Arlington Hts. honors Hearts of Gold
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You’ll never convince Kate Costello and her volunteers in the theater department at St. Viator High School or Linda McDonald of the McDonald Dance Academy that performance arts are frivolous.
They all believe that young people learn discipline, respect for each other, social skills and teamwork through theater and dance.
McDonald, Costello and two volunteers at St. Viator, Tony Calzaretta and Mary Woods, were among the Arlington Heights Hearts of Gold honorees Saturday night.
Costello said that double casting each role is the secret of her philosophy as producer and director.
“It includes so many more kids, not just the best actors and singers and dancers but others who want to be part of a show and share that experience,” she said.
Students, parents and alumni obviously agree because a total of 31 nominated the trio, and Costello traveled back and forth between the dinner and the closing night of the school’s “The Sound of Music.”
“It’s made a difference in my life,” said Woods, who has designed and sewn costumes for 11 years. “It’s wonderful seeing these kids interacting and taking care of each other.”
While some of the students at McDonald’s academy become professional dancers, others use skills learned dancing in other careers such as physical therapy and special education, she said.
“One woman I danced with works for an accounting firm, and she told me she always picks dancers because they are good at working in groups, are disciplined as individuals, don’t give up until they get it right and see a problem and figure out how to solve it.”
Other Hearts of Gold winners are Raymond and Dorothy Shields, whose neighborly kindness includes using hteir snowblower on sidewalks and driveways near their home, and Ed Hardy, who taught fitness at the Arlington Heights Senior Center.
Mary Reddin cares for children whose biological parents need time to overcome drug addiction, find a home or get a job.
Kevin Schreiber, a student at St. Viator, organized electrocardiogram testing to help prevent sudden cardiac death among the school’s students.
Craig Carlson organizes the Stampede race that is part of Frontier Days Festival. Greg Padovani leads work on Memorial Park to honor people who served in the U.S. military. Russell Talbot also helps service members, veterans and their families as a founding board member of SALUTE, Inc. He was also honored for his work with Boy Scouts.
The law firm of Drost, Kivlahan, McMahon & O’Connor contributes volunteers and donations to community organizations, and Jack Musich has created 30 paintings showing the history of Arlington Heights.
