Kathy Headley

Kathy Headley

Geese enjoy thaw at Marquette Park

Spread the love

By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

What a nice surprise the weather was last Saturday, wasn’t it? It was a perfect day to take a walk around the lagoon at Marquette Park. No ducks in sight yet, but several geese were content to brave the partially thawed lagoon and enjoy the sunshine.

What are the chances last Saturday’s beautiful weather will repeat itself this Saturday, March 12, for this season’s first event by the Chicago Area Runners Association at Marquette Park? The 5K or 1-Mile Run/Walk (labeled Go Run Marquette Park) kicks off at 9 a.m. at Kedzie Avenue and Mann Drive, just west of the running track.

This is the first of weekly Saturday morning runs/walks and is open to long-time runners/walkers, newcomers and families as well. Pre-registration is required online at cararuns.org. Upon registration you will receive your confirmation number and updates from the Chicago Area Runners Association on events. I hope to see you there.

kathyheadley2021

Kathy Headley

Don’t forget the Sand Ridge Nature Center is hosting Nature Play Days now until May 25 at the Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center. Stories, art and exploration will be offered and of course the chance to connect with nature. For more information contact Jessica.Becker@cookcountyil.gov.

Stations of the Cross continue at St. Thomas More Church, 2825 W. 81st St., every Friday during Lent after the noon Mass.

The Bogan High School Class of 1976 is holding a reunion on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at Georgios Banquets, 8800 W. 159th St., Orland Park. Only a small number of tickets remain at $65. If you are a member of the class and wish to purchase tickets or for more information, go to the FB page labeled Unofficial Bogan Reunion. Tickets at the door will be $85.

The Augustinian Friars of the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western, are presenting A Festival of Peace 2022 on Friday, March 25. Events run throughout the afternoon and evening beginning with a noon Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation. The SRHS Fathers’ Club will offer hospitality with a bistro of food and drink from 5 to 11:30 p.m. For a schedule of events, which will include prayers, food, music and even Ping Pong, go to stritashrinechicago.com.

Last week in Bob Bong’s Comings and Goings column, we read that Jim Parker, owner of the Illinois Billiard Club, now in Willow Springs, just might be thinking of retiring. The club, which began right here on 71st Street just off Artesian, was a familiar place to many St. Rita High School alumni, as that is where the St. Rita Billiards Club held their practices and events. As a matter of fact, growing up on 65th and Francisco, Jim Parker is a graduate of both St. Rita Grammar School and High School.

What some of you may not know is that The Illinois Billiard Club brought Hollywood to our neighborhood. A national live tournament was held here at the club, promoting the movie Baltimore Bullet. Director Martin Scorsese followed, bringing Paul Newman and Tom Cruise to IBC to learn the sport and film parts of The Color of Money. During its reign on 71st Street, IBC was named number one out of 150 “Best of the Best” by Chicago Magazine.

When we left 1992 last week, I wondered if you remembered the longtime businessman who passed away at this time 30 years ago. His barbershop was at 3312 W. 63rd St,mand his son’s photo shop was right next door for decades. Steve T. knew that, of course, I was talking about Peter Herbert and his son Joe.

Now let’s go a little east to 63rd and Kedzie. As I’m sure many of you remember, by this time in 1992, the buildings on the southeast corner which included the Marquette Theater, had been razed. In March of that year, front loaders were digging large holes in the ground to take soil samples, which was necessary for the redevelopment plan for that corner. Do you remember which business was going up there? I really liked this place. We stopped there a lot.

While new development was going on here in 1992, another new development was breaking ground at 87th and Kedzie at the same time. Remember any of the businesses going in there?

Local News

CRRNH_CosmoPhotoMDWArmory_032724

City wants to buy armory at MDW

Spread the love

Spread the love. Has been vacant since 2017 .  By Tim Hadac For decades, it served military purposes, as well as Chicago’s gateway for Presidents stopping off in the city. But the Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., has been mostly vacant since 2017, when the Illinois Army National Guard ceased operations…

Priscilla Steinmetz, of Orland Park's Bridge Teen Center, has fun March 7 at Congressman Sean Casten's desk in Washington. (Bridge Teen Center photo)

Casten secures $11M for district; invites Bridge Teen founder to State of Union

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten is bringing some big bucks home. Casten (D-6th) announced that he helped secure more than $11 million in federal funding for local community projects. Included in that bounty is: $1.28 million to Evergreen Park for water main replacement. $500,000 to La Grange for storm and sanitary sewer…

Trinity Christian College of Nursing received a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. (Supplied photo)

Trinity, MVCC nursing schools schools receive state grants

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The Illinois Board of Higher Education has awarded nursing school grants to 12 institutions of higher education across the state, including two in the south suburbs, totaling $1.4 million. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills received a grant of $38,316 to focus on improved math proficiency and preparedness of…

biz runnings logo NEW

Runnings holds grand opening in Homer Glen

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The big-box store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen has certainly had a storied past. Once upon a time, it was part of the Kmart chain. That ended years ago. Since then, it has been a Big R, a Stock + Field, and an R.P. Home and Harvest.…

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid celebrates winning the Democratic primary in the 21st House District with Safaa Zarzour (left) and wife Fidaa, who holds their 1-month-old son Mohammad Zain, at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. in Chicago Ridge. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Rashid rolls in 21st House, but Vasquez plans rematch

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid may have rolled to victory over challenger Vidal Vasquez in the 21st House District Democratic primary, but he took nothing for granted. “I am humbled and honored that the voters chose to send me back and I look forward to continuing the work ahead of us,”…

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Anniversary Ferris Wheel features 24 gondolas that each seat up to six people. The attraction will be at the Zoo through Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jim Schulz/Brookfield Zoo Chicago)

Brookfield Zoo Anniversary Ferris Wheel now open

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Brookfield Zoo has been attracting visitors for 90 years. To celebrate the anniversary, the zoo has opened a new attraction that has nothing to do with animals. Last Friday, the zoo opened its Anniversary Ferris Wheel. The towering 110-foot Ferris wheel offers guests unique bird’s-eye views of the park’s gardens, animal…

Congressman Sean Casten, speaking at a Town Hall meeting at Moraine Valley Community College.
(Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Casten romps over primary foes in 6th Congressional race

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Three-term Congressman Sean Casten easily defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District. “First and foremost, thank you,” he said. “Thank you to the voters who have entrusted me once again with their vote. Thank you to the volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls,…

Flanked by members of his political machine as he declared victory Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) invokes the names of Harold Washington and Rudy Lozano—two men who served as highly influential political mentors of his, early in his career. The congressman hinted at further expansion of his political reach when he said, “…and we’re not done yet.” --Supplied photo

Chuy’s expansion continues

Spread the love

Spread the love. ‘And we’re not done yet,’ congressman vows . By Tim Hadac Most observers in the city seemed to agree that U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) would handily win his primary battle with 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez. They were right. With almost all precincts reporting across the city and nearby suburbs,…

Peggy Zabicki

Silent spring break for children these days

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 . Spring break for Chicago Public Schools will take place next week. In the past, that meant we would hear the sounds of kids playing outside. We won’t hear that joyful noise next week. The issue is safety. Wouldn’t…

Kathy Headley

Things are looking bright at Lith Youth Center

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Cleaning, restoration and remodeling continues at the Chicago Lithuanian Youth Center on Claremont Avenue. New programs have been well attended and recent classes, Like Making Your Own Bacon Buns, have sold out quickly. Thanks…

Neighbors

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A panel of federal appellate judges on Thursday seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law. Bost’s late 2022…

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events

By BETH HUNDSDORFER  Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.  Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…

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…