Northwest suburban 2009 newsmakers
The Northwest suburbs had their share of newsmakers in 2009, like every other year. Here are several of the people we talked about during the past 12 months.
Hanover Park Mayor Rodney Craig:
He isn't the most popular figure in Hanover Park, but he became one of the most visible in 2009, when residents turned to Hanover Park Village President Rod Craig for answers when a sudden surge of violence struck the village.
Four murders occurred within two weeks in late May and early June, and the seemingly isolated slayings were preceded by several gang-related stabbings and shootings.
Craig spoke openly to reporters and to the nervous public in front of packed school gyms to start off gang awareness forums led by police. He tapped former Police Chief Ron Moser to take over as village manager, led an effort to secure stimulus money to hire more police officers, and called on area leaders to take part in a public safety committee he formed. In November, village officials approved a new $19 million police station, to replace the department's current cramped quarters.
The village of Hanover Park has been quieter for the last six months. And that's welcome news to its leader.
Buffalo Grove Trustee Lisa Stone:
Whether you love her politics or revile them, you can't deny the impact Lisa Stone has made on Buffalo Grove.
Since being elected trustee in April, she has transformed village board nights from rarely attended routine business meetings into reality-TV events that have attracted standing-room-only crowds.
Stone's unique approach to Robert's Rules of Order has chafed well-established board members, who react to her sudden interruptions, questions to the village attorney and last-minute additions to ordinances with eye-rolling and puzzled grimaces.
She has taxed Village President Elliott Hartstein's ability to maintain control, forcing him to resort to his gavel and complain that Stone is running "amok."
A self-described political activist, Stone has doggedly crusaded against heroin use in the area. She made an unsuccessful stand against off-track betting; has raised the specter of Open Meetings Act violations by other trustees who discuss things in e-mail (still under review); and has been the target of charges that she improperly reported campaign finances (the state didn't uphold the complaint).
She has made veiled suggestions that other board members are acting dishonestly, but when pressed for details demurs or says that isn't what she meant.
The board has debated, but didn't pass, a recall ordinance - strongly suggested of being aimed at Stone.
Possibly the oddest incident was the police report Stone filed, and amended, after a former trustee bumped into her at Buffalo Grove Days. He said it was accidental but Stone thought otherwise, and later told the Daily Herald she fears in general for her family's safety.
In another arena, controversy still brews over Stone's attempt to out an anonymous poster to the Daily Herald comment board, who she felt had threatened her son.
The first year of Stone's tenure is only about three-quarters over. The remainder of her term promises to be extremely newsworthy.
Shelly Engelhardt:
What Shelly Engelhardt experienced, no one should ever have to endure.
On the morning of April 18, she lost her 57-year-old husband, Alan, 18-year-old daughter Laura and 73-year-old mother-in-law, Marlene Gacek.
Engelhardt was also attacked and stabbed. She was outfitted with an intubation tube at the hospital and days later doctors finally released her from the hospital.
Engelhardt returned to live in her Hoffman Estates home, the scene of the murders. She's spoken openly with media and neighbors, amazing people with her positive outlook and cherishing the memories of her slain family.
"I want their light and energy to shine through me," she said shortly after the tragedy.
She's passed on her teachings to her son, Jeff, who rushed home from classes at Southern Illinois University as soon as he heard the news. The two have gracefully thanked the community for donations and support at public events.
Meanwhile, D'Andre Howard, who police have charged with the attacks, remains jailed. Engelhardt has chosen not to comment on Howard, who was dating her oldest daughter, Amanda, with whom he had an 8-month-old baby girl at the time.
"I have to celebrate what my family stood for, not how they died," Shelly Engelhardt said.
Marissa Suchyta:
Marissa Suchyta of South Barrington won a $40,000 scholarship after placing third at the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation's premier high school science competition. Suchyta, a senior at the University of Chicago Laboratory High School, conducted a biology research project in which she studied the protein geminin and its role in developing new treatments for cancer.
She hopes to become a neurosurgeon and also get a doctorate in molecular oncology. "That way I can run my own research lab and practice as a neurosurgeon, too," she said. Her own genes are pretty solid: her dad, Dr. Roger Suchyta, is the associate executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics based in Elk Grove Village.
Joe Devlin:
Joe Devlin stepped down in May after serving on the Roselle village board for 32 years. He also served as village president from 1973 to 1981, bringing his total years of service to 40. He spearheaded the drive to bring Lake Michigan water to Roselle in 1992; in 2005 he was honored with the 2005 Brian K. Healy Service Award from the Roselle Chamber of Commerce, which rewards outstanding community service.
Laurie Kay:
When Benny, an 8-year old boxer, went limp Sept. 11 and his heart stopped beating, two employees at Biscuits & Bows in Palatine went into action. Laurie Kay, a pet massage therapist, did mouth-to-nose resuscitation and 15 chest compressions over and over again, and when she needed a break, groomer Donna Stepanek stepped in. They kept at it for five minutes - and revived Benny.
"He looks great. You'd never know what he's been through," said Kay, who trained in pet first aid with Pam Booras, an animal trainer and behaviorist in Ottawa who uses a program developed by the American Red Cross. Performing CPR on a Boxer is difficult, Stepanek added. "I had to grab all his jowls and cup my hands completely around his mouth and nose in order for the air to go in."
Lottie Rhoades:
Lottie Rhoades had done a lot of things in her 106 years, but her father's early death meant getting a high school diploma was never one of them. After a farming accident took her father's life the day before Lottie's 8th grade graduation, the young Kansas girl went to work to help support her family.
On Aug. 25, however, the folks at District 211 and others decided a life well lived deserved a diploma. At a ceremony at Friendship Village in Schaumburg, where she has lived for 15 years, friends, family and dignitaries crowded the room to hear her graciously accept 106th birthday wishes from Mayor Al Larson and Friendship Village CEO Robert Alston, who read a list of her accomplishments.
She took her District 211 diploma gratefully but with a wry sense of humor. "I think it's wonderful," she said, "but I don't feel any more educated."
Fifth-graders at Dryden Elementary:
They could win Sundance some day, but first they have to get out of grade school.
A group of fifth-graders at Dryden Elementary in Arlington Heights impressed the film world last spring when they took first place in two separate categories at the 8th Annual International Shortie Awards Festival in Washington, D.C. "Let's Be Green When It's Time to Clean" won the Live Action category for 7- to 10- year-olds, while their other film, "Complementary in Every Way," took the Teacher Created category.
The films won from a pool of nearly 400 submissions by 3,000 student and teacher filmmakers from 23 states and 13 countries.
As a result, teacher Tricia Fuglestad got a personal invitation from the Chicago International Student Film Festival to submit both movies. "It took a while to film, and we missed a lot of recess," said Amy Kruse of Arlington Heights, "but it was worth it."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=346988">Northwest suburban 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=346982">DuPage County 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=346390">Lake County 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=346384">Fox Valley 2009 newsmakers <span class="date">[12/28/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>