DEMOCRACY WATCH

Criticizing government is kind of a hobby. People regularly gripe about local government, township government, county government, state government, national government and governments elsewhere in the world.

Complaining about government might be one of the most unifying forces in all creation.

That’s why it was almost startling when at two recent village board meetings residents addressed trustees to thank them for their integrity and service.

During the public comment portion of the Oct. 16 Flossmoor Board of Trustees meeting, resident Vicki Stevenson thanked the board for its management of village finances.

“As you all know, our assessment letters came out a while ago … and were alarming to a lot of people. Today, our tax bills came out. Every house I looked at in Flossmoor was lower,” she said. “I want to thank the village for all you do to keep our expenses down, from being fiscally responsible to getting grants for things that are really forward thinking, to urging companies to bring businesses here.

“As a realtor in the area, taxes are one of the biggest things we fight to draw people here. The village is doing everything in their power to support their citizens by keeping their expenses as low as possible while still providing an excellent array of village services to us.”

Then at the Oct. 24 Homewood Board of Trustees meeting, resident Suzanne Rickman delivered a similar message. She said about six months ago she had started attending board meetings in order to get more involved in village governance.

“I just wanted to compliment our board our mayor and our clerk for being a board of integrity,” she said. “I see things that are happening in some of the other villages. I’m kind of appalled. It makes me more grateful. Clearly, this board puts the interests of residents above self interest. I just wanted to thank you for being people of integrity.”

It’s not that people don’t appreciate it when local government does good work, but in my experience it’s unusual for residents to say so at a public meeting.

Holding government accountable is important, and airing grievances is a necessary part of that, but so is rewarding public servants with well-earned compliments when they do good.

THE WEEK >

Meetings

Homewood Appearance Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road.

• Find the agenda here.
• Attend virtually here.
• Highlights: The commission will consider a request for a sign variance by St. John Neumann parish, 17951 Dixie Highway. The parish wishes to replace a monument sign with an electronic sign. The commission will also consider a request by All Nations Community Church, 18620 Kedzie Ave., to replace its monument sign with an electronic sign. There will also be an update from staff on the status of revisions to the village’s appearance plan. 

Stuff to do

Thursday, Nov. 2
Ladies Night Out/Holiday Reveal. Homewood Business Association will host a special shopping night downtown from 5 to 8 p.m. Participating businesses include Anjel’s Boutique, Art4Soul, Art Corner Frames, Jonathan Kane Salon, Gaia’s Market & Refillery, Loulou Belle, The Rock Shop, The Serendipity Shoppe, The Village Door, ​The Villager Gift Shop, Upsadaisy and Van Sipma’s Jewelers. 

Letters from Dachau. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host “Letters from Dachau: A Journey of Words though Rarely Spoken” from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Helen Wilson Meeting Room. Clarice Wilsey will share the Holocaust experience of her father, an Army physician who helped liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp on April 29, 1945. Registration is not required.

Friday, Nov. 3
Acoustic After Hours. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host a performance by BirdsxButterfly from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 4
Pumpkin Smash. The H-F Park District will host the annual pumpkin recycling event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Coyote Run Golf Course, 800 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor. Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing a location for residents to drop off jack-o-lanterns to be composted. Bring candy wrappers, too.

Chicago: The First Hollywood. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host a presentation from 1 to 2 p.m. by film historian Annette Bochenek on Chicago’s early role in the film industry.

Sunday, Nov. 5
IPO Fashion Show. The Friends of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra will host the 32nd annual Fashion Show, Boutique and Luncheon “A Symphony of Style” at Idlewild Country Club, 19201 Dixie Highway in Flossmoor. Fashions on display by Azul Boutique, Bridesmaids Social Boutique, JAYNE and Kluger Furs as well as a variety of boutique vendors offering clothing, jewelry and unique items. Proceeds benefit Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s artistic and educational programs. The boutique will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lunch at 1 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

Notices

Trick or treat hours. The hours for trick-or-treating in Homewood and Flossmoor will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. Homewood is inviting kids to trick-or-treat from 3 to 5 p.m. at village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road; the police and fire departments, 17950 Dixie Highway; the Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway; and the Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway. 

Free leaf pickup in Homewood and Flossmoor. Homewood residents can place bags of leaves curbside without purchasing a yard waste sticker on Nov. 1, Nov. 15 and Nov. 29. Leaves must be in a brown paper yard waste bag. The bags can be purchased at area hardware or home improvement stores. No tree limbs or other yard waste will be collected. For more information, call Homewood Public Works at 708-206-3470.

In Flossmoor, free leaf pick-up for single-family homes will coincide with regular trash pick up from Nov. 6 through Dec. 1. Place leaves in 33-gallon biodegradable paper bags on the street curb no later than 6 a.m. for free pick-up. No stickers needed. No grass clippings, tree branches or other landscape waste will be accepted.

Flossmoor also suggested other options for handling fallen leaves. Use a mower to shred fallen leaves. The shredded leaf material will break down and add nutrients back to the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer. Add fallen leaves to garden beds. Excess shredded leaf material left from mowing can be used. The shredded leaves will break down quickly and add organic material to the soil.

For additional information, contact the Flossmoor Public Works Department at 708-957-4100.

Rising Star Showcase accepting applications. The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Rising Star Showcase is designed to offer performance-ready music students from Chicago’s South Suburbs a chance to perform before a live audience. Applications are accepted for solos (with or without accompaniment), duets, trios or quartets. Piano accompaniment is available upon request. A 45-minute virtual coaching session with a member of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra will be scheduled with all students selected. Applications must be received by February 5, 2024. The showcase performance will be Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. at Flossmoor Community Church.

< THE WEEK

• Flossmoor Station welcomes new brewmaster (Oct. 28, 2023).
• Teacher could return to classroom after abuse allegations deemed ‘unfounded’ (Oct. 28, 2023).
• Ink-N-Um Tattoos & Body Piercing will open in the Southgate Shopping Center  (Oct. 27, 2023).
• Reportedly stolen car collides with hearse Friday (Oct. 27, 2023).
• D161 selects Theartris Childress III to serve on the board (Oct. 26, 2023).
• Spotlight Performance Academy receives check from Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce (Oct. 26, 2023).
• Dylan Parry earns ‘Metal of Honor’ for 12 years collecting pop tab (Oct. 24, 2023).
• Flossmoor police investigate shots fired at Western and Vollmer on Monday (Oct. 24, 2023).
• Trustees honor Rick Sewell as he retires from Homewood Police Department (Oct. 24, 2023).