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Volume 28, Edition 2 - Fall 2023
- lizzadrofamily
- Oct 30, 2023
- 22 min read
Updated: Oct 8, 2024
Welcome Fox James Stansell!
By Liz Hay
Fox was born on October 11, 3:24am, 7lbs and 18 inches. We had another successful home birth with a quick five hour labor. We were very fortunate to have the same midwife for Fox as we did for Teagan.
Teagan is enjoying her baby brother and has been very helpful. She loves holding him and giving him lots of kisses.
About the name Fox… after we knew we were having a boy; Teagan was interested in helping us find a name. Both Kenny and I felt stumped about a name and we couldn’t agree on anything. Over the summer Teagan suggested to look in her yearbook from last year and she started naming off all the boys in each grade. When we got near the end, she said, “what about Fox?” Both Kenny and I said, “there’s a Fox?” She said, “there’s two”. What a surprise for there to be two boys at school named Fox.
We would have never thought of this name on our own and we have never known anyone personally with this name. When I started looking into the name, of course many people know the TV series The X - Files and the main character Special Agent Fox Mulder. The name was a hard sell for me at first but Teagan and Kenny really liked it from the start. We kept messing around with it, saying it, writing it, thinking about the fact we are not just naming a baby but an entire growing person. Slowly it started to grow on me and we officially pulled the trigger on it two days after he was born. We knew we would use James for the middle name as I wanted my dad represented and it’s the middle name of Kenny and his dad.
We look forward to many of you meeting our little guy.
Congratulations, Lisa & Charles!
Charles Anderson married Lisa Marta at Our Lady of the Pines in Copper Harbor, MI, on July 29, 2023. The newlyweds now reside in Hinsdale, IL.
Some R&R Between G2, 3, 4 and 5
By Ida & Joe Lytle
As I pull the van into Park Place, eager children unbuckle. Joe and our five oldest boys go on ahead of me while I unbuckle Baby William. We meet Great Gramma Ange's friend Ginger in the entryway and the kids cluster around her to say hello before flocking down the hallway again towards Gramma's. A moment behind the others, I come quietly into the apartment. Gramma Ange has warm, cheerful music playing in the background. Smiling, she is listening to Patrick, her head bent towards him. Baby William wriggles down immediately and proudly brings Gramma Ange one of her own coffee creamers from the bowl on her shelf. Across the room, Joe is talking to Mimi; they watch Nico discreetly sampling something from Gramma's candy bowl. John, Charlie, and Peter are stretched out on the massage bed in the other room, loudly giggling and arguing over which one is the "Pirate Captain" of the "Boat" while the bed rumbles its deepest vibrations. In a little while, Mimi, Joe and I will take the kids swimming to try and burn off some of their restless energy. Then, adults exhausted and children refreshed, we will watch an educational program and eat the delicious organic chicken dinner Mimi made.
Mission Trip in Brazil
By Sarah Kelley
As some of you may know, I had the opportunity to spend five weeks of this past summer in Brazil on a mission trip. I want to share part of that time with you, because of how incredibly transformative it was for me.
The goal of the trip was to learn more about cross-cultural evangelism with unreached people. Throughout my time in Brazil, I stayed at a missionary training center, a remote village, then a guest house at one of Ethnos360’s Brazil headquarters. I got to spend time with current and future missionaries, learn about various support roles in missions, and observe the lives of believers in a previously unreached people group.
Those weeks were full of challenging, fun, and tender moments. There was one evening, however, that I am holding especially close to my heart.
A few days into my week in the remote village, I settled in for an evening church service. One of the elders of the church and his wife sat next to me. I was expecting to struggle through an hour of church in a language I did not understand, but instead, I found myself captivated by watching this couple.
The pastor hadn’t been speaking long before the elder near me pulled out a large book. It had no cover, and its pages were wrinkled and worn from use. I watched him as he used his finger to follow along on the page as the pastor spoke aloud. The elder then passed the book to his wife and I watched as he helped her read it. Soon their two daughters came over to us and the wife quietly read the page to them. The only recognizable word to me was at the top of the page where it said, “Marcos 11.”
I remember tears rolling down my cheeks as I took it all in. Not long ago, the people in this village had nothing from the Bible in their language, but there I was, watching as a family read from the book of Mark together.
This memory is one that comforts and challenges me as I consider my role in bringing the word of God to unreached people.
Traveling Solo, Never Alone
(My solo travels through Greece, Croatia, and Slovenia)
By Winona Asher
With full stomachs, full body sunburn and full appreciation for our beach day, my boyfriend Mark and I stepped into our hotel in Lagos, Portugal to retire for the night. Some rice pudding and a good sleep were in order. In two days, we would part. He would go back to work after nine amazing days in Portugal. I would continue to travel solo for another eighteen days.
Upon walking through the automatic door we were intrigued by a scene in the lobby. We saw the backs of an older white couple, and a tanned, skinny, very animated bartender. There was much merriment afoot and a lot of Port being poured, so Mark suggested we join them.
What started out as a quick beer, turned out to be a two-hour long conversation with a couple from England and our Portuguese bartender named Miguel. We talked about everything: the apocalypse, the possibility of World War III, derivative investments, weddings in Florida, and most importantly, why Miguel was engaged to his girlfriend. “She came from dirt,” he said. “Her childhood home didn’t even have a toilet. But!” he exclaimed holding out an index finger, “She knows how to haggle. So when the world eventually goes to shit, I can count on her for survival.”
I was charmed. Little did I know this would foreshadow my solo travels to come.
Since landing back in the States people have asked me what I got out of this trip. Indeed, too much to mention. I have learned a lot about myself, different cultures, hostel living, and the nomadic lifestyle… What I did not expect was how much I would learn about people, from people, by deciding to travel alone.
There seems to be a vibe around solo travelers. People want to talk to you. I have had more unprompted conversations with strangers on this trip than I have had in my 24 years. I could be in a queue, at the bus station, in the bathroom stall, accidentally in someone’s yard I thought was an archaeological dig site (thanks, Athens), yelling at TSA to get my freaking bag through the machine - I don’t care I have a connecting flight and if I miss it because of your stupid computer breakdown I’m going to start yelling like you’ve never seen an unhinged American in your life! Conversations can start anywhere.
Once I realized this fact, I developed a knack for incentivizing conversations. Something as simple as sitting next to someone and asking, “So where are you headed?” Or, “It sure is hot today!”
If I was feeling particularly controversial, I would say something like, “This bus station stinks, doesn’t it?” Or, “Can you believe they wanted to charge me 20 euros for a margarita pizza?” Or, “Is it just me? I will never understand why they make us pay one euro to go to the toilet.”
On multiple occasions I would see that same person or group again later in my trip. Two ladies from South Africa with whom I had a jolly chat in Dubrovnik turned up a week later in Zagreb. A girl named Indy from the Netherlands I had met in Split, I met up with subsequently in Zagreb for a drink. It’s a small world.
People will tell you some really off-base things on the go, especially when they know they will never see you again.
A bartender in Zagreb, finding I wanted to share a beer and a thought, told me his entire life story. He went to University to become a social worker. However, when the Croatian government changed parties in 2016, he unfortunately lost his job and took up kitchen work at this bar ten minutes from his apartment. He proceeded to tell me about his recently failed relationship, and how he felt inadequate as a stepdad. And that, in fact, he is really shoddy at bartending. Needless to say, we got along quite well.
As I was brushing my teeth, my last evening in Athens, an Aussie girl came up to me in the bathroom with her nearly 50 pound, 85-Liter backpack and threw it on the floor at my feet. She immediately began to rant about how jealous she was of people who could bring less luggage. Materialism was her vice, and she wished she could change. “But every city I go to,” she said, “I see such beautiful clothes. I just have to buy them! The problem is, I have no room in my bag, so I have to get rid of about half my luggage each stop. I’ve started sacrificing toiletries at this point!” Once I spat out my toothpaste, for the next half hour I watched her pawn off her clothing excess on the other girls in my dorm.
Despite all the horrors you can look up online about solo travel, natural disasters and trendy scams of the day, you can never know what’s up until you visit a place. Luckily, my fellow dorm-mates were able to give me the necessary info.
I met a man named Nick from Texas, who–on route from Split to Plitvice Lakes– had made the mistake of running off his bus to go to the bathroom during a scheduled ten minute break. In reality, the ten minutes allotted was actually five (Croatian time, you sucker) and the bus driver left without him, seven other passengers, and with all their luggage. That potty break ended up costing him 300 euro in Uber fees.
Many Aussies, who had recently been on boats in Hvar Town (notorious party island) informed me to avoid the cruises, citing bouts of intense gastro and wet carpet.
I met a guy named Jimmy from Australia, in Ljubljana. He was so tall that his legs swung off the tiny single bed like the limbs of a wooden puppet off a stage. His eyes were hollow and drooping. He recounted that he was in Marrakesh on the afternoon of September 8th when the massive 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco. It was strong enough to damage the Medina of Marrakesh (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and kill nearly 3,000 people. It was a blessing he was able to get out of there alive.
I had planned each of my destinations meticulously. My information (in accountant fashion) was lined up neatly in spreadsheets. I had it all: logistics, tickets, essential sites to visit, confirmation screenshots… A lot of people thought I was insane. Most of the travelers I encountered were unplanned, went entirely off other travelers' advice, and booked accommodation the night before they were set to leave. At first, this irked me a bit. Why spend all that money if you are going to mindlessly wander? As I got further into my journey however, I realized I was missing the point. I was coming at it from my perspective, the risk I had taken leaving my employment to go solo traveling to 3 countries I had never been to before, with a set amount of funds. But flexibility is a whole other risk and reward entirely. If the fires are bad in Greece, if there are protests in Paris, if Naples isn’t your vibe, or if you happen to be in Morocco during one of the worst earthquakes in their country’s history, you have the freedom to leave. ‘Go where the wind takes you’ can also be interpreted as giving yourself the opportunity to curate the best experience possible. If something goes wrong, don’t waste your time sticking to the plan. Go somewhere else.
One thing fellow travelers always wanted to know was where I was from. People were impressed that I was from Chicago. Not scared or disgusted, but curious. As I came to realize, travelers, especially solo female travelers from the States, are hard to come by. Many had never encountered an American.
I met a group of ladies from Holland, climbing up from the Škocjan caves, who were shocked that I wasn’t trying to fit three countries into six days. One woman, with the legs of a horse, gave me a squinty look, like I was either lying or had absolutely lost my mind. A woman, from the United States, by herself, that likes to travel? Preposterous!
I do not consider myself a poster child for my country. As we all know, each country has their own problems and obstacles to overcome. America is not exempt from that assessment. To my surprise, I found myself, landing back in my country, with my passport and my apartment key, with an unexpected pride in America. As much as I loved each country I visited, and ate up each of their delicious foods, cultures and languages, there genuinely is no place I would rather live. It is an odd conclusion to come to, that out of positive experiences elsewhere, you can gain a better appreciation for what you have. An enlightened perspective: “Most people are good, and God Bless America!”
Along the Ljubljanica River in Ljubljana, Slovenia - Winona at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia - The Erechtheion on Acropolis hill, Athens, Greece - Winona and Mark at Belém Tower, Portugal.
River Otters Swim Team – July 2023
By Joe Lizzadro
The River Otters Swim Team’s 2023 Lake Superior Tour was an unqualified success. Unlike the 2022 Columbia River Tour when several key members were sidelined by COVID-19, in 2023 every challenge thrown on the table was successfully met. Team photo includes ROS Team members, coaches, trainer and nurse.
Our objective this year was to support ROS Team leaders. Special emphasis was on well-played coverage and unfailing defense. And the weather cooperated too.
Picture A: ROS Team at the Eagle River Lighthouse – Carol, Joe, Lou, Chris, Ty, Niki, Louie, Angela, Eli, Zach, Micaiah, Josh, Sarah, Sophi, and Kloie (nurse)
Picture B: Sarah, Zach, Josh, Lou, Ty, Eli, and Jared (trainer)
Picture C: Micaiah, Zach, Niki and Angela
Sandrettos in the Italian Hall
By Zach Kelley
“Take a trip with me in 1913,
To Calumet, Michigan, in the copper country.
I will take you to a place called Italian Hall,
Where the miners are having their big Christmas ball.”
These words are the opening lines to a song written by Woody Guthrie (most well known for “This Land is Your Land”) about the 1913 Italian Hall Disaster. To give a brief background on the disaster, the copper mines of Michigan’s upper peninsula saw a widespread strike in 1913. This was the result of a number of different issues in the mines ranging from the introduction of a one-man drill (eliminating jobs and splitting up family-formed work crews) and the controlling nature of the mining companies in the everyday life of the community.
Despite the tension during the time, a women’s auxiliary group of the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) decided to organize a Christmas Eve party that would take place on the second floor of the Italian Hall in Calumet (known as Red Jacket during that time). As presents were being handed out near the Christmas tree that evening, someone falsely shouted “Fire!” and a crowd of people rushed for the stairs. The bottom of the staircase ended right at the doors leading to the street outside. The crowd that rushed down the stairs to safety turned into a deadly pile up. 73 people lost their lives that night, most of whom were children. No one knows exactly who shouted fire, but it is speculated that someone from one of the larger mining companies (such as Calumet & Hecla) snuck into the party to try and disrupt the festivities. Regardless of who it was or what their true motives were, it is hard to imagine that they expected something so tragic to happen as a result of their actions.
In my research into our family's history, I discovered that some of our Sandretto family members were witnesses. John Sandretto, grandma Mary’s father, was in the bar downstairs that fateful night. He had just attended a funeral with a friend, Batiste Rastello, and came to the bar for a drink before picking up his sons to bring them home. After some time in the bar, John heard the stampede of people rushing down the stairs and witnessed the pileup from the bar. After going outside, a little girl, Annie (a neighbor of the Sandrettos in Wolverine) came up to him crying saying that she had lost her brother. He then brought her into a nearby store to keep her safe.
John was the first person to be questioned in the coroner’s jury which took place just a few days later. The following are small excerpts from his testimony.:
“I went in the Italian Hall look for my baby, my boy; I had a boy up there. I was tired and dry and was in the saloon for about fifteen minutes with my friend Batista Rastello. Then we was there, take a glass of beer sat down by the table and I hear upstairs big noise, running of children, something like that. I was going up to see for my baby.”
“Then I opened the door and I see the stairs full of people coming down; chuck full from the bottom up to the top.
“...then a little girl come to me, she lives in Wolverine, called Annie. She say ‘Mr. Sandretto come to me,’ crying. She say ‘I want to go home. I lost my brother’ and she was crying. Then I don’t know where to go, I bring her in the store.”
Through stories passed down by other members of the family, we also know that two of John’s sons were there that night; Mike and Jack. When someone shouted “fire!” and the crowd of people started heading towards the stairs, a group of older boys pushed Mike behind a radiator and rushed ahead of him. Someone later pulled him from behind the radiator and brought him and Jack through the window and down a ladder to the ground below. Had they not been pushed out of the way, they probably would not have survived.
As a part of my research, I decided to take a trip to visit the monuments to the disaster scattered throughout Calumet. The only part of the hall that remains is the arch that framed the doorway where the pile-up took place 110 years ago. Today, there is a large stone monument beyond with the list of the 73 people who lost their lives, and a couple of informational plaques provided by the state park. Despite taking place at the Italian Hall, most of the victims were of Finnish descent. My next stop was Lakeview Cemetery where there are two large headstones marking the locations where most of the victims are buried; one for the Catholic victims in Section N and one for the Protestant victims in Section 26.
This article was written with an emphasis on our family’s viewpoint of the night, but there is much more information on the 1913 Copper Mine Strike and the Italian Hall Disaster available online, in several books and at the Calumet Visitor Center. Thank you to everyone who aided me in my research of this event. For those who are interested in the full transcript of John Sandretto’s testimony, please reach out to me.
Labor of Puppy Love
By Louis Lizzadro
As some of you know Christine and I have taken to fostering puppies as a labor of love, and way of making a small difference in the never-ending plight of canine overpopulation. We are both lifelong animal lovers who have been fostering dogs for around nine years.
Christine takes the lead on picking the foster, their general care, taking them for their checkups and vaccinations, and cleaning up while I am at work. She is particularly drawn to fostering puppies and pregnant dogs. She has been primarily responsible for fostering, caring for, and helping to place approximately 70 dogs.
My favorite foster experience has been with a puppy named Peaches who is one of our current foster puppies. Peaches and her two (2) sisters, Pumpkin and Persimmon, came to us very sick with Parvo. Parvo (canine parvovirus) is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months are the most at risk. The virus affects dogs' gastrointestinal tracts, blocking the intestines’ ability to absorb nutrients. It also allows bacteria to spread from the intestines to other areas within the dog. These three came to us very sick. With care, attention, and proper nutrition, they are now flourishing. Pumpkin was adopted on October 21 by a family of three from Woodstock, IL. Persimmon was adopted on October 28 to another family of three from Shorewood, IL.
Some of the benefits of fostering dogs and puppies:
You help lessen the stress on shelters and rescues, which often have more animals than they can care for. Fostering helps free up space for more animals to be saved.
You can help socialize and train dogs and puppies. By providing a loving, supportive home environment, you can help dogs and puppies learn to trust people and other animals. You can help them to develop the skills they need to live successfully in a home.
You can learn more about dogs and puppies. Fostering is a great way to learn about different breeds, personalities, and the needs of dogs and puppies. This can be helpful if you are considering adopting a dog or puppy in the future.
You can experience the joy of helping a dog or puppy find its forever home. When your foster dog or puppy is adopted, it is an incredibly rewarding experience. You know that you have played a vital role in helping them find their happy ending.
If you are interested in fostering a dog or puppy, there are a few things you need to do to get started:
Contact a local shelter or rescue organization. They will be able to tell you more about their foster program and help you find a dog or puppy that is a good fit for your lifestyle and experience level.
Complete a foster application. This will help the shelter or rescue organization get to know you and your household so they can match you with the right dog or puppy.
Prepare your home for a new pet. This may involve making some changes to your home, such as gating off certain areas, or providing new toys and bedding.
Once you have been approved as a foster parent, the shelter or rescue organization will bring the dog or puppy to your home. They will also provide you with all the supplies you need, such as food, bowls, and a leash.
As a foster parent, you will be responsible for providing the dog or puppy with a safe and loving home environment. This includes feeding them, walking them, playing with them, and training them. You will also need to take them to the vet for regular checkups and vaccinations.
Fostering a dog or puppy can be a lot of work, but it is also an incredibly rewarding experience. When you help a dog or puppy find its forever home, you know that you have made a real difference in their life.
Here are some basic tips for fostering dogs and puppies:
Don’t get in over your head. Starting off small will ease you into it and give you a chance to learn how the entire foster process works.
Start with one dog, preferably a mature dog that has had some training. This will provide the best chance for a positive entry into fostering. It will be less stressful for both you and the dog.
Make sure all family members are on-board with the foster program. Getting everyone involved will be a great learning experience for the whole family.
Be patient and understanding. Dogs and puppies who have been in shelters or rescues may have experienced trauma or neglect. It may take some time for them to adjust to their new home and learn to trust you.
Provide them with plenty of love and attention. Dogs and puppies thrive on love and attention. Make sure to spend time with them each day playing, cuddling, and training them.
Be consistent with their training. Dogs and puppies need to learn basic commands, such as sit, stay, and come. Be consistent with their training and use positive reinforcement methods.
Socialize your foster with other people and animals. This will help them learn to interact with others in a positive way.
Take them to the vet for regular checkups and vaccinations. This will help ensure that they are healthy and up to date on their vaccinations.
We are just two of the many foster parents who are making a difference in the lives of dogs and puppies in need. If you are considering fostering a dog or puppy, I encourage you to do so. It is a truly rewarding experience that can make a real difference in the life of an animal in need.
The Perfect Cup of Coffee
If it weren’t for Uncle Peter Sandretto, we wouldn’t be here today. This is the story of how Joseph and Mary met.
Uncle Pete came to Chicago and opened a coffee shop in a bowling alley. His younger sister, Mary, came from the U.P. to help him. Grandpa Joe liked to bowl, and he loved coffee. I remember he was always looking for the perfect cup. He would try different brands, grind his own beans and carry instant coffee with him in case the coffee served was too weak. Mary made a good cup of coffee and was pretty, too! Grandpa was about 30 and Gram Mary about 20 years old. So, this is how they met, and I was their first child.
~Memories of Angela Anderson at age 90
“I remember when JL would meet with the lumber guys from up north at the lumber camp just outside the farm, and he would put his powdered coffee into the coffee they served.” ~Joe Lizzadro
“Also how the big burly cook walked around with a giant spoon to use if some poor guy talked. And the contrast between him and the skinny, small lumberjacks who ate at long wooden tables with benches in silence. Those were the days. We weren’t scared because Dad was there, and everyone was afraid of him! Thanks for these memories, Dad.” ~ Angela
Museum Director, Dorothy J. Asher to Step Down
After more than 35 years as its director, Dorothy Asher of Elmhurst has announced her retirement to the Lizzadro Museum's board of directors. Asher intends to step down at the end of 2023 and will remain a member of the Museum board.
Asher is a graduate of Chicago’s Mundelein College and a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America. She has deftly led the Museum's operations and oversaw the Museum's move from Wilder Park in Elmhurst to its current location in Oak Brook.
Asher began work at the Museum in 1988 as an administrative assistant. She learned all aspects of Museum operations and enjoyed working with the collection. During her tenure Asher focused on improving programing and exhibits, by developing relationships with lapidary artists, earth scientists, and hobbyists alike. Asher was always accessible to visitors and grew Museum membership. She raised awareness of the Museum by connecting with the public through community events like Museum Day, Lapidary Day, and more recently community music programs.
"We are so grateful to Dorothy for her many outstanding years of service to the Museum and wish her the best in her future endeavors. She has played such an integral role in the Museum's success, and we would not be where we are today without her", said Museum board president John Lizzadro Sr.
The board has begun a search for the Museum's next Executive Director and looks forward to finding the Museum's next leader who will join forces with the board in crafting and implementing the vision for the Museum. They have engaged Dave McGowan of Dave McGowan Consulting LLC to assist with the search.
Interested applicants should send a cover email and resume to lizzadromuseumjobs@gmail.com by Friday, November 17, 2023. Full job description available here.
My Favorite “America’s Test Kitchen” Recipe?
By Joe Lizzadro
Now that Carol and Niki are testing recipes for America’s Test Kitchen, I am expecting something like this:
The Incredible Lightness of Impermanence
By Dorothy Asher
The old Museum in Elmhurst was torn down at the end of August. It took just over a week to demo the building. For sixty-one years it was a fixture in Elmhurst. I worked there for thirty-one years, and I can attest to the fact that the building was antiquated. It needed major repairs, improved accessibility, and had a host of design flaws, including no insulation, that we tried to improve with each renovation. I was excited about rebuilding it in Elmhurst but, alas, the park district, the city, and the library just would not give us the space and identity we needed. We are in a better place in Oak Brook. Attendance, sales, and membership have all improved due to the newly renovated building, exhibit and amenity improvements, and easy access.
I live in Elmhurst and go back to Wilder Park often to visit the things that are still there relating to our family: Aunt Diane’s beautiful garden memorial at the mansion, Chris’s tree near the museum, and Vince’s tree near the playground. All are thriving. As the decades go on it’s important to reflect on the impressive collection that began with Grandpa. It’s not the building housing the collection that matters as much as the love that it represents. Grandpa said we are just caretakers of the collection, and it should be shared with the public.
No matter what the future holds, many of the pieces have already survived for generations and will be cared for by someone long after we are gone. They are objects of art, beauty, and history. There are a number of jades with Buddhist symbolism in the collection. Similar to Catholics, Buddhists believe the three factors of human existence are impermanence, suffering, and not-self. Do not be dismayed over the building. A new era has begun. We are, after all, just caretakers of this world.
Elmhurst Park District News - April 2023
Wilder Park’s open green space will grow following the approval to demolish the former Lizzadro Museum building later this summer. The Park Board approved the project at its Monday, April 10 meeting. The building is at the southeast corner of the park and has been vacant since 2019. Removing the building will decrease the district’s utility costs and open up the area to potential future uses.
The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts opened in Wilder Park in 1962. The building was built specifically to house the museum’s unique collections of gemstones, rocks and minerals. The museum moved to a larger facility in Oak Brook in 2019. Under the terms of the agreement between the Lizzadro Family Foundation and the Park District, the Wilder Park building became the property of the Park District.
In 2018, Dewberry Architects assessed the building for the Park District. At the time, they estimated it would cost $1.2 million to bring the building up to code. That same year, the Park District approached local non-profit and community groups to determine if any might be interested in submitting a proposal for use of the site. No viable proposals were submitted and the Park District made the decision to demolish the building, given the cost to restore the building.
The project is expected to begin in early August. The area will also be restored, including fill and grading. Visit epd.org for the latest updates on this and other Park District projects.
Family Meeting November 25, 2023
By Joe Lizzadro
All Generations are invited to attend our annual family meeting which will be held on Saturday, November 25, 9:00 AM in the L&H Company conference room, 1220 Kensington Road, Suite 210, Oak Brook. If you cannot attend in person, you can also join the meeting via video conference.
We will hear reports from the Lizzadro Foundation, the Lizzadro Museum, and the Gratiot Lake Conservancy. I expect the meeting to run about two hours.
Thanks for helping celebrate GLC’s 25th Anniversary!
By Bonnie Hay
Many Generations have played a role in bringing GLC to the quarter century mark. It is gratifying to see this dream of land conservation in the place we love become reality. This work-in-progress is continually renewed by your input and engagement with GLC.
With the resignation of John L who served for 25 years on the board and the election of Tony L to the board, GLC leadership now consists of me (President), Louis L (VP and Treasurer), Gina N
(Secretary), Daniel L-M, Tony L, and Will L. Many thanks to the board for guiding the progress of GLC and overseeing the organization’s financial health.
This year the 25th anniversary committee (Mimi L, Gina N, Daniel and Amanda L-M, Winona A, GLC administrative assistant Lucy Granroth, and me) was vital in advising, planning, and assisting at many special events. Winona organized a 25th Anniversary T-shirt pop-up fundraiser which netted over $800 for GLC. Amanda suggested the dried flower/plant workshop which she and Daniel helped make an enjoyable success. They also provided special activities at the GLC Open House at Noblets… geology (of course) and a dried flower craft.
Gratitude goes to Gina N for attention to details of setting up the conservancy’s 25th anniversary celebration dinner at the Miscowaubic Club and to Chuck A, Gina N, and Jim H for footing that bill! We filled the first floor of the Misco with good memories and hopes for GLC’s future. A heartfelt “thank you” to those who have supported GLC- many since its first days.
Hope to see you at the upcoming family meeting on November 25th where more info about GLC will be shared. Let me know if you are not receiving GLC email communications. Memberships renew at year-end. Gift memberships are available for Christmas stockings. Please reach out to me with questions, ideas, or concerns: bonnie@GratiotLakeConservancy.org.