Eleanor Mayer, administrative assistant for the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA #33 tax district, with commissioner Wayne Janik of Janik's Cafe, 2011 W Division St. Minutes for Sept. 14, 2009, membership meeting submitted by Dana Palmer Meeting commenced at 7:06 p.m. Two guest speakers representing the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA gave a Powerpoint presentation about the group. The Special Service Area is supported by the Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce and is the largest in Chicago. In East Village, the SSA is involved primarily with Division Street from Damen to Ashland. That includes landscaping upkeep, including the trees along Division. The SSA is helping the city reassess loading zones along Division to grant better parking access for business patrons during the day. It's looking at solutions for safer passage at the intersection of Division Street, Honore Street and Marion Court. And it is hoping to have the fences along Division Street painted. In the Polish Triangle at...

By Greg Nagel   Hidden in plain sight, Baci Hair & Nail Salon is at 947 N. Ashland on the west side of the street. Leta Baci (Mom), Celnik Baci (Dad) and Marin Baci (Son) all work there along with six other stylists. Leta and Celnick each have more than 15 years of experience cutting hair. Opened originally in 2005 at 949 N. Ashland, they moved back in May into their fancy, newly remodeled store next door. Despite the huge upgrade in the store decor, Leta explains that “We do good work at fair or better than fair prices.” These prices are $6 for a haircut, $20 for a pedicure, $10 for a manicure, and $6 for eyebrow threading. They are very honest, polite, friendly, and hard working people that you can’t help but like. I’ve been going there for two years now, and I never heard any gossip or attitude like you often find in salons. I have Leta cut my hair every three weeks, and being the big spender that I am I give her $10 for her efforts. Oh, and I got my haircut the day bef...

President's Message by John Scheer   Wow! What a great EVA barbecue. I think all of you who joined us for the annual August East Village Association barbecue will agree it was a beautiful Chicago evening and a great get-together for friends and neighbors. For those of you who did not join the festivities, you will have to listen to the rest of us rave about the Boundary burgers, Piccolo ice cream and the homemade extras that EVA members and guests brought to the evening &151; so many tasty dishes including fresh-caught salmon, secret brownies and possibly the best in show, the deviled eggs. I hope our photographer got a picture of the deviled eggs before they were devoured. I want to send out a major thank-you to all of those who helped with the planning, setup and coordination. EVA Board members, EVA members and non-members really came together and created a splendid evening in the traditional EVA spirit of neighborhood friendship and community togetherness. I want to add a ...

Learn about your tax dollars at work on Division Street when the East Village Association surveys the Wicker Park Bucktown business district Monday, Sept. 14. Taxes fund improvements on both side of Division through the Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area . A look at future plans, and how local residents can affect them, will come from Eleanor Mayer of the WPB group and restaurateur Wayne Janik of Janik's Cafe , 2011 W. Division St. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Happy Village Tavern, 1059 W. Wolcott.