Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

St. Patrick’s here, Easter coming up

Spread the love

.

By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. Wear something green. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Today is National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day, too! Another reason to celebrate.

St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. We celebrate and remember that Easter will soon be here.  There will be many Easter activities going on in West Lawn.

The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski, will be offering an Easter egg etching workshop on Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. Folk artist Don Astras will teach you how to do this beautiful etching/scratching technique. Call the museum for registration information at (773) 582-6500.

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St., will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a free event for kids ages 3 through 12 years old. Call for more information at (773) 284-2803.

Envision Community Services will have their next Market Day on Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Center, 4626 W. 63rd St. There will be over 30 local vendors selling homemade arts and crafts and foods. Bring your kids for photos with a big Easter Bunny. If you are a vendor and would like information on renting a table, email esme@envisionscs.org.

If you know of any neighborhood organizations, clubs, churches, or restaurants with special Easter events, let me know. I would be happy to share the information in my column.

The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., has a science club for kids ages 6 through 13 years old. This special learning series takes place on March 20 and 27, as well as April 3 and 17. It is designed by the Museum of Science and Industry. There will be hands-on activities that explore earth science. Currently, the registration is full but you can be put on a waiting list by calling (312) 747-7381. Perhaps there will be some openings. You can also visit the library in person for more information or go online at chipublib.org.

The CAPS Beat 813/833 meeting will take place at West Lawn Park on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Call the 8th District Community Policing office at (312) 747-8724 for more information.

I have received a few calls and texts from friends regarding what they have given up for Lent. Most have given up some kind of food or alcohol. As you may recall from some of my previous columns, I completely failed at my New Year’s resolution of giving up gossip. I am still discouraged about that; so instead of trying to give up something for Lent, I decided to simply listen to what others have given up and hope they succeed.

I’m giving up eating chocolate for a month. Sorry, bad punctuation. I’m giving up. Eating chocolate for a month.

Just a little Lenten humor.

Local News

Priscilla Steinmetz, of Orland Park's Bridge Teen Center, has fun March 7 at Congressman Sean Casten's desk in Washington. (Bridge Teen Center photo)

Casten secures $11M for district; invites Bridge Teen founder to State of Union

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten is bringing some big bucks home. Casten (D-6th) announced that he helped secure more than $11 million in federal funding for local community projects. Included in that bounty is: $1.28 million to Evergreen Park for water main replacement. $500,000 to La Grange for storm and sanitary sewer…

Trinity Christian College of Nursing received a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. (Supplied photo)

Trinity, MVCC nursing schools schools receive state grants

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The Illinois Board of Higher Education has awarded nursing school grants to 12 institutions of higher education across the state, including two in the south suburbs, totaling $1.4 million. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills received a grant of $38,316 to focus on improved math proficiency and preparedness of…

biz runnings logo NEW

Runnings holds grand opening in Homer Glen

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The big-box store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen has certainly had a storied past. Once upon a time, it was part of the Kmart chain. That ended years ago. Since then, it has been a Big R, a Stock + Field, and an R.P. Home and Harvest.…

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid celebrates winning the Democratic primary in the 21st House District with Safaa Zarzour (left) and wife Fidaa, who holds their 1-month-old son Mohammad Zain, at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. in Chicago Ridge. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Rashid rolls in 21st House, but Vasquez plans rematch

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid may have rolled to victory over challenger Vidal Vasquez in the 21st House District Democratic primary, but he took nothing for granted. “I am humbled and honored that the voters chose to send me back and I look forward to continuing the work ahead of us,”…

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Anniversary Ferris Wheel features 24 gondolas that each seat up to six people. The attraction will be at the Zoo through Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jim Schulz/Brookfield Zoo Chicago)

Brookfield Zoo Anniversary Ferris Wheel now open

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Brookfield Zoo has been attracting visitors for 90 years. To celebrate the anniversary, the zoo has opened a new attraction that has nothing to do with animals. Last Friday, the zoo opened its Anniversary Ferris Wheel. The towering 110-foot Ferris wheel offers guests unique bird’s-eye views of the park’s gardens, animal…

Congressman Sean Casten, speaking at a Town Hall meeting at Moraine Valley Community College.
(Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Casten romps over primary foes in 6th Congressional race

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Three-term Congressman Sean Casten easily defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District. “First and foremost, thank you,” he said. “Thank you to the voters who have entrusted me once again with their vote. Thank you to the volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls,…

Flanked by members of his political machine as he declared victory Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) invokes the names of Harold Washington and Rudy Lozano—two men who served as highly influential political mentors of his, early in his career. The congressman hinted at further expansion of his political reach when he said, “…and we’re not done yet.” --Supplied photo

Chuy’s expansion continues

Spread the love

Spread the love. ‘And we’re not done yet,’ congressman vows . By Tim Hadac Most observers in the city seemed to agree that U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) would handily win his primary battle with 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez. They were right. With almost all precincts reporting across the city and nearby suburbs,…

Peggy Zabicki

Silent spring break for children these days

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 . Spring break for Chicago Public Schools will take place next week. In the past, that meant we would hear the sounds of kids playing outside. We won’t hear that joyful noise next week. The issue is safety. Wouldn’t…

Kathy Headley

Things are looking bright at Lith Youth Center

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Cleaning, restoration and remodeling continues at the Chicago Lithuanian Youth Center on Claremont Avenue. New programs have been well attended and recent classes, Like Making Your Own Bacon Buns, have sold out quickly. Thanks…

Oak Lawn sophomore Jack Dempsey loads up as a pitch approaches during the Spartans 12-5 win over Crete-Monee on March 11. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | Oak Lawn rolls over Crete-Monee to open season

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Oak Lawn traveled to Ozinga Field in Crestwood to open the season against Crete-Monee at Ozinga Field in Crestwood, home of the Windy City Thunderbolts. The Spartans climbed to a big lead early and never turned back as they went on to defeat the Warriors, 12-5. Sophomore starting pitcher…

Neighbors

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

By PETER HANCOCK, JENNIFER FULLER & ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal for sweeping reforms in the state’s health insurance industry passed out of a committee Thursday and will soon make its way to the full House for consideration. Pritzker first outlined the proposal in his State of the…