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Fort Frankfort/Operation Playground won the Governor's Home Town Award for the General Category at the 19th Annual Governor's Home Town Awards Banquet in Springfield on June 21. Fort Frankfort and Frankfort Park District officials accepted the award from Governor George H. Ryan on behalf of hundreds of volunteers who raised funds totaling over $100,000, constructed the 20,000-square-foot playground in five days last October, and the children who designed and named the playground. This volunteer-based community project began in February of 1999 with fund-raisers held over the next six months. The fort and playground were officially dedicated on June 10, 2000, along with the official opening of the Frankfort Park District's new Commissioners Park.

At their annual conference held in July, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) and the National Association of Counties (NACO) awarded several Lake County Forest Preserve projects with top honors. The associations' annual awards program recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the field of conservation, education, parks and recreation. Winning NACPRO's Outstanding Facility Award was the forest preserves' ThunderHawk Golf Club, which features 243 acres of rolling terrain, woodlands, pristine wetlands and beautifully restored native prairie.

The forest preserves' public information and marketing staff were recently honored with two Communications Concepts Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX), an annual award program sponsored by Communications Concepts, which recognizes work produced by professional communicators nationwide. In the category of One-of-a-Kind Publications, Susan Hawkins, public information and marketing manager, received an APEX award for the forest preserve's Gold Medal Celebration Commemorative Program. In the category of Logos and Stationery, Kim Drummond, marketing coordinator, received an APEX award for ThunderHawk Golf Club.

Tina Valentine, a resident of Melrose Park and a graduate of Rosary College (Dominican University), recently received many awards-including awards for writing and editing of the Veterans Park District newsletter—in the annual Mate E. Palmer Awards program of the Illinois Women's Press Association. The competition recognizes excellence in communications and covers a wide range of categories including print media, books, photography, advertising and public relations. Valentine was also named as a finalist in the Peter Lisagor Awards sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists.

"We're especially proud of Tina's work," said Veterans Park District board president Steven M. Morella. "She is able to expertly convey all of the great strides we are making for people of Veterans Park District and these awards exemplify the fact that our board works hard to get the message out to the people we serve in the most interesting, effective way possible."

Flickinger Named President-elect of ISAE

Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) executive director Ted Flickinger, Ph.D., CPRP, has been named president-elect of the Illinois Society of Association Executives, a 500-member organization for leaders in association management in Illinois. He takes office in January of 2001. Flickinger has 39 years of experience in the park and recreation profession. He serves as past president of the National Recreation and Park Association and has held the position of executive director of IAPD for the past 20 years. In this capacity, he works with more than 350 agencies that employ 42,000 individual members who fall under the direction of 2,100 locally elected park and forest preserve board members.

Comerio Named to American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration

John Comerio, CPRE development director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and manager of Friends of Illinois Parks, was named to the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, a prestigious nonprofit corporation that operates for charitable, educational and scientific purposes. The Academy strives to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks, to encourage scholarly efforts and conduct research related to the advancement of park and recreation administration. Comerio joined IAPD in June of 1999 after a 30-year career in state government, starting with the Department of Conservation in 1970 in the Bureau of Planning and Development. He served as deputy director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for 8 years, from 1991 to 1999.

Comerio earned a bachelor's degree in Recreation and a master's degree in Park Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Among his professional appointments, he currently serves on the Great Lakes Commission, the IAPD Research Advisory Council and the University of Illinois Leisure Studies Alumni Advisory Board. He received his certification as a fund-raising management from the Fund Raising School at Indiana University, Center of Philanthropy.

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- In Memoriam - John Husar

John Husar, Chicago Tribune outdoor columnist, died at age 63 in mid-July from complications related to Hepatitus C. Though known as an outdoors writer for the past two decades, as a sportswriter Husar covered everything from football and baseball to curling and women's rugby in his 16 years of writing for the Tribune.

According to an article memorializing him in the newspaper; "(Husar) knew in depth the creatures and flor of Illinois' streams, lakes and forests and was among just a few newspapermen to write with authority on the outdoors and the environment, antiquing and gardening."

He was on a first-name basis with many professionals in the park and recreation field in Illinois.

Husar, who was born in Chicago in 1937, attended St. Rita High School and played football at the University of Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Louise, two daughters, three grandchildren and four brothers.

Dr. Jim Brademas, associate professor in the Department of Leisure Studies will retire in December after 26 years on the faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Brademas received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Park and Recreation Administration at the University of Illinois from 1954 to 1955 and his Ph.D. in Leisure Studies in 1976. He was a Fulbright teacher in Athens, Greece, in 1955 and 1956, after which he was appointed the first superintendent of recreation for the Rockford Park District, where he served until 1960. He spent the following years as a consultant in urban renewal and city planning working for more than 150 cities in the United States. He returned to the University of Illinois in 1974 to teach and take charge of the department's internship program. He also served as project director for the Illinois Rural Recreation Development Project, a program designed to introduce recreation activities in small towns of under 5,000 population. The project is in its sixth year and currently funded by a $200,000 grant from the state of Illinois. Brademas and his wife, Than, will be moving to SaddleBrooke, a retirement community in Tucson, Az.

Gary Balling was hired as executive director of the Park District of Oak Park Balling, who officially began his new position on March 31, previously served as C.E.O. of the Monon Grove Park District since 1987. He began his career with the Naperville Park District in 1976, and from there served as program director at the Northbrook Park District and superintendent of recreation at both Morton Grove and St. Charles park districts, respectively. Balling has won several awards including the Outstanding Recreational Professional Award in 1988 and the Professional Recognition Award in 1999. He has also published six articles in Illinois Parks & Recreation magazine and has presented on several topics at state conferences. In addition, he served on the Park District Risk Management Association Board of Directors, Loss Control Technical Advisory Committee, Illinois Park Employee Heath Network Board of Directors, the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association Board of Directors, as director of the Recreation Programming Section, and as chairman of the Finance Committee.

John Hedges retired as executive director of the Park District of Oak Park effective December 31,1999. He remained as the board-appointed interim director through March 30,2000. Hedges, who opted for early retirement after 20 years at the helm of the Park District of Oak Park and more than 30 years as a parks and recreational professional, has numerous professional affiliations and recognitions. As a longtime resident of Oak Park, he has also been extensively involved in various community organizations. In recognition of his dedication and service, the park board declared by resolution to name the district's main administration office the John L. Hedges Administration Center.

Christy Adams has been promoted to the position of superintendent of recreation for me Calumet Memorial Park District. Adams earned a bachelor's degree from DePaul University and a master's degree in education from Loyola University. She previously worked as a recreation leader with Calumet Memorial from 1991 to 1995, and returned as a recreation supervisor in 1999.

Susan Tabern, CPRP, has joined the Carol Stream Park District as the manager of community recreation and new ventures. Previously, she worked as a recreation supervisor at the Lisle Park District. She will be responsible for managing special events, senior programming, teens, environmental education, museum programs and volunteer services.

Jennifer Campbell joined the Village of Villa Park's Park and Recreation Department as program supervisor. Her responsibilities include day camps,

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community events and expanding and enhancing older adult programs. Campbell previously worked for the Carol Stream Park District, Keeneyville School District 20, and she still works for the Daily Herald newspaper.

Mindi Krejczyk joined the Des Plaines Park District as the recreation supervisor overseeing youth and teen programs and summer day camps. Krejczyk, who did an internship with the park district in 1996, was formerly with the Rolling Meadows Park District. Krejczyk earned her bachelor's degree in parks and Recreation Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Linda Traino, CPRP, was promoted to supervisor at the Prairie Lakes Community Center for the Des Plaines Park District. Traina, who has been with the district for 13 years, oversaw the youth and teen programs and summer day camps prior to her appointment. Her new duties include managing the district's fitness and community center as well as supervising Junior High Drop-In Nights. Under her direction the Junior High Drop-In Night program has grown from 75 participants to more than 300 at each event. Traina holds a bachelor's degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sandra L. Fernstrom, a commissioner for the Arlington Heights Park District for 19 years, has accepted the position of marketing communications manager for DCSI, a division of ESCO, in St. Louis, Mo. She'll be responsible for external marketing programs for Automatic Utility Meter Data Management System. A 35-year resident of Arlington Heights, Fernstrom's community involvement began with the PTA, the Festival Committee, and other political activities. She was a founding member of the Arlington Lakes Golf Club's Advisory committee in 1978, and served as chairman of the committee in 1980. She was first elected to the Arlington Heights Park District board in 1981 and ran five successful campaigns. Fernstrom was active on the state and national levels as a member of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) serving as its president from 1987 to 1989 and chairing several committees. She also served on the board of directors of the National Recreation and Park Association. Her lobbying efforts to get Open Space Land Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) funding made the purchase of Olympic Park possible. She has been president, vice-president and legislative liaison for the park board. She's been instrumental in the development of intergovernmental agreements and she actively pursued the acquisition of the old North School for use as the district's Administration Center. She championed the development of the land south of the Administration Center into North School Park. She helped guide the park district to two National Gold Medal Awards in 1983 and 1992 and the IAPD/IPRA Distinguished Leisure Service Agency Certification in 1993 and 1998.

Jean Morgan Bacon has joined the Des Plaines Park District as the public relations supervisor. Prior to coming to the district, Bacon was the manager of public relations and marketing for the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation in Morton Grove. She will be responsible for all marketing and graphic design production at the Des Plaines Park District. Bacon received a bachelor's degree in Design and Marketing from the University of Massachusetts at Darmouth and master's degree in Liberal Studies from Loyola University, Chicago.

Debbie Smith was promoted by the Fox Valley Park District as a full-time recreation supervisor. She joined the park district in 1987 as a pre-school teacher. In January of 1990, Smith became the pre-school coordinator for the Creative Play Pre-school Program at Prisco Community Center. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. Smith will be responsible for coordinating after-school programs for elementary school-aged children. Many of the programs will take place at the area public grade schools, eliminating the need for parents to provide transportation in order to allow their child to participate in the programs.

Beth Waller was promoted to cultural arts supervisor for the Fox Valley Park District, responsible for creating cultural arts partnerships with other community organizations, help promote local artists and performers, supervise and annual Summer Stage musical production, and set up new programming in the areas of art, drama, dance, and music. Waller began working for the park district in 1990 as a dance instructor. Two years later she became the coordinator for the dance program and re-designed the class format and curriculum. Under her direction, the dance program has expanded to 1,500 dancers each week participating in classes. Waller is also responsible for creating the Steppin' Out Dance Company at the park district. This group of experienced dancers has won more than 45 awards for dance competitions.

A.J. Collier II joins Mt. Prospect Park District as fitness coordinator. He oversees a full staff of personal trainers, year-round aerobic classes, and numerous special programs at Mt. Prospect's multimillion dollar recreation complex, RecPlex. Collier graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Fitness Leadership and Cardiac Rehabilitation and a minor in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training. His previous work experience includes the Schaumburg Park District where he worked as an assistant manager of a full service fitness center and racquet club and Northwest Community Hospital, where he served as a cardiopulmonary health and rehabilitation exercise specialist.

Kent Newton was hired as the superintendent of finance and personnel for the Park District of Oak Park. Newton is a graduate ofPurdue Univer-

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sity where he earned a bachelor of science degree in Accounting. He is on the board of the Park District Risk Management Association and is a member of Government Finance Officers Association, Illinois Government Finance Officers Association, and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Newton will be responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and supervising the finance, accounting, computer technology, risk management activities, and personnel functions. Previously, Newton was the superintendent of finance for the Morton Grove Park District.

Jason Stanisklaw was named manager of the Arlington Heights Park District's Forest View Racquet & Fitness Club, bringing more than 10 years of intense tennis experience to the position. As a player, Stanislaw was a member of the Michigan State University's varsity tennis team and competed in the French Tennis Federation tournaments. At Heritage Tennis Club, he was a supervisor and tennis pro for three years before moving to Texas as a territory manager for Prince Sports Group. With 100 accounts to handle, he learned a variety of tennis business marketing and managing techniques. The day-to-day business of tennis became his specialty as Pro Shop Manager at Royal Oaks Country Club. He also developed new programs in corporate wellness for the Nortel Networks corporate club.

Nancy Alfonso joins the Forest View Racquet & Fitness Club as head tennis professional. She formerly held a similar position at The Racquet Club in Crystal Lake. Alfonso is the Illinois District president of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and was named USPTA Illinois State Pro of 1999. A graduate of Loyola University, she is a certified a "professional-1" with the USPTA and is the district head verifier for USTA.

Craig Culp, CRPR, was selected as the head coach for the U.S. Boccia team at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, which takes place in October. Culp is the superintendent of recreation for the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation and is responsible for planning special recreation programming for more than 3,500 participants who reside in the communities of Niles, Morton Grove, Park Ridge, Golf Maine, Skokie, Des Plaines and the Village of Lincolnwood. Culp holds a bachelor of science degree in Recreation Administration with an emphasis in Commercial Recreation.

Stella LiPomi, office manager of the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation recently celebrated her 25th anniversary at the agency. More than 75 friends, family, present and former employees gathered at Banquets at Tarn, Niles Park District, to surprise here for this special occasion. Sue Bear, executive director of M-NASR said: "If not for Stella, many children and adults with disabilities might never have had the benefits of our premier special recreation association. Although M-NASR has been through many changes over the years, Stella has been the glue that has kept it all together."

Terry Schwartz, Ph.D., accepted a posiion as assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Recreation, Park and Tourism Department. The iepartment is part of the College of Health md Human Performance and it is housed with other departments such as Communiration and Sciences Disorders; Dance, Exerise and Sport Science; and Public Health Education. Formerly, Schwartz was assistant professor in the Department of Health, Recreation and Tourism at Western Illinois University

Derek Harms was hired as the recreation supervisor at the Wood Dale Park District. Harms responsibilities include overseeing a brand new fitness center, athletic leagues, adult/youth programming and various special events. Harms received his B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University. He completed his internship at the Bloomingdale Park District.

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The board of commissioners of the Streamwood Park District, in cooperaion with The Cooperation for Openlands (Corlands), purchased Sunny Hill Horse Farm from owners James and Sandra Demmitt. This farm consists of approximately 11.8 acres of gently rolling terrain and is bounded by Irving Park Road on the South, Poplar Creek on the North, Jacobs Farm Subdivision on the East and privately owned property on the West. The Streamwood Park District will utilize the land as a community park. Corlands mission is to preserve land in northeastern Illinois. It serves as an affiliate of Openlands Project in collaboration with private landowners, government and citizen groups to acquire land and increase open space in Northeastern Illinois. The district will pay $ 1,000,000 for the track over he period of the contract and hopes to offset half of that cost through the grants and other state initiatives.

More than $3.3 million in grants have been awarded to five organizations seeking to restore and enhance wetlands and associated habitats of the lower Des Plaines River valley in Will and south Cook counties. The grants were made by CorLands, the land-preservation affiliate of Openlands Project, in conjunction with the Chicago District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The funding source is a $7 million settlement fund, paid by quarry operator Material Service Corp. for allegedly destroying rare wetland habitats near Romeoville. These are the first grants since the settlement, which is the largest ever negotiated for a wetlands violation. The grant recipients are the Forest Preserve District of Will County, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, the USDA Forest Service Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Northeastern Illinois University. The projects will initially involve nearly a thousand acres. Many of the projects include work on dolomite prairie, a globally endangered ecosystem found only in the Chicago area. Fewer than 100 acres of dolomite prairie remain in the world.

"These grants represent a way to turn the impacts of a wetlands violaon into environmental improvements for the region," said Nancy Kaszak, executive director of CorLands (Corporation for Open Lands).

Mike McCoy, Kane County Board chairman, presented a check to Jack E. Cook, Forest Preserve District of Kane County president, for wetland acquisition. Kane County passed a resolution that will reimburse the rest preserve for the acquisition of wedands as part of the forest preserve's land acquisition program. The county will contribute $ 10,000 an acre, up to $3,000,000 for acquisition of wetlands by the forest preserve, explained McCoy. The $2,140,000 check was the county's first payment this contribution and is from the county's storm water management money

"Storm water management is a priority for the county and land acquisition is a priority for the forest preserve. This is a win-win situation for both the county and the forest preserve district" said McCoy and Cook.

Friends of Illinois Parks Is a "Friend" of the Taylorville Park District Participants in the Taylorville Park District after-school program pose for a group shot at an area waterpark. "It is amazing to me to think back over the 12-week course of this program and realize the changes in these kids," says Julie Hardway-Nickles, director of recreation for the Taylorville Park District. "I know the program made a difference in their lives." The program Hardway-Nickles is talking about is SEALS (Students Exploring Active Life Skills), an innovative after-school program for at-risk youth ages 12 to 17. The program was made possible by a matching grant from the Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company, the Taylorville business community and Friends of Illinois Parks. About Friends of Illinois Parks. People from all walks of life are making a difference in parks and recreation. These "friends" make monetary contributions, give their time to clean-up parks and forest preserves, teach classes or coach sports teams. Friends of Illinois Parks is a nonprofit organization that strives to involve more citizens statewide as friends in these ways and others, such as legislative advocacy. To learn more about Friends of Illinois Parks, call toll-free 1-877-523-4558 or see www.ILparks.org.

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On July 14,2000, at the Bensenville Park District's White Pines Golf Course, legislators and park officials and professionals played a fun round of golf and enjoyed dinner afterwards at the Joint Legislative Committee's annual Legislative Awareness Day Golf Outing. Here are some scenes from this popular event, courtesy of photographer Eddie Woods of the IPARKS risk management program. •

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A BIG thanks to all park and recreation agencies across the state who participated in the IPRA/IAPD Awareness Days activities and the IPRA ticket program events at the Chicago Bulls, Wolves, White Sox, and Cubs as well as the Kane County Cougars and the Cook County Cheetahs.

Not only are these events held to offer discounted tickets to our members, they also to raise awareness about the parks and recreation field. At the events the score boards flashed welcome messages to IPRA and IAPD as the announcer talks about parks, recreation and conservation day at the stadium. In many instances, individual agencies attending the event are recognized on the screen.

Jennifer Nolan Miller sang the national anthem at the Chicago White Sox Game on Wednesday, July 26, while Tim Kosiba, a Niles Park District day camper, was chosen to throw out the first pitch. Also at this game, IPRA president Liza McElroy and IPRA executive director Bill Wald touted the benefits of parks and recreation in an interview on ESPN Radio. Banner parades were held before the White Sox games with groups representing park and recreation agencies throughout Illinois waving their homemade banners and signs to show their team spirit. Before the start of the Kane County Cougars and Cook County Cheetahs games, day campers from a number of recreation agencies participated in an autograph session with ball players.

Joint Public Awareness Committee members worked at concourse tables provided at several of these events and passed out thousands of Recreation Savings Guides featuring discount

coupons for approximately 50 Illinois park and recreation facilities. Other Awareness Days giveaways included mousepads in the shape of basketballs for the Bulls game, foam hockey sticks and pucks for the Wolves, and squishy baseballs for the minor league games. All items identified "Illinois Parks and Recreation" with logos and slogans.

Highlights of the summer were the T-ball games that took place at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park before the start of each baseball game. Kids and coaches enjoyed this opportunity to actually play ball on a major league baseball field as proud and excited parents and friends looked on. More than 30 teams participated in these games, many returning for their third, fourth or fifth year.

Hats off to the Joint Public Awareness Committee (with the assistance of the IPRA staff who oversaw the discount ticket program), who organized these successful events. In addition to raising awareness for the importance of parks and recreation in Illinois, these fun and memorable outings provided opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the many benefits of parks and recreation. •

Photos: (top left) Autograph seekers at the Kane County Cougars game; (top right) Jennifer Nolan Miller sings the National Anthem at the White Sox game, recognizing Illinois Park, Recreation and Conservation Day; (middle left) IPRA executive director Bill Wald, IPRA president Liza McElroy and IPRA president-elect Mike Clark enjoy the festivities at Comiskey Park; (middle right) the banner parade is a highlight of Park, Recreation and Conservation Day at Comiskey Park; fourteen teams participated in T-ball games held before the White Sox game on Wednesday, July 26.

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