THE WEEK >
Meetings
Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Attend remotely here or dial 312-626-6799. ID 980 4907 6232, passcode 830183.
- Contact the board at [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.
- Highlights: The board will receive the annual audit report, will consider amending the village’s fund balance policy, a special use permit for a tattoo studio, a liquor license change request from Crab Bagz seafood restaurant.
Flossmoor Community Relations Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Highlights: In new business, the commission will discuss upcoming events, including Recyclepalooza, MLK Day of Service and Flossmoor’s 100th anniversary.
Stuff to do
Monday, Sept. 25
Art in S.T.E.A.M. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host an opportunity for kids aged 5 and up to embrace their creative sides while exploring the art aspect of STEAM from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Other elements of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) will also be incorporated in some projects. Children under 9 years old must have an adult caregiver stay with them at the program. Register at the library website.
Tuesday, Sept. 26
Goat Yoga and Wine Tasting. Nature’s Trail Yoga is holding a Halloween-themed yoga and wine tasting event from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Ravisloe Country Club, 18231 Park Ave. in Homewood. Yoga mats will be provided.
Wednesday, Sept. 27
Guided sculpture tour. Flossmoor Public Art Commission will host a tour of the village’s sculptures from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Meet in the center of the downtown traffic island at Judith Shea’s piece titled Child and then travel to Leavitt Park.
Thursday, Sept. 28
Shedd Aquarium trip for seniors. Homewood Public Library will take seniors aged 60 and up to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The trip will start at 10:45 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m. Transportation will be provided. For more information and to register, visit the library website.
Saturday, Sept. 30
Chicago Knockouts Minor League Bout. Junior members of the roller derby league will battle. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., action begins at 6 p.m. at the Homewood Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road. Tickets are $10, online and at the door. Accessible seating available at no extra charge.
Community bike rides. Barb and Dan Lawler’s Road Ride starts at 8 a.m. at GoodSpeed Cycle, 2125 183rd St. in Homewood. It’s a 25-mile fitness ride. The Off-Leash ride is a 9-mile ride at about 9 to 10 mph that starts at GoodSpeed at 8:30 a.m. and lasts about an hour.
Homewood Farmers Market. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Martin Square between Chestnut Road and Ridge Road with live music, fresh produce, baked goods, craft vendors and more. Liz Smith will lead a free yoga for kids class.
Meet the Mayor
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld will hold open office hours in the village hall lobby, 2020 Chestnut Road, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Notices
Diversity Dinner set for Oct. 12
Tickets are on sale for the next South Suburban Diversity Dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 at FCC Community House. Debby Irving, author of “Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race,” will be the guest speaker. Her book will be available for sale at the event.
Local student scientist seeks study participants
Local high school student Julian Grisius is seeking survey participants as part of a study he is doing on “how different methods of online communication affect people’s perceptions.” According to his mother and mentor, Kin Kong, the survey takes about 10 minutes and anyone aged 18 and up can participate.
A previous study he conducted when he was in 8th grade at James Hart School looked at the effect virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic had on social conflict and disregard for social norms when in-person classes resumed.
Mental health help: 988 for crisis; NAMI for resources
The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance. The NAMI HelpLine is not a hot line, crisis line or suicide prevention line. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis CALL 988.” NAMI helpline: 800-950-NAMI (6264).
Haunted Homewood decoration contest open
The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. Oct. 20. Judging will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27.
Winners will be announced on Oct. 30. The guidelines and application form is available online. There will be three categories in the competition: scariest, special effects and child friendly.
< THE WEEK
- Walhage wins Chili Cook-off (Sept. 23, 2023)
- You Matter 2 founder named Chamber 57 Entrepreneur of the Year (Sept. 23)
- District 153 passes balanced $31.87 million budget (Sept. 19)
- Wright bequest to benefit Homewood re-forestration (Sept. 19)
DEMOCRACY WATCH
Flossmoor Fest on Sept. 9 and Homewood Fall Fest on Sept. 23 were good opportunities to meet judicial candidates. Several were on hand collecting signatures. The signature-collection period began Sept. 5 for the March 19, 2024, primary election. Candidates will be able to file their petitions from Nov. 27 through Dec. 4.
Anyone who wants to make sure they don’t miss any election deadlines might want to take a look at the county clerk’s calendar page.
Are primaries part of the problem?
NPR published a story on Sept. 18 that explains views of election reform advocates who thing the primary system, which advanced access when it was developed a century ago, has become a hindrance to representation. It now enables a small percentage of voters to wield outsized influence in elections, and the result has the effect of creating incentives for candidates to be more ideologically extreme and responsive to small but vocal minorities.
They argue that closed primaries are the worst offenders. Illinois as partially open primaries.
Quote of the week
“A number of these electoral reforms aim to either depolarize or at least disincentivize gratuitous, bad or toxic behavior, which in many cases is rewarded by the current system. Being a jerk, being obnoxious, savaging others is rewarded. So if you change the incentives, the politicians are going to run differently. And I think a lot of people like that.”
Kevin Kosar, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.