villager - Village of Frankfort

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38890_Villager_Nov_Layout 1 11/5/10 11:05 AM Page 1
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 130
FRANKFORT, IL
432 W. NEBRASKA STREET
FRANKFORT, IL 60423
VILLAGER
T H E F R A N K F O RT
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKFORT
TO: POSTAL CUSTOMER
FRANKFORT, IL 60423
Mayor’s Message
By Mayor Jim Holland
VOL. 6 • NOVEMBER 2010
Frankfort’s Finest: Let’s Give Them a Hand
By Jerry Ducay, Village Administrator
Hiring the
Best
VILLAGE NEWS
Transformation, from page 1
providing scholarships and
supporting charitable causes that
benefit children.” Annually, an
event is held aptly named
“Lynzapalooza” to raise money
and remember Lyndsey. The
Whittingham family has turned
their tragedy into a way to help
others.
Earlier this year, a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake struck the tiny country
of Haiti and devastated the capital
city, Port-au-Prince. Frankfort
resident John Shattuck, an
unassuming member of the Friends
of the Orphans and Nuestros
Pequenos Hermanos International,
a charitable organization assisting
those in need in third world
countries, sprung into action. While
we all looked for ways to help with
donations and fundraising, John got
on a plane and entered the fray. He
personally organized the collection
and delivery of much needed
medical, clothing and food
supplies. John has returned to
Haiti delivering aid and raising
awareness. To date, his group has
raised $10,000,000. A local
businessman and boy scout leader,
John seemed almost embarrassed
by the attention. His passion was
for helping others.
Looking around the community we
call home, I am constantly
reminded of the greatness of those
I proudly call “neighbor.” They
bring out the best in us all, even
when their lives seem to be at their
worst. They think of others before
themselves, and by doing so,
elevate us all. I cannot help but
smile when I think of the Lions
Club delivering food baskets to
those in need, or Kathy
Kahlhammer packing an event to
raise money for cancer year after
year. The exceptional work of our
local food pantry and houses of
worship are without comparison in
the area.
Frankfort’s finest citizens come in
many forms. Some are quietly
making a difference and others are
screaming their message from the
rooftops. Regardless of how they
choose to do so, each of them is
making our community and this
world a better place. Maybe I am a
bit biased, after all Frankfort is my
home, but I cannot think of a better
place to raise my family or a better
group to have alongside me as I do.
Thank you John and Jill, Ray and
Betsy, John S. and all those who
work tirelessly for the benefit of
us all. You are truly Frankfort’s
Finest! ■
The quality of
services that
the Village of
Frankfort
provides to our
residents is
highly dependent on the integrity,
competence and dependability
of our employees. A goal of the
Frankfort Village Board is to
hire the best person for each
job opening. In our form of
government, the Village
Administrator, Assistant Village
Administrator and the department
heads are appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the
trustees. At a recent Village Board
meeting, the trustees provided
their consent to my appointment
of John Burica to the position of
Police Chief. The process began
four months earlier.
The Police Chief position became
available when former Police
Chief, Rob Piscia, was promoted
to Assistant Village Administrator
in May of 2010 when Howard
Sloan retired from that position.
We advertised the Police Chief
opening in local and regional
newspapers and in national
publications that target the police
Continued on page 23
Falcons coach
Jerry Ducay
with his son Joe
(left) and the
late Sean
Duggan (right)
in November,
2008.
A few years ago, I met a young
man who changed my life forever.
His name was Sean Duggan. Sean
was 10 years old when he died
from cancer. Sean played football
as a member of the Frankfort
Falcons and I had the pleasure of
being one of his coaches. He was
like every other kid, full of life and
love. I would often cringe during
football practice when Sean would
insist on participating in tackling
drills. His ongoing chemotherapy
treatments and multiple surgeries
ravaged his body, but not his spirit.
He gave all that he had and never
complained. Sean’s passing was
devastating to our community and
the sports organizations he so
loved. In an effort to make a
difference in the lives of others,
Sean’s parents sponsor an annual
toy drive for Children’s Memorial
Hospital. The families of Frankfort
provide toys for kids when they
need support the most. Last year
they collected enough toys to bring
cheer to the entire hospital.
In 2008, Lyndsey Whittingham was
tragically killed when she was hit
by a cab in downtown Chicago. A
lifelong resident of Frankfort,
Lyndsey was only 23 when her life
was cut short. Her sudden death
devastated her family and all who
loved her. Not long after the
accident, Lyndsey’s family and
friends created the Lyndsey
Whittingham Foundation “to honor
the memory of Lyndsey while
Continued on back page
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Trustee Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Holiday Safety & Travel . . . . . . . . 5
1 N. White St. Update . . . . . . . . 6-7
Upcoming Holiday Events . . 11, 14
2010 Events in Review . . . . . 12-13
Neighborhood Notes . . . . . . . . . 22
VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE of FRANKFORT
VILLAGE NEWS
FEMA Visits Frankfort
By Rob Piscia, Assistant Village Administrator
Village President . . . . Jim Holland
Village Clerk . . Robert J. Kennedy
Village Trustees . . . . . Kevin Egan
Cindy Corso Heath
Todd Morgan
Mike Stevens
Dick Trevarthan
Doug Walker
Village
Administrator . . . . . . Jerry Ducay
Administration Office
432 W. Nebraska Street
Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: (815) 469-2177
Fax: (815) 469-7999
www.villageoffrankfort.com
Village Board Room
Frankfort Police Department
Lower Level
20602 Lincoln-Way Lane
Frankfort, IL 60423
Village Board meetings are held
on the first and third Monday
of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Meetings are broadcast on cable
channel 6.
Special meetings and standing
committee meetings are
scheduled monthly, or on an
as-needed basis, and are
announced. The public is
invited to all meetings.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
is circulated three times yearly to
residents and businesses in the
Village of Frankfort. Circulation is
currently 6,900.
Statement of Purpose: To inform
the community of issues, policies
and personalities pertaining to
government in our village.
Masthead By . . . . . . . . Joe Griffin
Newsletter
Designed By . . . . . On Time Design
2
NOVEMBER 2010
Frankfort’s efforts to implement best practices for creating effective
and aesthetically pleasing detention areas to minimize flooding include
the wetlands in Old Stone Village subdivision.
Once again, the efforts of the
Village of Frankfort are being
recognized by FEMA for its
regulations put in place to help
control flooding throughout the
community. According to FEMA,
“On August 19, 2010, President
Obama issued a major disaster
declaration (DR#1935-IL) for the
State of Illinois from damage
sustained during severe storms and
flooding from July 22nd to August
7th, 2010. During this event, up to
7.02 inches of rain fell in one day
and up to 12.10 inches were
recorded over two days.
Precipitation records were broken
across the affected area, which
included Cook, DuPage, Jo
Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago,
Carroll, Ogle, Adams, Pike and
Schuyler Counties.” Cook and
DuPage Counties saw the heaviest
totals and reported the most
damage.
In Frankfort, on August 4, the
Village saw over four inches of rain
fall in about 90 minutes. This two
week rain event is being reported
as the second most costly in
Illinois state history with over
93,000 residents requesting aid in
excess of $186,000,000. However,
Frankfort remained relatively
unaffected by the tremendous
storms. On October 4, Joan
Tweedale from FEMA came out to
visit the Village to learn about our
storm water management and see
how these changes have minimized
the effects of flooding on our
residents. FEMA hopes to see if
these standards will help educate
other communities on best
practices to alleviate damage.
Historically, Frankfort had seen
similar flooding that has plagued
other communities. Back in 1994,
before the Village of Frankfort had
a storm water management
ordinance, homeowners had filed
216 written complaints about
drainage with staff. In July of 1996,
the Will County area saw a
500-year rain event or those storms
that have .2 percent (.2%) chance
of happening in any one year. Over
Continued on page 8
Mayor’s Message, from page 1
community. The advertisements
described Frankfort and stated the
minimum qualifications and the
salary range. We received sixty-four
applications, of which about fifty
had basic qualifications and
merited further review. Most of the
applicants were from northeast
Illinois. Some were from as far
away as Texas. Several were
current Village of Frankfort police
officers. Jerry Ducay, our Village
Administrator, Rob Piscia and I
individually reviewed each
application. The applications were
available to the trustees and they
also reviewed many of the
applications. The three of us
separately narrowed the field to
our top ten selections and then we
worked together to combine our
selections into one list of ten. The
resumes and background
information for each of these ten
candidates were sent to the
trustees.
We asked each trustee to pick the
five best candidates for interviews.
From this information, Jerry, Rob
and I narrowed the list to five
candidates for interviews. During
publicly announced meetings, your
six trustees, Jerry, Rob and I
interviewed each of the five
finalists. We were impressed with
the quality of each applicant. Each
could bring skills to our
community. In the end, we decided
that one of our own police
commanders, John Burica, would
be the best police chief for our
citizens. We went through a similar
process when we selected Rob
Piscia as Police Chief and again
when we selected him as Assistant
Village Administrator.
Chief Burica knows our community
and he is a proven leader. His
Mayor Holland swears in John Burica as Police Chief in the presence of his family.
qualifications significantly exceed
the minimum standards we had set
for the position. Chief Burica has
been a police officer for sixteen
years. He has held the positions of
Patrolman, Sergeant, Detective,
Senior Patrol Officer/DARE Officer
and Commander. He has worked at
the Frankfort Police Department
for thirteen years. Chief Burica has
a Master’s Degree in Public
Administration from Governors
State University and a Bachelor’s
Degree in Criminal Justice from
Illinois State University. He is a
graduate of the Northwestern
School of Police Staff and
Command. He has been certified
for the position of Police Chief by
the Illinois Association of Chiefs of
Police. Chief Burica is a member of
the Illinois Chiefs of Police
Association, the Will County Chiefs
of Police Association, the DARE
Officers Association, and the Crime
Prevention Association. He, his
wife and two children live in the
local area. He coaches wrestling,
baseball and football and he is a
member of the Frankfort Lions
Club. During the interview he
talked about the future and
expressed ideas about new
programs that could reduce crime
and make a more effective police
department while controlling
expenses.
Our residents can have confidence
that our hiring process results in
the best person for the job. We
hope that you will welcome our
newest hire, John Burica, the best
person for the job, to his new
position as Police Chief for the
Village of Frankfort. ■
Join the
Frankfort Police Department’s
FREE Network
and stay informed
with community alerts
and safety information!
Sign up at
http://www.villageoffrankfort.com/
live/police/community-alerts.
NOVEMBER 2010
23
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Neighborhood Notes
Cobblestone Walk Homeowner’s Association
By Mary Canino, Manager of Community Relations
that are completed or under
construction during 2010 in
Cobblestone,” commented
President Revord.
It’s not all business for Cobblestone
Walk homeowners. A family
summer block party, a subdivision
garage sale and a Halloween
costume party are held through the
year and add to the social network
of the community.
With a welcoming sign that reads
“Cobblestone Walk,” it’s hard to
miss the majestic homes
surrounded by glistening ponds
located at the corner of 116th
Avenue and Laraway Roads.
Developed in 2004 by Gander
Builders, Cobblestone Walk is
home to 41 families. Additional
lots remain available for sale in the
upscale 51-lot subdivision.
Homeowner’s Association
President, Scott Revord, works
with board members Cindy Blau
(Treasurer) and Al Juraska
(Secretary) to insure Cobblestone
Walk creates and maintains the
value of the subdivision for its
members. Membership in the
homeowner association is
mandatory for homeowners in
Cobblestone Walk, and provides
the funding necessary for
maintenance issues and capital
improvement projects in their
neighborhood. The final
assessment is driven by the actual
projected cost of the agreed upon
capital improvement project for
22
NOVEMBER 2010
the coming year. Annual budgets
are approved by vote. “The large
common grounds areas that
incorporate three ponds in the
subdivision, as well as the long
parkways along Laraway and 116th
Avenue, represent significant
annual dollar cost to our members.
We have also been pro-active in
annually treating our 79 Ash trees
for the Emerald Ash Borer,”
commented President Scott
Revord.
Additionally, Cobblestone Walk
works with the Village of Frankfort
to insure proper standards are
followed regarding the treatment of
their ponds. An ongoing list of
project information and costs is
maintained for management of
their annual budget and to
prioritize maintenance and capital
improvements.
“Like all HOA’s, we have to keep
abreast of the changes in home and
lot ownership associated with the
housing recession. At the same
time, there are three new homes
Cobblestone Walk also actively
participates in various community
activities, including volunteering at
the BETA entertainment tent
during Fall Fest.
Next time you’re driving down
Laraway Road, take a moment and
visit Cobblestone Walk, another
beautiful neighborhood in the
Village of Frankfort! ■
Trustee Talk: And the Beat Goes On
By Trustee Mike Stevens
One test of a strong business or
organization is if it is able to
withstand the loss of key members
of its staff, find able replacements
and continue to move forward to
meet its goals and objectives.
The Village of Frankfort is no
different. Within the last two years
we have seen more than a few
retirements among our long
serving employees. Some positions
were not replaced. Others were
filled with experienced
professionals from within the
organization and from the private
sector. The last three, Community
Development Director, Engineering
Inspector and Interim Building
Director are currently staffed by
younger members of our team.
The youngest two, both in their
twenties, have risen through the
ranks through hard work and
continuous education. Recently,
the twenty-somethings were joined
by a retiree who was returning to
work on a part time basis. Their
ability to work together for the
benefit of our community is
wonderful to watch.
Frankfort is a community with a
diverse workforce. That diversity
has created a healthy exchange of
knowledge, experience and
energy within our team. The mix
of ages and experience assures
stability for years to come. By
having a healthy mix throughout
our organization, knowledge and
experience are matched with new
technology and methodologies.
The result is a stronger
management team for our
community.
Recently, one of the younger
members of our team took it upon
himself to have a bridge grant
submitted to the state. Teaming up
with one of our longer serving
members, he was able to assemble
an impressive grant application. To
their great credit, the grant was
approved, bringing $1,000,000 in
funding to our community.
What’s on Channel 6?
It’s coming! The new 2011
Village of Frankfort
Calendar of Events!
Check the Village website,
www.villageoffrankfort.com,
soon for the entire list and
mark your calendar for
another year of family fun in
the Village of Frankfort!
A complete listing of channel six programming can be accessed at
www.villageoffrankfort.com, under “Most Requested.”
For our Channel 6 Viewers’ Convenience…
In addition to the Monday broadcast of the Village Board meeting at
7:00 p.m., viewers can now watch a repeat of the board meeting at
7:00 p.m. every Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. every Thursday and
10:00 p.m. every Saturday.
There is a
saying that
“youth is
wasted on
the young.”
Many of us
in our
“golden
years” often
talk about
our knowledge and experience. We
have put our time in and learned
through doing. At times we find it
difficult to relate to the younger
generation that seems to want
everything now. Maybe we get too
set in our ways and beliefs.
When I look at those who are
charged with the day-to-day
operation of our village, I feel
nothing but confidence and pride.
In 1999, Frankfort hired a 33 year
old to become our Village
Administrator. When hired, Jerry
Ducay already had 10 years of
municipal experience. In 2004,
Terry Kestel, a public works
foreman, was promoted to
Superintendent of Public Works.
He was 31 at the time. 2003 saw
the promotion of Rob Piscia to
Police Chief at age 39. They, like
Frankfort, are well respected
figures in the region.
Yes, in the last few years, we have
lost some really great people from
our staff. People who have helped
make Frankfort what it is today…a
great place to live and work. But it
should be very comforting to our
community that there are folks
ready, willing and able to step up,
take the baton and move forward.
Just another reason why I love
this town. ■
NOVEMBER 2010
3
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Utility Update: Asset Management Projects
Frankfort Square Park District
Lighthouse Pointe Park
By Darrin Yount, Director of Utilities
By Jim Randall, Executive Director
the growth of mildew. This not only
becomes unsightly in time but it
also poses a risk to the surface of
the paint.
New digester
tanks are
planned for
the West
Wastewater
Treatment
Facility on
Colorado
Avenue.
As part of an on-going asset
management plan, the Utility
Department has several projects
either underway or planned for the
near future. The following is a
summary of just a few of these
projects:
Digester Conversion Project
The Utility Department is planning
to modify part of the West
Wastewater Treatment Facility
located on Colorado Avenue
starting this winter. There are two
holding tanks called digesters that
are being upgraded. Aged piping,
valves and pumping systems are
being removed and replaced with
new, more efficient equipment and
systems. For example, high
efficiency blowers that pump air to
the bottom of these digester tanks
will allow the Village to experience
up to a 35% decrease in operating
energy costs. The expected project
completion date is the fall of 2011.
Water Main
Replacement/Looping Projects
There are two water main
replacement projects planned for
this budget year. Birchwood Road
in between Illinois Avenue and
4
NOVEMBER 2010
Meadow Road in the Connecticut
Hills subdivision is one section
being replaced. The other section
includes Highland Road from St.
Andrews Way up to and including
Drummore Lane in the Prestwick
subdivision. The water main on
Drummore Lane will be extended
and looped to improve water
aesthetics.
The solution to this issue involves
an industrial strength power
washing process. This process
includes pre-soaking the tank with
a biodegradable cleaning agent.
After some time, the cleaning agent
is removed using a pressure washer
and a mildew inhibitor is then
applied to the surface. This
removes the discoloration and
helps to extend the life of the paint,
which in turn extends the life of
the water tower.
This maintenance process was
recently completed on the water
tower located in the Frankfort
Square community and we are very
pleased with the results.
As the construction phase of these
projects draw near (late winter/
early spring), there will be direct
communication to the residents in
these areas with further details and
timing.
Lighthouse Pointe Park features an
ADA accessible playground, a green
roof picnic shelter, and game tables
among its many amenities.
This past fall, the Frankfort Square
Park District completed
construction of Lighthouse Pointe
Park, located in the Lighthouse
Pointe subdivision in Frankfort.
This 6-acre park site was made
possible through a $400,000
OSLAD grant facilitated through
the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources. The FSPD’s impressive
The FSPD’s mission of providing
quality recreation and environmental stewardship has become
the standard for our residents, and
is exemplified in the Lighthouse
Pointe Park project. Abbey Woods
and Hickory Creek create a
beautiful backdrop for the park
site and the amenities it offers,
such as an ADA accessible
playground, a green roof picnic
shelter with rain barrels, butterfly
garden, native Illinois tree arbor,
bio swale, exercise stations, game
tables, and permanent lawn games.
A looped exercise path connects
park users to 15 miles of trails and
the future connection to the Will
County Forest Preserve Trail and
Old Plank Trail.
Lighthouse Pointe Park provides
recreational and educational
opportunities, while further
enhancing the ecological/environmental benefits of natural areas.
Interpretive signage, located
throughout the park, educates park
users about the biodiversity of
plants and wildlife sustained
throughout this natural setting, and
promotes the idea of preserving
our environment for future
generations.
For more information on the
Frankfort Square Park District,
please visit our website at
www.fspd.org, or contact the park
office at (815) 469-3524. ■
Frankfort Public Library District News
By Nicole Suarez, Reference Librarian
If you have any questions or
concerns related to your water or
wastewater service, please
contact the Utility Department at
(815) 469-2177. ■
We are very
excited to
announce the
addition of a
new service that
many Frankfort residents have
been requesting. Media on Demand
made its debut on November 1,
giving patrons access to downloadable audiobooks as well as hundreds of digital e-books. These ebooks are compatible with popular
electronic reading devices such as
the Sony Reader, the Barnes and
Noble Nook, the Kobo eReader,
and the Pandigital Novel. If you do
Tower Power Wash
Have you ever noticed that the
bottom side of an elevated water
tank (tower) discolors more rapidly
than the rest of the tower? Would
you believe mildew is the culprit?
That’s right. The bottom, exterior
portion of the elevated tank often
produces condensation on the
outside. Dust and other particles in
the air naturally collect on the wet
surface, which eventually begins to
discolor. The combination of
moisture and the particles in the air
create a perfect environment for
track record of securing grants,
over $2 million in the past eight
years, is possible due to strong
resident and local government
cooperation, and the efforts of our
local and state legislators.
Frankfort Square
Water Tower
before cleaning.
Frankfort Square
Water Tower after
cleaning.
not own a reading device, the ebooks can also be read on personal
computers. This service provides
patrons with a convenient way to
check out books in a portable
digital format from the
convenience of home. Visit the
library website at www.frankfort
library.org for access to Media on
Demand.
Please remember that our
programs for children will continue
throughout the month of
December, including Preschool
Storytime, the Gaming Tournament
Club, and Me, You & a Bottle of
Glue, our monthly after-school craft
club. The annual Holiday Surprise
Pajama Storytime will take place
on Wednesday evening, December
15, and a special visitor will be
attending to spread holiday cheer.
Although it is still in the early
planning stages, please know that
our extremely popular Fairy Tale
Trail will be returning in spring
2011, and as a hint towards our
theme …just come prepared to
hunt for treasure that has been
stolen by Captain Hook! ■
NOVEMBER 2010
21
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Holiday Travel and Safety Tips
Frankfort Park District
Catch the Holiday Spirit!
By Chief of Police John Burica
By Tom Carstens, Executive Director
These
youngsters
were all smiles
as they had
their pictures
taken with
Mr. Claus
at last year’s
Lunch with
Santa event.
Get into the holiday spirit with the
Frankfort Park District! This
winter, the Park District will be
offering several holiday themed
programs and events that will be
sure to get you and your family
ready for the holiday season.
The fun starts on Saturday,
December 4, with youth programs
“Reindeer Games” and “Elf Help.”
Come out to the Founders Center
at 12:00 p.m. for Reindeer Games
(ages 4-8, $19 resident/
$24 non-resident) and spend a few
hours at this fun-filled holiday
party with games, milk and
cookies! If parents need some
extra time shopping, wrapping or
a quiet dinner out, bring the
children back from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
for games, stories, pizza and a
Christmas movie with the Elf
Helpers (ages 4-8, $25 resident/
$30 non-resident).
December 4 is also the date of our
holiday trip to see the Nutcracker.
Join us for this enchanting holiday
20
NOVEMBER 2010
tradition at Aurora’s Paramount
Theater. A motor coach bus will
leave the Founders Center at
9:45 a.m. and will return at
approximately 4:45 p.m. The cost of
the trip is $60, which includes
lunch, ticket and transportation.
Chamber, from page 15
The Festival is made possible by
the incredible partnerships that the
Chamber shares with the Village of
Frankfort, the Frankfort Fire and
Police Departments, Frankfort Park
District and our dedicated
volunteers. Through these efforts
we are able to underwrite
numerous community events such
as Concerts, Movies, and Winter on
the Green, local athletic and safety
awareness programs, Lincoln-Way
Educational Foundation, Fourth of
July Fireworks, and Student
Scholarships.
Join Santa and Frosty for lunch on
Saturday, December 11, from 11:30
a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at the Founders
Center. A puppet magic show will
also be part of the lunch fun! Pizza
will be served while photos can be
taken with Santa. Each child will
receive a goodie bag.
On Tuesday, December 21, we will
be heading to the Bank of America
Theater in Chicago for Irving
Berlin’s White Christmas. The bus
will leave at 5:45 p.m. from the
Founders Center and will return at
approximately 11:30 p.m. The cost
to see this holiday classic is $40 for
ticket and transportation.
For additional information on any
of the programs, events or trips
mentioned, please call the park
office at (815) 469-9400, or visit
www.frankfortparks.org. ■
opportunity to organize and
provide this popular community
event that showcases our Village to
over 200,000 visitors each Labor
Day weekend.
2011 will be no exception.
Chairman Mark Giovanazzi and
his Co-Chair Cindy Heath have
already started preparing to take
us all somewhere “Over the
Rainbow” next year. The Chamber
anxiously awaits the arrival of the
43rd Annual Frankfort Fall Festival
and we hope that you will make
plans to join us Labor Day
weekend 2011! ■
The Frankfort Chamber of
Commerce is honored to have the
As the holidays approach, so do
hectic schedules and travel plans
for many, with excursions to visit
friends and families, to trips and
shopping. When traveling long
distances by vehicle, it is always
best to travel during daylight hours
and to plan your route carefully.
It’s a good idea to check websites
such as, http://www.gettingaround
illinois.com for Illinois construction
and detours, or http://www.fhwa.
dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm for
other states, prior to your
departure. Use a GPS system if you
can to help find ways around
congestion or to find the nearest
gas station or restaurant. Always
travel with a cellular phone when
available. It is also a good practice
to note emergency cell codes, such
as *999 in Illinois, in case you need
assistance while traveling. Consider
having an emergency kit in all of
your vehicles but especially while
traveling. These kits should include
things such as blankets, water,
flashlights, first aid kit, jumper
cables and gloves. These items may
be needed to make a quick repair
or to keep warm until help arrives
if you have engine trouble.
The holiday season is also an
occasion when busy people can be
complacent and sometimes
careless, allowing themselves or
their homes to become vulnerable
to theft and other holiday crime.
This is why the Frankfort Police
Department would like to offer the
following suggestions to help you
be more cautious and safety
conscious during the holiday
season.
• When going out of town, call the
police department and put your
home on a vacation watch, or let
a trusted friend or neighbor know
so that they can keep an eye on
your house and report any
suspicious activity to the police.
• If going on an extended trip, be
sure to call the post office and
your newspaper delivery service
and have them stop/suspend your
delivery until you return.
• Be sure to lock doors and
windows when you leave the
house, even when leaving for just
a few minutes.
• Put lights on an automatic timer,
including in bedrooms, to mimic
activities as if you were home.
• Leave a radio on or use television
timers so the house looks and
sounds occupied.
• Be sure to keep gifts and
expensive items out of sight and
away from windows so they are
not easily visible.
• Create an up-to-date home
inventory, including make, model,
serial numbers, and other
detailed descriptions of personal
property. Take photographs or
videos of items of value,
including jewelry. Be sure to keep
the list somewhere safe and keep
an extra copy in a place other
than your house.
• When shopping, try to shop in
groups when possible; there is
safety in numbers.
• Be alert to your surroundings and
trust your instincts.
• If you are shopping on-line,
consider using programs like
Discover Deskshop which is a
computer download that
generates temporary credit card
numbers for you to use at checkout, thereby hiding your real
Discover credit card number. You
can also use the temporary card
number for phone orders. The
expiration date is the same as
your actual Discover card. PayPal
also offers a Virtual Mastercard
with which you can use your
PayPal funds to purchase
temporary, disposable numbers.
This feature is enabled by
downloading the PayPal Debit
Bar, which is basically a bar at
the top of your screen from
which numbers you can use will
generate.
SAFETY REMINDER
We would recommend that
residents remember to lock their
cars, close garage doors, and keep
service doors locked, especially
during overnight hours. Also,
remove valuable items such as
computers, purses, etc., from cars
parked outside overnight. Keep
door openers and other easily
removed electronics out of sight.
It has been shown that many
property crimes are crimes of
opportunity and could be
prevented if cars were locked,
property was removed, and garage
doors were closed.
REMEMBER – Report suspicious
activity in your neighborhood! ■
NOVEMBER 2010
5
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Picture Says a Thousand Words
By Jeff Cook, Director of Community Development & Building
Throughout the year Plan
Commissioners debated what the
future could hold for the property
at One North White Street.
Retrofitted for retail use today,
acquisition of the property was a
strategic move toward a longerterm vision of Downtown. Just like
the bold Prairie Park project the
land adjoins, Commissioners were
quick to prove Frankfort steadfast
in making no little plans.
developing different concepts for
how the land might be used. Given
the unusual shape of the property,
its location in the heart of
Downtown, Prairie Park, Old Plank
Road Trail and a plethora of other
considerations, this was no easy
task.
Yes, we all know this is true;
however, there are choices to
make. Would the community prefer
senior housing condos, grow a
restaurant district, build a large
parking lot, restore open space,
etc.? Each of these uses and others
could be part of a future proposal
from private developers. Without a
plan, how might we evaluate the
proposals? The future of the
property could be up for grabs.
As the process moved forward and
different ideas flushed out, one
vision quickly captured the spirits
of Commissioners and staff alike.
Open space was created. Prairie
Park no longer needed to hide
behind an outdoor storage yard.
Rather, a new public amenity could
attract people downtown and
engage them from White Street.
New rowhouses could make the
trail their front yard and keep
“eyes on the park.” All this, located
a short walk from new and existing
shops, offices, condos and
restaurants. Yes, the concept really
was “smart growth” and seemed to
embody the Festival Marketplace
strategy recommended just a few
years ago in 2007.
Rather than leave it to chance,
Mayor Holland and the Board of
Trustees charged the Plan
Commission and staff with
Printed on the next page is a
graphic illustrating the preferred
concept plan. New buildings are
rendered to a rough scale and left
But why plan at all? Won’t “the
market” determine what is built
anyway?
A Happy, Healthy
and Safe
Holiday Season
to our Residents
and Their Families!
6
NOVEMBER 2010
void of detail, as detailed design is
best left to a project architect.
Photographs are used to illustrate
design intent and convey quality
expectations for the project. You
will notice the plan purposely does
not dictate exactly how buildings
lay out or what users occupy the
space; this truly will be left to the
market.
No doubt there are many details to
work out should a project like this
be built in the future. It is the
purpose of this document to first
establish a preferred scenario
against which future redevelopment plans may be reviewed. It
may also be used as a tool to
market and solicit development
proposals from the private sector.
But even before all that, your
input is requested to ensure the
preferred concept reflects
consideration of community
desires as a whole.
Spotlight on Education
By Dr. Lawrence A. Wyllie, Superintendent, Lincoln-Way High School District 210
The 2010-2011 school year is well
underway. The first quarter is
finished and we are into the second
quarter of classes, with first
semester final exams coming
December 21-23. Our great kids
have grabbed a hold of the many
opportunities at Lincoln-Way and
sure have run with them. We have
numerous student accomplishments to boast about, both in the
classrooms and on the athletic
fields.
Good tidings and happy new year
to each one of you. ■
The Board of Education, David
Izzo, president, Jim Gast,
vice-president, Christopher Kosel,
secretary, and members Arvid
Johnson, Christine Glatz, Kevin
Molloy and Stephen White, honored
26 students who earned the
distinction of being National Merit
Semi-Finalists and Commended
Scholars. The four Semi-Finalists
are: Jack Meister from Manhattan;
Molly Imgruet from Mokena;
William Johnson from Frankfort;
and Cole Turner from Frankfort.
The 22 Commended Scholars are:
Kurtis Downs of Manhattan; Daniel
Frankowski of New Lenox;
Rebecca Post of New Lenox;
Nicholas Blake of Mokena; Nicole
Elliot of Frankfort; Timothy Hosty
of Mokena; Christopher Johnson of
Frankfort; Cody Justus of
Frankfort; David Knourek of
Mokena; Angela Ray of Mokena;
Monica Tanouye of Frankfort;
Orlando Castaneda of Tinley Park;
Serene Darwish of Tinley Park;
Jason Kircher of Tinley Park;
Mitchell Knapp of Frankfort;
Kimberly Krzebiot of Frankfort;
Teyana Morgan of Frankfort;
Joseph Romero of Tinley Park;
Cody Van Etten of Tinley Park;
Residents are invited to submit
comments via email to
[email protected], which will be
accepted throughout the end of the
year. Those interested to see full
scale illustrations, alternative
concept plans and interact with
Village staff will be welcomed
when the Village hosts an open
house for the project, targeted for
Wednesday, December 8. Once
confirmed, the specific time and
location will be posted to the
Village’s website under “Hot
Topics,” or you may call or visit the
Administration Building for
information.
Alex Kirkeeng of New Lenox;
Samantha Panozzo of New Lenox;
and Zachary Richmond of New
Lenox.
The National Merit Scholarship
Program is an annual academic
competition for recognition and
college undergraduate scholarships
that began in 1955. Currently more
than 1.5 million students in about
22,000 high schools enter the
National Merit Scholarship
Program each year. Commended
students are in the 96th percentile
of college-bound juniors who took
the test. Semi-Finalists students
represent less than 1% of the
nation’s high school graduating
seniors.
Athletically, our students continue
to make us proud on the football
fields, soccer fields, volleyball
courts, tennis courts, golf courses,
cross country courses and
swimming pools.
Way Marching Band Showcase
with all four high school marching
bands performing their
competition field show for our
citizens in the Lincoln-Way area.
The “admission price” was a
donation of food for our three
local township food pantries,
Frankfort, Manhattan and New
Lenox. The weather was beautiful;
the stands were full with over
3,500 people turning out to watch
the bands perform. Many thanks to
our students, faculty and staff that
made that special event happen.
At Lincoln-Way, improved student
achievement is our business. Our
community benefits when our
students graduate and contribute
to society in a multitude of positive
ways. On behalf of the Board of
Education, faculty and staff, I want
to thank the Frankfort community
for their continued support
through the years. ■
This fall we had the first Lincoln-
The LWHS Board of Education honored four National Merit Semi-Finalists and
22 Commended Scholars at a recent board meeting.
NOVEMBER 2010
19
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Summit Hill 161 Receives “Best School” Ranking
By Superintendent Keith Pain
When measured against all other
schools in Will County, all District
161 schools were ranked in the list
of best schools by Chicago
Magazine in its October 2010 issue.
The best schools were such
because they were rated to have
high test scores, to have relatively
small classes, and to spend
generously on the education of its
pupils and not on expenses that do
not contribute to instruction.
Additionally, in the same article,
our schools all received an “A” in
efficiency in the way we spend our
tax dollars. This was measured by
how efficient the district’s
per-pupil instructional spending
was with respect to the schools’
test scores.
I also am pleased to report on our
final composite district scores for
our schools and for our district.
We are very proud that:
• 91.3% of our district students met
or exceeded the Illinois Learning
Standards as measured by the
state test (ISAT) in 2010. This is
an increase from 89.4% in 20082009 and a continual increase
since 2002 when only 77% our
students met or exceeded the
state standards.
Earlier this year, the parent organization of Dr. Julian Rogus School in Frankfort
sponsored a Wheel of Wisdom Assembly. Questions were specific to grade levels
as well as Dr. Julian Rogus School. Pictured (from left) are three of the teachers
competing against other staff: Third Grade Teacher Mary Bussema,
Third Grade Teacher Tara Russell, and Fourth Grade Teacher Brooke Roach.
• By grade 8, 94.9% of our students
met or exceeded the state
standards in reading and 92.9%
met or exceed the standards in
math. This has increased from
76.5% and 62.8% in 2003
respectively.
• While many new students have
entered our district in the past
few years of student growth, we
Did You Know?
A drive-through drop box for water bill payment
is located outside the
Village Administration Office at
for your convenience.
18
NOVEMBER 2010
One North White Street
have studied and noted that their
achievement increases the longer
that they receive an education in
our district.
We strongly believe that this is a
result of a very systematic and
concerted effort on the part of the
district’s teachers, administrators,
and the School Board in improving
every facet of our instructional
program since 2003 and by
implementing differentiated
instructional strategies that serve
all of our students. We will
continue to strive to provide the
best education possible for our
students and will continue to seek
instructional practices that are
successful for each and every
student. ■
NOVEMBER 2010
7
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
FEMA, from page 2
18 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour
period. The Village of Frankfort
saw 7 to 10 inches of rain, depending on where one lived. This resulted in considerable flooding with 13
roads covered under surface water.
storms that showed that
Frankfort’s average rainfall was
higher than that shown in other
areas in Northeast Illinois for
100-year events or those storms
that have a one percent (1%)
chance of happening in any one
year.
In 1997, Howard Sloan (Assistant
Village Administrator, now retired)
took the initiative to find a way to
address our flooding problems. Mr.
Sloan worked with Robinson
Engineering to create a
“Stormwater Management Plan”
which identified 17 major drainage
and flooding issues. The plan also
outlined a systematic approach to
create solutions to address these
problems. Most importantly, the
plan set specific, strict, design
standards that were required of all
development regardless of size of
the project. The plan also studied
Although not popular with the
development community, the
Mayor and Village Board
recognized the need to address our
flooding problems and enacted
these tougher new standards which
required additional space be held
for storm water retention and
detention. As a result, during
Frankfort’s tremendous growth, all
of the new subdivisions were
constructed under the new storm
water standards. This insured that
there were adequate amounts of
storage capacity for rain events. As
a result, the Village of Frankfort
has minimized the effects of major
storms on its residents.
During the tour of Frankfort, Ms.
Tweedale was shown our efforts
on storm water management,
including green space initiatives.
Ms. Tweedale was shown the
Village’s “Water Resource
Management Plan” which
recognizes the importance of each
waterway and impact of the overall
hydrology within our community.
Staff also showed Frankfort’s
efforts to implement best practices
for creating effective and
aesthetically pleasing detention
areas, including our Prairie Park.
Hopefully, through FEMA, our
standards will help other villages
address their flooding problems. ■
combustibles like drapes,
furniture and beds.
• Wall heaters should be checked
for proper ignition and proper
ventilation.
• There should always be an adult
in the room when a portable
heater is in use. Turn off the
heater before leaving the room or
going to sleep.
• Charcoal briquettes and
barbecues grills should NEVER
be used for cooking or heating
inside the home or any other
closed-in area.
Frankfort Fire Protection District
personnel are highly trained and
ready to respond to emergency
situations. They will do their best
to save lives and preserve property
once they arrive on the scene of a
fire. However, the best fire fighting
tool in their arsenal is fire
prevention. ■
Road Salt Additive Debuts in Frankfort
By Terry Kestel, Superintendent of Public Works
Public Works’
tank of calcium
chloride additive
awaits its first use
on village roads
this winter season.
Winter weather will soon be with
us again. The Village of Frankfort
has added equipment to help in
keeping the roadways clear. This
summer, the Village installed a
6,500 gallon tank to store a calcium
8
NOVEMBER 2010
chloride based product. This is an
organic, environmentally-friendly
product that will be added to the
road salt during extreme cold
weather conditions. The product
will allow the road salt to melt
snow and ice at a lower
temperature, thereby maintaining
safer road conditions. By adding
this enhancer, the amount of road
salt used should be reduced.
Upgrades have also been made to
the snow removal fleet this year,
replacing an older snow plow truck
with a new vehicle.
As a reminder for the upcoming
winter season, the Village allows
no parking on streets between 8
p.m. and 8 a.m. after a two-inch
snowfall. This parking ban allows
crews to completely clear streets
of snow and ice. Also, please do
not blow or shovel snow from
driveways onto the streets as this
can create a hazard. ■
Frankfort
Township
Food Pantry
Frankfort Township’s food
pantry assists people in
the Township who are
experiencing difficult times.
Food donations are
always welcome and may
be dropped off at the
Frankfort Township Office,
11000 W. Lincoln Highway.
For more information,
please contact Mary
Fran Drymiller at (815)
469-4907. ■
Thank You to Our School Board Members
By Thomas A. Hurlburt, Superintendent, Frankfort School District 157-C
Frankfort School
District 157-C Board
of Education:
(l-r front) Board
member Larry
Heidemann, president
Courtney Stillman,
member Cari Ann Mills
(l-r back) superintendent Tom Hurlburt, vice
president Brian Klene,
member Patrick Usher,
secretary Angelo
Barone, member Jean
Stanker.
School board members are
community members who wear
many different hats in their
everyday lives. They might be
farmers or bankers, homemakers
or doctors, truck drivers or
professors, business owners or
retirees. But they all put on the
same hat when they get to the
board room. It’s a hat that
represents an extraordinary
dedication to our public schools.
November 15 was designated as
“School Board Member Day” in
Illinois. We joined with other
school districts across the state to
thank our school board members
for their untiring efforts. Our
District 157-C Board of Education
members include Courtney
Stillman, Brian Klene, Angelo
Barone, Larry Heidemann, Cari
Ann Mills, Jean Stanker and
Patrick Usher. We thank them for
their dedication to our students
and community.
charged with a unique job. They
must listen to the voices of their
community and then craft a vision,
mission and goals for their district
that accurately reflect those voices
in the design. They must guard two
of the community’s most precious
resources, their children and their
tax dollars, while they create the
best educational environment
possible with the money available.
The time school board members
spend in board meetings represents
just a fraction of the actual hours
that they devote to leading their
districts. They attend meetings and
seminars to learn how to be better
board members. They attend
extracurricular events to support
their schools. And often they are
involved in other community
activities, representing themselves,
their community and their district.
Please join with us and others
throughout Illinois in a “tip of the
hat” to the men and women who
provide the grassroots governance
of public schools. Please make a
special effort to tell each school
board member his or her hard
work has been noticed and is very
much appreciated. ■
NOVEMBER 2010
17
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Frankfort Youth Commission Update
Fire Prevention
By Christine Moler, Youth Commission Coordinator
By Larry Rauch, Assistant Fire Chief
With the fall season coming to a
close, winter and colder
temperatures will be near.
Abnormally cold weather can
increase the threat of home fires
due to improper use of alternate
heating sources. As homeowners
or business owners, we have a
responsibility to prevent fires
before they start. In many cases,
the Fire District responds to fires
where a little bit of prevention
would have stopped a fire from
starting.
Over the past year, the Frankfort
Fire District has responded to a
number of serious structure fires.
These fires were devastating to the
property owners and left an impact
on the overall neighborhood.
Fortunately, there were no serious
injuries at these fires, but the stress
and disruption to normal daily life
of the families involved are
upsetting and overwhelming. Each
year the Frankfort Fire District
responds to over 4,500 emergency
incidents and, unfortunately, we do
see a number of destructive fires
each year.
To borrow a phrase from Benjamin
Franklin, “An ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure,”
definitely applies to fire prevention
and safety today. We encourage
residents and business owners all
year long to take some extra time
to focus on ways to prevent a fire.
Helpful hints for fire prevention are
available on the Frankfort Fire
Protection District Fire Prevention
Bureau website, www.frankfort
firebureau.org or the National Fire
Protection Association website,
www.nfpa.org.
Keep the following safety tips in
mind while using fireplaces,
chimneys, furnaces and portable
heaters this winter season:
Fireplaces
• Clean and inspect the flue on a
regular basis.
• Burn seasoned woods.
• Smaller, hotter fires will burn
more completely and produce
less smoke.
• Do not burn cardboard boxes or
trash; they can spark a chimney
fire.
Chimneys
• Clean and inspect on a regular
basis.
• Heating appliances whether they
burn gas, oil or wood, rely on the
chimney to safely carry toxic
gases produced by the heating
system out of the house.
• Install a chimney cap.
Furnace
• The most important step in home
heating safety is checking your
smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors to make sure they are
in working order to alert you in
case of fire or a carbon monoxide
leak.
• Before a heating system is turned
on, check to make sure that it
will operate properly and safely.
• Filters should be changed at the
beginning of the season and
checked monthly to make sure
they are not clogged or blocking
airflow.
Portable Heaters
• Make sure your heater has been
tested for safety; look for a label
such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL).
• Space heaters need at least three
feet of space between heater and
16
NOVEMBER 2010
goods and other non-perishable
items for the Frankfort Township
Food Pantry. Last year we were
able to collect over 20 bags of food.
This is an annual event that the
members really enjoy, no matter
what the weather brings. Another
annual event is a visit from Officer
Bender. She always has useful
information for the teens and they
always have many questions for
her. We will fight against the
“Winter Blues” by heading to Climb
On gym in Homewood for an
afternoon of rock climbing.
Last year the Youth Commission
collected over 20 bags of food for the
Frankfort Township Food Pantry.
In November Youth Commission
members will reach out to the
community when we go
door to door collecting canned
We will make holiday cards and
care packages for the service men
and women when we participate in
the Red Cross program, “Holiday
Mail for Heroes.” At the Tree
Lighting, the Youth Commission
members will serve up hot
chocolate and cookies with a warm
smile, despite the typically chilly
temperatures. Additionally, we will
help out at the Winter on the Green
events starting in January.
If any of these activities sound like
something you would like to be
involved with and you are in grades
6 through 12, please contact
Christine Moler at (815) 469-2177,
or through email at cmoler15
@comcast.net. We would love to
have you join us! ■
Upcoming
Youth Commission
2011 Meeting Dates
January 20
February 17
March 17
April 21
May: TBA
Your Opinion Counts!
Let us know your thoughts, concerns, or suggestions on ways to improve our village. Let us know about
acts of people who deserve special recognition. The Village will review all submissions for appropriate response
and action.
Dear Village Board, _______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address & Phone (optional)________________________________________________________________________
Drop the completed form off at the Village Administration Building or mail to:
Village Board, Village of Frankfort, 432 West Nebraska Street, Frankfort, IL 60423
or logon to www.villageoffrankfort.com and click on “Contact Us.”
NOVEMBER 2010
9
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Crowd Attends Frankfort Route 30 Construction
Update Meeting
construction period. The tentative
completion date is the end of 2012.
A question and answer session
followed the presentation. Mayor
Holland invited Frankfort residents
and businesses to visit the Village
Administration Office (432 W.
Nebraska) during normal business
hours to view the actual Route 30
plans. Village staff will be available
to answer questions regarding the
project.
An IDOT representative updates the residents on the Route 30 project.
An estimated 150 people attended
the Route 30 Construction Update
meeting held on October 20, 2010
at Grand Prairie Elementary
School in Frankfort. Hosted by
State Representative Renee Kosel,
Mayor Jim Holland, and Frankfort
Chamber of Commerce President
Harry D’Ercole, representatives
from IDOT presented an overview
of the Route 30 construction
project. Route 30 is scheduled to
be widened to four lanes from
Harlem Avenue in Frankfort to
Williams Street in New Lenox.
Additional turning lanes will be
added at key intersections.
If IDOT can acquire all the land
necessary along the 8.5 mile
stretch, bids will be sought in
January, 2011 for the $110 million
dollar project. The project includes
sidewalks and paths along the
entire route and traffic lights at
specific intersections, including
Locust Street, 80th Avenue and
Frankfort Square/Hunter Woods
10
NOVEMBER 2010
intersections. Noise walls will be
erected in several areas along
Route 30.
“We thank State Representative
Renee Kosel for her help in moving
this long awaited project forward.
We hope that the State is able to
acquire the land that is needed in a
timely manner so that the project
can go to bid soon,” commented
Mayor Holland. ■
The Village of Frankfort is working
with IDOT regarding landscaping.
Two lanes of traffic will be
maintained at all times during the
Civic Spotlight: Tree Topics
By Paul Nicol, Frankfort Tree Board
Welcome to Tree Topics! For the
next year in each issue of the
newsletter, I’ll discuss topics
related to trees, providing tips and
advice for homeowners. While
many people don’t think much
about trees and instead focus on
other elements of their
landscaping, trees are one of the
most important elements of our
landscape and our yards. Trees
provide shade to our homes for
energy efficiency, are used for
privacy, provide overall
beautification of our property, and
last but not least, they increase our
property value.
You may be asking what could
possibly be important about trees
in the winter. After all, their leaves
are gone and they stand around us
like skeletons in the barren winter
landscape. However, winter is
perhaps the best time to trim trees.
That’s because in the winter, pests
and funguses which can be
detrimental to freshly trimmed
trees are not active. Plus, in the
winter there is virtually nothing
else to do in the yard so it gives us
a chance to get outside and work.
From late November until early
March, trimming can be done any
time. If you have trees with low
hanging branches that are a
nuisance, or branches that are too
close to your house or roof, these
trees could be prime candidates
for trimming. If you suspect a limb
or branch is dead, this can also be
trimmed. The best way to know if
a limb or branch is dead is to look
for buds on the end of the
branches. Even by mid-winter
most trees will have visible buds
forming before spring. One tree
that is an exception to this is the
Honey Locust which will not have
visible buds until late spring just
before leafing out. If you are
unable to identify buds, another
test is to check the flexibility of
the branches. In general, if you are
able to flex a branch and it quickly
snaps and the wood is brittle or
you see no green within, the limb
or branch is likely dead. Finally,
remember to trim conservatively
and not to cut more than 15-20% of
the tree’s limbs and branches in
one season.
So, in December when you are
trimming the Christmas tree
indoors, don’t forget about your
trees outdoors!
In the spring issue, I’ll discuss
selection and planting of native
trees for your property. ■
Fall Fest 2010 Is Frankfort’s Success Story
By Karen Blake, Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Holland listens to residents’ questions.
Commerce was proud to host the
42nd Annual Frankfort Fall
Festival “Share the Spirit” 2010. To
set the tone for yet another
remarkable year, the Frankfort Fall
Festival ranked fourth in the
nation for the Sunshine Artists’
Classic and Contemporary Craft
Shows. Mother Nature shined
down and provided the Village of
Frankfort with exceptional
weather Labor Day weekend.
Artisans near and far traveled to
the Village anticipating the arrival
of shoppers who had awaited the
return of the Festival. The Carnival
was flooded with children of all
ages, the Civics Food Court and
Beverage Booths had lines day in
and day out, and the BETA Tent
provided entertainment and
libations from morning until
late night. Breidert Green
Entertainment Stage and Resting
Area overflowed with guests
listening to the performances,
while the Parade showcased many
local businesses and organizations
to the crowded streets of viewers.
The Artisan Arts and Crafts Booths
had more traffic than anyone could
have ever expected. At numerous
times throughout Fall Festival
weekend, the streets were filled
with an enormous sea of people
perusing the booths.
NOVEMBER 2010
15
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
25th Annual Christkindl Weekend
Friday, December 3
Historic District Merchants Open House
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
(Select merchants open during house walk)
Chamber Open House
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
House Walk - Frankfort Historical Society
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
(For tickets, call (815) 469-6541)
Saturday, December 4
Merchants Open
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saint Nicholas Visits Around Town
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides*
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Cookie Walk**
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Cookie Decorating (Miritello’s Pizza)
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Santa’s Secret Workshop (Star Visions)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lantern Parade (Historical Society)
4:45 p.m.
Bonfire/Storytelling (follows parade at Breidert Green)
Shop Frankfort
Frankfort Chamber of
Commerce Sponsors 15th
Annual Midnight Madness
Friday, December 17
6:00 p.m. - Midnight
One Night Only!
Most shops open
until Midnight
Participating shops listed at
www.frankfortchamber.com
You’re Invited…
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Thursday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Breidert Green
Downtown Frankfort
Welcome from Mayor Jim Holland
Opening Prayer
Musical Selections
Tree Lighting on Breidert Green
Santa’s Arrival
Refreshments Will Be Served
Throughout the Holiday Program
Bonfire for Everyone to Enjoy
Sunday, December 5
Merchants Open
Cookie Walk**
Pet Blessing & Pet Parade
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
added
We’ve itional
d
an ad or your
f
week ment!
enjoy
Holiday Music & Carolers throughout Downtown
*Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides $3 per person, unlimited rides
Children 3 and under ride free!
(Ticket available at Miritello’s Pizza)
**Cookie Walk Tickets are $5 each
(Tickets available at The Pickwick Society Tearoom,
Chew On This Dog Barkery, D’Marie Salon &
Claire A Bella Boutique)
For more information about these downtown events,
call (815) 806-8081, or visit www.shophistoricfrankfort.com. ■
Winter on the Green 2010
Beat the winter blues and join us for six fun-filled
Sundays in January and February, 2011 at Breidert Green
in downtown Frankfort, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
January 9:
January 16:
January 23:
January 30:
February 6:
February 13:
During this busy holiday season,
don’t forget to visit all the
shopping and restaurant
opportunities in Frankfort!
Whether you’re looking for
historic works of art,
specialty clothing, gift shops,
or major retail stores,
Frankfort has something for all
your gift-giving needs!
Ice Fest
Winter Carnival
Winter Sports
Chili Cook-Off
Super Bowl
Valentine’s Weekend
Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort, Frankfort Park District
& Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
Details available soon at www.villageoffrankfort.com.
14
NOVEMBER 2010
NOVEMBER 2010
11
VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Thank You…
Mayor Jim Holland and the Frankfort Village Board would like to thank the people who have made
Frankfort’s special events in 2010 so successful. We extend our appreciation to the volunteers,
the civic groups, the sponsors and all the people who attended Frankfort’s special events in 2010.
Thanks to those who attended our
annual Memorial Day observance ceremony
to honor our veterans and their service
to our country.
Thanks to the Frankfort Car Club
for lining the downtown Frankfort streets
with classic cars every Thursday evening.
Thanks to our talented artists and all our visitors who enjoyed
their beautiful artwork during our annual Fine Arts Fair in June.
Thanks to the Winter on the Green committee for warming up our Sundays
in January and February and to all those who braved the cold.
Thanks to the many civic groups and
volunteers who helped “clean up the
Village” during Earth Day 2010.
Thanks to the Frankfort Country Market
committee and the loyal customers
of the country market for the
most successful year to date.
Thanks to our young Frankfort anglers
and their families who enjoyed the
“Get Hooked on Frankfort”
fishing derby at Prairie Park.
Thanks to the “Movies on the Green”
committee for hours of summer movie
enjoyment.
Thanks to the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, the hundreds of volunteers, various civic groups, school bands,
B.E.T.A. Team, Lions Club, parade participants, Historic Downtown Merchants, local businesses, residents and the thousands
of visitors who continue to make the Frankfort Fall Fest one of the best festivals in the nation!
12
NOVEMBER 2010
Thanks to the cooperation of the DANK
South organization, the Frankfort Park
District and the hundreds of visitors for
making our annual German Heritage
Celebration a fun day for the entire family.
Thanks to the “Concerts on the Green”
committee for Sunday evening musical
entertainment during the summer.
Thanks to the Frankfort Area Jaycees, Frankfort Lions Club and all our amateur chefs
who made our annual “Amateur Rib Cook-Off” held in August a huge success.
Thanks to everyone who attended
our “Night Out Against Crime”
event in August.
Thanks to the runners, walkers and
volunteers of our annual
Old Plank Road Trail 5K Run/Walk
for a record year!
We look forward to
your continued support of
all our events in 2011!
Check the website calendar
for 2011 event
dates and times.
Thanks to the families who brave the cold during the annual Tree Lighting ceremony on
Breidert Green.
NOVEMBER 2010
13
VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Thank You…
Mayor Jim Holland and the Frankfort Village Board would like to thank the people who have made
Frankfort’s special events in 2010 so successful. We extend our appreciation to the volunteers,
the civic groups, the sponsors and all the people who attended Frankfort’s special events in 2010.
Thanks to those who attended our
annual Memorial Day observance ceremony
to honor our veterans and their service
to our country.
Thanks to the Frankfort Car Club
for lining the downtown Frankfort streets
with classic cars every Thursday evening.
Thanks to our talented artists and all our visitors who enjoyed
their beautiful artwork during our annual Fine Arts Fair in June.
Thanks to the Winter on the Green committee for warming up our Sundays
in January and February and to all those who braved the cold.
Thanks to the many civic groups and
volunteers who helped “clean up the
Village” during Earth Day 2010.
Thanks to the Frankfort Country Market
committee and the loyal customers
of the country market for the
most successful year to date.
Thanks to our young Frankfort anglers
and their families who enjoyed the
“Get Hooked on Frankfort”
fishing derby at Prairie Park.
Thanks to the “Movies on the Green”
committee for hours of summer movie
enjoyment.
Thanks to the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, the hundreds of volunteers, various civic groups, school bands,
B.E.T.A. Team, Lions Club, parade participants, Historic Downtown Merchants, local businesses, residents and the thousands
of visitors who continue to make the Frankfort Fall Fest one of the best festivals in the nation!
12
NOVEMBER 2010
Thanks to the cooperation of the DANK
South organization, the Frankfort Park
District and the hundreds of visitors for
making our annual German Heritage
Celebration a fun day for the entire family.
Thanks to the “Concerts on the Green”
committee for Sunday evening musical
entertainment during the summer.
Thanks to the Frankfort Area Jaycees, Frankfort Lions Club and all our amateur chefs
who made our annual “Amateur Rib Cook-Off” held in August a huge success.
Thanks to everyone who attended
our “Night Out Against Crime”
event in August.
Thanks to the runners, walkers and
volunteers of our annual
Old Plank Road Trail 5K Run/Walk
for a record year!
We look forward to
your continued support of
all our events in 2011!
Check the website calendar
for 2011 event
dates and times.
Thanks to the families who brave the cold during the annual Tree Lighting ceremony on
Breidert Green.
NOVEMBER 2010
13
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
25th Annual Christkindl Weekend
Friday, December 3
Historic District Merchants Open House
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
(Select merchants open during house walk)
Chamber Open House
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
House Walk - Frankfort Historical Society
5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
(For tickets, call (815) 469-6541)
Saturday, December 4
Merchants Open
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Cookie Walk**
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lantern Parade (Historical Society)
4:45 p.m.
Bonfire/Storytelling (follows parade at Breidert Green)
Shop Frankfort
Frankfort Chamber of
Commerce Sponsors 15th
Annual Midnight Madness
Friday, December 17
6:00 p.m. - Midnight
One Night Only!
Most shops open
until Midnight
Participating shops listed at
www.frankfortchamber.com
You’re Invited…
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Thursday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Breidert Green
Downtown Frankfort
Welcome from Mayor Jim Holland
Opening Prayer
Musical Selections
Tree Lighting on Breidert Green
Santa’s Arrival
Refreshments Will Be Served
Throughout the Holiday Program
Bonfire for Everyone to Enjoy
Sunday, December 5
Merchants Open
Cookie Walk**
Pet Blessing & Pet Parade
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
added
We’ve itional
d
an ad or your
f
week ment!
enjoy
Holiday Music & Carolers throughout Downtown
*Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides $3 per person, unlimited rides
Children 3 and under ride free!
(Ticket available at Miritello’s Pizza)
**Cookie Walk Tickets are $5 each
(Tickets available at The Pickwick Society Tearoom,
Chew On This Dog Barkery, D’Marie Salon &
Claire A Bella Boutique)
For more information about these downtown events,
call (815) 806-8081, or visit www.shophistoricfrankfort.com. ■
Winter on the Green 2010
Beat the winter blues and join us for six fun-filled
Sundays in January and February, 2011 at Breidert Green
in downtown Frankfort, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
January 9:
January 16:
January 23:
January 30:
February 6:
February 13:
During this busy holiday season,
don’t forget to visit all the
shopping and restaurant
opportunities in Frankfort!
Whether you’re looking for
historic works of art,
specialty clothing, gift shops,
or major retail stores,
Frankfort has something for all
your gift-giving needs!
Ice Fest
Winter Carnival
Winter Sports
Chili Cook-Off
Super Bowl
Valentine’s Weekend
Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort, Frankfort Park District
& Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
Details available soon at www.villageoffrankfort.com.
14
NOVEMBER 2010
NOVEMBER 2010
11
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Crowd Attends Frankfort Route 30 Construction
Update Meeting
construction period. The tentative
completion date is the end of 2012.
A question and answer session
followed the presentation. Mayor
Holland invited Frankfort residents
and businesses to visit the Village
Administration Office (432 W.
Nebraska) during normal business
hours to view the actual Route 30
plans. Village staff will be available
to answer questions regarding the
project.
An IDOT representative updates the residents on the Route 30 project.
An estimated 150 people attended
the Route 30 Construction Update
meeting held on October 20, 2010
at Grand Prairie Elementary
School in Frankfort. Hosted by
State Representative Renee Kosel,
Mayor Jim Holland, and Frankfort
Chamber of Commerce President
Harry D’Ercole, representatives
from IDOT presented an overview
of the Route 30 construction
project. Route 30 is scheduled to
be widened to four lanes from
Harlem Avenue in Frankfort to
Williams Street in New Lenox.
Additional turning lanes will be
added at key intersections.
If IDOT can acquire all the land
necessary along the 8.5 mile
stretch, bids will be sought in
January, 2011 for the $110 million
dollar project. The project includes
sidewalks and paths along the
entire route and traffic lights at
specific intersections, including
Locust Street, 80th Avenue and
Frankfort Square/Hunter Woods
10
NOVEMBER 2010
intersections. Noise walls will be
erected in several areas along
Route 30.
“We thank State Representative
Renee Kosel for her help in moving
this long awaited project forward.
We hope that the State is able to
acquire the land that is needed in a
timely manner so that the project
can go to bid soon,” commented
Mayor Holland. ■
The Village of Frankfort is working
with IDOT regarding landscaping.
Two lanes of traffic will be
maintained at all times during the
Civic Spotlight: Tree Topics
By Paul Nicol, Frankfort Tree Board
Welcome to Tree Topics! For the
next year in each issue of the
newsletter, I’ll discuss topics
related to trees, providing tips and
advice for homeowners. While
many people don’t think much
about trees and instead focus on
other elements of their
landscaping, trees are one of the
most important elements of our
landscape and our yards. Trees
provide shade to our homes for
energy efficiency, are used for
privacy, provide overall
beautification of our property, and
last but not least, they increase our
property value.
You may be asking what could
possibly be important about trees
in the winter. After all, their leaves
are gone and they stand around us
like skeletons in the barren winter
landscape. However, winter is
perhaps the best time to trim trees.
That’s because in the winter, pests
and funguses which can be
detrimental to freshly trimmed
trees are not active. Plus, in the
winter there is virtually nothing
else to do in the yard so it gives us
a chance to get outside and work.
From late November until early
March, trimming can be done any
time. If you have trees with low
hanging branches that are a
nuisance, or branches that are too
close to your house or roof, these
trees could be prime candidates
for trimming. If you suspect a limb
or branch is dead, this can also be
trimmed. The best way to know if
a limb or branch is dead is to look
for buds on the end of the
branches. Even by mid-winter
most trees will have visible buds
forming before spring. One tree
that is an exception to this is the
Honey Locust which will not have
visible buds until late spring just
before leafing out. If you are
unable to identify buds, another
test is to check the flexibility of
the branches. In general, if you are
able to flex a branch and it quickly
snaps and the wood is brittle or
you see no green within, the limb
or branch is likely dead. Finally,
remember to trim conservatively
and not to cut more than 15-20% of
the tree’s limbs and branches in
one season.
So, in December when you are
trimming the Christmas tree
indoors, don’t forget about your
trees outdoors!
In the spring issue, I’ll discuss
selection and planting of native
trees for your property. ■
Fall Fest 2010 Is Frankfort’s Success Story
By Karen Blake, Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Holland listens to residents’ questions.
Commerce was proud to host the
42nd Annual Frankfort Fall
Festival “Share the Spirit” 2010. To
set the tone for yet another
remarkable year, the Frankfort Fall
Festival ranked fourth in the
nation for the Sunshine Artists’
Classic and Contemporary Craft
Shows. Mother Nature shined
down and provided the Village of
Frankfort with exceptional
weather Labor Day weekend.
Artisans near and far traveled to
the Village anticipating the arrival
of shoppers who had awaited the
return of the Festival. The Carnival
was flooded with children of all
ages, the Civics Food Court and
Beverage Booths had lines day in
and day out, and the BETA Tent
provided entertainment and
libations from morning until
late night. Breidert Green
Entertainment Stage and Resting
Area overflowed with guests
listening to the performances,
while the Parade showcased many
local businesses and organizations
to the crowded streets of viewers.
The Artisan Arts and Crafts Booths
had more traffic than anyone could
have ever expected. At numerous
times throughout Fall Festival
weekend, the streets were filled
with an enormous sea of people
perusing the booths.
NOVEMBER 2010
15
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Frankfort Youth Commission Update
Fire Prevention
By Christine Moler, Youth Commission Coordinator
By Larry Rauch, Assistant Fire Chief
With the fall season coming to a
close, winter and colder
temperatures will be near.
Abnormally cold weather can
increase the threat of home fires
due to improper use of alternate
heating sources. As homeowners
or business owners, we have a
responsibility to prevent fires
before they start. In many cases,
the Fire District responds to fires
where a little bit of prevention
would have stopped a fire from
starting.
Over the past year, the Frankfort
Fire District has responded to a
number of serious structure fires.
These fires were devastating to the
property owners and left an impact
on the overall neighborhood.
Fortunately, there were no serious
injuries at these fires, but the stress
and disruption to normal daily life
of the families involved are
upsetting and overwhelming. Each
year the Frankfort Fire District
responds to over 4,500 emergency
incidents and, unfortunately, we do
see a number of destructive fires
each year.
To borrow a phrase from Benjamin
Franklin, “An ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure,”
definitely applies to fire prevention
and safety today. We encourage
residents and business owners all
year long to take some extra time
to focus on ways to prevent a fire.
Helpful hints for fire prevention are
available on the Frankfort Fire
Protection District Fire Prevention
Bureau website, www.frankfort
firebureau.org or the National Fire
Protection Association website,
www.nfpa.org.
Keep the following safety tips in
mind while using fireplaces,
chimneys, furnaces and portable
heaters this winter season:
Fireplaces
• Clean and inspect the flue on a
regular basis.
• Burn seasoned woods.
• Smaller, hotter fires will burn
more completely and produce
less smoke.
• Do not burn cardboard boxes or
trash; they can spark a chimney
fire.
Chimneys
• Clean and inspect on a regular
basis.
• Heating appliances whether they
burn gas, oil or wood, rely on the
chimney to safely carry toxic
gases produced by the heating
system out of the house.
• Install a chimney cap.
Furnace
• The most important step in home
heating safety is checking your
smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors to make sure they are
in working order to alert you in
case of fire or a carbon monoxide
leak.
• Before a heating system is turned
on, check to make sure that it
will operate properly and safely.
• Filters should be changed at the
beginning of the season and
checked monthly to make sure
they are not clogged or blocking
airflow.
Portable Heaters
• Make sure your heater has been
tested for safety; look for a label
such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL).
• Space heaters need at least three
feet of space between heater and
16
NOVEMBER 2010
goods and other non-perishable
items for the Frankfort Township
Food Pantry. Last year we were
able to collect over 20 bags of food.
This is an annual event that the
members really enjoy, no matter
what the weather brings. Another
annual event is a visit from Officer
Bender. She always has useful
information for the teens and they
always have many questions for
her. We will fight against the
“Winter Blues” by heading to Climb
On gym in Homewood for an
afternoon of rock climbing.
Last year the Youth Commission
collected over 20 bags of food for the
Frankfort Township Food Pantry.
In November Youth Commission
members will reach out to the
community when we go
door to door collecting canned
We will make holiday cards and
care packages for the service men
and women when we participate in
the Red Cross program, “Holiday
Mail for Heroes.” At the Tree
Lighting, the Youth Commission
members will serve up hot
chocolate and cookies with a warm
smile, despite the typically chilly
temperatures. Additionally, we will
help out at the Winter on the Green
events starting in January.
If any of these activities sound like
something you would like to be
involved with and you are in grades
6 through 12, please contact
Christine Moler at (815) 469-2177,
or through email at cmoler15
@comcast.net. We would love to
have you join us! ■
Upcoming
Youth Commission
2011 Meeting Dates
January 20
February 17
March 17
April 21
May: TBA
Your Opinion Counts!
Let us know your thoughts, concerns, or suggestions on ways to improve our village. Let us know about
acts of people who deserve special recognition. The Village will review all submissions for appropriate response
and action.
Dear Village Board, _______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address & Phone (optional)________________________________________________________________________
Drop the completed form off at the Village Administration Building or mail to:
Village Board, Village of Frankfort, 432 West Nebraska Street, Frankfort, IL 60423
or logon to www.villageoffrankfort.com and click on “Contact Us.”
NOVEMBER 2010
9
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
FEMA, from page 2
18 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour
period. The Village of Frankfort
saw 7 to 10 inches of rain, depending on where one lived. This resulted in considerable flooding with 13
roads covered under surface water.
storms that showed that
Frankfort’s average rainfall was
higher than that shown in other
areas in Northeast Illinois for
100-year events or those storms
that have a one percent (1%)
chance of happening in any one
year.
In 1997, Howard Sloan (Assistant
Village Administrator, now retired)
took the initiative to find a way to
address our flooding problems. Mr.
Sloan worked with Robinson
Engineering to create a
“Stormwater Management Plan”
which identified 17 major drainage
and flooding issues. The plan also
outlined a systematic approach to
create solutions to address these
problems. Most importantly, the
plan set specific, strict, design
standards that were required of all
development regardless of size of
the project. The plan also studied
Although not popular with the
development community, the
Mayor and Village Board
recognized the need to address our
flooding problems and enacted
these tougher new standards which
required additional space be held
for storm water retention and
detention. As a result, during
Frankfort’s tremendous growth, all
of the new subdivisions were
constructed under the new storm
water standards. This insured that
there were adequate amounts of
storage capacity for rain events. As
a result, the Village of Frankfort
has minimized the effects of major
storms on its residents.
During the tour of Frankfort, Ms.
Tweedale was shown our efforts
on storm water management,
including green space initiatives.
Ms. Tweedale was shown the
Village’s “Water Resource
Management Plan” which
recognizes the importance of each
waterway and impact of the overall
hydrology within our community.
Staff also showed Frankfort’s
efforts to implement best practices
for creating effective and
aesthetically pleasing detention
areas, including our Prairie Park.
Hopefully, through FEMA, our
standards will help other villages
address their flooding problems. ■
combustibles like drapes,
furniture and beds.
• Wall heaters should be checked
for proper ignition and proper
ventilation.
• There should always be an adult
in the room when a portable
heater is in use. Turn off the
heater before leaving the room or
going to sleep.
• Charcoal briquettes and
barbecues grills should NEVER
be used for cooking or heating
inside the home or any other
closed-in area.
personnel are highly trained and
ready to respond to emergency
situations. They will do their best
to save lives and preserve property
once they arrive on the scene of a
fire. However, the best fire fighting
tool in their arsenal is fire
prevention. ■
Road Salt Additive Debuts in Frankfort
By Terry Kestel, Superintendent of Public Works
Public Works’
tank of calcium
chloride additive
awaits its first use
on village roads
this winter season.
Winter weather will soon be with
us again. The Village of Frankfort
has added equipment to help in
keeping the roadways clear. This
summer, the Village installed a
6,500 gallon tank to store a calcium
8
NOVEMBER 2010
chloride based product. This is an
organic, environmentally-friendly
product that will be added to the
road salt during extreme cold
weather conditions. The product
will allow the road salt to melt
snow and ice at a lower
temperature, thereby maintaining
safer road conditions. By adding
this enhancer, the amount of road
salt used should be reduced.
Upgrades have also been made to
the snow removal fleet this year,
replacing an older snow plow truck
with a new vehicle.
As a reminder for the upcoming
winter season, the Village allows
no parking on streets between 8
p.m. and 8 a.m. after a two-inch
snowfall. This parking ban allows
crews to completely clear streets
of snow and ice. Also, please do
not blow or shovel snow from
driveways onto the streets as this
can create a hazard. ■
Frankfort
Township
Food Pantry
Frankfort Township’s food
pantry assists people in
the Township who are
experiencing difficult times.
Food donations are
always welcome and may
be dropped off at the
Frankfort Township Office,
11000 W. Lincoln Highway.
For more information,
please contact Mary
Fran Drymiller at (815)
469-4907. ■
Thank You to Our School Board Members
By Thomas A. Hurlburt, Superintendent, Frankfort School District 157-C
Frankfort School
District 157-C Board
of Education:
(l-r front) Board
member Larry
Heidemann, president
Courtney Stillman,
member Cari Ann Mills
(l-r back) superintendent Tom Hurlburt, vice
president Brian Klene,
member Patrick Usher,
secretary Angelo
Barone, member Jean
Stanker.
community members who wear
many different hats in their
everyday lives. They might be
farmers or bankers, homemakers
or doctors, truck drivers or
professors, business owners or
retirees. But they all put on the
same hat when they get to the
board room. It’s a hat that
represents an extraordinary
dedication to our public schools.
November 15 was designated as
“School Board Member Day” in
Illinois. We joined with other
school districts across the state to
thank our school board members
for their untiring efforts. Our
District 157-C Board of Education
members include Courtney
Stillman, Brian Klene, Angelo
Barone, Larry Heidemann, Cari
Ann Mills, Jean Stanker and
Patrick Usher. We thank them for
their dedication to our students
and community.
charged with a unique job. They
must listen to the voices of their
community and then craft a vision,
mission and goals for their district
that accurately reflect those voices
in the design. They must guard two
of the community’s most precious
resources, their children and their
tax dollars, while they create the
best educational environment
possible with the money available.
The time school board members
spend in board meetings represents
just a fraction of the actual hours
that they devote to leading their
districts. They attend meetings and
seminars to learn how to be better
board members. They attend
extracurricular events to support
their schools. And often they are
involved in other community
activities, representing themselves,
their community and their district.
Please join with us and others
throughout Illinois in a “tip of the
hat” to the men and women who
provide the grassroots governance
of public schools. Please make a
special effort to tell each school
board member his or her hard
work has been noticed and is very
much appreciated. ■
NOVEMBER 2010
17
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Summit Hill 161 Receives “Best School” Ranking
By Superintendent Keith Pain
When measured against all other
schools in Will County, all District
161 schools were ranked in the list
of best schools by Chicago
Magazine in its October 2010 issue.
The best schools were such
because they were rated to have
high test scores, to have relatively
small classes, and to spend
generously on the education of its
pupils and not on expenses that do
not contribute to instruction.
Additionally, in the same article,
our schools all received an “A” in
efficiency in the way we spend our
tax dollars. This was measured by
how efficient the district’s
per-pupil instructional spending
was with respect to the schools’
test scores.
I also am pleased to report on our
final composite district scores for
our schools and for our district.
We are very proud that:
• 91.3% of our district students met
or exceeded the Illinois Learning
Standards as measured by the
state test (ISAT) in 2010. This is
an increase from 89.4% in 20082009 and a continual increase
since 2002 when only 77% our
students met or exceeded the
state standards.
Earlier this year, the parent organization of Dr. Julian Rogus School in Frankfort
sponsored a Wheel of Wisdom Assembly. Questions were specific to grade levels
as well as Dr. Julian Rogus School. Pictured (from left) are three of the teachers
competing against other staff: Third Grade Teacher Mary Bussema,
Third Grade Teacher Tara Russell, and Fourth Grade Teacher Brooke Roach.
• By grade 8, 94.9% of our students
met or exceeded the state
standards in reading and 92.9%
met or exceed the standards in
math. This has increased from
76.5% and 62.8% in 2003
respectively.
• While many new students have
entered our district in the past
few years of student growth, we
Did You Know?
A drive-through drop box for water bill payment
is located outside the
Village Administration Office at
for your convenience.
18
NOVEMBER 2010
One North White Street
have studied and noted that their
achievement increases the longer
that they receive an education in
our district.
We strongly believe that this is a
result of a very systematic and
concerted effort on the part of the
district’s teachers, administrators,
and the School Board in improving
every facet of our instructional
program since 2003 and by
implementing differentiated
instructional strategies that serve
all of our students. We will
continue to strive to provide the
best education possible for our
students and will continue to seek
instructional practices that are
successful for each and every
student. ■
NOVEMBER 2010
7
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Picture Says a Thousand Words
By Jeff Cook, Director of Community Development & Building
Throughout the year Plan
Commissioners debated what the
future could hold for the property
at One North White Street.
Retrofitted for retail use today,
acquisition of the property was a
strategic move toward a longerterm vision of Downtown. Just like
the bold Prairie Park project the
land adjoins, Commissioners were
quick to prove Frankfort steadfast
in making no little plans.
developing different concepts for
how the land might be used. Given
the unusual shape of the property,
its location in the heart of
Downtown, Prairie Park, Old Plank
Road Trail and a plethora of other
considerations, this was no easy
task.
Yes, we all know this is true;
however, there are choices to
make. Would the community prefer
senior housing condos, grow a
restaurant district, build a large
parking lot, restore open space,
etc.? Each of these uses and others
could be part of a future proposal
from private developers. Without a
plan, how might we evaluate the
proposals? The future of the
property could be up for grabs.
As the process moved forward and
different ideas flushed out, one
vision quickly captured the spirits
of Commissioners and staff alike.
Open space was created. Prairie
Park no longer needed to hide
behind an outdoor storage yard.
Rather, a new public amenity could
attract people downtown and
engage them from White Street.
New rowhouses could make the
trail their front yard and keep
“eyes on the park.” All this, located
a short walk from new and existing
shops, offices, condos and
restaurants. Yes, the concept really
was “smart growth” and seemed to
embody the Festival Marketplace
strategy recommended just a few
years ago in 2007.
Rather than leave it to chance,
Mayor Holland and the Board of
Trustees charged the Plan
Commission and staff with
Printed on the next page is a
graphic illustrating the preferred
concept plan. New buildings are
rendered to a rough scale and left
But why plan at all? Won’t “the
market” determine what is built
anyway?
A Happy, Healthy
and Safe
Holiday Season
to our Residents
and Their Families!
6
NOVEMBER 2010
void of detail, as detailed design is
best left to a project architect.
Photographs are used to illustrate
design intent and convey quality
expectations for the project. You
will notice the plan purposely does
not dictate exactly how buildings
lay out or what users occupy the
space; this truly will be left to the
market.
No doubt there are many details to
work out should a project like this
be built in the future. It is the
purpose of this document to first
establish a preferred scenario
against which future redevelopment plans may be reviewed. It
may also be used as a tool to
market and solicit development
proposals from the private sector.
But even before all that, your
input is requested to ensure the
preferred concept reflects
consideration of community
desires as a whole.
Spotlight on Education
By Dr. Lawrence A. Wyllie, Superintendent, Lincoln-Way High School District 210
The 2010-2011 school year is well
underway. The first quarter is
finished and we are into the second
quarter of classes, with first
semester final exams coming
December 21-23. Our great kids
have grabbed a hold of the many
opportunities at Lincoln-Way and
sure have run with them. We have
numerous student accomplishments to boast about, both in the
classrooms and on the athletic
fields.
Good tidings and happy new year
to each one of you. ■
The Board of Education, David
Izzo, president, Jim Gast,
vice-president, Christopher Kosel,
secretary, and members Arvid
Johnson, Christine Glatz, Kevin
Molloy and Stephen White, honored
26 students who earned the
distinction of being National Merit
Semi-Finalists and Commended
Scholars. The four Semi-Finalists
are: Jack Meister from Manhattan;
Molly Imgruet from Mokena;
William Johnson from Frankfort;
and Cole Turner from Frankfort.
The 22 Commended Scholars are:
Kurtis Downs of Manhattan; Daniel
Frankowski of New Lenox;
Rebecca Post of New Lenox;
Nicholas Blake of Mokena; Nicole
Elliot of Frankfort; Timothy Hosty
of Mokena; Christopher Johnson of
Frankfort; Cody Justus of
Frankfort; David Knourek of
Mokena; Angela Ray of Mokena;
Monica Tanouye of Frankfort;
Orlando Castaneda of Tinley Park;
Serene Darwish of Tinley Park;
Jason Kircher of Tinley Park;
Mitchell Knapp of Frankfort;
Kimberly Krzebiot of Frankfort;
Teyana Morgan of Frankfort;
Joseph Romero of Tinley Park;
Cody Van Etten of Tinley Park;
Residents are invited to submit
comments via email to
[email protected], which will be
accepted throughout the end of the
year. Those interested to see full
scale illustrations, alternative
concept plans and interact with
Village staff will be welcomed
when the Village hosts an open
house for the project, targeted for
Wednesday, December 8. Once
confirmed, the specific time and
location will be posted to the
Village’s website under “Hot
Topics,” or you may call or visit the
Administration Building for
information.
Alex Kirkeeng of New Lenox;
Samantha Panozzo of New Lenox;
and Zachary Richmond of New
Lenox.
The National Merit Scholarship
Program is an annual academic
competition for recognition and
college undergraduate scholarships
that began in 1955. Currently more
than 1.5 million students in about
22,000 high schools enter the
National Merit Scholarship
Program each year. Commended
students are in the 96th percentile
of college-bound juniors who took
the test. Semi-Finalists students
represent less than 1% of the
nation’s high school graduating
seniors.
Athletically, our students continue
to make us proud on the football
fields, soccer fields, volleyball
courts, tennis courts, golf courses,
cross country courses and
swimming pools.
Way Marching Band Showcase
with all four high school marching
bands performing their
competition field show for our
citizens in the Lincoln-Way area.
The “admission price” was a
donation of food for our three
local township food pantries,
Frankfort, Manhattan and New
Lenox. The weather was beautiful;
the stands were full with over
3,500 people turning out to watch
the bands perform. Many thanks to
our students, faculty and staff that
made that special event happen.
At Lincoln-Way, improved student
achievement is our business. Our
community benefits when our
students graduate and contribute
to society in a multitude of positive
ways. On behalf of the Board of
Education, faculty and staff, I want
to thank the Frankfort community
for their continued support
through the years. ■
This fall we had the first Lincoln-
The LWHS Board of Education honored four National Merit Semi-Finalists and
22 Commended Scholars at a recent board meeting.
NOVEMBER 2010
19
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Holiday Travel and Safety Tips
Frankfort Park District
Catch the Holiday Spirit!
By Chief of Police John Burica
By Tom Carstens, Executive Director
These
youngsters
were all smiles
as they had
their pictures
taken with
Mr. Claus
at last year’s
Lunch with
Santa event.
Get into the holiday spirit with the
Frankfort Park District! This
winter, the Park District will be
offering several holiday themed
programs and events that will be
sure to get you and your family
ready for the holiday season.
The fun starts on Saturday,
December 4, with youth programs
“Reindeer Games” and “Elf Help.”
Come out to the Founders Center
at 12:00 p.m. for Reindeer Games
(ages 4-8, $19 resident/
$24 non-resident) and spend a few
hours at this fun-filled holiday
party with games, milk and
cookies! If parents need some
extra time shopping, wrapping or
a quiet dinner out, bring the
children back from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
for games, stories, pizza and a
Christmas movie with the Elf
Helpers (ages 4-8, $25 resident/
$30 non-resident).
December 4 is also the date of our
holiday trip to see the Nutcracker.
Join us for this enchanting holiday
20
NOVEMBER 2010
tradition at Aurora’s Paramount
Theater. A motor coach bus will
leave the Founders Center at
9:45 a.m. and will return at
approximately 4:45 p.m. The cost of
the trip is $60, which includes
lunch, ticket and transportation.
Chamber, from page 15
The Festival is made possible by
the incredible partnerships that the
Chamber shares with the Village of
Frankfort, the Frankfort Fire and
Police Departments, Frankfort Park
District and our dedicated
volunteers. Through these efforts
we are able to underwrite
numerous community events such
as Concerts, Movies, and Winter on
the Green, local athletic and safety
awareness programs, Lincoln-Way
Educational Foundation, Fourth of
July Fireworks, and Student
Scholarships.
Join Santa and Frosty for lunch on
Saturday, December 11, from 11:30
a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at the Founders
Center. A puppet magic show will
also be part of the lunch fun! Pizza
will be served while photos can be
taken with Santa. Each child will
receive a goodie bag.
On Tuesday, December 21, we will
be heading to the Bank of America
Theater in Chicago for Irving
Berlin’s White Christmas. The bus
will leave at 5:45 p.m. from the
Founders Center and will return at
approximately 11:30 p.m. The cost
to see this holiday classic is $40 for
ticket and transportation.
For additional information on any
of the programs, events or trips
mentioned, please call the park
office at (815) 469-9400, or visit
www.frankfortparks.org. ■
opportunity to organize and
provide this popular community
event that showcases our Village to
over 200,000 visitors each Labor
Day weekend.
2011 will be no exception.
Chairman Mark Giovanazzi and
his Co-Chair Cindy Heath have
already started preparing to take
us all somewhere “Over the
Rainbow” next year. The Chamber
anxiously awaits the arrival of the
43rd Annual Frankfort Fall Festival
and we hope that you will make
plans to join us Labor Day
weekend 2011! ■
Commerce is honored to have the
As the holidays approach, so do
hectic schedules and travel plans
for many, with excursions to visit
friends and families, to trips and
shopping. When traveling long
distances by vehicle, it is always
best to travel during daylight hours
and to plan your route carefully.
It’s a good idea to check websites
such as, http://www.gettingaround
illinois.com for Illinois construction
and detours, or http://www.fhwa.
dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm for
other states, prior to your
departure. Use a GPS system if you
can to help find ways around
congestion or to find the nearest
gas station or restaurant. Always
travel with a cellular phone when
available. It is also a good practice
to note emergency cell codes, such
as *999 in Illinois, in case you need
assistance while traveling. Consider
having an emergency kit in all of
your vehicles but especially while
traveling. These kits should include
things such as blankets, water,
flashlights, first aid kit, jumper
cables and gloves. These items may
be needed to make a quick repair
or to keep warm until help arrives
if you have engine trouble.
The holiday season is also an
occasion when busy people can be
complacent and sometimes
careless, allowing themselves or
their homes to become vulnerable
to theft and other holiday crime.
This is why the Frankfort Police
Department would like to offer the
following suggestions to help you
be more cautious and safety
conscious during the holiday
season.
• When going out of town, call the
police department and put your
home on a vacation watch, or let
a trusted friend or neighbor know
so that they can keep an eye on
your house and report any
suspicious activity to the police.
• If going on an extended trip, be
sure to call the post office and
your newspaper delivery service
and have them stop/suspend your
delivery until you return.
• Be sure to lock doors and
windows when you leave the
house, even when leaving for just
a few minutes.
• Put lights on an automatic timer,
including in bedrooms, to mimic
activities as if you were home.
• Leave a radio on or use television
timers so the house looks and
sounds occupied.
• Be sure to keep gifts and
expensive items out of sight and
away from windows so they are
not easily visible.
• Create an up-to-date home
inventory, including make, model,
serial numbers, and other
detailed descriptions of personal
property. Take photographs or
videos of items of value,
including jewelry. Be sure to keep
the list somewhere safe and keep
an extra copy in a place other
than your house.
• When shopping, try to shop in
groups when possible; there is
safety in numbers.
• Be alert to your surroundings and
trust your instincts.
• If you are shopping on-line,
consider using programs like
Discover Deskshop which is a
computer download that
generates temporary credit card
numbers for you to use at checkout, thereby hiding your real
Discover credit card number. You
can also use the temporary card
number for phone orders. The
expiration date is the same as
your actual Discover card. PayPal
also offers a Virtual Mastercard
with which you can use your
PayPal funds to purchase
temporary, disposable numbers.
This feature is enabled by
downloading the PayPal Debit
Bar, which is basically a bar at
the top of your screen from
which numbers you can use will
generate.
SAFETY REMINDER
We would recommend that
residents remember to lock their
cars, close garage doors, and keep
service doors locked, especially
during overnight hours. Also,
remove valuable items such as
computers, purses, etc., from cars
parked outside overnight. Keep
door openers and other easily
removed electronics out of sight.
It has been shown that many
property crimes are crimes of
opportunity and could be
prevented if cars were locked,
property was removed, and garage
doors were closed.
REMEMBER – Report suspicious
activity in your neighborhood! ■
NOVEMBER 2010
5
VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Utility Update: Asset Management Projects
Frankfort Square Park District
Lighthouse Pointe Park
By Darrin Yount, Director of Utilities
By Jim Randall, Executive Director
the growth of mildew. This not only
becomes unsightly in time but it
also poses a risk to the surface of
the paint.
New digester
tanks are
planned for
the West
Wastewater
Treatment
Facility on
Colorado
Avenue.
As part of an on-going asset
management plan, the Utility
Department has several projects
either underway or planned for the
near future. The following is a
summary of just a few of these
projects:
Digester Conversion Project
The Utility Department is planning
to modify part of the West
Wastewater Treatment Facility
located on Colorado Avenue
starting this winter. There are two
holding tanks called digesters that
are being upgraded. Aged piping,
valves and pumping systems are
being removed and replaced with
new, more efficient equipment and
systems. For example, high
efficiency blowers that pump air to
the bottom of these digester tanks
will allow the Village to experience
up to a 35% decrease in operating
energy costs. The expected project
completion date is the fall of 2011.
Water Main
Replacement/Looping Projects
There are two water main
replacement projects planned for
this budget year. Birchwood Road
in between Illinois Avenue and
4
NOVEMBER 2010
Meadow Road in the Connecticut
Hills subdivision is one section
being replaced. The other section
includes Highland Road from St.
Andrews Way up to and including
Drummore Lane in the Prestwick
subdivision. The water main on
Drummore Lane will be extended
and looped to improve water
aesthetics.
The solution to this issue involves
an industrial strength power
washing process. This process
includes pre-soaking the tank with
a biodegradable cleaning agent.
After some time, the cleaning agent
is removed using a pressure washer
and a mildew inhibitor is then
applied to the surface. This
removes the discoloration and
helps to extend the life of the paint,
which in turn extends the life of
the water tower.
This maintenance process was
recently completed on the water
tower located in the Frankfort
Square community and we are very
pleased with the results.
As the construction phase of these
projects draw near (late winter/
early spring), there will be direct
communication to the residents in
these areas with further details and
timing.
Lighthouse Pointe Park features an
ADA accessible playground, a green
roof picnic shelter, and game tables
among its many amenities.
This past fall, the Frankfort Square
Park District completed
construction of Lighthouse Pointe
Park, located in the Lighthouse
Pointe subdivision in Frankfort.
This 6-acre park site was made
possible through a $400,000
OSLAD grant facilitated through
the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources. The FSPD’s impressive
The FSPD’s mission of providing
quality recreation and environmental stewardship has become
the standard for our residents, and
is exemplified in the Lighthouse
Pointe Park project. Abbey Woods
and Hickory Creek create a
beautiful backdrop for the park
site and the amenities it offers,
such as an ADA accessible
playground, a green roof picnic
shelter with rain barrels, butterfly
garden, native Illinois tree arbor,
bio swale, exercise stations, game
tables, and permanent lawn games.
A looped exercise path connects
park users to 15 miles of trails and
the future connection to the Will
County Forest Preserve Trail and
Old Plank Trail.
Lighthouse Pointe Park provides
recreational and educational
opportunities, while further
enhancing the ecological/environmental benefits of natural areas.
Interpretive signage, located
throughout the park, educates park
users about the biodiversity of
plants and wildlife sustained
throughout this natural setting, and
promotes the idea of preserving
our environment for future
generations.
For more information on the
Frankfort Square Park District,
please visit our website at
www.fspd.org, or contact the park
office at (815) 469-3524. ■
Frankfort Public Library District News
By Nicole Suarez, Reference Librarian
If you have any questions or
concerns related to your water or
wastewater service, please
contact the Utility Department at
(815) 469-2177. ■
We are very
excited to
announce the
addition of a
new service that
many Frankfort residents have
been requesting. Media on Demand
made its debut on November 1,
giving patrons access to downloadable audiobooks as well as hundreds of digital e-books. These ebooks are compatible with popular
electronic reading devices such as
the Sony Reader, the Barnes and
Noble Nook, the Kobo eReader,
and the Pandigital Novel. If you do
Tower Power Wash
Have you ever noticed that the
bottom side of an elevated water
tank (tower) discolors more rapidly
than the rest of the tower? Would
you believe mildew is the culprit?
That’s right. The bottom, exterior
portion of the elevated tank often
produces condensation on the
outside. Dust and other particles in
the air naturally collect on the wet
surface, which eventually begins to
discolor. The combination of
moisture and the particles in the air
create a perfect environment for
track record of securing grants,
over $2 million in the past eight
years, is possible due to strong
resident and local government
cooperation, and the efforts of our
local and state legislators.
Frankfort Square
Water Tower
before cleaning.
Frankfort Square
Water Tower after
cleaning.
not own a reading device, the ebooks can also be read on personal
computers. This service provides
patrons with a convenient way to
check out books in a portable
digital format from the
convenience of home. Visit the
library website at www.frankfort
library.org for access to Media on
Demand.
Please remember that our
programs for children will continue
throughout the month of
December, including Preschool
Storytime, the Gaming Tournament
Club, and Me, You & a Bottle of
Glue, our monthly after-school craft
club. The annual Holiday Surprise
Pajama Storytime will take place
on Wednesday evening, December
15, and a special visitor will be
attending to spread holiday cheer.
Although it is still in the early
planning stages, please know that
our extremely popular Fairy Tale
Trail will be returning in spring
2011, and as a hint towards our
theme …just come prepared to
hunt for treasure that has been
stolen by Captain Hook! ■
NOVEMBER 2010
21
COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Neighborhood Notes
Cobblestone Walk Homeowner’s Association
By Mary Canino, Manager of Community Relations
that are completed or under
construction during 2010 in
Cobblestone,” commented
President Revord.
It’s not all business for Cobblestone
Walk homeowners. A family
summer block party, a subdivision
garage sale and a Halloween
costume party are held through the
year and add to the social network
of the community.
With a welcoming sign that reads
“Cobblestone Walk,” it’s hard to
miss the majestic homes
surrounded by glistening ponds
located at the corner of 116th
Avenue and Laraway Roads.
Developed in 2004 by Gander
Builders, Cobblestone Walk is
home to 41 families. Additional
lots remain available for sale in the
upscale 51-lot subdivision.
Homeowner’s Association
President, Scott Revord, works
with board members Cindy Blau
(Treasurer) and Al Juraska
(Secretary) to insure Cobblestone
Walk creates and maintains the
value of the subdivision for its
members. Membership in the
homeowner association is
mandatory for homeowners in
Cobblestone Walk, and provides
the funding necessary for
maintenance issues and capital
improvement projects in their
neighborhood. The final
assessment is driven by the actual
projected cost of the agreed upon
capital improvement project for
22
NOVEMBER 2010
the coming year. Annual budgets
are approved by vote. “The large
common grounds areas that
incorporate three ponds in the
subdivision, as well as the long
parkways along Laraway and 116th
Avenue, represent significant
annual dollar cost to our members.
We have also been pro-active in
annually treating our 79 Ash trees
for the Emerald Ash Borer,”
commented President Scott
Revord.
Additionally, Cobblestone Walk
works with the Village of Frankfort
to insure proper standards are
followed regarding the treatment of
their ponds. An ongoing list of
project information and costs is
maintained for management of
their annual budget and to
prioritize maintenance and capital
improvements.
“Like all HOA’s, we have to keep
abreast of the changes in home and
lot ownership associated with the
housing recession. At the same
time, there are three new homes
Cobblestone Walk also actively
participates in various community
activities, including volunteering at
the BETA entertainment tent
during Fall Fest.
Next time you’re driving down
Laraway Road, take a moment and
visit Cobblestone Walk, another
beautiful neighborhood in the
Village of Frankfort! ■
Trustee Talk: And the Beat Goes On
By Trustee Mike Stevens
One test of a strong business or
organization is if it is able to
withstand the loss of key members
of its staff, find able replacements
and continue to move forward to
meet its goals and objectives.
The Village of Frankfort is no
different. Within the last two years
we have seen more than a few
retirements among our long
serving employees. Some positions
were not replaced. Others were
filled with experienced
professionals from within the
organization and from the private
sector. The last three, Community
Development Director, Engineering
Inspector and Interim Building
Director are currently staffed by
younger members of our team.
The youngest two, both in their
twenties, have risen through the
ranks through hard work and
continuous education. Recently,
the twenty-somethings were joined
by a retiree who was returning to
work on a part time basis. Their
ability to work together for the
benefit of our community is
wonderful to watch.
Frankfort is a community with a
diverse workforce. That diversity
has created a healthy exchange of
knowledge, experience and
energy within our team. The mix
of ages and experience assures
stability for years to come. By
having a healthy mix throughout
our organization, knowledge and
experience are matched with new
technology and methodologies.
The result is a stronger
management team for our
community.
Recently, one of the younger
members of our team took it upon
himself to have a bridge grant
submitted to the state. Teaming up
with one of our longer serving
members, he was able to assemble
an impressive grant application. To
their great credit, the grant was
approved, bringing $1,000,000 in
funding to our community.
What’s on Channel 6?
It’s coming! The new 2011
Calendar of Events!
Check the Village website,
www.villageoffrankfort.com,
soon for the entire list and
mark your calendar for
another year of family fun in
the Village of Frankfort!
A complete listing of channel six programming can be accessed at
www.villageoffrankfort.com, under “Most Requested.”
For our Channel 6 Viewers’ Convenience…
In addition to the Monday broadcast of the Village Board meeting at
7:00 p.m., viewers can now watch a repeat of the board meeting at
7:00 p.m. every Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. every Thursday and
10:00 p.m. every Saturday.
There is a
saying that
“youth is
wasted on
the young.”
Many of us
in our
“golden
years” often
talk about
our knowledge and experience. We
have put our time in and learned
through doing. At times we find it
difficult to relate to the younger
generation that seems to want
everything now. Maybe we get too
set in our ways and beliefs.
When I look at those who are
charged with the day-to-day
operation of our village, I feel
nothing but confidence and pride.
In 1999, Frankfort hired a 33 year
old to become our Village
Administrator. When hired, Jerry
Ducay already had 10 years of
municipal experience. In 2004,
Terry Kestel, a public works
foreman, was promoted to
Superintendent of Public Works.
He was 31 at the time. 2003 saw
the promotion of Rob Piscia to
Police Chief at age 39. They, like
Frankfort, are well respected
figures in the region.
Yes, in the last few years, we have
lost some really great people from
our staff. People who have helped
make Frankfort what it is today…a
great place to live and work. But it
should be very comforting to our
community that there are folks
ready, willing and able to step up,
take the baton and move forward.
Just another reason why I love
this town. ■
NOVEMBER 2010
3
VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE of FRANKFORT
VILLAGE NEWS
FEMA Visits Frankfort
By Rob Piscia, Assistant Village Administrator
Village President . . . . Jim Holland
Village Clerk . . Robert J. Kennedy
Village Trustees . . . . . Kevin Egan
Cindy Corso Heath
Todd Morgan
Mike Stevens
Dick Trevarthan
Doug Walker
Village
Administrator . . . . . . Jerry Ducay
Administration Office
Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: (815) 469-2177
Fax: (815) 469-7999
www.villageoffrankfort.com
Village Board Room
Frankfort Police Department
Lower Level
20602 Lincoln-Way Lane
Frankfort, IL 60423
Village Board meetings are held
on the first and third Monday
of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Meetings are broadcast on cable
channel 6.
Special meetings and standing
committee meetings are
scheduled monthly, or on an
as-needed basis, and are
announced. The public is
invited to all meetings.
is circulated three times yearly to
residents and businesses in the
Village of Frankfort. Circulation is
currently 6,900.
Statement of Purpose: To inform
the community of issues, policies
and personalities pertaining to
government in our village.
Masthead By . . . . . . . . Joe Griffin
Newsletter
Designed By . . . . . On Time Design
2
NOVEMBER 2010
Frankfort’s efforts to implement best practices for creating effective
and aesthetically pleasing detention areas to minimize flooding include
the wetlands in Old Stone Village subdivision.
Once again, the efforts of the
Village of Frankfort are being
recognized by FEMA for its
regulations put in place to help
control flooding throughout the
community. According to FEMA,
“On August 19, 2010, President
Obama issued a major disaster
declaration (DR#1935-IL) for the
State of Illinois from damage
sustained during severe storms and
flooding from July 22nd to August
7th, 2010. During this event, up to
7.02 inches of rain fell in one day
and up to 12.10 inches were
recorded over two days.
Precipitation records were broken
across the affected area, which
included Cook, DuPage, Jo
Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago,
Carroll, Ogle, Adams, Pike and
Schuyler Counties.” Cook and
DuPage Counties saw the heaviest
totals and reported the most
damage.
In Frankfort, on August 4, the
Village saw over four inches of rain
fall in about 90 minutes. This two
week rain event is being reported
as the second most costly in
Illinois state history with over
93,000 residents requesting aid in
excess of $186,000,000. However,
Frankfort remained relatively
unaffected by the tremendous
storms. On October 4, Joan
Tweedale from FEMA came out to
visit the Village to learn about our
storm water management and see
how these changes have minimized
the effects of flooding on our
residents. FEMA hopes to see if
these standards will help educate
other communities on best
practices to alleviate damage.
Historically, Frankfort had seen
similar flooding that has plagued
other communities. Back in 1994,
before the Village of Frankfort had
a storm water management
ordinance, homeowners had filed
216 written complaints about
drainage with staff. In July of 1996,
the Will County area saw a
500-year rain event or those storms
that have .2 percent (.2%) chance
of happening in any one year. Over
Continued on page 8
Mayor’s Message, from page 1
community. The advertisements
described Frankfort and stated the
minimum qualifications and the
salary range. We received sixty-four
applications, of which about fifty
had basic qualifications and
merited further review. Most of the
applicants were from northeast
Illinois. Some were from as far
away as Texas. Several were
current Village of Frankfort police
officers. Jerry Ducay, our Village
Administrator, Rob Piscia and I
individually reviewed each
application. The applications were
available to the trustees and they
also reviewed many of the
applications. The three of us
separately narrowed the field to
our top ten selections and then we
worked together to combine our
selections into one list of ten. The
resumes and background
information for each of these ten
candidates were sent to the
trustees.
We asked each trustee to pick the
five best candidates for interviews.
From this information, Jerry, Rob
and I narrowed the list to five
candidates for interviews. During
publicly announced meetings, your
six trustees, Jerry, Rob and I
interviewed each of the five
finalists. We were impressed with
the quality of each applicant. Each
could bring skills to our
community. In the end, we decided
that one of our own police
commanders, John Burica, would
be the best police chief for our
citizens. We went through a similar
process when we selected Rob
Piscia as Police Chief and again
when we selected him as Assistant
Village Administrator.
Chief Burica knows our community
and he is a proven leader. His
Mayor Holland swears in John Burica as Police Chief in the presence of his family.
qualifications significantly exceed
the minimum standards we had set
for the position. Chief Burica has
been a police officer for sixteen
years. He has held the positions of
Patrolman, Sergeant, Detective,
Senior Patrol Officer/DARE Officer
and Commander. He has worked at
the Frankfort Police Department
for thirteen years. Chief Burica has
a Master’s Degree in Public
Administration from Governors
State University and a Bachelor’s
Degree in Criminal Justice from
Illinois State University. He is a
graduate of the Northwestern
School of Police Staff and
Command. He has been certified
for the position of Police Chief by
the Illinois Association of Chiefs of
Police. Chief Burica is a member of
the Illinois Chiefs of Police
Association, the Will County Chiefs
of Police Association, the DARE
Officers Association, and the Crime
Prevention Association. He, his
wife and two children live in the
local area. He coaches wrestling,
baseball and football and he is a
member of the Frankfort Lions
Club. During the interview he
talked about the future and
expressed ideas about new
programs that could reduce crime
and make a more effective police
department while controlling
expenses.
Our residents can have confidence
that our hiring process results in
the best person for the job. We
hope that you will welcome our
newest hire, John Burica, the best
person for the job, to his new
position as Police Chief for the
Village of Frankfort. ■
Join the
Frankfort Police Department’s
FREE Network
and stay informed
with community alerts
and safety information!
Sign up at
http://www.villageoffrankfort.com/
live/police/community-alerts.
NOVEMBER 2010
23
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 130
FRANKFORT, IL
432 W. NEBRASKA STREET
FRANKFORT, IL 60423
VILLAGER
T H E F R A N K F O RT
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKFORT
TO: POSTAL CUSTOMER
FRANKFORT, IL 60423
Mayor’s Message
By Mayor Jim Holland
VOL. 6 • NOVEMBER 2010
Frankfort’s Finest: Let’s Give Them a Hand
By Jerry Ducay, Village Administrator
Hiring the
Best
VILLAGE NEWS
Transformation, from page 1
providing scholarships and
supporting charitable causes that
benefit children.” Annually, an
event is held aptly named
“Lynzapalooza” to raise money
and remember Lyndsey. The
Whittingham family has turned
their tragedy into a way to help
others.
Earlier this year, a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake struck the tiny country
of Haiti and devastated the capital
city, Port-au-Prince. Frankfort
resident John Shattuck, an
unassuming member of the Friends
of the Orphans and Nuestros
Pequenos Hermanos International,
a charitable organization assisting
those in need in third world
countries, sprung into action. While
we all looked for ways to help with
donations and fundraising, John got
on a plane and entered the fray. He
personally organized the collection
and delivery of much needed
medical, clothing and food
supplies. John has returned to
Haiti delivering aid and raising
awareness. To date, his group has
raised $10,000,000. A local
businessman and boy scout leader,
John seemed almost embarrassed
by the attention. His passion was
for helping others.
Looking around the community we
call home, I am constantly
reminded of the greatness of those
I proudly call “neighbor.” They
bring out the best in us all, even
when their lives seem to be at their
worst. They think of others before
themselves, and by doing so,
elevate us all. I cannot help but
smile when I think of the Lions
Club delivering food baskets to
those in need, or Kathy
Kahlhammer packing an event to
raise money for cancer year after
year. The exceptional work of our
local food pantry and houses of
worship are without comparison in
the area.
Frankfort’s finest citizens come in
many forms. Some are quietly
making a difference and others are
screaming their message from the
rooftops. Regardless of how they
choose to do so, each of them is
making our community and this
world a better place. Maybe I am a
bit biased, after all Frankfort is my
home, but I cannot think of a better
place to raise my family or a better
group to have alongside me as I do.
Thank you John and Jill, Ray and
Betsy, John S. and all those who
work tirelessly for the benefit of
us all. You are truly Frankfort’s
Finest! ■
The quality of
services that
the Village of
Frankfort
provides to our
residents is
highly dependent on the integrity,
competence and dependability
of our employees. A goal of the
Frankfort Village Board is to
hire the best person for each
job opening. In our form of
government, the Village
Administrator, Assistant Village
Administrator and the department
heads are appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the
trustees. At a recent Village Board
meeting, the trustees provided
their consent to my appointment
of John Burica to the position of
Police Chief. The process began
four months earlier.
The Police Chief position became
available when former Police
Chief, Rob Piscia, was promoted
to Assistant Village Administrator
in May of 2010 when Howard
Sloan retired from that position.
We advertised the Police Chief
opening in local and regional
newspapers and in national
publications that target the police
Falcons coach
Jerry Ducay
with his son Joe
(left) and the
late Sean
Duggan (right)
in November,
2008.
A few years ago, I met a young
man who changed my life forever.
His name was Sean Duggan. Sean
was 10 years old when he died
from cancer. Sean played football
as a member of the Frankfort
Falcons and I had the pleasure of
being one of his coaches. He was
like every other kid, full of life and
love. I would often cringe during
football practice when Sean would
insist on participating in tackling
drills. His ongoing chemotherapy
treatments and multiple surgeries
ravaged his body, but not his spirit.
He gave all that he had and never
complained. Sean’s passing was
devastating to our community and
the sports organizations he so
loved. In an effort to make a
difference in the lives of others,
Sean’s parents sponsor an annual
toy drive for Children’s Memorial
Hospital. The families of Frankfort
provide toys for kids when they
need support the most. Last year
they collected enough toys to bring
cheer to the entire hospital.
In 2008, Lyndsey Whittingham was
tragically killed when she was hit
by a cab in downtown Chicago. A
lifelong resident of Frankfort,
Lyndsey was only 23 when her life
was cut short. Her sudden death
devastated her family and all who
loved her. Not long after the
accident, Lyndsey’s family and
friends created the Lyndsey
Whittingham Foundation “to honor
the memory of Lyndsey while
Continued on back page
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Trustee Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Holiday Safety & Travel . . . . . . . . 5
1 N. White St. Update . . . . . . . . 6-7
Upcoming Holiday Events . . 11, 14
2010 Events in Review . . . . . 12-13
Neighborhood Notes . . . . . . . . . 22

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