Last week’s column began with the tragic news of Dennis Gordon’s sudden death on his way to work at the Wednesday Journal on Feb. 20. No one is over that. Then last Thursday one of our receptionists, Arlene Biela, left for lunch around 1 p.m. and suffered a brain aneurism before she got to the corner. Arlene died Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Readers of the Review have probably never heard of either one of these people, but they each meant so much to the staff, even to someone like me who only shows up for a few minutes each week. This much loss is hard to take. My sympathies to the staff here at the paper and to the families of Arlene and Dennis.
Terry Steinbach may have come out second to Tony Calderone, but she came out first again in her family. Aaron and Kristy Littlejohn became parents for the second time in January. One-month-old Ethan and 22-month-old Kyle will be living with grandma Terry and grandpa Tony Sarly while their daddy, U.S. Naval officer Aaron Littlejohn, transports Marines to Iraq. The Littlejohns will be with us for about eight months and will have fun getting better acquainted with their cousin Ella Bogdon and aunt and uncle Tom and Susan Bogdon. Susan Bogdon is a fifth-grade teacher at Field Stevenson.
No, the elections haven’t completely gone away yet. A biggie is coming up in April so you have time to consider and reconsider your vote. I suggest getting acquainted with those hoping to be commissioners in our antiquated form of government in Forest Park. Did you know it was set in place by the voters in 1911?
Citizens United in Forest Park (CUinFP) is hosting a commissioner candidates forum on Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at Saint Peter’s Church, 500 Hannah Ave. Come and get acquainted, ask questions, attend coffees for candidates; especially candidates you may not be supporting. How else will you get to know them? Surely you are not one of those people who say “My mind is made up; don’t confuse me with the facts.” Besides, these forums have a social hour following the presentations and they are a great way to get to know your neighbors, too.
Many Forest Parkers are participating in the annual choral concert of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest. This year’s offering is the Mozart Requiem on Sunday, March 18 at 4 p.m. at First United Church, 848 Lake St. in Oak Park. A reception will follow the concert, so you can meet the choral director Bill Chin, instrumentalists, singers and conductor Jay Friedman, and see that church’s new addition.
Whether spring comes or not, romance will be in the air for Marissa Hinz and Sonny Serio who will be married on March 24. Marissa is the daughter of Karen and Dana Hinz and the granddaughter of Ed and Sarah Nutley. Sonny is the son of Rose DeCosola and the late Steve Serio. He is the grandson of Gary and the late Jan DeCosola.
A post script to last week’s item about the Sons of Norway, the telephone number for additional information should read (708) 366-0607.
March 7 happy birthday to Steve Grams, Bill Scheiwe, Dorothy Olson, Logan Kantzler and Melissa Dodge; on the 8th, Matt Stefl, Julie Doloszycki, Jean Malone, Kelli Haukedahl; on the 11th, Loretta Jantz, Ruth Lussow, Seth Stern, Margie Neff; March 12, Orla Genens, Esther Hartke, Connor Grimes, Davion Barr; on the 13th, Terry Meffley and happy anniversary to Fritz and Suzanne Kloess; March 14, Geri Leninger, Ted Fox and Tom Pingel.
