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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:32AM

Glenview Blades skate to success

The Glenview Ice Center’s Junior Blades and Mini Blades synchronized skating teams posted strong performances at the KICKLine Synchronized Team Skating Competition hosted by the Franklin Park Ice Arena Jan. 22. Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a program together. Elements in synchronized skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines and intersections.

The Junior Blades won their event skating to the theme of “Paris!” The team is a Sr. Youth Skating team coached by Tracy Blomquist and Tera Hoffman, and consists of 16 skaters: Rachel Barda, Madison Blinick, Katherine Borg, Isabella Duan, Gina Fiorentino, Katherine Hinrichs, Olivia Johnson, Peyton LaVelly, McKenzie Liboy, Rachel Luo, Christina Moy, Emily Murdach, Julia Niklewicz, Ngozi Okoli, Katie Roberts and Alexis Schlau.

The Mini Blades, coached by Kristy Lohre and Maria Scianna, placed third in the Youth Formation division with 15 team members: Paige Arvanitis, Meghan Blomberg, Peyton Bond, Sarah Church, Alexandra and Samantha Libman, Caroline Lommer, Ngozi Okoli, Delaney and Lilly Rossi, Audrey Sarasin, Anna Shabelman, Lily Smith, Marla Tamul, and Allison Vogelmeier. Their skating theme is based on “Vacation.”

In addition to their competitive skating, the Glenview Blades teams also participate in projects that benefit the community. In September, the girls made fleece blankets that were donated to senior citizens at Madonna House in Chicago. In November, The Glenview Blades held their fourth annual Skate-A-Thon, raising $8,868. In addition to supporting the teams, every year at least 10% of the proceeds of the Skate-A-Thon are donated to a deserving charity. This year, the Blades gave $886 to the Northfield Food Pantry. The Glenview Blades would like to thank all the families, friends, and neighbors who supported the Blades and the Food Pantry through this event.

The Junior Blades and Mini Blades are getting ready for the Mardi Gras Competition at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, which will be held Saturday and Sunday.

Chuck Balling
receives Fellow Award

Chuck Balling, executive director of the Glenview Park District was presented with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Fellow Award at the association’s annual conference held Jan. 27 at the Chicago Hyatt Hotel in Chicago.

The IPRA Fellow Award is presented to one past or present park and recreation professional who has shown excellence in promoting the parks and recreation movement on a statewide basis.

Balling has served as the executive director of the Glenview Park District for the past 5 years. Before joining the Glenview Park District he served as the executive director for the Gurnee Park District for ten years. Prior to that, Balling held various positions at the Homewood-Flossmoor, Elmhurst and Naperville Park Districts.

IPRA presented Balling with the Fellow Award based on his energetic passion for parks and recreation and dedication as the industry’s advocate throughout his 35-year career. He was one of three Americans invited to present at an international health and fitness conference in Moscow. He testified in Springfield before the state legislature for the release of committed Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants, critical as funding sources for parks and recreation agencies across the state.

Balling has worked tirelessly with villages, school districts, libraries, special recreation agencies, businesses and community organizations to promote not only quality recreation facilities and programs but also a quality of life. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in negotiating hundreds of acres of open space land acquisitions and development of millions of dollars worth of new and renovated state-of-the-art facilities benefiting the communities he has served.

Balling has a remarkable ability to lead by example and build consensus through long-term strategic planning earning him the respect and trust of park boards, employees, colleagues and the community. After successfully completing extensive strategic planning for two park districts including the Glenview Park District, he then led the charge at IPRA to develop a new strategic direction, which expands the association’s services for recreation professionals.

Servpro fourth on franchise rankings

Servpro, a disaster recovery and restoration franchise company with an office in Glenview, jumped up four notches on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 ranking this year, moving to the fourth spot in 2012 from the eighth spot in 2011

The Glenview Servpro is at 2079 Johns Court, and can be reached at (847) 832-9300.