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By Mary Stanek
Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon
3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796
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The days are getting longer and slightly warmer. But my prediction of a few weeks ago–March is certainly not leaving like a lamb–may prove to be correct.
A sure sign of spring in our neighborhood is that someone let the dogs out. Yes, the dog walkers are back out in full force around the school grounds. The usual suspects have been out pretty much all winter. There is Fin (we call Fit, who is Oliver’s buddy), the terrible terriers (Cheese and Miley), to name a few who walk daily.
The winter took three of our favorites to the rainbow bridge: Xena (Oliver’s girlfriend), Sparky the husky and one of the terrible terriers (they are down to two now). We will have to get to know all the new dogs in town.
We welcome back baseball at this time of year. The Windy City Thunderbolts welcome Bobby Jenks as their field manager. Bobby Jenks is well known to us South Siders, as he pitched for the Chicago White Sox and the Red Sox through his career. Opening day is May 9.
There will be open gym basketball this spring at Pasteur Park, 5825 S. Kostner. The program is for youths ages 13 to 17 looking to have fun with friends. The Pasteur School gym will be available for the program. The program runs from April 9 through May 28 on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The fee is just $5 for the entire eight weeks. You can register your teen online at chicagoparkdistrict.com or in person at the Pasteur Park fieldhouse. This is strictly for fun and play. There will be no teams.
Enchanted Backpack is a non-profit organization working to better family life. Elementary and middle schools may apply for support from the organization. If chosen, the school’s students would receive a plethora of items including supplies, books, equipment, etc. St. Nicholas of Tolentine, located in West Lawn but which serves West Elsdon as well, was chosen as an Enchanted Backpack recipient, receiving many items. Thank you, Enchanted Backpack.
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I wish everyone a happy and blessed Easter. I look forward to seeing everyone’s homemade lamb pound cakes on social media. And do not be “fooled” on the day after Easter.