On Sept. 3, Dennis Potamianos was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. Potamianos, a member of Boy Scout Troop 24 at Riverside Presbyterian Church, has been in scouting for 10 years and has earned 25 merit badges.

His Eagle Scout service project consisted of planning and organizing the moving of 364 boxes of files belonging to various village of Riverside departments from the second floor of the old Northgate water pumping facility to the garage of the old Youth Center adjacent to the Riverside Township Hall.

There the files were separated by departments, organized under several headings and subheadings, as well as in chronological order, and placed in filing cabinets. Potamianos was rewarded with a presidential proclamation by Village President Michael Gorman on Aug.17, honoring his work for the benefit of the village. Potamianos is a junior at Riverside-Brookfield High School.

Green thumbs

The Brookfield Beautification Committee has announced the winners of its second annual garden contest. The committee received 18 entries, and in late August five judges viewed an evaluated each garden.

Taking first place were Robert and Peggy Evans of 9131 Lincoln Ave., following in second and third respectively by Luanne Madonna of 3705 Prairie Ave. and Rebecca Rosak of 4511 Arthur Ave.

Winners will be honored in a formal presentation by Village President Michael Garvey at the Sept. 28 village board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at village hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.

A temporary lawn sign indicating recognition in garden contest has been placed in each winner’s front yard.

Big fish story

Joshua Brokopp, a third-grader at Blythe Park Elementary School in Riverside, won the trophy for the “Most Fish Caught” at the 2009 Fishing Derby presented by the Village of Lyons Recreation Department on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The event was held at the Cermak Pond (near the new Cermak Aquatic Center) on Ogden Avenue from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. for boys and girls ages 6 to 15. Bamboo poles, a cup of worms, pizza lunch, goodie bags and a T-shirt were provided.

Trophies were awarded for the most fish caught, biggest fish caught, biggest fish runner-up and the most unusual species caught.

Joshua caught 11 fish (blue gill and crappies) from the shore, running with his pole and fish to the nearest judge to record the catch.

Joshua is the son of John and Georgette Brokopp of Riverside. His older brother Jonathan, 17, is a senior at Riverside-Brookfield High School.

On campus

Matthew Letcher and Jacqueline Connell, both of Brookfield, were among 11 students at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park to earn recognition as Advanced Placement (AP) scholars for their performance on AP exams.

Letcher was named an AP Scholar With Honor, for receiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more.

Connell was named an AP Scholar for receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.