A warm welcome, to Forest Park and to the U.S.A., goes out to the Brahmani family. Ilir and Xhevahire Brahmani just arrived from Albania with their 3-year-old son, Aulon. Both parents survived the horrors of the war in the former Yugoslavia several years ago, but, fortunately, young Aulon will live life unaware of what his parents had to endure.
Ruby Mason is the new crossing guard at the corner of Circle and Washington, just outside Grant White School. Mrs. Mason worked for 32 years at Rush-Presbyterian Hospital. But she couldn’t sit still very long. So, after retiring from Rush, she applied for this job, and with her great working record, she got it! Ruby also took the job so she can put some money toward the future educations of her beloved grandsons Lidell (an 8th grader) and Cordell (a 7th grader).
Joanne Jantz is home from the hospital and reaping the benefits of a lifetime of being a great mother. Corinna and Loretta are top-notch nurses – they’re arranging their hours at Schauer so someone can be home with mom all the time.
Maybe we’ll get the old Historical Society back on track. After all the years of hard work Dr. Frank Orland and Cora Sallee put into that organization, I sincerely hope it will come back to life.
In case you haven’t heard, the group’s going to meet at village hall on Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is open to all, but only members can vote on society business. You can become a member for a mere $10. You can join any time – even that night. There will be a Forest Park trivia contest and light refreshments will be served.
Help the Harlem Manner Und Damen Chor honor its 121st anniversary at a celebratory concert and ball on Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. Dennis Constazo will direct the singing, and music be played by the Walter Flechsig Orchestra. Food and drinks will be available starting at 6 p.m., and dessert will be served after the concert. Admission is $10. That’s at the River Grove Lodge, at River Road and Fullerton Avenue in River Grove. For more information, call Peter and Isabelle Herdeg at 630-545-1041.
The Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St., will host a Halloween Midnight Bash on Friday, Oct. 28 that will play the classic chiller-thriller The Invisible Ray starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. The Lake Theatre will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year and more old-timers will be shown. The $5 admission will go toward the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
LaMaison de Bon Bon is also celebrating an anniversary this year … number 90! So get over there and enjoy some of those world famous chocolates. You might even get to try a sample. That’s at 7353 Madison St.
Blue Cap charities has been supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities since 1967. For each dollar that’s donated, 84 cents goes directly to those in need. Eric Connor is the Forest Park contact-man. So if you see someone on the corner asking for a “Blue Cap” donation, you’ll know it’s legit
Birthdays this week: Christina Respass, Riley Nee Johnson, Derek Gist, Nick Mangarasina, Nathan Johnson, Allen Latall, Jason Fabiani, Gary Almeroth, Patrick Michael Olson, Todd Cote, Samantha Thiesse, Jan Behnke, Cody Healy, Mariussa Mullien, Megan Hosty, Anthony Bartolotte, Kevin Doss, Lily O’Neil, Bob Sullivan, Mark Hosty, Eve Dudek, Bernice Abbott, Donna Eggars. World-renown cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and Ben Meyerson, the editor of the Review’s sister paper, the Chicago Journal, are also celebrating birthdays this week.
Happy anniversary to: Todd and Denise Marler, Katie and Johnny Tricoci, Karen and Tom Hawkins, and Fred and Roberta Marunde. That’s it for this week. Thanks for your time. .
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.
