Plenty to enjoy in Gage Park

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By Joan Hadac

GSWNH correspondent at large

Greetings, Gage Parkers! While the search continues for a permanent writer of this column, I’m pleased 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 Chicago, so here goes.

There are still a few openings left in Kiddie College at Gage Park, 2411 W. 55^th St. This recreation-based preschool-like activity (for boys and girls ages 3-5) is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Dec. 9. It provides an opportunity for children to play and learn with their peers. The creative atmosphere fosters the learning process through free play and other activities such as circle time, crafts, games, story-time, music, fitness and other elements. Children must be potty-trained and comfortable being without a parent. Tuition is $10. For details, call the park at (312) 747-6147.
Joan Hadac
Congratulations and thanks to everyone at St. Gall School who took part in the 31^st Street Beach cleanup last Sunday. Teaching our community’s children to be good stewards of the environment is important. Glad to see the good folks at St. Gall (especially Ms. Veronica Romero) understand that and act upon it. This activity was part of the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach initiative.
The annual blessing of pets will take place after the 8:30 a.m. bilingual Mass at St. Gall Church, 55^th and Kedzie on Tuesday, Oct. 4 (the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi); and later that day, after the 6 p.m. Mass in Spanish at St. Simon Chapel, 52^nd and California. All pets are welcome, but must be safely collared and leashed (and muzzled and caged, if necessary).
The schedule of weekly activities for junior high and high school youths continues from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays at St. Clare of Montefalco Chapel, 55^th and Washtenaw. Gym night (basketball and volleyball) is Sept. 30. Spiritual night is Oct. 7, and pizza night is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Just north of us, the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council is looking for a part time elementary/middle school art teacher to join their team.

Those who are interested would be working from 3 to 5:30 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday. Applicants must be able to pass a background check, provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, pass a TB test and lastly must have experience working or volunteering with students. The pay rate is $25 per hour.

Resumes should be sent to Stephanie Garcia at sgarcia@bpncchicago.org. For more information, call (773) 466-4516.

The Book of Life, a 2014 film, will be shown from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Gage Park Branch Library, 2807 W. 55th St.

This animated adventure follows a young man, Manolo, on a journey across three enchanting realms where he faces his greatest fears. He also learns to follow his heart and embrace his future.

This 20th Century Fox movie is 1 hour, 35 minutes long and is rated PG. For more information, call (312) 744-8400.

Wedding banns have been posted at St. Rita/St. Clare for Zachary Sala and Nathalie Ortiz. May God bless your coming nuptials.
Well, that’s it for this week. Reporting the news in Gage Park has given me an appetite, so I think I’ll swing by Pizza Castle, 3256 W. 55^th St., a Gage Park favorite for 49 years. I’m guessing my husband will order either the King Arthur pizza or the Meat Eater pizza. My younger and daughter and I are looking at the baked mostaccioli and the chicken parmigiana sandwich. Visit the Castle at eatatpizzacastle.com. When you order, see if they still have any free Chicago Bears refrigerator magnets!

As I said at the top of today’s column, the search continues for a new Gage Park correspondent. The paper is looking for a person 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 the editor will respond and discuss things further.