Women who made an impact on Lisle

Each year, March is designated as National Women's History Month. It's an opportunity to recognize the contributions women make.

Among the many Lisle residents who deserve recognition, here's a look at three whose accomplishments will have long-term impacts on the community.

Barbara Adamec

A retired Lisle village assistant manager, Barbara Adamec's lasting contributions can be measured in saved dollars and quality design.

With a degree in business and economics, Adamec spearheaded an eclectic series of projects in her 20-year career in village government. The Lisle High School graduate began in the building and zoning department during its biggest building boom.

"I got to sit in on all the meetings with the developers of the huge office complexes along the corporate corridor," Adamec said. "I found it quite fascinating and learned a lot."

When the village took over Lisle Cemetery, Adamec oversaw its renovation and knew stone pillars and iron gates would bring a stately dignity to the site.

Adamec was the go-to person who made televising the village board meetings on cable television a reality. With the Lisle Environmental Awareness Program, or LEAP solid waste program, Adamec listened to residents.

"The State of Illinois put a mandate on all municipalities to reduce our waste by 25 percent with a quick deadline," Adamec said. "I decided we needed to have a program with a financial incentive for people to recycle."

Adamec designed the paid stickers system.

"I sat down with a tag from my luggage and came up with the concept and design of stickers on bags of trash," Adamec said.

Overnight waste was substantially reduced.

The pilot program for multifamily units, businesses and hotels generated inquiries from across the country and won a prestigious State of Illinois award for commercial recycling.

Saving residents money on bags of trash was small change compared to the millions she saved taxpayers when she served as general contractor for the police department facility and the village hall.

"The police facility budget was $9.2 million and the final cost came in $1,107,393 dollars under budget and on time," Adamec said. "The new village hall budget was $10,102,100 dollars and the final cost saved us $1,637,467 under budget."

Adamec's tenacity and expertise made it happen.

Her artistic talents merged with her business instincts for the Main Street Garden Walk and the new Lisle welcoming signs that she designed. She oversaw setting up Lisle's first Web site, a commemorative book on Lisle's history, and construction of the I-Net fiber optic network system.

As Adamec now pursues her interest in watercolors and gardening, she wants residents to know, "There are many dedicated people who work for the village -- people who protect their home, welfare and safety."

Marilyn Cawiezel

"When I first came to Lisle in 1956 there weren't many street signs," said Marilyn Cawiezel. "My husband would give directions by saying, 'Well, you pass a red barn and then turn where there is such-and-such a house.' You can't say that now because all those things aren't there anymore."

Armed with a degree in journalism, Cawiezel recorded many of those changes and in the process preserved local history. Through her unending efforts to take photographs, write down details and research historical facts, future generations will know Lisle's history.

When she was invited to write for the Lisle Eagle, and later for the Lisle Advertiser, she often included stories on local history. Cawiezel had a direct line to the past because her husband's mother was part of the Reidy family, who settled in the area in 1843.

As a founding member of the Lisle Heritage Society in 1975, Cawiezel continues to be one of the organization's most enthusiastic volunteers. She served as its newsletter editor 10 years, as president four years and an ardent guild member since its inception.

"Getting the Lisle Heritage Society started and enabling people to share their memories of the past," Cawiezel says is an accomplishment she's proud of.

Hailing from Omaha, Neb., Cawiezel encourages new residents to volunteer because "it is a good way to make wonderful friends." She was active in local Girl Scouting, served on the St. Joan of Arc school board, was president of the SJA Council of Catholic Women, president of the Lisle Woman's Club and president of the Lisle Library board for seven of the 16 years she served.

"You don't do volunteering alone," she said. "Volunteering needs cooperation and various help from others. It not only helps specific causes, but provides a sense of accomplishment."

When Cawiezel is not visiting family, friends and botanical gardens, she's volunteering for a Lisle organization and pursuing her hobby of photography.

"I like the small-town community feeling we still have here in Lisle; where you know your neighbors and people help each other out," she said. "It's amazing all we have to offer."

Judy Yuill

Righting an injustice, becoming informed and getting involved identified Judy Yuill's 20 years as a Lisle village trustee.

"The school district was canceling bus service to the area I lived in and I thought it was wrong," Yuill said. "So we organized a march with our little children in strollers and walked along busy Ogden Avenue where these children would have to walk to Tate Woods School every day."

Yuill's efforts were her introduction to local government. When she was elected in 1981 as a village trustee, the former high school teacher spent her Fridays at village hall going through all the bills.

"I looked at (bills) to figure out how the government worked," she said. "Then I had public works, the police department and each department give me a tour. I saw it all and learned."

Yuill developed her straightforward approach growing up on a large farm. She felt that if she was going to be a trustee, she was going to do it right.

She credits former village manager Carl Doerr and former mayor Ron Ghilardi with establishing the village's live-within-your-means budget.

"The board was instrumental in shaping the corporate corridor in Lisle to its full potential," she said.

Yuill fought to have the Netzley-Yender house moved to its present location at the Museums of Lisle Station Park. She was pivotal in saving Lisle Cemetery from disarray and was sure bringing Lake Michigan water to Lisle was in its best interest.

Yuill sees unraveling the Lockformer trichloroethylene spill as her most important contribution.

"I kept feeling in the pit of my stomach, something was not right," Yuill said. "I was in real estate and when I saw (Lockformer) allow all the fill when Ogden Avenue was rebuilt to be dumped on their property, I knew it would ruin their property. Who would do that?"

Seeing on-site monitoring wells, confirmed for her that something was askew.

"I asked for an independent investigation," she said. "I had no idea of the extent of it, I just knew it wasn't right."

Discovering the industrial solvent in residential well water had a huge impact on the lives of many residents.

Knowing that one person can make a difference, Yuill encourages others to get involved.

"Pick out something that interests you," Yuill said. "Go to the library board, park district, school district or village meetings and begin to learn what happens there and how things work before it becomes a not-in-my-backyard issue."