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Alderman Relaxes After Tough Week by Creating Dog Poop Bag Dispenser

Ald. John Arena (45th) said he created this dog poop bag dispenser after a stressful week. [Facebook/John Arena]

PORTAGE PARK — Ald. John Arena (45th) has had a long week.

Arena celebrated his 49th birthday on Monday by his using his car to block efforts by city crews to demolish a Jefferson Park road, forcing the city to at least delay its plans to build a 90-foot-tall electronic billboard in what had been the middle of the street.

So you might understand why he needed to blow off some steam.

But instead of drowning his sorrows at a local watering hole or blasting through a pint (or two) of Ben and Jerry's, Arena channeled his frustration into the arts and created a dog poop bag dispenser emblazoned with red stars that evokes Chicago's iconic flag.

"I needed a craft project to help me relax," Arena posted on Facebook, along with a picture of his creation stuck to a tree near his Six Corners home.

Heather Cherone says Arena has had quite the week:

Joking that the dispenser — stuffed with plastic Target bags that will be banned as of Aug. 1 — is a "hand-painted, limited edition (1), Doggy Waste Station," Arena encouraged his neighbors to grab a bag as they walk their pooch through the neighborhood.

Judging by the nearly four dozen comments expressing joy and delight at the dispenser — and nearly 400 likes — Arena may have found a new way to productively blow off steam and win kudos from voters.

And now his neighbors have no excuse not to pick up after Fluffy.

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