Hi Everyone!

I’m taking a minute to move some of the older blog posts from the marilynscafesociety.com website to this new blogsite.  This is now the spot where I will post future blogs and pictures.  I hope you enjoy and spread the word.  See older blogs below…

October 21, 2015–  Hey everyone!  Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to screen an upcoming episode of “This Is Live with Lisa Ling”.  The episode is entitled, “Fatherless Town” and it’s a tear jerker.  Filmed in the Richmond City Justice Center, Lisa spends time with and follows 13 incarcerated men as they go through a rehabilitation program called the Fatherhood Program.  It’s threefold and culminates to a Father/Daughter Dance.  The men learn life skills; receive treatment for drug/substance abuse; learn how to become a better father; and finally gets all dressed up for the Father /Daughter Dance.  This documentary exposes so much about  the importance of real prison rehabilitation and what it looks like.  If all prison systems in America modeled the “Fatherhood Program”, the recidivism rate could be reduced by 40%.  Currently, research shows that 80% of drug offenders end up returning to prison.  Lisa, also, shines the light on the significance of the bond between a father and his daughter(s).  Tune in Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 9pm ET to watch the full episode on CNN.

September 7, 2015-  Happy Labor Day everyone!  I talked about this on the show this morning and I want to remind you.  Those who are in between work/careers and young people just starting out.  It’s predicted that by 2018 there will be 1.4 million computer science jobs and Americans will only make up less than a third of those who get one of those jobs!!!  Go get that training, education, certification, etc.  We are in an information age/technology driven society.  You need to stay with the growth wave.  If you know of programs, grants, scholarships that will help individuals pay for the addtional/advanced training, don’t sit on it.  Share it!  Share it with me too so that I can share with my listeners. Send to  marilynscafesociety@yahoo.com.  Thank you!!!  That is all!

August 17, 2015 –  Marilyn’s Cafe Society remembers legencary Civil Rights Leader/Activist…

Dr. Julian Bond – 1940 – 2015

 August 14, 2015 – I just guest hosted the Kevin Kollins Afternoon Drive Show from 3 – 6pm.  Not as Marilyn’s Cafe Society takes over but simply as me filling in.  Whew!  A little exhausted. But,  I really, really liked it!

August 8, 2015 – Hello everyone!  I’m attempting to get to this blog more regularly.  Thank you for letting me know that you want more!!!  I’m excited as we approach the last official days of summer and approach the beautiful Fall season.  The month of August also reminds me of back to school time.  In fact,  “Cafe Talk” for last week’s show tackled the question…parents, children are you ready for school to start?  My response to the topic is that for a number of years, I was excited about the start of the school year working as a long-term taskforce teacher for the local school district.  I looked forward to seeing the staff and students as they returned from a long summer break…observing how they’ve grown and changed.  I particularly enjoyed the creative process of prepping the classrooms, and lesson planning for the children during the years that I started out as chief teacher.  Of course, as a parent of one child, I reluctantly sent mine off each school year because I soo enjoyed the extra, extended time we had together each summer.  I imagine if I had a number of children, I may have felt differently about the start of the school year.  Parents, enjoy and savor every moment with your children.  The saying that we heard alot as we were growing up is soo true.  Time flies.  You’ll look up one day and your children will be moving out, going to college, etc.  Okay, everyone, be sure to tune in this Saturday as we share “Back to School” information and more.  ~Marilyn

July 9, 2015 – Time for the quarterly “Get Healthy, Get Fit” check in and the news is disappointing despite my knowing and feeling it for a few months now.  However, sharing it with you all is where the disappointment comes in.  I want to inspire and encourage you all with my success so when I miss the mark I don’t like it.  Anyway, as I’ve briefly mentioned on the show a little over a month ago, I have gained some pounds back over the first half of this year!  I believe that it all started back in early March when I was ill for a couple of weeks and fell off my daily exercise regiment.  Since then I’ve struggled to get back on track!  Guys, listen!  I refuse to go backwards!  I’m going to have a much better report for you all at the end of the 3rd quarter of this year.  That’s right.  By October 1st, I will have a positive report to share.  And if you are like me and have fallen short on the journey so far this year, pick your head up and shake it off!!!  I mean literally, “Shake it off”!!!  I choose good health and you should too.  ~Marilyn

June 20, 2015 –  First of all, Happy Father’s Day Weekend to all the fabulous fathers!  So I’m just checking in to share the wonderful experience that I had at the Bolingbrook Juneteenth Festival yesterday.  The park setting behind the Bolingbrook City Hall was the perfect backdrop for the festivities.  Exhibitors, vendors, and activitities lined the beautiful pond.  I wore many hats…radio personality, business woman, reporter, vendor, etc. and had a ball. See the picture of me  in the Picture Blog.  I got so busy, I didn’t even think to make more pictures.  Every person that I met was warm and friendly!  The entertainment was stellar!  By the way, remember to support the young people of RiseUp on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Chick-fil-A, 245 N. Weber Rd., Bolingbrook, IL between the hours of 3-9pm.  Say RiseUp when you order and a portion of the sale will benefit their efforts.  Okay, I’m excited about next year everyone!  I hope you join us.

May 7, 2015–  Hi again my friends.  I have a cool job!  Today the sun was shining brightly.  The Jacob Henry Mansion’s Old Central Church was pristine and welcoming.  It was a beautiful. And, this afternoon was perfect for a Godly gathering. I, along with roughly 70 people participated in the Joliet Region Interfaith Education Council’s National Day of Prayer Ecumenical Service.  The service was inspirational, soul-stirring, and uplifting as Joliet’s leading pastors, ministers, and leadership led attendees in prayer for this country, county, city, communities, schools, churches, families, and anything and everything else.  I cannot imagine God not hearing the cry of his people.  Now, let’s open our hearts, minds, and ears to hear his answers!  For more information, email Ms. Schlsmann at kschlsmann@jths.org OR Mr. Moffett at nmoffett@mtzionjoliet.org.

May 6, 2015– Happy May Everyone!  Today I attended a fantastic musical called, The Bully Show: The Anti-Bullying Musical (an Alphabet Soup Production) at the Billie Limacher Bi-Centennial Park in downtown Joliet; and I give it 4 stars!!!  Professor McBumble and his actor friends presented three of our favorite childhood fairy tales with a twist. Their adaptations of Lil Red Riding Hood, The Ugly Duckling, and The Three Billy Goat’s Gruff were filled with positive anti-bullying messages as well as inspiring, powerful song and dance.  The production encouraged audience participation and the children in attendance loved it!  This was it’s last performance for this school year but you can catch the production company’s modern-day adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Peter Pan this Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 1pm at the North Central College Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville, IL. For more information, visit absproductions.com. 

April 4, 2015– Welcome to my new blog!  I will be randomly writing here so be sure to check this page throughout the week.  As you can see, we’re still perfecting this site and expect the kinks to be worked out in the coming weeks. Thanks to everyone who has supported and been with MCS over the years. I encourage you to stay with us because it’s only going to get better. ~Marilyn

Stories from the Christmas Eve Show

Children Unwrap their Military Father for Christmas

Grandmother Decorate her Ceiling Every Year with over 2,500 Christmas Ornaments

90 Year Old Veteran Receives Help from a Complete Stranger and is able to stay in his home of 60 years.

Shared Recipe from Christmas Eve show.

Overnight Oats are packed with nutrients, fiber, and energy rich foods.  Make in advance and add flavor options to create variety.  Recipe below…

Base:

1/3 cup rolled oats – 1 tsp chia seeds – 1/3 cup plain vegan yogurt – 1/3 cup nondairy milk  –  1/2 tsp vanilla flavor

In a 6 ounce mason jar stir together all the base ingredients until well mixed.  Then add flavor options and combine well.  Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.  Just grab, go, and eat in the morning.  They will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

Flavor options:

*Chocolate Chip Cookie (add ingredients to the base)

Add 2 tbsp chocolate chips – 1/4 tsp cinnamon – pinch of salt

*Peaches n Cream (add ingredients to the base)

1/2 peach, chopped up  – pinch of salt

*Banana Bread (add ingredients to the base)

1 small banana, mashed  – 1 tbsp pecans, chopped

1/4 tsp cinnamon  – pinch of salt

Next show is New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2015, 3-6pmCDT.  Talk to you then.

December 22, 2015

Hi everyone.  I’m happy that I rejoined the Digity Media Chicago staff in the latest edition of the popular WJOL Radio broadcast of the stage play of “It’s A Wonderful Life” at the beautiful Rialto Square Theater downtown Joliet, Illinois.  This time around I played Mrs. Thompson.  Community dignitaries and leaders, like Will County Executive, Larry Walsh Sr., were also involved in this 10th annual production that took place on Friday, December 11, 2015.

For those who don’t know, we receive the script the day of rehearsal which is always the day before the actual live stage performance.  So that explains why we literally read the script while on-stage.  Also, remember the script is written for a radio broadcast and the theater stage.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself from start to finish beginning with the preshow backstage reception with cast members to the performance on stage to the post-show reception line when cast members meet and greet those who attended the stage play/radio broadcast.  I got to dress up a bit.  I tried to at least do hair and makeup like they did in the 1940s…really red lips, lots of eyeliner, foundation a shade darker than natural skin color, and hair pulled back from face with length tucked under in the back!  During the meet and greet, I don’t know how many times I said Merry Christmas!!  It was great!!!

This year was a record breaking year for this annual fundraising event that benefits the Rialto Square Theater.  And I heard that the inaugural Official After Party was funtastic too!  Check out some of the pictures from the performance.

Top left:  Rosella Dario and Bob Kase in-studio.

Bottom left:  Marilyn with Rosella Dario.

Right:  Rosella Dario and Bob Kase sitting.  Terrie Williams (left), Marilyn (center), and Soul Stanley (right) all standing.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Crest Hill, Illinois – On Saturday, December 5, 2015, singers, performers, and listeners converged at the WJOL Studios for the 8th Annual Christmas Celebration Broadcast and VIP reception.  The mood was festive and the food and performances were spectacular!

Marilyn opened the show with her rousing sing-along performance to Aretha Franklin’s version of the holiday classic, “Winter Wonderland”.  Later in the show, Rosella Dario wowed the listeners and in-studio guests with her rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and gospel favorite, “I Give You Jesus”.

In between Rosella’s performances, guests and listeners enjoyed the exclusive music of international recording jazz bassist, Bernard Harris from his Bassed on Christmas cd.  He shared an original piece, “A Christmas Prayer”  that featured Rubi and Cora Green.  Listeners also heard his rendition of “Away in A Manger”.  Bob Kase of the Bob Kase Quintet was in studio the first part of the show and shared his inspiration for original pieces, “Gloria” and “As We Gather”, the title cut from his new cd, “As We Gather”.

Marilyn made sure that there were plenty of games to play on and off the air.  In-studio guests also participated in singing Christmas carols; and everyone closed the show as usual by singing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.

The Christmas Celebration broadcast was taped for Joliet Community Television Channel 6 and will be aired at a later date.

-end-