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By Kathy Headley
Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor
6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778
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As many of you may have heard, the Rev. John Flynn OSA passed away this month at the age of 96. A 1936 graduate of St. Rita High School, Father Flynn celebrated his 70th year in the priesthood this past Sept. 19.
Throughout the years, he has served as Prior Provincial of Our Mother of Good Counsel Province, Formation Director and also as pastor in many parishes across the county. Here we were lucky to have him as pastor at both St. Rita of Cascia Parish and St. Clare of Montefalco. He will certainly be missed.
Over the years, Marquette Park has been acclaimed for its Special Recreation programs offered for those with intellectual or learning disabilities. The current Special Rec coordinator at Marquette, Vanessa Perez, is trying to build a kid’s program at the park. The Special Rec Kids classes for ages 8 to 15, called Fun Fridays, will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. through March16 and feature arts and crafts, fun and games, a social club and more.
If you have or know of a child with disabilities that might benefit from a program like this, contact Vanessa at (312) 747-6485 or Vanessa.Perez@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
There is plenty of time to pick up a copy of next month’s reading selection for the Senior Book Club. Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago is the book, and although it might appear to be in Spanish, the book is actually in English and available at the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie. The next meeting takes place on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. via Zoom. For more information on the club, stop by the library or call Angela at (312) 747-0639.
If you stop by the library, make sure to check out the current display in the Chicago Lawn Historical Society glass case, which features winter scenes from the earlier days of the neighborhood. You never know, you might see your block the way it looked during the winter 100 years ago.
Winterfest 2024: Eras takes place a St. Rita High School, 7740 S. Western, this Saturday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 and include dinner, drinks and live entertainment by American Pie Chicago, The Larkin and Moran Brothers and The Walk-Ins. The annual fundraiser also features a silent auction and basket raffles. Purchase your ticket at stritahs.com/winterfest-2024.
If you are interested in learning the secrets of making krupnikas, the Chicago Lithuanian Center (formerly known as the Lithuanian Jesuit Youth Center), 5620 S. Claremont, will be offering a class this Saturday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. Krupnikas is a traditional sweet, spiced honey alcoholic drink similar to a liqueur which was invented by Lithuanian noblemen in the 16th century. As of this printing, only five spaces are still open. Register at antanas5190@gmail.com.
The Youth Center was built in 1957 by renowned architect Jonas Kovos-Kovalski and has been a wonderful beacon for Lithuanian immigrants. It offers entertainment, a museum, archives, classes and more. As of last September, the Center was purchased from the Jesuits and now belongs to the Lithuanian Foundation. Things have changed over time and all are invited to come to an open house on Sunday, Jan. 28, beginning at 12:30 p.m. A special treat, crepes by Almie’s European Bakery, will be offered to guests.
Over at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, a Cook County Assessor seminar featuring common tax scams will be held on Monday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. On Tuesday, Jan 30, the Office of the Illinois Attorney General will discuss tax scams at 10 a.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 31, Officer Preus from the Chicago Lawn (8th) Police District will host a “super bingo” at 10 a.m., followed by a January birthday celebration at 11:30 a.m.
Next Thursday, Feb. 1 is the monthly perpetual novena to St. Rita of Cascia at the St. Rita Shrine, 7740 S. Western, at 7 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for the annual Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance at St. Rita of Cascia Parish. The event takes place in St. Augustine Hall, 6201 S. Fairfield, on Saturday, Feb. 10. The cost, which includes dinner, is $40. For more information, call the parish office at (773) 434-9600 or go to parishstrita.org.
Now back to 1981 for the last time for a while. What restaurant and lounge at 2432 W. 63rd St. had live entertainment on weekends? Every Sunday was Greek Night, with belly dancers (I never would have guessed this one. We always went here for breakfast). Stella Z. surprised me by recognizing this one right away. Stella identified it by the address, not the belly dancers. She named the Artesian.
No one correctly named the Centrella store down the street at 2454. It was Market-Town Foods.
Today’s question, spans several decades. I mentioned stopping at Harold’s Chicken last week at 2900 W. 63rd St. I can think of two food places in that location for a long time prior to Harold’s. Each one was here for more than a decade easily. What do you think? Do you remember them?