40 years after founding, Prospect Heights talks then and now
Prospect Heights' elected officials, employees and residents spent Saturday reminiscing about the city's 40-year history and talking about what's still to come.
The theme of Mayor Nick Helmer's annual mayor's breakfast - "The Then and Now Story of the Forty Years of Our City" - included a look back from some of the town's Founding Fathers, who recalled days of dirt roads, pheasant hunting and plenty of open land before incorporation in 1976 and the subsequent housing boom.
The first city council meeting was held at the home of Dick Wolf, the city's first mayor.
"We had no money and no experience, but we were fast learners and young at heart," Wolf told a crowd of some 100 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Northbrook. "We've developed our identity and are proudly looking forward to keeping it strong for the future."
On that note, Helmer touted economic development initiatives underway or about to begin, including Tony's Finer Foods, which is expected to open by mid-May in place of the shuttered Ultra Foods at 1241 N. Rand Road. Helmer awarded the company the city's new business award, one of about a dozen awards given out Saturday to businesses, city employees and residents.
Another grocery store, Ruffolo Fresh Market, opened in February at 610 N. Milwaukee Ave. in place of the Save-A-Lot store that closed in mid-2014.
"That's another area we desperately needed a grocery store," Helmer said.
Projects underway include renovation of the shuttered Fairbridge Hotel into a new Ramada near Chicago Executive Airport; construction of a 100-unit, $30 million assisted living and memory care facility near Elmhurst and Palatine roads; a new self-storage facility on Rand Road; and a new Chase Bank.
There's still some 35,000 square feet of retail space to be filled throughout town, and land ripe for development at Sanders and Palatine roads, Thomas Street and Rand Road, and on Piper Lane, Helmer said.
Among other award winners, Franciszek Mik and Kenneth Skenandore were honored as Citizens of the Year for detaining a man later charged with a home invasion at their apartment complex. Police Chief Al Steffen said the suspect barged into his former girlfriend's apartment and began assaulting her, but her neighbors intervened and restrained the man until police arrived.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Fire Chief Donald Gould Jr., who has spent 49 years as a firefighter.
Former Alderman John Styler was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for his support of the Scholarship Assistance Fund, the former Dollars for Scholars.