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Mary Stanek
Time for fajitas, carnitas and Corona
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By Mary Stanek
Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon
3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394
We celebrated Polish Constitution Day with some Polish food and beer early in the week. Now it’s time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with maybe some fajitas, carnitas, tortillas and Corona.
It might be more popular in the United States than in Mexico since it has become a celebration of Mexican-American culture. The day actually commemorates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. It is not be confused with Mexican Independence Day.
Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares’ West Lawn office will now have “working family hours” on Mondays. Starting in May, the office at 3954 W. 63rd St. will have hours from 5 to 7 p.m. each Monday, if you have questions, suggestions or any concerns. This office is on 63rd street, but please note there is a parking lot in the rear.
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Mary Stanek
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. is a non-profit organization and nationally recognized leader of rail safety education. Sts. Bruno and Richard School thanked Joseph Chacon from OLI for presenting to the students with the safety and dangers of rail crossings and railroad right-of-way.
I’ve visited OLI’s website and some safety basics listed are as follows. Never walk on tracks, it is illegal trespassing and highly dangerous. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time. Cross train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. A freight train traveling 55 mph or more takes more than a mile to stop. Trains can’t stop quickly enough to avoid collision.
A very important community forum will be held at Kennedy High School, 56th and Narragansett. The topic is the Chicago Police Department Superintendent Search. Share your ideas about effective policing and make the Southwest Side heard. The meeting will be on Wednesday, May 10. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the forum starts at 6. This forum is one of several taking place throughout Chicago.
The Southwest Neighbors Walking Club has been started in the community. At Strohacker Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays the club will meet at 6:30 p.m. outside the field house. Clubs also meet at Archer and Pasteur Park, by the field house. Achieve a healthier lifestyle while getting to know your neighbors. If you are on social media, you can join the Southwest Neighbors Walking Club for more information.
Here on 57th Place, we sort of have our own little walking club around 4:30. That’s when a variety of the dogs are out for their walks as well. We usually join Sparky and his mom Nancy as well as meeting up with Cheese and a plethora of other canines. It’s good that everyone is coming out of the woodwork after the dark winter.
Happy Birthday wishes go to Sandra Ramirez on the 6th.
Local News
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Thank you, Karen Sala
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Crime prevention starts with each of us
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Hi neighbors! Before I say another thing, I want to wish my fellow columnist Karen Sala well. As you know, she wrote her final column last week. I love Karen’s style of writing. It’s conversational and natural. I always felt like she…
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Plenty to celebrate in February
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 “February is the month when days start to get long and gloomy nights to shrink.” –Anonymous. Thank goodness there are only 28 days this year. We are getting closer to March. But it’s silly to…
Neighbors
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State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
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As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails
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