Philip Potempa

Philip Potempa is a freelance for the Post-Tribune.

Popeye the Sailor and his character friends, including girlfriend Olive Oil, hamburger-chomping pal Wimpy, bully Brutus and others, were first introduced in the Thimble Theater newspaper comic strip starting in 1929, created by cartoonist E.C. Segar, who was born and raised in Chester, Illinois. (King Features Syndicate/provided)

From the Farm: Delicious ‘hamburger soup’ great for celebrating Wimpy’s 95th birthday

October 23, 2026 at 5:34 p.m.

I’ve mentioned in previous columns, as well as in my original “From the Farm” cookbook published in 2004, that Popeye the Sailor and my late father Chester share the same...

Artist Eric Brightfield, left, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass, and Brightfield's son, Evan Brightfield, pose beside a "Rahmfather" print created by Eric Brightfield. The print was presented to Mayor Emanuel at his downtown office on Dec. 20, 2012. (Tribune file photo by Chris Sweda)

Of Notoriety: Former Trib columnist Kass closing website, comic Tom Arnold and ‘Christmas Story’ bullies

October 23, 2026 at 11:50 a.m.

When I spoke last month at the Flossmoor Book Club’s 90th Anniversary Reception, I spoke about the long lineage of Chicago newspaper columnists.

In this Sept. 5, 1974, photo, columnist Philip Potempa’s older sister Pam, center in red, poses on her birthday with Potempa family collie Lady surrounded by party guests, left to right, Robin Shields, Jodi Scutchfield, Melanie McCoin and Julie Spenner. (Peggy Potempa/provided)

From the Farm: Collies back as favorite family canine courtesy of oldest sister Carol

October 16, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by the collies beloved by my family throughout the decades.

Beatniks on Conkey hosts the Hammond Community Theatre run of the play "The Ghost in the Meadow" with concluding weekend curtain times Oct. 16-Oct. 18 at the 420 Conkey St. stage space in Hammond. (Beatniks on Conkey/provided)

Of Notoriety: Beatniks has ‘Ghost,’ Munster gets ‘Blacklisted,’ Poe in Michigan City

October 15, 2026 at 3:44 p.m.

Entertainment news from around the region.

Scot Kokandy, left to right, founder of Kokandy Productions, joined columnist Phil Potempa on his Of Notoriety radio show on Sept. 8, 2026, at WJOB 1230 AM in Hammond with co-hosts Luke Miiller and Tony Panek, seen peering from behind a mask with a desk assortment of props representing Kokandy’s three concurrent show runs. (Adrianna Alvarez/provided)

Of Notoriety: Whiting stage producer Scot Kokandy celebrating trifecta

October 14, 2026 at 4:23 p.m.

Whiting’s Scot Kokandy has transformed from a daytime career as a Joliet-based banker to a full-time theatrical company founder and producer.

Despite a scarce peach harvest for fall 2026, Columnist Philip Potempa and his family made 48 jars of homemade peach preserves in September, now stored in the farm cellar for winter menu enjoyment and holiday gifts. (Philip Potempa/for the Post-Tribune)

From the Farm: Peaches scarce this season, pits once prized as controversial cancer treatment

October 9, 2026 at 5:47 p.m.

Whether in Michigan or Northwest Indiana orchards, peaches ranked among the many compromised fall harvests for 2026.

Magician Matt Kalita, left, and his daughter Mya frame iconic Chicago TV horror film host Svengoolie in this Oct. 5, 2019, photo at the Haunting Hammond festival in downtown Hammond, Indiana. Kalita will make his big-screen film premiere this fall, portraying a magician who changes history. (Matt Kalita/provided)

Of Notoriety: Michigan City magician ready for big screen; club reaches charity goal

October 7, 2026 at 4:31 p.m.

Michigan City stage magician Matt Kalita has teamed with director Dean Christakis to complete their first big-screen film project.

What was once a “retired” dairy farm for decades, back in 2008 owned by the Maranowicz family, has now been sold and revived in 2026 with the return of bovine residents housed in the barn, with a distinct corn silo featuring a faded beer ad along U.S. 421 in San Pierre, Indiana. (Philip Potempa/provided)

From the Farm: Grain harvest season woeful, from fuel cost to memories of Dad

October 2, 2026 at 5:21 p.m.

This fall harvest season for 2026 hasn’t been an easy one.

A drone aerial photo shows the expansive festival landscape of food vendors, merchandise booths and live music stages in 2025 for Wickedly Whiting, which this year is being hosted during the first weekend of October. (Whiting Chamber of Commerce/provided)

Of Notoriety: Wickedly Whiting, ‘Love’ play premiere and Pauly D of ‘Jersey Shore’

October 1, 2026 at 2:23 p.m.

Entertainment news from around the region.

Gretchen Greear, left to right, Nicholas Ian and David Cerda portray the late movie star Joan Crawford in various stages of her lifetime and career in “Joan Crawford Goes to Hell,” written by Cerda and produced by his Hell in a Handbag Productions as a parody, which closes Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Rick Aguilar Studios/provided)

Of Notoriety: David Cerda celebrates 25 years on stage; ‘Wizard of Oz’ returns to TV

October 1, 2026 at 5:28 p.m.

David Cerda is forever hailed in the Windy City as the king of stage camp while wearing his Hammond High School status as a Hoosier badge of honor.

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