FROM THE HEART - October  2016
Dear Neighbors,

If you are a frequent reader of this letter, you may recognize a recurring theme- we all drink from wells we did not dig.  For the Lincoln Central neighborhood, that may never be more true than it will be on Saturday, October 29 th. 

That afternoon our neighborhood will gather at Bauler Park for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the recently renovated Playlot, a ceremony to be followed by LCA's 9th Annual Howler at Bauler.  Howler at Bauler is a testament to the vision of those that drove its origin and the commitment of those who sustained the event, all of whom gave it the chance to become what it is today, arguably the most popular neighborhood Halloween event in all of Lincoln Park. 

A full house at Howler 2015
Likewise, the Park itself became a vibrant gathering place for neighborhood families, not because it was there, but because individuals and organizations dedicated to the betterment of our neighborhood volunteered their time and resources to create one of the most popular family parks in the city. Rick Rausch and Rodger Owen, the two prior LCA Presidents, are deserving of our gratitude for their support of Bauler Park, along with David Varnerin and many others who served on LCA's Board as well the countless families, donors and neighborhood volunteers who helped ensure that the Park was filled with smiles and laughter through the years.

Please join us on the 29th as we continue the tradition of Howler at Bauler and celebrate with the Bauler Park Advisory Council, Alderman Michele Smith and the Chicago Park District on their successful completion of the the new Playlot, a project that ensures yet another generation of families will be able to experience the magic of Bauler Park. And speaking of magic.....

From the heart,
P. S. Feel free to contact me at any time at  [email protected]  or 773.531.5515 i f you would like to learn more about LCA or have neighborhood concerns.  If you are not already a member of LCA, we hope you will consider joining today. 
Ribbon
BAULER PARK RIBBON CUTTING
Saturday, October 29th 2:30 PM
Thanks to great work by the Bauler Park Advisory Council (BPAC), headed by Leslie Miller, the Chicago Park District and 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, the renovation of the Bauler playground finished ahead of schedule and is now open to the public. To celebrate the re-opening of the playground, BPAC hosted an opening party on Saturday morning October 13 that filled that playground with the laughter of excited children. Read more.

The official ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of the renovated Bauler Playlot hosted byAlderman Smith, the Chicago Park District, BPAC and LCA, has been scheduled for 2:30, October 29th at the Bauler Playlot. The 9th Annual Howler at Bauler will begin after the dedication.
topten
LCA MEMBERS AMONG TOP 10 FINALISTS
Monday, October 24th at 5:00 - 8:00 PM

LCA business members Geja's Cafe and Natural Elements Salon are finalists in different categories in the Lincoln Park Top Ten Awards hosted by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to those businesses and their owners, Jeff Lawler of Geja's Cafe and Edda Coscioni of Natural Elements.
 
Award categories include the Best Place to Dine, Best Place for Coffee and Sweets, Best Place to Get Fit and Refreshed, Best Place for Brunch, Best Place to Grab a Drink, Best Arts and Culture, Best Service Provider, and Best Place to Shop. 

Winners will be announced at the awards celebration on  Monday, October 24, from 5 pm to 8 pm at  Steppenwolf Theatre (1650 N. Halsted). Cont'd.
AN ALL STAR HEART
From the Heart  was recently named a
Constant Contact All-Star
based on the open
rates and other statistics associated with this
newsletter in comparison to other Constant Contact clients. Earlier this year,  From the Heart received an
LCA BRINGS NEIGHBORS TOGETHER
An Evening in the Garden

LCA's 3rd Annual  An Evening in the Garden,  held in Fire Station Park on September 15, combined hors d'oeuvres and wine with, smiles, laughter and neighborly conversation. Read more about this beautiful late summer evening
HAUNTING EVENTS ON OCTOBER 30TH

TRICKS & TREATS 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
 
Our friends at RANCH Triangle Association and Bridgeview Bank will present Tricks & Treats on Armitage Street  on Sunday, October 30 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM in Bridgeview Bank parking lot at Armitage & Halsted. The event includes entertainment for the children and costume contests for families, children and dogs featuring prizes! Learn more about this great event.
SPOOKTACULAR 1:00-4:00 PM
 

Spooktacular is Clark Street in Lincoln Park's annual Halloween extravaganza! Participating businesses from Armitage to Diversey, and on the south side of Diversey from Orchard to Lakeview, open their doors to trick-or-treaters from 1:00 - 4:00 PM on Sunday, October 30th! There will be plenty of spooks and sweets for your entire family!

Wednesday, October 8th-Monday, October 31st
Scarecrows on Parade
Scarecrows on Parade showcases the creative and artistic sides of our Clark Street business owners! Merchants display a scarecrow in their window that they have designed and created, and customers, pedestrians, and event attendees pick the winners!

Scarecrows will be on display at businesses on Clark Street between Armitage
 and Diversey and along the south side of Diversey from Orchard to Lakeview. Vote for your favorite scarecrow.

Saturday, October 22nd
Oktoberfest Mac & Cheese Contest
Our friends at Old Town Triangle Association invite you to enter and attend their Great Mac & Cheese Contest on Saturday, October 22 from 5:00-8:00 PM at 1763 N. North Park. Learn more about this great event.

Monday, October 24th
Fire Prevention at Halsted Firehouse
Our friends at Wrightwood Neighbors are hosting a fire prevention seminar at 6:00 PM on the 24th at the Halsted Firehouse, 2714 N. Halsted. Free pizza, soft drinks and ice cream will be served. Learn more.

Thursday, October 27th
LCA Monthly Board Meeting
Board meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month at  6:30 PM  in the back room of the Marquee Lounge (Halsted & Armitage). Board meetings are open to the public.

Saturday, October 29
 30th Annual Spooky Zoo Spectacular
The 30th annual  Spooky Zoo Spectacular, hosted by the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo will be held from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday October 29th at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Attendees are invited to learn fun facts about the animals, stimulate their minds while making crafts, collect treats, go on rides, and enjoy entertainment throughout the zoo while dressed in their best or spookiest costume.  Learn more.

Thursday, November 3rd
Neighborhood Association Night at LPHS
Lincoln Park High School is holding a Neighborhood Association night on  November 3 at  6:30 PM a t the school This night will include a presentation about the #1school1community initiative as well as a school tour.  A light dinner will be served.  Please RSVP  at  [email protected] . See additional details.

Tuesday, November 8th
LCA Zoning Committee Mtg.
Zoning Committee  meetings are held the second
Tuesday of each month at 6:15 PM  in the back room of the Marquee Lounge (Halsted & Armitage). Zoning Committee meetings are open to the public.

 Thursday, December 1
BrewLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Join the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo for the third annual BrewLights from 5:30-9:00 PM on Thursday December 1. This adults-only (21+) event, back by popular demand, will treat holiday revelers to local craft, seasonal and international beers on tap throughout the zoo during ZooLights. Price $40 (early bird); $49 (advance); $60 (at the door). Learn more or purchase tickets here
TopTenTop Ten Awards, cont'd.
A s part of the Top 10 Awards, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce will present their inaugural Neighborhood Champion Awards. One of those awards honor s a resident within the Lincoln Park neighborhood that has made a positive impact through his or her actions within the community, the other a business or organization who has made a difference in the community.

LCA President Kenneth Dotson was selected to receive the resident Neighborhood Champion award for 2016, r ecognizing his work as president of Lincoln Central Association, Chairman of the Lincoln Avenue Special Service Area Commission, his participation on the Neighborhood Liaison Committee that works with Hines and MCaffery Interests on the new development on the former Children's Memorial site, and other volunteer efforts.

Green City Market was selected to receive the Neighborhood Champion Award in the organization/business category recognizing their 18 years as Chicago's largest and first year-round sustainable farmers' market connecting farmers and local producers directly to chefs and the greater Chicago community and providing a marketplace for sustainably grown food.
 HOWLER AT BAULER RETURNS FOR 9TH YEAR

The Haunt of the Neighborhood: 3:00 PM on October 29

Get ready for another magical afternoon in the Heart when LCA hosts its 9th annual Howler at Bauler, a festival of family fun scheduled for 3 pm to 5 pm, October 29 at Bauler Park.

This year's Howler will again have the traditional features--face painting and balloon art, a raffle and games, music and dancing, plus a visit from Engine 22 of the Chicago Fire Department. And, lets not forget, candy, candy, candy!!

Featured entertainer Danny Orleans in 2015
Featured attraction Danny Orleans, America's premier family magician, is returning for his second year at Howler. Danny will again wow kids and adults alike with his amazing sleight of hand and delight with his charm and humor. But, the event isn't just about tricks. We also have some great treats for you.

One of the most popular features of Howler at Bauler is always t he
LCA's Wizard, Gary Sinclair.
annual Costume Parade, led by Wizard, Gary Sinclair. The parade will showcase the amazing array of stylish-and spooky-costumes on kids of all ages.

Follow us on Facebook to learn more about the activities planned for the 9th Annual Howler at Bauler. 
THANK YOU GENEROUS SPONSORS

Lincoln Central Association is a non-profit organization with limited resources. All of our activities to improve and beautify your neighborhood rely on unpaid volunteers and your tax deductible donations. We are deeply grateful to the following organizations who have helped offset many of the expenses associated with Howler at Bauler. Please express your gratitude and patronize these businesses whenever possible.  BGD&C Luxury Custom Home Builders Bridgeview Bank Group Geja's Cafe Thomas Ward Insurance;  The Harris Realty Group; Carnival Grocery and  AlphaGraphics, the official printer of Lincoln Central Association.

Learn more about becoming an LCA sponsor.

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

A CHANGING HEART

Southbound view of Halsted, Lincoln & Fullerton intersection circa 1900.
Have you ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like 50 years ago? 100 years ago? What used to be on that street corner? How people traveled around the city before cars became ubiquitous? Where people worshiped, shopped or sent their kids to school? Were there any famous buildings nearby that have since been demolished? Did any of the streets you travel everyday have different names in the past? 

Bob Segal, a 35-year Lincoln Park resident, an LCA Director and a talented  architectural photographer, will be answering these questions for one north-side neighborhood. He has spent the last few months visiting libraries to dig up old photographs of the Lincoln Central neighborhood (bounded by North Avenue, Halsted, Lincoln and the old Ogden Avenue extension) and then re-photographing the same locations as they exist today. 

Southbound view of Halsted, Lincoln & Fullerton intersection today.
Some of Bob's juxtapositions will amaze you with the degree of change while others will provide comfort in the permanence of defining neighborhood elements. Later this year or early next, LCA will announce a time and location for a presentation at which Bob will reveal his findings. In the meantime, if you have or know of any pre-1970s photos of this area, please email Bob.
IMPORTANT NOTE
I f you are reading this newsletter in Gmail, Yahoo mail and certain other
email programs, the right hand side of the newsletter will be cut off before it concludes. If that happens, go to the very bottom of the ema il and on left hand side and  you will see a message that says "[Message clipped]   View entire message Simply click that link and you will be able to read the entire newsletter or simply click here.
magicDON'T MISS THE MAGIC

Two for the price of one?
LCA and Bridgeview Bank are pleased to bring America's top family magician, Danny Orleans, back to Howler for the second consecutive year.  Danny, a former elementary school teacher who also taught Kindergarten as well as Algebra to Middle School students, is internationally recognized as an expert on presenting magic to children. 

Along with performing magic at kids' birthday parties, Danny has toured school shows nationwide and, with his wife Jan Rose, toured a theater show to museums and children's theaters in the U.S., Canada, and the Virgin Islands.

Danny is the author of the Kids Show Masterplan, among other books, and creator of the DVD series, The Art of Teaching Magic to ChildrenIn addition to being a magical educator, he is  a widely respected trade-show performer and corporate entertainer.

Don't miss this opportunity to see Danny Orleans as he performs up
close magic!  And, let's come out in record numbers again this year to show Danny the magic that is already thriving in our neighborhood.

Danny's performance is sponsored by our friends at 
Bridgeview Bank . Bridgeview can also work magic with money through their  Pennywise program , designed especially for those with piggybanks.


gejasDELICIOUS TREATS AT HOWLER

While Danny Orleans is providing the tricks,  our friends from Geja's Cafe , named the most romantic restaurant in America by USA Today in 2015, will be serving their delicious cheese fondue and chocolate fondue creations to our attendees on a complimentary basis.

Geja's celebrated their 51st Anniversary this year and recently opened an outdoor fire pit and added new dining room chairs and bar stools. Geja's, a finalist in the Lincoln Park Top 10 Awards for best restaurant, now also has their cheese and chocolate fondues along with their gourmet meat & cheese boards "To Go" for either pick up or delivery. 

When you think about places in the neighborhood to dine or order from, remember  Geja's supports  our neighborhood. Come out to Howler at Bauler and let our friends at Geja's know you appreciate their generosity.  See and download their TO GO menu here.
celebrate 
A CELEBRATING HEART
          
 
LCA has served as the fiscal agent for Bauler Park for many years, but President Kenneth Dotson credited 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, the Bauler Park Advisory Council,  headed by Leslie Miller, and the Chicago Park District for the successful outcome. "LCA has long assisted Bauler Park," said Dotson, "but projects like this don't get done, especially not ahead of schedule, without a group of dedicated parents and neighbors,  the full  support of the Alderman and resources and execution from the Chicago Park District.  The Bauler playlot renovation was no exception." 
 
The completion of the renovation comes just in time for LCA's 9th Annual Howler at Bauler, the annual Halloween celebration for neighborhood children that is held in the park each October. More on the history of Howler at Bauler will be in the next  From the Heart .
evening AN EVENING IN THE GARDEN

LCA's 3rd annual
Evening in the Garden held, in Fire Station Park on September 15, combined hors d'oeuvres and wine with, smiles, laughter and neighborly conversation on a beautiful late summer evening.  

Designed as a get-together for LCA members and guests,
An Evening in the Garden proved again to be an opportunity for community enjoyment. " This event was a real contribution to the community by LCA," said member Mary Quincannon. "It brought people together in a relaxed and comfortable environment that promoted neighborhood togetherness."

For the second year in a row, a magical touch was added to the  evening by noted magician Benjamin Barnes.   Barnes used his talent for close up magic and hands-on illusion to entertain and amaze guests. The most frequently spoken words throughout the evening were: "How did he do that?" 

Following the event, new LCA member Nada Riley commen ted: "This was a truly  unique experience,  a real community-building event, not a fund-raiser or anything like it. It was great to meet new people and get to know neighbors better."
 
If you missed the event, look for additional photos on the events section of the LCA website.
HOPE & COURAGE AWARDS

Photo courtesy of Jan Terry.
Representatives of LCA were honored to attend the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago's Hope and Courage Awards breakfast held on Friday, September 16 at the Chicago Sports Museum.

The hospital created the Hope and Courage Awards to recognize the contributions of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitments to improving the health and well-being of children. 

Margaret Story and Josie Heller
The recipients of the 2016 Hope & Courage Awards were :  Patient and Family Award: Josie Heller and Margaret Storey, PhD;  Community Advocate Award : Jacqueline Samuel, PhD; and  Government Leader Award: Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul.

Jacqueline Samuel
This recipients this year were recognized by a City Council resolution that passed declaring September 16, 2016   Hope and Courage Day throughout the City of Chicago.


Lurie Children's was honored to recognize
State Senator Kwame Raoul
these leaders who embody hope for the future and fortify the organization with courage. Lincoln Central Association salutes both Lurie Children's Hospital and their 2016 honorees. We encourage you to learn more about the Hope and Courage Awards and this year's deserving honorees.
CHANGES TO FREE RAIN BARREL PROGRAM

LCA and Ward 43 have been pleased to provide our constituents with free rain barrels on request through our partnership with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). MWRD has been successful in working with over 80 municipal partners and non-governmental organizations since January 2014 in funding and delivering more than 120,000 free rain barrels citywide to date.  

Effective December 31, 2016 the MWRD will discontinue the free rain barrel program and will return to its prior program of selling rain barrels at cost on the MWRD website. They will continue to accept orders for free rain barrels through December 31, 2016 with delivery approximately two months after request is made. The 43rd Ward request form can be submitted up until December 31, 2016.
LINCOLN PARK HIGH OPEN HOUSE

On  Sunday, October 23,  Lincoln Park High School will be hosting its annual open house for prospective students and their families.  The day will be filled with informative sessions on all three magnet programs (I.B. Diploma, Honors/HH, Performing Arts) and the 1school1community outreach initiative. Other sessions include parent and student panels, sports, clubs, and activities, a school tour, as well as various ways to meet teachers and staff throughout the day.
 
The school typically draws 1,500 attendees. This year they expect close to 2,000 as there are no competing open houses that day.

Needless to say, they need your help! They are looking for volunteers available any time between 11 am and 5 pm that day. You can sign up for specific hours, whether you can only stay for one or have all day to spare. Any and all help is appreciated.

If you are interested in volunteering on Sunday, October 23, please email Friends of Lincoln Park High School
with the times you are available, and someone from the committee will get back to you.

Thanks in advance for your help.
From the Heart is published monthly by Lincoln Central Association. Please email story ideas to c o-editors, Kenneth Dotson and Kathy Jordan .