Celebrations & Appreciations

Northside Housing and Supportive Services Features on WGN for Trauma-Informed Care Services

Ward Updates

Volunteer to Help with the New Jarvis Square Mural

Mural staff are at the site every weekday and weekend from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (weather permitting).  As of this week, most of the wall has been primed, painted, and gridded into sections. The next phase in the project is to render the figures on the wall.

Finally, please be advised that the southwest alley bounding Jarvis Square will be blocked off between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. while work is underway, except when mural staff removes the cones and barriers to allow passage for garbage/recycling trucks. 

Youth Leadership Council Meeting October 7th

Indivisible Rogers Park-West Ridge Hosting Benefit Concert on October 9th

Tenants' Rights and Fair Housing Event October 10th

Join the 49th Ward, Uptown People’s Law Center, and North Side Community Resources for tenant rights training at Kilmer International Academy, 6700 N. Greenview. The event will take place on Saturday, October 10th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Free Lime Helmets Available in Ward Office

St. Ignatius Campus Community Survey Results

In July, the 49th Ward, Loyola University Chicago, and the Ignatian Mission Center hosted a community meeting regarding a proposed new development for the St. Ignatius campus at 6555-6559 N Glenwood and the former Waldorf School at 1300-1320 W Loyola. More information on the proposal is available on the 49th Ward website at 49thward.org/stignatius.

Following the meeting, a survey was shared for community members to complete, and our office received over 450 responses. You can find the survey results here.

The survey results demonstrated overwhelming support for the Ignatian Mission Center’s adaptive reuse of the existing church and rectory to stand up a social service center and women’s shelter for survivors of domestic violence, with 92.1% of 49th Ward respondents supporting the proposal outright or with changes. While a majority of 49th Ward residents support Loyola University’s proposal to build 65 units of student housing at the former Waldorf School site located at 1300-1320 W. Loyola, that support was weaker than for the complementary Ignatian Mission Center proposal, with only 66.7% of 49th Ward respondents supporting the proposal outright or with changes. In the open-ended questions, respondents expressed concerns about other Loyola University-owned properties in the area that remain vacant and asked Loyola to provide affordable housing options for existing Rogers Park residents.

Our office is currently reviewing the survey results with Loyola University and the Ignatian Mission Center to see if there are opportunities to incorporate any of the feedback into a final plan. Keep an eye on our newsletter for updates on this proposal. Thank you all for sharing your input with us.

Infrastructure Updates

Updates on Green Alley Bounded by Rogers, Wolcott, Chase, and Honore

• Permeable pavement (asphalt, concrete, or pavers) that allows stormwater to filter through the pavement and drain into the ground instead of collecting on hard surfaces. This can reduce garage and basement flooding.
• Catch basins connected with a perforated pipe and installed in a retention trench to capture water and funnel it into the ground.
• High-albedo pavement, a lighter-colored surface that reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it, helping reduce the urban heat island effect.
• Recycled materials, such as concrete aggregate, slag, and recycled tire rubber. 

Estes Water Main Replacement Updates

The Department of Water Management (DWM) is installing a new water main in the 49th Ward on Estes between Ridge and Clark. Excavation of the north side of Estes (westbound lane, between Ridge and Damen) began on August 11th. Construction will only take place during the week. Only in cases of emergency will construction be done on a weekend.

This week, contractors connected the existing water main on Damen. Crews are now beginning to install the water main eastbound toward Clark. 

No lead service line work, water service interruptions, or restoration work is scheduled for this week. The Department of Water Management (DWM) will relay any changes to our office. 

A partial lane closure remains in effect on the northern side of Estes (westbound lane, between Ridge and Damen). Local traffic may be limited during work hours due to equipment staging and the movements of other machinery needed to perform the work. One lane will always remain open in each direction during construction hours for buses and regular traffic. With the lane closure in effect, local traffic will have limited access. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained for the duration of the closure.

"No Parking” signs will be posted on both sides of the street during construction hours (7:00 AM – 4:00 PM) where work is being performed. Parking will be allowed outside of work hours and on weekends. All signage will be placed 48 hours before work begins and will be limited to the block where work is actively taking place or being staged. Crews will work to preserve as much parking as possible. "No Parking" signs will only be posted where crews are actively working and the parking restrictions will move along as the crew makes progress in the project. 

Residents in the affected address range (2040 - 1790 W. Estes Ave) should enter their contact information in the survey here. We receive weekly updates about this project and would like to relay information that may directly affect residents on this block.

Please contact our office with any inquiries at [email protected] or call 773-338-5796.

Upcoming Street Grinding & Resurfacing Schedule

Neighbors, please be advised of the upcoming street grinding and resurfacing schedule for the 49th Ward, provided by the Department of Transportation.  Please be aware of all orange CDOT signs in the public way to avoid being ticketed or towed. 

Street resurfacing schedule:

• Damen between Rogers and Jarvis (7400-7700 N. Damen) - Scheduled for 10/5/26
• Damen between Fargo and Jarvis (7400-7432 N. Damen) - Scheduled for 10/6/26
• Damen between Birchwood and Fargo (7432-7500 N. Damen) - Scheduled for 10/6/26
• Chase between Sheridan and Lake Michigan (1200-1300 W. Chase) - Scheduled for 10/7/26

Midterm Election Information

2026 Midterm Election Key Dates

• September 24, 2026: Board of Elections begins to send out Vote by Mail ballots

• October 1, 2026: Early Voting & Registration opens at downtown Supersite (137 S. State Street) and Board of Elections Office (69 W. Washington)

• October 6, 2026: Last day to submit paper voter registration forms (online and in-person registration remains available)

• October 18, 2026: Last day for online voter registration (in-person registration is available through Election Day)

• October 19, 2026: Early Voting and Registration open in all 50 wards

• October 29, 2026: Last day to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot

• November 3, 2026: General Election Day (6 am - 7 pm)

Become a Poll Worker

Early Voting Opens October 19th in All 50 Wards

Apply to Vote By Mail By October 27th

Any Chicago voter can file an online application to vote by mail for the 2026 Midterm General Election. A voter does not need a reason or an excuse to vote by mail.

Under Illinois law, voters have the option to join a permanent vote-by-mail roster to have their ballots sent directly to their preferred mailing address ahead of every election. Voters can opt in when applying for a Vote by Mail ballot online. 

Voters will receive a ballot in the mail with instructions on how to fill it out and return it. By law, any ballot postmarked Wednesday, November 4th, or later cannot be counted. If a voter places a ballot envelope in a mailbox on November 3rd in the afternoon or evening, they risk the chance of the envelope being postmarked on November 4th and, therefore, being considered ineligible to be counted. 

The United States Postal Service will not guarantee your Vote By Mail return ballot envelopes will be postmarked the same day that you mailed it. Any ballot postmarked after Election Day on November 3rd will not be accepted. USPS recommends voters take additional precautions and mail their completed Vote By Mail Ballot at least one week (October 27th) before Election Day.

All qualified ballots properly postmarked by Election Day (November 3rd) and received up to 14 days after (November 17th) will be processed and counted for the 2026 Midterm General Election. The Chicago Board of Elections will send an email when it receives your ballot return envelope, and again when your ballot has been processed and counted.

Voters may also return their mailed ballot to a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting location before Election Day. Mail ballots may also be delivered in person to the Election Board at 69 W. Washington, Sixth Floor. 

Voters who request a mail ballot but would prefer to vote in person can surrender their mail ballot at any early voting location or their polling place on Election Day to opt for an in-person ballot instead. Voters are NOT allowed to vote by mail and at an in-person location; they must choose only one method of voting. 

If a person requests a mail ballot and it is not received by Election Day, voters will still have the opportunity to cast their ballot. Voters who do not receive or lose their mail ballot may complete an affidavit at their polling place on Election Day stating that the ballot was never received or was lost. 

​Please note that precinct polling places do not have drop boxes on Election Day. Precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots, and Vote By Mail ballots returned at precinct polling places will not be processed. Voters instead can use any of the drop boxes open on Election Day to return their Vote By Mail ballot.

For more information and to complete the vote-by-mail application, visit the Board of Elections website here. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Thursday, October 29th, at 5 pm. 

Community Engagement

Share Your Feedback on the Glenwood Sunday Market

Every year, Glenwood Sunday Market conducts a VERY brief survey about how their shoppers spend their time and money at the market and around Rogers Park. 

You can take the survey here. It only takes a minute or two. 

Your purchases matter! This survey helps them measure the market’s economic impact and show local and state officials why farmers markets are an important part of our local economy.

Join the Chicago Shoreline Advisory Board Community Working Group

• Foster a dynamic conversation between all participants (different than the Shoreline Advisory Board)​.
• Identify gaps in knowledge and shared understanding on Shoreline-related topics.
• Amplify opportunities to make active community participation in shoreline projects more accessible.
• Identify and amplify recommendations for a better public process.
• Uplift unified community recommendations to the Shoreline Advisory Board.
   

Upcoming Leone Beach Park Advisory Council Events

• Saturday, October 3rd, 11 a.m.:
  Fall mindfulness in nature
  (Leone Beach Park, 1222 W. Touhy)
   
• Sunday, October 25th, 9:30 a.m.:
  Monthly conservation work day (4th Sunday of each month)
  (Leone Beach Park, 1222 W. Touhy)

Freaky Fungi at Edgewater Library October 3rd

Touhy Park Fall Festival October 4th

New Life Community Church, Touhy Park, and the Touhy Park Advisory Council have partnered for a FREE Fall Festival right here in the neighborhood!

Join them on Sunday, October 4 from 1:00–3:00 PM at Touhy Park (7438 N. Paulina) for food, games, music, a bounce house, candy, photo booth, dunk tank, face painting & more! And the best part: IT’S ALL FREE! 

This is a community event for Rogers Park — all are welcome! Bring your kids, invite your neighbors, grab some friends, and come enjoy a fun afternoon together.

Park District Micromobility Town Hall

Circles and Ciphers: Restorative Justice through Hip-Hop and the Arts

Circles & Ciphers specifically targets young artists of color, aged 18-29, who have been impacted by violence and incarceration. The organization uses unique tools, such as peace circle training, to support personal growth and community engagement.

Come and hear more about Akeem’s personal story and the work that Circles & Ciphers does to help individuals heal, create, and build leadership skills through artistic expression and restorative practices.

The event will take place on Saturday, October 10th, at 10 am at the the Rogers Park Library, 6907 N. Clark. The program is free and open to all, but space is limited. Register online in advance to reserve your place. 

Attend The Rocky Horror Picture Show Screening
in Jarvis Square on October 10th

'Blers Bash Fan Fest October 10th

Join the Loyola men’s and women’s basketball teams for the inaugural ‘Blers Bash Fan Fest on Saturday, October 10, inside Gentile Arena! Admission is FREE, and the event features youth basketball skills stations, autograph sessions, photos with the players, music from a local DJ, and other interactive kids' activities. The event is open-house style with doors opening at 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.

Visit www.loyolaramblers.com/blersbash for more information and to RSVP!

Chicago Day of the Girl October 11th

Chicago is a global city — and its girls prove it every day. The girl from Englewood carries Mississippi in her bones. The girl from Little Village brings Michoacán in her voice. Roseland, Pilsen, Rogers Park, Austin — every neighborhood holds a world. Yet segregation creates cultural distance between girls who live just miles apart and never truly exchange space.

This year's Chicago Day of the Girl event will address segregation. Segregation is not just a housing issue. It is a girlhood issue. When girls only know their own block, their sense of what is possible stays small. LadyPalooza is a room where a girl from Roseland sits beside a girl from Rogers Park for the first time. Where a girl with roots in Lagos recognizes herself in a girl with roots in Jalisco. Where the city’s invisible walls come down for one full day — and girls realize they were never as alone as geography made them feel.

Chicago Day of the Girl takes place on Sunday, October 11th, from 10 am to 3 pm. For more information and to register, visit ChicagoDayoftheGirl.com. 

Blood Drive at Rogers Park Library October 15th

Versiti is excited to partner with Abbott and the Big Ten for the “We Give Blood” campaign! As a special thank-you, donors can choose their favorite Big Ten school and receive an exclusive Big Ten blood donor T-shirt, while supplies last. Whether you’re cheering for your favorite team or just want to help save lives, one donation can make a meaningful difference for local patients and families.

Join the Versiti and Abbott teams at the Rogers Park Library (6907 N. Clark) on Thursday, October 15th, from 1- 5 p.m.

Join Good News Partners' Associate Board

Circles and Ciphers Fundraiser October 17th

Join Circles & Ciphers at their fundraiser on October 17! Everybody Eats envisions a community where everyone can thrive—Circles and Ciphers advances this vision by helping young people heal, create, and grow. Following funding cuts, Circles and Ciphers and the United Church of Rogers Park are bringing Rogers Park and the Circles & Ciphers community together to honor and celebrate our history, invest in our future, and sustain this work.

The event will feature:

• A community meal 
• Performances from the neighborhood and C&C artists
• A storytelling panel

Volunteer with Care for Real at the Chicago Fall Classic!

Care for Real is proud to be the Official Charity Partner of the 2026 Chicago Fall Classic Half Marathon, 10K & 5K and is seeking volunteers to help make race day a success!

Volunteers are needed at Montrose Harbor on Saturday, October 17, from 5:45-11:30 a.m.

Volunteers may assist with participant check-in, water stations, course direction, finish-line food, and other race-day activities. No running experience is needed, but volunteers should expect to stand for the entire shift. Volunteers should dress for the weather and come ready to cheer on participants! All volunteers will receive a free event shirt.

Sign up to volunteer with Care for Real: vhub.at/ChicagoFallClassic.

24th District Council Meeting October 18th

Family Fall Halloween Fest October 24th

Upcoming Rogers Park Branch Library Events

• September 5th, September 28th, and October 26th:
  Open Mic
• September 9th, October 14th, and November 11th: 
  Song Club
   

Sign Up for No School Day Camps at Culture of Safety

Events at the Rogers Park Branch Library

Rogers Park Arts

Lifeline Theatre Presents: A Wrinkle in Time

Ever since her father vanished under mysterious circumstances, Meg Murray’s life has been spiraling out of control. But one dark and stormy night, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which appear with a promise to help rescue him from the monstrous darkness that threatens the universe.

Join Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, their pal Calvin, and a host of extraterrestrial friends and foes as they journey into the heart of a terrible evil in the hope of reuniting a fragmented family.

A Wrinkle in Time previews at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, on Friday, September 11. The show will open on September 14th and run through October 18th. Learn more and purchase tickets online.

Theatre Above the Law Presents: Grimm

In this original Theatre Above the Law adaptation by Michael Dalberg (Cyrano, The Blood Countess, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), Jakob Grimm is transported through the moon in search of his brother Wilhelm after fighting the wolf off of granny and Little Red. He ends up in a cabaret bar hosted by the wolf, Little Red, and several survivors of their stories.

The show opens October 9th and will run through November 1st. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. All performances will be held at the Jarvis Square Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis. Tickets range from $15 to $30 and can be purchased at theatreatl.org or by calling 773-655-7197. 

Lifeline Theatre Presents: Sugar Plum Fairy, P.I.

The Factory Theatre Presents: Radical Futures

6311 Arts Presents: Portrait Mode and  Trying to Keep it Together

Keep your focus on the subject and let the rest melt away in this human-centric exhibition. Artists: Mr. Brooks, Alejandra Guerrero, Hector Hernandez, Eddwin Meyers, Harry Sudman, Adrian Zavala, with video by DePaul Experimental Filmmaking and sculpture by Nancy Pirri.

In the side galleries, see artist Brian Eaton going solo in "Trying to Keep It All Together."

Both shows run through October 17th. For more information, visit 6311 Arts' website.

Youth Shine in 49

Teen Fallapalooza October 16th

• A taco bar
• Arts and crafts
• Spooky activities
• Laser tag
• Costume competition with prizes
• And more!
   

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Register today!

Apply for the North Side CCPSA Youth Vacancy

Reduced Transit Fares for Students

No-Cost Vaccines Available for Students

Need to Know Info

Check for Missing Property Tax Exemptions

Property tax exemptions are savings that can lower your property tax bill. Check the bottom left-hand corner of your Second Installment Property Tax Bill for exemption deductions. Most homeowners are eligible for the Homeowner Exemption, and most senior homeowners over the age of 65 are eligible for the Senior Exemption. You can learn about exemptions on the Assessor’s website.

If you are missing an exemption that you believe you are eligible for, apply for a Certificate of Error to correct your property tax bill. Submit your online application immediately to have your missing exemptions applied.

Learn More about Becoming a District Councilor

Federal Changes to Medicaid Begin January 2027

Additional Resources