Mary Stanek

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.

MaryStanek 1

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

Swanson scores, assists in Red Stars’ win over Reign

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Tatumn Milazzo, shown at media day before the season started, was amused by winning a Save of the Week award. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Red Stars’ Tatumn Milazzo has top Save of the Week

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volleyball

Men’s College Volleyball | Saint Xavier captures fifth straight conference tourney title

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College Baseball | Saint Xavier upsets Eastern Illinois

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volleyball

Boys Volleyball | Glenbard West tops Marist to stay unbeaten

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Marist boys volleyball team, ranked fifth in the nation by USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches, lost to Glenbard West, 25-23, 25-21, in the championship match at the Brother Rice Smack Attack on April 20 in Chicago. Glenbard West (19-0) is the two-time defending state champion and is ranked third…

Alliyah Flores and her St. Laurence teammates earned academic honors by the IBCA. Photo by Jeff Vorva

St. Laurence hoops teams top honor roll

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area basketball teams proved to be strong on the court and in the classroom this season, and St. Laurence was the leader of the pack. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association compiled a list of the top academic teams, and the area did well. In Division 3 girls, St. Laurence…

St. Rita's David Lyle won honors from the Chicago Bears. St. Rita photo

Chicago Bears recognize St. Rita senior with All-Star award

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Chances are good that few outside of St. Rita football circles know who David Lyle is. With good reason. Lyle missed his senior season for the Mustangs last fall after sustaining a serious knee injury. He even postponed having knee surgery so that he could take care of his…

The currently vacant building at 5400 W. 63rd St. --File photo

Pols want 63rd St. armory for new police HQ

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Spread the love. Porfirio, Guerrero-Cuellar push plan in Springfield . By Tim Hadac Any plans the Chicago Department of Aviation may have had for the vacant Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., may be grounded, at least for now. Several elected officials are eyeing the parcel as the headquarters of a new…

CRRNH_OLS3rdGradersWinPizzaParty_042424

It’s (pizza) party time at OLS

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Spread the love. Third graders at Our Lady of the Snows School break into cheers as they learn they’ve won a pizza party for selling more raffle booklets than any other class. The recent Grand Raffle fundraiser brought in about $6,000. Parents looking for a grade school for their sons and daughters for 2024-25 are…

Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart

Dart wants free mental health care for first responders

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Spread the love. From staff reports The Illinois Senate has passed legislation proposed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart that eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for first responders seeking mental health treatment. “We ask first responders to be constantly exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations to protect us,” Dart said. “This legislation is a solid step…

Neighbors

After 9 months, state data begins to detail new pretrial detention system

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Another Choate Mental Health Center employee indicted for abuse of resident

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State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’

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