🌱 Paulina Street Tree Saga Continues + Teacher Shortage

Good morning, Lakeivew! Thanks for starting your day with Patch's guide to neighborhood news.

First, today's weather: Bitterly cold with some sun. High: 18 Low: 10.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Lakeview:

1. An Edgewater shopper is the latest Chicagoan to report being tracked with an Apple AirTag. CBS reports multiple incidents in which people drop the tracking devices into the bags of unsuspecting victims and use it to track their movements. (CBS)

2. Several residential buildings will be developed in the 4500 block of Clark Street this year, according to Block Club. Two condo buildings and two rental buildings are in the works throughout 2022, in addition to the renovation of a former gym building one block south. (Block Club)

3. The "tree situation" on Paulina Street "underscores the need to get the city’s Urban Forestry Advisory Board up and running,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board. The city plans to cut down close to 30 trees in the neighborhood soon. (Paid source: Sun-Times)

4. Chalkbeat reports the Illinois teacher shortage could continue for several years. According to a statewide survey, a majority of education leaders “believe the crisis will worsen during the 2023 and 2024 school years.” (Chalkbeat)

5. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is “pressing ahead” amid the omicron surge. Some concerts this month have seen more than 1,800 audience members. Upcoming performances will continue as scheduled with “strict adherence to vaccination requirements.” (Paid source: Tribune)

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Today in Lakeview:

• Visit “The Unusual Suspects: A Pop-Up Cocktail Experience” on Diversey. (4 p.m.)
• Comics take the stage for Lakeview Taproom’s “Laughs at Lakeview.” (7 p.m.)
• Take a livestream yoga class with Five Keys Yoga. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Chicago Sun-Times has been acquired by Chicago Public Media and will become a nonprofit subsidiary to “grow and strengthen local journalism” in the city. (Patch)
• Lake View High School students spoke to Axios about COVID-19 safety in Chicago Public Schools. “We want to protect the kids at our school by going online," one junior said. (Axios)
• Longtime Lincoln Park pianist Erwin Helfer said his “neighborhood is unrecognizable” in a recent Tribune feature. (Paid source: Tribune)
• Jennivee’s Bakery and Bittersweet Pastry Shop made UrbanMatter’s list of best bakeries in Chicago. (UrbanMatter)

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You're all caught up on Thursday's news! See you tomorrow for more Lakeview stories.

— Georgi Presecky