River North residents don’t forget to participate in the General Election tomorrow – Tuesday, November 4th, 2014.

On Tuesday, November 4th voters will cast ballots for the following offices:

• United States Senator
• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• Comptroller
• Treasurer
• Representative in Congress (one in each District)
• Three (3) Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
• President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
• County Clerk of Cook County
• Treasurer of Cook County
• Sheriff of Cook County
• Assessor of Cook County
• Cook County Commissioner (one in each District)
• Commissioner of the Cook County Board of (Tax) Review (only in District 3)
• Appellate, Circuit and Sub-circuit Judges (to fill vacancies as needed)
• Whether to retain various Appellate and Circuit Judges (yes or no)

At the November 4, 2014 General Election, Chicago voters will also DECIDE various referenda on:

• Whether to amend the Illinois Constitution to protect victims’ rights (binding)
• Whether to amend the Illinois Constitution to protect the right to vote (binding)
• Whether to increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour (advisory)
• Whether to impose a tax on incomes of $1 million or more to benefit education funding (advisory)
• Whether to require all health-insurance policies to cover birth control and contraception (advisory)

Vote on Election Day!

This election, all polling locations will be open between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm. Polling stations will promptly close at 7:00 pm; however, voters still in line to cast their ballots at 7:00pm will be allowed to vote. To check on the status of your registration, please click here and enter your address and last name.

Election Day Registration Offered!

Chicago voters who are not yet registered or who need to update their registration records may do so, and cast a ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, between 6:00am – 7:00pm, at any of five Chicago locations, including:

• Board of Elections  –
  69 W. Washington Street, Lower Level Conference Room

How to Locate Your Polling Place

You can locate your polling place by entering your home address into the Chicago Board of Elections Jurisdiction Search.

Complete information for voters is available on the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website, www.chicagoelections.com. The website allows you to check your voter registration status, find your polling place and view a sample ballot.

Alderman Reilly is excited to announce the official opening of River North’s new and improved dog park at A. Montgomery Ward Park, located at 630 N. Kingsbury Street.

Construction of the new dog park began in June of this year, after Alderman Reilly secured funding for the project with Tax Increment Financing (TIF).

This dog-friendly area (DFA) has already been a hidden gem of the River North neighborhood, offering residents and visitors an open space where dogs can play and interact, leash-free, in a fenced-off open space. Improvements include a new entry and fencing, dog-friendly running surfaces, and a drinking fountain (complete with a water source at dog-level).  Humans can enjoy new benches and ADA accessibility.  The A. Montgomery Ward Park now has one of the best dog parks in the entire city!

Alderman Reilly looks forward to enjoying the new dog park with residents of the 42nd Ward at the Official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

Please join Alderman Reilly, Max and Buster (the Alderdogs of the 42nd Ward) in celebrating the opening of the dog park:

Saturday, September 13, 2014, 11:00am

A. Montgomery Ward Dog Park

630 N. Kingsbury Street

Chicago, IL 60654

Please note the new Dog Friendly Area (DFA) is located off Erie Street. A. Montgomery Ward Park which along the river and includes the children’s playground prohibits dogs at any time. Please be considerate, thank you!

Filming Notification on Kingsbury with Simulated Building Fire

Date and Time: Wednesday, September 3rd, NBC’s Chicago Fire will be filming a scene that includes simulating a fire in the building located at 678 N. Kingsbury. The production company is working closely with the Chicago Fire Department and the neighbors to ensure the shoot is done in a safe manner.

Location and Traffic Impact: Huron (between Kingsbury to Larrabee) will have a full closure. Kingsbury (between Superior and Erie) will also experience intermittent road closures.

The following streets will have a “No Parking / Tow Zone” from 3 am to 9 pm: Both sides of Kingsbury (from Superior to Erie), North side of Erie (from Kingsbury to 400 W. Erie), West side of Sedgwick (from Huron to Superior)

The 9^th Annual Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby is coming up on August 7, 2014 beginning at 10:00am in front of the Wrigley Building (400 N. Michigan Avenue). Thousands of spectators watch over 60,000 yellow rubber ducks splash into the Chicago River from the Columbus Drive bridge in downtown Chicago and race down river towards the finish line. There will be entertainment for the entire family – face painting, games, free food and appearances by several sports mascots. Splashdown for the Duck Derby is at 1pm. All proceeds benefit the nearly 21,500 Special Olympic athletes and over 18,500 Young Athletes across Illinois. Ducks are $5 for one, $25 for 6 and $100 for 24, and prizes include a 2014 Chevy Equinox and an all-inclusive Apple Vacation!

For more information in “adopting” a duck.

 Was this year’s RNRA Taste of River North bigger, yes, was it better, yes!

Thanks to all who attended, sponsored and supported our 13th annual Taste of River North 2014.  If you one of the tens of thousands who had fun and live in River North, we’d love to hear from you! info@rnrachicago.org or kjones@rnrachicago.org. The Taste is hosted by your River North Residents Association, a non-profit volunteer neighborhood association. We are always looking for new volunteers even for a 1/2 hour? Please consider helping us do what we do best and help our growing community.

Take the night off, bring your family and friends and celebrate National Night Out with the 18th District.  National Night Out celebrates police, community, partnerships and safe neighborhoods.  Meet your local Target team-games, prizes and give-a-ways! 

Tuesday, August 5th – 4pm-6pm

Family Style Barbeque

1160 N. Larrabbee –

18th District Parking Lot

Afterwards, join the 18th District Chicago Police for:

The Lego Movie

1000 N Crosby

Park Community Church Auditorium

6pm – 8pm