Pond project floats thanks to volunteer donations
A few helping hands and some in-kind donations have helped create a soothing amenity for clients and staff members at the Renz Addiction Counseling Center in Elgin.
The not-for-profit center and Frontier Ponds of Union, Ill., teamed up enhance the on-campus Serenity Garden with a new custom-designed water feature.
The project includes an ecologically balanced stream, a 12-foot wide land bridge, waterfall, a berm, assortment of koi and benches for individual and group therapy sessions.
Aspen Valley Landscape Supply of Elgin, a distributor for Frontier, provided the pond supplies and rock. Reinders, Inc. of Wisconsin also donated labor on the last day.
"Frontier Ponds has allowed us to further create a sanctuary that clients can use for peaceful reflection," said Renz director Jerry Skogmo.
Tim Camp of Frontier Ponds also donated extra time to help the center with the project.
Renz Center chose Frontier because they use bio-diesel fuel and energy-efficient LED lighting in the pond.
The Serenity Garden was created last year when the center paved a one-eighth mile walking path.
The center provides outpatient services, such as counseling, for about 1,100 people a year at its facility at 2 American Way, and another 4,000 in prevention services held across the area.
The garden's enhancement would have normally cost $18,000, but after the donations it was much less. Overall, it has been paid for through pledges from staff members in honor of Patricia Baker, a program director who died from cancer last September.
The center provides prevention, intervention and treatment of addictive behaviors and disorders. It also includes treatment for problem and compulsive gambling. For details, call (847) 742-3545 or visit www.renzcenter.com.
Not so fast
In early February, South Elgin village leaders gave the tentative OK to rename the 26-acre East Avenue Thomas J. Rolando Woods.
Rolando spent more than four decades in local government, including 28 as village president.
"I enjoyed what I did for the village all those years. We accomplished some pretty good things," a humble Rolando said when contacted by phone at the time.
A dedication ceremony was to be slated for sometime this spring, but Rolando called Village President Jim Hansen and said he didn't want the park renamed.
Trustees scrapped the idea. And there's no plan to rename the park after anyone.
"(Rolando) really was uncomfortable with the extra attention," said Village Administrator Larry Jones. "He's a pretty low-key guy. The decision was really Tom's."
Movin' on up
A South Elgin resident recently was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to serve on the Illinois Task Force on Higher Education and the Economy.
Ronald Kimberling, president of the Argosy University's Chicago campus, will participate in a series of public meetings and eventually make recommendations to the Illinois Board of Higher Education new master plan for higher education.
"Illinois has not updated its master plan for higher education since 1977," said Kimberling, adding he was excited to be part of a process to bring public policies up to date for this century.