Gifford Park Association honors pair of members
On Friday, during its annual potluck dinner held at the Lords Park Pavilion, the Gifford Park Association awarded a pair of members for all of their work, devotion and dedication to the organization.
The group, which oversees the Elgin Historic District, recognized Fran Cella with a special award for her deep involvement with spearheading, collecting data for and playing a key role in creating the neighborhood's master plan, which the Elgin City Council recently adopted.
The association also credits Cella's work on the document for helping it secure the Richard Driehaus Award from the preservation foundation by the same name, as well as the National Trust's organizational excellence award.
"Fran's taking on the herculean task of writing up a detailed application for the National Trust award won us the Super Bowl of preservation awards," said 30-year member and past President Dan Miller, "To me, it is a combination of the Super Bowl and the World Series."
GPA also honored new member Jeff Jacobson with the Chuck and Audrey Beherens Award, which recognizes an individual for "long-standing and exemplary" contributions to the association.
During his two years with the association, Jacobson has resurrected and remade the Gifford Park Gazette, a newsletter detailing neighborhood news and happenings, he initiated the porch parties held in the neighborhood that help residents meet each other and he also arranged the neighborhood's wassailing saunter Christmas party.
Moreover, Jacobsen brought back the historic district committee and took on the personal project of getting Christmas garlands up and taking them down from the neighborhood's lampposts.
In short, Jacobson has taken the association "by storm," Miller said.
"Jeff is the kind of guy that gets people to rally around him," Miller said. "He brought in a lot of volunteers for the garlands, which made the job far more palatable."
Congratulations to both!
New wheels: Over the weekend, firefighters from the Pingree Grove Fire Protection District were proud to show off their new purchase.
The district secured a brand-new fire engine nearly three months ago that they just put into service this weekend, with all the accompanying equipment.
There was minimal action this weekend, said Chief Mitch Crocetti, adding that fire fighters used the new truck for routine calls.
The district paid for the $450,000 vehicle with money that came from a successful referendum that's meant to finance station and vehicular improvements and upgrades - this fiscal year, the fire district received an extra $1 million from the ballot measure.
This fire truck carries a 2,000 gallon water tanker and the vehicle replaces a 1972 fire engine and a 1958 water tanker.
"So it actually reduced our insurance costs and road miles," Crocetti said.
The district now has four fire engines - three for the front lines and one on reserve.
Next, the district expects a new ambulance to arrive this summer, bringing the total up to three; it is expected to cost $150,000, Crocetti said.
In case you were curious about what happened to the 1972 fire truck and 1958 water tanker, I'll tell you.
The fire truck has found a new home with a fire department in South America - the district sold it for $1,200, Crocetti said.
And for $3,100, they sold the water tanker to petroleum hauling company that's either in Barrington or Palatine, Crocetti said. Workers there will convert the vehicle into one that delivers fuel, Crocetti said.
I'm surprised the 51-year-old tanker hasn't found an exhausted spot in vehicle heaven.
• Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, McHenry County College and Elgin bond call. She can be reached at (847) 608-2725 or via e-mail at ladkins@dailyherald.com