Executive director logs 25 years at York Center Park District
by Bonnie MacKay                                     
For Sharon Neubauer, almost half her life has been spent at one job—a job she finds fulfilling and fun, too.
Neubauer, who recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with the York Center Park District, remembers the “early” days when the district was just “a little house on the prairie.”

The park district had been started in 1971 by the Prazma family, Neubauer outlined. It was 1973 when the district purchased the Yelenich property at 16th and Luther streets.
Although she wanted to become a band manager when she was in high school and college, the field of recreation beckoned and her career choice took another path.
“You have to have a passion for what you do,”  Neubauer said.

Her first job in the field was with the Evergreen Park Recreation Department, where she interned. She then worked for the Palos Heights Recreation Department for a year, before joining the York Center Park District in 1985 as assistant director.
“It was a great opportunity,” Neubauer recalled.
At that time, the district consisted of a small house and a pond on about 6 acres of land at 1609 S. Luther, Lombard. There were two full-time employees in the early years, she said.

Neubauer became the executive director just one year later.
“It’s exciting to have your own district,” Neubauer said.
In 1993, a community center was added around the house. The community center included a gymnasium, preschool room, dance studio, kitchen, museum/board room, front lobby area, office and storage, Neubauer related in an article last year.
Today, the district is made up of a number of facilities including its newest facility, Knolls Community Park, 1416 S. Meyers Road, Lombard, which officially opened last July.

“We just built a park and that’s been exciting,” Neubauer related, adding that the district purchased an old Waste Management site of 6.2 acres.
The new park is totally handicap accessible and offers outdoor fitness equipment. The setting is “very open, natural prairies,” the director said, adding that there are still projects to be completed in the new park.
Other amenities include an accessible fishing pier, where fisherman can try their skill at fishing for bass, catfish and blue gills. Also, there is a fire pit for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, as well as a shelter.

The purchase of the new park property was made possible by two grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the park director explained. The park district also received an $83,000 grant from the DuPage Community Foundation.
As one of the finishing touches, the district plans to install interactive signs in the park.
Today, the park district has six full-time employees and over 50 part-time employees. The district offers over 400 programs to the 5,000 residents of the park district each year, which includes a number of special events such as Touch a Truck, a Couch Potato Fest and an Earth Day celebration. According to Neubauer, the special events usually draw about 350 participants.
“We’re little, but we do a lot,” Neubauer quipped.

In addition to the original park (Lake Yelenich Park) and Knolls Community Park,  the district also includes Villa Roosevelt Park, Knolls Park and Grammercy Park.
Because the park district is a small district, Neubauer works closely with staff, said her administrative assistant Kathy Leonard.
“Sharon’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious,” Leonard said. “This is witnessed by the many programs, outings, special events and growth of the park district over the years.”
For more information on York Center Park District, call 630-629-0886 or visit www.yorkcenterparks.org.
Jane Charmelo contributed to this article.



Glenbard East to present ‘Broadway, Our Way’ Feb. 3-6
by Suzanne Bolur                                                 
Glenbard East Theatre will bring a number of favorite Broadway songs to Lombard this week with its production of “Broadway, Our Way.”
The show features selections from Broadway shows including "Pippin,” “Chicago,” “Wicked,” “The Will Rogers Follies,” “Spamalot” and “The Producers.”

It’s been two years since Glenbard East last presented a dance show. Director and choreographer Phyllis LiFonti said the shows are popular because it gives the audience a chance to escape to another world.
“You can forget your problems,” LiFonti explained. “Just let yourself become part of a different world as you sit back and enjoy the show.”

Auditions were held the second week of November and about 50 students tried out. LiFonti said they were looking for students who could sing, dance and act.
“It was amazing, all the talent that came out for the auditions,” said LiFonti, who has been choreographing productions at Glenbard East for 16 years. “I knew there was a lot of vocal talent as well as dance talent, but I was surprised by how many individuals were interested in being part of a Broadway-type show.”
Megan Simmons, a former student of LiFonti’s, is assisting with choreography for the show. Simmons graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in dance and musical theater. She is currently performing in “Funny Girl” at Drury Lane in Oak Brook.
Freshman Claire Castelli plays Nessarose in “Wicked” and a little old lady in “The Producers.” Castelli has been taking voice lessons for three years. This is her first time performing onstage, having worked on box office and costumes for the school’s fall play.

“It’s cool to get to know the directors,” explained Castelli. “It’s just cool to be involved. I’ll definitely try out for more plays.”

Senior Robert Leahy plays Boq in “Wicked,” King Charlemagne in “Pippin” and Max in “The Producers.” He has been involved in theater since his freshman year, including a performance in “A Chorus Line,” where he said he picked up some dance moves.
Leahy has been in concert choir since his sophomore year and is involved in Madrigals and Eastwinds.
The senior said his favorite part of being in the dance show has been working with the cast.

“I really like the cast,” he explained. “We’re all really close friends and we’ve been having a lot of fun. There’s a lot of inside jokes and we’re just having a good time.”
After graduation, Leahy plans to study acting at Illinois State University.
Sophomore Kathy Baldyga has a dance solo in “Wicked” and also performs in “Chicago” and “The Will Rogers Follies.” She was in two other productions at Glenbard East, “The Sound of Music” and “The Sparrow.”
Baldyga has been dancing for 13 years. She is trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and musical theater. She takes dance lessons at The Dance Centre on Main Street in Lombard.

“I love the cast and the directors are awesome,” Baldyga said of being involved in the dance show, adding that she started taking singing lessons last year. She definitely plans to continue trying out for productions at Glenbard East.
This is senior Corinne Horner’s first production at Glenbard East. She has ensemble roles in “The Producers” and “Pippin.”
Horner said she decided to audition because “it seemed like it would be a lot of fun.”
Horner, a swimmer, took dance lessons when she was younger, including tap, hip hop, ballet and jazz. She was in choir in sixth grade.
“I love the work that goes into putting on a great play,” said Horner, who is thinking about trying out for future productions. “There’s watching plays, and then there’s actually being in it and all the crazy stuff that goes into it. I love being involved with all the background stuff.”

After graduation, Horner plans to attend Butler University and major in education.
Junior Michael McClinton is in “Pippin,” “Wicked” and “Spamalot.” He has been involved in theater since his freshman year. He is also in concert choir and Eastwinds. He was in “A Chorus Line,” where he gained dance experience.
McClinton said his favorite part of being in the dance show has been learning a variety of dance styles.

McClinton is assistant director for the upcoming play “Proof.” This is his second time as assistant director and while he said he loves being onstage, he is looking forward to a break.
“I walk away from every show with a good experience,” he said. “I’ve had fun even though I was stressed out and tired. I’ve had fun with so many good people and so many good friends.”
Sophomore Christian O’Kelley plays Will Rogers, Leo in “The Producers” and ensemble roles in “Pippin” and “Wicked.” He has been involved in theater since his freshman year when he was cast in all three of the main stage productions.
O’Kelley sings in concert choir and has been taking tap dance for three years. He takes lessons at Jo’s Footwork Studio in Western Springs.
O’Kelley said his favorite part of being in the dance show was learning how to spin a rope for his role as Will Rogers.
“Learning a new skill for a show is very fulfilling,” O’Kelley explained. “I really enjoy it.”

As part of Glenbard East’s 50th anniversary, there will be an alumni reception in the foyer following the performance on Friday night. According to director Mark Kaetzer, the reception will be a time for former theater and music students to reconnect, tour the backstage facilities and reminisce about past Glenbard East Theatre productions. The reception will begin around 9:30 p.m. and will go until 11 p.m.
“Broadway, Our Way” runs tonight through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Glenbard East High School, 1014 S. Main Street in Lombard. Tickets are $6. Call 630-424-6640 for tickets.