Briefs: Aurora shooting
A 17-year-old Aurora man suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his torso about 12:25 a.m. Thursday, while in an alley around the 500 block of Fifth Street, police said. The 17-year-old and a 37-year-old man he was with are both self-admitted gang members according to police. About 20 minutes before being shot, the two escaped injury when they were shot at in the area of Evans Avenue and Sexton Street. Police do not have suspect descriptions in either of the shootings.
Local Starbucks closings
Stores in Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook and Elmhurst are among 18 area Starbucks stores slated for closing - part of plans to shutter about 600 coffee shops nationwide to cut costs. The local closings include ones at Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale; Promenade Bolingbrook, 627 E. Boughton Road, Suite 115, and at 291 N. York St., Elmhurst, according to a list obtained by Crain's Chicago Business. Also, the closings include five stores in Chicago: two on the North Side, two on the South Side and one on the West Side, The closures are part of CEO and founder Howard Schultz's plan to slow expansion of the coffee chain. The chain said most of the stores will be closed by next March. Starbucks executives have said about 70 percent of the 600 stores being closed are less than three years old.
Funeral set for Addison girl
A Saturday wake and funeral service is scheduled for Mya Lyons, the 9-year-old Addison girl stabbed to death this week and left for dead on a Chicago alley. The wake will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Monument of Faith Church, located at 2750 W. Columbus Ave. on Chicago's southwest side. The funeral service will follow at 12:30 p.m.
Police Rummage Sale
The Aurora Police Department is raising funds to benefit Special Olympics with a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Saturday on the third floor of the Area 2 Police Station, 157 N. Root St. The public is asked to park in the north parking lot and enter through the north doors. Clothing, toys, furniture, books, videos, Christmas decorations, housewares and electronics will be for sale. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics. Call (630) 973-6761 for more information.
McCarty Park reopens
Following a complete renovation, Aurora's oldest park will celebrate its reopening 1 p.m. today at 350 E. Galena Blvd. New amenities include an interactive spraypad, landscaping, new entryways and a pergola, said Jim Pilmer, the city's director of parks and recreation. "It's an urban park in a high-density area where citizens can go for a little respite," said Pilmer, adding that the park was platted as a public square in 1836. "This is one piece of city land that has remained open, without buildings on it," Pilmer said. "It has never been changed." Improvements to the park totaled $700,000.
Home buying seminar
A seminar on how to take advantage of the housing slump and get more home for less money is planned for 7 p.m. July 29 at the Wood Dale Public Library, 520 N. Wood Dale Road. This program is geared toward new homebuyers and registration is required by phone or in person. For details, call (630) 766-6762 or visit www.wooddalelibrary.org.
New Addison library opening
The new Addison Public Library building will open on Monday at 4 Friendship Plaza, across from the old library site. Patrons will form a human chain to pass the last book "Addison: Village of Friendship" from the old library to the new. All residents are invited. The line will begin to form at 10 a.m. When the book reaches the end of the chain, the doors will be unlocked and the 54,000 square-foot building will open for tours and use. For details, visit www.addisonlibrary.org.