Famous radio host was once the voice of Rolling Meadows

Writing a column about Rolling Meadows isn't difficult. There's so much going on all the time and so many outstanding people to mention.

But I have to admit it was a little daunting to take over as columnist last spring following the retirement of Reggie Gorski, who filled this space week after week for 22 years.

There's even more to feel humbled about. Before Reggie's tenure, I recently discovered, a resident named Kathy O'Malley signed up to write the column for the Daily Herald. That's the same Kathy of WGN Radio's popular "Kathy and Judy Show," which airs weekdays at 9 a.m.

"Yes, I lived in R.M. from 1970 to 1986," she wrote in a recent e-mail from her Chicago studio.

Early in her working life, O'Malley was a secretary at Rolling Meadows High School, then an office manager in Des Plaines. But she always loved writing and was thrilled to use the Daily Herald assignment as an outlet for that -- at $25 a column.

Her family's first Rolling Meadows residence was a rental at 3306 Central Road; they later bought the house at 2206 George St. and added on to it. O'Malley eventually moved to Chicago.

Her memories of Rolling Meadows are fond, and she said, "I think it was a good place for my kids to grow up."

"What I remember about the yards was that we lived next door to Dale and Betty Bycroft, and the two yards were like one huge yard -- neither of us put up a fence and we both took care of the lawns. So it was a great place for kids to run and play."

Even back then, she said she was a bit of a troublemaker. She wrote, "I can remember that I once was infuriated when a store called Topps was going out of business, and I noticed that before they had their 50 percent off sale, they just raised the prices on everything by that much."

She wrote about it in her column and was later told that the column "should really be more ... neighborly."

"No surprise that I eventually wound up as a gossip columnist, and as one of those darned liberal radio talk show hosts!" she added.

Celebrate summer: As a last fling before school starts, Cardinal Drive Church of Christ is opening up its Community Days event to the public. It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and runs through Sunday afternoon at the church, 2300 Cardinal Drive. Among the events are a giveaway "garage sale," kids fun fest, vacation Bible school, visit by "Dr. Kaos" and cookout.

Call (847) 259-2995 for details.