Eight years later, an Eagle takes flight
By Joan Hadac
Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge
(708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com
Hi everyone. I want to tell you about the eight-year journey of one young man, which started in fourth grade at Kinzie School and ended just recently.
His journey took him from Cub Scout Pack 3625 at Kinzie School through Boy Scout Troop 1439, based out of St. Symphorosa (now Two Holy Martyrs) Parish.
Nathan Aburto was honored in a ceremony during the second week of February when he was recognized as an Eagle Scout. Each Boy Scout who wants to earn Eagle Scout status must complete a major project that in some way helps the community. Nathan chose to build and install a lending library at St. Symphorosa School. Planning and building the project took him a month, he said.
“I thought I could help the kids further their learning by building this library,” he said. “I always liked to read and thought I could pass along the love of reading.
“I felt proud of what I achieved,” he added “It doesn’t benefit me. It benefits the kids at St. Sym’s. I’m happy I gave something back to the community.”
Building a lending library seemed like a natural fit for Nathan.
“My brother’s a carpenter, and I work with him,” he said. “He showed me all the tools I would need and I thought, ‘Great. I’ll create a lending library.’ It combined my love of books with my ability to build.”
Along the way he had the total support of his parents, Presiliana and Rafael Aburto.
“He worked really hard,” Presiliana said with pride.
“My parents supported me and pushed me to keep going, to just continue to be in Scouts no matter what was going on at the moment. A lot of people supported me, including my whole family,” Nathan emphasized.
His family includes his seven siblings, ranging in age from 40 to 21. Nathan is the youngest at 18. He graduated from Kinzie in 2017 and continued his education at Kennedy High School, graduating in 2021. He will continue his education at Daley College, where he will be studying to be an automotive technician.
While the pandemic raged on, Nathan kept attending his Scout meetings online. (Now Troop 1439 meets at the St. Rene Goupil campus.) Scouting will be in his future, as well. Eagle Scouts have a few options if they want to stay active in Scouting. Nathan wants to be certified to teach a merit badge class, one that Boy Scouts would be interested in.
“Scouting has always been a positive influence. I tried to live by Scout law. It taught me how to be a leader, and I try to be the best I can be,” Nathan concluded.
Congratulations, Nathan. A job well done.
Over at the Clearing Branch Library
Congratulations to Clear Ridge Historical Society President Rob Bitunjac, also the branch manager at the Clearing Branch Library, being tapped to talk about the history of Clearing on the Jan. 6 episode of Chicago Tonight on WTTW Channel 11.
The In Your Neighborhood segment was broadcast live from the Clearing Branch Library. Rob discussed the origin of the Clearing name and a bit about Midway Airport. If you would like to see Rob on Chicago Tonight visit, news.wttw.com/2022/01/06/Chicago-tonight-your-neighborhood-clearing. Good going, Rob.
Rob also let me know that the Clear-Ridge Historical Society will be hosting the Midway Historians at the Clearing Branch Library in April. So, mark your calendars for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 3 and show up at the library, 6423 W. 63rd Place, for an and spend an interesting afternoon with the Midway Historians, a group of individuals dedicated to preserving the history of the airport.
They collect pictures, documents and oral histories of the airport. You can stop by to talk with them, share any photos or stories you have or just sit back and learn about the history of the airport right here in our neighborhood.
Thanks, Rob, for sharing your news.
Once again, as I’m writing this column we are expecting ice and snow. How many inches depends on what report you read or saw. I’m hearing anything from 2 to 4 inches or 6 to 10 inches of snow. If we have to have snow, I’m hoping it’s the latter. Come on spring!
Take care of yourself, and I’ll see you next week.
Local News
‘Me? A school bus driver?’
Spread the loveYes you, First Student says By Tim Hadac In a world where “Help Wanted” signs now outnumber “Wear a Mask” signs by about a thousand to one (or so it seems), employers across the board are scrambling to compete for prospective employees like never before. Having a leg up on the competition are…
City giving away bicycles
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A new program that will provide 5,000 free bikes, as well as maintenance and safety equipment, to Chicagoans by 2026, began earlier this week. Called Bike Chicago, the effort will see at least 500 bikes distributed to age and income-eligible Chicagoans throughout the program’s first year. Over the next four years,…
Prayers in the park, for peace
Spread the love A handful of Clearing and Garfield Ridge residents gathered last week at Hale Park to pray for peace, the well-being of police officers and an end to violence in the city. Organized by Clearing resident Jennifer New, the circle included several local faith leaders, as well as 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares.…
Veterans and families enjoy a banner day on Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva When former Stagg teacher Diane Gurnea looks up and sees the banner displayed on Ravinia Avenue and 143rd Street in Orland Park, she can’t help but to be proud. Her father, John Langevin, and uncle, Robert Langevin, share a banner that was recently erected. The Village of Orland Park held…
It doesn’t have to be this way
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Today I begin on a note of profound sadness. One of our own, a Garfield Ridge police officer, took her own life recently. I normally don’t name suicide victims, but CPD Officer Patricia “Patsy” Swank left a young son behind,…
Patriot’s Day Parade a success
Spread the love Red, white and blue were the colors of the day, as several thousand men, women and children lined Archer Avenue late last month to enjoy the Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Patriot’s Day Parade. The GRCC’s next large public event is its Back to School Extravaganza, set for August. Details are…
Quinn touts ‘get tough’ ordinance on reckless drivers
Spread the loveNew law gives CPD authority to seize, impound vehicles By Tim Hadac Thirteenth Ward Ald. Marty Quinn and a number of his City Council colleagues this week fired the latest salvo in the ongoing battle against those who use vehicles to engage in drag racing, drifting and other car stunts that create a…
Pro Soccer Report: Houston’s hat trick too much for Red Stars; Bezerra hat trick not enough for Fire II
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Bad things came in threes for the Chicago Red Stars. Houston’s Ebony Salmon scored three goals against the Red Stars’ defense and Chicago lost by three, 4-1, in an NWSL match July 16 at PNC Stadium. It snapped the Red Stars nine-game unbeaten streak. The loss dropped the…
IHSA releases 2022 football schedule
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It’s that time of year. The IHSA has released the 2022 football schedule. So, from now until Aug. 26, one can go on the IHSA website, look at the schedules and see all of the blanks where the results and scores will be. It’s a clean sheet for…
Neighbors
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…
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…