Don’t take senior center for granted

By Joan Hadac

Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge

(708) 496-0265 • [email protected]

I’m back. Thank you, Patti Tyznik, for filling in and giving me a week off. I hope this becomes a regular thing!

• Nominations are now open for officers to serve on the board of directors of the Southwest Side Senior Service Organization, which

operates the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center. Needed are a new president, vice president and treasurer, as well as board members in general. If you want to get involved, please stop by the center, 5674-B S. Archer (barely west of Archer and Laramie) or call (312) 745-4255. Do it this week, because the time to step forward and join the board is almost over.

Years ago, senior citizens in Clearing and Garfield Ridge worked hard to pressure city government to establish a senior center west of the airport, because older folks out this way were tired of driving all the way to 61^st and Kedzie to go to a City of Chicago senior center. So let’s honor their work by supporting the satellite center. May no one take its existence for granted.

• The next meeting of the Clearing Civic League is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63^rd Place. If you live in Clearing and care about the neighborhood, please attend and consider joining. Since 1960, the CCL has served as a non-profit, non-partisan group of Clearing residents dedicated to improving the community. At its best, it serves as an important counterweight to the power of elected officials and the business community. My thanks to longtime CCL officer Marie Zilka for sharing this information.
• If you live in Clearing, west of Central Avenue, you are welcome to attend the next CAPS Beat 812 meeting, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Clearing Branch Library. Meet your local police officers and talk about crime prevention in the neighborhood. This meeting also serves as the October meeting of the Clearing Night Force neighborhood watch, who are always looking for new members.
• Well, it’s almost here: 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares’ annual Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast. Bring a hearty appetite and your cash to Brennan Hall at St. Dan’s, 54^th and Natoma, from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. A plate of pancakes and sausage costs $10 and includes a beverage (coffee, orange juice or water). Dine in at Brennan Hall with your neighbors or get your breakfast to go.

All proceeds benefit the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Get Behind the Vest initiative, which purchases protective vests for CPD officers. The CPMF will have a table or two at the event to sell some pretty cool merch, as the kids say.

If you see me there with a camera, please smile!

• Two Holy Martyrs Parish will host a “super bingo” on Sunday, Oct. 16 at the St. Rene Goupil hall, 6340 S. New England. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., and games start at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $20. Food and beverages will be on sale. For details, call (773) 767-1523.
• If you live in Garfield Ridge, west of Central Avenue, you are welcome to attend the next CAPS Beat 811 meeting, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Ward Hall, 5157 S. McVicker. Meet your local police officers and talk about crime prevention in the neighborhood. This meeting also serves as the October meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, who are always looking for new members. Thanks to Marilyn Koperniak for sharing this information.
• If you are age 60 or older, there are indoor activities just for you at Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile. All are offered at no charge.

Start your week off right with a stretching class, set for 1:15 to 2 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 5. Keep those muscles limber and improve your breathing and circulation.

Want to meet other seniors and play bingo, board games or cards—or just talk? A senior club meets from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 8.

If you want to build physical strength, a conditioning class runs from 1:15 to 2 p.m. Fridays through Dec. 9. Train with weights and other fitness tools.

For more information, call the park at (312) 747-6993. My thanks to Tricia Orszula for sharing this information.

• At the September meeting of the Garfield Ridge Civic League, a speaker from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago talked briefly about what people can do to help monarch butterflies thrive. That matters because butterflies have an important role to play, as pollinators.

One easy thing to do is to plant milkweed in your garden. If you want free milkweed seeds you can plant in 2023, visit mwrd.org/save-monarchs. The seeds will be mailed to you.

• Finally, if you’re thinking ahead to Halloween and buying some candy for the wee ones who come in costume to your door, I encourage you to shop local and shop independent. See what places like Continental Sales, 6333 S. Cicero, have to offer. You may also order online at shop.tootsie.com if you want to spend your dollars with a local candy maker that has provided employment to generations of Southwest Side men and women.

That’s all for now. Have a great week.