■ Traffic stops surge PAGE 2
FREE Vol. 38 No. 16
April 17, 2024 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
Garfield Park Conservatory celebrates Earth Month
@AustinWeeklyNews
@austinweeklynews
@AustinWeeklyChi
Health l h andd Wellness, ll page B1
Message from gun violence march is clear: ‘No kids die in the Chi’
For the first time, the conservatory hosts events and programming all month long to learn about, and laud, our planet By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The Garfield Park Conservatory puts on programming to celebrate the Earth this month. Earth Day is April 22 and, though the conservatory isn’t holding any events that day, they will host a slew of activities all month long leading up to Earth Day, most of which are free with advanced reservations to the conservatory. Although the Garfield Park Conservatory is a community pillar for all things trees, flowers and greenery, this is the first year that it’s hosting events during all of Earth Month, designed to teach people more about the planet’s natural organisms. “We figured that Earth Month is more related to who we are and so we’re trying to pivot that way and provide different resources for visitors as they come through,” said Grace Urrutia, Garfield Park Conservatory’s special events and education outreach coordinator.
JESSICA MORDACQ
Several of the dozens of Jeep drivers hung banners out their windows or taped posters to the side of their cars in protest against gun violence.
The March for Peace and a prayer vigil April 13 raise awareness for gun deaths in Austin and its surrounding communities By JESSICA MORDACQ
See EARTH MONTH on page 8
Austin and the greater West Side community marched down Madison Street and gathered for a prayer vigil in Columbus Park Saturday to address gun violence on the West Side. “We demand a better way to live,” community members shouted during the march. “No kids die in the Chi!” Although the vigil happens annually, and the march was planned more than a month ago, the sentiment was heightened after recent outbreaks of gun violence on the West Side. See MARCH FOR PEACE on page 9
Staff Reporter
West Side
2024
A magazine for the West Side
published by
Austin • Garfield Park • North Lawndale
Reserve your space today
Lourdes Nicholls 708.613.3329 lourdes@oakpark.com
Publication Date: May 2024
Ben Stumpe 708.613.3330 ben@oakpark.com
West Side 2023/24
AUSTIN
✮
G A R F I E L D PA R K
✮
N O R T H L AW N D A L
E