By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff
nweditor@buglenewspapers.com
@NilesILNews
For the second time in the past two years, the reporters of all community newspapers covering the village of Niles – Niles Bugle, Niles Journal and Niles Herald-Spectator – were invited to face off against each other, village officials and members of village staff, all in the name of promoting heart health.
This time around, Niles Journal’s Tom Robb and this less than humble reporter took that challenge, and I’m proud to say the Bugle was victorious in this year’s Niles Reporter Heart Health Month Challenge.
We competed against each other, as well as village staff. The village was represented by Niles Director of Communications Hayley Garard, Niles Village Manager Steve Vinezeano, Village Trustee John Jekot, Niles Family Services Director Tony Hollenback, Niles Senior Center Director Kelly Mickle, Niles Teen Center Director Mark Williams, and Niles Fitness Center staff member Natalie Burke. Mayor Andrew Przybylo took part in the event, as well.
The Healthy Reporter Challenge was held at the Niles Family Fitness Center Feb. 18, at 10 a.m.
The first challenge was the free throw, and I will be the first to admit that I have never had a particularly good aim. So, I wasn’t too surprised when I was the only one who didn’t score a single basket. Robb won this particular reporter challenge, and Jekot won the overall contest, scoring eight baskets.
Next came a half-mile walk. I made up for lost time, not only winning the reporter challenge, but getting third overall. Gerard took first place, while Williams earned second. Robb wound up in seventh, ahead of Jekot and the mayor.
Next came Wii bowling. Somehow, I managed to make it this far in my life without playing any Wii game. But bowling is one of the few sports I’m decent at, and I didn’t do too bad in the digital version. I won the reporter challenge and scored second place overall, with Garard, once again, coming in first.
During the Feb. 23 village board meeting, Przybylo had a few kind words about the event.
“I was there, and it was lots of fun, and Igor did a heck of job,” he said.
And while getting some praise is always nice, it’s not what it was really about.
I had a chance to relax a little, and sweat for a good cause. If nothing else, in the world of looming deadlines and ever-changing scoops, it was a nice change of pace.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to catch my breath and write an article.