Thank you to all of our Community Association leaders from across the 39th Ward who joined me for an evening of conversation and collaboration. We are incredibly fortunate to have such engaged neighbors who dedicate their time and energy to making our communities stronger. Thank you! 

Each neighborhood in the 39th Ward has its own unique character, history, and priorities. Still, gatherings like this remind us that we share a common goal: building connected, welcoming, and thriving communities. It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, share successes, discuss challenges, and explore ways we can work together on future events and initiatives across the Ward.

Thank you to IATSE Local 2 for hosting us and welcoming our community leaders into your new space. And thank you to our partners from the Chicago Police Department for joining us, meeting with neighbors, and continuing to build strong relationships throughout the Ward.

Last week, the Little Gompers Softball and Baseball community came together for the dedication of a new scoreboard and dugout sunshades in honor of Eve Fries's legacy. Beli"EVE" on the scoreboard is written in Eve's handwriting. 

Eve loved softball and played countless games at the Little Gomps ballfield.  Eve passed away at age 17 in 2021 after battling DIPG, a rare and aggressive brain tumor. Her family continues her legacy by creating opportunities for young athletes and has started the Fries Foundation. 

Thank you to the Fries Foundation, the Fries family, and everyone who helped make this tribute possible.

I attended the Art Institute of Chicago’s annual Legislator’s Breakfast to celebrate the important role the arts play in our city. It was great to see friends and community leaders, including Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen and Gloria Groom from the Art Institute.

The Art Institute continues to make art more accessible through free admission opportunities for youth, Illinois residents, and community members. I also had the chance to view the summer exhibition, Willem de Kooning Drawing, and look forward to seeing the Art Institute’s Project Windows bring art into storefronts and commercial corridors across the Ward this summer. Locations across the Ward include: Edgebrook Library (5331 W. Devon Ave.), Northeastern Illinois University (3416 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.), People’s Gas (4025 W. Peterson Ave.), Pulaski Elston Business Association (4143 W. Lawrence Ave.), Special Service Area (SSA) 62 (4754 W. Peterson Ave.), and Superdawg Drive-In (6363 N. Milwaukee Ave.) Project Windows will be on display through September. Stay tuned for public voting coming soon!

Admission to the Art Institute is included in the Museum Pass that my office offers. If you'd like to reserve the pass to visit the Art Institute or any of the museums included on the pass for free, click below to send an email and get more information. 

Thank you to Nikki Conway for hosting the Sauganash Woman's Club Annual Garden Party. It was a great afternoon in a beautiful garden celebrating the work of the Woman's Club. 

Mayfair Library's Annual Touch-a-Truck event was so much fun. After storytime in the newly remodeled library, we headed outside to explore and learn about fire engines, garbage trucks, water service vehicles, and police cars! 

Molly Brannigan is the 2026 Mary Lou Quinn Memorial Scholarship recipient from the Edgebrook-Sauganash Chamber of Commerce (ESCC). Congratulations and best of luck to Molly!

Congratulations to Valerie Cassidy on her retirement with the Chicago Park District, after 37 1/2 years as a Physical Instructor; 25 of those years serving at Sauganash Park.  Ms. Valerie taught a variety of programs for all ages. Thank you for your service and talents to our Parks!

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has announced that they have added service on seven bus routes through the City, including the the #92 Foster Bus. 

You can now travel westbound later on the weekends as service has been extended through 10:30 p.m. Eastbound weekend service has also been extended until 9:55 p.m. on Saturdays and 9:50 p.m. on Sundays/holidays. Sundays/holidays begin service at 5:00 a.m.

Later this summer, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin a repair project on the Carmen Avenue Pedestrian Walkway bridge over the North Branch Chicago River. The project's scope includes cleaning and painting the steel superstructure, replacing damaged steel members, and replacement of damaged portions of the bridge deck.

The project is expected to start in late summer and last 1-2 months. For the duration of the work, they will close the bridge and mark a detour using N Central Park Ave, W Argyle St, and N Monticello Ave.

We will provide more updates once a start date for the construction has been confirmed.