Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week (FPW) has been observed in October, so maybe the timing was right on Oct. 24 to swear in a new Northbrook firefighter while sending off Northbrook’s retired fire chief with a commemorative resolution and applause.
At a Tuesday evening Northbrook Village Board of Trustees meeting, Andrew Carlson, former fire chief, was acknowledged by trustees for 24 years of service.
Last Oct. 10, during FPW (which began on Oct. 8), new Northbrook Fire Chief David Schweihs was sworn in by Northbrook Village Clerk Debbie Ford.
At the same Tuesday meeting that Carlson was recognized for service, Northbrook citizens were introduced to the department’s newest firefighter, Thomas Magna, 33, of Lake County, who was sworn in, also by Ford.
“With the hiring of firefighter Magna, our department is fortunate to be fully staffed now and we truly appreciate being in this position, and we thank you all for your support,” Schweihs said at the podium to trustees.
Carlson also appeared at the podium and thanked the village, reading prepared remarks from paper pulled from a right pants pocket.
“I don’t like giving speeches, but I think there’s, you know, some important things to say so I wrote a few down,” Carlson said.
“I’ve been in the fire service since before I had a driver’s license,” Carlson said. “Northbrook has been a great place to have a career.
“Northbrook’s been a great place to work and serve and I have been very fortunate to have had a lot of opportunities here,” Carlson said.
“Northbrook has an excellent fire department with lots of skill, leadership and compassion.”
According to the resolution, Andrew Carlson was hired as a firefighter/paramedic on Aug. 1,1999. As fire chief, Carlson oversaw Northbrook’s fire department of 70 sworn personnel and six civilian employees among three fire stations. Carlson worked with the department’s $13.2 million annual operating budget.
“We will absolutely miss you,” Northbrook Village President Kathryn L. Ciesla told Carlson from the dais. “You’re wonderful, you brought such dignity and calm to the department.”
“You’re just super.”
Carlson’s recognition was part of the Community Moment portion of the President’s Report by Ciesla. Also recognized with a resolution of appreciation was patrol officer Roger Scott for 27 years of service.
As part of the president’s report, in addition, were two proclamations recognizing Oct. 31 as UNICEF Collection Day and Oct. 24 as World Polio Day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/immunization/world-polio-day/index.html
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), World Polio Day (Oct. 24) highlights global efforts for a polio-free world and honors people on the front lines to eradicate polio worldwide. Through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the CDC works with partners to eradicate polio, also according to the CDC.Former Northbrook Village President Sandy Frum, the name behind the Sandra “Sandy” Frum Board Room, appeared at the podium to speak on behalf of the Rotary Club of Northbrook as its club president.
Frum told the boardroom audience and trustees that Pakistan and Afghanistan still have endemic risks of polio.
“It’s only an airplane flight away,” Frum said. “If our kids aren’t vaccinated, and someone from Afghanistan or Pakistan comes with the virus, it can spread so Rotary has not given up.
“One case can still cause a lot of problems,” Frum said.
According to the village’s proclamation, “Rotary Club of Northbrook is part of a global network of neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in communities across the globe.
“There are over 1.2 million Rotary members in 36,000 clubs throughout the world that sponsor service projects to address critical issues.
“The Rotary Club of Northbrook’s motto, Service Above Self, inspires members to provide humanitarian service, follow high ethical standards, and promote goodwill and peace in the world,” also according to the proclamation.
Trustee business on Oct. 24 included support for development of residential parcels on the 2900 block of Dundee Road as a conversion to an assisted living senior care facility.
For Rosewater Senior Care, zoning relief was approved as part of the unanimous consent agenda. This was a much different procedural nod of endorsement compared to the recent Covenant Living of Northbrook Techny Road senior carriage homes expansion amid that neighborhood controversy.
The Rosewater Senior Care application required several steps, including a comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning, lot consolidation, special permit, variation and site plan approval to allow construction and operation of an assisted living facility for up to 17 residents.
The Plan Commission recommended approval of the requested relief before it came before trustees on the Oct. 24 consent agenda.
Rosewater Senior Care replaces two older single-family homes on Dundee Road and will be built on the north side of Dundee Road east of Anthony Trail.
The property backs up to property in the Sky Harbor oval residential area on Hazelwood Drive and Helen Drive.
The facility will have 10 employees over three shifts and the building would be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by at least three employees and one nurse.
The proposed site plan shows a compliant 11 parking spaces with a requirement of nine parking spaces.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.