Kathy Headley
Signs are clear: spring is on its way
.
.
By Kathy Headley
Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor
6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778
The past couple of weekends have certainly been nice, what with a little warmer weather and some sun out to boot. Kayla and I certainly took advantage of them and spent some time at Marquette Park.
We made sure to stop at both playgrounds, per her request. It was great to hear the laugher of the kids running around and enjoying swings and slides. The ducks and geese were certainly glad to see us as we brought along some lunch for them as well. Bring on spring.
Some of you may remember Archbishop Robert Prevost OSA from his recent time here as Prior General of the Midwest Augustinians. Pope Francis has just chosen the archbishop as the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. With this assignment he leads the Vatican body responsible for recommending candidates to the Pope to fill the office of bishop as well. He takes on this new assignment in April.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Party at St. Thomas More is this Saturday, March 11. Held in Donlan Hall, 2825 W. 81st St., the party will include a buffet dinner, raffles, cash bar and dancing and features music by Dr Y and the Prescriptions. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6:15.
Tickets are $35 at the door. Children age 10 and under are admitted free. Tickets are available at the rectory. For more information, call the rectory at (773) 436-4444.
This Sunday, March 12, Community Cinema brings the 2021 Paramont film Rumble to the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, at 2 p.m. Rumble is a PG film based on Rob Harrell’s graphic novel Monster on the Hill.
Chicago Lawn Adult Librarian Bruce Sullivan has put together an online event honoring Women’s History Month for Wednesday, March 15. Join Bruce and the Chicago Lawn Branch for a look at Hoopla, the library’s streaming service, as they celebrate Black Women of Jazz. The event takes place on Zoom from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Register at chipublib.org at least 24 hours before.
Next week is a predominantly Irish week at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, beginning with Irish-themed word puzzles and music on Monday at 10 a.m. This one will also include pre-March Madness. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite college jersey. On Tuesday, March 14, it is Karaoke Irish Music with Harold at 10 a.m., followed by C.U.B. Lunch and Learn.
Then on Wednesday, March 15, it is Irish-themed crafts with Ms. Pena beginning at 10 a.m. On Thursday, March 16, it is Kelly High School Super Bingo at 10 a.m.; and then Friday, March 17 is the official St Patrick’s Day Celebration with D. J. Chico. On Friday, seniors are encouraged to wear green for the celebration.
During Lent, on Fridays at St. Thomas More, 2825 W. 81st St., Stations of the Cross are offered after the noon Mass.
The Legion of Mary Chicago Senatus Acies 2023 will take place in Nativity BVM Church next Saturday, March 18. Rosary begins at 12:30 p.m., followed by individual and collective Marian Consecration and closing with benediction. Light refreshments will be served afterward. For more information, contact Mark at (312) 934-1349.
Later this month Archbishop Lionginas Virbalas will be visiting the Lithuanian communities in the United States. He will be coming to Nativity BVM on Saturday, March 25, for recollections at 3 p.m. and Mass at 4 p.m. Then on Sunday, March 26, he will celebrate the 11 a.m. Mass followed by a dinner in the parish hall. For more information call the rectory at (773) 776-4600.
Now back to 1973. Last week we had just filled up the tank of our Ford Torino at the Martin Gas Station on the northeast corner of Marquette and Kedzie and were headed over to the dealership for a little repair work. We were on our way to Murphy Motors.
Don S. was the first to remember the location of Murphy Motors. Don bought his 1979 light chamois Thunderbird at Murphy in Ford City. Light chamois with a landau roof – very cool.
John Murphy opened his first Ford Agency in 1924 in Cicero and moved it to Ford City in 1968. I posted a nice picture of his Ford City location awhile back on the Chicago Lawn Historical Society Facebook page. I have since seen it floating around the internet, so you should be able to find it easily if you are interested.
Fifty years ago, a local business owner had just received the Retailer of the Year award from the Brand Names Foundation in a national competition. By this time in 1973, he had already been in business in what has been known as “the Heart of Chicago Lawn” for 32 years. Opening is first store here, his firm grew steadily, eventually growing to a chain of 11 stores. Its flagship location continued to be here in Chicago Lawn even after he opened stores in Evergreen Plaza, Dixie Square Shopping Center and downtown.
Known for quality products, in 1973 one of the popular brands he would advertise was h.i.s. His advertisements were in the newspaper and could be heard over the airwaves on WLS radio. Who do you think we might be talking about today?
Local News
Icy spill yielded plenty of good will
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Here is a giant shout out to our first responders in the community. On Jan. 9, when a sheet of ice descended on Chicago, I was walking the dog. Walking around Peck School was great.…
It’s a busy January in Gage Park
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Neighborhood correspondent at large Greetings, Gage Parkers! I’m pleased to be filling in this week for Karen Sala. It’s fun for me 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…
You can bank on good service here
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 In this world of corporate takeovers, it is kind of hard to feel safe in the hands of big business. First, we have to supply some of our personal information to the automated system. Then there’s…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…
Tax exemptions will be automatic, Kaegi says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. The Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions…
Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…
Neighbors
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…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…