
Mary Stanek
Love your dogs, protect your dogs
By Mary Stanek
Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon
3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. –Josh Billings
Let us love them back as well. Belonging to community groups on Facebook, I see so many lost dogs–beautiful, lovable creatures. Sure, it’s understandable if a gate is left open on accident, or a door left ajar, etc. Unfortunately, there is even thievery to worry about.

Mary Stanek
But there are simple ways to help ensure that a lost pet can be returned home, instead of to the animal control agency. A lot of these lost dogs have collars, but no external identification tags. ID tags can be engraved at your local pet shop for a minimal cost.
A microchip in the dog will certainly add protection. Keep current photos and medical records of your pet on hand. Use a leash and train for recall. Keep proof of ownership in the awful event of a theft.
I haven’t mentioned the mural on 59th and Central Park lately, but prep work is being done. The second meeting of the advisory panel will be held the second week of March. At this meeting, a short list of artist-finalists will be chosen to submit their design proposals. So that means, having the honor to serve on this committee, I now have my work to do!
A free-admission classical guitar concert will be held at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, 6200 S. Lawndale, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 4. The musician is An Tran, and the concert is presented by Chicago Artopia. An Tran is an internationally acclaimed Vietnamese classical guitarist.
When using social media (Facebook, for example) one needs to exercise caution as to how much information should be shared. I’m always careful as to whom I befriend, but recently I made friends with a great group of fellows: St. Bruno Boys graduating from the late ‘60s.
It all started with being a friend with Robert’s cousin, Larry, and now I am friends with his buddies. Boy, do we reminisce about St. Bruno back in the day. I had to bring out the 1975 Golden Jubilee book for more memories. (By the way I am still looking for a St. Bruno cookbook, if anyone has).
They were recalling the days in the ‘60s with Father Malinowski and then later on with Father Trela and Father Tom. My recollection is always with Father Ed Harasim, who married me and Robert. Going through the jubilee book, I see old photos of my dad (class of 1942) and his siblings graduating from St. Bruno. I think I spot my mother-in-law in the class of 1935. This book is truly a treasure.
This week we send out happy birthday wishes to Mary G. and Katie Peck.
Local News

Area Sports Roundup | State volleyball and lacrosse tournaments will have local flavor
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer When it comes to the postseason, there are rarely guarantees. There are, however, two guarantees this season when it comes to having teams in the IHSA state finals this weekend. Boys volleyball and girls lacrosse will each have an area representative at their respective state tournaments. In volleyball,…

Pro Sports Report | Orlando outshoots Chicago 19-2, loses 1-0
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Orlando outshot the Chicago Red Stars 19-2, including a 6-2 disadvantage with shots on goal, during a May 27 visit to SeatGeek Stadium. That would normally be a recipe for disaster for the home team. But the Stars defense and goalie Alyssa Naeher withstood the barrage, and the…

Girls Soccer | McAuley starts playoffs with rout, but falls to LW East in regional title game
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Hosting a playoff game on its new turf field for the first time, Mother McAuley made it a memorable occasion. Four players scored two goals each and the eighth-seeded Mighty Macs rolled to an 8-1 win over 10th-seeded T.F. United in a Class 4A Mother McAuley Regional semifinal on…

Baseball and Softball Wrap | Trinity softball finishes national runner-up
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Trinity Christian softball team finished second in the nation in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series. The Trolls lost to Concordia (Michigan), 8-1, in the title game May 18 at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. They finished 25-20 and won the second most…

Postseason Roundup | McAuley water polo takes second in state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Mother McAuley water polo team won a squeaker and a blowout at the IHSA state tournament before falling in the championship game. It was McAuley’s (21-6-1) highest finish at state since a second-place showing in 2008. The Mighty Macs nipped Naperville North, 7-6, on May 18 in…

Do It Stevie’s Way | Lyons falls to Providence in champ game; Troy Stukenberg earns tourney award
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Lyons’ quest for a Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament championship came up just short, but it was still a memorable day for senior Troy Stukenberg. Stukenberg was chosen the Lions’ Do It Stevie’s Way Award winner at the tournament, which honors former Mount Carmel baseball player Steven Bajenski, who…

College Notebook | Augustana’s Ranieri named CCIW Pitcher of Year
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent This has been quite the spring for Augustana College’s Nadia Ranieri. The Riverside-Brookfield graduate has been chosen Pitcher of the Year in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The junior lefty finished 15-4 with a 1.53 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts) while helping the Vikings to an overall…

Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Police departments across the south suburbs are gearing up for another high-flying fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Police will be hanging out at more than 325 Dunkin’ Donut coffee shops across Illinois starting at 5 a.m. Friday, May 19, for another edition of Cop on a Rooftop. They will be…
Neighbors

Top Democrats announce budget ‘deal,’ but details are scant as last-minute negotiations continue
By JERRY NOWICKI, HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] UPDATE: The budget was filed as a 3,409-page amendment to Senate Bill 250 late Wednesday evening. This story has been updated to reflect the latest developments as of Wednesday night. SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders announced Wednesday they’ve agreed…

Legislature approves bill to tighten restrictions on red-light camera industry
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers in Springfield have unanimously approved a measure that would place new restrictions on the red-light and speed camera industry’s involvement in state and local elections and government. House Bill 3903 would ban automatic traffic enforcement companies or their officers from donating to candidates for public…

State board of education looking for new providers in preschool ‘deserts’
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Even though Gov. JB Pritzker has yet to sign the budget bill lawmakers just passed, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking applicants for some of the new money contained in that bill. ISBE is looking for new providers to offer preschool programs in areas…

Pritzker touts new budget’s higher education spending
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker began a tour of the state to tout the new state budget that lawmakers passed last week, stopping at two university campuses Wednesday to highlight the spending plan’s increased funding for higher education. “With this new budget, we’re making it possible for nearly…

Cannabis regulatory reform bill fails to advance in spring legislative session
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A proposed cannabis reform bill won’t get further consideration until at least the General Assembly’s fall veto session after stakeholders failed to come to an agreement during the spring session’s final stretch. Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, told Capitol News…

Native American history, ride-share regulation measures clear General Assembly
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Even though it became clear this week that the General Assembly’s spring legislative session would go longer than scheduled as lawmakers finalize a budget, several measures cleared the legislature by its original Friday adjournment date. Those include a requirement that schools teach a unit of Native…

Lawmakers approve measure giving utilities control over new downstate transmission lines
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — In the final hours of their spring session last week, lawmakers approved a controversial measure that would give existing power companies in downstate Illinois, notably Ameren Illinois, the first crack at installing new transmission lines. The measure applies to companies that already own or operate electric…

Budget vote brings General Assembly’s 2023 spring session to a close
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The 2023 spring legislative session came to an end in the early hours of Saturday morning after the Illinois House gave its approval to a $50.6 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. The 73-38 party-line vote came around 2:30 a.m.…

Legislature approves bill to tighten restrictions on red-light camera industry
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers in Springfield have unanimously approved a measure that would place new restrictions on the red-light and speed camera industry’s involvement in state and local elections and government. House Bill 3903 would ban automatic traffic enforcement companies or their officers from donating to candidates for public…

Senate Democrats send budget to House, teeing it up for early Saturday morning vote
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House is planning to work until the early hours of Saturday morning to finalize a $50.6 billion state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That announcement came early Thursday evening, more than 24 hours after Gov. JB Pritzker and the…