Register today for
The Chicago Cross-Community
Clean-up Challenge
We Love Where We Live! Volunteer for a few hours with your neighbors to tidy up our sidewalks!
RNRA is pleased to be participating in The Chicago Cross-Community Clean-Up with several other neighborhood communities on Saturday, May 1st.
We’ll be removing trash from our sidewalks from Kinzie to Superior and Wells to State. This good-natured competition was created in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, SOAR, Go4th South Loop, Grand Boulevard Advisory Council and The Magnificent Mile Association. Let’s show our community spirit and pitch in together and get ready for Spring!
WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Rain date of May 8th).
WHERE: Check In and receive assignments at the RNRA table.
Chicago Fire Department (Outside of Station)
SW Corner of Dearborn and Illinois Streets
55 W. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Special Instructions: Masks are required. Social distancing must be maintained.
Street assignments and trash bags will be provided at the RNRA table. Gloves and litter grabbers will be provided on a first come first serve basis. Limited supply so please bring your own if you have them. We also suggest you bring your own reusable water bottle.
Registration Required. To register please click on the button below.
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Join RNRA, Friends of the Parks
and the Chicago Park District
for a Ward Park Clean-up
on Saturday, April 24th to
Celebrate Earth Day!
Join RNRA, Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Park District in celebration of Earth Day by volunteering to help make A. Montgomery Ward Park a cleaner, safer and more beautiful place to relax, play and enjoy nature.
It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and enjoy the great outdoors while making a difference in our neighborhood.
Protective gloves, trash bags and tools will be provided. Volunteers will work in groups of ten or less and physical distancing guidelines will be enforced. Face masks/coverings must be worn at all times. Children under 18 years of age are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Registration is required.
If you – or your friends and family – are interested in volunteering, please register no later than Wednesday, April 21st so that we can plan for sufficient supplies.
When: Saturday, April 24th 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: A. Montgomery Ward Park – 630 N. Kingsbury Street
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For over 30 years, Friends of the Parks has been mobilizing neighborhoods to participate in Earth Day activities. City and suburban residents volunteer at local parks and forest preserves to practice stewardship and celebrate community. This year’s event is a partnership with the Chicago Park District, the Forest Preserves of Cook County and community groups across Chicagoland. |
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YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Keep informated - follow CPD
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OEMC Reminds Residents
April is National 9-1-1 Education Month
The National 9-1-1 Education Month program encourages everyone to learn how callers can help 9-1-1 call-takers and dispatchers provide the appropriate resources to Chicagoans and visitors in emergency situations.
Often callers are in distress, which may cause frustration with the information-gathering being done by 9-1-1 personnel. It’s important to know before an urgent situation occurs how to provide the important information needed to save lives.
Tips for Calling 9-1-1
Sign up for SMART911 at www.SMART911.com or via the mobile app: Why is this helpful?
- Save Time - Smart911 is a free, voluntary and secure service that allows individuals and families to provide personal, medical, or situational information when they call 9-1-1 to help first responders rapidly assist in the case of an emergency. The Smart911 profile you create is displayed to the call-taker when you call 9-1-1 from the registered phone number.
- Help with Location - Because most 9-1-1 calls are made from cell phones today and by providing home address in the profile, the call-taker can possibly better verify the location of the incident when time is of the essence.
- Prepare First Responders - In COVID-19 times, by including vaccination data and other household information, the first responders can know vital information prior to arrival.
- Get Resources Needed - Medical details and conditions such as allergies, medicines, mental health situations and autism can be provided which can help to get the resources needed. Residents can also sign up for a safety profile in ANY language and indicate that they or someone in the household has difficulty communicating in English. 9-1-1 will know to connect them with an interpreter ASAP in an emergency.
- Save Your Pet - Do you share your home with pets? This information can assist firefighters in their search to bring everyone, including your pets, to safety.
Know your location: Did you know that cell phones do not give exact locations?
- Cell phones ping off the nearest cell tower from where you are calling from and that’s why it’s important to provide call-takers with your exact location.
- It’s helpful to give landmarks, such as buildings, parks or cross streets, etc. to identify where you are since the call taker may not automatically know your location.
Call first, then Text: Although an initial text to 9-1-1 is not yet available in Chicago, the 9-1-1 system can receive voice communications and then enter text conversation BUT only when your call is answered by a call-taker first.
Try to stay calm, listen carefully: Do your best to remain calm, give as much information as you can and follow all instructions. In an emergency, seconds matter, so being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference. Knowing what to expect when you call 9-1-1 can help reduce fear and feelings of helplessness in an emergency.
Know how to give information: Give detailed descriptions of situation/offenders, etc. including sex, age, height, weight, clothing, tattoos, scars/marks, hair, face, or complexion. Describe vehicles such as make, color, plate number or direction of escape.
Teach kids about 9-1-1: Educate children about calling 9-1-1 including: listening to instructions, knowing their address and floor/apartment number, any medical conditions of those in the home, and understanding that they should not hang up until the call-taker tells them. Also, teach kids about the seriousness of prank calling 9-1-1.
Did you know?
- Any person reporting a crime – who is not a victim - may inform the call-taker that he/she wishes to remain anonymous.
- You can send a follow-up picture to 9-1-1 from your cell phone AFTER you call 9-1-1 for an emergency.
- Call 3-1-1 to report a situation that does not pose an immediate threat to life, bodily injury or major property damage or loss, to file a police report, report a situation that does not require an immediate police response including pick-pocketing, auto theft, etc. or to report other offenses when the suspect is no longer at the scene.
- If 9-1-1 is accidentally called, it’s important to stay on the line and tell the call-taker that you do not have an emergency. Call-takers will typically call back a number that is a hang-up, so let them know it was a non-intentional call.
- A wireless phone with no active service can still call 9-1-1 so don’t give old phones to children as toys.
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Save the Dates - May 2021 CAPS Beat Meetings |
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We encourage all River North residents to participate
in their CAPS Beat Meetings.
Save the dates for May!
What is CAPS? CAPS stands for Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy. CAPS is a partnership between police and community that is the foundation of community policing. CAPS uses Beats to develop relationships between the community and the police.
CAPS meetings offer city residents an opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat officers who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing feedback, which help the police to monitor crime issues. The beat meeting is a chance to meet your neighbors and come up with strategies that affect the community.
CLICK HERE to view the full 2021 schedule of District 018 CAPS Beat Meetings.
CLICK HERE to view the full 2021 shedule of District 012 CAPS Beat Meetings.
District 018 2021 May Schedule
District 012 2021 May Schedule
Other Resources for 18th District
Other Resources for 12th District
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Announcements/News/Information |
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City of Chicago Files Public Nuisance Case Against Eurostar Hotel, 660 North State Street
A number of residents have contacted Alderman Reilly’s office with concerns regarding the Eurostar Magnificent Mile Hotel, located at 660 North State Street.
Alderman Reilly began discussing these concerns about downtown hotels with the Illinois Hotel Lodging Association (IHLA), the Department of Business Affairs (BACP), and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) in July, 2020. As some residents may know, several downtown hotels have reduced their rates to an all-time low because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These low rates, coupled with the limited hours and capacity of downtown entertainment venues, have transformed hotels into convenient alternatives to bars and restaurants.
Eurostar Hotel was identified as a “hotspot” location based on numerous reports Alderman Reilly's office received of large gatherings, guests throwing bottles from balconies, lighting fires on balconies, and not enforcing proper safety protocols or other COVID-19 restrictions. Most alarming was a recent media report that a CPD traffic stop in River North led to the arrests of 6 individuals for handgun possession; these individuals were all guests of the Eurostar Hotel.
Because of the deleterious impact the business has had on the River North community, Alderman Reilly formally requested that the BACP and CPD conduct task force investigations of the Eurostar Hotel.
Between March, 2020 and March, 2021, the BACP conducted 11 task force inspections at the hotel, and issued numerous citations for violations of Chicago Municipal Code and COVID-19 guidance.
Based on BACP’s inspection results, and the Hotel’s continued disregard for public safety, the Law Department filed a public nuisance case against the Eurostar Hotel. Please CLICK HERE to review the list of charges, which relate to specific incidents of public nuisance and noncompliance with COVID guidelines. These charges will be resolved via the Mayor’s License Discipline Commission (MLDC) at a “virtual” hearing.
The Rules and other information about the MLDC hearings being conducted on the Cisco Webex platform are available on BACP's website HERE. If you wish to stay up to date on the matter, please use the information below to virtually access the meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 9:30 AM.
Meeting Number: 187 840 0346
Passcode: 1234
Join by Phone: (312) 535-8110
Access Code: 187 840 0346
Please continue to report any issues requiring immediate Police attention in real-time by calling 9-1-1.
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April is Overflow Action Month
Find out how you can make a difference!
Since 1979, Friends has been working to improve the health of the Chicago River system for the benefit of people and wildlife and by doing so, has laid the foundation for the river to be a beautiful, continuous, easily accessible corridor of open space in the Chicago region.
Friends of the Chicago River's #OverflowActionDay is an attempt to relieve pressure on the sewer system to protect the river system. Based on the concept of Ozone Action Days, Overflow Action Days alert people before, during, and after rain storms when we need to minimize the amount of water going down our drains to reduce the chance of a combined sewer overflow.
April has been designated as "Overflow Action Month" to help raise awareness of the issue right before Spring's heavy rainfalls. CLICK HERE to listen to Friend's introductory video explaining the problem and campaign.
Join Friends of the Chicago River and MWRD this month as they spotlight the collective work being done in the region to address the issue, featuring partners like the Sierra Club, Metropolitan Planning Council, Shedd Aquarium and and the Center for Neighborhood Technology.
CLICK HERE to find out how you can make a difference and to sign up for Overflow Action Alerts.
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Spring Boat Runs Start Saturday, April 17
The City of Chicago began the first of its annual spring sail boat runs on Saturday, April 17, with the raising of 27 bridges from S. Ashland Ave. to Lake Shore Drive. The annual boat runs allow recreational sail boats to move from boat storage yards to harbors in Lake Michigan. Chicago’s harbors will open officially on May 1.
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has completed testing each bridge and will lift the movable bridges over the south and main branches of the Chicago River, allowing boats to safely and easily move into summer docking locations up and down the shoreline.
During boat runs, the bridges are raised sequentially, typically one at a time. Each bridge lift takes an average of eight to 12 minutes. Because of construction work on the Lake Shore Drive Bridge, the lift could take up to 45 minutes.
The spring 2021 bridge lift schedule is as follows:
• Saturday, April 17, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 21, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, April 24, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, April 28, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, May l, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 5, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, May 8, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 12, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, May 15, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 19, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, May 22, 8 a.m
• Wednesday, May 26, 9:30 a.m.
• **No Lift on Saturday, May 29**
• Wednesday, June 2, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, June 5, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 9, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, June 12, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 16, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, June 19, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 23, 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday, June 26, 8 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 30, 9:30 a.m.
It typically takes about four hours for the boats to reach the lake and lift the 27 bridges. Please plan accordingly when getting around on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
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Driver's License And ID Card Expiration Dates
Extended To August 1
Secretary of State Jesse White has extended all driver’s license and ID card expiration dates an additional two months in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All expired driver’s licenses and ID cards, as well as those expiring over the next four months, are now valid until August 1, 2021. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. Click here to read the full press release.
Many services offered by the Secretary of State's Office are available online. Visit cyberdriveillinois.com for a full list of services.
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One Summer Chicago Youth Internships & Employment Opportunities |
One Summer Chicago brings together government institutions, community-based organizations, and companies to offer over 20,000 employment and internship opportunities to youth and young adults ages 14 to 24. While applications are due June 1, this popular program consistently has significantly more applicants than available jobs, so apply as soon as possible. Click here for more information.
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FILM NOTICE - FILMING CANCELLED
Earlier this week, we were given notice of Chicago Med filming near the Kinzie Street Bridge on April 22 and 23. We were notified today that filming at this location will not take place.
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Download the FREE
My River North Mobile App
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Check out the deals on the My River North mobile app! Over 50 Sponsors!
Download the app FREE
The “My River North” mobile app provides convenient access to River North news, events and resources, plus special discount offers at a variety of participating local businesses.
Show the deal on the app to the participating business, hit "REDEEM" and enjoy the discount!
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Welcome New & Returning RNRA Sponsors |
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Featured on My River North mobile app!
Check out their deals!
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Erie-LaSalle Body Shop
& Car Care Centers
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Family owned and operated for 87 YEARS, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop & Car Care Centers offer Intelligent, Professional Repair and Insurance Claims service. Our highly trained technicians and staff work tirelessly in the State-of-the-Art repair facility to provide a flawless experience for our clients. Our family serving yours since 1934. Check out our deal on My River North mobile app.
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News and information websites serving the Loop and Near North neighborhoods of downtown Chicago. loopnorth.com
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Volunteer Activities/Community |
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Donate Bagged Meals For Those In Need
The Chicago Help Initiative is working with local partners to collect and distribute bagged meals to those in need. Bagged meals include 1-2 sandwiches with the type of meat labeled, a piece of soft fruit (Ex. clementine, banana, etc.), a snack (Ex. chips, pretzels, cookies, etc.), and water or juice. Below are available drop off locations:
Providence Soup Kitchen (1351 W. Evergreen Avenue) collects bagged meals every Monday from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE.
St. Chrysostom’s (1424 N. Dearborn Street) collects bagged meals every Wednesday from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE.
First Saint Paul's Chicago (1301 N. LaSalle Drive) collects bagged meals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Use the entrance on Goethe Street. For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE.
Catholic Charities (721 N. LaSalle Drive) collects bagged meals every Saturday from 9:30am to 10:30am. For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE.
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The Anti-Cruelty Society is more than a shelter. They are a comprehensive animal welfare organization whose mission is to build a community of caring by helping pets and educating people.
Check out adoptions, fun virtual events and volunteer opportunities.
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Support Our First Responders |
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Claude Monet 'Poppy Field (Giverny)' 1890-91, image courtesy of Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations |
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Art on theMART is back for Spring
Art on theMART is back this Spring and started April 1! Kicking the season off are two new programs from The Adler Planetarium and Art Institute of Chicago. The program will run nightly at 8:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. In keeping with City of Chicago guidelines, all visitors must practice social distancing and wear a face covering while viewing the projections.
Astrographics will explore ways in which humans conceptualize and visualize their universe, and how that has changed over time. The piece will consist of four movements (Earth, Other Worlds, Stars and Beyond) which will transport the viewer from Earth to other planets and stars, then out to deeper and more speculative realms. Each of these movements features scientific visualizations based on real data showing the scale of the universe.
In conjunction with the Art Institute of Chicago’s exhibition Monet and Chicago, Art on theMART illuminates the city’s historic riverfront building with projections of six iconic paintings by famed Impressionist Claude Monet, including Monet’s Water Lilies and Stacks of Wheat, accompanied by the classical music composition “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy.
Art on theMART will also project captivating portraits by contemporary American artist Bisa Butler in alignment with the Art Institute of Chicago’s exhibition Bisa Butler: Portraits.
For more information about Art on theMART and upcoming programming, please click here.
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Earth Day Month Webinars
Join Bridget Degnen, Cook County Commissioner in District 12, for these free webinars.
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Thursday, April 22nd at 6 PM CST for “What Government is Doing for the Environment” REGISTER HERE.
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Thursday, April 29th at 6 PM CST for “What Businesses Can Do for the Environment.” REGISTER HERE.
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CLICK HERE to see the April 2021 Earth Month calendar
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Alderman Reilly and Commissioner Degnen
to Host Electronics Recycling Event
Next Saturday, April 24!
Located at 360 E. North Water Street (between New and McClurg)
Alderman Reilly and Commissioner Degnen are hosting an Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, April 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at 360 East North Water Street (North side of North Water Street, between New Street and McClurg Court). Acceptable electronics include:
• cables and computers
• DVD and VCR players
• microwaves and small appliances
• TV's and satellite dishes
• printers and fax machines
Representatives from Alderman Reilly and Commissioner Degnen’s Offices will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city or county related matters.
We look forward to seeing you at the Electronics Recycling Event!
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DAME MYRA HESS MEMORIAL CONCERTS
Free from International Music Foundation
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The Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts are made possible through the generosity of the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Family Foundation, the Peggy and Steve Fossett Foundation, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sage Foundation, the Pauls Foundation, and the Union League Club of Chicago.
Broadcast live on WFMT 98.7 fm and streamed live at www.wfmt.com.
WEDNESDAYS - TIME: 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
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Join Near North Unity for their monthly meeting via ZOOM.
The Zoom Link will be posted here closer to the meeting date or you can follow NNUP on Facebook.
The Near North Unity Program (NNUP) was formed in November 2010. NNUP seeks to promote and strengthen community cohesion in Chicago’s Near North community and to connect existing sub-communities into a resilient neighborhood by building upon local strengths through planning, organizing and human development.
Near North is defined by the following boundaries: North Avenue to Chicago Avenue, Wells Avenue to Halsted Street.
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Is your Property an RNRA Member? Talk to your Property Manager to join today! |
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The more properties that join, the stronger our voice!
RNRA is a not-for-profit community organization established in 1997 to protect and enhance the quality of life for those who call River North their home. We are proud to represent over 21,000 residents – the highest membership level in RNRA history!
Once a property joins, all of its residents become members. If you aren’t a member, talk to your Property Manager or Community Manager about joining. We are more likely to be heard if we speak with one voice.
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Vaccines Available To All Chicago Residents 16+ Beginning April 19
On Monday, April 19, all Chicagoans, age 16 and older, will be eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. As a reminder, the best way to get vaccinated is by calling your doctor, health clinic, community health center, or hospital where you receive primary healthcare services. If you do not have a healthcare provider, go to Zocdoc (the City’s vaccine appointment tool) or Chicago.gov/VaccineFinder to find a vaccine provider nearby.
As cases continue to rise, CDPH encourages all Chicagoans to receive the vaccine as soon as they are eligible and able. The City has been making significant progress in its vaccination efforts.
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Ways to Sign Up for a
COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment
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At this time, there is no centralized City of Chicago registration system for making an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The following resources are available to help residents schedule an appointment:
Your Healthcare Provider
Your first contact should be the primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have gotten medical care in the past.
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If you do not have insurance, one option is to enroll with one of Chicago’s many Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Download the FQHC flyers in English and Spanish.
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Health care providers can still sign-up to be vaccine providers.
Zocdoc
Zocdoc's new COVID-19 website is designed to help residents book appointments to receive the vaccine at City POD sites and community healthcare organizations.
- Residents will need to first confirm their eligibility and complete a brief pre-screening questionnaire.
- Residents can sign up to receive email notifications letting them know when appointments become available by completing a pre-screening questionnaire.
- Appointments for the new United Center vaccination site are now available on Zocdoc
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Click here to visit the Zocdoc COVID-19 website.
Your Pharmacy
The City has provided vaccines to pharmacies across Chicago. These pharmacies each have their own registration link, which can be found below.
City and State Vaccine Finder Maps
Both the City and the State have released interactive maps that show which providers are currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine. Available locations are updated daily.
Your Employer
- CDPH is working directly with employers as vaccine becomes available; for example, first responders are already being vaccinated and others will begin soon.
- If you will receive your vaccine through your employer, you do not need to take any other action.
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CDC Guidelines For Vaccinated Adults
The CDC released health and safety guidelines for adults who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please note that you are only fully vaccinated if:
- It has been two weeks since you received the second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- It has been two weeks since you received a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
We are still learning about how vaccines affect the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, even after you have been fully vaccinated, you should keep taking the following precautions:
- Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces whenever you are:
- In Public
- Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
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Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk
- Avoid medium or large size gatherings.
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Watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you have been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others
- Follow all of your workplace's COVID-19 guidance.
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Get Updates On The Vaccine Rollout
With Chi COVID Coach
The City of Chicago's Chi COVID Coach provides helpful information about what to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms and updates on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Registration is free, and your information will be protected and only used by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) for public health purposes related to COVID-19. To sign up, fill out this brief intake form. Please note that Chi COVID Coach in NOT a vaccine registry.
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Find a COVID-19 Testing Site |
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The State of Illinois has created websites to help residents find a variety of COVID-19 testing sites, many of which do not require an appointment or insurance. Use the links below to find a testing site near you:
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Find a Community Health Center |
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There are approximately 165 community health centers throughout the City of Chicago. No patient will be turned away because of inability to pay. Find the nearest community health center at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
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