Business, Local News, Opinion

The Weeks | Aug. 21

Week ->

The District 161 Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, at Normandy Villa, 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights.

  • The agenda can be viewed here
  • The meeting will be streamed live and can be viewed here.
  • Highlights: Presentation on the 2022-23 budget. The board will vote on the budget after a public hearing on Sept. 12. There will also be discussion about substitute teacher pay rates, information about a mental health program and curriculum updates.

The Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road in Homewood.

  • The agenda can be viewed here.
  • The meeting will be streamed live and can be viewed here. The meeting ID is 980 4907 6232 and the password is 830183.
  • Highlights: The board will say farewell to Trustee Karen Washington and will consider a motion to appoint Julie Willis to Washington’s seat on the board. The board will also consider an amendment to the zoning code to “clarify the purposes of the business districts” and “ensure that similar uses cannot be treated differently based on whether they are religious or non-religious uses,” according to a memo to the board from Economic Development Director Angela Mesaros.
Sunny War

Sunny War will headline the Wexler Group Trail Mix Acoustic Concert on Friday, Aug. 26, at Izaak Walton Nature Preserve, 1100 Ridge Road. Gate will open at 6 p.m. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. with special guests The Uh-Ohs. Concert organizers describe Sunny War as an “acoustic folk and punk artist” known for her guitar work. Check out “He is My Cell” or “Mama’s Milk” to get a sense of her sound.

Cook County seeks public input on the Behavioral Health Crisis Response report completed by the county’s Alternative Health Intervention Response Task Force. The report is available at Cook County Legistar and the JAC website.

Send your views to [email protected] through Friday, Sept. 2.

The new Burlington store at 17825  S. Halsted St. will open at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, to start a three-day grand opening celebration, with giveaways and specials each day.

The new Burlington store on Halsted Street in Homewood. (Chronicle file photo)

<- Week

In Flossmoor:
Protests over the fatal police shooting of Madeline Miller on July 10 disrupted the third village board meeting in a row on Monday, Aug. 15. Trustees recessed for a little more than five minutes after chanting interrupted board business.

A number of protesters were escorted from the meeting after drowning out proceedings. Protesters objected to the fact that public comment was moved to the end of the agenda instead of the beginning, where it usually occurs. Speakers reiterated their pain and anger over Miller’s death during a 30-minute comment period. 

Flossmoor released a redacted incident report about the encounter between Miller and two officers, and Police Chief Tod Kamleiter read a statement supporting the officers’ actions as complying with department policy.

Work has resumed on public works projects, including the big Berry Lane drainage improvement. I stopped by on Friday, Aug. 19, to get new photos and ran into Chris Tufts and her two children standing in the yard of her in-laws at Berry Lane and Sunset Avenue. They had a good view of the crews installing the new drainage lines. 

Chris Tufts and her children watch the construction show across the street on Berry Lane, where crews are installing
a new drainage system. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

Resurfacing work started this past week on Sterling Avenue north of downtown. The new surface will not only help local motorists but will be welcome by the hundreds of runners in this year’s Hidden Gem Half Marathon on Sept. 10. The last stretch of the race goes south on Sterling to the finish line near Flossmoor Public Library.

Crews grind down the surface of Sterling Avenue north of downtown Flossmoor on Friday, Aug. 19, in preparation
for resurfacing the street. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

In Homewood:
The water source transition (which also affects Flossmoor) is going well, according to Public Works Director John Schaefer. On Thursday, Aug. 18, the village increased the ratio of Hammond/Chicago Heights water to 50%. Until July 26, the village got all its water from Chicago through Harvey. In about three weeks, Schaefer expects to increase the ratio to 75% from the Chicago Heights line. Residents who have questions or want to report problems with tap water should call 708-206-3470.

Allisa Opyd’s last day with the village of Homewood was Friday, Aug. 19. The energetic force behind Homewood’s many festivals left her position to join the marketing team at Windy City Cannabis, which has dispensaries in Homewood, Posen, Carpentersville, Highway, Macomb and Litchfield. I talked with her on Thursday about her accomplishments during 11 years with the village. Watch for a feature story coming soon.

Allisa Opyd

Antonia Urbanski of Highland, Indiana, started working as the village communication and engagement specialist. Her education is in public relations, and she has her own photography business. She has worked for the Homewood Fire Department since November, and previously worked as an assistant to the mayor and in the marketing department in Tinley Park. 

News by email

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Free weekly newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Most read stories this week