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🌱 ~2,000 People Become US Citizens + Cubs Announcer Wins Frick Award

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Hello! In today's Chicago Daily:

  • 🇺🇸 About 2,000 people were granted U.S. citizenship in Chicago's largest ceremony ever
  • ⚾ Cubs announcer Pat Hughes wins the prestigious Frick Award
  • 🚨 A body recovered from Lake Michigan has been ID'd as missing Polish man

But first, did you know we'll experience the earliest sunset of the year this evening at 4:21 p.m.? Learn more here.

☁️ The weather:

Cloudy. High: 42 Low: 36.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Body pulled from lake ID'd as 21-year-old missing man from Poland. Krzysztof Szubert of Tiffin, Poland, was found unresponsive in the water at Oak Street Beach just before 2 a.m. yesterday. Police said the 21-year-old man had a laceration to the right side of his head. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Szubert had been working in the Chicago area since November. He was last seen Saturday night at Howl at the Moon in River North.

ABC 7

2) Chicago school board vice president steps down. Former teacher and longtime education advocate Sendhil Revuluri has served on the Chicago Board of Education since 2019, when Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed him. In yesterday's surprise announcement, Revuluri praised fellow board members for their work navigating the pandemic and road to recovery, but expressed concern about the financial solvency of the district and its future as it transitions to an elected school board in 2025. Revuluri becomes the fourth person to leave the board this year.

Chalkbeat Chicago

3) About 2,000 granted U.S. citizenship in largest Chicago ceremony ever: 'I consider this my home.' 1,984 people from 120 countries were sworn in at Wintrust Arena yesterday in the largest naturalization ceremony ever held in Chicago. "I was dreaming about this day," said Svjetlana Kiponjic, who left Bosnia nine years ago in search of a better life. "I love this country and I'm very excited about this." Large naturalization ceremonies free up space for trials at federal courthouses that would otherwise be needed to host additional ceremonies.

Chicago Sun-Times

4) Boxing gym tucked inside Little Village church basement aims to provide support and encouragement. A boxing gym in the basement of La Villita Community Church in Little Village is on a mission to provide new opportunities for neighborhood kids. The Chicago Youth Boxing Club started in 2006 as a refuge for young people seeking a positive outlet. Gabriel Navarro, a former professional boxer and head coach at the club, says the program focuses on giving kids confidence in and out of the ring.

WTTW

5) Cubs announcer Pat Hughes wins Baseball Hall of Fame's Frick Award. The radio voice of the Cubs is the 2023 Ford C. Frick Award winner for Excellence in Baseball Broadcasting. He is the third Cubs broadcaster to win the award—Jack Brickhouse won in 1983 and Harry Caray won in 1989. Hughes has called Major League games for 40 years, the last 27 with the Cubs. He previously served as a broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers.

CBS Chicago

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📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Yoga for Adults at West Lawn Branch Library (9:30 AM)
  • Winter Flower Show: Snow Day! at Garfield Park Conservatory (10:00 AM)
  • Juice Wrld Day at United Center (6:00 PM)
  • Twisted XMas with Jack White at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom (7:00 PM)
  • Nigel Ng: The Haiyaa World Tour at Empty Bottle (7:00 PM)
  • A Chordmony Christmas at The Promontory (7:00 PM)
  • Melvin Taylor with Louisiana Al at Reggies (7:00 PM)
  • Olan's Polar Express at The Den Theatre (7:00 PM)
  • Home For Hanukkah with Bubbe & Zayde at The Second City (7:00 PM)
  • Bass Drum Of Death at Empty Bottle (7:30 PM)
  • Hilary Hahn, Tchaikovsky & Bartók at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (7:30 PM)
  • Swearwords with Baby Money & The Down Payments & 3-Point Sinker at Beat Kitchen (8:00 PM)
  • Helping Phriendly Orchestra - Phish Tribute at City Winery (8:00 PM)
  • Dave Koz and Friends at The Chicago Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Ganser at Sleeping Village (8:00 PM)
  • Modern Dairy with Damager The Trenches at Subterranean (8:00 PM)
  • Odisee & Good Company - At It Again Tour at Bottom Lounge (8:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Chicago mannerisms: "Chicago residents share mannerisms they have picked up in the city on viral Reddit thread." (NBC Chicago)
  • Rare gems: "Heat Miser and Snow Miser: working together to bring you some seasonal sparkle. ✨ 🤝 ✨ 🔥 One of the world's largest ruby Topaz gems at 97.45-carat, set in 12-karat rose gold. 🧊 The Schlumberger Bow: 148.5-carat aquamarine in a platinum pin with gold accents and white diamonds. Our Hall of Gems is closed this week as we make a few updates, but you'll be able to see both of these pieces again before the holidays." (Field Museum via Facebook)
  • "After The Buses: project" "For the last three months, Block Club & Borderless Magazine followed 10 of the thousands of Venezuelan migrants sent to Chicago as part of Texas Gov. Abbott's political stunt this year. "After The Buses" puts a face to the migrants who m..." (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • CPS job fair: "Job Fair Alert! Substitute Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Substitute Paraprofessionals, we would love to meet you at our job fair on Wednesday, December 14 Scan the QR code below to register, and for more information!" (Chicago Public Schools via Facebook)
  • Winter break camps: "Staying home for the holidays, we've got you covered! Enroll your kids in Winter Break Camp & enjoy loads of fun. Find more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/winter-break-camps. #WinterIntheParks" (Chicago Park District via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking—performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can find me reading to my toddler, watching tv with my husband or cuddling with my special needs dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Patch newsletter? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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