







by BRIAN NADIG

The fifth annual “Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks” series, recent garage burglaries and membership recruitment were discussed at the June 28 meeting of the Gladstone Park Neighborhood Association.

Free performances of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” a romantic comedy about a young girl who is separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck, will be performed in 19 locations in the city between July 14 and Aug. 14. The Chicago Shakespeare on Navy Pier Theater oversees the performances.

“This is our largest community engagement programming we do every year,” said the show’s audience development consultant Tony Vega. “It’s a 75-minute performance, and it’s family friendly.”

The only Far Northwest Side performance will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, and 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at Wilson Park, 4630 N. Milwaukee Ave. About 2,000 people attended performances last year at Wilson, Vega said.

Community organizations are allowed to fund-raise by selling food at the performances if they make prior arrangements, Vega said. More information is available by contacting Vega at 312-667-4978 or avega@chicagoshakes.com.

It also was reported that the 16th (Jefferson Park) Police District has issued a community alert following a series of garage break-ins which have occurred since June 8, including an incident in Gladstone Park in the 6300 block of West Haft Street.

Additional burglaries have been reported in the 5500 block of West Pensacola Avenue, 4300 block of North Marmora Avenue, 5100 block of West Patterson Avenue, 5400 block of West Giddings Street and 3900 block of North Natchez Avenue.

Entry to the garages were gained through an unlocked door or by either kicking or prying open an overhead or side door, police said. Construction tools, bicycles, air compressors and a snow blower were among the items reported stolen.

Meanwhile, the 1-year-old association has been collecting membership dues, which are $20 person. Anyone can join the association, but only those members who live within the group’s membership boundaries are allowed to vote in the election of board members and on other matters, said association president Joe DiCiaula.

Those interested in joining are asked to contact association treasurer Michelle Kerr at friendsofgladstonepark@yahoo.com.

Kerr said that dues also can be paid at the group’s monthly meetings, which are usually held at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of month at the Rosedale Park fieldhouse, 6312 W. Rosedale Ave. Updates on location of meetings are posted on the association’s Facebook page.

Also at the meeting, it was reported that a daycare center is planning to open at 5612 N. Milwaukee Ave., whose previous occupants include the Siegel’s Discount Department Store and Constitutional Casualty.

DiCiaula said that association members helped with the cleanup of the Chopin Plaza traffic island at Milwaukee and Elston avenues before the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce’s annual Flag Day ceremony. He said that the association is asking a local Boy Scout troop to help maintain the island, which includes trees, bushes and benches.

It also was announced that the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Jeff Fest” arts and music festival will be held the weekend of July 29-31 at Jefferson Park, 4822 N. Long Ave. Music headliners include the 1980s tribute band Sixteen Candles and Journey Unauthorized.

In addition, the association is planning to have a booth at the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce’s “Throwback Music Fest” the weekend of Sept. 9-11 on Milwaukee Avenue between Elston Avenue and Peterson Avenue. Headliners include Sixteen Candles and the Buckinghams.