By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Ravenswood Community Council last week announced that Scot’s Bar owner Thom Scott and his neighborhood tavern would be presented with RCC’s Good Neighbor Award at the organization’s fundraiser March 11.

The award is in gratitude for efforts by Scott and his bar’s staff during a January water main break on Montrose Avenue, which left much of the street collapsed. Scot’s employees woke many residents in the neighborhood, alerted them to the street problems and urged them to move their cars.

RCC president Tom O’Donnell was one of the people whose belongings Scot’s staff helped save.

“I was sleeping at 1:30 in the morning, and my Labrador started barking,” said O’Donnell. “Someone was at my door and said, ‘The streets are all flooded—move your car and check your basement.’”

O’Donnell saw that the person was wearing a Scot’s jacket. “Not only were they helping (wake residents), they went and redirected traffic without any help from the police,” he added. “They’re very good neighbors. We were very happy they were there.”

The fundraiser, which kicks off the RCC’s 50th anniversary year, takes place 5:30-8 p.m. March 11 at Celtic Crown, 4301 N. Western Ave. The RCC board is also giving a Good Government Award to Commissioner John Spatz of the Chicago Department of Water Management, who they said provided invaluable assistance after the street collapse.

For more information on the fundraiser, call (773) 784-0400 or visit www.RavenswoodCommunity.org.