Teen creativity in bloom at library

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

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This past week I checked in with Claudia Brand, the new Teen Librarian at the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, to see how it was going. She has just begun the Teen Creative Studio on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

When I interviewed her at the beginning of the year she said, “There’s so much we can do. We have some great equipment I want to teach the teens how to use, for instance a 3D printer, a Cricket, a Button Maker and more.”

When I stopped in, she showed me one of the 3D items they had made that week. It was a cute red heart keychain.

As her group grows, she may add an extra night. This is so cool. I kind of wish I was a teen again!

As the temperatures dropped again last week, Jeanette Arteaga, whom you know from Monarca Insurance and Financial Services at 3300 W. 63^rd St., and her group once again went out to the Pacific Garden Mission to deliver much needed necessities like socks, gloves, boots, etc. to the homeless at that shelter. Sadly she shares that there are kids at the shelter as well. If you would like to know what to do to help, call Jeanette at the office at (773) 701-5000.

Greater Southwest Development Corp will be holding a Pop Up this Saturday, Feb. 11, featuring local businesses from the community at two locations, 2555 and 2557 W. 63^rd St. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It’s time for the annual Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance at St. Rita of Cascia Parish, this Saturday, Feb. 11, in St. Augustine Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Cost of the event is $40. For more information contact the parish office at (773) 434-9600. Or visit the parish website at parishstrita.org.

Healthy Southwest is currently presenting a Virtual Winter Health Education series. Coming up this Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Southwest Organizing Project will sponsor Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Chronic Disease from 6 to 7 p.m. as part of this series. For questions call (773) 471-8208. To register in advance for this online presentation, visit uso2web.zoom.US/webinar/register/wn.85mmv3uubqfe1hgaor27qca.

For all St. Thomas More parishioners, both past and present, remember to save the date as Father Anthony Brankin comes back to Tommy More on Feb. 25 and 26. to say the weekend Masses, Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. on those dates.

If you are, or know of, a high school student residing in Chicago, that might be interested in the Sports and Recreational Leadership Program held in conjunction with After School Matters and the Chicago Park District, now is the time to register. This opportunity comes along once a year and takes place at Marquette Park. It offers the opportunity to create, implement and lead a variety of recreational activities while collaborating on projects with other teens and working with professional instructors.

This leadership development program also prepares participants for possible summer employment with the Chicago Park District. It will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Feb. 28 to May 11. Apply online at afterschoolmatters.org. For more information send an email to Instructor Paul Pope at [email protected]

Coming up in March, Archbishop Lionginas Virbalas will be visiting the Lithuanian communities in the United States. He will be coming to Nativity BVM on Saturday, March 25, for recollections at 3 p.m. and Mass at 4 p.m. Then on Sunday, March 26, he will celebrate the 11 a.m. Mass followed by a dinner in the parish hall.

Last week on our trip back to 1973 we decided that we’d go over to the Marquette Theater to see the Valachi Papers, but first stop for a bite to eat. We had settled on the casual dining restaurant at 3058 W. 63d St since it was so close. And the fact that they were having an all-you-can-eat spaghetti special for only $1.45.

Jean P. was the first to identify Falco’s. She remembers that the official name at least of this location, was Falco’s Pizza and La Cantina Restaurant.

Dan K. tells us it was a good place to take a date. The atmosphere was kind of Old World and they served cocktails too.

Miami Joe remembered both the 63^rd Street location and the Archer location when it was on the triangle.

Going back to this week in 1973, three new traffic signs were introduced. Any idea what any of them were? We’ll check them out next week if you don’t. But for now, let’s have some pizza.

We have our choice of two different locations for this pizza in 1973 either 3701 W. 59^th street or 8511 S. Pulaski. Of course there was the offer of a free 6-pack of soda, which was pretty much the norm at the time. Their bi-line was ‘Not too spicy, not too thick, rich, crisp, saucy, meaty.” Does that sound familiar to anyone?