Karen Sala
Christmas lies straight ahead
By Karen Sala
Your correspondent in Gage Park
(773) 471-1429 • [email protected]
There’s one more week until Christmas. I hope you have all your shopping and wrapping finished. This is supposed to be a time of peace and love, yet people are crabbier and meaner than ever.
Temperatures like these in December scare me. One day it can be 60 degrees, and the next day you might have snow up to your knees–if not higher.
COVID-19 is still alive, well and getting stronger. Please be careful when getting together with family and friends. Wash your hands frequently, wear a mask and stay out of crowded situations.
Karen Sala
You still have time to stop by the Gage Park Latinx Council, 2711 W. 51st St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today for coffee and books at the Free Holiday Library.
St. Gall’s Bowling Bears are doing great. Continued success!
The Little Library located on 56th Street, near the entrance to the Gage Park playground, is fully stocked with new titles for your reading enjoyment. Take a walk with the kids to find a new bedtime read. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get rid of stuff. I have had the same resolution for about five years now, and it hasn’t worked. One thing for sure: I’m really am going to take books and magazines to the Little Library.
If you plan on stopping by the Gage Park Branch Library, 2807 W. 55th St., please call to verify if it is open. The phone number is (312) 747-0032.
Now that you can watch any movie any time you want, it’s not as exciting as waiting a whole year to watch It’s a Wonderful Life or some of my other favorite Christmas movies like White Christmas, The Bells of St. Mary’s, Come to the Stable and so many more. Some new Christmas movies are OK, but the oldies are the ones I like. Nowadays it has to be instant gratification. I think you miss out on something you got from anticipation.
The other day in my Facebook memories, Windy City Live popped up. My cousin and a friend went to a taping, and while we were in line we struck up a conversation with another woman. Long story short, it turned out she lived a few blocks from me. It was the first time I met Carmen Thompson. Just proves it’s a small world after all.
Congratulations to Bryan Thompson on bowling another 300.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Local News
Warn of burglars in Garfield Ridge
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A cluster of residential burglaries in Garfield Ridge has prompted police to issue a warning to the community. Crime scenes include: 5200 block of South Normandy on Jan. 1. 5600 block of South Mobile on Jan. 7. 5300 block of South Mason on Jan. 10. 6000 block of West 60th Street…
Casten scolds sheriff on new gun control law
Spread the loveSays he can’t pick which laws to enforce By Tim Hadac U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-6th) and several other Democratic members of the state’s Congressional delegation recently sent a letter to DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, expressing concern over his Jan. 13 statement that he will not enforce the Protect Illinois Communities Act…
Bust accused shooter in Clearing
Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac Chicago Police and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force visited Clearing late last month to apprehend a man wanted in connection with a West Side shooting. Shaheer Muhammad, 24 of the 3800 block of West Grenshaw, was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at a home in the 6000 block…
2023 Illinois tax filing season now open
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The Illinois Department of Revenue began accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, the same date that the Internal Revenue Service began accepting federal individual income tax returns. “Taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically as early as possible in the tax season and choose direct deposit in order…
Palos Park tries to stay ahead of the curve on sextortion scams
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Police Department is trying to stay ahead of a disturbing trend that has not been talked about publicly very much. When it comes to the topic of sextortion scams, the Palos Park police are monitoring things very closely and Detective Ross Chibe was called on to provide…
Former hospital employee charged in Palos Heights identity theft
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Hazel Crest man was charged last week with aggravated identity theft stemming from an incident that happened on December 27. Palos Heights police took a report on December 27 from a patient at Northwestern Palos Hospital who reported their wallet was missing and then observed two unauthorized charges on…
Boys Bowling | Stagg charges to first state finals appearance
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent For Stagg, it’s a first. For Sandburg, it’s a return trip. Both teams survived the Plainfield North Sectional at Town & Country Lanes in Joliet to advance to the state tournament. The finals will be Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, and 28 at St. Claire Bowl in Fairview Heights. The…
Boys Bowling | Reavis rolls to sectional title, sixth straight trip to state
Spread the loveBy Jason Maholy Sports Editor A strong all-around team effort and a runner-up performance by Ethan Deluna powered Reavis to the championship of the IC Catholic Sectional and a trip to the state tournament. The Rams totaled 6338 to top second-place Glenbrook North by 100 pins on Jan. 21 at Bowlero in Glendale…
College Notebook: Ex-Spartan Sprycha balling with Bearcats
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent The fall of 2022 was successful both in the classroom and on the football field for Jordan Sprycha. In the classroom, the Oak Lawn graduate was one of eight McKendree University chosen to the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. CSC Academic All-District Award nominees must be a…
Neighbors
Warn of burglars in Garfield Ridge
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A cluster of residential burglaries in Garfield Ridge has prompted police to issue a warning to the community. Crime scenes include: 5200 block of South Normandy on Jan. 1. 5600 block of South Mobile on Jan. 7. 5300 block of South Mason on Jan. 10. 6000 block of West 60th Street…
Casten scolds sheriff on new gun control law
Spread the loveSays he can’t pick which laws to enforce By Tim Hadac U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-6th) and several other Democratic members of the state’s Congressional delegation recently sent a letter to DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, expressing concern over his Jan. 13 statement that he will not enforce the Protect Illinois Communities Act…
Bust accused shooter in Clearing
Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac Chicago Police and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force visited Clearing late last month to apprehend a man wanted in connection with a West Side shooting. Shaheer Muhammad, 24 of the 3800 block of West Grenshaw, was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at a home in the 6000 block…
2023 Illinois tax filing season now open
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The Illinois Department of Revenue began accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, the same date that the Internal Revenue Service began accepting federal individual income tax returns. “Taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically as early as possible in the tax season and choose direct deposit in order…
Palos Park tries to stay ahead of the curve on sextortion scams
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Police Department is trying to stay ahead of a disturbing trend that has not been talked about publicly very much. When it comes to the topic of sextortion scams, the Palos Park police are monitoring things very closely and Detective Ross Chibe was called on to provide…
Former hospital employee charged in Palos Heights identity theft
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Hazel Crest man was charged last week with aggravated identity theft stemming from an incident that happened on December 27. Palos Heights police took a report on December 27 from a patient at Northwestern Palos Hospital who reported their wallet was missing and then observed two unauthorized charges on…
Boys Bowling | Stagg charges to first state finals appearance
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent For Stagg, it’s a first. For Sandburg, it’s a return trip. Both teams survived the Plainfield North Sectional at Town & Country Lanes in Joliet to advance to the state tournament. The finals will be Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, and 28 at St. Claire Bowl in Fairview Heights. The…
Boys Bowling | Reavis rolls to sectional title, sixth straight trip to state
Spread the loveBy Jason Maholy Sports Editor A strong all-around team effort and a runner-up performance by Ethan Deluna powered Reavis to the championship of the IC Catholic Sectional and a trip to the state tournament. The Rams totaled 6338 to top second-place Glenbrook North by 100 pins on Jan. 21 at Bowlero in Glendale…
College Notebook: Ex-Spartan Sprycha balling with Bearcats
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent The fall of 2022 was successful both in the classroom and on the football field for Jordan Sprycha. In the classroom, the Oak Lawn graduate was one of eight McKendree University chosen to the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. CSC Academic All-District Award nominees must be a…
