Mary Stanek

Mary Stanek

It only gets brighter from here

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By Mary Stanek

Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon

3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 284-7394

Happy 2023 to us all! Time to bring out the pickled herring to eat at midnight, symbolizing a prosperous New Year.

We made it to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year within the Northern Hemisphere, with only about 9 hours, 7 minutes of daylight. Things will only start getting brighter now.

MaryStanek

Mary Stanek

If you would like to learn how to help our community, please attend the Lions Club meeting at the Archer Heights Branch Library, 5055 S. Archer, on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Lions Clubs members have an opportunity to advance worthy causes while serving with friends and becoming leaders in the community.

Mark your calendars for the Midway Chamber of Commerce Valentine’s Comedy Jam. This will be held at Magoos Bar, 6550 S. Menard, Bedford Park, on Feb. 10 starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. There will be a cash bar, raffles and split the pot.

I would like to thank the daughters of Paul and Linda Young, Regina, Jolene and Nicole for inviting us to their parents’ home for one final goodbye before it sold. We shared such good memories of their parents and the neighborhood, and we laughed. The Young family was a staple within our community.

The block sure has changed neighbors through the years, as do blocks everywhere. That is why the saying is true, “The only thing constant in life is change.” We just briefly said hi to the new neighbors with this cold weather. But we hope to make friends.

Here is a shout out to the grocery store Save-a-Lot on 63rd street, The store partnered with St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Turibius food pantry to help feed those in need at this Christmas season.

Happy Birthday on Jan. 3 to Faras from Peck School. He always stops to say hello to us when he is out and about. On the 4th we have John Rak and Michelle Jeropke having birthdays. John – we are overdue on sharing a beer. And finally on the 6th, Ana Lowe celebrates her birthday. May you all enjoy your day.

Local News

Jesus Hernandez

Say man shot 3 in Back of the Yards

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Spread the loveAccused trio of plotting to have him killed By Tim Hadac A 59-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of three men in his Back of the Yards home. Jesus Hernandez has confessed to the slayings, according to published…

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Standing with Ukraine

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Spread the love While the Southwest Side’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be limited to prayers in churches last weekend, one Southwest Side elected official, 15th Ward Raymond Lopez, joined retired 11th Ward Ald. James A. Balcer and a handful of military veterans in a display of solidarity in the Loop.…

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

Rush anti-lynching bill passes House

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Spread the loveInspired by Emmett Till’s 1955 murder From staff reports A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st) that would — for the first time in history — designate lynching as a federal hate crime passed the House of Representatives earlier this week by a 422-3 vote. The bill (H.R. 55) is…

“Astro Joe” Guzman sets up one of his telescopes at an event where he encourages everyone, perhaps especially children, to enjoy the wonders of space. --Supplied photo

Head in the stars, feet on the ground

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Spread the love‘Astro Joe’ brings astronomy to the people   By Kelly White When Joseph Guzman was a child, he used to swipe his father’s binoculars and lie out in the backyard, exploring the urban skies with great fascination. The young boy did not know what he was observing, but he felt a strong attraction…

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Don’t get sidelined by sports scams, BBB warns

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Spread the loveBy Better Business Bureau staff When shopping for a team jersey or other sports memorabilia, watch out for fakes. Scammers know that authentic game-used and/or autographed items can fetch big bucks – especially for items commemorating big games. When shopping online, it can be hard to trust that a seller or product is…

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St. Bede girls are volleyball champions

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Spread the love Members of the St. Bede School’s varsity girls volleyball team pose for a photo after their triumph last month as champions of the Scottsdale Park volleyball league. In a nine-team league, the Blue and White went 7-1 and prevailed in the championship match over St. Richard, 23-8 16-14. In recent years, St.…

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St. Rita tops Homewood-Flossmoor, vying for first sectional title

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Spread the loveBy Steve Millar  Correspondent St. Rita’s Morez Johnson knows how deflating it is for an opponent when it plays strong defense and forces the Mustangs into a missed shot, only for Johnson to grab the rebound and score. “Those second-chance points hurt the other team a lot,” Johnson said after St. Rita defeated…

Kathy Headley

Snow brought out the best neighbors

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Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 I am not sure if we are officially done with the snow yet, or if it is just wishful thinking; but in either case I’d like to give a shout out and many thanks to my…

Peggy Zabicki

Library has an offer you can’t refuse

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Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 Here’s some good news for movie lovers. Monday night movies are back at West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St. On March 14, The Godfather will be shown at 4:45 p.m. Call ahead at (312) 747-7381 to reserve your spot.…

Mary Stanek

Easter egg hunt coming to Archer Park

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Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 284-7394 I would love to write something witty and cheerful, but I just can’t do it right now. Watching the news, the situation of the world, our nation, etc. is a heavy load for all of…

Neighbors

Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan

Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Stateville Correctional Center could close as early as September under a plan laid out by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Friday. Top officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections testified in front of a key panel of state lawmakers. The 12 members on the General Assembly’s…

Labor-backed bill banning 'captive audience' meetings awaits House action

Labor-backed bill banning ‘captive audience’ meetings awaits House action

By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With two weeks left before the General Assembly’s spring session is set to adjourn, negotiations continue on a labor union-backed initiative that would allow Illinoisans to skip religious and political work meetings without reprimand.  Dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” Senate Bill 3649 advanced out…

House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs

House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education. By the time it’s fully operational in 2026, the new…

ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts

ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code.  Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring…

State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin

State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters.  The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…

Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen

Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…

Remembering Lee Milner

Remembering Lee Milner

NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…