18547 Argyle, left, and 17918 Hood, right.
(Provided photos)
Gardeners and their beautiful gardens were recognized at a Thursday, Oct. 22, ceremony hosted by the Village of Homewood and its Beautification Committee.
The committee presented Blue Ribbon honors to 10 homes; 29 beautification honors for residences; 93 beautification awards to businesses; and 11 recognition awards for individuals and organizations that were part of the Adopt-A-Planter program.
The hours property owners spent selecting plants, getting them in the ground, watering, feeding and weeding makes Homewood a community of varied gardens that draw the attention of residents and visitors alike.
Members of the Beautification Committee take note each summer driving through the neighborhoods to select homes and businesses that will receive the annual Beautification Awards.
Gardening is a pastime for Blue Ribbon winners Jim and Lorene Dudle at 1253 Heather Rd. The Beautification Committee judged the front of their home, but Jim says the back is even more spectacular and this past summer was on the garden walk for the National Council of Jewish Women, that benefitted Respond Now and Aunt Martha’s, and it was part of the Chicago Heights Art League garden walk.
Hosta are Lorene’s her favorite plants, but she does include plants that will add color for focal points. Her garden is usually presented in sections and she works all four sides. The lot slopes down into Patriots Park and joggers and walkers have stopped to wave or visit when they see her working.
Blue Ribbon winners Marykay and Todd Maatman at 18407 Palmer Ave. said they spend time on their garden now that they are finished with the major remodeling of their house. Marykay takes responsibility for the planting. She doesn’t have a set design in mind but is always able to find what she wants at a local garden center or Homewood’s Home Depot. Todd does the watering to keep the plants vibrant.
“We love going around and seeing the creative ways people decorate,” Ann McLaughlin, chair of the Beautification Committee, told the audience.
Mayor Richard Hofeld gave a special thanks to the committee that, he said, does more than admiring houses for these awards. The volunteers select plants for the hanging pots in downtown Homewood, they select and plant the pots at intersections in the business districts, they coordinated the scarecrow contest for Fall Fest, and they’ve just made decisions on holiday decorations that will be replacing the flowers in the business district in short order.
“This is a good, hardworking committee,” he said.
Members are Arla Blocker, Diana Grayson, Maureen Kelly, Cate Roberts, Sue Tomlinson, Karen Wahlers, Lisa DeVries, Becky Herkert, Sean Nettle, Vicki Seaton and Pam Van Niel.
Blue Ribbon Winners
- 18547 Argyle, Comerford residence
- 18622 Ashland Ave., O’Donnell residence
- 1644 Cedar Rd., Jane Curtis and Jim Arthur
- 18130 Dolphin Lake Dr., Ponder family
- 1253 Heather Rd., Lorene and Jim Dudle
- 17918 Hood Ave., Bill and Beth Frank
- 2115 Maple Rd., Katzberger residence
- 18407 Palmer Ave., Maatman residence
- 19241 Riegel Rd., Maus residence
- 18544 Sacramento Ave., Donna and Kyle Campbell
Beautification Winners
- 1309 190th Street, Koltun residence
- 1911 Cedar, Groboski residence
- 2158 Cedar Rd., Tom and Lisa Mencke
- 18429 Clyde Rd., David Whitney;
- 1049 Coach, Larry and Sue Kluger
- 18529 Cowing Ct., Briane Quirke and Ellie Zagota
- 18460 Dixie Highway, Carla S. Roberson
- 18118 Dolphin Lake Dr., McDade residence
- 18520 Dundee Ave., Mimi Stafford
- 18355 Gladville, Flaherty residence
- 1305 Hickory Rd., Mark Kleinschmidt
- 18528 Highland Ave., Tenclay family
- 1422 Hillview, Lynn and Jim Calhoun
- 17756 Howe, Danette and John Anderson
- 1311 Jamie Lane, Dan and Marian Burrows
- 17730 Larkspur Ln., McElroy residence
- 17736 Larkspur Ln., Kathleen and Jim Cox
- 18519 Lexington Ave., Mary Woods
- 18029 Loomis, Dan Taylor and Chris Fox
- 19004 Loomis Ave., Berenda D. Weathersby
- 3221 Mallard, Gary and Ilene Banach
- 2226 Maple Rd., Sowacke residence
- 18538 Page, Senesac family
- 18462 Palmer Ave., Jan and Ron Harris
- 1662 Ridge Rd., Zoellick family
- 1729 Ridge Rd., Martch residence
- 18411 Riegel Rd., Gerry and Bonnie Senesac
- 1826 Sycamore, Amy and Clancy Green
- 18525 Western Ave., Edi and Hank Marszalek
Business Awards
- 905 Building, 905 175th St.
- 930 Building, 930 175th St.
- 944 Elder Condo Building, 944 Elder Rd.
- Accurate Dispersions, 1111 Maple Ave.
- All Nations Church, 18620 Kedzie Ave.
- Arbor Eye Care, 2640 183rd St.
- Art 4 Soul, 18135 Harwood Ave.
- Balagio Ristorante, 17501 Dixie Highway
- Barbara Brown Allstate Insurance, 2405 183rd St.
- Best Buy Plaza – Inland Real Estate, 17800 Halsted St.
- Bill Butcher Law Office, 2044 Ridge Rd.
- Boston Market, 17855 Halsted St.
- Calumet Country Club, 2150 175th St.
- Canadian National, 17641 Ashland Ave.
- Cancer Support Center, 2028 Elm Rd.
- Carl Buddig Co., 950 175th St.
- Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 18348 Governors Highway
- Chili’s, 17928 Halsted St.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill, 17700 Halsted St.
- Cilantro Cocina Mexicana, 18755 Dixie Highway
- Comcast, 17710 Hoffman Way
- Culver’s, 850 183rd St.
- Dedert Corp., 17740 Hoffman Way
- Dr. Ralph Kruse, 2417 183rd St.
- Dunning’s Market, 18436 Governors Highway
- E-Com Dispatch Center, 1154 Ridge Rd.
- Elder Road Condominium Association, 903 Elder Rd.
- Elder Road Condominium Association, 916 Elder Rd.
- Elder Road Condominium Association, 932 Elder Rd.
- Faith Lutheran Church, 18645 Dixie Highway
- First Midwest Bank, 18600 Dixie Highway
- Flossmoor Station Condos, 2321183rd St.
- Flosswood Condos, 2301 183rd St.
- Flosswood Condos 2311 183rd St.
- Freedom Village, 935 Maple Ave.
- Friedman Huey & Associates, 1313 175th St.
- Gardens of Homewood, 900 175th St.
- Grad’s Building, 18141 Dixie Highway
- Grady’s Grille, 18147 Harwood Ave.
- Hanmi Bank, 955 175th St.
- Harris Bank, 17600 Halsted St.
- Her Closet, 18334 Governors Highway
- Home Depot, 17845 Halsted St.
- Homewood – Flossmoor Dental Care, 18340 Governors Highway
- Homewood Church, 18301 Governors Highway
- Homewood Disposal, 1501 175th St.
- Homewood Fire Department, 17950 Dixie Highway
- Homewood Florist, 18064 Martin Ave.
- Homewood Historical Society (Dorband – Howe House), 2035 183rd St.
- Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway
- Homewood Terrace Condo Association, 18217 Hart Dr.
- Hunter Douglas, 915 175th St.
- INX International, 1000 Maple Ave.
- James J. Kreuz DDS & Gregory J Duffner DDS, Ltd., 18040 Morris Ave.
- John’s Auto Service, 18009 Harwood Ave.
- Just Between Trends, 18150 Harwood Ave.
- KFC, 17505 Halsted St.
- Kirschner Vision Group, 2156 183rd St.
- Kohl’s,17620 Halsted St.
- Lau William & Co. Ltd., 18825 Dixie Highway
- Law Office Briones, Trevino & Cruz, 1910 Ridge Rd.
- Looks, 1742 Ridge Rd.
- Manor Care, 940 Maple Ave.
- Marie Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave.
- Master Television, 2425 183rd St.
- McDonald’s Restaurant, 3132 183rd St.
- McDonald’s Restaurant, 17740 Halsted St.
- Mission Optical, 18646 Dixie Highway
- Old Gold Jewelry, 18701 Dixie Highway
- Parish of Saint Joseph, 17951 Dixie Highway
- Pearson’s Bakery, 18670 Dixie Highway
- Pete’s Auto Service, 18678 Dixie Highway
- Prospect Equities Real Estate, 2401 183rd St.
- Ravisloe Country Club, 18231 Park Ave.
- Ridgewood Condo Association, 945 Ridge Rd.
- Ridgewood Condos, 955 Elder Rd.
- Ridgewood Condos, 926 Olive Rd.
- Ridgewood Condos, 936 Olive Rd.
- Ridgewood Condos, 946 Olive Rd.
- Ridgewood Condos, 956 Olive Road
- Ryan-Tews Funeral Home, 18230 Dixie Highway
- Salem Lutheran Church, 18324 Ashland Ave.
- South Suburban Rehab, 19000 Halsted St.
- St. Paul Community Church, 18200 Dixie Highway
- Suburban Access, 900 Maple Ave.
- Suzie’s Hallmark Building, 18065 Harwood Ave.
- Sweat Equity, 2413 183rd St.
- The Art Corner, 18703 Dixie Highway
- The Cottage on Dixie, 18849 Dixie Highway
- The Oaks of Butterfield Townhome Association, 19250 Riegel Rd.
- The Village Door, 2019 Ridge Rd.
- Tin Ceiling, 2012 Ridge Rd.
- Tres Chic Salon, 18831 Dixie Highway
- Twisted Q BBQ, 2053 Ridge Rd.
- UpsaDaisy, 18100 Martin Ave.
- Van Drunen Ford, 3233 183rd St.
- Walgreens, 820 183rd St.
- Walgreens Data Terminal, 17730 Hoffman Way
- Walt’s Food Center, 2345 183rd St.
- White Castle, 18250 Halsted St.
Adopt-A-Planter Participants
- Village Hall entrance planters and fire department north wall planters, Debbie Bell
- Fire Department apron planters, Homewood Professional Firefighters
- Metra Station planter, Mary Ellen and Tom Brabec
- 18120 Martin planter, Corrine Casto
- Hickory Lot planter, Rep. Will Davis and University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners
- 1700 Ridge Rd. planter, Welsh family
- Southeast corner of Maple and Ashland planter, Ruth Thomas
- Martin and Hickory planter, Fred and Mary Koeppen
- South Viaduct planter, Youpel family
- Northeast corner of 183rd and Dixie planter, Randy and Kathleen Conn