40 years ago
How sick can you get of hearing a Vancouver (Wash.) man rant back in 1970? So many changes in 40 years and so much gets forgotten in that span. Yet, check out some of Bill Hughes’ open letter points, then wonder how many he – and you – might toss out, revise or let stand today.
I am sick of reading so-called modern literature with its kinship to what I used to read on the walls of public toilets.
I am sick of cynical attitudes toward patriotism and of politicians with no backbones.
I am sick of permissiveness.
I am sick of the dirty, the foul-mouthed, the unwashed.
I am sick of the decline in personal honesty, personal integrity and human sincerity.
From the Aug. 26, 1970 Forest Park Review
30 years ago
Back in 1980 you could do something you can’t do now – turn right onto Harlem Ave. from the first three blocks south of Roosevelt Rd. Cul-de-sacs replaced the entrances of 13th, 14th and 15th Avenues effectively eliminating any northbound cars and trucks approaching the light at Harlem and Roosevelt from cheating – short-cutting corners at the three avenues. The drivers of such vehicles had become pests and nuisances to the residents of the south tier of the village. The rumbling traffic brought noise and pollution to the area and caused potential traffic hazards to the residential families.
Our Traffic and Safety Committee, mayor and village commissioners had everything to do with effecting the change prompted by concerned citizens. Thinking back on this action, one could view the improvement as a fine example of citizens and the village government working well together. Though local elections were slim to nonexistent yesterday, this is the kind of awareness to exhibit come elections in 2011. Being concerned and voting intelligently should be the reward of office holders who serve well.
From the Aug. 20, 1980 Forest Park Review
20 years ago
It’s not often we feature graphology in this column but this slash-forward script stole the page. Of course, it’s from Dr. James Murray’s files. We’ll let it speak for itself – both the writer and the good doctor:
Dear Pam,
Your pronoun “I”s and capital “T”s reminded me of incomplete stars. In that sense, that’s the way you think about yourself. They’re ego symbols that represent your goals spiritually and philosophically. They also show your aggressive, sensitive and analytical side. Your combined cursive and print handwriting reflects talent in painting, sculpting and music; some of the hands-on arts. With your intelligence and imagination, you’d probably do well as a writer. Your heavy strokes to the right also mirror much energy.
Pam, you have a great deal of personal pride that others can mistake as vanity and egotism. You’d probably not do well as a nine-to-fiver. As a bundle of energy, you’d get bored too easily. To borrow from the title of a current television comedy series, it might pay to “Curb [some of] Your Enthusiasm,” but pursue the rest.
From the August 29, 1990 Forest Park Review
10 years ago
One thing about 5 year-olds; they’re game and open to anything. This laundry list appeared in a September, 2000 issue. The day was opening day of school; the question was, “What do you hope you’ll learn at school?” The answers:
How to make pretend trees. – Bobbie Popelka, Garfield
How to exercise. – Jason Cravario, St. John
About race cars and how to cook. – Scotty Grisby, Betsy Ross
I would like to learn about the bears. – Alex Mae Hayworth, St. John
To be nice. – Joshua Harris, Garfield
How to paint stuff and how to build big castles. – Nicol Wash, Betsy Ross
About fire safety and how to read books. – Thomas Evitt, Field Stevenson
From the September 6, 2000 Forest Park Review
Bob was born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1932. His family encouraged him to join the Air Force (ours) during the Korean War. There, he fell into the clutches of Barbara Miles. They still have two world-class daughters, Jill and Cara. “Each of the four of us likes the other three of us,” says Bob.
