Celebrate Sam Leone this Sunday!

The Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the upcoming Celebrating Sam Leone fundraiser with the Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society at Towbar on Sunday afternoon.

This is the first fundraiser of the new Leone Beach Park Advisory Council so they can support park programs and improvements, including scholarships for families with children who cannot afford Chicago Park District programs and events.

Chris Serb and other former and present Leone Beach lifeguards will share their stories which highlight the importance of the Jr. Lifeguard program and history of Sam Leone's "Sam's Boys" who are Rogers Park heroes  in their own right.

We will also be raffling off the official celebratory Sam Leone event banner (5ft in height). $10 donation at the door goes directly to the Leone Beach Park Advisory Council. Towbar will have food and drinks available for sale during the event.

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Today in Rogers Park - April 27th, 2013

Today in Rogers Park is a series to inform our community of relevant daily events, including the arts, entertainment, presentations and community meetings. - Bill Morton 


Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society - Clark-Devon Hardware's  Bernie Walchak speaks at "Meet the Experts" event 1447 W. MORSE AVENUE CHICAGO, IL. 60626

Come to the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society next Saturday, April 27, to meet Bernie Walchak, longtime owner of neighborhood icon Clark-Devon Hardware. Mr. Walchak will be at the RPWRHS office at 1447 W. Morse from noon - 2 p.m. He will be joined by his sister Shirley Walchak Slutzsky and his son Ken Walchak. The Walchaks will reminisce and answer questions about the store, its history, and their experiences in the neighborhood over the years. This will not be a formal presentation but rather an informal conversation. Drop in any time between noon and 2 pm and join the conversation; stay for whatever length of time you wish. The direction of talk will somewhat be determined by the interests of those who drop by. 
Artifacts related to the history of Clark-Devon Hardware and the surrounding area will be on display. Light refreshments will be available. Clark-Devon Hardware was founded in 1924 and has been owned and operated by three successive generations of the Walchak family. The business is a fixture in Rogers Park, with its handsome lighted clock on the corner of the building. Bernie Walchak has lived in the Rogers Park area for all of his 88 years. He has been associated with Clark-Devon Hardware for his whole life and still works there several mornings each week. This get-together with the Walchaks marks the first program in our "Meet the Experts" series. On selected Saturdays, persons knowledgeable about an aspect of neighborhood history will be invited to spend a couple hours at our museum to chat and answer questions about their area of expertise. The series will feature some of the Society's own experts as well as people from the community. 

HEADS UP

Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce Fresh Start Monday at the site of the former Adelphi Theater (7070-78 N. Clark Street).

The Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce was founded in April of 2009 with one goal: to help struggling small businesses, and in fact, all businesses, to become successful. Chamber founder Bill Morton wasn't sure how exactly to do this, but he knew that he would do what it takes to succeed. 
The Chamber struggled it's first two years, but in December of 2011, the Chamber and all of it's members started taking large strides to turn the Chamber into the vision they saw. 
Chamber Founder and President Bill Morton came up with the idea of a neighborhood clean-up in support of the businesses. Eventually, the program that was created was Fresh Start Monday, an event that occurs the first and third Monday of the month from April through to November, weather pending.

The next Fresh Start Monday will be on May 6th, 2013 at the site of the former Adelphi Theater (7070-78 N. Clark Street).  This is a public event from 6 pm - 7 pm. RSVP calls to (773) 850-0049 and walk-ins are OK. This is a free community event.
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Bernie Walchak speaks at "Meet the Experts" event

Clark-Devon Hardware featured in historical society program ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Come to the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society next Saturday, April 27, to meet Bernie Walchak, longtime owner of neighborhood icon Clark-Devon Hardware. Mr. Walchak will be at the RPWRHS office at 1447 W. Morse from noon - 2 p.m. He will be joined by his sister Shirley Walchak Slutzsky and his son Ken Walchak. The Walchaks will reminisce and answer questions about the store, its history, and their experiences in the neighborhood over the years. This will not be a formal presentation but rather an informal conversation. Drop in any time between noon and 2 pm and join the conversation; stay for whatever length of time you wish. The direction of talk will somewhat be determined by the interests of those who drop by.


Artifacts related to the history of Clark-Devon Hardware and the surrounding area will be on display. Light refreshments will be available. Clark-Devon Hardware was founded in 1924 and has been owned and operated by three successive generations of the Walchak family. The business is a fixture in Rogers Park, with its handsome lighted clock on the corner of the building. Bernie Walchak has lived in the Rogers Park area for all of his 88 years. He has been associated with Clark-Devon Hardware for his whole life and still works there several mornings each week. This get-together with the Walchaks marks the first program in our "Meet the Experts" series. On selected Saturdays, persons knowledgeable about an aspect of neighborhood history will be invited to spend a couple hours at our museum to chat and answer questions about their area of expertise. The series will feature some of the Society's own experts as well as people from the community.


__________________________________________

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society is a great source of information if you are interested in the history of these two great neighborhoods. Located on Morse Street, I'd recommend attending one of their events. 

http://www.rpwrhs.org/

Photography by: Bill Morton

Rogers Park on 190 North

Did you catch the Rogers Park feature on 190 North tonight?


It featured the following businesses and organizations:

Taste of Peru - 6545 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60626
 773-381-4540

Loyola Campus -  6525 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL 60626
773-274-3000

The Armadillo's Pillow - 6753 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL 60626
773-761-2558

Mayne Stage - 1328 W. Morse Avenue Chicago, IL 60626
773-381-4554

Heartland Café - 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue Chicago, IL 60626
773-465-8005

Emil Bach House - 7415 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL. 60626

Lost Eras - 1511 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL 60626
773-764-7400

Cobbler's Shoe Repair - 1424 W. Morse Avenue Chicago, IL 60626
773-764-5906

Caribbean American Bakery - 1539 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL 60626
773-761-0700

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society - 1447 W. Morse Avenue  Chicago, IL 60626
773-764-4078

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Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society - Larry Shure speaks Courtyards of Rogers Park

Larry Shure of http://ultralocal.blogspot.com/ speaks about the 200 courtyard apartments of Rogers Park in detail.

"Larry documents Rogers Park courtyards like a true professional with a passion for his work. I am looking forward to meeting him and comparing notes". - Bill Morton

I was so impressed by his Rogers Park research, that I immediately added his updates to the RP1000 blogroll.


- Bill



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Society Hosts Annual House Tour

Society Hosts Annual House Tour on May 1
featuring the Morse Avenue neighborhood
and Glenwood Arts District

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please join the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society for our annual house tour on Sunday, May 1, 2011. In this year's tour, we are featuring the neighborhood of our new home on Morse. In addition to several homes nearby on Touhy, Estes, and Glenwood, we will be featuring the United Church of Rogers Park and the former Congregation B'nai Zion. Also featured will be the history of the commercial development of Morse Avenue and highlights of the Mile of Murals in the Glenwood Arts District. Four private homes will also be visited.

Prices for this year's tour are $25 for members in advance, $30 for members on the day of the tour, $30 for nonmembers in advance, and $35 for nonmembers on the day of the tour.

The tour will be self-guided, and registration will open at 12:00 p.m. at the Society's offices at 1447 W. Morse. Registration will remain open until 4:00 p.m., and the event ends at 5:00 p.m. All attendees will receive a souvenir booklet of the house tour. We hope to see you there!
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Blizzard message from the Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society

Today's Snowstorm is History--Help Us Preserve It

Our photo archive is a great place in which to put your photos of today's storm. We have a bunch of photos from the 1967 storm, let's preserve this one too.

Tell us where the photo was taken, the date, and anything else you want to tell us that will help us to document and preserve your photos for future generations. A couple of years from now, without this information, few people will be able to identify what they're seeing.

Have any stories about the storm you'd like to share? We'd like to read them. Send them to the addresses below. Send your stories soon, while you still remember them. We want to document how Rogers Parkers and West Ridgers rose to the challenges. Maybe something funny or inspiring happened. Tell us. Chances are we'll do a story about the storm, if we don't get your stories, or photos, we can't include them.

Photos and/or stories can be sent electronically directly to rpwrhs@aol.com. In the subject line, please say "Snowstorm", or some other description that will help us identify it and separate it from the tons of spam we all get every day.

Prints and stories can be mailed to: Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, 1447 W. Morse Ave., Chicago, IL 60626.

History is made every day. Be a part of its preservation.

New Museum

Dear Bill,

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society has moved to our new museum and offices at 1447 West Morse. We'd like to invite you to attend our Grand Opening on Sunday, December 12th 2010.

A ribbon cutting will take place at 12:00. We'll be there to greet you and show off our new digs until at least 6:00 p.m. that day. Refreshments will be served.

I'd also be most grateful if you could also send the invitation to your members. I've attached a separate announcement for this purpose.

Thanks. Hope to see you soon!

Best wishes,
Colleen

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society has HistoryWiki

PRESS RELEASE

RP/WRHS Website Now Has HistoryWiki

As of today, our website, http://www.rpwrhs.org has a new "HistoryWiki." If you haven't already done so, please register on the website so you can access this newest source of research. Once you've registered, all special features will then be accessible to you. You'll find, not only the HistoryWiki, but all the back issues of the newsletter and house tour booklets. Also some booklets from special events. It's here that you'll be able to get to the Oral History Podcasts that are in development, too.

The HistoryWiki is our version of the famous Wikipedia. It uses the same MediaWiki software and brings a new dimension to researching Rogers Park and West Ridge.

Users will be able to correct entries that are incorrect, add information to those lacking it, and create new pages for information that hadn't been stored in the HistoryWiki up to that point.

While we have over a thousand pages already in place, it is by no means complete. This will be an on-going project and will never be complete. Every person reading this knows information that is not included in the HistoryWiki. We hope that they will add their knowledge to it so that it will be more complete. Of course, we would expect that any new information or corrections be backed up with references, where practical. If the information is unreliable, who benefits?

Anyone that has used Wikipedia already knows how to use HistoryWiki. There are some additional instructions on the introduction page to HistoryWiki. For those wishing to add or correct information in the HistoryWiki, please contact us for instructions on how to do it. We'll be happy to help. It's not quite as easy as using e-mail until you know how. If you're unsure, just send the info to us and we'll put it on the Wiki.

You can find our new feature in the Services section of the website. There will be no indication of its existence unless you have registered on the site. So please do so before you tell us you can't find it.

Hank Morris

Happening Today: Annual House Walk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Avenue beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.

Volunteers needed for Annual House Walk

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m. This year’s tour will highlight Indian Boundary Park and nearby homes, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings and their spectacular Art Deco swimming pools.

A new RPWRHS exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will also be open to tour participants.

Volunteers are needed for half or full shifts on the day of the tour. A half-day shift is from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. A full day shift is from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Volunteers will serve as greeters or docents at tour sites and will have a brief training session prior to the tour.

Those interested in volunteering should contact mbrewer@rcn.com to sign up. For more information about the Tour and Exhibit, visit http://www.rpwrhs.org/.

Please forward this to the members of your committees who may not be included on this message, and thank you for supporting our Annual Tour.

Maribeth Brewer
Indian Boundary Park Advisory Council

A Park Is Your Front Yard

(click to enlarge)

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Registration for the house walk is available at www.rpwrhs.org or by calling (773) 764-4078. Admission is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members.

A discounted rate of $20 for members and $25 for non-members will be offered through April 25. Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Ave. beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.

Volunteers needed for Annual House Walk

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m. This year’s tour will highlight Indian Boundary Park and nearby homes, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings and their spectacular Art Deco swimming pools.

A new RPWRHS exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will also be open to tour participants.

Volunteers are needed for half or full shifts on the day of the tour. A half-day shift is from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. A full day shift is from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Volunteers will serve as greeters or docents at tour sites and will have a brief training session prior to the tour.

Those interested in volunteering should contact mbrewer@rcn.com to sign up. For more information about the Tour and Exhibit, visit http://www.rpwrhs.org/.

Please forward this to the members of your committees who may not be included on this message, and thank you for supporting our Annual Tour.

Maribeth Brewer
Indian Boundary Park Advisory Council

May 2nd House Walk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Registration for the house walk is available at www.rpwrhs.org or by calling (773) 764-4078. Admission is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members.

A discounted rate of $20 for members and $25 for non-members will be offered through April 25. Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Ave. beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society Annual Walk
(click here to enlarge)

Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Registration for the house walk is available at www.rpwrhs.org or by calling (773) 764-4078. Admission is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members.

A discounted rate of $20 for members and $25 for non-members will be offered through April 25. Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Ave. beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.

Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society Press Release

(click to enlarge)

Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL HOUSE WALK

ON MAY 2nd in INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK AREA

Chicago – March 15, 2010 - The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society will host its Annual House Walk on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

This year’s tour will highlight homes surrounding Indian Boundary Park, including the notable Park Castles and Park Gables apartment buildings.

Registration for the house walk is available at www.rpwrhs.org or by calling (773) 764-4078. Admission is $25 for society members and $30 for non-members.

A discounted rate of $20 for members and $25 for non-members will be offered through April 25. Day-of registration will be available at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, 2500 West Lunt Ave. beginning at 12 Noon. The last tour will start at 3:30 p.m.

Several units of the Park Castles and Park Gables will be open for the tour as well as the buildings’ spectacular Art Deco swimming pools. The structures grace the eastern and northern boundary of the park – a magnificent group of Gothic and Tudor Revival style structures built in the late 1920s by developers Gubbins, O’Donnell & Blietz.

Indian Boundary Park was opened in 1922 as the centerpiece of the Ridge Avenue Park District. The 13-acre park was designed as a pastoral landscape with picturesque gardens, a lagoon with a small island, rolling lawns, and meandering paths. Its field house, now the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, was designed by prominent architect Clarence Hatzfeld, and is noted for its unusual combination of Tudor Revival design and Native American images and sculptures.

Several other homes near the park owned by notable 1920s personalities will be included in the tour. The Indian Boundary area is a hidden gem on the north side, with an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings and landscapes.

A new exhibit in the park’s cultural center, A Park is Your Front Yard: Indian Boundary Park and the Gubbins, McDonnell & Blietz Co-ops, 1915-1929 will be open to tour participants on May 2.

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge as a vital part of the City of Chicago, and to provide interactive education about these communities to the public.