Fresh Start a Success in Rogers Park

Fresh Start Mondays a Success!

By Bill Morton, Rogers Park in 1,000 Words Author
Photography by Kris Luck

updated 8:52 PM CST, Mon April 2, 2012

The Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce's new Fresh Start Program titled "Fresh Start Mondays" had it's first event earlier today. The fresh start is in reference to refreshing the cleanliness and safety of our community. Neighbors gathered to pick up litter and trash including broken glass, fast food wrappers and discarded cigarette butts at 7315 N. Sheridan Road.

The location was selected due to regular complaints that the chamber of commerce received regarding the neglected property and it's close proximity to local businesses Quest Network Services, Sheridan Beach Foods and The Lighthouse Tavern at 7301 N. Sheridan Road.

Fresh Start Mondays are scheduled for every first and third Monday of the month, all year long. You can join the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce in freshening Rogers Park up!... for a cleaner and safer neighborhood with less litter, debris and contaminants on our sidewalks, streets and beaches.

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

Philip Rogers

Added photos of the Philip Rogers memorial stone and Indian Boundary Park Lagoon today with the following information:

Philip Rogers, Born in Ireland, came to Rogers Park about 1834 and bought 1600 acres from the government. First lived in a log house at Lunt and Western Avenues. Died in 1856. Village named after him in 1844.

Indian Boundary Park Lagoon is an urban oasis for people and a safe haven for wildlife, this natural area offers a restful place in the city. The prairie, trees and wetland areas surrounding the lagoon have been restored with plant species native to Illinois.

Bill Morton

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

Events in Ward 49

I added the new Fresh Start Monday events to the Word 49 calendar:

Every first and third Monday of the month, join the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce in freshening Rogers Park up! Benefits local businesses through a cleaner and safer neighborhood with less litter, debris and contaminants on our sidewalks, streets and beaches. Think tourism. Neighborhood cleanup lasts one hour and snacks will be provided. Working together to Clean Up Rogers Park!

Also added eleven April 2012 events at The Lighthouse Tavern (7301 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL. 60626).

Check out the Events section for more details.

Bill Morton

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

49th Ward elections

I just added a new page to Word 49 to cover 49th Ward elections, and elections that directly affect the 49th Ward. I expect to add

The importance of voting in every election

Information on registering to vote

Assistance in finding your polling place

Information on early voting

Absentee voting information
- by mail
- for military/civilian overseas voters
- for those with a physical disability
- residents of license nursing homes
- hospitalized voters

Candidate statements and issues

How to contribute or volunteer for a candidate

Election results


- Bill Morton

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

Word 49 statistical data

Taking lead from my first blog, Rogers Park in 1,000 Words, This is the first statistical data posted for Word 49 (49th Ward related material).

What I'm really enjoying is the difference of statistics between RP1000 and Word 49. While Rogers Park in 1,000 Words is being hit heavily by search engine terms such as Charmers Cafe Summer hours, Rogers Park blog, Rogers Park gang signs and Omar Estrada (youth murdered by gang while sitting on a bench at Touhy Park)... Word 49 search terms include the more analytical

1.  Word 49

2.   Swanette Triem

3.   Chicago K-8 Rogers Park School District

4.   engineering ethics case study example

5.   first settlers in Rogers Park Chicago

6.   parks located in Downtown Chicago

7.   Rogers Park Chicago Illinois Census demographics

8.   Rogers Park Public Schools Chicago

9.   Rogers Park school Chicago

10. Rogers Park, Chicago

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

Western from Devon to Touhy

I visited Western Avenue from Devon Avenue to Touhy in West Ridge today.

Photographed Devon Bank and Warren Park.


Bill Morton

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

Edgewater and West Ridge

Today, I took a cruise from Rogers Park into Edgewater and West Ridge to scope out some interesting locations for future features.

I traveled via Devon Avenue from Sheridan Road to McCormick, visited Indian Boundary Park and Misericordia Home at 6300 N. Ridge Avenue.

Photography will be posted after the structure of Word49.com is complete.


Bill Morton

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

49th Ward Legislation records

I'm studying the 300 most recent 49th Ward Legislation records today.

Bill Morton

Calendar Connect

Today, I added the option to share your Google calendar with Word 49 to promote your upcoming events.

Bill Morton

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

City Services complete

This afternoon I completed the City Services directory including 718 direct-link entries and the description:

There are many city services and resources that you can independently utilize to report an issue, receive assistance or improve our communities. This is your no-alderman-required direct link to the City of Chicago. Remember to always dial 911 for emergencies.

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

- Bill Morton

Word 49 Research and Development

I've spent the past few days consulting with 49th Ward residents in Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge regarding everything from the design to content of the new Word 49 site.

There is nothing like taking the time to go out there in person to speak with the people face-to-face.

In words of the people...

Bill Morton

City Services and City Council

Separated City Services and City Council into their own sections. Built up City Services with direct links to City of Chicago online forms and added a "Like" button for the Word 49 facebook page.

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

- Bill Morton

Word 49 is online

Testing the new Word 49 at Charmers Cafe.

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

- Bill Morton

Word 49 Calendar

Today, I've been visiting local businesses and organizations regarding the addition of their events in the new Word 49 event calendar.

So far, I've added West Ridge Chamber of Commerce events, music events and open mic night at Red Line Tap, Game Nights at Quest Network Services and Free Wine Tastings at Taste Food & Wine.

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

- Bill Morton

Late Night 49th

I've been burning the midnight oil creating the Official Word 49 events calendar and working with the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce Board on the local business directory.

This is really starting to take form, but realistically, we still have a long way to go!

Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

- Bill Morton

Word 49 progress

There has been steady progress with the formation of Word 49.

Purchased www.Word49.com today.

Initiated www.twitter.com/word_49.

Modified http://www.flickr.com/groups/49thward .


I have also been adding and refining the main Word 49 subject categories today. At this point, I have created the following:

Home - News and Updates, http://49thward.blogspot.com/

About Word 49 - The purpose of Word 49, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/49th-ward_28.html

Edgewater - About Edgewater, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/edgewater.html

Rogers Park - About Rogers Park, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/rogers-park.html

West Ridge - About West Ridge, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/west-ridge.html

Local Directory - Directory of local businesses and organizations, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/49thward.html

City of Chicago - City Services and City Council updates, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/chicago.html

Events - Upcoming events, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/ward49.html

Contact - Contact information, http://49thward.blogspot.com/p/ward-49.html


- Bill Morton

Word 49 Administration

I just created the Word 49 Administrator account.

- Bill Morton


Word 49 - The Word on Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge

Word 49

I'm expanding my Rogers Park in 1,000 Words format today to cover all of the 49th Ward including Edgewater, Rogers Park and West Ridge.

Read all about it on our About Word 49 page

Audio services in Rogers Park

Listed as one the best companies in Chicago that transfer a cassette tape into a CD, Quest Network Services at 7301 N. Sheridan Road, has experienced and knowledgeable in-house audio technician Bill Morton.

Local Cassette Transfer Service featured on Rogers Park in 1,000 Words.