One of John F. Kennedy High School’s former teachers passed away on July 15 at the ripe old age of 90. Donald Wiberg was more than a teacher-he was a legend. He was the woodshop and drafting teacher for thousands of kids over the years. If you took either class, you knew Mr. Wiberg. Don dedicated 35 years of his life to teaching and shaping young minds. A lifelong educator and passionate learner, Donald left an indelible mark on the lives of his students, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. He also was one of the first Chicago teachers to teach Computer Aided Design in his classroom. Over the years he kept in close contact with many of his students who knew they had a friend in him. I know I am not alone, as a Kennedy alumnus, to say, “Thank you, Mr. Winberg for caring so much!”.
As a mother of two educators, I could not be prouder of the vocations they have chosen. Being a teacher has changed so drastically over the years, but the heart of an educator has not changed. Remember this as your child returns to school at the end of the month: tell them to be kind and generous and listen to the teacher. Be as patient and caring as your teacher is and always be helpful. Be the example to follow not the clown to imitate. Come prepared with supplies as most teachers purchase pencils and crayons out of their own paychecks. Most of us would not be where we are today without the influence of a certain teacher. Watch the Oscars or the Grammys and winners will always thank a former teacher. Today we thank and remember Mr. Winberg; for me it was Mr. Felder and Mr. O’Keefe from Byrne School. May their memories be a blessing to all.
It is never easy to say goodbye to a business that has made such a meaningful impact on our community.
Broke Bestie Boutique located on Archer held its final play session August 7. After two years of play sessions, parties, park meet ups, community representation and more, owner and proprietor Jessica had these words to say: “This journey has been so fulfilling, and I am so honored to have shared it with all of you. Next to birth (twice), this has been the bravest thing I’ve ever done and I’m just so grateful for this village I’ve created. This community has welcomed every version of us with open arms, and I am so grateful because there were many days we needed grace the most.” Everyone wishes you all the best on the next chapter of your journey. On a personal note, I would like to thank Jess, Alan and Deonna for all their hard work making something special for the little kids in the neighborhood. I am sorry to see this wonderful establishment close as my grandson and I enjoyed popping in on Fridays (as naptime allowed!). We hope to see you doing something similar in the future. It was obvious how dedicated and thoughtful you all were.
Garfield Ridge Library
Watercolor Postcards Saturday, August 15 at 2 p.m. Patrons will design and paint a watercolor postcard inspired by their Chicago! Ages 14 and up.
Family Game Time Wednesday, August 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Stop by the library and play UNO, chess, checkers, Candyland, Connect Four, Sorry, Don’t Break the Ice and more! Ages 4 and up.
Back to School DIYs Thursday, August 20 at 5 p,m. As summer comes to a close, join us to get ready for back to school! Customize a tote bag using the vinyl cutter, make a button, or make a keychain! Only for teens ages 13 to 18.
Chair Yoga for Seniors Fridays, August 28 to October 2 at 11:30 a.m. Join local yoga instructor, Ms. Kim, for this 6-week low-impact yoga class. (Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the program starts, please). Register for each session at 312-747-6094 or in person for each session. Space is limited. Please cancel 24 hours in advance to allow someone on the waitlist to join your place.
Tot Spot Learning Wednesdays, September 2-16 at 11 a.m. for ages 18-36 months. We will sing songs and learn our letters, numbers, colors and shapes in this fun, 45-minute program. Using puzzles, ABC letter matching, scissors, glue and more, kids will get a taste of preschool! Registration required.
Clearing Public Library
Off the Rails: How Transit Shaped Our City Saturday, August 15 at 11 a.m. Offered in partnership with Chicago for Chicagoans. Chicago is known around the world as the railroad capital of the US, and we owe much of our neighborhoods and urban development to the indelible mark of train tracks on our city. Discover clues hiding in plain sight that help you to understand what came before and how we got here. Why are Archer, Milwaukee, and Clark angled streets while the rest of the city is a strict grid? What happened to the former industrial land that, not even 30 years ago, was carrying freight to the Loop? How did the L end up serving the stations and communities that it does today? A lot of those historic clues to explain the transportation network we have today are hiding in plain sight, up an embankment or just under our feet.
Route 66: 100 Years of History Monday, August 24 at 6 p.m. Join Route 66 historian, Ed Kozak, as he presents the story of Historic US Route 66, celebrating 100 years in 2026. Trace the history of the road and see some great sites right here in Illinois on the Mother Road that are worth checking out and exploring. Ed has become the number one tour guide for Route 66 in Illinois, escorting dozens of groups on a fun-filled journey of history and nostalgia in the Land of Lincoln.
Community Events
Hope Church Midway will be starting up a new 13-week session of Grief Share on Monday, September 14 through December 14 from 6-8 p.m. (Located at 6059 S. Archer, across from the Mayfield). You can register at www.griefshare.com under Hope Midway. The cost is only $20 for a workbook and classes are held at the church in the lower level. These in-person classes cover everything from exploring your grief journey to finding hope and resilience. Each week features a different topic, a video and then group discussions. If you or someone you know has lost a loved one, please share this information.
CAPS and Beat Meetings Beat 11 will meet on Tuesday, August 18 at 7 p.m. at St. Faustina’s Ward Hall, 5157 S. McVicker). Beat 12 will meet on Wednesday, August 12 at the Clearing Public Library, 6423 W 63rd Place, (312-747-5657) at 6:30 p.m. Please join these important meetings to learn about what’s going on in your neighborhoods and how to stay vigilant against crime. Meet your beat facilitators and local police. Ask questions. Join the Neighborhood Watch group for your area. The more vested people we have the safer our neighborhoods will be. We thank you for your continual support.
Midway Chamber of Commerce Presents Summerween Pop-Up on Saturday, August 23 from noon to 4 p.m. A little spooky, a little sunny, and a whole lot of fun! Join us for the Midway Marketplace Summerween Pop-Up, where summer meets Halloween for a family-friendly afternoon of local shopping, themed treats, trick-or-treating, spooky goods, creative vendors, and community fun. Costumes are welcome, and participating vendors will have something special for trick-or-treaters!
The Garfield Ridge Senior Center, 5674-B S. Archer Ave,. has many fun events for August. “Kindness Rocks!”: A Rock Painting & Sharing Project on Tuesday, August 25 at 10 a.m. Join us as we continue our rock painting group to spread kindness. Bases Loaded Bingo will take place on Friday, August 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $15 per person and includes lunch (hot dogs, baked beans, chips, pop and a Fat Boy Ice Cream Sandwich). Wear your favorite team T-shirt/jersey. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, August 21. Please call 312-745-4255 or stop at the center. Ask for Julie.
13th Ward Upcoming Events
Sponsored by Alderman Marty Quinn, state Representative Angie Guerrero-Cuellar and state Senator Mike Porfirio.
Paper Shredding Event Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kennedy High School parking lot, 5625 S. Narragansett. Bring your old bills, tax receipts, medical bills, etc. and be rid of them once and for all!
Senior Celebration Friday, September 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th Street. This yearly event celebrates the seniors in the neighborhood. A great way to connect and meet Quinn.
Touch-a Truck Event Thursday, September 17 from 5-7 p.m. at Kinzie Elementary parking lot, 5625 S. Mobile. Come join us for this annual event where kids will get a firsthand, up-close look at fire trucks, police motorcycles, garbage trucks, emergency vehicles and more. Let your child hop on a big truck, honk the horn and pretend to steer some of these amazing trucks! Photos are allowed so don’t miss out! Meet a few police K9 dogs, talk with the crime lab, and see a police helicopter fly overhead! Sponsored by Alderman Quinn, dtate Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, state Senator Mike Porfirio, the Chicago Park District, the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, the Midway Chamber of Commerce, the 8th District Police Council, the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police and Happy Jacks.
Until next time, keep being nice to one another and share a smile! Please continue submitting information to my email: ptyznik@gmail.com.