New Walgreens looking hopeful

By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

I was making my weekly drive around the neighborhood and was happy to see all the construction progress at the Walgreens at 59th and Pulaski. The destruction done during the days of rioting and pillaging was so extensive that this Walgreens had to be completely rebuilt.  Now it looks like it is going to be a very nice building.

Walgreens spent $35 million dollars so far in the repairs and rebuilding of all the damaged stores in Chicago. I will understand if they have to raise their prices.

I remember the day our Walgreens was destroyed. The smell of smoke was in the air. I couldn’t even stand on my front porch without smelling it and seeing the orange sky and black smoke. I was afraid to go outside. May it never happen again.

Peggy Zabicki

Speaking of smoke, did anyone smell the smoke coming from Hubbard High School a couple of weeks ago? I did because I live just three blocks from the school. I thought someone was barbecuing a rancid animal or something.

As you may have read in last week’s Greater Southwest News-Herald, construction material to be used for school repairs caught fire due to careless fireworks. Hopefully, action will now be taken when we call 911 to report fireworks. I can’t imagine how much the replacement construction materials for Hubbard High School will cost. The actions of a thoughtless individual resulted in money going up in smoke.

The CAPS Beats 813/833 meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St.

Have you driven down 63rd Street lately? It is smooth sailing. The resurfacing has been completed. The street is smooth. Not even a middle seam is showing. Good job!

Now that driving down 63rd Street is easier, plan on heading over to the Clearing American Legion Post 600, 4352 W. 63rd St., for their rummage sale on Sept. 16 and 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have items you’d like to sell, call (773) 767-0230 to reserve a table.

Speaking of sales, my own block (3600 W. 60th Place) is having a block sale on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. My neighbors will have tables filled with treasures in front of our houses. We feel that sales from backyards and garages can end up clogging alleys, and we don’t want to do that. Stop by, say hi and have fun browsing.

Midway Baseball and Softball Association has been sprucing up their home fields, located in Madigan Park, 4701 W. Marquette Road. They pulled weeds, power-washed outdoor surfaces and planted autumn flowers in preparation for their fall season.

Even though this baseball league is located in West Lawn, kids from all neighborhoods are welcome. If you know a young person between the ages of 5 and 18 who is interested in baseball or softball, visit Midway Baseball’s  Facebook page (Midway Baseball Softball Association) or visit midwaybaseballsoftball.com.

The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski, will be presenting a music program featuring the Kalnas Ensemble String Quartet. They will present original compositions inspired by Lithuanian folk music. The concert will take place in their Amber Room on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Call for ticket information at (773) 582-6500.

Finally, thank you so much for your calls and texts last week.  A very special thank you goes to the lady who actually offered to cook Polish foods for me after I lamented the closing of Mabenka Restaurant. You are so kind and gracious! I enjoyed our conversation.