Even the dogs will ‘go green’

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By Tim Hadac

Editor

Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound

(708)-496-0265

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The Chicago Working Families’ Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade always draws its share of colorful characters.

Oh sure, there’s the usual assortment of parade units you’d expect: marching bands, as well as groups representing local schools, churches, Scout troops, veterans organizations, neighborhood watches, businesses, labor unions, elected officials and political candidates and so forth. All good groups brought together thanks to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and its President and Business Manager, Jim Sweeney—as well as the Clear-Ridge Men’s S.A.C.

This year, when the parade steps off at noon, Saturday, March 16 at Archer and Oak Park and heads east, you’ll see a small but spirited band of animal welfare advocates smiling and waving at you.

Please wave back.

Leading the group will be lifelong Clearing resident Ramona Piencak, founder and leader of Regarding Rainey, a group she founded to honor the spirit of her black Lab, Rainey.

Rainey came to Ramona as a scrawny 3-year-old her son brought home from a shelter. The dog and Ramona didn’t hit it off immediately, but certainly did, eventually, over the next nine years.

“Rainey licked away my cancer tears,” Ramona recalled in a conversation with me several days ago. (Now in her 60s, she is a cancer survivor, a stroke survivor and has artificial hips. To say she’s been through the wringer in life is an understatement.)

When it was Rainey’s turn to battle cancer, Ramona did all she could for him and was with him throughout the struggle.

When Rainey succumbed to the disease in 2018, Ramona pledged to do all she could for other pets, in his name.

“When he died and crossed the rainbow bridge, I told him I’d do all I could to make sure pets are regarded, relevant and respected,” she said. Today, those three words are basically the motto of Regarding Rainey.

“Dogs and other pets add so much to our lives,” she added. “I think the least we can do is return the favor.”

Pet welfare advocate Ramona Piencak decked out in her St. Patrick’s Day attire. –Supplied photo

That’s exactly what Regarding Rainey has done for five years. Operating on a limited amount of donations—as well as funds from her own pocket—Ramona has assisted pets and their owners to help them stay healthy and together. She has helped pay medical bills for dogs and other pets, bought food for pets whose owners have fallen on hard times, and so forth. Ramona makes the world a better place, four legs at a time, I say with a smile.

On Saturday, the Regarding Rainey parade unit is expected to feature more than a dozen dogs, each accompanied by an owner and possibly other family members. It also will include pet owners holding photos of their dogs that passed on in recent years. Makes sense. Clearing and Garfield Ridge are dog-loving neighborhoods.

Regarding Rainey also will be consistent with the parade’s theme of honoring the memory of CPD Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso, who gave his life last year while doing that police officers do: confronting danger so the rest of don’t have to.

So when you see them, please give them a smile and a cheer, or a bark and a meow.

Mark your calendar

• If you’re attending the CAPS Beat 812 meeting set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, it will not be held at the Clearing Branch Library, which is currently an early-voting site. Instead, the meeting will be held in the I Hall at St. Symphorosa Church, 6148 S. Mason (same time and date). My thanks to longtime CAPS Beat 812 facilitator John Kurtovich for the heads up.
• After the parade on Saturday, all are welcome to attend the Midway Chamber of Commerce’s community expo, which will run to 3 p.m. inside Kinzie School, 56^th and Mobile. Check out the offerings from local businesses and non-profits. There is no admission charge.
• Also after the parade (and/or after the community expo), please head over to one of the handful of bars in Clearing and Garfield Ridge that will be hosting St. Patrick’s Day revelry. One such place is Twisted Shamrock Pub, 6462 S. Central, which opens at 11 a.m. and will be serving green beer and other favorites. A day after that, on March 17, Twisted Shamrock will feature Marty Kelly and the Kelly Bros Performance starting at 2 p.m., as well as the Chicago Garda Pipes & Drums. Enjoy a lunch of corned beef (and other favorites) from the Route 66 Mobile Diner from 2 to 5 p.m. Sláinte!