History Of The Chicago Ridge
Youth Service Bureau
On Nov. 18th, 1975, Chicago Ridge Mayor Eugene
Siegel, along with Village Trustees Thomas Cooper,
George Ryniak, William Herrington, Charles Tokar, Paul
LaChance and Susan Zelis, established a Youth Com-mission
in Chicago Ridge. The Commission was to
identify the unmet needs of area young people and then
make program and service recommendations. Technical
assistance for the study came from the Youth Service
Department of Cook County and was provided in the
person of Mary Ferrick.
" I remember joining the efforts of people like Bill
Landuyt, Park District Director Jim Doian, Father Joseph
Bennett of Our Lady of the Ridge, Juvenile Officer Bob
Vamucci, and Sandy Luckett," recalled Ferrick, who now
does grant- writing on a part- time basis with the Fifth
District Court. " There were also several young people
involved in the YSB efforts at the time... Dave Matthiesen,
John Lasky, Jack McGreelin, Judy Tranowski, and Deanna
Gourneau. Everyone working on the project was sincerely
concerned about what could be done to better meet the
needs of area young people, parents, and families in the
community. I have very positive memories of those early
days... and I'm pleased to see that those early efforts
continue to produce fruit through the current program
services of the Youth Service Bureau," Ferrick concluded.
Community Calendar
DECEMBER 29 - Saturday - Flea Market, McDonald-
Linn Chicagp Ridge VFW, 10537 Ridgeland, 8 a. m. to 5
p. m.
JANUARY 3 - Thursday - McDonald Linn Chicago
Ridge VFW, Spaghetti Dinner & Bake Sale, 10537
Ridgeland, 5 to 8 p. m.
JANUARY 4 - Friday - Worth Township Senior Citizens
Org. Meeting, Worth Township Center, 11601 Pulaski,
1 p. m.
JANUARY 7 - Monday - Chicago Ridge Village Corn-
Mayor Siegel remembered the early days ± ondly. " In
August of 1975 the original study group was commis-sioned
and they worked so well gathering data that by
November we heard their recommendations and were able
to establish the Youth Commission to plan the YSB. By
January of 1976, store front offices were established at
10619 S. Ridgeland and remodeling was begun to make
the space suitable for meetings. By the summer of 1976,
we were all working together to secure seed money to start
up the YSB. By August, a search committee was estab-lished
to begin reviewing and screening candidates for the
Director's position./' •
" Sandra Luckett was the chairperson during the first,
very active year. She helped guide the screening and hiring
process through its various stages," Siegel continued.
" There were over 35 qualified candidates for the YSB
Director's position and it was no small task to coordinate
those meetings and set the agendas. A lot of people were
involved in the interviewing process of narrowing the field
to the top three candidates for the final selection. Hank
Zwirkoski was our unanimous choice as YSB Director in.
November, 1976, and we were confident that we had
chosen a very bright, outstanding young man with great
energy and talent. As we celebrate the Youth Service
Bureau's 25th anniversary, our opinion of Hank's leader-ship
has only been strengthened," Siegel concluded. " He
has been a great resource to our young people and to
parents in our town."
Maureen Socha, the current YSB Liaison, expressed a
real sense of pride at the Youth Service Bureau record
over these past 25 years. " There has been much done to
provide helpful counseling, training, and resource infor-mation
to hundreds of young people, parents, and families
since the YSB began. The bureau's accomplishments have
been recognized locally, regionally, and across this state. It
has been very satisfying to see the YSB programs and
services become a valuable resource to our families here in
Chicago Ridge. These are stressful days for our young
people and parents. Many couples also feel the strain of
the workplace, parenting responsibilities, and relationship
pressures. The Youth Service Bureau provides support,
encouragement, and counseling to family members so
those stresses don't destroy us or tear our families apart."
