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A new mural arises on North Avenue
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FREE Vol. 36 No. 36
September 7, 2022
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Also serving Garfield Park
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Creating a West Side d maker space, page 3
Alderman ‘disappointed’ with developer’s decision to turn down grocer
#EndOverdose
SHANEL ROMAIN/Staff
West Side residents Sandra Harrison and her husband Darryl Harrison, far right, are longtime advocates. They were among the crowd of people gathered in Oak Park’s Scoville Park on Aug. 31 to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day. Story on page 6.
By JAMIE O’TOOLE
Contributing Reporter
Collaborative Connections and LISCChicago hosted the first of five meetings on Aug. 31 regarding the development of the Mars Chocolate Factory, 2019 N. Oak Park Ave., in Galewood fol-
MY PEDIATRICIAN GAVE ME CONFIDENCE ABOUT VACCINATING MY CHILD
By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter
lowing its closure in 2024. The virtual meeting focused on giving community members an opportunity to share how they believe the space should benefit their neighborhood. Ben Anders, the sponsorship and en-
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) said that Novak Construction, the current developer of the former North/ Harlem Sears site, turned down Jewel-Osco’s request to become an anchor tenant, choosing to negotiate with a healthcare company instead. The alderman, whose ward includes the site and the surrounding Galewood neighborhood, updated the community on the current state of the long-vacant site during an Aug. 30 virtual meeting, which was attended by around 50 people. Taliaferro said that Jewel-Osco reached out to him in June and made numerous overtures to Novak. He said that he supported the grocer coming to the property, but that, in early August, Jake Paschen, Novak’s executive vice president of development, informed
See MARS on page 7
See JEWEL on page 6
West Siders share their visions for Mars Chocolate Factory site
At Aug. 31 meeting, residents said site should fulfill community’s needs when it closes in 2024
Ald. Taliaferro said Novak Construction turned down request from Jewel-Osco to open a grocery store on site of old Sears at North and Harlem in Galewood
UMI B.
CHI.GOV/REALSTORIES