Skating is winter’s silver lining

By Joan Hadac

Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge

(708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com

Hi everyone. As I write this, snowmageddon is raging outside. I’m not sure how many inches we have as of yet, or how many we will end up with; but I hope by the time you read this, we are all dug out.

If this were March, I’d say we started off the month like a lion. I’m still hoping February ends like a lamb. I am so over the snow. Snow, in small amounts, is decorative around Christmas. After that, not so much.

The good thing about colder weather is you know the ice rink over at Wentworth Park, 57^th and Narragansett, is up and running during various hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Open skating is offered on these days as well.

Joan Hadac

However, because Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday fall on Monday, Feb. 21, the rink will host open skating from noon to 7 p.m. The event is free, but skate rental is $7.

Registration is necessary, even for open skating. You may visit chicagoparkdistrict.com/park-facilities/ice-rinks. Registration for the open skate on Feb. 21 is already available. Make a note on your calendar to spend part of the day having fun at the rink. For more information, call (312) 747-6993.

You could also head a bit west, to Summit Park, 57^th and Archer Road. I drove past the other day and saw boys and girls whooping it up as they rode their sleds, saucers and toboggans down the hill. Reminded me of when my girls were little, and we’d head over there for a couple hours of fun.

Hale Park, 6258 W. 62^nd St., is hosting a volleyball tournament for girls age 12-13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21. The park is asking for grammar school teams. The fee is $50 per team. Registration is in-person only at the park. For more information or to register, call (773) 229-1032.

Chicago Public libraries, including the Garfield Ridge and Clearing branches, will be closed Friday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 12 in honor of President Lincoln’s Birthday. They will also be closed Monday, Feb. 21 in honor of President Washington’s birthday. The libraries will offer in-person programs before and after these dates.

The Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63^rd Place, will offer tweens and teens a chance to ignite their creativity at the Teen Zine, from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10.

Teens who like to write, draw or tell stories are invited to stop by and create a unique mini-zine. All supplies will be provided. Registration is not required. Since this is an in-library event, masks must be worn, social distance maintained and other pandemic guidelines must be followed. For more information, call (312) 747-5657.

Over at the Garfield Ridge Branch, 6348 S. Archer, kids age 2 and older are invited to drop in and make valentines for family members and friends from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10. Supplies will be available in the children’s area.

Later that evening at the library, adults will gather from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss the book White Fang by Jack London.

White Fang is part wolf and part dog and an orphan. He relies on his instincts as well as his strength and courage to survive in the Yukon wilderness as he tries to survive both animal and human predators. He eventually comes to make peace with man.

Registration is not required. Since these are in-library events all pandemic precautions must be followed. For more information, call (312) 747-6094.

The St. Jane de Chantal (St. Faustina) Ladies Guild will be donating the profits from their upcoming Sweetheart Cash Raffle to a longtime parishioner and guild member and her family, as they recover from the Christmas Eve fire that destroyed their home. Nice job, ladies.

How can you help? Purchase a ticket or more, on sale after the 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 and 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 6 p.m. Masses Sunday, Feb. 13, or from 9:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at the rectory, 5252 S. Austin.

Tickets are $10 each, and only 100 will be sold. The winner will match the last two numbers of the Illinois Lottery Evening Pick 3 Monday, Feb. 14 and bring home $500.

For more information, visit the St. Jane de Chantal Ladies Guild page on Facebook and send a private message or call the rectory at (773) 767-2411.

I hope all of you are enjoying or at least accepting the winter weather. I’ll see you next week.