Dunning Profile in Tribune

The Tribune's series of community profiles in its Friday real estate section covers Dunning this week. Read it at http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/Chicago_IL/chi-dunning_profile_chomes_1113nov13,0,604747.story.

Foreclosures Hit One Belmont Heights Block Hard

According to ePropertyWatch.com, which gets its data from public records, there are eight foreclosures on one hard hit block in Belmont Heights. That's the largest concentration of mortgage defaults on any one block in this neighborhood.

How to Fix the 36th

(Another video of a bald, middle-aged, pontificating, white guy? What can I say? They're both good!)

Forest Preserve Drive and Rogers St. are the Indian Boundary Line

Very interesting story on the Forgotten Chicago website about how both Forest Preserve Drive and Rogers St. (in Rogers Park, Sauganash, and Forest Glen) line up on the North Indian Boundary Line (the South Indian Boundary line is 20 miles south).

http://forgottenchicago.com/features/chicago-areas/the-northern-indian-boundary-line/

Mike Royko Holding Court in 1982

Mike Royko dishes on 16-inch softball at the Billy Goat Tavern in downtown Chicago.

Mike Royko is interred in Acacia Park Cemetery on west Irving Park Road.

Replacement for Alderman Banks to be Appointed

I went to the CAPS meeting last night and a representative from the Aldermanic Office was there. He said that a replacement for retired Alderman Banks will be appointed by the end of October. On Halloween perhaps?

Questions I should have asked but didn't (hopefully, the papers will answer these):

• Who is doing the appointing?
• Who is on the list of appointees?
• When will we have the next aldermanic election for the 36th Ward?

Banks Joins Law Firm

Our former Alderman William J.P. Banks has become a partner at the Chicago law firm Schain Burney Ross & Citron Ltd. He will stick around as a committeeman for the ward and also remains as treasurer of the Cook County Democratic Party.

Dunning Ranks 39th in Walkability of Chicago Neighborhoods

The greening of America continues as the desire grows to live in a neighborhood where shops and amenities are within walking distance. Walkscore.com ranks the "walkability" of neighborhoods based on the number of basic activities that can be done without a car. According to their measure, Dunning ranks 39th out of 77 Chicago neighborhoods in walkability. The Loop, Near North Side, and Lincoln Park are the top three respectively. I would venture to say that the walkability of a neighborhood elevates its sense of community and correlates to its overall desireability. Especially nowadays with rising gas prices, the need to exercise, and an aging populace that would prefer walking to driving.

Dunning Read Conservation Area Opening Saturday, Sept. 19

The Dunning Read Conservation Area will have its Opening Celebration and Dedication Ceremony this Saturday between 3 and 6pm. This is a great enhancement to our community. And it's non-commercial! It's located on the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center grounds at Irving Park Rd. and Oak Park Ave. The parking lot entrance is on the west side of Oak Park Ave. north of Irving.

Read the Trib story by clicking on this link.

Maureen Dowd Right On The Money

NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd is right on about the (barely) sublimated racism in the current right wing uprising against President Obama. These articles are essential reading: "Rapping Joe’s Knuckles" and "Boy, Oh, Boy".

Graffiti On 3800 Block of Osceola

Scrawlers crawled through an alley early Sunday morning decorating two garages and a fence. It's great to see that "SMIRK", "SOAP", and "ANRKE" went to work to beautify the alley for their rodent brethren. Notice the halo "SMIRK" gives him or herself. Nice touch.








Mervin Mouse, who lives in a hole under a weed patch next to the garage at 3818 N. Osceola, says he's happy about the new public art installation. "It's about time someone tried to elevate the culture in this alley", squeaked the minuscule vermin. In the interest of full disclosure, Mervin Mouse is a cousin of the tagger "ANRKE" and they are currently dating. "ANRKE" is expecting their second child.










Mervin Mouse and "ANRKE"'s first runt.

Hooray! Harassing Neighbor Found Guilty

Harasser Joseph H. Marrone was found guilty for accosting a neighboring Puerto Rican family, both on the 3600 block of North New England. The family won a $520,000 (!) settlement. As someone who has experienced vile harassment from pathetic neighbors, it is gratifying to see justice served.

Read all about it at the Sun-Times or the Tribune.