I hope you are enjoying the cooler temperatures and planning your schedule for all of the upcoming fall festivities! The 12th district has some exciting events planned for October that you should make sure are on your calendar.
- Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Oktoberfest from October 1st – 2nd at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The weekend will be full of live music, delicious local food, and fall activities. Click here for tickets and information.
- Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting their eighth annual Fall Fest on Fridays-Sundays all throughout October, with an extended fest day on Monday, October 10th. This year’s fest will include a pumpkin walk, harvest maze, free musical entertainment, and more! Click here to reserve your tickets.
- Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Spooktacular event on Sunday, October 23rd from 1 – 4 pm! Join in on the family-friendly trick-or-treating event with participating businesses on Clark St. from Armitage to Diversey.
My office is hosting our second annual Pumpkin Giveaway/Canned Food Drive! This year, we will be hosting our event in partnership with Lincoln Central Association’s Howler at the Bauler event on Saturday, October 29th from 3 – 5 pm at Bauler Park. Bring a canned good for the Nourishing Hope food pantry and get a free pumpkin!
Book Drive
October is National Book Month! I am partnering with Senator Feigenholtz, Alderman Tunney, Commissioner Gainer, and Nettelhorst School to host a book drive for Open Books.
Open Books is a Chicago-based literacy organization that has worked with thousands of students through book grant programs, community events, and literacy partnerships. The book donations are sold in stores and online to help fund literacy grants and programs. Nettelhorst School recently added a donation drop-off box right outside of the school. Visit Open-books.org for more information on how this organization supports children and families throughout Chicago.
North Side Community Donation Drive
Over the past few weeks, the City of Chicago has continued to welcome asylum seekers from Texas. We sent over two loads of new donations to the city for distribution. Thank you everyone for your generosity thus far!
We hope you will join us in continuing to support our new neighbors. New items only will be accepted at this time. The drive is scheduled to conclude on October 1st, but we will continue to collect donations on an as needed basis. Please view the flyer below for more information.
In the Community
44th Ward Shred Event
I co-hosted the 44th Ward Shred Event with Alderman Tunney and Senator Feigenholtz. People from all across the district came out to shred extra paper they had.
Lincoln Park Clean-Up
My office attended the Gold Coast Neighbor’s Association Lincoln Park Clean Up. I hope to see you at the next clean-up on October 15th, sign up here.
Mega Challah Bake
Sen. Feigenholtz and I joined the Chabad of Lakeview for their fourth annual Mega Challah Bake. I had a great experience preparing the Challah while connecting with members in the community.
GCNA Fall Frolic
Gold Coast Neighbors Association hosted their annual Fall Frolic fundraising event at Pippin’s Tavern. I enjoyed meeting members of the Association and Gold Coast residents.
44th Ward Picnic
Thank you to everyone who came out to Alderman Tunney’s 44th Ward Picnic. I had a great time meeting and chatting with neighbors in the ward.
018th District Walk and Talk
My office joined the Gold Coast Neighbors Association and the Chicago Police Department’s 18th District for a Walk and Talk. We participated in discussions on safety issues with local residents.
Tashlikh Ceremony
Alderman Knudsen and I joined community members of faith in a Tashlikh ceremony on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. It was so inspiring to witness Jewish members of our community practice their faith and celebrate bringing goodness and hope into the new year.
ABDI Buffalo Tro
I joined the members of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois and fellow elected officials for the Buffalo Tro event. I enjoyed learning about the distribution process as well as some of the priorities of distributors in our community.
Community Updates
I would like to hear your thoughts and concerns on the Redefine the Drive project. Although no plan has been approved, I want to make sure that your input is taken into consideration. Please email my office at info@repcroke.com with any questions or comments.
Expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits have been extended until December 1, 2022.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) recently introduced the Private Sector Camera Initiative. The program will allow homeowners, condominiums, and businesses to link their private exterior cameras with OEMC and Homeland Security Directors to create additional points of contact during an emergency throughout Chicago. Learn More.
The City of Chicago launched the Home and Business Protection Rebate Program to provide any Chicagoan, business owner, or anyone who leases/owns a vehicle registered within the city to receive reimbursement for security technology. The program will cover a portion of the cost of outdoor security cameras, one year of video cloud storage, outdoor motion sensor lighting, and vehicle GPS trackers. Apply Here.
PAWS Chicago Partnership
We have a new PAWS Chicago pal to introduce for October: Meet Epic!
This senior gentleman is looking to live out his best years yet. His foster family said, “Epic loves ham, long walks, new smells, cuddling on people and falling asleep on them, belly rubs, warm blankets, car rides, fluffy toys, and big morning stretches! He does not like being left alone and loves to greet everyone that walks in.” Epic would excel in a social home without cats.
If you are interested in adopting Epic or any of his other friends, check out PAWS Chicago for more information.
Small Business Shoutout
Every month we highlight a small business in our district. For October, we are thrilled to feature 2d Restaurant, Chicago’s first mochi donut shop!
“2d Restaurant is the creation of wife-and-husband team Vanessa Thanh Vu (Interior Designer) and Kevin Yu (Chef). Their pon-de-ring style donuts are described as “Eclair meets Mochi”. Light, airy, fluffy and slightly chewy. Additionally, 2d Restaurant offers an Asian Fusion chicken sandwich with the best Asian ingredients and flavors from Taiwan, Japan to Korea to bring the best Asia has to offer!
In partnership with Chicago artist Mia Larson, the couple spent about two years attending to every detail of the 1,600 square-foot space, ultimately crafting an immaculate 22-seat fantasy world, complete with a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower, a 1920s-style en-suite hotel bathroom complete with a bubble-filled clawfoot tub, and a cozy library stocked with tall bookshelves around a lit fireplace.”
If you have a favorite store, restaurant, or other business in the district for future Small Business Shoutouts, let us know.
Please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.
Wishing you a safe and healthy fall.
