Top-level congrats to SWOP for vax efforts

By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

I’m sure you all heard that the Second Gentleman of the United States, Douglas Emhoff, was in Chicago shortly before the holiday, but I wasn’t sure if you heard that while he was in town, he gave special acknowledgement to our own Southwest Organizing Project–recognizing them for all of the work they have done in getting the community vaccinated.

SWOP has a team that has continued to go out door-to-door offering needed help and information. I thought that was nice to hear.

Recently, we talked about Daina Cyvas, the Communications and Project Director for the Sisters of St. Casimir, and her plan to participate once again in Bike MS: Tour de Farms in honor of her boss, Sister Margaret Zalot SSC. She had been gearing up for the ride by taking out her bike and pedaling 15 to 20 miles at least three times a week, which had simply amazed me.

Well, with the heavy rains pouring down the Saturday of the scheduled ride, the organizers had to cancel the event. Not to be impeded in their determination to raise much needed funds to help put an end to multiple sclerosis, her team is hoping to participate in the Bike MS ride in Wisconsin on Aug. 7, To make sure she stays in shape, Daina rode 38.6 miles last Sunday. And to think I was amazed when she was chronicling 15 and 20 miles a day!

Welcome to the Rev. Sam Joutras, OSA who joins the staff at St. Rita of Cascia Parish. Father Sam, who grew up in Evergreen Park, was ordained June 12 by Bishop Dan Turley at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, just a few days shy of his 30^th birthday.

A reminder that if you are looking for a large hall to rent, both St. Rita and Nativity BVM parishes have halls available. Due to the pandemic, they both have several openings available. To look into using St. Rita’s St. Augustine Hall, call the office at (773) 434-9600; and Nativity’s recently remodeled auditorium by calling (773) 776-4600.

If you are a longtime member of St. Thomas More Parish, you will no doubt remember the Rev. Michael Joseph Bowler, who recently passed away. He was ordained in 1957 and then sent to Tommy More as his first assignment. His funeral was last Friday. His obituary appears on page 2 of the July 16 edition of the Greater Southwest News-Herald.

It is time to place your vote in the Chicago Bungalow Association Garden Contest. This year, Steve Bice of Chicago Lawn is in the finals. He submitted “before” and “after” photos which really gives a good picture of the work he has done. It looks great! Steve lives on the next block from me, on 66^th and Richmond. It would be nice if you could take a minute and vote for Steve at chicagobungalowassociation.org. The contest ends this week.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 27 when Movies in the Parks comes to Marquette Park. The feature film is Toy Story 4 and will run from 8:15 to 9:55 p.m.

When last we met here, we talked about Neringa Restaurant on 71^st Street. Just about everyone that called remembering the tasty soups and great food thought there was some connection between Neringa and Mabenka on 78^th and Cicero. I kind of thought so, too, but I wasn’t sure. Well, I happened to go to breakfast there last Sunday. I asked, and the answer is yes, same owners.

Now back to the good old days. We have closed the book on 1966. My plan was to spend the summer in another year but since many of you came up with good suggestions on what to do next, I thought we’d take a little time and just jump around the decades, enjoying some of the things I have learned from you. Sound like a good idea?

Here we go. This one was suggested by Paul B. It is the late 1980s. We are at the park, racing around the playground on the 71^st Street side. One of us fell and scraped his knee. It won’t stop bleeding. We need a Band-Aid. We are going to the closest drug store. It is on the southeast corner of 71^st and California. We enter. We look up. What is the name we see above the door?