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Reporter Wednesday, December 19, 2012 LIS
Opinions CO N TACT I N FORMATION:
J. Tom Shaw, publisher jtshaw@shawmedia.com 630-427-6210
Dave Lemery, managing editor dlemery@shawmedia.com 630-427-6250
Jerry Moore, opinions editor jmoore@shawmedia.com 630-427-6256
COMMUNITY VOICE
T H U M B S U P/ T H U M B S D O W N
Park District manager deserving of award
VILLAGE OF LISLE
Mayor Joseph Broda 630-271-4118
Village Clerk Gerald Sprecher 630-271-4116
Clerk Timothy J. Seeden 630-271-4105
Trustee Mark Boyle 630-271-4220, ext. 4007
Trustee Ed Young 630-271-4220, ext. 4008
Trustee Lee LaFond 630-271-4220, ext. 4003
Trustee Ken Modaff 630-71-4220, ext. 4005
Trustee Cathy Cawiezel 630-271-4220, ext. 4002
Village Hall 630-271-4100
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Join the community discussion at mysuburbanlife.com/lisle
Wendy Vach of Lisle reads a poem in memory of her deceased daughter during a candlelight memorial service organized by The Compassionate Friends group. The event was held at Cornerstone Community Church in Brookfield. Colin McAuliffe — For Suburban Life Media
Thumbs Up — Lisle resident Wendy Vach is one of the co-founders of a local chapter of a support group for parents whose children have died called The Compassionate Friends. The branch, which meets twice each month at Cornerstone Community Church in Brookfield, aims to help parents learn how to cope and move forward. Vach lost her daughter, Nikki, 10 years ago to cystic fibrosis. Earlier this month, Vach led an annual candlelight ceremony at the church where parents gather and remember their children before the holidays. It’s good to have such resources in our community. Thumbs Up — Outside of Lisle businesses this season, Salvation Army workers are ringing bells for the organization’s annual Red Kettle Campaign. Those at the Salvation Army expect the Lisle ringers bring in $25,000 to $35,000. Many of those seen outside Lisle drug stores and grocery chains have been helped by the agency in the past. Have any Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down ideas? Send them to opinions@mysuburbanlife.com.
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS
THIS WEEK’S POLL
How has the rate increase by the Illinois Tollway impacted you over the past year?
How often to you go to a movie theater during the year?
>> Take side streets rather than the tollway 57% >> Have absorbed higher expenses 31% >> Can use tollways when I can afford it 11% >>Now using public transportation 1% 141 respondents
>> One to 10 times >> 10 to 20 times >> More than 20 times >> I don’t go to movie theaters
Vote at mysuburbanlife.com
It was a normal meeting of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, or so Jennifer Porrevecchio thought on Nov. 9. Surrounded by her co-workers and nominator, Superintendent of Recreation Michael Toohey, Jennifer had no idea she was about to receive the IPRA Facility Manager of the Year Award for her dedication to Sea Lion Aquatic Park and Community Park Fitness. Jennifer is the facility manager of Lisle Park District’s award-winning Sea Lion Aquatic Park in addition to managing Community Park Fitness Center. She has been with the Lisle Park District for more than 11 years; she rose in the ranks as a lifeguard, head guard and then as manager of the aquatic park. Since joining the district Rachel Staats full time in 2006, Jennifer has turned both into profitable facilities in a few years. When Jennifer began, Sea Lion Aquatic Park operated at a $73,000 deficit. In 2009, the facility was netting a profit of $39,800, a 154 percent increase. Since 2009, she has maintained that growth as well as increased enrollment in swim team and swim lessons. Jennifer’s focus on the safety and well-being of her patrons, with a bigger emphasis on lifeguard training, resulted in increased audit scores through Ellis & Associates. These unannounced audits have consistently changed from “Meets” to “Exceeds” across the board. Jennifer also oversees Community Park Fitness where similar successes have been reported. She turned the Fitness Center into a profit center for the Lisle Park District in only two years. In 2008, CPF went from operating at a deficit of $28,000 to a profit of $29,000 in 2010, a 203 percent increase. Under Jennifer’s influence, the fitness memberships saw a 25 percent increase to more than 500 members. Jennifer’s hard work and dedication can be seen in the community as well as at the statewide level. She serves on the Village of Lisle Coalition, alongside the School District, Library District and Police and Fire departments, whose goal is to increase awareness and reinforce the positive choices of teens. No doubt that Jennifer’s involvement in the district, greater Lisle community and Illinois Parks and Recreation Association made her the ideal recipient of the IPRA Facility Manager of the Year Award. As Jennifer took the stage to receive the award, she thanked her co-workers saying, “I am fortunate to work with an amazingly supportive staff. I love my colleagues, and working at the Lisle Park District takes the cake!” Rachel Staats is a marketing and communications specialist with the Lisle Park District