We have some terrific people in our neighborhood. In addition to having great pizza, Cipriani’s Pizza at 5840 W. 63rd St. reached out to residents. After the recent storms, Cipriani’s invited all who lost power to come by and charge their phones. No purchase was required. They said, “If there’s anything else we can do to help, please let us know.”
Thank you Cipriani’s! They are open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 773-582-3747.
Here’s another example of people helping people. You might remember the news I shared about a pet adoption event last week. It took place at the Rhine VFW Post at 5858 W. Archer Ave. I visited this wonderful event and I must say, I felt the love. The organizer Ramona walked around with me and introduced me to lots of dog and cat lovers. She even introduced me to a member of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police team, a bloodhound named Ella. Ella is named for fallen police officer Ella French and has been beautifully trained by Cook County.
Thank you to all the people who volunteered their time and to all the people who adopted the dogs and cats. You have made our neighborhood better.
Speaking of pets, as I write this column, five loose dogs have been seen in our neighborhood – in just one day! For the past several years, loose dogs have been seen every single day.
On June 17, a man was walking his dog near 47th and Tripp and was attacked by a loose pit bull. His dog required 14 stitches after the attack. The man spent hours in a hospital emergency room as he was treated for his extensive injuries. A brave bystander helped the victim as he tried to free himself from the attacking dog’s jaws. What would have happened if the bystander hadn’t helped? What do you think would happen if a child encountered this dog on his or her way to school?
Alderman Jeylu Gutierrez is involved in the follow-up reports and said that they know who the owner is. Does anyone besides me feel that dog owners whose dogs attack people should pay the medical bills?
I know I will get phone calls from people who will tell me that it’s not the dog, it’s the owner. Well, tell that to a pit bull who is ripping a hole in your arm. Unfortunately, there will most likely be more dog attacks in our neighborhood. If the attacking dog is a poodle or corgi or any other breed of dog, I will let you know. Last year there were 1,300 dog attacks in Chicago. Pit bulls were responsible for the majority of the attacks, followed by pit bull mixed breeds, German shepherds, and rottweilers.
Chicago ranks among the top U.S. cities for dog attacks. Most occur on the south side. Dog owners have to do better. Stop making excuses about your dogs that have escaped from your homes because – there is no good excuse. If you don’t want to take proper care of your dog, bring it to the Animal Control Center at 2741 S. Western Ave. They are open every day from noon to 7 p.m. Call first at 312-747-1406.
My prayers go to the most recent victims, the man and his dog, as they heal from their wounds both physical and emotional.
My deepest thanks to all the good people at the recent pet adoption event. Thank you for being part of the solution instead of the problem.
Planting and weeding, July 11
The West Lawn Conservation Club is a wonderful group of people who make our neighborhood better by planting trees and flowers, cleaning up parks and other public spaces, and pulling a lot of weeds. They will be planting and weeding on Stewardship Work Day on Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Club leader Adolfo Gustavo invites all to join. In addition to cleaning up the environment, Adolfo has a lot of fun events coming up that will bring us closer to nature. Email him for more information at: westlawnconservationclub@gmail.com
Mural honors fallen officers
Here’s some more good news about people making a positive difference. There is a beautiful mural gracing our neighborhood at 6801 S. Pulaski. It honors three police officers who have died in service. Their names are Officer Luis Huesca, Officer Anores Vasquez Lasso, and Officer Enrique Martinez.
The mural was created by artist Anna Murphy. Sadly, the mural was vandalized recently. Many neighbors including Alderman Silvana Tabares and Illinois Comptroller Susan Mendoza worked hard to clean and restore the mural. The friends and families of the officers thank all of you and so do I.
Boy Scouts food drive
On April 18, Boy Scout Troop 1441, sponsored by St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society, held a food drive. The donations were brought to a food pantry. Thank you to these hard working Boy Scouts and their troop leaders.
All boys ages 11 to 17 are invited to join this Boy Scout troop. Call Ed Melkonian at 213-316-5825 (English) or Angie Kozel at 773-851-7855 (Spanish) for more information. Scouting gives boys the gift of a lifetime.
Stars and Stripes 5K
Here’s a reminder. The Stars and Stripes 5K Run will take place on Saturday, June 27, at Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Narragansett. The race starts at 8 a.m. Come and cheer on the runners. After the 5K run the Shakespeare Blood Oath Theater will present “The Famous History of Henry VIII.” All are invited to this free show. Bring a chair or blanket.
Birthday wishes
The Calvary Senior Club would like to wish a very happy birthday to the one and only, incredible, fabulous, handsome, and all-around terrific guy, John Ma. May the dear Lord bless you with good health and much happiness on your birthday and coming year.
West Lawn correspondent Peggy Zabicki can be reached at 773-504-9327.