Tuesday, March 9

Subscribe Today
Logout | Help | Contact Us
Buffalo Grove

Bobsledder shares Olympics stories with Mount Prospect children
Jamie Moriarty may not have won a gold medal at the recent 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, but the bobsledder did receive one from the ...MORE
Village board passes recall ordinance
JEFF DANNA/TRIBLOCAL.COM STAFF REPORTER   03/09/10 09:22 AM   48 HITS

Buffalo Grove Village Board members voted unanimously March 8 to pass an ordinance that would allow residents to recall elected officials.

Under the ordinance, the process would begin if a village resident collects signatures from the number of electors equal to or greater than 33 percent of the average number of ballots cast in the previous two municipal elections.

Taking into consideration recommendations from trustees during the last discussion in October, village attorney Bill Raysa drafted the ordinance to include language making the minimum number of signatures required 1,000, so petitioners do not take advantage of low-turnout elections.

A resident would have 90 days to collect the signatures after he or she files a notice of intent to recall an elected official.

A local election board consisting of the village president, village clerk and senior trustee would evaluate any objections to a recall petition during a public hearing, and the electoral board would declare the petition valid or invalid.

Raysa also took direction from trustees as they discussed what would become the final draft of the ordinance. For instance, the trustees voted 3-2 (Trustee Steve Trilling abstained) in an informal poll that they wanted to insert language indicating an elected official is not subject to recall if the date of the recall election is within six months of the next municipal election.

“The best recall is an election,” Trustee Jeff Braiman said.

Village President Elliott Hartstein praised the board members for taking part in what he said was a thorough discussion of the issue and coming to a consensus.

By Jeff Danna
Triblocal.com reporter

LATEST PHOTOS
Bobsledder shares Olympics stories with Mount Prospect children

Jamie Moriarty may not have won a gold medal at the recent 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, but the bobsledder did receive one from the 1st grade students at St. Raymond School in Mount Prospect.

“We’re really excited,” said 1st grade teacher Patty Kramer as the students, teachers and parents awaited Moriarty’s arrival the afternoon of March 5.

Moriarty, a 28-year-old Winnetka native and member of the USA-3 four-man bobsled team, arrived at the school and was greeted by a throng of children waving American flags and holding banners.

As the students swarmed around Moriarty, they presented him with a gold medal with the phrase “St. Raymond’s No. 1 Bobsledder.”

During the Olympics in February, the 1st grade teachers at St. Raymond coordinated their lessons with the games. The students learned about the history of the games and the importance of teamwork. They even had the opportunity to watch some of the events live, Kramer said.

Moriarty, whose bobsled team finished 13th, was invited to the school to help illustrate the lessons the students learned over the course of two weeks. Serendipitously, the mother of one 1st grader worked with Moriarty’s wife, and the event was set in motion.

When Moriarty arrived, the 1st grade students and teachers took him on a tour through the hallways of the school. Other students and teachers stood outside their classrooms waving, clapping and holding out their hands for high fives.

Finally, the group settled in a classroom, where Moriarty shared Olympics stories and positive messages.

“The other competitors from other countries—you get really close to them and make a lot of friends,” Moriarty told the children. “It’s very important to be a good sport.”

He told them how his father played professional football for the Atlanta Falcons and how he himself began his athletic career playing arena football. He was sidelined after an injury, and while watching the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, he took an interest in bobsledding.

Moriarty told the students that with lots of hard work, he was able to begin competing in the event relatively quickly. He joined the U.S. team in 2006 and competed in his first race that same season. During the 2008-2009 season, he won two gold medals on the America’s Cup tour, which he pulled out of his bag to show the students.

St. Raymond parent Bill Pinter said he thought Moriarty’s story would inspire the children.

“He got on the fast track,” Pinter said. “There are guys who have been doing it all their lives. He’s a newcomer.”

The children asked Moriarty questions ranging from “When is your birthday?” to “Did you know about the Georgian luger who was killed?”

Moriarty’s stories were as humorous as they were inspirational and educational. Students asked him what it was like to live in the Olympic village and eat in the cafeteria, and he responded with an anecdote that few 1st graders could resist.

“One of the best things about the cafeteria—maybe I shouldn’t be saying this—is you have unlimited McDonald’s,” he said.

Students also were excited to hear about what it was like to participate in the opening and closing ceremonies, which many of the students and parents watched on TV.

“The opening ceremony was incredible,” Moriarty said. “I can’t even begin to describe it. It’s a unique moment for an athlete. It’s a moment for us to walk out and enjoy everyone going crazy. That’s the moment when you realize the dream of being an Olympian is a reality.”

By Jeff Danna
Triblocal.com reporter

...MORE
FEATURED EVENT
Mar 10, 2010
Speed Networking

March Meeting Speed Networking The full scope of how members could be valuable as personal and professional contacts is not always apparent. Because NSPWA wants to further enable all members ...MORE



SIGN UP
EMAILPASSWORD
Forgot your password?


FEATURED
Red Rose Children’s Choir presents March Melodies Concert
Join the Red Rose Children’s Choir of Lake County for March Melodies Concert – Everything’s Coming Up Roses, March 5, 7 ...MORE
Peter Pan & Wendy
Children's play sponsored by the Stevenson High School Community Foundation. All tickets are $5. ...MORE
COMMUNITY IN CRISIS - HAITI
Family Benefit Concert for Haiti.  Hosted by Jordan Sachs, Kevin Hoard and Community in Crisis - Haiti.  $5 in advance, $7 ...MORE
Search Events:



School days off

Do students today have too many days off?
Yes
No
No Answer


Local Tribune Sites: Chicago Magazine | CLTV | Hoy Chicago | Red Eye | WGN Radio | WGN TV

Copyright © 2008 Chicagoland Publishing Company, Inc.
Powered By: Creative Circle Advertising Solutions, Inc.