Your say - Marengo & Union: Reader-submitted essays
We asked you what made your community special. Here's what readers had to way about Marengo and Union:
Deep sense of community here
My wife and I moved to Marengo from Streamwood in 1994 because the northwest suburbs weren’t the place where we wanted to raise our kids.
We liked Marengo because it had some personality, some history and was close to open space. After living here a while, I came to appreciate its sense of community. Youth sports, scouting, the Lions Club, the economic development commission and Marengo Main Street are a few of the activities we’ve gotten involved in, It was easy to find a church that met our needs and schools that cared about our kids.
In 2004, Marengo created a comprehensive plan for the future. That influenced our decision to move our family business here, as well. Owning a restaurant in a historic downtown offers Sally and me a perfect chance to keep learn about of this engaging town.
We met World War II vets, lifelong residents, young Marengo business owners and busy working folks that come through our doors every day. Personalities and characters that give this town its unique flavor. Our customers tell us what they’re up to, and how the town is doing. If we ever have serious questions, we can always call Mayor Lockhart – he publishes his home phone number in the town paper.
A lot of people think small-town living means that everyone always knows your business. I don’t know if that’s such a bad thing. Perhaps is keeps us on our best behavior. The days of Mayberry may be gone, but when our sidewalks are packed with visitors on Putt-Putt Day or Halloween night, it’s easy to feel that a trace of them remains.
Rocco Gailloreto
Great place to raise kids
I moved to the small town of Marengo in 1988. This town has a lot to offer and is especially known for its friendly people.
I worked for a local bank in town for 6 ½ years and made many personal and business relationships. While working at the bank, I went off to school and received my business degree. I then decided to start my insurance and financial business in 1998 in Marengo, the town I grew up in.
I see this town as a great place to live and raise my children because of the small-town atmosphere and the great people that surround me. I received a good education and good moral values from the people that I looked up to, from my parents, teachers, and co-workers. I look forward to raising my children in the town of Marengo because I want them to get the education and moral values that I received from this community.
Through the relationships I built since 1988, I am able to provide for my family and protect my friends, family, and customers from financial ruin. I built my name and reputation by being honest, friendly, loyal, and doing what is best for my customers. It is my duty to give back to my community and support other young children so that they can receive the best life as I did growing up in this wonderful town. The children in our community today are our future for tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing this town grow in a positive direction.
Brad Schumann
Vet makes town better place
Our veterinarian, Dr. Tom Dujmovich, like many vets in our area, rescued cats from Hurricane Katrina and shared with their clients.
He convinced my mother-in-law she needed a cat. She was 93 years old and lived alone, but she was unable to care for a cat.
Dr. Tom came every Wednesday and Saturday to clean the litter box and visit an elderly woman for three years. She died this September.
People like Dr. Tom make Marengo a better place for people and animals, too. We admire Dr. Tom Dujmovich.
Hazell Buehler
Marengo’s generosity is evident
Marengo is my hometown, and there are many things that make it special. However, I believe what really makes it special are the people who live here.
Several years ago, our high school board members and administration decided we needed a new, bigger high school. Many people volunteered to be on the referendum committee, and many others worked to get the information to the citizens of the Marengo / Union community.
The referendum passed overwhelmingly on the first attempt. Soon, we had a beautiful new high school. Every time I go into that school, I feel so proud of it and the people who made it possible.
Another community project that I have worked on is the Marengo Area Outreach Enterprises (MORE) Center. Our goal is to help, feed, clothe, find shelter, and/or offer other necessary assistance when possible toward becoming confident, productive and independent neighbors in our community. We are also referred to as the food pantry, but MORE does so much more, including financial assistance when possible. Marengo citizens helped us finance and build a new 5,500 square-foot building.
About 110 people are on our list of volunteers, many of them working several hours each week. The citizens of our community have been most generous with donations of food, clothes, household items, and money to help us meet the needs of our people.
At Thanksgiving and Christmas, hundreds of families were given huge amounts of food, warm outer clothing, toys and other donated gifts through MORE.
People of Marengo, you are what makes our community special. I’m proud to call Marengo my hometown, and I’m proud to call many of you my friends.
Norenne Dunker
Small town, metropolitan personality
What makes Marengo a appealing small town is summed thus: enrichment.
Marengo’s enrichment curriculum begins in the 140-acre Indian Oaks Park, with soccer, baseball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, basketball, hiking, skateboarding, and bike jumps. After you master Ridge Park’s climbing wall, head to the Festival of the Sugar Maples in Coral Woods.
Marengo Library wastes no time in enriching its children with clubs, classes, and programs, beginning with infants in ‘Baby & Me’ classes.
An eco-friendly alternative to burning that dead tree is Cordwood Creations. Sculptor Michael will use his chainsaw to shape it into a lighthouse, moose, or penguin. His abstract works are sanded until smooth, lustrous, and sexy.
Donley’s Wild West Town grills beautifully marbled hunks of meat for you and your homesteaders. Mosey downtown to pan for pyrite, throw a tomahawk, or watch gunslingers and cowpokes shoot it out.
Marengo’s womankind enrich with their entrepreneurial spirit. Cakes by Dea will conjure an elegant wedding dream of raspberry chocolate fudge or a sizable Tonka Truck with gummy bear payload. Zoom & Groom trucks to anyone with a pet needing to become shiny-coated and pretty-smelling.
Options 4 Health dexterously smoothes away tension with hot stones, Reiki energy healing, and laughing yoga. After which, walk your relaxed, harmonious self next door to Day Dream Tanning to soak up some vitamin D in a light therapy session or bronze yourself in a groovy time capsule rocket standing booth.
Marengo upsets the small-town cliché with her metropolitan personality.
Charles Butler
Marengo a great place to call home
In one word: Community. Living in a small town has been a new experience for me, my wife and two children. Previously, we lived in Downers Grove, and I am originally from Chicago. We’ve become so acclimated to Marengo that we call Rockford the big city and Chicago the real big city. We moved here in 2004.
We consider Marengo our city in the country with much open land and farms everywhere. Yet we are in close proximity to both big cities as well as Wisconsin. There is a slower pace here, which suits our stage of life. We have many terrific restaurants like Flatlander Market, Café 20 and Los Hacienda Los Lopez, too. We try to shop and eat local most of the time to support our community.
I was part of the charter class for Leadership Greater McHenry County via Centegra Health System, which really inspired me to get involved with the Marengo community and have a positive impact. Currently, I am on the boards of the Marengo-Union Chamber of Commerce, School District 165, Marengo Historic Preservation Commission and the Marengo Economic Development Commission. I have met many great people in these organizations, and I encourage people to get involved with their communities. If we community members don’t work together for our common good, who will?
John Wyrostek
Proud to call supportive town ‘home’
Many things come to mind when the question was asked, “What do you love about Marengo?” I was born and raised in Marengo. Other than my four years at college and a couple years living in Woodstock, I always have been part of the Marengo community.
Everything about Marengo screams close knit. It still has a small town atmosphere, but the community still promotes new opportunities and possibilities. You can go anywhere – a basketball game, the grocery store, school, church or a local restaurant – and know someone. Marengo does not allow you to be lost in the commotion of a large city.
A few years ago, my husband, Joe, and I bought a house specifically in Riley School District because I had gone to elementary school there myself. I knew firsthand that my children would not only benefit from a great education, but also from the “family-type” atmosphere it provides.
More recently, after losing my job of 10 years because of a bankruptcy, I took the plunge and opened A Thru Z Resale & Consignment in Marengo.
The community has been nothing but supportive and receptive. It is comforting to do something that I love and see familiar faces every day. Opening a business in Marengo has given me the opportunity to build a strong, positive consignor and customer base very quickly. Sometimes people just come in because they know my parents or my grandparents, and I think that is great.
In a small community like Marengo there is a lot of friendliness, connection, referrals, support and opportunity that make me realize that I made the right decision to open my business here, as well as raise my family.
Aimee Ritter
No nicer place to live
After living in Marengo for the last 28 years, I’ve seen many things come and go. Old buildings torn down and new buildings built, old businesses closing and new businesses opening.
I’m sure this is the same in a lot of towns. However, it’s not the businesses and buildings that make Marengo special, it’s the people. Over the years, I have met many wonderful Marengoans – people who are willing to help each other through their hard work and volunteerism.
Marengo has a school system of very dedicated individuals who care about our children. We also have a great police force, fire department, and rescue squad. Our food pantry has many volunteers who lend a hand to neighbors in need.
The parents and volunteers involved in programs such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Little League, girls softball, park district programs, etc. are overwhelming. It’s sure nice knowing all the people standing on the streets for American Legion Poppy Day, Lions Club Candy Day, and Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Day. Marengo is community, and I can’t think of a nicer place to live.
Thomas M. Dujmovich
Best town in the universe
My dad is a farmer, and he likes the open area to pick the crops. My mom liked the open area also. And the schools are good, and the teachers are nice. There are also low crimes. My mom loved the schools, especially the teachers. Riley School was the best school they could find. I think it was the best school too. They let me come here to be as smart as I possibly can.
I think it is the best town in the universe. Because of the restaurants and all the other magnificent stuff. My favorite thing is the sports. We win a lot, and it is very fun. The people are very funny and super nice. They are the best thing I have ever had.
I am super happy that I grew up in this town. My family will be living in Marengo for as long as I know. That’s how much I like it. I am very smart from my nice teacher. They teach me a lot and school does, too.
Cody Wilcox (Grade 3)
What makes Marengo so great
Having lived my entire life in the Marengo community, I must admit that the native beauty of its geographical position in McHenry County always has touched the deepest part of my heart. The McHenry County Conservation District has confirmed this unique feature of the Marengo community.
Secondly, the people of Marengo always have made Marengo a place for me. Our earliest settlers became icons in the county’s educational, financial and legal legions, providing a history that still resonates in the hearts of Marengo’s forward-thinking business people like Helen Lindow and others. I am very proud that two of our “own,” State Representative and his wife, Jack and Debbie Wolf Franks, have chosen to bring their family back to Marengo.
I am proud that the Marengo community has some terrific destinations for families that include agricultural tourism events and Corbin’s Exotic Pets, which by the way, is much more than a pet store! It is an adventure!
I love Marengo for its charm, so evident in the many well-maintained historic homes on Marengo’s portion of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Highway, as well as Washington and Prairie Streets and throughout other areas.
Dorothy Otis
Schools are wonderful
I grew up in Marengo. I am 8 years old and my name is Katelyn. Marengo is a great town to live in. The best part is there are schools and teachers who are nice and schools that are quiet and peaceful. The neighborhoods are quiet but it is easier for your children to make friends. My mom and dad love the area where we live, and I have many friends on my block. At the park district, they have sports for your children. They can play softball, soccer and there is a pool in the summer-time.
The boys also like the skate park. At the park district, you can see the pool when you skate. They will love it. Then after you skate, you can go to the wonderful restaurants in Marengo. They go to your wonderful house. Then go play in your great yard. Then maybe play with your cat or dog. It is really fun.
OK. Anyway, the community is so helpful to each other like my best friend Elizabeth, especially at the park district. It has a lot of trees, so you can jog or run for exercise. So in Marengo, you can do a lot of stuff. It is a wonderful place.
Katelyn Meehan (Grade 3)
All friends in Marengo
I’m Elise. I’m 9 years old. Marengo is my favorite town I’ve ever lived in. I was 2 years old when I moved here. I lived in a house that was light green and yellow before moving to Marengo. Now I live in a brown and white house.
My mom and dad thought it would be a good place for me and my brother, Daniel, to grow up. I love Marengo so much. Since it’s small, it’s easier to make a lot of friends. Sometimes if you walk into a Marengo restaurant you could see a friend or meet a new friend. Everybody is friends.
I also like that there is a lot of land and nice houses. A lot of people have a big house and two acres or more. I have a lot of fun when I play at people’s houses. Their houses aren’t crammed in an apartment or really small. In the summer, my friends and I take expeditions at the pond and catch frogs and see the snake, and the gigantic snapping turtle. It’s a lot of fun! It must be a pretty good town since President Obama visited in 2005.
Elise Brevik (Grade 3)
