It was a truly happy birthday party for 90-year-old Kathy Greco, who looks at least 10 years younger than that. The site of the celebration was The Brown Cow where everybody always has a good time anyway. Brown Cow’s charming social director, Morgan, led the group in a couple of games (don’t groan). Those who participated (unwillingly at first) really had a good time.
The party-goers were a Who’s Who of talented guests, including Michael Teolis of the Michael Teolis Singers, Doug Deuchler, theater critic for Wednesday Journal, and actress Linda Shadrake, who is appearing in the Austin Gardens Festival Theatre production of Pygmalion where she plays Freddie Eynsford-Hill’s mother. Hostess of the party was Kathy’s daughter, Nancy Greco, Forest Park’s famous local soprano.
Saturday’s heat didn’t stop the young people of Saint John as they soaped, scrubbed, rinsed and dried car after car to raise money for their forthcoming trip to New Orleans in July. Thirty 7- to 15-year-olds of the LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) will be having the time of their young lives as they gather for a religious — and fun — meeting. Donations to the cause are gratefully accepted.
Saint John’s New Orleans adventure will probably suffice. Six adults and about 18 kids from here will be participating. Jenny Robinson graciously gave me the names of the kids who were working: Emily Lovendahl, Stephanie Hegarty, Donavin Sharber, Sam Sharber, Anna Kindler, Olivia Beger, Hannah Arvis, Erik Arvis, Brendyn Jones, Ethan Jones, Elijah Martinez, Thomas Schoedel, Gerry Saldana, Erich Baacke, Garrett Jones, Anders Soderquist, Emily Giannotta, and Alyssa Niedzialek.
Supervising adults’ names will appear next week.
Back home after a peaceful Canadian sojourn is David Richards. Of course, David had a great time. He didn’t have to worry a bit about getting shot. Also back from Canada, Nova Scotia to be exact, are Steve and Gloria Backman. Welcome home, friends. Too bad you can’t bring Canada back with you.
Belated happy birthday wishes to Charlotte Vaccaro. And happy birthday wishes to Sydney Gray, Charles Watson, Leshundria Ford, Jackson Ramirez, Susan Covington, Michael Fumo, Jennifer Medica, Tyler Leninger, Dorothy Spinelli, Chuck Brod, Caileigh Pronek, Steve Backman, Adam Kowalski, Andreas Chronopoulis, Rick Leninger, Shirley Christell, Sandy Byrnes, and Frank Cassiani.
Happy anniversary to Angel and Corey Fink, Mark and Joan Janopoulis, Marie and John Spence, Augie and Tracy Aleksy, and Ken and Beth Lanious.
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.
