AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/shelby-hawkins/page/6/)
Open House Chicago’s tour will feature five sites in Austin from Oct. 16 to 25, down from nine in fall 2019. The sites are: Kehrein Center for the Arts, Austin Town Hall Cultural Center, Third Unitarian Church, the Austin State Bank building and St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. Because of COVID-19, some changes have been made. Instead of the usual two-day weekend, Open House is extending to 10 days.
Three women have started an online petition to rename 135-acre park in Austin. They hope to soon have a name to recommend to the Chicago Park District, which has the power to make the change. Columbus Park was named a National Historic Landmark in 2003. If the park board approves a name change for Columbus Park, it would be the second – after the renaming of Douglass Park after abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
A fitness group is offering free classes to men in Columbus Park. The 45-minute sessions are held on Monday mornings beginning at 5:30 a.m.
Several unsuccessful applicants voiced concern last week at a press conference over the way officials are doling out 75 licenses across the state. Reps. La Shawn Ford and Kathleen Willis will hold another press conference about the issue Sunday.