When will Walgreens open?

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

Have you seen the Walgreens at 59th and Pulaski lately? I’ve gotten a ton of calls from readers of this column, asking about it.

The store is looking great. The big Walgreen sign is up, and it looks like the inside is complete. Million-dollar question: when is it opening?  On Aug. 3 I called the main Walgreens number and was told the opening date is unknown. I wish I had an exact date to report. We’ve been waiting about for years. One caller said, “They could have built the Taj Mahal faster.”

Actually, it took more than 20 years for the Taj Mahal to be built back in the 1600s; but I think with today’s technology, it probably could have been built faster than the 59th Street Walgreens store.

Peggy Zabicki

Another popular topic from callers is the West Lawn Park dog park. I mentioned the new dog park in my July 26 column. I invited readers to share their thoughts about it.

I was thinking that the opinions would be positive or at least split. So far, all I have received are complaint calls about the dog park, mostly from pedestrians who encounter rather confrontational dogs and their owners on the way to and from the park and about all the dog droppings that are not being cleaned up. If I get any positive calls I’ll share them in a future column.

Here’s some good news.  The next CAPS Beat 823 meeting will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 16.  Beat 823 only meets about five or six times a year, so this will give local residents a chance to meet with the police, neighborhood activists and hopefully local politicians. The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the Eighth District Police Station, 3420 W. 63rd St.

Windy City Hot Dogs, 4205 W. 63rd St., is accepting donations for their longtime friend and Chicago business owner, Dave Kunesh. Dave was stabbed and is facing a long recovery and enormous medical bills that insurance doesn’t cover. Dave’s son, Marc, is  organizing the fundraiser. People who want to help can drop off donations at Windy City Hot Dogs. The owner of Windy City told me that Dave has been a Chicago business owner for more than 26 years and said, “Dave has been in our community longer than our restaurant.”

I haven’t had one of Windy City’s delicious gyro dinners in ages. Now I’ve got two good reasons to get over there.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and Envision Community Services will present a back to school event for kids and their parents on Saturday, Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6435 S. Kilbourn. They will be giving out free school supplies and backpacks.

The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., invites adults age 18 and up to join them for a relaxing morning of painting on canvas on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon. Painting supplies will be provided, and light refreshments will be served. All skill levels are welcome. Register ahead to reserve your spot.

Thank you, one and all, for all those calls and texts!