Wells plans high school musical
Wells High School creative arts students will write and produce a musical. Drama, music, dance and art teachers are lined up for the coming school year, principal Michael Stosek told EVA members in a relaxed July meeting in the Happy Village beer garden.
"We are the arts school for the North Side going forward," Stosek said. Wells will have 30 to 60 students in the magnet cluster and is making connections to the Chicago theater community.
Wells also will work with the College Board to focus instruction in key skills through its new pre-Advanced Placement program. Its law and gaming programs will continue, and Stosek isn't ruling out out a future language academy bid.
Block Club ChicagoThe year-old neighborhood news site has drawn 8,000 subscribers toward a self-sustaining target of 12,000. Reporter Hannah Alani, an East Village resident, gave a tour of the website and the Wicker Park Facebook page, and noted coverage of the Shake-It restaurant proposal and domestic violence charge against Stone Flower chef Jacob Bickelhaupt.
Planning, Preservation and DevelopmentEVA met with new 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spada on Division Street liquor licenses. The 2nd Ward alderman, Brian Hopkins, plans a hearing on a rezoning proposal for 1115 N. Hermitage, which neighbors challenged after an EVA review.
Happy VillageThe bar's conversion to a restaurant will extend to the current pingpong room, which was previously to be sold. Andrew Miller showed sketches of planned improvements.