Harwood Heights, Norridge and Norwood Park Township officials and residents turned out for a Tuesday, June 2 late afternoon celebration at the Estelle Sieb Senior Center, also known as a community center, in Norridge at 7774 W. Irving Park Road.
One purpose of the 50th anniversary event was to recognize a half-century of Norridge’s service to local senior citizens.
The open house also acknowledged an expanded collaboration with Aging Care Connections (ACC) of La Grange, a senior care coordination organization with a 54-year history. ACC will work with the Seniors Assistance Center (SAC) at the Norridge center.
About fellow seniors, “We view them with a lot of respect,” said Kevin Moloney of Norridge, SAC volunteer.
SAC has provided services to older adults in Norridge, Harwood Heights, and Norwood Park Township and will use ACC’s network of resources via the merger.
Expanded services include more programming such as planned luncheon meals, special events, educational opportunities and advocacy.
“We’re going to bring more enhanced services up north here to all the towns surrounding here,” said Desiree M. Scully of Melrose Park, executive director of ACC.
“We service 38 towns and five townships and it’s very important that older adults get all the services that they need so that they can age in place successfully,” Scully said.
“We’re really excited to be here because we want a footprint in the north end, especially Norridge, Harwood Heights and Norwood Park Township,” Scully added.
The ACC also serves Leyden Township, Proviso Township, Lyons Township, and Riverside Township.
Jan Walch of Berwyn, ACC’s director of philanthropy and communications, said to local seniors, “We have your back, and that’s what we’re here for.”
Arleen Newhouse of Norwood Park Township, home-delivered meals coordinator for SAC, and with a 50-year history at the Norridge senior center, said to local seniors to help instill their confidence and relevance that, “There’s always hope, and there’s always somebody available to help.
“They (senior citizens) matter more than they know,” said Newhouse, who received that Tuesday a blue award of recognition for her service.
The open house featured two large cakes, a sandwich meal, and a sparkling beverage toast as part of the festivities. A formal podium presentation at 5 p.m. included service recognition of Newhouse and also of Caryn Skiba of Norridge, who received a 2026 SAC Volunteer of the Year award.
Addressing the audience at the lectern were Peter Volpe of Elmwood Park, vice president and board member of ACC, Norridge Village President Dan Tannhauser, Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny, and Anthony J. Nasca, Norwood Park Township supervisor.
Volpe, who holds a role as a volunteer in the ACC position, said, “Volunteering in general is important because it keeps your community strong.”
About senior citizens, “The knowledge that they can share with people and the guidance they can give to the younger generation is invaluable,” Volpe said.
Tannhauser, of the Ridgewood High School Class of 1985, told Pioneer Press that Norridge has a significant number of senior citizen residents.
“The population of Norridge is super senior; most of the people are seniors, the kids I went to school with, their parents still live here,” Tannhauser said, adding that, “I think it’s very successful” regarding how Norridge has served its senior citizens.
Elderly residents need a space where they can go to feel safe, Jezierny said, adding that the Estelle Sieb Center is among the safe resources.
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“I think seniors need to go to a place that they feel, somewhere that they can trust and be comfortable with,” Jezierny said, “and when you say ‘safe place,’ then this is their safe place for them because they can get the right direction and the right information from the correct people.”
Anthony J. Nasca, Norwood Park Township supervisor, simply said to seniors, “Come to our programs, come here.”
Harwood Heights Chief of Police John DeVries and Norridge Chief of Police Brian P. Goss attended the open house and reinforced prevention of crimes targeting seniors.
“They (senior citizens) need help; they need some guidance,” DeVries said. “Because as we get older, some things aren’t as fresh as they were when we were younger.
“There are so many scams in this world right now that we need to educate them so that they don’t get victimized,” DeVries said.
For Goss, “They’re (seniors) one of our vulnerable populations.
“We want them to know that they’re cared about.”
Both Goss and DeVries agreed senior citizens should notify police if residents have been victims of scams or have concerns before moving ahead with possible lawbreaking schemes.
“It happens,” Goss said. “If they (seniors) do get scammed, they feel embarrassed and they don’t want to report it, so we want to make sure they understand, don’t be embarrassed, it happens to everybody, report it, let us look into it, let us try to figure it out, let us help you.”
DeVries also feels that seniors should not hesitate to file police reports to document adverse incidents.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” DeVries said. “We’re here because we’re all in the same boat, we want to help each other.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” DeVries said. “If we can all learn together, we won’t be victimized together.”
Attendee Christine Meczynski of Harwood Heights thanked all those who make local quality senior services accessible and possible.
“Thank you for helping seniors like me,” Meczynski said.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.