A successful career serving thousands

.

By Tim Hadac

Editor

Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound

(708)-496-0265

.

Most folks work for years at their jobs, expecting and receiving little fanfare, then retire quietly.

Garfield Ridge resident Mary Ellen Fox planned to retire from her 30-year job in the City Clerk’s Office quietly; and she did, earlier this year.

Mary Ellen Fox. …..–Photo by Cosmo Hadac

But co-worker Jim Homan was having none of it.

“Mary Ellen is a sweet lady,” he told me recently. “She is so fun to be around. She truly knows how to make the best of things always. She makes the day brighter and clock move faster. She deserves a pat on the back, publicly.”

Her other co-workers agree, as do the thousands of Chicagoans she has served since 1994, most recently at the clerk’s satellite office at Archer and Laramie. If you’ve gone there to buy your city vehicle sticker, chances are you encountered Mary Ellen—and chances are, she made your day better.

Originally from the McKinley Park neighborhood, she has lived almost her entire life in the Midway area. As a child, she attended St. Rene Goupil School. In 1976 she graduated from Kennedy High School.

Her plans for retirement are modest.

Mary Ellen Fox and a few of her closest co-workers: Diane Brown, James Homan, Sherry Roberts-Janus and Maria Mares. –Photo by Cosmo Hadac

“I’ll probably just be doing stuff around the house for a while…you know, just getting used to being retired,” she told me.

But her plans do include a bit of travel, like going south to Florida, as well as visiting a relative in Texas.

Mary Ellen is no stranger to travel. Years ago, she visited places like Hawaii, Australia, the Fiji islands, Thailand, Hong Kong and Ireland.

She also will have more time to spend with her 24-year-old daughter, Patsy, a Queen of Peace graduate and a degreed professional pursuing a career in social work—focusing on helping children with disabilities and/or serious illnesses.

So here’s to you, Mary Ellen Fox. May your retirement be long and filled with good health, happiness and fulfillment.

Mark your calendar

• A fundraiser to benefit Clear Ridge Little League is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 at Fleetwood Roller Rink, 7231 W. Archer, Summit. Tickets are just $10 at the door. Bring you own skates or rent a pair for $4.
• In-person registration has started for the Chicago Park District’s slate of spring programs. Just a few examples are aquatics exercise at Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile; cardio conditioning at Hale Park, 6258 W. 62^nd St.; gardening for children at Valley Forge Park, 7001 W. 59^th St.; volleyball for kids at Minuteman Park, 5940 S. Central; the ever-popular 16-inch softball league for adults at Normandy Park, 6660 W. 52^nd St.; a teen club at Lawler Park, 5210 W. 64^th St.; basketball skills classes for children at Vittum Park, 5010 W. 50^th St.; and so forth. You get the idea.

Each park has a variety of offerings for folks of all ages. So please, drop your screens, head over to your nearest park and introduce yourself to the supervisor and staff.

• Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16 for Summerfest at St. Daniel the Prophet Parish.

Want to help right now? Donations of baskets and unopened liquor bottles can be dropped off at the rectory. Your donation will be used to create liquor baskets raffled off at this year’s Fest. If you have any questions, please call the rectory at (773) 586-1223.

The Fest also needs volunteers. If you would be able to give even a few hours of your time for one of the days of the event, it would really help out.

• Fresh off their triumphant St. Patrick’s Day celebration, the folks at Twisted Shamrock Pub, 6462 S. Central, are keeping the good times rolling with Live Music Fridays. They have a fun lineup of acts you won’t want to miss, so head over to twistedshamrockpub.com and mark your calendar.
• Do you have a home-based business or are you thinking of starting one? You should know you are welcome to join the Midway Chamber of Commerce and connect with an interesting, growing range of small-business owners across the area. The MCC typically meets at noon on the first Tuesday of each month at the Wintrust Sports Complex, 5499 W. 65^th St., Bedford Park. Please stop by, won’t you?
• Wedding banns have been posted at St. Dan’s for Zachary Katterman and Joanna Janik. May all go smoothly as you approach your blessed nuptials.

That’s all for this week. I’m always interested in promoting the news of Clearing and Garfield Ridge, so please call me if you want to see yourself or your organization in this column.