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48th WARD NEWS: AUGUST 13, 2026
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The Chicago Public Schools 2026-2027 school year begins on Monday, August 24 with the exception of Pre-K, which begins Tuesday, August 25. Most private schools also begin that same week. Join us in wishing all our 48th Ward students luck as they launch into their next year of learning! Many of our 48th Ward schools host back to school events for their students. Check your school's newsletter for more information about school-specific events.
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48th Ward Back to School Bash
- When: Friday, August 21 from 5-7pm
- Where: Margate Park (4921 N Marine)
- No RSVP required
Pick up a free backpack at our back to school celebration at Margate Park featuring music and fun for the whole family! Supplies are limited, so backpacks will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis to children accompanied by an adult.
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Montrose Behavioral Health Back 2 School Carnival
- When: Friday, August 14 from 2-6pm
- Where: 4720 N Clarendon
- No RSVP required
Join Montrose Behavioral Health for their upcoming Back to School Carnival featuring games, prizes, foods, and fun for the whole family, all absolutely FREE.
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Get Ready for the 20206-27 School Year - CPS Resources
Sending a student off to a Chicago Public School this year? Be sure to review the CPS Back to School Resources page here. This site includes all the information you need including health forms, enrollment details, school supply lists, and transportation reminders.
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- When: Saturday, August 15
- Where: Bryn Mawr & Kenmore
- Learn more online.
Join us for the First Ever Nepali Street Festival, brought to you by Nepalese Aid! We're thrilled to be bringing this one-of-a-kind celebration of Nepali culture, community, music, food to Bryn Mawr in the heart of the 48th Ward. This is more than a festival. It’s a celebration of community, identity, and belonging.
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Submit Requests and Stay Informed with 311 and ChiStreetWork
For non-emergency city service requests, file a 311 report online, through the app, or by dialing 3-1-1. You can also search for and follow along with local city projects at chistreetwork.chicago.gov.
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Project Sidewalk Workshop
- When: Sunday, August 16 from 1-3pm
- Where: 48th Ward Office (1129 W Bryn Mawr)
- Register online.
We're partnering with Access Living on a new initiative to make our sidewalks more accessible: Project Sidewalk! Join us as we make big investments in making our public way more accessible for everyone! At this workshop, cohosted by the 48th Ward and Access Living, we'll use a virtual tool to identify sidewalks in need of repair. This project was voted on during 2026 Participatory Budgeting by YOU! No experience is needed; training will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there! If you plan on attending, please bring a personal laptop.
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Panel Discussion - Keep Families in the City
- When: Sunday, August 16 from 1-3pm
- Where: Le Village Cowork Lakeview (4021 N Broadway)
- Register online.
Join us for Keep Families in the City, a panel discussion featuring Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth on removing the barriers that make family-friendly housing hard to build in Chicago, allowing families to stay in the city for the long haul. Do you love your neighborhood, but wonder if Chicago has room for your family to grow? Thousands of families in Chicago feel the same pull: stay in the walkable neighborhoods they love, or move to the suburbs for the space their family needs.
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Edgewater Music Fest 2026
- When: August 28-30
- Where: Broadway & Thorndale
- Learn more online.
The North Side’s coolest street fest returns August 28-30 with 30+ music acts and 100+ street vendors! Visit the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce's website for more information and to view the full lineup!
Want to volunteer? The Edgewater Chamber is looking for awesome, friendly, informative, non-confrontational volunteers to staff the gates, greet visitors to the fest and help raise money at the gates to support Edgewater Music Fest, Edgewater Chamber, Care For Real, and the local small business community. Volunteers will be working with security, Edgewater Chamber staff, and volunteers from our official non-profit partner, Care For Real. A variety of shifts are available. Sign up here.
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CirquesExperience Summer Family Fun
- When: Sunday, August 16 at 10am
- Where: 5944 N Magnolia
- No RSVP required
Join CirquesExperience for a free summer family event to meet performers, learn about camps, try out the gym wheel, and more! Visit the CirquesExperience site to learn more.
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Black Panthers History in Chicago
- When: Tuesday, August 18 from 6-7pm
- Where: Edgewater Library (6000 N Broadway)
- RSVP online.
Join historian Leila Wills for an engaging look at the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party on its 60th anniversary. Discover how the chapter built power across Chicago through community organizing, political alliances, and its pivotal role in the original Rainbow Coalition. The program also introduces the new Black Panther Party Heritage Trail in Illinois, highlighting the sites that preserve this influential history.
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NE Levy Senior Center Summer Social
- When: Friday, August 21 from 1:30-3:30pm
- Where: NE Levy Senior Center (2019 W Lawrence)
- No RSVP required
Join the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) for a summer social with Harold Hall! Bring your dancing shoes and make sure to have your favorite songs ready for karaoke!
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SAVE THE DATE: 48th Ward Mobile DMV
- When: Wednesday, September 9
- Where: TBD
- RSVP: TBD
Save the date for our upcoming Mobile DMV! Mobile DMV is an event series that allows you to access DMV services right here in the ward! Representatives will be available on site to assist with drivers licenses, state ID cards, vehicle registration, license plate stickers, and more. Visit ILSOS.gov to review required documents.
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Connect with Edgewater Village
If you're looking for a way to give back to the community, continue to learn, and meet new people, connect with Edgewater Village: a grassroots, volunteer, nonprofit organization of older adults (50+) who are helping each other stay connected and make a positive difference in their neighborhood! Read more about Edgewater Village here. Subscribe to their newsletter here.
Edgewater Village hosts many events to bring neighbors together! Here are a few of the recurring programs:
- Color Me Relaxed: Sunday, August 16
- Yin Yoga with Trish: Thursdays, August 20 | Saturday, August 22
- Memory Cafe: Third Friday of each month
- Community Music Jam Series: Saturday, August 29
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24th District Council Monthly Meeting
- When: Sunday, August 16 at 3:30pm
- Where: Glenwood Arts Fest (Morse & Glenwood)
- No RSVP required.
Are you interested in public safety? Looking for a way to get involved in community safety initiatives? Attend your next local district council meeting and join the conversation! Each district council is made up of three people elected by their community to build stronger relationships with police. The more people who participate in this vital community policing process, the more effective it can be. Thank you for working with us to build a safe and healthy neighborhood where we can all thrive.
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Storm and Flooding Reminders: Reporting Tree Emergencies
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to our office to report tree emergencies and flooding hazards over the past few weeks. Crews from the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS), Transportation (CDOT) and Water Management (DWM) are out in the ward restoring power and removing tree debris every time it rains or we experience strong winds. Due to the volume of calls, please allow our city departments extra response time.
When reporting tree emergencies, whether to 311 or our office, please include photos. Photos help response crews understand the hazard and locate the specific trees and branches when they arrive. Due to 311 photo uploading limits, you may not be able to include all your photos in your report. Please send your additional photos to our team at info@the48thward.org and include your 311 service request number.
As a reminder, the following scenarios constitute tree emergencies:
- Fallen trees
- Tree debris/branches on power lines
- Trees with multiple large branches falling down
- Large pieces of tree debris blocking public access areas
Visit our blog for additional storm resources and reminders.
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CPD Superintendent Search Community Listening Sessions
- When: Monday, August 17 at 6:30pm (and other select dates)
- Where: Malcolm X College (1900 W Jackson)
- Register online.
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is leading a nationwide search for Chicago's next Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department and they want to hear from you!
Participate in a community listening session to share your priorities, experiences, and vision for the qualities and leadership Chicago needs in its next superintendent. Your feedback will help inform the Commission's search and selection process. See all listening session dates on the CCPSA public meeting calendar.
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Help Shape the Future of Policing and Public Safety in Chicago
What do you want in the next superintendent of the Chicago Police Department? The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is conducting a nationwide search for Chicago's next Superintendent of Police. Can't make it to one of the listening sessions above? Share your feedback online via this form!
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CLICK HERE to opt in to receive occasional crime alerts from our office. If you're having trouble with this link, you can also opt in by re-subscribing HERE and checking the box at the bottom of the form. Doing so will not alter or double your existing newsletter subscription.
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Three Week Outlook
The following paving work is scheduled for the next few weeks in the ward, weather permitting.
Streets
- Glenwood: Balmoral to Berwyn
- Glenwood: Ridge to Bryn Mawr
- Sheridan: Glenlake to Thorndale
- Glenwood: Rosedale to Ardmore
Alleys
- Glenwood/Hollywood/Ridge
- Glenlake/Thorndale/Kenmore/Sheridan
- Hollywood/Clark/Glenwood/Olive
- 1349 W Berwyn (alley apron)
Sidewalks
- 4910 N SheridanRd
- 5000 N Marine Dr
Learn more about upcoming construction on our blog.
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CTA Construction Activity Notices
Please review the following construction notices from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). To sign up for alerts near you, click here. Much of the work listed below is part of the CTA Under L activation project to open up community spaces under our new Red Line tracks! Read more about this project here.
ALLEY CLOSURES
Alley east of 5239-5255 N Broadway
- Friday, August 7 - Monday, August 31
- Work Activity: Underground Utility Work + Alley Reconstruction
ALLEY IMPACTS
East side of the tracks from Catalpa - Bryn Mawr
- Monday, July 6 - Monday, August 17
- Work Activity: Curb Install
East side of the tracks from Berwyn - Balmoral
- Monday, July 13 - Friday, August 21
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Foster - Berwyn
- Monday, July 20 – Friday, August 21
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Balmoral - Catalpa
- Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 21
- Work Activity: Overhead Utility Work
West side of the tracks from Hollywood - Ardmore
- Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 21
- Work Activity: Overhead Utility Work
West side of the tracks from Ainslie - Argyle
- Tuesday, June 7 - Monday, August 24
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Ainslie - Argyle
- Tuesday, June 7 - Monday, August 24
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Winona - Foster
- Tuesday, July 7 - Monday, August 24
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Bryn Mawr - Hollywood
- Monday, August 10 - Monday, August 31
- Work Activity: Overhead Utility Work + Fence Installation
East side of the tracks from Catalpa - Bryn Mawr
- Monday, August 17 - Friday, September 4
- Work Acitivity: Curb Installation and Utility Work
East side of the tracks from Foster to Berwyn
- Thursday, August 6 - Monday, September 7
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
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CHECK OUT THE 48th WARD CALENDAR
Never miss an event! See the calendar on our website for more exciting things happening in the ward. Fill out this form to have your own event listed.
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WHERE IN THE WARD IS LENI?
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For the first time in 15 years, the Beyond the Waters Beach Party had to move indoors because of the downpour! Thanks to St. Gregory's for taking in the 300+ participants who still had a great time celebrating the end of the summer. Above, Leni is pictured with Commissioner Rachel Arfa from MOPD and event organizer Gus Zografopoulos.
Beyond the Waters is an annual event that provides adaptive recreation on the lakefront and highlights the incredible beach walks which are accessible to the entire Chicago disability community.
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It was great seeing so many friendly faces stop by the 48th Ward table at the Argyle Night Market last week! There's still time to visit one of the very best street fests in the city - stop by tonight or next week (August 20) on Argyle between Kenmore and Sheridan. Learn more here.
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There's no season like block party season! We had a blast hanging out with neighbors from the Edgewater Triangle Neighborhood Association (ETNA) at their block party which included a potluck, arts & crafts, live music, and games! Click here to invite Leni to your block party or another event. Want to get involved with your local block club? See our block club map here.
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