On July 24th, River North Alderman Brendan Reilly was joined by 11 of his colleagues when he employed a procedural tactic in the City Council Rules (called “Defer and Publish”) to delay a full City Council vote on “Building Energy Use Benchmarking” ordinance until the next City Council Meeting scheduled for September 11, 2013.

Mayor Emanuel’s proposed “Building Energy Use Benchmarking” ordinance would require all commercial and residential buildings over 50,000 square feet to provide their energy consumption data to the City of Chicago on an annual basis.  The proposal would require each building’s energy consumption data to be posted on a public website; and each building’s energy consumption would be rated and assigned an energy performance score.

Alderman Reilly hopes with help from residents, “we can work cooperatively with Mayor Emanuel to craft a responsible Energy Use Benchmarking ordinance that provides property owners with the valuable data they need to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, without burdening them with additional costly government mandates.”

To share your concerns with Mayor Emanuel and request an opportunity to make reasonable changes to the proposal that would protect condominium and co-op owners from additional costly mandates, e-mail: letterforthemayor@cityofchicago.org

and cc: mayor.emanuel@cityofchicago.org. For more information about the proposed ordinance, please visit the Alderman Reilly’s “virtual office” at  www.ward42chicago.com.

Free Family Fun Festivals begin every Wednesday from June 12 through August 18th at 10 am in Millenium Park. These annual summer events for children features educational activities, arts and crafts and games. Children interested in music can enjoy The Wiggleworms at 10 a.m. everyday, which features Old Town School of Folk Music instructors who lead children in a sing-a-long and reading circle. Each week features a different theme hosted by museums and organizations throughout the city (themes TBA).  The park is located at 201 E. Randolph St. Millennium Park

Read more at Chicago Metromix.

What makes Taste of River North different from all the other summer fests in Chicago? We have a great KidZone dedicated to our River North Families. And this year’s KidZone is bigger and better! Sponsored by River North resident, Jeff Stogsdill and State Farm, we have non-stop entertainment for all ages. Please stop by Saturday and Sunday from Noon- 5pm.

Saturday Stage Schedule

12:00 The Great Scott

1:00 HealthKick Kung Fu

2:00 Reddy Set Yoga!

3:00 Miss Lauren

Sunday Stage Schedule

12:00 Mary Macaroni

1:00 Mr. Singer and Kerry Appleberry

2:00 Reddy Set Yoga!

3:00 Super Stolie

4:00 MyGym ChicagoSee More

Chicago City Council voted to approve Mayor Emanuel’s Parking Meter Settlement by a vote of 39 – 11 on Wednesday June 5th..

Alderman  Brendan Reilly was one of the 11 aldermen who voted against the Settlement, because the plan called for extending parking meter hours from 9 PM to 10 PM on 30,000 meters across Chicago and from 9 PM to Midnight at thousands of meters located across downtown Chicago’s 42nd Ward including River North – to offset costs associated with providing so-called “Free Sunday” parking in the outlying neighborhood wards.  Although he opposed the measure, Alderman Reilly recognized Mayor Emanuel, Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton and Chicago’s Chief Financial Officer Lois Scott for their excellent work negotiating the settlement of “true-up” calculations and invoices that will save Chicago taxpayers nearly $1 billion in payments to Chicago Parking Meters, LLC over the next 71 years.

During the debate, the Alderman raised concerns that the extended meter hours will result in yet another revenue windfall for Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, and could have a chilling effect on local businesses across Chicago and throughout the 42nd Ward.

Alderman Reilly appreciates the hundreds of phone calls and emails of encouragement and support he has received over the past month. He remains committed to trying to find a way for the City of Chicago to buy-back this valuable public asset and finally put an end to the disastrous Parking Meter Lease that continues to soak local taxpayers.

Are you up to the River North Challenge?

This amazing journey through River North will challenge you mentally and physically but the prize is worth the effort!

Teams of four will visit challenge stops around River North – they will be directed to a total of four (4) hotel checkpoints to complete Challenges and refresh themselves with complimentary food and beverages. Bonus street stops are there for you to find and win additional challenge points.

At each stop, teams will complete a challenge to earn a passport stamp and challenge points before moving on to the next location. Teams can choose an active challenge, a mental challenge or both to gain more points. At the completion of each challenge you will receive your points, passport stamp and next location card.

Are you ready to celebrate the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions, our Chicago Blackhawks? Parade will begin at 10:30 travelling east from Des Plaines and Washington Street on to Hutchinson Field in Grant Park. For more information on the parade and festivities.

Once again, your RNRA with the Chicago Park District will be hosting six Movies in the Park this summer in A. Montgomery Ward Park. We are looking for some wonderful volunteers for our Park Advisory Council (PAC). If you have some time before and or after the movie, we sure could use your help. Before the movie, we need volunteers to hand out our programs and small bags for litter. After the movie, we need volunteers to do a little clean up to keep our park looking beautiful.

Our first movie is Tuesday, June 18th.

To volunteer, please email us at info@rnrachicago.org. Thank you! See you in the park!

Coming July 19th-21st, the 12th Annual TASTE of RIVER NORTH. Bigger and better with all the flavor of our River North restaurants, artisans and great music thrown in. Want to volunteer? Just a two hour fun filled shift will get you a FREE admission, FREE collectible T-shirt, FREE training party at Castle, and food/drink coupons to enjoy at the best fest in the City.

River North teens who are interested in art and museums are invited to the first Teen Event, planned and hosted by the Art Institute Teen Council, on Saturday, June 8th from 1:00-4 pm in the Ryan Education Center. This event is FREE and open to any teen.

The Art Institute Teen Council, a group of 11 teens from all over Chicago, has planned this event to feature art-marking, food, music, teen performances, and to highlight the Teen Council exhibition, on view in the Ryan Education Center. Teens can drip in any time to participate in the activities and get more infomation about how to get involved in other programs for youth.

This event will hopefully attract a wide range of teens to the museum and to allow their ideas and energy to be visible in the museum and in the Education Center. For more information, www.artic.edu/learn/teens/teen-council.