Congratulations to Jerry Lordan, who was elected president of the Forest Park Kiwanis last Tuesday. Jerry has been a part of Forest Park for many years, beginning with his years as principal of Saint Bernardine’s. He is happy to begin this new venture and do whatever he can to improve the quality of life in Forest Park. As you know, Jerry has been teaching at Fenwick for lo these many years now.
The second season of the Michael Teolis singers will begin with the premier of Harry Warren’s Mass in Honor of Saint Anthony. This Mass was written just before Vatican II and had never been performed during a religious service. But with the help of Michael Feinstein and conductor Paul Salamonovich, Mr. Teolis found a suitable score for this group. This concert will also feature a work by humorist/satirist Tom Lehrer, A Christmas Carol. Mr. Lehrer wrote many really very funny satires on many topics in the ’60s and ’70s; the new math, pollution and much more. Some of his work was heard on the old Electric Company. Silent “e” was one I used with my second-graders (who can turn a tub into a tube?) Tom Lehrer taught math at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when he wasn’t writing music.
Dan Tucker is known to many in this area. His piece, Little Lord will also be on the program, and is a touching, beautiful, non-sentimental Christmas carol.
Forest Park singers in the ensemble are Nancy Greco, Louise Brueggermann and Erik Johnson. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 seniors/students; cash only. For reservations, phone 366-2889. It’s at First United Methodist Church, 324 North Oak Park Ave., at the corner of Oak Park and Superior streets. It’s handicap accessible.
It’s a busy time of year, but I hope you can get to this concert.
On Nov. 19, Aaron Apilado, Bill Kenny, Rich Bothie, Sara Scheiwe, Letitia Olmsted, Nicholas Mear and Inge Sieber will all be a year older. On Nov. 20, Chris and Dennis Rosselli have an anniversary; on the 21st, Lillian Sansone, Amy Huynh, and Mary Jane Cesario get a happy birthday; on the 22nd, Lisa Haeger, and Nicholas Mangiaracina; Nov. 23, Alex Trage and Kevin Harnett will celebrate their birthdays; Nov. 24, Gina Orland, Olinda Fink, Jaime Cook and Brandon Paugh; the 25th, Roberta James, Karen McGrath, Gina Barger, Carla Loyd and William Shremsher have birthdays, and happy anniversary to John and Carol O’Donnell.
As I said last week, Nov. 19 is the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address; the 20th is the anniversary of the Bill of Rights (remember the Bill of Rights?). Senator Robert Kennedy’s birthday was the 20th; the 21st is the birthday of our Sen. Dick Durbin; President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. His young son John was 3 years old on the 25th of November that year. Sojourner Truth died on Nov. 26, 1883.
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.
