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The Weeks | Sept. 8: Hidden Gem scenes/results, Homewood development projects at P&Z, Thornton Township spending limits

Your government

(Meetings are open to the public.)

Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, in Normandy Villa, 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights. The agenda is available here. To watch the livestream of the meeting, click here.

Highlights: The board will consider approving the outdoor education program at Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center for 2025 and will discuss the 2024-25 budget. 

Homewood Board of Trustees 
will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road. The agenda is available here. To watch the livestream of the meeting, click here. Meeting ID is 980 4907 6232 and the password is 830183.

Highlights: The board will consider: 

  • Granting the village permission to issue a $2.6 million general obligation bond for public infrastructure improvements and the acquisition of capital equipment. A public hearing on the proposed bond was held July 23.
  •  Approving a contract with Ryan LLC for $37,375 to explore the feasibility of removing a portion of the downtown area from the existing transit-oriented development tax increment financing district to create a new TIF district that would include the Matrix building at 2066 Ridge Road, the village hall campus, the commuter lot on Harwood Avenue, the old library building at Dixie and Harwood and the St. John Neumann school property.
  • Approve a budget amendment to reimburse Scott Donkel, owner of The Ridgewood, for a portion of renovation costs. The board approved the incentive agreement in June.
  • Approve a new Class 4A liquor license, which allows for the sale of liquor for on-premises consumption only with no more than 25% of sales from alcohol sales, for Prime 69, a new restaurant set to open this fall in the space formerly occupied by La Voute Bar + Bistro at 2034 Ridge Road.  

Flossmoor Public Library Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the library, 1000 Sterling Ave. The agenda is available here.

Thornton Township Board of Trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in township hall,  333 E. 162nd St. in South Holland. The agenda is available here.

Highlights: The board will consider two ordinances to adopt the township’s budget for 2024-25 and two ordinances aimed at controlling spending, one to “regulate event spending” and one to establish “a Retail/Credit Card/Net 30 policy.”

Bloom Township Board of Trustees’ published meeting schedule indicates the board meets at 6 p.m. each second Tuesday of the month (although in recent months the time has been moved to 4:30 p.m.) at 425 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights. No agenda has been posted for Sept. 10 as of Sunday morning.

Homewood Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road. The agenda is available here. To watch the livestream of the meeting, click here. Meeting ID 991 8481 1606, passcode 573812.

Highlights: The commission will 

Stuff to do

Tuesday, Sept. 10

Art in the Park. The H-F Park District will host an art session from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Patriots Park, 187th Street and Center Avenue in Homewood. Open to all ages.

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Flossmoor History. Homewood Historical Society will host a program “Honoring the Centennial of the Village of Flossmoor” at the Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Masks optional.

Saturday, Sept. 14

0.3K ‘race’ in Homewood. The Homewood Business Association and Homewood Arts Council are hosting a return of the popular 0.3K race, an opportunity to drink beer and eat donuts, cookies and burgers while traversing a nearly three block course from Hickory Road to Ridge Road in downtown Homewood. The Fund Run is a fundraiser for both organizations. Click here to register

Roll for Initiative: Autumn TTRPGs. The Flossmoor Public Library will host from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  tabletop roleplay for anyone age 10 to 18. The “system will either be Dungeons and Dragons 5e, or something independent and easy to learn. Resources will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you already have supplies.” Register here. As of Sunday, there were eight spots still available. The library staff asks that players “only sign up for one night per month as space is limited. Snacks will be provided.”

Sculpture Wine & Dine. The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (The Nate) at Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, will host a dinner and sculpture tour starting at 4 p.m. Seats are limited. Click here to register.

Homewood Farmers Market. Fresh produce, artisan foods, handcrafted personal care item vendors plus live music will all be available on Martin Square between Ridge Road and Chestnut Road from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Barb and Dan’s Road Ride. Weekly bike ride starts at 8 a.m. Saturday from GoodSpeed Cycle, 2125 W. 183rd St. in Homewood. There are two groups. One is a no-one-gets-dropped group that follows a 20-mile route. Another group goes on a longer ride. Helmets required. Lights encouraged. Riders of all experience levels are welcome. 

Off-Leash Bike Ride. A nine-mile ride every Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. at GoodSpeed Cycle, 2125 W. 183rd St. in Homewood. The route includes Butterfield Creek bike path, past Rover’s Run and through Izaak Walton Preserve. No registration. Donuts upon return.

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