‘A really big block party’ at Marquette Park

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Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

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Did you make it to the Taste of Chicago Pop-Up at Marquette Park last week? While I was not able to go personally this year, my daughter Tracy and granddaughter Kayla, went over to check it out. Kayla’s description was: A really big block party. Tracy said there was a wide variety of food venders, bands took turns performing all afternoon, and there were plenty of games for the kids like Jumbo Jenga, Jumbo Connect four, basketball, a Fire Truck Bouncy Slide and more. All in all she said it made for a fun afternoon.

Congratulations to Anthony Garcia, labeled as A Real Marquette Park Golf Course Success Story who has earned a full ride to the University of Illinois on an Evans scholarship. The scholarship was established in 1930 and awards the recipient with four years of paid tuition and full and board.

Congratulations to Sir Jamison Jones St. Rita High School Class of ’24 who was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 2024 MLB Draft. A three-year varsity starter for St. Rita, Jones was named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association 3AA All State team in his senior year and was named three times to the All-Chicago Catholic Blue Team. He leaves St. Rita as their star catcher with a .389 batting average on the books.

Football Mania is back at St. Thomas More. Tickets will be available after all the weekend Masses through Sept. 7. They ca also be purchased at the rectory 2825 W. 81^st Street or online at charitymania.com/give/AEOF5. A $20 donation gives you access to free music downloads and a chance to win 1 of 18 weekly prizes during 18 weeks of professional football.

Kathy Headley

This Saturday, Aug. 3, the Cabinet of Curiosity comes to Marquette Park, 6743 S. Kedzie Avenue, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This sounds really cool. The Cabinet of Curiosity will provide numerous pedal-powered items the audience can use to power whimsical delightful objects, like pedal-powered bubble machines, human powered sound devices and more. The afternoon will include family-friendly engineering workshops and focuses on health, nutrition and engineering.

This Saturday, Aug. 3, is also the Back-to-School Picnic at Bogan Park, 3939 W. 79^th Street, from 12 to 3 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon at the park with food, bounce slides and more. Kids ages 4 to 12 will received backpacks and school supplies while supplies last. For more information contact the 18^th Ward office at (773) 284-5057.

Over at the Chicago Lawn Library, 6120 S. Kedzie Avenue, Thursday, Aug. 1 is Family Craft Night. Come out to create a simple craft while listening to music from 6 to 7 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 2, it is Canvas Painting for Adults at the library at 1 p.m. This DIY Workshop is for ages 18 and up and offers the opportunity to create a beautiful painting to hang on your wall. Register by Aug. 1 by calling (312) 747-0639.

On Sunday, Community Cinema brings the 2014 Universal Pictures film Get On Up, the story of the life of James Brown, to the library at 2 p.m.

And then on Thursday, Aug. 8, it is the Summer at CPL Awards. This year’s participants in the Summer of CPL Program: Find your Rhythm will be given their certificates and the winner of the mini-karaoke machine will be revealed. The ceremony takes place at 6 p.m.

Coming up on Saturday, Aug. 24, the Augustinian Young Adults will take part in a mini retreat called Disconnect to Reconnect. The event provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature and your inner self at the Augustinians Nuns Monastery. The $35 retreat fee includes a t-shirt and lunch. Transportation is available. For more information contact the parish office at (773) 434-9600.

Now let’s return to 1964. When we left last time, we learned of a theft taking place at a grocery store on 84^th and Kedzie when a cashier, taken away from her register to retrieve a box of garlic flakes for a ‘customer’ returned to find an envelope with a large amount of cash was missing from underneath the register. My question to you: What was the name of the supermarket? Jean K was the first to come up with the correct answer of Van’s Food Mart at 8404 S. Kedzie Avenue.

Sixty years ago a longtime Marquette Manor resident A. A. Dargis passed away. Dargis was an insurance and real estate broker who had an office at 6855 S. Campbell for 49 years. He was an officer of the Marquette Park Homeowners Association for many years and one of the organizers of Nativity BVM parish. In addition to that, he was the founder of the Chicago Lithuanian Savings and Loan Association. By 1964 that S & L was already going by a different name.

Can you guess what the Chicago Lithuanian Savings and Loan became?