Robin sighting a sign of new beginnings

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By Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

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I saw a robin the other day. This was the first sighting of the season for me. I remember my mom saying that the first robin of spring is a promise of new beginnings. May it be so.

Is spring cleaning a part of this time of year for you? As soon as it gets a bit warmer, we can open our windows and clean them and wash curtains. If we don’t feel like it, no problem. The windows and curtains aren’t going anywhere. We can get to them when we feel like it. Honestly, if I have a choice between reading a good book and washing windows, guess which one I’ll pick?

As you do your spring-cleaning, do you find that you have mail, old bills, bank statements and other private paper items you want to dispose of? Bring them to the next paper-shredding event hosted by 13^th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn and State Rep. Angelica “Angie” Guerrero-Cuellar (D-22^nd) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at the parking lot behind the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski. Your documents will be shredded in a secure manner. Remove staples, tape and other non-paper substances.

Peggy Zabicki

The Balzekas Museum is hosting cooking classes. Chef Kipras Varkalas will share his expertise in diverse cuisines by offering expert guidance plus a hands-on experience for all participants. Classes begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 6. You can register by calling (773) 582-6500 or by visiting balzekasmuseum.org.

Springtime means spending more time outside. I plan on dining more often at some of those nice outdoor restaurants. For those who are more focused on outdoor exercise, the Southwest Collective hosts monthly bike rides that stick to side streets and only cross major streets at traffic lights. Riding in a group provides additional safety. Their next ride is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at West Lawn Little League’s field at 6336 S. Kilbourn. Call for more information at (708) 740-8914.

Hubbard High School, 6200 S. Hamlin, will be hosting a spring flea market on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are invited to hunt for treasures. You never know what you will find at a flea market. If you have items you would like to sell, you can rent a single space for only $10. To reserve your vending space, go to Hubbard’s main office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Call Maria Ruiz at (773) 535-2200 for more information.

I got an unusually large amount of phone calls last week about a variety of concerns from neighbors. The number one problem continues to be loose dogs roaming around. I always call 311 to report the location of any loose dog I see. If you visit the 311 website you can also report this online.

Many people try to capture the dog and bring it to a police station because they have equipment that can read the chip implants that some dogs have. These implants provide information on how to get ahold of the owner. Vets and dog experts advise against trying to capture loose dogs because some dogs can be aggressive and could attack and bite.

I was wondering what other options we have in dealing with this problem. I called 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares for advice. I found out that if you see a loose dog, you can call her office at (773) 582-4444 to report it. If her office is closed you can leave a message. Thank you, Alderman Tabares, for offering this service.

I also got a few calls regarding the best way to dispose of old mattresses. You can leave them out in your alley on garbage pick up day. Call Ald. Tabares and give her your address and the date you will be putting your old mattress in the alley. She will get in touch with Streets and Sanitation and report it to them. Good to know.

St. Mary Star of the Sea School would like to thank all who supported their recent Casino and Bingo Night. Over $10,000 was raised. The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit their school programs.

St. Mary Star of the Sea School provides a rigorous curriculum, including a strong hands-on science experience for their students. For fall enrollment information, call (773) 767-6160.

I would like to wish a very Happy 54th Birthday to Frank. May the coming year bring health and happiness to you and your family.