Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

Blue Angels were most impressive

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

I went to a North Side beach last Friday with some family members. We forgot that the Blue Angels were in Chicago, performing that weekend. What a nice surprise! Their precision is wonderful to watch. They are a great example of teamwork. We watched the sky as they practiced for their Saturday and Sunday performances.

The Blue Angels group is a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy that was formed in 1946. Their mission is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. May they continue to inspire us. Our country  could certainly use a lesson in teamwork these days!

Universidad Popular, 3702 W. 60th St., will be focused on teamwork when they present an event called, “We Play Juntos.” The Spanish word juntos means “together.”

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

I do know that Universidad Popular has stated that their focus is “to create safe spaces for community wellness.” Another way of putting it is that this fine organization wants to be an alternative to negative activities going on in our neighborhood. They want to open their doors to all people and provide positive and encouraging activities.

Their upcoming event will offer fun and games like volleyball, soccer and football. There will also be yoga and Zumba exercise classes, as well as face painting and water balloons. Join the fun on Friday, Aug. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m.

The good people who live on the 6600 block of South Karlov are having a block sale on the weekend of Sept. 9, 10 and 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. My friend, Marie, said everyone is invited to check it out and go home with some great bargains. This sounds like fun to me!

Anyone looking for a job at a legendary neighborhood restaurant? Palermo’s Pizza, 3751 W. 63rd St., is now accepting applications for employment. Visit in person or call (773) 585-5002 for more information. If you call, you should order one of their delicious Sicilian style pizzas while you’re at it.

Kids are all back in school now. I remember when public schools started after Labor Day. I think summer vacation should take place during the months of July and August.  September means the end of summer and the beginning of autumn and a new school year. Starting back to school in the fall would give families a true summertime vacation and would save money on air conditioning, too.

If I were in charge, I would have kids go to school during the month of June and have a longer winter vacation. There would be a week off around Christmas and approximately four weeks to be used during the month of February. Traveling to school can be challenging when we have snowstorms. Plus, this would save schools money on expensive heat during our coldest month.

Kids could have some required reading to complete but best of all, they could spend some time outside playing in the snow. Parents might choose to take their vacations from work in February instead of the summer. This might be good for the economy, too. Anyhoo, just some thoughts from me, your loyal neighborhood reporter.

Local News

Stagg defeated Chicago Christian on opening day, march 11. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | Stagg tops Chicago Christian in season-opener

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Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Spring has a different set of challenges for high school sports compared to those played in the winter and fall. The most common and most unpredictable hurdle is the weather, without fail. The start of 2024 high school baseball season lucked out, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s and…

The De La Salle-Southside Occupational Academy Unified Basketball team beat St. Patrick-Vaughn Occupational, 64-59, on March 9 for its second consecutive state title. Photo by Mike Walsh

Hoops team featuring De La Salle players wins 2nd straight Unified Basketball state title

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Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent For the second consecutive season, the team comprising students from De La Salle and Southside Occupational Academy are IHSA/Special Olympics of Illinois Division II Unified Basketball state champions. The De La Salle-SOA unified team etched its name into the state annals via a 64-59 victory over St. Patrick-Vaughn Occupational…

Mother McAuley junior Abbey Williams delivers a pitch during last week’s 18-1 loss to Benet. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Softball | Mother McAuley seeks to right ship

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Spread the loveFrom Staff Reports The 2024 season is off to an uneven and somewhat rocky start for Mother McAuley. The Mighty Macs opened the spring with consecutive losses — 9-3 to Oak Forest on March 11 and 18-1 to Benet on March 13 — before getting off the schneid with an 18-1 win over…

Evergreen Park senior Nolan Sexton (right) will play in the Illinois Hoop Prospect Senior All-Star Games at Joliet Junior College. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Basketball | Players from Evergreen Park and Brother Rice to ball at prospect showcase

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Five players from the area have been invited to play on the South Suburban Team at the Illinois Hoop Prospect Senior All-Star Games scheduled to be played March 24 at Joliet Junior College. Brother Rice’s Zavier Fitch and Ty Wooten join Evergreen Park’s Nolan Sexton, Marist’s Darshan Thomas and…

George Shimko, who coached the Queen of Peace girls basketball program and its de facto successor St. Laurence, has been named head coach of the Mustangs girls basketball program. Supplied photo

Girls Basketball | George Shimko takes reins for Mustangs

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent One longtime area basketball coach will succeed another at Evergreen Park. George Shimko, who brought success to the girls basketball programs at Queen of Peace and St. Laurence, has been named the new girls hoops coach at Evergreen Park. He will succeed Bruce Scaduto, who retired after 27 years…

Harold Blackmon (right) is welcomed to De La Salle by Meteors athletic director Tom White. Photo courtesy of De La Salle

De La Salle tabs Harold Blackmon as next football coach

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A pair of familiar coaches from the area have landed in new spots. Harold Blackmon, who has been head football coach at St. Laurence and Oak Lawn, has been named coach at De La Salle. George Shimko, a former girls basketball coach at Queen of Peace and St. Laurence,…

SEATGEEK

Red Stars, rugby will highlight big weekend at SeatGeek

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Things will get busy in Bridgeview this weekend. The Chicago Fire II will host its season opener against Toronto FC II at 6 p.m. Friday, March 22 at SeatGeek Stadium. The following day, the Chicago Red Stars make their 2024 home debut against Seattle at 3 p.m. Rugby invades…

Chicago Red Stars players celebrate a goal against Utah in the season-opener for both teams on March 16. The Red Stars won, 2-0. Photo courtesy of Chicago Red Stars

Red Stars Report | Cooks provide recipe for success in Red Stars’ win over Utah

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Lorne Donaldson era is already Cook-ing. The new Chicago Red Stars coach enjoyed a victory in his debut with a 2-0 triumph over Utah in the NWSL season-opener for both teams on March 16 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. The game was the first in franchise…

Angelo Luna

College Sports Wrap | Morton College OF Angelo Luna slugs two grand slams in one day

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area college baseball sluggers had a grand time on March 16. Former St. Laurence standout Angelo Luna, a sophomore outfielder at Morton College, hit two grand slams and drove in 10 runs over two games as the Panthers beat Highland, 7-3 and 18-5, in a doubleheader at home. Luna…

Sergio Lemley (top), who won three state championships at Mount Carmel, finished in fourth place at the Big Ten tournament during his freshman season. Photo courtesy of University of Michigan Athletics

College Notebook | Ex-Mount Carmel wrestler Sergio Lemley takes fourth in Big Ten

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Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent One reason the Michigan wrestling team has been successful this season is freshman Sergio Lemley. At the Big Ten tournament, Lemley won three of his five matches to finish fourth at 141 pounds. The Wolverines placed second with 123.5 points behind conference champion Penn State (170.5). In the consolation…

Neighbors

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…

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…