If you didn’t go, you missed a really great evening at Centuries & Sleuths last Thursday. Author Leonard Rosen reviewed and signed copies of his latest Henri Poincare mystery. No ordinary mystery writer, this guy. This story involves philosophy, mathematics and theological questions about life. All Cry Chaos isn’t a page turner; it’s a thinker, a book that makes you stop reading , look up and think for a while. Warning: some parts are pretty hard to read.
On Nov. 19 at 11 a.m., Sisters in Crime will meet Joshua Harker, forensic artist, who will talk about his art and his work. Visit his website www.joshharker.com to see a forensic facial reconstruction he did of the Egyptian mummy, Nesmin, which dates back to 300 B.C. Come to C&S on the 19th and ask questions.
Nov. 6 was a proud day for Esther Huebner as she witnessed her grandson, Jake Brown receive his Eagle Scout badge. Jake also received congratulatory letters and photographs from such famous people as Pope Benedict (with photo), Governor Quinn, Mayor Emanuel, Senator Durbin, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, a signed letter from Michelle and President Barack Obama, along with a large signed photo of our president. Rev. Tom Holmes was there to help Esther celebrate.
As stated in a letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune the other day, the last trick-or-treater was hardly out the door when the Christmas carols started blasting over the loudspeakers. Well, here comes Forest Park’s version: “A Feast of Carols” will be presented by the Oak Park Concert Chorale on Sunday, Nov. 20 at St. John Church, 305 Circle at 4 p.m. The same concert will be offered on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, 3121 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago. The church has an enclosed parking lot, so not to worry. General admission is $18, seniors and students $10. Call 708-383-4742 for more information.
The village New Year’s Eve Party is already on the calendar. Lively entertainment, “elegant” menu, party favors, door prizes, champagne toast at “midnight.” The fun just goes on and on. The time and place for all this celebration is the Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson, Saturday, Dec. 31. It all begins at 11 a.m.; you can be picked up starting at 10. Just call ahead and ask, 771-7737. Cost is $38 for residents; $41 non-residents. Greet the New Year here!
It was a moving experience as Mayor Calderone reminded us the Veterans Day ceremony last Friday was occurring on 11/11/11 at 11:11, i.e. Nov. 11, 2011 at 11 minutes after 11 o’clock, as the honor guard presented the colors and remembered the fallen. Roger Grant took several excellent photographs but the one shown above was chosen.
This week in history: Mickey Mouse or “Steamboat Willie” was born in 1928. The Gettysburg Address was given in 1863, less than two minutes long, completed the morning of the address in pencil. Ella Fitzgerald sang at an amateur night in the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. She was so nervous she fumbled and had to start over. Her clothes were borrowed and she reportedly had to wear a man’s shoes but the audience went wild after she sang. A bandleader named Benny Carter took her under his wing and the rest is, as they say, history.
Birthday greetings go to Cara White, Carol Jargstorf, Dave Michaelson, Hilda Kearney, Jessica Dylewski, Chris Brown, Aaron Apilado, Nicholas Mear, Rich Bothie, Pat Carey, Letitia Olmsted, Susanne Jasper, Inge Sieber, Lillian Sansone, Mary Jane Cesario, Lisa Haeger, Nicholas Mangiaracina, Alex Trage, and Sara Scheiwe. Happy anniversary wishes to Phil and Pat Czuprynski, and Chris and Dennis Rosselli.
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.
