
Peggy Zabicki
Today is indeed a special day
By Peggy Zabicki
Your correspondent in West Lawn
3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327
Happy June 3rd to all. There are so many observances and holidays that fall on June 3. There is something for everyone. June 3 is National Egg Day, World Cider Day, National Chocolate Macaroon Day, Insect Repellent Awareness Day, National Donut Day, Love Conquers All Day and Hug An Atheist Day. Celebrate responsibly.
On June 3, 1880 Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first wireless telephone message on his newly invented photophone from the top of the Franklin School in Washington, D.C. This was just the beginning of the invention of the telephone. What would we do without our phones?

Peggy Zabicki
I get phone calls all the time from friends who read my column. I learn a lot about what’s going on in West Lawn and other nearby neighborhoods. A friend recently called me with details about a musical play taking place at Hale Park, 6258 W. 62nd St. I told her I would share the details with everyone. She highly recommends this show.
The musical Sister Act is now being performed at Hale Park on June 3, 4,10 and11 at 7:30 p.m. and June 5 at 2 p.m. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for seniors. You need to call the park at (773) 229-1032 to make a reservation. I hope to attend on June 10 or 11.
There is a yard sale taking place on June 3-5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the entire 6600 block of South Karlov. I’m always on the hunt for treasures. Maybe I’ll see you there!
The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., is hosting a Computer Basics for Adults class on Tuesday, June 7 from 4 to 5 p.m. You can learn about search engines, websites and basic computer usage. Call the library for more information at (312) 747-7381.
The library is also presenting a fun program for all ages called Let’s Play! on Monday, June 6 and Monday, June 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. All are welcome to play the Pokemon card game and a variety of board games. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Call the library to register for all events.
Thirteenth Ward Ald. Marty Quinn is hosting the next Senior Citizen Club meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, June 10 at the Balzekas Museum Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski. If you are interested in attending, please call (773) 581-1313 by June 7 to see if there is space available and to register.
A big thank you to Alderman Quinn in helping put a stop to the noisy drag racers using the parking lot at 71st and Pulaski. Barricades have now been put up in order to block drag racers from entering the lot after business hours when their illegal activities would take place. Alderman Quinn, your time and effort are much appreciated.
Here’s some good news about a young person in our neighborhood. Michael Kozel, an Eagle Scout and 2018 graduate of St. Mary Star of the Sea School, reconstructed the wooden furniture in the outdoor play yard at St. Mary’s as part of his Eagle Scout service project.
He had to solicit materials from Home Depot and recruit a volunteer construction crew. Michael and his crew rebuilt benches, flower boxes and picnic tables. All items were weather proofed with stain. The picnic tables were painted with checkerboards for the children to play checkers and chess. The yard was spruced up, and trash was cleaned up. Thank you, Michael, for your hard work!
Thank you to my neighbor, Pat, for the nice card you sent me. Thank you to my neighbor, Gladys, for the homemade strawberry jam, and thank you, dear readers, for your kind and helpful calls.
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

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…

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…

UPDATED: Optional all-gender bathrooms bill will head to governor
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill that would allow businesses and public institutions to provide multi-occupant all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. House Bill 1286 would change current state law, under which single-occupancy bathrooms are automatically designated for all genders, but multi-occupancy…

Lawmakers OK bill to limit constitutional lawsuits to Cook, Sangamon County
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Democrats who control the General Assembly muscled through a last-minute measure that will require any constitutional challenge to state laws to be filed in either Cook or Sangamon counties. The Illinois House on Thursday gave final passage to a set of amendments to…

Dems move to allow punitive damage awards in wrongful death lawsuits
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the General Assembly this week pushed through a measure that would allow state courts to award punitive damages in wrongful death lawsuits – a departure from the status quo for more than a century in Illinois. Illinois is one of 16 states that does…

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] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders announced Wednesday they’ve agreed to a framework for next year’s roughly $50 billion state spending plan, even as negotiations continued in the final stretch of lawmakers’ already-extended spring legislative session. Their announced agreement included…

State report: Catholic churches harbored hundreds more abusers than previously disclosed
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Catholic dioceses in Illinois failed to disclose hundreds of abusive clerics before the state opened what would become a yearslong investigation into sex abuse within the church, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday. Included in a scathing 700-page report published by Raoul’s office at the end…

UPDATED: Environmental bills seek to improve soil health, ban state use of polystyrene foam containers
By ANDREW ADAMS & NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] [email protected] Editor’s note: This story will be updated as the measures make their way through the legislature this week. SPRINGFIELD – Several pieces of environmental legislation are making their way through the Illinois General Assembly on what was scheduled to be the final week of…