Bowmanville Community Organization

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.

Have you walked through the pedestrian foot tunnel at Berwyn & Ravenswood lately?  The BCO and WANT have an amazing mural being developed by local artists and and volunteers.

Click here to download a 2 page document with pictures and a description of the Berwyn Mural project that is currently underway at Berwyn & Ravenswood in Chicago.

This truly is one of the most amazing projects.  Peek at the pictures.  Come by and take a look.  Or better yet…..

There are still two easy ways to help us out:

1- Give $$! Can you support this inspirational public art project that is going on in your neighborhood?  We are looking for businesses and individuals to make contributions to cover the remaining $1000 still required to enable completion of the project.  No amount is too small!  Make contributions out to Bowmanville Community Org (BCO).

2-      Lend us your hands! We need volunteers to help with the mosaic installation any day from Oct 25 through Nov. 2^nd.  Sign up for a shift at www.mysignup.com/berwynmural.  We will be out in full force on Saturday – stop by to say hello and thank the volunteers or bring snacks even if you can’t signup to help.  Have some fun with us!

Please contact either Claire Shingler (president@bcochicago.org) or Sarah Laing (publicart@bcochicago.org)

Or call 1-866-837-1006 (BCO hotline).

Many thanks for any support you can give.

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.

December 2010 (This is the third e-Bee for 2010)    

Recycle Your Old Holiday Lights and Earn Money for Bowmanville’s new GreenSpace!

You can recycle your old string lights at North Community Bank (5214 N. Western Avenue) between December 13 and January 18.   Each time we fill the recycling box it will result in a $45 donation to BCO GreenSpace. 

The City of Chicago and Elgin Recycling Inc. are providing holiday string light recycling at select locations across Chicago.   North Community Bank has agreed to be our collection site.  The recycling box is in the entryway to the bank.  The bank hours are 9AM to 5PM Monday through Friday and 9AM to 1PM on Saturday. 

 Scooter Raffle Tickets Make Great Stocking Stuffers & Holiday Gifts!

Better odds than the lottery…. buy some yourself and give to your friends and family! 

Raffle tickets cost $10 each or 3 for $25.  The winner of the scooter will be drawn at the March 24^th BCO Open Meeting.  Details on the raffle and prize at: http://bcochicago.org/bco_greenspace_chicago

Proceeds benefit Bowmanville’s new GreenSpace. 

Contact Craig Hanenburg to get your tickets at comm@bcochicago.org.

Local Giving opportunities – help someone in need this season!

It’s never too late to do something to help those in need.  Many drives are winding down, but you can still help others with donations dropped off very close to home.

• Scooterworks (5410 N. Damen) is accepting donations of dry food goods and blankets for the Lakeview Food Pantry.
• Care for Real (6044 N. Broadway) is Edgewater’s local food pantry.  The individuals they support include residents of Bowmanville.  You can always give to them directly – goods or $$.  Check out http://www.careforreal.org for details on how to help your neighbors.
• Rogers Park Montessori (1800 W. Balmoral) is collecting books for the Gary Comer Youth Center.  Drop off items at the front desk of the school when they re-open on Jan 3^rd. Wish List Items can be found at: http://my.barnesandnoble.com/RPMS-RPMSs-ROOTS-Philanthropy-Committee-Wish-List-for-Gary-Comer-Youth-Center/wl/16859609/

BCO GreenSpace Holiday Appeal

Did you get your Green Envelope from the BCO?  A holiday appeal was sent out to residents asking for support of the BCO GreenSpace Fundraising Campaign.  Contributions to this campaign are tax deductible.  Get yours in before the tax year ends!  We are looking forward to enjoying our new GreenSpace on Bowmanville Avenue and need your contribution to make it a reality. 

Checks can be made out to BCO GreenSpace Chicago and mailed or dropped off to:

Take a look at the conceptual site design for the space – it has been developed by your neighbors:http://bcochicago.org/bco_greenspace_chicago/bco-greenspace-chicago-news

Spring seems a long way off.  But it’s not!  Start planning for your veggie plot.

Applications for the Gateway Garden vegetable plots along Ravenswood Avenue will be available on the BCO website starting January 7^th.  Deadline for submitting your application is February 27^th. 

For more information keep your eye on the BCO website or contact gardening@bcochicago.org.

Are you ‘in the loop’ on what is happening in our neighborhood? 

Does your block have a block captain keeping you updated?  The best way to stay safe is to stay informed.  We will keep the information flowing through the block captains. 

Contact membership@bcochicago.org with the name of a person on your block who can be your liaison.  Check out the BCO Facebook page for ongoing discussions on crime, graffiti and safety. 

Keep up the fight against graffiti in Bowmanville

On November 21, nineteen neighbors came out to walk the neighborhood in a ‘Graffiti Sweep’.  We identified and reported 213 instances of graffiti to the city for cleanup.  Much of the cleanup happened the following week.  Help us stay on top of this continuing problem. 

You can easily report graffiti yourself by calling 311 or by submitting a report online at http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/streets/provdrs/graffiti_blasters/svcs/mayor_daley_s_graffitiblasters.html 

Don’t miss the next CAPS Meeting for our area (Beat 2012):

Be sure that someone from your block is there to keep you informed and voice your concerns.

Call for Content!  The Winter Issue of the Bowmanville Bee is in the works. 

Do you have news to share or want to advertise?  Tell us about something interesting that’s happening with our neighbors.  We welcome baby news, photos and other ‘shout outs’!         Contact news@bcochicago.org with submissions. 

It’s your community. We need your input.  Content deadline is January 15th.   

Seeking volunteer roles for the BCO:

• EBee and EBlast editor:  we are looking for a volunteer interested to act as editor of our online eBee and eBlast news emails.  These mails are put together in between the quarterly printed “Bowmanville Bee” newsletters and are oriented around timely information that the Bowmanville community needs to know.  The editor would be responsible to set the schedule, identify and solicit relevant contributions, edit them into a cohesive email bulletin, and manage the mailing to the BCO receiver list via our website tools.  This is a fun way to do a little writing and stay plugged in to what is going on in the neighborhood.  Please contact comm@bcochicago.org if you are interested.

• Advertising Coordinator for the Quarterly newsletter:  we are seeking someone who can coordinate sale of advertising space in our Bowmanville Bee newsletter.  This person would be the primary point of contact to any individuals or businesses advertising in the newsletter.   This volunteer would coordinate ad copy submissions and final ad lineup with the Managing editor of the Bee.  This role is a fun and easy way for someone to build valuable contacts with owners of local businesses and stay current on local happenings.  Please contact news@bcochicago.org if you are able to help out.

• Bee Delivery volunteers:  we need a few more people to take routes to deliver newsletters.  Your route will be one or two blocks, four times a year.  It’s a nice way to get out in the neighborhood and get some fresh air while helping out the BCO.  Please contact news@bcochicago.org to volunteer.

Wishing you a peaceful New Year!

Thank you for your ongoing support of the BCO and our community.  Together we have made Bowmanville a great place to be in 2010.  We have accomplished so much over this past year – tangible things we can all enjoy and be proud of.  Highlights include our newly acquired GreeenSpace, the inspiring new Berwyn tunnel mural, and our engaging gardens and fantastic annual events that just keep getting better.   We look forward to more great things to come around ‘Beautiful Bowmanville’ in 2011. 

Peace to you all.

Join the BCO on Facebook for up to the minute information & a dialogue with 161 of your neighbors:  www.facebook.com/bcochicago.  And check out our website http://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

The Fall Festival was great, wasn’t it?  Please continue to support the BCO!

Don’t miss the BCO Annual Open Meeting & Election

(open to ALL friends and residents of Bowmanville!!)

This Thursday night – October 21

7pm at Rogers Park Montessori (1800 W Balmoral Ave)

Dessert potluck – bring a treat to share (no nuts please!)

Griffin Theatre will be there speaking about the plans for their new home at 1940 W. Foster Avenue.  There will also be another opportunity to make a tile for the tunnel mural,  learn about our GreenSpace site design and fundraising progress and take a chance  to win a scooter.  Mingle with your neighbors, meet the new board, and catch up on all that is going on in your neighborhood.

We are also collecting topics for the next face to face meeting between BCO leadership and Alderman O’Connor.  If you can’t make the Open meeting, but have things you’d like us to bring up send your items to president@bcochicago.org before Nov 1^st.

 Missed your chance to make a tile at the Festival?  Can’t make the Open Meeting?

Come by the pergola in the Gateway Garden on Wednesday October 27^th between 3pm-4:30pm.

The artists will be there with mosaic supplies.  $10/tile.  Come and create your piece of the mural!

Thanks.

Claire

Get out in our neighborhood this Saturday.  
For the second year the BCO is teaming up with Rogers Park Montessori to bring you a great fall event.  
 

Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch sponsored by the BCO and RPMS

Saturday October 16th
1-4pm

Ravenswood Avenue at Balmoral Avenue (west side of the tracks).

Join us for 3 live performances on our stage:
·       1:30       io Theater’s Storytown

·       2pm       A Drum Spectacle with Quest Ensemble Theatre

·       3pm       Pete Special playing Funky Blues with Bowmanville resident John Maloney on percussion

More volunteers & supplies are needed to make this event a success!
Please help us out – (click to see what is needed):
www.mysignup.com/bcofallfestival  http://www.mysignup.com/bcofallfestival (volunteer shifts)
www.mysignup.com/bcofallfestivaldonation http://www.mysignup.com/bcofallfestivaldonation (lend or donate supplies)
 
Don’t miss the costume parade, food, games and more.
Create YOUR piece of the Berwyn Foot Tunnel mural which is underway.
Learn more about Bowmanville’s newest Green Space.  Take a chance to win a scooter!
Food Drive for the Common Pantry – bring a bag of non-perishables to donate.
 
Also, mark your calendars for the BCO Open Meeting and Election:

BCO Open Meeting & Board Election
Thursday October 21st
7pm
Rogers Park Montessori School – 1800 W. Balmoral Avenue
Guest Speaker from the Griffin Theatre & updates on the Berwyn Mural, BCO GreenSpace and more.
Dessert Potluck (bring something to share – no nuts please)

Check out the BCO website or Facebook page for the latest and greatest info.
www.bcochicago.org http://www.bcochicago.org
www.facebook.com/bcochicago http://www.facebook.com/bcochicago

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