Marquette Park riddle solved

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

If you have gone through Marquette Park recently and passed by the basketball court just east of Kedzie, you have for sure noticed that it has been cordoned off with tall fencing. Actually, it seems like it has been like that most of the summer, with no sign to indicate what was in the works. I thought you might be wondering what was going on.

Well, Tommy E. solved the puzzle this past week by finding a new sign posted which reads, “Court Renovation Underway – We’ll be back! -This new asphalt needs to cure for about 30 days before the color coating and striping can be applied. You won’t see any work during this time, but we’ll be back to finish construction once conditions allow.”

Thank you, Tommy.

Happy Anniversary to Bishop Daniel Turley, OSA who is celebrating 27 years as a bishop this month.

Welcome to Ross Burt, who has accepted the position of head basketball coach at St. Rita of Cascia High School. Ross comes to St. Rita from Walter Payton College Prep, where he led the team for the first time to an All-State Academic Team Award and CPL White West Championship.

Welcome back to A. J. Avery (SRHS Class of 2012) who has been appointed Director of Athletics at St. Rita. In addition to holding prior positions at St. Rita, since 2019 he has coached for the Chicago Bulls Kid Nation, where he leads and executes year-round youth basketball programs.

This Saturday, Aug. 26, the Sisters of St. Casimir invite everyone to their annual Founder’s Day celebration. This year marks the 116th anniversary of the founding of the SSCs and has been named Rooted in Love – Grown in Grace. As always, the celebration takes place at the Motherhouse/St. Casimir Chapel, 2601 W. Marquette Road, beginning with Mass praying for the beatification of Venerable Maria Kaupas, at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments and a chance to visit, with the Sisters and old friends, will follow.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, Sunday Cinema brings the 2006 Walt Disney Pictures’ High School Musical to the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, beginning at 2 p.m.

Gardening 101 with Home Depot comes to the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, on Monday, Aug. 28 at 10:15 a.m. On Tuesday, Aug. 29, the Center will host a Snow Cone Social. On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Chicago Police Department Community Safety Team will host a Super Bingo also at 10:15 a.m. And on Thursday, Aug. 31, the Senior Housing Resource Fair begins at 9:30 a.m. It is a busy week at the Center.

The St. Thomas More Ladies Altar Guild will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 5:30 p.m. in the rectory.

Football Mania is back at St. Thomas More, 2825 W. 81^st St. Your $20 donation gives you a chance of winning one of 18 weekly prizes for all 18 weeks of the professional football season. And at the end of the season there are an additional two Grand Prizes. Tickets can be checked weekly at Charitymania.com and are available after all weekend Masses through Sept. 9 and at the rectory until Thursday, Sept. 7.

All are invited to the next Perpetual Novena to St. Rita of Cascia on Thursday, Sept. 7, in the St. Rita Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western, at 7 p.m. As always, stay after to enjoy a slice of the famous Racine Danish Kringle and visit.

Over at Nativity BVM Parish mark your calendars for the annual Our Lady of Siluva Masses and novena which will begin on Sept. 8 with an 11 a.m. Mass and novenas continue from Monday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Sept. 17.

All parishioners, former parishioners and friends of Nativity BVM are invited to join in the celebration of the parish’s 96^th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 17. Festivities begin with a Mass at 11 a.m. celebrated by Rev. Gintaras Jonikas followed by a celebration banquet in the parish hall at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for children under 12 years of age. Call the parish office to reserve a seat or a table (10 persons) at (773) 776-4600.

Now back to 1973. When we left last week, we were on our way down 63^rd Street to the “clever” cleaners because someone had spilled sauce on their clothes when we had stopped for a bite at Pere Marquette. Jean P. was the first to remember Cronin’s Clever Cleaners.

For decades, Barbara Kroll Davis ran Cronin’s Clever Cleaners. A friendly and gracious lady, if you had been in her shop more than once she most likely knew your name. And she always greeted you with a smile. When Barbara retired, she became a fixture at another long-time shop, just down the street, on 63^rd Street. It was also quite often a meeting place for folks interested in the type of hobby equipment sold there, as well as, a place to just stop in and chat for a while, as the owner had been in business in the same location since the 1940s.

So, the question for this week is two-fold: What was the name of the shop Barbara spent her time at once she retired from the Cronin’s and why did she choose that particular shop in which to “hang out”?