The Times from Munster, Indiana • 6

PAGE IE The Times. Thursday. December 29. 1988 ILL. A-3 St.

JaciMe enters race Region digest By LARRY GALICA Times Correspondent SAUK VILLAGE William E. St. Jacques, 62. who ran unsuccessfully for mayor four years ago, has decided to give it another try in 1989. St.

Jacques became the second announced candidate in the mayoral race Wednesday after picking up his petition at the village clerk's office. Earlier this month. Village Trustee Mark Collins was the first to announce his candidacy for the post now held by Mayor Edward Paesel. Trustee Richard Derosier is expected to announce his candidacy in January. Library Board Carl Dentai wipes a tear following his 'irWfc'l Family reunited with St.

Jacques said he does not support a village manager form of government. St. Jacques said, if elected, he would not fire the village manager, he would just not reappoint him. The village board is in the process of hiring a village manager, who is supposed to be on duty by Feb. 1.

Sauk Village has a village manager by ordinance, which means the board can decide not to fill the post, he said. St Jacques does not want a village manager because. "I see Big Brother. The village board members are not picking the new village manager. The village manager will be picked by the South Times photo by John J.

Wotkins its 'angel' Dentai lives in Cheboygan, and Laramie lives in Whitehall, Mich. "I remember the day you were to leave," Dentai said to Pelletier. "You left a big Army bag full of things we were unable to buy ourselves. It was a miracle to find someone like you in such a place." "Brigitta was such a beautiful child. I knew you were having a hard time," Pelletier said.

Pelletier has always loved children. He is the father of five and has nine grandchildren. The families spent the rest of the day reminiscing about the time spent together and catching up on the changes that have occurred over 43 years. The reunion tentatively is scheduled to air on "Unsolved Mysteries" at 7 p.m. Jan.

11 onWMAQ-Channel5. The reunion was arranged by the show's staff, who wouldn't let the two famines talk before the meeting. "I saw a program where someone was trying to find someone else and they showed the picture of the man," Dentai said. "I thought if anyone could find Philippe they could." a full life Times phoio by John Smierciok Tesconi "listening to music and playing games. That's what all our residents enjoy." Ercolini's granddaughter, Judy Tesconi Lucas, who had traveled from Schaumburg.

III. for the party, looked on as her grandmother dressed up in a new hair style and attractive dress laughed and talked with other residents. Lucas' father, a healthy 70-year-old. stood nearby. Maybe heredity has something to do with a long life, someone commented.

"I sure hope so," Lucas said. "Just look how well they are doing." be 5 member Earnest "Bud" Rauner also is considering a bid for office. St. Jacques said he would be a full-time mayor even though he would be paid only a part-time salary. He said he supports the idea of having the part-time village clerk also serve as part-time village collector, thereby creating a full-time position.

If this is done, there would always be a full-time administrator at the village hall, St. Jacques said. Right now, the village clerk's position is held by Marjorie Tuley and the collector's position by another person, the mayoral hopofiil nid. reunion with Philippe Pelletier Pelletier's wife Lucille and several of his family members. Dentai's wife died in 1959.

"You're so excited you've got stars in your eyes," Lucille said to her husband. "It's hard to remember what Carl was like back then," Pelletier said. "I've seen a tape of the show and would never had know it was him if I were to pass him on the street." "After seeing Philippe a lot of things came back to me," Laramie said. "We've talked about you so many times," Dentai said. "You brought us so many good times in that small, little place." Pelletier left his photo and address with Dentai's family when he was ordered to return home to Lewiston, Maine, after the war.

But Dentai lost the address after moving through many countries and surviving a three-week arrest by the Belgian police. After making their way to the United States after the war, the Dentai family began searching for Pelletier. "I've tried to locate you for a long time," Dentai said. "It's hard to believe vou are so close." Bernici Ercolini visits with her son Joseph her home and the care of her children, he said, which was exactly the kind of life she wanted. Other than an occasional return trip to visit relatives who remained in Italy.

Tesconi said, his mother traveled little. "She didn't have to," he said. "She loved the life she had at home and didn't seem to need anything more." In many ways, said Countryside Plaza's Activity Director Rose Fryzel. Ercolini is typical of senior residents at the center. "She enjoys socializing," she said.

i i -i' 1 1 1 i -niMUi t'r i i I Suburban Mayors and Managers Association." St. Jacques said he has another reason for not wanting a village manager. "The elected village officials should answer to the people who elect, them," St. Jacques said. St Jacques also said, if elected, he would abolish the village's utility tax.

He said he has heard the village needs the revenue but can't understand why the village fired its park, recreation and youth services director William Harris, and yet has money to hire a village manager. Candidate criticizes cable deal Related story: Page B-7 By LARRY GALICA Times Correspondent CALUMET CITY Fourth Ward aldermanic hopeful John Reyes added a new twist Wednesday to the charge the Ginger Ridge apartment complex is operating an illegal cable television system. On Tuesday, a similar charge was leveled by 3rd Ward Alderman Irene Donahue. Reyes claimed public safety is being jeopardized because the complex's management operates a cable television system using a channel designated off limits by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration. Reyes claims the Ginger Ridge cable system illegally uses Channel 14 for a home shoppers network program.

The channel is reserved by the FCC and FAA to direct airline traffic through the area's skies, Reyes claims. The use of Channel 14 for television cable broadcasting "endangers the lives of possibly hundreds of people in a vast air navigational corridor of the southern suburbs," he said. "What would happen, I ask, if the wrong signal transmitted to a delivery source, such as Ginger Ridge, locks onto a 747 using the same corridor to land at O'Hare? Another devastating accident with the same results as Lockerbie. 'What would happen, I ask, if the wrong signal transmitted to a delivery source, such as Ginger Ridge, locks onto a 747 using the same corridor to land at O'Hare? Another devastating accident with the same results as Lockerbie, John Reyes Scotland," Reyes said at a news conference held at Nicky's Gyros. The fatal pre-Christmas crash of a Pan Am Boeing 747 has been linked to a terrorist's bomb, not communication interference from a cable television system.

however, according to published reports. The city is losing a 5 percent tax on the complex's cable system profits because the system is not licensed by the city, Reyes said. The system is illegal also because it is not licensed by the FCC, he said. Reyes further charged that incumbent 4th Ward Alderman Joseph Petrucci, without permission of the city council, granted easement rights so the system's cables could be located across city streets. Reyes said the city council, by its inaction, has created "Gingergate" or "Cablegate." Reyes said he will ask Mayor Robert C.

Stefaniak today to have the city council force the system into compliance or stop it from operating. If the council refuses to act Reyes is threatening to sue. Stefaniak could not be reached for comment Reyes told The Times he has a meeting scheduled with the mayor today. Petrucci said his opponent "doesn't know what he is talking about" He said use of Channel 14 will not interfere with air communications. Petrucci said he has a letter saying Ginger Ridge has applied for FCC licensing.

He said easement rights so cables can be strung across a few city streets "is long overdue" from the council. Before the city can assess a 5 percent tax against the Ginger Ridge system, the council must find out if it is legal to do so, he said. Reynold Banks of NCI Management which manages Ginger Ridge, said Ginger Ridge's cable system does not use any channel that will interfere with airline communication. Banks also said the complex's system has never been out of compliance with the FCC, and it would be glad to pay the city tax if the council passed an ordinance requiring payment. He said cable television rates to apartment dwellers would probably not increased if the city should assess the percent tax.

The Region Digest includes top news stories from communities in The Times' other circulation areas. North Lake TOWING LAWS EYED: New ordinances setting higher towing fees and stiffer penalties for parking in tow-away zones are set for adoption when the Whiting City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 3. The council on Tuesday approved the second of three readings on each measure.

One ordinance would raise fees for cars towed for parking violations from $32.50 to $45. COLUMBUS REPAIRS HOPED: New hope shines for long-awaited repairs to Columbus Drive when a Democrat steps into the governor's office in January, an East Chicago city councilman said Monday. With no ordinances or resolutions on its agenda, the City Council set its sights on a new year and renewed hope for some fiscal attention in this Democratic stronghold when Gov. Robert Orr passes the torch to his successful Democratic challenger, B. Evan Bayh.

First on Councilman Frank Kollintzas' wish list is funding to repair a section of Columbus Drive that runs through his 4th District. THEFT FIGURE PROMOTED: John Luellen will be sworn in next week as an inspector captain in the East Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau, a little more than a year after he was sentenced for his part in a car theft scam, An 18-year veteran of the department, Luellen was the top scorer on the fire civil service exam given earlier this month for the inspector captain's position. On Aug. 19, 1987, Luellen was convicted in U.S. District Court in Hammond of conspiracy, transporting a stolen car across state lines and receiving stolen property after he arranged the theft of a Cadillac similar to his own and had it retagg-ed with his car's identification numbers.

South Lake WATER CHARGE CANCELLED: The Douglas Johnson family received a Christmas present Tuesday from the Crown Point Board of Public Works. They appealed to the board for help last month when a $325.33 bill was assessed against them. That was for repairs to the city water meter, which broke when the Johnsons attempted to repair leaks in water lines leading to their home. But board member James Wirtz, a plumber, had concerns about the break because many of the meters in the older section of the city were said to be in poor condition. He wanted the board to make a policy statement about who was responsible, since he also didn't want the plumber billed for breakage.

In addition, Wirtz wasn't sure it was fair to hold the homeowner responsible for poor equipment. BOARD DELAYS MEETING: The Crown Point Board of Public Works meeting could've been nicknamed the two-minute wonder. That's exactly how long it took members to unanimously postpone the December meeting until Jan. 1 7. The meeting originally had been scheduled to open bids from contractors on the proposed Emergency Services building.

That project would be located across from city hall on East Street and would house the fire, police and emergency medical services. PORTER JUDGE NAMED: Norman Buls has been selected the successor to Bryce Billings as Porter County Superior Court County Division Judge. Buls was named from an original field of seven contenders that was eventually narrowed to two. Billings is retiring Saturday as county judge after serving 13 years on the bench. By JILL GRIPPANDO Times Staff Writer HAMMOND The doorbell rang and Philippe Pelletier 's eyes lit up as he went to answer.

Brigitta Laramie appeared first, asking, "Philippe, is that you?" The 63-year-old Pelletier nodded, hugged her and said, "The last time I saw you I was picking you up and holding you." Pelletier then turned to hug her father Carl Dentai. "My God, after 43 years, who would believe it?" Pelletier said. It was a reunion that came about only after being broadcast on NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries." During the last days of World War II, the Dentais, a Hungarian family, lived in a box car. It was then that they found Philippe Pelletier, the man they called their guardian angel The Dentais would never forget the U.S. Army private who brought them food, clothes and laughter.

Dentai and daughter Brigitta finally met their Private Pelletier at Pelletier's Hammond home, 15 Webb St, along with At 101, she still lives --r. will By SHEILA ELLIOTT Times Correspondent DOLTON Christmas carols harmonized with "Happy Birthday" Wednesday at the Countryside Plaza Nursing Center as resident Bernici Ercolini celebrated her 101st birthday. About 60 friends, relatives and fellow residents at the center, 1635 E. 154th attended the party sponsored by the center's Activity Department. "She's always lived a full, rich life." Dominick Tesconi, her son, said as he watched his mother at the birthday celebration.

"She always ate well," he said, "and she stayed active, working around the house until she was in her 90s." If there was a secret to longevity and how to pass that century mark, he suggested, it probably was somewhere in those two qualities. Bernici was born in 1887 in a small town near Florence, Italy. Raised and educated in a European school system, she immigrated to the United States when she was 30 years old. her son said. The family Bernici, her husband and a son, Joseph, and daughter Mary, moved to Chicago's South Side, settling first near 77th Street and Blackstone Avenue.

Later, the family, now including Dominick, the youngest child, moved to the city's East Side neighborhood. Ercolini has two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. "Her life was her family," Tesconi said. His mother had few interests outside.