Just rewards

Bolingbrook honors residents for good deeds around the village

Helping your neighbor is always a good thing, and Bolingbrook wants to make sure these random acts of kindness are rewarded.

Two local residents were the first to be honored in the new Neighbors Helping Neighbors Recognition Program.

Mark Crawley and Tom Samples were presented with certificates of appreciation by Mayor Roger Claar at the Bolingbrook Village Board meeting Oct. 27.

The program was started by Trustee Michael Lawler. He said he was inspired by how some neighbors were helping others during a heavy snowstorm last winter. One resident suggested a formal program to recognize those who assist others.

"The idea was to nominate people who do random acts of kindness," Lawler said. "Several were nominated and a process was developed. We will do this twice a year.

"Some people don't want public recognition, others don't mind, either way is fine," he said.

Crawley was unable to attend the meeting because of his work schedule. He was recognized for going out of his way to help clear a fallen tree for a neighbor who couldn't do that task himself.

Samples attended and was honored for helping a widowed neighbor with lawn care and snow removal and also for many other instances of helping others.

Claar said the nomination for Samples stated, "If he sees something that needs to be done, he does it. His kind acts have not gone unnoticed."

The board also wanted to make sure contributions of another group are honored as well. Bolingbrook will be remembering and honoring veterans in a variety of ways as Veterans Day approaches. This year will mark the 90th observation of Veterans Day.

Mayoral proclamations highlighting fundraising efforts on behalf of hospitalized veterans and calling attention to traditional Veterans Day ceremonies were made at the Village Board meeting.

Claar welcomed representatives of Bolingbrook American Legion Post 1288 who will conduct the annual "Gifts to Yanks Who Gave" drive for hospitalized veterans in Bolingbrook from Nov. 6 to 8.

Over the past 58 years, the statewide program has delivered more than 250,000 gifts to veterans on Christmas morning.

"I gladly accept this proclamation of behalf of the veterans in our community," said Arthur Taylor, commander of Post 1288. "We stand here to help those veterans. We ask everyone to remember in the future what the veterans have done for us."

Also, the Bolingbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion will conduct a brief ceremony at the Town Center Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 to honor Veterans Day.

Village Trustee Sandra Swinkunas encouraged local residents to attend the event.

"Remember it's not just a day off, come out to remember the veterans," Swinkunas said.