By Nina Criscuolo

Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd) took office this year after winning the runoff election against incumbent Theodore "Ted" Matlak. Despite the win, Waguespack still feels as if he lost something during the campaign and he's fighting to get it back.

Waguespack, along with his attorney, Barney Balonick, has filed a lawsuit against both of his former aldermanic opponents, Matlak and Catherine Zaryczny, plus alderman of the 6th ward of the City of Berwyn, Michael Phelan. Waguespack is suing for defamation, false light, and compensation for up to $50 million.

The court files state that Matlak and Zaryczny knowingly published "false, malicious, and harmful" statements and disseminated them to the public. Phelan is accused of circulating false and harmful statements about Waguespack to help Matlak, his longtime friend. Phelan and Matlak had been partners in developing - or "over-developing" - parts of their wards, according to the court files.

By Carlos Ardila

The renovated Montrose train station is scheduled to open Nov. 26, a year after it was closed to the public. Before it shut down as part of the $530 million renovation project for the Brown line, the Montrose stop had a monthly rider ship of 55,000. Time will tell if all of those riders return - and if business will follow.

The renovation included new elevators and longer platforms to accommodate larger, eight-car trains. The new Sedgwick stop, which was partly closed for a year, was re-opened Nov. 12. The Montrose stop was a more significant renovation.

So far customers say they like the new look, according to the CTA tattler message board, a public transportation watchdog.

Margie's Candies at 1813 W. Montrose Ave., just under the Brown line tracks, managed to stay open during the entire year of construction. But it has not been easy - or good for business.

By Keri Lynch

With tough budget and overtime sessions all summer, state Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said in some ways it's been a "horrific year." But he still had some positive things to talk about at a recent Town Hall meeting at the Center on Halsted.

"One of the most important issues in my district is the CTA, more important perhaps than the state budget," Cullerton said. "I'm the sponsor of a bill that, if it passes, will be a long-term solution to the RTA /CTA funding crisis."

Mass transit problems are partly due to incompetence and mismanagement of funds, Cullerton said. But raising fares will not solve the problem, he said, because fares cover the cost of just half of mass transit, so more money is needed.

"We've been funding the RTA through a sales tax," Cullerton said. "There's a 1 percent sales tax in Cook County and a .25 percent sales tax in the collar counties" (Lake, McHenry, Kane, Will and DuPage).

By Keri Lynch

Confessions of love, lust and loss opened the first-ever Chicago Lions and Typers Festival earlier this month on the Northside.

About 100 people attended the three-day festival, which organizers hope to make an annual affair. The event was hosted by and held at the Uptown Writers Space, at 4802 N. Broadway Ave., where area writers hang out to work, collaborate and socialize.

"Diary Night" began with Uptown Writers Space member Marianna Swallow sharing her teenage crush on pop star Rick Springfield, which filled up much of her dreams as well as a diary she began writing at age 10. Swallow also shared stories of real life loves, as a 20-something living in Oakland who had feelings for a co-worker while involved with another man.

Today's after-school programs go beyond the playground and feature a variety of activities, ranging from theatre to dance and chess. Damon Maloney recently visited Nettelhorst Elementary School in Chicago's East Lakeview neighborhood, where kids as young as 5 are learning how to play chess.

By George Slefo

Squirrels have found a new home in the 47th Ward - resident vehicles.

A few residents of the 47th Ward on the city's Northside say squirrels are climbing into their SUVs and minivans, then chewing through cables under the hood where the animals are building nests. The damage in one case totaled $200.

And while there have no been complaints to Ald. Gene Schulter, the official says there's little he can do.

"This is really some bad luck on my part," said 27-year-old Isaac Gabriel, an unemployed resident of the 47th Ward. "Out of all the cars out there this [squirrel] had to chew up mine."