MOVED TO FACEBOOK

HELLO.

OUR GROUP HAS MOVED TO A FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE. SEE YOU THERE!

Oak Park Farmers Market-01641-fr5-6

Oak Park Farmers Market-01641-fr5-6
Originally uploaded by Jay E. Wesselink

Found on Flickr. Anybody reckon how old this is?

ANNOUNCING
The Oak Park Farmer's Market Musicians' Community
http://opfarmersmusic.ning.com/
I have always been concerned that our community of musicians isn't completely represented by a blog. Our group deserves a forum in which everyone may contribute to the various announcement, discussions and happenings that mark our lives together. And a social network is exactly the kind of online forum for that to happen. It's like our own little Facebook or MySpace. But it's ours. Everybody can join. And once you're a member, you can post photos, videos, links, articles, discussions, announcement, etc.

Now that my family, work and travel commitments are preventing me from regularly updating this blog, I want to enlist everybody in the Oak Park Farmer's Market Musicians group as contributors to our online community. This space - Blogger - doesn't offer the tools and resources. But the new space - Ning - does.

So, head on over to http://opfarmersmusic.ning.com/ and give it a shot.

And, please send email to the musicians in our community who may not see this notice here. I'll send out an email blast, but it may not reach everybody. Let's get the word out and keep our community humming ... pickin' and singin', I guess ... online.

Chicago Bluegrass and Blues - Congress Theater

Chicago Bluegrass and Blues
Wow, look at the artists lined up for this one-day festival on Sat, Nov 22nd.
The David Grisman Quintet
The Avett Brothers
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
Mike Mangione
and a bunch of others that I've honestly never heard of but probably should have by now.
(At least I'm being honest!)
It's a long day from 12 noon 'til Midnight at the Congress Theater. At $31, the all-day ticket is a bargain. Click the link above for more info.

Look for the Union Label

Look for the Union Label

A song by Paula Green, music by Malcolm Dodds ©1975, UNITE
Union of Needltrades, Industrial and Textile Employees
(formerly International Ladies' Garment Workers'Union and other unions)

Look for the union label
when you are buying that coat, dress or blouse.

Remember somewhere our union's sewing,
our wages going to feed the kids, and run the house.

We work hard, but who's complaining?
Thanks to the I.L.G. we're paying our way!

So always look for the union label,
it says we're able to make it in the U.S.A.!

Play the MP3 here

IN MEMORIUM

Alex Joseph Polaski, 18, passed away on August 13, 2008, at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming, after a brief bout with a stomach virus that developed into pneumonia.

Alex was born in Chicago at Northwestern Hospital on November 17, 1989, and grew up in Oak Park in the Gunderson Historic District. He attended kindergarten and grades 1 through 4 at Ascension School, transferred to Beye School for 5th and 6th grades and then went on to the new Percy Julian Middle School for 7th and 8th grades, graduating in 2004.

While at Beye and Percy Julian, Alex studied clarinet. He played baseball in the Mustang and Bronco leagues during the summer, soccer in the fall and ice hockey during the winters. Alex was also a member of the Cub Scouts while at Ascension and later was in Troop 16 with the Boy Scouts, with which he attended camp-outs at Camp Shin-Go-Beek, explored the Mammoth Caves, and climbed Mt. Rainer during the summer of 2004. He spent time in the summers in Philadelphia where his grandparents lived, often vacationing at Ocean City, New Jersey.

Alex attended Oak Park River Forest High School where his interest in clarinet and saxophone led to his playing in the marching band under the direction of Mr. Scotty Jones. Alex played with the band at the Peach Bowl in 2006. He became known to his friends as "AJ" to some and "Cracker" to others.

Alex developed an interest in cars early in life and it led to his desire to attend Wyotech in Laramie, Wyoming years before his graduation from OPRF in 2008. Before learning to drive, Alex had developed an interest in RC electric and gas cars, racing them at Hobbytown before its closing and at a track in DeKalb, Illinois. He also had a tremendous interest in modern bands and "techno" music, collecting hundreds of CDs and other tunes on his iPod.

Alex had developed a close group of friends, all of whom valued his friendship as part of many close two-way friendships. Many of his friends and some of their parents considered him a great influence in their lives with his ever-present sharp wit, easy infectious smile and willingness to help wherever he was needed.

Upon graduation from OPRF, Alex reached his goal and began attending Wyotech in Laramie, Wyoming in July 2008 after a 12 day European trip that took him to London, Paris and Berlin with his parents. Once at Wyotech, he had begun to take the basic automotive courses until the illness struck him.

All through his short life Alex was known for his passion in all things he did, and he never lost his child-like exuberance and twinkle in his eye. He lived his life dancing on the white lines at the edge of the road and looking like a multi-colored skyrocket along the way! Alex is survived by his parents, Jim and Anne Polaski of Oak Park, and his grandmother, Marjorie Spencer of Westchester, and by his many friends.

Visitation will be at Drechsler Brown and Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion, Oak Park, on Thursday, August 21, from 2-9 pm and the Funeral Mass will be held at Ascension Church, 815 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, on Friday August 22 at 10 am. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Lung Association.

Alex's friends have created a Facebook memorial group on which you may write a message.
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