Congratulations to Dan Haley and the Wednesday Journal on the 25th anniversary of the country’s greatest weekly newspaper. It all began twenty five years ago in the basement of an apartment building in Oak Park. Dan and his wife Mary did everything, EVERYTHING. They punched out the headlines on one of those old dinosaur machines, waxed up the copy, Dan even hand delivered all the papers. One icy winter evening as Dan was making his rounds with an armful of Journals, he slipped and fell smack on the back of his head. Looking up at the wintry sky, he said to himself “What the **** am I doing?” Well, we’re thankful he kept on doing it.
Speedy get well wishes to Forest Park’s most beloved all around best friend, Zeno Jacquat. While Zeno was rehearsing with the Harlem Maernerchor two weeks ago, he suddenly lost grip on his music, bent down to pick it up and down it went again. “I think I’ll just go home and sleep this off” he said. “Oh No, you don’t!” said a fellow singer, who happened to be a doctor. “Somebody give him two aspirins and we’ll get him right to the hospital!” Fortunately for that man’s quick thinking, Zeno is well on the road back to health.
Also a speedy get well wish to Joellen Barron who fell and broke her ankle a few weeks ago. Grandma Alma Marunde celebrated her 90th birthday May 31 with a brisk walk to Osco to pick up her medicine. Belated happy birthday, Alma. Whatever you’ve been doing, keep doing it.
My apologies to Jackie Clifton for giving her the wrong birthday. Her actual birthday is coming soon.
Not One of a Kind, the art of Nick Bridge is coming to the Frame Warehouse, Ridgeland & Harrison June 10th until July 3rd. Nick’s art reflects the juxtaposition of the urban landscape and the remnants of our native prairie.
“Together Again”, 74453 Madison is featuring our own Jay Boeldt along with fellow artists Janet Emison and C.C. Wallace at the Plan B Gallery. It begins June 17th open between 5 and 9 p.m.
Congratulations to our graduates Alexa Thompson and Melissa Davidson. Alexa Thompson was in the top 10% of her senior class at West Leyden/Northlake. She is planning to attend Loyola University in the fall. Her friends will remember Alexa from Betsy Ross a few years ago. We’re happy to welcome her back to Forest Park. Melissa Harris Davidson received her MA in education from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee on May 21st. She will be Curator of Conservation and Education at the Racine, Wisconsin Zoo. While in grad school, Melissa taught fifth grade in Wisconsin. Her proud parents are Deb and Rob Harris.
If you’d like to see what the Battle of Waterloo looked like, there’s an amazing diorama of it in the window of Ceneturies & Sleuths, 7419 Madison Street. Augieleksy has more than 2200 hand-painted 25 mm figures depicting that watershed battle of June 18, 1815. Stop by, you’ll be amazed. There’s always something to tickle your imagination going on in that old fashioned little book store. If you like mysteries that’s the place for you. If you like history, ditto.
“A cookie in the mouth is worth one in the hand” is the byword of friends Amanda Li and her friend, but no relation Tina Li. The friends are taking advantage of the perfect weather and enjoying an afternoon of dolls and fun in Tina’s yard.
Time to wish a happy birthday to Robert Gerger, Jacob Koehne, Matt O’Shea and Alice Zimmerman on June 9th; on the 10th far away Marge Griffin in California gets a happy birthday wish. On the 11th of June happy anniversary to Nick and Sue Mangiaracina and Kelly Brennan & Tim Woods as well as a happy birthday to Eric Bradley. On June 12th Gus Calderone has a happy birthday; on the 13th Bernice Matthews and Mary Moravec have a happy birthday. June 15th is the happy anniversary to Ted & Annette Rozmus and the happy birthday to Karen Dylewski. On June 16th and happy birthday to Anthony Calderone, Jr. Just re-heard the old Groucho comment, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s just too darn dark to read.”
