New this year, in addition to the Navy Pier Fireworks, the Chicago River will come alive with fireworks from Wolf Point to Lake Shore Drive sponsored by several hospitality industry leaders.

The fireworks will be displayed in tandem with Navy Pier’s Fireworks when the clock strikes midnight. Residents should be advised that these fireworks will not be as loud as the ones used for the Navy Pier Fireworks.

RIVER BARGE LAUNCH LOCATIONS

• Directly north of the Hyatt Regency Chicago
• Directly south of the Sheraton Grand Chicago

RIVER BRIDGE LAUNCH SITES

• Franklin Street
• Clark Street
• Wabash Avenue

BRIDGE CLOSURES
Please note that the Franklin, Clark, and Wabash bridges will be closed beginning at 11pm on Monday, December 31, New Year’s Eve, until 12:15am on Tuesday, January 1, New Year’s Day to facilitate the display.

TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

To view the neighborhood notification letter, which provides detailed information about street and traffic lane closures, as well as pedestrian traffic impacts, please click here.

Residents are strongly advised to allow extra travel time and be mindful of traffic impacts.

RIVERWALK CLOSURE:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Alderman Reilly has requested that the event organizer provide a contact number to the event operations center. If you have questions, need assistance or would like to report any issues, please call the event operations team at (877) 570-5590 or email at info@chifireworks.com.

If you observe any illegal activity or need to report an emergency, please dial 911.

To learn more about the fireworks including viewing locations, please click here to visit the event website.

Please note: due to public safety concerns, pedestrians will not be allowed to stand along the Riverwalk, on the bridges, or along Upper Wacker, from Lake to Stetson, to watch the fireworks display.

Source:  Alderman Reilly’s Newsletter 12/28/18

The new, modernized Chicago 311 City Services makes it even easier for residents to access city services with an updated system that’s more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly.

311 City Services is a great tool that allows residents to interact with City departments, and request services. With the new system, in addition to calling 311, residents can request city services and track progress from the beginning to resolution online via the CHI 311 web portal, by downloading the new CHI 311 mobile app, or through multiple media channels and then provide feedback on the service delivery.

The new system will:

CHI 311 will completely transform the resident experience for city services. Once a resident submits a request, they can see the estimated completion date and get automatic updates when work is completed.

The new system will improve City departments’ efficiency and streamline the service delivery processes-eliminating paper-based dispatch and scheduling, introducing the ability to close out requests in the field in real-time, and providing customized dashboards to measure performance. This means services will be delivered to residents in a more efficient manner.

With the new CHI 311 mobile app, residents are able to create new service requests; check the status of existing requests and the time it will take to resolve; snap a photo and submit it with a request; map requests to help pinpoint a location; create an account to track service requests and get local, relevant information; provide feedback upon completion of the service request; search and see helpful knowledge articles; and view other service requests in their neighborhood and throughout the city. Residents will benefit from enhanced communication that fits both new and old ways in which residents are able to connect with the City.

The previous 311 system was decades old and focused on phone communication. While this mode of communication will still be fully available, the new system provides options that fit the way that many of our residents communicate today.

Residents who would like to request a city service can download the free CHI 311 mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play, visit 311.Chicago.gov to begin to use this new and improved channel for available city services, or call 311.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Report 12/28/18

Find out if your tax bills have been returned at cookcountytreasurer.com 

To help homeowners who have mail-delivery problems, cookcountytreasurer.com now shows when tax bills have been returned by the U.S. Postal Service, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

“Property owners who don’t receive their tax bills often face interest charges for late payments and even see their properties go up for sale for delinquent taxes,” Pappas said. “It’s an unnecessary waste of time and money, and it’s unfair.”

A team in the Treasurer’s Office has reduced the number of properties with incorrect mailing addresses to 63,500, down from 86,200 two years ago.

To see if your tax bills have been returned, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and:
• Select the purple box, “Your Property Tax Overview”
• Enter your address or Property Index Number (PIN)
• Look for a red warning box that pops up if your bills have been returned
• Update your mailing information if it is incorrect
• Choose “eBilling” if you wish to receive your bill by email

Source:  Walter Burnett’s 27th Ward Newsletter 12/28/18

Merry Christmas, neighbors! We hope you enjoy a great day filled with love from family and friends.

Photo: Obscura Digital

Looking to really get in the holiday spirit? Art on theMART is partnering with WFMT to provide a curated selection of classic holiday tunes to go along with the winter seasonal projections! Grab your headphones, and head over to artonthemart.com to listen along! #artontheMART

Seasonal imagery started on November 17th, and will culminate in a special New Year’s Eve viewing. Bring your hot chocolate, and check out Chicago’s latest holiday destination!

TheMART has a new look! Wednesday – Sunday, now through December 31 from 7:00  – 9:00 p.m., theMART transforms into Art on theMART, the newest addition to Chicago’s vibrant public art scene and the largest digital art projection in the world! For more information, visit artonthemart.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Obscura Digital

The Allstate CTA Holiday Train is a holiday tradition unique to Chicago, which, due to popular demand, is now accompanied by the Elves’ Workshop Train. The Elves’ Workshop Train follows the Holiday Train on Saturdays to help ensure everyone has an opportunity to experience this one-of-kind tradition.

Complementing these two CTA trains is the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus, which brings the same holiday spirit and joy to bus riders as it travels throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods.

For a full list of 2nd Ward opportunities to view the trains and bus, please click here. The remaining times are also listed below.

CTA HOLIDAY TRAIN SCHEDULE:

CTA HOLIDAY BUS SCHEDULE:

Thank you to Tails-Up for donating this new message board!  Tails-up is a local River North business that provides daily dog walks, dog and cat sitting, and other pet services .

Check out their deal on My River North mobile app.   Haven’t downloaded the app yet?  Go to the App Store or Google Play to download our FREE app to keep up to date on River North News, Events and deals from local businesses who support our neighborhood.

Who’s that handsome fella posing with Liz from Tails-up? Why its Gus Falada, a local resident who frequents both the Ohio Place and Larrabee Street DFA’s!