It’s ‘Batter up!’ time in West Lawn

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Peggy Zabicki

Your correspondent in West Lawn

3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327

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It must be May because baseball season is here. I recently reported on the West Lawn Little League, whose 2024 season is now underway.

Another West Lawn youth athletic association is Midway Baseball Softball Association. Their teams play at Madigan Park, near 67^th and Keating. Their opening day is Saturday, May 11 and kicks off at 9:30am with a parade starting at West Lawn Park at the corner of Kildare and 65th Street.  The parade will head south on Kildare to Madigan Park.  All are invited to enjoy the game and fun activities.

May both of our West Lawn youth baseball/softball associations have a great season!

Did you know that baseball’s great pitcher, Satchel Paige, was the oldest man ever to debut in American League baseball at age 42? You did? OK, well did you know that one of his pitches was clocked at 103 miles per hour?  Don’t let age define you or stop you from doing something new. Satchel Paige was once asked about his age. He said, “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

Peggy Zabicki

The senior club at West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St., meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. This club is for those age 60 and up and ideal for those interested in socializing, meeting neighbors and enjoying activities like bingo, card playing, board games and more. Register at the front desk or call (773) 284-2803 for more information.

West Lawn Park will be the location of a community meeting with the Chicago Lawn (8^th) District Police Council on Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited and will have the opportunity to sign a petition to save the ShotSpotter which—as you know from reading the Greater Southwest News-Herald–is a tool that alerts the police when guns have been fired. This enables the police to respond as quickly as possible.

The ShotSpotter contract is scheduled to end in the fall.  There will be a public discussion and a new commission update. Jennifer Bagby, from the Safety Division of the Chicago Law Department, is the guest speaker. Plan on attending this important meeting and have your voice heard as we support those who serve and protect us.

The Toreros Running Club, started by West Lawn resident Mario Hernandez, meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at West Lawn Park, near the dog park.   Hernandez, a longtime runner, recently participated in a run in memory of CPD Officer Luis Huesca who as we all know was shot and killed near 56^th and Kedzie and 56th Street recently, on his way home from work.

Mario invites all runners, joggers and walkers to join on Tuesday nights. He emphasized that the club will not only provide exercise but will be a great way to get to know your neighbors. He said, “Let’s show other communities how great West Lawn is.” The word torero means bullfighter and implies strength. We can be a strong community.

The Chicago Artopia organization will present a World Music concert featuring Ana Everling on Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St.

The library is hosting a program called Teen Craft Tuesday. A new craft is planned for young people ages 10-19 each Tuesday in May. The next craft day is May 7. Young people can drop in after school and make Mother’s Day cards and jewelry. Call to register at (312) 747-7381.

Dungeons and Dragons tabletop role playing games continue at the library on all Saturdays in May for teens ages 13-19.  The games start at 1 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the library, Sensei Ty Yamamoto will guide teens and adults in origami, the art of paper folding. Students will learn how to make paper cranes, flowers, boxes and more. Registration is required. Call the library or see librarians at the front desk.

My friend, Richard, reminded me that the next meeting of the Polish American Culture Club will take place on Saturday, May 2. Call him at (847) 209-1385 for the exact location and time. The featured guest will be soprano Ewa Kowcz-Fair who sings Polish folk songs. Her album “Art From the Polish Heart” was released last year.  In addition to singing and recording folk songs, Kowcz-Fair has performed at Orchestra Hall and has been a featured soprano in performances of Mozart’s Requiem and the operas Don Giovanni and La Boheme.

Thank you for your calls and texts. Let me know if you have any birthdays and anniversaries you would like me to acknowledge in this column. I’m always happy to hear from you!