Isabella Nuño, a woman of achievement on her way up

By Joan Hadac

Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge

(708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com

As usual, there’s no shortage of bright, energetic young people among us here in Clearing and Garfield Ridge—young men and women clearly on the way up.

This week I have the pleasure to congratulate Clearing resident Isabella Nuño, who recently graduated from Lake Forest College after a four-year record of admirable achievements.

Isabella Nuño, a young woman of achievement. –Photo courtesy of Anilu Garcia

A 2014 graduate of Dore School and a 2018 graduate of Kennedy High School, Isabella earned a Wentcher Scholarship on her way to college–open to young people who show great promise via academic grades and character.

At Lake Forest, she won the 2019 Jacob Wardwell Edwards Leadership Prize for re-starting and leading the college chapter of To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

Also, she served as president of Latinos Unidos, a cultural club on campus. She was part of the Tau Chi chapter of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication National Honor Society at the college. She earned the Edward H. Oppenheimer Memorial Prize for her achievements during her years at Lake Forest.

This fall, Isabella heads off to Boston University, where she will pursue a master’s degree in social work.

Understandably proud of Isabella are her mother, Anilu Garcia, stepfather, Carlos Rodriguez, and sisters, Kaitlyn Nuño, a freshman at Kennedy, and Celeste Rodriguez, a third grader at Hale School.

Way to go, Isabella!

Mark your calendar

• There are always activities going on at the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center, 5674-B S. Archer. The center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. A special event coming up is “free time” arts and crafts at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 (that’s today, folks) and 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 31. The center will provide the space and you bring your own crafts and supplies. For more information, call (312) 745-4255. Thanks to Julie Slawniak, center manager, for passing along this information.
• Poppy Days are upon us (May 26-28), so if you see a friendly man or woman with a fistful of artificial red poppies, please make a generous donation and show your support for all our military veterans. All donations received will be used by the American Legion for their programs that support veterans, the military community and their families.
• The Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual pet parade from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 4 in the Kinzie School parking lot at Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile.

Pets will be walking around the park, strutting their stuff, at 9:30 a.m. Chicago Animal Care and Control services begin at 10 a.m. Vaccines and microchips will be given to the first 100 pets. Two pets per household will be allowed. If you or your pet is sick, you will not be seen.

The CACC insists that all pets be handled by an adult 18 or older. All dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet and it cannot be a retractable leash. All cats must be in a carrier. If your pet requires a muzzle, please bring one.

Keep a distance of six feet between your pet and other pets. Most importantly, bring your patience. It may be a long wait, so keep water on hand and a chair.

For more information, visit garfieldridgecc.com, visit their Facebook page, or call (773) 424-3345.

• You are cordially invited to a special game night at 6 p.m. Monday, June 6 at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63^rd Place. The emphasis will be on modern games, which are diverse, larger and more immersive than previous board games. You can learn some of these modern games, play one of your favorites with friends or bring your own favorite game to show others. For more information, call (312) 747-5657. Thanks to Rob Bitunjac, branch manager, for letting me know about this special event.
  

  Joan Hadac

Memorial Day

We are coming up on the Memorial Day weekend. Many appreciate the three-day weekend, but Memorial Day goes deeper than that. It’s a day of mourning, remembering those who have died while serving in a branch of the United States armed forces. It’s a quieter day of reflection, thinking about and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep democracy alive and well in this country. It reminds us that freedom isn’t free.”

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868, as a way to remember those who gave their lives in the Civil War. Families would decorate other family members’ graves as way to honor the fallen. After the World Wars, it became a general day of remembrance to include all wars.

I urge everyone on Memorial Day to fly the American flag, bow your head in prayer and reflection and give a heartfelt thanks to those who died so we can keep living the American dream.