Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

We need real solutions to crime

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By 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 their cars and not opening their doors to strangers. We need real solutions.

Thirteenth Ward Ald. Marty Quinn wrote a letter to Police Superintendent David Brown on Jan. 11. He requested that Superintendent Brown reconsider reversing his decision to reassign tactical officers. Quinn stated, “This is a time when we should be adding officers to our streets and not removing them.”

Quinn also asked Brown to consider splitting the Chicago Lawn (8th) Police District into smaller districts to better protect residents.

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

I appreciate Marty Quinn’s efforts in offering common sense solutions. If you would like more information on Alderman Quinn’s ideas on enabling our police officers to effectively deal with crime or would like to comment on his efforts, call his office at (773) 581-8000.

We are all in this together. If you’d like to get involved, plan on attending the next CAPS Beat 813/833 meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 online. This is unfortunate for those who do not have internet access and need to meet in person. For those who do have access, email Barb Ziegler for a link at b.g.ziegler@comcast.net.

Midway Airport has full-time job openings in concessions. They will be holding a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. Go to the second-floor mezzanine at 57th and Cicero and bring your resume, state ID or driver’s license, birth certificate and Social Security card.

Continental Sales, 6333 S. Cicero, is currently hiring. You may go to their service desk and ask for a job application.

West Lawn Baptist Church, 6401 S. Komensky, is conducting in-person services again. Sunday services are held at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday school takes place at 10 a.m. All are welcome.

The Calvary Lutheran Church Senior Club would like to express get-well wishes to Katherine. May our Lord bless you with a quick recovery and good health for the coming year.

The other day I was making bookmarks out of the Christmas cards I received. They make a nice accompaniment to books given as gifts. As I was doing this, I received a text from a reader of this column. He shared this amusing thought: “I was going to cook alligator for dinner, but realized that I only had a croc pot.”

I then thought of a terrific recipe that Gage Park correspondent Karen Sala shared with me a while back, for sweet and sour chicken made in a crockpot. I think I’ll make that this week. Thanks, Karen. Thanks to all of you who left messages and texts last week.

Local News

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Chuy backs Starbucks unionization

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Sophomore Danni Scully of Nazareth is triple-teamed by Marist in a 53-42 victory in LaGrange Park on Jan. 19. Photo by Jeff Vorva

‘Grizzled’ sophomores help Naz beat Marist

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Nazareth’s “grizzled veterans” have won 19 of their first 20 games. The Roadrunners’ were victorious in a big East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown with Marist, with two sophomores doing most of the damage in a 53-42 win in LaGrange Park on Jan. 19. Nazareth improved to 19-1, 4-0.…

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Postseason Sports Report: Area stars ready for state bowling and dancing

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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…

Peggy Zabicki

We need real solutions to crime

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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…

Mary Stanek

Icy spill yielded plenty of good will

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Joan Hadac

It’s a busy January in Gage Park

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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…

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You can bank on good service here

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A heavenly sound

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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…

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Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park

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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…

Former Mother McAuley star Hannah Swiatek (right) smiles and walks off the court with Justene Charlesworth after a recent University of St. Francis victory over Cardinal Stritch. Photo by Jeff Vorva Former  Mother McAuley star Hannah Swiatek (right) smiles and walks off the court with Justene Charlesworth after a recent University of St. Francis victory over Cardinal Stritch. Photo by Jeff Vorva

College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis

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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…

Neighbors

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