Kathy Headley
Something smells at 62nd and Washtenaw
.
.
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 62nd 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 87th 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. 63rd 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 63rd 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 63rd and Campbell and pick up a small party tray? They are so good. Remember where we are going?
2 Comments
Local News
First Secure Bank to host American Eagle gold coin sale
Spread the loveFrom staff reports First Secure Bank & Trust of Palos Hills announced its annual May sale of 1-ounce and ¼-ounce American Eagle Gold Coins, produced by the U.S. Mint, will take place from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturdays, May 4, May 11, May 18 and May 25. The sale will take place at…
Donate teddy bears to our local police
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Have you ever seen the 1955 movie The Night of the Hunter? The children in this movie show such bravery and acceptance in what life has thrown at them. They have to deal with unimaginable events and sadness. …
Boy Scouts collecting tattered flags for disposal
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Goodbye April, hello May. Our American Flag, the symbol of our country, should always be treated with respect. But after bearing Chicago’s brutal winters and hot blazing summers along with being in the…
Boys Volleyball | Richards weathering struggles after run of success
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a tough weekend at the Smack Attack tournament, Richards got back into the win column with a two-set victory over Eisenhower in a South Suburban Red match. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Cardinals, winning 25-16, 25-15 on April 23 in Oak Lawn to snap a five-match…
Year of growth | Evergreen Park enjoying inaugural boys volleyball season
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After almost 70 years of existence as a high school, Evergreen Park finally has a boys volleyball team. The Mustangs are playing their inaugural season with a junior varsity squad, with some matches being played at the varsity level. Head coach Brian Zofkie is leading this group with assistant…
‘Brazen and cowardly’: Police, community outraged by officer’s slaying
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Police and others across the Southwest Side reacted with outrage this week over the slaying of a Chicago Police officer in the early morning hours on Sunday. Officer Luis M. Huesca was shot to death on the street in the 3100 block of West 56th Street at 2:53 a.m.…
Swanson scores, assists in Red Stars’ win over Reign
Spread the loveThe Red Stars improved to 3-1-1 by beating the Seattle Reign, 2-1, on the road on April 21. Mallory Swanson had an assist on an Ali Schlegel goal in the fourth minute and added a goal of her own in the 31st minute. Swanson missed last season after sustaining a knee injury on…
Red Stars’ Tatumn Milazzo has top Save of the Week
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Tatumn Milazzo called her achievement “funny.” The Chicago Red Stars defender and Orland Park native was awarded the NWSL’s Save of the Week after chasing down a ball in a loss to Angel City on April 13. The Save of the Week usually goes to a goalie. Milazzo laughed…
Men’s College Volleyball | Saint Xavier captures fifth straight conference tourney title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The SXU men’s volleyball team won its fifth straight Chicagoland Christian Athletic Conference tournament championship after a 25-16, 25-17, 25-22 sweep of Calumet College of St. Joseph on April 20 at the Shannon Center. Jan Lopuch had 10 kills and nine digs for the Cougars. With the win, the…
Neighbors
Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans
By PETER HANCOCK and JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…
As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Lead pipes in public water systems and drinking fixtures have been banned in new construction since 1986, when Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, but they are still in use across the U.S. and in Illinois. The presence of lead pipes has persisted due in part to…
Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge
By DILPREET RAJU & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Chicago Bears laid out a $3.2 billion plan for a new domed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront on Wednesday afternoon, painting pictures of future Super Bowls and other major public events while pinning their hopes on yet-to-be-had conversations with the governor and lawmakers. The Bears…
Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Natural gas is fueling a fight between consumer advocates, a powerful utility company and the state. Amid competing advertising campaigns, accusations of mismanagement and state decarbonization efforts, the Illinois Commerce Commission is starting a process that will shape how the state regulates the increasingly controversial industry. …
Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday. The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…
Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – For decades, lobbyists in the Illinois Statehouse have been required to report how much they spend wining, dining and entertaining lawmakers. Currently, though, there is no law requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by corporations, industry groups or other special interest organizations. That…
Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…
Illinoisans can now get documents notarized online
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office. This process is one of the latest initiatives of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ ongoing effort to modernize the office and its services. Notaries…
Hi Kathy,
Did you not have a column this week? Nothing seems to be updated. Thank you, Mary
Many thanks, Mary. My mistake. Tim Hadac, editor. https://www.southwestregionalpublishing.com/2023/04/03/plenty-to-do-as-we-approach-easter/