Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

Winter Olympics bring back fun memories

Spread the love

By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

Have you been watching the Winter Olympics? My favorite sport is figure skating. It is beautiful and athletic. The athletes are so inspiring. I love to watch all the sports. I remember my family gathering around the TV, watching the Olympics in the early ‘60s when I was a kid.

Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) won the light-heavyweight gold medal in 1960. This inspired my brother, Steve, and my sister, Patti, and I to pretend to fight with each other in a kind of Three Stooges style.

While we watched the Winter Olympics, we would pretend we were figure skaters by running and sliding across the hallway floor in our stocking feet. During the Summer Olympics, Patti and I would walk across the back of our couch, pretending we were on the balance beam. We waved our arms, spun around and jumped off for perfect landings. My parents would actually clap for us.

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

The great thing about our living room Olympics was that they took place every day of the year. My parents were certainly understanding and patient. I suspect they were probably too tired to make a fuss about our antics.

I recently watched the pre-Olympic competitions on TV while snow piled up outside. How about that snowstorm? Everything seemed to screech to a halt on the first day of the storm. So many stores and businesses had to close their doors for a day or two.

Windy City Hot Dogs, 4205 W. 63rd St., was one of the very few places that stayed open even during the worst and snowiest days. Windy City is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. I was recently talking about their gyro dinner with my neighbor, Gladys. Now I’ve got a taste for that delicious menu offering.  I’m going to have to get over there ASAP!

Speaking of snow, I wish the city would fit the garbage trucks with detachable snow shoveling devices, as other big cities do. Garbage can get collected and the alleys could be plowed at the same time. Can’t imagine why they don’t. We do get snow every year.

Years ago, when I lived in a different neighborhood, my alderman would hire local guys with snow-plow trucks to plow our alleys and side streets. It was rarely a problem to get out of your garage or parking spot and get to the main street. The alderman used money from the ward improvement fund that each alderman gets every year.

Hopefully, the snow will be cleared up and driving will be easier by Friday, Feb. 25. Thirteenth Ward Ald. Marty Quinn has invited all senior citizens to his monthly meeting that day. It will take place at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski, at 9 a.m. Feel free to bring a friend. Call Barb at (773) 581-1313 to register.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish will hold their annual scholarship dinner-dance (called Spring Fling) on March 12. They will be presenting the 2021-2022 Spirit of St. Nick award. All are invited.

The celebration will take place at European Chalet, 5445 S. Harlem. Tickets are $70 per person. There will be dinner, drinks, dancing and several very nice raffle prizes. Tickets are available at the main office. Call (773) 735-0772 for more information.

The Calvary Lutheran Church Senior Club is having a Valentine’s Day party at noon Feb. 15 at the church, 6149 S. Kenneth. This lively and fun group welcomes all seniors to join them. Bring a sandwich and some money for desserts, coffee and bingo. Call Elaine at (773) 424-3031 to register.

The Calvary Seniors wish a very happy birthday to Don B., who celebrated on Feb. 7. May the dear Lord bless you with health and happiness.

I’d like to wish happy birthday to Dawn Ferrarini, who celebrated her birthday on Feb. 1. I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

Condolences to the family and friends of Martin McGrath, who passed away on Jan. 11. Mr. McGrath, a Korean War veteran, was a teacher (and later principal) at Hurley School for many years. May he rest in peace.

As I watch the Winter Olympics, I would like to thank each of you for your calls and texts from last week.

Local News

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Neighbors

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

By PETER HANCOCK, JENNIFER FULLER & ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal for sweeping reforms in the state’s health insurance industry passed out of a committee Thursday and will soon make its way to the full House for consideration. Pritzker first outlined the proposal in his State of the…