Something smells at 62nd and Washtenaw

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

From time to time I’ll mention something I’ve caught on the downtown TV news that I know won’t make the front page here, but I think you’ll be interested in, since it has a connection to our neighborhood.

That being said, watching the news on a recent evening, as they were giving us a hint on what will be in the next segment, a picture comes up of Fairfield Academy (the former St. Rita Grammar School) with emergency vehicles surrounding the 62^nd and Washtenaw entrance! Did you see it?

My daughter texted me, as she is an alumna of St. Rita. She also saw the photo of her old school on the news. We both waited anxiously, through commercials, the sports highlights and more commercials.

Finally the story comes on. Geez, according to the report, “A student set off a stink bomb in one of the classrooms.” Remember those? I didn’t even know they made stink bombs anymore.

So if you didn’t see that segment, it was determined that the spray was non-toxic and the five ambulances they dispatched were unnecessary. However, it was good to see how seriously they took the situation, and how necessary they felt the emergency responders were.

As a precautionary measure the report said they did transport a child who has asthma to Holy Cross to make sure. I’m glad the kids are fine and thankful it turned out to be a childish prank, as opposed to any number of horrible things that have gone on at schools in the country the last few years. But it was surprising to see a stink bomb make the 10 p.m. news.

Coming up this Saturday, March 25, the Sand Ridge Nature Center and Forest Preserve District of Cook County will be holding an open music jam at the Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, corner of 87^th and Western, at 11 a.m. Bring your instrument and create music with the community. All instruments and music types are welcome.

As I mentioned recently, Archbishop Lionginas Virbalas is visiting Lithuanian communities in the United States and coming here to Nativity BVM this Saturday, March 25, for recollections at 3 p.m. and Mass at 4 p.m. Then this 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.

Coming up on Tuesday, March 28, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office has made a date to come to the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, for seniors that would like to renew their Illinois State Identification card and driver’s license. For those of you who showed up last time only to find out they were a no-show, I double-checked. The bosses at the Center did the same, so we should be able to expect them for sure this time. Timing on the event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Senior Center is devoting the rest of the week to driving, beginning with the Illinois Secretary of State Rules of the Road on Wednesday, March 29 at 10 a.m. And then the following two days, Thursday and Friday, March 30 and 31, with the AARP Driving Safety Class at 9 a.m. For more information on any of the events, call the Center at (312) 747-0440.

Greater Southwest Development Corporation has announced that Churchview Supportive Living Apartments, 2626 W. 63^rd St., will be undergoing a tenant in-place rehab updating all major mechanicals and refreshing all senior apartments. The opening ceremony will be Wednesday, March 29 at 11 a.m.

Coming up on Palm Sunday, April 2, Nativity BVM Parish will host an Easter-themed painting class for people of all ages and abilities, with Ieva Bagdonas. The event will take place in the parish hall after 11 a.m. Mass. For reservations or more information, call Ieva at (708) 288-2067.

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Augustinian Gala which will take place at The Drake Hotel on Friday, April 21. The 2023 Honorees are Rev. John Sotak OSA, Peggy and Matt Coughlin, The Augustinian Contemplative Nuns of Good Counsel Monastery and The Augustinian Sisters of St. Rita. For tickets, donations, sponsorships and additional information visit augustiniangala.org.

For those that attended St. Thomas More Grammar School, you may remember Sister Virginia Kinsella (Angelique), who recently passed away at the age of 83. A member of the Sinsinawa Dominicans, Sister taught at the school in the mid-1980s.

Now let’s return to 1973. When last we met, we were visiting Water Wonderland Pet Center, billed as the area’s largest seller of tropical fish. Jim D. remembered it well. He said, “Once you mentioned walking into the front door and everything was black except for the glow of all the aquariums, I knew it was the shop on 63^rd and Mozart. It was fun to go in and just look around. It was so big, it was like it was never-ending to a kid.”

Yep, it sure was big, taking up several storefronts as I recall. As long as we are almost to California Avenue, how about we go a little further east to 63^rd and Campbell and pick up a small party tray? They are so good. Remember where we are going?