Smokin M’s Barbecue of Forest Park, IL is opening a new location at 6814 W North Avenue in the space formerly occupied by The Jerk Grill. The menu on Smokin M’s website is primarily ribs, chicken, catfish, sides and a few desserts. Several new restaurants have recently opened in Galewood and Montclare including My Mother’s Kitchen, 6978 Soul Food and Caffe Italia.
The Beat 2513 CAPS meeting normally scheduled for Tuesday, May 22nd at 6:30p.m., at the Amundsen Park field house, 6200 W. Bloomingdale, has been cancelled due to the NATO summit. The next 2513 beat meeting will be Tuesday July 24th at 6:30pm.
Beat 2513 meets on the fourth Tuesday of every odd month. Beat 2513′s borders are Armitage to the North, North Avenue to the south, Austin to the east and Harlem Ave. to the west.
Here’s your opportunity to stay informed and voice your concerns to the police. Together, we can make a difference in our neighborhood!
For more information about CAPS, call 312-746-5090 or email 025caps@chicagopolice.org.
Alderman Sposato recently announced the new UNO charter school at 2050 N. Natchez is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 school year. The school will have 575 children in grades K through 8. According to a recent conversation with Ald. Sposato admission to the school will be done by a lottery of applicants from inside the admission boundary which is roughly Harlem Ave. east to Austin Ave and Belmont Ave. south to North Ave.
The deadline for UNO applications is June 29, 2012 but it is recommended applications be submitted as soon as possible. If you wish to apply contact Ald. Sposato’s office at (773) 836-0036 or email info@aldermansposato.com to have your name and contact information added to the list of interested applicants. The alderman also has applications at his office located at 6934 W. Diversey. If you are interested in applying stop by and fill one out.
A recent press release from the Chicago Public Library:
“Coming this summer, from June 11, 2012 – August 4, 2012, all Chicago Public Library locations will be participating in a drop-in summer reading program for kids up to age 14. All children are invited to read books for fun and earn a special book bag, attend programs that will help us all learn about health and wellness, and enter weekly raffles to win a free book. This program is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Department of Health, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, CLOCC: Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago’s Children, Illinois Academy of Pediatrics-Reach Out and Read and By the Hand Club.”
“For more information, call Children and Young Adult Services Department at (312) 747-4780 or stop into your neighborhood library today.”
If you interested in volunteering at the West Belmont Branch Library, 3104 N Narragansett, talk to Ms. Janet the children’s librarian. You will need to fill out an application and attend a training session. To read to kids you must attend a training session today, May 17th from 6:30-7:30PM at the library. To help sign up participants, take reports, and help keep things organized and fun you may attend a training session Tuesday June 5 from 6-7:30PM or Saturday Jun 9 from 2-4PM.
Please contact other branch libraries if you want to volunteer there as the dates and times may be different.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3857 N Kostner, has purchased the beautiful Lancashire-Marshall organ from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of 7116 W Palmer. St. John’s is now raising $80,000 to complete the purchase, move and repair the instrument according to a recent Chicago Reader article. The organ was built by the Lancashire-Marshall Organ Company of Moline, IL in 1891 and sold to an Episcopal church in Superior, WI before being purchased by Good Shepherd in 1987 and installed in 1988.
A listening session including a performance by Fourth Presbyterian music director John Sherer and a cocktail party is scheduled for this Saturday, May 19th. The cost is $30 and begins at 7PM.
A recent conversation with a Good Shepherd representative indicated the congregation will continue to exist but the church building will no longer be used for services.
Chicago Reader restaurant critic Mike Sula recently stopped by Galewood’s MyMother’s Kitchen, 6818 W North Avenue. His reviewpoints out some highs and lows of one of our neighborhood soul food restaurants.
Sayre International Night, scheduled for this Friday, May 15th, has been cancelled, after a special FFO meeting Monday night determined plans were too far behind schedule to organize a successful event. A note will be sent home with students on Wednesday explaining the cancellation.
Amundsen Park, 6200 W Bloomingdale, is fortunate to have Bridget Bode on staff. Recently assigned to Amundsen, Ms. Bode is working with children in the after-school program, Kraft Kids program and summer camp on creative endeavors. A number of exciting projects are planned. One of her first projects are these garden sculptures behind the field house. The sculptures were a collaboration with local youth. In addition the raised beds are much cleaned and loaded with different fruits and vegetables. If you are interested in more information contact Amundsen Park at (312) 746-5003.
Galewood Residents Organization welcomes Chicago education consultant Christine Whitley to the West Belmont branch library Tuesday May 15 at 6:30pm. This FREE workshop will give you the essential information you need about applying for kindergarten including neighborhood, magnet and selective enrollment (gifted) schools. Ms. Whitley will help you make sense of CPS’ application and selection procedures. You will learn how and when to apply. There will be time for Q & A, too, so you can ask questions about specific schools. The West Belmont branch library is located at 3104 N Narragansett Ave.
The 
Garden Club Galewood Montclare May meeting is Saturday, May 19th – a week early to avoid Memorial Day.
The topic is Bee Keeping. Our host Duane, aside from receiving the Mayor’s Award for his cool garden, is raising bees. We’ll also spend some time discussing our own garden questions. If you haven’t renewed your membership or are thinking that this is the perfect time to support the club, we’ll take care of that also.
Come see what the buzz is all about at 2144 North Neva. We’ll start at 9:30, bring a friend or neighbor with you!
Local parks picked are for this year’s Movies in the Parks are Amundsen Park, 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave., and Bell Park, 3020 N. Oak Park Ave. Amundsen Park will be showing a Joyful Noise, a PG-13 movie, Thursday July 19 and Bell Park will have The Smurfs Friday July 27. The northwest side of Chicago appears poorly represented in this years Movies in the Parks program sponsored by Charter One. No outdoor movies will be shown in Rutherford-Sayre or Riis Parks and a little further away no movies will be shown at Merrimac or Hiawatha Parks.
We have a wonderful organization in the neighborhood that is helping stray cats, kittens and other animals in need of shelter, medicine, food and love. Galewood resident Magda Szymczyk is the founder and president of Gypsy Cats. Recently the Gypsy Cats held their first annual Books, Video, Vinyl, Board and Puzzle Games Garage Sale raising $400 for the cost of caring for the cats and finding them permanent homes. If you would like to make a donation for next year’s garage sale please drop off vintage clothes, household items, jewelry, small furniture and glassware at 1845 N Natchez Ave.
If you would like to make a donation toward the care of the animals Gypsy Cats is always looking for contributions. Any cat items, kitty litter, cat food, or cleaning supplies such as paper towels, Clorox wipes, vinegar, dish soap or laundry liquid soap is appreciated. Gypsy Cats is a registered 501(c)3 organization.
If you are aware of a cat in need please email Gypsy Cats at gypsycats@prodigy.net. Please no pet drop-offs.
