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Traditions bring Glenview neighborhood closer together
Doug Marken made two wooden moose that traveled around his Glenview neighborhood, being decorated for Christmas. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 19, 2013 11:37AM
GLENVIEW — The big yard sign in mid-November told passersby “The Moose is Loose” on Glendale Road in Glenview.
The announcement kicked off a neighborhood tradition known as Christmoose in which the plywood moose cutouts are moved daily to neighbors’ yards, where homeowners decorated them with, well … lots of Christmas stuff.
Resident Doug Marken and his wife, Sally, started the project in 2002 when he built the three-dimensional moose, but this year it was revived after a lull.
The antlered animal could be seen on the 600 to 900 blocks of Glendale Road.
In all, 64 homes participated in Christmoose that concluded on Christmas Eve.
“I just make the moose, put them on their way and everybody else puts in time decorating them — saddles, snow skies, Santa hats, sunglasses and an umbrella and Christmas apron,” said Marken, a Glendale Road resident for 26 years.
He also creates a cemetery scene for Halloween with a witch, grim reaper and ghosts.
“The kids have a blast with it. I just it’s good chemistry we have here in the neighborhood. Most people are very outgoing,” he said.
Inger Eiesland-Schultz has lived on Glendale Road for 18 years, and said the Markens were “the heart of the neighborhood.”
“Christmoose gives us a sense of community that keeps us coming together,” she said.
Kate Barnett and her family adorned the moose with earrings made from wine corks and silver balls.
“We had the moose on Christmas Eve with a big light on it. Lots of people stopped and saw it. My five grandchildren were over for Christmas day. They were very excited,” said Barnett, who taught at Pleasant Ridge School in Glenview for 25 years.
Also revived this year was the neighborhood block party in September when more than 100 attended.
Conrad Nowak’s rock band, Nuisance, provided live music and neighbors brought food and games.
“It was a heck of an affair and real fun because of our neighborhood’s diversity and variety of professions,” Nowak said.
“We had traditional food from around the world — India, China, South America, Mexico, Poland and Germany.”
Doug said his wife was a big part of the Christmoose project.
“She is so supportive of my projects, she’s my biggest fan, my sounding board, biggest critic and helps with problem solving,” he said.
