From AsiaOne News (Singapore):
VIR DAS likes to tell you he is a late bloomer.
At 30 - he passed that momentous chronological marker in May - his career is just taking off.
Not only is he an excellent stand-up comedian, as his two sold-out shows at The Esplanade’s recently concluded Indian arts festival Kalaa Utsavam prove, he is carving out a second career in Bollywood too.
The Mumbai-based Vir is currently filming a yet untitled Yash Raj movie with Shahid Kapoor in Thailand, and he is looking the part of a hot, young Bollywood actor….
Vir made his acting debut in an independent film, Mumbai Salsa, in 2007, and confesses that he never thought he would pursue acting as a career.
That’s despite the former investment banker wannabe having a double degree in economics and theatre from Knox College in the United States.
He was also accepted into Harvard University for its Stanislavsky Program with the Moscow Arts Theatre where he trained for six months and performed eight plays with the company.
From the Athens Banner-Herald (Athens, GA):
A tiny item in last Wednesday’s USA Today caught my eye. The three-sentence story said the city of Galesburg, Ill., had designated Nov. 25 as No Complaints Day. Mayor Sal Garza suggested it might be a good economic development tool, because business prospects aren’t interested in visiting a “cesspool of negativity.”
Galesburg, a town of 32,000, is most famous as the birthplace of poet Carl Sandburg, home of Knox College and site of the fifth Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858. From reviewing the town’s Web site and watching a TV clip about No Complaints Day, Galesburg didn’t come off as being a “cesspool of negativity,” which is probably the catchphrase that generated national media attention.
From the Review-Atlas (Monmouth, IL):
Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents its Christmas concerts, entitled A Nova Christmas, Friday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa, and Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Galesburg.
In addition to classic carols from England such as Hark, the Harold Angels Sing, Deck the Hall and The Twelve Days of Christmas, they will offer new arrangements of The First Noel and We Three Kings by jazz musician Darmon Meader. The singers will feature two of John Rutter’s newest songs on this program, Rejoice and Be Merry and New Year. The concert will also include an audience sing-along, with the organ played by Pam Edwards…..
Nova Singers will be joined by youth choirs for both of their Christmas performances. In Davenport, the guest choir is the Sudlow Select Choir, under the direction of Diane Carius. In Galesburg, Nova will be joined by The Carl Sandburg Children’s Choir, directed by Jessica Stiller.
Nova Singers is a 20-voice professional ensemble that seeks to share with its audiences the power and beauty of a wide variety of choral music. The group has performed at state, regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and throughout the Midwest. Nova Singers has produced eight recordings that are available to the public. Dr. Laura Lane is a Professor of Music and Director of Choirs at Knox College. For over twenty years, Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities, bringing choral music to audiences and singers alike. Lane is known throughout the country for her innovative programming and her passion for expressive singing.
From The Messenger (Fort Dodge, IA):
Beverly J. Fisher, 61, of Fort Dodge, died Sunday, November 29, 2009, at Trinity Regional Medical Center following a courageous battle with leukemia…..
Beverly is survived by her husband James (Randy) Fisher; daughter Cary (Chad) Clark, Fort Dodge; her granddaughter Zoey R. Miller; her brothers, David Gillespie and Kip Gillespie, both of Fort Dodge; her niece and nephew, Danielle and Josh Gillespie; and her beloved dog Cezar. Beverly is also lovingly remembered by many friends, family members and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Beverly Jean Gillespie, the daughter of John and Lottie (Russell) Gillespie, was born on January 18, 1948, in Michigan City, IN. Beverly graduated from Harding High School in Oklahoma City in 1966. She then graduated from Knox College and received her Masters Degree from Syracuse University in New York.
