WEATHER WATCH
It’s still early, so things could change, but the forecast for Thursday through Saturday calls for the possibility of a foot of snow, nasty winds and plunging temperatures.
It might be a good time to review the state’s Winter Weather Preparedness Guide.
DEMOCRACY WATCH
Help and information gets easier to find
If you live in Flossmoor and you experience problems related to
- Animal control.
- Property maintenance.
- Code enforcement.
- Potholes.
- Graffiti/vandalism.
- Snow plowing/removal.
- Tree service.
- Building permits.
The village website page, Report a Concern, offers phone numbers, a web portal and a text service to report problems and get help.
Homewood has added a transparency and fact-check portal to its website. It lists 14 categories of information, including:
- The data from this year’s two pilot projects to study how to improve safety on 183rd Street.
- Village staff compensation information.
- Financial information, including the village’s audit and budget.
- How to contact the mayor and trustees.
- How to file a Freedom of Information Act request.
- Links to board meeting materials and videos.
Some of the information is new, some has been available on the website for a while but is now more easily accessible.
THE WEEK >
Flossmoor Board of Trustees will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, in the board room at village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Join the meeting virtually using ID 848 9587 8723, passcode 60422 or join by phone 312-626-6799.
- Highlights: The board will honor retired police chief Tod Kamleiter and resident Juanita Mitchell on the occasion of her 111th birthday, consider a class 8 property tax abatement renewal for Ingalls Family Care Center, consider accepting the donation of a sculpture to be installed at Leavitt Park and discuss the bail reform and the third trailer bill for the state’s SAFE-T Act.
Homewood-Flossmoor School District 233 Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the Performing Arts Center, South Building, 999 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor.
- Find the agenda here.
- Highlights: The board will consider adding a proposed AP African American Studies course to the curriculum, approving a $1.2 million contract for replacing the South Building gymnasium roof and a memorandum of understanding with the Homewood Flossmoor Classified Staff Organization Association.
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the Goldberg Center, 3301 Flossmoor Road in Flossmoor.
- Find the agenda here.
- Highlights: The board will consider pavilion rental and recreational program fees for the coming year.
Meetings update:
- Homewood School District 153 Board of Education next meeting will be Jan. 9.
- Homewood Board of Trustees next meeting will be Jan. 10.
- Flossmoor Public Library Board of Trustees next meeting will be Jan. 10.
- Homewood Public Library Board of Trustees next meeting will be Jan. 19.
- Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education next meeting will be Jan. 23.
Closings:
- Flossmoor Public Library will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Christmas holiday.
- Homewood Public Library will be closed Saturday and Sunday.
ENVIRONMENT WATCH
‘Rebel Bells’ film is available
“If Black Panthers and Girl Scouts had a baby, it would be the Rebel Bells.”
— Pilar Rodriguez
“Rebel Bells” is a documentary film about an environmental activist girls youth group in the Calumet region of southeast Chicago/Northwest Indiana. The group formed several years ago as part of the community’s growing resistance to damaging industries in its midst and attempts to prevent the addition of more.
The film was created by two Homewood women, activist and producer Michelle Yates, who is active in the South Suburbs for Greenspace, and documentary filmmaker and former Homewood trustee Anne Colton. (Colton will be on the ballot in April in a bid to return to the Homewood board.)
The film officially was released this summer after making the rounds of environmental film festivals from fall of 2020 through early 2022.
Battle climate change by biking
The New York Times published a story and quiz on Thursday, Dec. 15, to test people’s knowledge of what common actions have the most impact in combatting climate change. The quiz asked people to rate 12 things, including recycling, following a vegan diet and carpooling, on whether they have a small, moderate or large impact.
Among the four actions that have a large impact? Living car-free.
Of course, doing without a car is tough for suburbanites, but reducing car travel is possible. In addition to making use of our mass transit options, there’s cycling.
Homewood and Flossmoor are bike-friendly towns. The pending changes to traffic lanes on 183rd Street will help make the infrastructure friendlier (assuming a grant is approve to make that happen), but as important is the cycling culture.
GoodSpeed Cycle in Homewood is a key player in nurturing a community of cyclists who have fun, socialize and get exercise, all without revving up a gas-guzzler. Watch the shop’s Facebook page to catch the next cycling event.
Tree care coming
Flossmoor made news this fall with its big planting project that added 300 trees along the Hidden Gem Half Marathon route. The other side of keeping the urban forest healthy is coming next.
The village announced its annual tree pruning cycle will begin soon on Alexander Crescent to the south side of the Heather Hill Neighborhood, Crawford Avenue to Hamlin Avenue and selected areas in the Ballantrae neighborhood.
According to the announcement: “Tree pruning helps promote tree health by removing dead, damaged and diseased branches. Insects and diseases are attracted to dead/damaged branches, so removal is essential. Removing diseased branches also helps reduce the spread of the disease further into the tree. Another important aspect of pruning is the removal of low branches for clearance. Streets require enough height for large trucks, such as snowplows, to enter.
“Contact the Flossmoor Public Works Department at (708) 957-4100 with questions or concerns.”
< THE WEEK
Flossmoor’s holiday parade returns
If you missed the village’s most recent holiday tradition, the Chronicle got video so you can enjoy the show. Village police, fire and public works staff decorated their vehicles and brought some holiday cheer to neighborhoods throughout the village on Dec. 15.
The Weberg’s Wonka world
Andy and Lilly Weberg turn their Flossmoor front yard into a Willie Wonka world during the holidays, a whimsical and idiosyncratic take on holiday decorating. The couple started building the display about four years ago and adds more characters and scenes every year.
I. Impressive local kid
Marilyn Thomas wrote a feature on Heather Hill student Coralie DeSchepper, who is dancing this holiday season in the Joffrey Ballet performances of “The Nutcracker” at Lyric Opera House in Chicago.
II. Impressive local kid
Marilyn also told the story of Jada Marsh, who translated academic excellence at Homewood-Flossmoor High School into a full-ride QuestBridge scholarship to Northwestern University.
District 233, school officials sued over alleged sexual assault
A parent is suing Homewood-Flossmoor School District 233 and school officials in response an alleged sexual assault of her daughter on Oct. 31. The girl reported she was raped by another student. The suit asserts that the school “failed to protect the girl from harassment and physical harm.”
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