Even now, Washington is an inspiration

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327

Happy Birthday to George Washington, whose birthday is Feb. 22, 1732. He was our country’s first president, the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the president of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution.

Very impressive considering he never attended college or received a formal education. He mostly studied reading, math and basic legal forms on his own. What an inspiring example of our thirst for knowledge!

The Chicago West Lawn Community Organization, 4051 W. 63rd St., is offering free tutoring for students in grades 2 through 12. Interested parents can bring their children on Saturdays between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for these once a week classes.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, 3741 W. 62nd St., will be having their annual Spring Fling Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday, March 4. This dinner and dancing event will take place at European Chalet, 5445 S. Harlem. The cost is $75 per person. Call (773) 735-0772 before Feb. 28 to reserve your tickets.

The Quinn Guerrero-Cuellar Service Office, 6500 S. Pulaski, will have a Property Tax Appeal Workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. Bring your property index number found on your recent property tax bill.

Call for more information at (773) 581-8000 or (773) 581-1313. There are a lot of people in our neighborhood who have received property tax increases, and so I am grateful to Quinn and Guerrero-Cuellar for providing these workshops.

I recently called the Quinn Guerrero-Cuellar Service Office to ask about reported plans to develop the old Kmart building at 71st and Pulaski into a migrant shelter. I was told that Ms. Guerrero-Cuellar will be handling calls about that. I left my phone number but as of this writing, I have not heard back.

West Lawn resident Eddie Guillen took care of a railroad fence along Central Park Avenue that was falling onto the street. Neighbors had been making calls reporting it, but nothing was done. Eddie and some volunteers put the fence back up before it became a hazard to drivers and a danger to children walking home from school. Eddie also organized a clean up along Central Park Avenue between 63rd and 67th streets on Sunday, Feb. 12. He is planning more clean ups later this month. Thank you, Eddie, and all volunteers for helping make our neighborhood safer and cleaner.