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🌱 $8M Donation + School 'Peace Warriors' + Star Wars-Themed UPS Truck

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(Patch Media)

Happy Friday! In today's edition of the Chicago Daily:

  • A Chicago nonprofit receives an $8 million donation.
  • The Flat Iron Arts Building has new owners.
  • Have you spotted the special Star Wars-themed UPS truck?

P.S. Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour this weekend. Daylight Saving Time will end on Nov. 6.

The weather:

Breezy with a shower. High: 69 Low: 59.

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Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) West Loop homeless population on edge as city threatens to discard donated tents. About a dozen people living along the underpass on West Fulton Street, between Clinton and Canal streets, were on edge after finding stickers on their tents indicating that if their property wasn't removed by morning, they would be discarded by the city. An official from the city's Department of Family and Support Services said the notes were poorly worded and that the department intended only to remove empty tents.

NBC Chicago

2) Flat Iron Arts Building sells to new owners for first time in three decades. The historic building along North and Milwaukee avenues in Wicker Park has long been home to artist studios, performance spaces and other creative businesses. The new owners—Savas Er, principal of North American Real Estate, and real estate investor Buzz Ruttenberg—plan to keep the studios in place while attracting new retail.

Block Club Chicago

3) Student 'peace warriors' at West Side schools spread message of nonviolence. Based on principles inspired by Martin Luther King, the program at North Lawndale College Prep trains students to resist and prevent violence. Its mission is to stop fights at school before they escalate and contribute to violence beyond the school walls. The Peace Warriors program is a central part of the West Side charter school's efforts to confront gun violence by training students to mediate conflicts, support grieving classmates, classmates, center students' needs and bring peace and happiness to school.

Chalkbeat Chicago

4) Chicago nonprofit that helps people with disabilities gets $8 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated more than $12 billion in just three years. The latest charitable gift is to Access Living, a Chicago nonprofit providing services to people with disabilities. It is the single largest contribution received from an individual donor in its 42-year history. "It was unsolicited, a total surprise," said Access Living President Karen Tamley. They plan to use the money to help end poverty for people with disabilities and expand community support services.

Chicago Sun-Times

5) Special Star Wars-themed UPS truck makes deliveries around Chicago. That's no moon, it's a delivery truck! You may get lucky and spot—or better yet, get a package delivered by—a Star Wars "Bring Home the Galaxy" UPS delivery truck. The movie-themed truck will be making rounds in Chicago and four other major cities this holiday season.

ABC7

Today in Chicago:

  • Pianist Susan Merdinger at Fourth Presbyterian Church (12:00 PM)
  • Sauced Night Market at House of Vans Chicago (5:00 PM)
  • Antifest at Metro (5:00 PM)
  • 20th Annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer at Credit Union 1 Arena (6:00 PM)
  • Varials with Dr. Acula & Orthodox at Beat Kitchen (6:30 PM)
  • Corey Holcomb at Chicago Improv Comedy Club (7:00 PM)
  • Tributosaurus Becomes...The Who! 20th Anniversary!! at Martyrs' (7:00 PM)
  • Melissa Villaseñor: Whoops...Tour! at The Den Theatre (7:15 PM)
  • Dayglow with Ritt Momney at The Riviera Theatre (7:30 PM)
  • Joe Bonamassa at The Chicago Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Ani DiFranco with Gracie and Rachel at The Vic Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Madi Diaz at Sleeping Village (8:00 PM)
  • Brothertiger with Monster Rally at Schubas (9:00 PM)
  • The Well at Empty Bottle (9:00 PM)
  • Chris Forsyth with Meg Baird at The Hideout (9:30 PM)
  • John Summit at Radius (10:00 PM)

Social chatter:

  • Pedro Grifol: "OFFICIAL: Pedro Grifol, a member of two American League pennant winning and a World Series championship staff with the Kansas City Royals, has been named the 42nd different manager in White Sox history." (Chicago White Sox via Instagram)
  • Utenzi: "Meet the zoo's newest arrival: Utenzi, an eastern black rhino! The 18-year-old male rhino is here from Cincinnati Zoo on a breeding recommendation from the Eastern Black Rhinoceros Species Survival Plan®. He'll eventually be paired with resident female Kapuki, but for now, he appears to be adjusting quite well to his new home here in Chicago." (Lincoln Park Zoo via Facebook)
  • Photos of Día de los Muertos: "The Día de los Muertos celebration, the first in-person since 2019, drew hundreds to Dvorak Park. See all the photos:" (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • "City in a Snow Globe" exhibit: "❄️ Whether you love the snow or hate it, winter is coming! ❄️ And this year, we're embracing the weather at the Chicago Architecture Center with our upcoming exhibition, City in a Snow Globe. ⛄️ ⁠ ⁠ City in a Snow Globe presents a series of imagined worlds where Chicago's downtown lakefront is alive with activity in the winter months. The exhibition asks visitors to imagine the possibilities of our beautiful public lakefront." (Chicago Architecture Center via Instagram)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! 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 often find me reading to my two-year-old daughter, watching a tv series with my husband or cuddling with our special needs dog.

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

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