Dear Santa:
I suppose you are surprised to get a letter from me, but there are some things we need to discuss before you and your staff get swamped with tons of messages asking for gifts as a reward for being good.
We live in Park Forest, one of some 50 communities comprising the south suburbs of Chicago. We just got though celebrating its 75th anniversary with a concert or two, and no monthly water bill for those 12 lucky residents whose names were drawn.
We watched the July 4 parade and were awed by the landing of a Huey helicopter at our Veterans Day celebration. During the summer we chatted with friends at the Wednesday evening concerts on the Village Green, and on most Saturday mornings we browsed the booths at the open air market on Main Street.
We had a nice crop of tomatoes from our behind-the-garage garden, and both the lawn mower and the snowblower worked when called upon. The worst thing that happened to me was when I tripped on a curb at the homecoming game at Missouri. It took me four hours before I could escape from the emergency room with a bandage under my eye as my medal for being a klutz.
Most Thursday mornings we work at the free food pop-up at the First Baptist Church. We try to donate a few dollars to organizations we deem worthy, and I don’t think we purposely hurt anyone.
What I’m saying, Santa, is that we tried to follow the rules, and that’s why we could use some help from you. We’ve got a little wish list on which we need help from you or perhaps from your friends.
We could use a grocery store in town. I know that might be difficult, but let’s give it a try. At one time Park Forest had four. These days, other suburbs get our money through their taxes. I’ve got a couple of locations in mind including a site on Sauk Trail that was once a grocery store, then became a home improvement store before it morphed into a video rental operation.
Today it just seems to gather dust.
We used to have a fine high school in town. Then we didn’t and then there was talk of turning it into an area vocational center. We now hear this might happen, or that it could happen or perhaps will soon be close to happening. It sounds like lots of movement on a treadmill.
Our only bank facility is closed but it is supposed to re-open by the first of the year, or as soon as it can hire some people. Are any of your helpers available?
If you’ve got an extra $300,000 to $500,000 laying around, Santa, please think of writing a big check to the village so that major repairs to the 70-year old Aqua Center can be made. Recreation and Parks Director Kevin Adams noted that until “we have a clearer picture” of the extent of repairs, the facility may be forced to close next year.
The Park Forest Historical Society is housed in two rooms at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Monee Road. We are told the facility is one of the 19 churches in the Joliet Diocese in danger of closing. If so, Santa, could you find a permanent home to house the story of a community that twice was named an All-America City?
Finally, if you knock on our door (we don’t have a chimney) and when I open it, you tell me you would grant me one wish. I would say “Peace in the Middle East” and hand you a map.
You might say “Impossible. Can’t be done. Try again.”
“Then how about a large deduction in our property taxes,” I would reply.
“Let me see that map again,” might be your answer.
Nonetheless, I wish you an easy holiday. (Easy is better than “good.”)
Your friend, Jerry
Jerry Shnay, at jerryshnay@gmail.com, is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.
