THINGS JUST WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE!

by Tom Lounges



    It would be an understatement of gross proportions to say that September
was been a very rotten month!   
 
    Things began on a downer note with the death of a very bright and
well-respected youth pastor named Rich Bourke, who did a remarkable job
affected the lives of Chicagoland kids with his ministry through the Family
Christian Center. 
 
    They got worse for me on a personal level, when my next door neighbor,
Sam Fox, a very nice and well liked guy, unexpectedly passed away.  

   The very same day as Sam’s death, came the terrible news that little Mikey
Williams had passed away from the cancer he had for so long battled valiantly
against.   Mikey, a perpetually smiling second grader at Merkley School in
Highland, became known to a lot of local rock ‘n’ rollers when a benefit was
held in his honor earlier this year at Rodney’s Sports Bar in Highland, IN.  

     Mikey Williams was a very brave little boy who had the kind of courage
and faith that most of us who are adult could only hope to be able find in
ourselves.   It saddened me greatly to hear he was taken from his family at
such a young age, but I know in my heart that the Blackhawks and the White
Sox (his favorite sports teams) now have a new little angel watching over
them. My deepest condolences to the Williams family and Mikey’s school mates.

   Then, of course, just a few days later, came the  news of the terrorist
attacks against the United States.   Those horrible images, replayed time and
again, have succeeded in shocking us out of complacency. 

   I’m not going to dwell on this whole terrorist issue too much, because,
others have already spilled gallons of newspaper ink on the subject.  I
certainly have my  own personal feelings, fears and pain to deal with like
every other good American out there, but I feel the time is now better suited
for actions and not words.

    I’m not talking necessarily about military actions, although I’m very
glad to see our troops digging in for the purpose of exacting justice for the
terrible deed inflicted upon our nation.   I’m talking more about taking
action on the home front and chipping in to each do our part.  The music
community is fast responding with what they do best.  

      I am proud to be one of a group of local citizens who on Sept. 29 at
the Lake County Fairgrounds, will kick start the string of regional benefit
concerts that will take place in the weeks, months and maybe years to come
(after all, we’d be foolish to believe this was a quick fix situation.)  All
the proceeds from our event – “Freedom Fest… America Bands Together” – will
be donated to the Tribune Disaster Relief Fund, who are matching us 50¢ on
the dollar for every dollar we raise.  All money goes directly to the front
lines to aid in the rescue/recovery efforts.

    Our Sept. 29 event is “dedicated” to those heroic Americans who on Sept.
11, took to heart the famous words of our late leader, John F. Kennedy  –
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your
country!”   I’m referring, of course, to the many brave firefighters, police
personnel and rescue workers who were the first on the front lines and who
paid the supreme cost for their effort to stand up and be counted.  For
“Freedom Fest” details, please see ad below. 

     At press time, it was decided that there will be a “Freedom Fest II” on
Nov. 18 at the Star Plaza Theatre.  See page 8 for more information. Looking
ahead, the good folks at the Silver Bullet Lounge in South Haven, IN are will
host an Oct. 14 fund-raiser to help the American Red Cross.  Then, on Oct.
21, my friend J.D. Leap will host a benefit at Port Offshore in Portage, IN
to help The United Way. These events are just the tip of the patriotic ice
berg. Other projects are being planned even as you read these words.  Please
support all worthwhile efforts.

     I’m a firm believer that all things happen for a reason, and perhaps
this tragedy and the war that seems to be looming ahead, is the reason for
all those electoral ballot problems last fall.   President Bush is shaping up
well under pressure thankfully thinking before he jumps.  We are facing is an
invisible enemy in a war with no real geographical boundaries.  How we move
ahead from here is literally a life or death situation.

   Those of us in the Chicagoland and N.W. Indiana music community, need to
continue doing our part.  We need to keep supporting these efforts. May God
bless and keep us safe in these very scary times.