Thursday, April 19, 2012
Huntley firefighters, joined by firefighters from around the area, paid their respects to Capt. John "Winky" Winkelman.
A family friend asked Huntley Fire Chief James Saletta how many lives Capt. John “Winky” Winkelman saved. Saletta told her that firefighters don’t keep track. The girl asked if Winkelman was a hero. He recalled the time he was at a baseball game and Winkelman saw a man who had fallen to the ground. Winkelman jumped into action, giving the man CPR until an ambulance arrived. The man lived. “Yes, John was a hero,” Saletta said told Winkelman’s family, friends and firefighters who came Wednesday to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Union to bid goodbye. Winkelman received a hero’s farewell with an honor guard, a crossed aerial ladder, the ringing of a silver bell indicating his last alarm and a procession of fire engines from surrounding fire …
Jim Schwartz recognized for 20 years on the job.
Jim Schwartz thinks Huntley has the best water in the state. So what if he’s a little bias. Huntley’s Director of Public Works remembers a time when the water was literally orange. The village used water from five deep wells that had a lot of iron in it. “We would get a lot of complaints,” said Schwartz, recalling people would bring in their stained clothing to him. Today, the village’s water system is state-of-the art. Schwartz helped usher in the change as the head of the department. He is celebrating 20 years on the job this week. Thursday, the village board recognized his contributions to Huntley. Schwartz has been “instrumental in overseeing the infrastructure of the water and sewer system throughout the village,” the framed …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Dozens of parishioners, church officials and village officials gathered Monday afternoon to break ground for St. Mary's new parish center.
Rockford Diocese Bishop Thomas G. Doran blessed the ground with prayers and holy water where St. Mary Catholic Church is building its new parish center at the church’s groundbreaking ceremony Monday. Doran blessed the ground St. Mary was built on and dedicated the church back in 2001 so it was fitting that he return Monday as the church begins construction of it parish hall, Msgr. Steve Knox said. “It is a great honor to have him here today for Part 2,” Knox said of the retired bishop. St. Mary, 10307 Dundee Road, is building a 32,567-square-foot parish center to the south and southeast side of the church. The center includes a 600-person parish center, a small chapel, 10 meeting rooms, staff office space, and a full-service kitchen, …
Shannon Miller, part of the Magnificent 7 from the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, visits Huntley Unlimited Gymnastics School on Monday.
The question made Shannon Miller laugh. “Are you famous?” a young boy asked from the crowd at Huntley Unlimited Gymnastics School in Huntley. A humble Miller didn’t brag, but yes, she is famous. Miller is the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, having won medals in the 1992 Barcelona, Spain summer Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta, Ga., summer games where she was part of the team dubbed the Magnificent 7. Her appearance Monday at HUGS — owned by Jerry and Dawn Leonard — was as an ambassador for the Secret U.S. Classic, slated May 26 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. The Secret U.S. Classic is one of three qualifying meets for male and female gymnasts vying for the Olympic 2012 team. Many of the country’s top gymnasts will be competing in the…
Monday, April 16, 2012
Huntley Bingo raises money for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
Huntley Bingo raises money for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Marianne Ricciardi’s son had a dying wish inspired by the children and families he saw in chemotherapy. “He said ‘You promise me if anything happens to me, you have to help these other kids,’ ” Ricciardi said. She has been trying to keep that promise since her son, Pasquale, known as Patsy, died four years ago from complications of Ewing sarcoma. The Huntley grandmother is the person behind the Huntley Bingo night every Monday at the American Legion, 11712 Coral St. “That’s how this started. My son sadly lost his battle,” she said. Every week, Ricciardi is at the American Legion in downtown Huntley where the charity bingo is held. The bingo costs $10. Earlier this…
Anitra Willis
8:53 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Shannon Miller in Huntley! Very cool. HUGS gymnasts will have great memories of this day! more ›