Pull up a chair! Grab a fork!
Pass the bubbly and pop the cork!
Around the table, let’s fill the ranks
To share a word or two of thanks
For many folks around this town
Who’ve helped it earn its wide renown:
Sages, teachers, entrepreneurs,
Artists, athletes, restaurateurs.
It’s been a year of ups and downs,
Of fits and starts and leaps and bounds.
The spring was wet, the summer was brat.
(Most of us wondered, “Um … what is that?”)
So here we are in November,
Let’s take a sec to remember
A few big names that hit the news,
The movers, shakers and who’s whos:
Peter Jok, Olympic baller,
Ian Roberts, sprinter-scholar,
Oak Park owner Kathy Fehrman,
Broadlawns’ new chief Proctor Lureman,
Bravo darling Tracy Hurd,
The peeps who opened Basic Bird.
In this season of Thanksgiving,
Raise a toast to making living
Kinder, cooler and more fun
For young and old and everyone.
Topgolf opened by Jordan Creek
For the golf newbie and golf geek.
Caitlin Clark turned up the Fever,
And made each skeptic a true believer.
State Fair stats went up, up, up.
Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup.
An Albaugh horse ran in Kentucky
And placed fourth – that’s pretty lucky!
Closer to home, a beast named Phill
Roamed wild and free in Pleasant Hill.
Sam Summers revamped the Val Air,
And amped up Val Gate’s retro flair.
At the opera, lend your ears,
Michael Egel marked 30 years
And premiered “American Apollo,”
A new hit – tough act to follow.
Jeff Chelesvig hit three decades, too,
With “The Wiz,” “Les Miz” and the “Mou-
Lin Rouge!” Très bien! Magnifique!
New shows come almost every week.
Roots 95, Table 128
Serve tasty bites on every plate.
Downtowners, too, can celebrate:
The new Stuffed Olive stays up late,
Malo got a second chance,
And Wooly’s fans can still go dance.
After a few years dark, unsure,
Movies are back at the Fleur.
The Varsity keeps raising the bar,
Guided by guru Ben Godar.
The Lauridsens at the ballet
Cut the ribbon at the atelier.
Speaking of ribbons, did you see
Eileen Gannon bake on TV?
She whipped up pies and cakes galore
While Netflix judges cried for more.
Each episode she made it seem
Like magic made from buttercream.
We hope you’ve saved room for dessert.
Have some coffee and stay alert:
‘Cause there are more people to name,
Like Julia Franklin at Mainframe,
Wes Mullins, Pride’s friendly czar,
And Myrna Johnson at IPR.
Oakridge hired Deidre DeJear,
Prompting cheers both far and near.
Chris Burch moved to Water Works Park
To make it rain. Quick, build an ark!
The park’s been lovely, nights and days,
With Willie Nelson (in a haze),
80/35 and all the rest,
And, of course, Oktoberfest.
At dsm and BPC,
Suzanna de Baca, an MVP,
Has led us well but now moves on,
Passing Chris Conetzkey the baton.
We wish both well in their new roles,
Ever charging toward jumbo goals.
We appreciate those two leaders
And also you, our loyal readers.
If you’ve read these lines so far,
You deserve a bright gold star.
Read further still and you will see
Some fine nonprofits (page 1-4-3).
We could go on, but you get the gist.
Enjoy Thanksgiving. We insist.
