A private security guard working at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., reportedly returned fire after a group of three people started harassing him and then fired read story
Alex Zalar selected as principal of Prussing School in Jefferson Park
by BRIAN NADIG
Prussing School’s new principal Alex Zalar said he should be a good fit for the Jefferson Park elementary school given the attributes its local school council was seeking in applicants.
“Trustworthiness, openness, honesty … It (sounds) like the Eagle Scout law that I used to recite every day for 10 years,” said Zalar, who grew up in Ohio and organized the painting of a church as his Eagle Scout project.
Zalar now lives in Indian Woods on Chicago’s Northwest Side — a short car ride to Prussing, 4650 N. Menard Ave. He takes over the helm of the school on Monday, March 17.
“So close to where I live … a great fit for my family,” he said.
For the past six years, he has been an assistant principal at Chappell School, 2135 W. Foster Ave., and before that he was a mathematics department chair at South Shore International College Prep School, 1955 E. 75th St., and a math teacher at Loyola Academy in Wilmette.
Zalar replaces Dr. George Chipain, who retired from the position in August.
Zalar described his immediate goals as the following: “Get to know the students … get to know the teachers … get to know the families.”
Zalar added that he plans to assess the needs of the school and that any changes likely would be implemented going into next school year given that he’s entering the school with only a couple months left before summer break.
Zalar said that his top priorities as principal include making sure teachers and students have the resources to be successful in the classroom while also stressing the importance of extracurricular activities, including sports. “There’s more to education than just books … educating the whole child,” he said.
Zalar said that Prussing is located in the center of the community and that fact offers a variety of opportunities to further enhance the school’s success and popularity.
“I really want that school to become the town square of Jefferson Park,” Zalar said.
Zalar said that he was impressed by all the research and preparation that the local school council did for the principal section process and that he was “very honored” to be offered a four-year contract last week.
“I’m excited for this. It’s going to be a good fit,” Zalar said, adding that he hopes to be at Prussing for a long time.
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A private security guard working at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., reportedly returned fire after a group of three people started harassing him and then fired their guns toward him during an incident at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, according to Chicago police. Officers reported finding 23 shell casings and - Man stabbed on CTA Blue Line near Harlem Ave.; suspects arrested in connection with car break-in on Victoria; man steals from car at gas station in Forest Glen
A man was stabbed in his hand at about 4:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on a CTA Blue Line train near the Harlem station, 5550 N. Harlem Ave., after a man with a knife allegedly stole his belongings and attacked him, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. The 31-year-old man reported that he was - 45th Ward Dems endorse S Gronkiewicz-Doran for alderperson
by BRIAN NADIG 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and his Dems 45 organization have endorsed Jefferson Park resident S Gronkiewicz-Doran in the ward’s aldermanic race, which will be held on Feb. 23, 2027. Incumbent Alderman James Gardiner, who is on leave from his firefighting job while he serves on the City Council, is seeking - New business in the works for former CVS site at Milwaukee & Lawrence in Jefferson Park
by BRIAN NADIG A new business, possibly a daycare, is in the works for the former CVS Pharmacy at the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues. The pharmacy closed in January of 2020, but CVS reportedly continued to pay rent for several years after the store’s closing. The site includes an approximately 10,000-square-foot building - Gunfire reported at Jefferson Park CTA Terminal on Saturday morning
by BRIAN NADIG A possible suspect is in custody after gunfire was reported at or near the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, according to Chicago police. Officers recovered four shell casings, and detectives are reviewing area surveillance footage, according to police. It’s not clear at
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A man was stabbed in his hand at about 4:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on a CTA Blue Line train near the Harlem station, 5550 N. Harlem Ave., after a read story
by BRIAN NADIG 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and his Dems 45 organization have endorsed Jefferson Park resident S Gronkiewicz-Doran in the ward’s aldermanic race, which will be held read story
by BRIAN NADIG A new business, possibly a daycare, is in the works for the former CVS Pharmacy at the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues. The pharmacy closed read story
by BRIAN NADIG A possible suspect is in custody after gunfire was reported at or near the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, read story
by BRIAN NADIG A luxury hotel and spa for cats is planned for a vacant one-story office building at 5510 W. Montrose Ave. in the Jefferson-Portage Park area. Local resident read story
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