Peggy Zabicki
People sure do like El Indio
.
By Peggy Zabicki
Your correspondent in West Lawn
3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327
Hello and happy March to all. I want to thank everyone for the calls and texts last week.
I am still getting restaurant recommendations from many nice people who responded to my request a few weeks ago for good places to eat in the neighborhood. I got three recommendations for El Indio Restaurant, 3930 W. 63rd St. I have eaten there a few times and I do like their tacos, burritos, quesadillas and grilled items. One neighbor recommended their breakfast menu. I will definitely have to check that out.
El Indio offers eat-in dining, dining to go, and a drive through. They have a big parking lot too. I don’t live too far away from them. I should walk there next time I visit. Maybe I’ll burn off a few calories. Call them at (773) 884-1800 for their days and hours.
I got a call from a parent looking for swim classes for her daughter. I recommended the British Swim School at 6520 S. Cicero in the Marriott Hotel. They offer classes for children and adults. Call them at (630) 833-8145 for their schedule. This school is highly recommended.
I tried to find out if Daley College is offering swim classes as they did a few years ago. Their pool is so big and beautiful. I used to take my youngest son, Joe, there when he was a kid. I called the college, checked out their website and inquired on their Facebook page with no luck. If anyone has any information let me know.
Daley College may not be offering swim classes anymore but their Manufacturing Technology Training facility is open for in-person learning. You can learn more about this state of the art facility by visiting ccc.edu.
The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., will have the next in their Saturday concert series on March 4 at 7pm. David Chiraboga will play Spanish guitar music. Admission is free. Call for more information at (312) 747-7381.
I was driving west on 63rd Street a couple of weeks ago and saw that the huge fenced-in property at 63rd and Lawndale (which decades ago was Egan Funeral Home) is still an empty garbage collector. Such a shame. This is a very busy location. I would think it would be an ideal place for a variety of businesses.
As I drove further west on 63rd Street, I drove past the railroad tracks at Knox. This strip mall (on the south side of the street) has been completely empty for a long time. It is a bleak, boarded up eyesore. I wondered what could be done about this–and the property at 63rd and Lawndale. I have received a few calls from concerned residents over the years about both locations.
I called 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn’s office to ask what can be done to speed up the process of attracting businesses to these unused properties. I was told by the person who answered the phone that she didn’t know anything about it and that she would have Alderman Quinn call me back.
I called the office on Feb. 16, but as of today, I still haven’t heard back from the alderman or his office. I hope something can be done soon because this is what makes a neighborhood look neglected and shabby. If I do hear anything, I’ll let you know.
St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish is having a blood drive called Hope Springs Eternal on Sunday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. As we can read in Leviticus 17:11, there is life in the blood. Blood donations give hope and life to so many.
There will be a blood drive bus on Kilbourn between 64th and 65th streets. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Call 1-800-7TO-GIVE for information or appointments. You can also make an appointment online at tinyurl.com/6zpffbk9.
The Calvary Lutheran Church Senior Club would like to wish very happy March birthdays to Kathy B., Fran C. and Terry V. May the dear Lord bless each of these lovely ladies with happiness and good health on their birthdays and the coming year.
Local News
Mother’s Day is truly a day to be celebrated
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Mother’s Day happens on Sunday, May 12. If this isn’t something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Motherhood means new life, new beginnings, new possibilities. Even if you won’t be seeing your mom, you can still…
Saint Xavier men’s volleyball finishes historic season in nation’s top 4
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. But the Cougars fell to eventual national champion Georgetown (Kentucky), 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, on May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although there was…
St. Francis first baseman Nate Maliska earns conference POW honors
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent The University of St. Francis sophomore first baseman Nate Maliska was chosen the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week in baseball for April 7. In helping the Saints to four wins that week, Maliska went 9-for-15 (.600) with eight RBI and seven runs scored. The St. Laurence…
Baseball | Marist claws way back to .500
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent This season has thus far not been what Marist had expected, but the RedHawks came into this week at .500. Marist was 2-8 after 10 games this season, with three of those first eight losses coming via shutout. But the RedHawks turned things around with a stretch of eight…
Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four…
Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held…
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…
Neighbors
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
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…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…