If you�re new to the village, you�re probably unfamiliar with the players. Here�s a brief list of some of the more active members in the community. And yes, I have left people out at this point. This is a work in progress, OK? We�ll add to it from time to time. (And, if you�re silly enough to wish to be included in Streamwood�s Who�s Who � drop me a line.)
Everett Parpart: General Eisenhower credited five things that allowed the U.S. to win World War II: the jeep, the C-47, some other stuff and Everett Parpart. He may have won World War I as well. It�s hard to tell, because Everett is ageless.
In reality, Everett is a distinguished veteran who remains committed to veterans and our men and women in uniform. He�s Commander of VFW Post 5151, teaches the Post in providing help for dozens of worthy causes, an accomplished historian and a true gentlemen.
John Licht: John runs Duraco Products, one of Streamwood�s largest employers. This appears to be a side-job, since John remains happily involved in too many Streamwood causes to count. By my calculations, approximately 60 percent of the profit from every planter that Duraco sells is returned to the community.
Besides being terribly generous, John is also a cut-up. This is a problem, since he threatens yours truly for the title of �Funniest Guy in Streamwood.� Fortunately, we haven�t had to take punative measures�yet.
Billie Roth: C�mon, you have to know Billie. Everybody knows Billie. Vertically-challenged � saucy � tireless � bulldog��da Mayor.� (Technically, �da Village President.�) More than anyone, Billie is the person responsible for making Streamwood what it is today. She transformed the town from a sleepy, corrupt backwater to one of Chicagoland�s most thriving suburbs and � remarkably for a politician � helped to set up a system that cares for tax dollars the way that taxpayers wish government always would.
We are big Billie fans and we don�t apologize for that fact. She�s both principled and pragmatic, shuns the spotlight though she works hard for every cause and �do the right thing� is a Roth mantra. If more politicians were like her, voting would be a pleasure.
Gary O�Rourke: Gary was initially hired by the village to make sure that it could meet federal height regulations. When one averages out the heights of skyscraper Gary and little Billie, it�s just right.
Fortunately, Gary turned out to be a quality hire for more practical reasons as well. As Police Chief, he brought professionalism, integrity and the highest standard of service to the department. As Village manager, (he�s retired from his Police Chief role) Gary emphasizes customer-service in government and has the diplomatic skills of a veteran ambassador. He is also a rabid Sox fan. These are all reasons to like the James Cromwell look-alike.
Sandy Stewart: MUCH LIKE AN ALL-CAPS E-MAIL, SANDY WILL BE HEARD. SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES WHO CAN MAKE HERSELF UNDERSTOOD OVER A 747 ON TAKE-OFF.
OK, WE�LL STOP�
Sandy is a successful and trusted realtor by trade. She�s also one of the most active people in the community, as Chair of the Plan Commission, a force in the Chamber, a devoted Kiwanian, a centerpiece of Summer Celebration and a host of other Streamwood causes.
John Peterson: John runs the Community Development Department for the village. Or at least that�s what his card says. Sharon Caddigan may have other ideas�
No, really, John does indeed run the department and the fact that he can deal with developers, Billie, upset residents, a pile of regulatory agencies and Caddigan suggests that he has the patience of Solomon. A terrifically droll sense of humor doesn�t hurt either.
Mary O.: The only person in town whose last name is misspelled more often than your humble correspondent, Mary achieved national fame as a Playboy centerfold in 1997. Fortunately for Streamwood, she gave up her lucrative modeling career and turned her attention to the community.
She is the Marketing Director for the Streamwood Park District, the fastest talker in the known universe, donates a lot of time to the Chamber and helps out with numerous community causes. She�s one of the genuinely nicest people in town.
Dave Stoves: If you don�t like Dave, a Trustee on the Village Board, then you can�t like anyone. The soft-spoken United Airlines mechanic (retired) is about as sincere a person as you could imagine.
Dave is everyone�s favorite uncle, telling homespun-tales in a slow drawl. As a Trustee, he never � ever � tries to seize the spotlight for the spotlight�s sake. But, when he speaks on a subject, he does so with the kind of passion and sincerity that makes everyone sit up and listen.
Carol Dykstra: Here�s a name that few people in town could identify. Carol is the consummate Executive Secretary for the Village of Streamwood, smoothly handling the day-to-day business of the town that falls her way, filing in every gap that needs filling and resting comfortably behind the scenes. Carol is not the power behind the scenes, but she is an invaluable cog in making sure that the machinery runs smoothly. She�s also cute as a button.
Bill Harper: Nobody on the Village Board is ever more prepared than Bill Harper. Learning the subtle details of issues that comes before the Board is a giant pain-in-the-ass, but Harper studies every detail. His painted suggestions or questions often make a difference.
A successful businessman in his private life, one may wonder where Harper finds the time. But, second only to Billie Roth, Harper is as hyper-active as one can get without exploding into a ball of flames.
Katy Dolan-Baumer: Katy holds the Streamwood record for �Most Civic Offices Held at the Same Time.� She�s currently President of the Chamber of Commerce, Trustee on the Poplar Creek Library Board, a Trustee in Hanover Township and a Trustee on the Board of Trustees for Trustees. OK, I made that last one up.
Katy also has the biggest smile in Streamwood and the biggest � er, maybe we should just stop at smile. She�s a bundle of energy, active in everything and friend to all.