W E D N E S D A Y
September 20, 2017 Vol. 36, No. 5 ONE DOLLAR
JOURNAL
@oakpark @wednesdayjournal
Follow us Online!
of Oak Park and River Forest
Oak Park police bust heroin operation
Austin Pantry employee charged on 17 counts of heroin sales, possession By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
The Oak Park Police Department shut down a heroin sales operation being run out of the Austin Pantry convenience store, 1 Chicago Ave., in late August, arresting an employee of the store and charging him with 17 felony counts of heroin sales and possession. Oak Park police raided the business on Aug. 30, and arrested Edgar Lucas, 55, on 15 counts of heroin distribution two counts of heroin possession. The next day, the village issued an order of closure of the business. The village announced on September 18 that it is revoking the owner’s business license, and the store was ordered permanently closed. Bright yellow stickers on the door and the window of the establishment note that the business has been closed by the Oak Park Police Department, but both were partially peeled away, obscuring the message. Oak Park Police Chief Anthony Ambrose declined to discuss the arrest, citing an ongoing investigation, but documents related to the closure of the business reveal that the alleged drug sales took place between July 11 and Aug. 29. Police appear to have surveilled Lucas over See HEROIN BUST on page 14
Photo provided by the Old Town School of Folk Music
FIRST SET: Frank Hamilton (left), George Armstrong (middle), and Win Stracke (right) perform at opening night of the Old Town School of Folk Music in December 1957.
Old Town School returns to its OP roots Pop-up music school comes six decades after Old Town’s Oak Park genesis
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
For the last 60 years, the Old Town School of Folk Music has become as much a Chicago institution as Wrigley Field and Second City. But it is a little-known fact that the
school, which has taught thousands of students the fine art of guitar, banjo, mandolin and a myriad of other instruments, found its beginnings in a living room in Oak Park. That fellowship of music will return to the living room later this month with a fundraiser and show in the home of two
River Forest residents working to bring folk music back to the western suburbs.
Old Town, new beginnings For the last five years, River Forest residents Stephanie and David Schrodt have See FOLK ROOTS on page 13
IT’S STILL PATIO SEASON! Fire Pit, heaters and blankets available.
708.358.9800 | mayadelsol.com | 144 s oak park ave