So much bittersweetness in this edition.

You’ll notice that our front page is graced by a lovely photo of our soon-to-be-retired librarian Katie Scharf. Katie’s going to be pretty irked with us for the sheer size of that thing, but, to her I say, “Tough. That’s what you get for being universally loved and respected.”  Katie has been a trusted resource and friend to Northsiders for 20 years. Her warmth permeates that library.

I first met Katie 15 years ago, as a 26-year-old associate director for NPC, when we worked together on the campaign to expand Lakeview Library. I barely knew what I was doing back then, but Katie always gave me courage. She still does today. And by welcoming the community into the library, she has created a common space at the heart of the Northside. She will be missed, but we wish her the best, and she should know that she leaves the Northside a richer place for her time with us.

Here at the Northside News, we are facing another good-bye. Our visual editor, Mary Ambrosavage, told us earlier this week that she’s accepted a full-time position with the county. I’m glad for her — it’s what she had been seeking for some time. But after seven years at NPC, she will leave a sizeable hole. In fact, you’ll notice, we have to hire TWO people to fill her shoes: a graphic designer and an administrative assistant.

Time after time, Mary astonishes me with her ability to take our barebones (and occasionally incoherent) ideas and turn them into beautiful pieces of graphic art that are not only compelling to look at, but also wonderfully effective in getting their point across. She’s responsible for the design of this paper as well as many of its ads and countless pieces of marketing material for NPC. I know how to plop stuff down on a page in InDesign, but Mary seems to
re-invent the page each time she creates something. I admire her talent, and I am grateful for her endurance in what has often been a stressful publication process.  Mary will be missed, and we wish her well.

And, finally, May also brought the closure of Pierce’s Northside Market. Dave and Angie Pierce did a tremendous service to the Northside when they responded to our need for a grocery store in 2006. The Pierces and Paul Frey, their general manager, have worked hard to protect the Northside’s food security during this transition to a new grocer. They agreed to extend their lease for a month to give Willy Street Co-op time to complete its due diligence and have been accommodating at every step of the way. With their help, we have been able to create a win-win situation for everyone involved, especially the community. 

There’s more to say about Willy North and Northside TownCenter, but I’ll save that for August. For now, see page 6 for the grocery shuttle schedule and the events Willy Street will be participating in to help them get to know their new community. Big changes are happening on the Northside!