Laura Hodges, sophomore at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee, participated in a competition for Students in Free Enterprise recently. Congratulations to her team which won five out of six awards. They will go on to compete in the USA Nationals in Kansas City, Kansas later this year. The organization was founded by Jack Shewmaker, former CEO of Wal-Mart. Laura is the granddaughter of Lori Coughlan.
The artistic, cultural, social event of the season, “A Pailor Recital” was given by David H. Wallis and Eddie J. Ward last week. This musical event featured locally famous tenor, Mitchell Kogut who sang five lovely Schumann pieces, arias from “Werther” by Massenet and “Tosca” by Puccini. The gathering was then treated to some piano gems by Schubert and Debussy performed by world famous pianist Julio Favario, who, until his recent retirement, was rehearsal pianist for The Lyric Opera chorus. More beloved favorites by Puccini were performed by Mitchell and the evening ended with a tenor solo, “By the Waters of Babylon,” a David Austin composition.
Another cause for great celebrating was the “official debut” of the recently rebuilt and refinished 1919 Chickering piano. Mr. Wallis purchased this six foot six brown mahogany treasure in May 1999 and it has been in “rehab” ever since. This is a rare size for a piano and has an attachment which represents the “apex” of player piano” technology. It does not simply repeat “notes” but also produces dynamic shading, loudness, softness, pedaling-all the subtle expressions of the original performance-automatically. All power is supplied by an electric motor. This Ampico system was available in a limited number of Chickerings from 1912 until 1941.
Some lucky Forest Parkers were among the 50 plus music lovers in attendance, among them Lillian Sansone, Betty Zimmerman, Trudy Rosnos and husband Rich and Marie and Billy Wienbrecht.
Belated congratulations to grandparents Dan and LuAnn Hart. Parents of the twin boys are Dan and Lili Hart who were born April 10. Baby Daniel weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces and his brother Patnck at 6 lbs. 3 oz.
Forest Parkers are invited to attend Art in the Park May 21 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. in downtown Oak Park at Austin Gardens. One-hundred artists will be exhibiting their works and there will be food, entertainment, free admission and wheelchair accessibility. This event is sponsored by the West Suburban Artists Guild and the Park District of Oak Park.
Mary Hollander said the smile never left her face-she just couldn’t wipe it off. Everything about her trip to Greece was beyond anything she had imagined. She, Eric and other travelers from Saint John’s had a wonderful travel experience and beautiful memories to last a lifetime. And souvenir photos to fill a library!
Birthday greetings to Jason Webb on May l7t; on the 18th to Carl Schwebl and two-year-old ,Mikela Brown; on the 19th to “Moon” Mullin, and Jonas Wojtas; on the 20th to Phyllis DeVilbiss, Janet Fink and Pam Bower; on May 21 happy birthday to Tyler Robert Fink.
Thanks for your time. Chop a bun.
