Joan Hadac
Laff-Jam coming to St. Bede, no foolin’
By Joan Hadac
GSWNH Columnist At-Large
joan.hadac@gmail.com
Once again this week, it’s my privilege and pleasure to write the Greater Southwest News-Herald’s column for Greater Ashburn (the Wrightwood, Ashburn, Parkview and Scottsdale neighborhoods).
As usual, there are plenty of interesting things happening in this special, vibrant part of Chicago.
- St. Bede School’s athletics program is hosting Laff-Jam, a night of live, stand-up comedy set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 1 in the church hall, 83rd and Kostner. Headliners include comedians Anthony Bonazzo, Anthony Fuentes and Marci Deloney. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and there will be music from a disc jockey, a cash bar and raffles. Tickets are $30 at the door, $25 in advance. To buy your tickets now, visit the school or rectory during regular business hours. This is an adults-only event (18 and up). For more information, send an email to stbedeathletics@stbedechicago.org.
- The Scottsdale Neighborhood Watch has been pressuring the Lightfoot Administration for answers regarding the coming construction at Durkin Park. Chicago Department of Water Management Deputy Commissioner David L. Kohn said the ongoing soil boring/sampling work at Durkin Park and Southwest Pumping Station is “proceeding very well and more quickly than anticipated.” He said the engineering team reports they expect to complete the soil borings at Durkin Park and then move operations to the north side of the SWPS to obtain soil samples needed there. Bottom line: there should be no disruption of the park this spring, he added.
- If your child wants to play baseball or softball this year but has not yet signed up with a league, now is the time to do it. Several youth baseball and softball leagues serve this area. Most kids in Scottsdale are eligible to sign up with Burbank American Little League. Call Jim Falbo at (708) 601-6127 for details. If you live in Ashburn, Parkview or Wrightwood, you’ll want to check in with Wrightwood Little League Baseball at (773) 570-3077. If you live anywhere at all in this area, you are welcome to sign up with the Midway Baseball and Softball Association. Call Elsa Trujillo at (773) 575-9361 for details.
- The young artists at Bogan have posted several intriguing works online. Go to Twitter and search for Bogan Computer Tech High School. Well done, kids!
- Over at this area’s other high school, Goode STEM Academy, senior Marquis Brown, a football standout for the Knights, recently signed a letter of intent to continue his athletic and academic career at Elmhurst College, where he is expected to suit up and play for the Bluejays. If you’ve never seen Marquis in action, check out his high school highlight reel on maxpreps.com. His speed in rushing passers is amazing. He is a big reason the Knights went 5-0 in conference play last fall. Congratulations, Marquis!
- If ever you’ve had concerns about the conditions of our local streets and everything else handled by the Chicago Department of Transportation, you may want to attend an online meeting hosted by 18th Ward Ald. Derrick G. Curtis, set for 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Thursday, March 10. To join the meeting via Zoom, call Curtis’ office at (773) 284-5057 to get the link and passcode.
- As I noted last week, if you’d like to be the next Greater Ashburn columnist, please send an email to editor@ swnewsherald.com.
You don’t need to be a trained journalist or anything like that at all. In fact, the large majority of neighborhood correspondents at this newspaper over the years had no formal training—and they did just fine.
We’re looking for a person who is active in the community, is naturally curious and enjoys writing and passing along news—nothing big or earth-shattering, but rather the smaller stuff. You know, the kind of news that won’t make the front page, but which is just as important, in its own way, as the big stuff: birthdays, anniversaries, birth announcements, engagements and weddings—plus news tidbits from our local schools, libraries, parks, churches, Scout troops, Little Leagues, senior citizen clubs, veterans’ posts, small businesses and such.
If you want to give it a try, send an email to editor@ swnewsherald.com and we’ll discuss things further.
Well, that’s it for now. I may head over to Don’s Drive-In, 7748 S. Kedzie, an Ashburn favorite since 1963. I think I’ll get a tamale with chili—or possibly a corned beef on rye. My husband will buy a couple of hot dogs, and my younger daughter may order the Kronos Gyros sandwich topped with Tzatziki sauce, onions and tomatoes. Don’s has always been a family-owned and operated business—and for the last 25 years, the Gonzalez family has been in charge. Please say hello to them when you stop in. Call ahead at (773) 476-9392 for larger orders and faster service.
Local News
Icy spill yielded plenty of good will
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Here is a giant shout out to our first responders in the community. On Jan. 9, when a sheet of ice descended on Chicago, I was walking the dog. Walking around Peck School was great.…
It’s a busy January in Gage Park
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…
You can bank on good service here
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 In this world of corporate takeovers, it is kind of hard to feel safe in the hands of big business. First, we have to supply some of our personal information to the automated system. Then there’s…
A heavenly sound
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…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
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…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
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…
Tax exemptions will be automatic, Kaegi says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. The Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions…
Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…
Neighbors
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…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
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…