Albany Park News

Hazardous Waste Collection Day

albanyparknews — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:34:37 +0000

Old prescriptions, e-waste, lead paint? Now’s your chance to dispose of these items safely and responsibly.

On May 9, the Dept. of Environment and DeVry University are hosting a collections event from 9am to 3pm. Although DeVry is not located in Albany Park, you can help keep our ‘hood clean by making the short trek to 3401 N. Rockwell (Roscoe Village) to toss your old stuff.

The Collection Day is accepting these items:

* Old or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
* Computers, cell phones, fax machines, scanners, and keyboards
* Hazardous household chemicals
* Lead or oil-based paints (NOT latex-based paint)
* Old gas cans and/or gas-powered lawn mowers

In addition to free CFLs, Chicagoans can also buy compost bins for $35 or rain barrels for $45. ($35) and rain barrels ($45), payable by check or money order. If you’re dropping off an old gas-powered mower, you’ll $100 credit towards an electric or push mower.

If you can’t make it to this Collection Day, you can always bring your items to the Goose Island Collection Facility.

Earth Day Clean-Ups

albanyparknews — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:39:28 +0000

After a long, hard winter, our parks need our help to freshen up. Join with neighborhood volunteers and park staff for the Earth Day Clean-Up. From April 18 to April 25, you can pitch in to spruce up your favorite park. Review a complete listing of all participating parks here.

Albany Park-area Park Clean-Up Days:

Dickinson Playlot (Portage Park) – 4/18/09 at 9am
Eugene Field Park – 4/18/09 at 9am. Meet at Field House.
Gompers Park – 4/18/09 at 9am
Kilbourn Park – 4/18/09 at 9am
Portage Park – 4/25/09 at 9am

Job Fairs

albanyparknews — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:31:48 +0000

Times are tough and there’s a lot of competition for jobs, whether you’re a teen looking for summer work or an adult with a family to support. Here are some local events where you can connect with local employers.

The Albany Park Community Center’s Workforce Development Division is hosting a job fair for those interested in the administrative, customer service or security industries on Friday, April 24 from 1pm to 3pm. Bring 15 copies of your resume, dress in professional attire, and please, do not bring children. The event will be held at the APCC offices at 5101 N. Kimball. For additional information, call 773-539-3828 or email jobdev [at] apcc-chgo [dot] org.

If you know a teen or young adult in need of a summer job, let them know about Mayor Daley’s Youth-Ready Chicago. This program connects young people, ages 14 – 24, with paid internships, apprenticeships and jobs within Chicago’s public and private business sectors. Get more information and apply online.

Raise Funds for Park Equipment

albanyparknews — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:45:28 +0000

Friends of Eugene Field Park Playlot needs our help to raise money for new playground equipment. Next week, on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, Jewel will donate 5% of your total receipt to the Playlot Fund.

All you need to do is download, print, and present this coupon. It won’t cost you a penny and a great Albany Park cause will get extra cash.

Download the coupon now! [PDF]

Free Tax Seminar!

albanyparknews — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:11:10 +0000

Thanks to 39th Ward Alderman Margaret Laurino and State Rep. John D’Amico, Albany Park residents can learn how to appeal our property taxes. Get every trick in the book to save on your property tax bill at Von Steuben High School on Thursday, April 23 at 7pm.

Local Arts Events

albanyparknews — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:35:38 +0000

You don’t need to look to the Loop to exercise your love of the arts. Between local non-profit groups, public schools and private universities, there’s a lot to enjoy in Albany Park.

- North Park Opera: The opera players at North Park University will present two one-act operas, Argento’s The Boor and Martinu’s Comedy on the Bridge. It’s just $8 and you can catch one of three performances: 7:30pm at Friday, 4/3 or Saturday, 4/4; 3pm on Sunday 4/5 at Hanson Hall, Room 23.

- Amelia Piano Trio: This piano ensemble features internationally recognized musicians who have performed and toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. The upcoming program features selections from Shostakovich, John Harbison and Chopin. Get tickets to the 4/17 show here.

- The Mikado: Northside College Prep presents this legendary Gilbert & Sullivan operetta this weekend. It’s just $5 and runs at 7pm on 3/36 through 3/28 and at 3pm on 3/29. Kids under 12 are free.

We’ll try to keep you up to date about arts events in our neighborhood!

Albany Park Retail Scan

albanyparknews — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:16:35 +0000

Last year, LISC/MetroEdge partnered with Lawrence Avenue Development Corp. (LADCOR), Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, and the North River Commission to research the existing retail environment in Albany Park, as well as present ideas for improving the retail landscape.

Just this month, LISC/MetroEdge finished its report on our neighborhood. While you should read the entire executive summary, residents should be comforted to know that the group points out that our area is a great place to live and shop. In fact, the main crux of the report is that Albany Park’s buying power (more than that of Wilmette, btw) can support more retail development and that our placement along the Brown Line is incredibly beneficial.

We will stay in contact with the representative groups to see how LISC/MetroEdge’s suggestions are being implemented in our area.

Maple Syrup Festival

albanyparknews — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:18:14 +0000

Boiling Down the Syrup

We never forget how lucky we are to have the North Park Village Nature Center in the northwest corner of our neighborhood. The site of a former influenza sanitarium, this area is now home to senior housing, a gymnastics complex, recycling facility, duck pond and deer-laden nature preserve.

The Nature Center regularly hosts family friendly fetes such as solstice festivals, Halloween carnivals and more. This past weekend’s maple syrup festival is just such an event. About a month or so before the festival, Nature Center staff host school groups who help tap the park’s maple trees. The slow-seeping sap is collected over the next weeks and boiled down over a fire at the festival. In addition to a free syrup tasting (delicious, by the way; smoky and less sugary that reg. maple syrup), the maple syrup festival also features educational crafts such as buckthorn necklace-making.

The Giving Tree Band

A big highlight of this (and other) North Park events was a performance by local bluegrass musicians, The Giving Tree Band. These gentleman are truly excellent performers, who engage both children and adults in the audience with their superior talent and charming demeanor. They’re performing at Martyr’s this week, if you’re interested.

If you missed the syrup festival this past weekend, you’re out of luck until next year. But take a look at North Park Village’s list of upcoming events. Plus, you can early-vote there in the District 5 House elections.

Non-Profit Spotlight

albanyparknews — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:58:41 +0000

At Albany Park News, we love to spotlight organizations within our community who work to improve the conditions of our neighborhood and lives of residents.

A perfect example this type of organization is Healthy Albany Park. This non-profit is dedicated health and wellness issues, focusing on the needs of children and families. Not only does this group help connect Albany Park residents with health-care services, but it also provides education as to how to lead a healthy life. Healthy Albany Park provides weekly exercise sessions for children, offers periodic health screenings, leads cooking classes and a whole lot more.

If you’d like to get involved with Healthy Albany Park as a donor or volunteer, contact Radhika Sharma-Gordon at (312) 282-1199 or HAPcoordinator AT gmail DOT com.

Neighborhood Tour

albanyparknews — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:18:28 +0000

Image courtesy Chicago Neighborhood Tours

If you’re new in the neighborhood, have friends visiting or just want to look at Albany Park with fresh eyes, take a City of Chicago-sponsored neighborhood tour this summer.

Join fellow architecture and history enthusiasts on this trolley tour of Albany Park which includes sites such as the Cambodian American Heritage Museum, North Park Village (a former influenza sanitarium turned nature preserve), Superdawg Drive-In and more. The cost is $30 per adult and includes transportation and light refreshments.

Other tours include Pullman, Pilsen and Little Village, Wicker Park and Bucktown, and more.