![MaryStanek Mary Stanek](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MaryStanek-1-768x1024.jpg)
Mary Stanek
Best of all, spring is coming
By Mary Stanek
Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon
3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394
Mardi Gras, Paczki Day, Fat Tuesday and the start of the Lenten season all happen this coming week. But the absolute best part is, March is here. Spring is just around the corner (we can only hope).
The Polish community of St. Turibius Parish will be selling paczki before and after all Masses the weekend of Feb. 27. I hope I can report on some fish fry events during the Lenten season.
In the first week or so of March 2020 I had purchased tickets to the St. Patrick/St. Joseph table over at St. Bruno Parish (scheduled for March 15, 2020). And bam, poof–just like that, canceled. St. Bruno, along with St. Turibius, held awesome buffets around St. Patrick and St. Joseph Days. It was a great way for the neighbors and families to get together and share an awesome ethnic meal. I hope those days will soon return.
![Best of all, spring is coming 1 MaryStanek 1](https://www.southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MaryStanek-1-225x300.jpg)
Mary Stanek
Living in the Archer Heights/West Elsdon and neighboring communities offers us many options for great ethnic food. There are numerous Mexican restaurants available. Two of our favorites, one along Pulaski, one along Archer, offer reduced-price margaritas on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays.
Great carnitas, from the Pilsen area, can be found right along 55th Street. There also is a wide variety of Asian take-out and dine-in options. We have two favorites as well. Pizza and Italian are plentiful and delicious. There even is an upscale new Italian restaurant along Archer, with rave reviews.
Polish food can be taken home and enjoyed from some great delis. For good old fashioned American bar fare, including burgers, sandwiches, wings and even pizza, there is Guides, along Archer. With that I wish Daria, our bartender, a Happy Birthday and best wishes for the coming year.
Don’t even get me started on the delicious ice cream shops as well, one a block and a half down from my home. There are so many more good eats around the Southwest Side. So, let’s support them all.
Mark your calendars for Earth Day on April 22. There will most likely be many events to celebrate taking care of our Earth. As of now, there is a community clean-up scheduled on April 23 for 3502 W. 55th St., a vacant lot by the railroad tracks. Save the date, and I will follow up closer to the date.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year along Archer Avenue on March 12. The St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off at noon from Oak Park to Narragansett, honoring the late Officer Ella French as honorary grand marshal. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Get Behind the Vest program, which provides protective vests to police officers in the city.
Happy Belated Birthday to Nicole Young.
Local News
![BoysBB_DLS 12 De La Salle senior DaJuan Bates launches a shot against Marian Catholic on Friday. He finished with 33 points in the upset blowout win over the Spartans. Photo by Jeff Vorva](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BoysBB_DLS-12-1024x964.jpg)
Upset Specials: De La Salle girls crowned regional champs; Meteors boys shock Marian Catholic
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It was quite a 24-hours for De La Salle’s basketball teams. And it started out wrong. So wrong. On a snowy night when some area games were canceled because of a winter storm, the Meteors’ girls squad made the trek to Burbank to take on host St. Laurence…
![LYONS SWIM Lyons swimmers figure to have three high placing relay teams in the state meet, which starts Friday in Westmont. Photo courtesy of Lyons Township High School](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LYONS-SWIM.jpg)
Area Sports Roundup: Lyons and Sandburg lead contingent of area swimmers headed to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Lyons, which won state titles in boys swimming in 2016 and 2017 and took second in 2018, is bringing a huge contingent of athletes to the IHSA state meet this weekend. Lyons is sending three relay teams and individual qualifiers in four events to the event, which will…
![SRP-IMAGE-Logo SRP-IMAGE-Logo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SRP-IMAGE-Logo-1024x560.png)
Four Mount Carmel wrestlers win titles; Sandburg’s Zimmer, Shepard’s Reed settle for 2nd
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent CHAMPAIGN — Heavyweight wrestling matches are often slow, defensive battles, but Mount Carmel senior Ryan Boersma decided early this season he did not want to compete that way anymore. “When I was young, a freshman and sophomore, I survived off defense,” Boersma said. “That doesn’t work in college so…
![MaryStanek Mary Stanek](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MaryStanek-768x1024.jpg)
Love your dogs, protect your dogs
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. –Josh Billings Let us love them back as well. Belonging to community groups on Facebook, I see so many…
![CRRNH_MikeDelGaldo_021622 Mike Del Galdo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CRRNH_MikeDelGaldo_021622.jpg)
Del Galdo named Super Lawyer for 12th straight year
Spread the loveLauded by suburban mayors for skills From staff reports A national legal magazine is out with its 2022 list of best Illinois lawyers and tapped eight Chicago-area attorneys as the state’s “super” local government lawyers–including Berwyn-based attorney Michael Del Galdo, a recognition that drew praise from several suburban Cook County mayors. “Super Lawyers” magazine,…
![SRP-IMAGE-Logo SRP-IMAGE-Logo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SRP-IMAGE-Logo-1024x560.png)
Mt. Carmel tops Rice in big Blue battle
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent On a night when Mount Carmel honored one of its all-time best point guards — retiring the jersey of former Caravan and Illinois star Tracy Abrams at halftime — two of the Chicago Catholic League’s current top point guards staged an epic duel. Brother Rice junior Ahmed Henderson scored…
![Freestyle wrestling icon vector. Female. Pictogram women sport. Logo. Match girls. Symbolic image is one of a series. Greco-Roman. Isolated. Freestyle wrestling icon vector. Female. Pictogram women sport. Logo. Match girls. Symbolic image is one of a series. Greco-Roman. Isolated.](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1214066349-e1644874046927.jpg)
Girl wrestlers make history as first IHSA state qualifiers
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent For Morton senior Karla Topete, Feb. 12 was a special day for a greater reason than just her winning a sectional wrestling championship. Topete and her teammates competed at the Andrew Sectional, one of four sectionals that marked the start of the IHSA’s first individual girls wrestling state series.…
![SRP-IMAGE-Logo SRP-IMAGE-Logo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SRP-IMAGE-Logo-1024x560.png)
High School Hockey: St. Rita drops two of three to Carmel, bows out of Kennedy Cup
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent St. Rita came out angry for Game 2 of its Kennedy Cup playoff quarterfinal series with Carmel. Two days earlier, the fifth-seeded Mustangs were run off the ice by the fourth-seeded Corsairs in a 5-0 loss in which they gave up three first-period goals and were never really in…
![TOMK Stagg graduate Tom Kazanecki, right, is guarded by St. Xavier University’s Joshua Evans during a recent game. Kazanecki changed his mind on playing an extra season for St. Ambrose after he was injured in a practice. Photo by Jeff Vorva](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TOMK-1024x681.jpg)
College Report: Former Stagg standout Kazanecki gives hoops one more year
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer The idea was for Tom Kazanecki to finish his basketball career at St. Ambrose in 2021. The former Stagg hoops standout was even toying with the idea of starting a military career, even though he had an extra year of athletics eligibility remaining, thanks to seasons getting snipped…
![MARIST WRESTLING Marist is sending 11 wrestlers to the IHSA state meet Thursday. Photo by Marist High School](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MARIST-WRESTLING.png)
Area Sports Roundup: Marist leads way with 11 wrestlers heading to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer An army of area wrestlers is headed to the state tournament, with 49 set to hit the mat in Champaign. During sectional action on Feb. 12, area wrestlers feasted on opponents. Marist will send 11 to the tournament, which begins Thursday at State Farm Center on the University…
Neighbors
![Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TRACY-06741-bRYaAc-1024x682.jpeg)
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
![Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IDEC-3-gA9lr0-1024x682.jpeg)
Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday creating a new cabinet-level state agency dedicated to early childhood education and development. The new Department of Early Childhood, which will become operational in July 2026, will take over programs currently housed across three state agencies, including funding for preschool…
![Speaker Welch rebuffs lawsuit from would-be staff union as ‘forum shopping’ Speaker Welch rebuffs lawsuit from would-be staff union as ‘forum shopping’](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1024-EXEC-JN-WELCH-BURDEN-STAFF-09191-Jd97ud-1024x682.jpeg)
Speaker Welch rebuffs lawsuit from would-be staff union as ‘forum shopping’
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is urging a Cook County judge to dismiss a lawsuit members of his staff filed against him last month seeking to force recognition of their union. In a new filing Monday, attorneys for Welch argued the Illinois Legislative Staff Association has no…
![Advocates say SCOTUS ruling paves way for law ensuring abusers have guns confiscated Advocates say SCOTUS ruling paves way for law ensuring abusers have guns confiscated](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/scotus1-N8hYn7-1024x768.jpeg)
Advocates say SCOTUS ruling paves way for law ensuring abusers have guns confiscated
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com After the U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld a federal law that bars those under domestic violence-related restraining orders from owning guns, victim advocates say Illinois lawmakers should pass a measure to ensure firearms are actually confiscated in those situations. The legislation has been stalled for more than…
![Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240611-COGFA-SOTO1-AsGWYO-1024x682.jpeg)
Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Jimmy Soto spent more than 42 years wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. In 2020, he was moved to the “F-House” at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, a condemned unit, not because he was being punished, but because it was where the facility was housing individuals…
![Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240429-BAILEY-PROFT1-yRwYCt-1024x624.jpeg)
Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com A hearing officer is recommending the Illinois State Board of Elections dismiss a complaint that alleged conservative radio host and political operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated with former Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey during his 2022 campaign for governor. Proft, a one-time gubernatorial candidate himself, is behind an…
![State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’ State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FLASHING-LIGHTS-SQUAD-POLICE-00971-ilpWzw-1024x682.jpeg)
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
![Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TRACY-06741-bRYaAc-1024x682.jpeg)
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
![As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wetlands-Prairie-scaled1-3WD1bu-1024x683.jpeg)
As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails
by JENNIFER BAMBERG Investigate Midwest jennifer.bamberg@investigatemidwest.org In 2006, 19-year-old Jessica Whinston inherited 20 acres of land that her grandparents once farmed in Quincy, Illinois. The land had sat dormant since the 1980s and was overgrown, but Whinston and her husband Bradley worked to turn it into a productive farm. The couple were eventually able to…
![Elections board dismisses illegal campaign coordination complaint, declines to clarify law Elections board dismisses illegal campaign coordination complaint, declines to clarify law](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240618-PIC-Board-of-Elections1-1aDJ4Z-1024x658.jpeg)
Elections board dismisses illegal campaign coordination complaint, declines to clarify law
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – State elections officials on Tuesday indicated they were unlikely to step in to clarify what constitutes illegal campaign coordination after voting to dismiss a complaint alleging such coordination in the 2022 campaign for governor. At their monthly meeting in Chicago, Illinois State Board of Elections members…