Sports
Jason Brown + Highland Park = Love Fest
Technology brings Olympic figure skater into Highland Park City Council chambers for the start of many events honoring the hometown hero.
Highland Park Olympic figure skater Jason Brown was in Colorado Monday when the Highland Park City Council chose to honor him before he leaves for the Winter Games in Sochi Russia opening Feb. 7.
That was no problem.
With a little help from Skype, the City gave its first Olympic figure skater in 50 years a big hug during the City Council meeting Monday at City Hall and Brown returned the embrace with as much emotion.
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Mayor Nancy Rotering declared Feb. 7 Jason Brown Day and talked about the things the City will do to cheer Brown toward Olympic glory. The Centennial Ice Arena will be open from 9 a.m. to noon that day for free skate.
While some may be skating and others will be in the stands, Brown will be competing for an Olympic medal while locals watch on televisions at the rink where he first learned to skate.
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Highland Park is not stopping there. There are free ribbons available at City Hill suitable for tying around a tree.
Patch had the opportunity to talk to Brown Sunday and will have several stories leading up to the games which open Feb. 7. Now, listen to what Highland Park had to say to him and what he said back.
As for 50 years ago, that is when Highland Park’s brother-sister team of Ron and Vivian Joseph won the bronze medal in pairs figure skating. Vivian was a Highland Park High School junior at the time while Ron was a student at Northwestern University.
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