villager villager - Village of Frankfort

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villager villager - Village of Frankfort
36045_FrankfortVillager:Layout 1 3/30/10 1:55 PM 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
VOL. 6 • APRIL 2010
Throwing Out the Rule Book
By Jerry Ducay, Village Administrator
By Mayor Jim Holland
Doing More
with Less
VILLAGE NEWS
Mayor’s Message, from page 27
and State Senator Christine
Radogno obtained state road repair
funds for our community, including
$460,000 to resurface Pfeiffer Road
and $300,000 to resurface Wolf
Road. In addition, through their
efforts, the state capital bill
includes $350,000 for road
improvements to 80th Avenue,
$400,000 for enhancement of the
Village’s downtown Historic
District, and $180,000 for a
sidewalk along Route 45.
We particularly thank State
Representative Renee Kosel
for her unending support and
extraordinary efforts that
succeeded in placing $110 million
in the capital bill for the widening
of Route 30 from Harlem Avenue
in Frankfort to Williams Street
in New Lenox. Route 30
improvements have been sought,
discussed and studied for many
years. We look forward to the
scheduled bid letting for Route 30
improvements this summer.
In addition to the $617,000 and
zero percent interest loan for the
water tower, we are slated to
receive $190,000 for resurfacing
Sauk Trail from the federal
stimulus bill. Our United States
Congresswoman, Debbie
Halvorson, secured an additional
$250,000 to help us with local
expenditures on the Route 30
widening project.
Last summer, the Village began
disbursing mitigation funding to
residents impacted by increased
train traffic along the CN Railroad.
Over $900,000 in landscaping
improvements have already been
completed as part of this effort.
We will start a new matching fund
program for window and door
sound proofing this spring. Our
agreement with the CN Railroad
brings over $3 million in
improvements to Frankfort
residents, all at CN's expense.
In conjunction with Nu-Way
disposal, the Village provided
every residential property with a
free garbage toter.
Frankfort received an Illinois
Governor's Home Town Award for
community participation in our
annual Earth Day Celebration.
The Frankfort Trustees and I
thank our citizens for making our
community the great place it is in
which to live and to work. We also
thank our Village staff, who are
working effectively with fewer
people and fewer local dollars to
bring more services to you.
Together, we will make Frankfort
even better in 2010. ■
In the fall
of 2008, the
Frankfort
Village Board
predicted an
8% reduction
in revenues for the coming year.
We worked with our staff to
reduce spending by $1 million/
year to balance our budget.
Today, we are pleased to report
that our spending is less than our
revenue and we even expect to
transfer a $200,000 surplus to our
capital fund when our budget
year ends on April 30.
We are also pleased to report that
with help from local volunteers
and a dedicated staff, and with
financial assistance from federal
and state agencies, we have been
able to improve our community
with new services, new events
and new infrastructure. Here are
some of Frankfort’s recent
accomplishments.
The Village received $2.6 million
in funding from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act,
the federal stimulus bill, to
construct a new water tower. The
funding comes in the form of a
Continued on page 27
Teamwork has
marked Howard’s
productive career
at the Village. He
goes over U.S.
Route 30 plans
with Village staff
members (l to r)
Cliff Janeliunas,
Darrin Yount, and
Terry Kestel.
Writing an article for the Villager
is enjoyable. I have only a few
rules that I feel the need to follow:
Keep the subject current, make it
interesting, and above all, never
write about the same topic twice.
For this article, I toiled over the
many subjects that could be
covered. The Village is renovating
the former Fox Lumber property;
we are holding our own during a
very difficult time in our economy;
grant funds will bring much
needed improvements to our
community this summer; U.S.
Route 30 improvements are
nearing the construction phase;
and a water tower is being
erected. Each of these topics
would make a good article for our
residents to read. I sat down to
write the article and something
happened that changed my mind.
My desk was cluttered that day
and I had to move some
paperwork out of the way to get to
the keyboard. In the pile of paper
work was a letter from Asst.
Administrator Howard Sloan,
formally notifying me of his intent
to retire on June 25 of this year. As
I read the letter, I reflected on my
last Villager article acknowledging
the wonderful things Howard had
accomplished for our community
during his tenure. When I reached
the end of the letter, I found myself
wanting to write, once again, to
tell you about Howard. I threw out
the rule book and began writing
Continued on page 26
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Trustee Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Village Wins Award . . . . . . . . . . .6
New FCTV-6 Programs . . . . . . 10
Upcoming Village Events . . 14-17
Spotlight: Scout Pack 270 . . . . 19
New Park Director & Staff . . . 25
36045_FrankfortVillager:Layout 1 3/30/10 1:55 PM Page 3
VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE of FRANKFORT
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.
2
APRIL 2010
VILLAGE NEWS
Global Perspective on
Being a Good Neighbor
By Howard E. Sloan, Assistant Village Administrator
The Samburu Tribe of
Kenya, Africa, greets
Howard and members
of his party with a
traditional welcoming
dance. The group
brought humanitarian
supplies to the tribe
in 2009.
A favorite web site of mine is
www.worldometers.info, which is
maintained by Real Time World
Statistics. Real Time tracks global
statistics that puts in perspective
what the human race is
experiencing at a given moment in
time.
For example, their site reveals
6.8 billion people inhabit our
planet; and of that total, one
billion goes hungry and 28,000 die
of starvation daily. Furthermore,
1.4 billion people have no access
to safe drinking water.
There are 2.3 times as many births
for every death in the world. 9.2
million acres of forested land will
be lost this year and 45,800 species
of plant and animal will go extinct
within the next twelve months.
Meanwhile, 100 billion email
messages will be sent worldwide
and $60 million will be spent on
video games within the next
24 hours.
It is relatively easy for those of us
living in Frankfort to lose
perspective on just what people,
including our neighbors, may be
experiencing. The above statistics
are sobering, which begs the
question: “Is there something more
I should be doing?”
How we relate to one another is
an individual choice. However,
how we live and conduct our
affairs can have an impact on
others. For this reason, we should
maintain an appreciation for
advancing a quality of life, which
benefits not only ourselves, but
includes our neighbor.
Mayor’s Message, from page 1
twenty year, zero percent interest
loan with a provision that 25% of
the loan does not have to be
repaid.
The Village acquired the Fox
Lumber property in Frankfort’s
historic downtown district after
Fox Lumber announced its
intention to close. The 3.5-acre
acquisition will ensure quality
redevelopment of the site. See the
related story in this issue of the
Villager.
With help from the Jaycees,
Frankfort added a Rib Cook-Off to
its long list of community events.
Similar help from the Chamber of
Commerce, the Frankfort Park
District, the Lions Club, the
Kiwanis Club, the Car Club and
others allow us to continue our
many events, which include:
Winter on the Green, Fine Arts
Fair, Fishing Derby, 5K Run,
German Heritage Celebration,
Country Market, Cruisin’
Frankfort, Movies on the Green,
4th of July fireworks, Night Out
Against Crime, Native American
Educational Event and the Tree
Our neighbor may be the person
living next door, down the street
or thousands of miles away in
another land. A proper perspective
on the quality of life for self and
neighbor is what we all need.
Therefore, “I” should be doing that
which improves life for self, my
family, and my neighbors that are
both known and unknown to me.
Lighting Ceremony.
In an environmentally sound
program, the Village partnered
with the Will County Forest
Preserve to relocate Jackson Creek
to its original, natural path. The
project allows for the eventual
widening of Steger Road.
In a joint project with the Will
County Highway Department,
the Village reconstructed the
intersection of Pfeiffer and
Laraway Roads, installing turn
lanes for safer traffic movements.
LaSalle Street Securities
The Village
received
$2.6 million
in federal
stimulus bill
funding to
construct
a new water
tower on
Elsner Road.
This is my 56th and final article
written for the Villager. After
16 years of employment with the
Village of Frankfort, I have
Continued on page 4
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
Last year’s newest event, the Rib Cook-Off, was a crowd pleaser. The highly successful
event was co-sponsored by the Village and Frankfort Jaycees.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
completely rebuilt the former
Heritage Hall building into an
office and retail development. The
1909 era building, which was
formerly owned by the Village, will
be preserved for years to come.
The Village obtained a $2 million
Surface Transportation Program
grant to fund the reconstruction of
Center Road from Sauk Trail to
Laraway Road.
Frankfort worked with the Village
of Mokena, the CN Railroad and
the state to improve the railroad
crossing at 116th Avenue. The new
crossing arms for cars, pedestrians
and bicycles will vastly improve
the safety of the intersection,
which is near Hickory Creek
Middle School.
Frankfort also initiated actions
that will lead to improved safety
devices at our other railroad
crossings. The safety improvements will allow trains to proceed
through Frankfort in a quiet zone
where the warning horn does not
need to be sounded.
State Representative Renee Kosel
Continued on back page
APRIL 2010
27
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VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Spring into Home Improvement Season with Proper Permit
Trustee Talk: Got Gas?
By Craig R. Eyer, Director of Building and Zoning
By Trustee Doug Walker
It is that time of year again when
people start to think about
remodeling or improving their
property. However, the economy
may be playing a role in their
decision, so they are shopping
around for competitive pricing for
work from a contractor. The
Village of Frankfort requires a
permit for all work performed,
whether by a contractor or
homeowner, to ensure that the
project meets code and is
completed correctly.
The Village also requires all
contractors who perform work
within the Village of Frankfort to
be registered. Contractor
registration confirms that the
proper insurance, bonds, and
Rule Book, from page 1
this article.
Howard’s retirement letter began
like many retirement letters I have
had the occasion to read in the
past. It talked about his years of
service and his appreciation to
have been a part of such a
wonderful team. But then the letter
took a turn that was exclusively
Howard. He wrote, “My years
serving the Village have been the
most rewarding of my career. I
have had the opportunity to
serve elected officials who have
the genuine interests of our
community at heart, as well as
work side by side with dedicated
employees. I always felt their
support and will cherish my
experiences. Although I’ll be
retiring, my wife and I will remain
residents of the village. It is our
26
APRIL 2010
licenses are in place for the
contractor to do the job. It offers
the homeowner a layer of
protection should code-related
issues surface during or after
completion of the project.
Applying for a permit for a spring
project is in the best interest of our
residents because it allows the
Building Department to inspect
contractor work and qualifications
to ensure that the quality standards
Frankfort demands are met. Before
a homeowner hires a contractor
for a home improvement project,
I offer the following suggestions:
✔ Get quotes from multiple
contractors that do remodeling
or regular construction.
✔ Check the contractor’s
plan to live in Frankfort and
volunteer our services within the
church and humanitarian
organizations.” Howard genuinely
enjoys serving the community he
calls home. His letter continued,
“I realize tradition may prompt you
to organize some type of
retirement gathering. However, I
do not desire a luncheon or dinner.
I prefer my last day to be a work
day like my first when hired.
Furthermore, I do not desire a
retirement gift. If the Village or
others would like to recognize my
retirement, I ask that they do so by
making a contribution to the
Frankfort Food Pantry or to one of
the organizations I am planning to
volunteer my services.”
Howard’s letter was bittersweet to
read. In these times of buyouts and
rich retirement programs, his
references.
✔ View finished projects
completed by the contractor.
✔ Choose a contractor with whom
you feel comfortable. It may be
someone who has been referred
to you by a satisfied customer.
✔ Call the Building Department to
verify what is required for the
permit.
✔ Submit the building permit
application with the appropriate
information completed. The
Building Department will advise
you when it is approved and
ready for pick up.
If you are planning a spring home
improvement project, come in and
talk with Building Department
staff, or call us at (815) 412-2446. ■
simple and unselfish request gave
me pause. No party, no retirement
gift, no fanfare, just a desire to
help others. That is Howard.
We will adhere to his wishes. No
party will be held and no gift
purchased. A donation will be
made to the Frankfort Food Pantry
and his favorite charities. If
Howard has his way, no one will
know that he has retired. By the
end of June, Howard will have
slipped quietly into retirement.
I do! Natural gas, that is. In fact,
most all of us are consumers of
natural gas. Over 95% of all homes
constructed in the Midwest are
heated by natural gas. We’ve just
come through a fairly cold winter,
something that still can and does
occur from time to time. What’s
different this time is that this
winter was not accompanied by a
severe run up in heating bills.
I’ll try to help explain why that
happened this year. There are
several factors at work, all of
which pointed to lower overall
natural gas commodity prices.
Let’s start with the makeup of your
gas bill. The price you pay to your
local gas utility is comprised of a
Delivery Charge and a Natural
Gas Cost. The delivery charge is
designed to compensate the utility
for its fixed assets such as the
pipes that bring the natural gas to
your home. The Natural Gas
Cost is to pay for the actual
volumes of gas you consume.
In general, natural gas
I, for one, will miss Howard for the
excellence he brings to his work
and the character he displays to all
who meet him. I wish him the very
best in whatever charitable
endeavor he undertakes. There can
be no doubt that he will continue
to make a difference in our
community. ■
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
consumption is highly correlated
to weather. The colder it is, the
more we consume to heat our
homes. For any of you with
teenagers at home who wonder
why they would ever possibly
need to learn Algebra, I offer the
following formula:
y = mx + b. Let’s define the terms:
y is the amount of natural gas
consumed,
m is the amount of gas
consumed per degree,
x is the number of heating
degree days,
b is a base amount of gas
consumed unrelated to home
heating uses (such as
cooking, clothes drying,
water heating).
A widely tracked factor in energy
business is the “heating degree
day” or HDD for short. Look at any
energy trading floor and you may
think it is an outpost of Weather
Channel analysts based on the
number of weather maps you see
displayed on their screens. A
heating degree day is defined as
the number
of degrees
below 65
degrees
Fahrenheit.
Said another
way, on
average,
furnaces
begin to turn
on once the average temperature
dips below 65. So, if the average
temperature for the day is 30
degrees, there would be 35 HDD’s
in that day. When you hear that a
winter was colder than normal,
that means it had more HDD’s than
normal. Chicago’s highest recorded
degree day in the last 10 years is 72
which occurred on both January
15 and 16 of 2009. The average
temperature for each of these days
was 7 below zero.
In a cold winter, your gas bill will
be dominated by the Natural Gas
Cost. So let’s look closer at this
cost. It is heavily influenced by
market forces of supply and
demand at the wholesale level.
First, consider demand. There
has been a decades-long trend in
conservation improvements as
consumers have replaced
dilapidated furnaces with more
efficient units and installed better
insulation and windows in addition
to simply dialing down. The image
of Jimmy Carter in a sweater has
stuck with us baby boomers for
three decades. Over time, the “m”
from above (usage per degree day)
has been decreasing. However, the
increase in efficiency had been
more than offset by the building
boom. The number of new houses,
Continued on page 4
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
Trustee Talk, from page 3
and the increasing size of those
houses, was more than offsetting
conservation so demand was
steadily increasing. During this
economic downturn, conservation
is still occurring, but there is no
offset in new building. Worse yet,
from the general economy’s sake,
many businesses have closed and
no longer are heating certain
buildings. Vacant houses require
little or no heating. Overall,
demand is down even considering
fairly cold weather this last winter.
Couple that with the supply
situation. From Econ 101, we
know that “everything else being
equal,” when demand decreases or
when supply increases, prices go
down. We’ve experienced both.
We’ve had a “perfect storm” of
events to cause natural gas prices
to decline. There is an increasing
supply of natural gas currently in
the United States. When natural
gas prices peaked, so did interest
in drilling for new supplies of
natural gas. Exploration and
production companies employed
more rigs. Another closely tracked
factor in the energy business is
“rig count.” No algebra here, this is
simply a count of the number of
Good Neighbor, from page 2
decided to retire. I’m planning to
volunteer my time serving the
church and working with
humanitarian organizations both at
home and abroad.
In closing, I’d like to express my
appreciation to the elected officials
I’ve had the pleasure to serve,
fellow employees and the people
of Frankfort. I hope I’ve been a
good neighbor to you all! ■
4
APRIL 2010
COMMUNITY NEWS
rigs actively drilling. Please note
the chart “Baker Hughes Gas Rig
Count.” For those of you who
would like to play along at home,
if you go to the Baker Hughes
corporate website, you’ll find the
source of this publicly available
data. And, yes, the Hughes is from
Howard Hughes, who made his
fortune in the energy business by
developing a rotary drill bit that
revolutionized drilling about 100
years ago. The results of the
increased drilling activity from a
couple of years ago have resulted
in more gas on the market
currently. We saw the number of
working natural gas rigs peak in
the summer of 2008 at 1606 based
upon a high price signal coming
out of the 2007-08 winter. Due to
technological improvements in
drilling techniques, new sources
of gas are being developed out of
shale formations, some of which
sit in close proximity to gas
consuming markets. There have
also been significant investments
in interstate pipeline assets to
connect these newly developed
natural gas supplies to market.
Wholesale prices are down
significantly from their peaks a
couple of years ago.
A word of caution: don’t spend the
money you would normally
allocate to winter heating for next
season yet. There is no guarantee
prices won’t run back up. Since
2008, natural gas prices have been
dropping and the rig count has
responded with a reduction in
active rigs down to a low of 665 in
the summer of 2009. Long term, we
expect natural gas prices to be on
par with oil on an energy
equivalent basis. Currently, natural
gas is trading at a significant
discount to oil. That may imply
natural gas will increase or that
oil will decrease. The former
seems more likely than the latter,
especially if the economic turnaround actually occurs. That would
push demand up.
Expect natural gas to remain a
stable component in the energy
use mix of the United States in the
foreseeable future. It is the
cleanest burning fossil fuel and
our country’s needs are almost
exclusively satisfied by domestic
sources. Those imports we do use
come from Canada so there is little
to no geopolitical risk affecting
natural gas price and availability.
It’s worth watching. ■
Frankfort Park District Welcomes
New Director and Administrative Staff
By Jeff Boubelik, Executive Director
The
Frankfort
Park District
welcomes
Tom
Carstens
as the new
Executive
Director.
Carstens will
New Executive Director
replace
Tom Carstens
current
Director, Jeff Boubelik, who will
retire on April 30. Carstens most
recently served as the Deputy
Director/Director of Recreation,
Revenue Facilities and Marketing
for the Bolingbrook Park District.
“I look forward to getting involved
with the community as a whole,
and hope to bring my experience,
enthusiasm and professionalism to
the Frankfort Park District,”
Carstens said. Carstens’ official
start date will be May 24.
Carstens currently resides in
Bolingbrook with his wife Jill and
their five-year-old daughter
Alexandra.
In addition to Carstens, the Park
District has recently hired three
administrative staff members:
Scott Tierney, Cali DeBella and
Stacy Connelly.
Tierney has joined the Frankfort
Park District as the new Athletic
Supervisor overseeing youth and
adult athletics and various camps
and tournaments. Tierney comes to
Frankfort with 10 years of
supervisory experience and was
most recently Palos Height’s
Recreation Departments Athletic &
Fitness Coordinator. Tierney
resides in Tinley Park with his wife
Heide and their two children.
Cali DeBella recently joined the
FPD as the Special Events
Coordinator. Events she will
oversee include: Movies on the
Green, 4th of July Celebration,
senior luncheons, Halloween
Haunting and Polar Express. For
the past seven years, DeBella held
the position of Director of Parks
and Recreation for the Justice Park
District. DeBella resides in New
Lenox with her husband Tony and
1-1/2 year old daughter.
Stacy Connelly is the new Public
Relations Coordinator. She will
be responsible for issuing press
releases, website updates and
developing marketing flyers for
park district programs and special
events. Connelly resides in
Frankfort with her husband Ryan
and their two children.
For more information on the
Frankfort Park District, visit us
online at www.frankfortparks.org,
or call us at (815) 469-9400. ■
Your Opinion Counts!
JOIN US!
Village of Frankfort “Open House Tour”
Saturday, April 17 from 10:00 AM to Noon
Guided tours of the following locations will be available:
10:15 AM: Police Department
10:50 AM: Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant - Utilities Dept.
11:30 AM: Public Works Garage
Refreshments will be available at the Police Department.
Informational map provided for your convenience.
(Transportation is not provided.)
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
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 and click on “Contact Us.”
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
APRIL 2010
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COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Frankfort Square Park District’s Island Prairie Nature Center Opens
Frankfort Police Cadets Foster Community Spirit
By Jim Randall, Executive Director
By Chief Rob Piscia
greenhouse to view native plants
in various stages of growth. The
greenhouse is an asset to the
FSPD’s native area restoration
efforts. The plugs and small plants
produced in the greenhouse will be
planted throughout the district’s
250 acres of naturalized property.
Micro-Greens project. With less
than half of the greenhouse in
production, over 100 pounds of
lettuce greens were produced and
donated to a local charity.
The Earth Day Celebration
features live birds of prey,
including a bald eagle from Save
Our American Raptors, hands-on
activities, local environmental
groups, and eco-friendly
exhibitors. Guests are invited to
bring a washed, white t-shirt
(preferably used) to tie-dye.
Join us for the grand opening of
the nature center at our third
annual Earth Day celebration on
Saturday, April 17, from 1:00 - 4:00
p.m. Venture inside the new
building, adjacent to the
Community Center, and tour the
This free family event will be held
rain or shine at the FSPD
Community Center, 7540 W.
Braemar Lane, Frankfort. For more
information, contact us at (815)
469-3524 or visit our website at
www.fspd.org. ■
The grand opening celebration of the newly completed
Island Prairie Nature Center takes place on Saturday, April 17.
The Frankfort Square Park District
announces the opening of the
Island Prairie Nature Center.
Beginning in February, the FSPD
took part in the “Give a Day. Get a
Disney Day” program, which
offers participants a free Disney
theme park voucher for giving a
day of service. Disney volunteers,
Bruce Frens, the Indian Trail
School Garden Club, and FSPD
BAS program participants, worked
in the greenhouse with the pilot
Frankfort Public Library District News
By Nicole Suarez, Reference Librarian
The Frankfort
Public Library is
excited to
announce the
return of bestselling author
Elizabeth Berg on Tuesday, April
27, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. She is
returning to read selections from
her latest novel, “The Last Time I
Saw You.” Elizabeth will answer
audience questions and read the
winning entry from our “Class
Reunion” essay contest. To enter,
please submit a brief, one-page
24
APRIL 2010
high school reunion story: funny,
sad, startling, whatever! The best
story will be chosen by the library
staff and Elizabeth will read it
aloud to the audience! The author
of the selected story must be
present that evening to win. All
stories must be submitted online
or handed in at the Adults Services
Desk by 5:00 p.m. CST on Sunday,
April 25, 2010.
Don’t forget, our popular Summer
Reading Clubs will be starting on
Monday, June 7, and will end on
Saturday, July 17. This year there
will be three clubs for FPLD
cardholders: birth to fifth grade,
sixth grade to twelfth grade, and
the adult club. Expect prizes,
raffles, and fun programs at the
library! Please don’t forget about
the special events for kids at
Breidert Green Park at 10:30 a.m.
on every Friday morning of the
Summer Reading Club (except July
2), which are always a hit. We look
forward to seeing you. ■
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
event of an emergency. They also
help supplement manpower with
traffic duties during large events,
such as Fall Fest, or during natural
disasters.
Frankfort Police Cadets participate in Night Out Against Crime
activities at Breidert Green.
As spring and summer approach,
the Village of Frankfort is again
gearing up for a multitude of
events scheduled throughout the
community. Many residents have
come to enjoy “Concerts on the
Green,” “Cruisin’ Frankfort” and
“Movies on the Green,” just to
name a few. One of the frequent
participants to these activities and
many others is the Frankfort
Police Cadets.
As I indicated in a previous
Villager article, the Cadet post is
one of the police department’s
community outreach initiatives. It
was started by now retired Police
Chief Darrell Sanders back in 1980
in conjunction with the Boy
Scouts of America. The police
department is a sponsor of the
local Boy Scout troop #270. Chief
Sanders wanted to create a
program to give the youths of the
community an opportunity to learn
about police work through
structured activities.
The Law Enforcement Explorers
are open to individuals from ages
of 14-20. They have to pass a brief
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
background investigation and
remain in good standing at school.
The cadets participate in weekly
meetings where they cover a
variety of topics. Their training
includes such things as traffic
control, vehicle stops, building
searches, crash investigation and a
wide range of other interests. Our
post also participates in a biennial
conference where our cadets
compete against other programs
throughout the state. Our explorers
have always done very well
bringing home many first and
second place trophies.
Due to the high level of
professionalism that our
participants exude, we are able to
use their services for the events
that I mentioned earlier. Our
cadets provide the community and
the police department with
invaluable assistance that allows
us to give residents a sense of
security while keeping uniformed
officers free to answer more
serious calls. The explorers never
take enforcement action but they
are there to provide officers with
immediate communication in the
Throughout the years, the post
has continued to flourish.
Individuals that have participated
in our program have gone on to
successful law enforcement
careers in many different
communities. Several of these
individuals have been promoted to
supervisory positions within their
police departments. Sergeant Scott
Potter started his career with the
Explorers back in 1988 where he
rose to the rank of cadet chief. He
was later hired full time as a sworn
police officer in 1994 and he was
promoted to Sergeant in 2002.
Former Cadet Chief Nick Giordano
recently graduated from the police
academy at the College of Dupage
and now serves as a sworn
part-time officer. In addition, all
three of our current, paid
Community Service Officers were
part of the post before starting in
their positions.
We look forward to the post
continuing for the foreseeable
future. The current group of cadets
is showing the same enthusiasm as
many of our past explorers. If you
are interested in becoming part of
this decorated program, contact
Officer Don Walsh at (815)
469-9435, or at dwalsh@frankfort
police.net. Don’t forget to sign up
for our FREE community alert
system available at
villageoffranfort.com/live/police/
community-alerts. ■
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Village of Frankfort Receives 2010 Stormwater Award
Frankfort Fire District News: Beware of Creating a Fire Hazard
By Larry Rauch, Assistant Fire Chief
for Floodplain and Stormwater
Management. This is the highest
award the IAFSM bestows and it
recognizes the long term
contributions and noticeable
impact of floodplain and
stormwater management. The
award was presented to the
Village during the recent 2010
annual conference held on
March 11, 2010.
Left to right: Mayor Jim Holland,
Engineering Coordinator Cliff Janeliunas,
and Illinois Association of
Floodplain & Stormwater Management
Chair, Jeff Wickenkamp.
The Village of Frankfort is proud
to announce that they have been
awarded the 2010 “Stormwater
Award” by the Illinois Association
Howard Sloan, Assistant Village
Administrator, and Cliff Janeliunas,
Engineering Coordinator for the
Village of Frankfort, have been
involved with floodplain and water
resource management for many
years. Through their efforts, and
the continued support of the
Village Board, Frankfort has been
recognized for their outstanding
achievements for stormwater
management. Prairie Park is just
one of the examples of Frankfort’s
innovative approach to stormwater conservation.
“The Village of Frankfort is very
proud to receive this prestigious
award from the Association of
State Floodplain Managers.
Frankfort is regarded as one of the
leaders in the area of stormwater
conservation through the
development of management and
maintenance programs related to a
variety of water issues. We
congratulate Howard Sloan and
Cliff Janeliunas on their continued
efforts in this field,” commented
Mayor Jim Holland. ■
Homeowners Associations Learn from Each Other
February 24, 2010 marked Mayor
Jim Holland and the Village of
Frankfort’s fifth annual informational meeting for Frankfort
homeowner, townhome and condo
association board members. It was
standing room only at the
Frankfort Police Department as
members from the Village’s 53
associations attended the meeting.
Mayor Holland gave a brief
overview of the Village and its
activities to the attentive crowd
and emphasized the partnership
that the Village has with the
homeowners associations.
Questions to all presenters were
varied and the responses helped
many of the associations.
This year’s program also featured
6
APRIL 2010
a brief presentation by Frankfort
Attorney John Clavio, a specialist
in homeowner, townhouse and
condominium legal issues. He
provided a brief presentation
focusing on collections and
responded to questions from the
attendees regarding liens, fines,
etc., as they pertain to the HOA’s.
Over the years, homeowner,
townhome and condo association
board members have played an
essential role providing input and
working with the Village Board
and staff members regarding
community issues and concerns.
The annual general Village meeting
provides an opportunity for
Frankfort’s association board
members to get acquainted, share
issues and concerns about their
Picture this: It’s time to cut the
lawn again. You go into the garage
to get your mower ready. You
check the mower’s oil and gasoline
levels. It needs some engine oil
and gasoline, so you pour in some
oil, fill the gas tank and wipe up
the minor spillage with an old rag.
Then you toss the rag into a pail,
wheel the lawnmower out of the
garage, and proceed to cut the
grass.
What’s Wrong
with This Picture?
If you’re thinking that the oily rag
you tossed into the pail might be
the problem, you’re right.
Something as harmlessly tossing
an oily rag aside and forgetting
about it can ignite a big problem.
That’s because of a phenomenon
called spontaneous combustion.
Spontaneous Combustion
Can Cause Fires
Association board members
listen intently to guest speakers.
organization, and to “brainstorm”
with others to resolve those issues.
HOA’s are an essential link to a
strong and prosperous community.
Based on February 24’s meeting
participation, Frankfort is a very
strong community! ■
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
While spontaneous combustion
isn’t a common occurrence, it can
be disastrous. Spontaneous
combustion causes major fire
losses each year. One of the most
common scenarios occurs when
floors or woodwork are being
refinished and stain-soaked rags
are left in a heap on the floor.
Something as simple as improperly
stored rags can cause major fire
damage to your house or business.
In fact, the way combustible
materials are stored has a lot to do
with whether or not they’ll
spontaneously combust. For
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
example, while an oil-soaked rag
stored in a pail could heat up
enough to burst into flames, the
same oily rag laid flat to dry would
probably have sufficient airflow to
prevent heat buildup. Similarly, if
the oily rag was placed in a tightly
sealed jar, it most likely would not
have sufficient air to allow the
oxidation process to occur. That’s
why it’s a good idea to look
around your basement, garage,
storage shed, and yard on a
regular basis to ensure that all
flammable materials are properly
stored.
from other combustibles. Or, lay
the rags out individually on a flat
surface and leave them to dry
completely before reusing.
✥ Store gasoline and all other
flammable fluids outdoors.
Spontaneous combustion is not a
myth. It happens more than you
might think. And all it takes to
generate a devastating fire is a few
oil-soaked rags in the workshop.
Did You Know:
Below are a few tips to keep in
mind:
The Frankfort Fire District
provides
✥ Follow the manufacturer’s use
and storage directions when
storing all chemicals. Store
chemicals outside, in a dry
place, away from any heat
source.
• CPR class on the third
Wednesday of each month
• Child car seat inspection
/installations
• Bookings for block parties
✥ Carefully store oil, gasoline, or
paint-soaked rags. Store them in
a tightly sealed container in a
cool, well-ventilated place away
Contact the Fire District at (815)
469-1700 for more information. ■
APRIL 2010
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COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Spotlight on Education
Annual Student Government Day Held in Frankfort
By Dr. Lawrence A. Wyllie, Superintendent, Lincoln-Way High School District 210
The class of 2010 valedictorians
and salutatorians from three
Lincoln-Way High Schools recently
were recognized by the LincolnWay High School District 210
Board of Education, including the
first set of high achieving scholars
from Lincoln-Way North High
School. Lincoln-Way West
currently enrolls only freshmen,
sophomores and juniors. West will
expand to include a senior class
next school year.
We are most proud of our fine
students who have earned the
honor of leading their graduation
class onto the field to begin the
Class of 2010 graduation
ceremonies. They are leaders in
the classroom and leaders in
school activities. They truly
personify the best of the school’s
mission statement to be
committed to providing the
experiences and opportunities
necessary to maximize the
academic and social growth of all
students. We wish them the best.
The valedictorian from Lincoln-
Front row:
Elizabeth Wall,
Jill Antonini,
Patrick Creedon,
Gregory
Anthony.
Back Row:
Dr. Lawrence
A. Wyllie,
superintendent,
Natawut
Monaikul,
Jason Mudrock,
David A. Izzo,
president, Board
of Education.
Way Central is Gregory Anthony
with a grade point average of
4.994. He is the son of Larry and
June Anthony of New Lenox.
The valedictorian from LincolnWay East is Jill Antonini with a
grade point average of 5.086. She
is the daughter of Steven and
Nancy Antonini of Frankfort.
The first valedictorian from
Lincoln-Way North is Patrick “P.K.”
Creedon. He has a grade point
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.
average of 5.016 and is the son of
John and Lorie Creedon of
Mokena.
The salutatorian for Lincoln-Way
Central is Jason Mudrock with a
grade point average of 4.993. His
parents are James and Jennifer
Mudrock of New Lenox.
The salutatorian for Lincoln-Way
East is Elizabeth Wall with a grade
point average of 5.049. Her parents
are John and Kelli Wall of
Frankfort.
The first salutatorian for LincolnWay North is Natawut Monaikul.
He has a grade point average of
4.962 and is the son of Subhanee
and Nate Monaikul of Frankfort.
We thank the Frankfort community
for all their support of our fine
students and the Lincoln-Way High
School District 210. ■
For more information, please contact
Marifran Drymiller at (815) 806-2761.
22
APRIL 2010
Seventh and eighth grade students
from Hickory Creek Middle School
demonstrated true leadership
skills on Monday, March 15, as
they participated in the Village of
Frankfort’s annual Student
Government Day. The full day of
activities began with an overview
of the Village at the Village
Administration Office, followed by
visits to the fire department,
police station, a water treatment
plant, Prairie Park and the public
works maintenance garage. During
a luncheon, the students were
able to talk with their Village
counterparts about their Village
responsibilities and issues of
concern. The day concluded
with a “mock” Village Board
meeting with all student government representatives in their
appropriate role.
“Meeting with the future leaders
of our community is always a
pleasure for our entire Village
Board and staff members. The
questions asked are well thought
Student
Government
Day participants
from Hickory
Creek Middle
School pose for
a photo while
on tour of the
Frankfort public
works garage.
out, and their enthusiasm to learn
more about Village government
and its activities was evident
throughout the day,” commented
Mayor Jim Holland.
Student Government Day
representatives included: Amanda
Small (Mayor); Brendan Sapato,
Brigid Clark, Rachel Stone, Zach
Hoffman, Michael Bockwoldt and
Paul Loeffel (all Village Trustees);
Kateyln Kavanaugh (Village
Clerk), Molly Noonan (Village
Administrator), Nicholas
Ferracuti (Asst. Village
Administrator); Miah Benavides
(Community Development
Director), Courtney Matheu
(Village Attorney), Ryan Zelenkia
(Police Chief); Justin Hunniford
(Public Works Director), Levi
Ruby (Finance Director), Matthew
Stern (Utility Director); Luke
Powell (Building & Zoning
Director), Emma Fowler (Human
Resources Manager), Alyssa
Ruvoli (Manager of Community
Relations), and Annie Gerdes
(Fire Chief). ■
Vehicle Stickers Go on Sale May 3
Regular passenger car or small truck
Heavier truck, depending on weight
Motorcycle Tags
$5.00
$7.50 or $10.00
$3.00
Seniors 65 or older may purchase a sticker for half price.
Stickers must be displayed by July 1. The cost of the sticker will triple after June 30. All revenue from the
license fee is kept as a separate fund and used to salt the more than 120 miles of village streets.
Administration Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Extended Wednesday hours to 7:00 PM
For your convenience,
Pay online at www.villageoffrankfort.com by clicking on “Pay Bills” and following the prompts.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Faster, Smarter Frankfort
By Jeff Cook, Director of Community Development
recurrent pressure changes, the
solution is not only different but
also much cheaper. Using GIS
tools, we can unveil underlying
patterns that can help your officials
make the best decisions and
employ the appropriate solutions.
As the saying goes, the world is
changing so you better change
with it. Nowhere else is the
expression more true than in the
field of information technology.
Who would have guessed that your
cell phone could take a photo of a
barcode, check it against a database and then report back not only
where you can buy the product,
but also at what price.
You might ask, why is community
development talking about
technology? The fact of the matter
is that your community development department is involved in
much more than planning and
administering the physical
development of the Village. As
technology transforms the world
we live in, we must also adapt and
transform the ways we work and
manage information as a village.
One powerful resource is the
Village’s geographic information
system (GIS). The GIS includes a
collection of data about the Village
and provides tools to analyze, map
and communicate the information.
You can think of it as Google Maps
on steroids.
For instance, the utility department
might repair a section of water
main several times over a five or
ten year period. The seemingly
obvious solution is to replace the
water main, but if the problem is
8
APRIL 2010
Benefits of developing the GIS
extend well beyond infrastructure
investment decisions. Quick
access to accurate information
can improve efficiency across the
board and enable the Village to
truly “do more with less.” At no
other time is efficiency more
important than in today’s
economy, as budgets tighten and
expectations rise.
This summer we will work closely
with the utility and public works
departments to further develop the
Village’s GIS and train more staff
on its use. You might see Village
staff GPS-correcting the location of
manholes or valve vaults, verifying
the accuracy of existing maps, or
using GIS to track maintenance
activities. Although GIS remains a
secondary activity of community
development, we plan to migrate to
a server-based GIS this year, which
provides the ability to distribute
information throughout the Village
offices, our website or maybe even
cell phones.
As GIS is integrated into all areas
of the operation, it’s not what we
know the GIS can do that is so
exciting. It’s what we don’t know
it can do that will likely prove most
useful. And in a way, implementing
this technology really is community
development – from the inside,
out. ■
How can you help develop
the GIS?
This is an interactive experiment
on the concept of “many hands
make light work.”
The photograph below is a
“B-Box.” It is the visible part of
the control valve between your
water service line and the public
water main. You probably know
where your B-Box is just from
mowing the lawn.
It would take Village staff a long
time to visit every property to
locate and record a specific
location of each B-Box, but it
will probably take you just a few
minutes.
To participate, send an email
to [email protected]. Attach a
digital photograph of your
B-Box in context with nearby
improvements; provide
measurements describing the
location of the B-Box and tell
us your address. Try to relate
the location of the B-Box to
fixed points such as a light pole,
fire hydrant, corner of the
house, sidewalks or driveways.
If the experiment works well,
staff will look for other ways to
help you contribute.
Thanks for your help!
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
Summit Hill District 161 Focuses on Fitness
By Superintendent Keith Pain
a healthy fitness zone from which
students could set goals, check
their progress to help them plan
for lifelong physical activity, and
maintain and improve their fitness
level.
Summit Hill District 161 will be
featuring its Districtwide Focus on
Fitness, an extension of the
District’s Wellness Initiative,
during a weeklong celebration
May 3 through May 8. The goal of
the Focus on Fitness is to provide
fun events, integrated with the PE
curriculum, that encourage
students, staff, parents, and school
community members to stay active
and celebrate their achievements.
During the week, students will
have the opportunity to participate
in writing prompts and reading
stories that feature fitness and
keeping active. The finale will be a
Districtwide 5K Family Run/Walk
for Fun on Saturday, May 8. Prior
to the start of the event, members
of the District’s Physical
Education staff will lead warm up
exercises for participants.
The 5K Family Run/Walk will
begin at 8:15 a.m. at the Union
Creek Picnic Shelter located
behind Walker School and wind
through the walking path behind
the Brookside Glen subdivision.
Registration fees are $5 per person
with a $20 maximum per family.
Please visit www.summithill.org/
family5K.asp to complete the
registration form and review the
course map. All participants in the
Family Run/Walk will receive a
T-shirt and finisher ribbon.
Several School Community
Organizations are donating
funding for the event. Also,
post-run refreshments are being
donated by the Frankfort Area
Jaycees.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
Fourth-graders at Mary Drew School in
Summit Hill District 161 enjoy a
basketball activity as part of their cardio
exercise in physical education class.
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. Earlier this school year,
the District incorporated a student
fitness assessment utilizing the
FITNESSGRAM model within the
District’s Physical Education
program to establish a baseline of
Following the completion of
baseline data on students in
September, Physical Education
teachers met throughout the year
to strategize methods and best
practices to help move students
into (or maintain them within) the
healthy fitness zone. Follow-up
FITNESSGRAM testing will occur
in April and an individual student
report will be sent to parents with
student report cards. ■
Historic Frankfort
Garden Walk
Sunday, June 13, 12 to 4 PM
Sponsored by the Downtown
Frankfort Partnership
For further information,
contact Sue at (815) 469-4919.
2010 Village
Branch Pickup
April 5 through October 11
Branches should be set out
by 7:00 AM on Monday,
stacked neatly with cut ends
facing the street.
APRIL 2010
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COMMUNITY NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Volunteers Strengthen Our School District
Village Board Approves Amendment to Comprehensive Plan
By Thomas A. Hurlburt, Superintendent, Frankfort School District 157-C
Student Daniel
Osysko works on
a podcast with his
mom during a Tech
Fair, one of many
events hosted by
the Family School
Partnership.
Established in 1974, National
Volunteer Week is an opportunity
to recognize the people who
accomplish extraordinary things
through service. This year,
National Volunteer Week is April
18-24 and the theme is
“Celebrating People in Action.” In
District 157-C, we are fortunate to
have outstanding support from
hundreds of active volunteers,
many within our parent/
community organizations.
Our Education Foundation is
celebrating its fifteenth year. It
was developed to enrich
education by enhancing programs
offered in technology, the arts,
scholastic enhancement,
professional development and
student leadership. This year the
organization funded over $62,000
in grants submitted by the
teachers and staff.
The Family School Partnership
organization also works to enrich
the education of the children.
The FSP provides numerous
family programs to enhance
education and fulfill its mission of
20
APRIL 2010
“connecting home and school.”
Our Athletic Booster organization
is comprised of parents who
support our athletic programs.
They encourage the students in
their various sporting events, work
to promote good sportsmanship
and instill pride, competition and
fair play. The organization also
provides funding for sports
programs and equipment.
The Band Booster organization
raises funds to buy, fit and
maintain students band uniforms,
provides chaperones and pays for
some instruments and repairs. It
also transports the band to
musicals and other events not
covered by the Board of
Education.
The Chorus Booster organization
encourages and maintains an
enthusiastic interest in the various
needs of the Chorus programs.
Members lend moral support to the
chorus students and raise financial
resources to support choral
activities.
We thank each and every
individual who has volunteered in
our district, particularly those
working with our parent/
community organizations. We truly
appreciate these dedicated
volunteers for their contributions
to enhance education and for
serving as great role models for the
children. ■
At the March 2, 2010 Village Board
meeting, the trustees approved an
amendment to the existing 2004
Comprehensive Plan. The
amendment focuses on the Green
Garden Township area located
south of Steger Road. The
approval follows a year long
process of gathering input and
studying traffic patterns, current
and potential development
opportunities and the plans of
state, regional and local
governments in the area. As the
amended comprehensive plan
started to take shape, it was
presented at public meetings to
residents and local officials so that
they could comment and influence
the final document. Frankfort’s
Plan Commission recently
reviewed and recommended
approval of the plan.
The plan identifies opportunities
for open space and housing. It also
suggests logical locations for
industrial and retail development
in a 38 square mile area south of
Steger Road. Most of the area is
not currently in the Village of
Frankfort. The plan encourages
boundary agreements with
neighboring villages.
Mayor Holland stated, “Frankfort
residents benefit from a
comprehensive plan in Green
Garden Township because as land
develops, the plan will require the
proper management of storm
water, the proper dedication of
land for roads to handle future
traffic patterns and the proper
preservation of land for industrial
and retail tax generating
opportunities. We will be prepared
with a plan and we will not be
surprised when owners of vacant
land petition to annex into the
Village of Frankfort. We also point
out to our friends and neighbors to
the south that our plan
acknowledges that many property
owners, in particular many who
own residential properties in the
area, may never petition to annex.”
The entire document is available
on the Village website, www.villa
geoffrankfort.com under “Most
Requested.” ■
Keep Our Waterways Clean
By Terry Kestel, Superintendent of Public Works
“Night Out Against Crime”
August 3 - Save the Date!
The date for the
fourth annual
“Night Out Against
Crime” event is
Tuesday, August 3,
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
at Breidert Green.
Commander John Burica,
left, hones his recruitment
skills on a group of
future police candidates
at last year’s event.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
This blockage was removed from a
tributary of Hickory Creek.
The Village of Frankfort is
recognized as one of the leading
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
communities in the State of Illinois
for floodplain management. Our
Village staff has extensive training
and certifications in this field.
With Hickory Creek and Jackson
Creek running through our
community, it is important to keep
these creeks and their many
tributaries clear of blockages,
fallen trees, and debris.
Periodically, the Village physically
inspects the banks of the creeks
for impediments or erosion. When
a blockage is too large to be
handled by Public Works, private
contractors are hired. Over the
past several years, the Village has
cleared large sections of Hickory
Creek and Union Drainage Ditch.
Keeping the creeks clean reduces
the chance of flooding.
By our vigilance and on-going
maintenance of these creeks, our
waterways run clear. If residents
notice a fallen tree or other
obstruction in these waterways,
please report it to the Public
Works Department at (815)
469-2177. ■
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
New FCTV-6 Programs (and Hosts) Add Variety to Channel 6
Civic Spotlight: Cub Scout Pack 270
By Mary Canino, Manager of Community Relations
By Brian Gold, Guest Contributor
Are you interested in learning the
rumba or the cha-cha? Would you
like to get to know your neighbors
better but don’t have the time?
Would you like your plants to look
better without using traditional
methods? All three of these
questions can be answered by
watching three new shows on
Frankfort’s channel 6 –
“Let’s Dance”; “Meet Your
Neighbors, Frankfort”; and
“Avant-Gardening.” All three
shows are hosted by Frankfort
residents who submitted an
application for consideration to
host a new FCTV-6 show. The
channel 6 staff worked with each
of the hosts and produced original
programming for each show.
“Let’s Dance” with professional
ballroom dance instructor, Joe
Ibanez, features ballroom dance
lessons that can be enjoyed by all
ages. Take a few moments, in the
comfort of your own home, to
learn the rumba or hustle – and
what a great way to exercise! Look
for information for a summer
“Dancing on the Green” event to
show off your skills!
“Meet Your Neighbors,
Frankfort” with host Chris
Rosolowski, will feature a different
Frankfort neighborhood and the
interesting personalities in that
neighborhood. Do you have a
neighbor who has a unique hobby
or is a collector? Are there artists,
authors or culinary professionals
down the street? Email us the
information at MeetYour
[email protected] and you
may be considered for a future
show about your neighborhood.
“Avant-Gardening” host Kay
McNeil will present a “nontraditional” approach to organic
gardening, including information
on natural plants, birds and
birdhouses and how they relate to
your garden. An avid gardener, Kay
received awards from Garden
Clubs of Illinois and has been
involved with local garden clubs
for many years.
In addition to these three new
original shows, don’t forget to
watch the wide variety of
programming already on FCTV-6:
Mr. Fixit (with Frankfort host Bill
Schomburg), community events
and meetings, school sports, and
public service announcements, to
name a few.
For a full FCTV-6 program guide,
visit www.villageoffrankfort.com
and under “Most Requested” click
on “FCTV-6 Program Schedule.” ■
Frankfort Cub Scout Pack 270 has
been going strong for 48 years,
involving on average 100 boys in
first through fifth grade each year
in our pack. Pack 270 is part of
Rainbow Council in Morris,
Illinois. Cub Scouting’s 12 core
values are: citizenship,
compassion, cooperation, courage,
faith, health and fitness, honesty,
perseverance, positive attitude,
resourcefulness, respect, and
responsibility.
Our sponsor is the Frankfort
Police Department. We work with
both the Police Department with
the Night Out Against Crime event
and the Frankfort Fire Department
with Fire Awareness in October.
Both the police and fire
departments educate our scouts
on stranger danger, alcohol and
drug awareness for our older
Scouts listen as
Utilities Director
Darrin Yount
explains the
features of a
waste water
treatment plant.
scouts, tours of their facilities,
knot tying, first aid, the smoke
maze and CPR certification, to
name just a few. All 100 scouts and
their families meet once a month
for our pack meeting at Grand
Prairie. At this time the boys
receive their awards for their
accomplishments. We also have a
monthly outing for the pack. Some
Editor’s Note: The Frankfort Villager is pleased to publish news articles regarding
our non-profit civic organizations. Based on community feedback, the intent is to
showcase one local club, organization or association in each of the Villager’s three
yearly issues. Submittals may be sent to the Newsletter Editor, Village of Frankfort,
432 W. Nebraska Street, Frankfort, Illinois 60423.
Chamber Business Expo Draws Crowds
What’s on Channel 6?
A complete listing of channel six programming can be accessed at
www.villageoffrankfort.com, under “Most Requested.”
For our Channel 6 Viewer’s 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.
10
APRIL 2010
For Your
Convenience
Lincoln-Way East High
School’s Field House
played host to the Annual
Business Expo sponsored
by the Frankfort
Chamber of Commerce
on March 6, from 9 to
3 p.m. Manager of
Community Relations,
Mary Canino, welcomes
Bill and Terry Rusin to
the Village’s booth. The
Rusins were two of
hundreds of visitors to
attend the Expo.
A drive-through drop box
for water bill payment
is located outside the
Village Administration
office at
432 W. Nebraska Street.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
activities in the past have included:
Wolves game, bowling, Monster
truck shows, apple picking, Civil
War Days, rain gutter regattas,
picnic, an annual pinewood derby,
the Blue and Gold Banquet, a
December holiday party, rock
climbing and lazer tag. There are
also many outings and activities
provided by Rainbow Council that
residents can attend as well. Our
dens also explore local businesses
that provide our scouts with tours
of their facilities and participate in
community service events.
Pack 270 held its annual Round Up
at Grand Prairie on March 31, for
all boys entering 1st - 5th grade in
the fall. This was an open forum
meeting to ask questions and
learn more about Pack 270, and
then if interested, join the pack as
new dens will be forming over the
summer. Also, all new scouts can
attend summer day camp in
Mokena if the paperwork is
completed quickly. The pack
will officially kick off the next
scouting year in August.
For more information, please
check our website at
www.packsonline.com/il/270/. ■
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Youth Commission Update: Senior Send-off
Short Term Plans for One North White Street Approved
By Christine Moler, Youth Commission Coordinator
Although many people view the
spring time as the beginning of
2010, there are many others that
see it as the beginning of the end the end of their high school career,
that is. Three Youth Commission
members will be saying good-bye
when the school year comes to a
close. Brittany Bardach, Sandeep
Jain and Bria Snyder are all
graduating from Lincoln-Way East
High School in June. Both Bria
and Sandeep joined Youth
Commission when they were in
junior high, while Brittany joined
when she was a freshman in high
school. All three have been assets
to the group, often taking
leadership roles and working
alongside younger members.
Brittany
Bardach
has been a
member of
the Poms
team all
four years
of high
school.
During her
Brittany Bardach
junior and
senior year, the team qualified for
the state championship. She is a
member of the Future Educators
of America and International Club.
In the fall she will attend Illinois
State University and major in
Special Education. Brittany says
that being in Youth Commission
has given her many opportunities
to lend a helping hand in the
Frankfort community.
Sandeep Jain will head off to
Northwestern University in the fall
and is thinking of majoring in
18
APRIL 2010
psychology.
While
attending
LWE,
Sandeep
has
participated
in Key
Club,
Student
Sandeep Jain
Council and
Mathletes. He is a member of the
National Honors Society, Mu Alpha
Theta and Pi Sigma Pi.
Bria Snyder (not pictured) will
graduate in the top five percent of
her class and is going to Augustana
to play softball and to major in
pre-med. Her plans are to become
an emergency room doctor after
completing medical school. She is
a member of the National Honors
Society, Pi Sigma Pi and Mu Alpha
Theta and plays softball for the
Lemont Sizzlers.
I always have mixed feelings this
time of year. Although I am excited
for our three seniors to begin the
next big phase in their lives, I will
miss seeing their faces! All three
are fantastic young adults. Good
luck and thank you for all you have
done for us! ■
Youth Commission Makes Blankets for
“Project Linus”
Youth Commission members proudly display their blankets for Project Linus.
This is the second year the Youth Commission has participated in the project
as one of its yearly service projects. Project Linus is a national organization
with a chapter in Will County. Handmade blankets are distributed throughout
the organization to children who are in crisis.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
The facade of
One North
White Street
awaits its
facelift of taupe
colored cedar
siding.
The Village purchased the former
Fox Lumber property, located at
One North White Street, at the end
of 2009 when the owners of Fox
Lumber decided to close their
Frankfort location. In a study of
Frankfort’s downtown district, the
Hitchcock Design Group stated
that if the property became
available, the Village should seek
to acquire it to help ensure future
development that will enhance the
downtown district and its quality
standards. Frankfort owns Prairie
Park and the Prairie Park parking
lot which are adjacent to the Fox
property, as well as Breidert’s
Green, which is across the street
from the property.
Village officials approved the
immediate plans for the Village to
generally clean up the site and to
improve the existing retail
structure on White Street so that it
meets Frankfort building code
standards. The Village estimates
that the costs of clean up and
improvements will be $20,000 for
materials. The Village’s Public
Works employees will provide the
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
labor. The Village expects to lease
the retail building when work is
completed in the spring. A number
of businesses have inquired about
renting this site. Several of the
existing lumber storage buildings
in the back of the property will be
utilized for the storage of public
works and utility equipment.
Long term, the Village expects to
sell the prime 3.5 acre property to
developers. Expectations are for
future development to include a
mix of housing, retail, restaurant,
office and public parking as called
for in the Hitchcock plan. Officials
have discussed concepts for public
input regarding plans for the
space. Economic conditions will
dictate how soon redevelopment
begins.
“Our immediate goal is to bring
the retail building up to our codes
and lease it to an entity that will
enhance the downtown Frankfort
experience. We are already in the
process of cleaning up the
remainder of the site to make it
safe. The Village Board plans to
ultimately sell the property to a
developer who will bring
appropriate development to our
downtown district. I believe that
economics and the best plans for
downtown Frankfort will
eventually come together with
condominium style housing in the
back of the property, mixed use
retail/office on White Street and
public parking in between. The
Village Board and staff welcome
public participation in the long
term redevelopment of this key
property in our downtown
district. It is important to the
residents of Frankfort that we
find the ‘right fit’ for development
of this property,” commented
Mayor Jim Holland. ■
Public Works foreman Terry Reed
spearheads renovation of the
One North White Street property.
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Spring Is Here and Things Are Looking Up
By Darrin Yount, Director of Utilities
Saturday, August 7, 2010 – Breidert Green – Downtown Frankfort
improved flushing program for this
calendar year and the details are
listed below:
A replaced
portion of the
water main on
Cottonwood
Road is
connected
to an active,
pressurized
main. This
process is called
a “hot tap.”
The world of water and wastewater utilities is typically unseen.
We do see water coming out of the
faucet and exiting down the drain
and little thought is given to how it
gets to us or where it goes when it
leaves our home or business.
Since much of the utility system is
underground and out of sight, it
can also be out of mind. Because
of this, the Village of Frankfort
wants to make you aware of some
utility system improvements.
Some of these improvements are
below ground and one, in
particular, is rising above ground
like the spring flowers.
New Water Tower
For the past few months, the
Village has been preparing the
ground for a new water tower a
few blocks south of Nebraska
Street on the west side of
LaGrange. Additionally, a new
water main has been installed and
a foundation has been poured.
With the arrival of spring, the
metal structure has now
“sprouted” and is starting to take
shape. Over the next several
weeks, the water tower will
continue to grow piece by piece as
12
APRIL 2010
it reaches skyward. By
midsummer it will take full shape
and begin to exhibit color as it
gets painted. Once online, this
water tower will provide a large
portion of the Village with
improved and stabilized water
pressure as well as one million
gallons of needed storage.
Water Main Replacement
and Looping
In other parts of the Village,
system improvements include
replacing and extending water
mains. A portion of the water main
on Cottonwood Road and all of
the water main on Durham Drive
are being replaced. The water
main in both areas is also being
extended under a creek and
connected to a nearby water main.
This procedure is called “looping”
the main, which provides better
water flow and improves the
aesthetics of the water in those
areas.
Frankfort Amateur Rib Cook-Off
• April 19 - May 14: A thorough
flush of the entire water system
will be conducted Monday
through Friday of each week
from 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• May 17 - September 30: Spot
flushing will take place only on
Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. in certain areas of the
community.
• October 4 - October 29: A
second thorough flush of the
entire system will be conducted
Monday through Friday of each
week from 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
During these days and times, signs
will be posted in advance to let
you know when flushing will take
place in your area.
With all of these improvements and
the arrival of spring, things are
certainly looking up! For more
information on these system
improvements or the hydrant
flushing program, please contact
Darrin Yount, Director of Utilities
at (815) 469-2177. ■
Contestants Cook on Site • Public Tasting 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM • Music • Awards
To Be a Contestant:
• Download and complete the application and waiver
form located at www.villageoffrankfort.com.
• Return the signed application and waiver form with
the entrance fee of $150 to the Village of Frankfort,
432 W. Nebraska, Frankfort, IL 60423.
Checks made payable to: Frankfort Area
Jaycees.
• Space is limited - Deadline to enter is May 10.
• Contestants must cook on site; Jaycees provide
meat day of event (10 slabs baby back ribs per
contestant).
• Set up time: 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
• Contestants must provide all cooking devices,
equipment, supplies and electricity.
• Contestants will be assigned cooking space by
the Jaycees.
• Contestants must comply with all Health
Department requirements.
Detailed application, rules, procedures
and waiver form can be downloaded from
www.villageoffrankfort.com.
Admission is free
Enjoy music on Breidert Green
Jaycees concession stand available
for your enjoyment
Judging
Prizes awarded for 1st , 2nd, 3rd place and
“Crowd Pleaser”
Judging begins at 1:00 PM
Winners announced at 2:30 PM
Sponsored by:
Frankfort Area Jaycees
Village of Frankfort
Frankfort Country Market
Downtown Frankfort on Sundays, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Spring Market Opens April 25
A smaller market focused on plants & early crops
Summer Market Opens June 6 through October 10
Featuring a full roster of producers, prepared foods & vendors
Enjoy the Local Flavor with:
Live Music • Chef Demos • Munchkin Market (Ages 3-8)
Hydrant Flushing
Another way the Village maintains
the cosmetic quality of the water
is by flushing the hydrants. We are
preparing to launch our new and
Tickets are $1.00 each for each rib piece tasting
Special Event Day: Sunday, June 27, is “Salute to Agriculture Day,”
featuring a petting zoo, kiddie tractor pull and more. Fun for the entire family!
New Elsner Road water tower
under construction.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
For more information, visit www.frankfortcountrymarket.org or www.villageoffrankfort.com.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
An Invitation to Join Us...
2010 Village of Frankfort
Calendar of Events
EARTH DAY/ARBOR DAY
CELEBRATION
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2010
Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration – Saturday, April 24
8:30 AM - Public Works Garage (100 Sangmeister Road)
CLEAN-UP DAY PROGRAM – TREE PLANTINGS
8:30 AM - Volunteer Lunch at 11:30 AM
Meet at the Public Works Garage
100 Sangmeister Road
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST • EARTH DAY T-SHIRTS • VOLUNTEER AWARDS
FREE VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON AT FOUNDERS CENTER (140 Oak Street)
After Clean Up (11:30 AM)
Country Markets – April 25 to May 30 (Spring) & June 6 through October 10 (Summer)
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Breidert Green - Weekly on Sunday
German Heritage Celebration – Saturday, May 1
Noon until 9:00 PM - Founders Center (140 Oak Street)
Memorial Day – Monday, May 31
10:00 AM - Breidert Green - Downtown Frankfort
Cruisin’ Frankfort – May 20 through August 26
6:00 to 9:00 PM - Downtown Frankfort - Weekly on Thursday
For more information, call (815) 469-2177, or visit www.villageoffrankfort.com.
If you have a large group, please contact Mary Canino at (815) 469-2177 to sign up!
Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort
Concerts on the Green – June 20 through August 29
6:30 PM - Breidert Green - Weekly on Sunday
Movies on the Green – Wednesday, June 9, July 7 & August 4
8:30 PM - Breidert Green
Cruisin’ Frankfort 2010 Schedule
Every Thursday Evening from 5-9 PM
May 20 through August 26
Downtown Historic Frankfort at Kansas and White Streets
Fine Arts Fair – Saturday, June 19
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Breidert Green
“Get Hooked on Frankfort” Fishing Derby – Saturday, July 10
8:00 AM to Noon - Prairie Park
“Super Sunday” (Country Market, Car Club, Concert) – Sunday, July 25
May 20
May 27
June 3
June 10
June 17
June 24
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 22
July 29
August 5
August 12
August 19
August 26
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM - Breidert Green
All Cars - Dust off Night
Chrysler, Dodge
Mustang
Street Rods, Customs, Lead Sleds
Buick, Cadillac
Corvette
Trucks & Car-based Pick ups
Race Cars
Ford, T- Bird, Lincoln, Mercury
Orphan Cars, including Oldsmobile,
Plymouth & Pontiac
Chevrolet
Dodge Viper & Stock 1900-1942 Cars
Rear & Mid Engine & Import Cars
Vintage Scooters
Rat Rods & Survivor Cars
Night Out Against Crime – Tuesday, August 3
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Breidert Green
Amateur Rib Cook-Off – Saturday, August 7
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Public Tasting) - Breidert Green
Fall Fest – September 4, 5 & 6
Downtown Frankfort
Native American Educational Event – Saturday, September 18
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM - Breidert Green
Old Plank Road Trail 5K Run/Walk – Saturday, October 9
8:30 AM to 11:30 AM - Breidert Green
Tree Lighting Ceremony – Thursday, December 2
7:00 PM - Breidert Green
Sponsored by the Frankfort Car Club and Village of Frankfort
Visit us at www.frankfortcarclub.org or www.villageoffrankfort.com.
16
APRIL 2010
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
For Further Information & Details, Visit www.villageoffrankfort.com.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
APRIL 2010
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VILLAGE NEWS
VILLAGE NEWS
Village of Frankfort Fine Arts Fair
Join Us
Frankfort’s
German Heritage Celebration!
Frankfort Community
Calendar Offers
View of
Multiple Special Events
Live Music & Entertainment • German Food • Beer & Wine • Dancing
German Exhibits • Traditional “Maypole” Performances
Fun for the Entire Family
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Noon until 9:00 PM (no admittance after 8:00 PM)
Welcoming Ceremony at 1:00 PM
Founders Center in Downtown Frankfort
140 Oak Street – Frankfort
Saturday, June 19 – 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Breidert Green in Downtown Frankfort
Experience… feature works of art and demos by Frankfort area premier
artists
Admission $3/Adult (Under 16 Free)
Food Prepared & Sold by Chef Klaus’ Bier Stube
679 LaGrange Road • Frankfort
Enjoy… browsing through the shops and restaurants
Relax… while sampling a tasting of wine or your favorite cheese
(1:00 to 3:00 PM)
Visit www.villageoffrankfort.com for details!
Listen… to relaxing music performed by local musicians
Sponsored by:
The Village of Frankfort • DANK • Frankfort Park District
“Get Hooked” on Frankfort
Fishing Derby at Prairie Park
Lights, Camera, Action!
“Movies on the Green” in Frankfort!
Grab a blanket or bring a lawn chair…
it’s free family movie time under the stars at
Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort!
Previews: 7:45 PM
Cartoons: 8:00 PM
Feature Film: 8:30 PM
Free Popcorn • 12’ x 16’ Screen
No Alcoholic Beverages Allowed
No Pets Allowed
In case of bad weather,
rain date is one week from the original movie date!
14
APRIL 2010
Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort
Visit www.villageoffrankfort.com for additional information.
For Kids Only, Ages 3-12
Wednesday, June 9
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
Rated PG-13
Wednesday, July 7
“Bee Movie”
Rated G
Wednesday, August 4
“The Blind Side”
Rated PG-13
Sponsored by:
Village of Frankfort
Frankfort Chamber of Commerce
Frankfort Park District
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
Saturday, July 10, 2010
8:00 AM to Noon (Rain or Shine)
Prizes Awarded for Most Fish Caught and
Biggest Fish Caught in Each Age Bracket
Save the Date - Registration Is Required
Details & Registration Form Available Soon
Registration forms will be available on the
Village of Frankfort website,
www.villageoffrankfort.com.
THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER
Through the collaborative
efforts of the Village of
Frankfort, Frankfort Chamber
of Commerce, Frankfort Park
District and the Frankfort
Public Library, a new website,
www.frankfortcalendar.com,
is now available displaying
special events from all four
entities. The calendar provides
viewers with the opportunity
to easily check monthly
special events occurring in
Frankfort from all four
organizations. Detailed
information regarding each
event can be found at the
organization’s individual
website. Monthly meetings
are not listed on the calendar.
The calendar is updated by
each organization and does
not replace any calendar
information on the individual
websites.
This “one stop shop” for
activities provides a quick
reference for Frankfort
residents, as well as visitors to
the community, to not miss
any events throughout the
year. Look for the “Frankfort
Calendar” logo to view the
latest events from each of
these organizations. ■
APRIL 2010
15