Residents can tour Fire Museum

Today is Friday, May 2.

Timmy turned 1 year old on April 30. Where did that

first year go? He will be having his first birthday party tomorrow with family and

friends. Happy Birthday to the cutest and sweetest baby boy in the world!

The Fire Museum of Chicago is located at 5218 S. Western Ave. It is housed in an

old fire station that closed over 35 years ago. Becoming a museum took a long

time but it was a labor of love.Volunteers worked tirelessly for years cleaning, installed plumbing,

doing wood working and any other jobs just to bring this firehouse back to

life.

Chicago has had quite a few historic fires. The Great

Chicago Fire and the Our Lady of the Angels Fire come to mind. They always

learned something while fighting these disasters.

They learned builders should use other building materials and different

floor plans for safety, they learned different ways to fight different kinds of

fires. This museum houses a collection

of vintage fire trucks, even handwritten logs and records, badges, helmets,

other apparatus and many photographs.

The next open house is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 24. So come out a visit a gem in our own neighborhood.

Thomas Hajek wants me to make sure I remind you that there will be

a Marquette Park Reunion Saturday, June 7 at Rubio Woods Forest Preserve in

Crestwood. Hang out and relive the memories from sun up till sun down. See old

friends and make new ones. Look for a 1971 Buick Skylark and other cool cars.

Gage Park High School, Class of 1964 invites other

Gage Park Alumni from 1963 and 1965 in celebrating their 50th reunion on Oct.

18 at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park, from 6 until 10 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person.

When sending payment, include the year you graduated

on the check. For more information, contact Donna Kuropas-Fiore at (708)

532-6534 or [email protected]; Bob Vondrak at (815) 698-2005 or

[email protected]; Bob Ferkaluk at (708) 532-3981 or [email protected];

or Mary Oprondek Humenik at (773) 436-3057or at [email protected]

Checks should be made out to Gage Park 50th Reunion

c/o Robert Vondrak, P.O. Box 37, Ashkum, IL 60911.

Gage Park

residents are urged to come out and

support two great causes, Hi Kitty Kitty and Dogs Are Deserving, beginning at 6

p.m. Saturday, May 10 at the Elks Lodge 4428, 4428 Midlothian Turnpike,

Crestwood. It’s $15 per person or $25 for a couple. There will be food, music by

Chicago King Snakes, cash bar and raffles. Bring a donation of cat or dog food,

clumpable kitty litter, pet beds, blankets, toys, bleach, paper towels or pet

toys and get a free raffle ticket for a chance to win great prizes.

There will also be a split the pot raffle. All

proceeds go to not-for-profit, no-kill Hi Kitty Kitty and Dogs Are Deserving

animal rescue.