BCO e-blast 12-25-2011

 Happy Holidays !

BINGO for BOWMANVILLE!

Monday, January 2, 2012 • BINGO starts at 7 pm

Join your neighbors and friends for a fun night out eating, drinking and playing BINGO.

You’ll also be supporting the BCO GreenSpace Initiative –what a great combination!

HamBINGO will be held at Hamburger Mary’s (5400 N. Clark Street – Clark and Balmoral) on Monday, January 2, 2012 from 7 PM until around 9 PM in the downstairs Dining Room. Bingo cards will cost $5 each. These cards are reused for all BINGO games that evening.

Prizes will be plentiful.

Proceeds will directly help support the development of the 5384 North Bowmanville greenspace project. We invite you to invite your friends, family, neighbors and strangers on the street for a fun night out for a good cause – support of the Bowmanville GreenSpace.  Bring your appetite so you can, as Hamburger Mary’s says best, “Eat, drink and be…Mary!” BINGO starts at 7 PM. Seating will be limited so come a few minutes early.

Words of warning about cars in our neighborhood: Dec 18^th on Bell Ave, south of Bowmanville Ave – a neighbor had her catalytic converter cut out and stolen from her Honda Element. The previous week at Farragut and Hoyne another neighbor had tires stolen from her Infiniti and the car was left on milk crates. Be on the lookout for suspicious activity and PLEASE call 911. And keep one eye on cars parked on the street. Ho ho humbug.

Holiday Lights Recycling! Again this year there is a drop box in the lobby of the North Community Bank at Farragut & Western. Drop off any string lights to be recycled - during business hours. Fill the bin! Ours was the most full across the city last year. Proceeds from this location’s recycling effort benefit BCO GreenSpace.

October 6, 2011

There are great events and opportunities to take advantage of in Bowmanville:

·BCO Bargain #2: $25 off at DORADO – the next in our series of Membership Perks

Dorado has teamed up with the BCO to offer a special discount to BCO members this month. Dine in on any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday during October and get $25 off your pre-tax bill. Make your plans. Head over to enjoy their unique fusion of Mexican and French cuisine. Our neighbors rave about it! One discount per dinner group. Dorado will have a current member list. Dorado is at 2301 W Foster Avenue and is a BYOB restaurant. www.doradorestaurant.net

If you know of a business that would like to offer a BCO Bargain contact membership@bcochicago.org .

·Bowmanville Fall Festival and RPMS Pumpkin Patch: October 15^th, 1-4pm

Event flyer at: www.bcochicago.org/events/halloween

We need your help to make this event happen! To volunteer or help with supplies please click: www.mysignup.com/bcofallfestival and www.mysignup.com/bcofestsupplies

Don’t miss this great event in our community. Bring winter coats to benefit Care for Real. There will be much to enjoy. Take part in the Berwyn Mural dedication. Enjoy great entertainment including Bowmanville’s own John Maloney accompanying Pete Special for funky blues, plus Hayward Bluegrass and also Lisa DeRosia of Wiggleworms. Buy your bulbs and local honey at the BCO GreenSpace booth, and pumpkins at the RPMS pumpkin patch. Nosh on sausages from Bowmanville’s own Chef Martin, or sample the fare of a few local food trucks. Get in on the costume parade led by SheBoom’s talented drummers. Games, crafts, facepainting, cookie decorating, slime grab, and The Kids Table cooking demonstrations. Plus a basketball shootout and Lil Sluggers t-ball. Whew. Be there! We have many local business sponsors and local talent pitching in this year.

·Berwyn Mural dedication: OCT 15th, 2:30pm at the Bowmanville Fall Festival

At the mural dedication we will celebrate our collective community spirit, and the artistry and contribution of so many people. Please join us to congratulate the community on what we have accomplished, and to thank the artists, the donors, the supporters and ALL the volunteers who have made the project possible.

·BCO Open Meeting & Election: THURS OCT 20^th, 7pm at Scooterworks (5410 N Damen Ave)

This meeting is open to all residents and friends of Bowmanville! Come out to meet new and returning board members who are eager to start their new term of service to the Bowmanville community. The 2011-2012 Slate can be viewed here: www.bcochicago.org/about-the-bco/board-of-directors

Join us to elect the incoming board, learn more about what’s happening in your community, nosh, and catch up with your neighbors. Things we will be talking about include the proposed West Ridge Nature Preserve, the proposed zoning changes along Bowmanville Ave, the progress of our GreenSpace initiative, completion of the mural and much more. If you can help with food, drinks or raffle prizes or setup/cleanup for the meeting please sign up here: www.mysignup.com/bcoopenmeeting .

·Watch for the Fall Issue of the Bowmanville Bee in mailboxes – coming soon!

September 10-2011

 Order Your Spring Bulbs Today

 View this also on the BCO website http://bcochicago.org

 You’ll be helping keep Bowmanville’s community gardens beautiful, too!

Choose from a glorious variety of 18 spring flowering bulbs – from daffodils, tulips and crocus to windflowers, hyacinth and iris. Each variety is sold in separate bags and each bag is $6. You’ll be keeping our community blooming too, because with every bag of bulbs you buy, a portion of the sale will benefit the Bowmanville Community Gardens.

This fundraising effort is jointly sponsored by the Garden and GreenSpace Committees of the Bowmanville Community Organization — working together to keep our neighborhood green and beautiful!

 Click here for the BCO Fall Bulb Sales Brochure

Ordering is easy…

 1. Download the brochure pdf and print out.* Click on the picture or the link

 2. Choose from 18 different bags of spring flowering bulbs. Each bag is $6. (Number of bulbs per bag varies, depending on type of bulb.)

 3. Fill out the order form with your name, street address, phone number and email address. List each bag separately along with the quantity desired.

 4. Figure the total cost of your order. Add the total number of bags and multiply by $6 per bag: ___ total # of bags x $6 each + $_____TOTAL ORDER

 5. Make check or money order payable to: BOWMANVILLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.

 6. Mail (or drop off) your completed order form and check or money order to: Anne Boyle, BCO GreenSpace Committee Chair, 2159 W Balmoral Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625.

Ordering deadline: Wednesday, September 21, 2011    (Your completed order form and check or money order must be received by 5 pm)

Bulbs will be available for pickup during the BCO/RPMS Fall Festival on Saturday, October 15, from 2-4 pm (on Ravenswood at Balmoral) and at other select locations to be announced.

 This fundraising effort is being held in cooperation with Dutch Mill Bulbs, a Pennsylvania company that has been offering flowering bulbs for fundraising for more than 50 years. Bulbs are guaranteed to bloom — or you’ll get a free replacement!

 * If you are unable to download or print, brochures are available at 2159 West Balmoral (on the corner of Leavitt and Balmoral)— they’ll be on the porch (entrance on Leavitt). Just take one!

August 8, 2011

BCO Ice Cream Social

is this Sunday Aug. 14

Jumping Jack from 1 to 2 pm

Bring your kids to jump while you help us set up for the ice cream.

On the GreenSpace at Bowmanville & Bell

Contact events@bcochicago.org with questions

August 8, 2011

BCO Ice Cream Social

is this Sunday Aug. 14

Jumping Jack from 1 to 2 pm

Bring your kids to jump while you help us set up for the ice cream.

On the GreenSpace at Bowmanville & Bell

Contact events@bcochicago.org with questions 

May 18, 2011

Corrections and Additions to Email sent yesterday:

Corrected Times: the start time for the garden workday day is 9:30 am (Sat. May 21, 2011 and goes to 3:30 pm) at the Gateway Gardens on Ravenswood Avenue, and stop by the Spring Plant Sale at the Gateway gardens on Ravenswood Avenue DURING the May 21 garden workday. Drop off a snack to feed our volunteers and pick up some plants while you are there!  Proceeds benefit the community gardens.

Berwyn Mural workdays: For upcoming work dates and shifts as the project progresses, check this link: www.mysignup.com/berwynmural  Sign up to help out! The next workdays for the mosaic installation are this weekend, Saturday May 21 and Sunday May 22.

May 17, 2011

There is much going on right now in Bowmanville – don’t miss out on these events this coming weekend:

Sat. May 21, 2011 9am-3pm. Spring clean-up at the Gateway Gardens on Ravenswood Avenue, and stop by the Spring Plant Sale at the Gateway gardens on Ravenswood Avenue Sat., May 21.  Pick up some plants!  Proceeds benefit the community gardens.

Sun. May 22, 2011 Bowmanville discount day at Griffin Theatre:  Sun. Call the box office (773-975-8150) and use discount code “Bowmanville” to get $20 tickets for the 3pm matinee show of “No More Dead Dogs”.  www.griffintheatre.com

May 21, 2011 – Deadline to get in the street sale in June. The Bowmanville Street Sale is Saturday June 4, 2011  Details and online Registration info here  

Bowmanville’s neighboring community, Edgewater, boasts its own community chorus, The Edgewater Singers.

• On Sat., May 21, at 7:30 PM, the chorus is  offering  a  free  spring concert: Endings and Beginnings at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church 1244 W. Thorndale Ave. The program will offer something for everyone, including pop tunes, show tunes, 16th century madrigals and a compliment of short poetry readings to enhance the performance.

 Start snapping photos of garden themes in Bowmanville to enter into the amateur photo contest at this year’s July 9^th Garden Walk.  There is much beauty to behold now!

Applications to show gardens and enter photos now available.

Read about this and more in the Spring edition of the Bowmanville Bee:

The Spring 2011 edition of Bowmanville Bee publication is now online – click here!  

It is coming to your front door in the coming week.  Many thanks to editor Peggy Cassidy, and a big welcome to new volunteers Paula Palmentera (ad coordinator) and Joey Chiappetta (layout support).

Join the BCO on Facebook for up to the minute information & a dialogue with 180 of your neighbors:  www.facebook.com/bcochicago.  And check out our website www.bcochicago.org.

March 18, 2011

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Join us for the Spring BCO open Community Meeting & GreenSpace Scooter Raffle drawing.  This meeting is open to all residents and friends of Bowmanville.

When: Thursday March 24, 2011

Time: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Where: Scooterworks Chicago

Address: 5410 N Damen Ave

We have great things lined up for this open meeting of the BCO:

• Learn more about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and consider joining one.  Neighbor Sue McCoy will help us understand what they are and what our options are,  and a CSA rep from Peasants’ Plot Sustainable Farm will be on hand for Q&A.
• Talk with a 20th district police representative about neighborhood safety in Bowmanville.
• Vote on the BCO’s revised membership fee structure (see Winter Bee for details).

And don’t miss the main event

The drawing for the winner of the GreenSpace Scooter Raffle!

Winner has their choice between a new Buddy 50 scooter or $1000 cash. To buy tickets contact greenspace@bcochicago.org. $10 each or three tickets for $25.

Don’t miss this chance to find out if you hold the winning raffle ticket, while catching up on all the news in Bowmanville.

Bring a neighbor or a friend!

Join the BCO on Facebook for up to the minute information & a dialogue with 170 of your neighbors:  www.facebook.com/bcochicago.  And check out our website www.bcochicago.org.

 February 22, 2011

Last Chance to Make a Tile for the Berwyn Mural – Thursday, Feb 24^th from 4-6pm @ LTEC

Join us at Let Them Eat Chocolate (5306 N. Damen Ave) this Thursday to make tiles that will be used to complete the East Entryway of the Berwyn Mural.  Tiles cost $10/ea.  Please come to CREATE YOUR PIECE of this incredible public art project.  Read more about it at www.bcochicago.org/public-art

Local musician Brad Smith will be providing live music during the workshop. 

 Garden Plot Application deadline THIS WEEK

Last day to get applications in for garden plots is Sunday February 27^th.  Don’t miss out on a chance to grow your own fruits, veggies, and herbs in one of Bowmanville’s community gardens.  A limited number of plots will be available in the garden on Bowmanville Ave. this year in addition to the plots on Ravenswood.  The application is online at: http://bcochicago.org/gardening/gateway-garden 

Community Movie Night at ScooterWorks:  Weds, Feb 23^rd –“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

This new outreach launched by Scooterworks (5410 N Damen Ave) turns their showroom into a gathering spot for monthly movies.  Join them this Wednesday February 23^rd for a FREE showing of the classic film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.  Doors open at 5pm, show starts at 7 pm.  Popcorn and cokes provided.  Bring a chair or blanket to get comfy, and a potluck dish if you’d like to nosh.

Feeling Lucky? Win a new Scooter or $1000 cash!  Buy a GreenSpace Raffle ticket to win.

One month to go until the big GreenSpace Scooter Raffle! Contact greenspace@bcochicago.org to buy tickets for $10 each or 3 for $25. Drawing is March 24^th at the BCO Open Meeting. 

And the FREE tickets go to……

We had two winners of the ‘Count the Scooters’ contest in the Winter Issue of the Bowmanville Bee.  Matt Bozeday and Ivy Stines will each receive a free Scooter Raffle ticket.  Thanks to all who played – we had a great response to the contest!

See below for a new way to win tickets.

Help us staff a booth to sell Raffle Tickets at Dominicks – March 5^th & 6^th.

We will have a scooter in the entryway and will be selling raffle tickets at the Dominick’s on Lincoln Ave on March 5^th and 6^th.   If you could take a shift, please click to sign up at:Scooter Raffle Sales for BCO GreenSpace at Dominick’s

Supporting the BCO just got easier.  Online payment has arrived!

Secure BCO payments can now be made via our website.  You can join, renew, pay advertiser invoices, pay for garden plots and donate to BCO GreenSpace Chicago.  Coming next – online BCO event registrations!  

Win a Free Scooter raffle ticket if you are one of the first two online transactions:

• one for a membership transaction http://bcochicago.org/about-the-bco/join-the-bco and
• one for a GreenSpace donation http://bcochicago.org/bco_greenspace_chicago/gifts

The BCO is using a secure payment system from North Community Bank and an eCommerce ‘front end’ developed by Mobile Perspectives (www.mobile-perspectives.com). 

Seeking volunteers to fill roles for the BCO:

• Online news editor:  we are looking for a volunteer interested to act as ‘editor’ of our online eBee and eBlast news emails.  This is a fun way to do a little writing and stay plugged in to what is going on in the neighborhood. 
• Layout Designer for the Bowmanville Bee:  we are looking for someone with skills in desktop publishing to work with our editor and help lay out the quarterly newsletters.
• Bee Delivery volunteers:  we have 3 routes open.  Who can help?Contact news@bcochicago.org to volunteer for any of these roles.  We need your help!

Join the BCO on Facebook for up to the minute information & a dialogue with 170 of your neighbors:  www.facebook.com/bcochicago.  And check out our website www.bcochicago.org.

November 20, 2010

Join Your Neighbors to help fight graffiti in Bowmanville!

THIS SUNDAY, November 21st

Meet at 2:30pm outside of Leadway Café, 5233 N. Damen Avenue

Dress warm, bring yourself, a friend, a pen, a clipboard, and your cell phone if you have one.

We are organizing an event with neighbors to walk around Bowmanville and document all current instances of graffiti in our neighborhood. We will meet outside of Leadway Café to start the ‘sweep’ at 2:30pm on Sunday November 21. We will divide into groups of 3 or more people each, to canvass the neighborhood and collect information on all graffiti across Bowmanville. We will then meet back at Leadway Café at 4pm for drinks and a ‘call 311 party’ where we will make city service requests for removal of graffiti at each location we have identified. A consolidated list will also be created that will be passed on to the Alderman’s office and 20th District Police liaisons to ask for their help in ensuring a swift response and follow up to the service requests.

The Bowmanville Community Organization (BCO) is initiating this ‘Graffiti Sweep’ in an effort to get all instances of graffiti in our neighborhood identified, logged with the city, and cleaned up. The intent of this effort is to do a big push to get graffiti cleaned up in Bowmanville and then encourage a ‘zero tolerance’ mindset among residents regarding graffiti, where ALL instances of it are reported by neighbors for cleanup as quickly as possible. Each of us has to do our part to make this work. Others will not do it for us.

This event is in response to what seems to many residents to be an increase in graffiti within our community in recent months and in particular in recent weeks. It is not totally clear if there is actually an increase in graffiti or simply a slower response time within city services to remove it. Regardless, the sense amongst many residents is that there is a large amount of visible graffiti in Bowmanville and the problem is a recurring one that seems to be getting worse rather than better. This problem has also escalated recently to include targeted graffiti and vandalism of particular residences within our community that seem to be directed at intimidating individuals or families.

This kind of intimidation is very upsetting, and totally unacceptable. We need to demonstrate as a community that we will not tolerate it. The best way we can do that is by being out on the streets ourselves looking out for each other and calling the police and alderman’s office whenever something is amiss. The more vocal we are, the more attention will be paid to these issues. We hope that an active community organization, strong block clubs, and engaged neighbors who are focused on supporting one another will lead to increased security of individuals and property in Bowmanville. Immediate reporting and cleanup of graffiti is one way to help reduce the proliferation of this type of activity and encourage those doing it to move their activities elsewhere.

Even if you can’t join us on Sunday, you can do your part to report graffiti as you observe it.

You can report it online at: https://servicerequest.cityofchicago.org/web_intake_chic/Controller?op=reset

Or by calling 311 anytime.

To report graffiti, you need to know:

• The closest physical street address for the location
• a description of where at that address (dumpster, phone poll, tree, sidewalk, etc.)
• an indication of if the graffiti is higher than 6ft off the ground
• what type of surface the graffiti is on (metal, unpainted brick, etc)
• You will also be asked to provide your name and contact information

If you have any questions about Sunday’s event or how to get a block club going on your street, please contact membership@bcochicago.org or call the BCO Hotline at 1-866-837-1006.

We hope to see a good number of our neighbors out Sunday for this walk around the neighborhood.

Please also don’t forget to mark your calendars for the next CAPS meeting for our area – Wednesday, December 8^th, 7pm @ St. Gregory Bingo Hall, 1609 W. Gregory.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Join us on Facebook:

1-866-837-1006