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| Issue: # 100 | November 23, 2011 |
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VILLAGE HALL HOLIDAY CLOSING | |
Village Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. |
| WELCOME RALPH DEWITT-NEW VILLAGE MANAGER | | | At Tuesday's Village Board meeting, Ralph DeWitt was sworn in as the new Village Manager. Ralph enters his new position with much experience.
DeWitt was Chief of the Investigations Bureau for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. DeWitt is no stranger to the Village, serving two terms as Trustee with the Homewood Village Board from 2001 - 2009 and a resident of the community for 14 years. He has volunteered as a member of the Homewood Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, Homewood Veterans Committee, and the Homewood 911 Emergency Board.
DeWitt received his Masters of Public Administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, IL) and during his 20 year tenure with the Investigations Bureau, DeWitt has supervised several public integrity investigations, which resulted in convictions of high-level government and public officials.
OPEN HOUSE
Meet Ralph DeWitt on Saturday, December 10, at Village Hall, 2020 Chestnut Road, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM. |
| FALL LEAF PICK-UP | | |
Fall Leaf Pick-Up collection program will take place starting in November. The free leaf pickup is conducted on the same day as regular curb side garbage pickup (residential):
- November 16
- November 23
- November 30
This program requires that only leaf debris be collected sticker free if set out in the usual brown paper bags or in scavenger approved "toter" carts. Remember, only leaf debris will be picked up at no sticker cost. For additional information, please call Homewood Public Works at (708)206-3470. |
| THE SNOWFLAKES ARE UP! | |
A sign that the holiday season has arrived is when Public Works dresses Village streets with the bright and festive snowflakes and holiday trees. Don't forget to look for the one unique snowflake that is placed somewhere in one of the business areas. Stop by Village Hall on a Saturday, 9:00 AM until noon, and tell Mayor Hofeld where the unique snowflake is located and receive a gift card from a local business. |
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THE VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD IS GOING "GREEN" | | |
Many may have been wondering about the work being performed in the parking lot next to the Public Safety Building. The Village is "Going Green" by utilizing geothermal technology and other energy efficiency measures for renovations to the Police and Fire Department facility. The work that you see taking place in the parking lot is the drilling of wells for the geothermal heating and cooling system. Geothermal systems use the earth's renewable energy to provide heating in the winter and cooling in summer. Unlike traditional HVAC systems that burn fossil fuels for heat and require separate air conditioning or chiller systems, geothermal systems transfer heat from the building environment to the earth's thermally stable crust and back again to provide either heating or cooling.
The Village has set the following goals that the improvement project must accomplish:
- Retrofit the 1967 Public Safety Building to meet set standards to optimize the Police and Fire Departments' ability to perform their responsibility of keeping the community safe;
- Reduce energy and operational costs to operate the building;
- Reduce the carbon footprint left on the environment.
To help finance the project, the Village has received a $90,000 Illinois Clean Energy Geothermal Grant and is pursuing additional grants through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Public Sector Incentives. Look for more updates on this energy efficient implementation. |
| SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY | |
November 26th is the second annual, Small Business Saturday, a promotional campaign launched by American Express, which rewards cardholders who spend at least $25 at a small, independently owned business on November 26th - the day after "Black Friday," the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season.
Residents are encouraged to participate whether they have an American Express card or not. The idea is to support small shops in Homewood to keep the local economy strong during these tough times.
Small, local businesses add character and enhance business areas such as the downtown, Cherry Creek, Southgate, Northgate, Halsted Street, 183rd and Kedzie. Small businesses are the heart and soul of a community. Many of these shops and restaurants employ neighbors and reinvest money in youth programs, special events, and local not-for-profits.
Take the pledge to support small businesses, and join the movement to shop locally. |
| 8th ANNUAL BUTTERBALL BURNER FUN RUN | |
8th Annual Butterball Burner Fun Run
Friday, Nov. 25
Check-in: 8 a.m. | Race Start: 9 a.m.
Race Start at H-F Racquet & Fitness Club
2920 W 183rd St. Homewood, IL
Put down those leftovers, grab your running shoes and head over to the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club for the 8th Annual Butterball Burner. Join us as we celebrate burning the post Thanksgiving-day bloat with this fun run.
Advance Fee: $12 R / $15 NR
Day-of-Race Fee: $17 R / $20 NR
Registration Code: 356518-02
For more infromation, please contact the H-F Park District at 708-957-PARK. |
| HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND TREE LIGHTING | | |
The Evening of Friday,
December 2 |6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Downtown Homewood
Irwin Park (Ridge and Gottschalk)
Independence Park (Hickory and Dixie Highway)
Sponsored by the Village of Homewood, Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, Homewood-Flossmoor Lions Club, Homewood Fire Department, and members of the Downtown Homewood Business Association.
Holiday Lights has become a treasured event in Homewood, capturing the joy, excitement, and traditions of the season in just one memorable evening.
Families gather at 7:00 PM in Irwin Park to watch Santa flip the switch to light the giant evergreen at the annual tree lighting ceremony hosted by the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District.
Once Irwin Park is aglow, brightly lit and festively decorated antique cars parade to the festivities on Hickory Road, just two blocks west of Irwin Park.
Hickory Road transforms into Homewood's very own Christkindlmarket with tree sales, delicious desserts, live reindeer, costumed carolers, hot cider and mulled wine, luminaries, and an exciting ice sculpting demonstration at 7:30 PM.
It is downtown Homewood's busiest time, as residents travel from shop to shop on musical trolleys. Riders hop on and hop off as merchants are open late, hosting children's holiday craft activities, and offering generous discounts on unique gifts you won't find in any mall. - just look for the Open Flag. Trolley rides are free.
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HICKORY ROAD HOLIDAY MARKET | | |
Friday|December 2
Hickory Road and Dixie Highway
6:30 PM until 9:00 PM
Hickory Road Holiday Market vendors are local not-for-profits who serve the community and beyond with free services and thousands of hours of volunteer time and care. Come out and support these wonderful groups who spread good cheer!
- Foundation 153 will sell premium-grade Fraser Firs from Michigan with easy pick-up and loading assistance. Sales will begin as early as 3:00 PM.
- The Homewood Rotary will be selling fresh caramel apples.
- Students from Homewood-Flossmoor High School will have cinnamon roasted almonds, popcorn and hand warmers for sale.
- The Homewood Parent Music Association will be selling decadent chocolate
- Girl Scouts will be selling hot chocolate and handmade scarves.
- Infant Welfare Society will sell luminaria kits for $6.00.
- South Suburban Family Shelter will sell warm apple cider.
- Downtown Homewood Business Association will be selling mulled wine in a new Holiday Lights souvenir mug, $5.00 for the mug, $7.00 for for the mug and mulled wine, and $3.00 for refill.
- TALK-Performing Arts Group.
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LIGHT UP THE NIGHT AND LIGHT UP A CHILD'S LIFE | | |
Infant Welfare Society
Homewood and Flossmoor Luminaria Lighting Event
December 16|5:00 PM
Infant Welfare Society will host their second annual Homewood and Flossmoor community wide luminaria lighting event to be held on Friday, December 16. They are sponsoring a luminaria sale at Homewood's Holiday Lights event on Friday, December 2 and Flossmoor's Winterfest on Saturday, December 3.
Luminarias are festive accents to brighten outdoor spaces, walkways, and porches during the holiday season. Art 4 Soul and Nathalie's Interiors will be selling kits through the month of December. Each kit will be sold for $6.00 (contains bags and candles for five luminarias). Every purchase helps Infant Welfare Society of Chicago bring community-based healthcare to underinsured and uninsured children and women who lack access to basic medical services.
Residents are asked to light their luminarias Friday, December 16 at 5:00 PM to create an elaborate display throughout the streets of Homewood and Flossmoor and a reminder of the care and services provided by the Infant Welfare Society for women, infants, and children. Contact Lisa Komorowski 708-799-3309 lkomorowski@lplegal.com for luminaria sales information. |
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FOUNDATION 153 HOLIDAY TREE SALES | | |
Foundation 153 will be selling Holiday trees at Holiday Lights, December 2, on Hickory Road, from 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM. Trees are premium Fraser Fir trees, 6 feet in height, fresh from Michigan.
Choose a tree during Holiday Lights and when you are ready to go home, pull up and have your tree loaded on your vehicle, or come early, sales start at 3:00 PM.
Pre-order your tree before November 28 at www.Foundation153.org for $50.00
Purchase at Holiday Lights the cost is $60.00. |
| MOZART'S MAGIC FLUTE LECTURE | | |
Homewood Library
17917 Dixie Highway
Sunday|December 4
2:00PM
Homewood Library will host an afternoon lecture, by Michael Fish, about Mozart's opera 'The Magic Flute'. The lecture is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please call (708)799-9055. |
| HOLIDAY COOKIE WALK | | |
Holiday Cookie Walk on Saturday, December 10! Each participating business will be selling cookie walk tickets for $5.00, starting November 12. Then on December 10 each business will offer a collection of sweet treats. Bags and lists of participating businesses are provided at the business you choose to begin your walk, just look for the cookie sign on their door!
Contact your favorite merchant for more information, or visit www.dhba.biz. |
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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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| The appearance of external links within Homewood's e-Newswire does not constitute endorsement by the Village of Homewood for the information , products or services contained therein. The Village of Homewood does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these websites. Contact the external sites for answers to questions regarding its content. | |
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