Most Read Stories of 2012
Osterman Beach Pier. Credit: Stephanie Fitzgerald
2012 was a busy year for us at the Edgeville Buzz – over 100,000 unique visitors viewed the website, we surpassed 3000 followers on Facebook, and we wrote and posted 423 stories throughout the year. To dig a bit deeper, we took a look at the 2012 website traffic statistics to comprise the followng “Top 10 Most Read Stories” list of 2012. Unfortunately, violent crime stories, particularly shootings and murders, dominate the list but that is not entirely surprising when you consider that the City of Chicago recently observed the 500th homicide of 2012 making it the first year since 2008 to hit the 500 homicide benchmark. Clearly Edgewater was no exception.
1) Man shot, killed last night on Winthrop (September 18, 2012) – David O. White, 21, of the 5100 block of North Winthrop, was fatally shot in the chest as he exited a building in the 5600 block of North Winthrop. More shots were fired again the very next day, and Alderman Osterman and police commander Lucy Moy hosted a very well attended public safety meeting a few days later for concerned residents.
2) “Andersonville Masturbator” on the prowl (August 24, 2012) - Andersonville residents and business owners were put on alert as a man deemed the “Andersonville Masturbator” was seen masturbating in a store out in the open and in front of customers. He was arrested a few days later.
3) Boy shot and killed at Laurie’s Pizzeria; Apparently gang related (May 29, 2012) – Ivan Alanis, 13, from the Rogers Park neighborhood was shot and killed while inside Lauries Pizzeria at 2:45am on a day where 25 people were shot, 10 killed across the City. Alanis was reported to have gang connections, and the suspected shooter in the case, Andre Alejandro, 22 and also from Rogers Park, was an admitted member of the Gangster Disciples street gang. Laurie’s Pizzeria closed permanently after the incident.
4) El Norte closes unexpectedly (November 1, 2012) – Popular neighborhood taqueria El Norte closed unexpectedly at its location at 5600 N Ridge shortly after the building was purchased by Supera Asset Management, who is exploring plans to renovate it.
5) Another shooting: 2 people shot on Winthrop (October 2, 2012) – Just about a week after the public safety meeting mentioned in #1, two people were shot near 5423 N Winthrop, but few details were available as the victims refused medical attention and did not cooperate with police. Chances are these shootings were also gang and/or drug related.
6) Another shooting today in Edgewater Beach (November 1, 2012) – Another day, another shooting as two people were shot near 1100 W Thorndale, but what made this story particular disturbing is that it occurred in the early afternoon around 1pm.
7) Warning for dog owners (September 5, 2012) – Dog owners received a scare as two cases of Blastomycosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection that affects dogs, were been reported in the area. While the story itself was alarming to anyone with a furry loved one, we’re glad it received a lot of traffic and we could help spread the word to pet owners in the area.
8) Business updates: Openings, Closings & Delays (July 5, 2012) – Ever since the off again, on again Nookies saga that lasted years and swirled numerous rumors around the neighborhood, we try to stay on top of businesses that are opening or closing in the area. This story featured Papa Johns selecting a location in Edgewater, St. Andrews Inn reopening after having problems paying their taxes, Burger Stop closing for good and Forever Yogurt’s delayed opening.
9) Winthrop a War Zone Friday Evening (December 1, 2012) – The ongoing gang wars continued as three people were shot, one fatally, in two seperate shootings that occured just two blocks from each other on Winthrop – one near Berwyn and the other near Argyle in Uptown.
10) Bryn Mawr gets Lovely, too. But can another bakery “Flourish”? (March 2, 2012) – Residents near Bryn Mawr were excited to hear our announcement that Gina and Bob Hartwig, the owners of Lakeview’s popular breakfast and brunch spot Bakin’ & Eggs and bakery Lovely, planned to open a second location right here in Edgewater in the former Flourish space. While I have personally yet to stop by Lovely, Too, the place has seemed to quickly make a name for itself.
2012 brought a number of other notable stories as well, including the opening of new/potential businesses (Bongo Room, Vintage Lifestyles, Starbucks on Broadway, Yanni’s Dogs, Ann Sather and the reopening of Pasteur to name a few), the closing of some others (such as Premise, Hancock Fabrics, and Hamiltons Bar and Grill), and the redevelopment of the CTA’s Edgewater Red Line stations, Edgewater Libary and the Walgreens on Broadway/Glenlake. Thanks as always for reading the Edgeville Buzz, we wish everyone the best in the new year!
