Crime prevention starts with each of us

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327

Hi neighbors! Before I say another thing, I want to wish my fellow columnist Karen Sala well. As you know, she wrote her final column last week. I love Karen’s style of writing. It’s conversational and natural. I always felt like she was speaking to me when I’d read her column. Karen, you are a good writer and I hope you keep writing. Maybe you could write a book about Gage Park someday.

Last week I mentioned the CAPS Beats 823/825 meeting on Jan. 19. For those who do not have internet access I thought I’d sum it up. The meeting focused on the increase in crime in our neighborhood.

Between Dec. 15 and Jan. 18, the number one crime was criminal damage. Nineteen cases were reported. This is followed by battery (18 cases), theft (17), burglary (9) and assault (7).

Peggy Zabicki

I’m grateful for the West Lawn Neighborhood Watch group, which still patrols every day. They work directly with the Chicago Lawn (8^th) District Police.

If you would like to get involved with the WLNW, visit their Facebook page or call Eddie Guillen at (773) 899-2897. This is the phone number of Envisions Community Services. Eddie is involved with this neighborhood service organization, and you can leave a message for him.

Crime is the number one concern in West Lawn. We know that most of the crime is gang related. My neighbor, Javier Hermosillo, said, “I think it’s time for everybody to start taking back your neighborhood. All I know (is) this summer I’m going to organize something here and make sure we’re all safe. Why do we have to step out of our house and be scared that somebody’s going to jump us or shoot at us? Let’s take it back like how it used to be, seeing the kids play like they used to.”

Javier wants the gangs to know we are watching them. Thanks, Javier, for inspiring us all to take action. We can get together with the West Lawn Neighborhood Watch group. We can call the police if we see crime or suspicious activity. The results will be more arrests and hopefully some serious prison time for these criminals.

My neighbor, Pat, sent me a joke. Prison is just one word to you, but for some people, it’s a whole sentence. Thanks, Pat!

The West Lawn Snow Angels have been hard at work, shoveling snow for seniors and disabled neighbors. They could use some help. If you can volunteer some time after a snowfall, give Eddie Guillen a call.

I mentioned the Midway Baseball Association recently. The leagues play at Madigan Park, 4701 W. Marquette Road. They have updated their registration process for boys and girls ages 4-18. There are no neighborhood boundaries. The baseball leagues are open to all young people. Registration is online only. Go to midway-baseball.com for details.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, 3741 W. 62nd St., is continuing their Tiger Tots program every Friday at 9:30 a.m. This fun-filled hour has songs, stories and crafts especially for kids ages 3 and under. Call the school office to register at (773) 735-0772.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church is now holding meetings for couples who want to share and learn about successfully overcoming relationship challenges. The meetings are bilingual and open to all. These meetings will be held on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kelly building, located at the opposite side of the playground on 64th Street. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11. The topic is love. Call the church at (773) 767-1246 for more information.

St. Mary’s February Casino Nights have been temporarily postponed. I’ll let you know if and when they will be rescheduled.

The Calvary Lutheran Church Senior club would like to wish both Karin Elsner and Cindy Vallejo a happy February birthday! May the dear Lord bless you both.