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Elaine Coorens

With a professional background that includes advertising copy writer, corporate manager in advertising/marketing/manufacturing for multiple industries, international newspaper editor/publisher, needlework designer and retail shop owner as well as IT consultant and programmer, Elaine can "speak" in many "languages." A native Chicagoan, her passion for all things community is what led her to become a local author, historian, tour guide and now Editor/Publisher of Our Urban Times. She authored Wicker Park From 1673 Thru 1929 and Walking Tour Guide.

Stories from Elaine Coorens

Get in the HALLOWEEEEENNN spirit…visit a scarecrow and learn about working together!

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
10/31/2020
LateNiteBraid

Somehow not even a blue moon helps overcome the fact that Halloween just isn't the same kind of fun this year.

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Logan Square Farmers Indoor Market opens Sunday in historic location with Wicker Park connections

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
10/31/2020
NewEntrFieldsSgn

The first indoor Logan Square Farmers Market will be this Sunday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. for high risk individuals and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the rest of the public in a new 50,000 square foot location. 

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Judging the judges on the November 2020 ballot

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
10/21/2020
Justice

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) defines the three levels of courts in Illinois. Choices are on the ballot in all three levels on the November 3, 2020 ballot. They are the Illinois Supreme Court, Illinois Appellate Court and the Illinois Judicial Circuit Courts.

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Be part of creating 2021 Chicago Police strategies for the 12th and 14th Districts

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
10/21/2020
CommConver

Residents in both the 12th and 14th Chicago Police Department Districts which include Chicago's West Town community as well as part of Humboldt Park and Logan Square can be part of starting the creative process by district for their respective 2021 Police Strategic Plan. The process starts Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m., virtually.

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Arson and battery charges amid surge of fire calls in Logan Square

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
10/19/2020
LuizERamirez

Luis E. Ramirez, a 54 year-old convicted felon, was booked in a set of arson incidents and a battery case on Friday, Oct. 16. 

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The Scarecrow Extravaganza returns to Wicker Park for Halloween fun

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/26/2020
LisaWronskiScareCrow

Designed to be a fun way to celebrate Halloween, with social distancing and other restrictions amid a pandemic, the Scarecrow Extravaganza returns to Wicker Park on Oct. 10. 

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It took 2-years+ and a village to get a 4-season cornfield behind a Chicago library

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/22/2020
MuralDedication

Many wondered for more than two years if IT would ever happen. "Would the cornfield ever be installed with stalks high or higher than an elephant's eye, on the backside of the Bucktown-Wicker Park Library at 1701 N. Milwaukee Ave.?" Saturday, September 19, the cornfield was dedicated! "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!"

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lost battle for life to pancreatic cancer

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/18/2020
RuthBaderGinsburg

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died today of "complications of metastatic pancreas cancer," according to the Supreme Court. She was 87 years old and had fought off cancer five times before.

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Doing good that begets good...it saves lives

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/18/2020
BloodDrPstr

With a drive to do something positive in this world of isolation and fears around ones health and safety, Maren Rosenberg, Owner and Manager of Escape Artistry, found a way to do a good deed that begets more positive results. 

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CPD launches community engagement opportunities

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/18/2020
CPD-ocpLogo

As part of the Department’s latest community engagement effort, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is launching a series of public surveys on several impartial policing policies.

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Murder suspect charged in young woman's stabbing at Walgreens in Wicker Park

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/08/2020
SincereWilliams

Sincere Williams of the 1400 block of N. Sedgwick has been charged with one felony count of Murder-First Degree at 12:15 p.m. today, in the fatal stabbing of Olga Maria Calderon at Walgreens, 1372 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Wicker Park, during the morning of Sun., Sept. 6. 

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Fatal stabbing in Walgreens in Wicker Park

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
09/06/2020
CrimeKnifeWIBWnow

UPDATE:
The coroner's office cause of death is stated as "multiple sharp force injuries" for Olga Maria Calderon, a white female.

At 9:36 a.m., Sunday, September 6, a 32-year-old female employee was stabbed to death in Walgreens, 1372 N. Milwaukee Ave., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD). 

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How are Census 2020 counts by Ward doing? Not great!

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/29/2020
CountMe

With only 57.9% of Chicago households having filled in a Census 2020 form, there is a big need for many of you, your friends and family members to fill in the Census 2020 form. The one requirement is living in the United States on April 1, 2020…whether you are or are not a U.S. citizen. 

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Neighborhood businesses part of new Chicago Security Plan which is now underway

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/15/2020
MayorLLightfoot

Before introducing the new citywide strategic plan worked out by City, State and Federal officials to protect commercial corridors and neighborhood businesses, Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered a heartfelt message to all Chicagoans at a press conference Friday afternoon, Aug. 14. 

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Why are there so many carjackings?

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/14/2020
CarJackGun

With four carjacking incidents within the Chicago Police Department's 14th District since Sunday, covering Wicker Park, Bucktown and in other parts of Chicago's West Town Community, residents are asking "Why?"

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Wicker Park businesses react to possible new round of looting

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/10/2020
ClosedStores

UPDATE:
*IPS added ramp closure of Interstate 90 northbound and southbound at Division until 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

This morning's news about Sunday night and Monday morning looting in the loop and in the North/Clybourn area has Wicker Park businesses concerned and officials taking new tactics.

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A Live Opening: “All in the Same Boat – or Are We?” with a plethora of artists!

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/09/2020
TheSameBoatLaurel

An exhibition with 64 artists using a plethora of techniques, All in the Same Boat – or Are We?, curated by Anne Farley Gaines at the Stola Contemporary Gallery, 3738 W. Irving Park Road is a must see in-person. 

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Man shot in Airbnb on Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/08/2020
1478NMilwaukeeGoogleMap

At 1:38 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, in the 1400 block of Milwaukee Ave., a 30-year-old man was shot in his left thigh, according to the Chicago Police Department. The unit is reported to be a in a pricey Airbnb apartment. 

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Check out new 12th District Commander Gabriella Shemash's "DNA"

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/07/2020
CmdrGabShemash

While you may recognize Chicago Police Department's (CPD) new 12th District Commander Gabriella Shemash as an officer from the night shift, chances are you didn't know about her link to how DNA is now handled at CPD. 

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Census taking is being cut short…danger of under count

By: 
Elaine Coorens
Date: 
08/06/2020
Comp2020Comptr

The importance of getting an accurate census count cannot be overstated because:

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