Whoa, there are some ticked off Lincoln Parkers and Old Towners out there, but based off what I heard on Monday from 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith, there’s no need for them to fret. If the southern boundary of Lincoln Park’s crown jewel, Lincoln Elementary School, is changed from North Avenue to the north side of Armitage Avenue, their children will NOT be forced to attend the failing George Manierre Elementary School in Cabrini Green.

That’s been a major worry among a lot of people in those two communities. But I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear that if the redraw happens, their little darlings would instead be sent to LaSalle Language Academy, currently a magnet/lottery school at 1734 N. Orleans St., which tested in the 95th percentile in reading and math.

“That is the only suggestion that has been on the table,” Smith said.

The you-know-what hit the fan last week after news of the possible boundary redraw started floating among Lincoln parents and neighbors.

“This is a brewing storm that is going to be hellatial,” said Shannon Waterfield, who has a fourth grader and a sixth grader attending Lincoln, at 615 W. Kemper Place.

Smith called Lincoln “really overcrowded,” and said people have been warned for years about that. She and the principal of Lincoln both requested meetings with CPS asking them to do something.

But now, Smith said she was told CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard has reconsidered and wants to take another look at the redraw. At the moment, there is no proposal, she said.

“We’re trying to figure out what to do,” Smith said, admitting, however, that could change at any moment, including at an LSC meeting scheduled for Tuesday night.

“I want to hear what my residents want first and foremost,” Smith said, promising future public meetings. “My first step is to try and understand what Lincoln parents want.”

You know what’s really heartbreaking? The dramatic difference between Manierre and LaSalle. Although geographically they’re only four blocks away from each other, they’re truly worlds apart. In Yiddish, they’d call that a shonda, meaning a shame, a pity.

So we’ll see what happens here. Meanwhile, I’m hoping CPS educates folks in the ’hood ASAP on the fate of their kid’s future schooling.

“Great redemption”… is what one Old Towner was feeling after Old Town Triangle Association prez Phil Graff announced at the organization’s annual holiday party Sunday he would not seek reelection. Former 43rd Ward Ald. Vi Daley was slated to run against him in the Jan. 26 election and now will more than likely fill his shoes.

Race on over… to Derby, 1224 W. Webster St., for the bar and grill’s Dec. 16 grand opening. From 6 to 8 p.m., they’ll have thoroughbred horses out front. Sounds like a cool place with its traditional Southern menu and pinewood derby cars that you can buy, cut, paint, and race.

“We’re not trying to be some trendy, out of the ordinary place,” said Ryan Marks, director of operations for Big Onion Tavern Group. “We want the neighbors in there, sitting in the bar. We want to be the local neighborhood spot.”

No Scrooges here… As always, Dick’s Last Resort provided food, Santa, and bikes for 75 neighborhood kids at its recent 20th annual holiday party. VanderCook College of Music carolers performed and Scott Lee Cohen paid for charter buses to bring the kids over.

Break a leg to… Audrey Senne, a fifth grader at Old Town’s Immaculate Conception School having a “magical” time dancing in the party scene in the Joffrey’s Nutcracker.

Blissful… Catch Lincoln Parker Johnny Bliss on keyboards in The Game Show Show, running late nights at the Mercury Theater.