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The 2nd Ward Newsletter for April 20, 2026
In This Edition:
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2nd Ward Website
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2nd Ward Twitter
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2nd Ward YouTube
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Lake Shore and Seneca Park Earth Day Clean-Up
We spent a very productive Saturday morning mulching, gardening, and cleaning Lake Shore and Seneca Parks this past Saturday for Earth Day. Thank you to all of the volunteers for coming out to make the morning a success. I also want to applaud the Lake Shore and Seneca Parks Advisory Councils, Dave and Jean Kostelansky, and Marc Schulman, for their contributions to this great event.
Happy Earth Day!
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Amnesty Month at the Office of the City Clerk: Ends April 30
 The Office of the City Clerk is bringing back Amnesty Month during the month of April. City Sticker late fees and back charges to drivers will be waived all month, ending on Thursday, April 30, 2026. This year, access is being expanded, with amnesty being offered at three Saturday Mobile City Hall events and on the City Clerk’s 24/7 online store.
Click here for more information about Amnesty Month.
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Tour of Fresenius Dialysis Clinic in Streeterville
Last Tuesday, I was pleased to tour the new Fresenius dialysis clinic in Streeterville. This clinic is one of the nation's largest and will bring a high volume of world-class treatment for Chicagoans with Chronic Kidney Disease to the 2nd Ward. The tour showcased the extent to which Chicago is developing as a hub for comprehensive medical care. I am grateful for the work they do and am proud to support their operations in the Ward.
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2026 Street Sweeping Now Underway
The Department of Streets and Sanitation is now operating on its regular street sweeping schedule. Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool.
"Sweep Around Us" — a third-party email reminder service used for street sweeping alerts — has rebranded as "We The Sweeple." Their website is now live. Click here for more information.
Click here to find the Street Sweeping section of my website. There is an interactive map of all seven street sweeping sections included, as well as the full schedule of 2026 sweeping dates. Residents are encouraged to mark their calendars for respective sweeping dates in the event that they have visitors or are out of town.
Scheduled for cleaning on Tuesday, April 21: Section 3 (purple), Section 4 (red), Section 5 (yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Wednesday, April 22: Section 3 (purple), Section 4 (red), Section 5 (yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Thursday, April 23: Section 6 (green)
Scheduled for cleaning on Friday, April 24: Section 6 (green)
Scheduled for cleaning on Monday, April 27: Section 7 (brown)
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18th Police District Council Meeting: Tuesday, April 28
Join the 18th Police District Councilmembers for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 28, at 6:00 pm at The Anti-Cruelty Society, 157 W Grand Ave.
This month's featured speaker is Anne McCord Rogers, Special Victims Bureau Chief, Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
Click here to register in person and here for Zoom.
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Updated 2026 Chicago Police CAPS Meeting Schedule
The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) Beat community meetings are a key part of the Chicago Police Department's strategy of partnerships and problem-solving. These meetings are held in person, with the option to participate remotely, and are an excellent way to communicate with the officers who patrol your beat and to engage with and meet your neighbors.
The entirety of the 2nd Ward falls inside the 18th District. Click here to find which beat you reside in. You may also call 312-742-5778 or email [email protected] for more information about the 18th District CAPS office.
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18th District CompStat Report
Computer Statistics report (CompStat) is a weekly report of incidents that have occurred in the respective police district. Each district compiles a statistical summary of the week's crime complaints, arrests, and data analysis. Click here to learn more about CompStat.
Please see the 18th District CompStat report below:
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Recent Carjacking Arrests:
- 09 April 26 - Offender Charged with Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking
Community Alerts:
- 17 April 26 - 18th District - Aggravated Battery
- 15 April 26 - 1st District - Burglaries, Theft, and Criminal Damage to Motor Vehicles
Additional High-Profile Arrests:
- 16 April 26 - Offender Charged with Attempted Murder of 31-Year-Old Male
- 14 April 26 - Juvenile Offender Charged with Two Counts of Armed Robbery
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Amnesty Week at the Office of the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk: Begins April 27
 The Office of Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Spyropoulos is holding an Amnesty Week for moving traffic violations from Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1. This program is in effect for payments at the Daley Center, all five suburban district offices, and over the phone. Full or partial payments are accepted. Amnesty Week does not apply to parking tickets or red light camera violations.
Click here for more information.
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Spring Bridge Lifts Begin: Wednesday, April 22
 The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced spring bridge lifts will begin on Wednesday, April 22, with the raising of 27 bridges from S Ashland Ave to N Lake Shore Dr.
Each year, in the spring and fall, CDOT raises the movable bridges along the Main and South Branches of the Chicago River on a twice-weekly schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays to accommodate recreational boats traveling to and from their storage yards. During these “boat runs,” the bridges are typically raised one at a time, with each bridge lift taking an average of 8-12 minutes.
Bridge lifts typically begin at 8:00 am on Saturdays and 9:00 am on Wednesdays. Click here for more information.
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Wellness Walks at Lake Shore Park: Begins Wednesday, April 22
 Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine is launching weekly Wellness Walks at Lake Shore Park, beginning this Wednesday, April 22, from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm. Medical students lead park walks beginning at the picnic tables north of the tennis courts at Lake Shore Park. Each walk will have a set topic of discussion, ranging from blood pressure to healthy diets to bone health.
Registration is required. Click here for more information.
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OTMRA Members Networking Event at Wintrust: Tuesday, April 28
 Join the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association (OTMRA) for a members-only networking event on Tuesday, April 28, at Wintrust Bank - Old Town, located at 100 W North Ave. Individuals interested in membership are also welcome.
Click here for more information.
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Chicago Park District Summer 2026 Programming
 The Chicago Park District offers an extensive array of programs for all ages this summer. Explore offerings and a variety of in-person programming options, along with a few popular virtual programs. Registration for summer programs at parks in our area (any park east of California Ave) begins tomorrow.
Click here for details.
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Volunteer at the Wells Street Art Festival: June 13-14
 The 51st annual Wells Street Art Festival will take place on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, and organizers are looking for volunteers to help ensure that this exciting event runs smoothly. If you are interested in helping out on either of the days, please reach out to Marcy Huttas at [email protected].
Click here for more information about the Wells Street Art Festival.
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Shostakovich & Corelli at Near North Library: Wednesday, April 22
The Near North Library, located at 310 W Division St, is hosting a classical music performance by the Civic String Quartet on Wednesday, April 22, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The Civic String Quartet will play a selection of Debussy, Shostakovich, Velázquez, and Corelli. Registration is not required for this event.
Click here for more information.
April is a busy month at Near North! Click here to view their full calendar of events.
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Indoor SOAR Farmers Market: Through April 30
Don't forget to visit the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR) farmers market every Thursday from 8:00 am - 1:30 pm at 680 N Lake Shore Drive, now through April 30.
Enjoy local and small businesses offering baked goods, fresh flowers, grilled cheese, tea, kombucha, blueberry products, and more.
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One Earth Film Festival: April 22-27
 One Earth Film Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking fifteen years of powerful environmental storytelling and community action.
Each screening features facilitated conversations with filmmakers, experts, activists, and community leaders, creating space for dialogue and equipping audiences with concrete actions to protect our planet and advance environmental justice.
Click here for more details.
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Titanic: A Voyage Through Time
 Enjoy a Virtual Reality (VR) tour of the Titanic and relive its unforgettable journey as if you were a passenger. From the grand departure to the final fateful moments, walk the decks, explore the luxurious rooms, and experience the ship's opulence like never before—all in immersive VR.
This VR immersive experience is located at 108 W Germania Pl.
Click here for more details.
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Green City Farmers Market in Lincoln Park: Now Underway
 Lincoln Park's Green City Farmers Market, open Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, is now underway at 1817 N Clark St. This is one of the city's largest farmers markets, and it contains a wide array of offerings from local vendors.
Click here for more information.
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