Rev. Ray Pritchard was back in the area last week, speaking at the Aurora Christian Ministry Network meeting, May 9, at the Total Living Network headquarters in Aurora. The title of the workshop was “Lessons Learned Along the Way.” A publicity notice described Pritchard as “author, speaker and blogger,” who has pastored churches for 26 years in Los Angeles, Dallas, and, most recently of course, Oak Park, where he headed Calvary Memorial Church for 16 years. He moved to Tupelo, Miss. in October with his wife, Marlene, and founded Keep Believing Ministries, described as “a ministry focused on encouragement and evangelism through writing, speaking, book distribution, media ministry, and a growing Internet presence.” He’s also written 25 books, two of which are currently being translated into Chinese. “He enjoys the Internet, riding his bike, and anything related to the Civil War,” the blurb said.
Contemplating parenthood?
And, of course, we can’t mention Ray Pritchard without also mentioning the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association, Ray’s political polar opposite. OPALGA is hosting a two-day Contemplating Parenthood Workshop this weekend at Hephzibah Children’s Association. “Have you been thinking about becoming a parent? Where do you begin? Let the experts answer your questions.” Don’t know who the experts are, but they’re speaking on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by Family Day on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. A fair number of experts may well live right here in Oak Park. Anyway, call 848-0273 if you’re interested.
Hall of fame and fortune?
District 97 dropped us a note last week, informing us that Edward Hall, former Chicago Public School teacher and godfather of Seth Gibson of Brooks Middle School, was one of four finalists on American Inventor, a nationally televised competition that aired on ABC-7 last week. Over 10,000 inventors entered the contest.
Hall’s invention combats illiteracy through a mechanical word game. The Future Leaders of the World (FLOW) group at Holmes Elementary actually tested the device to help Hall complete his finished version. As one of the final 12, Hall received $50,000 to complete his invention, which he used to add a computer chip for converting to Spanish as well as polishing the overall presentation. The machine could theoretically be used with different languages all over the world.
The show aired last Thursday, and viewers were allowed to call in their votes. The winner, who receives $1 million, will be announced tomorrow.
Virtual reality vs. reality
Oliver Pergams, research assistant professor in biological sciences at the University of Illinois – Chicago (and an Oak Park resident), has an article coming out in the next Journal of Environmental Management, connecting the rise of in-home entertainment activity (Internet, video games, home movies, etc.) to a per capita decline in visits to our national parks. Rising gas prices also play a role. Pergams wrote that, though correlation is not necessarily causation, the downturn in national park visits started in 1988, following a steady, half-century increase in visitors.
“My concern is that young people are simply not going outdoors or to natural areas, but are instead playing video games, going on the Internet or watching movies,” he wrote. He co-authored the paper with conservation biologist Patricia Zaradic.
Oops
We goofed a couple of weeks ago (Inside Report, April 26) when we wrote that local author Elizabeth Berg’s new novel was The Art of Mending. As everyone (except for us … and the Internet, apparently) knows, her latest is We Are All Welcome Here, which is set in Tupelo, Miss., so Ray Pritchard might be interested. Berg recently appeared (the same day Ray appeared in Aurora) at the Chicago Public Library’s Sulzer Regional Library for a reading and book-signing. Sorry about the mistake. We’re trying to mend our art.