A super Thanksgiving thank-you to chef Fiorenza Tasinato for her big generous heart and to Fiorenza Ristorante owner Bill Pierson for offering Thanksgiving dinners to residents who had no one to celebrate with on Thanksgiving Day. The meals were served with love and in elegant surroundings, complete with pianist, Karl Wilkey.
About 60 diners showed up. Fiorenza will be back next year, she said. The staff at Fiorenza donated their time enthusiastically. Chefs Tasinato and Arthur Munoz served delicious, bountiful meals with the assistance of volunteers Doug Gray, Adolpho Rodriguez, Bill Pierson and Teresa DiCapua.
Demetrius Mobley spent a day of his vacation on the library bench doing research on his laptop. Demetrius is a student and basketball player at Jackson State in Jackson, Miss. He is a graduate of Forest Park Middle School and IHM and is now doing his best to keep up his GPA so he can maintain that basketball scholarship. Demetrius’ proud parents are Laconya Mobley and Titus Brown.
Our condolences to Village Executive Secretary Sally Cody on the loss of her father Monday night.
‘Tis the season of music, music, music and the Michael Teolis Singers will start off the month of December with their annual Christmas concert. The concert will be at the United Methodist Church, 324 Oak Park Ave., 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. These concerts are unique, and usually feature delightful musical surprises. Parking is available on the street, the church is handicap accessible. Kathy Greco is working hard on publicity.
The next day, on Sunday, Dec. 2, the Symphony of Oak Park-River Forest will present a concert at Dominican University. The concert begins at 4 p.m. and will perform the famous Bach Toccata and Fugue, the Rimsky-Korsakov Christmas Suite and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. Parking is free and plentiful.
Congratulations to Nancy Robinson, candidate for president of the local Sons of Norway lodge. Nancy’s vice presidential candidate is Phil Robinson who also helps keep the Friends of the Forest Park Library going. While we’re with the Norwegians, remember their amazing Christmas cookies. This year they offer five varieties. Let the lodge do your cookie baking. The email address is norscookies@yahoo.com.They would like you to drop in at the Museum of Science and Industry and see their trees, decorated by local members.
Forest Park Review editor Jean Lotus has become a member of the board of directors of the Historical Society of Forest Park. Congratulations and let’s find a few old-timers who are willing to contribute some personal knowledge of local history.
Congratulations to Village Commissioner Tom Mannix on his engagement.
Birthdays this week: May Bill, Jessica Marafatsos, Michael Branda, Patrick Rice, Maddie MacKay, Bradley Specter, Roland Maughm, Joan Prebus, Dixie Quitsch, Reagan Hosty, Barbara Hosty, and Cheryl Kolnick.
Happy anniversary to Gerry and Roger Grant, Ruth and Jerry Belonsky and John and Carol O’Donnell.
