THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008

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Bob Neil, Margaret Polovchak Honored For Community Service

Des Plaines Park Dist. commissioners will honor two longtime, active Des Plaines residents next Tuesday night for their years of service to the community promoting leisure activities and local improvement.

Bob Neil and Margaret Polovchak will be inducted to the parks Community Service Honor Roll during the regular park board meeting at the leisure center, 2222 Birch St.

Neil, a retired Des Plaines police officer, has portrayed Kiwi the Clown for many years. Mrs. Polovchak is executive director of the Maine Youth Community Assistance Foundation and has been involved in a variety of local youth-related programs.

For about the last 15 years, the park district has honored local residents and businesses that promote leisure activities and work for a better community.

According to park district Executive Director John Hecker, the recognition is not necessarily for park-only programs and activities. Hecker said Neil was chosen because of his strong visibility over the years as Kiwi the Clown and his service to the park district including as court liaison. Polovchak, said Hecker, has been very involved in youth activities especially the parks Teen Center where she has written two grants that have generated large sums of money for its operation.

Neil's and Polovchak's names will be added to Community Service plaques that hang at Prairie Lakes and the Leisure Center.