News from the Village of Homewood (IL)

It's our 20th Issue
Welcome to the 20th issue of the e-Newswire. The response to this communication from our residents has been well received. The e-Newswire continues to grow in popularity, adding new subscribers each day. We hope to keep this communication relevant. To do that, we need to hear from you. Please help us out by taking this brief survey. Take our survey.

Halloween Happenings: October 31

Participants of all ages are invited to attend the H-F Park District's annual Halloween Happenings from 6:30- 8:30 PM at James Hart Junior High School.
Bring a carved pumpkin in from 6:30-7:30 PM for the opportunity to win a prize in the Jack-O-Lantern Contest: the scariest, the funniest and most unusual.
Participants can color a Giant Halloween Mural, and at 7:30 PM join in a Halloween Costume Parade & Contest. Admission is free.
James Hart Junior High School is located at 18211 Aberdeen Avenue. Halloween Happenings is sponsored by Home Bound Healthcare, Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, Homewood Chamber of Commerce and Homewood Rotary Club. For more information, call 957-0300.
Trick-or-Treat hours in the Village of Homewood are 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM; regular Village curfew hours apply.

Recreational Vehicle Waiver: November 1
In accordance with the Homewood Zoning Ordinance all Recreational Vehicles must be located behind the front of the house on impervious surface by November 1st. There is a new application form for waivers this year. Waiver requests must be submitted by November 1st to the Community Development Department. Click here to view the Waiver Instruction Sheet and Application (pdf).

Geocache Workshop: November 1

The Heritage Committee will host a workshop on November 1 for residents interested in learning about geocaching. Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasures using GPS. The committee believes this is a great hobby and a way for friends and families to get outdoors and learn about local history. Expert geocachers will conduct the workshop. The workshop will be held in the Village Board Room from 10 AM to noon on Saturday, November 1. This event is free. Learn more

Important Voting Dates
Important Dates 10/31 - 11/3: In-person absentee voting at any of the Cook County Clerk's offices 11/4: Election Day 11/6: Voter registration starts again for April elections Learn more at www.voterinfonet.com , or call the Cook County Clerk's office at (312) 603-0906.

Veterans Lunch: November 8

On Saturday, November 8 at noon, the Veterans Committee will host a lunch to honor all veterans and service men and women currently serving in the US Armed Services. The Committee will serve pizza, soda, and coffee in the Village Hall Board Room - use west entrance door. Those who attend are encouraged to view the Veteran Wall, which displays the lives, both past and present, of Homewood veterans.

Workshop: How to Run for Public Office

If you are thinking about running for public office this spring or in future years, you are invited to attend a workshop on the nuts and bolts of how to run. This program is being sponsored by the Homewood-Flossmoor Area League of Women Voters on Saturday, November 8 at 10 AM. It will feature John Izzo, an experienced election attorney, who will explain what documents and other requirements potential candidates have to prepare, submit and retain. Other participants will include current elected officials who will discuss their experiences and individuals who have run and the surprises they have encountered. The workshop will be held in Homewood. Those interested in attending should notify Syvia Tillman, president of the H-F Area League, at still313@comcast.net or phone 799-9721 for additional information. The workshop is open to all persons considering running for office in the southland region. Call 799-9721 for workshop location and to register.

Sticker-Free Leaf Pick-Up

The Village of Homewood budgets for a five-week complimentary leaf pick up service to eliminate the need for residents to use yard waste stickers when disposing of leaves during the fall season. Although biodegradable bags are still required, this represents a significant cost savings to residents in disposing of leaves. This is the eighteenth year this program has been funded by the Village. The remaining four sticker-free Wednesdays for the entire Village are November 5, November 12, November 19, and November 26. All scavenger and recycling questions should be directed to Homewood Disposal at 798-1004.

Merchant Open Houses: November 15 & 16
On Saturday and Sunday, boutiques throughout the downtown will open their doors for the official start of the holiday shopping season. Special discounts, raffles, food and drinks will be offered. Contact your favorite downtown Homewood boutique for details. Individual store hours and discounts may vary.

Village Board to Honor Volunteers
On November 20, the Village President and Village Board of Trustees will hold their annual appreciation dinner for volunteers of the Village's advisory boards, committees, and commissions. Over 200 residents dedicate their time and energy to the programs and services of the Village in an effort to continue Homewood's standard of excellence and commitment to its citizenry.

Holiday Lights in Homewood: December 5

Let the count down begin for Homewood's second annual Holiday Lights in Homewood celebration. This year promises to be a wonderful event, creating a lifetime of memories for you and your family. On the evening of Friday, December 5 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, musical trolleys will take you to merchant open houses for special promotions and unique gift ideas you won't find in any mall; each merchant will host raffles and feature holiday refreshments, games and activities, and live entertainment. Trolley rides are free, courtesy of the participating merchants. Visit Irwin Park at 6:00 PM for hot cocoa, caroling and a bonfire, followed by the annual tree lighting ceremony, Radiance on Ridge, sponsored by the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District. At 7:30 PM, Santa will walk with families to Independence Park located at Hickory Road and Dixie Highway for ice sculpting demonstrations, warm holiday food, music, a bonfire, and an opportunity to sit and take pictures with Santa. As part of the holiday experience, Sunny Crest Nursery will host live tree and garland sales at the corner of Dixie Highway and Hickory Road in Independence Park; designated parking will be available on Hickory Avenue for those who have purchased trees.

Bi-Weekly FAQ: Parking Around Town

Motorists may not block or park on a sidewalk at any time.
Only one Class B truck or commercial vehicle may be parked overnight by a resident or guest in residential areas. The truck or vehicle can be no more than 20 feet in length, 7 feet in height, and 7 feet in width.
No vehicle may be parked on a Village street after a snowfall of two inches or more until the street has been cleared of snow and ice. Violators are subject to a ticket and possible towing.
Vehicles may not be parked overnight on most Village streets between 2 AM and 6 AM. If you have insufficient driveway or garage space, you may receive exemption stickers. Applications are available at the Village Hall or by calling 206-3367. If you need a temporary exemption for a reason such as driveway repairs or overnight guests, call the Police Department at 206-3420.
There are four public parking lots within the Village: Kroner Avenue, Dixie Highway and Hickory Road, Martin Avenue between Ridge Road and Kroner Avenue, and Merchants Park off of Harwood Avenue and 183rd Street. These lots provide three hour parking throughout the week for all customers/shoppers in the downtown and all day on weekends. Village Hall is an additional free parking option on weeknights from 6 PM to 6 AM and unlimited on weekends and holidays.

What's Happening to our Ash Trees
The Public Works Department and neighboring communities to the north and west have discovered the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) among their ash tree population. Learn more.

Electronic Neighborhood Watch Alerts
The Homewood Police Department has moved its Electronic Neighborhood Watch Alerts to the same email marketing service as the e-Newswire. If you are a subscriber, make sure to update your profile by adding the Electronic Neighborhood Watch list to your interests. If you are not a subscriber of the e-Newswire or Electronic Neighborhood Watch community, sign up now.

Welcome to Homewood's e-Newswire, a bi-weekly electronic newsletter, containing information pertinent to Homewood's residents and business community. The Village has transitioned to this format to provide up-to-date information on its projects, programs,and plans. Subscribe today!

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Next Issue: Friday, November 14, 2008