[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 101 (Thursday, July 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE PARK RIDGE FINE ARTS SOCIETY ON 50 YEARS OF SUMMER 
                                CONCERTS

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Park Ridge 
Find Arts Society as they celebrate 50 years of providing free summer 
concerts for the community. The purpose of the Park Ridge Fine Arts 
Society is to provide a musical showcase and the means for enjoyment of 
serious music through free community concerts, and to engage in such 
activities and programs that will foster all of the fine arts. The 
concerts draw crowds of 1,500 to 3,500 people, with a season total of 
more than 30,000 concertgoers.
  These concerts are a wonderful way not only to bring beautiful, 
professional music to the community, but also to bring neighbors 
together and build a sense of community. Summer in Park Ridge is 
enriched by these wonderful weekly concerts in Hodges Park.
  Frank York established the Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra 
and the Park Ridge Fine Arts Society 50 years ago and remained at the 
helm of the organization, driven by his vision of excellence, until 
2005. Throughout the organization's history, it has maintained the 
highest artistic standards. The Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra 
is produced and coordinated by the Park Ridge Fine Arts Society to 
perform the summer concerts. It is a fully professional orchestra, made 
up of superb musicians from throughout the Chicago area, devoted to 
bringing the excitement and beauty of great classical music to the 
northwest suburbs.
  I want to recognize the great work of the people who make sure that 
the concerts are of the highest quality and are available to the 
community each summer: Barbara Schubert, musical director and 
conductor; Emily Toy Kosaka, president; Daniel Aranda, vice president; 
Dennis Van Mieghem, treasurer; Dawn Himley-Grandi, secretary; and the 
board of directors: Ken Boyce, Pam Boyce, Kevin P. Costello, Doug 
Crawford, Mike Grandi, Mary Jersey, Russ Jersey, Jim Lange, Paul 
Lundberg, Debbie Maggio, Mike Maggio, Jack Owens, Christel Owens, and 
Nancy Tordai.
  The orchestra and its concert series in Park Ridge is truly one of 
the great jewels of the northwest suburbs.

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