A mixed-use development is being proposed at 3664 N Planned by Centrum Realty & Development the project site is a corner property at the southwest corner of the intersection of N The existing one-story commercial building would be demolished to make way for the new development the five-story building will have 16 apartments and retail space The ground floor will host the planned 1,773 square feet of retail space at the front corner of the site overlooking the intersection of W Lincoln Ave with the residential entry next to it fronting W Six car parking spaces will be accessible from the alley and residents would also have access to 16 bike parking spaces the upper four floors will have four units oer floor The project’s proposed unit mix includes 12 two-beds and 4 three-beds Three of the units will be set aside as affordable to meet ARO requirements.  the building has been designed with a dark brick exterior with punched window openings and balconies integrated into the facade for all of the apartments.  the developer is seeking to rezone the site from B1-1 to B2-5 Approvals will be needed from the alderman They hope to begin construction in Fall 2025 and open the building by the beginning of 2027 After 58 year of serving Gainesville and Alachua County residents as the North Central Florida YMCA the local nonprofit has decided to disaffiliate itself with the national organization The announcement was made May 1 on social media It is with mixed emotions we announce that as of 4/30/25 we will no longer operate as a YMCA After thorough deliberation and consideration we decided it is in our best interest to disaffiliate from the YMCA Movement and continue operations as a separate nonprofit organization — the North Central Florida Community Center," the Facebook post said president of the nonprofit's board of directors told The Sun on May 2 that the decision to separate itself from the national organization allows the center to put "Gainesville first." She said the decision wasn't based on any changes made by the national YMCA organization More local news: Mixed reactions in Alachua County to proposed fluoride ban as bill heads to DeSantis "It gives us a lot of autonomy to make some decisions and allows us to independently best meet the needs of the community," she said Gholson said all programming at the center and that members will still have access to the facility through the remainder of their membership terms will no longer have access to additional YMCA centers "Everything is going to continue to run as is until further notice," said Gholson who also noted that no staffing changes are planned at this time The Sun has reached out to the national YMCA organization for comment The Y also filed for bankruptcy in November 2011 and emerged from it in October 2013 When asked about the nonprofit's past financial struggles Gholson said she is looking forward to forming new partnerships in the community "The YMCA was a great partner in allowing us to continue to serve the community but this will give us the opportunity to look at partnerships that maybe weren't on the table due to the national governing body or being able to do some things that would just align a little bit differently and focus on the mission of where we look to take this organization moving forward," Gholson said A network of correspondents providing impartial news reports and analysis in 33 languages from locations around the world Up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world and in Chicago Hosted by WBEZ's Mary Dixon and NPR's Steve Inskeep Newshour is the award-winning flagship program of the BBC World Service the world’s largest news gathering operation 1A convenes a conversation about the most important issues of our time smart reflection on world news as it’s happening innovators and artists from around the globe with news from Chicago from WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz Reset digs into how the news has moved since you left the house 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20 Covering everything about science and technology — from the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies — Science Friday is your source for entertaining and educational stories and activities From their humble beginnings on Chicago’s radio airwaves to their evolution through television and today’s streaming platforms "Stories Without End" unpacks how soap operas have shaped popular culture and told intergenerational stories that continue to resonate a new theme and a variety of stories on that theme Sound Opinions is hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot In-depth interviews with brilliant creators A mix of live performances and interviews from WXPN Philadelphia’s daily program featuring important established and emerging artists Weekly film podcast and radio show from Chicago featuring in-depth reviews The first 50 years of modern advertising was based on hard-sell The next 50 years was persuasion through creativity and media tonnage But as advertising squeezed into the 21 century it was forced to shed its elbowing ways and become a delicate dialogue The goal is no longer to triumph by weight CBC's Under the Influence is hosted by Terry O'Reilly A wrap up of the week's news and a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up It's Been a Minute features people in the culture who deserve your attention Plus weekly wraps of the news with journalists in the know Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers A radio journal of news and culture produced from a Latino perspective and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior shape our choices and direct our relationships Your guide to examining how the media sausage is made Important ideas and practical advice: Code Switch features fearless and much-needed conversations about race—and Life Kit offers practical advice on things in life no one prepared you for Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX Reveal is public radio’s first one-hour radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting A weekly program presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser Firefighters responded to an apartment fire in the 4200 block of North Leavitt Street on Wednesday Nobody was hurt and two cats were rescued by their owner during an apartment fire Wednesday morning in the North Center neighborhood firefighters responded to the 4200 block of North Leavitt Street for a fire that started in the basement of the building Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said Firefighters spotted the two cats in an apartment and the owner was allowed to go back in to retrieve them and the cause of the fire was still under investigation Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale Championship Sunday for NCAA Division III college football arrived Sunday night Mount Union and North Central clashed in an entertaining Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl at Houston's Shell Energy Stadium North Central, appearing in the Stagg Bowl for the fifth straight time (not including the canceled 2020 COVID season) pulled away to a 41-25 over Mount Union The Cardinals also won national titles in 2019 and 2022 its record 23rd Stagg Bowl appearance did not allow it to add to its NCAA-record 13 national championships The Purple Raiders' last title came in 2017 Here's how the game unfolded through our live scoring updates and analysis The Cardinals win their third national championship More: Stagg Bowl coverage 'An unbelievable football player': Luke Lehnen powers North Central to D3 national title Luke Lehnen delivers dagger for North CentralLuke Lehnen's 12-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Paradee with 2:32 left practically clinches it for North Central North Central drove 77 yards in 14 plays and ran almost seven minutes off the clock The Cardinals converted on fourth-and-1 from their own 42 on Joe Sacco's 5-yard run Mount Union punts on fourth-and-8 just inside North Central territory A stop here is required if the Purple Raiders are to have any chance Charles Coleman helps North Central quickly strike backMount Union has to regroup again Charles Coleman races 66 yards for a touchdown TJ DeShields connects with Jerry Cooper on a 54-yard touchdown completion and to Drew Sims on the two-point conversion The Purple Raiders cut North Central's lead to 28-25 Luke Lehnen avoids pressure and spots a wide-open Jack Rummell for a 6-yard touchdown completion North Central quarterback Luke Lehnen is starting to pick apart the Mount Union defense The Cardinals will open the fourth quarter at the Purple Raiders 10-yard line It felt like a must-score possession for Mount Union and the Purple Raiders got what they needed TJ DeShields' 31-yard touchdown pass to Nick Turner cuts North Central's lead to 21-17 Luke Lehnen helps North Central increase its leadA huge moment here for North Central The Cardinals drive 80 yards in seven plays and grab a 21-10 lead on Luke Lehnen's 1-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Paradee Lehnen's 46-yard completion to Thomas Skokna set up the touchdown Mount Union's fourth trip to the red zone leads to no points for the third time Ivan Maric's 36-yard field goal attempt is wide left Let's see if the Purple Raiders can regroup after that disastrous end to the first half Mount Union made a stunning decision to run the football on third down deep in North Central territory in the final seconds of the first half Mount Union could not get its field goal unit on the field in time North Central holds on to a 14-10 lead at halftime The first North Central punt of the night gives the ball back to Mount Union A 30-yard field goal from Ivan Maric into the wind helps Mount Union cut North Central's lead to 14-10 The Purple Raiders elected to kick instead of going for it on fourth down this time Luke Lehnen touchdown run gives North Central its first leadQuarterback Luke Lehnen gives North Central a 14-7 lead with a 16-yard touchdown run A fourth-down conversion run from Charles Coleman and Jack Rummell's leaping 38-yard catch helped set up the Cardinals' touchdown Mount Union goes for it on fourth-and-3 from the North Central 12 and comes up empty A TJ DeShields pass intended for Tyrell Sanders is incomplete The Purple Raiders converted on fourth down earlier in the drive the Purple Raiders will start the second quarter at the North Central 19-yard line North Central quarterback Luke Lehnen quickly put his early turnover behind him The two-time Gagliardi Trophy winner throws a 24-yard touchdown pass to Myles Walton to help the Cardinals tie the game at 7-7 Lehnen has completed five of his first six passes for 95 yards Tyler Echeverry opening the scoring in the Stagg Bowl comes as no surprise Division III's top running back races 29 yards for a touchdown to give Mount Union a 7-0 lead The Purple Raiders take advantage of Kaleb Brown's fumble recovery and march 62 yards in nine plays Mount Union comes up with the first takeaway Kaleb Brown recovers North Central quarterback Luke Lehnen's fumble at the Purple Raiders 39-yard line Lehnan had a 31-yard completion to Thomas Skona on the game's opening drive North Central has won the toss and has elected to receive senior defensive end Rossy Moore and junior offensive guard Giovanni Kennedy are on the first team Senior defensive tackle Von Factor is a second team selection Junior defensive end Kaleb Brown made the third team Police monitor a SWAT situation in the 4100 block of North Lincoln Avenue near where a retired Chicago police sergeant was shot Monday in North Center A suspect is in custody and another is at large after a retired Chicago police sergeant was shot and critically wounded Monday morning in North Center according to police and the local alderperson was shot twice in his left arm and grazed in his neck about 9 a.m according to a preliminary police statement He had left his vehicle when two people started shooting in his direction He was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition The shooting unfolded as mourners began to gather on the South Side at St Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for the funeral of Officer Enrique Martinez who was killed this month in an on-duty shooting Police radio traffic shows Monday’s victim is a retired department member whose Jeep Grand Cherokee is outfitted with Chicago Police Memorial Foundation license plates Matt Martin (47th) said he was told the victim is a former sergeant Martin said a suspect was apprehended and SWAT officers were “continuing to search for the second individual.” But the circumstances of the shooting remained unclear as police continued to investigate whether it’s North Center or anywhere else in the city,” Martin told the Sun-Times And to know that it’s a time of day when so many people are walking around Police radio dispatches show the former sergeant was found wounded near his SUV and a responding officer applied a tourniquet before he was taken to the hospital said he got to the bar and grill around 9:20 a.m and saw police vehicles “zooming” the wrong way down the street toward the nearby shooting scene Shepardson captured a photo of police taking a person into custody in the 4100 block of North Lincoln Avenue there was a tension in the air with police looking around the area,” he said “Then there was this palpable sigh of relief after the first person was taken into custody.” the massive police presence in the area had thinned out and many local businesses had closed for the day Martin said he was still “hoping to get more answers in the coming hours about the motive.” “hoping for something positive about the victim’s condition.” The Cardinals host the North Central Invitational on Sunday December 15 with top NCAA and NAIA teams in attendance The tournament is one week after the Cardinals upended Grand Valley State in the highlight dual of the season (so far) “We are super excited for the NCC Women’s Open this weekend,” North Central head coach Joe Norton said “We will have each of the top five ranked NCAA teams and #1 “I truly believe it will be the most competitive tournament this season across all of collegiate women’s wrestling and our women are fired up to compete.”  Here are results from North Central’s December 8 dual with links to matches and teams expected to compete at the North Central Invitational on Sunday North Central Invitational (December 15): Participating Teams There will also be a handful of high schoolers to make it interesting.  There are no guarantees that every team will send its full roster to North Central Iowa didn’t use any 103-pounders at the Jewell Duals so it’s difficult to know who will represent the Hawkeyes (if they send anyone) Here is a list of 103-pounders who might compete Things will be interesting even if a third of the below attend Sterling Dias (Iowa) — 2024 NCWWC finalistMaddie Avila (North Central) — 2023 NCWWC champion Topics covered during this week's show:- Scott Beck watches the new women's wrestling documentary "All American" in New York City.- What we learned from Ironman- What we learned from North Central's win over Grand Valley State- Life University freshman Anaya Falcon soars- The early days of women's wrestling- The building excitement of the National Duals.  The college season is nearing halfway and there are still things we don’t know Here are the pressing questions as we enter the second semester What Will Iowa Do At 103 and 110?The Hawkeyes have five quality options at two weights — six if you count Nyla Valencia who is out with injuries for the second straight season Each team can send up to 15 to the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (maximum of two per weight) so Clarissa Chun has decisions to make.  Emilie Gonzalez is the returning 101-pound champion who has presumably moved up to 110 Don’t be surprised if she drops down to 103 at some point Sterling Dias and Rianne Murphy appear even at this point so either is a quality option if Gonzalez stays up.  Returning NCWWC champion Ava Bayless likely has a roster spot since Iowa will send two wrestlers at five weights Valarie Solorio defeated Bayless in the wrestle-off but dropped a match to her a few days later At least one of these five won’t be at regionals.  Will Reese Larremendy or Macey Kilty Move Down To 138?Larramendy is the returning NCWWC champion at 143 pounds but the addition of two-time World silver medalist Macey Kilty presents unique possibilities for the Hawkeyes Iowa could have two quality 145-pounders or Larramendy could move down does Kilty move down since she competes internationally at 62 kg (136.5 pounds) and 65 kg (143 pounds) When Will McKendree Unleash Its Best Line-up?The Bearcats are in hibernation and All-American Lydia Krauss (160) haven’t competed yet and NAIA finalist Alexis Gomez only wrestled in three matches at the Missouri Valley Invitational before defaulting out of the tournament.  Head coach Alexio Garcia has a dangerous team when he lays all his cards on the table.  Who Carries The Crown At King?Jason Moorman’s surprise departure at King is still a head-scratcher but who will fill his shoes permanently next year Gracie Figueroa is listed as the interim head coach on the staff directory Does she stay on as head coach or does King make an outside hire Who is redshirting or possibly transferring King didn’t use a 138- or 145-pounder during its 25-21 win over Presbyterian There are more questions than answers right now.  Does Grand Valley State Have Another Roster Move?The Lakers forfeited 117 pounds during the North Central dual a spot that will presumably be filled by transfer Kiely Tabaldo — a 2024 national qualifier Does Jake Short have another roster move that will bolster his line-up for the second semester?  When Will We Get A Full Life?NAIA front-runner Life University fell to King Missing were national finalists Sarah Savidge (131) Freshman Anaya Falcon secured a surprise fall over King’s Samara Chavez at 110 and high school standout Savannah Issac is in the line-up This team is dangerous when all the pieces are in place.  on December 10 without starters at 138 and 145 Tornado star Montana DeLawder notched her 100th victory with a 10-0 over Alyssa Mahan.  103: Mia Zuniga (King) over #20 Chiara Barbieri (PC) 7-2110: Chloe Dearwester (PC) over Avery Kibelbek (King) Fall (1:05)117: Clare Booe (King) over Charlee Shuler (PC) by Fall (1:22)124: Montana DeLawder (King) over Alyssa Mahan (PC) 10-0 (2:59)131: Anna DiCugno (King) over Cassia Zammit (PC) Fall (1:01)138: Paige Wehrmeister (PC) won by Forfeit145: Lilly Luttrell (PC) won by Forfeit160: Cheyene Bowman (King) over May Cuyler (PC) by TF 10-0 (2:22)180: Alexa Garcia (King) over Lexi Fornshell (PC) 11-0 (4:26)207: Ella Beam (PC) overKenisha Jacsaint (King) by Inj but Ali Gerbracht wants her team to prove it at the Iowa State wrestling championships Friday, December 13Eagle DualsWasp Open Sunday, December 15North Central College Invitational Friday, December 6 - Saturday, December 7Patriot Duals Sunday, December 8Mountaineer OpenTrojan Duals The prestigious Ironman tournament at Walsh-Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls hosted a women’s division for the second consecutive year with Bixby High School in Oklahoma taking the team title.  Click here for results and links to matches. Get the most important Wrestling stories delivered straight to your inbox Andreas Raspotnik (42) is the new director of the High North Center for Business and Governance With a background in Arctic research and policy he aims to challenge stereotypes and rethink how Arctic opportunities are communicated and developed Raspotnik will take over as director from April 1.  Following the retirement of High North Center founder Frode Mellemvik last summer the search for a new director began.  it has been confirmed that Andreas Raspotnik (42) from Austria With a background in Arctic policy and governance Raspotnik sees the position as an opportunity to refine the center’s strategic direction "The Arctic is still surrounded by so many stereotypes We do not talk about the Mediterranean the same way we talk about the Arctic people still assume you have to know everything about every part of it" the new director states in a press release from the High North Center Raspotnik first became interested in Arctic policy during an Erasmus exchange semester in Oslo in 2007 where he worked on the European Union’s Arctic policy and the Arctic’s blue economy as a potential pillar of regional cooperation he joined the High North Center as a senior researcher.   One of Raspotnik’s main priorities when he starts is reinforcing the High North Center’s role in Arctic business discussions He believes there is a lack of critical discussion on what Arctic business actually means in practice "The same narratives keep repeating—shipping routes resources—but the Arctic economy is far more complex" The new director embraces the complex work ahead meaning "living at a crossing," reflects his career connecting different perspectives across borders—a fitting parallel to his work navigating Arctic policy challenges.  Dean Gry Agnete Alsos at Nord University Business School is happy that Raspotnik accepted the position.  the High North Center will get a leader with strong research- based competence on Arctic business and policy and with an extensive international network related to these issues." The High North Center for Business and Governance​ is an international center for research connected to societal and business development in the Arctic. It is located in Bodø High North News is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed on external web pages Editor in Chief:Trine Jonassen E-mail High North News Editor/Commentator: Arne O. HolmTel: (+47) 905 29 472 Journalist:Hilde-Gunn Bye Journalist:Astri Edvardsen Translator:Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen Chicago police respond to a shooting in North Center that left a retired sergeant critically wounded Monday An off-duty Chicago police officer quickly responded to a shooting earlier this week in North Center and likely saved the life of a retired police sergeant who was left critically wounded Matt Martin (47th) said the former sergeant’s condition is “improving,” though he’s still being treated in the intensive care unit at Illinois Masonic Medical Center Martin said he now wants to honor the off-duty cop who came to the ex-sergeant’s aid “I flagged that for the 19th (Town Hall) District,” Martin said referring to the police district where the shooting occurred “I know that this off-duty officer wasn’t the only one to respond so they’re going to look into who exactly responded and how “But I would like to find some formal way to thank him publicly for his actions.” The former sergeant was shot twice in the left arm and grazed in his neck about 9 a.m Monday in the 2000 block of West Berteau Avenue Witnesses told police an “altercation” erupted between the victim and two attackers shooting him as the victim left his vehicle Martin said one of the suspects who was arguing with the victim was taken into custody Police don’t believe the argument was related to an attempted robbery or carjacking The shooting prompted a heavy police response in the area as officers searched for the suspects was placed on a “soft lockdown,” according to police radio traffic Officers were eventually seen taking a suspect into custody in the 4100 block of North Lincoln Avenue “There is no publicly available information yet to share about the second suspect,” Martin said A police spokesperson said only that investigators “are speaking to a person of interest and charges are pending.” “The investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson said John Sencion was working the front desk at Autohaus “I was 20 yards away,” Sencion told the Sun-Times “One of the other technicians saw the gentleman lying on the ground,” Sencion said “By that time 15 or 20 cop cars and SWAT came in.” Autohaus owner Gary Kinsley rushed over when he heard what happened “I really felt terrible that a police officer who served the city and now is retired and if we cannot protect those who protect us what are we doing?” Kinsley told the Sun-Times “I have multiple auto shops and have been serving the community for 45 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Kinsley who gave police a copy of surveillance footage taken from his Lincoln Avenue shop The footage shows two people wearing white tops and dark bottoms briskly walking north through the alley toward Berteau At least one of them appears to be holding something in their hands And then you see them running the opposite direction,” Kinsley said Reflecting on the tense hours that followed the shooting Martin credited officers for rushing to the scene and apprehending one of the suspected gunmen “Hopefully the same will be true for the second suspect,” he added "[I am] really grateful for their fantastic work hoping that he continues to recover from what appears to be a very serious injury.” North Side Restaurant Week is organized by North River Commission Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce Return to events calendar More info Sign up Get the guide Contact us © 2025 Choose Chicago. All rights reserved.Privacy policy | Your privacy choices | Terms of use | Sitemap With Chicago in the midst of frigid temperatures a number of restaurants have quietly closed in recent weeks Some shutters include a beloved family-owned Mexican restaurant in Logan Square a casual bubble tea shop and cafe run by two sisters and their friends The Shutter, a regular roundup of Chicago’s restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what’s on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to chicago@eater.com LOGAN SQUARE — El Habanero Restaurant, a family-owned eatery at 3300 W. Fullerton Avenue, closed its doors permanently on Saturday, February 15, according to Block Club Chicago which has been running the restaurant for the past 11 years told the publication that they hope to revive El Habanero in some fashion after they take a needed vacation to Mexico The group had previously run the spot in Chinatown LINCOLN SQUARE — Casual taqueria Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant at 4064 N. Lincoln Avenue has closed permanently, according to LTH Forum and an employee from the space’s current tenant a spot called Pupuseria el Centroamericano has been in operation for just under a month NORTH CENTER — Rocks Northcenter at 4138 N. Lincoln Avenue has closed its doors as of Tuesday, December 31, according to a social media post published by the whiskey-and-burger spot The Northcenter location has been in operation for 10 years NORTH CENTER — Bar and grill Rambler Kitchen and Tap at 4128 N. Lincoln Avenue closed permanently as of Sunday, December 22. The establishment was operated by Red Door Tavern Group, which also runs the Graystone Tavern and Cody’s Public House This article was corrected to show that Old Town Pour House was at 1419 N Wells Street Firefighters work to control a fire in the 1900 block of West School Street in North Center on Wednesday night No one was injured in a residential fire Wednesday night in the North Center neighborhood Crews battle a blaze at a residence in the 1900 block of West School Street officials responded to a call of a fire inside a four-story building at 1927 W damaging and damaged two neighboring buildings causing officials to take a defensive approach to the blaze Crews used four hose lines to battle the fire Press release from Community Foundation of North Central Florida – The Community Foundation of North Central Florida has awarded a $20,000 grant to the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding (RPCP) in support of its Neighborhood Peace Action Community Team (PACT) Project the initiative empowers local residents with the skills needed to mediate disputes and build long-term community resilience The PACT Project will be piloted at the Residences at Oakview in Gainesville Through trauma-informed training in restorative justice and conflict resolution the program will equip community members with the tools necessary to address disputes constructively and foster a safer “Supporting community-driven solutions to violence prevention aligns with our mission to create positive change in North Central Florida,” said Barzella Papa President and CEO of the Community Foundation of North Central Florida. “The PACT Project stands out as an innovative and sustainable approach that not only addresses immediate conflicts but also builds long-term capacity for peace and safety within the community.” At the core of the PACT Project is the belief that sustainable peacebuilding efforts must come from within the community itself Residents will be trained as peace facilitators and mentors helping to de-escalate conflicts before they escalate into violence Executive Director of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative stating: “This funding from the Community Foundation allows us to directly engage community members as leaders in building safer and more connected neighborhoods By equipping local residents with the skills to resolve conflicts and de-escalate violence and transformation that will extend beyond Oakview and into other communities in the future.” With the support of the Community Foundation of North Central Florida RPCP aims to develop a model that can be adapted for other neighborhoods facing similar challenges By investing in local leaders and prioritizing grassroots conflict resolution strategies the PACT Project is setting the stage for sustainable violence prevention and long-term community well-being Dan Frasca of Salt Creek BBQ tends to multiple racks of ribs during Ribfest in North Center neighborhood on Saturday or “ribbers” at the 24 annual Ribfest Chicago in North Center this weekend whose father would grill on the family’s porch I never knew the impact that he made when it came down to bringing people together,” Green said Today the younger Green is the owner of Mr Greens BBQ based in Milwaukee where he started as a food truck before opening a brick and mortar He melds his Chicago-area roots — his dad grew up on the West Side and his mom grew up in Maywood — with local Wisconsin ingredients such as chilies and honey for his own spin on ribs his sweet heat sauce is inspired by Chicago mild sauce that he put his own spin on to “create our own sweet heat sauce.” is one of the new vendors this year at the 24th annual Ribfest Chicago in North Center I just had to do something to compete with them.” Green was among 10 of the featured barbecue vendors at the three-day festival He cooks his ribs for four hours over charcoal and white oak and cherry wood adds more seasoning and then cooks for another hour to let that flavor permeate the St “It has all the qualities [of a good rib],” said Jacob Wallingford of Lakeview who was attending Ribfest for the third time with a group of dining companions making their way down Lincoln Avenue to try all the offerings “We have five more to go,” Wallingford said Austin’s Texas Lighting BBQ owner Nikki Haggerty and her daughter Taylor Haggerty prepare ribs Saturday during Ribfest in North Center A longtime Ribfest vendor is Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ Owner Nikki Haggerty’s father owned Giovanni’s in Berwyn and Haggerty’s 14-year-old daughter is already a seasoned pro with the family business Haggerty worked with a pitmaster from Texas and then took over his business when he wanted to retire 10 years ago “I’ve learned a lot about barbecue over the last 37 years,” said Haggerty “My dad was a great inspiration and still is … now I’m passing it down and making my kids come out here and do the same thing.” Taylor said she likes being a part of the action “I think it’s really cool that we have like a family business that we could work through in the summer The mobile BBQ company travels all around the country and Ribfest Chicago ranks among their top five events “It’s great when you start seeing some of the same people … when you’re only here once a year which draws attendees in the “tens of thousands,” features new attractions for all ages president of the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce and owner of Rocks Northcenter restaurant face painting and inflatables such as a bounce house and a Titanic-inspired slide Remi Rolstad gets her face painted Saturday in the expanded kids area during Ribfest in North Center For those who enjoy adult beverages, new this year is a whiskey tasting featuring 20 different whiskeys. Attendees can purchase tickets for two-hour windows and learn about each one Shepardson said the whiskey tasting came about as a way to bring something new to the long-running event He pointed out the recent news that Naperville was no longer holding their rib festival But it’s going to mean pivoting and giving more and different things to the crowd.” Ribfest has been held in August since the COVID-19 pandemic the Democratic National Convention will be in town which wasn’t “good timing” to hold the event The fest historically has been held in June going back to the days when a small group of dads gathered in a parking lot with a few Weber grills so organizers decided to move the fest back to June It’s a perfect Father’s Day activity,” Shepardson said The People’s Choice Award will be announced Sunday; a panel of celebrity judges crowned their top choice Attendance is free with a $10 suggested donation upon entry which include access to a special lounge tent with private seating A portion of the proceeds benefit community organizations including Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club Chicago Rescue Authority and Common Pantry North Centre Township’s largest mobile home community is investigating its water supply after finding chemical levels 110 times higher than state regulations PFAS are man-made chemicals that break down slowly and can stay in the human body and the environment for long periods of time They’re in everyday products such as cleaning supplies Pennsylvania started regulating PFAS The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) mandates all communities report their PFAS levels as part of yearly water testing Water systems can have a maximum of 14 parts per trillion or 18 parts per trillion of PFAS Brookside Village Mobile Home Park in North Centre Columbia County found a maximum of 2100 parts per trillion of PFAS in its report sent to the DEP on April 9 according to DEP spokesperson Megan Lehman Carla Ng broke down what "part per trillion" means but it’s vital in understanding PFAS contamination She is an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh “It doesn’t sound like a problem because it’s a very we don’t normally think about things in those concentrations because it’s so tiny A part per trillion means there’s basically one drop of PFAS in a trillion drops of the water that’s being measured,” said Ng “A number of these PFAS…have been linked to liver disease several types of cancer including kidney cancer and testicular cancer elevated cholesterol in the blood and several other types of toxic effects,” said Ng Brookside is installing filtration systems in all residents’ kitchen faucets according to an emailed statement from Ken Frydman The email did not say whether filtration systems would be installed in residents’ bathroom sinks or showers Ng added residents can use affordable systems like Brita filters to clean their drinking water She stressed they should change their filters every one to three months to make sure they’re working properly While the DEP’s Safe Water Drinking Program is working with Brookside to investigate its water system Lehman said the DEP believes Brookside’s soil caused the contamination “Our current understanding is that the PFAS levels were likely caused by impacts occurring to the groundwater sources that the water system uses not inherent to the water system itself,” Lehman wrote in an emailed statement She said it explains why nearby water systems like Pennsylvania American Water – Berwick reported PFAS levels below state regulations in the same quarterly report “It really has to do with the history of the site,” said Ng “It matters whether you’re getting your water from surface water versus groundwater And if you’re getting your water from groundwater and it happens to be near an area that was once contaminated previous applications of firefighting foam It could be because of some kind of industrial activity.” Ng added that PFAS is a common ingredient in biosolids like pesticides and fertilizers which exposes agricultural communities to contamination North Centre Supervisor Ron LeVan said the township will work with the DEP to address the problem He never thought his community would face an environmental crisis “We’re a rural agricultural community here And the Brookside Mobile Home Park is one of our more highly densely populated communities,” said LeVan it kind of caught us kind of blindsighted.” The DEP’s Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields Program is sampling public and private wells within a half-mile radius to check for PFAS She added water authorities can apply for financial assistance for treating PFAS from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) “PENNVEST has been able to fund 100% of all applications received from water authorities to date for PFAS remediation investments and has the financial capacity to address any additional requests for the foreseeable future,” said Lehman For more information and resources on PFAS in Pennsylvania, visit the Department of Environmental Protection’s PFAS webpage WVIA News wants to hear from you! If you have a story idea for one of our journalists, it's as simple as sending an e-mail. Reach out anytime at wvianews@wvia.org Central Health is currently renovating the old Sears department store building at the Hancock Center for its new headquarters and clinic 2024A hit-and-run driver struck and injured a bicyclist on West Grace Street near Leavitt in North Center Chicago police said.CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police released new photos in their search for a North Side hit-and-run driver The crash happened on July 1 on West Grace Street near Leavitt in the North Center neighborhood Surveillance cameras captured images of a woman driving an SUV that struck and injured a bicyclist but investigators are looking for the suspect and any possible witnesses INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood A residential development has been proposed at 3759 N Located at the southeast corner of the intersection of W the project will combine an existing three-story building on the corner with a new five-story addition the project would demolish the existing one-story structure on the property the project would retain the existing three-story building at the corner while adding a five-story building on the southern portion of the property The overall project will combine the existing 10 residential units with 21 new apartments for a total of 31 dwelling units.  the existing building’s retail space will remain with access to space into the basement A bike room with 34 spaces will be located in the basement of the existing building The ground floor of the new building will have an accessible one-bedroom unit along N Western Ave in addition to the residential lobby Six interior parking spaces will also be included the existing building will have its eight remaining units split into four per floor The new addition will have five units per floor with the front unit having a private balcony overlooking N The building’s unit mix will include 15 one-beds the developer will provide 20% affordable units on-site the developer is seeking to rezone the site from B3-2 to B2-3 Approvals will be needed from the Committee on Zoning and City Council construction could start in August 2026 and work would be completed in May 2027 Alderman Martin has thrown his support behind the redevelopment proposed at 3950 N Damen ahead of its hearing before the Chicago Plan Commission later this week the plan includes the surface parking lot and bank building at 3950 N Damen as well as the five-story Fifth Third bank building at 3959 N Planned by Orchard Development Group and Ravine Park Partners Damen will rise to 7 stories at the corner of Irving Park & Damen The building will be set back 5 feet from the sidewalk along Irving Park and 15 feet along Damen to expand pedestrian space and provide a minimum sidewalk width of 12 feet the redevelopment has been revised to keep the existing Fifth-Third Bank drive-thru on the Damen property Previous proposals covered the entirety of Fifth Third Bank’s parcel on Damen incorporating a drive-thru on the ground floor of the building but the bank conditioned the sale of this parcel on being able to operate their drive-thru continuously throughout construction When the developer was unable to identify a financially viable way to fulfill this condition Fifth Third instead opted to keep the drive-thru as-is and exclude it from the development deal the smaller footprint of the building has led to a reduction in unit count from 170 apartments down to 130 rentals The ground floor will have a total of 54 parking spaces and 130 bike parking spaces A retail space will be included on the ground floor overlooking the intersection and the residential lobby remains just south of that along N affordable developer Brinshore Development will lead the rehabilitation of the historic bank building the entire bank building will become 64 permanent supportive housing units for survivors of gender-based violence Supportive services in the building will include education planning the bank building will get a five-story addition connected to its wings on the south and east that will connect around to enclose a center courtyard Matching the height of the existing structure the new facades will be clad in brick veneer with composite and metal panel accents next to the windows.  retail space will occupy the corner frontage and stretch down N The residential lobby and management offices will occupy the N Lincoln Ave frontage within the new addition The original banking hall space will be used for resident amenities and support services space the double-height space of the banking hall will be retained and used for further support services space The remainder of this floor and all of the upper floors will hold the 64 apartments A resident amenity deck on the roof will overlook N the project heads to the Chicago Plan Commission later this week As a proposed amendment to the Planned Development the project will need approvals from the Chicago Plan Commission Frode Mellemvik is the Director of the High North Center and Professor at the Nord University Business School Mellemvik has previously been the dean of the Business School and principal at the Bodø University College He was central in the establishment of the High North Center and for Nordland to gain its own university in 2011 (Photo: Hogne Bø Pettersen/the High North Center) Frode Mellemvik (70) steps down as Director of the High North Center after 17 years The search has now begun for someone to take the wheel His time at the center has offered many opportunities but also demanding developments Read in Norwegian. Director and Professor Frode Mellemvik (70) steps down as the leader of the High North Center for Business and Governance at Nord University after 17 years on the job an era is over for the engaged and ambitious director regarded by many as a pioneer within High North cooperation "Leading the High North Center has been very exciting This is one of the most interesting workplaces So much is happening!" says Mellemvik in his usual enthusiastic manner in an interview with High North News the search has begun for a new leader of the international center which Nord University describes as one of the region's most exciting research The application deadline is set for June 20th The new leader will take the center forward at a time when interest in the Arctic and the High North is increasing and new opportunities and challenges come into play "The security policy dimension is becoming increasingly more significant in the North And although we are not specifically working on this we are concerned with how security policy affects business and the societal development in the High North," says Mellemvik Director Frode Mellemvik says the High North Center's roots stretch all the way back to 1991 Mellemvik was the dean of the Business School in Bodø and was tasked by the Nordland County Council to help develop cooperation with educational institutions in Russia Several major Norwegian business actors and public authorities helped contribute to the establishment of the High North Center Mellemvik believes that whoever takes over will have a fascinating job in following the development and he elaborates on how one must seize opportunities as the leader of the High North Center: we talk about 'the window in the market.' That is when there is an open window in the market Being close to the relevant actors and understanding how things develop is important it is important that we understand what this will entail for the business sector in the North and what opportunities can be created," he says The High North Center for Business and Governance is an international center at the Nord University Business School in Bodø  The Center aims to contribute knowledge about value creation in the High North through research The High North Center has developed a close and committed cooperation with institutions in many countries The High North Center receives basic funding from the state budget in addition to financing via a variety of large projects The Center hosts the independent online newspaper High North News which features daily news and analyses from the High North The Center organizes the annual international conference, High North Dialogue The Center has an international professional environment consisting of 19 people in main positions and several affiliated researchers The period from the center's start to now has been characterized by major changes Mellemvik was central in the establishment of the High North Center which was formally opened in Bodø in 2007 by then MFA Jonas Gahr Støre The establishment took place at the same time as the High North moved further and further up on the national agenda High North white papers and strategies were launched and the focus on the High North started to take form "We entered at a time of strong development The center aimed to develop and disseminate knowledge about the business sector and society's opportunities in the High North." Frode Mellemvik during then MFA Jonas Gahr Støre's visit to Bodø and what was the University of Nordland in 2011 Støre presented the High North whitepaper together with the then Minister of Transport Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa (Photo: Bjørn Erik Olsen / the High North Center UiN) Mellemvik says the focus on the North continued to increase describing the relation to Russia and the opportunities for business activities and cooperation across borders as being highly interesting at the time "Then changes came in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea Peninsula and complicated the work And now the cooperation has been put on hold Since we have worked so closely with our neighbor in the east we have developed a strong cooperation with the US including the University of Alaska Anchorage and with Harvard University in Massachusetts." Mellemvik also points out the center's relationship with Ukraine The High North Center has long cooperated with Ukrainian organizations on the retraining of Ukrainian officers and has developed cooperation with several Ukrainian universities "The cooperation with Ukraine and the focus on the business dimension between Norway and Ukraine is very important to us." What stood out during your time as the leader of the High North Center which was driven forward by public authorities and businesses Mellemvik went from being rector of what was then the Bodø University College to becoming director He says the center's vision was to become a pillar the High North Center is considered an important part of the university's High North profile "Not many such centers receive their funding through a parliament decision The government on both sides of the political spectrum has supported this and allocated funding The basic fundings we have received have also been major milestones as they are the foundation of much of what we have and it has made us more solid," he continues The director also emphasizes the establishment of High North News as a major event the independent international newspaper will be ten years old and the editorial staff has been based at the High North Center since its inception.  "Being quick to inform about what is happening in the High North and that people can read about this in a high-quality newspaper has meant a lot Few newspapers have the High North as their focus area and I consider it a major milestone that we were able to build this communication pillar." and examinations of people connected to the center are major events," says Mellemvik Rector at Nord University Hanne Solheim Hansen greets the student of the High North Dialogue Academy during the High North Dialogue conference in Bodø What do you think will be important for the center going forward "It will be very important for the center to land large and good research projects and for the center to continue to develop relevant expertise The relationship with the EU will also be significant So will the cooperation with the US and the Nordic countries is showing increasing interest in the High North." Mellemvik says the new leader should naturally focus on the center's three main areas: research he also clarifies that the role holds great potential "An important task is to interpret what is important to the business sector and society in the North and where it will be important for the center to make an effort The new person will probably be very happy doing this," he says enthusiastically Please note that High North News is an independent online newspaper published by the High North Center at Nord University The Chicago City Council has approved a mixed-use development at 3950 N Recently the redevelopment was revised to keep the existing Fifth-Third Bank drive-thru on the Damen property the sites will be rezoned into a revised Planned Development The developers can now look to secure financing before beginning construction on the new development