Your Input Wanted To Rename 'Plaza Formerly Known As Blase Plaza'

After a passionate meeting last month, the Niles village board voted to remove the sign designating the area outside village hall as Nicholas Blase Plaza. Now, with a gaping empty space where the sign used to be, they've formed a committee to rename the plaza.

The issue of whether to keep or strike former Mayor Blase's name has been a  highly emotional one for Niles citizens. At the Oct. 25 board meeting, some citizens who spoke out wanted to honor him for 47 years of service in the mayor's office.

Others, however, said his conviction in federal court for felony fraud and tax evasion, and subsequent time in prison, were not a model of statesmanship they would like to hold up for the town's children.

Earlier:

Village staff took the sign down within two days of the Oct. 25 vote, leaving a patch of dirt in a landscaped island in front of village hall.

Mayor Robert Callero has formed an ad hoc committee to rename the plaza. Trustee Rosemary Palicki will serve as chair, and former Trustee George Alpogianis, as well as Plan Comission and Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Thomas Kanelos will serve as members.

The commitee is accepting name suggestions from Niles residents. Email them by the Nov. 30 deadline to plaza@vniles.com or mail or deliver them to Niles Administration Building, 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles IL 60714. Mark all emails or letters "plaza."