Father Mescall
Father Tom’s welcome lives on
By Kathy Headley
Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor
6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778
Back in the June 10 edition of the Greater Southwest News-Herald, we talked about the passing of the Rev. Tom Mescall, who would become the last pastor of St. Adrian Parish before it was combined with Queen of the Universe.
In honor of Father Tom’s passing, Rev. Jose Antonio Murcia Abellan, who is the pastor of the newly-formed Mary Mother of Mercy Parish which includes St. Adrian, said they wanted to do something special to honor Father Tom’s memory.
Father Jose spoke of how open and welcoming Father Tom was; and with that in mind, the parish has decided to put in beautiful new side doors that will be known forever as Father Tom’s doors.
Last Sunday the congregation, joined by Bishop Andrew Wypych celebrated the completion of the project. The bishop was the presider at Sunday’s Mass. As he stood under the plaques proclaiming the doors to be dedicated to Father Tom, he blessed the new entrances.
“In dedicating these doors to Father Tom, we want to look with gratitude to the history of this community,” said Father Jose, “and to a priest who cared for this community with love and openness.”
Have you been by St. Rita of Cascia Church in the past week? If you drive down 63rd Street, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the “brightness” of the building. The parish has had the church power-washed, and it really looks nice.
This week’s Family Film Screening at the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, is the 2022 Universal movie The Bad Guys. It takes place on Saturday, Sept. 23, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
A message from Ben Arias: “The days are starting to get shorter and the weather is cooling off. Come and spend some time at the park with your family and let us take care of dinner! Hope Community Dinner meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Marquette Park. We’d love to see you.”
This Friday, Sept. 23, is the Apple Cider Karaoke Celebration at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie. Dan the Man McGowan will be spinning music of the 60s, 70s and 80s beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Then on Thursday, Sept. 29, the Southwest Regional Senior Center will be celebrating its 42nd anniversary beginning at 11:30 a.m. Festivities will feature music, food and an Acrylic Pour Art Exhibit.
Also on Thursday, Sept. 29, folks living in the 18th Ward are invited to join Ald. Derrick Curtis, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, for a flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the New Foundation of Hope, 8146 S. Kedzie, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more details, call (773) 284-5057.
Coming up on Saturday, Oct. 1, Southwest Chicago Homeless Services (formerly known as Southwest PADS at 3121 W. 71st St.) will host their annual Trivia Night fundraiser at St. Rita High School, 7740 S. Western. In addition to trivia competition, the admission donation of $45 includes dinner, cash bar, silent auction and cash raffle. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 7 p.m. followed by the Trivia Contest.
This year’s theme is Happy Halloween. Teams of 10 may form on their own, or tickets can be purchased individually. For reservations and ticket information, contact Executive Director Karyn Perkins at (773) 737-7070.
Also on Oct. 1, Catalyst Maria will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. The Catalyst Maria Post-Secondary will host a celebration and alumni reunion event at SPIN Chicago, 344 N. State, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets to the event are $20 and will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and access to all of the lounges, ping-pong tables and games the venue has to offer. For more information and the link to order tickets, contact Sasha Fawaz at SFawaz@Catalystschools.org.
Now back to 1978. Forty-four years ago this week, the Don Varnas American Legion Post 986 Auxiliary was holding the installation of new officers. Installed as president was Rita Radcliff. Retiring president was Anele Pocous. Also this month the post would be holding their 31st Annual dinner-dance at the Golden Age restaurant on 95th Street. Remember that place? The biggest surprise to me was the cost of a ticket for the affair – $12 per person!
Last week on our trip back to 1978 we thought about attending the gala 20th anniversary celebration taking place at a favorite Italian restaurant here on 63rd Street. The top guess overwhelmingly was El Bianco, followed by several guesses of Palermo’s and also Orlando’s, Italian Villa and Giordano’s. Those were all great guesses and right on 63rd Street at the time too, but surprisingly, not the one I was looking for. So let’s hold this one over another week and see if anyone can get it.
I think there’s only one more Italian restaurant left and I am betting you will all be tapping yourself on the head when you get the answer!
Local News
A simple idea for Earth Day
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Moving right along through April, as the days get longer and nicer, time will start to go by faster. We have Earth Day on April 22 and the start of Passover at sunset.…
Bingo at St. Clare was something to yell about
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Recently I mentioned a bingo fundraiser the Augustinian Young Adults of St. Rita of Cascia Parish were holding. This was their first attempt at a bingo and they put on a really nice event. Held…
One thing is certain: life goes on
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . I get a lot of calls from residents who are discouraged about our neighborhood. There are so many car accidents, shootings and violent crimes being committed in West Lawn and surrounding areas. It certainly is challenging to stay hopeful and positive. Here is a paragraph…
Biz groups battle over names, logos
Spread the love. UBAM, MCC trade barbs . By Dermot Connolly and Tim Hadac The leader of one Midway-area business association is accusing the other of bad faith, and the leader of the other is scratching her head over the dustup. United Business Association of Midway Executive Director Anita Cummings recently claimed that a rival…
Chicago Lawn native’s book is ‘off the hook’
Spread the love. Longtime journalist shares humor columns . By Tim Hadac Nancy (Emerson) Besonen has made a career as a news reporter and humor columnist for a weekly paper in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But her roots are in Chicago Lawn, and it showed during a recent conversation. Like most true Southwest Siders, she didn’t…
Softball | Oak Lawn’s Kasey Jackson fans 11 in loss to Shepard
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Oak Lawn entered its South Suburban Conference matchup with Shepard having won six of its last seven games. The Astros — even hotter with seven straight victories after beginning the season with three consecutive losses — cooled off the Spartans (8-5, 4-2 SSC) for a day, winning 3-0 behind…
Softball | Shepard blanks Oak Lawn behind CG from Kailey Selvage, 2 RBI from Madison Scapardine
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Temperatures are not the only thing starting to warm up in the Southwest Suburbs. Shepard, which began the season with three consecutive losses, defeated Oak Lawn, 3-0, on April 15 to run its winning streak to seven games. Astros junior pitcher Kailey Selvage tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out…
‘Horrific and unacceptable’
Spread the love. Police, neighbors decry shooting at family party . By Tim Hadac Drive-by shootings have become not at all unusual in recent years in Back of the Yards. Some might even call them common. What is still uncommon is for drive-by crimes to injure or even kill young children. But that is exactly…
A blue salute in Scottsdale
Spread the love. Family, friends, co-workers and neighbors of the late CPD Officer James R. Svec Jr. –as well as elected and appointed officials– gathered at 77th and Kolmar last Saturday to unveil an honorary street sign saluting him for his sacrifice. Officer Svec died at age 59 in December 2021 from causes related to…
County vets offer reduced-price vax clinics
Spread the love. From staff reports The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control is running its annual Partners in Prevention clinics now through mid-October. ARC is partnering with local animal organizations to offer reduced-cost or free one-year rabies vaccinations, as well as microchips. The partnerships are designed to link pet owners to organizations…
Neighbors
Advocates renew push to tighten firearm laws aimed at protecting domestic violence victims
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for stricter gun laws rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday for a measure aimed at protecting domestic violence victims and two other criminal justice reforms. The bills are backed by organizations such as Moms Demand Action and One Aim Illinois among others. “These policies support…
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…
Capitol Briefs: Pritzker appoints first-ever Prisoner Review Board director; Chicago advances migrant funding
By JERRY NOWICKI & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Weeks after two high-profile resignations at the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday appointed the first-ever executive director to help lead the beleaguered agency. To fill the newly created position, the governor tapped Jim Montgomery, who most recently served as director of…
INVESTIGATE MIDWEST: Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state
By Jennifer Bamberg, Investigate Midwest, Investigate Midwest Originally published April 10, 2024 During the 2023 harvest season, one of Jake Lieb’s tractors quit working. A week later, his combine stopped working, too. Both were new — and he was locked out from making any repairs himself because of software restrictions embedded in the machines. Instead,…
Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…
Capitol Briefs: Bill creating new early childhood agency among 244 to advance
By ALEX ABBEDUTO HANNAH MEISEL & COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to create a new state agency to oversee Illinois’ various early childhood programs moved forward on Friday after the state Senate’s unanimous approval. It was one of 244 bills that cleared the Senate this week. Early childhood…
Lawmakers, cannabis industry calls for ban on ‘delta-8’ and other psychoactive hemp products
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ largest cannabis business association is pushing to ban the sale of delta-8 THC, an increasingly popular psychoactive substance that’s popped up in corner stores across the country in recent years. New legislation filed in Springfield this week revives an ongoing debate over delta-8 and other…
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…
Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…
Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – For decades, lobbyists in the Illinois Statehouse have been required to report how much they spend wining, dining and entertaining lawmakers. Currently, though, there is no law requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by corporations, industry groups or other special interest organizations.. That…