Peggy Zabicki

Peggy Zabicki

There’s lots to be thankful for

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

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Happy Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for the food I eat. I’m thankful for the food shared with me and the food I share with others. I’m thankful I do not have to go to bed hungry.

I’m thankful that the West Lawn neighborhood still has the Love Fridge (also known as Stuffed Love), which continues to provide free food for all who need it. It is located at 6601 S. Pulaski and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thank you to all who donate food anonymously, quietly and humbly. Your kindness is truly appreciated by all who visit. Leave what you can. Take what you need.

PeggyZabicki

Peggy Zabicki

The Marquette Bank branch at 6155 S. Pulaski will be collecting new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local children for Christmas. Their donation bin will be set up on Nov. 27 in the bank lobby. Donation suggestions are board games, craft kits, footballs, basketballs, dolls and stuffed animals.

Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police are also collecting new toys. They will be accepting donations until Friday, Dec. 1 at the station, 3420 W. 63rd St. For more information, call Officer Jim McAndrews at (312) 747-8227.

Los Youth Center, 3919 W. 63rd St., is hosting a Breakfast With Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pancakes and sausages will be served and photos with Santa are included in the price of $5 per person. RSVP in advance by calling (773) 424-5294 or email them at losyouthcenteryc@gmail.com.

Midway Airport currently has job opportunities in concessions. For more information, stop by their Human Resources Department–located at pre-security, which is across from baggage claim number 6. You can also visit their website at midwaypartnership.com/jobs.

I recently got some very nice phone calls from readers of my column who asked about the drum circle event now taking place once a week at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie. My hubby, Roman, continues to lead seniors through a fun percussion journey every Tuesday. The time has been changed to noon. All seniors are invited.

One reader asked if Roman could visit the Garfield Ridge Satellite Senior Center or perhaps the Archer Heights Branch Library and lead a drum circle. As of this writing, Roman can’t fit another event in his schedule. Perhaps he can do some “one time only” drum events in the future. Right now he plays in a band and has a lot of gigs and rehearsals. In addition, he participates in an open jam every Monday night at Clancy’s Pub, 5763 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn. I know this is a bit far from West Lawn, but you should visit. Have a drink and enjoy listening to some of the finest musicians around. Maybe I’ll see you there.

My condolences to the family of Thomas Fitzgerald, who passed away on Nov. 14. He was a long-time resident of West Lawn, manager of the Archer & Central Coin Laundry and very active in our community.

I Corinthians 13:4 states that love is patient and kind. Thomas was certainly all that. He was helpful and cheerful and always had a kind word. From the minute you met Tommy, you were his friend. All of his friends became members of his family. So I extend my deepest sympathy to his entire family. Tom made a difference in the lives of so many. May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.

Local News

Handley

Charge man with Archer Heights carjacking

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Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac Police say they’ve solved a carjacking that occurred in Archer Heights earlier this month. An 18-year-old Southeast Side man was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking in connection with the crime. Monte Handley, of the 9000 block of South Muskegon, was apprehended by police in the 7500 block of South Ellis…

Barco

Charge man in shooting of 2

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Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac A 22-year-old West Lawn man was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, as well as aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, after he was arrested in the 3700 block of West Marquette Road at 4:06 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Isaiah Barco allegedly shot two men in a crime that…

Chicago Police Department

Police reports

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Spread the loveShot in the head, killed on Archer A 33-year-old man was shot in the head and killed as he drove a vehicle in the 4200 block of South Archer at 5:13 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:47 a.m. Police said…

GSWNH_TabaraesAndMinaDuarte_012822

Tabares backs West Lawn Branch Library

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Spread the love Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares (left) recently toured the renovated West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St.,, with new branch manager Mina Duarte. Details about the renovation’s may be found in the West Lawn column in the January 28 Greater Southwest News-Herald.   –Supplied photo

GSWNH_ChuyStarbucks_012822

Chuy backs Starbucks unionization

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Spread the love U.S. Rep Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), white mask, recently stood with those who support unionization of Starbucks workers, outside a shop in the city. Workers are attempting to organize under the banner of Chicago and Midwest Joint Board, Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. –Supplied photo

Sophomore Danni Scully of Nazareth is triple-teamed by Marist in a 53-42 victory in LaGrange Park on Jan. 19. Photo by Jeff Vorva

‘Grizzled’ sophomores help Naz beat Marist

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Nazareth’s “grizzled veterans” have won 19 of their first 20 games. The Roadrunners’ were victorious in a big East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown with Marist, with two sophomores doing most of the damage in a 53-42 win in LaGrange Park on Jan. 19. Nazareth improved to 19-1, 4-0.…

Sandburg’s boys bowling team is headed to state for the first time since 2017 after winning its own sectional on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Carl Sandburg

Postseason Sports Report: Area stars ready for state bowling and dancing

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Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The first two IHSA state tournaments for winter sports will take place this weekend, and an army of area athletes will be competing in both. The boys bowling and competitive dance championships will be held Friday and Saturday, with the bowlers heading to St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon…

Peggy Zabicki

We need real solutions to crime

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Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 Crime and safety concerns are the number one topic of all the calls and texts I receive. It seems that many politicians offer no solutions except the usual lists of ways to keep safe. I think everyone knows about locking…

Mary Stanek

Icy spill yielded plenty of good will

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Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 284-7394 Here is a giant shout out to our first responders in the community. On Jan. 9, when a sheet of ice descended on Chicago, I was walking the dog. Walking around Peck School was great.…

Joan Hadac

It’s a busy January in Gage Park

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Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Neighborhood correspondent at large Greetings, Gage Parkers! I’m pleased to be filling in this week for Karen Sala. It’s fun for me to report on Gage Park, the neighborhood where I lived for the first 26 years of my life. There’s always something happening in this big, exciting part of…

Neighbors

Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan

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

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

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

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

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

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…

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…

Remembering Lee Milner

Remembering Lee Milner

NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…