From the City of Chicago, here are are some cold weather reminders for our residents:

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The Chicago Department of Public Health reminds residents to take extra precautions to stay warm and avoid hypothermia and frostbite. Residents should avoid unnecessary trips outside, and if it is necessary to go outside, wear several loose fitting layers of warm clothing. When shoveling snow, work slowly and take frequent breaks to avoid exhaustion. Be sure to winterize your home and vehicles, and keep cell phones charged with extra batteries for emergencies.

FIRE SAFETY TIPS

The Chicago Fire Department does not recommend that residents use space heaters, but acknowledges that people may rely on them during cold winter months. To minimize the dangers of space heaters, the Fire Department recommends only using heaters that are UL certified as safe and never use an extension cord with a space heater, which can cause the cord to overheat and burn. Most importantly, never allow a space heater within three feet of anything that can burn, especially bedding.

“Sadly, we have found that fires have started because children have moved a space heater closer to the bed for more heat after parents have gone to bed for the night,” said Jose Santiago, Fire Commissioner. “Residents should also check and replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, especially this close to the holiday season. Batteries may have been borrowed for new electronics or toys.”

Fire officials also encouraged residents to check to ensure their carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. With furnaces running during normal cold weather, a small carbon monoxide leak might not be noticed, but with heaters running non-stop to match the extreme cold, that small leak could become a deadly source of fumes. Carbon Monoxide detectors are designed to alert you before you feel sick, so if yours goes off get to fresh air and call 911.

A new Illinois law narrowing the use of disability parking placards went into effect Wednesday, January 1st. The law allows free metered parking only for drivers who receive placards based on their doctor’s attesting that they meet certain criteria as defined in the law.As of January 16th, the City of Chicago is now issuing tickets to motorists in violation of this new law.

The new Secretary of State-issued yellow and gray placards will allow qualified drivers to park for free at a meter. Blue placards will still be issued and will entitle people to park in parking lots, but they will not be permitted to park for free in metered spots.

 

To qualify for a new yellow and gray placard, drivers must have their doctor attest that they cannot do one of the following:

• Feed parking meters “due      to the lack of fine motor control of both hands.”
• Feed meters because they      need to use a wheelchair.
• Reach above their heads      “to a height of 42 inches above the ground.”
• Walk more than 20 feet due      to an orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular or lung condition.

Anyone ticketed for violating the new law in the Central Business District (CBD) will receive a $65 fine. Violations in areas outside the CBD will be $50.To learn more about changes to the Persons with Disabilities Parking Program, please click here or visit the FAQ page.

Partial Lane Closure on Hubbard Street

The following information is intended for Condominium Property Managers and Condominium Board Members regarding the annual Condominium Refuse Rebate application. One  application per Condominium Association shall be submitted by the  Property Management Company or Condominium Association. ***ATTENTION PROPERTY MANAGERS:  You must return all completed 2013 refuse rebate applications to Alderman Reilly’s City Hall office no later than JANUARY 15, 2014, or your application may be denied.DO NOT DELAY!

After being closed for the past year, the newly reconstructed Wells Street Bridge over the Chicago River opened up on Thursday, November 21st.  Alderman Reilly joined Mayor Emanuel, CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein, CTA President Forrest Claypool and other officials to reopen the bridge.

The complex project included replacing the trusses and all of the steel framing for the lower level road and upper level railway structures.  The mechanical and electrical components were also replaced, and the bridge’s historic elements, railings, bridge houses and major structural components were reconstructed to preserve the 1920s look of the bridge.

At the same time, the CTA rebuilt the Loop ‘L’ junction at Lake and Wells Streets, known as Tower 18, and performed additional track replacement at the curve over Hubbard Street between Wells and Franklin Street.  Combining their work saved CDOT and CTA a total of $500,000 in construction coordination costs.

The $50 million Wells Bridge project was funded through a combination of state and federal transportation improvement funds.

Join the 18th District Police Department in a holiday drive to help homeless and needy families now until January 1st.Donations of new gloves, mittens, scarves and socks are needed for men, women and children, along with children’s pajamas, socks and underwear. All donations can be dropped off at the 18th District Community Policing Office at 1160 N. Larrabee.

For additional information, please call (312) 742-5778 or emailcaps018@chicagopolice.org

The 18th District has announced their 2013 Holiday Food Drive now thru Dec. 15th.

Donations of non perishable food items may be made directly to

the Community Policing Office at 1160 N. Larrabee

Items will be donated to Near North homeless/needy families

and the Greater Chicago Food Depository

For additional information, please call (312) 742- 5778 or email

caps018@chicagopolice.org

 Wishing all our River North friends, residents and businesses a very Happy, safe Thanksgiving! Looking forward to seeing you at The Grid on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd 5:30-7:30pm for RNRA’s annual meeting.