Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

New year, old challenges

Spread the love

By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327

It’s a new year and a time for new beginnings. Many of us will be starting a new diet program. I plan to do this as soon as I’m done eating the remaining Christmas candy and cookies at my house. Wish me luck!

West Lawn Park has their new 2022 activities schedule ready. There will be a variety of classes, exercise programs and sports for all ages. It is best to go there in person and pick up a winter schedule. West Lawn Park requires everyone to bring a personal vaccination report in order to sign up for any classes. Call for more information at (773) 284-2803.

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

Has anyone visited the Southwest Senior Center at 61st and Kedzie? I got a few calls before Christmas from seniors who would like to go there for exercise classes. I was told by one neighbor that there is nothing going on at the facility.

I called twice and got no answer. I also checked the City of Chicago website and couldn’t find any information. I haven’t had a chance to visit in person, but a friend told me that she went there and inquired at the front desk about the classes and also about the meals they used to serve. She was told by a woman behind the desk that she has no information. Hopefully, the city has not forgotten about Southwest Side seniors.

Another ongoing problem is loose dogs. Every single day last year and now this year there are reports of missing dogs and sightings of loose dogs. Irresponsible dog owners really need to take care of their pets. I feel sorry for the dogs. If you see a loose dog, call 311 with a description and approximate location.

One more problem: the Bank of America branch at 6115 S. Pulaski is still closed. Those who do need to do their banking business in person have had to travel to another neighborhood and stand in long lines.

I emailed Bank of America on Dec. 27, but I haven’t heard back. I called a number that the bank sent to my husband. I heard a recorded message stating that no messages can be left at that number. If I am ever successful in getting any information, I’ll let you know. I’d like to close my account there. This is really poor customer service.

Envision Community Services, 4324 W. 63rd St., is now offering help in finding a job, being prepared for job interviews and more. They will be offering informational meetings at their second location, 5680 S. Archer, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call (312) 373-0887 for more information or sign up online at envisioncs.org.

The Calvary Lutheran Church senior club would like to extend Pat Nielsen, Norma Lopez and Pat Losh happy January birthday wishes. May the dear Lord bless each of you this month and all year through with good health and happiness.

West Lawn neighbor Jose P. shared this new year’s wish to all: “Wishing you 12 months of success, 52 weeks of laughter, 365 days of fun, 8,760 hours of joy, 525,600 minutes of good luck, and 31,536,000 seconds of happiness.”

Local News

GSWNH_StarStudentEarnsScholarship_032423

Star student earns college scholarship

Spread the love

Spread the love St. Laurence High School senior Priscilla Bonilla stands with her family, minutes after learning she has earned a four-year academic scholarship to the University of St. Francis. In college, she plans to study theology and secondary education, with a hope to return to St. Laurence one day as a teacher. A West…

Kathy Headley

Something smells at 62nd and Washtenaw

Spread the love

Spread the love. . By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 From time to time I’ll mention something I’ve caught on the downtown TV news that I know won’t make the front page here, but I think you’ll be interested in, since it has a…

Mary Stanek

It was cold, but there was warmth

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 My family took a walk around West Elsdon with 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares, her son and some residents of the community on March 12. We were hanging ribbons in memory of CPD Officer…

Peggy Zabicki

Campaigns over, time to lead

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Now that the aldermanic part of the city elections is over, it’s time for aldermen to let go of campaigning and get down to the business of being aldermen. We have all seen enough photo ops of politicians posing…

Alex Knight, a Marist graduate now playing at Lake Forest College, was named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team. Knight’s average of 18.1 points per conference game led all players and he finished third in the conference in field goal percentage (52.6). Photo courtesy of Lake Forest College Athletics

College Notebook | Marist grad Alex Knight slaying buckets for Lake Forest

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent Lake Forest College’s Alex Knight has been named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team in men’s basketball for the 2022-23 season. Knight, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard who prepped at Marist, was the league’s leading scorer this season, averaging 18.1 points per conference game. He finished third in the MWC…

The Chicago Hounds' Julian Dominguez (11) battles for the ball against Utah earlier this season. Dominguez scored two tries in a 24-22 victory over Dallas on March 18. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | SeatGeek to host Major League Rugby championship; Hounds sniff out first win

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer SeatGeek Stadium, host of the expansion Chicago Hounds, will host this season’s Major League Rugby championship game. The game is scheduled to be played July 8 in Bridgeview. It will air nationally on FOX. “Moving the championship match to a predetermined venue has long been a goal of…

Morton College's women's basketball team is playing in the NJCAA national tournament this week after celebrating its regional championship. Photo courtesy of Morton College

Area Sports Roundup | Nazareth grads Martinucci, Evans have unfinished business at NJCAA National Tourney

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Martinucci family carries a lot of weight in the Berwyn-Cicero area. Tony Martinucci has coached boys basketball at Morton High School for 24 years, racking up five regional titles and a trio of conference crowns during his tenure. His daughter, Jovanna, is hoping to do something even…

Mary Stanek

Happy St. Pat’s, St. Joe’s

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Happy St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th to all the Irish folks, and folks that want to be Irish for the day. I absolutely love the food, music and drink from these festivities. Not…

Kathy Headley

Here’s to you, Bridget, on St. Patrick’s Day

Spread the love

Spread the love. . By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I began celebrating earlier this week with my good friend, and St. Rita Grammar School/Maria High School grad Mary Lou Barrett. You just can’t celebrate too often. Throughout our years…

Peggy Zabicki

St. Patrick’s here, Easter coming up

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. Wear something green. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Today is National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day, too! Another reason to celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. We celebrate and…

Neighbors

Indoor vaping, cat declawing could be banned under recently passed bills

Indoor vaping, cat declawing could be banned under recently passed bills

By JERRY NOWICKI & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed 68 bills this week while the House had advanced 284 as of Friday morning with hundreds more to go before their adjournment for the week. It was the first in a two-week stretch of legislative deadlines for bills to…

Lawmakers approve kindergarten reform, plan to address childhood literacy

Lawmakers approve kindergarten reform, plan to address childhood literacy

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Lawmakers are looking at several ways to improve learning outcomes and access for young students in Illinois. On Thursday, members of the House of Representatives approved a proposal that would require school boards in Illinois to provide full-day kindergarten starting with the 2027-2028 school year. The…

Former Madigan political director details push by speaker’s office for key ComEd bill

Former Madigan political director details push by speaker’s office for key ComEd bill

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – As was the case with many big legislative efforts in Springfield, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s staff was deeply involved in negotiations over what would become the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2015 and 2016. FEJA had many backers in environmental circles and organized labor…

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage…

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage…

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage…

Advocates push for tax credit aimed at increasing affordable housing

Advocates push for tax credit aimed at increasing affordable housing

By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers are considering bills that would create a new tax credit for affordable housing, referred to as the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit.” The legislation, contained in the identical House Bill 2044 and Senate Bill 1737, would mirror a federal program administered by the Illinois Housing…

Utility’s indicted CEO considered Madigan when hiring, witness says

Utility’s indicted CEO considered Madigan when hiring, witness says

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – In April 2017, a top staffer in then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office was looking to leave his job after a combined nearly 18 years working for the speaker’s office and as his political director. Will Cousineau applied for a high-level job with electric utility Commonwealth…

House passes bill prohibiting book bans

House passes bill prohibiting book bans

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit libraries from banning books or other material because of partisan or doctrinal pressure, prompting strong opposition from Republicans who called it an assault on local control. House Bill 2789 is an initiative of Democratic Secretary of…

ComEd’s former top lawyer paints Madigan confidant as ‘double agent’ in testimony

ComEd’s former top lawyer paints Madigan confidant as ‘double agent’ in testimony

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Being the longtime friend of longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan granted Mike McClain certain privileges not afforded to other lobbyists in Springfield, jurors heard Tuesday in a federal corruption trial that, in part, centers around the relationship between the two. McClain “had pretty free access”…