Local News, Opinion

The weeks | Oct. 23

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The District 161 Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, at Normandy Villa 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights.

  • The full agenda can be viewed here.
  • The meeting will be streamed live and can be viewed here.
  • Highlights: Discussion about the replacement of roof top air conditioning units on gym spaces at Flossmoor Hills, Serena Hills, Western Avenue and the old gym space, now board room, at Normandy Villa. Discussion about the replacement of the Flossmoor Hills School playground.

Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road. 

  • Read the agenda here.
  • Watch the livestream of the meeting here. Use meeting ID 980 4907 6232, password 830183.
  • Highlights:  The board will consider the 183rd Street bike lane reconfiguration concept subject to available funding. The board will also vote on six business-related issues, including a special use permit, a Southgate TIF project, two non-TIF business incentive projects, a redevelopment agreement with Stoney Point Grill and the next step in acquiring and redeveloping the former Brunswick Zone/Big Lots building on 183rd Street. 

Homewood Planning and Zoning Commission open house to present the revised zoning code at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.

  • Read the agenda here.
  • Zoning code update materials can be found here (livestreaming will not be available for this meeting).
  • Highlights: The main proposed changes to the zoning code will be displayed on posters. There will not be a formal presentation, but village staff and project consultants will be available to answer questions. 

Flossmoor Community Forum from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Parker Junior High School, 2810 School St. Village officials said guests should enter through the building’s main entrance on School Street, Door A, and will be directed by village staff to the event space. 

  • The Village is asking attendees to preregister at www.flossmoor.org
  • Highlights: The purpose of the forum is to improve police-community relations and contribute to the healing process following the police shooting of Madeline Miller in July. The session will be facilitated by Carla Madeleine Kupe, an attorney and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant. 

<- Week

Bookie’s to return

Bookie’s and the Rock
Shop are planning
to open a store at
18109 Dixie Highway.
(Eric Crump/H-F
Chronicle)

Local book lovers lamented the loss when Bookie’s New and Used Books closed its Homewood store on Sept. 24. Owner Keith Lewis said would continue looking for an opportunity to reopen, and on Saturday, that opportunity arrived. He and two new partners, Craig Frank and Laura Bruni, signed a leased on space just around the corner from Bookie’s original Homewood store on Ridge Road.

Anne Colton announces bid for board seat

Anne Colton

Former Homewood Trustee Anne Colton said she plans to run for a seat on the board in the April consolidated election. Colton was on the board from 2009 to 2018, when she stepped down to pursue business opportunities. She said the situation has changed, allowing her to devote attention to board duties, and she sees a need to improve relations between the village and residents.

Metra awards bid for Homewood station renovation

A rendering of the east headhouse design. The new structure will replace the stucco entrance on Harwood Avenue. (Provided image)
A rendering of the east entrance design. The
new structure will replace the stucco entrance
on Harwood Avenue. (Provided image)

The long awaited Metra portion of the Homewood train station took an important step forward with the awarding of the bid for the $14.5 million project. Work is expected to start in the spring and will take about two years to complete. It will include replacing the entrance building on Harwood Avenue, updating the tunnel and boarding platform and developing a new boarding area for Pace buses.

The Amtrak portion of the project was completed in June.

Happy birthday

Belated 100th birthday wishes to Jim Daanen of Homewood, who celebrated with family and friends on Oct. 22. Jim was born and raised in Homewood. He grew up on Perth Avenue, got a master’s degree in physics from the University of Illinois to be a teacher, but took over the family business Daanen Roofing founded by his father.

Five Guys opens

Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, village officials and restaurant staff cut the ribbon last week to officially open Five Guys at 17852 Halsted St. (Provided photo/village of Homewood)


Homewood Veterinary Care to open in December

Dr. Denise Cudiamat, right,
and her son, Alex, work
on updating the sign
at Homewood Veterinary
Care. (Eric Crump/H-F
Chronicle)

On Sunday, Oct. 23, Dr. Denise Cudiamat and her son, Alex, work to update the sign at Homewood Veterinary Care, which will open early in December at the northeast corner of Dixie Highway and 183rd Street.

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