Popular Spring Event Will Celebrate Its 5th Year

Lincoln Central's popular family-friendly Spring event, Spring Zing, will return for its 5th consecutive year on Saturday, June 2nd. The event will be held at Lincoln Central Park (corner of Lincoln & Dickens) and along Richard "Dickie" Harris Way (the stretch of Dickens between Lincoln & Larrabee).

Attention Local Business Owners

Businesses interested in being a sponsor of Spring Zing, or other LCA events, should contact us at events@lincolncentral.org or at 773.531.5515. Hundreds from the neighborhood attend Spring Zing each year. Nintey-five percent of attendees at Lincoln Central events walk to them, meaning they can also walk to your businesses. Take advantage of LCA's award-winning event promotion.

Both Officials Stressed Importance of Neighborhood Groups and Praised Lincoln Central's Accomplishments

At LCA's recent our annual meeting and election, held on Wednesday evening, January 24th at Tobacco Road Tap Room (2239 N. Lincoln Avenue), long-time members mingled with new members and other neighborhood guests to reflect on shared accomplishments, discuss neighborhood issues and simply get to know each other. The meeting was followed by an LCA-hosted neighborhood reception.

Special guests included 5th District Congressman Mike Quigley and 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith who both addressed the crowd and stressed the important role neighborhood associations play in helping shape the quality of life in our communities. The congressman complimented LCA on its family-friendly neighborhood events at which he is a frequent guest, noting his enjoyment of biking to the December 2 holiday tree lighting ceremony in Oz Park. Alderman Smith recently referred to the tree lighting ceremony, jointly hosted by LCA and the Oz Park Advisory Council, as "the most amazing thing Lincoln Park has done in decades."

During her remarks, the Alderman thanked LCA members for their commitment to the community, mentioning the organization's role with zoning, safety, parks, schools events and more. She remarked that the neighborhood associations in Lincoln Park have been involved in every significant improvement and important decision in the neighborhoods for decades. She encouraged those in attendance to learn more about Lincoln Park's neighborhood groups.

Kenneth Dotson thanked both the Congressman and Alderman for their continued support of Lincoln Central and especially for taking time to attend the event. He also thanked long-time LCA member Judy Johanson for her contributions to the neighborhood in her role as Chair of the Oz Park Advisory Council and expressed appreciation for the contributions of three outgoing members of the Board, Secretary James Borkman, Betsy Costello and Bob Segal.

The meeting and reception included a "best of Lincoln Central" slide show featuring neighbors enjoying LCA events, key awards won by the organization, and recognition of sponsors who helped support LCA throughout the year.

Other special guests at the meeting included Carter Harms, Chief of Staff for State Representative Ann Williams, and Alderman Smith's Chief of Staff, Adam Gypalo.

1 crime report new on April 25 at 1:54 a.m. April 25, 2018
Crime report 1900 block N. Cleveland Ave. Theft Theft: $300 and under / Residential yard (front / back) 1900 block N. Cleveland Ave. April 16, 2018 @ noon This link is hosted on an external website. Are you sure you’d like to continue? .ui-draggable .ui-dialog-titlebar { cursor: move; background: #22558c; color: #ffffff; width: 93%; } […]
8 photos new on April 24 at 1:58 a.m. April 24, 2018
8 Photos damiandude posted 8 photos to Flickr: This link is hosted on an external website. Are you sure you’d like to continue? .ui-draggable .ui-dialog-titlebar { cursor: move; background: #22558c; color: #ffffff; width: 93%; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane .ui-dialog-buttonset { float: left; padding-left: 35%; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane button{ color: black; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane{ background: #f4f4f4; } […]
3 Crime Reports new on April 24 at 1:57 a.m. April 24, 2018
3 Crime Reports Criminal damage Vandalism: Criminal damage to vehicle / Street 2100 block N. Cleveland Ave. April 15, 2018 @ 2:21 p.m. Theft Theft: Over $300 / Street 2300 block N. Clark St. April 15, 2018 @ 8:45 p.m. Theft: Over $300 / Street 2300 block N. Clark St. April 15, 2018 @ 9:50 […]
1 crime report new on April 23 at 2:06 a.m. April 23, 2018
Crime report 700 block W. Webster Ave. Theft Theft: From building / Restaurant 700 block W. Webster Ave. April 14, 2018 @ 2:30 p.m. This link is hosted on an external website. Are you sure you’d like to continue? .ui-draggable .ui-dialog-titlebar { cursor: move; background: #22558c; color: #ffffff; width: 93%; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane .ui-dialog-buttonset { […]
1 neighborhood news and talk new on April 22 at 9:24 p.m. April 23, 2018
Neighborhood news and talk Lincoln Park ISO venue for tiny ceremony by Sapphira We are getting married August 26th and having a brunch reception at Summer House in Lincoln Park. Our only struggle has been finding a place to have our ceremony since it’s only 30 people total (including us and officiant/photographer). We want to […]
3 Crime Reports new on April 22 at 1:56 a.m. April 22, 2018
3 Crime Reports Theft Theft: $300 and under / Apartment 500 block W. Fullerton Pkwy. April 13, 2018 @ 3:10 p.m. Theft: $300 and under / Street 500 block W. Dickens Ave. April 13, 2018 @ 9 p.m. Theft: From building / Bar or tavern 2200 block N. Lincoln Ave. April 13, 2018 @ 11:50 […]
5 Crime Reports new on April 21 at 1:54 a.m. April 21, 2018
5 Crime Reports Battery Aggravated battery: Domestic battery: knife/cutting instrument / Apartment 1900 block N. Cleveland Ave. April 12, 2018 @ 10:41 p.m. Criminal damage Vandalism: Criminal damage to vehicle / Street 800 block W. Willow St. April 12, 2018 @ 10:50 a.m. Deceptive practice Deceptive practice: Illegal use of cash card / Residence 400 […]
2 Crime Reports new on April 20 at 1:47 a.m. April 20, 2018
2 Crime Reports Burglary Burglary: Forcible entry / Apartment 2300 block N. Geneva Ter. April 11, 2018 @ 8 a.m. Theft Theft: Over $300 / Street 400 block W. Webster Ave. April 11, 2018 @ 7 p.m. This link is hosted on an external website. Are you sure you’d like to continue? .ui-draggable .ui-dialog-titlebar { […]
1 photo new on April 19 at 1:51 a.m. April 19, 2018
Photo Somewhere in Lincoln Park srboisvert posted 1 photo to Flickr: This link is hosted on an external website. Are you sure you’d like to continue? .ui-draggable .ui-dialog-titlebar { cursor: move; background: #22558c; color: #ffffff; width: 93%; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane .ui-dialog-buttonset { float: left; padding-left: 35%; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane button{ color: black; } .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane{ […]
2 Crime Reports new on April 19 at 1:50 a.m. April 19, 2018
2 Crime Reports Assault Simple assault: Simple assault / Street 2300 block N. Cleveland Ave. April 10, 2018 @ 7:55 a.m. Battery Simple battery: Simple / Street 500 block W. Fullerton Pkwy. April 10, 2018 @ 1 p.m. This link is hosted on an external website. Are you sure you’d like to continue? .ui-draggable .ui-dialog-titlebar […]

The Fire Station Park, a project of the Lincoln Central Association, has won a 2017 Chicago Excellence in Gardening Award, a city-wide gardening competition created to acknowledge the many gardeners who help to make Chicago a beautiful, sustainable and welcoming place to live and work.

Sally Drucker, LCA Parks Chair and Board Member, and LCA Vice President Kathy Jordan received the award on behalf of Lincoln Central at the awards ceremony in the Chicago Cultural Center.

LCA President Kenneth Dotson said, "Congratulations to Sally, in particular, whose vision and leadership of the park has brought this wonderful achievement to LCA."

The competition featured gardens from 26 Chicago Wards, including homes, schools, churches, universities, associations, businesses and demonstration gardens. Categories included community gardens, school gardens, residential gardens (vegetable, ornamental, specialty) and other gardens. Fire Station Park was entered in the "other" category, since it includes both vegetable and ornamental plants indigenous to Illinois.

Newsletter & Website Each Receive Awards for Publication Excellence

LCA was honored earlier this month with a Grand Award and two Excellence Awards in the 2017 APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. LCA was the only volunteer non-profit to be honored in the international communications competition, now in its 29th year.

Other organizations whose creative was honored include Ford Motor Company, American Cancer Society, Bank of America, GEICO, International Monetary Fund, Merrill Lynch, American Bar Association, Lockheed Martin, Augusta National Golf Club, Pacific Life, Disney, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Prudential Insurance, NASA, the National Football League, among others.

The Grand Award (shown below) came in the Design & Illustration category for LCA's suite of event and organization logos shown below. Judges attributed the award to (read more).

Natural Elements Salon Is "Best Place to Get Fit & Refreshed

Natural Elements Salon, owned and operated by LCA member Edda Coscioni, is the "Best Place to Get Fit and Refreshed," according to online voting in the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Top 10 Awards. The awards ceremony, hosted by WGN-AM's Patti Vasquez, was held at the Steppenwolf Theatre on October 24. Other winners Molly's Cupcakes for "Best Place for Coffee & Sweets"; Nookies for "Best Place to Brunch"; Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop for "Best Place to Shop"; the J. Parker for "Best Place to Drink"; Westend Dental for "Best Neighborhood Service Provider"; Lincoln Park Zoo for "Best Place for Arts and Culture"; and Summer House Santa Monica for "Best Place to Dine." Read more about the awards.

.......the "superb visuals" of the logos and their "clever headlines and slogans." APEX Grand Awards, the highest given in this competition, honor the most outstanding work in eleven main categories.

For the second consecutive year, LCA's newsletter, From the Heart, received an APEX Award for Publication Excellence. Judges cited a September 2016 sidebar article authored by Kathy Jordan on the late Conrad Moulton, father of local artist Josh Moulton, as an example of the newsletter's quality content. The senior Moulton was a famed, New York-based illustrator of print advertising, text books, and encyclopedias for four decades. APEX Excellence Awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the ability to achieve overall communications effectiveness.

LCA's website also received an APEX Award for Publication Excellence, in the 1 to 2 Person Published Website category.

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Apr 26, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, May 8, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, May 24, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Jun 12, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Jun 28, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Jul 10, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Jul 26, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Aug 14, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Aug 23, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Sep 11, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Sep 27, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Oct 9, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Oct 25, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Nov 13, 2018 – LCA Monthly Zoning Meeting
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Nov 22, 2018 – LCA Monthly Board Meeting

With dozens of kids breaking through a "Bauler 2016" banner, the Bauler playground at Wisconsin and Cleveland opened to the public after months of work to remove old equipment and install new, updated playground equipment loaded with innovative, fun pieces to explore.

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 renovation was part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's "Chicago Plays" initiative, which is providing updated equipment for playgrounds in the city.

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 is included in the November issue of From the Heart.

New Holiday Tradition Established in Lincoln Park

Oz Park's First Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony was an overwhelming success, as hundreds of people from throughout Lincoln Park gathered to celebrate the beginning of the season. Produced and hosted by Lincoln Central Association and the Oz Park Advisory Council as a gift to the neighborhood, the ceremony took place at 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 2nd, at the large evergreen tree just south of the Tin Man in Oz Park.

Brief remarks by LCA President Kenneth Dotson, OPAC President Judy Johanson, 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, and 5th District Congressman Mike Quigley opened the lighting ceremony followed by carols sung by choristers from Lincoln Park High School. Johanson then led the crowd in clicking their heels and counting "1-2-3" as suddenly the tree became ablaze with lights. The ceremony ended with everyone joining in singing a chorus of "Jingle Bells."

"It was an honor to be a part of the first-ever Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Oz Park," said Alderman Smith. "A huge thank you to Lincoln Central Association and the Oz Park Advisory Council for uniting the neighborhood at this celebration and for establishing such an meaningful new tradition for our community. I look forward to seeing the tree lit for years to come"

Early arrivers to the tree lighting ceremony were able to visit with Santa Claus, a guest of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce at their Winter Warm-Up event on Lincoln Avenue. which was headquartered at the Tin Man. Winter Warm-Up also featured carols sung by performers from the Old Town School of Folk Music. LCA and OPAC are grateful to the Chamber of Commerce for locating and timing their event to benefit the tree lighting.

Based on the success of the ceremony and strong neighborhood feedback, LCA and OPAC plan to make the tree lighting celebration an annual gift from the two organizations to the neighborhood.