Please help 85 year old World War II vet from Elgin, Ernie Wittrock get the most votes in the It’s A Way of Life contest so he can throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game. I am thinking if he wins the vote they will also let him lead Take Me Out To The Ballgame at 7th inning stretch based on his desire to sing it and his singing it at his video taping at Wrigley Field recently. Vote Ernie W at

cubs.com by clicking on the It’s A Way of Life contest

PLEASE TAKE THE EXTRA TIME TO VOTE 10 TIMES PER EMAIL. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE BACK ARROW AND JUST PUT IN THE NEW VALIDATION KEY WITHOUT HAVING TO INPUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AGAIN.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO HONOR AND THANK A WORLD WAR II VET ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THANKS!

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Hey, Hey, Elginites,

Ernie Wittrock is an 85 year old Elginite and one of the 10 finalists you can vote for at

cubs.com

In the It’s A way of Life contest so he can throw out first pitch at a Cubs game in June and Ernie also is hoping he will also get to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame at 7th inning stretch.

Perhaps RS could put his picture in the Elginite and this post under it as well?

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR LIFE TO HELP ERNIE HAVE THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME THROWING THAT FIRST PITCH BY VOTING FOR ERNIE WITTROCK ONCE OR UP TO 10 TIMES PER EMAIL ADDRESS, COPY THIS TO YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE ETC. WE CAN WIN THIS FOR ERNIE.

GO TO CUBS.COM AND VOTE AT IT’S A WIFE OF LIFE CONTEST

THANK YOU!

Below is his essay he wrote to become one of the 10 finalists. His video is 2 minutes 26 seconds long. You can just go to the voting page if you are pressed for time.

In the video you will hear him say Ya hoooooooooooo when the Cubs win. I can just imagine the Ya hoooooooooooo he will yell after we all help him win this contest.

* Name: Ernie Wittrock
* City: Elgin
* State: IL

My Way of Life as a Cubs fan started the day I was born in 1925. As kids, my older brother and I listened to games with our father on the radio. The voice of the Cubs at the time was Pat Flannigan. My early memories involve cheering on Hack Wilson, Kiki Cuyler, Billy Jurges, Billy Herman, Guy Bush, Lon Warneke, and manager Charlie Grimm. Dad took us to our first games in the early 1930s; I still remember how neat the Andy Frain ushers looked in their blue and white uniforms. From his post behind home plate, PA announcer Pat Pieper called out lineups, including Gabby Hartnett and my favorite, Phil Cavarretta. “40,000 Murphy” sent the crowd roaring by waving his arms and gesturing the attendance results.

I’ll never forget in 1945, when heading home from the South Pacific on a Navy destroyer, they announced that the Cubs had won the National League Pennant. Over the years, many players and broadcasters stand out: Andy Pafko, Frankie Baumholtz, and Hank Sower during the 40’s, to Sweet Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Randy Hundley, and the great Ernie Banks. One fond memory involves walking down the upper deck ramp at Wrigley, passing by the “Hey, Hey Kid,” Jack Brickhouse. In the 70’s, we counted on Fergie; a decade later, we lived and died with Sandburg and Sutcliffe. I recall the renewal of energy for all Cubs fans and players when Harry Caray sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” We were so proud of those ‘84 Cubs. Ten years ago, I began losing my vision. The superb voice and detailed accounts of Pat Hughes, accompanied by Ron Santo’s enthusiasm, have helped me to visualize every play.

I’ve enjoyed sharing stories about games attended and my love for the Cubs with my four children, 10 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. After 85 years as a fan, I still look forward to every Cubs game. My wife of 65 years, Maria, knows that my spirits rise and fall with every win and loss. My greatest prizes include a ball signed by Fergie Jenkins and another with the inscription “To my Buddy Ernie” from Ernie Banks. The words of Mr. Cub, “Let’s play two” and “Wait `til next year,” keep me going and patiently holding out for a World Series win. Cheering on my beloved Cubs truly is, for me, a Way of Life.
Reply
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Common Sense Clarence Hayward says:
May 20, 2010 at 7:37 pm

Sorry for my typo above. It is so embarrassing that I missed that when I proof read it while composing.

GO TO CUBS.COM AND VOTE AT IT’S A WIFE OF LIFE CONTEST

should be

GO TO CUBS.COM AND VOTE AT IT’S A WAY OF LIFE CONTEST

Thanks for helping long time 85 year old Elginite Ernie Wittrock

I have not and will not ever vote for her but not because of late bills. My reason deals with her business of helping illegal aliens stay and steal from this country. This just shows she may be in the same boat we are all in.

This year I went online and paid electronically to see how simple it is. With a couple of key strokes and a $3.00 fee I was able to send an electronic check to Kane Treasurer Rickert for both installments.

With the ease of paying your taxes online I must say I was disappointed to read an article written by Elgin Courier and Beacon News Writer Jeff Ward about my own Elgin Area Kane County District 19 Commissioner Cathy Hurlbut and her track record of paying taxes late as noted in the paragraph below.

Last October, Hurlbut paid $26,000 in property taxes on her Elgin office building on McLean Boulevard the day before a looming tax sale. She previously paid late on that property in 2004 as well as on her Elgin residence in 2008. In addition, Hurlbut was named as a defendant in a 2008 foreclosure proceeding on a North Aurora property according to a recent Jeff Ward article.

I checked and from 1995 -2009 Hurlbut was paid a salary total of $202,600 and per diems of $21,307.50 for a total of $223,907.50 from Kane County. I imagine she counts on her county paycheck coming on time so I think she should set a better example and pay her taxes to Kane County on time.

Elected officials need to be held to a high standard of accountability in all areas.

I hope the voters in Elgin Area Kane County Board District 19 will consider hiring someone with their votes who has common sense and accountability this November as their board commissioner.

Common Sense, Independent, Clarence Hayward

GO TO CUBS.COM AND VOTE AT IT’S A WIFE OF LIFE CONTEST

should be

GO TO CUBS.COM AND VOTE AT IT’S A WAY OF LIFE CONTEST

Thanks for helping long time 85 year old Elginite Ernie Wittrock

Ernie Wittrock is an 85 year old Elginite and one of the 10 finalists you can vote for at

cubs.com

In the It’s A way of Life contest so he can throw out first pitch at a Cubs game in June and Ernie also is hoping he will also get to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame at 7th inning stretch.

Perhaps RS could put his picture in the Elginite and this post under it as well?

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR LIFE TO HELP ERNIE HAVE THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME THROWING THAT FIRST PITCH BY VOTING FOR ERNIE WITTROCK ONCE OR UP TO 10 TIMES PER EMAIL ADDRESS, COPY THIS TO YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE ETC. WE CAN WIN THIS FOR ERNIE.

GO TO CUBS.COM AND VOTE AT IT’S A WIFE OF LIFE CONTEST

THANK YOU!

Below is his essay he wrote to become one of the 10 finalists. His video is 2 minutes 26 seconds long. You can just go to the voting page if you are pressed for time.

In the video you will hear him say Ya hoooooooooooo when the Cubs win. I can just imagine the Ya hoooooooooooo he will yell after we all help him win this contest.

* Name: Ernie Wittrock
* City: Elgin
* State: IL

My Way of Life as a Cubs fan started the day I was born in 1925. As kids, my older brother and I listened to games with our father on the radio. The voice of the Cubs at the time was Pat Flannigan. My early memories involve cheering on Hack Wilson, Kiki Cuyler, Billy Jurges, Billy Herman, Guy Bush, Lon Warneke, and manager Charlie Grimm. Dad took us to our first games in the early 1930s; I still remember how neat the Andy Frain ushers looked in their blue and white uniforms. From his post behind home plate, PA announcer Pat Pieper called out lineups, including Gabby Hartnett and my favorite, Phil Cavarretta. “40,000 Murphy” sent the crowd roaring by waving his arms and gesturing the attendance results.

I’ll never forget in 1945, when heading home from the South Pacific on a Navy destroyer, they announced that the Cubs had won the National League Pennant. Over the years, many players and broadcasters stand out: Andy Pafko, Frankie Baumholtz, and Hank Sower during the 40’s, to Sweet Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Randy Hundley, and the great Ernie Banks. One fond memory involves walking down the upper deck ramp at Wrigley, passing by the “Hey, Hey Kid,” Jack Brickhouse. In the 70’s, we counted on Fergie; a decade later, we lived and died with Sandburg and Sutcliffe. I recall the renewal of energy for all Cubs fans and players when Harry Caray sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” We were so proud of those ‘84 Cubs. Ten years ago, I began losing my vision. The superb voice and detailed accounts of Pat Hughes, accompanied by Ron Santo’s enthusiasm, have helped me to visualize every play.

I’ve enjoyed sharing stories about games attended and my love for the Cubs with my four children, 10 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. After 85 years as a fan, I still look forward to every Cubs game. My wife of 65 years, Maria, knows that my spirits rise and fall with every win and loss. My greatest prizes include a ball signed by Fergie Jenkins and another with the inscription “To my Buddy Ernie” from Ernie Banks. The words of Mr. Cub, “Let’s play two” and “Wait `til next year,” keep me going and patiently holding out for a World Series win. Cheering on my beloved Cubs truly is, for me, a Way of Life.

I would hope that Councilman Prigge will share his scanner with any other councilman that would like that same insight. No need to buy anymore than his in my opinion.

Did Councilman John Prigge use city money to buy a police scanner?

Answer: According to Prigge, “At the request of City Manager Sean Stegall, I purchased a scanner at Radio Shack in 2009 using a city credit card. Obviously, it is the property of the City of Elgin and is not for me to keep, nor is it my personal property.

It has been and will long continue to be a very valuable tool to me in evaluating and learning more about what our safety employees do. Being a responsive and proactive councilman, believe me, I have learned a great deal from listening to this scanner. In fact, I have highly recommended owning a scanner to other council colleagues, too.

In the event I am no longer employed with the City of Elgin, any city property in my possession will be returned to the city manager’s office.”

I do not have a problem with this at all. Maybe some feel it’s odd because most councilmen don’t care that much about what cops and firemen do. Prigge obviously does. So what?