SOUTH SHORE NEWS SPOT   – May  2006   © 2006 by CMA Publishing - By Caryn Lazar Amster

Word count for this issue is 3653 words – Total read time about 10.5 minutes.   

Thanks for stopping by the South Shore News Spot.  This month we feature great stories, reunion information, South Shore bus tour scoop, a new South Shore radio interview to hear, former South Shoreites looking for old friends and new jobs, stories from the Pied Piper’s mailbag, upcoming events, new ways to reach old friends, and much more!

Don’t just forward this newsletter - tell your friends to email me and get their own copy at caryn@cmapublishing.net

GOT MILK?

Bob Tucker, a good friend of mine from South Shore (Bowen graduate 1968) is looking for one perfect job. For many years he owned a highly successful marketing communications agency in the Chicago area. He is a great marketing planner and would be an asset to any company that is looking to increase their bottom line through more strategic marketing and use of the internet. You can reach him at (847) 899-8877 or email him at bobtucker44@yahoo.com.

 

PLEASE HELP THE PIED PIPER’S DAUGHTER KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER COMING - It takes a long time to write and manage the newsletter and the growing list. Please help me sell my out my first run of books.  THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF BOOKS LEFT!  I am not sure if there will be a reprint.  This may be the end of the Pied Piper books.  Posters and fine art prints are also still available. This is a perfect gift for friends, relatives and loved ones that still do not have their own copy of the Pied Piper.  How about MOM and DAD?

 

When was the last time you bought a personally autographed book from someone you know?  PLEASE order using the secured shopping cart on the order form at my book website www.cmapublishing.net to place your order.  Or call toll free 1-866-50-PIPER (74737) or mail your order to CMA Publishing, P.O. Box 366, Medinah, Ill 60157-0366.  We take major credit cards including Visa, Master Card and Discover and we will gift wrap too!  This will help me afford to continue the newsletter.  Thank you – Caryn

 

SOUTH SHORE WTMX RADIO INTERVIEW– MAY 28th! - I recently taped a half hour radio segment called “Vantage Point” about South Shore memories and The Pied Piper book for Chicago radio station WTMX 101.9 FM. They have a Sunday morning arts program produced and hosted by Dr. David Unumb, a professor with the Department of Speech and Performing Arts of Northeastern Illinois University.  The show airs on Sunday from 6:30 – 7:00 am. My interview on the South Shore show will air on May 28th.  Please listen in!   The station was only one of 10 in the year 2000 to receive the Crystal Award for Excellence in Community Service from the National Association of Broadcasters and a Marconi award for Excellence in Radio.

 

“EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME”- SEEKING LOST FRIENDS

Looking for long lost South Shoreites from the ‘50s and ‘60s?  Email me caryn@cmapublishing.net and I will try to put you in touch.  These are new this month. By the way - If you want me to use your request or memory in the newsletter, please include your permission to use your name and email address in your correspondence.  

THE OVERHAUL OF THE OVERFLOW - For many years the Overflowat79th chat room has connected hundreds of former South Shoreites and given them a forum to talk about anything that was on their minds.  First it was a Yahoo group and now it is on Google.  It is so big that recently, Tim, the moderator, broke it off into two separate Overflows. There is a basic chat for South Shore news, reunions, revival of old memories like drive-ins, movies, restaurants and other issues.  The second called “The PUB” is for those that want to discuss off site topics like politics, baseball and other heavy world issues.  There are lots of photos too and once you join up you can view and post to the site.  There is no charge for any of this.  Thanks to Tim for all his hard work!

 

From Tim – “In order to make things easier for the new members (and some of the old members) we have set up a 'gateway' site for the Overflow.  This site will serve as a place to direct people who are interested in the Overflow.  There are pages with News, F.A.Q.s (frequently asked questions), links and more.” Here is the link:

http://overflowat79th.googlepages.com/

The Overflow is a discussion group mailing list about South Shore memories and the ramblings of South Shore refugees.   Topics here are limited to people, places and events of South Shore in the 'old days'.  You will have to register to access the group if you don't have a Google or Gmail account (free and easy). 

The Overflow Pub and Coffee Shop   -This is a  Discussion group mailing list of ex-South Shore folks who like to get together and discuss just about anything.  No topic limits, join here after you are on the Overflow.

Overflow Photo Site - Photos (lots of them) of South Shore and group members in the past and present.  A must see.  Here is the link to give someone to access the group gateway: http://overflowat79th.googlepages.com/

Looking for lost friends

 

I asked my Chicago friends to help me find the following: Scott Merriman - lived on E. 75th Street up until, at least, the 70s. I don't know what happened in Chicago during the entire decade of the 70s as I was living in Madrid. Margaret (Marge) Thompson (maiden name Toole) - She used to live at 7244 Coles Avenue up until the mid-60s at least. She has two sons: Bob and Jack Thompson. Any help would certainly be appreciated - Dianne Berger, dtobyb@sbcglobal.net

 

Friends that I would like to locate are Nazar Asjian, Frank Kish, Dan McDonald (all Horace Mann 1953) and John Hart (Our Lady of Peace about 1953). My family left South Shore in June 1956 and I have forgotten most of the names in the last 50 years. Thank you, Jim Hemmen  - Jimwis@aol.com

 

I lived at 74th and Coles till1950 and moved to Marion, Indiana.  Then I graduated from Marion High School in 1955.  Does anyone know the 'where-abouts' of Susie Curtis or Patsy Wilton? Also I discovered that I have way too many adorable little elephants from the Hamilton Collection.  I was buying the darling little things like they were going out of style.  I need to thin out the Curio Cabinet and will gladly email anyone who contacts me about then.  The cost will be much-much-much below actual.  Reach me at pscott@kconline.com   Peg Fixel Scott

 

My brother Avery Dee and I grew up at 68th and Euclid.  I went to Faulkner School for Girls and O'keefe and Parkside Elementary, University of Illinois at Navy Pier, the School of the Art Institute and Northwestern.  I graduated from Hyde Park in 1961. I would really love to find Jennifer Lynn (Parkside Grammar), Donnalyn Freund (former Miss Chicago-Parkside), Kenny/Nancy Dry (U-High), Sally Schapiro (Hyde Park 61) or Bobbie Garner (Hyde Park 61). I now live in SF Bay Area.... Thanks again, Tobbe Ann Dee-Sikorski –  tobbeann@yahoo.com

 

Caryn, while much about your book was painful to read, there are many happy memories from those days and Wee Folks was one of them.  Thanks again for writing the book and I'm so glad I found out about it! Anyone who attended St Philip Neri in the 70s please contact me.  I lived at 7124 S Paxton Av.  Thank you, John Jacobsen mnrealtyguy@msn.com

 

Does anyone have any info on Claudia Kempf? She attended Bryn Mawr College after South Shore. Richard Grant    Richard.Grant@parks.nyc.gov

 

As I was reading thru your last News Spot it occurred to me that there may be some June 1947 grads who might remember my late sister Barbara Louise Kilcran.  She graduated SSHS class of June 1947. She married her high school sweetheart Alvin Toral SSHS class of January 1947. They attended many of their reunions. Sadly, Barbara passed away on June 2, 1990 of breast cancer. A special thank you Caryn for your diligent work in this SSHS memory effort. Keep up the good work. Larry Kilcran SSHS - June 1954 lpkilcran@yahoo.com

 

I have gotten such a kick out of your book, the poster I purchased and these E-Mails.  Please post something regarding any classmates out there who attended OLP from 1962 to the 1968 graduating class. I lived at 78th and Cregier from 1962 to 1966 and then 78th and Bennett from 1966 to 1968.  Your book has brought back so many memories and your writing is so graphic I can just see the old neighborhood.  Thank you for these happy thoughts!  My sister Barbara Payne also attended – she is a year younger - Katheryn (Kit) Payne Titter     ktitter@ViennaBeef.com

IT’S CORKY TIME!    Here is a list of some of famous former South Shoreite Corky Siegel’s Siegel-Schwall Band upcoming concerts.  Maybe there is one coming to your town. Corky is so talented and seeing him is a great experience. Details about these listings are available through: cork@chamberblues.com

Sun 5/14/06 Chicago, IL Old Town School
Tom Dundee Memorial Benefit Concert - SOLD OUT and Chicago Blues Reunion!

Sat 6/10/06 Chicago, IL - 23rd Annual Chicago Blues Festival - Petrillo Band Shell - 7:20 PM till 8:20 PM - - see http://chicagobluesfestival.org - Also a side performance on the Mississippi Juke Stage 3:30 till 4:30 with Sam Lay (on Guitar and Vocal) and Corky Siegel (harp)

Chicago Blues Reunion – Saturday, 6/17/06 Guerneville, CA Russian River Blues Festival Thursday - 6/22/06 Oshkosh, WI Waterfest - Saturday, 6/24/06 Downers Grove, IL Heritage Festival – Sunday, 7/2 Breckenridge, CO Riverwalk Center – Friday, 7/7/06 Lowell MA Lowell Summerfest TBA - Saturday,  7/8/06 Albany, NY Empire State Plaza - Sunday,  7/9/06 New York, NY BB King's, Monday, 710/06 Annapolis, MD Ram's Head, Wednesday, 7/12/06 Alexandria, VA Birchmere Music Hall, Thursday, 7/13 Hoffman Estates, IL Prairie Stone Parkway
Summer Concert Series

BYE BYE BOWEN! - According to Susan Stevens an Editor at the Southeast Chicago Observer newspaper, a twice-a-monthly that covers 79th to the city limits, lakefront to Stony Island, Bowen High School as we knew it will be no more.  There will be a transition!  Four small schools are in the complex, some now several years old. Susan will be doing an article about emerging artists from Bowen and on the transition in her paper.  There will be a celebration on June 17th.  The paper can be reached at The Observer, 9204 S. Commercial Ave. Chicago, IL 60617 Susanstevens@aol.com and the paper is at http://www.southeastchicago.org/html/observer.html

 

Bowen “Transition” Celebration Slated June 17th – By Susan Stevens

Former students, teachers, other staff and community members will celebrate the next phase of Bowen High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. June 17. Bowen’s last students will graduate in June, with Bowen fully replaced by the four current small schools in the complex. The celebration will include a historical review, recollections from those who attend, a tour of the building and presentations by the four small schools.

A barbeque on the front lawn will be part of the refreshments. The small schools include Global Vision, Bowen Environmental Studies Team (BEST), Chicago Discovery Academy and New Millennium School of Health. Each school has its own principal, budget, staff and local school council. The school is expected to accommodate up to 2,400 students. A building manager is expected to be hired to coordinate use, maintenance and security within the building. Planning is still in the early stages. To help or for more information about the celebration, contact the South Chicago Chamber of Commerce, 773-768-1221, or the school, 773-535-6000.

 

Sign up for the SOUTH SHORE BUS TOUR THIS SUMMER

On Sunday, August 20, 2006 a 3-4 hour bus tour of South Shore will stop at: Chicago's oldest Jewish congregation – KAM temple, The South Shore Cultural Center formerly the South Shore Country Club, and the Historic South Side Jewish/Civil War cemetery. The tour will be narrated and conducted by Chicago expert, Dr. Irving Cutler.  He will trace Jewish settlements from their earlier beginnings downtown southward through Maxwell Street, Grand Boulevard, Washington Park, Kenwood, Hyde Park, South Shore, and South Chicago. The tour group will view important institutions including those with historic, religious, and architectural landmark status, the University of Chicago and other schools, homes of the prominent and important businesses such as the Wee Folks toy store. The tour is sponsored by the Chicago Jewish Historical Society (CJHS) and the coordinator is Leah Axelrod. I am planning to be on the bus to provide local color.  I will have Pied Piper books and posters for autograph and sale.  Tour payment is due before the event. Contact Leah Axelrod at 847-432-7003 or email her at tourtime@worldnet.att.net   Pick up/return locations: Bernard Horwich JCC – 3003 W Touhy Avenue in Lincolnwood – pick up at 12:00 –Return at 5:00 and the Chicago Marriot: Rush and Ohio Street entrance – pick up at 12:30 – Return 4:30.  Full payment for the tour is due with the reservation.  $30/Member of CJHS and $40/Nonmember - Join the Chicago Jewish Historical Society when making your reservation and pay membership prices. CJHS Membership: $35

 

Websites of interest to South Siders

 

South Chicago Community Map - http://www.neiu.edu/~reseller/scwelcome.html

Chicago’s Southeast Side – a project by Washington High School - http://www.neiu.edu/~reseller/sesidewlcme.html

Chicago Vocabulary - http://members.aol.com/mistamoose/vocab.html

 

MEMORIES!

Thanks to Roger Fineberg a former SSHS schoolmate of mine for these excerpts of memories of the '50's and '60's – how many can you remember?

LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T - SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING

THE POWER OF KEEPING IN TOUCH – REUNIONS

If your class is planning a reunion please email me and I will include it in the newsletter. 

 

South Shore High School 1959 – January and June Classes Reunion ~ Do you know someone who graduated from SSHS in January or June 1959?  For those of you who graduated from South Shore High School in 1959 (January and June) we are in the planning phases of a 50th reunion in 2009. A “Steerage” (not steering) committee is forming.  If you or someone you know was a member of  these classes please have them email me at caryn@cmapublishing.net or the new class email at SS59reunion@comcast.net – Thanks to Ken Manaster for starting all this.

 

Aquinas High School, Class of '61 is having their 45th Reunion on September 30th at the Drake Oak Brook (another sleep over). Anyone interested can contact me and I will forward your info to Judy Scanlon Grant, who is helping with the arrangements. Liz Goodrick Wise - lwise1129@insightbb.com   

 

South Shore High School - June 1956 is having a 50th class reunion on Sep 9, 2006 at the North Shore Hotel, Skokie, IL. If anyone is interested contact Pjoylevy@aol.com

Carol (Smykowski) Giorgio

Stop now and forward this newsletter to friends.  If you are reading someone else’s copy and want your own emailed every month, email caryn@cmapublishing.net.

SENIOR PERKS – New column

 

Admit it!  A lot of us are already seniors over 55, 60, or 65.  But we made it this far and we DESERVE perks. I will share some that I have come across in this column.  Please email me to share your favorite senior discount sites with my readers.

 

PAST ACCOLADES AND APPEARANCES

 

If you have a few hours with nothing to do, try searching on the web for The Pied Piper of South Shore and/or Caryn Lazar Amster and see how many listings there are on the Internet now.  It is amazing. There are hundreds of items.

 

Just a short note to say thank you. I posted a search note looking for some old friends on your newsletter. To this date I have not been successful. However as a result of the posting I have made contact with some old neighbors. It was a pleasant surprise to hear from them. We hope to see each other in the near future. Thanks again for your efforts in helping people remember a great time in a great place. Ron Persson, 2219 E. 82nd St., (1959-1966), S.S.H.S. JAN. 64, GO SOX!   r.persson@comcast.net

 

 

TOY STORIES

What old toys are YOU collecting today????  Email me with some of your oldies and goodies.  Looking for a special old toy?  Start your search here. Ask my readers.  Do you have a Chicago’s South Shore or Wee Folks story?  Email me at Story@chicagospiedpiper.com or visit the website at the reserve story area at http://www.chicagospiedpiper.com/pied_pier_book_contact.htm   

BOOKS ARE NOT ONLY SOLD AT BOOKSTORES – If you know a store that would like to sell the Pied Piper book or an art gallery that would love to feature  Mitch Markovitz’s posters and fine art prints please email us.  I have books at retro toy stores and Mitch is in galleries all over the country. 

SAVE THESE DATES IN 2006! 

Please save these dates for my seminars and book signings.  Books and posters will be available for sale at all events.  I look forward to seeing you there!

 

I speak on business marketing and book marketing and publishing for clubs and organizations, colleges and universities and at conventions and conferences.  Let me know if you have contacts at any of these places.

JUNE – AUGUST EVENTS – Celebrate good times – visit my website Calendar of Events for more detailed information on these events – www.cmapublishing.net

Sunday June 11th, 2006 – 11 am – 6 pm - Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival Mitch Markovitz (Pied Piper book cover artist) will be there signing the Pied Piper of South Shore posters and fine art limited edition lithographs as well as many of his other great art works like Wrigley Field. I will be signing books and meeting old friends.  The Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival is in a NEW LOCATION! -- St. Paul Woods, Cook County Forest Preserves located at Dempster Street and Lehigh in north suburban Morton Grove.  The website is www.jewishfestival.org

 

Saturday, June 24, 2006 – 2nd Annual Author Fest at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 30 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/authorfest2006.html

 

NEW ADDITION - August 24, 2006 – Thursday – 7 p.m. – Prairie Trails Public Library – 8449 S Moody, Burbank, Illinois – 708-430-3688 – Caryn will discuss her book The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago and Chicago in the 1950’s and ‘60s.  She will sell and sign books at the conclusion of the talk.

 

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

This is the spot for your memories of South Shore or living in Chicago in the 1950s. Email me your memories.

 

BOOK QUOTE OF THE MONTH 

 

A popular admonition goes “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Yet we do it all the time. We ascribe qualities of character to people based on their physical characteristics. And our language takes shape to reflect that attitude. Anu Garg 

 

If you find typographical or grammatical errors in this email, they're here for a purpose. Some people actually enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many people as possible.

 

On a personal note!  Thanks for your many calls and emails and also book purchases.    I love to hear your old south Shore and Wee Folks stories. Please ask your library or bookstore to request a signing of The Pied Piper.

 

Happy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to all of you!!! Hug those parents if they are still around!

 

Many and More and More Happy Memories ………………Caryn

 

If you no longer wish to receive emails, please unsubscribe by sending an email to unsubscribe@chicagospiedpiper.com

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Caryn Lazar Amster, (The Pied Piper's Daughter) is the award winning author of the debut book

The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago.  This true family true crime

social history is set in Chicago's South Shore in the 1950's and '60s. It won the USA Book News

"Best of 2004" in the True Crime category.  It garnered an all "5" rating in 2004

from Writer's Digest International Self Publishers Contest in the Non-Fiction category

and Honorable Mention in the Family Stories category from the same magazine in 2005.

ISBN: 0-9758928-0    LOC: 4108342

CMA Publishing is a divison of CMA Marketing Group, Inc. P.O. Box Sig366,  Medinah, Ill 60157

mailto:caryn@cmapublishing.net    1-866-50-PIPER (74737)

To purchase books and posters of cover http://www.chicagospiedpiper.com

Amster is a Chicago area marketing specialist, President of CMA Marketing Group, Inc.

and a speaker and trainer.

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