People come from all over the world to visit Chicago for its well-known tourist attractions. Our neighborhood is a hidden gem. We are near the lake, park, and zoo and have unique architecture. Most importantly, our community association has worked on our neighborhood’s behalf for over 60 years and is committed to finding new platforms to better serve our residents.
I grew up outside Chicago in Park Ridge, Illinois. I graduated from Loyola University Chicago and got a master’s in education from National-Louis University. When I completed my masters, I wanted to keep living on Lake Michigan, so I moved to the Park West area. I have now lived in Park West for 30 years. I have spent my entire professional career in the financial industry, usually in global businesses. For over 10 years I have served on the Board of my 400 unit condominium building. I am member of Chicago Architecture Foundation and active in the Open House Chicago Program.
This community reminds me of a lot of the neighborhood where I grew up. I see the residents have the same desire to come together to celebrate the history of the area, support local businesses and encourage each other. It is a great quality for a community and Park West has that culture.
I grew up in Beverly in the Southside of Chicago and attended Mother McAuley Highschool & Illinois State University as a Theatre Education & Design Production. I am certified to teach high school theatre. I worked full time in the Chicago theater scene post-college but made the change to high-volume event planning five years ago. Currently, I am work for Northwestern Universities Feinberg School of Medicine in their Simulation Lab. I try to work on a couple theatre productions during the year to keep my skills from getting rusty. I enjoy playing trivia with my friends, playing in a euchre league, and golfing in the spring/summer season. I contribute to & volunteer regularly with Misericordia.
I grew up in Lincoln Park and went to school at Lincoln Elementary and Lane Tech. I studied Forensic Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago and currently work at Park West Cooperative Nursery School as a teacher and Office Manager. I enjoy gardening, my cats and dogs, and volunteering with Lincoln Park Community Services and LSC at Lincoln Elementary. In 2017, I was named for an award for Neighborhood Champion of Lincoln Park by the LP Chamber of Commerce. I love the Neighbors and Restaurants and park space. I've been involved at Park West as a parent and staff since 1984, and over that time I've come to appreciate what the community means to both of those groups.
I've resided at 345 W. Fullerton Parkway since 1988 (the only building I've lived in since I moved to Chicago). I’m the business owner of Lincoln Park Fitness Center (1991), Ravenswood Fitness Center (2005), and Edgewater Fitness Center (2014). I hold a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, a major in Actuarial Science; MBA from Northwestern University, and majors in Analytical Finance and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. I previously served as a pension actuary for major consulting firm 1987-2003 and am Clark Street SSA #23 Commissioner. I am Co-Founder of Rock Steady Boxing Windy City, a non-contact boxing program that helps preserve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease.
Chuck Eastwood and his wife Mena lived in the Park West community for 17 years and now live in the Lakeview neighborhood. Chuck has served on the Park West Board and Planning Committee since 2011 and has been an active volunteer with several Lincoln Park community groups, including the Lincoln Park Advisory Council and the Sheffield Neighborhood Association. Chuck is a communications professional with a master’s degree in public administration. He works for the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and previously served as chief of staff for 43rd Ward Alderman Vi Daley. Chuck’s wife Mena has a Chinese medicine/wellness practice in Lincoln Park.
Hello, my name is Michael Rogers. I am a born and raised Chicagoan originally from the south side. In 2015 I moved north to Lincoln park and have called 444 W Fullerton Pkwy my home for the past 8 years. I am a stationary engineer for local 399. I come from a law enforcement/ criminal justice family and look forward to helping PWCA in their public safety efforts.
Hello Park West Community Association neighbors, businesses, and schools! My name is Tatyana Varan. I am a proud Ukrainian and also a proud resident of Lincoln Park. My husband and I have recently moved into the PWCA area, but we've lived in Lincoln Park for the past 19 years. I immigrated from Odesa, Ukraine two decades ago. I have many family members who remain in Ukraine, and my heart breaks for them daily - but thankfully my immediate family are safe at the time of this writing. I pray this continues. Although a piece of my heart is still in Ukraine and I constantly worry about them, I truly love all that is Lincoln Park. Our wonderful lakefront, our world-class restaurants, our top-notch public schools, and all our great neighbors make it the best area in Chicago. Although my training is in engineering, having graduated with a Master's Degree from the Engineering University in Odesa, Ukraine, I've been blessed to have enjoyed a very successful career in real estate for the past 18 years. I currently work with At Properties and was formerly with Caldwell Banker of Lincoln Park. I'm married to Dr Dan Varanauski, who is a holistic doctor known as a Naprapath. We own a holistic healthcare practice on Lincoln Avenue that is called Lakeshore Integrative HealthCare. It is a multidisciplinary setting that includes physiatry (a physical medicine and rehab specialty), physical therapy, acupuncture, naprapathy, personal trainers, and even a gastroenterologist. I am the chief financial officer, treasurer, and office manager at our practice. When I am not selling houses or running our practice, I am running our daughter down to the Menomonee Club for Boys & Girls or otherwise going to fencing meets. Our daughter attends Lincoln Park High School after having attended Oscar Mayer Elementary for her grade school years - starting all the way back in PK-3. When I immigrated to the United States two decades ago, I wanted to make an impact on my new community. After being involved with Chicago Public Schools for 12 years, volunteering at local neighborhood festivals, attending countless community meetings, and selling so many homes to people that primarily look for good school districts, I felt being on the committee for schools was a great way to help my neighborhood. I have hopes that my efforts might help educate other parents to send their children to these top-notch schools and I have hopes to help Park West Community Association continue being a wonderful neighborhood group! See you around!
Melani Casati is the owner/marketing director of Casati’s Modern Italian Restaurant in Lincoln Park (corner of Fullerton and Clark). Melanie is a native New Yorker who moved to Chicago from Florence, Italy with her husband/business partner Stefano. Her background is in fashion, marketing and brand development. When she is not working (which is rare). She loves galavanting around Lincoln Park with her 5-yr-old son.