40 years ago
The subject of Editor Walker’s column was noise. He cited barreling, whistle-blowing trains, screeching CTA cars and climbing jets from O’Hare as chief offenders. Today, we can do better. Like insane car alarms that never turn off. And decibel-shattering, open-window recorded violence that passes for acid rock and pulls alongside you as you wait out a red light. For those who enjoy their noise in isolation, we have electron-driven devices like cells phones, iPods and PSPs.
One sorely missing noise rarely heard today is meaningful conversation. Last Sunday, a rare sighting! My neighbor to the south and my neighbor to the north, spotted simultaneously – plus my neighbor to the west – a triple! Nobody was talking to anybody. (I was indoors taking notes.) Now I happen to like jazz, baseball, poetry and the cosmos, in any old order, and wondered what they liked. Be a kick if any of the three shared one of my interests – or me theirs. If we had talked we’d have common ground. The subject matter would matter. The exchange could be enjoyable, mind-expanding and maybe mutually enriching.
Ah, what sweet noise.
From the Aug. 20, 1969, Forest Park Review
30 years ago
And does your telephone ring only for you to hear a hearty male voice asking you to support your local police officers? Have none of it! A notice appeared in the Aug. 8, 1979, issue signed by Police Chief Richard Drane. The gist: do not contribute toward any organization falsely representing our police department, the Fraternal Order of Police or the Illinois Police Association.
I wrote and called our present police chief, Jim Ryan, asking if such was still the case. The chief assured me that none of these bodies asks our local people or businesses here for donations. He emphasized that the police department does not make or approve of such solicitations; that our residents should make no contributions to such callers and that we should notify the police or village hall if we are contacted.
From the Aug. 8, 1979, Forest Park Review
20 years ago
Dig the photo. Are these not eternal poster children for all who have been wed 50 years? Round it out to 72 years together and you have Minnie and Carmelo Pafume in 1989. It was his 100th birthday, and she wasn’t far behind.
They lived in the same frame house here for 71 years. With a little help from their son, Carmelo still tended his vegetable garden while Minnie prepared their ritual Sunday night spaghetti dinners. Carmelo’s formula for marital longevity – “I have good food and a good wife.”
Born in Sicily, he found work in Cicero with Western Electric. On July 14, 1915, he was onboard the steamer Eastland bound for a company excursion when it capsized in the Chicago River only a few feet from the dock. Eight hundred twelve people were lost, Carmelo managed to swim away and two years later he embarked on a longer journey with Minnie Leo.
From the June 28, 1989, Forest Park Review
10 years ago
Dang! Miss that movie you really wanted to see? DVD Man at our library can put it in your hands. For example:
The Red Violin. A legendary 300-year-old musical instrument famous for its reddish hue is placed on the auction block in modern day Montreal. With Samuel L. Jackson tracing its authenticity, it’s no ordinary search.
Notting Hill. Romantic comedy set in England. A traveling bookstore owner’s life is transformed when the world’s most famous movie star stops to browse. Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant.
From the June 2, 1999, Forest Park Review
