Just before midnight on February 7, a lucky Illinois Lottery player stopped into a convenience store in oak Lawn and hit the jackpot on Fast Play Twenty 20s, winning $902,096.

The ticket was purchased at 7-Eleven, located at 4501 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

The store will receive a selling bonus of 1 percent of the prize amount, or just over $9,000.

Twenty 20s is an Illinois Lottery progressive jackpot Fast Play game. The jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide -- in-store and online -- until the jackpot is won.

Already this month, the Fast Play Twenty 20s game has net Illinois Lottery players more than $1.48 million in prizes.

Fast Play is a quick and easy draw game that can be played at any time. There are no numbers to pick, no play slip to complete, no scratching, and no waiting for winning numbers. There are currently over 25 Fast Play games offered at various price points and play styles.

The Lottery announced Friday that a $90,000 Pick 4 ticket was also purchased in Oak Lawn on February 7. It was for 1-0-2-1 purchased for the Pick 4 evening draw. No sale location was announced.

Cook County Clerk seeks poll workers For Presidential Primary Election In March

Suburban voters can do their part for democracy and earn some cash in the process by registering to serve as an Election Judge for the Cook County Clerk’s Office in the March 19, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. 

Clerk Karen Yarbrough is encouraging all residents to consider serving as an Election Judge or Polling Place Technician to work on Election Day. 

The pay rate for poll workers has increased to $250 for Election Judges and $400 for Polling Place Technicians, and the Clerk’s Office provides training for both positions. 

The Clerk’s Office is also putting out a call to encourage high school and college students to consider serving as judges. 

“Our Judges are the gatekeepers for election operations and their work is critically important to keeping Election Day running smoothly,” said Yarbrough. “They are also the unsung heroes of our democratic process who provide a vital public service to voters leading up to and on Election Day.” 

The two poll worker positions available include: 

• Election Judge: These judges greet voters, sign them in, and work together to ensure the polling place is running smoothly and voters are properly served. This position earns $250. 

• Polling Place Technician: Technicians work with Election Judges to check supplies and equipment and assist with the setup, maintenance, and breakdown of election equipment. Due to the additional equipment responsibilities, Polling Place Technicians receive additional training and earn $400. 

Election Judges must be a registered Cook County voter or an eligible college or high school student (16 or older). The Clerk’s Office is also in need of bilingual Election Judges in many precincts with high concentrations of Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Urdu, and Arabic-speaking voters who are not proficient in English and may need special assistance at the polls. 

Anyone who wishes to serve as an Election Judge is encouraged to apply online at cookcountyclerk.com/work.

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m. (Supplied photo)

By Bob Bong

Southland Savvy

Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87^th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m.

The first lucky 88 guests to receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.

The new location features an updated store design for the restaurant chain, known as Panda Home. The updated model incorporates design elements inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and traditions with modern motifs that tells the unique story of Panda Express. Panda recognizes consumer habits have changed over the last three years and to meet the needs of guests’ evolved lifestyles, the store design creates efficiencies for operators and diners to accommodate the increased demand for online ordering and drive-thru channels. 

“The opening of the new Panda Express location is an additional opportunity to give Oak Lawn residents access to enjoy their favorite American Chinese dishes,” the company said in a release. “We encourage everyone to stop by the restaurant to experience the new store design and taste Panda Express favorites, which are all freshly made with quality ingredients.”

The new Panda Express location offers Panda’s iconic dishes, including the world-famous The Original Orange Chicken, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp and guest-favorite Broccoli Beef entrée. 

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Oak Lawn community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations through fundraising opportunities,” said Nancy Diaz, Panda Express Area Coach of Operations. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”    

In celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year, guests who visit PandaLNY.com now until Feb. 10 may also play The Good Fortune Scratcher Game2 for a chance to win exciting prizes including an $888 Panda Express gift card, $88 Panda Express gift cards, $8 off any Family Meal, free egg rolls and more.    

Local store hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10 p.m.); Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.); Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with drive-thru open until 10:30 p.m.)  

For more information on Panda Express, please visit Pandaexpress.com. 

Free Home Run Inn pizza

Home Run Inn, the family-owned pizza brand that has been dishing out pizzas in Chicago for more than 75 years, pays tribute to National Pizza Day on Friday, February 9.   Available at any one of its nine Chicagoland locations, for dine-in or carry out, guests will receive a free 12-inch frozen Classic Cheese or Sausage pizza (value $7.99 -10.99) with the purchase of any extra-large pizza (limit 2 free pizzas per guest).  

Home Run Inn is offering other specialty items for the month beginning on February 5, ranging from their chocolate swirled strawberry daiquiri to heart shaped pizzas to share A-Pizza your heart with your loved ones. 

“Home Run Inn is always looking to celebrate holidays with a fun twist,” says Gina Perrino Bolger, Senior Vice President of Home Run Inn and fourth generation family member.  

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.