May we turn tragedy into something good

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327

After the events of this past week, you have to wonder why a teenager makes the decision to shoot a fellow human being. What went wrong? What can be done to prevent this? How do families and friends heal from their terrible loss?

The shooting of CPD Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso happened in our neighborhood, and this is one reason it really hits home with all of us. He not only worked here, he lived here and then he died here. I hope we can draw together in love for one another as we show respect for our fallen officer.

Let us be comforted with the idea that it is the darkest before the dawn. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) May the people of our neighborhood turn this tragedy into something good as we remember the sacrifice of Officer Vásquez Lasso. Condolences go to his family and friends.

There is a light in West Lawn: the Astrrongu Southwest Youth Council. This group is in the heart of West Lawn, at 3919 W. 63rd St. I have mentioned them in some of my past columns. The Astrrongu organization is making a positive difference in the lives of the young people who live here.

Astrrongu offers tutoring, arts and crafts, social activities, counseling and support for young people growing up on the Southwest Side. They are open six days a week: noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. On Thursdays Astrrongu offers parent workshops. For more information, call (773) 424-5294.

The Boy Scouts of America was founded on Feb. 8, 1910. On Feb. 5 this year, St. Mary Star of the Sea Church recognized the founding of the Boy Scouts with a special Mass. They had other Scouting events through the month of February, which is Scout Month. St. Mary’s invites all boys ages 11 to 17 from any school or church to join their Scout troop. Call Ed Melkonian at (312) 316-5825 to register your son.

My brother, Steve, was a Boy Scout for many years. Except for his annoying habit of making me hold live grasshoppers in my hand when we were kids, Steve turned out to be one fine human being. I was a Girl Scout from age 7 to 18. Girl Scouts gave me opportunities I never would have had, like camping, rowing a boat, survival skills, performing in musicals, athletic competitions, and of course, cookie sales. Scouting helps a young person grow up in a positive way.

The CAPS Beat 823 meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 at the Chicago Lawn (8^th) District Police Station, 3420 W. 63rd St., in the Community Room. I hope our aldermen and residents will attend and share ideas with our police on how to make the neighborhood safer.

Happy Birthday to Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born cavalry officer in the U.S. military who served our country and contributed to the United States independence. His birthday of March 6, 1745 is celebrated every year in Illinois, Indiana, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Happy March birthdays to my brother, Steve; my brother, Mike; my son, Roman; my granddaughter, Theodora; my future daughter-in-law, Elizabeth; my nephew, Christopher; my nephew, Johnny; and my dear departed mother, Clara Imogene Judd.