villager villager - Village of Frankfort
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villager villager - Village of Frankfort
34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:54 PM Page 1 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 130 FRANKFORT, IL 432 W. NEBRASKA STREET FRANKFORT, IL 60423 T H E F R A N K F O RT VILLAGER 2009 Governor's Home Town Award Winner THE NEWSLETTER OF THE VILLAGE OF FRANKFORT TO: POSTAL CUSTOMER FRANKFORT, IL 60423 Mayor’s Message By Mayor Jim Holland VOL. 5 • NOVEMBER 2009 One Man Can Make A Difference By Jerry Ducay, Village Administrator Holiday Bargains VILLAGE NEWS Shop Early… Shop Often… Shop Frankfort… 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 or gift shops, or major retail stores, Frankfort has something for all your gift-giving needs! Sales taxes are lower in Frankfort than in neighboring communities. As the holiday season approaches, you can save money by shopping in Frankfort. The sales tax rate in Matteson is two percent higher than in Frankfort. The sales tax rate in Orland Park is two and threequarters percent higher than in Frankfort. Even nearby Will County villages charge one-half to one percent higher sales taxes than Frankfort charges. Frankfort has the lowest sales tax rate in the Chicago region. Over time or on large purchases you can achieve significant savings by shopping in Frankfort. Buying general merchandise or cars in Frankfort not only saves you money, but it also helps fund the services that your village provides for you. The Village of Frankfort receives one percent of the amount you spend on general merchandise in Frankfort. Sales taxes are Frankfort’s largest revenue source. Sales taxes help fund general operating expenses including your police protection, Continued on page 23 As part of Student Government Day activities, Howard Sloan takes students on a tour of Frankfort’s Prairie Park. It is through Howard’s leadership efforts in the area of wetlands preservation that the Village’s award-winning tallgrass prairie preserve came into existence. Too often we wait until people are gone from our lives before we give them the appreciation and praise they so rightly deserve. We can all recall an old friend or close relative who was there to listen to our problems and offer sound advice when it was needed. We can all bring to mind a fellow co-worker who worked hard to make the organization better and to make a difference in the workplace. When we look back in retrospect at the impact these individuals had on our lives, we often regret we did not do a better job of acknowledging them for their efforts. Writing an article of this nature is difficult. It brings back all those acknowledgments that I have missed over the years. It also creates a discomfort that comes with applauding those individuals who do not wish to be applauded, congratulating those who want nothing more than to perform their jobs. In this particular instance, it entails recognizing an individual before that individual has had a chance to retire. Within the next six months, Frankfort will see the retirement of Howard Sloan. Howard has been the Assistant Village Administrator Continued on page 22 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Trustee Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Village Wins Gov’s Award . . . 5 Census 2010 Q & A . . . . . . . . . 6 Holiday Events . . . . . . . . 14-15 School Fitness Program . . . . 17 Frankfort Library News . . . . 20 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:54 PM Page 3 VILLAGE NEWS VILLAGE NEWS Flood Insurance in Frankfort VILLAGE of FRANKFORT By Howard E. Sloan, 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 quarterly 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. 2 NOVEMBER 2009 mitigate flooding. Open space, such as the Frankfort Prairie Park, is utilized to mitigate flooding. In 1968, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The primary purpose of the NFIP is to make flood insurance available to the general public and set regulations to prevent loss of life and property and reduce the economic and social hardship resulting from flooding. Since 1979, the Village of Frankfort has participated in the NFIP and has met the requirements of the flood insurance program. Therefore, flood insurance is available for any structure in Frankfort, despite its location inside or outside a flood prone area. Flood insurance is available for both residential and non-residential structures as well as the contents in those structures. Since 1994, the Village has enacted and enforced strict floodplain and storm water management ordinance to reduce flooding. We prohibit the construction of buildings in flood prone areas and require floodplains to remain as open areas. The Frankfort Prairie Park, Autumn Fields Park and Lighthouse Subdivision open space are examples of areas utilized to Floodplains are identified on maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The floodplain or “Special Flood Hazard Area” (SFHA) is shown on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), which is produced from flood studies that determine the frequency and limits of flooding. The FIRM and Flood Insurance Study are the principal tools used to identify and establish insurance risk zones. The floodplain maps for the Village of Frankfort were last updated in March 2003. In the coming year, new digital floodplain maps will be provided to the Village by FEMA. These floodplain maps are available and can be viewed at the Village Hall or at www.fema.gov/hazard/map/flood. Flood insurance is mandatory for structures, which are located in a 100-year flood prone area (an area with a 1% chance of flooding) and secured by a mortgage from a financial institution. Flood insurance is also available and recommended for structures located outside of the mapped flood prone areas. Over 25 percent of claims are paid in areas which are not identified as floodplains on the maps. Since a standard homeowner policy excludes damage by surface flooding, a separate flood insurance policy is needed to protect the property from flood damage. Insurable property includes both a building and its contents. The limits of coverage are $250,000 for a residential building and $100,000 for its contents. A non-residential building and content are $500,000 THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Mayor’s Message, from page 1 local road maintenance, snow plowing and leaf and branch pickup. Several years ago the Village received just over $5 million in sales tax revenues. Because of the economic downturn and because we budget conservatively, we predict that this year’s sales tax revenues will be only $3.9 million. We have adjusted our expenses accordingly and we have established programs to encourage new retail businesses to locate in Frankfort. We sponsor a low interest loan program to assist downtown businesses in making façade improvements. This year we started a downtown grant program that helps retail businesses make improvements to the interiors of their stores. We are encouraged by the results of these programs. A new clothing boutique will open on White Street and a new flower shop plans to locate on Kansas Street. Even though budgets are tight, we will continue to have our full array of free community events this winter. The holiday season starts with Frankfort’s annual tree lighting Kohl's readies its displays for the start of the holiday shopping season. ceremony at 7:00 PM on Thursday, December 3, at Breidert’s Green in downtown Frankfort. The Youth Commission will serve hot chocolate around the bonfire while Frankfort’s Hickory Creek Middle School advanced Chorus and students from the Lincoln-Way East Madrigals perform. After the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on a fire engine. It’s a great family event and it’s free. On Friday, December 4, the Historic Society will sponsor their annual house walk. On Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, the downtown merchants will host Christkindl weekend with Saint Nicholas visits, cookie decorating, horse-drawn wagon rides, breakfast with Saint Nicholas and Santa’s secret workshop. On January 10, 2010, we begin a series of five consecutive Sunday afternoon Winter-on-the-Green events. The free events are designed for outdoor fun and include a carnival, dog sleds, chili, the science of snow and Elvis. Details about Winter-on-the-Green and other events can be found at the villageoffrankfort.com web site or elsewhere in this publication. We hope that you enjoy Frankfort’s fun winter events and we hope that you shop in Frankfort, because shopping Frankfort saves money, helps fund Village services and shows support for businesses that invest in our community. We wish you a great Thanksgiving and holiday season. ■ The annual Winter on the Green chili cook-off is popular with residents and visitors alike. THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER NOVEMBER 2009 23 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 5 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS VILLAGE NEWS Community Spotlight: Frankfort Area Jaycees Trustee Talk: Our New, Noisy Neighbor By Rachel Gilmore, Features Writer By Trustee Kevin Egan Jayteen Kelsey Blank gets ready to admit the Ciciura and Ansari families to the 2009 Jaycees Haunted House, which is the chapter’s largest fundraiser, according to this year’s organizer Paige Lenz. You may have seen them at the Haunted House at Frankfort Sqaure Park District, the Egg Hunt at Commissioners Park, Sunday Funday at Camp Manitoqua or the first annual RibFest on the Green in downtown Frankfort last August. The Frankfort Area Jaycees turn up everywhere around town, making it a better place to be. While the local chapter has 25 to 30 active members, Jaycees is actually an international group (with chapters in over 100 countries) that is dedicated to community Difference, from page 1 for 15 years. In my opinion, no one individual embodies the essence of this article more than Howard. Every aspect of Frankfort’s municipal operation has been improved by Howard’s efforts. He is widely respected by friend and foe alike. An ordained minister, avid scuba diver and devoted family man, Howard is a role model for many entering the often complicated business of government. An engineer by trade, Howard has managed tens of millions of dollars in road projects – most of them paid for by grants. He authored most of the Village’s policy 22 NOVEMBER 2009 improvement and personal betterment. Which is exactly why Camille Allen joined the Frankfort Area Jaycees two years ago and is now serving as president. “I wanted to give back to the community and better the community while bettering myself,” she said. “To sit back and see a project that’s come together and know success…that’s a great feeling and that’s what Jaycees tries to teach its members how to do.” Members volunteer to head up and procedure manuals, developed engineering design standards, and enacted development fees that required new development to fund nearly $30 million in infrastructure that did not require bonded debt. Residents may have noticed that Frankfort does not experience the flooding seen in other communities during heavy rain events. This is due to Howard’s efforts in storm water management. In addition, it is his environmental work that has led to the recognition of Frankfort as a community on the cutting edge of preservation. To the public, Howard’s retirement various service projects and are responsible for all aspects of its development, from budget setting to supply needs to volunteer recruitment to publicity. What’s unique about the Jaycees, however, is that the target age for membership is 18 to 40 years old. After age 40, members may become Associates, which allows them to still attend meetings, organize projects and mentor younger members. However, they may no longer vote on chapter business. In addition, the Jaycees sponsor Jayteens chapters, which encourage students in middle and high school to get involved early…and stay involved. During the past few months, many neighborhoods in Frankfort have become aware of a new neighbor – the Canadian National Railway. As most are aware, after a contentious fight, the federal government’s Surface Transportation Board (“STB”) permitted the CN to acquire the right of way of the sleepy, old Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway, which runs from east to west throughout our Village, before tracking west and north toward Aurora and Barrington. Our new neighbor is unpopular because it is often noisy, dirty and potentially dangerous. For these reasons, the Village actively opposed The Jaycees meet regularly at the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, 123 Kansas Street, on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit their web site at www.frankfortarea-jaycees.org. ■ will appear as a job vacancy to be filled. To those of us who work with him on a daily basis, we know Howard will be missed. Not surprisingly, Howard has asked that we do not hold a retirement party for him. He will likely be embarrassed by this article. That is Howard. In my opinion, when it comes to properly recognizing his many accomplishments, it goes without saying that a simple “thank you” will do. I write this article in the hopes that ample time is given to show him our appreciation for his efforts on our behalf. Thank you, Howard, for all that you have done for our community. ■ THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER this acquisition as a leading member of the TRAC organization, joining many communities in an unsuccessful effort to force the STB to consider the adverse environmental impact which would inevitably result from this acquisition. However, the STB eventually allowed the CN acquisition and we are now seeing a major increase in freight traffic, which generates more noise and results in more traffic bottlenecks throughout our community. On the eve of approval by the STB, the Village was able to negotiate a one-time mitigation payment of $2.7 million from the CN; these funds are now being used to Jim Testin of Hamilton Consulting Engineers addresses resident concerns at the recent Quiet Zone open house held at Hickory Creek Middle School. respectively. Insurance is available to both owners and renters of property. percent the cost of a Standard Policy on property in a higher risk area. Insurance rates are based on the location of the property, age of the building, elevation of the building in relation to the base flood elevation, type of building, and amount of coverage. A Preferred Risk Policy is available for property outside a 100year flood area at approximately 33 Within the Village of Frankfort, there are currently 56 flood insurance policies in effect for nearly $11 million in coverage. The overwhelming majority of these policies are located in an area that has been identified as flood prone. In Frankfort, the average premium THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER mitigate the impact of the noise generated by the CN. Village Administrator Jerry Ducay and his team worked tirelessly this past summer advising the Village’s residents that financial assistance was available in the form of cash grants to plant trees and shrubs to obscure the railroad from view and to provide a form of psychological benefit to offset the increased noise levels now present. To date, roughly $400,000 in landscaping improvements have been approved to pay for the cost of these plantings. Additional funds continue to be available to residents; if anyone is uncertain as to whether they qualify for such a grant, please call Mr. Ducay at (815) 469-2177. Overall, the Village has done all that it can to make a distinctly unpleasant situation a bit more palatable. While nobody sought out the CN as a neighbor, these small steps minimize the impact of this unfortunate turn of events. ■ is $761 per year. Information on the NFIP and flood insurance are available on line at www.fema.gov/nfip, or you may call their toll free number, (800) 427-4661; FEMA Regional V office in Chicago, (312) 408-5500; and from the Illinois State NFIP Coordinator office in Springfield at (217) 782-4428. ■ NOVEMBER 2009 3 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 7 VILLAGE NEWS NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Crime Prevention and Community Outreach Programs Neighborhood Notes: Butternut Creek Woods By Police Chief Rob Piscia By Rachel Gilmore, Features Writer seniors about personal safety issues, to address crime trends that target seniors and to listen and act on the concerns of seniors. Officer Matt Misek demonstrates to Citizen Police participants how LiveScan technology captures fingerprints electronically. As the Chief, I know the importance of our police department continuing to be an active member of the community. I also know that to keep our village safe, the police department cannot do it alone. Our department relies on participation from residents to help support our crime prevention and community outreach programs. To this end, I wanted to remind people of the programs we have available at the department. This past summer, we started “Seniors on Patrol.” This program uses the retired members of our town to help us do special patrols or radar details in problem areas that have been identified through citizen complaints. Applicants are required to complete a background investigation and a brief training academy. Every spring, we conduct a Citizen Police academy in a cooperative effort with the New Lenox Police department, Mokena Police department and the Will County Sheriff’s police. The Citizen Police academies are intended to open the 4 NOVEMBER 2009 lines of communication between the community and the police departments. The purpose of the academy is to increase understanding between the citizens through education and interaction with members of the police department. The academy gives citizens the opportunity to learn why we “can” and/or “can not” do certain things. It is hoped that the instruction will increase police awareness to dispel suspicions and misconceptions, and to increase police/community rapport through this educational program. Some of the program topics include a TASER demonstration, a trip to the Will County morgue, and a tour of the Will County Jail. The Frankfort Police department is also working with other police agencies on a senior citizen program called TRIAD. TRIAD is a partnership between law enforcement, senior citizens and other community organizations to deal with issues that are unique to our seniors. The goal of TRIAD is to conduct crime prevention activities, provide education to The Frankfort Police department is also a sponsor of a Law Enforcement Explorer’s Post. Law Enforcement Exploring is a careeroriented program that gives young adults the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working with our officers. The program is open to qualified young adults who graduated 8th grade and are ages 14 through 21. Our post meets once per week at the station. They have regular training sessions that include: traffic stops, searches, report writing and other law enforcement related activities. Many of our cadets have gone onto careers in the law enforcement industry as a result of the knowledge gained at the post. These are just some of the specialized initiatives that our department offers. We also offer identity theft seminars for our homeowners’ groups and we provide security tip programs for our business community. If you are interested in more information about the above programs, or you would like to be a member of our FREE network which is an email based alert and tip system we started several years ago, please contact Officer Bender at [email protected], or call her at (815) 469-9435. Any young adults interested in our Explorer Program should contact Detective Kevin Johnson ([email protected] ) or Officer Don Walsh ([email protected]). ■ THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER The homeowners association started in 1990 and is a voluntary, dues-paying organization which handles maintenance of the entrance and the berm along Route 30, as well as the neighborhood’s cul-de-sacs. It also has an architectural review committee, which approves any property improvement requests. “I love the sound of the trees,” said Butternut Creek Woods homeowners association president Eileen Greenawalt, an eight year resident. “That’s why we moved here…the established trees. And I love seeing the wildlife…the deer, the foxes, the coyotes, even the bugs like the cicadas and the walking sticks and the big (garden) spiders that spin the huge webs.” Butternut’s 145 homes are set among stately oaks and maples on winding streets with no sidewalks. Originally developed by Frankfort resident Albert Krusemark III about thirty years ago, Butternut is bordered by Route 30 on the south, Cedar Lane on the east, Ironwood on the north and forest preserve on the west. Residents are a diverse mix of ages, with young families, families with grade and high school children and empty nesters all calling Butternut home. “It’s getting younger and younger, though,” Greenawalt added. Every December the association sponsors a holiday progressive dinner, along with the occasional block party in the summer. “It’s really a very quiet neighborhood with very few issues,” Greenawalt added. Frankfort Park District’s Butternut Creek Woods Park and easy access to the area bike trails add to the amenities of this peaceful, wooded enclave in Frankfort’s northwest corner. ■ Butternut Creek Woods is a peaceful, wooded enclave situated in the northwest corner of Frankfort. Your Opinion Counts! This form is designed to make it easy for you to communicate with your elected representatives on the Frankfort Village Board. 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 “Contact Us.” THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER NOVEMBER 2009 21 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 9 COMMUNITY NEWS VILLAGE NEWS Frankfort Park District: Three Big Thank You’s! By Jeff Boubelik, Executive Director The first is Chris Johnson, our dance instructor, who teaches Ballet, Tap, and Hip/Hop Jazz for ages three and a half to eighteen years of age. Chris has been with the park district since 1992, but has been teaching dance for over 30 years. She also teaches a parent/tot program called Wiggles and Giggles, along with several one-day programs. Chris’ programs always fill up quickly and residents have been enjoying them for years. Longtime Frankfort Park District instructor Chris Johnson teaches a budding ballerina how to pose. The Frankfort Park District would like to highlight three instructors that have been with us for many years, offering up great instruction to our residents in their popular programs. Julie Smith, another longtime instructor, has been teaching fitness classes at the park district since 1999. She began instructing Step Aerobics and Kickboxing and has since more than doubled her classes to also include Pilates, Step Fusion, and Get Fit While You Sit. Julie is always keeping up with the popular fitness trends and her programs have quite the following. We also have Julie Hein who teaches our Tot Time program. Julie has been with the park district since 1999 instructing this parent/tot program with sing-a-longs, crafts and free play. Moms keep coming back, bringing their new babies to this great program. These three instructors do a wonderful job with their classes, and the park district would like to say how lucky we (and our residents!) are to have such talented individuals teaching at the Frankfort Park District. If you have not yet had the pleasure of participating in these great classes, or if you would like more information on these instructors and their programs, please contact the Frankfort Park District at (815) 469-9400, or visit our website at www.frankfortparks.org. ■ Frankfort Public Library News By Nicole Suarez, Reference Librarian We are happy to announce the Dewey Free Project at the Frankfort Public Library District was completed in September. By replacing call numbers with subject headings, patrons can choose non-fiction materials by subject at a glance. This makes the adult nonfiction collection more accessible and allows patrons to easily browse through related topics of interest. Colorful shelf tags highlight different subjects in each 20 NOVEMBER 2009 collection and clearly printed spine labels make locating an item easier. A highly interactive map can be accessed from our website or viewed directly at http://frankfortlibrary. micromaps.com/. We encourage patrons to come and explore the newly organized stacks! Our large Health section is now shelved near the Fitness and Self-Help collections. Foreign language books and CDs are conveniently located next to our Travel collection. Home decorating, remodeling, and do-it-yourself repair books can all be found within the large Home collection. Find DVDs on each subject at the beginning of each category. (Feature films, world cinema, and documentaries are still located near the music CDs!) Visit the library soon and enjoy the freedom of exploring and discovering the wide variety of materials we have - from the hottest new music and DVDs, to the latest fiction. Frankfort Public Library has something for everyone! ■ THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Frankfort Receives 2009 Governor’s Home Town Award By Mary Canino, Manager of Community Relations notification that our project would be a “Governor’s Home Town Award” recipient! Village officials receive the Governor’s Home Town Award from Governor Quinn for the Village of Frankfort’s Earth Day celebration. Pictured (l to r): Trustees Stevens and Trevarthan, Gov. Quinn, Mayor Holland, Mary Canino. Every year, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provides an opportunity for communities across Illinois to recognize volunteer efforts through the awarding of a “Governor’s Home Town Award.” The award is presented in 8 categories, with 46 projects represented and based on community population. This award provides a way to insure volunteers receive the thanks and recognition they deserve. received that notification in early August. Members of our Village Board, as well as civic group volunteers, attended the presentation to the on site judges who then toured our community. On September 21, we received On October 29, Mayor Jim Holland, Trustees Dick Trevarthan and Mike Stevens and I traveled to Springfield to the Governor’s Mansion to receive Frankfort’s first place award and attend the awards reception. In addition to the award, each community received a 36” x 48” road sign acknowledging that they are a “Governor’s Home Town Award” winner. Next time you stop by the Village Administration office, take a few moments to view “YOUR” award proudly displayed at the entrance for helping make Frankfort a “Governor’s Home Town Award” winner! ■ Village Welcomes New Utilities Personnel The Village of Frankfort is proud that many projects in our community benefit from the efforts of local volunteers, and to choose one for submission for the award would be a difficult decision. However, our annual “Earth Day Celebration” seemed to be a perfect fit for Frankfort. After compiling all of the required documents and photos for Earth Day 2009 and submitting to the State, we awaited further word regarding a possible site visit to further represent our project. We THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER The Village of Frankfort welcomes two new employees to the Utilities Department. Director of Utilities Darrin Yount (left) and Foreman/Lead Operator Alan Maross come to Frankfort from a nationwide public utility company. Their years of expertise in the utility industry will be of great benefit to the community. Welcome, Gentlemen! NOVEMBER 2009 5 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 11 VILLAGE NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS Census 2010 – We’re Counting on You Frankfort Square Park District Activities at North (F.A.N.) By Jeff Cook, Director of Community Development By Jim Randall, Executive Director This spring the Village of Frankfort will be counting on you to ensure every person living in Frankfort is counted in the 2010 Census. It is important we achieve a complete count because the “official” population recorded by the 2010 Census will ensure your tax dollars are sent back to Frankfort. Over $2M in state income, motor fuel and use tax dollars are allocated to the Village based on population and fund the annual street maintenance program, police protection and other village services. Results of the 23rd decennial census will also be used to provide you representation in government and distribution of federal funding. Here’s a summary of what to expect: When will questionnaires be delivered? Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household by March 2010. A second questionnaire is then sent to non-responsive households with a follow-up visit by a Census-taker if necessary. What questions will I be asked? All 2010 Census questionnaires are a short-form format and should take just a few minutes to complete. You will be asked to provide name, sex, age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, relationship and housing tenure, accurate as of April 1, 2010. What happened to the long-form? Goodbye long-form! In past censuses, one household in six received a long-form questionnaire that collected detailed socio- 6 NOVEMBER 2009 The Census Bureau DOES NOT conduct the 2010 Census via email or the Internet. You should be wary of ANY email or website requesting PIN codes, passwords, social security numbers or other personal information. While the Census Bureau might contact you electronically, they will not ask for any detailed personal information by electronic means. economic information. Today, detailed socio-economic information is collected annually through the American Community Survey. Are my answers confidential? Your responses are protected by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). All Census Bureau employees have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, a fine - or both - for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household. Furthermore, the Census Bureau employs privacy principles and statistical methodologies that ensure confidentiality of your information. The Census Bureau does not release data that identifies individual respondents or their household for 72 years. How can I be certain my survey is legitimate? If you have questions regarding the legitimacy of a survey questionnaire received in the mail, a phone call or visit by a Census Bureau employee, or other concerns of a “non-cyber” nature, you may speak directly with the Census Bureau via telephone or email. If you receive an email or find a website that you suspect is falsely representing the Census Bureau: 1. Do not reply or click on any links within the email. 2. Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer. 3. Forward the email or website URL to the Census Bureau at [email protected]. 4. After you forward the email to the Census Bureau, delete the message. For more information about the 2010 Census, please visit http://2010.census.gov/. ■ The F.A.N. program is starting its second year at Lincoln-Way North High School. This program is made possible due to the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board’s commitment to make their outstanding facilities available for community use. F.A.N. membership includes all open activities offered at the North campus, including open gyms, fitness center, weight room, and family swims. It also includes free Splash Park admission and savings at Square Links Golf Course. Monthly calendars are available at the park office, online at www.fspd.org, and the Lincoln-Way North Aquatic Center. Due to the tremendous popularity of the program, the Frankfort Square Park District has maintained nominal membership fees. The FSPD recently added four televisions for fitness center enjoyment. Members can bring FM radios and headphones to benefit from this improvement. As they work out, F.A.N. members enjoy watching the four new televisions purchased by the FSPD. Family Membership Couple Membership Single Membership Senior Pass (65 and older) $100 $ 75 $ 50 $ 10 Memberships are provided on an annual basis beginning September 1, 2009, ending August 31, 2010, and can be purchased at the FSPD office. Any resident of Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 is eligible to purchase an annual membership. At the time of registration, three forms of ID are required to ensure District 210 residency. Membership is not available to non-District 210 residents. Daily fee usage is available to residents ($5.00) and non-residents ($10.00). For more information on the F.A.N. program and other Frankfort Square Park District offerings, please visit www.fspd.org or call the office at (815) 469-3524. ■ 2010 Census: Key Dates • February – March 2010 Census questionnaires delivered. • April 1, 2010 Census Day • April – July 2010 Census-takers visit non-responsive households. • December 2010 Census Bureau delivers counts to President. • March 2011 States receive redistricting data. THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Lunch with Santa When: Saturday December 5, 2009 Where: Lincoln-Way North Cafeteria Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Registration and $7.50 fee per person are required. 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 Lucy Eaton at (815) 469-4907. ■ For more information, contact FSPD at (815) 469-3524. THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER NOVEMBER 2009 19 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 13 COMMUNITY NEWS VILLAGE NEWS Spotlight on Education National Merit Semi-Finalists & Commended Students By Dr. Lawrence A. Wyllie, Superintendent, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Recently the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Board of Education honored the district’s students earning the academic achievement of being named National Merit Semi-Finalists and Commended Scholars. The National Merit Scholarship program is an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships that began in 1955. The seven Semi-Finalists are: Jacob Behm, son of Jeff and Natalie Behm of New Lenox; Dayl Carlson, daughter of Jo and Dave Carlson of New Lenox; Alexander Cisneros, son of Henry and Lisa Cisneros of New Lenox; Richard Deering, son of Rick and Michele Deering of Frankfort; Kelsie Dykstra, daughter of Julie and Thane Dykstra of Joliet; Thomas Weithers, son of Tom and Mariola Weithers of Frankfort; and Taylor Williams, daughter of Crystal Williams of Frankfort and Ron Williams of Mokena. The 17 Commended Scholars are: Gregory Anthony, son of Larry and June Anthony of New Lenox; Rebecca Bartels, daughter of Steven and LeeAnn Bartels of New Lenox; Alexandria Bartlett, daughter of Scott and Sebrena Bartlett of Frankfort; Courtney Biscan, daughter of Thomas and Cathleen Biscan of Manhattan; Matthew Bum, son of Dooil and Jennifer Bum of Mokena; Elisa Cherry, daughter of Douglas and Rebecca Cherry of New Lenox; Erik Christiansen, son of William and Laura Christiansen of New Lenox; Molly Gallagher, daughter of Rob and Dianne Gallagher of Frankfort; 18 NOVEMBER 2009 Dr. Lawrence A. Wyllie, superintendent, right, and Mr. David Izzo, president of the Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education, left, proudly pose with a group of National Merit Semi-Finalists and Commended Scholars. Vikrum Joshi, son of Sanjeev and Medini Joshi of Frankfort; Kaitlyn Kirby, daughter of Donna Kirby of New Lenox and her father, Mark Kirby; Nathan Lindley, son of James and Katherine Lindley of Frankfort; Joshua Miller, son of Thomas and Deanna Miller of New Lenox; Gianluca Panici, son of Giovanni and Rosaria Panici of New Lenox; Nora Quinn, daughter of Gregory and Regina Quinn of Mokena; Samantha Sainsbury, daughter of Stephen and Janet Sainsbury of Mokena; Dayna Smith, daughter of Peter and Linda Smith of Frankfort; and Tyler Yonke, son of Timothy and Linda Yonke of Mokena. the 96% of college-bound juniors who took the test. Semi-Finalists students represent less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors. We are most proud of our fine students who have earned the honor of qualifying for National Merit Semi-Finalists and Commended status. They are academic leaders in the classroom and leaders in school activities. They have achieved this honor through their hard work with help and support from their parents and teachers. We wish them the very best. ■ Currently, more than 1.5 million students in approximately 22,000 high schools enter the National Merit Scholarship Program each year. Commended students are in THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Frankfort Youth Commission Update By Christine Moler, Youth Commission Coordinator With the school year well under way and the holiday season approaching, the Frankfort Youth Commission already has a full calendar. During these first few months, members have been brainstorming and planning. Along with the Frankfort spiritwear sweatshirts, t-shirts and tote bags that are currently available, the teens are excited about designing new long-sleeved shirts and baseball hats for the fall. Keeping in line with that designing spirit, the teens are working on a plan to repaint the Teen Room at the Founder’s Center. Not only is the Teen Room where monthly meetings are held, it is also a part of the Hang-Time program sponsored by the Frankfort Park District. The Youth Commission members will present their ideas to Census Questions or Concerns? Please call or e-mail the Census Bureau Regional Office in your area. U.S. Census Bureau Chicago Regional Office 1111 W. 22nd Street Suite 400 Oak Brook, IL 60523-1918 (630) 288-9200 or 1-800-865-6384 Fax: (630) 288-9288 TDD: (708) 562-1791 E-mail: chicago.regional.office @census.gov THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Youth Commission members Matt Moler (left) and Collin Hickey are busy at work making blankets for Roseland Community Women’s Shelter at a monthly meeting. Executive Director Jeff Boubelik, and once approved, will get busy putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. In November, the Youth Commission will reach out to community residents when members go door-to-door collecting canned goods and other non-perishable food items for the Frankfort Township Food Pantry. This is an annual event that the teens really enjoy. Another annual event is the visit to the Frankfort Police station. Officer Leanne Bender always has useful information for the teens and they always have many questions for her. In December the members will make holiday cards for the service men and women when they participate in the Red Cross program, “Holiday Mail for Heroes.” At the Village tree lighting ceremony, residents will see the teens serving up hot chocolate and cookies with a warm smile, despite the typically chilly temperatures. Finally, in the works is a joint adventure with senior members of our community. The Frankfort Youth Commission members are making plans for a Saturday “game day,” whereby they will share time playing board games with seniors. More details to come! If any of these activities sound like something you would like to be involved in, and you are in grades 6 through 12, please contact Christine Moler at (815) 469-2177, or at email address cmoler15@ comcast.net. It would be an honor to have you join us! ■ Youth Commission 2010 Meeting Dates Founders Center Teen Room 140 Oak Street at 6:30 p.m. January 21 February 18 March 18 April 15 May - TBD NOVEMBER 2009 7 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 15 VILLAGE NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS Energy-Saving Ideas for Your Home By Craig Eyer, Building Department Director coatings and low solar gain. A high efficiency furnace and water heater will also save on home energy costs. As Americans continue to tighten their wallets during these difficult economic times, they are also looking for ways to save money and make their hard earned dollars stretch further. As homeowners, one way to conserve cash in the long term is to invest in energysaving products and appliances for the home. One energy-saving way to save on heating and cooling costs is to adequately insulate the home. The best way to ensure that the house is insulated properly is during the construction process. When the house is an older home, however, several retrofitting ideas can be beneficial. Installing additional insulation in the attic can lower energy bills substantially at a relatively inexpensive cost. In Help save energy with the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs. addition to the attic, insulating the basement as well as the rim board around the foundation (the area where floor joists meet the foundation) will help conserve energy. Furthermore, homeowners may wish to consider replacing older, less energy efficient windows with new windows with low E The quest to save money on home energy costs depends on how much a homeowner is willing or able to spend on implementing energy conservation measures. Instituting even modest conservation efforts, such as weather stripping drafty windows and doors, can pay big dividends in controlling energy costs today and in upcoming years. To obtain a permit for a home improvement project, or to get an answer to a building question, contact the Building Department at (815) 412-2446 or visit the Village website at www.villageoffrankfort.com. ■ A Busy Time for Public Works By Terry Kestel, Superintendent of Public Works As leaf collection ends, the four trucks used for the program will be quickly re-equipped for snow removal. This is very important should snow and ice come early in the season. With the addition of these trucks, the full snowplow fleet will be ready for action. While snowplowing consumes a large amount of time, it is not the only thing occupying Public Works crews during the winter months. dependent on weather that affects ground conditions in order to move heavy equipment, it can be a lengthy process. Also during the winter season, crews will be clearing and cleaning sidewalks and maintaining the fire pit so that everyone will be safe and warm at the Winter on the Green events taking place from January 10 through February 7. Indoor maintenance in Village-owned buildings escalates during the winter season, with painting or remodeling projects taking place, as well as regularly scheduled maintenance. After the holidays, lighting will be removed from the trees and stage at Breidert Green. As this task is The winter season continues to be a busy time for the Public Works crews! ■ preparations for the Village’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at Breidert Green on Thursday, December 3. Public Works employees cold patch potholes on Pfeiffer Road in this photo taken last winter. As this month’s Villager arrives in homes, Public Works crews will be busy finishing the fall leaf collection program. During this same timeframe, crews will be completing 8 NOVEMBER 2009 THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER District 161’s Student Wellness Program Features New Fitness Assessment By Superintendent Keith Pain will receive an individualized copy of their student’s results during Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 9-10. The FITNESSGRAM report for parents will summarize a student’s personal levels of health-related fitness compared against the healthy fitness zone. The report will identify ways to promote healthy lifestyles within the family setting to help a student reach healthy fitness zones in those areas where he/she needs to improve. Over the years, student wellness, including good nutrition and physical activity, has been promoted in District 161’s educational program, school activities, and school meal programs. New this school year is the incorporation of a student fitness assessment utilizing the FITNESSGRAM model within the District’s Physical Education program. FITNESSGRAM is a national fitness assessment and reporting system for students. The assessment establishes a baseline of a healthy fitness zone, the established health standard based on gender and age, from which students can set goals, check their progress to help them plan for lifelong physical activity, and maintain and improve their fitness level. The FITNESSGRAM assessment program evaluates different parts of health-related fitness, including measurement of aerobic capacity (the pacer), measurement of upper body strength/endurance (pushups), measurement of abdominal muscular strength/ endurance (curl ups), measurement of the trunk extensor strength Mary Drew School third-grade students Mark Gardner (left) and Sean Fisher set up for the curl up fitness test under the direction of their Physical Education Teacher Mrs. Nancy Clarey. (trunk lift), and measurement of flexibility (sit and reach). At this time, the District will not assess body composition testing. The program’s emphasis is on enjoying the activity and learning to perform test items successfully. The ultimate outcome sought is individual improvement. Initial testing took place in midOctober with follow-up testing in the spring to assess growth. Parents Once baseline data has been generated, Physical Education teachers will meet to strategize methods and best practices to help move students into (or maintain them within) the healthy fitness zone. Just as the NWEA and DIBELS assessment programs enhance a student’s academic growth, the District believes the FITNESSGRAM assessment program will enhance a student’s overall physical fitness development and development of a life-long, healthy lifestyle. ■ Village Recognizes Former Police Pension Board President At the quarterly board meeting of the Frankfort Police Pension Board, Mayor Jim Holland presented a plaque to former President David Hartley. His 15 years of service, 13 as president, are appreciated by the Village and the Police Department. ■ THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER NOVEMBER 2009 17 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:55 PM Page 17 COMMUNITY NEWS Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Sponsors 14th Annual Midnight Madness Event Join Frankfort businesses for fun, refreshments and special promotions until midnight on Friday evening, December 11. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. through midnight, in and around the entire shopping area of Frankfort, participating merchants are staying open until the midnight hour offering special promotions! Frankfort’s Historic District retail shops and many additional stores in the surrounding area will remain open late for your shopping pleasure. Approximately 25 stores will participate in this annual event, so look for lights, signs, and luminaries. For more information, call the Frankfort Chamber office at (815) 469-3356, or visit www.frankfortchamber.com for a complete listing of participating businesses. ■ 16 NOVEMBER 2009 VILLAGE NEWS Frankfort School District 157-C Appreciates Community Partners Frankfort Hosts Quiet Zone Open House By Thomas A. Hurlburt, Superintendent of Schools District 157-C appreciates the many excellent partnerships it has within our community that benefit our students and schools. For example, Hickory Creek Middle School students are members of the Kiwanis Builders Club, sponsored by the Frankfort Kiwanis Club. Hickory Creek Middle School Principal Kevin Suchinski and Assistant Principal Nikki Beck are the adult sponsors of this club that has been in existence for the past three years. Last year, along with help from the Student Council, the Builders Club sponsored fundraisers to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, cleaned up the walking trails in Frankfort as an Earth Day activity, collected packages for soldiers serving in Iraq and made gift bags for residents of the Frankfort Terrace Nursing Home and patients at Silver Cross Hospital. The Builders Club is sponsoring similar activities again this year. Co-Presidents Rachel Stone and Courtney Matheu, Vice President Molly Noonan, Treasurer Grace Juracka and Secretary Karly Bunge. Kiwanis International, a service organization that develops leaders to aid children worldwide since 1915, offers several levels of participation. Along with Kiwanis organizations for adults, college students can become involved with the Circle K clubs, high school students can join Key Clubs and middle school students can join Builders Clubs. Through their participation in the Builders Club, our Frankfort students are providing a valuable service to the community while also developing practical leadership skills. These skills will help them become our leaders of tomorrow. We appreciate the cooperation of the Frankfort Kiwanis Club and the other local community and civic organizations that take the time to serve as role models and mentors for our students. ■ Students inducted as officers of the club for this school year include Hickory Creek Middle School Kiwanis Builders Club 2009-2010 officers: (l-r) Grace Juracka (Treasurer), Molly Noonan (Vice President), Rachel Stone and Courtney Matheu (Co-Presidents), and Karly Bunge (Secretary). THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER A representative from Robert E. Hamilton Consulting Engineers discusses the proposed Quiet Zone crossing locations with residents. The Village of Frankfort and Robert E. Hamilton Consulting Engineers hosted an open house on September 14, 2009, for the public to review information concerning the designation of a “Quiet Zone” along the Canadian National Railway (CN) tracks in Frankfort. The open house, held at Hickory Creek Middle School, served as an update to the public regarding the Quiet Zone process, as well as an invitation to the public to ask questions and offer feedback regarding the Quiet Zone proposal. Approximately 60 residents attended the open house, asked questions, and viewed displays representing the intersection improvements to designate a Quiet Zone. intersection unless an emergency situation arises. The study includes an inventory of equipment at each railroad crossing, along with the risk index for the location and a review of the safety improvements needed to achieve the Quiet Zone designation. A Notice of Intent to create a Quiet Zone is expected to be filed with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) by the end of 2009. Frankfort expects the Quiet Zone process to take 18 to 24 months for completion. As part of an agreement between Frankfort and the Railway, CN agreed to fund the engineering studies and required intersection improvements that would be necessary to achieve the designation of a Quiet Zone in Frankfort from Harlem Avenue to 116th Avenue. With a Quiet Zone designation, train engineers are prohibited from sounding the train horn at each “Establishing a Quiet Zone will benefit our residents by eliminating the requirement to sound the exceptionally loud train horn at each intersection. However, we need to confirm that appropriate supplemental safety measures are in place at the designated intersections to insure the safety of our residents,” commented Mayor Jim Holland. ■ Village of Frankfort Purchases Fox Lumber Property The Frankfort Village Board approved a contract to purchase the 3.5 acre property at 1 N. White St., commonly known as Fox Lumber, for $795,000 at the November 2, 2009 Village Board meeting. Fox Home Center officials plan to close the hardware and lumber business by the end of 2009. Fox Home Center has another location at 11150 Cicero Avenue in Alsip. A recent study of Frankfort’s downtown district by the Hitchcock Design Group suggested that if the property became available, the Village should acquire it for development to enhance the downtown district and its quality standards. The immediate expectations are to THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER remove some of the lumber storage structures, and as the economy improves, to solicit proposals for development of the space. Mayor Holland stated, “When the Laird family indicated that the Fox Lumber site could be purchased, we told them that we wanted their store to remain in Frankfort, but if this key downtown property became available, we were interested in acquiring it. The Village supports economic development that preserves the character of the downtown for our residents. The opportunity to redevelop such a significant downtown parcel is an historic event for our community and will benefit residents greatly.” John Laird, President of Fox Home Centers, Inc. commented, “For the 27 years that we have been part of the Frankfort community, we have appreciated our customers’ friendship and loyalty. Our Frankfort sales staff looks forward to continue to serve them from our newly remodeled showroom and drive-through lumberyard in nearby Alsip at 111th and Cicero.” ■ NOVEMBER 2009 9 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:56 PM Page 19 VILLAGE NEWS COMMUNITY NEWS Frankfort’s Old Plank Trail 5K Run/Walk Draws Record Crowd Frankfort Fire District News New Fire Apparatus Makes Its Debut By Assistant Chief Bob Wilson What’s on Channel 6? A complete listing of channel six programming can be accessed at www.villageoffrankfort.com. For Our Channel 6 Viewer’s Convenience… The mascot from Cardinal Fitness in Frankfort leads the runners in warm up exercises. A cold morning greeted a record crowd of over 200 runners and walkers who participated in the Old Plank Road Trail 5K Run on Saturday, October 10, 2009. This year marked the 13th anniversary celebration of the race. Participants from Chicago, Joliet, Wheaton, Peotone, Tinley Park and Palos Heights, to name a few, enjoyed the run through the scenic Old Plank Road Trail in Frankfort. The overall male winner was Mathew Wyble from Chicago (18:05) and overall female winner was Cheryl Thurman (23:10) of Westchester. Frankfort Trustee Mike Stevens welcomed the participants and congratulated the winners during the award presentation ceremony immediately after the race. Trustee Mike Stevens also helped hand out the computerized chip bands to each of the participants. Trustee Dick Trevarthan participated in the race as one of the many walkers. During his welcoming remarks, Trustee Stevens acknowledged the 10 NOVEMBER 2009 generous donations and support from Frankfort businesses: Jewel Food Stores, Old Plank Trail Community Bank, Cardinal Fitness, who provided the warm up exercises for the participants. Trustee Stevens also thanked the volunteers, the Frankfort Youth Commission, and the Frankfort Police and Fire Departments for their event support. “It is a pleasure to welcome so many Frankfort residents and visitors from nearby communities to this annual event. Not only can they enjoy the Old Plank Road Trail as they run or walk, but they also have an opportunity to experience our downtown district and beautiful community,” commented Trustee Mike Stevens. Results from the race have been posted and can be viewed at www.villageoffrankfort.com as well as the www.theracershub.com. ■ 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. The Frankfort Fire Protection District has placed two new pieces of fire apparatus in service over the past month. Both units were built and purchased from Pierce Fire Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin, and will be assigned to Stations 1 and 5. Engine 1 is assigned to Station 1on Nebraska Street and is a 2009 Pierce Arrow XT. This engine is capable of pumping 1500 gallons of water and has a 500 gallon water tank along with a 30 gallon foam tank. Engine 1 is also a paramedic engine with all the Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipment that an ambulance carries and is equipped with the majority of the District’s vehicle extrication equipment for auto accidents. This unit is replacing the current engine which will be relocated to Station 4, which is currently under construction at Engine 1 takes up residence at Station 1 on Nebraska Street. Steger Road and 80th Ave. Engine 5 is assigned to Station 5 on Wolf Road and is also a 2009 Pierce Arrow XT with similar capacities to Engine 1. Both engines were designed by the Mobile Equipment Committee and its members: Trustee Bob Tutko (Chairman), Trustee Larry Nice, Assistant Chief Bob Wilson, Lt. Chris Wolf, Lt. Kevin Linhart and Firefighter Mike Donnellan. The process development time for each engine from design to delivery to the Fire District was approximately one year. Each engine is expected to be in service for 15-20 years. ■ 24th Annual Christkindl Weekend Friday, December 4 Historic District Merchant Open House 10 am - 9 pm (Select merchants open during House Walk) Chamber Open House 5 pm - 9 pm House Walk 5 pm - 10 pm (Sponsored by the Historical Society. For tickets call (815) 469-6541 or (815) 469-3356.) Saint Nicholas Visits around Town Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides* Cookie Walk** Cookie Decorating (Miritello’s Pizza) Santa’s Secret Workshop (Star Visions) Pet Blessing & Pet Parade Noon Noon Noon 1 pm 1 pm - 4 4 4 3 4 3 pm pm pm pm pm pm Holiday Music & Carolers Throughout Downtown Interested in Becoming a FCTV Channel 6 Host? Do you have a new idea for a FCTV Channel 6 program? We’d like to hear from you! Contact Mary Canino at [email protected] for a volunteer application. THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Saturday, December 5 Merchants Open 10 am - 5 pm Saint Nicholas Visits around Town Noon - 4 pm Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides* Noon - 4 pm Cookie Walk** Noon - 4 pm Cookie Decorating (Miritello’s Pizza) 1 pm - 3 pm Santa’s Secret Workshop (Star Visions) 1 pm - 4 pm Lantern Parade (Historical Society Museum) 4:45 pm (Cookies and hot chocolate provided by the Historical Society) Bonfire/Storytelling (follows parade - Breidert Green) Sunday, December 6 Breakfast with St. Nicholas (KidsWork Children’s Museum) Merchants Open THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER 8:30 am - 11 am 10 am - 5 pm *Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides $3.00 per person - unlimited rides Children 3 and under ride free! (Tickets available at Miritello’s Pizza) **Cookie Walk Tickets are $5.00 each (Tickets available in advance at Pickwick Tea Room, Lil’ Surprises, Chew on This Dog Barkery, Claire a Bella Boutique & The Paper Spot) Purchase your tickets today - limited supply! More information about these events is available in the Downtown Historic Businesses or online at shophistoricfrankfort.com. ■ NOVEMBER 2009 15 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:56 PM Page 21 VILLAGE NEWS VILLAGE NEWS Frankfort “Future Land Use” Open House Provides Info for Public You’re Invited… Village of Frankfort Tree Lighting Ceremony The Village of Frankfort hosted an open house on September 9 and 12 at Founders Center regarding a “Future Land Use Plan Update.” Hosted by the Community Development Department, the open house provided the public with an opportunity to review draft maps, plans and information as part of an update to Frankfort’s 2004 Future Land Use Plan. Interested parties were invited to submit comment cards and interact with Village staff during the open house. The participants, ranging from Frankfort and Green Garden residents to business landowners and public officials, appreciated the opportunity to review the draft plans and ask questions. Thursday, December 3 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 Winter on the Green 2010 Beat the winter blues and join us for five fun-filled Sundays in January and February, 2010 at Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. January 10: January 17: January 24: January 31: February 7: Ice Fest Winter Carnival Snow-ology Chili Cook-Off Valentine’s Weekend Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort, Frankfort Park District & Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Details available soon at www.villageoffrankfort.com. “We are pleased with the response received to this open house by the Frankfort and Green Garden communities. The input and communication between our Village staff and community members Community Development Director Jeff Cook discusses future land use plans with Green Garden residents. provided a good dialogue regarding the future land use plan,” commented Mayor Jim Holland. The process will be ongoing, with further discussion at future plan commission meetings. For “Keep the Wreath Red” At the beginning of each holiday season, a large holiday wreath is placed on the front of each of the Frankfort Fire Protection District stations. Each one of the wreaths will be decorated with large red bulbs that will be constantly illuminated during the holiday season. Should a fire occur during the holiday season that is determined to have been directly caused by a holiday decoration, a white bulb will replace a red bulb. This will happen every time there is a holiday decoration caused fire. The symbolism behind the wreath is for the residents of the Frankfort Fire Protection District to be exceptionally safety conscious during the holiday season. May everyone enjoy the festive activities of the season and “Keep the Wreath Red.” additional information regarding the draft plan, please contact Jeff Cook, Director of Community Development, at the Village Administration office, 432 W. Nebraska Street. ■ Snowfall Parking Reminder Per Village Ordinance, it is unlawful to park any vehicle, or for any vehicle to remain parked, on any street in the Village between 8:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. after a 2” snowfall. We also ask that driveway snow not be pushed out into a recently plowed street. Thank you! ■ A safe and happy holiday season to all! 14 NOVEMBER 2009 THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER NOVEMBER 2009 11 34182_Villager:Layout 1 11/12/09 3:57 PM Page 23 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 2009 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 2009. Thanks to the Frankfort Country Market committee and the customers of the country market for another successful year. 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 and the thousands of visitors who continue to make the Frankfort Fall Fest one of the best festivals in the Midwest! Thanks to the Winter on the Green committee for warming up our Sundays in January and February, and for all those who braved the cold. Thanks to the many civic groups and volunteers who helped “clean up the Village” during Earth Day 2009. 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 Frankfort Area Jaycees and all our amateur chefs during our first annual “Amateur Rib Cook-Off” held in August. Thanks to the Frankfort Car Club for lining the downtown Frankfort streets with classic cars every Thursday evening. Thanks to the “Concerts on the Green” committee for Sunday evening musical entertainment. Thanks to our Frankfort anglers who enjoyed the “Get Hooked on Frankfort” fishing derby at Prairie Park. 12 NOVEMBER 2009 Thanks to the “Movies on the Green” committee for hours of summer movie enjoyment. THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER Thanks to those who attended our annual Memorial Day observance ceremony to honor our veterans and their service to our country. Thanks to the runners, walkers and volunteers of our annual Old Plank Road Trail 5K Run/Walk. 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 huge success. Thanks to everyone who attended our “Night Out Against Crime” event in August. Thanks to the families who will wait in line to visit with Santa during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Breidert Green. We look forward to your continued support of all our events in 2010! THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER NOVEMBER 2009 13
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