.
By Peggy Zabicki
Your correspondent in West Lawn
3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327
.
Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809. Lincoln is considered to be one of our greatest presidents. It seems appropriate that we celebrate his birthday and his many accomplishments insuring freedom for all people during African American History Month. Lincoln ended slavery by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Lincoln wrote one of the greatest speeches in our country’s history, the Gettysburg Address. Here’s the first line. “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation. Conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Here’s the last line: “…that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
I hope our schools include in their curriculum lessons about Abraham Lincoln and what he did for our country.
Speaking of schools, a female hawk was spotted near Hurley School, 3849 W. 69th Place. A male hawk was seen outside a house near 68th and Komensky. I am hoping this is a nesting pair. Hawks eat rodents and insects. This could be very helpful to our neighborhood as rats continue to be a big problem.
In addition, this is also an excellent opportunity for Hurley students to learn about hawks and watch for them in our neighborhood. As a former homeschool teacher, I can’t help but see exciting learning opportunities like this all around us.
Congratulations to Lee School teacher Carl Stalla on being named by WGN News as Teacher of the Month. Mr. Stalla, who teaches seventh and eighth grade math, was nominated by his students and was featured on WGN-TV news recently. He said, “My kids won the teacher of the month. It’s not me, it’s them.”
Carl Stalla has been a teacher for more than 20 years. He gets to know each student and also shares details of his life when he was young. This helps to form a student-teacher bond which enables him to be an effective teacher. Carl said, “I think God puts you where you need to be.”
The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., will be presenting a monthly concert series starting Saturday, Feb. 18. Sara and Kenny Folk Jazz will perform at 7 p.m. The concert is free. Call for more information at (312) 747-7381.
The next CAPS Beat 813/833 is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St. Call the Community Policing office at (312) 747-8724 for more information.
There is no February CAPS meeting scheduled for beat 823.
Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day. This holiday isn’t just about love and romance. It is also about the love between friends and others. As teachers decorate their classrooms with valentines, may they use this opportunity to encourage their students to be truly loving and kind to their classmates as they exchange valentines.
I’d like to wish a very happy February birthday to long time West Lawn resident, volunteer and friend to all, Dawn Ferrarini. May the dear Lord bless you with happy times on your birthday and the coming year. Thank you for all you do for our neighborhood.