Forty Years Ago

Any resume that Lorraine Popelka may have stashed away would certainly include the office of mayor, which she held here from 1987 to 1999. A closer look, however, might reveal another public service that she enjoyed-she spent even more years as swimming instructor for the park district. She was responsible for teaching literally hundreds of school-age Forest Park youngsters at our park pool.

From the July 28, 1966 issue of the Forest Park Review

Thirty Years Ago

Little things. That’s what the big things are made of. It was a little thing when a locked bicycle outside the library was stolen-yet not to the young owner. It was a little thing when the interested bystander who witnessed the theft made a call to the police describing the bike and the thief. Another little thing was the attention given to the report by a police officer which led him to the bike and the culprit five blocks away. With all that took place, wrong was still wrong. Only involvement, care and action made it right.

That is what the mean-spirited thief might have said as he swiped it from the front porch of Mrs. Blanche Connolly. She was totally surprised as she noticed the piece of furniture missing one morning. “I’ve had that rocker for 25 years and rocked seven grandchildren in it. I can’t imagine why anyone would steal it.” She phoned police but could only hope for its return after the thief read the news report. (“Cane by my side?.”)

From the Jul/Aug 1976 issues of the Forest Park Review

Twenty Years Ago

Reverend Lana Sutton began her ministry at United Methodist Church, 501 Thomas St. Her mission was to focus on serving middle-aged and younger adults. Born in Marionette, Wis., she and her husband, a professor of Computer Sciences at North Central College, had planned to move to Forest Park from Naperville. Her ministry here was cut short because the church was destroyed by fire at the turn of the new decade.

Can we get back to one more “little thing?” The Forest Park Review had been a friend of the West Suburban Business & Professional Women’s Organization for over 30 years. The group had asked the newspaper to publish notice of an important dinner meeting. A week earlier, the Review learned that the restaurant at which this was to be held had closed down. Editor Bob Haeger notified the group in time for all members to be notified of a new meeting-dinner place. All went without a hitch. A matter of caring, interacting and following the paper’s own page-one motto: “The Paper with the Personal Touch.”

From the July 1986 issues of the Forest Park Review

Ten Years Ago

The police business is, among other things, a bizarre business. Ten years back, a couple of guys, 29 and 30, blew their cover by stealing two brassieres from the Venture store. Confronted by security and the cops, a pipe for smoking crack was discovered along with what looked like rock cocaine, but proved to be soap. Maybe their girlfriends were working the men’s department for a couple of nice jockstraps that they needed. Ah, what a various world we live in.

Who Remembers? Actor Jack Carson ? singers Dick Haymes and Russ Columbo ? comic Jerry Colona ? columnist Jimmy Fiddler ? songstress Jane Froman ? talk show personality Arlene Francis ? orchestra leader Jan Garber ? Bert Gordon, the mad Russian ? madcap zany, Brother Theodore ? Mary Margaret McBride ? evangelist & orchestra leader Aimee Sample McPherson ? actor Conrad Nagle ? Parkyakarkus.

From the July 26, 1996 issue of the Forest Park Review