Dear Uncle Jesse

Dear Uncle Jesse –

As they say, everything comes full circle and you know that better than anyone, what with Full House making a wonderful comeback with Fuller House.

We started watching Full House in 1990. It was a great show, refreshing and also more importantly, spoke to the fact that not all families are made up of a mom, dad and two kids. A wonderful message. We loved the show, my two kids and I. It was part of the “TGIF’ line up – pizza, TGIF and we were good for the evening.

When my daughter was in 3rd grade, I took her and a friend to see The Beach Boys at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, IL. It was a warm August night and the outdoor venue of Poplar Creek was always one of my favorites. We sang along with the Beach Boys and oh, man —shrieking and hysteria ensued —Uncle Jesse was on stage playing along with the Beach Boys.

All of the girls in the audience and on the lawn dashed down to the stage to get a closer look. It was a night to remember.

These two girls are now 31 years old and my daughter’s friend always remembers her ‘first concert.’

Now, my daughter has a daughter who is 6 years old. And yup, they watch Fuller House together. My granddaughter informing us that it is 29 years later. She, however, never saw the original.

I got the whole first season from the local library and on a sick day when I had her, we watched all 22 episodes. It was great. We are now on Season 2.

Recently my daughter and granddaughter got a new dog.

There was never a doubt: my granddaughter named him ‘Uncle Jesse.’

So, Uncle Jesse and the gang live on in our family history. Thanks, it’s really been a blast.

Happy Birthday La Grange Park!

2017 marks the quasquicentennial anniversary of La Grange Park. Our 125th birthday. A committee of residents, businesses and community groups have come together to organize festivities throughout the year to help our Village celebrate this occasion.
The Village will have:

• A historical exhibit, walking tour and interactive community map to honor the Village’s rich history.
• A community art installation at Village Hall representing the families of La Grange Park.
• A time capsule reflecting our community today to share with future generations.

The activities will culminate with a Village picnic and birthday party to be held July 15, 2017 at Memorial Park. The party will include live music, food and other activities planned throughout the day, including the dedication of the renovation of our crown jewel, Memorial Park.

On January 13, 2017 “La Grange Park Stories’ was held at the La Grange Park Public Library. There were 27 people in attendance. It was an evening filled with heartfelt stories from residents who have lived in the Village for a long time and also those who are relatively new to our town. There was pride, love and gratitude for landing in such a great place as La Grange Park.

Future events include “Brick by Brick: Tracing your Home’s History” on Thursday, April 13 at the Library. Tina Beaird will provide strategies for researching the history of your home by using government records, newspapers, phone directories and maps. What story will your home tell?
The Community Art Project is a tile wall that will be installed in Village Hall. Residents are encouraged to submit either photographs or hand drawings of their families, homes, or what they would like memorialized about their life in La Grange Park. Forms are available online at the village’s website: www.lagrangepark.org.

Residents have three choices regarding their tile sizes:

4-1/4 x 4-1/4 - $12.50; 6 x 6 - $17.50 and 6 x 8 - $22.50. There is a limit of two per household that can be used in the public display. However, residents can purchase additional tiles for their personal use. The submission deadline is April 30, 2017.

Happy Birthday, La Grange Park!

Reflections on stories about my town

I attended the “La Grange Park Stories” evening at the Library last month. It was a Friday night and I had had an unusually busy week, so I thought about just staying home.

But my son had come by the night before. He lives in the city, but works out this way occasionally. He likes to don his running clothes (Mom, do I have a sweatshirt around here?) and jog through the old neighborhood, his stomping grounds since birth. When he returned, he said, “You know what I love about this village? It’s the people. I was running by all of my old buddies’ houses and so many of their parents still live here. It’s the people that make La Grange Park what it is.”

I thought yup, he is exactly right. I decided to go to the gathering.
The evening was filled with pride, emotion, history, gratitude and love. People reminisced, laughed and some even shed a tear.

A retired doctor brought his ‘house call’ doctor kit. He made house calls for $5.00. Many of the folks in the audience were young patients of his. Dr. Loren Horton was one of the original doctors on staff at La Grange Memorial Hospital, now Amita. He and his wife have lived in the village for many years.

Another presenter was G. Thomas McAtee. As a young boy during World War II, he lived at St Joseph Academy, which was located where Nazareth is now. It was a military school, he also is a retired Marine and said that his experience as a young boy of 14 was much the same as the service. He showed us photos of his classmates, told of the nuns. It was a wonderful presentation of a time long forgotten in our neighborhood. Mr. McAtee presented his experiences with pride and love.

My neighbor Eric Boyd, shared a remembrance about a colorful character on our block: Allan Calhammer. Allan was a Harvard grad and was a mail carrier in La Grange Park for many years. He also was a ‘gamer’ – he invented the game “Diplomacy.” When he died a few years ago, the Chicago Tribune ran a tribute to him and his contribution to the board game industry.

Eric spoke of Allan’s professional accomplishments and had the copy of the Chicago magazine in which Allan was featured. But what Eric brought to the evening was the essence of the man, the neighbor that he was to all of us.

And yes, I think my son is right: the people make the village the great place it is, Happy Birthday to La Grange Park!

Groundbreaking at Memorial Park

If you have walked down Oak past the Library of late, you have seen lots of activity and fenced-in areas.
What is going on?

Over 8 years ago, the Community Park District distributed a survey to the community asking residents what they like about our parks and what they would like to see in our parks.

One of the residents described Memorial Park as the crown jewel of the community. Taking those sentiments, the Park District board began to plan renovations for the Park.

Over the course of the next several years, planning and funding began. The Community Park District was awarded the largest possible grant available: $400,000.

And that is what you see going on in Memorial Park. The official groundbreaking was Friday, March 3, 2017.
Planning Resources Inc is the project architect; Builders Land is the general contractor for the shelter and Kee Construction is the general contractor for the remainder of the project.

The Park District staff worked tirelessly helping to design the project with strict attention to the costs. A thank you from the community to Karen Boyd, Lucy Stastny, Tim Ogden, Jeff Kilrea, Bob Corte and the former President of the Board, Lou Ritten whose efforts were monumental.

When the work is completed, residents will enjoy a new shelter with a covered picnic area, bathrooms in the shelter and a small splash pad area for kids. There will also be a permanent bags setup and a permanent bocce ball area, a new gazebo, and improved walking trail and fitness stations along the trail. You can follow a visual timeline of construction on the Park District website: www.communityparkdistrict.org.

Construction is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2017 and the grand unveiling will take place in conjunction with the Village’s 125th birthday party on July 15, 2017. Activities begin at noon that day and continue into the evening with bands, play equipment for the children, cake and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:00 p.m.
As Karen Boyd, president of the Board of Trustees for the Park District, stated in her welcome speech at the groundbreaking: “I hope that everyone will agree that our crown jewel has been polished and perhaps a few new precious jewels have been added to Memorial Park.”

WRONG COAT ANTHOLOGY

Reading
“The Wrong Coat” anthology
Tues., July 12, at 7 p.m. at Brookfield Library

“Our coats are quiet, obedient servants, reliably there for us when we need them . . . until they're not. Learn what can happen when the wrong coat meets the wrong person. It could happen to you.”

Local authors will present a reading from a paperback collection of their fiction works, “The Wrong Coat: an anthology by the Brookfield and La Grange Writers Group,” Tues., July 12, at 7 p.m. at Brookfield Library, 3609 Grand Blvd, Brookfield, IL 60513. For more information, or to register to attend, contact the Brookfield Public Library at 708-485-6917 or visit www.brookfieldlibrary.info.

Copies of the anthology, based on the authors’ responses to a writing prompt based on one individual’s personal experience, will be available for sale at the event. Copies of the book are also available for check out at local libraries, and are available for sale on Amazon.com.


“The Wrong Coat” is now available on CreateSpace and Amazon, edited by contributor Marie Anderson*, with other contributors Barry Abrams, Sally Anderson*, Janet Barrett, Jim Chmura, Kevin M. Folliard*, Lorelei Glaser, Linda Lea Graziani, Judith Kessler, Bonny Kotapish*, Carlos McReynolds, Joan Nelson, Ruth Princess, John Quinn, Margo Rife, Judith Tullis, Cindy Wallach, and Laurie Whitman* with cover design/artwork by Rife and Jessica Myers. *Several members including Lauryn Kotapish further volunteered to serve as contributing editors.

Publication Date: Apr 10 2016; ISBN/EAN13: 1530652057 / 9781530652051

Join us - ! It is very interesting what happens when you get the wrong coat!

My Favorite Restaurant

My favorite restaurant is Nickson's. I love the food, I love the preparation. I always tell people it is just like what you would make at home, but a few steps up in both taste and interest. Owner/brothers Rick and Nick Baca are now in the 9th year of running this successful and homey restaurant.

Chef Nick changes the menu seasonally, and though interested in trying new combinations, manages to keep the standard selections the same. It is like going to your mom's for your favorite meal. Never disappointing, always appealing.

So, when I received an email a couple weeks ago saying that the television program starring Brittany Payton "Chicago's Best" was filming there, I thought I can't miss this.

My friend Maureen Hernandez emailed me and said "Wanna go? I'll make reservations."

The day before, I wasn't sure I would be able to make the lunch due to a previous appointment. When I got up last Wednesday, the day of filming, I went back to my original thought: I can't miss this.

So, Maureen, her son Keith and I went to lunch. The actual making of the meal takes place before everyone congregates in the establishment, so Brittany Payton was sitting at a table by herself with the lunch crowd approaching her, taking selfies and talking with everyone. Maureen mentioned that her son had ordered the Texas brisket grilled cheese sandwich, the dish they were featuring. Brittany is very sweet and takes time to talk to the patrons, kindly acknowledging that some of us witnessed her dad breaking records for the Chicago Bears.

We noticed that Brittany then went up to the camera crew and indicated that someone at our table ordered the featured sandwich. So, the camera crew was soon at our table.

They interviewed Keith, took a video of him chomping on his sandwich. I thought maybe they would pan Mo, as Keith did mention that the taste of grilled cheese brings back fond memories of his mom making buttery grilled cheese sandwiches coupling them with tomato soup. But, alas, we did not make the cut.

Nickson's is a comfortable place; to me, it represents our community: friendly, convivial atmosphere, local flavors and beverages, great prices and a spot where the owners care that you are there.

I heard the air date was supposed to be the end of April. When that is confirmed, I will pass it on.

Nickson's
30 South La Grange Rd
La Grange, IL 60525

Where is the Justice?

Recently I was involved in an accident in my hometown where a woman slammed into me trying to make an illegal left hand turn.

Passers-by stopped to ensure I was okay; I was fine, just stunned.

Debris was all over the street (La Grange Road just north of Ogden in La Grange, IL) and the washer fluid container was on the ground. The entire right headlight and all surrounding areas were crunched. The car had to be towed.
The driver stopped, fortunately. Unfortunately she had no insurance.

The police officer indicated that he could not force me to go to court, but if I didn’t go, she would get not even a ticket. He issued two tickets – one for failure to yield and the other for no insurance.

I went to court.

The judge informed the court room that if the party with whom you had an accident was not sitting in the room, plead ‘not guilty.’

The woman who hit me received a $214 court charge plus a $100 fine for not having insurance.
I, on the other hand, paid my $500 deductible plus additional car rental charges of $600 on the $9,000 repair bill on a 2015 automobile.

Justice?

P.S. As an aside to this story (which I submitted to the Tribune editorial page) I thought I recognized the officer who was writing up the accident report. I asked him if his birthday was February 17 (which is my birthday also).

He answered with a surprised lilt in his voice, "How did you know that?"

"Because it is my birthday also and you let me off of a ticket about 4 years ago for the sole reason we have the same birthday."

He laughed, did not remember that incident but he said it is unusual for him to work day shift - lucky for me, though.


Laurie Whitman
506 N Waiola Ave.
La Grange Park, IL 60525
(708) 829-8286