The Chicago Police Department released a community alert for senior citizens in the 22nd and other police districts to be aware of confidence games. Offenders (usually 2 or 3) gain entry by ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door and giving various false reasons for entry. Once inside, they steal property. Offenders are described as male white or Hispanics, age 30 to 50. Be aware of this situation and alert your neighbors. CLICK HERE to see commuity alert.
Call 911 to report suspicious people. Write down vehicle information. Call 311 to verify whether a city worker was sent your home. Do not allow service people into your home without a scheduled appointment and always request identification.
If you have any information, contact Area South Detectives 312-747-8273 or area2tips@chicagopolice.org.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
I-Go news
Seems like our I-Go car sharing location at Ridge Park has gotten a lot more popular in the last year, popular enough that Beverly will soon have a second I-Go location. Stay tuned for more info when it's open for business.
Monday, April 23, 2012
community alert
On Friday 4/20 around 10:30 p.m., three men robbed neighborhood residents at gunpoint on the 10400 block of Hamilton. They are described as men in their 20s, 2 of them African American, 1 of unknown race.
If you have any information that might be helpful to police in solving this crime, please contact area detectives at 312-747-8273 and reference RD #HV251333. If you have questions, you can call the 22nd district CAPS office at 312-745-0616.
The next CAPS meeting for beat 2212 is on Thursday May 3, 7:00 p.m. at the 22nd police station, 1900 W. Monterey, in the community room.
If you have any information that might be helpful to police in solving this crime, please contact area detectives at 312-747-8273 and reference RD #HV251333. If you have questions, you can call the 22nd district CAPS office at 312-745-0616.
The next CAPS meeting for beat 2212 is on Thursday May 3, 7:00 p.m. at the 22nd police station, 1900 W. Monterey, in the community room.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Major Taylor Trail clean-up on 4/21
Please join the Friends of the Major Taylor Trail and TreeKeepers for a community trail clean-up workday on Saturday 4/21.
We will meet at the Major Taylor mural (north side of 111th St., where the trail crosses the street) and work from 2-4 p.m. to continue where we left off on 4/7.
We welcome community participation in clearing small trees and brush to minimize trail blockage from summer growth, as well as improving sightlines along the trail. Long sleeves, long pants and enclosed boots or shoes are strongly recommended. If you have work gloves, please bring them. Some gloves and tools will be available. Our work area will be on the trail between 111th and 115th, starting from 111th St. We hope to see you there.
We will meet at the Major Taylor mural (north side of 111th St., where the trail crosses the street) and work from 2-4 p.m. to continue where we left off on 4/7.
We welcome community participation in clearing small trees and brush to minimize trail blockage from summer growth, as well as improving sightlines along the trail. Long sleeves, long pants and enclosed boots or shoes are strongly recommended. If you have work gloves, please bring them. Some gloves and tools will be available. Our work area will be on the trail between 111th and 115th, starting from 111th St. We hope to see you there.
Friday, April 13, 2012
a sad loss for the neighborhood
I was sorry to learn today that Cafe 103 and Beverlys Pantry are now closed. These businesses have been wonderful assets to our community. We've enjoyed their exceptionally fine meals and gracious service. I also enjoyed the cooking classes and many stops for gelato. We will miss you!
We extend our thanks to the Makinney family for their fine hospitality and hope that we'll see them in another business venture soon.
We extend our thanks to the Makinney family for their fine hospitality and hope that we'll see them in another business venture soon.
thoughts to remember on the road
Are you aware that Illinois has a law requiring vehicles to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk? If you're not, please click here to read more about it.
Speed makes a difference, too.
Do you ever find yourself driving to a nearby destination because you don't feel safe walking due to traffic conditions? Consider walking instead, or obeying the speed limit and yielding to pedestrians if you do drive. You could be part of the solution instead of adding to the problem.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
thoughts of spring
Do your thoughts of spring include buying a new bike? If it's been a long time since you bought one, you might want to give Barbara Brotman's column a read. She's included some helpful tips for finding the bike that's right for you.
The example below is what's called a city bike - a style that's very suitable for easy rides to meet up with friends at a local coffeehouse, do a little grocery shopping, go to a concert, etc.
The model below is a cargo bike, another example of the newer styles available now to suit different types of riders. The range of available bike styles is much wider than it was 20 years ago.
I recommend taking a test ride before you buy. The shop should adjust the bike to properly fit you. You'll get the most enjoyment out of a bike that's appropriate for the type of riding you like to do. Wishing you a season of pleasant riding.
The example below is what's called a city bike - a style that's very suitable for easy rides to meet up with friends at a local coffeehouse, do a little grocery shopping, go to a concert, etc.
The model below is a cargo bike, another example of the newer styles available now to suit different types of riders. The range of available bike styles is much wider than it was 20 years ago.
I recommend taking a test ride before you buy. The shop should adjust the bike to properly fit you. You'll get the most enjoyment out of a bike that's appropriate for the type of riding you like to do. Wishing you a season of pleasant riding.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
household hazardous waste and electronics collection on Sat. 4/7
The Green Sanctuary Group of Beverly Unitarian Church will collect household hazardous waste and electronics for recycling Sat. 4/7, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the church parking lot, 10244 S. Longwood Dr. (the Castle).
The following items will be collected for recycling and/or proper disposal: electronics (computers, printers, cartridges); properly sealed hazardous items (oil based paints, other petroleum products, toxic household and lawn products - antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, aerosol paints, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, cleaning products, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, mercury, fluorescent lamps and projector bulbs. ); cell phones; thick-soled athletic shoes; eyeglasses; hard-cover and soft-cover books.
Water based paints, freon gas, incandescent bulbs, water soluble caulk or mortar, or bio-hazardous waste will not be accepted.
The following items will be collected for recycling and/or proper disposal: electronics (computers, printers, cartridges); properly sealed hazardous items (oil based paints, other petroleum products, toxic household and lawn products - antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, aerosol paints, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, cleaning products, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, mercury, fluorescent lamps and projector bulbs. ); cell phones; thick-soled athletic shoes; eyeglasses; hard-cover and soft-cover books.
Water based paints, freon gas, incandescent bulbs, water soluble caulk or mortar, or bio-hazardous waste will not be accepted.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Easter egg hunt Sunday 4/7 at Ridge Park
The Beverly Ridge Homeowners Association is holding an Easter egg hunt this Sunday 4/7 at Ridge Park from 9-11 a.m. The hunt begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be divided up for different age groups. The Easter Bunny will be available for pictures with the kids during the event.
If you'd like to bring your kids, please send an email to Michelle Page to RSVP to let her know the number of little ones to expect.
In case of rain, the event will be moved indoors at Ridge Park fieldhouse.
If you'd like to bring your kids, please send an email to Michelle Page to RSVP to let her know the number of little ones to expect.
In case of rain, the event will be moved indoors at Ridge Park fieldhouse.
Major Taylor Trail clean-up on 4/7
We will meet at the Major Taylor mural (north side of 111th St., where the trail crosses the street) and work from 2-4 p.m. to continue the clean-up started on 3/31.
We welcome community participation in clearing small trees and brush to minimize trail blockage from summer growth, as well as improving sightlines along the trail. Long sleeves, long pants and enclosed boots or shoes are strongly recommended. If you have work gloves, please bring them. Some gloves and tools will be available. Our work area will be on the trail between 111th and 115th, starting from 111th St. We hope to see you there.
Monday, April 2, 2012
a perspective on retail development, traffic and the 19th ward
For months, a years-old sustainable transportation graphic has been generating a lot of discussion about road use, specifically about how much road space each mode of transportation takes to move a person - car vs. bus vs. bike. In case you haven't seen it, I've included it below.
The Northwestern student news site ran a well written article about the graphic and response to it.
When I visit 19th ward businesses, I am often struck by the limitations that parking and car dependence create for so many of those businesses.
Many locations along Western, 95th, 103rd (west of Western) and 111th (west of Western) and Kedzie aren't the easiest to reach by biking or walking, unless you're coming from an adjacent side street. Western has a good number of bike racks. Some of the other locations listed above are not as well equipped with suitable bike parking.
As traffic gets worse with the redevelopment of Evergreen Plaza and the 91st and Western nightmare (if and when it's built), it will certainly have an impact on our business districts, especially along 95th and Western. If we start working now to promote walking and bike access to neighborhood destinations (more bike parking, education, promotions), it can help our local businesses by taking more cars off the roads for trips to nearby destinations. This would ease traffic congestion and parking demand, allowing our businesses to serve more customers with fewer car trips, without needing more car parking spaces.
If we start working to improve conditions for pedestrians, it can help people using all types of transportation to reach our local businesses. Right now it can be a life threatening proposition to cross one of our major streets at a non-stoplight intersection. In spite of the Illinois law passed 2 years ago, things have not gotten any better for pedestrians in most locations. The video in this news story illustrates the problem well.
I can wait a minute or more to cross half of 95th or Western and wait again to cross the other half, being passed by a dozen or more cars on each half, who could have allowed me to cross by easing off on the gas pedal for just a few seconds. This doesn't just affect people walking or riding bikes. It also affects people arriving by car who need to cross the street from where they parked to the business they are visiting.
The redevelopment proposal for Evergreen Plaza (shown below) appears to be a typical suburban car-centric design, uninviting and hazardous for pedestrian or bike access, as well as ugly.
As presented, this design does not appear to offer any accommodation for pedestrians crossing the parking lot from Western. It's unclear if there's any pedestrian access from the stoplight at 98th St. or from Campbell. To reduce car traffic congestion, there should be pedestrian access from ALL sides of the redeveloped mall. Do you have a problem with this car-centric design? I do, and I'm writing to the developer to ask for safe pedestrian and bike access.
If it's built according to this sketch, it's unlikely that I'll be able to walk there easily. I refuse to drive to a place so close to home if all I'm doing is visiting Carson's to buy something I can easily carry. I refuse to add to our area's traffic congestion with an unnecessary car trip. I am telling the developer that I will not patronize any business at the redeveloped Evergreen Plaza unless it's built to allow safe pedestrian access from adjoining neighborhoods. If we can and do walk there, the traffic impact of the redevelopment could be significantly reduced. If this issue matters to you, I encourage you to write to the developer. Contact info via email and snail mail is on this page.
We can each make a difference by choosing to walk or ride bikes to existing businesses, and by asking for new businesses to safely accommodate customers and employees who choose to get there by methods of transportation other than individual cars. We may or may not have a say in what gets built, but each of our choices can affect the overall impact of these projects.
Many locations along Western, 95th, 103rd (west of Western) and 111th (west of Western) and Kedzie aren't the easiest to reach by biking or walking, unless you're coming from an adjacent side street. Western has a good number of bike racks. Some of the other locations listed above are not as well equipped with suitable bike parking.
As traffic gets worse with the redevelopment of Evergreen Plaza and the 91st and Western nightmare (if and when it's built), it will certainly have an impact on our business districts, especially along 95th and Western. If we start working now to promote walking and bike access to neighborhood destinations (more bike parking, education, promotions), it can help our local businesses by taking more cars off the roads for trips to nearby destinations. This would ease traffic congestion and parking demand, allowing our businesses to serve more customers with fewer car trips, without needing more car parking spaces.
If we start working to improve conditions for pedestrians, it can help people using all types of transportation to reach our local businesses. Right now it can be a life threatening proposition to cross one of our major streets at a non-stoplight intersection. In spite of the Illinois law passed 2 years ago, things have not gotten any better for pedestrians in most locations. The video in this news story illustrates the problem well.
I can wait a minute or more to cross half of 95th or Western and wait again to cross the other half, being passed by a dozen or more cars on each half, who could have allowed me to cross by easing off on the gas pedal for just a few seconds. This doesn't just affect people walking or riding bikes. It also affects people arriving by car who need to cross the street from where they parked to the business they are visiting.
The redevelopment proposal for Evergreen Plaza (shown below) appears to be a typical suburban car-centric design, uninviting and hazardous for pedestrian or bike access, as well as ugly.
As presented, this design does not appear to offer any accommodation for pedestrians crossing the parking lot from Western. It's unclear if there's any pedestrian access from the stoplight at 98th St. or from Campbell. To reduce car traffic congestion, there should be pedestrian access from ALL sides of the redeveloped mall. Do you have a problem with this car-centric design? I do, and I'm writing to the developer to ask for safe pedestrian and bike access.
If it's built according to this sketch, it's unlikely that I'll be able to walk there easily. I refuse to drive to a place so close to home if all I'm doing is visiting Carson's to buy something I can easily carry. I refuse to add to our area's traffic congestion with an unnecessary car trip. I am telling the developer that I will not patronize any business at the redeveloped Evergreen Plaza unless it's built to allow safe pedestrian access from adjoining neighborhoods. If we can and do walk there, the traffic impact of the redevelopment could be significantly reduced. If this issue matters to you, I encourage you to write to the developer. Contact info via email and snail mail is on this page.
We can each make a difference by choosing to walk or ride bikes to existing businesses, and by asking for new businesses to safely accommodate customers and employees who choose to get there by methods of transportation other than individual cars. We may or may not have a say in what gets built, but each of our choices can affect the overall impact of these projects.
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