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Many thanks to the Arlington Heights community for your contributions! We are always looking for residents to find great stories and send us ideas. Let’s celebrate the great things happening in our community! No contribution is too small. Please email strollscarsdale@gmail.com with your pictures, suggestions and submission requests.
Rocco Smeriglio Resident Writer
Anna Niebrugge Resident Writer
Karen Johl Resident Writer
Natalie Duel Resident Writer
AUGUST
Welcome to the August issue of Stroll Scarsdale!
This month, we’re celebrating the heart of our community— Inside, you’ll find inspiring stories and fun features that showcase the amazing people and families who make Scarsdale such a special place to live. From our Featured Family Rocco’s Review, Athlete of the Month, and the always-delicious What’s Cookin’ Arlington Heights?, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Don’t forget to check out the Community Calendar for upcoming events—and if you have something to share, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email us with any submissions for future editions.
Did you know STROLL Scarsdale is on Facebook and Instagram? Follow us for more great stories and fun features!
Thanks for being a part of the Stroll!
Dolly McCarthy, Publisher
Scan the QR code to sign up to receive a digital copy of STROLL Scarsdale, nominate a neighbor to be featured in an upcoming issue & find out about community events.
Loki here! You might see me standing in my window on Waterman or Strolling the neighborhood. I love walks, tennis balls, tug ropes and my sister.
Family members: Pat, Karen, Tommy and Maeve.
Street you live on: Waterman.
Is Loki an angel or a bit of a troublemaker? The name suits him. God of Mischief. Loki is a lover with an edge. He is a puppy; full of energy and a bit of terror.
Does he have any specific talents or tricks? He steals hearts. He is very good at shaking hands and giving kisses.
Is there anything other neighbors would know Loki for? We often have people ask us us where we live when we are on walks because he stands in the window ALL THE TIME. He is neighborhood watch!
How would Loki tell the story of the day he met you and your human family? My original family gave me a lot of
kisses, handed my leash over to these two new adults, and we were in the car headed to a new house. My first family just could not give me all the space and things I needed, but they loved me. They found Illinois English Bulldog Rescue, and these two volunteers came to bring me to a “foster” home. They said it was temporary, and I would meet a new, permanent family, but I had other plans. I made this my home, and they knew they could never live without Loki. I worked my magic, as only I could.
What are his personality traits? Loki is wild, energetic, mischievous, snuggly, and loving. He’ll run you ragged playing and walking all day, then smother you with kisses and curl up in your lap at night.
What is his favorite Arlington Heights park? Evergreen Park.
Loki the English Bulldog
BY RESIDENTS LOKI (KAREN) JOHL
What is his pet peeve? Dogs who walk by his house when he is inside and cars that take his sister away.
Arlington Inn, located at Euclid Ave. and Northwest Highway, was owned by Richard Glueckert. In the 1930s, it was called the Arlington Inn. In 1937, the name changed to HiWay Restaurant. By 1950 it is was called Glueckert’s Lounge. Photo Credit: Arlington Heights Historical Museum.
Santa Maria
BY RESIDENTS DARRICK AND CARINA SANTA MARIA
Say Hello to The FAMILY!
Family members: Darrick, Carina, Mateo and Maxwell
How long have you lived in the neighborhood? 11 years. Is there anything your neighbors might know you for? Our neighbors probably know us as the house that’s always hosting! We love bringing people together—whether it’s a last-minute playdate or a full-blown party. I also enjoy keeping everyone updated on local events and village news.
How long have you been with your spouse? Darrick and I met in 2009—on my 24th birthday, during 50-cent drink night. Within 20 minutes, I told him we were going to get married. He
still teases me about it, but he’s the one who called me after! We’ve been together ever since, building a life full of adventure and raising two incredible boys.
Tell us about your kids. Mateo (9) and Maxwell (7) keep us busy with soccer, football, and music lessons at the Betty Haag Academy. They also attend German school on weekends and take Spanish classes through Language Adventures; language and culture are big in our home, as both Darrick and I are firstgeneration Americans.
Tell us something interesting about your family. Something unique about our family is how much language and culture
Photo credit: Fitzgerald Studio
are woven into our everyday life. Because English isn’t our first language, we’ve made it a priority to raise our kids in a multilingual, multicultural home.
What is your profession? Professionally, I’m a licensed clinical social worker and CEO of Shelter, Inc., a nonprofit supporting youth and families across Illinois. I’m also involved locally as an adjunct professor at Dominican University, founder of V.O.C.A.L. (a community engagement group), and I serve on several statewide child welfare councils. Darrick is an electrical engineer and a Vice President at Littelfuse, and he’s actively involved in our kids’ activities.
Are you passionate about any charities? I’m deeply passionate about several causes that are close to my heart. Of course, I’m especially proud of the work we do at Shelter Youth and Family Services, where I have the privilege of serving as CEO. Our mission to protect children, strengthen families and transform communities is something I live and breathe every day. I’m also a big supporter of the Good Neighbors Network, which fosters meaningful community connections, and City of Support, which uplifts families navigating early intervention and special needs. These organizations embody what it means to show up for one another—and that’s something I’ll always stand behind.
Are you involved in the community at all? We’re a family that believes in giving back and staying connected. I serve as the CEO of Shelter Youth and Family Services, teach as an adjunct professor in the MSW program at Dominican University, and founded V.O.C.A.L. (Voices of Community, Acceptance & Love)—a nonpartisan group promoting positive civic engagement in Arlington Heights. I also serve on the Illinois Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council and the Cook County Child
Drost Kivlahan McMahon & O’Connor LLC
Lisa Gagliano Bernstein Attorney at Law
(847) 577-2227 ext. 224
Death Review Committee, and have consulted internationally on child welfare systems in Kosovo and the UAE. Darrick and I are both proud Marquee Members at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, and he stays actively involved in our kids’ lives—helping with sports, Cub Scouts, and wherever else he’s needed. We love being part of a community that values service, connection, and showing up for one another.
Describe your perfect day in Arlington Heights as a family. We love spending family time in Arlington Heights: biking around Lake Arlington, grabbing coffee, visiting parks, and enjoying Sounds of Summer concerts.
The kids’ favorite local treat? Berry Yo—hands down.
What does it mean to you to have Stroll Magazine in Arlington Heights? Having Stroll Magazine in Arlington Heights is a beautiful way to build community and celebrate the stories that make our village so special.
Favorite Arlington Heights Park? Recreation Park.
Favorite Arlington Heights historic spot? The Farmer’s Market and the Arlington Heights Historical Museum.
Have a family that you would like to see featured in STROLL Scarsdale? Scan QR Code to submit a nomination!
Ocean Prime Travel
28-December 1 | 3
Mexican Street Corn Salad
BY RESIDENT NATALIE DUEL
This is the perfect side dish all summer long. This dish is not just food its a celebration in a bowl. This dish is very special to me because my family goes nuts for it! I think yours will, too!
Ingredients:
• 6 ears of grilled corn
• Butter for charring the corn
• 1/3 cup of mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons of sour cream
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeño - seeds removed
• 2 cloves of garlic finely minced
• 1 small red onion finely chopped
• 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes cut in halves
• Juice from 2 limes
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 large avocado diced
Prep Work
Finely chop all the ingredients.
Directions
• Char the ears of kernel on the grill.
• Chop all the ingredients, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, and spices.
• Enjoy!
“The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating food.” - Natalie Duel
Share your favorite recipe! Scan QR Code to submit!
MEET STEVE PUTTRICH OF EVERGREEN & FAIRVIEW, LLC
and I have painted together since we met at the American Academy of Art in 1980. From our home at Evergreen & Fairview we run Evergreen & Fairview, LLC, which covers:
• Fine-art sales – oils and watercolors. I paint woodland light and streams; Bobbie focuses on florals and still lifes.
• The Fairview Finder – a pocket view-finder I designed to simplify composition; we assemble and ship it from a spare-bedroom studio.
How long have you been in business?
We formed our LLC in 2014, I then retired from corporate life in 2017.
What prompted you to start your own business? After 35 years as an architectural illustrator and later Vice President of Marketing at Parsons Corporation, I realized I was sketching bridges but not painting for myself. In 2003 Bobbie booked our first plein-air workshop; that trip rekindled the habit.
How did you decide on this industry? Art was Plan A from the start. Moving from illustration to fine art felt less like switching industries and more like coming home. The Fairview Finder came later: students kept asking, “How do I know what makes a good composition?” I built a plastic prototype, it worked. I posted an image of this prototype on social media and one of my followers, reached out and said, “My husband works in plastics and can fabricate these for you, and we never looked back. Now with a patent pending, we’re shipping this little tool to every state, and to many countries around the world.
How long have you lived in the community? We’ve lived in Arlington Heights since 1991.
Does your business support any local charities? Twice a year we donate work to the Palette & Chisel’s $400-andunder sale, which funds scholarships for emerging artists.
Bobbie Puttrich Oil Painting of our Incrediball Hydrangeas
LOCAL EVENTS
Saturday, August 2 - Saturday, October 11
8:00am -12:00pm
Arlington Heights Farmers Market
110 W. Fremont Street
Every Saturday thru October. www. arlingtonheightsfarmersmarket.org
Tuesday, August 5
11:30am -12:15pm
Kids Concert: Nanny Nikki
North School Park, 307 N Evergreen Avenue
Nanny Nikki is a Grammy Nominated Artist who loves to bring life to classic children’s songs. https://www.ahpd.org/event/ kids-concert-nanny-nikki/
Tuesday, August 5
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Arlington Jazz Exchange
North School Park, 307 N Evergreen Avenue
The Arlington Jazz Exchange is an all-volunteer sub-group of the Arlington Heights Community Concert Band featuring 17 instrumentalists and 1 vocalist, dedicated to the study and performance of big band jazz music. https://www.ahpd.org/ event/arlington-jazz-ensemble/
Friday, August 8
5:00pm -10:00pm BBQ, Bands & Brew
Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W Fremont Street
Arlington Heights loves a barbecue. Stop by for Porky’s and stay for live performances including Exit 147 The Band! https:// www.ahpd.org/event/bbq-bands-brews-2/
Saturday, August 9
9:00am -12:00pm Heritage Fest
Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W Fremont Street
Explore the cultural diversity within our community and enjoy a variety of exhibits, demonstrations, live performances and food. https://www.ahpd.org/event/heritage-fest-2/
Saturday, August 9
5:00pm - 9:00pm Irish Fest
Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W Fremont Street
There’s Irish fun for all ages with Irish dance performances, live music with Bohola and Classical Blast in Kilts, a wee-ones fun zone and Irish food and beverages. https://www.ahpd.org/ event/irish-fest-2/
Tuesday, August 12
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Final Days of Summer Break with Good Clean Fun North School Park, 307 N Evergreen Avenue
Good Clean Fun is an award-winning party band renowned for delivering exciting and engaging shows that feature a playlist of party hits spanning every decade. https://www.ahpd.org/ event/final-days-of-summer-break-with-good-clean-fun/
Thursday, August 14
10:00am -11:30am White Glove Tour
Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W Fremont Street
This tour will give you a behind the scenes look at some of the 50,000 artifacts that the Arlington Heights Historical Museum has in their collections. Check the website for various tour times. https://www.ahpd.org/events
Friday, August 15
8:00pm -10:40pm
Movie in the Park: Wicked Frontier Park, 1933 N Kennicott Dr.
Enjoy a Friday night watching Wicked outdoors at Frontier Park! In the case of inclement weather, the movie will be relocated to Camelot Community Center. https://www.ahpd. org/event/movie-in-the-park-wicked/
Thursday, August 21
District 25 First Day of School
ANNA NIEBRUGGE
BY RESIDENT ANNA NIEBRUGGE
Street you live on: Drury Lane
School you attend: I recently graduated from Prospect High School.
How old are you? 18
What sport do you play? Track and field, I have been running since 8th grade.
What inspired you to get started with track and field? I joined because my friends were on the team and I needed something to do in the spring. I didn’t know what to expect but I quickly fell in love with the sport!
What positions do you play? I am a sprinter so I did the 100 and the 200 and both relays as well. I might move up to running some 400’s in college but right now I am really happy with the events that I do.
What do you enjoy most when running? I love how quickly the races go and how I can go 100% for a short period of time. I also love the feeling of finishing a race and feeling so accomplished.
Who is someone you admire? Gabby Thomas, the Olympic athlete, because she does the same events that I do and I have watched her career a long time. I have seen how she trains hard everyday and she has worked really hard and that is inspiring to me.
What advice do you have for others looking to get into track and field? It is really important to put 100% into every workout you do, even in the fall because it will pay off in the spring. Also, it can be a long season so make sure you surround yourself with teammates who support you and cheer for your success.
Beyond sports, what do you like to do? I did Operation Snowball at Prospect. It is basically a day where we lead students at our school through activities and team bonding games and just have fun.
If you were to continue to run track and field, what do you hope to become or accomplish someday? I plan on attending Butler for track. My main goal is just to have fun with it and enjoy the sport. I would eventually hope to score in my college conference meet and help contribute to the teams success as well!
ROCCO’S REVIEW
Craving a pizza? Head over to Lola’s Pizza & Tiki Bar
BY ROCCO SMERIGLIO
This month we decided to get out of downtown Arlington Heights and explore an amazing gem on the Rand Road corridor. Lola’s Pizza & Tiki Bar opened in 2019 and has been delighting customers with pizza made with 100% fresh ingredients and exotic tropical drinks that were as much fun to look at as they were to drink.
Located at 1612 E. Rand Road in Arlington Heights, the Six Barton Family members own and operate this wonderful establishment that you quite possibly have driven by 100 times. Upon walking in, we quickly realized that this was unlike any other restaurant in the area. Filled with bamboo booths, ambient lighting, coconuts and fun mugs that contribute to an overall experience that exceeds even the highest expectations.
The drink menu is expansive, creative and one of the unique aspects of Lola’s. These artfully crafted cocktails are made for the adventurous. From various flavored daiquiris,
Thirsty Whale Martini
Lola’s Special Pizza
L to R Andrea Smeriglio, Kathy Gavin, Rocco Smeriglio, Jim Gavin, Nancy Lynk and Gary Lynk
Hurricanes, Bora Bora breezes, and of course the Kahala Koa Rum Barrel. At Lola’s there is something for everyone including ice cold beer selections as well as a standard steakhouse martini, along with other classics such as the Lemon Drop, Cosmo and Pomegranateselections.
Now to the most favorite part of the evening. The Pizza!! Fully realizing we all have various preferences in our pizza, I personally felt as if Lola’s was speaking to me and my preference for thin and flakey crust pizza with freshly sourced ingredients. We sampled the veggie selection as well a meat pizza with delicious sausage and pepperoni, and of course the Lola Special with a little bit of everything.
Lola’s gets very high marks from all that took part. Thank you to Maxine, her daughter Katie (our stellar server!) and the entire Barton family for taking care of The Gavin’s (Kathy and Jim) the Lynks, (Nancy and Gary) and my lovely wife Andrea. We all had a special evening at Lola’s!
