Couple danced into romance
James Casamassa fell in love with the woman who would become his wife before she even said “Hello” to him.
Ready for work
Angelique Thomas is shopping for more than a new jacket at Sears. She is in search of a streamlined look that will help her land a new job. Thomas, 30, was one of five local women participating in Sears’ Fashion Takes Action program, which kicked off Tuesday in Chicago. The program pairs women making a transition into the workplace with fashion experts. Sears provides each participant with two business-appropriate outfits, as well as cosmetics.
Look out, Martha
When Katie Brown turned 11, her parents didn’t take her to a toy store to pick out a present. They gave her a wallpaper book and some swatches of carpeting and let her redecorate her room. Small wonder, then, that she grew up to be Gen X’s answer to Martha Stewart, the hostess of the Lifetime Channel’s No. 1 show, “Next Door With Katie Brown.”
Teacher sacrifices for his kids
Once you get through reading about Elian Gonzalez, the Columbine anniversary and the effects of testosterone–available by prescription this summer as an easy-to-apply ointment–in this week’s Time, don’t forget to read the uplifting story about a Los Angeles schoolteacher who makes a difference.
Pair took jury pool plunge
Michael and Teresamarie Siciliano are two peas in a pod. For one thing, neither of them tried to get out of jury duty when they were called to serve nine years ago.
Kyle Chandler moves into a new role
Directing Gary Hobson wasn’t difficult for Kyle Chandler. After all, Chandler has played Hobson on the CBS series “Early Edition” for four years. What did present a challenge for Chandler was shooting scenes that centered on Gary, without being able to view himself in action as it happened.
After slow start, couple waltzed into happiness
Laura Cofran knew what she was looking for when she placed a personal ad in her local newspaper. She wanted a tall man with a great body who loved children as much as dancing. So when her future husband Jeff called, she broke the ice by asking him, “What is your suit size, waist and inseam?”
Italian worth finding
People always complain about the lack of good restaurants in the suburbs. That’s because they don’t know where to look.
The story of O
Come April 19, Oprah Winfrey will be on the cover of yet another magazine. But this time, she’ll be gracing one that bears her name.
Kids were couple’s Cupid
Dawn and Tim Szczur have their kids to thank for their marriage. When Dawn’s daughter Abbi and Tim’s son Dave met on the Internet three years ago, they bonded almost immediately as friends. After about 1 1/2 years of corresponding, they talked their parents into meeting face to face.
Simple magazine lives up to its name
Real Simple’s mission is real simple. The new lifestyle magazine wants to help simplify your life. Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look good. The premiere issue, which hit newsstands Monday, is populated with high-end ads from Ralph Lauren, Chanel and DeBeers diamonds.
Old flame never went out
It was unusual for Terry Steczo to go out for lunch. He usually grabbed a sandwich from the snack shop in his office building and went back to eat at his desk. But on this day 2 1/2 years ago, he took his secretary’s advice to step out for a change of pace. On his way back from lunch, Terry noticed a sign in a window announcing that Kitty Loewy from WCKG-FM (105.9) would be doing a live remote broadcast from there the next day.
Britney Spears’ proved the pop singer’s “it” factor
It would be a fair assumption to say that the vocal male contingent at Britney Spears’ sold-out concert Wednesday night at Allstate Arena wanted her in a big way. Get in line buddies. The 18-year-old princess of pop is pen pals with Prince William and rumored to be setting up house with ‘N Sync hottie Justin Timberlake.
‘N Sync in charge on `Strings’
On their second album, “No Strings Attached,” the members of ‘N Sync get down and even a little dirty. But is that such a good idea? Do we really want to hear them shout out “Ho, ho, ho!” on the rambunctious “Just Got Paid,” and wonder if they’re repeating Santa’s mantra or are referring to that other kind of ‘ho?
Magazine now serving weekly dish
Glamour targets four risky habits that could make you a victim: You never check your credit report (experts say check for inaccurate information and take action immediately); You throw out old bills (shred them or tear them up); You use your birthday as a password (choose a password with personal meaning); You give out your Social Security number without question (it’s the most important information to protect).
Mom: The Sequel
A brief statement said the prospective parents “are happy to confirm the rumors that they are expecting a child at the end of this year.” “We would be grateful if the media would kindly allow us some privacy at this special time, and we thank you all for your good wishes,” said Ritchie, director of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”
A long-term proposal
It was Christmas 1942 when Edward Yaras proposed to Marie. He got down on bended knee and asked for her hand in marriage . . . in her closet.
“Chicago”
You’d think that “Chicago”–which promises to tell the story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery–would be a bit of a downer. But throw in a Tony Award winning score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, some sexy choreography by Ann Reinking and a couple of celebs well-known to sitcom fans, and you have a musical in which the overall flashiness cloaks the underlying darkness of the play’s theme: That you’re only as important as your last 15 minutes of fame.
Talk examines `miracle’ twins
“They’re fundamentalist Christians. They chain smoke. Bullets bounce off them. They’re 12. The way things are going, Luther and Johnny Htoo, Burma’s armed messiahs, might not make it to 13.”
Fancying friend, he finds love
The night Mike Ostrowski met Carol Robinson, he was busy flirting with her young blond friend.