A new look for an old friend

By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327

The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., is finally open. I visited on their re-opening day. The library has a more open and airy feel. It is fresh and clean. The walls have been painted and there is new carpeting. The old film on the windows has been removed, and now everything looks very bright.

Apparently, the reason that the library was closed for more than a year was because the roof had a lot of damage and needed extensive repairs. I found this out from the new branch manager, Mina Duarte.

I had such a nice conversation with Ms. Duarte. She explained the situation with the roof and showed me around. I could tell that she is a real team player and a hands-on kind of a leader as she talked about the work done by the entire staff.

There are new employees and also some familiar faces, like librarian Jose Gallegos. Jose continues to be a friendly and helpful staff member. New employee Gloria will lead the library’s new teen program.

Thank you, Mina Duarte, and welcome to West Lawn. I hope all my neighbors will stop in and say hi. The new library hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. I look forward to many happy hours surrounded by books.

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin opened the first public library in the United States on July 1, 1737? He said his goal was to benefit the common people who would otherwise not have access to books. Franklin said, “…these libraries have improved the general Conversation of Americans, made the common Tradesman and Farmers as intelligent as most Gentlemen from other Countries…”

Access to books is a blessing. Knowledge is the true equalizer in all areas of life.

Today is School Improvement Day at the Lee School, 6448 S. Tripp. To honor this day, the school will be closed.

I’ve heard that back in the 1960s, Lee School was K-6 and served as a branch of Hurley School—same as Tarkington School. Greater Southwest News-Herald Editor Tim Hadac (a Hurley alumnus) shared this information with me.

Lee School was named for U.S. patriot Richard Henry Lee, who was born on Jan. 20, 1732. Lee introduced the resolution declaring independence from Britain. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Lee brought life to the cause of liberty and denounced slavery. I hope the staff, students and parents at Lee School will remember and honor the person for whom their school was named.

The CAPS meeting for Beats 823 and 825 was held online on Jan. 19. The meeting was announced at the last minute, and I wasn’t able to attend or find out any information about what was discussed at the meeting. I hope to get all the details in time for next week’s column so that I can report to all the readers who do not have internet access and to those who could not attend the meeting.

Condolences to my dear neighbor, Gladys, on the death of her beloved brother, Jerry. May he rest in peace.

West Lawn neighbor and friend Dawn Ferrarini shared this thought: Always leave people better than you found them. Hug the hurt, kiss the broken. Befriend the lost. Love the lonely.