Schools are back already?

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

I can’t believe that school is back in session already. I wish all the schools would wait until after Labor Day. It is technically still summer. School should start in the fall. Summer goes so quickly for kids and their parents.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, 3741 W. 62nd St., is currently looking for a fourth grade teacher. If interested, contact Dr. Menden at (773) 735-0772 or email your resume to mmenden@stnicksschool.com.

Speaking of job opportunities, Big Tony’s Pizza, 3752 W. 59th St., is currently hiring pizza makers. If interested, go there in person to apply or call them at (773) 767-5966. I really love Big Tony’s pizza. Their chicken is a favorite menu item of my hubby.

Peggy Zabicki

I get calls every week from readers who express their comments about my column. Most share news items. Some readers have questions, some need advice, some ask for help and some give me encouragement and thanks. I sure do appreciate all the calls, texts and cards.

Recently, I’ve gotten more calls about the West Lawn Dog Park than any other issue. A couple of weeks ago, I asked readers to share their opinions about the new facility. As I mentioned previously, I thought the calls would be split, some positive thoughts about the dog park and some negative. The opinions have been overwhelmingly negative, and the calls keep coming.

I finally heard from some people who like the dog park. I will share the opinions of three people with you. All three chose to express their opinions to me online via social media. All three are angry at me for sharing the negative opinions in my column. None of them said what they like about the dog park, but instead criticized me for sharing the comments of my callers.

Annie Marie complained about my sharing a quote from a reader of my column who referred to West Lawn Dog Park as West Lawn Poop Park. She asked if I thought it was funny and said she’d meet me at the park anytime. She also said “I want to know who is supposedly calling you.”

As I stated weeks ago, I told callers that they could express their opinions anonymously. I choose to honor that. However, once you choose to express your opinions in public on social media, you have put your names and opinions out there for all to read.

Rachel Villalobos referred to my column as “sh*tty journalism” and asked, “Who is this broad?”

She then said I should report on other dog parks and make a comparison. My job is to write about West Lawn, so a report on other Chicago dog parks is not appropriate. A couple of weeks ago I did report on a dog park not far from West Lawn that a neighbor of mine used to bring her dog to before the construction of West Lawn Dog Park. I mentioned the dog park’s water feature.

Aztra S. Hurtado said, “This lady is insane! And as ignorant as the people who call her.”

I guess Aztra forgot about a column I wrote a while back in which I mentioned her by name and thanked her for all the work and clean up she does at West Lawn Park. A neighbor called me and told me about her. This caller is evidently an ignorant person, Aztra seemed to imply.

Moving on to something much better. I’d like to wish a very happy birthday to Joe. May your birthday and coming year be as wonderful as you are.