40 years ago
The following letter appeared in the Review:
“My 79-year-old mother, partially sightless and hard of hearing, recently lost her wallet – along with her S.S. and Medicare cards, a credit card and $12.50. The Forest Park Police Dept. called to tell us the wallet had been turned in. Mother picked up the billfold from the police and was given the name of the boy who turned it in. Not one thing was removed from the wallet, and we think Andrew Kerstan, 7623 Monroe, deserves this open letter of commendation. I saw Andrew on his way home from school and gave him a little reward. He said he was going to buy a gift for his mother.”
Does that sound like some kind of Goody Two Shoes, feel-good page-filler? Have we become so cynical and mean-spirited with today’s greed, corruption and me-first, everybody-go-to-hell outlook? We all hope not. Yet, only 40 years later does it seem newsworthy that, “Not one thing was removed from the wallet.” Long ago when I was a boy (here it comes) it was the simplest, most natural thing to return a lost item to its owner. It seemed like the goodness of the deed was its own reward – and it was genuine.
From the Jan. 2, 1969, Forest Park Review
30 years ago
If not in the same vein, at least in a nearby capillary, comes this apology from a fellow sinner, also in letter form, but to the police department: “Sirs, my sincere apology for my attitude on the night of January 31. Keep up the good work. It’s a tough job.”
There are times when we may not care for our own attitudes, and this guy seems like an honest repentant. May he go and sin as little as possible in the future. As for the rest of us, may we separate the sin from the sinner.
From the Feb. 21, 1979, Forest Park Review
20 years ago
Pastor Tom Holmes of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church remembered some of Forest Park’s clergy in the late ’80s. Sharing the memories, we had room to reprint about a half-dozen of the capsule reminiscences last week. Following are four more:
Frank Orton, St. Peter’s Church, who was gifted with sincerity. When he asked how you were, he listened for your reply.
William (Bill) Roper, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Also sincere, giving and guiding. Never said, “Have a nice day.” Often said, “Have a God-pleasing day.”
Darrio Boscotti, St. Bernardine Church. Father John Fearon was the self-proclaimed Big Honcho there, bestowing the title, Little Honcho on Father Darrio. They were a sweet pair.
Bob Benke of St. John’s. Served for several years with Pastor Roper. Served God first, then his congregation, and served no other.
From the Jan. 4, 1989, Forest Park Review
10 years ago
What’s a considered opinion? One that’s been weighed back and forth with a bit of head scratching and, if it’s done right, a fair amount of self-cross exaggeration – examination? This is what the editorial opinion makers of the Forest Park Review do every time they endorse a political candidate – but only after an in-depth interview with the candidate.
And this is what took place two weeks before the mayoral primary election on Feb. 10, 1999. The four finalists were incumbent Lorraine Popelka, Anthony Calderone, former Review columnist Bill Lichtenberg and Dr. James Greco.
We know who won. And won again. Among the reasons this newspaper’s editorial board backed Calderone were his responses to crucial questions concerning the village 10 years ago. Space here doesn’t allow word-for-word reportage of specifics, yet a majority of his answers led this newspaper to the conclusion that candidate Calderone stood out over the rest of the field, and “seemed to be the most forward-thinking of the four.”
From the Feb. 10, 1999, Forest Park Review
