Daina Cyvas again pedals with a purpose

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Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

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As I’m sure you remember, in past years, Daina Cyvas, the Communications and Project Coordinator for the Sisters of St. Casimir, has participated in Bike MS. in honor of one of her heroes, SSC Sister Margaret Zalot, who has MS. The goal, of course, is to one day have a world free of this devastating disease.

I have been truly amazed by the amount of miles Daina travels for this cause every year. The Bike MS 2024: Tour De Farms is a two-day ride with distances of 25, 62 and 100 miles the first day and 25 and 62 miles the second.

While most of us could not think of covering that kind of ground in two days, we can help Daina in her efforts to help provide critical services to ensure people affected by MS have the resources they need to live their best lives and of course to fuel research to eliminate this disease with a donation, however large or small, at events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/Daina-Cyvas. If you would prefer to send your donation through another medium, contact Daina at dcyvas@ss2601.com.

Kathy Headley

Last Saturday, St. Rita of Cascia Parish held a gardening party on the parish grounds at 62^nd and Fairfield. Parishioners and friends joined in for a morning of gardening and camaraderie, planting flowers in the area around the church.

This Saturday, June 1, St. Rita Parish will do the same at St. Clare of Montefalco, 5443 S. Washtenaw, beginning at 10 a.m. Once again, parishioners and friends are invited to join in.

Over at the St. Rita Shrine, 7740 S. Western, Shrine Director Father Tom McCarthy and his classmate, former Shrine Director Bernie Scianna, will be celebrating their 30^th anniversary of priesthood at the next Perpetual Novena on Thursday, June 6. Mass begins at 7 p.m.

Speaking of the Shrine, I try to bring my granddaughter, Kayla, there whenever I can. She enjoys visiting the individual shrines in the chapel and reading about the different saints.

I’d like to give a shout out and thank you to Robert, a student at St. Rita and a very considerate young man. We were there visiting recently. As Kayla was looking at a picture on the wall, Robert stopped and told her the story and significance of the picture, even pointing out to her the spot in the picture where she was currently standing and then proceeded to tell her a story about the adjoining picture as well.

That was such a thoughtful gesture to make. He did not have to interrupt whatever he was on the way to do. He was just walking through the church at the time and stopped to share that information with a little 10-year-old that was gazing at a picture. Kayla loved the stories, and I have no doubt she will remember everything he told her and share it with others.

Next Saturday, June 8, the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, will be welcoming The Instrument Petting Zoo. Teaching artists from the Old Town School of Music will bring their “box of wonders” with examples of instruments from various musical families during this interactive workshop and song session. The event, which runs from 2 to 3 p.m., is recommended for ages 3 and up.

Next Sunday, June 9, St Thomas More Mission will be celebrating Mission Director Father Derran Combs’ 30^th anniversary at the 10 a.m. Mass. There will be a light lunch served after Mass in Donlan Hall, located in the lower level of the church, 81^st and California. All are welcome.

Now back to 1979. Last week I mentioned that Penner Rexall Drugs, on the northwest corner of 63^rd and Kedzie, had just undergone a remodeling. Owner Salvatore DiMasi was holding a grand re-opening sale. I did find a picture of Salvatore standing by the pharmacy in the store and I posted it on the Chicago Lawn Historical Society Facebook page, if you want to check it out.

Last time we learned of a huge fire which engulfed a longtime business and completely gutted the store at 2008 W. 51^st St. Nancy S. was the first to identify Brabec’s Department Store.

I’ve learned the store was opened by Mary Brabec back in 1915. Mary was able to reopen the 51st Street location by using another storefront just off of 51st and Damen. Many of us probably remember Brabec’s being at 55^th and Richmond. It was later, in 1986, that Mary’s son, Joe, moved the business to 2815 W. 55^th St..

Bernie M. tells us she remembers a bowling alley there right by Brabec’s. She said she was really little but she remembers going there with her dad and the bowling alley being upstairs. Can anybody help us with an information on that?

I was recently talking with Trudy Maskin, whom you will remember as the Greater Southwest News-Herald’s Ashburn/Wrightwood correspondent. She brought up a store she was thinking of that was just west of Western on 63^rd Street. It specialized in ladies’ apparel. I looked up the address, and in 1979 it was located at 2435 W. 63^rd St. Can you name this shop?