Join the City of Homes (CoHo) organization for the latest Bungalows on Tap seminar - Clime and Punishment: How to make your house more energy efficient. Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 PM at FitzGerald’s Nightclub, 6615 Roosevelt Road.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the winter of 2011-12 will be one of "Clime and Punishment," which for us Chicagoans it means another very frigid winter with lots of rain and snow. Do you know how energy efficient your house is? Join us to learn more about energy savings and energy audits from John Porterfield of eZing (www.ezing.pro).

This event is free of charge but CoHo kindly requires advance registration. This event is for all homeowners, bungalow owners and non-bungalows alike! Food will also be served.

FitzGerald's welcomes your patronage as early as 6PM for a few beers and feel free to stay late for a couple more.

Berwyn is getting greener and healthier. Recently awarded money from the Cook County Department of Public Health through the Model Communities Grant Program, Berwyn is working with the Active Transportation Alliance on a number of healthy community initiatives. These will help Berwyn become more bike- and pedestrian-friendly, making it safer and easier to travel actively without the need for a car. The initiatives will also ensure safe active travel to Berwyn’s primary schools and parks.

To begin this transformation, Berwyn first worked on an Active Transportation Plan. The plan addresses non-motorized travel in the City including biking, walking and public transit use. It will map new walking and biking routes throughout the City, giving people healthier options to live, work and play in Berwyn.

The City is also working to implement ordinances to make the plan more sustainable.

• - A Complete Streets Policy will guide future road development decisions by requiring the City to give equal consideration to all forms of transportation - vehicles, mass transit, cyclists and pedestrians - when a road project is proposed.
• - A Safe Parks Zone Policy will help make our parks and schools safer by reducing speeds and increasing traffic fines in the areas when children are present. These policies encourage more safe activity for the community’s children.
• - School Travel Plans will map safe walking and biking routes to Berwyn's schools.

To make the community aware of all these efforts, the final piece of the project will be to sign and mark the new routes and zones. Signs will be installed to guide the community to new bike paths, some of which will have actual pavement markings designating them. Signs will also go up around some parks to remind motorists of the new Safe Park Zones.

With an eye on providing easy, safe options to live a healthier life in Berwyn, the City hopes this planning and policy work lays an important foundation for the future. For anyone seeking additional information or looking to comment on the draft plans or policies, please contact Kurtis Pozsgay at 708-788-8100 or follow us on our Facebook page.

The Berwyn Historical Society announces the 5th annual Historic Berwyn's House Tour, “Bungalows and More” to be held on Sunday, September 25,  from 12 noon until 5 pm.

Berwyn, recently named Best Neighborhood for Bungalows by This Old House magazine, boasts one of the largest concentrations of Chicago-style bungalow homes in the nation. The 2011 tour will showcase the well-preserved Art Moderne Silhan House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as a range of bungalows and other vintage homes.

Tour-goers will learn the history of each home, while gaining valuable ideas and insight for restoring and maintaining their own vintage homes. The 2011 tour’s homes are located in the vicinity of Berwyn’s portion of Historic U.S. Route 66, now known as Ogden Ave. Participants may walk, bike or drive between houses that are stops on the tour. The Active Transportation Alliance will be providing bike racks.

All proceeds benefit the Berwyn Historical Society. Advance tickets are available for $20 per person. Tickets can be purchased online or at participating local retailers listed on the website.Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the tour for $25 by cash or check only upon registration at the Berwyn Route 66 Museum located at the intersection of Ogden Ave & Home Ave. For more information, visit www.berwynbungalow.org.