Small salesman, big results

By Joan Hadac

Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge

(708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com

I saw a cute photo the other day and had to share.

In the picture, Victor Duque Jr., a preschooler at Our Lady of the Snows School, was accepting a five-pound World’s Finest chocolate bar from OLS Principal Christina Avis.

Why such a big bar for such a little guy? Well, it was a reward for being the top seller of World’s Finest bars in the entire school in OLS’ recent fundraiser.

Little Victor sold a whopping 480 chocolate bars! In addition to the giant bar, Victor received a $50 Amazon gift certificate and will have lunch with Mrs. Avis.

On top of that, the OLS preschool class finished first among all classes at the school and will be rewarded with a pizza party.

Not earth-shattering news, but the photo is cute and made me smile. I hope it does the same for you.

Are you looking for a top quality school for your son or daughter, for the 2023-24 school year? Our Lady of the Snows may be just what you’re looking for. The school is located at 4810 S. Leamington and will host an open house during Catholic Schools Week, after the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Jan. 29.

Want to check out the school before then? Visit ourladyofsnowschicago.org or call (773) 735-4810.

In the news

• The weekly bingo games at the Rhine VFW Post 2729 have ended for this year, but not at the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center, 5674-B S. Archer (immediately west of Laramie). Bingo is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27 and 9:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30.
  

  Joan Hadac

Also at the center, the 2022 action comedy film “Bullet Train” will be shown at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. The movie runs about two hours and stars Brad Pitt.

• Do you have any new winter hats, scarves, mittens and thermal clothing to spare? If you’d like to donate them to homeless men, women and even children on the Southwest Side, please bring them to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 5550 S. Merrimac, where Pastor Julio C. Peña and crew will cheerfully accept them and pass them along to a homeless shelter. Also welcome are donations of new, unused toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand soap, body wash, shampoo and women’s hygiene products. I suggest that you call the church at (773) 585-1094 before bringing your donation.
• If you live in the central or western part of Clearing (everything west of Central Avenue) and you want to help prevent crime, you’re welcome to attend the next CAPS Beat 812 meeting, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63^rd Place. Hear the latest about crime in the neighborhood and speak directly with police officers and others dedicated to making the area safer.

Also at the meeting, learn how you can join the Clearing Night Force and work directly with like-minded men and women to make the neighborhood safer.

• As you read in last week’s edition of the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound, the Garfield Ridge Civic League has a new president. I offer my congratulations and best wishes to Jason Huff. He has announced that the group’s next public meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at a location to be determined. As soon as that detail is set, I’ll gladly share it with you. A strong, independent, non-partisan civic association is an important part of any good city neighborhood or suburban town, and the GRCL has served in that capacity since 1939.
• The next meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 at Ward Hall, 5157 S. McVicker. This meeting also serves as the monthly CAPS meeting for Beat 811 (all of Garfield Ridge west of Central Avenue). My thanks to CAPS Beat 811 co-facilitator Marilyn Gilroy for sharing this information, as well as her continued service as a community volunteer.
• Baptized recently in Blessed Martyrs of Chimbote Parish were Sarah Mae Menezes and Maya Piotrowski. May God shower blessings upon you and your families.
• Finally, a word of thanks to Dr. John Baetti and his dedicated crew of volunteers for decorating the triangle at Archer, Narragansett and 55^th Street. The triangle is the closest thing Garfield Ridge has to a town square; and thanks to the volunteers working on behalf of the Midway Chamber of Commerce, it looks beautiful year round with seasonal decorations.

Well, that’s it for me for this year. Patti Tyznik will write next week’s column. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you in 2023.