Kathy Headley
Liths lead aid drive for Ukrainians
By Kathy Headley
Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor
6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778
As war rages on in Ukraine, the needs of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania have been noticed by the local Lithuanian population. As always, Nativity BVM Parish has done its part to help.
Undergarments for women and children are in particularly short supply for the refugees. During Lent, the parish took up a collection and sent more than $1,500 to Lithuania to help with this particular need.
If you pick up this newspaper early and want to give Mom or Grandma a personalized Mother’s Day gift, the Greater Southwest Development Corp is sponsoring a free professional portrait with moms and their families on Thursday, May 5 in the Monarca Event Room, 3300 W. 63rd St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Stop in and take advantage of this opportunity.
Registration is still available for last-minute participants in tomorrow’s (Saturday, May 7) Go Run Marquette Park. I know sometimes we wait to see what the weather is going to be like! The free 5K or one-mile event is presented by the Chicago Area Runners Association; and while it is timed, it is open to runners, walkers or joggers. All ages, all paces, all abilities are welcome. Register at gorunchicago.org. Meet up at the starting line, just west of the running track off Kedzie Avenue and Mann Drive.
The Cubs Rookie League Baseball sessions at Marquette Park filled up quickly, but if your children or grandchildren ages 6-12 are still hoping to participate, waiting list registration is open. Register online at anc.apm.activecommunitites.com. During these sessions, kids learn the basic skills of batting, sliding, pitching and catching. These sessions are free, sponsored by the Chicago Cubs and run until June 10. They are held on Fridays at the park from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
As I’m sure you will recall, the Rev.Thomas Mescall, former pastor of St. Adrian Parish, passed away in February of this year at age 74. A Memorial Mass for Father Tom will be held on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. in St. Adrian Church, 7000 S. Washtenaw.
Due to the Archdiocesan Renew My Church process, many parishes have found themselves in a different situation than they had hoped. This is a bit east of us, but I know from talking to you over the years that many who read this newspaper were originally from St. Kilian’s Parish. With that in mind, the closing Mass at St. Kilian Church will be held on Sunday, June 12 at 10 a.m. A reception will follow in the gym. No reservations are necessary, just return for one last time.
Last week on our visit to 1992, we learned that John Rackos, owner of a local grocery store, was hosting a celebration in the store’s parking lot in honor of Greek Easter. The address of his store was 8215 S. Kedzie. Bill J. recognized Bargain World Super Foods right away. On the next block from his house, Bill’s mom shopped there regularly. While Bargain World was a Certified store that also carried imported foods, included in this week’s specials was a “Special Special” on Kourtaki Patraiki Roditis at $3.99 a liter. I have it on good authority that John Rackos was a good man, quite generous to local organizations – civic, business, churches, schools, Little League, Scout troops and more.
Back in 1992, it was during this past month that a Chicago Lawn pioneer passed away. Some of you may remember her as she was a member of Marquette Park Presbyterian Church, an active volunteer at the church, and a member of the Marquette School PTA, Marquette Manor Women’s Club, volunteer at the West Communities YMCA during the planning and construction there and, well, it seems like, you name it, she did it or at least helped with it. Her name was Ivy Wahlen and she died at the age of 98.
Now we must buy a nice bouquet of flowers for Mom for Mother’s Day. Thirty years ago we had a few choices, but the shop on 63rd and Fairfield is the one we decide on. I know you remember the name on this storefront, don’t you? Even if you never bought flowers here, you have to have passed it a million times.
Local News
Year of growth | Evergreen Park enjoying inaugural boys volleyball season
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After almost 70 years of existence as a high school, Evergreen Park finally has a boys volleyball team. The Mustangs are playing their inaugural season with a junior varsity squad, with some matches being played at the varsity level. Head coach Brian Zofkie is leading this group with assistant…
‘Brazen and cowardly’: Police, community outraged by officer’s slaying
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Police and others across the Southwest Side reacted with outrage this week over the slaying of a Chicago Police officer in the early morning hours on Sunday. Officer Luis M. Huesca was shot to death on the street in the 3100 block of West 56th Street at 2:53 a.m.…
Swanson scores, assists in Red Stars’ win over Reign
Spread the loveThe Red Stars improved to 3-1-1 by beating the Seattle Reign, 2-1, on the road on April 21. Mallory Swanson had an assist on an Ali Schlegel goal in the fourth minute and added a goal of her own in the 31st minute. Swanson missed last season after sustaining a knee injury on…
Red Stars’ Tatumn Milazzo has top Save of the Week
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Tatumn Milazzo called her achievement “funny.” The Chicago Red Stars defender and Orland Park native was awarded the NWSL’s Save of the Week after chasing down a ball in a loss to Angel City on April 13. The Save of the Week usually goes to a goalie. Milazzo laughed…
Men’s College Volleyball | Saint Xavier captures fifth straight conference tourney title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The SXU men’s volleyball team won its fifth straight Chicagoland Christian Athletic Conference tournament championship after a 25-16, 25-17, 25-22 sweep of Calumet College of St. Joseph on April 20 at the Shannon Center. Jan Lopuch had 10 kills and nine digs for the Cougars. With the win, the…
College Baseball | Saint Xavier upsets Eastern Illinois
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier baseball team picked up a win that its players are going to remember for a long time. The Cougars stunned Eastern Illinois, 4-2, on April 17 in Charleston. It was the Cougars’ first win over the Panthers, a Division I program, since 2005. Lyons grad Troy…
St. Laurence hoops teams top honor roll
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area basketball teams proved to be strong on the court and in the classroom this season, and St. Laurence was the leader of the pack. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association compiled a list of the top academic teams, and the area did well. In Division 3 girls, St. Laurence…
Chicago Bears recognize St. Rita senior with All-Star award
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Chances are good that few outside of St. Rita football circles know who David Lyle is. With good reason. Lyle missed his senior season for the Mustangs last fall after sustaining a serious knee injury. He even postponed having knee surgery so that he could take care of his…
Neighbors
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans
By PETER HANCOCK and JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…
As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Lead pipes in public water systems and drinking fixtures have been banned in new construction since 1986, when Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, but they are still in use across the U.S. and in Illinois. The presence of lead pipes has persisted due in part to…
Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge
By DILPREET RAJU & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Chicago Bears laid out a $3.2 billion plan for a new domed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront on Wednesday afternoon, painting pictures of future Super Bowls and other major public events while pinning their hopes on yet-to-be-had conversations with the governor and lawmakers. The Bears…
Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Natural gas is fueling a fight between consumer advocates, a powerful utility company and the state. Amid competing advertising campaigns, accusations of mismanagement and state decarbonization efforts, the Illinois Commerce Commission is starting a process that will shape how the state regulates the increasingly controversial industry. …
Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday. The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…