Greetings fellow Oak Lawnians! Cub Scout Pack 3619 hosted its 26th annual Cubmobile Derby on July 8 at 97th Street and Mayfield Avenue, near Columbus Manor School.
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Rick Herpich, cubmaster for Pack 3619, is involved in organizing the pack’s events, as well as events within the community.
“I wear several hats,” he said. “I’m the Cubmaster for Pack 3619, I’m also involved with the Lions Club, the Elks Club, and a lot of other things.” .
He became involved in Scouting about 3 years ago when his son, Jake, then 6 years old, became a Tiger Scout. But that wasn’t Herpich’s first experience with Scouting. When he was a young boy, he earned the Arrow of Light award and then crossed over to the Boy Scouts.
“We have about 35 in our pack,” he said. “We are the pack that hosts the Cubmobile, but we invite other packs to participate and help out and clean up when it’s done. We always try to leave the place cleaner than when we found it. This year, we had about six or seven other packs that participated. Sometimes we have more and sometimes we have less.”
More than 50 Cub Scouts registered for this year’s derby. “We’ve had over 150 at other times, but it fluctuates back and forth depending on what’s going on,” said Herpich.
The derby, which always takes place after the July 4 holiday, is always at the same location.
“We use the same spot because it has a perfect hill,” Herpich said. “We get a lot of neighbors that have nothing to do with the scouts, but come year after year. Everybody has a blast.”
The rules for the event include specs for design and construction for the Cubmobiles to make sure all the cars are standardized. When building a Cubmobile, it definitely helps to be handy with tools.
“We have a flag ceremony at the beginning and the kids march down the hill and do the Pledge of Allegiance. Then we go over the rules and we remind them they’re doing this for fun,” Herpich said.
The race starts in the middle of the block of 96th and Mayfield and ends at 97th and they use Columbus Manor School as a staging area. A small hill provides just enough excitement for participants and spectators.
Of course, no race is complete without some kind of award, so trophies are given out for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place.
“We go by brackets and double elimination. Each scout races twice,” Herpich said. “To make sure everyone feels included, all participants get a patch for their brag vest.”
This fun family event could not be done without the support of scout families and the village of Oak Lawn. Herpich and derby participants are appreciative that Oak Lawn’s Public Works department gets the streets and barricades ready for the Derby and the Oak Lawn Police who are also on hand. Herpich said, “we always make sure we have someone there who’s certified with EMT training. This year we had a fireman who’s son will be starting as a Tiger.”
Here are this week’s featured celebrity announcements: Special birthday wishes go out to Carla Martin, from her husband Erik, sons, Rocky and Neo, and their family; Michelle Cozza from her sister, Cathy, and her mom, Joan. Loving birthday wishes go out to my husband, Tom Petzel, with love, from me, Sarah, Juan, Sunny and family. Happy birthday to Rob Turek, from Brandy, Nemo, family and friends. Agnes Mark wishes her son-in-law, Aldo Ferrucci, a happy birthday.
Wedding anniversary wishes go out to Don and Sue Cleland for their 11th anniversary.
Keep your fellow Oak Lawnians informed about birthdays, special events or special “stuff”going on with your family or within the community at 708-899-9544 or [email protected].
Until next time…
Cheryl Petzel is a freelance columnist.
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