Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

St. Patrick’s here, Easter coming up

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. Wear something green. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Today is National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day, too! Another reason to celebrate.

St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. We celebrate and remember that Easter will soon be here.  There will be many Easter activities going on in West Lawn.

The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski, will be offering an Easter egg etching workshop on Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. Folk artist Don Astras will teach you how to do this beautiful etching/scratching technique. Call the museum for registration information at (773) 582-6500.

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St., will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a free event for kids ages 3 through 12 years old. Call for more information at (773) 284-2803.

Envision Community Services will have their next Market Day on Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Center, 4626 W. 63rd St. There will be over 30 local vendors selling homemade arts and crafts and foods. Bring your kids for photos with a big Easter Bunny. If you are a vendor and would like information on renting a table, email esme@envisionscs.org.

If you know of any neighborhood organizations, clubs, churches, or restaurants with special Easter events, let me know. I would be happy to share the information in my column.

The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., has a science club for kids ages 6 through 13 years old. This special learning series takes place on March 20 and 27, as well as April 3 and 17. It is designed by the Museum of Science and Industry. There will be hands-on activities that explore earth science. Currently, the registration is full but you can be put on a waiting list by calling (312) 747-7381. Perhaps there will be some openings. You can also visit the library in person for more information or go online at chipublib.org.

The CAPS Beat 813/833 meeting will take place at West Lawn Park on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Call the 8th District Community Policing office at (312) 747-8724 for more information.

I have received a few calls and texts from friends regarding what they have given up for Lent. Most have given up some kind of food or alcohol. As you may recall from some of my previous columns, I completely failed at my New Year’s resolution of giving up gossip. I am still discouraged about that; so instead of trying to give up something for Lent, I decided to simply listen to what others have given up and hope they succeed.

I’m giving up eating chocolate for a month. Sorry, bad punctuation. I’m giving up. Eating chocolate for a month.

Just a little Lenten humor.

Local News

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Property values soar 31% in Lake Township

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Spread the loveCook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has announced the initial reassessments for residential and commercial properties in Lake Township, marking an important update for property owners. On August 29, Kaegi revealed a 31% increase in the total assessed value, driven by the changing real estate market over the past three years. With reassessments happening…

Overhead view of final minutes of the August 31 Mass in the St. Casimir Chapel celebrating the Transfer of SSC Congregational Leadership. (Photos courtesy of Daina Cyvas)

Sisters of St. Casimir join forces with Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Spread the loveAs they have every year, the Sisters of St. Casimir prepared to celebrate the anniversary of their founding at the end of August. But this would be much different than in past years when Summerfests adorned the sprawling grounds of the Motherhouse on Marquette Road. Just as those fests were important to the…

23rd Ward Alderman Silvana Tabares and 8th Police District Bryan Spreyn join members of slain CPD Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso to dedicate a new mural at 67th and Central Park. (Photos courtesy of 23rd Ward Office)

New mural brightens 67th Street viaduct

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Spread the loveThe viaduct at 67th Street and Central Park Avenue now has beautiful new murals. The murals cover all four corners of the intersection with dazzling displays of nature themes.  There are colorful birds, flowers, butterflies, a very large caterpillar and a white rabbit reminiscent of “Alice in Wonderland.” The works of art, which were made with special…

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Football | Libertyville downs Richards for second year in row

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Spread the loveLibertyville 48, Richards 15 Libertyville beat Richards in Week 2 for the second straight season, this time 48-15, to drop the Bulldogs to 1-1. Jaiden Henry scored on a 20-yard reception and Myles Mitchell tallied on a 2-yard TD run for Richards. The Bulldogs travel to Eisnehower this week for both teams’ South…

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Football | Nazareth’s Logan Malachuk completes nine passes — six of them for TDs — in romp

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Spread the loveNazareth 42, Kenwood 15 Nazareth senior quarterback Logan Malachuk threw for 275 yards and six touchdown passes as the Roadrunners (2-0) trounced Kenwood, 42-15, in a non-conference matchup in LaGrange Park. Malachuk, who has been under center the past two seasons as nazareth won back-to-back state championships, did that damage despite completing only…

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Football | Flutman and Boersma connect for four scores as Chicago Christian tops Elmwood Park

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Spread the loveCaden Boersma returned a punt for a touchdown and caught four scoring passes from Christian Flutman as Chicago Christian defeated Elmwood Park, 49-16, on Sept. 6 in Palos Heights. Kenny Jager had a rushing TD for the Knights (2-0), who were up 49-0 at halftime. Chicago Christian plays at Wheaton Academy this week.

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Football | Jake Ritter shines and Marist is great late in win over Brother Rice

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Spread the loveIt’s a new era at Marist under first-year head coach Mike Fitzgerald and his staff. But the more things change, the more they stay the same; at least when it comes to the recent history of the program’s annual neighborhood matchup with Brother Rice. RedHawks running back John McAuliffe’s second touchdown of the…

Northern Illinois players celebrate on the field at Notre Dame Stadium after the Huskies' 16-14 victory over the Fighting Irish on Sept. 7. Photo courtesy of NIU Football

Northern Illinois likely wrecks Notre Dame’s season

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Spread the loveThe Northern Illinois football team pulled off the biggest win in school history and the biggest stunner of the 2024 college football season thus far with a 16-14 win over 5th-ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 7 in South Bend. Three former area players are on the Huskies’ roster. Former Shepard star Roy Williams,…

Curtis Randle El (left) and Orland Park Fire Chief Michael Schofield present Steve McMichael with a shirt on Sept. 5 at the former Bears great’s Homer Glen home. Photo provided

National Football Players Father’s Association honors Hall of Famer Steve McMichael

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Spread the loveThe Chicago Bears honored former defensive tackle and newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael during the team’s home opener on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field. Three days earlier, McMichael he was honored by the National Football Players Fathers Association. The new vice president of that group is Orland Park Fire…

St Laurence's Natalie Martinez gets ready to serve in front of a cheering section on Sept. 4 against Marian Catholic. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Girls Volleyball | St. Laurence strong on and off the court

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Spread the loveThe St. Laurence girls volleyball players are competitive on and off the court. On the court, the Vikings made it to Class 3A Supersectional play the past two seasons before ending those campaigns with losses to Joliet Catholic in 2022 and St. Ignatius in 2023. They are off to a big start this…

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In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally

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A year after end of cash bail, early research shows impact less than many hoped or feared

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ADM carbon sequestration project violated Safe Drinking Water Act, per EPA

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On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract

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Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified

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Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss

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Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act

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Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act

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Jury selection begins in trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

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By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza, who federal prosecutors allege bribed once-powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. It’s the last in a series of related trials that…

East St. Louis forum to tackle persistent childhood poverty

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By MOLLY PARKER  Capitol News Illinois  mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois has the potential to eradicate childhood poverty, but it will require a concentrated, sustained effort in partnership with families and disadvantaged communities, says Tasha Green Cruzat, president of Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on childhood wellbeing. This hope drives the focus of the policy…