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Cool Yule

Wishing you and yours a merry, merry Christmas. Cheers!

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A couple of tunes from some talented friends.

a loss to the neighborhood

Tomorrow we will lose another neighborhood small business. Business has been bad for a while, for too long. It seems that folks around here value corporate sameness more than independent businesses.

Blue Moon Cafe will be closing its doors for good at 5 p.m. Caroline Mooney has given us many special things - special events for kids, Mardi Gras nights, live music, political discussion nights, and foreign language round tables. For me, Blue Moon has been a pleasant home away from home when I wanted to escape from the cats for a while.

She's selling off coffee beans, Maui, Tazo and Torani products. You've still got a chance to pick some up tomorrow before she closes.

I've enjoyed many delicious lunches and time spent chatting with Caroline. I'll miss her delicious cookies and sandwiches. 99th Street won't be the same without her.

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Two from the Go-Gos. I always thought they were underrated back in the day.

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Two from Morphine.

free document shredding on 12/4

Do you have a pile of private documents you no longer need but no shredder to securely dispose of them? Bring them to 19th Ward "SHRED-A-THON" next Saturday 12/4 from 9:00 a.m. to NOON at the parking lot for Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W. 111th St.

Midway Document Destruction's mobile shredding truck will be in the parking lot, offering free paper shredding to 19th Ward residents. You can get rid of any old or unwanted papers containing sensitive information, and protect yourself against identity theft, which could be a problem if you put these documents into the trash.

Bring any documents you no longer need or want but that might contain personal or private information, and have them shredded on the spot, then taken away to be recycled. Examples include:

• Bank statements
• Outdated medical records
• Pay stubs
• Old bills and receipts
• Credit card offers
• Tax returns older than seven years

Sponsored by: Alderman Ginger Rugai's office, and Midway Document Destruction

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A very cool take on Temptation by Either/Orchestra and Mark Sandman (of Morphine).

do your kids want to ride the CTA holiday train?

Or are you a big kid who enjoys it yourself? Santa has already started riding the rails. Here's the holiday train schedule for all CTA train lines from now thru December 22.

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art exhibit opening reception this Sunday

There will be an art exhibit opening reception this Sunday 11/14, 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Vanderpoel Gallery in Ridge Park Fieldhouse, 9625 S. Longwood Drive. The exhibit will feature oil paintings by Irene Smith.

Gallery hours: Tues and Thurs 1-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to noon. For information or appointments, call 773/779-0007.

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Beverly All Stars at Iona's on 11/10

The Beverly All Stars will be back at Iona's tomorrow night. Steve and James will be playing, possibly with a special guest or two.

If you haven't tried Iona's yet, you can find it at 1767 W. 95th St., opposite the 95th St. Metra station (773.233.0027). It's a friendly little place with delicious Southern comfort food. Come on down for dinner or dessert with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

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in memory of Gershwin 1997-2010

In the years he was with us, many people in the neighborhood got to know and love Gershwin the Old English sheepdog. No matter how beloved a dog is, he's not with us forever. Our neighborhood recently lost a wonderful furry friend to cancer and old age.

We'll miss you, Gershwin.

household hazardous and electronic waste collection on Sat. 11/6

The Green Sanctuary Group of Beverly Unitarian Church will collect household hazardous waste and electronics for recycling Sat. 11/6, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the church parking lot, 10244 S. Longwood Dr. (the Castle). For details on which items are accepted, click here and scroll down on the Green Sanctuary Group page.

Modest contributions to help offset transportation costs are appreciated. For more information, call 773-233-7080.

Beverly All Stars on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be back at Iona's tomorrow night. They'll be playing in a duo configuration as they did last winter at Iona's.

If you haven't tried Iona's yet, you can find it at 1767 W. 95th St., opposite the 95th St. Metra station (773.233.0027). It's a friendly little place with tasty Southern comfort food. Come on down for dinner or dessert with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

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Two versions of Summertime... Say goodbye to summer. I think it's really gone now. TGIF!!

Beverly All Stars on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be back at Iona's tonight. They'll be playing in a duo configuration as they did last winter at Iona's.

If you haven't tried Iona's yet, you can find it at 1767 W. 95th St., opposite the 95th St. Metra station (773.233.0027). It's a friendly little place with tasty Southern comfort food. Come on down for dinner or dessert with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

family bike ride this Sunday 10/17

The Beverly Improvement Association will host a family bike ride this Sunday 10/17, starting at 3:30 p.m. from Cosme Park, 91st St. by the Metra station. Everyone is invited to join their neighbors for a short bike ride along the Major Taylor Trail (about 2.5 miles round trip). It's a great way to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

wildlife in Beverly

One of our neighborhood coyotes took a stroll down Damen this morning. Around 10 a.m., I came out to do some garden clean-up. A woman walking her dog asked if I'd seen the coyote. Apparently it had gone down Damen from 96th to 98th just before I came out. A little while later, a few neighbors were saying that they'd seen it, too.

Has Wily Coyote paid a visit to your block? If you have small dogs or cats, you may not want to let them out unsupervised. Coyotes tend to be shy around people, but they like to eat smaller animals. Don't let your pet become a meal for a coyote!

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Three from Steely Dan. TGIF....

string bike

Check out the string bike, including a video. What do you think?

Barristers Big Band on Friday night

On Friday evening 10/8, you can enjoy a free public concert by the Barristers Big Band starting at 6 p.m. The band features Steve Thomas, keyboard player for the Beverly All Stars. This concert will be in the Pritzker Auditorium of the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S State St. in the Loop. The concert theme is Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters, with all original arrangements of this exciting and timeless music. Tickets are not required.

Beverly All Stars on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be back at Iona's tomorrow night (10/6). They plan to play on a duo configuration on a few Wednesday nights as they did last winter.

If you haven't tried Iona's yet, you can find it at 1767 W. 95th St., opposite the 95th St. Metra station (773.233.0027). It's a friendly little place with tasty Southern comfort food. Come on down for dinner or dessert with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

History Mystery Bike Tour tomorrow

Have you been curious about BAPA's History Mystery Bike Tour? You can try it for yourself tomorrow starting at noon. Click here for more info.

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Three from Steve Goodman... a few of you may know the relevance of the first tune this week.





Saving the best for last...

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One from Boston's Bim Skala Bim - a blast from the past.

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Five years after...

today at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Tonight is the last night that the Beverly All Stars will play at Blue Moon on a regular basis. Starting in September, Blue Moon will no longer be open in the evenings. Look for more info soon on new hours and a revised menu, and visit Caroline to enjoy her delicious breakfast and lunch creations in addition to coffee, tea, and other tasty treats.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

cool music Mondays at Beverly Arts Center

BAC's Cool Music Mondays features jazz/fusion by the Sam Sinclair Trio on Monday 8/23, 7 to 9 p.m., 111th & Western. FREE

CAPS meeting, beat 2211

If you live in Beat 2211, your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thurs. 8/19 (3rd Thursday of each month) at Mount Greenwood Park Fieldhouse. 3721 W. 111th St. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0570

Wednesdays at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

ride or run on Tuesdays and Thursdays

If you want to ride your bike or run on Tuesday or Thursday nights, you can find a group.

Beverly Bike Club meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Starbucks at 103rd & Longwood - arrive at 6:30 p.m. to leave soon after. Rides are at a slow to moderate pace, less than 20 miles, depending on who shows up and how fast they want to ride.

Running Excels, a new running store at 10328 S. Western, hosts group runs (all levels) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting at 6 p.m. sharp. They provide water and Gatorade.

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A ska two-fer from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones...

Wednesdays at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

CAPS meeting, beat 2213

If you live in Beat 2213 (95th St. on the north, 103rd St. on the south, Vincennes on the east, Western on the west), your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thurs. 8/12 (2nd Thursday of each month) at Ridge Park fieldhouse, 9625 S. Longwood. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0620

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Wednesdays at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

CAPS meeting, beat 2212

If you live in Beat 2212, your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thurs. 8/5 (1st Thursday of every month) at the 22nd District Police Station, 1900 W. Monterey Ave. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0620

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cool music Mondays at Beverly Arts Center

BAC's Cool Music Mondays features jazz/fusion by the Sam Sinclair Trio on Monday 8/2, 7 to 9 p.m., 111th & Western. FREE

today at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

CAPS meeting, beat 2221

If you live in Beat 2221 (87th St. on the north, 95th St. on the south, Laflin on the east, Western on the west), your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Tues. 8/3 (1st Tuesday of each month) at Christ the King School, 9240 S. Hoyne. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0620

thinking of trying car sharing?

I-Go is running a promotion now thru 7/31 that's a really great deal. Join for just $25 and get a $25 credit for free driving. To take advantage of this offer, just enter the promo code HOT FOR IGO in the Promotions section of the online application form. The $25 driving credit must be used within 30 days of joining.

Our Beverly I-Go location is at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood. (Note: They reference the 96th St. address that marks the parking lot entrance.) The car's assigned parking space is in the parking lot between the fieldhouse and baseball diamonds.

If enough people join and regularly use an I-Go car in our neighborhood, one or more additional cars could be added. I-Go has been very responsive to demand in other neighborhoods.

If you only need a car for errands or social occasions, don't need one all day, and can plan ahead, car sharing can offer a very affordable alternative to owning, maintaining and insuring a car. I donated my car last year, and have used my bike, public transit and car sharing since then. It could be an option for you.

Beverly art feast today 11-6

The Beverly Art Feast is happening today, Sunday 7/25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featuring food by Cafe 103 and Calabria, face painting for the kids, music presented by the Music Station, performers from Beverly Arts Center, the Blossom Boys, and many other neighborhood businesses and organizations. Free admission. Come on down to 103rd St. near the Metra station and enjoy!

good news on 95th St.

The other day I was heading east on 95th St. and noticed a sign with an interesting bit of news. The railroad crossing at 400W, which has been in terrible condition for years, is finally to be repaired. According to the sign, 95th St. will be closed to all traffic at this location starting MONDAY 7/26. They're supposed to be done within a week.

We can look forward to smoother sailing from the Dan Ryan to Beverly very soon.

cool music Mondays at Beverly Arts Center

BAC's Cool Music Mondays features a DJ set by Ramsey Zabout on Monday 7/26, 7 to 9 p.m., 111th & Western. FREE

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Dick Buckley

It's been 2 years since Dick Buckley signed off the air.  I hear him occasionally in voiceovers, but I still miss his show.  *sigh*

* * * * * * *

I had written this item and was about to post it when I heard the news that Dick Buckley has died. R.I.P., Dick.  You must be in jazz heaven now, listening to the good old good ones.  Here's to you.

bottle bombs

A friend just sent me a link about an alarming problem: innocent looking plastic bottles filled with explosive liquid left in people's yards.  This is no joke.

Most of us would think nothing of picking up plastic bottles left in our yards.  Take a careful look next time you find one.  People are finding plastic bottle bombs in their mailboxes and yards.  Look for:

1.  Ordinary plastic bottle (from water or pop)
2.  A little Drano
3.  A little water
4.  A small piece of foil.

If you move it, it can explode very quickly, spraying you with acid.  It can blow off your fingers and burn your face and other body parts.  If you find a bomb with these elements, call 911 and don't touch it.

Click here to watch a video on the problem.  Here's a news story from another source.  Be careful out there!

movie at Ridge Park 7/22

You can see School of Rock at a free movie night at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood, courtesy of the 19th Ward Youth Foundation and Chicago Park District.  Bring your blankets or lawn chairs, and don't forget your Off to keep those pesky mosquitoes away.  The movie starts at dusk, Thursday 7/22.

cool music Mondays at Beverly Arts Center

The Beverly All Stars will be doing a special show at Beverly Arts Center (111th & Western) on today 7/19 from 7 to 9 p.m. It's part of BAC's free Cool Music Mondays series, running through the end of August.

balloon fun

If you're looking for someone to create balloon art and entertain for a kids' party or other special event, you may want to check out Jami's web site.

green choices - saving water

After all the flooding we've had this spring, we're now at the other end of the scale - hot and dry.  It's a good time to think about saving water.  With increased suburban sprawl and growing water usage, the demand for Lake Michigan water keeps increasing.

Want to reduce flooding? Try rain barrels - this also means that you use less municipal water for watering your garden and lawn and put less back into the system that needs to be processed.  Removing concrete and asphalt and replacing it with stone or concrete pavers in a gravel bed, or permeable pavement, can significantly reduce the amount of runoff that goes into the streets and the sewer system.

And how can you reduce water usage, aside from obvious things like fixing drippy faucets and not running the water while brushing your teeth?

When you're running water waiting for your shower to heat up, put a bucket under the spigot.  If you have a two handle set-up, you can run that water at a trickle instead of full force.  You'll get hot water just as fast.  Save the water to use for watering your plants or flushing your toilet. If you use a dehumidifier in your basement, save that water for the same uses. You can also use it for watering your compost if you have a compost bin.

Got other ideas?  Feel free to share them in comments.

when bicycles ruled Chicago

Did you know about Chicago's role in the bicycle industry? This
article on Gapers Block is worth a read.

wild onions

Did you know the origin of the name Chicago?

And here's its namesake.

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a new community garden in Chicago

Community gardens have become havens in many Chicago neighborhoods. Whether they are vegetable gardens, providing healthy food in food desert neighborhoods, or gardens of flowers and ornamentals to nourish the soul, they help to make the city a better place to live.

Yesterday I attended the dedication of a new community garden in Englewood, the Heritage Station garden. It's part of a larger plan to create green space in the neighborhood.  One of the organizers of the project, Terina Cranshaw-Hodges, expressed hope that people could find peace in the neighborhood's green spaces and that she would like to see an end to violence in the neighborhood.  The celebration was a beautiful realization of the plans described in this CBS news feature from a year ago.

Several local musicians entertained the crowd.  My favorite was 11-year-old Max Lulich, a talented violinist.

This location has historical significance to Englewood, and to the African American people of Chicago.  It was formerly a train station, the location where many new arrivals from the South took their first steps into a new life in Chicago during the Great Migration.  Amtrak trains still pass overhead, although the station itself is long gone.

Camera crews from local TV stations were there to cover the event.  Here are links to stories by WGN (ch. 9) and ABC (ch. 7).

Stay Environmentally Focus'd, a grassroots organization, worked with volunteers, aldermen and Openlands, which helped them to develop plans for the space, get benches and other amenities, construct the garden, and get funding from the Exelon Foundation to pay for it.

I'm a strong believer that green spaces in the city (parks, gardens, and trails) can help to unite neighbors within a community and create bonds with other communities.  I hope that projects like this can help to promote peace and health in neighborhoods all over the city.

a visual feast for architecture buffs

The Art Institute of Chicago recently opened an exhibit of Louis Sullivan drawings and architectural artifacts, beautifully complemented by photos of his work.

Another Sullivan exhibit just opened at the Cultural Center, right up the street. It includes drawings, photos, models, and artifacts. I think this would make an amazing double header with the Art Institute exhibit. If I did them together, I think I'd check out the Cultural Center exhibit first.

If you really wanted to geek out on Sullivan, you could take a tour of the Auditorium Theater, too. If you've never been, it's a phenomenal tour, well worth a visit.

Wednesdays at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

guilty pleasures

Time tripping on Youtube with Huey Lewis....

Workin' for a livin'
I want a new drug
Heart and Soul
Hip to be square (all the goofy close-up and wide-angle shots in this one amuse me)

Makes me wish I could time travel back to 1983 for a while. *sigh*

time to make some 311 calls

I got an answer from Ginger Rugai as to why so many tree pieces are still left on the parkways from the big storm 3 weeks ago. Due to the widespread damage and the fact that nearly every block in our neighborhood was hit, I think that many people assumed there would be a comprehensive block-by-block pick-up of storm debris. That would have been too logical and efficient.

She says that each remaining location needs to be reported to 311 so that forestry knows where to go. Let's make some 311 calls, folks! That debris needs to go.

CAPS meeting, beat 2211

If you live in Beat 2211, your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thurs. 7/15 (3rd Thursday of each month) at Mount Greenwood Park Fieldhouse. 3721 W. 111th St. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0570

art opening/book signing at BAC 7/10

You can visit a special exhibit at the Beverly Arts Center. It's a celebration of the recently published book "Annie Bananie, My Forever Home" by Beverly author Monica Joyce with illustrations by artist Anne Farley Gaines. The exhibit will include other recent Gaines work.

The exhibit opening and book signing is happening from 6:30-9:00 p.m. tomorrow (Sat. 7/10) at BAC. See you there!

Green Ride on Sunday 7/11

The Green Ride, a bike tour of environmentally friendly sites in the 19th Ward is happening on Sunday 7/11, starting at 9 a.m., rain or shine. The event starts at Ridge Park (96th & Longwood), beginning with a Get Ready to Ride bike maintenance and safety workshop, followed by the tour of green and sustainable sites at 10 a.m. Click here for registration info and other details.

bike drive 7/10

Do you have one or more old bikes that you no longer use? Would you like to donate them to a good cause.

The 3rd Annual Beverly Bike Drive will be held this Saturday 7/10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Beverly Bank parking lot, 1908 W. 103rd St.

bike race tonight (7/9)

Are you going to the bike race on Friday night? Check out the action. Here's more info from the BAPA web site.

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Hey, maybe it's a cliche at this point, but this Queen classic seemed like a logical choice in honor of tonight's Beverly Criterium race.

3 weeks later

Is anyone else wondering if and when all the tree branches and pieces left from the big storm 3 weeks ago will ever get picked up? I saw a lot of trucks picking up debris in the first week, but there are so many piles still there.

I can understand why some homeowners could lose patience and want to move the piles off their lawns, but blocking the street is NOT a good solution. Please don't block the street, folks. Make some phone calls instead.

Wednesdays at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz.  Want a little wine with dinner?  You can BYO for a nominal corkage fee.

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

CAPS meeting, beat 2213

If you live in Beat 2213 (95th St. on the north, 103rd St. on the south, Vincennes on the east, Western on the west), your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thurs. 7/8 (2nd Thursday of each month) at Ridge Park fieldhouse, 9625 S. Longwood. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0620

free health screenings today thru Sunday, and 7/12

This year Walgreens has teamed up with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to bring basic health tests to cities across the nation. The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is in Chicago now. The bus will be at the African Caribbean Festival of Life at 5500 S. Cottage Grove today, tomorrow (7/3) and Sunday (7/4) from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., providing FREE health screenings to anyone age 18 and older.

On Monday 7/12, the bus will be at the Walgreens at 2924 E. 92nd St. from noon to 7 p.m.

The bus provides six basic tests including glucose, cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference, bone density and blood pressure. It only takes about 15 minutes, and Walgreens representatives will go over your results with you. These tests typically cost about $140, but the tour is completely free.

You do not have to be an AARP member to get the tests, but you can get a one-year free membership to AARP for completing the tests if you want.

Many diseases can be detected long before symptoms are seen. Early detection can help you stay healthier.

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household hazardous and electronic waste collection on Sat. 7/3

The Green Sanctuary Group of Beverly Unitarian Church will collect household hazardous waste and electronics for recycling Sat. 7/3, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the church parking lot, 10244 S. Longwood Dr. (the Castle). For details on which items are accepted, click here and scroll down on the Green Sanctuary Group page.

Modest contributions to help offset transportation costs are appreciated. For more information, call 773-233-7080.

Beverly All Stars on July 4

Some of the band members will be in Nichols Park, 1355 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park for a concert program starting around noon on July 4th at the end of the parade route. Come on by to see and hear the ensemble which will include the great JIMMY ELLIS, Paul Basa, Bernie Knowski, Maurice Cade, Bob Hodge, Steve Yates – an all star lineup for this free concert program.

hummingbirds

Here's a phenomenal PBS video, using some unique new cameras and techniques to add insight into the world of hummingbirds. REALLY cool stuff! Click here to watch it full screen.

CAPS meeting, beat 2221

If you live in Beat 2221 (87th St. on the north, 95th St. on the south, Laflin on the east, Western on the west), your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Tues. 7/6 (1st Tuesday of each month) at Christ the King School, 9240 S. Hoyne. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0620

looking for something cool to do on Thursday night?

If you want to stay in the 'hood, you could go to Blue Moon for Foreign Language Roundtable or ride with the Beverly Bike Club.

If you want to go downtown, but not to the Taste, Orchestre Septentrional d'Haiti and its big band of thirteen musicians bring the sounds of merengue, konpa and bolero to the stage when they make their Chicago debut. 7:30PM at Millennium Park.

Wednesdays at Blue Moon

Senior Bike Ride meets at 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by Beverly Bicycle Shop.  For more information, call Paul Weiss at 773-238-5714.

Beverly All Stars play from 7:30 to 10 p.m.  Enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert with some tasty jazz. 

Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th, just east of the Metra tracks.

rain blockers - love 'em or hate 'em?

Last summer, our intersection only had substantial flooding in the worst rains AFTER the drains had gotten blocked by debris. This spring, the vaults under two drains were collapsing and were rebuilt. The rude surprise we got afterwards was that the city crew had added rain blockers. Now those two drains flood the intersection during every storm that generates significant rain (more than 1/2").

We have one 65-gallon rain barrel in our back yard, which is mostly used for watering gardens. There hasn't been an opportunity to use much of the water between storms, because the gardens haven't needed watering, so it hasn't helped much in reducing the amount of water flow to sewers in the most recent storms.

We've had several storms in the past month that each dropped an inch or more of rain in a very short time. Yesterday morning's storm left 2.5" of rain in our rain gauge in less than 2 hours.

As you can see from the story dates on this item and this one, this problem has been going on for several years now. And after years of using us as guinea pigs, why can't they get it right?

Tell me - do you consider this bit of engineering a success if it slows the flow of a torrential downpour into sewers to the point where all that water backs up over lawns, right up against houses and into window wells or walkout basement stairs? Do you think that having hours of standing water up over the curbs, making streets impassable, is a success? When the ground is as saturated as it's been lately, streets this badly flooded have increased the number of flooded basements.

Some of my neighbors at the low point on our block had everything in their basements ruined by Sunday morning's storm. Many who were not at low spots had a lot of water in their basements. Even with rain blockers, half the block got sewage coming up through their drains. The additional rain blocker-induced flooding at our intersection (high point on the block) ran down to the low point, making things worse for our neighbors in the middle of the block.

I took a bike ride around the neighborhood this afternoon. The high water marks (shown by flood debris) are 2 to 5 feet over the curbs in many places. There are several locations within a mile of our house where the high water marks are anywhere from 10 to 30 feet over the curb. At our intersection, it was 10 feet over the curb. In many places, would have taken very high curbs (1 foot or higher) to hold all of that in the streets.

Since the technology for permeable pavement exists, might it make sense to explore this option more often instead of rain blockers?

In many city neighborhoods and suburbs, the amount of impermeable pavement keeps increasing. People build concrete patios, make small patios bigger, or sometimes cover all of their lot with concrete right up to the house. We have many more big box stores with enormous parking lots, generating huge amounts of runoff. All that water has to go somewhere.

If many of those parking lot and patio areas could be replaced with permeable pavement (in locations where the soil would absorb water), some or all of the water that is currently shed as runoff could be absorbed into the ground, greatly reducing the amount of flooding and the amount of water requiring sewage treatment. Upfront costs would be higher, but the cost of treating all that sewage and dealing with all the property damage would be greatly reduced.

Right now there are way too many mounds of ruined furniture and other items waiting for the garbage men. Some neighbors already have contractors lined up to tear out ruined drywall and rebuild. Many of these homes haven't experienced significant flooding in many years, but now do since rain blockers have been installed. Does it sound like rain blockers are the right answer, unless there are other modifications made to prevent the rain blockers from increasing flood damage? What's your $0.02?

Beverly garden walk on Sunday 6/27

The Beverly garden walk is happening tomorrow 6/27. Enjoy gardens and trees throughout the neighborhood, including a garden designed by Jens Jensen, the landscape architect who created Garfield Park and several other Chicago masterpieces.

Beverly Potters and other local artisans will offer a variety of pottery, art, handcrafts and gifts. Master Gardeners will also be available to answer visitors’ gardening questions.

Gardens will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Garden guides will be available at the departure site. Guided trolley tours of all the gardens depart at 12:20 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. on a first come, first served basis. Participants can choose to self-guide in their own vehicles or on bikes.

Advance tickets are $10 and are available at County Fair, Beverly Bank, Calabria , Heritage Gallery, The Blossom Boys, and Bookies Paperbacks. Or you can buy tickets for $12 at the start location, Beverly Bank & Trust branch, 1908 W. 103rd St.

Boulevard Lakefront Tour on 8/29

Have you registered for the Boulevard Lakefront Tour yet? One of the best rides of summer just got better, with a new start location and all new routes.

Choose from a 15 mile family-oriented route, a 35 mile neighborhood tour, and a 62 mile route with many more neighborhoods. This is a fully-supported ride, with marked routes, rest stops, mechanical assistance, and a post-ride festival with food and entertainment on the UIC campus.

The event benefits the Active Transportation Alliance, our local advocacy group for safer, better bicycling, walking and public transit. It's a great way to enjoy exploring Chicago neighborhoods. Save $5 by registering before 7/4!

CAPS meeting, beat 2212

If you live in Beat 2212, your CAPS meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thurs. 7/1 (1st Thursday of every month) at the 22nd District Police Station, 1900 W. Monterey Ave. If you have concerns you would like to discuss with the police, bring 'em here. 312-745-0620

suggestions for sharing local trails

Heading out for a ride on a local multi-purpose trail this weekend? This feature on the Active Transportation Alliance web site offers some useful suggestions on how to share the trail without conflict. It's worth taking a few minutes to read, and remember when you're out for your ride.

non sequitur Friday

please take a minute to read this and write a letter

An injustice was done this week to the people of Cook County that should not be repeated. And we deserve to know why.

Two drunk drivers in Brookfield deliberately ran down bicyclists last year, and both got off with sentences that were totally inadequate in light of the violent nature of their crimes.

One friend raises some good questions. Is the judge an idiot who was fully responsible for the light sentence? Did the prosecuting attorney negotiate to take the easy way out and avoid a trial, tying the hands of the judge? Did the defense attorney bribe somebody?

And I add: Is there a mandatory minimum sentence for this type of incident? I suspect that there isn't.

The Active Transportation is spearheading a letter writing campaign to Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, asking for answers and for more appropriate prosecution of future cases. The link above gives an e-mail and snail mail address and suggested letter text.

I'm also trying to find out whether there is any mandatory minimum for vehicular assault. I will post an update when I find out.

If there isn't any minimum, I would strongly encourage you to write to your state legislators urging them to introduce mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines that are appropriate to the violent nature of this type of crime.

Please take a minute to send an e-mail, fax or letter to Anita Alvarez. It's worth a few minutes of your time to work for safer road conditions in Cook County for cyclists and pedestrians.

recovering from the storms

Those storms last night were a vivid reminder of the power of Mother Nature. I went for a short bike ride after the earlier storm had passed. Within a 3 block radius, there were at least a dozen trees that were completely destroyed and many others with significant damage. I saw trees fallen on house and garage roofs, crushed cars, and lots of blocked streets.

In the course of an hour, central Beverly was turned into a maze by all the blocked streets. The huge maple tree at 97th & Winchester had snapped at the base. Half a block west on 97th, another huge maple fell across the street and took down a power line. Many houses and a section of 95th St. were in the dark overnight. Our neighbors across the street were in the dark last night, but they got their power back this morning. The Beverly library is closed today, because their power was out, too.

The 9700 block of Hoyne was especially hard hit. Three large trees were either completely or mostly destroyed, one car crushed, a few houses hit. Calls to 311 were not getting any response, as the backlog was too big. Calling 911 was almost as futile. The system was completely overwhelmed. Instead of enjoying the usual dinner hour, neighbors on the 9700 block of Hoyne banded together and started working with chainsaws and other tools to clear the blockage. This morning they were out there again, and the piles of tree trunk and branch pieces lined the curbs for most of the block. Now that's an example of neighborly teamwork.

I hope that everyone gets their power back soon. I'm posting this from a library location outside Beverly, because our cable service is out and I can't get online from home. Trying to call Comcast was futile, because they seemed to have a huge backlog, too.

I went for another bike this morning and saw crews out working all over the neighborhood - from the city, Com Ed, Comcast, and various tree services. Those guys will be busy for a while.

It was truly heartbreaking to see so many huge old trees destroyed. We can rebuild houses and replace cars fairly quickly, but trees that big take a long time to build. An hour of furious wind will leave its mark on the neighborhood for years to come.

Ride for Shelter 2010

A couple of friends volunteer at the PADS shelter in Marquette Park. They are currently planning a fundraiser, and they could use your help. Their info follows.

It’s been a rough year for Southwest Chicago PADS. The economy is creating greater need for our services while donors, especially foundations, have less to give this year. We also have extra expenses related to the recent fire at the shelter.

To help meet these economic challenges, some PADS volunteers are organizing the 2010 Ride for Shelter----from the Mississippi to Marquette Park.

On June 26, bikers will set out from Clinton, Iowa, on a 2-day trek. Starting on the west bank of the Mississippi on Saturday 6/26, they will ride alongside Illinois cornfields and through towns like Sterling and Dixon. After resting overnight from the 100 mile jaunt in DeKalb, they will bike through St. Charles and Naperville, cross the I & M canal in Summit, and arrive at the shelter Sunday afternoon.

For donation sponsorship forms, or for more information, contact: Mary Harkenrider, Al Holdsworth or Pat Cummings.

You can make a donation by credit card on our web site or send a check to Southwest Chicago PADS, P.O. Box 29453, Chicago, IL 60629. Please note 2010 Ride on your online contribution or check.

Pullman Garden Walk tomorrow 6/19

The Historic Pullman Garden Club hosts the 15th Annual Garden Walk tomorrow, Sat. 6/19, starting at 10 a.m. Start at the Hotel Florence, 11111 S. Forrestville Ave. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. For more info, call 773-568-2441.

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what's happening this weekend

Here's a slice of what's happening in the neighborhood and nearby this weekend.

* Outdoor movie, "Shrek the Third," Fri. 6/18, dusk, sponsored by the 19th Ward Youth Foundation & Sutherland School at the school, 10015 S. Leavitt. 773-238-0288

* Chicago Rat Pack, 8 p.m., Sat. 6/19. $22 ($20/BAC members). Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. 773-445-3838. .

* Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sundays through October, in the park & ride lot at 95th & Longwood Drive. Fresh produce, plants and more from regional farmers.

* Free Yoga Classes, 10 a.m. Sundays through summer. Certified Yoga instructor Erin Kelly. Crescent Park, 108th & Bell. 773-569-1015.

* So you want to talk politics? discussion group, Mon. 6/21, 7:30 p.m., Panera Bread, 2314 W. 95th St.

a different kind of bike ride

Want to try a different kind of ride?  Bring your digital camera, your memory for Chicago history and trivia, and your navigational skills to the Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt on Sunday 6/27.  Go here and scan down to the end for details.

non sequitur Friday

peregrine falcons in the city

From time to time since their reintroduction, we've heard about falcons in multiple areas around the city, including the Uptown Theater and Evanston Library.

Did you know that there's a nesting pair at UIC (University of Illinois - Chicago)?  They had babies again this year, and the little ones should be flying soon.  You can watch them on webcam here (if they're in view).  If you're lucky, maybe you'll even get to see them in action.

Saturday night at Blue Moon

The power-pop band SLUMP rocks the courtyard starting at 7PM.  Don’t miss this great family-friendly show!  Enjoy dinner, or a drink and dessert.  Check it out at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th St.

a new place for jazz

Tonight when I was listening to the Beverly All Stars, I happened to hear about a new jazz place in town, the Living Room Lounge in East Pilsen.  They have live music on Saturday nights.  Gotta check this place out soon.

Saturday at Blue Moon

Tomorrow 6/5 at 10 a.m., there will be an Organizing for America Vote 2010 Kick-Off event at Blue Moon Coffeehouse, 1742 W. 99th St.  You can respond here if you're interested in attending.

Major Taylor events on 6/5 and 6/6

There are 3 different events happening this weekend (6/5-6/6) in celebration of National Trails Day.

Saturday 6/5
Trail clean-up 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - 91st St. to 95th St. - meet up at the 91st St. trailhead (91st & Beverly Blvd).  Some gloves and tools will be available.  If you have your own work gloves, rakes, flat-bladed shovels, etc., please bring them.  Wear closed-toe shoes (NO sandals) to protect your feet.

Organized by Brian Lewis-Jones, Americorps/American Red Cross, 312-729-6192, inconjunction with Friends of the Major Taylor Trail.

Whistler Woods clean-up 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - meet in parking lot - access from Forestview/Acme Dr. (13400 S) just east of Halsted in Riverdale.  Some gloves and tools will be available.  If you have your own work gloves, rakes, etc., please bring them.  Wear closed-toe shoes (NO sandals) to protect your feet.

Organized by Rebecca Blazer, 773-972-8080.  Please RSVP so she knows how many gloves and tools to bring.

Sunday 6/6
Bike safety and first aid event  11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - 83rd St. trailhead, Dan Ryan Woods.  Access from parking on north side of 83rd between Western and Damen.  Bring your kids to a pair of informative demonstrations by the Mayor's Bicycling Ambassadors and the American Red Cross.  Organized by Brian Lewis-Jones, Americorps/American Red Cross, 312-729-6192, in conjunction with Friends of the Major Taylor Trail.

Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested.

non sequitur Friday

miracles can happen

Leavitt was recently repaved between 96th and 99th.  Yesterday I was out for a bike ride on Longwood south of 111th and noticed one of those big pavement grinding machines parked at the bottom of the Lothair hill.  Could it be true?  Will that hill section of Lothair get repaved?  Could be another miracle.  :)

blues at Iona's on Saturday night

I happened to stop by Iona's today to grab some lunch, and Eric told me he's got a hot blues band playing this Saturday from 5-9 p.m.   Stop by and check it out.  It's a friendly place, and the food is delicious.  1767 W. 95th St., opposite the 95th St. Metra station, 773.233.0027

BTW, Eric happened to mention that he'd like to add a patio, to improve the summer ambience.  A project like this needs aldermanic approval.   If you like this idea and would like to see it happen, contact Alderman Ginger Rugai and let her know.

Beverly All Stars on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be at Blue Moon tomorrow night (1742 W. 99th St., near the 99th St. Metra station). Looks like a beautiful night for music on the patio.  You can BYOB for a modest corkage fee. Enjoy dinner or dessert on the patio with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

a soggy Memorial Day

We had a fine morning for the Ridge Run, and quite a crowd. Unfortunately, the mother of all thunderstorms moved in during the parade, making it a soggy experience. Between last night's storms and the waves that came through today, we had 4" of rain in just over 12 hours. I think we're saturated for a while.

It was nice to see Caroline's commitment to opening Blue Moon for the run and parade crowds rewarded by a steady stream of customers. I hope that plenty will come for jazz, food and drinks on Wednesday night. Want to enjoy some wine or beer? For a modest corkage fee, you can sip your drink of choice and support this fine business.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

non sequitur Friday

busy weekend

This will be a busy weekend. Bike the Drive will give you an opportunity to ride your bike on Lake Shore Drive in the morning. You can still register online (use discount code EVEDOG5 for $5 off) and pick up your rider packet at the Merchandise Mart today thru Saturday, or at Grant Park on Sunday morning. If you're registering online at the last minute, don't forget to print out your e-mail confirmation and take it with you.

The Ridge Run is happening on Monday morning. You can still register for the run, too, or volunteer.

The Memorial Day parade starts at 10:30, following the run.

Or do a Monday ride from Tinley Park to Frankfort and back with Chicago Cycling Club.

Wishing you all a fun and safe weekend!

wetlands wind and water festival at Wolf Lake

I just got an announcement about an event happening this weekend at Wolf Lake and wanted to share the info. Here's a map link for the location.

Boy Scout Troop 533 of Munster will assist the Hammond Port Authority in
launching canoes and kayaks at the 10th annual Wolf Lake Bi-State
Wetlands, Wind and Water festival Saturday afternoon 5/29 at the
Wolf Lake beach area along Calumet Avenue.

Kayaks and canoes will be provided by the Hammond Port Authority.
The festival, sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative
(AWLI), is free to the public.

Schedule is subject to change. Outdoor activities will occur, weather
permitting. Activities include:

Saturday morning 5/29 Wm Powers Conservation Area, Chicago near boat launch
9 a.m. Fishing Clinic by Jerry Carter of Southeast Chicago Sportsmen’s
Club (under 16 years). Fishing poles provided by the Chicago Public Library, Hegewisch and Vodak/East Side branches.

9 a.m. Water Safety display by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

10 a.m. Kite Flying by American Legion Illiana Post 220 and Chicago’s
10th Ward Aldermanic Office. Free kites are provided by American Legion Illiana Post 220 to the first 100.

10 a.m. Wacky Face Painting

Saturday afternoon 5/29 Environmental Education Ctr, 2405 Calumet Ave., Hammond
1 p.m. Winners of poster contest honored

Wolf Lake Park at beach area, Calumet Avenue, Hammond
1 p.m. Canoe/Kayak Paddle Fishing Clinic, Kite Flying by Hammond Port
Authority and Boy Scout Troop 533, Munster. Free kites are provided by the Hammond Port Authority.

2 p.m. Wind Surfing & Sailing Demonstrations by Jackie Butzen of
Windward Sports Inc. and the Hammond Port Authority.

3 p.m. American Trust & Savings Happy Trails Nature Hike by Rachel
McMahon, Purdue University Calumet

Saturday Evening - Nike Missile Launch Site parking lot
5 p.m. Sunset Campfire Song & Story by John Pastirik, Calumet Ecological
Park Association (CEPA)

Sunday morning 5/30 - Wm Powers Conservation Area, Chicago at obelisk near 126th Street entrance and shelter #2
6 a.m. Sunrise Worship Service by Rev. Zaki L. Zaki of East Side United
Methodist Church with Ecumenical Choir directed by Mary Kuzniar and Color Guard by Polish Legion of American Veterans

7 a.m. Breakfast by Cheryl Gould, AWLI

8 a.m. Tour of the Wolf Lake Watershed by John Pastirik, CEPA

Noon Picnic for cyclists at Shelter #2.

AWLI is a bi-state not-for-profit organization and land trust dedicated
to the enhancement of the Wolf Lake watershed.
--
Michael L. Boos
Executive Director, AWLI
2405 Calumet Avenue
Hammond IN 46327
219-933-7149

PO Box 17080
Chicago, IL 60617
312-220-0120

Beverly All Stars on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be at Blue Moon tomorrow night (1742 W. 99th St., near the 99th St. Metra station). You can BYOB for a modest corkage fee. Enjoy dinner or dessert on the patio with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

non sequitur Friday

plant sale this Saturday

While walking through the neighborhood today, I happened to notice some signs for a plant sale and thought I'd share the info. It will be this Saturday 5/22 from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. at 96th & Winchester.

I assume it's at the house on the NW corner with all the beautiful flowers and ornamentals, as one of the signs was on their corner.

Beverly All Stars at Blue Moon on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be at Blue Moon tomorrow night (1742 W. 99th St., near the 99th St. Metra station). Enjoy dinner or dessert with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

visiting Chicago neighborhoods: Uptown

Uptown is an intriguing mix of beautiful old architecture, green spaces, entertainment and dining destinations and urban grit. Take a look for yourself.

The first video tour starts at Lawrence and Broadway


The second tour starts at Argyle and Broadway.


The third is a short clip of the Lunar New Year parade on Argyle St.


Check it out for yourself. There are lots of great places to eat.

non sequitur Friday

This makes me feel good. They sound great together.

Beverly All Stars on Wednesday night

The Beverly All Stars will be at Iona's tomorrow night (1767 W. 95th St., opposite the 95th St. Metra station, 773.233.0027). It's a friendly little place with tasty Southern comfort food. Come on down for dinner or dessert with some tasty tunes from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Beverly/Morgan Park home tour this Sunday 5/16

Tickets for the 40th Annual Beverly / Morgan Park Home Tour are now on sale. The Home Tour is this Sunday 5/16. You can buy tickets online or at these ticket outlets:

* Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., 773-445-3838
* Beverly's Pantry, 1907 W. 103rd St., 773-238-8550
* Calabria Imports, 1905 W. 103rd St., 773-396-5800
* County Fair Foods, 10800 S. Western Ave., 773-238-5576
* Heritage Gallery, 1915 W. 103rd St., 773-233-0084
* Markland-Hubbard Gourmet Provisions, 1807 W. 95th St., 773-233-0632
* Town Liquor, 10000 S. Western Ave., 773-239-2800

gardening volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed to help spruce up the grounds of the 99th St. Metra station (99th @ Walden/Wood) on Saturday May, 15, 10:00am. Volunteers will need to bring their own tools and gloves.

Come out and help keep our neighborhood beautiful.

95th St. flower market this Saturday

News from BAPA: Just in time for Mother's Day, Michigan growers will be offering a wide variety of hanging baskets, bedding plants, seedlings, and herbs at the 95th Street Flower Market, Sat., May 8, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 95th and Longwood Drive.

The Beverly Farmer's Market will begin Sun., May 16, same hours, same location.

non sequitur Friday