"Reach out," the old jingled implored. "Reach out and touch someone." That was the 1980s, and the metaphor of physical touch helped humanize the still-nascent technology of long-distance phone calls.

The Clarendon Hills Park District took to the streets Monday to brighten the day for some seniors in the community. And longtime resident Bev Briggs couldn’t have been happier to open her door to find ...