NEWS NOTES
People Want Jobs. Wind Creek Casino Southland Career Fest drew a crowd at Prairie State College on Wednesday, Aug. 7. By 9 a.m., a casino spokesperson said 100 people were in line. As the doors opened at 10 a.m., the line had multiplied that number several times over. We’ll have a story in a day or two with an update on the career fest and the expected opening of the casino in East Hazel Crest.
Greenthumb Saturday Tree Walk. Master Gardener Tony Greep will lead a tour of parkway trees at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. Meet at the Willow School parking lot, 1804 Willow Road in Homewood.
Bike Nice in the Preserve. Izaak Walton Preserve officials posted a notice on Facebook reminding cyclists to take it easy on preserve trails, where pedestrians, dogs, cyclists and the occasional duck have to share space.
“Much of the Preserve is NOT a safe area to perform high intensity biking. Please use sound discretion when riding. Slow down and alert pedestrians when approaching, and slow down if you do not have a clear field of vision. We do not want to regulate bike usage, and are counting on all bike users to use safe judgment when riding bikes.”
Another thing to consider: Izaak Walton is beautiful. If you’re going too fast, you can’t soak in the serene scenery.
The Izaak Walton extension trail, which follows the route of the new water line out to the pump station is not used as much by walkers and is mostly straight. That’s a better place to race. The post also notes there are forest preserve trails in the area that are wider and better suited for going fast. The Thorn Creek Trail from Main Street in Glenwood to Joe Orr Road is straight, wide and not a popular walking trail. Go hither and let ‘er fly.
Bike Lanes in the Viaduct. Bike lanes recently were repainted in the Dixie Highway viaduct in Homewood. I don’t think they are new, but I just noticed them the other day. I gave it a try. I wouldn’t say that would be my favorite route (still feel safer on the sidewalk) but it was less scary than I thought it would be. I’m checking with village officials about the history and future of biking through the viaduct. That was something portrayed in the village’s Downtown Transit Oriented Development Plan released earlier this year.
Flossmoor Book Club move. The Flossmoor Book Club will meet at a new location starting this fall. Starting with the Friday, Sept. 13, meeting, the club will gather in the fellowship hall at Flossmoor Community Church, 2218 Hutchison Road in Flossmoor. Meetings start at 1 p.m. and will be held the second Friday of each month through the fall, winter and spring months.
Dues are $30 for the year. The club has a 125-member limit. More information is available at the club’s website.
Flossmoor Park Centennial House Walk. The village of Flossmoor will celebrate the centennial of the Flossmoor Park neighborhood with a self-guided tour of nine 100-year-old homes anchored by a block party at FCC Community House, 847 Hutchison Road. The event from 2 to 4 p.m. will also include a cookie bake-off. Donations to the Foundation for the Preservation of Flossmoor History will help the organization approach its goal of raising $500,000 in its capital campaign.