Our annual Dia de Muertos event is this Saturday, October 24, from 12-2pm, at Vicinity Credit Union on 45th & Pulaski. Join us, along with our community partners, local businesses and established institutions, to gather and celebrate life.

The first day of early voting is in the books! If you didn’t get to the polls today, you can still go anytime between now and Election Day, Nov. 3. Early voting is open in all 50 wards PLUS two downtown locations. Hours are weekdays from 9-6, Saturdays from 9-5, and Sundays from 10-4.

Pope Leo isn’t the only pope with a connection to Chicago. In October of 1979, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass (in Polish) at Five Holy Martyrs Church in Brighton Park. Many southwest siders have personal memories of that historic day.

This summer, thanks to a microgrant from My Chi My Future, we popped up at Senka & Kelly Parks for all-wheels rides using our new Complete Streets protected bike lanes on Archer.

Psssst … the Northern Illinois Transit Authority is putting together its first budget and they want to hear from riders like you! 🙋🏽‍♀️ Fill out their survey by Oct. 16: polco.us/n/res/vote/n... 🙋🏽‍♀️ Stop by their open house Oct. 14 at Union Station between 3-6pm: www.eventbrite.com/e/nita-a-str...

We are introducing something new to our beautiful community altar this year at Dia de Muertos. If you see your loved one represented, and you would like to take them home with you, please let us know and we will gently remove the memento for you so you can take it home to your altar.

We welcome you to our annual Dia de Muertos event on October 24, 12-2pm, at Vicinity Credit Union on 45th & Pulaski. This event is free for the community and is a celebration of life - so expect lots of joy and fun.

This Thursday at West Lawn Park, come celebrate // Este jueves en West Lawn Park, ven a celebrar

Last weekend, the family of Juan Martín Márquez honored his life and memory by placing a ghost bike at the corner of Archer and Laramie. They remembered his as a man of integrity and faith who was always there for his loved ones, and who cared deeply about his community. Video: @chiwho.bike

Juan Martín’s daughter Ilse Márquez said she hopes the ghost bike [at Archer and Laramie] will remind drivers to be conscious of the other human lives on the road. She said Archer Avenue in Garfield Ridge is a notoriously dangerous street for bikers because drivers treat the road like a highway.

Our neighbors came together to honor Juan Martín Márquez Luna by placing a ghost bike at the corner of Archer Laramie—where he was tragically killed last week 🤍 Juan Martin’s family spoke powerfully about their father: the person he was, the example he set for them, and how much he will be missed.

October is a month filled with fun for SWC - please plan to drop into one of these community events to get to know more about us.

At the request of Juan's family, please join us for a ghost bike installation & vigil this Saturday at the crash site. Juan Martin Márquez was killed biking to work last Monday by a hit and run, & the driver who is still at large.

Please join us this Saturday, Sept 26, from 12-2pm, for our next Freebies for Families event at Vicinity Credit Union on 45th and Pulaski.

Earlier this week, our neighbor Juan Martin Marquez Luna was riding his e-bike to work when he was struck and killed by a reckless driver at Archer & Laramie. The driver is still at large. If you have any information, please contact the Major Accident Investigation Unit at 312-745-4521.

Celebrating Mexican Independence Day with some pics from last weekend’s parade in Little Village. These streets are for everybody 🇲🇽

Pickup driver struck turning sedan and critically injured a man, 54, on an e-motorcycle Monday around 5:15 AM on 5600 block of S. Archer. Pickup driver fled on foot. We've been told the e-moto rider is in a coma. Lets keep him in our thoughts. @swcollectivechi.bsky.social @activetransportation.org

Hit-and-run driver critically injures e-bike rider in Garfield Ridge, police say

A hit-and-run driver critically injured an e-bike rider on the city's Southwest Side on Monday morning, Chicago police said.

abc7chicago.com

Thanks to Gage Park Cyclists for organizing a great ride from Senka Park to the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village (with a welcome pit stop at Tawney Coffee in Brighton Park). Today was a beautiful day for a parade and a beautiful day for a ride 🇲🇽

Univision Chicago spoke with the mothers of two young people who were hit while biking on Archer late last month. They also checked in with Alfredo of Gage Park Cyclists for tips on how cyclists can stay safe on our roads.

The Source is Cook County’s go-to network for small business support, connecting entrepreneurs with expert guidance and resources to fuel growth and success at every stage of their journey.

Tomorrow is our second annual back to school bike ride with Academy for Global Citizenship 💚 This is quickly becoming a fun tradition for students and families in Garfield Ridge. Come through—everybody is welcome!

🎶 There’s a hose on this arch / There’s a hose on this arch 🎶

dmercer.bsky.social@dmercer.bsky.social · 2mo ago

These terra cotta panels are now on display at the fire house at 5200 W. 63rd St. in Chicago. They were originally on the second floor of the facade of a station in Lakeview built in the 1880s. www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=264428 I could look at them forever. Swoon alert @ladytophamcatt.bsky.social

Dolly Patton’s Imagination Library has been an amazing resource for bilingual kids books for families across the southwest side. If your child is younger than 5 years old—or if you or somebody you know is expecting—then you can sign up for free books today! imaginationlibrary.com/check-availa...

Let’s all go to the circus! We’ve got 20 tickets for the final Midnight Circus performance in Brighton Park—tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, Sept. 6) at 5pm. Plus…we’ll go for a bike ride after!

Dog days 🐶

One week from today—we’re pairing up with the Academy for Global Citizenship for our second annual back to school bike ride! 🗓️ Wednesday, Sept. 9 ⏰ 4:15pm (after dismissal) 📍 Academy for Global Citizenship (4942 W. 44th St.) 🎟️ Raffle prizes include helmets, lights, and more!

Midnight Circus is coming to Brighton Park next weekend 🎪 We’ll be at the Park District HQ at 4:30pm to share our FREE tickets with neighbors (first come, first served—maximum 4 tickets per household). After the circus, we’ll go on a relaxed, 5-mile bike ride through Brighton Park.

Get registered to vote with us! We'll be at Vicinity Credit Union on 45/Pulaski on Sept 15 from 1pm - 6pm to register voters ahead of the midterm and municipal elections. Can't wait? Hit the link in our bio to register online!

This weekend, young people from across the city showed off the lowrider bikes they’ve built with Bikes & Roses at the Archer Heights Branch Library. Lowrider prints and window decals will be up at the library through Aug. 31—come through! 📍 5055 S. Archer Ave.