A half century of award-winning journalism, from best feature story of 1974 (Chicago Newspaper Guild) to more than half-a-dozen consecutive annual column and profile honors (Northern Illinois News Association).
‘Philomena’ – Sad Search for a Long Lost Son
Evanston RoundTable, Dec. 19, 2013 Judi Dench’s face is a global treasure, and should be carved Rushmore-like on the Hollywood Hills. The wrinkles, furrows and lines, the range of nuance
Survivor of Nazi Massacre Had Amazing Journey
The North Shore Weekend, Dec. 13, 2013 During World War II, as a Jew in occupied France, Serge Ross escaped from two labor camps and survived a Nazi firing squad, after
Fragments
Story ideas, quotes, openings, titles:
– In some dystopian future, it’s legal to trade options on people’s lives.
– “I’d hardly describe myself as a creep. Rather….”
– “Answer Man”: Play takes place in a radio station late at night. DJ hosts weekly show, “The Answer Man” taking callers’ questions, complaints and stories. DJ and engineer laugh at callers off the air, but the stories hit too close to home.
– Doctor who has lost his license (drink? drugs? malpractice?) starts investigating Medicare fraud by nefarious insurance companies and gets way too close to the truth.
– Liberia 1982: Peace Corps volunteer befriends brilliant and ambitious Army sergeant, who foments a violent uprising against the government. Volunteer is implicated.
– “Winter Is Hard”
– Song lyric: “World’s going to hell again, Troubles seem to swell again, Heading down and round again, All because of you.”
– “Prospect Park”: urban halfway house, each chapter is a life story.
– “Diapason” (Greek for octave): Researcher finds 3,000 year-old Greek music text, with many intriguing song fragments illustrating why the ancients thought music was the most profound art. Book hints at author’s life and leads researcher to Greece for further discoveries on the power of music.
’12 Years a Slave’ and ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ – Hard History Lessons
Evanston RoundTable, Dec. 5, 2013 It’s a rare synchronicity when two fine and provocative movies based on true stories about national horrors – “12 Years a Slave” and “Dallas Buyers
Evanston Music Club: Keeping the Beat For More Than a Century
Evanston RoundTable, Nov. 21, 2103 Evanston has always had a song in its heart and music in its soul. According to “The History of Evanston,” the first brass band was
Curt’s Cafe Owner Honored
Evanston RoundTable, Nov. 7, 2013 By Les Jacobson Susan Trieschmann, the owner of Curt’s Café, has been awarded $10,000 by L’Oreal Paris as a “Woman of Worth” and is in
‘Captain Phillips’ – Actors Keep a Tight Ship
Evanston RoundTable, Nov. 7, 2013 “Captain Phillips” tells the true story of Richard Phillips, the Merchant Marine officer whose U.S. cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama, was hijacked by Somali pirates
Junior Mance: Evanston’s Gift to Jazz
Evanston RoundTable, Oct. 24, 2013 Legendary jazz pianist Junior Mance left his native Evanston more than half a century ago, but the last time he performed here, in 2011, he
Jonathan Wilson – Bringing Theater to Life
Evanston RoundTable, Oct. 10, 2013 The award-winning director and longtime Evanston resident Jonathan Wilson’s path into the theater world was unusual. In 1967 he was an undergraduate at the formerly