The jewel in the crown of Forest Park is, in my opinion, the Gasse School of Music on Polk Street. Daniel Gasse, an Argentine, studied and performed in many countries. His wife Sarah from England and their accompanist, Hulya Alpakin, have raised Forest Park several notches on the cultural scale.
Last Sunday, April 29, their students performed in three recitals. Here is a photo of one of the groups. Keep your ears open for word on Amy Cornman, cellist; Michael Duwe, violinist; Ruben Hernandez, violinist; and Marie Nemeth, violinist. But all of the performers were excellent. At the Gasse School, you can learn violin, viola, piano and classical guitar. Your dollars are well spent when they go for music education. Music goes with us all through life.
Sympathy to the family and many friends of Don Peaslee who died last week. The Peaslees ran a great hardware store in the old days. It even smelled like a hardware store, a smell few people remember. Don’s memorial service will be held at First United Church, 848 Lake St., Oak Park on Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m.
Schauer’s is a worthy successor to Peaslee’s. After more than six years of hard work, Rick Schauer finally took a few days off. He and his wife basked in the Caribbean sun for a week. In between basking, they did some snorkeling, swimming, etc. and even met some baby turtles, one of which is shown with Rick.
Another jewel in our crown is our new Madison Street Shoes, straight from Craig’s in Berwyn. For a few more days you can get a 10 percent discount there. Sorry, men, this store carries ladies shoes only.
The Wine Walk was a success considering the weather. As Chaucer said, “April is the cruelest month” and in my case that certainly was true. Walking was painful so I didn’t spend much time on the wine walk. But everyone seemed to be happy and having a fine time.
The Symphony of Oak Park-River Forest will hold its final concert at Dominican University at 4:30 p.m. on Mothers Day, May 13. Take your mother to a concert; she’ll love it. There’s plenty of free parking at Dominican, located at 7900 W. Division in River Forest.
Keep saving those books for the library’s book sale next month.
Happy birthday to Mary Jane Grimes, Beth Apilado, Bill Dwyer, Sarah Ann Bothie, Shirell Mollo, Erin Casey, Ashley Kanelos, Chantel Kamm, Natalie Castro, Dorothy Tricoci, Ruth Sinnott, Becky Marcantonio, Carrie Schwebl, Michelle Callis, and anyone else who is celebrating a birthday this week.
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.
