April Updates and Events 

April is here, and with the Spring season comes opportunities to connect with nature and neighbors.

The SPCA is organizing two key events in April, and we need your help to make them successful.

Earth Day Trail Clean Up Event

In collaboration with Alderman Nugent and the Ward Office, SPCA board members will facilitate a trail cleaning event. This event is scheduled for April 20th, the Saturday before Earth Day. The Ward will provide tools, trash bags, and additional garbage collection services.

The event will start at 9:00 AM and continue until around noon. Feel free to come and go as needed. Any and all help is appreciated. Participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves.

When:  Saturday, April 20th from 9:00 AM – Noon
Where:  The East and West Trails
What: Join neighbors and SPCA board members to clean up trash on our trails.

SPCA Tree Planting Event with Openlands

Thanks to the hard work of our board and the cooperation of community members, our tree planting event is set for Saturday, April 27th, the day after Arbor Day.   

Volunteers from the community and Openlands will meet near the corner of Tripp and Granville around 10 AM. Together, we will plant nearly 30 new trees on easements throughout the Sauganash Park community.

Our last event in 2018 was both fun and educational, thanks to the informative TreeKeepers from Openlands. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn from the experts, connect with neighbors, and help beautify our neighborhood!

When:  Saturday, April 27th at 8:00 AM 
Where:  Tripp and Granville
What: Help us plant nearly 30 new trees on easements in our neighborhood.

We look forward to seeing you there for what promises to be a fantastic day. Let’s show our love for Sauganash Park and the people who make it such a special place to call home.

Don Morton
SPCA Chairperson

You’re Invited to Our “Love Where You Live” Winter Event!

Mark your calendars and the save the date for an unforgettable evening at Alarmist on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Let’s celebrate the extra day of the year along with the 80th birthday of our community association

Event Details

When:  The event kicks off at 6:30 PM
Where:  Alarmist Brewing & Taproom.
What: A great opportunity to socialize, meet friends and neighbors, and celebrate Sauganash Park.
Wow: First 20 SPCA members will receive a free drink ticket! All attendees get a raffle ticket for a chance to win an Alarmist gift card.

Delicious snacks will be provided, alongside a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Stay tuned for more information on how to RSVP and sign up for volunteer opportunities.

SPCA 2024 Tree Planting Initiative with Openlands

We’re continuing to signup neighbors in partnership with Openlands for our 2024 Tree Planting Initiative. This is a fantastic way to contribute to the greening of our neighborhood! Remember, we need to get at least 20 signups to launch this program. Please tell your neighbors who have room for a tree in their easements. 

How to Participate:

Sign Up: Plant a free tree in your parkway space by signing up with Openlands at sauganashpark.org/tree

Tell Neighbors: Not everybody gets our emails and we need your help spreading the news. Please let your neighbors know!

Sign up here

Thank you for helping to make our neighbor a greener place!

SPCA 2023 Holiday Decorating Contest Winners

The votes are in and the scores are calculated. We had amazing participation this year. It’s tough to select winners from so many beautifully decorated homes. But 49 online voters around the neighborhood gave us a clear consensus.

Announcing the Winners:

First Place: 6200 N Tripp

Second Place: 4222 W Glenlake

Third Place: 4020 W Rosemont

Fourth Place: 6057 N Kedvale

Thanks again to everyone who voted, nominated, decorated, or otherwise participated. This contest wouldn’t be the same without you.

Voting Begins Today for the SPCA 2023 Holiday Decorating Contest!

The time has come! The nominations are in, and it’s your turn to help decide who will win the 2023 SPCA Holiday Decorating Contest. We’ve seen an incredible display of festive spirit and creativity in our neighborhood, and now we need your votes to crown the winners.

How to Participate

View the Top Nominated Houses: Check out the photo gallery of the top-nominated houses here.

Vote for Your Favorites: Click this link to vote for your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd favorite houses.

  • Your 1st place vote is worth 5 points.
  • Your 2nd place is worth 3 points.
  • Your 3rd place is worth 1 point.

Deadline: You have until Tuesday, December 26th to place your votes.

We’ll announce the winners shortly after the voting closes. 

A Reminder to Sign Up for Free Trees with Openlands

Also, we have a green initiative in the works! We’re partnering again with Openlands to plant FREE TREES in our parkways. Just like our successful collaboration in 2018, we aim to make Earth Day 2024 another remarkable event for our community.We Need Your Help! We have to get at least 20 signups to launch this program. If you have room for a tree in your parkway, please sign up here. Don’t miss the chance to enhance the natural beauty of our neighborhood.

Spread the Word!

Share this with your neighbors who might be interested in adding a tree to their parkway. Together, we can continue to make our streets green and beautiful! Remember, we need at least 20 signups to make it happen. 

Our tree-lined streets are a hallmark of our community’s beauty and charm. It is one of the things that makes our neighborhood special. Your participation is key to maintaining this.

Sign up here

Thank you for participating in our holiday festivities and for supporting our green initiatives. 

Best wishes!

Don Morton
SPCA Chairperson

🎃 A Heartfelt Thank You for a Spook-tacular Halloween Bash! 🎃

As the echoes of laughter from our recent Halloween Bash fade, we pause to reflect on the magic that was. It’s truly heartwarming to see our community come together to celebrate, and we’re thrilled to report that the event was a delightful success!

Such a memorable evening would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment and support of many.

🌟 Our Outstanding Volunteers: Your dedication, enthusiasm, and hands-on help were indispensable. Thank you for being the backbone of this event.

🙏 A Special Shoutout to Our Generous Sponsors:

  • State Senator Ram Villivalam: Your contribution brought the magical performance of The Great Boodini to our community.
  • All Aboard Learning Express: Thanks to you, our little attendees wore big smiles as they enjoyed the delightful balloon creations.
  • Alderman Sam Nugent: The face-painted masterpieces on our kids were a testament to your wonderful sponsorship.
  • The Learning Experience: The craft stations were buzzing with creativity and happiness, all thanks to your generous support.

👏 Our Dedicated Board Members: Your tireless efforts in planning, coordinating, and executing ensured that every detail was perfect.

❤ To All Our Supporters: Your continued faith in our endeavors and your presence at our events provide the encouragement we need to host such successful events.

Some of the photos we took are in a gallery posted below. We’d love to see and share your favorite moments from the event also! If you have any photos or memories you’d like to share, please forward them to [email protected] and we will add them to this gallery.

Once again, from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! Here’s to many more successful and fun-filled events in our community.

Warmly,

Don Morton SPCA Chairperson

Independence Day Parade and Picnic Event

Once again the SPCA and the SCA are partnering to celebrate our independence as a community. 

The celebration will begin with a parade that will travel through Sauganash, cross Peterson, and end at the War Memorial. A few of our community leaders will give short speeches. Then all are welcome to attend a picnic at the park. The SPCA will provide hot dogs and the SCA will provide refreshments and other treats.

 

Parade Begins at 9:30 AM

The parade will form on the west side of Sauganash Park at 9 AM on Tuesday, July 4th. The parade will begin around 9:30.

All community members are welcome to march with or ride alongside the parade. Bicycle decorations are encouraged! You are also welcome to spectate. Feel free to set up a lawn chair along the parade route and grab some free candy if any is thrown your way. 


 

Picnic to Be Held After Parade

Please join us after the parade for a picnic at Sauganash ParkOur new membership cycle begins July 1st. We encourage you to pay your dues at the event. Look for our membership tent!

You are also welcome to pay your membership dues in advance through Zelle at our payment address: [email protected] or paypal us at paypal.me/yourspca.

Our dues for the 2023-24 membership cycle are just $40 ($30 for seniors over 64).


 

Volunteers Needed

The SPCA cannot do our part in hosting this event without volunteers. We need help with the setup. We need help wrapping the 2000 hot dogs. And we need help cleaning up the messThis is a community effort. And this is a great opportunity to give back to your community.

If you can donate some time, please signup hereWe can’t do it without you.

Thank you!

2022 Holiday Decorating Contest Winners

First our neighbors selected 20 well-decorated homes for our contest. Then we received around 50 online votes after a week of voting. Now the results are in and here are the winners of our contest:

4th Place – 6322 Keystone

 

 

3rd Place – 6200 Tripp

 

 

2nd Place – 6311 Kildare

 

 

1st Place – 6236 Lowell

 

This year’s contest winners will be awarded small trophies. I hope to deliver them this weekend. Our contest winners will also be announced in the next issue the Sauganash Sounds.

We appreciate everyone who participated in our contest by voting and nominating homes. And thank you to everyone who decorated this year. You make our neighborhood a brighter place.
 

Attend the 2023 Aldermanic Forum in the 39th Ward

The SPCA is cosponsoring the 2023 Aldermanic Forum for the 39th Ward along with 9 other civic associations in the Ward. Our current Alderman Sam Nugent, who has sponsored and participated in many of our events, is up for reelection. She will be running against Denali Dasgupta. 

All are welcome to hear both candidates have a civil discussion about issues facing the Ward. It will be moderated by David Schaper of NPR News. The forum will take place on Thursday, January 19th at the Irish American Heritage Center at 7 PM. Doors open at 6:30. This event is free.

Additionally, if you have a question that you’d like our moderator to ask, you may submit it here

 

What: 39th Ward Aldermanic Forum
Where: Irish American Heritage Center
When: Thursday, January 19th – Doors open at 6:30
 

Join or Renew Your SPCA Now

Our community association is the SPCA. We are a volunteer organization. We rely on membership dues from our neighbors. Though it is a new year soon, we are still in our 2022-23 cycle. Our membership cycle runs from July 1st to June 30th.

If you haven’t joined or renewed yet for this year, please do so as soon as you canWe need your membership to support our snow removal efforts this winter

SPCA May 2022 Updates

Pizza Party at Alarmist Brewing

Please join us this coming Thursday at Alarmist Brewing as we honor and thank our neighbors Carrie and Bill Morrissey, who are leaving Sauganash Park.

Carrie and Bill have been active members of the SPCA board since they arrived in our neighborhood a decade ago. Carrie has planned and executed several successful Halloween events, movie nights, and summer parties. And Bill served as President and Chairman of the SPCA. He led our annual hot dog purchases for the July 4th picnic, and he handled many critical administrative functions for our Association.

Your SPCA is organizing, but not sponsoring, this farewell party to express our deep appreciation for all Carrie and Bill have done over the years to put the unity in community. Please come if you can and help us thank them.

At around 5:30, a variety of pizzas will be delivered from Lou Malnati’s. We will have soft drinks for the kids. We will also have a voluntary contribution jar to help cover the cost of the pizzas and soft drinks.

Please R.S.V.P. so we know how many pizzas to order.

We look forward to seeing you there!

WHAT: Pizza Party in Honor of the Morrisseys
WHEN: Thursday, May 19th, 5:30 – 9:30ish
WHERE: Alarmist Brewing and Taproom
WHO: All ages and interested parties are welcome

R.S.V.P.s Requested


 

Praying Mantis Egg Sign-Up

The SPCA intends on distributing praying mantis eggs after Memorial Day to dues-paying members on our distribution list. Praying mantis are voracious predators. They provide natural mosquito and pest control to our community. If you are an SPCA member and would like to receive praying mantis eggs, sign up here if you have not already done so. This is our last call for sign-ups!

 

Shirt Sale to Fundraise for 2022-23 DC Trip

Each year the 8th Grade class from Sauganash School takes a trip to Washington DC. The class of 2022-23 is selling special Sauganash t-shirts to raise funds for this trip. You must place your order by May 22nd to support this worthy cause. Sauganash School parents will be pleased to know that these shirts CAN be worn as part of the PE uniform.

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