THE WEEK >
Flossmoor Community Relations Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in the village hall committee room, 2800 Flossmoor Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Attend the meeting virtually using ID 810 9703 7331 and passcode 60422 or call 312 626 6799.
- Highlights: The commission will continue discussions of recommendations to the mayor and village board about next steps following the October 2022 community forum on police/community relations. The board will also discuss plans for the new resident event in April.
Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the board room at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Write to the board by sending email to [email protected] or by placing written comments in the drop box outside village hall. Comments submitted before 4 p.m. on the meeting date will be distributed to all village board members prior to the meeting.
- Attend the meeting virtually using ID 980 4907 6232 and passcode 83018 or call 312-626-6799.
- Highlights: Sergio Diaz de Sandy will take the oath of office to join the Homewood Police Department. The board will consider an agreement with Walmart that would allow Homewood police to enforce traffic and parking regulations in the store’s parking lot after the store closes March 10.
League of Women Voters will hold a forum for candidates seeking election to the Homewood-Flossmoor District 233 board of education at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Homewood-Flossmoor High School Auditorium, 999 Kedzie Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Homewood Appearance Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, in the board room at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Attend the meeting virtually using ID 844 1118 8079 and passcode 170845 or call 1-312-626-6799.
‘Maus’ discussion through FPL
Flossmoor Public Library will participate in a community-wide discussion of the graphic novel “Maus” by Art Spiegelman. Cardholders will be able to take home a copy of the book (while supplies last) beginning March 1. One copy per household. There will be two discussions on April 11 at Prairie State College. The first will be at 2 p.m. followed by a second session at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who wishes to attend either session virtually should email [email protected] for a Google Meet link.
Artisan Street Fair vendor apps available
Applications are open for vendors who want booth space at the Homewood Artisan Street Fair. The festival will be Friday, June 2, from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Homewood.
< THE WEEK
The Flossmoor skyline is missing a piece
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, Flossmoor firefighters used the department’s aerial truck to check on the flag pole atop the north end of the civic center on Sterling Avenue.
Fire Chief Bob Kopec said he had received reports from residents that the pole appeared to be unstable. Two firefighters tested the amount of play the pole had and determined that it was no longer as firmly attached as it should be.
With permission of the property owner, Kopec had the firefighters remove the pole in the interest of public safety.
Hazel Crest annexes Calumet Country Club, the series
We posted a breaking news story Tuesday, Feb. 14, after the Hazel Crest board approved the annexation of Calumet Country Club, a move that could lead to the commercial and industrial redevelopment of the golf course. There was a lot to report from the long, wild meeting, so we split the story into four parts that ran on successive days starting Sunday, Feb. 19.
The stories include video capturing public comment, Mayor Vernard Alsberry’s statement and the ejection of several protesters.
- Hazel Crest agrees to annex Calumet Country Club (Feb. 19)
- Hazel Crest residents oppose country club redevelopment, express frustration with village officials (Feb. 20)
- Activists, Hazel Crest officials spar during board meeting (Feb. 21)
- Homewood mayor weighs in on Calumet Country Club annexation issue (Feb. 22)
DEMOCRACY WATCH
It’s time to start preparing for the April 4 consolidated election. Voters will choose who will represent them on the Homewood and Flossmoor boards of trustees; on the District 153, District 161 and District 233 boards of education; on the Homewood and Flossmoor library boards of trustees; and on the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Board of Commissioners.
Those are important decisions, and the Chronicle will again try to help. Our March 1 print edition includes an election guide, six pages of election stories and candidate profiles (see pages 31-36).
We are also in the process of conducting interviews for our Meet the Candidates video series. (The 2021 series is here.) The videos will be posted during the weeks leading up to Election Day.
We hope everyone will take the time to get familiar with candidates’ views on the issues facing each board.
If you have questions you would like us to ask candidates, let us know. Write to [email protected].