A 25-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department was charged Thursday with setting four fires in the city over the past week, and suburban police said they suspect him in 10 more dating back to 1998.
Lt. Jeffrey Boyle, 46, was charged with eight counts of felony arson, four in connection with the fires on the city’s Far Northwest Side and four related to arsons in nearby Park Ridge. No one was injured in the blazes.
RING IT UP: A man begging for donations on Michigan Avenue to help pay for his girlfriend’s engagement ring may get to pop the question soon.
David Holder, 24, of Elgin was offered a free engagement ring Thursday by WTMX-FM 101.9’s Eric and Kathy morning show. Holder, a full-time volunteer at a Christian charity organization who makes $200 per week, initially rejected the ring, but station marketing director Dave Karwowski said they are still trying to help him.
Holder also can expect an offer from Azar Jewelers in suburban Geneva, where his girlfriend, 20-year-old Kristy Valdes, works.
Owner Fadi Azar decided to donate the ring Valdes has been eyeing–a 1.4 carat emerald cut diamond with a $4,300 price tag.
ELI’S ON THE MOVE: Rumors of the demise of Eli’s, the famed place for steak and cheesecake, are, it appears, somewhat exaggerated.
Yes, Eli’s The Place for Steak will be shuttering its current location July 30, in deference to the wishes of its landlord, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which owns the building at 215 E. Chicago Ave.
While they haven’t chosen a new location, they hope to stay in the neighborhood, Eli’s President Marc Schulman said.
CTA FATALITY: A person was reportedly struck and killed by a train on the CTA Red Line near a North Side station. The person was struck by the southbound train near the Loyola stop, 1208 W. Loyola Ave., at 5:10 p.m., according to Chicago police. The incident disrupted the evening commute for North Side commuters. Police said they were not sure how the person wound up on the tracks.
FREEDOM TO MARRY: On the anniversary of San Francisco’s same-sex marriage spree last February, local gay rights activists will mark the start of “National Freedom to Marry” week Saturday by screening a documentary about the first of thousands of couples who tied the knot when the city’s mayor authorized marriage licenses.
“One Wedding and a Revolution” follows two lesbian activists, together for more than 50 years, who wed Feb. 12, 2004.
The event, which is free and open to the public, begins 4 p.m. Saturday at the Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville Ave. Details are available at equalmarriagenow.org.
