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Niles Night Of Roses Honorees An Impressive List Of Those Who Give Back


Niles police commanders congratulate officer John Gaba (center) on being named the 2018 Niles Night of Roses Public Safety Excellence Award winner. (from left) Detective Joe Romano, Deputy Chief Joe Penze, Gaba, Chief Luis Tigera and Cmdr. Robert Tornabene.

Niles Chamber of Commerce officials announced last week this year’s list of “Nilesites,” or civic award winners set to be honored for their work in the community, at the Niles Night of Roses banquet next month.

The 14th Annual “Niles Night of Roses – A Tribute to Homegrown Success” banquet will take place Friday, April 27 at Chateau Ritz. This year’s top honor, the Bob Wordel Living Legend Award, will go to lifelong Niles resident John Jekot, a village trustee and director of the Golf Maine Park District. Jekot also sits on the board of the Maine, Niles Special Recreation District and is an active member of the St. John Brebeuf Men’s Club, where he organizes the summer festival, football tailgate party and Polar Express events. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Niles Optimist Club and Skokie Valley Rotary Club.

“It’s humbling,” Jekot said. “There are so many individuals who do a lot for this town. It’s an honor to be recognized for doing what you love doing.”

Niles Citizen of the Year is Mansi Bodalia, “one of our youngest citizens,” who, according to chamber officials, is “an inspiration who leads by example and turned her sadness into compassion, spreading joy and making our community a better place.”

The Distinguished Award for Voluntary Service goes to Kathleen Jarems, a 10-year volunteer at the WINGS (Women in Need Growing Stronger) store in Niles who performs in nearly every capacity at the store. WINGS serves women who have suffered domestic abuse. Jarems entered an abusive marriage at the young age of 18, WINGS CEO Rebecca Darr said in her nomination letter. After years of abuse, Jarems escaped that marriage. Without of the support of family, she went on to build a life, getting remarried and having a career.

In retirement she came to WINGS, an organization Jarems said she wished she had to turned to years ago. “People don’t realize how much domestic violence exists, that it goes on in our own community,” she said.

The 2018 Dedication to Youth Excellence Award goes to Culver School Principal Peggie Maniscalco, who spent 18 years at the school — 10 years as a teacher and eight as principal — before announcing in December her upcoming retirement this summer.

Maniscalco said she was “shocked and surprised” to receive the award, giving credit to school staff.

“I’m just a token educator,” she said. “The whole staff works together for youth excellence. My award is spending every day with these kids.”

One police officer and two firefighters will also be honored with Public Safety Excellence awards. Firefighter paramedics Jordan Brandwein and John Monoscalco, who had less than two years combined time on the job between them, responded to a call of a 4-year-old who collapsed in a park in August.

Working with North Maine firefighters, Niles Fire Chief Marty Feld said Brandwein and Monoscalco responded to the scene, along with North Maine firefighters, to find the young boy collapsed without a pulse.

Feld said Brandwein and Monoscalco used an external automated defibrillator to restart the boy’s heart and quickly transported him to Lutheran General Hospital. That boy is alive today because of the quick actions of Brandwein and Monoscalco.

The other Public Safety Excellence Award will go to Niles police officer John Gaba, who heads Niles truck traffic enforcement and works to prevent distracted driving. Police spokesman, Cmdr. Robert Tornabene, said Gaba often coordinates with other police departments, including officers in Park Ridge and Illinois state troopers, to coordinate truck inspections and enforcement efforts.

Gaba has served as a sworn Niles officer since 2001. He started started his career with the department as a community service officer in 1996.

This year’s Small Business of the Year Award goes to Dear Franks. Owned and operated by the Kash family for more than a decade, the local eatery has always shown a willingness to support local causes, local festivals and events, chamber officials said.

Corporate Citizen of the Year Award goes to Golf Mill Ford. The Ken Scheel Chamber Member of the Year Award goes to Paul Ayala, of Walmart. Both winners were both cited for their strong support of giving back to the Niles community.

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