32nd Ward Newsletter February 6, 2026

Dear John,

February is Black History Month and many Chicago Public Library branches are celebrating with a variety of events you can attend. See below for more details.

There are many late winter events coming up so check them out below. And, a warning for Honda vehicle owners- CPD warns that airbags have become a hot item for theft. Learn more below or at the upcoming Coffee with Commanders events in the 14th and 18th Districts.

Our office will be closed Thursday, February 12 in honor of Lincoln's Birthday, and will also be closed on Monday, February 16th in honor of Presidents' Day. Please make sure to keep your garbage and recycling carts out all week since pickup can be affected by these holidays.

Have a good weekend.

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

Thanks to the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) and Whirley Ball for hosting the annual LPCC Chamber event where the LPCC honored several business members in the Lincoln Park Community. Aldermen Hopkins, Knudsen and I did a quick overview of business development and issues in the Lincoln Park area along with a recap of the 2026 City of Chicago budget. We also did a Q&A with host Elliot Richardson of the SBAC-IL on the budget, business development, and city policy issues.

The LPCC also honored several businesses for their work in the community including Edda Coscioni, owner and lead stylist of Salon Edda, and Range Chicago. While Edda was not able to make it, the LPCC recognized for her professional excellence and sustained civic impact. A first-generation American of Icelandic descent, Coscioni is an award-winning stylist and U.S. double gold medalist in hair design whose work has earned national and international recognition.

Range Chicago (Joe Palmer GM) also received recognition for their seasonal cooking and dedication to local farmers. Range Chicago has paired hospitality with purpose through its monthly Community Nights since 2015, donating a portion of sales to local nonprofits. Over the years, the restaurant has supported dozens of organizations.

Last week, I was happy to welcome Fringe / A Hair Salon Inc to Bucktown along with the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce!

They first opened their doors on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park in 2002. A full-service hair salon, Fringe is proud to employ 16 salon professionals and has been a long-standing part of the neighborhood’s small business community for more than two decades.

After 24 years in Wicker Park, Fringe recently relocated to the Cortland Business District at 1656 West Cortland. The salon’s new home is the former Riverside Café restaurant space, which closed in 2014. Fringe is proud to bring new life to a long-vacant commercial space while continuing to invest in the local economy and serve the surrounding community.

Owner Dawn Bublitz has lived in Wicker Park since 1998 and is deeply rooted in the neighborhood. Her children attended Burr Elementary School, where she has been a strong supporter, and she is an active member of the Lincoln Park High School Athletic Booster Club. Dawn is the mother of two sons—one currently attending Lincoln Park High School and another who is a freshman at Michigan Technological University.

Welcome Dawn and Team! Please check them out at 1656 W. Cortland. You can learn more at fringechicago.com.

Featured CPL Events for the Month of February

Musical Lunch at the Library with Windy Indie: Celebrating the Black Renaissance in Music

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

12:00PM – 1:00PM

Harold Washington Library Center

Sacred Sound, Sacred Stories: Journaling and Sound Healing

Saturday, February 14, 2026

11:00AM – 12:00PM

Woodson Regional

Level Up: Voices of Black Game Designers

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

5:00PM – 7:00PM

Woodson Regional

Woodson Community Heritage Quilt Project

Saturday, February 21, 2026

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Woodson Regional

Architects of Memory: A Black History Poetry Workshop

Saturday, February 21, 2026

1:00PM – 3:00PM

Woodson Regional

Musical Lunch at the Library with Windy Indie: Celebrating the Black Renaissance in Music

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

12:00PM – 1:00PM

Harold Washington Library Center

Black Librarians Trivia Challenge

Friday, February 27, 2026

2:30PM – 4:30PM

Woodson Regional

Online Events

The Short of It: Short Story Book Club

Feb 4 | 6:00–7:00 PM

Black and African American Alcoholics in AA: A Historical Perspective

Feb 19 | 6:00–7:00 PM

Patricia Liddell Researchers Meeting

Saturday, February 21, 2026

1:00PM – 3:00PM

Adult Book Discussion: Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

6:00PM – 7:00PM

Black History Month Film Screenings

Film Screening: Him (2025)

Sunday, February 1, 2026

1:30PM – 3:15PM

King

Film Screening: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

Sunday, February 1, 2026

2:00PM – 4:00PM

Kelly

Jazz on a Summer's Day (2021): Black History Month Film Screenings

Friday, February 6, 2026

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Harold Washington Library Center

Film Screening: Fences (2016)

Sunday, February 8, 2026

1:00PM – 3:15PM

West Chicago Avenue

Faubourg Tremé (2018): Black History Month Film Screenings

Friday, February 13, 2026

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Harold Washington Library Center

WTTW Chicago Stories Documentary Screening: Ida B. Wells

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

5:00PM – 7:00PM

Whitney M. Young, Jr.

Tell Them We Are Rising (2017): Black History Month Film Screenings

Friday, February 27, 2026

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Harold Washington Library Center

Recommended Reading

Black History Month 2026: Books for Kids

Black History Month 2026: Books for Teens

Black History Month 2026: Books for Adults

Black History: Recent Highlights (February 2026)

February CAPS Meetings

14th Police District

1433- February 17, 6pm

Pulaski Park

1419 W. Blackhawk

1434- February 25, 6pm

Bucktown/Wicker Park Library

1701 N. Milwaukee

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261

19th Police District-

1921- February 18, 6pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1922- February 18, 7pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- February 24, 6pm

Lathrop Advancement Center (new location)

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- February 24, 7pm

Lathrop Advancement Center (new location)

2820 N. Leavitt

1933- February 10, 6pm

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064



• Judges will now review ‘major’ electronic monitoring violations within 24 hours, chief judge says
• New state initiative aims for e-bike regulation, safety education
• ‘Not true:' State's Attorney criticizes mayor for saying she helped with ICE order
• Former CPD chief of detectives calls mayor's order on federal investigations political theater
• Judicial Election Guide - Cook County- with links to several judicial rating organizations

Conversation with the Commander

Election Dates to Keep in Mind

Vote By Mail!

You may now apply online to Vote By Mail for the March 17, 2026 Primary Election– click here to get started!

To apply online, please enter your first and last name (no middle name), address (Street Direction and Street Name) and five number zip code to proceed. Please do not leave any spaces after the numerical value in the online form.

You will be asked to choose one Political Party ballot type for the upcoming election: Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Non-Partisan (referenda only). Per Illinois Election Code, voters may only choose one ballot and cannot vote multiple Party ballots.

Prefer to always vote from the comfort of your own home? You may also apply online to join the Vote By Mail Permanent Roster ahead of the next election –click here to join the Permanent Roster!

You may request to have your Vote By Mail ballot sent out of city or state, but not out of the country. Choose your best option for delivery in Step 3 of the Online Application. You may choose to receive your Vote By Mail ballot in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, or Tagalog in Step 4.

You may also choose to join the Accessible Vote By Mail Program in Step 3. This program allows voters with disabilities to access and mark their ballots through an online system and then print out their ballots and mail in those ballots. Please note: You will not receive a ballot in the mail. Voters with disabilities will access and mark their ballot electronically – this is not online voting.

When you apply online to Vote By Mail, the Board will send you emails:

• When your ballot is mailed to you,
• When the Board receives your Ballot Return Envelope, and
• When your ballot has been processed and counted.

The Board will tentatively start mailing ballots by Feb 5, 2026. All Vote By Mail ballots come with postage-paid Ballot Return Envelopes.

When you receive your Vote By Mail ballot, you may return it through standard US mail and must postmark it before or on Election Day, March 17, 2026. You may also submit the Ballot Return Envelope in a secured drop box at any Chicago Early Voting site before and on Election Day.



Questions? Learn more here or call 312-269-7967 or email [email protected]

Sign Up to Be an Election Judge!

• You must be a US citizen and a registered voter in Cook County - and you can earn up to $230 for your service. Being bilingual is especially helpful.
• High School Juniors and Seniors can also apply. Do you know a student with a GPA above 3.0 and an interest in government? Let them know they can serve as an election judge and see how democracy works from behind the polling place curtain.
• You can go to pollworker.chicagoelections.gov or call 312-269-7984 to learn more and apply.

Department of Family Support Services Would Like YOUR Feedback: Senior Needs Assessment Survey 

The City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Seniors Division which serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Chicago is asking seniors (60 years of age or better) and their caregivers to identify programs and areas of need in preparation for the FY2027 Area Plan on Aging. Please fill out the online survey on or before 2/20/26.

The City of Chicago and its over 550,000 seniors thank you for your service!

Property Tax Appeal- North Chicago Township

Beginning January 20, 2026, you may file an appeal of your property assessment through the Cook County Board of Review.

Property Tax Appeal Resources 

1.) Click to access the Step by Step Guide to File an Appeal

2.) For information on filing a Property Tax Appeal online or by mail, visit the Board of Review website, appeals.cookcountyboardofreview.com 

The Deadline for filing a Property Tax Appeal is February 18, 2026.

The Deadline to submit Additional Evidence is February 28, 2026.

Fletcher (Hoyne to Oakley) Water Main Project Update 2/6/26

Both Crews will be working on PD replacement and sewer work.

Monday (02/09/26): PD replacement at 2116 and 2228 W Fletcher St

Tuesday (02/10/26): PD replacement at 2118 and 2146 W Fletcher 

Wednesday - Friday (02/11/26 -02/13/26) : One crew will be working on Hoyne and Fletcher intersection for final connection and catch basin installation. Another crew will be working on Leavitt and Fletcher intersection for sewer replacement and catch basin installation.

Water Service Interruptions:

No scheduled water main shutdown unless if there is any emergency. DWM will provide advance notice before any service interruptions.

Traffic & Parking Impacts:

No parking will be allowed within the active work zone during construction hours.

Leavitt and Hoyne from Belmont to Barry will be closed during construction hours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a crew member on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. 

Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) Program

The Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

is now open! Until March 6, 2026, eligible organizations can apply for funding that supports community-led solutions across Illinois. Learn more at r3.illinois.gov.

WPB Winter Olympics

February 6-22 @ Various Bars & Restaurants around WPB

Celebrate the spirit of the Winter Olympics with a neighborhood-wide competition that turns your favorite local bars into Olympic “venues”! Grab your friends, form a team, or compete solo as you tour participating bars, complete exciting challenges, and earn stamps toward a grand-prize entry.

Stay tuned for more details at www.wickerparkbucktown.com! 

Roscoe Village Wine Walk - Feb. 13 (Galentine’s Day)

Join us for a fun night of shopping and sipping! Taste 20+ different wines while strolling through shops along Roscoe St. Find your new favorite bottles and shop special discounts on new apparel, home goods, or services. It’s the perfect Galentine’s and/or Valentine’s Day celebration!

WPB Love You Lab 

2/7 from 10 AM - 3 PM

@ The Den Theatre

Love You Lab is a vibrant health and wellness experience designed to inspire self-care, self-love, and holistic well-being.

Explore a curated marketplace featuring incredible wellness vendors, enjoy rejuvenating classes, and immerse yourself in hands-on experiences that nourish your whole self.

Click HERE to view full event details and purchase your tickets today!

WPB February Business Mixer & Neighborhood Guide Release Party 
2/11 from 6 - 8 PM

@ Prism Spaces

The 2026 Wicker Park Bucktown Neighborhood Guide is here! Join us for the big cover reveal and Support, Partner, Connect with WPB businesses, partners, and neighbors from across Chicago! Light bites and drinks will be served at Prism Spaces (1212 N Ashland Ave)

Click HERE to register for our mixer today!

City News

• Chicago Violent Crime at Decade Low as Arrest Rates Rise
• Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach Explains Changes Coming to Electronic Monitoring Program
• A Complete Guide to Voting in the 2026 Illinois Primary Election
• What to Know at Start of 2026 Tax Season, Including New Possible Deductions, Scam Warning
• Here Are The 25 Finalists in Chicago’s ‘Name a Snowplow’ Contest
• New SNAP Work Requirements Go into Effect, Chicago Braces for Impact
• Get a REAL ID and More at the Illinois Secretary of State’s Chicago Auto Show Booth 
• Honda Airbag Thieves Slam Northwest Side as Chicago’s Latest Crime Craze Grows and Grows
• 21 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Valentine’s Markets, Jazz Concerts and More

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]