From the President
By: Kathy Gemperle
Special thanks go to all who made our Tenth Anniversary celebration at the Edgewater Beach Apartments on Sunday, May 17, such a great event. A WONDERFUL time was had by all! Thanks to the committee in charge, chaired by Betty Mayian with help from Alyce Marie Hanson, Linda Komosa, Martha Kraeger, Marie Morrissette and Judy Wolf.
There were many others who pitched in at the event, of course, including Dave Gemperle, John Kraeger, Ara Mayian, Sandee Remis and Elisabeth Wilcox-Szegho. A team of students from St. Gregory High School made the serving of food go smoothly; special thanks to Salomay Davies, Jonathan Hudson, Simon Malek, Aidee Molina, Sathit Phongmali, Hani Pourshabazi, Gaitano Simeti and Bryan Ty. And young Charlie Parsels provided great help wherever it was needed.
The donations from many of our favorite restaurants made the event a very “tasteful” one; thanks to Andie’s Restaurant, Mei Shung, Pasteur Cafe, Taste of Heaven and Tomboy’s. Other culinary treats were donated by Alyce Marie Hanson, Ara Mayian and Linda Mildorf. The beautiful table decorations were created by Linda Komosa, who really exhibited an artistic flair.
Our great door prize/raffle items were contributed by Beth Tarrant of Anna Held Florist and Fountain Cafe, Kathy Gemperle, Linda Komosa, Mary Mast, Betty Mayian and Elisabeth Wilcox-Szegho.
The “Those Were the Days” Radio Players offered some very interesting entertainment - some of it familiar to those who used to listen to the old radio dramas. Thanks to Anita Miller for coordinating that performance. And a special thanks goes to the Edgewater Singers (David Aitken, Paul Boyd, Claire Conley, K.C. Conway, Kathy Gemperle, Mary Lauren, Bill Lehman, Terry Stevenson and Tracy Weisman), director Diane Aitkin and accompanist Ann Basye, for gracing us with some nostalgic favorites from their recent “Planet, Stars and Airs of Space” concert.
Lending an elegant air to the event and mystifying all of us to the very end was magician Red Raven. His amazing illusions lured even Bob Remer and Ed Marciniak on stage at the close of the event, which was a trick in itself.
Kathy Dunne recorded the afternoon on Kodachromes and we hear that Ray Craig captured it on video. Thanks to all the well-wishers who attended, some in vintage dress, and helped to boost our Building Fund by another $3,000!
At this writing, the permit for our museum building project has not yet been approved, but is imminent, due in no small part to the efforts of Lynn Pierce in Alderman Smith’s office, who took our plea for help in May seriously. We are now in a second round of revisions on the permit application EHS submitted last January. It is a mystery to me why all the city’s questions couldn’t have been listed in June.
In the meantime, Carl Helbig and his Property Committee have attacked the underbrush around our building and mowed the lawn. The backyard is growing wildflowers, some seedlings from other years and a few native prairie plants which some call weeds. (But remember the definition of a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.)
Also, in the meantime, we are progressing through a reanalysis and bidding process for the exterior work. Having learned from the past, we are not looking too far ahead. Thanks to all those who have given donations to the Building Fund. Every dollar counts!
As we complete the second half of our ten-year anniversary, we are looking forward to our Tenth Annual Home Tour, which will focus on the Lakewood Balmoral area between Foster and Bryn Mawr Avenues. Mark your calendar for this event: Sunday, September 20, 1998, from 12 noon until 5:00 p.m. If you have never before attended a Home Tour, this is the year to arrange your schedule so you can make it.
The Lakewood Balmoral area, part of John L. Cochran’s third addition to Edgewater, is in the process of designation as a National Historic District. The five homes that will be open for visitation are all about 100 years old. A variety of architectural styles will be represented, including Colonial Revival, Shingle and late Queen Anne. You will learn a lot about home restoration as well as viewing some beautiful home interiors. The starting point for the tour will be the St. Ita School courtyard at 5525 N. Magnolia. Donation is $12 at the door, $10 for advance registration.
On Saturday, October 3, EHS will conduct another Walking Tour of the Bryn Mawr Historic District. It will begin at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Edgewater Beach Apartments, 5555 N. Sheridan Road; donation is $4.
The North Lakeside Cultural Center observes its tenth anniversary at the renovated mansion at 6219 N. Sheridan Road this year. Yours truly is curating an historical exhibit at the mansion, which opens October 2. The Cultural Center’s 10th Annual Dinner will begin at NLCC with a social hour at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, then proceed to the Sovereign Hotel for dinner. Tickets are $35; call NLCC at 773-743-4477.
Congratulations also to the Immanuel Lutheran Church on its very impressive 145th anniversary!
Last, but not least, after seven years as its executive director, Ken Brucks is leaving the Edgewater Community Council to accept a two-year Community Builders Fellowship with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Ken’s shoes won’t be easy to fill. ECC accomplishments during his tenure include: pushing and winning Park District purchase of the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway, thus preserving a community recreational and meeting center; launching Operation Ridge to address housing deterioration and beautify Ridge Avenue; implementing the Senn Park Master Plan; creating a new park at Clark Street and Ridge; obtaining an affordable housing loan to finance redevelopment of the Bryn Mawr and Belle Shore Hotels; and many other achievements. We wish Ken the very best in his new endeavor.