Nightcap with the Noras and our Guest Phil Nawrocki

Phil Nawrocki joins us for our second Nightcap with the Noras! Listen in as he takes us on a journey from Chicago loft living to becoming a central figure in the Western Springs community. 

What makes this conversation fascinating is Phil's natural path to local governance. After sending a hopeful email to the village caucus, he was told to "become president of your subdivision first"—a challenge he embraced wholeheartedly. Soon he was walking every street in Ridgewood documenting potholes and transforming neighborhood social gatherings. His hands-on approach demonstrates how accessible small-town governance can be when residents roll up their sleeves.

The episode takes a delightful turn when Phil reveals the origin story of Western Springs' famous "Penguin House"—an inherited tradition featuring 80 illuminated penguins that his family arranges in themed displays each Christmas season. From boxing rings to red carpets, these creative scenes have become a beloved community attraction created with the help of his four children. Equally charming is the tale of his wife Amanda's legendary jello shots color-matched to team uniforms at their children's sporting events.

Beyond the entertaining anecdotes lies a thoughtful exploration of what makes communities thrive. Phil describes Western Springs as "Mayberry-like," where neighbors know each other, stop to chat on sidewalks, and even knock on the village trustee's door with concerns. It's a refreshing reminder that meaningful connections still form the backbone of truly special places to live.

Have you witnessed how small acts of community involvement can transform a neighborhood? What traditions have you started that bring people together? Listen, reflect, and perhaps be inspired to take that first step toward deeper community engagement wherever you call home.

Mike Haggerty Buick GMC
Right on the corner, right on the price! Head down to 93rd & Cicero & tell them the Noras sent you!

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Transcript

Meet the Norahs and Easter Reflections

Speaker 1 0:07

Hi, thanks for joining us today. It's Nora and Nora, welcome to those of you tuning in for the very first time and those of you who come back for more, week after week. We're glad you're here. Yes, we sure are, especially after our funky sign-off. Oh my gosh, I know, yeah, some days we have it all together and sometimes it takes a couple tries, it does. Can you hear the birds in the background? I know, yeah, some days we have it all together and sometimes it takes a couple tries it does. Can you hear the birds in the background? I do, it's lovely. This is not Augusta and we are not CBNs. We are not pumping in that sound, we're not whispering.

Speaker 1 0:35

I wish we had one of those headsets Like the thing we wear on golf courses. I don't. Could you imagine if you just told me like oh, where are your AirPods? Nope, this is so much better. I'm good, it's noise canceling. Oh man, we've had a lot of days off and a lot of wonky schedules. It is wonky, we are finally back to having all of your children and all of my children back in school. Yes, until it's summer, yeah, but it's like only seven weeks.

Speaker 1 1:08

Wow, that's going to be fast. How was your Easter? It was lovely. It was really nice. My in-laws came in from New York, so that was really nice. Had a little egg-dyeing party. It was awesome, because I love the mess. How were your marshmallows? The marshmallows were okay. It's messy because you have to use food dye. You can't use the Easter egg dye. And my sister-in-law, who is so cute, she doesn't like mess. And I was like, oh, this is all mess. And then she had her son on her lap. Who's two. I was like do you want a t-shirt to cover your shirt? It was nice of her to hold him. She should have put him in a chair so he could make his own mess.

Speaker 1 1:46

So it was very cute. I have pictures we can share if people want to see. Did you dye Easter eggs? We did, we did Was it a success?

Speaker 2 1:54

It was, yeah, it was a success.

Speaker 1 1:56

There are very few times that all six of us are together and we had a window of like 15 minutes. That's really neat that I spotted on the calendar ahead of time. So we set everything up and then, yeah, it was cute, did they like it? Yeah, they did. Oh, but Ryan doesn't like the smell of vinegar. Oh, that Okay, so he was not part of it.

Speaker 2 2:22

Wait what he?

Speaker 1 2:23

was just like plugging his nose. Oh, like that much. Like I opened the windows, I'm like it's not that bad.

Speaker 2 2:28

No.

Speaker 1 2:28

I love that smell you do, because it reminds me of Easter, like it makes me feel like home. It makes you feel all Easter-y, but we had a really nice Easter because we hit 730 Mass AM. My big kids wanted to do that to get it out of the way, which was fine, oh, and then we came back and had a little breakfast.

Speaker 1 2:46

What time did you wake up? Oh, I worked out before we went Five Cheese and crackers. But then we came home and did breakfast and baskets and everybody was home, hmm, and not really on screens and just kind of like Chilling Hanging out together.

Speaker 2 3:01

Yeah it was great we needed that.

Speaker 1 3:02

We needed kind of like a little reset with just us. Yeah, my parents came over for a quick dinner, did an egg hunt inside because the weather was terrible. Oh, I thought of you. I was wondering if you were going to do yours inside or outside.

Speaker 2 3:16

We did it inside yeah. Did you do?

Speaker 1 3:18

one we did. So. The Easter Bunny hid all the eggs and for the first time I took a little page out of your book. We left the real eggs but then also plastic eggs in their baskets to see what would happen. And the Easter Bunny filled those. Wait. So the Easter just to clarify, the Easter Bunny takes the eggs from the basket, hides them, replaces them with treats, so the eggs get hidden and then there's treats in the basket In place of Of the eggs. Yes, but yes, but you gotta go find your eggs. But he put money in son the plastic ones.

Speaker 1 3:49

That's fine I know, that's why they hunt. So the kids were like oh this, I like the plastic, this is great. So I didn't hide any of our real eggs. Oh okay, did people eat them? Yeah, oh good, look on, good, you have a look on your face.

Speaker 2 4:04

I did.

Dr. Pepper Peeps Taste Test

Speaker 1 4:04

Yeah, but speaking of Easter treats, my dad these were gifted to my dad, who then gave them to me to see if we would like to try it. Are we going to get? Am I going to guess what it is? I kind of want you to smell it, okay, so you can figure out what it is All right.

Speaker 2 4:20

Should I close my eyes?

Speaker 1 4:21

Yeah, close your eyes. Oh yeah, because if you see it, you're going to know, Okay, are you going to put it in my hand or are you going to pass me?

Speaker 2 4:26

the whole bag.

Speaker 1 4:26

Well, I'll let you smell it first and then I'll put it in your hand. Okay, I'm not going to like do anything funny. Okay, smell. This is so weird Because.

Speaker 1 4:33

I want to see if you can figure it out. I didn't know you were going to put your face forward. Listeners, I'm sitting here with my eyes closed. All right, I'm right by your hand. Just let me hold it, okay. Well, then you're going to know what it is. Well, give me the whole bag, or put it on a plate. Okay, here, put it on this plate. Okay, here you go. Is it on this?

Speaker 2 4:54

Yeah, I don't feel it, it's very light.

Speaker 1 4:56

Okay, you can touch it and you can open your eyes. It just sounds like nothing. Oh Ew, it's a peep.

Speaker 2 5:07

Okay, do you know? Don't tell me what flavor it is.

Speaker 1 5:10

Don't tell me what flavor it is, peeps. I'll tell you don't smell like anything or feel like anything, but I'm going to go for it. It's a really. It looks like the color. I know what this is. It looks like the color, the color of bacon. I don't like Peeps, but I'm going to try it. Hold on, is it a hot tamale? No, ugh, it's not a hot tamale, mm-mm.

Speaker 2 5:29

Well, I don't like either of the things.

Speaker 1 5:31

I know what this is.

Speaker 2 5:32

Okay, you do know what this?

Speaker 1 5:33

is? It's so close. Is it Coke? Mm-mm. Cherry, you're closer with cherry Coke. But Coke, what is that? It has a higher degree than Coke. What is it? Dr oh, dr Pepper, dr Pepper flavored oh, I don't care for Dr Pepper or Peeps. So I was like thanks, dad, it's totally Dr Pepper. I like these. I'm gonna have another one. They're yours. I won't eat them. They are yeah. Oh, my god, these are so good. I ate the head off mine and that's about all Could you see why?

Food Collaborations and Summer Drinks

Speaker 1 6:02

I thought it was like cinnamony, I think maybe because I looked at it it looks like it's going to be spicy. These are really good. Oh, I'm so glad. Yeah, thank you, my dad will be thrilled. Switching gears a little bit, but also in the same vein as food. Did you hear about this collab? Uh-oh, miller Lite and Pringles what? I couldn't find him anywhere. It's beer can chicken flavored, chicken flavored. Wait, I thought it was Pringles. So Pringles is teaming up with Miller Lite and they've created beer can chicken flavored chips. Oh, the chips are flavored. I'm thinking the beer was flavored. I was like that's horrifying.

Speaker 1 6:42

I'm looking up a picture. Oh, the can is adorable. Beer can, chicken flavored Pringles, all right. Oh, and they also have beer broth flavored. Okay, that makes sense. Wow, Well, you don't like a flavored chip? I?

Speaker 2 6:59

don't like flavored chips. Would you give this a try?

Speaker 1 7:01

I mean, if you bring them to the podcast, I would try it for the sake of our listeners, you'd take one for the team. I just, I mean, obviously I'm not that worried about chemicals because I will have a hot dog, but I don't know, I'm like, I don't like when I can feel it like the flavor-y powder on my hands, something about that. I get that. How do you feel about chemicals? No, the chicken beer can. Chicken flavored Pringles? I don't want anything chicken flavored except chicken.

Speaker 1 7:31

I think maybe I don't know, like you know, I could go for like no, it's not it's not a good artificial flavor, like where you'd be like, oh, like our strawberry flavored, or something like where it feels refreshing Chicken flavor. Just feels like just have chicken. Or I don't want fake brat flavor either Gross, can you?

Speaker 1 7:49

imagine what you have to do to get brat flavoring. I wonder if you dip it in a ketchup, like if that type of Pringle would be for dipping. Oh, perhaps I don't know. I don't want to try it, no, okay. But there is a new drink of the summer. What is it it? I don't want to try it, no, okay. But there is a new drink of the summer. What is it? It's the dirty Aperol Spritz. Oh, we had the Aperol Spritz last summer. So what makes it dirty? The olive juice? Oh, boo, I know. Why can't people just stay in their lane? Why, I feel like that's not a good combo. Why would you want olive juice in your Aperol Spritz? I don't know. You know what that would be for me then An Aperol Spitz it out.

Speaker 1 8:31

Oh man, have you tried it? No, and I'm not going to. I don't think I know I'm not entertaining that Dirty, spritz Dirty. It might not have a gutter.

The Fourth Dimension Cocktail Introduction

Speaker 1 8:41

But speaking of drinks, yes, pretty fitting that this is our Nightcap with the Norahs episode. Right it is. And I am very relieved because I don't know what drink that Dan Chauvin has prepared for us in honor of our guest. But knowing our guest well enough, I know it's not going to be a dirty spritz. Well, should we check in with him and see, let's do it. And here we are with our segment Nightcaps with the Norahs, and we've been waiting to introduce our very special guest. Welcome, phil Narocki.

Speaker 1 9:13

Thank you so much for having me today.

Speaker 3 9:15

Village trustee. That is correct Western.

Speaker 1 9:16

Springs and meeting at the Opry. Yes, thank you, dan, for hosting us again. Thanks for being back, and I'm trying to contain my excitement here, but could you please tell us what we're about to drink, because part of the specialness of this is asking Dan to create a drink in the spirit of our guest Phil Naraki today. So can you tell us? It sounds like our guest is real fun.

Speaker 2 9:37

This is the kind of drink. Yeah, so this drink is called the Fourth Dimension, it's a smoked black. Manhattan. It was created several years ago with Pat Swanson, who's the bartender at Petite V. Oh nice local connection.

Speaker 2 9:54

I made this drink through countless iterations and narrowed it down to what it is now. And recently I reached out to him. I thought I'd like to revive it on our menu, um. And so that's what we did, and what it is. It's a. It's one of the strongest drinks we have, which is why it's called the fourth dimension. That's a new name, that's not the one that pat and I came up with. Um. If you go to v, you can order it as dan's black side note and and are you the Dan? Yes, yes.

Speaker 3 10:25

Oh look at that, See even bigger connection.

Speaker 2 10:29

So what it is, it's rye whiskey, it's Amaro.

Speaker 1 10:33

What is Amaro?

Speaker 2 10:35

Amaro is basically a concentration of fruit to herbs, spices, vegetables Concentrated into a liqueur, oftentimes using like white wine or red wine. They originated as medicinal therapies way back in the day, so, like a lot of them still use the same recipes from when they were originally created and are like hand foraged from like the Alps and stuff like that. Wow.

Speaker 2 11:05

One of my favorites is called braulio. It's a alpine amaro. We're using a lot of drinks here, but it's just fantastic and really you can really taste the ingredients and um in like a, like a very pure and refreshing and delicious way. Morrow's is a very broad category of flavor, though.

Speaker 1 11:23

Oh, that's two, so that's one. So rye, rye, amaro.

Speaker 2 11:27

Rye whiskey, amaro Sweet vermouth, oh and cherry liqueur.

Speaker 1 11:33

Oh, yeah, okay.

Speaker 2 11:35

And then stir those ingredients and pour it into your glass of choice.

Speaker 3 11:41

And I have an excellent glass. Phil has a real good glass and we have kids. Maybe that's good.

Speaker 1 11:46

Because we. But then it's smoked. Oh yeah, it goes on fire.

Speaker 2 11:50

Yes, Then you add a cocktail cherry.

Speaker 1 11:52

Oh right, oh, there yes.

Speaker 2 11:55

And you smoke it. We use apple wood to smoke it, okay, for a couple seconds, with the top covered. You remove the top and then you use a I'm ready. Yeah, it's called a flamed orange peel. So you squeeze, you peel an orange peel of a decent size, squeeze it over a flame to get the disbursement of the orange oils with the flamed flavor, and you drop the orange peel into the drink and it's finished.

Speaker 1 12:23

Okay, and does it stay in here while we drink it?

Speaker 2 12:25

It does, it can All right, well, cheers, you guys Cheers.

Speaker 1 12:28

I'm afraid to spill yours, but cheers.

Speaker 2 12:30

No, you did a good job shirzing.

Speaker 1 12:33

It's good.

Speaker 2 12:34

It's delicious right. Yeah, I was worried it was yeah, it's a good thing.

Speaker 1 12:39

We split one. Oh, yes indeed.

Speaker 3 12:41

You'll see, maybe later, maybe, yes, but how?

Speaker 1 12:44

wonderful, something sweet, something strong, something a little smoky.

Speaker 3 12:48

Yes, the smoky part is great, many dimensional it's a nice balance and very representative of Phil Naraki.

Speaker 1 12:54

Yes, okay, so, phil, let's dive in. Will you just tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and about your family and how you ended up here in Western Springs?

Phil's Journey to Western Springs

Speaker 3 13:02

Sure, yeah, I grew up in Tinley Park and lived there until through college and I went to Northern Illinois University, graduated from there and a degree in information systems, and then got my first job on the wrong side of O'Hare as I moved in with some buddies right next to Reefy Fields so you could see Wrigley through our window Very cool At the time Directly across the metro. I'm sure you guys are very familiar and have been to many shows there and lived there for many years and bounced around, as many people do, through time with roommates and what have you. And then Wait, same roommates bounced around from place to place.

Speaker 1 13:39

Well, for yes, People dropping off.

Speaker 3 13:40

People would drop off as they were like coupling off that is an excellent question.

Speaker 1 13:44

Yes, we had Coupling off, yeah.

Speaker 3 13:46

You know some guys, we'd girlfriends, they'd move in with them, or all right, I'm moving out of state, or what have you. At one point we lived right by Hamlin Park and we call it the real world house, because my buddy actually went up and down the rows of his company and said, hey, we want to live here, it'll be cheap rent. Who wants to move in? No kidding. And a girl said, I do, and I have a friend that's graduating from college and she's going to move in too. So we had no idea who these people were. It was really the real old house.

Speaker 1 14:11

Did it work out, was one of them, amanda.

Speaker 3 14:14

No.

Speaker 1 14:17

Wasn't that amazing.

Speaker 2 14:18

It was quite a tie-in. I was like and, and and.

Speaker 3 14:21

And so we did that for a couple years. But, as you guys were saying, people moved in and out, so we lived there for like two years with a random cast of characters that came in and out through those two years.

Speaker 1 14:31

That's an amazing experience, though, I think, to have roommates, Like whether or not you know them or not, just to be able to live with other people in that way and outside of college, I think like in the real world when you have a job and actually to function on an adult level but still kind of coexist with other people.

Speaker 3 14:47

Yes, you're at different times and you truly see how people are and what their habits are and who is messy and who is a clean freak.

Speaker 1 14:58

And also, how much of other people's mess can you handle? Yes, it gets to that sometimes and things.

Speaker 3 15:04

We had a couple of discussions about that.

Speaker 1 15:06

And you know, as you do over time, house meetings In the fridge like house meetings at five o'clock.

Speaker 3 15:10

What are the expectations here? Oh Well, how can we make this something that's fun, but I love how?

Speaker 1 15:16

you took a risk on like just random people.

Speaker 3 15:21

People, people to do it. But yeah, it was a really good point how you meet people and how you interact outside of that too. You go to work, you meet a bunch of people.

Speaker 1 15:27

You come out here, you meet a lot of people, and how did you finally make it out here?

Speaker 3 15:30

Yeah. So Amanda and I met actually playing softball at Hamlin Park, so there's a little bit of a tie in there and we are different teams. I tried to recruit her to our team and she houdini out of the bar as we were talking. No way, because she got the story that some of her friends, some of the teammates on her team, weren't paying the tab. So her and her one teammate got stuck to the table all the time. She's like well, guess what, I'm getting back at them tonight. And so I got that story later, not thinking, oh my gosh oh, because you're right.

Speaker 3 16:00

she just dipped yeah, I like where are you going? Like we just started talking. She's like, oh yeah, I'll see you, phil, just right out the door and stuff. So then we waited another season.

Speaker 1 16:09

Waited a whole nother season.

Speaker 3 16:10

Yeah, so yeah, right, exactly A whole nother time frame, and my team and her team had a bunch of people that had moved to the suburbs, and so we were living downtown in the south loop did you have kids downtown? So, yes, we had two. So zoe and brody were there and I'll never forget I came home from uh work the one day and she she was on maternity leave at the time she goes. That's it, we're done. Buy a house now. I can't live.

Speaker 1 16:47

Oh, I thought she meant with kids. I was like uh-oh, I get that, because being home with kids while you're gone, it really must feel like you must feel stuck.

Speaker 3 16:57

I loved living in an apartment with kids. Oh, you did, because I was like I got eyes on everybody. Did you have different rooms? We had a three-bedroom. See, that's the difference. We had 900 square feet with the four of us. Oh, and it was a loft.

Speaker 1 17:11

Oh, okay, yep, all right.

Speaker 3 17:13

I can see how that would be. So it was, you know, as soon as one of them went to sleep it was it's. Yes, we still have it. It's great oh yeah, we still rent it out and stuff and you take your kids back to be like.

Speaker 1 17:25

This is where it all started.

Speaker 3 17:26

Yes, and they're always amazed to see they don't remember anyway, then they come and they're like oh, and they'll be randomly like can we go down there and like see it again? Like yeah, when you know tenants are moving, you can't just show up, right, you're like oh hey I was born here. My kids want to come in when we're in.

Speaker 1 17:42

I lived in New York on the Upper West Side was in the basement level, right by all the garbage cans, and it only had two windows. So when we go to New York I'm like this is where I used to live. They're like on purpose.

Speaker 3 17:51

You really chose that, as the they're like that's gross.

Speaker 1 17:54

I'm like it was disgusting, it was vile and it had mold in the ceiling, anyways, anyways. So then, how did you pick Western Springs?

Speaker 3 18:02

So it was in between both of our families. So I grew up in the south suburbs. Amanda grew up on the northwest side so we picked the middle plus close to the train. It's 20 minutes downtown. Amanda was working at 26 in California at the time so it was easy to go down Ogden and get to work. We would drive together sometimes and she would drop me at the Orange Line. I would get that quality time together, and so she would drop me at the orange line. I'll get that quality time together, and so she would drop me the orange line. I would take the rest of the way to work and things. So it just worked out perfectly and we'd heard so many good things about the area. I had known a few friends that moved out that way or I said this way and we're like you gotta move out here. Come on, it's great, it's getting me over?

Speaker 1 18:36

sure, glad you did. And once you got out here, did you know immediately you wanted to dive into the politics of Western Springs, or how did that come?

Speaker 3 18:44

to be yeah, so it was funny. I moved out here and you know it was Obama election. Everybody was invested in it. I feel like the first time social media really took over politics and you were seeing it so much on television and at that time it was, you know, the biggest thing Was that your fingertips.

Speaker 1 19:00

You didn't just have to watch it on the news you could get it whenever you wanted.

Speaker 3 19:03

Yes, and so I moved out here and sent an email to the Western Spring Caucus, because that's how the government works here. It's different than Democratic Party, republican Party. We have a caucus. We have a caucus, you know that, yes, and so we're trying to publicize it more because people don't know that that's how it works. So every year it basically turns off and then turns back on the next year in things and there's a whole process to become a candidate and all of these things and there's multiple meetings for the public can come to whenever they want and see they're publicizing things. But I sent an email and they said you know, become president of your subdivision and then we can talk, was the response back. I'll never forget. Oh okay, very fine, I will work on that. So then I did so and that is a big responsibility yes, so it was funny I went to the first ridgewood.

Speaker 3 19:53

Uh, it's a ridgewood. Civic association went to the first meeting I know and went and people, the people that were on the board were like whoa, we have a person here that's watching Nora, I could talk about.

Speaker 1 20:06

I have been on the Springdale Civic Association board for seven years now.

Speaker 3 20:10

Wonderful, that's great For who no? I'm just kidding, I get that point, I get that point.

Speaker 1 20:18

So we've never had anyone. There's been no one to want to take over, right, so you went to a meeting, an open meeting.

Speaker 3 20:25

Yes.

Speaker 1 20:28

And then you're like I'll take, I'll do something.

Speaker 3 20:29

So yeah, they already had the next year's people, so you can serve two-year terms. Basically, we had every secretary, finance, vice president and president Wow, and so I think that put my name in there and the president at the time the same thing, hurting for candidates. And when I ran and he reached out and said, hey, phil, I can't have a meeting in one time.

Speaker 1 20:50

You want to jump in. That's kind of how you have to do it.

Community Involvement and Village Leadership

Speaker 3 20:53

Yeah, and so that and I'm like, oh, yes, I do, cause I wanted to get involved and help. And then you know it was during COVID when this happened, so I became VP during COVID. So you have to know that it's more of a social Sure.

Speaker 1 21:05

Yeah, association than anything else, but so I learned Still a responsibility and a time commitment.

Speaker 3 21:11

Correct yeah, one or two means a month.

Speaker 1 21:14

And it's hard to get people to buy into it.

Speaker 3 21:16

Yeah, we are lucky. I will say Ridgewood is a very strong community.

Speaker 1 21:19

Ridgewood is the gold star for civic associations.

Speaker 3 21:21

Yes, we have very, very involved community.

Speaker 1 21:25

You guys have the Ravinia there.

Speaker 3 21:26

Yes.

Speaker 1 21:27

Was that something you started?

Speaker 3 21:28

No, the previous president did and built it up, and it was he built it up to such a huge point. I don't know if you guys went that one year at the stage and all the food trucks and all that it was.

Speaker 1 21:38

So you really went through the ranks of Ridgewood Civic.

Speaker 3 21:41

Yeah, so I came in as VP and then For two years.

Speaker 3 21:48

I guess it was one year, because the woman that was president, she goes I can't do it again. Work and stuff like that you can take over. So I was basically learning everything from scratch and usually I should say it's one year, it's one year term, but usually what happens is you'd be VP, then you become president. Ok Right, it's one year term. But usually what happens is you'd be VP, then you become president. Okay Right, the other positions, you can stay longer. That's just kind of the bylaws.

Speaker 1 22:05

That's because nobody will fill them. Yeah, I'm just kidding. Well, it's part of the industry. Nora's going to be recruiting people. I would say she's going to use it.

Speaker 3 22:13

That can be one of the advertisements that pop up on Instagram. Become a Springdale Civic Association.

Speaker 1 22:19

Oh, we're going to talk about this off record.

Speaker 3 22:22

Yeah. So then became president and started doing more than probably just the pieces of events. Like Easter Bunny I started, halloween. I was doing, oh, people are going. You know, our streets are terrible, what can we do about that? So I started talking to the village and learning all the people's names and who works on what and which departments take care of this. And so I actually walked with one of our residents and drove every street of Ridgewood. We marked down every pothole or spot and it's been getting better.

Speaker 1 22:52

Like after that conversation, things started happening Like, oh, look at this, see, there's the sweet one in the sweet, and kudos to the village of Western Springs, because we had something similar happen in. Nora fixed my pothole.

Speaker 3 23:06

See, just went out there begging of assholes and just got out there tamping it down, but they listened yeah they did.

Speaker 1 23:12

That's the wonderful thing about Western Springs they listened. I called Somebody came out. We did something very similar we walked around, checked things out.

Speaker 3 23:19

Yes, and boom, yeah, yes.

Speaker 1 23:21

And I was very grateful.

Speaker 3 23:22

Yes, the village is very.

Speaker 1 23:25

it's great that they're so responsive to things and concerns what does your role at the village look like now?

Speaker 3 23:31

So now you know you're doing, you know it's I guess it's expanded right. You do some of that stuff because it's almost alderman-like, where you have to represent from each community in a way, right Like Ridgewood and Old Town, and we try to space it out in that regard. So now you vote on I hate doing that either To give a little representation, because usually you would know your neighbors and talk and people come down and go oh hey, you're a trustee, I get knocks on the door sometimes.

Speaker 1 23:53

Hey can we talk about this.

Speaker 3 23:54

At your house. Yeah, because it's, yeah, because that's, you know, we're a family.

Speaker 1 23:59

Yes, yeah.

Speaker 3 24:00

Everybody says we're like Mayberry. Right, it's, you know, your door is open, you're hanging out.

Speaker 1 24:04

You know what? I would rather someone knock on my door than send me an email.

Speaker 3 24:07

See, you get the personal connection, then right and talk it out, but not if I'm doing homework, not if I'm making dinner, not if I just worked out. So you don't want people to knock on your door. No one has a qualifications list, but if I'm out on my patio with a cocktail.

Speaker 1 24:22

Please come in. Please do not knock at this. Otherwise, send me, otherwise I'm going to, but I think if I'm out having a cocktail on my front porch, please come talk to me. Your office hours.

Speaker 3 24:31

Oh, I like that. See, that's good, that's good. So now it's more. You know what can we do to help downtown Western Springs? What kind of business can we bring in? And obviously this is one of the great ones. Yes, dan's business is wonderful. You have coffee and nightlife and it is the envy of many other communities. I've had other trustees come up and go hey, how'd you get that, did you get that like nighttime entertainment piece in, because you're looking for things to do in your community? Yeah, like, yes, you always go downtown or Oakbrook or something, but sometimes people just want to stay local and go.

Speaker 3 25:03

I can walk right here I can hear some live music, have a really good cocktail.

Speaker 1 25:11

that's really really tasty and enjoy my night and then be home in no time.

Speaker 3 25:13

Yeah, yeah, a hundred percent and stumble on home, and stumble on home, exactly right, I mean not that we ever do that.

Speaker 1 25:17

No, never, never never Something we have in common, and also with Dan as well. We all have four children.

Speaker 3 25:28

How about that? The fourth?

Speaker 1 25:29

dimension, if you will. The string hits on many levels and Nora and I were saying we often get people saying to us oh boy, you have your hands full.

Speaker 2 25:41

Or oh wow, that's a lot of kids, are they all yours?

Speaker 1 25:43

Are they all from the same parents? We were curious if you had any good responses to those comments. Or do people not say this to you?

Speaker 3 25:50

Oh no, we get that all the time. We're all in the same boat. We're in good company with that I usually get. How do you do all the things that you're doing with the multiple sports and school and homework, as we were just talking about, and all the projects that we get to add on and for kids? As we know, they all have their different projects through school and they're all involved in different things.

Speaker 1 26:12

They all kind of have their different tracks.

Speaker 3 26:14

There's that too. So they don't really. They kind of blend together and they don't. You're, you know, leaning on helpers in the community. You know we've carpooled many times, nora, with the kids.

Speaker 1 26:28

And you know, can you take one or can you hang on to one for an extra bit of time.

Speaker 3 26:29

You don't overlap with any of them. No, I think we miss, yeah, the.

Speaker 2 26:32

Narocci in the West Falls. Don't pop.

Speaker 1 26:33

It's crazy when you have that many kids in you because Dan and I overlap on one. And Dan and I overlap on one, we overlap on one, we overlap on two. But, yeah, right, that's. The nice thing about having so many kids is that you really have an opportunity to meet so many families at school because you match up with other yeah, like so many other kids.

Speaker 2 26:52

Yes.

Speaker 1 26:53

Yeah, usually, when people are like are they all yours? I was like, I think so.

Speaker 3 26:58

Yeah, they're.

Speaker 1 26:59

you guys have seen my kids there, you guys have seen my kids? I don't think there's any denying they're all.

Speaker 3 27:04

Oh my god, they all, yeah, especially you know they're definitely related and they're definitely mine. There's no like. Okay, we usually get the. Uh, you guys should have a tv show oh that films. You right, it is amanda would love to do that, I think, and be like oh yeah, we again. We were talking earlier. It would have to probably be like hbo or something or something, because there'd be so much craziness going on.

Speaker 1 27:26

I think that's fair to say, for many households with four children, hbo is probably the best outlet for it If you want it to be authentic.

Speaker 3 27:36

Exactly.

Speaker 1 27:39

But Western Springs really is a great place for large families.

Speaker 3 27:42

It is Families large and small.

Speaker 1 27:44

What do you think is the best part about living here?

Speaker 3 27:47

I think the community Everybody's so friendly and welcoming and willing to help. You see people on the street Like, hey, what's going on? And sometimes people just stop and start talking for a while, like the other day we were in Mariano's and it was me and Harper and we were in line and she was looking at some candy ahead. And it was me and, uh, harper and we were in line and she was looking at some candy. And I'm like, no, we have plenty of candy at home. And there was a nice gentleman in front of us. He goes. He turned around, he goes hey, which one are you, which one are you looking at? And she said, oh, I've never had like these lifesaver chewies or something like that. He's like, okay, he turns around and she's like come on, dad, come on. I'm like no, you already have all your stuff, we gotta get home from mom for dinner. And he le, he goes hey, I'm just going to get it for her. Are you okay with that?

Speaker 3 28:21

Oh, yeah because don't tell her, I'll give it to her when I walk there and I go. Okay, sure, and so he was nice enough to just do that. I don't think you get that everywhere that type of experience.

Speaker 1 28:29

Right, the Midwest nice, yeah, the Midwest nice, but on a higher level here.

Speaker 3 28:34

Yes.

Speaker 1 28:41

There's no question. So I think you do have that kind of mix of people who get it when you're in it with your kids, but then people who have been there and who want to be kind and sweet.

Speaker 2 28:51

Yeah, but it's multi-generational.

Speaker 3 28:53

Yeah, yeah, which is nice, I agree I agree, a good kind of vibe. Yeah, especially as you see all the families that stay right Like's, like you said, multiple generations of families, but ones that come back ones that were raised here and leave for a while and want to make it back.

The Famous Penguin House Origins

Speaker 1 29:06

Yeah 100% Speaking of famous things in Western Springs, though you were famous Besides all of your being on the village, you're the penguin house.

Speaker 3 29:15

We are, yes, I am the penguin house, which is yes, you have to tell us how it started.

Speaker 1 29:22

Where do you get your inspiration from? How many penguins do you have in your attic.

Speaker 2 29:25

Where do they live when they're not in your yard?

Speaker 1 29:28

Like no joke, people have talked about it to us who don't know you and be like, oh my gosh, they're Norekis, they're friends of ours and they're, like you know, the penguin house.

Speaker 3 29:35

Whoa, I know it's a big deal.

Speaker 1 29:37

It's a thing they'll be like where are the penguins? Why aren't you know? Like it is part of people's Christmas traditions.

Speaker 3 29:46

Amazingly it is. And so it started, as when I was working at Lori Sheldron's and there was a woman there, she was the penguin house in her neighborhood. Her husband was Mr Penguin. She showed me pictures and what have you, I didn't have kids at the time, and then, as I saw these pictures, I started having kids, like, oh, that would be awesome to actually set up now. Now I get why you do that and set all these things up and do those things. And so she moved to Florida and she goes. You know, penguins don't live in Florida. So do you express an interest? Do you want some of these?

Speaker 3 30:19

Yeah so she was nice enough to gift them to us, so I go sure I'll take some. That sounds great expecting. Ah, she'll give me like 20. Now he'd had like 500, thinking they had like 500 of these things. They were like all over the house, like on the rooftop, like teddy chase style christmas vacation, going on and so you're like itchy I.

Speaker 1 30:37

I am Like, oh, how does this end?

Speaker 3 30:40

And so she shows up with a pickup truck, a trailer and another pickup truck.

Speaker 1 30:45

Does Amanda know this?

Speaker 3 30:47

She knows we're getting some penguins, but I don't think she knows that it is yes, or March of the Penguins Just coming from their neighborhood to ours, strolling down, and I look and I go. What am I supposed to do with all these when?

Speaker 1 31:01

am I supposed to keep them?

Speaker 3 31:02

Right, where am I going to store them is an excellent question. So she goes well, you're getting them because I'm not bringing them back to my house. I go, okay, so we unload them into my garage. And I started thinking and we had kind of just moved in, so we're still learning about the house and where stuff is going.

Speaker 1 31:16

You're like well, we can only have three children because now we have a room of penguins.

Speaker 3 31:20

Yes, and so I happen to look in there we have above our garage is the attic is open.

Speaker 1 31:27

Oh.

Speaker 3 31:27

OK, so they all live there in the we'll say the off season. Every year when I open.

Speaker 1 31:33

That's where they nest.

Speaker 3 31:34

That's where they nest and hang out, but when I open it up, they're always looking at me. Oh my God, the it up. They're always looking at me. Oh I know the reaction is exactly like oh God, there's 80 of you See how?

Speaker 2 31:43

many you have.

Speaker 3 31:44

We did the math. This was the first year I put all of them 80?

Speaker 1 31:48

80. Do you put them out?

Speaker 3 31:51

So it started?

Speaker 1 31:52

yes, how does this work?

Speaker 3 31:54

Started as just me. Then Brody started helping. He's like okay, dad, I want in, which was a huge help, right, then I can give him to him on the ladder. He takes him, he tests him to make sure the light bulb works and it turns on. We look to see if you know a raccoon had eaten through the wire or what have you, because that happens all the time.

Speaker 1 32:14

Of course.

Speaker 3 32:16

I'm sure you guys have driven by. There's one penguin that looks like he's not on.

Speaker 3 32:20

Oh yeah, squirrel got him not easy coyotes yeah, not easy being a blow mold penguin these days. And so now all of them help out, which is great. So I take them down. They're getting close to like going. They want to see the attic and see them. They're not sure old enough yet to go up there and do it, so I'll go bring them down. They take them, they test them, but they come up with the idea every year what that, that scene will be. So we're, you know, we're teaching them to negotiate and vote and figure out what to do.

Speaker 1 32:49

Who's going to win this year was the boxing ring.

Speaker 3 32:51

Yes, this year was boxing.

Speaker 1 32:52

This was cool, that was clever yeah.

Speaker 3 32:54

Right, the ring was fun. We'll say quote unquote fun to build for me, because that was just me solo putting that together and going oh my goodness this is more work than I thought and then the year before it was like the red carpet, like club. Yes, because that went with that, went with the sjc trg. Yes, and things.

Speaker 3 33:09

We kind of repurposed that and said, oh, let's do this, we already have these things. You know the light upside and the red yeah, you said the red carpet and things and we could put the disco light down that we had and things. So that made that one. We've done volleyball, right, did the volleyball was lit up there and things. We did hockey one year because bernie plays hockey, so they had all those shinny sticks upon each penguin and the blue. We had blue lights the first year, for whatever reason. Man want to put blue lights in the house because our house is white and she's like let's get blue lights and I'm like that seems strange, but okay, and then the next everybody would come over, go, why do you have blue lights in your house? I go, I don't know.

Speaker 1 33:45

And so now we're back to you know the typical white lights, the standard and most, so I guess we're gonna have to stay tuned, yeah, unless, like, are you guys already talking about next year?

Speaker 3 33:53

we have a few ideas yes, you gotta start talking about it. There's already. The kids are already talking, and going wait, we're going to do this this year. And they're like and then the other ones that know we're not doing that, I want to do this. So they're getting more, they're getting stronger, they're back to stronger drink, stronger in their opinions book club.

Book Club and Rapid-Fire Questions

Speaker 1 34:11

Oh yes, Because that was a cover story not too long ago in the Western Springs publication. What's the backstory on it? Tell our listeners, because I think it's kind of cool that there's an all guys book club.

Speaker 3 34:29

Yes, so the book club started as a COVID. Okay, you can't get together, right, and you have to be spaced and outside, and you know everybody was getting cooped up. They wanted to go outside. I gotta do some things so you could get outside. So it started as that. You know, dress up and bundle up, have a a nice drink, like this in old-fashioned outdoors just going to be inside together at that point.

Speaker 3 34:52

Right, so it started that way is outdoors, fire pit still distancing in whatever way you needed to at that point? And and that then it turned, know it migrated a bit from that and now we, you know, now we can hang out and go out and things. It was a fishing trip. We're trying to do another one. I will say it used to be more consistent, now our kids are getting a little older, so it's a little harder to meet up and you're like, hang on, wait, can we do this or what?

Speaker 3 35:20

So now we kind of do lunches in a way sometimes, as we can, all kind of Still books. No, it's like well, I mean, it's kind of you know, the secret is that it's books, but it's really more hey.

Speaker 1 35:31

Okay, it's just like. It's just like, let's catch up, let's have a nice drink that Dan's putting it on.

Speaker 3 35:35

He doesn't.

Speaker 1 35:35

Yes, oh, that's right, dan's in your book. No, yeah, he's in the book. He's a perfect person to put in your book. He is the perfect person to put in. Yes, I agree. Oh my gosh Well, thank you for spending this time with us. At the end, we ask all of our guests some rapid-fire questions. Do you want to go first? Sure, sure, do you have a choice? No, no. The first question is do you prefer coffee or tea?

Speaker 3 36:05

Tea, because we actually don't drink coffee, if you can believe that with four kids.

Speaker 1 36:08

Great, I don't drink coffee either. I'm a tea girl Three, and you can serve tea. Yes, yes, drink tea, okay, early bird or night owl.

Speaker 3 36:15

Oh, night owl, 100% same. Yeah, I can stay up forever not this.

Speaker 1 36:20

Oh see I can't?

Speaker 3 36:22

Amanda says you are not a morning person at all no it's your whole family night out like I half, I will say half. We have some early birds. You and Harper, we get along really well. She's up at like 6 right rock. I'm like what are you doing?

Speaker 1 36:37

Al has a good influence on me because he's like we should go to bed and I'm like, but we could stay up.

Speaker 3 36:41

We could watch another Knackafuck show, yeah.

Speaker 1 36:43

And he's like I feel the anxiety just talking about staying up to watch another episode. It's a terrible idea Talking or texting.

Speaker 3 36:54

I like talking more or somebody knocking on your door. Right, I guess that goes into talking.

Speaker 1 36:58

Texting knocking.

Speaker 3 36:59

I like the more personal touch, but sometimes you got to text because it's quick.

Speaker 1 37:03

Sometimes I need it to go back to reference.

Speaker 3 37:06

Yes, agree, right. Or sometimes you're like, hey, I'm going to go here, I'm in stuff to you know, your wife or husband or whoever you need to get to and stuff. And now kids, my kids are getting into phones and you're like, oh, hey, I'm going to be five minutes late to pick you up from practice Right.

Speaker 1 37:19

Hang tight, take your time.

Speaker 3 37:20

Don't get dressed too quick when you're leaving your sporting event. Just take your time with your gear.

Speaker 1 37:23

It's okay, guac or salsa.

Speaker 3 37:26

Guacamole, for sure. It's so tasty. I say both so tasty. Yeah, I do like both, but if there's a great guacamole going on, I'm in.

Speaker 2 37:41

You, I can't choose, really no.

Speaker 1 37:42

I don't really like salsa, oh interesting. I don't like onions, so I always order my guacamole without onions.

Speaker 3 37:46

Oh interesting.

Speaker 1 37:48

Can you taste that in there with?

Speaker 3 37:49

the full avocado.

Speaker 1 37:51

I just don't like the crunch of it, the consistency Like a raw onion.

Speaker 3 37:55

My onions sound like that. I'll have to bring you some of my brother-in-law's, because this is like one of the best ones I've ever had and stuff and it's a little different, so I will. We'll drop one off. He ate. My Harper or Zoe asked him to make her some specifically, so now she's a big guacamole girl, so I'll bring over a little taste for you.

Speaker 1 38:10

That's the way to my heart, Phelps.

Speaker 3 38:26

I'm happily going, gotta have a few. Then you're partying and you're like let's keep going. I mean, you guys know me and amanda, we're really about jello shot we're never really the last ones to go home and jello shots is that your thing or amanda's thing, or that is amanda's thing? And it is well known outside of Western Springs even for the kids' sports where the parents are like I'm sorry, we're in an away tournament, when are those jello shots coming out? Because they know she is making them.

Speaker 1 38:54

She could probably sell them at the Opry Right here. Get your jello shots to go, wouldn't you? Like custom craft cocktail or jello in a cup.

Speaker 3 39:03

She does it by the team's colors.

Speaker 1 39:05

It's very nice, she's so good, like matches it up perfectly. I was like oh, yeah, this is great.

Speaker 3 39:09

And there was one time at Brody's Lacrosse where the coach heard about it oh gosh, and it was like 9 am and he told the boys to keep scoring as much as possible. So we do one every time a goal gets scored. So it's 9 am on Sunday and he he heard about it. He was like and they scored like 10 goals in 10 minutes.

Speaker 3 39:28

I'm like okay this is I go, amanda. I have to stop like this is getting out of control. But it was awesome that he was on board too, right where you know everybody's like oh yeah, let's do it, it's a great time all.

Speaker 1 39:38

All right. Last question what's your favorite podcast?

Speaker 3 39:42

This one.

Speaker 1 39:46

Yay, perfect, you were an awesome guest. Thank you for joining us. Thank you so much for having me. And hopefully we'll see you again soon.

Speaker 3 39:53

That sounds wonderful. Bye.

Speaker 1 39:57

Bye. Oh, hey, there, nora, nora, just the girl I wanted to talk to you about. Tell me more. You know. You know I direct a children's musical and I've got this props list that I'm trying to work through and I really need a tire. You think I have a tire. Well, I don't know. I I'm just. I'm getting desperate. Where does one get a tire? I know a guy. You all have a guy for everything. Hagerty Buick GMC Service Department is full Of tires, of the answers. They have a Fresh Start Tire event going on now. Buy three, get one for a dollar on select tires. Wait, buy three, get one for a dollar. Yes, and I'm sure if we head down to 93rd and Cicero, we'd be able to find something for you. Well, that would be great, because you know what? Why don't I just get my car some new tires, put the old one in my show? I mean, I think we just solved that problem. Prayers answered.

Speaker 1 40:55

While you're there, you can take a look at the rest of their inventory too Hummer EVs, sierra pickups, I mean you name it, buick Encores Gosh, they have it all, yeah, everything for a great deal, right on the corner, right on the price. How can I get ahold of them? You can check them out on haggardycarscom or head on down to 93rd and Cicero and just tell them Nora sent you, he's so much fun to talk to. Oh my gosh, can we? Maybe let's just be nightcap with the Noras and Phil every time? Yeah, oh, two Noras and a Phil, two Noras and a Phil. How lucky we are to live in a community with such an interesting village. Trustee, yeah, just delightful. And thank you again to Dan Chauvin for concocting such a delightful cocktail. Thank you, dan Chauvin, for opening up the Opry, serving Up Awesomeness in the morning. Thanks all around, yeah, and in the evening, and thank you to you.

Speaker 1 41:50

Should we high and low? I think Should we tell our listeners. I'm very busy at the moment and we had to record the ending of our podcast and we're doing it in my car. But the normal is turn the air conditioning on and it's 90 outside. It's bad for sound and I'm beginning to overheat. Is that your low now it?

Speaker 1 42:16

is okay, yeah, but it's also your high temperature no oh my gosh, that's my low, this is my low.

Speaker 1 42:22

My low is, um, feeling a little stressed. What's your high? My high is that my daughter came home from hanging around with some pals and she walked in with a gift and she said this is an early birthday gift for you, and she spent all of her own money that she'd been saving on the sweetest little tray that said you make this world a better place. And darling little dishcloths yeah, just for kicks, and it was the sweetest thing. I know, but she didn't have to do that. That was so kind, it was very sweet Way to go, my rose. We played Monopoly as a family with my in-laws and it was really, really fun and the kids loved it and it was a blast. It was great and I think we need to wrap it up. Thank you for listening. Thank you to Phil, thank you to Jessica for taking photos, thank you to the Opry for hosting us.

Speaker 1 43:16

And don't forget to check us out on social media and we'll see you next week. Bye, Bye.