May calendar filling up quickly
.
By Patti Tyznik
Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge
(708) 496-0265 • ptyznik@gmail.com
May is sure shaping up to be plenty busy around here with graduations, communions, weddings and of course, Mother’s Day.
As the days grow longer, there’s more time to enjoy evening walks. Have you had the pleasure of hearing the sounds of squeaky swings at the park or the sweet hum of lawn mowers all over the neighborhood? Have you taken in the first sweet smells of spring flowers and plants bursting through the warm ground or the fragment scents of bakeries and pizzerias beckoning you in?
We sure have some wonderful places to stop by in our neck of the woods, day or night. Here’s May’s scoop.
Library news
The Garfield Ridge Branch Library, Archer and Mulligan, is pleased to share our May programs, so stop by for our monthly calendars for kids, teens or adults. Registration is required online at chipublib.org/Events for all programs where indicated. Or call (312) 747-6094 for more information. Keep an eye out for information on our summer reading program.
We are happy to have Midway Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ellen Brown be a guest reader at our Thursday Afternoon Story Time on May 4 at 4:30 p.m. Children ages 3-6 years will listen to Ms. Brown read one of her own published books! Children can ask her a question about her story and then stay for a little activity.
Our Summer Reading Program junior volunteer meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 3 at 2 p.m. for children ages 12-16 interested in volunteering this summer. Registration is online to reserve a spot. Volunteering opportunities are limited. See a librarian for an application prior to the meeting.
Preschool Legos is for children ages 2-5. Preschoolers will be given simple, timed challenges using colored patterns to build small towers on Wednesday, May 10 at 10:30 a.m.
Painting 1 2 3 occurs on Saturdays, May 6 and 13 at 11:30 a.m. for ages 3-6 years. Each session children will paint using a different medium. Dress to get messy.
Join us for our children’s Sunflower Program on Saturday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. for ages 5-9 years. Kids will listen to a story and then plant a sunflower seed to take home. Photos of plant’s progress can be emailed to us throughout the summer.
Dignity Memorial will be here on Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. to present a workshop on How to Plan a Funeral. The presenter will share the latest options on funeral planning, answer questions about cremation and talk about how to lock in today’s prices to protect from inflation. There is no admission fee or obligation on your part to purchase anything.
Adults, come play games on Thursdays, April 27-May 25 and June 1 and 8 at Games People Play from 2 to 4 p.m. We’ve also established a nice pinochle group. Come join the fun!
Now that the election is over, the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63rd Place, can resume their morning story time. Join Ms. Kim on Thursdays, April 27 and May 4-25 at 11 a.m. for stories, finger plays, songs and flannel boards in this fun and engaging story time. It is for children ages 0 to 5 with an adult caregiver.
Flower Stories takes place on Wednesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. Join us for stories about May flowers and celebrate the beginning of gardening season. Children of all ages with an adult are welcome to attend to hear stories about flowers and make a craft. All material will be provided. Registration is required, as supplies and space are limited.
Remember, the Archer Heights Branch Library, 5055 S Archer, is closed for renovations until mid-May. Patrons can pick up their Archer Heights holds at the Garfield Ridge BranchLibrary.
Church events
St. Faustina Parish’s Ladies Guild will host its regular monthly bunco on Tuesday, May 9 in the parish center, 5157 S. McVicker. Sign in begins at 6:45 p.m. and games begin around 7. Cost to play is only $10 with cash prizes awarded at the end of the evening.
Also
Hale Park, 6258 W 62nd St., has some fun, free senior activities on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. On May 2 seniors will play bunco; on May 9 make a mosaic sticker art project. May 30 is Trivia Day. Call (773) 229-1032 for more information.
Have you been to the new Wintrust Sports Complex, 5499 W 65th St., Bedford Park? They are hosting their Second Annual Spring Craft and Vendor Faire on Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry fee is a non-perishable food item for the food drive. Over 80 vendors will be there.
Until next time, keep being nice to one another and share a smile!
Local News
Seek donations for charity at Two Holy Martyrs
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac The Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter at Two Holy Martyrs Parish will host a bundle weekend on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. Volunteers will staff two trailers at the St. Rene Goupil Church parking lot, 64th and New England, from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday…
‘Anything that gets flushed’
Spread the love. MWRD shows how it treats wastewater . By Dermot Connolly What better activity for a sunny spring day than touring the world’s largest wastewater treatment plant—which many people did during the open house held Saturday at the MWRD’s Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in Cicero. To celebrate Chicago Water Week, the Metropolitan Water…
Giannoulias urges REAL ID signup
Spread the love Flanked by TSA Illinois Federal Security Director Jim Spriggs (left), Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is launching his office’s “Get Real Illinois” campaign to encourage Illinoisans to obtain a REAL ID. The campaign will raise awareness about the May 7, 2025 deadline and encourage residents to apply early to avoid problems…
Charge Garfield Ridge man with March murder
Spread the love. From staff reports . A 29-year-old Garfield Ridge man was charged with murder in connection with a slaying that occurred back in March. Alberto Rosas, of the 5200 block of South Central, was apprehended May 7 in the 6800 block of West Archer. Police said Rosas shot and killed 27-year-old Gustavo Suarez…
Rashid calls college demonstrators ‘student heroes’
Spread the love. Rips Israel over “apartheid’ and ‘genocide’ . From staff reports The crisis in Palestine is taking a terrifying turn as the Israeli military is preparing to invade Rafah where more than one million Palestinians have been forced to after their homes in northern Gaza were destroyed, State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-21st) said…
Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics.…
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…
Neighbors
Nursing home industry unlikely to see much help from Springfield in tough budget year
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been four years since some of the worst scenes of COVID-19 played out in locked-down nursing homes during the early months of the pandemic. But while most of the world has moved on, the nursing home industry is still reeling from COVID, which exacerbated pre-existing challenges in…
Lawmakers consider tax break for news publishers, state-sponsored journalism scholarships
By ALEX ABBEDUTO & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A new measure being debated in the Illinois General Assembly would create a tax credit for certain news publishers based on the number of reporters they employ. The proposal from Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, is part of a package of policies that he…
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…
Hundreds of bills pass, including changes to state’s biometric data privacy law
By HANNAH MEISEL COLE LONGCOR & ALEX ABEDDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers passed more than 200 bills this week ahead of their scheduled May 24 adjournment. Many of the measures will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker, including a bill that changes how damages accrue under Illinois’ first-in-the-nation biometric data privacy law.…
Pritzker pledges to expand access to mental health care in Illinois
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a panel in Springfield this week at which he pledged to expand the state’s behavioral health services. With several dozen services providers from around the state in attendance, Pritzker…
With 1 week left in session, Pritzker admin says all revenue options remain on the table
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com While the governor’s office instructed its agency directors to prepare for $800 million in potential budget cuts last week, all facets of his plan to raise $1.1 billion in revenue to avoid those cuts remain under consideration. Read more: ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to…
Illinois launches summer food assistance program
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The state is launching a new program to provide food assistance during the summer for families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school. Gov. JB Pritzker joined other state officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Thursday to announce that Illinois will…
Lawmakers consider tax break for news publishers, state-sponsored journalism scholarships
By ALEX ABBEDUTO & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A new measure being debated in the Illinois General Assembly would create a tax credit for certain news publishers based on the number of reporters they employ. The proposal from Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, is part of a package of policies that he…
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…
As vacated Centralia funeral home prepares for new tenant, owner makes a startling find
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com In the basement of a Centralia funeral home in a dark hallway off the embalming room, tucked inside a nook behind two steel plates and a door, a visitor found three disembodied, neatly wrapped human legs, two of them marked with names and dated to the 1960s. The…