A church still hoping for your help

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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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Last fall we talked about a GoFundMe page that had been set up to aid the former Hope Lutheran Church in completing some of the repairs and remodeling that the building needs.

The church on 64^th and Washtenaw is now called New Hope. So far, contributions from alumni have totaled $350. Former members are hoping to be able to soar above that total in 2024. If you had an attachment to the church and would like to help out, the web address is gofund.me/d42c16bc.

Does anyone remember the bar on 63^rd Street called Helen’s Never Inn? It was on the southwest corner of 63^rd and Sacramento, next to Z-Mart. I remember it because for a while we lived on 64^th and Sacramento.

The place has been empty for some time now but when I drove by last week, there was a big picture of a hamburger in the window. Think maybe we are getting another new restaurant?

There is plenty of time to pick up a copy of February’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. This month’s 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.

The monthly perpetual novena to St. Rita of Cascia takes place on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the St. Rita Shrine, 7740 S. Western, at 7 p.m. All are invited to stay after Mass to socialize and enjoy a piece of the famous Kringle. The gift shop will also be open.

AARP will be offering their driver safety class at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie, on Monday, Feb. 5, and Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $20 if you are an AARP member and $25 for all others. Pre-registration is required. Call (312) 747-0440.

Mingle in the Morning: Senior Walking Club meets at the Visitor Center at Dan Ryan Woods, 87^th and Western, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 8 to 9 a.m. Meet and mingle with other seniors in the community who have a shared interest in health, wellness and the outdoors. The club is free. For more information, call (312) 415-2970.

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.

If you have a teen beginning to date, you might want to mark Saturday morning, Feb. 24 on your calendar. The Chicago Lawn (8^th) District Community Policing Office is hosting a teen dating violence awareness event for the youth. Teens will join group activities and discuss some difficult topics on having healthy relationships. The workshop runs from 10 a.m. to noon and will include breakfast and some giveaways. To register, contact Officer Trevino at (312) 747-8724 or sarai.trevino@chicagopolice.org.

Now let’s go back in time. We are jumping around the decades a bit until we settle on a particular year on which to concentrate. Last week I wondered if anyone remembered two of the businesses that called 2900 W. 63^rd St. home for many years. Jay N. was the first to identify King’s Drive-In. Jay remembers after counting his tips from his paper route, stopping at King’s and splurging for a strawberry shake or chocolate malt. They were both 25 cents a pop, as he recalls.

I was surprised no one mentioned Mr. Submarine. I’m pretty sure it followed King’s and used the same building. That would have been late 1970s. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Submarine stayed there well over a decade or two.

Jean L. gave us some interesting information on a grocery store we talked about recently: Market-Town Foods. She tells us it went into a large storefront vacated by Velvetone Cleaners. She said it had two stories. In the center of the store were stairs that went up to the second floor. And it was pretty cool because right under the stairs was a bar and behind it a wine shop. Here men would sit at the bar for a beer while their wives shopped.

This week let’s stop in 1978. What new restaurant was getting some finishing touches before its grand opening at 65^th and Kedzie? I’d like it if this one was still around.