Santa Claus spreading Christmas cheer from a vintage fire truck has become an annual favorite among both the young and young at heart in the area, thanks to volunteers from the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. --File photo
Santa Claus is coming on a fire truck
.
By Alexis Bocanegra
Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge
(773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com
.
In less than two weeks the Christmas countdown begins. So what does that mean? Santa Claus is coming to town! For many of us, the preparation and anticipation start the day after Halloween. When the weather starts to get cooler, this usually means it’s time for Christmas movies, gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate.
I look forward to listening to Christmas music on the radio and seeing the houses and front lawns decorated with colorful lights, decorations and inflatables throughout the neighborhood. Yet, I could do without the overcrowded stores.
Apart from my family tradition of decorating our Christmas tree and watching the movie Elf, I still look forward to a local holiday tradition, Santa driving down my block on a fire truck! Santa will drive around the Garfield Ridge and Clearing neighborhoods next weekend to help kick off the festive season.
Mark your calendar because Santa will be going down your block. Santa’s GPS is set for Garfield Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 3 to 9 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 10 he will go through Clearing from 4 to 8 p.m.
Follow the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch on Facebook and click on the Santa Tracker to monitor his route. Be ready to come outside and wave to Santa and the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch group. Santa will be on a shiny red fire truck provided by the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. Together they want to spread holiday cheer and show neighborhood support.
A big shout-out to the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood board members for bringing Santa to town and for continuing the tradition.
Also in December
- The GRNW will be hosting the 8th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Kindl Mart at Wentworth Park, 57th and Narragansett, from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Bring the family for a winter wonderland of fun.
- Crafters interested in participating in the Kindl Mart can contact Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch’s Arlene at (773) 229-1993. Limited spots are available for $25 per table. What you sell must be hand-crafted holiday items.
- The Garfield Ridge Branch Library, 6348 S. Archer, will be hosting multiple holiday events. Get into the Christmas spirit with a free concert. The Young Family will be performing, featuring violins and cellos, at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Children ages 5 and up, as well as adults of all ages are welcome.
- The Garfield Ridge Branch Library is also hosting its annual wreath craft activity. It will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 5:30. p.m. This is an “adults only” event, and limited space is available. Both events require registration at chipublib.org/Events. For details, call (312) 747-6094.
- Children ages 3-13 and their parents are invited to Crafternoon, set for 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63rd Place. All materials are provided. Just bring yourself and your creativity. Spots are limited, and online registration is required. Call the Clearing Branch for details, (312) 747-5657.
- The Clearing Night Force neighborhood watch group and Hale Park are hosting a craft and vendor fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at the park, 6258 W. 62nd St. Activities will include pictures with Santa (2-4 p.m.), kids’ crafts and local holiday vendors. It’s open to everyone in the neighborhood, free of charge. Those interested in participating as a crafter or vendor may call (773) 229-1023. Table space is available for $20 a spot.
- If you’re looking to buy a Christmas gift that’s definitely local, unique and perhaps a bit quirky, the Clear-Ridge Historical Society suggests purchasing any or all of three books: A History of Garfield Ridge, A Little Known Story of a Land Called Clearing and Gleanings of Archer Road. Each is published by the non-profit CRHS, and each is available for a reasonable price at Midway Jewelers, 5635 W. 63rd St. Buy it there, and 100% of the proceeds go right back to the CRHS.
Local News
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…
Dread over car drifters on streets
Spread the love. Reckless drivers take over SW Side intersections . By Tim Hadac At the April meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, a police officer admitted that the drag racing/drifting phenomenon seen and heard in the Midway area in recent years “probably will increase, but we hope not.” The admission was triggered by…
CTA launches ‘chat’ feature on website
Spread the love. From staff reports Artificial Intelligence has made another step forward at the Chicago Transit Authority. CTA officials recently launched the “Chat with CTA” chatbot, a new virtual automated service featured on transitchicago.com. The communication tool allows riders to report issues, provide feedback and receive answers in real-time. Additionally, it provides the CTA with customer…
New effort to aid kids with disabilities
Spread the love. From staff reports A new grant program aimed at providing financial assistance to families of children with disabilities was launched recently by Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services. Children with disabilities is a population disproportionately affected by the pandemic,…
Dart warns of Sheriff’s Office imposters
Spread the love. From staff reports Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart recently alerted the public of an uptick in telephone and email phishing scams in which scammers identify themselves as a Sheriff’s Office employee in an attempt to defraud victims. Scammers are using the actual names and respective titles of Sheriff’s Office employees to…
Boys Volleyball | Chicago Christian finishes April strong, takes second at Ridgewood Invitational
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent A busy and largely successful final seven days of April saw Chicago Christian briefly climb back to the .500 mark after a tough first month of the season. The Knights (11-12, 4-4 Chicagoland Christian Conference) have won seven of their past 10 matches, all of which were played over…
Neighbors
As Medicaid redeterminations restart, about 73% of state’s recipients remain enrolled
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com About 73 percent of Illinois’ Medicaid recipients remain on the rolls after the first redetermination cycle following the COVID-19 pandemic, while approximately 660,000 recipients have been disenrolled. Speaking at a news conference in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated the fact that 2.6 million Illinoisans remained on the rolls…
Capitol Briefs: Republicans sue over law banning legislative candidate slating
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com One week after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an elections-related measure that his fellow Democrats quickly muscled through the General Assembly, Republicans sued over the new law, alleging the majority party is blocking ballot access to would-be legislative candidates. The law , passed early this month as the legislature’s…
For Many Illinoisans in Flood-Prone Areas, Buyouts Are the Only Way Out
By Laura Stewart, Illinois Answers Project April 23, 2024 DIETERICH, Ill. – Every day, Berdeena Leturno checks her email for an update on when the state of Illinois will finally pay her $80,000. It’s been over two months since she signed the paperwork to sell her flood-damaged home as part of a buyout program, and…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Stateville Correctional Center could close as early as September under a plan laid out by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Friday. Top officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections testified in front of a key panel of state lawmakers. The 12 members on the General Assembly’s…
Labor-backed bill banning ‘captive audience’ meetings awaits House action
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With two weeks left before the General Assembly’s spring session is set to adjourn, negotiations continue on a labor union-backed initiative that would allow Illinoisans to skip religious and political work meetings without reprimand. Dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” Senate Bill 3649 advanced out…
House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education. By the time it’s fully operational in 2026, the new…
ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code. Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring…
State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters. The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…
Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…