■ Ex-Loretto exec pleads not guilty PAGE 4
FREE Vol. 40 No. 36
September 9, 2026 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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Davis recognized Page 5
Mars development at crossroads as locals demand less housing In response to community unity letter, Mars and developer say public will be engaged in amending site plans COURTESY OF GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY
‘Pigments!’ enters final days at Garfield Park Conservatory The annual Artist’s Garden features plants used to create colors for clothing, paint, ink and cosmetics
By HECTOR CERVANTES Staff Reporter
Garfield Park Conservatory’s annual Artist’s Garden exhibit, “Pigments!,” is entering its final days, with the outdoor
display set to close Sept. 13. The exhibit highlights plants that have historically been used to create natural dyes and pigments for textiles, paints, inks and cosmetics. Lena Dimitroff is a Class 1 floricultur-
ist with the Chicago Park District who works at Garfield Park Conservatory. She helped design and grow this year’s Artist’s Garden, Pigments! See PIGMENTS on page 6
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
A multi-year community planning process to redevelop the now-shuttered Mars Wrigley candy plant in Galewood has come to a crossroads. This summer, four community organizations came together in opposition to a developer’s plan and seek to restart the planning effort. But Mars said that would be repetitive and aims to engage the community while moving forward with the developer, McCaffrey Interests. In 2024, the former Mars Wrigley candy plant at 2019 N. Oak Park Ave. in Galewood closed its 20acre manufacturing site after 95 years. Following multiple public meetings and months of community engagement, locals are dissatisfied with the direction that the developer is headed. See MARS on page 8