North
Riversider
Communication Is The Key To Our Community’s Forward Progress A NEWSLETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS & BUSINESSES WINTER 2021
Tree Lighting & WinterFest!
& DEC 01 SANTA MRS. CLAUS WEDNESDAY
6 TO 8 PM
A FUN NIGHT WITH NEIGHBORS AND
! E D I R H G I E L S A E K TA t the Reindeer!
Visit and pe
S’MORES KITS & HOT CHOCOLATE around the Fire Pit!
Enjoy holiday favorites with Carolers
VERS
G ICE CAR WATCH AMAZIN le for purchase:
Availab low Items G , ts e e w S & s e k a C Lulu’s
There will be no fireworks this year
from the mayor
COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR & YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
2022 DATES: STOP IN, SAY HELLO
As mentioned in the last issue of the Village newsletter, my administration will be a team effort with an “open door” policy. Stop in or send me an email anytime! For those residents who are busy during the week, we will be launching our new quarterly program “Coffee with the Mayor & Your Elected Officials” on Saturdays beginning in January. I really hope that you’ll make time to come by and let’s get to know each other better. Share your thoughts and ideas and rest assured that we will be listening very carefully to your concerns. This is just one more way I hope to bring people together.
10 AM TO NOON ON THESE DATES:
JANUARY 15 APRIL 16 JULY 16 OCTOBER 15
Difficult farewells... but together we forge on
NR
Together, as a grateful community, we mourned the loss of former North Riverside Mayor Richard N. Scheck, who passed away on September 26. Many of us offered our sincere heartfelt condolences to his family in private and we proudly offered a public tribute of our appreciation for his tremendous contributions during his funeral procession through the Village. Rich Scheck made great strides for our small town with a big heart—among the most noteworthy are the Neighborhood Services Program and the Youth Scholarship Program—two traditions that have and will continue to impact the lives of our residents for years to come. Together, also as a grateful community, we applauded Public Works Director Tim Kutt for 34 years of incredible service to the Village, its people—and its trees! Tim devoted himself on a daily basis to every inch of the town’s infrastructure, every water main and sewer, every easement, every crack in the sidewalk and roadway, every residential concern and every catastrophic rainfall and snowfall for more than three decades. This was a different kind of difficult farewell as we wish him all the best in the years to come—he truly deserves a rest from midnight main breaks and blizzard “blitz” plowing. Thankfully, for the past 20 years, Vince Ranieri has worked alongside Tim and, like a sponge, he quickly soaked up all the information Tim could share. Little did he know that this would make him the perfect person to fill the vacancy and move our Public Works Department forward, having learned so much from his predecessor. With Ed Durec’s retirement, we also said farewell to another key player in our Public Works Department. As Foreman and Water Operator, Ed rarely took a sick day in more than 30 years; he never once complained about all-night snowplowing and was our “go to” person when it came to ensuring our water complied with EPA requirements. Thanks, Ed and Tim, for your immeasurable contributions to the quality of life in North Riverside. When a career chapter closed for some, an exciting new chapter opened for others! We are thrilled to welcome Brandon Rodriguez to the North Riverside Fire Department; new officers Ronald Bennett Jr. and Meghan Savaglio are now part of the North Riverside Police Department; and Wil Beresheim and Anthony Michalik have joined Public Works. Learn a little bit more about all of them later in this issue. All of these new hires bring passion and compassion to their positions, which makes them a perfect fit for our community. Together, we must continue to tackle the issue of rodent infestation. We can’t emphasize enough how much your cooperation is needed to get this problem under control. If we are ever going to be successful at curbing the influx of geese, ducks, deer, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, possums and feral cats, everyone must understand that, while you may have good intentions, you are actually making the ducks and geese sick while contributing to the spread of disease—AND it results in costly and unnecessary Village expenses. So, please, I understand that with winter coming you might think leaving food out is a caring thing to do but, trust me, it only makes it more difficult for animals to hunt for food they should be eating on their own. Bringing the community together on pivotal issues such as signing up for our community alert system and enforcing code is paramount, however, getting together for celebrations is just as important. As we returned to some sense of normalcy this year, our Autumnfest was huge—even a little rain couldn’t dampen our spirits! Thank you to everyone who attended, everyone who worked so hard to make it happen and, as always, thanks to our sponsors who put the “special” in our special events. We hope you’ll head to the Commons on December 1st for our Tree Lighting WinterFest event and on December 16 for the Village Christmas Party. Let’s kick off the holiday season and head into a new year together. —Joe Mengoni
SNOW
2021
REMOVAL
The Village of North Riverside offers a subsidized snow removal program for residents who are 65+ years of age or have a permanent disability. Snowfalls in excess of 2” will be shoveled once the snow has ended. Participants are reminded their residence may not be immediately cleared, but all participants will be serviced within 24 hours of a qualifying snowfall. Program Rules: The program includes shoveling only of your front public sidewalk, the private sidewalk leading to your front door, your front steps, and a driveway or garage apron. The program does not include private sidewalks located in a gangway, private sidewalks leading to a separate side or back entrance or any patios located in your backyard or adjacent to a driveway. Participation in this year’s program will not be approved if you have an outstanding balance from last year’s program. Upon arrival, if the village’s contractor sees that your residence has already been shoveled, a door knocker will be left as proof of no service. Participants who do not receive a no service door knocker will be responsible for reporting the lack of service within 24 hours of an eligible snowfall to avoid being charged for services. The Village must validate all claims of no service immediately to waive your responsibility for payment.
APPLICATION FOR SENIORS & DISABLED RESIDENTS
n Senior (65+ Years) n Disabled (proof must be provided) n Front entrance (stairs and private walk), public sidewalk and garage apron: $20 per snowfall n Front entrance (stairs and private walk), public sidewalk and driveway: $35 per snowfall Service Address: NR Address Phone
Billing Address (if different): Name: Address, City, State, Zip Phone
By signing below, I acknowledge I have read the program rules outlined above and I agree to accept the terms and conditions of the program. Signature:
Date:
Return applications ASAP to guarantee this service By Mail: Village of North Riverside, Attn: Snow Removal Program 2401 S. DesPlaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546 Other Options: • Bring completed form to the Administration office • Drop boxes located at Village Commons • Email: administration@northriverside-il.org
4
ReC NOBODY DOES IT BETTER! NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAYERS PRESENT A
MURDER MYSTERY BRUNCH 15 ANNUAL FUNDRAISER The North Riverside Players put the “fun” in fundraiser at their annual Murder Mystery Brunch. Don’t miss this thrilling event set for Sunday, February 20, 2022, at the Village Commons starting at 1 pm. For details and tickets, visit the website at www.nrplayers.com or call Al Meyer at 708-712-6263. TH
Parks & Recreation How to connect with us and register: Phone: 708/442-5515 • Fax: 708/442-7310 Web: www.northriverside-il.org Email: recreation@northriverside-il.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/NRRecreation Instagram: @nrrecreation
North Riverside Players are back in April and May with the production of “Sweeney Todd!” Get more information and tickets online through the website: www.nrplayers.com.
Get Busy!
Get Packing!
Get 2022 Ready!
WINTER/SPRING FUN GUIDE Read it on the Village website and watch for a printed copy to be delivered in December. Programs and special events for kids and adults from dance classes to Tae Kwon Do, sewing, science and sports plus trips, senior haircuts, Pace bus info and informational seminars await!
DAY TRIP: FOUR WINDS Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan, delivers an unparalleled experience of indulgence, exhilaration and endless winning possibilities. Register now for this trip on March 17, 2022. Deadline is February 24. Fee is $44/$46.
REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP STARTING IN FEBRUARY It’s true! Check in with Parks & Rec to make sure the kids get signed up for 2022 Summer Camp!
NEW! CRAFT KITS TO-GO! NRPRD will offer Grab-n-Go craft kits for seasonal arts and crafts fun. Each kit contains a craft with all materials and instructions included. Have some family fun when you have the time. For ages 3 and up. Fee is $8 per kit. Pick up at Village Commons in the Parks & Recreation office. Call 442-5515 to register. STROLLER STRIDES: NEW! Meets twice per week in the gym. Register at oakpark.fit4mom.com or call 310-804-4349 to sign up or get more information.
WARM UP IN PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO Enjoy 6 nights at the Paradise Village Nuevo Vallarta in a Superior Jr. Suite February 19-25, 2022! Your trip includes all meals and drinks at four gourmet restaurants with international cuisine, theme dinners nightly and two beachfront snack bars. Gym, tennis courts, deluxe spa (fee), three pools and whirlpools are at your fingertips. All taxes, hotel transfers and more are all included in this round-trip chartered airfare from O’Hare. Resident fee is $2349 pp double; non-resident fee is $2399 pp double. Stop in for details!
SIGN UP EARLY Looking for Early Childhood programs? Check out preschool classes, Little Ninjas, Baby Ballet and Bitty Hoppers! Register early for Ballet, Ballet/Tap, Hip Hop, Tae Kwon Do, Yoga for Youths and Machine Sewing because these programs fill up fast. Get fit and fulfilled in the new year with Zumba, Cardio Kickboxing, Tap, Hip Hop, Gentle Yoga, Fit Over 50, Watercolor Painting, Oil Painting and Sewing. Don’t miss out on Active Adult Grab & Go Lunches, Theme-O-Bingo. All of these programs require registration which can be done by phone, in person or online via the website.
H
LIDA
Y
SPIRIT IS HERE
CHECK OUT THESE FESTIVE PARKS & REC PROGRAMS
FUN FOR THE FAMILY JINGLE ALL THE WAY TO THE COMMONS! breakfast with
santa
VILLAGE
CHRISTMAS
PARTY ~Residents Only~
Thursday, Dec. 16, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
CAMP holly-day WINTER BREAK
A magical morning for the whole family in the Commons gym. Pre-registration only. $8 per person. Age 2 and under admitted free.
in the Commons gym
HOLIDAY
Drop off your letters to Santa in the North Pole mailbox in the Village Commons hallway
snowed in with
FRIDAY, DEC. 17
FROZEN-THEMED
SUNDAY, DEC. 12
Finish last-minute shopping or enjoy an evening out...just drop off the kids ages 4-12! Fee: $20. Must pre-register.
SHOP & DROP
Dec. 10 6-9 pm
LETTERS TO SANTA NO LATER THAN
SANTA RUN! Dec. 18, 9am-Noon
DETAILS ON THE BACK COVER
Don’t be bored at home. Pack a lunch, drink and wear comfy clothes and gym shoes. Ages 4-12.
Dec. 20-23 and Dec. 27-30
ELSA party with food, craft and hugs from a special guest.
REGISTER NOW Saturday, Jan. 8 11am-Noon
for info or to register, call the recreation department at 442-5515
PUBLIC WORKS
Most people aren’t aware that Ed Durec had planned on a career in law enforcement after graduating from Western Illinois University in 1988. He started working full-time in the Public Works Department that same year but wasn’t planning on staying—but on October 29, Ed retired after 33 years of tremendouslyloyal service to the Village as PW’s Foreman/Water Operator. Instead of opening presents on his first Christmas with PW, Ed was in the trenches closing up a water main break so other residents could enjoy the holiday. A resident since the age of 4, Ed attended Komarek and RBHS. “When I started, Commons Park was a prairie,” Durec reflects. “I watched a tiny town that no one ever heard of evolve into a major force in the suburbs. It has been really gratifying for me to serve the residents—they are who we really work for.” Among the highlights of Ed’s career: blizzards. “I hardly ever missed a day of work in all these years and I would never miss a blizzard. I absolutely loved snowplowing and all-nighters!”
THANK YOU, ED DUREC
“There’s no book or school that teaches you about public works. It’s all hands-on.”
Dedicated to Your Quality of Life TIM KUTT RETIRES AFTER 34 YEARS OF SERVICE
Tim Kutt was working toward a degree in Criminal Justice at Triton College when he was offered a parttime job with Public Works in 1983 while shoveling snow in his mom’s driveway. When a full-time position opened in 1987, he quit school and embarked on a journey that would make his hometown a better place, amassing a wealth of knowledge a hundred professors couldn’t teach. “This is a job that teaches you as you go,” said Kutt, who recently retired as Public Works Director. “Just when you think you’ve seen everything from torrential rain to crippling blizzards to COVID-19, there’s always another twist. At the end of the day, one thing is constant: I treated the job like it was my home, my co-workers were like my family and the budget like it was my own bank account, focused always on maintaining or improving the quality of life for the town’s residents—making everything within my power as good as it could possibly be.” What most residents take for granted, Kutt took to heart every day on the job. “When residents turn on the faucet, they expect the water to be safe. When they flush the toilet, drive their cars, ride their bikes, play at the park, look up at the trees, they expect the sewers, roads, recreation areas and landscape to be as they should be.
Being the one responsible for $100 million in infrastructure and over 4,000 trees is a Herculean task that requires a lot of foresight. You need to always be ahead of the game. You can’t wait until something fails then try to fix it, especially in an older community.” Looking back over three decades, Kutt is especially proud to have played a part in some of the “exceptional” strides the Village has made, including the building of Commons Park, which was once just a barren marsh area. “Other towns have parks and programs and ball fields but I think North Riverside is home to some truly extraordinary services, like our Handyman Program, the way we plow snow and the Veterans Park ball fields which are second to none.” However, it’s the GIS mapping, documenting 100 years of the Village’s infrastructure, that Tim considers to be his greatest effort for the Village. “I spearheaded this project to video every aspect of the town’s trees, sewers, roads and more, compiling a century’s worth of data into a software program to ensure that all that we can see and can’t see is documented and that we would always have this incredible tool at our fingertips. Thanks to technology, it was like leaving behind everything I learned and then some.”
VINCE RANIERI
Your new PW Director: “Because we care”
MEET THE
YOUNGEST
@PW
Anthony Michalik might be the newest and youngest full-time laborer in Public Works but he shows up every day literally ready to “dig in.” “I love using my hands, getting dirty, going down in the hole no matter how dark or cold it is,” said Anthony. “This is exactly where I want to work and where I want to live and eventually raise my family. A resident of the Village since 6th grade, he loves his job and the town. “I don’t plan on ever leaving. Public Works is my extended family and this community is the greatest place to live and work.”
Vince Ranieri swapped making a good living as a brick layer for steadier work closer to home back in 1997. “I took a big pay cut but was also willing to take a big chance on a permanent, stable career,” said the husband and father of four. Now, 24 years later, his commitment to learning everything about the Public Works Department over the past two decades paid off when Mayor Mengoni appointed him as the Village’s new Public Works Director. “You never really know if you’re ready to take on an assignment like this,” Ranieri admits. “I went from the guy who was happy to follow directions to the one giving assignments to our 7-man crew. The only reason I’m ready is because I was fortunate enough to work alongside Tim Kutt all these years. He put 110% in every single day.” North Riverside has one of the smallest Public Works departments in the suburbs but, in Ranieri’s opinion, it is one of the most dedicated, best cross-trained crews anywhere. “I’m only as good as the
people I’m surrounded by and this crew is the very best there is. Everyone in this department has a tremendous passion for their work, they never say “no” to a task and what’s best for the town always comes first. There’s a right way, a wrong way and the North Riverside way—we go the extra mile because we care.” Ranieri adds that he’s very fortunate to have veteran Scott Kopach as his foreman and right-hand man. “Scotty jumps in with both feet to get things done right. Whatever anyone needs, he’s there, no questions asked.” Among his goals, Ranieri looks to enhance the existing beauty of Commons Park and work closely on the future beautification of DesPlaines Avenue.
WIL BERESHEIM, your new Handyman
If you’re wondering who could possibly be North Riverside’s new Handyman, cast your fears aside—it’s Wil Beresheim to the rescue. After more than six years at the Western Springs Public Works Department, Wil jumped at the chance to work in North Riverside. Born and raised in the Village, his parents still live in the house he grew up in and Wil bought and lives in his grandparents’ home. “The response from residents seeking help from the Handyman has been great so far,” said Wil. “I’m up to the task, ready for anything. I learned a lot from my dad, who was a union carpenter. Technology helps out in a pinch—I can always Facetime Vince for advice when I’m on a call.” The Village’s popular Handyman Program averages about 25 calls per month. Wil brings something extra to Public Works. As a trained forester, Wil is also the new steward of the Village’s more than 4,000 trees. Working closely with the Garden Club, Wil will carry on the Village’s commitment to the maintenance and planting of healthy and beautiful parkway trees and helping residents to appreciate their environmental and economic value. “I’m especially proud that my knowledge and experience can help continue the Village’s exceptional tree program.”
POLICE
For North Riverside Police Chief Christian Ehrenberg, it’s not just about filling vacancies in the department—it’s about bolstering an already-impressive roster of law enforcement personnel. The two newest hires at the NRPD are exactly what he had hoped to find. “Meghan Savaglio and Ronald Bennett Jr. are both really incredible additions to our staff. Meghan, a North Riverside resident, has served as a Police Service Aide since 2015. After high school, she attended Lincoln College. A wife and mother, she always wanted to be a police officer and decided “now is the time.” Ronald Bennett Jr. joined the National Guard in 2014, rose to the rank of E4 (Corporal) and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2019-2020. The Chicago resident also had a lifelong dream of becoming a police officer and is proud to bring his experience and enthusiasm to the North Riverside Police Department.
MEGHAN SAVAGLIO RONALD BENNETT JR.
New Hires, Body Cameras, Quicket TOP-NOTCH PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT AT NRPD
Since his promotion on July 26, Chief Christian Ehrenberg has wasted no time—intent on fully staffing the police department with the best personnel, he has also been busy securing and implementing state-ofthe-art equipment and software to assist with the constantly-evolving changes in police work. On the recent hiring of Meghan Savaglio and Ronald Bennett Jr., Chief Ehrenberg is thrilled that both officers possess the exact traits that make them a perfect fit in North Riverside. “Their personalities and dispositions to be good, level, patient and eager to serve and do good despite the demands of the job and the sacrifices that need to be made make them uniquelyqualified and talented in a field that is sorely in need of passionate personnel. North Riverside is a better safer place when we add smart, caring individuals like Meghan and Ronald to our staff.” Pictured above, the Chief unveils the recently-delivered Axon body cameras. Charging stations for the new cameras were installed in October; Axon will train officers during the month of November; and the Chief expects to be “up and running” in early
December. “As I’ve said all along, our officers are looking forward to wearing the cameras. They all agree that the cameras are a necessary tool in our toolbox when it comes to serving the public. We’re ready to document our professionalism,” added the Chief. The new year will usher in a new era for ticket writing and recordkeeping as the department launches “Quicket” and upgrades to the most modern and flexible solution for citations, records management, online payments of fees and fines and other benefits. “Quicket will allow us to be extremely efficient. By eliminating paper tickets, we also eliminate handwriting errors and tediously and manually entering information into our database, which often results in mistakes in numbers and names,” explained the Chief. “Records staff will now be freed up to do other work and traffic stops that were once 15 minutes or more will be five minutes or less. A printer in each squad car gives us total functionality. We’re grateful to the Mayor, Administrator and Village Board for understanding the significance of accuracy and digitally streamlining these timeconsuming procedures.”
The Best
Our residents deserve it
We Will Never Stop Applying. North Riverside Fire Chief Bob McDermott was definitely disappointed when the department was not awarded the SAFER grant (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response through FEMA), which would have played a key role in fully staffing the NRFD, but it won’t stop him from forging ahead with plans to hire the best candidates and finding ways to defray the costs of equipment that is desperately needed to provide the very best service to residents and businesses in the community. “Hiring Brandon Rodriguez not only brings us one step closer to fully staffing our shifts, it brings one more talented, passionate person into our department,” said the Fire Chief. Inspired by his brother, Philip, a Chicago firefighter/paramedic, Brandon Rodriguez pursued his paramedic and firefighter certification immediately after high school. A graduate of the Malcom X paramedic program and the Romeoville Fire Academy, Brandon, 23, has gone out of his way to help people in the community for as long as he can remember. “I love helping and making a difference in somebody’s life,” said the newest member of the NRFD, who worked in Cicero and Elmwood Park before coming to North Riverside. Brandon is happily married to Fiorella, his best friend since the age of 12. A New Ambulance Is On Its Way! Mayor Mengoni, the Board of Trustees, Administrator Scarpiniti and Chief McDermott are all on the same page when it comes to ensuring that North Riverside first responders have everything they need when it comes to answering calls for help in the Village. “The Village’s two ambulances are 13 and 20 years old,” explained the Chief. “The Village mechanic is exceptional but we cannot risk breaking down when someone needs us. The decision to purchase an ambulance
NRFD’s new ambulance is expected to be in service by the end of May 2022
One Step Closer
“Brandon Rodriguez brings us one step closer to fully staffing our shifts.”
was essential. Reliability is everything. A new ambulance will ensure that our department is ready to serve our community at all times. Furthermore, the new ambulance has crucial features such as harnesses, rollover protection and better visibility that will give our firefighters and paramedics added safety. Factoring in the price we negotiated and the stretcher loading system grant we did receive, we saved a significant amount of money. We will never stop applying for grants for the things we need and that will go a long way toward offsetting the cost of the ambulance,” noted Chief McDermott. Join Us for this year’s Santa Claus Run! The Mayor, Village Board and North Riverside Fire Department are excited to welcome Santa to town on Saturday, December 18 as he makes his special trip through the Village on the fire engine to bring holiday cheer to boys and girls as well as our seniors citizens! Be sure to save the Santa Run info on the back cover of this issue so you’ll be on the route!
Scouts’ Little Free Library is a big win for readers Girl Scout Troop 45435 Bronze Award project is “something that can be enjoyed by everyone in North Riverside,” says Mayor Mengoni
For Girl Scouts to earn the Bronze Award (the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can achieve), they need to really think outside the box. When Troop 45435 Girl Scouts Jaina Rubio, Angie Navarro, Isabella Modugno and Elanor Obrock collaborated on an idea for their project with Troop Leader Melissa Obrock, it was a box, literally, that actually helped them not only achieve their goal but to impact the entire community. The Bronze Award is considered to be a “Take Action project,” which asks girls to go further than solving an immediate need—it asks girls to both solve an issue and make a long-term difference. They pitched their idea to create and place a Little Free Library (LFL) box at Veterans Park to Mayor Mengoni. Little Free Libraries are considered to be one of the largest book-sharing movements in the world. Strategically-placed, small, wooden boxes in neighborhoods offer an easy 24/7 book exchange for anyone looking to discover new books and share some of their favorite books as well. Little Free libraries function on
an honor system. The North Riverside Scouts asked the Mayor for permission to build a LFL at Veterans Park because it’s a busy location—an ideal place for kids and adults to access books while waiting for practices and games, particularly if they can’t make it to the North Riverside Public Library. The Mayor enthusiastically approved and the girls began raising money through book drives, bake sales and fundraisers in July to purchase, build, decorate and register their project. With support from the Public Works Department, the LFL site at Veterans Park was prepared for the installation of the box, which can hold approximately 40 books at one time. “The Village was so open to the idea,” said Troop Leader Melissa Obrock. “The support we received from the Mayor and Public Works made it possible for the girls to achieve their Bronze Award. They worked so hard on their vision. They built it, they each picked quotes that we had engraved to personalize the sides of the box and they selected the first load of books which appeal to readers of all
ages. I am so very proud of the time and effort they put into this project.” At the official unveiling on October 8, Trustee Terri Sarro spoke on behalf of the Village Board. “Congratulations on a job well done and thank you. Your act of kindness goes a long way toward your goal of promoting reading and literacy in the community.” Pictured above, Mayor Mengoni contributed books of his own to be included in the LFL. “I am so impressed and inspired by these young girls who, through perseverance and hard work, accomplished something that can be enjoyed by everyone in North Riverside.”
Pictured below, left to right-front: Girl Scouts Jaina Rubio, Angie Navarro, Isabella Modugno and Elanor Obrock; back row, left to right: Trustee Marybelle Mandel, Trustee Debbie Czajka, Village Administrator Sue Scarpiniti, Troop Leader Melissa Obrock, Mayor Joe Mengoni, Trustee Jason Bianco, Trustee Terri Sarro and Public Works Director Vince Ranieri at Veterans Park.
| honoring a true friend |
Karl Bollnow
B
North Riverside applauds his induction into the Caddie Hall of Fame
Recently inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame, Karl Bollnow, Riverside Golf Club’s head golf professional, was honored during a ceremony at the Club in September where he was presented with this trophy from the Western Golf Association. Photo courtesy of Caddie Hall of Fame
ack in 1971, Karl Bollnow was just a teenager looking for a job as a caddie. Hired by Riverside Golf Club, one of the nation’s oldest and most historic clubs, Karl learned the game so quickly and loved the game so passionately, he earned honor caddie status in less than two years and a spot on his high school golf team all four years. After only five years of caddying, Karl was hired in the golf shop in 1976; was named caddy manager in 1977; and went on to become RGC’s assistant golf professional the following year. Since 1996, he has been the head golf professional, overseeing the caddie program, (which includes 80-100 caddies) and using his experience to help others, both caddies and golfers alike, to achieve success—in the game and in life. In recognition of his tireless advocacy for RGC, caddies and the game of golf over the past 50 years, Karl was recently inducted into the Western Golf Association’s elite Caddie Hall of Fame, joining the likes of golf legends Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Charles “Chick” Evans and others. Mayor Mengoni (pictured below) was proud to attend the ceremony honoring Karl at RGC and present him with a plaque on behalf of the Village of North Riverside. Crediting the caddie program for inspiring him to pick up his first golf club, Karl strives to maintain RGC’s status as one of the country’s great caddie programs, dedicating himself to helping an impressive number of caddies earn full tuition and housing at universities nationwide through the Evans Scholarships, which can be a life-changing opportunity for caddies with limited financial means.
“Always there for us and our kids”
MAYOR MENGONI RECOGNIZES BOLLNOW AT A VILLAGE BOARD MEETING WITH PROCLAMATION
At the Village Board meeting on September 7, Mayor Mengoni read a proclamation that he would later present to Riverside Golf Club (RGC) head golf pro Karl Bollnow at his official induction into the Caddie Hall of Fame on September 17. “One of the most important things any of us can do is mentor, inspire and support young people,” said Mayor Mengoni. “And one of the most important traditions for the Village of North Riverside is our annual Youth Scholarship Golf Outing—we are especially grateful to Karl for working alongside all of us who strive to help our students achieve their academic goals. Karl is our “go to” at RGC who has greatly contributed to our Youth Scholarship success story for decades, welcoming golfers and students to one of the most prestigious clubs in the country. Congratulations, Karl!”
Photo courtesy of photographer John Straus
PUBLISHED BY THE
PRSRT STD
Village of North Riverside
US Postage PAID North Riverside Permit No. 41
2401 S. DesPlaines Avenue North Riverside, IL 60546-1596
447-4211 • www.northriverside-il.org
POSTMASTER DELIVER TO:
Residential Customer North Riverside, IL 60546
MAYOR
Joe Mengoni
VILLAGE CLERK Kathy Ranieri
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jason Bianco Debbie Czajka Fernando Flores H. Bob Demopoulos Marybelle Mandel Terri Sarro ADMINISTRATOR Sue Scarpiniti
© 2021 in particular, inc.
u o y e v a h d o o g n bee ar? this ye
SANTA
RUN 2021 DEC
18
traveling through town on the fire engine!
Santa Claus will be traveling through North Riverside on the fire engine on Saturday, December 18, bringing holiday cheer to all good boys and girls— as well as the seniors at Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care. Below is the route. Santa’s fire truck will be stopping at the following locations. The reindeer are resting up for Christmas Eve! 9:05 am 23rd and Park 9:20 am 23rd and Hainsworth 9:35 am Traube and Hainsworth 9:50 am 25th and Burr Oak 10:05 am 25th and Forest 10:20 am 30th and Lincoln 10:35 am 24th and 4th 10:50 am 24th and 7th 11:05 am Komarek School 11:20 am 23rd and 15th
The Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care facility, 2800 DesPlaines Avenue, will be Santa’s last stop. The trip is sponsored by the North Riverside Fire Department in cooperation with the North Riverside Village Board of Trustees. “We’re excited to continue the tradition of having a Santa Run because it’s fun for people of all ages,” said Mayor Joe Mengoni, “but we’re encouraging parents and all residents to use discretion during this event—wear masks and social distance whenever possible. Thank you!”
~ we are a small community with a big heart ~