrais-ing at Chicago Bears games and other events held at the stadium. Visit www.bearsjobs.com and click on the fundraising tab to download the Group Information Booklet or contact the Group Coordinator at (312) 235-7023 for more information.

Healthy Summer Nutrition Program Accepting Applications The Chicago Department of Family and Supportive Services (DFSS) is accepting applications form organizations to partici-pate in their 2012 Healthy Summer Nutrition Program. This program aloows community and faith-based organizations to provide low-income youth, age 18 and under (up to 21 for youth with disabilities), with free nutritious lunches and snacks. Applicants can apply to be one of three host sites offering: meals on-site to any low-income young person, with no enrollment requirement, meals to young people who are enrolled in the site's activities, or meals as part of a day camp program. Applica-tions can be downloaded from www.cityofchicago.org/fss.

Important Announcements (continued)

OAI Environmental Remediation Graduates Available for Hire Opportunity Advancement Innovation (OAI) is a non-profit organization that works closely with the City of Chicago, particu-larly the Greencorps Program. OAI provides hands-on training, classroom instruction, licenses and certifications for the fol-lowing: 40 hr. Hazardous Waste Operations and Response, EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting, 10 hr. OSHA Safety Stan-dards, 4 hr. Confined Space Certification, 4 hr. Mold Awareness Certification, 32 hr. Asbestos Abatement License, 24 hr. Lead Abatement License, Fork Lift Driver Certification, Basic Carpentry, 4 hr. Lock-Out/Tag-Out Certification, and First Aid/CPS Certification. For more information regarding OAI and their graduates from their environmental remediation program, con-tact Reginald Williams at (312) 528-3509 or rwilliams@oaiinc.org.

USPS Mail Processing Operations Moving to the Suburbs The Cardiss Collins Post Office is the main Post Office for the City of Chicago. Last March, the United States Postal Service (USPS) held a meeting for business mailers regarding the move of outgoing mail processing/cancellation operations from the Cardiss Collins Processing and Distribution Office to the South Suburban and Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Cen-ter. The USPS assured attendees that no changes to business acceptance locations or hours will be made, there will be no charge for retail operations at Cardiss Collins, customer impact will be limited due to deliberate timing of operational moves, and continual communications will occur. For more information, you can visit http://about.usps.com. Chicago Park District Financial Assistance The Chicago Park District has limited funds to provide financial assistance for families who live in Chicago and wish to enroll in the Summer Day Camp Program. Applicants must provide proof of entitlement for the free and reduced lunch program for their school or can be eligible by providing income verification (i.e. recent pay stubs, AFDC/TANF case #, a copy of recent IRS 1040 form, etc.). Residents have until June 11th to complete applications and submit them to their park during normal park hours. For more information, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

New Job Seeker Tool Kauzu is a Chicago-based start-up business/social venture dedicated to transforming how jobseekers and employers connect. Kauzu's first product is a mobile application that will make job hunting faster and more productive for all Chicagoans. Kauzu's job search application is specifically designed for mobile use. The mobile application is the first to pinpoint jobs in the jobseeker's neighborhood; the first to factor in a jobseekers' preferences for their job search; and the first dedicated to the jobs - entry-level retail, foodservice, banking and other front-line positions - needed by those hardest-hit by unemployment. An application can also be accessed with a computer or through a mobile phone. Employers will benefit from Kauzu's next mobile app as they will be able to easily post their open positions into the Kauzu jobs database. Kauzu's mobile web app for job seekers will launch in the next few weeks. Kauzu is offering job seekers the opportunity to pre-register and get a head start on finding a great job. Connecting with Kauzu is easy. The pre-registration page can be accessed by either visiting the website at www.kauzu.jobs or texting the message "kauzu" to 313131 from a mobile phone.

If you need additional information you can email Kauzu at: info@kauzu.com; call them at 773-245-6271; send a message through their website at http://kauzu.com/contactus.html; or mail Kauzu, 5215 N. Ravenswood, # 303, Chicago, IL 60640.

Cook County Commemorative Certificates The Cook County Clerk's Office is now offering certificates to honor weddings and civil unions that have taken place in Cook County. Whether the ceremony was 50 years ago or just last week, these certificates will help mark the occasion with a flair. The certificates are available in nine original designs, are printed in vivid colors on thick canvass, and are ready for framing. Couples can order their certificates online at www.cookcountyclerk.com. They can also be purchased as gifts for other couples.

John Cook On April 26th, John Cook was presented with a Heroes of the Hood Award at a ceremony held at the DuSable Museum of African-American History. Mr. Cook was honored for his years of dedication towards mentoring youth and keeping them safe. He is the founder of the Bronzeville Community Clubhouse located at 3847 S. Giles, which was originally established as a mentoring facility for youth. He has offered the clubhouse as a gathering place for volunteers who work for the Safe Passage Program at Wendell Phillips High School and for parent patrol volunteers at other schools in the area. Mr. Cook was also recently elected to Phillips' LSC as the Community Representative. John is truly a role model for all of us and his compassion for the youth of Bronzeville is exceptional. Congratulations John and thank you for the work you do.

Third Ward Star

Attending and participating in the Chicago Police's Community Policing Program (CAPS) is one of the best ways to ad-dress crime and quality of life issues in your neighborhood. By attending CAPS meetings, you can share important in-formation with the police that will assist them in making arrests and preventing crime as well as receive valuable infor-mation about resources that promote homeowner and community safety. Visit www.chicagopolice.org to find out what district you live in and to learn more about what is happening in your neighborhood.

1st District

131/132 Apr. 17th @ 7pm 1st Dist. Station (1718 S. State)

2nd District

211 Cancelled due to NATO Conference

212/214 May 1st @ 6:30

Oakwood Shores (3711 S. Vincennes)

213/215 May 9th @ 6:30 St. Elizabeth's (4058 S. Michigan)

221/223 Cancelled due to NATO Conference

224 Cancelled due to NATO

Conference

225/231 May 10th @ 6:30 Coppin AME Church (5627 S. Michigan)

233 Cancelled due to NATO

Conference

7th District

711/712 May 22nd @ 6:30pm 7th Dist. Station

(1438 W. 63rd St.)

9th District

915 Call (312) 747-8227

924 Cancelled due to NATO Conference

925 Call (312) 747-8227

931/933 Cancelled due to NATO Conference

934 Cancelled due to NATO

Conference

935 Cancelled due to NATO

Conference

May CAPS Schedule

Third Ward Aldermanic Office 5046 South State Street

Chicago, IL 60609 p. (773) 373-9273 f. (773) 373-6852

ward03@cityofchicago.org

Third Ward Office Hours Monday through Wednesday: 9am to 5pm

Thursdays: 12pm to 8pm (ward night from 6-8pm) Fridays: 9am to 1pm

Every Third Saturday: 10am to 1pm