Peggy Zabicki
Meeting those new year’s challenges
By Peggy Zabicki
Your correspondent in West Lawn
3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327
Hi neighbors! I hope everyone is enjoying January. This is a good time to stay inside and organize your home. Start with a room or a closet or even a drawer. I decided to start with the cabinet that I keep plastic storage items in. I had polished off the last of the Christmas cookies and started to put the clean container away.
I opened the cabinet, and a Tupperware lid flew out and hit me in the head. This knocked some sense into me. I decided to do some serious organizing. I ended up with four containers and sixteen lids. Some of the lids can be recycled, but most cannot. Now I must find a space for useless Tupperware lids. New year, new challenges.
Last week I talked about the tradition of starting a new year’s exercise program. These days it’s hard to find fitness places that are open to all people.
I asked the good people at Midway Baseball Softball Association for advice on what type of indoor exercise would be good for keeping in shape, not only for kids in baseball leagues, but for everyone. They said, “The best is to do strength training that would involve a variety of movements that exercise large muscle groups. Some may include standing, grasping, pushing, etc. These exercises are often performed rhythmically with minimal equipment as body weight exercises. They are intended to increase strength, fitness and flexibility.”
I was also told that movements such as bending, jumping, using stretchy resistance bands and jump roping are good as well. Pick what works for you. Perhaps parents can exercise with their kids.
Midway Baseball Softball Association will be announcing their registration date for the spring season in the next few weeks. Their baseball games are held at Madigan Park, 4701 W. Marquette Road. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
Envision Community Services is once again offering their Snow Angels shoveling services for seniors and disabled. Call them at (773) 899-2897 or visit their Facebook page for more information.
Thank you to 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn for his recent efforts in trying to persuade Mayor Lightfoot to find solutions to get CPS students permanently back in the classroom. He wrote a letter to her and offered to help in any way he can. It truly is all about the children.
Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares reminds us to call her office at (773) 582-4444 for problems with potholes, water leaks, garbage carts, rodents, lights out in alleys and streets, and abandoned cars. Thank you, Alderman Tabares!
Do you still have a live Christmas tree? You may bring it to Wentworth Park, 5701 S. Narragansett, or Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie, for recycling until Jan. 22.
CAPS Beats 813 and 833 meetings are starting up. For the time being, the meetings will be held online. The next meeting is scheduled 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25. Call the Chicago Lawn (8th) District police at (312) 747-8724 for registration information. There are no meetings scheduled for beat 823 at this time.
Here’s some follow up news for the Bank of America branch located at 61st and Pulaski. After many calls and emails, I have had no luck in getting information as to how long they will be closed. I received several calls from readers last week, wanting to know when they will be open.
Neighbors Ken and Lorry Spiwak called me and let me know that they visited the Bank of America branch at Archer and Narragansett recently. They asked a bank employee about the 61st Street branch and were told that this branch is permanently closed. This is sad news for their customers who live nearby and have depended on being able to do in-person banking. Thank you to Ken and Lorry for letting me know. I appreciate your sharing this news and really enjoyed talking with you.
Parishioners at St. Mary Star of the Sea wish a very happy birthday to Father Jesus and want to thank him for all he does for their church. May our Lord bless Father Jesus with health and happiness today and for the coming year.
As we all begin 2022, may all our efforts in self improvement, diet, exercise, reaching out to friends and family, and serving our community be done in joy.
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” –Nelson Mandela
Local News
Postseason Sports Report: Area stars ready for state bowling and dancing
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The first two IHSA state tournaments for winter sports will take place this weekend, and an army of area athletes will be competing in both. The boys bowling and competitive dance championships will be held Friday and Saturday, with the bowlers heading to St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon…
We need real solutions to crime
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Crime and safety concerns are the number one topic of all the calls and texts I receive. It seems that many politicians offer no solutions except the usual lists of ways to keep safe. I think everyone knows about locking…
Icy spill yielded plenty of good will
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Here is a giant shout out to our first responders in the community. On Jan. 9, when a sheet of ice descended on Chicago, I was walking the dog. Walking around Peck School was great.…
It’s a busy January in Gage Park
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Neighborhood correspondent at large Greetings, Gage Parkers! I’m pleased to be filling in this week for Karen Sala. It’s fun for me to report on Gage Park, the neighborhood where I lived for the first 26 years of my life. There’s always something happening in this big, exciting part of…
You can bank on good service here
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 In this world of corporate takeovers, it is kind of hard to feel safe in the hands of big business. First, we have to supply some of our personal information to the automated system. Then there’s…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…
Tax exemptions will be automatic, Kaegi says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. The Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions…
Neighbors
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…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…