THE WEEK >
Meetings
Flossmoor Board of Trustees will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, in village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road.
- Find the agenda here.
- Attend virtually here or call 312-626-6799. ID 824 4330 0740, passcode 60422.
- Highlights: The board will consider a resolution authorizing the village to participate in the Cook County No Cash Bid Program to possibly acquire tax delinquent units in the Flossmoor Office Center Condominium at 1835 Dixie Highway in order to facilitate redevelopment of the property. The board also will consider an ordinance amending the village’s personnel manual to comply with the state’s Paid Leave for All Act, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
Flossmoor Green Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, in the committee room at village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road.
- Find the agenda here.
Stuff to do
Monday, Nov. 20
Thanksgiving break skating. The H-F Ice Arena, 777 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor, will be open for skating from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 20, 21 and 22. Admission will be $6. Skate rental will be $4.
Tuesday, Nov. 21
Thanksgiving storytime. Kids from birth to age 7 will enjoy Thanksgiving stories and songs from 10:30 to 11 a.m. (register here) and from 3:30 to 4 p.m. (register here) at Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway.
Homewood Stories. Five storytellers will offer first-person true stories at 7:30 p.m. in the FCC Community House at 847 Hutchison Road in Flossmoor. In addition to show curator Karen O’Donnell, tellers will include Betty Milord, Tom Dobrez, Megan Wells and Errol McLendon. Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased online. Tickets at the door are $20.
Thursday, Nov. 23
Thornton Turkey Trot. The 55th annual Thanksgiving Day race will start at Sweet Woods Forest Preserve, 183rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in Glenwood. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The Kids 1.5 Mile Race will start at 9 a.m. and the 5K race will start at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25
Small Business Saturday. Locally owned shops in Homewood and Flossmoor will have specials and fun activities for holiday shoppers.
Flossmoor tree lighting. Flossmoor will kick off holiday celebrations at 3 p.m. in front of the Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave. Santa will be on hand for photos. A second photo op spot will be located in nearby Flossmoor Park with a vintage truck and decorations. The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District will offer free kids’ crafts inside the Park Place building from 3 to 5 p.m. Na Aikane ‘Ukulele will bring music and cheer at 4 p.m., then at 5 p.m. members of the Homewood-Flossmoor High School Viking Choir will lead a parade of carolers to Flossmoor Park for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa and Mayor Michelle Nelson. At 5:30 p.m. the switch will be flipped to officially light up the season.

Front, from left, are Zach and Amie. Back, from left, are Owen and Sam.
STEM Saturday. The Homewood Science Center’s weekly STEM Saturday activities are still on hiatus, but there will be a session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 25 at the science center, 18022 Dixie Highway.
News & Notices
Trash pickup. Homewood Disposal will be closed Thursday, Nov. 23, for Thanksgiving. Monday through Wednesday pickup service will remain on schedule. Thursday pick ups will take place on Friday. Friday pick ups will take place on Saturday.
Free leaf pickup/alternatives. The last free leaf pickup in Homewood will be Wednesday, Nov. 29. Leaves should be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. in 33 gallon biodegradable paper bags. No grass clippings, tree branches or other landscape waste will be accepted. Anyone who would rather not rake and bag leaves can be a good steward of the land by making use of fallen leaves on site. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Illinois Extension suggest people recycle their leaves in their lawns and gardens rather than giving away valuable nutrients soil and shelter for small critters that important for the health of the local ecology.
Traffic enforcement grant. Homewood announced on its Facebook page that the police department has been awarded a Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant to conduct additional traffic safety enforcement efforts. The program focuses on high-visibility enforcement and strategies aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing traffic crashes. Police will be conducting additional enforcement focused on speeding, seatbelt usage and distracted driving.
Poorly Drawn Pet Portrait Fundraiser. South Suburban Humane Society will create pet portraits for $30 and for an additional $20 will frame, wrap and mail the portrait by Dec. 11. “Now, the thing with this fundraiser is the fun of it all. You might get our Dog Outcome Coordinator drawing your pet portrait and she is an incredible artist! But you also might get our CEO and well, she is not.” The deadline for submissions is Dec. 8.
What’s your vision for transportation in Illinois? The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public to comment on Move Illinois, the 2024 long-range transportation plan, which will outline goals, objectives and strategies for Illinois’ diverse transportation network for the next 20 to 30 years. The survey is available here until Dec. 31. More information can be found at www.moveillinois2024.com.
< THE WEEK
- H-F volleyball highlights fall sports for Vikings (Nov. 18).
- Small Business Saturday will feature sales, extended hours, games and prizes at local stores (Nov. 18).
- Veterans honored at two events in Homewood (Nov. 17).
- Education Week: H-F High embraces innovation as it prepares students for their future (Nov. 17).
- Education Week: Parker students get an assist through the AVID Program (Nov. 16).
- District 153 honors three students for outstanding efforts (Nov. 15).
- District 153 presents Morin Award to six outstanding staff members (Nov. 15).
- Education Week: From background whispers to voices of advocacy: Special education today (Nov. 15).
- Education Week: Teaching is a special profession (Nov. 14).
- Education Week: The classroom is stagnant, let’s liven it up (Nov. 13).
- Surveys offer insights on H-F High strengths, weaknesses (Nov. 13).