Note: This story is part two of a four-part series on park playgrounds. Those of a certain age still talk about the merry-go-round at the playground. The circular piece had bars that extended out from the middle. One or two kids would hold a bar and run as fast as[Read More…]
Feature
Focus on Safety: CMAP study offers glimpse at types of cargo in local trains
Homewood and Flossmoor were founded along existing rail lines, so train traffic has been routine for the entire history of both villages. It’s easy to take for granted the presence of train cars but not as easy to discover what kinds of materials are in them. Information on specific quantities[Read More…]
Homewood Historical Society to present a tale of two horses
On Aug. 31, 1955, thoroughbred horseracing was the top spectator sport in the United States and on that date a two-horse race known as “The Great Match Race” put Homewood and its Washington Park Racetrack in the winner’s circle. The match-up was between Swaps, a West Coast horse that won[Read More…]
Project Kennedy blanket drive honors founder’s 30th birthday
Volunteers opened their hearts and put their hands to work on Aug. 16 making fleece blankets that will comfort children with cancer in all 50 states. The event at Homewood’s Cancer Support Center launched Project Kennedy’s “Dare the World to Kare!” initiative, marking what would have been founder Kennedy Parker’s[Read More…]
New president brings historic Homewood to life
A chance meeting at Homewood’s 2024 Fourth of July parade launched Homewood native Robert (Bob) L. Anderson Jr.’s journey to become president of the village’s historical society. “I parked close to where I grew up, and my wife Tammy and I were setting up our bag chairs when this lady[Read More…]
You Matter 2’s interns give ‘pitch perfect’ presentations in competition
It was Pitch Day for the students in You Matter 2’s NextGEN summer internship program. The 14 interns waited patiently for their turn. All were neatly dressed in business attire and ready to make their appeal for funding. So what is Pitch Day? Think Shark Tank for aspiring nonprofit agency[Read More…]
Focus on Safety: MABAS hazmat team trains to respond to train emergencies
Homewood Deputy Fire Chief Steve DeJong was called to the scene of the train derailment in Matteson last year in his role as one of the hazardous materials team leaders for Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) district 24. “Matteson responded as a department. They realized that they had a[Read More…]
Positive peer pressure: Adolescent Activists group works to educate teens about issues
Kelly Parker voted in her first presidential election at Willow Elementary School in Homewood, the very same elementary school she once attended. Parker called it a full circle moment. “My mom took me to vote. I was very excited. She was very excited,” said Parker, who said she was proud[Read More…]
Flossmoor’s 95th 4th of July Bike Parade features local historians
Eighty-five years after participating in his first Flossmoor Bike Parade, Al Wagner served as grand marshal in the annual parade on July 4. Wagner’s first parade came before his first birthday. He was born late in 1939 and participated in the 1940 bike parade. “I have a picture of my[Read More…]
Growing pains: You Matter 2 stays true to its mission despite funding challenges
No good deed goes unpunished — or so the saying goes. Area nonprofits are feeling the sting of those words as they find their funding being cut, frozen or eliminated altogether. You Matter 2, a nonprofit in Flossmoor that offers programming to empower and educate south suburban youth, is one[Read More…]
Newsletter
