Zilch

She’ll be missed … Reporter Terry Parris Jr. interviewed Lillian Curran, long time Hamtramckan, last April when she turned 100. She died two weeks ago. Terry wrote about his experience with her.  

“The first word that came to mind was spunky, when remembering Lillian. Then I remembered the red lipstick she put on when I came to take her picture. Then I remembered how loud she spoke.

“I didn’t know Lillian Curran very well. I just knew a few stories she told me about her life. Of course, it took a while for her to get them straight, but after 100 years of memories and living in this town, well, that person can have as much time as they need to tell a story.

“The last time I saw Lillian was near the end of spring. I was driving up Holbrook, going somewhere, going too fast. I pulled up to Brombach, at Holbrook, where it’s a four-way stop. I was by Lillian’s house but hadn’t thought about it until I looked to my right and saw her and her caregiver on the porch. I made eye contact with the caregiver. She waved, she remembered me. She was there when I first spoke with Lillian. She patted Lillian on the shoulder and Lillian waved, though I’m pretty sure she didn’t know why she was waving.

“The car in front of me took off, I took off, and now it’s August and Lillian is no longer with us. The long-time crossing guard who loved those kids, the long-time Hamtramckan, that spunky, old woman I met with the loud stories about Albert Zak and St. Florian and reading The Citizen for the first time back in 1934, died and so did a little bit of Hamtramck. Thanks for the time Lil.”

“Moonchild” shines on … Hamtramck’s own chanteuse, Sandra Dziedziula, the “Moonchild Diva,” will be playing this Sunday (Aug. 24) with the Frank Solano Band at the Clark Park Festival in southwest Detroit.

The festival is a great way to gear up for Hamtramck’s own Labor Day Festival, which is coming up in two weeks.

The Clark Park Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. The park is located at Clark and Vernor, just off of I-75.

Having fun in Hamtown … This is a reminder that Historical Commission Chairman Greg Kowalski will present another segment of his lecture series on Aug. 28 and 29 at Café 1923 on Holbrook.

Greg will be talking about all the ways Hamtramckans have had fun through the years – and some of it was a bit on the, ahem, naughty side. It’s called “Having Fun in Hamtramck.”

The lectures begin at 7 p.m. both days, and Café 1923 is located at 2287 Holbrook, across from the Kowalski sausage plant in Hamtramck.

One more … We almost forgot to mention that this Saturday (Aug. 23) is the monthly Hamtramck International Bazaar.

The flee festival/open market sets up shop in the city parking lot on Caniff at McDougall from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stop by and see all the great bargains you can get.

Free smoke detectors! And other fun stuff… Cleveland Intermediate High School, at 13322 Conant in Detroit, will be throwing a Health and Community Safety Fair on Saturday, Aug. 23, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Health professional will be on site to screen fair goers for blood pressure readings, as well as hearing and vision tests. Additionally, the fair will offer home and community safety tips and financial investment advice. Oh, and if the free screening and advice weren't enough, how about some free stuff? While supplies last, backpacks, bicycle helmets and smoke detectors will be given away. For more information call (313) 893-6275.