'Cheers' star impressed with Elgin company

Where's Norm? Don't ask.

This was, in essence the warning that came from Rico Young, production coordinator for "John Ratzenberger's Made in America."

As you know, Ratzenberger and his crew were in Elgin recently to feature the Elgin Sweeper Co.'s Pelican machine on an upcoming episode.

To be exact, Young told us media types assembled at the Elgin Sweeper Co. not to ask Ratzenberger about "Cheers," the very thing he's most famous for.

Young explained to us that the "Cheers" thing has been overdone and that Ratzenberger wants to focus on his new projects.

Reporters and photographers were given the warning before we sat with Ratzenberger individually outside.

I can certainly understand the sentiment, and though I hadn't planned on asking Ratzenberger anything about his role as Cliff Clavin on "Cheers," part of me doesn't like being told how to do my job.

When I first saw Ratzenberger, I almost slipped and told him that I grew up watching "Cheers," loved his role on it and had even been to the Boston bar used for the show's exterior shots.

Instead, I caught myself and said I'd heard he'd been on "Dancing With the Stars."

He asked if I'd seen it and I had to admit that I had not. I could feel the blood rushing to my face and I think he could tell I was embarrassed.

Oh well.

During the 10-minute interview, I learned that he's very passionate about American businesses, the workers and the products they make.

He said he'd heard about Elgin Sweeper Co. through his friend, Chad Arthur, president of Arthur Machinery Inc. in Elk Grove Village.

Ratzenberger had been looking to feature a business in the Chicago area and said Elgin Sweeper Co. was the only one he considered.

Throughout the course of his day at the company, Ratzenberger said he learned that the employees are very proud of their work. He also said the factory was very clean and that the workers are treated very well.

Of the company's 350 workers, 120 live in Elgin, officials said.

Calling them the backbone of Elgin and America, Ratzenbeger said the town would suffer if Elgin Sweeper Co. relocated elsewhere, because the workers are connected to the community and help support the local economy.

In reference to repeated recalls of more than 20 million Mattel toys that came from China, Ratzenberger said that when we buy something that was made in China, we're supporting pollution because the Chinese don't have the same manufacturing standards that we do in the U.S.

"A lot of people don't realize that China is the biggest polluter in the world," he said.

On a lighter note, Ratzenberger said the food he ate on set from a Bartlett restaurant was quite tasty.

Pasta Mia was the name of the eatery, and company officials told me staffers chowed down on mostaccioli, sausage and peppers and that a pair of employees baked pound cake and cherry's jubilee for dessert.

No more food for you!

Speaking of food, I'm seriously thinking about never bringing any with me to a South Elgin village board meeting.

That's because every time I do, staffers heckle me -- it's all in good fun, though.

There was the time I brought flaming hot Cheetos to a meeting and Finance Director Art Skibley jokingly asked if that was my dinner (it was).

Then, about a month ago, I brought a submarine sandwich and lots of staffers, including the village attorney and village president, asked me to break off a piece for them and said I should have bought enough for the entire room.

Last Monday, though, staffers had a field day with the French bread I brought to munch on.

Police Chief Chris Merritt said he was really hungry for some French bread, and parks and recreation Director Jim Reuter asked if he could get me some water with my bread, with other staffers offering to pour me the water from their pitchers.

• Lenore Adkins covers South Elgin, Elgin neighborhoods, Pingree Grove and Central Unit School District 301. Reach her at (847) 608-2725 or by sending an e-mail to ladkins@dailyherald.com