Summer’s end comes and the kids go back to school, but memories linger.

Because of Covid, Aaron Stream could ot take his sons on the annual fishing trip in Canada the last two years. This year they went to Minnesota instead. The highlight came on Leech Lake the last week of July.

“My oldest son Charlie Stream, 14, was casting for northern pike with a perch-colored spoon and he hooked into a 44-inch beauty [of a muskie],” Aaron emailed. “As soon as he hooked into it, the monster went completely airborne and took off screaming. After a 15-minute battle and a net job with a walleye net, we were able to get the fish in for a quick picture.

“It was a moment none of us will forget. I told my son it is by far my favorite fishing memory of mine in my 43 years of walking around.”

I have a new term: walking-around memory.

Isaac Biggerstaff, 14, caught his first fall Chinook solo kayak fishing on Lake Michigan, first out Racine, Wis., then out of Waukegan the next night, the best a 24-pounder from Racine.Provided

Then there’s Isaac Biggerstaff, 14, who earned Fish of the Week last fall for catching a nice Chinook while kayak fishing out of a tandem with his father, Matt.

“We outgrew that and upgraded to individual kayaks, so this is Isaac’s first fall fishing solo for king salmon on Lake Michigan,” Matt Biggerstaff emailed. “We fished Racine [Aug. 21] and Waukegan [the next] night . . . and Isaac delivered!

“He caught two kings each night, including a 24-pound bruiser in Racine that ripped off 300 feet of line before Isaac finally got him into the ‘yak. The fall king run is still in the early stages, but Isaac is off to a great start.”

Rob Abouchar has several rewarding roles in life: reggae musician, West Leyden teacher and coach of the Leyden bass-fishing team.

“One of the things that I enjoy about teaching people how to fish or guiding is the reaction when they catch their first or biggest fish (such as Krissy Barron above): Usually a loud vocalization followed by a big childlike smile,” he emailed. “[Aug. 20] was a great example of this with students and staff catching bluegill from the fishing pier at Wood Dale Grove. Plenty of bluegills were going on ice jigs tipped with butter worms.”

I have a new description of first/best fish: “loud vocalization followed by a big childlike smile.”

Krissy Barron, one of the people taught fishing by Leyden bass-fishing coach Rob Abouchar, showed her reaction when catching this bluegill while they fished at Wood Dale Grove.Provided

WILD THINGS

Birders have reported spotting many common nighthawks in the last week. I keep hoping to catch some on night broadcasts of Sox or Cubs games, but, if there has been some at the parks, I missed them.

STRAY CAST

Watching Justin Fields hit a tiny open window with a pass is like watching a top bass angler demonstrate pitching a jig into an opened 28-ounce can.

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With its vibrant interior and modern Jamaican dishes, Dr. Bird’s Jamaican Patty Shack feels totally fresh — but it happens to be an offshoot of a 40-year-old family restaurant in Buffalo. “Our family showed us the way; we’re just continuing the legacy and putting our spin on it,” says Hakim Lee, who opened the Noble Square spot (1215 N. Milwaukee Ave.) with his brother Changa in May. You’ll find flaky patties along with jerk salmon roti, but the star is the rasta pasta, an homage to the flavors of the island created by Jamaican immigrants to New York, including their father, who has served it since 2005. The Lees take his recipe in a new direction.

The Sauce This creamy rendition is extra herbaceous, with loads of rosemary, basil, thyme, and parsley. The Lees use Gruyère instead of cheddar and add coconut milk, jerk seasoning, and roasted tomatoes to amp up the umami.

The Jerk Add jerk shrimp, chicken shawarma, skirt steak, salmon, or jackfruit, a vegan option that mimics pulled pork. Each one is marinated with spices for 24 hours, smoked on pimento wood from Jamaica, and finished on the grill.

The Toppings When combined with the bright green sauce, the red and yellow bell peppers complete the colors of the Rastafarian movement that gives the dish its name. A shower of grated Gruyère makes it extra cheesy.

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The Junk ($14) is one sloppy burger. Unwrap it just enough to keep it intact and revel in its precipitous architecture — a cheese-cloaked patty heaped with fried onions, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomato. One side of the bun is slick with garlicky mayo and mustard, the other with avocado. It’s junk food, but don’t hold that against it: This burger and everything else on the menu are totally vegan.

Bobbie Beaugard-Williams has cheerfully reappropriated the term “junk food” to describe her offerings. There’s a lineup of Impossible burgers, including the Filthy Philly, with green peppers and vegan mozzarella ($13). But Beaugard-Williams serves full-service junk, so don’t overlook the terrifically crispy Fire Bird “chicken” sandwich with Cajun aïoli ($14). Everything comes with excellent skin-on fries, three packets of ketchup, and a wad of napkins.

Why not just get a beef burger? The roots of Black vegetarianism go at least as far back as the Nation of Islam, but spots like this are opening around the country — Atlanta’s Slutty Vegan gets lines around the block — to reach the burgeoning population of Black vegans. For Beaugard-Williams, it’s to keep her blood pressure in check. For me — I’m neither Black nor vegan — this food hits the spot and sits well afterward. Maybe this is the methadone of burgers, but count me one satisfied junkie.

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Ten people were shot Tuesday in Chicago, including a 41-year-old man who was shot in North Park on the North Side.

About 11:35 p.m., he was driving in the 5800 block of North Spaulding Avenue, when he heard shots and felt a pain, Chicago police said. He was struck in the torso, and drove himself to Swedish Covenant Medical Center, where he is in fair condition.

A 4-year-old girl was wounded in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side. The girl was in front of a home about 4:30 p.m. in the 600 block of West 61st Street when she was shot in the arm, police said. She was taken to St. Bernard Hospital and later transferred to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

Minutes prior, two people were shot, one critically, in West Englewood on the South Side. The man and woman, both 20, were in a parked vehicle about 4 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Claremont Avenue when someone approached them and began shooting at their vehicle, police said. The man was struck in the back, leg and arm and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition. The woman was shot in the arm and was taken to the same hospital, where she was stabilized.

A man was in critical condition after being shot in West Garfield Park. The 32-year-old was on the sidewalk about 7:30 a.m. in the 500 bl0ck of South Pulaski Road when someone approached and unleashed gunfire, police said. The man suffered two gunshot wounds to his back and was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

A woman wounded in a shooting early Tuesday morning on Interstate 57. The female passenger, a 27-year-old from Markham, was shot by someone in another vehicle around 2:10 a.m. in the southbound lanes near 111th Street, according to Illinois State Police. The driver was uninjured. She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Four others were wounded in shootings across Chicago.

Two people were killed, and ten others were wounded, in shootings Monday in Chicago.

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Parker is a former prizefighter who drives an old but reliable car, drinks too much and broods too much and is constantly getting into dangerous scrapes — but underneath that gruff exterior is a guy who will knock you into tomorrow if you’re a threat to a woman or a child. At the end of the day you can count on Parker.

So, what do you figure Parker does for a living? Is he a private detective? A cop? An assassin? A former Special Forces operative who’s now living off the grid and uses his particular set of skills when the situation calls for it?

Nah. Parker is a social worker.

That’s a new one, but in the hands of director and co-writer Michele Civetta and thanks to a gritty and raw tough-guy performance by the invaluable Shea Whigham (“Boardwalk Empire,” “True Detective”) and a fantastic supporting cast, the noir crime thriller “The Gateway” is an entertaining B-movie with some quirky twists and turns, starting with the fact Parker’s day job is looking after single moms and impoverished families to make sure they’re doing OK and the kids are going to school and the adults are trying to find gainful employment.

Set in the rougher neighborhoods of St. Louis (but actually filmed in Norfolk, Virginia), “The Gateway” opens with Whigham’s Parker making his rounds for Social Services, and man it’s a tough gig. On one such visit, he finds a young mother dead of a drug overdose, and when he finally returns to his car after the paramedics have left, two punks have smashed his windows and stolen his stereo. Parker also spends a lot of time looking after a blackjack dealer named Dahlia (Olivia Munn), who is prone to all-night partying, which causes her daughter Ashley (Taegen Burns) to call Parker for a ride to school. Little wonder Parker spends his nights in a tavern run by his old pal (Mark Boone Junior), getting sloshed and waxing philosophical about life and getting even more sloshed before he finally stumbles his way home.

The life of mom and party girl Dahlia (Olivia Munn) takes a bad turn when her abusive husband gets out of prison.Lionsgate

Things go from messy to bloody when Dahlia’s husband Mike (Zach Avery) gets released from prison and immediately starts abusing Dahlia and getting mixed up in some violent and deadly activities involving a local crime boss played the ubiquitous Frank Grillo, massive amounts of drugs and some seriously dangerous cartel people. Mike threatens Parker and tells him to stay out of his family’s business, but Parker can’t help himself, he’s going to be there when Dahlia and Ashley need him. In the meantime, we have all manner of subplots, including Parker hooking up with a regular at the bar (Taryn Manning) and the introduction into the story of Parker’s estranged father (the great Bruce Dern), who was an abusive husband and parent but would like to make amends with his son in his waning years. Oh, and Parker gets fired from his job with Social Services after punching out a co-worker who quite frankly deserved to be punched out.

Director Civetta comes from the world of music videos and high-end commercials, and “The Gateway” has a slick, stylish look. The screenplay is dense with crackling dialogue, and the performances are uniformly excellent, with Shea Whigham leading the way in a badass anti-hero performance.

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Moon Alert

After 12:30 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Cancer.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

It will please you to cocoon at home if you can. You want to relax among familiar surroundings. Or perhaps, you want to ponder the past or have meaningful discussions with family members. A conversation with a female relative could be significant.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

In discussion with others, you want to make a point of connecting with them in a real, genuine way. You want to feel that there is something meaningful going back and forth between the two of you. This is why you don’t want to waste time on superficial chitchat.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You might have some money-making ideas, especially pertaining to a family business. However, in financial matters including shopping, be aware that you are more likely to make choices based on your emotions rather than logic or reasoning.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Today the moon is in your sign, which will definitely make you more emotional than usual. You will notice that your feelings are heightened, even reactionary. But the good news is that your luck will be slightly better than all the other 11 signs. Bonus!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Today the moon is “hiding” in your chart, which means that you too, might want to hide or withdraw from the busyness of the world around you. You will welcome some time to cogitate, meditate and do some serious navel gazing — preferably with some fun finger food.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Conversation with a female acquaintance could be important to you today. In fact, the exchange might be important for both of you. In particular, this is a good day to share your hopes and dreams for the future with someone and then discuss which goals are doable.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

People notice you more than usual today. In fact, some will be discussing personal details about your private life. (It’s just what’s happening.) Be aware of this in case you have to do some damage control. Hey, you’re a great schmoozer with wonderful diplomatic skills.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today your sense of adventure is triggered, which is why you will love a chance to travel or do something different. You need a change of scenery. You also want the stimulation of learning something new and unusual. What can you do to satisfy this urge? Do something different.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You certainly look great in the eyes of others at this time. With this knowledge, be aware that today is a good day to tie up loose details about inheritances, shared property, taxes, debt and insurance issues. If necessary, doors will open for you!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today the moon is in the sign that is directly opposite from your sign, which means that you have to go more than halfway to accommodate others. This simply requires patience and cooperation. But if you do this, you will come out ahead of the game. It’s a win-win.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Accept the fact that you might have to perform a service for someone today or work on their behalf. Very likely, you will get a sense of gratification from doing a good job and helping someone. You might also be focused on a health issue.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

This is a lovely, playful day! Take a long lunch, or, better yet, play hooky! Look for opportunities to express your creative talents. Enjoy participating in or watching sports events as well as playful activities with kids. Romance will blossom!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Singer, actress performer Zendaya (1996) shares your birthday. You are refined and graceful; and yet, you are also courageous, bold and forthright. You speak your mind, especially because you are intelligent and interested in many things. You are often self-employed. Take care of yourself this year because you will need to be a resource for others and help them in some way. You might give yourself a makeover this year.

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A 50-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after shooting towards officers Monday morning about a block away from Chicago police headquarters on the South Side.

Officers responded to a call of a person with a gun in the 3600 block of South Indiana Avenue and approached Darryl Daine, who matched the description, Chicago police said.

Daine ran away and then allegedly turned around and fired one shot at the officers, police said in a statement.

No one was injured in the incident, police said.

Daine was charged with one felony count each of aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault of a peace officer.

He is scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday.

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Community leaders and supporters at a rally outside the Civilian Office of Police Accountability on Tuesday called for justice for a woman seen in a viral video apparently being grabbed and restrained by a Chicago police officer at North Avenue Beach last weekend.

In the video, a Black woman, Nikkita Brown, is seen with her dog as an officer appears to try and force her to leave the area.

Brown’s attorney released a statement Sunday calling the incident “an obvious case of racial profiling.”

Tuesday’s rally co-organizer Troy Gaston, 39, claims he received footage of the incident and released it to a local TV news station.

“I believe that this rally…wakes up our communities to be involved in the movement wrapped around Black liberation,” Gaston said.

About 30 demonstrators at the rally listened as community activists spoke about the importance of police accountability. The officer seen in the video has been placed on paid desk duty while COPA, the agency charged with looking into police misconduct, does its investigation.

Lamar Whitfield, a co-host and speaker at the rally, said he wanted to support Brown but also wanted to respect her wishes to avoid the spotlight she’s been in since the video went viral.

“It brings attention that you don’t want sometimes,” Whitfield, 45, said, “I rarely even wanted to say her name…I don’t like to keep saying her name and bring that sort of attention to her, that could be negative.”

Like rally speaker Mark Clements, many participants have had their own experiences with police violence.

“All of these rallies serve as a message to the city of Chicago, who for years has been getting away with systemic beatings, lynchings and murders in Black and Brown communities,” Clements said.

Clements was physically tortured at age 16 by police into confessing to a fire that killed four in 1981. His conviction was overturned in 2009.

“I spent 28 years of my life in a prison … I’m out here to hold these police officers accountable for basically engaging into criminal conduct and basically having that conduct covered up,” Clements said.

Clements, who works with the Chicago Torture Justice Center, helps people who have been traumatized in confrontations with police.

“Our job is to provide psychological support to individuals like Ms. Brown,” Clements said, “We provided services to victims of those who have been mistreated as a result of Chicago police.”

Brown or her mother were not seen at the rally.

Contributing: Madeline Kenney, David Struett and Fran Spielman

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MINNEAPOLIS – There’s a lot of learning happening for the Cubs as the season begins to wind down and the final four weeks of the season are no exception. The development of young starters Adbert Alzolay, Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson has been closely watched as the team tries to decide what roles each will play in the future.

While Alzolay has been sidelined for the past few weeks with a mild left hamstring strain, Steele and Thompson have been getting their first taste of pitching in the rotation.

So far, the results have left a lot to be desired.

It’s early and the fate of Thompson and Steele won’t be determined solely off their four starts in September. But as the team enters the final month of the season before heading into the offseason, having a good idea of what the two starters can do as they build the 2022 roster will be valuable.

“There’s probably a lot of factors that are going into this kind of bump in the road,” manager David Ross said. “But they’re learning a lot of hard lessons at times. They understand when you don’t have your best stuff, how important location is and mixing your pitches up and trying to continue to compete when you don’t have your best stuff.”

Steele and Thompson have each scuffled in their first handful of starts with the Cubs. Steele had a 6.39 over his three starts in August, while Thompson had a 9.00 over his first two. Both pitchers have deep repertoires with a mix of breaking balls and offspeed pitches. But even with two five-pitch mixes, it’s been the fastball that has eluded them.

They combined to walk 10 batters over 18 2/3 innings last month.

“I wish my fastball command would have been a little bit better,” Steele said after his last outing. “I made some mistakes over the plate. Just wasn’t commanding it to both sides of the plate. That’s something I need to work on moving forward.”

Both of the Cubs’ 26-year-old arms were successful starters in the minors and they can get major-league hitters out while contributing to the bullpen’s early-season success. Now pitching every five days in the big leagues and seeing a lineup multiple times in a game over several innings, they’re both learning how to take that next step.

“I think I’m getting a little quick to the plate and kind of pulling off and my arm’s dragging behind a little bit,” Thompson said Friday. “So the balls are getting yanked [off the plate] or they’re in the middle of the plate just hanging there to get hit.”

“[They’re learning] how hard it is to be consistent at this level,” Ross said. “You get to take the bump right off the bat and you’re trying to go for five, six or seven innings and being able to navigate that and putting in a lot of work.”

The Cubs are going to give Steele and Thompson every opportunity to work through their problems and some growing pains were to be expected for two pitchers starting in the big leagues for the first time.

However, wanting to see some growth in the final month of the season isn’t unreasonable. Continuing to show flashes of what they can do will help them toward reaching that potential.

“I think that’s another sign of some of the starters that are able to stay around for a long time,” Ross said. “I’ve been around guys that when you have your best stuff, you’re able to compete by locating and changing eye levels and changing speeds and stuff like that.

“I think they’re learning a lot of those valuable lessons and how to handle those moments of adversity on the fly and learn some tough lessons, but good lessons.”

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