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By Peggy Zabicki
Your correspondent in West Lawn
3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327
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Thank you to all who make a positive difference in West Lawn. There are some who are putting enormous efforts into making our neighborhood better and safer. We often hear about these good people and all they do.
However, there are also some who make a big difference in a quiet way. The people who never throw garbage on the ground, the people who don’t take up two parking spaces, the people who choose not to break the law by setting off illegal fireworks, the people who clean up after their dogs, the people who hold open a door and say, “After you,” the please and thank you people, and the people who greet you with a smile–these are the ones that really make life better for everyone. They don’t expect a thank you. They just do it.
Peggy Zabicki
“The best portion of a good man’s life is the little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” –William Wordsworth
The West Lawn Conservation Club had a tree planting on May 11. This group of volunteers planted lots of trees at Richardson Middle School and the surrounding area at 60th and Karlov. Thank you, one and all!
Watch for a new mural to be painted at the viaduct at 63rd and Central Park. Neighborhood representatives have been gathering input from residents and evaluating three artists who will be creating drafts of their visions for the mural. A decision will be made around June 1. Murals can help beautify a plain, uninteresting space and discourage ugly gang graffiti as well.
The West Lawn Toreros Running Club continues to meet every Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. They changed their gathering spot from West Lawn Park to Windy City Hot Dogs, 63rd and Keeler. All levels are welcome, from walkers to runners.
Walking in a group is safer than walking alone. My hubby used to walk three to five miles a day in our neighborhood, but I was a bit concerned about his safety and so was my neighbor, Gladys. She told me that every time she saw him going out for his daily walk, she would say a prayer. Thank you, Gladys!
Eventually, we bought a treadmill which hubby uses religiously. Mall walking can be another safe alternative. I used to walk in Ford City Mall way back when my kids were in school. It was safe back then. Now with all the shootings in the parking lot, I just don’t feel safe going there. Recently, criminals broke into the JC Penney after hours and stole $200,000 worth of merchandise from their jewelry department. So many of the stores and eateries in the mall have closed. It looks empty and bleak inside. Maybe mall walking is the one thing you can still do there.
Walking with your dog can provide some sense of security. Walking to West Lawn Dog Park, which provides a very nice enclosed place for big and small dogs to romp around, can be a pleasant walking activity. There have been some improvements in the dog park, as well but dog poop continues to be a problem. In addition, some dog owners let their dogs loose in the skateboard area and let their dogs poop there. One skateboarder told me he was almost bitten by a dog who got ahold of his leg as he attempted to skate around dog poop. Hopefully, the West Lawn Park staff can monitor that situation.
LOS Youth Center, 3919 W. 63rd St., will continue their summer program for kids ages 8 through 17. Starting on Monday, June 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. there will be sports, art, games and more. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Call (773) 424-5294 to register.
On June 6 the Polish American Culture Club will meet. Their guest speaker is Donna Adam, Executive Director of the Clean Up-Give Back Organization. This environmental non-profit organization focuses on trash cleanups in Chicago. Last year they collected 10,000 pounds of plastics which would have ended up in a landfill. The plastics will be recycled instead. If you would like to attend the meeting, call my friend Richard at (847) 209-1385 for more information.
I’m grateful for our Blue Bin Recycling program in Chicago. Thousands of pounds of items for recycling are collected each year. Unfortunately, as I drive down my alley, I often see the blue bins filled with regular garbage instead of glass, plastic, paper, cartons, aluminum and steel cans. Come on, people, we can do better. o those who recycle, I thank you.
Finally, to all you nice readers who regularly send me cards and notes, I apologize for not getting back to you in a timely manner for the past few months. I no longer get mail every day. Sometimes I receive mail just once a week. When I finally do get mail, there is a gigantic stack of it. It takes a while to go through it all. My mail used to be delivered around 1 p.m. Now it comes at all times of day. Once it was delivered around 4 a.m. and then later that day we got another delivery at 7 p.m. Once we received a bill so late, we now have to pay a late fee.
Worst of all, I haven’t been receiving my Greater Southwest News-Herald. How sad is that?