By Grace Kuikman
Originally published as ‘The Post,” “The Beverly Review” has been covering community news since 1905. At a time newspapers are failing, Beverly/Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood are especially fortunate to have a local weekly that is committed to high quality, accurate news coverage and to the community it serves.
In 1984, when TR Communications Inc. owners Toby and Robert Olszewski bought The Beverly Review, the paper was struggling. Their daughter, Susan Olszewski became Business Manager and helped to put out the new publishers’ first edition on Oct. 24, 1984. Her brother Bob Olszewski came on staff the following spring, serving as General Manager and Editor in Chief. With an eye toward improving the quality of news coverage and expanding circulation, Bob and Susan set about publishing the best neighborhood newspaper available. And they do a great job!
Although their parents had lived on the South Side and were familiar with the Beverly/Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood area. Susan and Bob were new to the community when they signed on to run a newspaper that for decades defined the area with its citizen-written columns and “small town” style news. Bob recalled that a mentor had advised him to stick covering “hatches, matches and dispatches” – births, marriages and obituaries. From the beginning, they recognized the important role a community newspaper plays in providing local news that readers can’t find anywhere else – that included adding the Police Blotter, a decision that created a lot of controversy in a tight-knit neighborhood that didn’t want to think about “bad news.”
“We were sensitive to the controversy while still reporting news accurately and fairly,” Bob said. “We don’t sensationalize [crime news]. Now the blotter is a mainstay resource that helps people to be informed and stay safe.”
Every week, The Beverly Review proves that even in this digital age of instant information, people still want to read their community newspaper. Working with many talented editors, The Beverly Review strives to report local news objectively, accurately and completely. In addition to hard news stories, they offer analysis and editorials, and include a robust Letters to the Editor column. Responding to the changing communications industry, the online version of The Beverly Review is updated all the time, and breaking stories are posted on Facebook and other social media, often with videos.
Every week, The Beverly Review brings us good news and positive features, as well as news from local schools and sports teams, local businesses and neighbors. Several times a year, The Beverly Review publishes special issues, including Good News editions that showcase local businesses and organizations, and the South Side Irish Parade Edition – The Beverly Review has been the official publication of the South Side Irish Parade for more than 20 years.
For many years, the paper operated out of offices at 99th and Wood Streets, and in 1997, moved The Beverly Review to its current location, 10546 S. Western. The staff includes Kyle Garmes, Editor; Tim O’Brien, Sports Editor; as well as advertising and production staffs. As a neighborhood business, The Beverly Review also gives back to the community, supporting local businesses, school and charities, as well as hiring and spending locally.
Send your neighborhood news to beverlyreview@earthlink.net or call 773-238-3366. Get a subscription – or give one as a gift! – for just $26 a year.
