Name Dropping | Halpin leaves life on the sea to help parents

Dec. 9—Charlie Halpin was enjoying life traveling the globe as an art dealer and an art director for various cruise lines when he heeded the call to return to Urbana to help his aging parents.

"I was out in New Zealand when my brother called and said dad had cancer," Halpin said.

He moved back home to help his parents negotiate the latter years of their lives.

Halpin is glad he was able to do it and has remained in the Champaign County community.

"It was an absolute blessing to be able to help my parents," Halpin said. "The family's absolutely tight. It was a real blessing to be here."

Halpin grew up helping his parents decorate for the annual Candlestick Lane Christmas lighting that has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the community since the early '60s.

When he returned, he got involved in helping to organize the event. This year's festivities kick off at 6 p.m. today.

Halpin stressed that he shouldn't be singled out for attention on Candlestick Lane. He is just one of several on the lighting committee, joining Carol Percival, Cassie Haines and Rich Barnett.

His outgoing personality, though, makes him a perfect spokesman for the annual lighting event that celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

Candlestick Lane was born out of a 1962 Illinois Power-sponsored contest that would judge the most creatively lit house and the most creatively lit block. The Halpins and neighbors decided to go all out decorating their homes that year and won for the top block.

"Harold Hanson lived on our street, Grant Place," Halpin said. "He owned a Marathon station and repair shop. He had the idea to get everybody together along with my folks, Chuck and Helen Halpin, and Jim and Bev Harney and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hanson and Gene and Helen Stoner."

The prize was $100, which the neighborhood residents decided to use to buy vintage blow-mold candlesticks to be placed in each front yard.

Halpin said his family took the home decorating seriously.

"My brother and I would be in the backyard in July and August ... cutting elves and Santas and guard houses for soldiers to get things ready for December," Halpin said.

An opening ceremony was held, a big deal that continues to this day.

The Urbana High School graduate who ran track and cross-country worked for a contractor after giving up the art director job, but his love of art persists.

"Art was always kind of a second passion of mine," Halpin said.

After attending Parkland College, he worked for Southland Distribution Center in Champaign. That job took him to seven states, which enabled him to attend numerous art auctions.

After the Japanese bought Southland and closed the Champaign operation, a large art dealer recruited him to work for him, saying, "'You've got to come work for us. We do auctions and run galleries on cruise ships.'

Halpin had never been on a cruise ship.

He said he thought the job would be temporary, but it lasted 17 years and enabled Halpin to visit 73 countries and multiple art museums and work on all the major cruise lines with two nine-month world cruises on The Queen Elizabeth.

"My personality was a little wild. The job was a little wild," Halpin said. "It was a perfect marriage."

It wasn't easy work. Work days averaged 12 hours.

"Some of the ships are massive," he said, "and some are boutique ships, but you're just as busy. Our collections were hundreds and hundreds of works of art from all types."

While Halpin's title was "art director," he trademarked the name "The Art Guy."

Halpin got used to being a nomad but enjoyed coming home to Illinois. That was vacation time to see his family.

"It was nice to get back here and relax because you were always in a suit or tuxedo" aboard ship.

His family used to laugh at him because he loved to mow the yard when he got home. Cruise ship travelers don't see much grass on the water.

Halpin is still involved in the art market. That and his family and friends and his involvement at Urbana's St. Patrick Church keep him busy. Plus Candlestick Lane.

It's the most exciting time of the year, he said.

While some things have changed, Candlestick Lane is still a big deal in Urbana. There aren't as many handmade decorations as in years gone by, but the neighborhood is still lit.

Having a neighborhood that was awash in Christmas light was a rarity back in the 1960s. Other neighborhoods and other towns have caught the lighting bug, but the Urbana light show still holds a special place for people.

Halpin said he and his brother conservatively estimated half a million cars have driven down those Candlestick Lane streets. The number might be twice that.

Visitors have come from all over the country as people in town visiting family make a point to cruise by.

"It's such a family tradition to so many families," he said.

Wrobel named student of the monthAngelle Wrobel has been named Rantoul Exchange Club student of the month for November.

A senior at Rantoul Township High School, she is a daughter of Chris and Allison Wrobel of Rantoul. Her school activities have included scholastic bowl, cross-country, track and field, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, National Honor Society student council, theater, marching band, choir/madrigals, book club, Interact, Creative Writing Club and GSA/art club.

Offices held include FCCLA secretary, NHS service coordinator, Marching Eagles drum major and clarinet/alto saxophone section leader.

Honors/awards won by Wrobel: College Board National Recognition Program, school awards in arts, mathematics and social sciences, marching band Golden Shoe Award and cross country Most Outstanding Performer Award.

Wrobel's civic and volunteer activities: member of Girl Scouts for 11 years, NHS volunteer activities and recently became a member of the League of Women Voters to help provide and volunteer at voter-registration events.

Her work experience has included receptionist at Shields Auto Center, custodian at the high school and barista at Dunkin Donuts.

Nursing college honors St. Joseph residentMason Coon, an LCN student from Ogden was awarded by Lakeview College of Nursing.

A student on the college's Danville campus, Coon was recognized for having a consistent positive attitude while serving others.

Debra Kamradt, an LCN faculty member who nominated Coon for the award, said Coon is making a positive impact on peers and patients alike.

"I have had nurses stop me and comment on Mason's attention to detail and thoroughness in work completion," Kamradt said. "I witnessed him providing care and comfort to a visitor who needed assistance."

Kamradt said Coon takes the time to educate clinical students when he is working and demonstrates confidence in his ability to perform in the capacity of a nurse and to provide effective, compassionate, high-quality care.

Coon received a DAISY award certificate, pin and a Healer's Touch sculpture.

Also nominated for the student award were Whisper Brown of Bismarck, Brittney Burns of Champaign, Rancey Rouse of Danville and Jonny Yap of Mahomet.

Sadorus teens part of national 4-H champsOlivia and Hunter Shike of rural Sadorus were part of the Illinois 4-H Quiz Bowl team that won the national championship at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

It was the first-ever national title for the Illinois team.

Olivia Shike placed third overall individually.

Illinois also won the National 4-H Skillathon for the second year in a row.

The Illinois team was named reserve national champion in the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.

"Coaching these kids is easy, coach Eric Fugate of Mahomet said. "All I do is wind them up and turn them loose."

EIU graduate Mannen joins Illinois ExtensionRachel Mannen has joined University of Illinois Extension in its Champaign County office as a nutrition and wellness educator.

The role is designed to equip individuals and families in Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion counties with the tools they need to move toward a healthier lifestyle by empowering them to make informed choices that will positively impact their well being.

Mannen, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nutrition and dietetics from Eastern Illinois University, Mannen comes to Illinois Extension from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, where she worked as a WIC nutritionist.

Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's "Our County" section. Reach him at dhinton@news-gazette.com or 217-249-2404.