It’s been an OMG 2023 so far

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

If you spend time texting you are no doubt familiar with the acronym OMG. If not, I will tell you it is another way of expressing shock, wonderment, or as the letters represent: Oh My Gosh. That has been my continued expression since the middle of January.

You’ve read my explanation here of the mess we have endured with the gas company project and then adding the water/sewer deal along the cross-streets, both ruining the sidewalks, streets, curbs and front yards. As we have questioned the delays, we have been told over and over that nothing can be done. After hitting the almost one-year mark, we were told the projects should be done by June or at the very latest the end of summer.

I have twice now praised our new alderman, Raymond Lopez, who took over our section of Chicago Lawn on Jan. 1, immediately told us he would address the problem right away and came through. Our sidewalks are in throughout the quadrant; and now much to our surprise, with the exception of the days it snowed, they have been out completing the work on the cross-streets. So once again, thank you, Ald. Ray Lopez, for making it happen.

If you have ever attended the monthly Novenas at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine, you have no doubt tasted the delicious Racine Danish Kringle that is brought in from the bakery in Wisconsin just for these events.

Now that being said, at Christmas, the Shrine offered the opportunity to purchase a whole coffee cake and it went over so well that they will be offering this opportunity again for Easter. You may think Easter is far off, but, if you are interested in ordering a Kringle for your Easter gathering, the order and payment needs to be in by March 2 for pick-up on April 5.

The flavors offered are Almond Macaroon, Blueberry, Pecan, Cinnamon, Cherry, Raspberry, Apple, Cream Cheese and Turtle, all of which I can testify are equally delicious. The cost is $20.

The next Monthly Perpetual Novena at the Shrine, 7740 S. Western, is on March 2, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 with confessions available at that time as well. For more information on shrine events check out the website at [email protected] or call (773) 925-6600.

Tickets are now on sale for the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party at St. Thomas More on Saturday, March 11. Held in STM Donlan Hall, 2825 W. 81^st St., the party will include a buffet dinner, raffles, cash bar and dancing and features music by Dr Y and the Prescriptions. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:15. Through March 3, advance tickets will be on sale for $30 ($35 at the door). Children 10 and under are free. Tickets will be available after weekend Masses or at the rectory. For more information call the rectory at (773) 436-4444.

A reminder that 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. For more information call the rectory at (773) 776-4600.

Last week on our trip back to 1973 we were on our way to fill the tank with gas. Whether we were driving a Ford LTD or a Plymouth Fury or a Pontiac LeMans or an Oldsmobile Cutlass, we would no doubt be needing 10 gallons to fill the tank. Even though gas was only around 35 cents it was always nice to go to a station that offered a little extra perk.

So last week we were on our way to the station on the northeast corner of Marquette and Kedzie. It was new and the attendants wore white shirts and black bowties. Their catchphrase was ‘First in Quality – First in Service – Go First Class with Us.’ They also gave out free gifts with a 10-gallon purchase.

No one has yet guessed the name of this filling station so we’ll give it another week. Perhaps if I add a few of the free items they gave regularly it will help: things like Scott bathroom tissue, Kleenex, pantyhose, packages of foam cups, six-packs of Pepsi and 7 Up. Does that help? Let me know if you get it.