It’s finally over. Let’s get back to normal. Did you read Mary Schmich in Sunday’s Tribune? In an ideal world, the loser and winner would shake hands and agree to work together for the community. We could hope for such a town.
Congratulations to PMSA senior Harlan Kuhr who was chosen as a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship award. These awards are valued at $2,500 or more and are based on the Preliminary SAT test. Harlan will graduate in May and is undecided on what he will study in college, but it will most likely be biology related. Harlan is a Forest Parker and a product of our Forest Park Middle School.
Spring is a great time to get your creative juices flowing, especially at Creativita. Mother Dienne Arum and daughters Kyrielle, age 8, and Rhysel, age 6, proudly displayed their creations last week. You, too could paint such a beautiful sunset under the direction of Jessica at Creativita.
A fundraiser for the three young daughters of Rob “Chopper” Petrey, a member of Ironworkers Local 1 who died unexpectedly, will be held at River Café (formerly Loon), 2826 Thatcher in River Grove, on May 16 from 5 until 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. Prizes are $5,000, $3,000, $1,000 and two for $500.
As you read in the library mailer last week, the library will host a special after-hours event for book lovers on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. Advance copies of several books will be available for purchase by Centuries & Sleuths. See you there!
The Oak Park Concert Chorale, under the direction of Paul Lindblad, will present “A Tribute to Paul Bouman and Carl Schalk” on Sunday, April 19 at 4 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division in River Forest. General admission is $18, seniors/students $10. These men are prominent local composers, well known for their numerous contributions to choral music. Choirs throughout the world have performed their compositions. They have had a profound influence on church music, especially Lutheran music. The OPCC recently received a prestigious award for being Best in Class from the Oak Park Area Arts Council.
Now that spring seems to have arrived, St. Bernardine Ladies will celebrate by holding their annual gala. This year it’s Kentucky Derby Gala on April 16 at Skylight West Banquets, 7117 W. Ogden in Berwyn. For more information, call 708-514-6616 or contact Janet Scodius at stbernwc@yahoo.com. Skylight is a more convenient location for Forest Parkers. Tickets are $35 before April 9 and $40 after April 9. Junior high and high school, $30. Come and see how everyone survived the winter.
Birthday greetings to Stanley Konieczny, Fran Nee, Tiffany Basarich, Rich Barger, Ernesto Gassi, Laura Annarino, Daniel Patrick Hart, Ami Mesheimer, Mike Thompson, Chrissy Neumann, Sara Mesheimer, Zachary Peter Janopoulos, Evelyn Wirkowski, Kara Einbinnder, Jim Stanton, John Spence, Don Cote, Julie Mahnke, and Amy Vabornik.
Happy anniversary to Brian and Mary Sullivan, and Kevin and Melissa Dodge.
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.
