News from the Village of Homewood (IL)

Spring Ahead! March 8
Time to spring forward is Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 AM Be sure to set your clocks ahead 1 hour before going to bed Saturday night. The Homewood Fire Department would also like to remind all residents- This is a good time to replace batteries and check the condition of smoke alarms in your homes!

Chocolate Fest Recap

The Homewood Community Relations Commission and the Village of Homewood would like to thank the hundreds of families and friends that participated in the 7th Annual Chocolate Fest. Local vendors included Mitchell's Soda Shop, Fannie May Candies, Karen Scobie Cake Design, Panera Bread, Culver's, Starbucks Coffee, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Oberwies Dairy. Live entertainment was provided by the Kenneth E Band.

A Chocolate stroll to participating Downtown Homewood Businesses, featuring all day specials, was a popular activity despite the cold weather. This year's Fest patrons were also able to sample entries of the Bake-Off for making a donation to the Cancer Support Center.

Winners of this year's Bake-Off in the Youth Category are:
1st - Raina Kalas, with her "Mouse in a Cup", 2nd- Alina Brown, with her "Chocolate Butterfly Cake", and 3rd- Jarred Hidey, with his "My Hearts Delight Dessert". All youth contestants are from Homewood. In the Adult category the winners are: 1st- Jonathon Jedlowski from Glenwood, with his "Baked Potted Flowers". 2nd- Jennifer Eick-Magen, from Homewood, with her "Winter Meltaways". And a tie for 3rd went to two more Homewood residents, Joanie Thornber with her "Cocoa-Coconut Torte" and Tiffany Hidey with "White Chocolate Mouse Pie with Macadamia Nuts". The Chocolate Pie eating contest sponsored by the Homewood Area Chamber and Nielson's Bakery was a hit as always, with kids and adults alike. This popular event is made possible with the help of many people including the Tree and Veterans Committees, the Girl Scouts, and of course the business sponsors. Please support our businesses all through the year.

Important Voting Dates for April 7, 2009 Election

03/10: Last day to register to vote.
03/11: First day of grace-period registration and voting.
03/16: First day of Early Voting.
03/24: Last day of grace-period registration and voting.
03/30: Last day military and overseas voters may make application for ballot and send out ballot.
04/02: Last day of Early Voting.
04/03 - 04/06: In-person absentee voting at the Clerk's downtown Chicago office only
04/02: Last day voted mail absentee ballots can be postmarked for acceptance by the Cook County Clerk's office.
Learn more at www.voterinfonet.com, or call the Cook County Clerk's office at (312) 603-0906.

Meet the Candidates

The Homewood Cable Television Commission has again produced the Meet the Candidates program. As in past elections, the commission invited all ten candidates to participate in a videotaping of their responses to six questions. The program is meant to introduce voters to the candidates running for office in the April 7th election. The program can be viewed on the Village's cable channel, HCTV Comcast Channel 4 or AT&T Channel 99 beginning this week.

Homewood-Flossmoor Area League of Women Voters
-will be hosting a Candidates Forum for the Village of Homewood Municipal Elections. The forum will be Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7 PM at the Homewood Library. This is a public event open to all residents. You are encouraged to attend and ask questions of the candidates and hear their concerns. All candidates are being invited to attend and participate.

FF DeJong Honored for Service to Our Country

The Village of Homewood will be honoring Firefighter/Paramedic Steve DeJong for his service to our Country by holding a reception and ceremony to remove the Blue Star Service Banner. The Homewood Fire Department and the entire organization have welcomed Steve home after 18 months of active duty.

On Thursday, March 5 at 9 AM, Steve will assist in removing the Blue Star Banner from the fire station which marked his active duty in Iraq. The Blue Star Flag was first flown over our Nation's Capitol on Armistice Day (now known as Veterans Day), November 11, 1926. Today the Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families, businesses and organizations that have a loved one serving in the armed forces. The banner demonstrates support and pride for their loved one actively serving in the military and reminds others of the sacrifices that must be made for America's freedom. This was Steve DeJong's second tour of active duty over the last five years. Steve was deployed in Afghanistan from June 2004 to September of 2005, and recalled to active duty in July of 2007 to December 2008 to Iraq. The Blue Star Service Banner was proudly displayed in September 2007 on the Fire Station, visible from Dixie Highway, as well as on all fire vehicles. After Steve was deployed, the many months that followed were an anxious time of waiting for the day that Steve would once again re-join the ranks of the Homewood Fire Department. We are truly blessed that Steve is back to assist in removing the symbols of his service to our country.

The ceremony will be followed by a cake and coffee reception in the Fire Department.

2010 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau has already begun preparations for the 2010 U.S. Census. Starting in April representatives from the Census Bureau will begin address canvassing in Homewood. Representatives will have identification cards. They will be on the streets taking pictures and verifiying addresses for the decennial count. If you have any questions or concerns call Community Development at 708-206-3386.

Girls Night Out
The Downtown Business Association will be hosting its spring Girls Night Out on Friday, March 20 from 5 PM to 9 PM throughout downtown Homewood. Look for discounts and raffles at various shops, boutiques, spas, salons and restaurants. For information, contact Margo of Harvest Home and Garden at 799-7996, or at shopgirl816@yahoo.com.

Spring for Homewood Schools Benefit

Plan now for an evening of dinner, drinks, live music and an auction benefiting Homewood Schools! The evening is planned by the Homewood Foundation for Educational Excellence, a not-for-profit corporation established to raise additional funds for local public education. This event will be held on Saturday, March 7 at Balagio's located at 17501 Dixie Highway. Tickets are available at the door for $45.00 each and include a buffet dinner with soda, coffee, and tea. A cash bar will be available. The auction will begin promptly at 7PM with the dinner following at 7:30. For further details please call 708-647-2390.

News from the Homewood Library

The Homewood Public Library is about to begin a remodeling project that will enhance its current services. The project will begin in March with the construction of a story hour room, a computer teaching lab and private study rooms. As this is happening the library will also begin to rearrange its collection. Adult fiction will be moved to the first floor joining the movie, music and children's collections. Adult non-fiction will be relocated upstairs and an area for research assistance will be established. A casual caf�, improved reading areas, new furnishings and improved service desks are also planned. Additionally, the library will also be re-decorated with new wall coverings, carpeting and window treatments. Less noticeable to the patron but yet important, a new roof will be installed and the current air conditioning system will be replaced.

Book Sale
The Friends of the Homewood Library will sponsor their quarterly Dollar Daze used book sale at the Library on Saturday, March 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 PM. All sale books may be purchased for $1.00 or less. For more information call 798-0121

Homewood Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast
Boy Scout Troop 342 and Cub Scout Pack 304 are hosting their Annual Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale on: Saturday, March 14 From 6:00 AM until 1:00 PM At St. Paul Community Church 18200 Dixie Highway, Homewood

Check Out Events For 2009
The Village sponsors several events throughout the year. Find out what's in store for 2009. Click here .

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: Wednesday, March 18, 2009