Let me begin with a bit of leftover birthday cake for 1-year-old Riley Johnson. Young Master Johnson celebrated the anniversary of his birth earlier this month and, as you can see, really likes cake.
While we’re finishing up the birthday cake, let’s finish up that Oak Park-River Forest High School reunion. Along with Barb Wambach (second from right) are Thomas Murphy, Lisa Schuler and comedian Kathy Griffin. The gang got together at this year’s reunion, but this photo was snapped in ’07 while Griffin was shooting My Life on the D-List at Pizano’s on State in Chicago.
Welcome to Forest Park to former Oak Parkers, Eleanor Perry and her husband, Dr. Richard Perry, whose dental offices are on Oak Park Avenue. Eleanor now spends her time reading to herself, to her grandchildren and singing. Eleanor is a very talented soprano.
The Friends of the Forest Park Library were busy recruiting new members last Thursday. Everyone is encouraged to join. The group helps the library in many ways. Library workers are most welcome, and Children’s Librarian Lindsey Kraft and Adult Services Librarian Kate Niehoff both put their names on the list this year.
Donald Childs, a freshman at Walther, plays the minister in the school’s production of The Importance of Being Ernest, one of the best plays ever written. If you have never seen it, please go. If you have seen it you will probably want to go see it again. It runs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. Show times vary.
Did you know that on Oct. 30, 1735, John Adams was born? He and Jefferson were not exactly great friends, but both died on the same day, July 4, 1826. It is also the birthday of Richard Brindsley Sheridan, who once very gallantly said to a lovely young lady, “Won’t you come into my garden? I would like my roses to see you.”
Nov. 1 and 2 are All Saints and All Souls day, respectively, set by Pope Gregory in the year 835. On Nov. 1 in 1800, John and Abigail Adams became the first residents of the brand new White House.
On Nov. 4, 1922, the tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered at Thebes. On Nov. 5 Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in England. Bonfires are lit all over the place in memory of Guy Fawkes’ attempt to burn down parliament in 1605.
On Oct. 29 Corey Fink and Marjorie Beyer have a birthday, and Tom and Hazel Esposito celebrate an anniversary; Oct. 30, Ryan Neff, Tony Iannantuoni, Helen Dvorak and Pat Uphughes all have a birthday, while Mary and Pete Brown have an anniversary; Oct. 31, Karen Woods, Spencer Brooks, Jessica Emily Dodge, 5-year-old Samuel Bland and Pete Gianakopoulos all have birthdays; Nov. 1, Alene Murguia Uphughes, Sean Thiesse and Michael Fabre; Nov. 2, Robyn Popelka; Nov. 3, Meredith Dorneker, Sharon O’Shea, A.J. Turek; Nov. 5, Ryan Miller and 9-year-old Jimmy Brown.
Jackie is a former Chicago and Elmwood Park schoolteacher with an undying love for music, friendly pets and a host of life’s other treasures too numerous to list. She was born on the far southwest side of Chicago in a great neighborhood when it was a great time to be young.
