
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

Say man killed little sister with ‘ghost gun’
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Charge man with murder in birthday party shooting
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Ploggers coming to West Elsdon
By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Are you ready to go plogging? Yes, plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up garbage. If you live in the area of 54th and Avers, next Saturday, Aug. 13, bring a garbage bag, gloves and/or…

These folks know their lawns
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Have you driven or walked around our neighborhood lately? I have seen so many beautiful flowers and shrubbery. Residents have certainly been busy planting and landscaping, mowing and weeding. There are some lovely gardens and green lawns. West Lawners seem to know a thing…

Back to School sales tax holiday kicks in on Friday
With the start of a new school year fast approaching, state Rep. Fran Hurley is encouraging parents to take advantage of a state sales tax decrease on school supplies, clothing, shoes and other items over a 10-day period from Aug. 5 through Aug. 14. “Back-to-school shopping can sometimes be a real hit on a parent’s…

Area Sports Roundup: Costa and Busker named top athletes at Trinity; St. Rita’s Talty to kick for Tide
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Former Richards volleyball standout Alex Costa led the NAIA with 508 kills and 613.5 points last season. Not a bad season for the Trinity Christian College sophomore. It gets even better. Last week, Costa was named TCC’s Male Athlete of the Year. The Oak Lawn native also had top numbers…

Pro Soccer Report: San Diego rookie Shaw, 17, scores lone goal in 1-0 win over Red Stars
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The pregame attention went to 32-year-old Alyssa Mautz. The postgame attention – and surely a lot more attention to come – went to 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw. Mautz announced that last Saturday’s game against the San Diego Wave would be her final last for the Chicago Red Stars. She has accepted…

Moore shows concern for constituents
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Last Thursday, 17th Ward Ald. David Moore met with some of his constituents that will no longer be a part of the 17th Ward due to the city remapping. The meeting took place at the Marquette Park fieldhouse.…

Bobby Frasor steps down as coach at Brother Rice
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The wins. The mosh pits. The jokes. These are just a few of the things that will be missed by Bobby Frasor, who stepped down last week as the basketball coach at Brother Rice and is leaving the world of hoops. Frasor was a star player for the Crusaders who…

Citizens, cops fighting crime
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Neighbors

Regulatory work behind 1 million EV push in full swing in Illinois
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Ten months after Illinois lawmakers passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act which set a goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on state roads by the end of the decade, state agencies are engaged in a flurry of regulatory planning aimed at meeting those goals.…

10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Beginning Friday and lasting through Aug. 14, the state will reduce its sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent for certain clothing items costing less than $125 and school supplies. The “tax holiday” was included in Gov. JB Pritzker’s “family relief plan,” one prong…

Pritzker highlights Rebuild Illinois funding for Cahokia Heights sewers, Rend Lake Resort
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoi [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – When state lawmakers voted on bipartisan lines in 2019 to double Illinois’ motor fuel tax and raise several driving-related fees, it laid the groundwork for a $45 billion infrastructure plan, the largest in Illinois’ history and the first in nearly a decade. The plan, spanning six…

CAPITOL RECAP: Democrats choose Hernandez as new party chair
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The vote for state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino chairwoman was unanimous and uneventful Saturday morning – the drama had occurred in the days prior in a power struggle of some of the state’s most prominent Democrats. Hernandez was backed Gov. JB…

Pritzker: Monkeypox disaster declaration will aid in vaccine distribution
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker issued a public health emergency declaration and declared Illinois a disaster area in response to the monkeypox virus Monday, a move his office said would help mobilize resources. The governor’s office said the proclamation will aid in moving vaccines to the most impacted…

Dems seek unity as new, former chair take no questions from media after party vote
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The vote for state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino chairwoman was unanimous and uneventful Saturday morning – the drama had occurred in the days prior in a power struggle of some of the state’s most prominent Democrats. Hernandez was…

Democratic Party chair bows out in re-election bid, paving way for state Rep. Lisa Hernandez
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A contentious race for leadership of the state’s Democratic Party appears to be down to a single candidate ahead of a Saturday morning vote after the party’s current chair pulled herself from the running Friday. State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, backed by Gov. JB Pritzker and House…

State announces plan for $760 million in opioid settlement money
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced plans Friday for how the state will distribute its share of funds from a national settlement with opioid companies. Illinois expects to receive approximately $760 million over 18 years from a $26 billion national settlement with three…

Thompson Center sale finalized with Google to be building’s lone occupant
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – After years of failed efforts that spanned multiple administrations, the state has finalized the sale of the controversial James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to a company that will make it the new Chicago home of tech giant Google. Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement during…

CAPITOL RECAP: Illinois Democrats hoping to host 2024 nominating convention
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Democrats are vying to make Chicago the host city for the Democratic National Convention in 2024. Officials for the Democratic National Committee were in Chicago on Tuesday as state leaders, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, called a news conference to tout the city as…