Veggies, flowers in abundance this harvest season

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

Have you been harvesting your tomatoes or enjoying the gift of home-grown tomatoes from a neighbor or friend? The hot and dry beginning of summer and the intermittent rains made for an abundance of a variety of veggies and flowers this season. A West Lawn friend has harvested his garlic and made fresh chorizo sausage with it. Now is the time to plant garlic for next year.

I have noticed a lot of splendid morning glory vines in our area. It’s been a good season for them as well. Two friends of mine sprinkled a lot of their own morning glory seeds around the neighborhood last spring and you can see the results of their efforts as you walk or drive through West Lawn and the surrounding areas. The morning glory vines are magnificent.

As you gather veggies from your garden, I strongly suggest you do not eat anything that has been grown near fences made of Wolmanized or pressure-treated wood. This wood is treated with the chemical, chromated copper arsenate. It is used to weatherize the wood, but it is toxic.

Peggy Zabicki

I learned about this from professional agriculturalists at the University of Illinois. They shared information with me about the hazards of ingesting anything grown near this wood. The chemical leaches into the veggies and contaminates the soil. In addition, please do not burn this wood or use it in a fire pit. The fumes are deadly.

Thirteenth Ward Ald. Marty Quinn, State Rep. Angelica “Angie” Guerrero-Cuellar (D-22^nd) and State Senator Mike Porfirio (D-11^th) are hosting their annual senior celebration on Friday, Oct. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St. There will be resource tables with helpful information for seniors, live entertainment, snacks and raffle prizes. RSVP by Sept. 29 by calling (773) 581-1313.

Quinn and Guerrero-Cuellar will be hosting a paper shredding event on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the ward office, 6500 S. Pulaski. Start saving your unwanted paper, mail, bills, bank statements and any papers you want to have shredded in a safe and secure manner. Remove all staples and paper clips.

The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., will present a poetry reading on Monday, Oct. 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. Featured poets are Angelica Julia Davila and Carlos Cumpian. Registration is required. Call (312) 747-9595.

Would you like to learn and play the game of MahJong? I have always been interested in this ancient Chinese game. An aunt of mine used to play it. You can play MahJong at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63rd Place, starting on Friday, Sept. 29. Many libraries around the city will now be hosting MahJong games. The Clearing Branch is the closest one to West Lawn. The games will begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 4:30. Call Rob at (312) 747-5657 for more information.

St. Mary Star of the Sea School, 6424 S. Kenneth, is currently admitting new students for the 2023-2024 school year and invites interested students and their parents to apply now. St. Mary’s offers religious instruction, ideal class size, 1-to-1 technology, and a safe and peaceful atmosphere. For more information call (773) 767-6160 or visit stmarystaroftheseaschool.org.

Thank you for all the calls and texts and cards last week. I enjoyed talking to each one of you! I really appreciate all the positive feedback and helpful information.