August 18,2010

Veggie Bingo tonight!

Come out to the Hideout to support our community gardens.  Funds raised from Neighborspace Veggie Bingo on August 18^th will go to support the Bowmanville gardens.   Bring a few friends for a night of fun and prizes!

Join NeighborSpace and the Hideout in supporting Chicago community gardens. Veggie Bingo on August 18^thbenefits the Bowmanville gardens.  

Come and play for the chance to win amazing local prizes from Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks, Death’s Door Spirits, Revolution Brewery, Uncommon Ground, Publishers Group West and more!  

WHERE: The Hideout 1354 W. Wabansia.  

WHEN: August 18^th, Doors open @ 5:30, games begin @ 6 PM.  

WHO: The Hideout and NeighborSpace, Chicago’s land trust for community gardens.  

HOW MUCH: Cards are $1 a pop, or 6 for $5.  

Proceeds benefit a different Chicago community garden each week. Veggie Bingo is family friendly, but anyone under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.  Check out last week’s prizes and more at:   http://veggiebingo.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/bingo-9-beef-bread-and-bingo/    

GreenSpace Charrette #2 (Community brainstorming!)

Help us design our new GreenSpace. We’ve bought a piece of land – now as a community we get to define how we develop and use the space. Join us to help! We will build on ideas collected at our first session held in March.

Email any ideas, concept photos of something you’ve seen, or expertise you can offer to greenspace@bcochicago.org . Take a look at the spot – 5384 N. Bowmanville Avenue.  Read about it in the Summer Bee.  And come to the planning meeting to help create our newest oasis in Bowmanville.  Please fill out the GreenSpace Info Sheet and get it back to us: 

Click here to see the GreenSpace Flyer

Hope to see you Saturday
WHERE:  Tempel Steel Training Room – 5448 N. Wolcott Avenue

WHEN:  Saturday, August 21st, 1pm-3pm         

 RSVP:  greenspace@bcochicago.org or via facebook:  www.facebook.com/bcochicago    

Tunnel Talk

Join us to get things moving with our plan to do something fabulous inside the foot tunnel that connects Bowmanville to West Andersonville.  Local artists Sarah Laing and Amy Zoeller have hatched a plan to beautify the foot tunnel with public art.  They would like to have feedback from the neighborhood on potential design themes for the tunnel.  They are currently looking at images of gardening, sustainability, and the use of recycled materials.   It would be helpful if neighborhood businesses and residents can share their support of the project. 

Meet them at the tunnel to talk ideas and get involved:

WHERE:  Meet at the Foot Tunnel on Berwyn Avenue at Ravenswood

WHEN:  Saturday, August 28th, 1pm

RSVP: publicart@bcochicago.org or via facebook: www.facebook.com/bcochicago

Don’t forget the Ice Cream Social this Sunday August 15th, 2-4 pm

Picture This!. . . BCO Garden Walk Needs your Photographs!

Snap a pic and submit your vision of beauty

The Bowmanville Garden Walk is less than 2 week away! We need your photo entries for our 4th amateur photo contest.  At the Garden Walk all the photographs go on display and the visitors vote for their favorite.  The entry with the most votes wins a $50 prize and is used in the publicity for the Garden Walk next year!  

Deadline for entries has been extended to July 4th! 

Photo Contest Rules:

Must be an original, (Limit 5 photo entries per photographer)

Must be of a garden/landscape subject found in our local Bowmanville area (Can be a gardening themed subject, plant study, gardeners in garden a landscape or a close up.)

Must be at least 5” by 7” (8” by 10” or larger is preferred)

Call Craig Hanenburg at 773-294-2979 for more information

Last minute Garden Walk garden entries please call Craig ASAP!

Click here to download the entry form:

 Here are examples of the past winning photographs

 Billy Kuczek 2009 “Sit Next to Me”

Tom Kennedy 2008 “Garden Bench”

Victoria Sterling  2007  “Savanna Gateway”

BCO 2010 Summer Events and News!

This is the second BCO e-Bee for 2010.  May 29, 2010

Looking for a local way to honor Memorial Day this weekend?

Monday May 31st, 10 AM

AMVET post 243 holds its annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 31st at 10am. The parade heads into beautiful Rosehill Cemetery through the Rosehill Ave. entrance, with a ceremony following. The public is invited to join the parade and the fun afterwards as the West Andersonville Neighbors Together (W.A.N.T.) host their annual fundraiser Pig Roast at Ravenswood Pub. Support our vets, our neighbors at W.A.N.T., and check out historic Rosehill cemetery and the Ravenswood Pub’s newly licensed patio and beer garden. See you there.

Saturday June 5th, 9 AM to 4 PM

14th Annual Yard/Street Sale

The BCO Annual Street Sale is in just 7 days!   

Saturday, June 5, 2010 is the BCO’s 14th annual Street Sale. It will be from 9AM to 4PM.  The deadline to enter has passed but your last minute application will be accepted by Barbara Wolke and the application is available on the BCO web site.   The whole neighborhood will all be under one sales permit from the City of Chicago. The BCO will do all the advertising.  Don’t forget that one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure!  Click here to go to the Street Sale web page

Come join us for the celebration party at the end of the day!

Saturday July 10, 2010 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM  

Bowmanville Garden Walk and Photo Contest 

Saturday July 10 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM

You still have time to take pictures of your favorite plant or a Bowmanville landscape or garden art found in our community for an entry in the 2010 Garden Walk Photo Contest. The contest is judged by all the visitors and participants in the Garden Walk and the winning picture is used for the poster and promotion next year!

Billy Kuczek won last year and took this picture of the seating bench in the garden of Joe Charles and Anne Boyle.

The Garden Walk needs your garden! Sign up to show your yard in this year’s event. You can also receive a consultation from the Illinois Master Gardeners.  Then at the end of the day all participants and volunteers enjoy food and drink at the Garden Walk awards party.  Last year we had vegetable gardens, container gardens, goldfish ponds, garden art, and casual gathering areas on view.  A Condo shade garden on Farragut was awarded “most improved” from year to year.  We are looking for more residents to participate and make this year fun and interesting for all. Beginner gardeners and new gardens are welcome and appreciated. Click here to download Garden Walk /Photo Contest entry form

Call for Content: Summer Edition of the Bowmanville Bee!

Do you want to be part of an exciting community project – pretty much on your own time?

We’re looking for Bowmanville-area residents interested in sharing ideas and information as contributors, reporters and/or photographers! 

If you’ve only got a minute, give us a few ideas about what you’d like to see in the next printing of the Bee.  If you’ve got a couple of hours, tell us a story about what matters to you in your neighborhood, or pick a topic from the categories of content (below) and we’ll point you in the right direction.

·    Community News (content REALLY needed here)

·     A Greener Sustainable Bowmanville

·     Bowmanville Kids & Schools

·     Health & Safety

·     Gardening

·     Arts & Culture

With a team of reporters – a few for each category – we’ll have a wealth of content to share in the next Bee. 

Help us by writing an article or trying on a reporter hat. Give it a try! You’ll likely find its more fun than your college term papers.

It’s your community. We need your input.

Contact news@bcochicago.org with any and all ideas.  Content deadline is July 7th.

Know Your Neighbors!

Do you know who your block captain is?  If not we probably need one for your block. 

Go to http://bcochicago.org/membership for details about this new program connecting  neighbors within Bowmanville.

Volunteer to become a block captain.  Contact membership@bcochicago.org for details.

Sunday August 15 – HOT sun - cold ice cream!

BCO Ice Cream Social!

Volunteers needed for one of the “coolest” BCO events!  Contact events@bcochicago.org

Hold the date! Fun starts at 2 PM at the Bowmanville green space (Bowmanville & Bell)

2010 Bowmanville Neighborhood Block Party Schedule

Plan one for your block and let us know dates so we can help you publicize it!

2200 Farragut Block Party– July 17^th

2300 Farragut Block Party– July 17^th

2100 Summerdale Block Party– August 28^th

Berwyn/Bell Block Party – August 28^th

Bowmanville Ave Potluck Supper – Sept 11^th

For city info on block parties, see: http://www.flores1stward.com/Services/SignsPermits/tabid/85/Default.aspx

Bowmanville GreenSpace Planning Continues

Keep watching for exciting progress and our fundraising kickoff as we work to create permanent green space in Bowmanville!  We are seeking input and participation from all interested community members.

For more information or to join the GreenSpace Committee, please email  Greenspace@bcochicago.org  We welcome your input.

Support our Local Businesses: Shopping local has many benefits!

Fresher produce: You can bet that the products you buy from your local pantry, bakery, and farmers market are freshly picked, placed and prepared.

Proximity: Save gas and walk or ride your bike!

Helping a neighbor: Many of the small retailers in your neighborhood have been in business for generations, and it’s what they do best. Your exchange of cash for their goods gives them a reason to continue doing what they love.

Keeping the cash at home: After the sale is made, local businesses return almost 80% of earnings right back into the community where you live

Strengthen community character: A self-sufficient community is one that can grow and prosper. Without local enterprises many more buildings stand abandoned and the appeal for launching a small business begins to diminish when there is limited local spending.
adapted information from RTownShopper.com (Wisconsin)

News from the 40th Ward office: Rabid Bat Alert‏

On Tuesday, May 11th a bat was found in the vicinity of Damen and Summerdale.  It was submitted for rabies examination and determined to be rabid by the Illinois State Public Health Laboratory.

All residents should keep their dogs, cats and ferrets on a leash when out of their homes.  If the dog, cat or ferret does not have a current rabies vaccination, please see a licensed veterinarian immediately to have the pet inoculated with this rabies vaccine.

You are advised not to handle any bats or wild animals.  If any bats are found, please call the City of Chicago at 311, and they will inform the Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control.

(Submitted by) Diane Sheehan   40th Ward Service Office

Rat sightings:Please call 311…they are back! Any sightings must be called in order for us not to have another summer of rat infestations. Dog owners please keep your yard free of doggie poo…this attracts rats!

Gentle reminder: Dog walkers: Please be courteous of where you let your dogs do their duty. Many BCO neighbors have spent lots of time and money making their yards beautiful! Please clean up after your dog…it is a hefty fine!

The next CAPS meeting is Wednesday June 9th:
Details: 2012’s Community Beat Meeting
Contact Details: Sgt. J. Sacks 312-742-8770 Ext. 119
Location: St. Gregory Gym 1609 W. Gregory

Get Involved:

There is a lot of activity in the community right now.  Come out and get involved in one of our upcoming meetings.  Email for details:

   Membership committee (membership@bcochicago.org)

   Gardening committee (gardening@bcochicago.org)

   GreenSpace committee (greenspace@bcochicago.org)

   Garden Walk and Ice Cream Social (events@bcochicago.org)

   Communications (comm@bcochicago.org)

   Planning & Development (planning@bcochicago.org)

Join the BCO on Facebook for up to the minute information & a dialogue with 107 of your neighbors: www.facebook.com/bcochicago

Attention Bowmanville Neighbors!

Its not too late to sign up for the June 5th BCO Street Sale. 

The deadline for your entry form is TODAY May 21st.

We will squeeze you in if you hurry and drop off your application form to Barb Wolke at 2311 W Farragut.  Please drop off ASAP as the maps and packages are being finalized for distribution.  We are advertising in the media to get buyers from all over Chicago-land for your used treasures. Don’t Miss out! Click here to download the application form or go the BCO Web Site at http://bcochicago.org/events/streetyard-sale

For questions email events@bcochicago.org or call 1 866-837-1006

Click Here for a PDF of the 40th Ward Street Cleaning section map:

link to Chicago streets and Sanitation web page

Monday March 22, 2010

Support the BCO! – Membership is about more,  than paying your $12. 

We need neighbors to pitch in together so that we can continue to run the events & projects that benefit our community.  How are you helping out?  Meet some neighbors and give an hour or two to the BCO.  And while you’re at it, join the BCO and go ‘dark’ for an hour on March 27th to advocate against climate change. 

Here are some easy ways to get involved in your community: 

• Help plan the June 5th Street Sale!  We need people to work with chairperson Barbara Wolke to pull off this event. We typically have 100+ homes in the sale.   Join the planning meeting on March 30th at 7:00 pm at Barbara’s home (2311 W. Farragut Ave).  We need help putting together packets, delivering packets & flyers, day-of event support, planning the after party and more.   Even if you can’t make the meeting there are ways you can help.  RSVP to events@bcochicago.org or 1-866-837-1006 to help. The time is NOW for this event.  We need your help.

• Help plan the July 10th Garden Walk!  This is a great event in Bowmanville with typically 20+ gardens on display.  There are many easy ways to help out.  Work with chairperson Craig Hanenburg to recruit gardens, put together promotional materials, arrange for day-of support (like judging, awards, gifts), staff a welcome table, distribute signs or flyers, donate food or drinks, & plan the after party.  Contact gardening@bcochicago.org  or 1-866-837-1006  to get involved.

• Become a block captain!  This new program needs neighbors to step forward to increase communication and safety in our community one block at a time.  We have designed an easy way for you to do this.  Check out: http://bcochicago.org/membership to find out how.  Contact membership@bcochicago.org to become a block captain.

• Get out in the gardens!  We need your help to keep Bowmanville beautiful.  Group workdays kick off Saturday March 27th at 9:30 am until 1:30 PM, and continue on the 4th Saturday of each month, through October.  We also work in the evening on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 6 PM until dusk .  Garden related education sessions are planned for the Saturday workdays at 11:30 AM, so you might learn something while helping out!  If you can’t make the workdays contact gardening@bcochicago.org for specific tasks you can help with on your own schedule.

• Be a Layout Designer for the Bowmanville Bee!  We have a new managing editor on board but still need more help with layout.  Do you know someone with graphic design skills willing to volunteer with us on our quarterly hardcopy publication?  Contact news@bcochicago.org 

• Go dark for an hour to take a stand against climate change! March 27th, 2010 at 8:30 pm local time is World EARTH HOUR!   One Hour. In the dark. Where will you be? Join the world and the BCO in shutting off your lights for just one hour. Earth Hour is a global call to action to every individual, business, school and community to take a stand against climate change.  Illinois is an official Earth Hour state with 29 schools, 10 universities, 13 cities (including Chicago), 35 organizations and 57 businesses signing the pledge to participate.  With landmarks like the Las Vegas Strip, the Pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower and the Willis (Sears) Tower going dark, this event has quickly become the largest climate event in history.  Read more at www.earthhour.org.  Log on to the BCO Facebook page and see who else is going dark in Bowmanville.

Thank you! for all you do to make Bowmanville a great place to live!

Check us out on facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/bcochicago

Or on the web:  www.bcochicago.org

(this email is going to everyone on the current BCO email list)

Don’t forget this important Community meeting!

Bowmanville Green Space/Park Planning Meeting This Saturday March 6th

download the information flyer

 As part of the BCO’s quest to secure permanent green space within our community, the BCO GreenSpace Committee will host a charrette on

Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the

Tempel Steel Training Room

 5448 North Wolcott 

This charrette is a collaborative planning process harnessing the talents and energies of our community to create a plan for park development. This brainstorming session will help identify the community’s priorities, suggest potential uses for the open space on Bowmanville Avenue at Bell, and develop potential designs for this space at a conceptual level. The ideas generated at this meeting will help the BCO GreenSpace Committee develop a proposal that will be utilized to acquire support and funding for this project.

We are seeking input from all interested community members. Please join us in our efforts to maintain open space in Bowmanville by participating in this key meeting. If you plan to attend the meeting, please RSVP by email to Kris Neurauter at greenspace@bcochicago.org (this will help us set up chairs in the room and have enough materials for all)

For more information or to join the GreenSpace Committee, please email Greenspace@bcochicago.org or call the BCO Toll Free number at 866-837-1006.  We welcome your input. 

Bowmanville Green Space/Park Planning Meeting March 6

download the information flyer

 As part of the BCO’s quest to secure permanent green space within our community, the BCO GreenSpace Committee will host a charrette on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Tempel Steel Training Room, 5448 North Wolcott. 

This charrette is a collaborative planning process harnessing the talents and energies of our community to create a plan for park development. This brainstorming session will help identify the community’s priorities, suggest potential uses for the open space on Bowmanville Avenue at Bell, and develop potential designs for this space at a conceptual level. The ideas generated at this meeting will help the BCO GreenSpace Committee develop a proposal that will be utilized to acquire support and funding for this project.

We are seeking input from all interested community members. Please join us in our efforts to maintain open space in Bowmanville by participating in this key meeting. If you plan to attend the meeting, please RSVP by email to Kris Neurauter at greenspace@bcochicago.org (this will help us set up chairs in the room and have enough materials for all)

For more information or to join the GreenSpace Committee, please email Greenspace@bcochicago.org or call the BCO Toll Free number at 866-837-1006.  We welcome your input. 

February Open Meeting

BCO Warm UP!

Thursday Feb 18, 2010

7:00 – 9:00 pm

North Community Bank – Bowmanville Branch located at 5241 North Western Ave

Join us for the first 2010 BCO General Membership Meeting! Open to all residents and friends of Bowmanville. Warm up with a hot drink and snacks and find out what is happening in Bowmanville.

Get updates on: Block Captain program, a Public Art project and our GreenSpace initiative.

Meet special guest Bridget Gainer, Cook Country Commissioner (10th District)

Meet some of our local business owners.
Win Raffle prizes! Visit with your neighbors! We hope to see you there. 

Hot Chocolate included!