Fall/Winter 2013

Transcription

Fall/Winter 2013

1349428 VOTP Exchange Fall-Winter_Exchange 11/7/13 8:48 AM Page 1
Fall-Winter 2013
Inside
this
issue…
Development
in Tinley
Park
11
Tinley TV
on the air!
15
Holiday
Events
16-17
2013
‘Benches’
Awards
19
From the Mayor’s Office
Looking forward, looking back
A
Mayor
Edward J. Zabrocki
s 2013 draws to a close,
everyone in Tinley Park –
from elected officials to the
residents they serve – can be
proud of what we accomplished
together this year. As we look
forward to a new year and new
challenges, let’s take a moment
to look back at some of this year’s
highlights.
Construction projects, new businesses a good sign
Construction of a new Golden Corral restaurant is
underway at 159th Street and Oak Park Avenue. This
is a project that many Tinley Park residents, especially
seniors like me, are extremely excited about.
Menards is also expanding its location near the
same intersection and is in the process of renovating
the adjacent building (which used to house the
SouthtownStar Newspaper) into a new garden center.
With the expansion, the Tinley Park Menards will
become their largest store in the country.
from a community calendar to current news events,
to a section on fun facts about the Village and another
featuring several photographs of some of the town’s
most interesting people and places.
You also won’t want to miss our video programming,
which includes the monthly Discover Tinley show as
well as various public service announcements and
taped Village events.
Fun Village events for all
Just because the warm weather has left us doesn’t mean
Tinley Park isn’t still a great
place to go if you’re looking
for fun things to do. With
the holidays fast approaching, Tinley Park is gearing up
for a series of yuletide events.
During the annual Tree
Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 6,
I and other Village officials will
light the spectacular 35-foot
holiday tree in Zabrocki
Plaza. There will also be
plenty of holiday music. We
hope to see everyone there!
The old Bogart’s restaurant on Oak Park Avenue and
173rd Street will soon become El Coco Mio and will
serve Caribbean food. The restaurant will be owned
and operated by the husband and wife team behind
Isabella’s further north along Oak Park Avenue. The
new restaurant is sure to add a bit of excitement to a
downtown that has been revitalized in recent months.
The new roundabout at 183rd Street and Oak Park
Avenue is another exiting new project. In addition
to cutting costs on traffic light installation and maintenance, the new roundabout will improve traffic safety
and will give drivers less delays when stopping. It’s
quieter than traditional intersections and is simply
more aesthetically pleasing.
Mayor Zabrocki speaks
during the 2012 Holiday
Market in Downtown Tinley
The Village’s Holiday Market is always a popular event.
This year from Dec. 6 to 8, visitors will be able to shop
through hundreds of crafts and creations, as well as
enjoy holiday treats. Kids will enjoy holiday crafts,
kiddie rides, photos with Santa and writing holiday
letters to military servicemen. Everyone can enjoy
old-fashioned horse drawn carriage rides and live
music. Come out for a great time!
These are only some of the many great construction
projects and new businesses happening in town, and
I encourage you to check out the rest of this edition
of the Exchange for more information.
Don’t miss the Tinley Toyland Parade on Saturday,
Dec. 7. This annual event will feature appearances by
Mr. and Mrs. Claus, who will “officially” arrive in
Tinley Park and visit the Oak Park Avenue train station
right after the parade. Kids are encouraged to bring an
unwrapped gift to be donated to a local charity.
Class 8 Ordinance spurs economic development
Earlier this year, the Cook County Board approved an
amendment to the Class 8 and Class 6B Property Tax
Classification Ordinance, one that helps promote
business development in the area by giving a 60-percent
property tax break to owners of vacant buildings who
apply and are approved.
Each year, the Parade of Lights marches down Oak Park
Avenue with floats, vehicles, local businesses, community
groups and school bands. It’s a great way to celebrate
the holidays with others in your community, and special
guests from the North Pole will make the day unforgettable. Come out and join us for the Parade of Lights on
Sunday, Dec. 8!
The amendment also changed the length a property can
be vacant to qualify for this tax break from two years to
only one year.
As we close in on this holiday season, let’s remember
those men and women who cannot be with their loved
ones this Christmas because they are defending the
United States of America. Let’s keep them in our prayers
and hope for a speedy return to their friends and family.
Trustees Dave Seaman and Brian Maher led the charge
to approve this amendment, and I join the entire Tinley
Park business community in applauding them for their
efforts to spur economic development in the region.
Tinley TV brings you all the latest Village news
I’m exited to announce that Tinley Park has its very
own television station, aptly named Tinley TV, and it’s
available on Comcast Channel 4 and U-Verse Channel 99.
Tinley TV is a treasure trove of Village information,
2
Finally, on behalf my wife, Emily, my sons, Ed and Jon,
my daughters-in-law, Marie and Jenny, my seven
grandchildren, Emily, Faith, Will, Mesfin, Christopher,
Kristen and Iris (newly arrived from China) and myself,
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous
2014. Best to all.
Village remains tenacious regarding vehicle sticker
purchases
T
Patrick E. Rea
Village Clerk
During the grace period in July, the revenue increased
by more than 70 percent from the previous year. During
August, the mailing reminder and enforcement period
saw increases by more than 290 percent throughout
2013, and even during September, there was almost a
150 percent increase in revenues.
he year 2013 has been an
extremely busy year for the
Office of the Village Clerk.
The wonderful staff and other fine
Village employees are a tremendous
help in meeting some new
responsibilities and some expanded
old ones.
By the way, during the normal sales period of April
through June of 2013, the actual revenues were down
more than 2 percent. The dollar difference for our Village
is rather modest, at less than a $35,000 increase. However,
as you can tell, almost 750 additional vehicle stickers were
registered.
By State Statute, the Tinley Park Village Clerk is also
the Collector. That means about what it sounds like:
I am a tax collector. That function is carried out with
the excellent assistance of the Treasurer and his staff,
and two other Village departments.
Some of our fine residents or their relatives had registered
their cars or sold them, and a few of those great folks
certainly let me know that we had made an error. To them
we apologized, and to the hundreds who have registered
complaints throughout the years, I assure you we are
moving in the right direction. In a few months we will
begin the 2014 registration period, and we suggest that
with a little help, we can avoid another program that we
were forced to initiate this year.
Any tax system should assure that the system is fair. One
of the constant complaints I have heard from our citizens
for over the past five years is that not everyone purchases
their stickers. For over three years, we have tested that
assumption with data from the United States Census
Bureau and the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. Our
research indicated that there was some truth in the
comments from our citizens that sometime stood in
long lines to be sure they had their stickers.
And now onto a
happier note. I
would like to
comment on the
outstanding work
of Kelly Johnson on
yet another highly
acclaimed Holiday
Card. The history
that accompanies
this card is as rich
in color and fact
as the card itself.
This year, in an attempt at increased fairness, and in
cooperation with other Village departments, we were
able to develop a list of vehicles that may possibly be
in default. A three-part effort was undertaken to try
and address the possible issue. Part One was an early
notification of enforcement amnesty which occurred in
the month of July. Part Two was a notification with more
than 5,000 postcards encouraging possible unregistered
citizens to purchase their vehicle sticker during the
month of August. Part three was a more aggressive
enforcement of the law.
This was not a pleasant task for the Office of the Clerk
or for the Village itself, but the consistent and sometimes
heated comments of our citizens regarding noncompliance
by other residents could not be ignored. Did it work?
Holiday card photo by Kelly Johnson
With that seasonal tribute in mind, on behalf of myself
and all of the Clerk’s Office and their families, allow us to
wish you a Happy Holiday and prosperous 2014.
Village Hall Holiday Hours
Farmers Market
Tinley Park Village Hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Ave.,
is closed on the following days:
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Feb. 17: President’s Day
April 18: Good Friday
May 26: Memorial Day
July 4: Independence Day
Sept. 1: Labor Day
Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 28: Day after Thanksgiving
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve (open ½ day)
Dec. 25: Christmas Day
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve (open ½ day)
The Farmers Market
Committee is looking for
volunteers to assist during the
Saturday morning Farmers
Market in Downtown Tinley,
which runs from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays beginning
in the first week of June and ending the second week
of October. Don’t miss your chance to work with a
great group of volunteers and receive a free breakfast
every time you help out!
For more information, email
[email protected].
Village Hall’s normal hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturdays. For more information, call (708) 444-5000 or
visit www.tinleypark.org.
3
Village economy
on the upswing
Exciting renovation
projects in
Downtown Tinley
A
s we get ready to close 2013,
we are beginning to see the
fruits of the long-awaited
economic recovery. National
unemployment levels continue to
improve from the high of 10 percent
Trustee
experienced in October of 2009 to
David G. Seaman
7.3 percent in August of 2013.
Finance and
Economic Development Illinois continues to struggle with
unemployment levels of 9.2 percent,
Committee Chair
while Tinley Park is presently at
about 7.6 percent. Tinley Park enjoys the fifth-lowest level
of unemployment in the state, with only Arlington Heights,
Naperville, Bloomington and Palatine at lower rates.
A
s the 2013 construction season winds down, my fellow
Trustees and I are proud that
a variety of new businesses have
Trustee
chosen to build new buildings in
Gregory J. Hannon
Tinley Park over the past year. But
Planning and
we are just as excited to see existing
Transportation
properties undergo major renovaCommittee Chair
tions. Such reinvestment in our
community affirms that we are maintaining a successful
business environment built upon strong economic development principles and effective planning strategies.
We are not where we would like to be, but the slow and
steady upward trajectory bodes well for a better 2014.
Locally, Tinley Park is host to a daytime employment level
of 29,000, continuing as a major employment center for
the region. At this writing, so far in 2013, Tinley Park has
welcomed 40 new businesses this year with 266,000
square feet of
new commercial
business space
“Tinley Park enjoys the
currently under
fifth-lowest level of unemployment
development.
This is very apparent in our downtown area, where many
properties are currently in different stages of renovation –
such as the Avenue Animal Hospital, Bailey’s Bar & Grill
and First Midwest Bank. While these are not new construction projects, they still play an important role in implementing the goals set forth in the Legacy Plan and Code.
This includes creating more mixed-use buildings, expanding structures out toward the street, moving parking facilities to the side and rear of properties, and improving the
landscaping and sidewalk condition along Oak Park
Avenue. These physical changes typically result in what is
referred to as a “front-loaded” building. (See insert)
in the state, with only Arlington
Commercial
Heights, Naperville, Bloomington
space, particularly
and Palatine at lower rates.”
commercial space
in Cook County,
is particularly
challenged from a property tax perspective. Businesses
generally pay 2.5 times the residential rates – which is a
big problem, as most commercial leases are triple-net
based, with the property tax liability being passed directly
through to the tenant. In certain circumstances, Cook
County will reduce commercial rates to residential rates
in an effort to spur economic development.
The recently
completed
Avenue Animal
Hospital project located at
16736 Oak
Park Avenue
showcases the
benefits of a
“front-loaded”
building and
demonstrates
how the
Legacy Code
increases
renovation
options:
One of these circumstances is vacancy. Your Village Board,
in conjunction with Village staff and Cook County
Commissioners Joan Murphy and Liz Gorman, successfully
initiated (and the Cook County Board passed) a measure
to reduce the length of time that property remains vacant
for this consideration from 24 months to 12. This is a huge
benefit to property owners who have found no tenants
due to the extremely high Cook County tax rates.
A
BEFORE
E
C
B
D
AFTER
A First, the parking spaces and long-curb cut along the
front of the building were removed.
Tinley Park was the first community to request property tax
relief under this new provision. This has helped facilitate
a decrease in the level of vacancies in Downtown Tinley
Park from 6.3 percent to 5.8 percent more than a year ago.
To put this in perspective, the Chicago metropolitan area
is experiencing an 8.7 percent vacancy rate, with the
south suburbs at 19 percent.
B As a result, a traditional parking lot was constructed at
the rear of the property.
C This allowed the business owner to expand the build-
ing forward toward the street, which opened up more
possibilities to change the look of the existing structure.
D The space between the new building façade and the
Once again, Standard & Poor’s affirmed the AA+ rating
of the Village of Tinley Park, reflecting a strong financial
position that keeps the cost of borrowing low while
demonstrating not only to the rating agencies but to the
citizens of Tinley Park that good stewardship and fiscal
discipline is consistently exercised by this Village Board.
street could now be improved with a wider sidewalk,
landscaping and smaller curb cut, ultimately creating
a better pedestrian experience.
E Finally, an apartment was added to the second-level
to create a mixed-use building.
continued on page 7
continued on page 7
4
Public Safety
reorganized in
2013
Trustee
Brian S. Maher
Public Safety
Committee Chair
Winning the war
against EAB, one
day at a time
D
F
uring the past year, the
Village implemented
personnel changes in the
administration of its Police and
Fire departments and Emergency
Management Agency to better meet
the needs of the residents of the
Village. Highlights of the reorganization by department are as follows:
or the past several years, the
Village of Tinley Park has been
battling the Emerald Ash Borer,
an exotic beetle that can infect and
Trustee
Thomas J. Staunton Jr. oftentimes destroy once-healthy ash
trees. And while we still have a long
Public Works
way yet to go before we win the
Committee Chair
war, the Village is making progress
by treating ash trees that can be
saved and removing those that can’t.
Fire Department
During the past several years, we have added additional
staffing to our fire stations so that now all four are
manned 24/7. As the Fire Department has grown, the
administrative obligations have expanded, as well. In
2013, we added the position of Deputy Fire Chief to the
Department. The new position involves managerial
responsibility for the operational and support functions
of the Fire Department. The Deputy Fire Chief will work
under the direction of the Fire Chief.
Congratulations to former
Assistant Fire Chief of
Operations, Steven Klotz,
who was appointed to this
new position. Steve has been
with the Tinley Park Fire
Department since 1993 and
has been a firefighter since
1989, serving as a Lieutenant
in Beford Park and as Fire
Chief in Hometown.
Last fall, the Village performed an extensive inventory of
every tree in town that sits on public property. The study
revealed that, out of the roughly 30,000 trees in town,
more than 11,000 of them were ash trees, and that about
10,450 of them were infested with the Emerald Ash Borer
beetle.
A licensed arborist rated all of the trees in the inventory
as being in “good,” “fair,” “poor,” “critical” or “dead”
condition. Nearly 600 trees were deemed in “good” or
“fair” condition, and the Village contracted Kinnucan Tree
and Landscaping in Lake Bluff to administer insecticidal
injections in an effort to save them.
“During the past
several years, we
have added additional
staffing to our fire
stations so that
now all four are
manned 24/7.”
Sadly, the other ash trees were beyond saving. In response,
the Village has contracted Homer Tree Service of Lockport
to begin removing them. We’re hoping to have all
Emerald Ash Borer-affected ash trees removed by October
of 2014, but because Tinley Park has 140 subdivisions,
crews could spend several months in each subdivision.
Public Works will determine which subdivisions to work
in based on the number of dead ash trees and their size.
Emergency Management Agency
Historically, the dispatch center functions (911) were
supervised by one of the Police Commanders. Dispatch
serves not only the Police Department, but the Fire and
Public Works departments, as well as ambulance services.
Many jurisdictions have brought the dispatch function
under the umbrella of Emergency Management Agencies.
Residents who have Emerald Ash Borer-infected trees on
their private property can utilize a preferred pricing option
offered by Homer Tree Care. Residents who opt to use this
option will enter into a contract with Homer Tree Care
and not the Village of Tinley Park, and will deal directly
with Homer Tree. Residents can of course seek out their
own contractor and are not required to use Homer Tree
Care to remove ash trees on their property.
In adapting the best practices in the industry, we have
merged the dispatch function with emergency management
and appointed Patrick Carr the Director of Emergency
Management and Communications. Patrick has served
as Emergency Management Agency Director since 2005.
Since 2012 Patrick has served on an interim basis as
supervisor of the 911 center.
Below is a general pricing guide, but please keep in mind
that Homer Tree Care will perform an individual inspection and assessment of each property. These costs will vary
depending on the location of the tree on the property and
any obstructions such as fences, sheds, decks, pools, overhead wires, etc. The below costs also do not include stump
removal.
Police Department
The former position of Police Commander was
eliminated, and the new position of Deputy Chief was
added. There were formerly four commanders; however,
through retirement, two of the positions were vacated
and not filled during the downturn in the economy. The
new structure, encouraged by Chief Neubauer, reflects
the duties and responsibilities of these positions more
accurately. In addition, the Deputy Chief position is
more common in other police departments and
universally recognized.
Tree Diameter
(DBH)
Classes
Unit Price
Using
Bucket Truck*
Unit Price
Not Using
Bucket Truck**
1” to 13”
$25.00 per inch
$35.00 per inch
14” to 19”
$30.00 per inch
$50.00 per inch
20” to 40”
$40.00 per inch
$50.00 per inch
*tree is accessible
**tree is not accessible
continued on page 8
continued on page 8
5
Trustee
Patricia A. Leoni
Budget and
Administration
Committee Chair
GIS a valuable
tool for Tinley Park
residents
Electrical safety
for the home and
workplace
A
E
n interactive program on the
Village’s website provides residents with enhanced mapping
tools and property information with
a simple click of a computer mouse.
I encourage everyone to check out
and use this very valuable feature.
Trustee T.J. Grady
Building and
Compliance
Committee Chair
The program, MapOffice™, is available through the efforts of the GIS
(Geographical Information System) Consortium, which is
comprised of 23 area towns that work together to develop
GIS systems that benefit the communities they serve.
lectrical hazards exist everywhere, from inside your home
to the places where you work.
That is why it’s imperative that
everyone learns how to recognize
and prevent the most common
electrical safety hazards.
Michael Chambers, an electrical
inspector for the Village of Tinley Park, recommends that
residents keep the following things in mind when dealing
with electricity:
䡲 Never handle electric
appliances with wet hands,
“… it’s imperative
as electricity and water
that everyone learns
form a fatal combination.
how to recognize
The danger increases with
sweat because salt water is
and prevent the most
an even better conductor
common electrical
of electricity.
safety hazards.”
䡲 Never put electric outlets
close to a source of water.
Electric outlets in bathrooms and kitchens must be a safe distance away
from the sink or shower. Ideally, all such receptacles
and outdoor outlets must be of the GFCI (ground fault
circuit interrupting) type so that the danger of electric
shock is reduced.
䡲 Cover all electrical outlets around toddlers and babies.
Electric outlets at knee-height must be protected with
plastic closures that fit snugly and can’t be removed
easily.
䡲 Replace your wires. Corroded, worn or torn electric
wires can lead to accidents. Inspect all wiring regularly
to make sure they are in good condition.
䡲 Whenever you perform electrical work, make sure that
all sources of electricity to the appliance are turned off.
Test whether the power has been turned off yourself.
䡲 Never pour water on an electrical fire. Water acts as fuel
that will worsen the situation. Use a fire extinguisher
instead.
䡲 Electrical wiring is crucial, so unless you’re a qualified
electrician, let a professional perform electrical work.
䡲 Sources of light must be kept away from flammable
materials such as upholstery, drapes and beds. If the
two come into prolonged contact, the chances of an
electrical fire are high.
䡲 Misuse of extension cords is a major reason for electric
shocks and fires. Never use extension cords as a permanent substitute for additional outlets. Never overload
extension cords, and be sure to discard them if they
have worn-out insulation. Avoid overloading electric
circuits by operating too many appliances at once.
䡲 Electric wires and cords radiate heat that must be dissipated safely. This is why it’s important to avoid covering wires under rugs or furniture, as the could overheat
and start an electrical fire.
With the MapOffice™ program, residents can input an
address for a selected property to find out information
such as its tax PIN, the parcel’s size, tax assessment
information and the governmental districts in which it’s
located, among many other
handy features. Users can
also use the MapOffice™
“(MapOffice™) costs
program to interact with
about a quarter million
other maps that provide
dollars every year to
street and bird’s-eye views
maintain, but the
of the property and the
Village sees a return in
surrounding area.
that investment through
the number of people
who utilize the
program every month.”
Residents also can access
information about trees
on or near their property,
including those that may be
infested with the Emerald
Ash Borer. Color-coded icons
provide the location and condition of all ash trees in the
Village that are on public property. To use this new feature,
visit www.tinleypark.org and follow the below steps:
1. Click on “Interactive Village Maps” on the left side of
the Village’s homepage. You will be redirected to the
online GIS Viewer.
2. Type your address in the space provided and press
“Go.” This will zoom in and highlight your property.
3. Click the “Layers” button at the upper right-hand
corner of the screen and choose “Tinley Park” from
the drop down list. Next, click the box next to “Tree
Inventory.” Small icons of different-colored trees will
appear on your screen, with each one representing a
tree that the Village evaluated.
4. Click once on any one of the tree icons to display
details about the actual tree.
The MapOffice™ program is also valuable when looking
for your nearest polling place or when searching for
information about upcoming Village events.
More than 2,500 new public users took advantage of
the MapOffice™ feature in September, which is up
considerably from the roughly 500 who used it in the
same month last year. The feature costs about a quarter
million dollars every year to maintain, but the Village
sees a return in that investment through the number
of people who utilize the program every month.
As always, I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.
continued on page 8
6
continued from page 4
Village economy on the upswing
Trustee David G. Seaman
The Fiscal Policies Manual adopted two years ago is further
evidence of the transparency exercised in the revenue generation process, as well as economic development components that ultimately determine the level of municipal
services and amenities that our citizens enjoy.
the Plan Commission in refining and redesigning
economic development plans for the future. The
increase in more than one quarter of a million
square feet of commercial development is directly
attributable to the concepts, policies and plans that
are generated by this group.
As we move ahead for 2014…
Your Village Board continues to be forward-looking in its
approach to meeting its responsibilities to its citizenry.
That source of perspective is firmly rooted in our volunteer
commission structure, which acts as a source of counsel
and expertise for the many decisions that are made by
your Village Board. Each volunteer commission is assigned
to a Village Trustee – a liaison – sometimes due to the
nature of the Village Board Committee assignment, other
times due to interest. It has been my pleasure to serve as
liaison to the Mainstreet, Economic Commercial and
Veterans commissions.
The Veterans Commission, chaired by Wiley
Roberts (retired Major, U.S. Air Force Reserve), continues to bring the veterans service organizations
together as a place to share and coordinate the
many ways that we recognize the men and women
of this nation that have served in the military.
With liaisons from the American Legion, Veterans
of Foreign War, Marine Corps League, Military
Order for the Purple Hearts, Submariners and
Korean War Veterans, these groups continue to
serve, long after their departure from the service.
The Mainstreet Commission (MSC), chaired by
Oak Park Avenue businessman Mike Clark, will
continue to work in 2014 in the formation of a
brand for Downtown Tinley Park. The MSC also is
working to keep Oak Park Avenue a regional destination for dining and will continue hosting a number of special events, including Benches on the
Avenue, Music in the Plaza, Tuesday Cruise Nights,
Farmers Markets and much, much more.
As we prepare for another holiday season, it provides us
the opportunity to recall the many blessings that we have
enjoyed over the past year. A warm and hearty “thank
you” to every citizen of Tinley Park for your support and
continued confidence in your Village Board. It is difficult
to fully appreciate the efforts put forth on a daily basis by
the Village staff and our volunteer commissioners, who
continue to make Tinley Park the very best place to live
and work.
The Economic Commercial Commission (ECC),
chaired by local businessman Marty Ward, is focusing on target areas and will be working closely with
On behalf of myself and my wife of 37 years, Rosemary,
please accept our very best for a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year!
Exciting renovation projects in Downtown Tinley
Trustee Gregory J. Hannon
Each property in our downtown area is permitted and
encouraged to complete similar improvements. In fact,
today the Village is working with numerous businesses
along Oak Park Avenue to renovate their properties. The
aim is to help them meet both their growing business
needs and the vision of the Legacy Plan and Code.
Thus, in the very near future, we expect to see even
more structures throughout our downtown area
converted into mixed-use, “front-loaded” buildings.
And that’s a good thing.
Holiday wishes
On behalf of my family, I extend our best wishes for
a joyous holiday season and a wonderful 2014!
Why Create “Front Loaded” Buildings?
Allows for More Interior Building Space
Easier to Reinvent the Building’s
Architectural Style
Locates the Front Door Closer to the
Sidewalk
Increased Building Height to
Accommodate Apartments
Parking at the Rear
of the Property
Improves Visibility of Building Signage
Original Building
Landscaping
Link to Future Rear
Parking Areas
Wider Sidewalk
Why Remove Front Yard Parking?
Driveway to Access Rear Parking Area
Eliminates Vehicles Reversing into Traffic
Reduces the Length of Curb Cuts
Provides Opportunities to Add Landscaping
Creates a Better Pedestrian Condition
7
Public Safety reorganized in 2013
Ash tree problem a long battle
Trustee Brian S. Maher
Trustee Thomas Staunton Jr.
Firefighter and Officer of the Year selected by
American Legion Post 615
Congratulations to Captain Timothy Griffin of the Tinley
Park Fire Department, and Detective Raymond Violetto
of the Tinley Park Police Department on their selection
as Firefighter and Police Officer of the year for 2013.
Ash trees removed from Village-owned property will
eventually be replaced, but for safety reasons, the
removal process is our primary concern at this time.
Residents who want to replace a tree that has been
removed and that sat on Village property are allowed
to, but they must do so at their own expense and must
plant a tree that is listed on the Village’s species list at
www.tinleypark.org. If you want to replace a tree that
sits on Village property, please call the Public Works
Department at (708) 444-5500 and apply for a permit
before you proceed.
Each year the American Legion recognizes one firefighter
and one policeman for their exceptional contributions to
the betterment of their community. The recipients were
recognized for their achievements at the Oct. 1 Village
Board meeting attended by many friends, family and
co-workers.
You can access information about ash trees on or near
your property thanks to an interactive map feature on
the village’s website. For more information on how to use
this feature, please see Trustee Leoni’s article on page 6 or
the feature on page 13.
From my family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy
holiday season and a joyous and prosperous new year.
Village secures salt prices
Winter is coming, and soon the roads will be covered in
snow and ice. With that in mind, I’m happy to report
that the Village of Tinley Park’s salt supplier, Cargill, has
committed to holding their price for salt at $50.56 per
ton for another year, meaning we’ll be able to save
money when it comes time to salt the roads.
Electrical safety for the home and
workplace
Trustee T.J. Grady
Tips for winterizing your home
As everyone knows, winter can bring some pretty cold
temperatures. To help protect your home from the
weather and to help reduce your heating bills, the
Building Department suggests the following tips:
䡲
䡲
䡲
䡲
Under this agreement, the Village is entitled to a maximum
of 6,600 tons for the 2013/14 winter season if necessary.
The average annual amount used is 5,000 tons.
Under the current purchasing agreement, Cargill supplied
salt to the Village for $52.78 per ton. Competitive pricing
for the State of Illinois Central Management Services
(CMS) “State Purchase” program was finalized in late
September. CMS pricing is comprised of a base cost for
the salt, plus the cost for transportation. Therefore the
calculated cost for Tinley Park is $50.56 per ton.
Caulk all windows and doors.
Add insulation to ceilings.
Replace any broken or damaged windows and doors.
Have a licensed and bonded heating contractor check
your furnace and replace furnace filters. For a list of
contractors, call the Building Department at (708)
444-5100.
Village welcomes new Water and Sewer
Superintendent
Tom Kopanski is the new Superintendent of Water and
Sewer and started his employment with the Village this
past March. Tom is a native of Chicago and grew up on
the north side. He’s a graduate of Weber High School.
Pipes can freeze during the cold winter months. To help
protect them, here are some tips:
䡲 Maintain a consistent temperature inside your home
during the cold months.
䡲 If you’re planning on being away from your home for
an extended period of time, maintain your home’s
temperature as if you were still at home.
䡲 When it’s really cold outside, make sure you leave a
facet running all the time. A slow trickle will do. Also,
leave all of your cabinet doors open so that heat can
circulate inside them.
䡲 If a water pipe freezes, make sure you know where
your water shut-off valve is. Most shut-off valves are
located near your water meter.
For information on the top ten building code violations,
make sure you check out Ken Karczewski’s column on
page 23. Ken is our new Code Compliance Officer, and
we are thrilled to have him at the helm of code compliance issues. Ken previously served as the Village’s Crime
Free Housing Coordinator, a position which has been
filled by Douglas Alba.
For the last 25 years, Tom lived in Georgia and is a graduate of North Georgia College, which is in Dahlonega,
Ga. His years in the water and sewer industry have been
in both the municipal and private contract operations
segments, working in all aspects of water and sewer work.
Tom was superintendent of the City of Atlanta’s
Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant, which is a
65MGD surface water plant. Tom was superintendent
at that facility for over six years before being appointed
to his present position in March.
Tom holds the highest-grade license to operate water
and wastewater plants in Georgia and is currently
seeking licensure in Illinois.
One of Tom’s goals is to bring continuity, stability
and consistency to the Water and Sewer division of
Public Works following the passing of longtime Supt.
Jim Nietfeldt. Welcome aboard, Tom!
I wish everyone a happy, safe and warm holiday and
winter season!
Here's hoping your winter is safe and warm,
and that you have a fantastic holiday season.
8
Soaring occupancy, rate numbers a good sign
for Tinley Park tourism
A recent report regarding the overall health of the hotel
industry in Tinley Park points to a strong and vibrant
tourism landscape within the Village.
The Tinley Park Convention Center recently launched a
new website at www.tinleyparkconventioncenter.net.
Here users can see all of the upcoming events at the
Convention Center, as well as plan and schedule their
own events.
The Tinley Park market has experienced a 13.7 percent
growth in revenue per available room, which is the
highest growth rate in the region, according to a report
submitted by Mid Continent Hospitality Group, the
company that operates the Tinley Park Convention
Center.
“The digital presence of the Convention Center website
matches up with the beauty of the Convention Center
itself,” Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki said.
“I think it’s safe to say that the recent growth status of
Tinley Park hotels is directly related to the expansion
of the Tinley Park Convention Center,” said Trustee
Dave Seaman, who also is Chairman of the Village’s
Finance and Economic Development Committee. “It’s
also been a great boon to area businesses and restaurants that benefit from visitor traffic.”
The report also said that hotel occupancy in the Village
has increased by 11.3 percent from 2012.
“This is the highest percentage of growth when compared to all other regions in Chicago and the United
States as a whole,” Seaman said.
Wingate Hotel
According to the report, the average
daily room rate in Tinley Park is about
$98. This number exceeds the average
daily room rate for the southwest suburbs and south Chicago, which is about
$80. The Village’s average room rate
also exceeds DuPage ($90) and the
north suburbs ($95).
“Tinley Park hotels compare well to the
Chicago region and Chicago sub-markets,” Seaman said. “Downtown
Chicago dominates the region with 57
percent of the travel revenue, but when
you look beyond downtown, the Tinley
Park market is extremely strong, with
only O’Hare showing higher average
daily rate and occupancy.”
Tinley Park Convention Center
Village Board and Commission/Committee Meetings
The following are the times and days of the month when the Village Board and volunteer commissions meet.
The Village Board and Commissions meet at the Village Hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Avenue.
The Police Department Committees meet at the Tinley Park Police Department, 7850 W. 183rd Street.
Village Board
Commissions
Regular Meeting
8:00 p.m., first and third Tuesday
Committee of the Whole 7:30 p.m., second Tuesday
Civil Service
Community Resources
Economic and Commercial
Environmental Enhancement
Historic Preservation
Long Range Plan
Mainstreet
Senior Services
Sister Cities
Veterans
Zoning Board of Appeals
Committees
Crime Prevention
D.A.R.E.
S.A.L.T.
7:00 p.m., second Wednesday
7:30 p.m., third Wednesday, Oct.-April
1:00 p.m., first Monday, Feb.--Dec.
except Sept.
9
7:00 p.m., first and third Monday
7:00 p.m., third Monday
7:00 p.m., third Thursday
7:30 p.m., first and third Thursday
6:00 p.m., third Wednesday
3:00 p.m., first Wednesday
7:30 p.m., third Wednesday
second and fourth Thursday,
as required
Economic Development News
New tax breaks encourage occupancy of vacant
buildings
The Cook County Board in July approved an
amendment to the Class 8 and Class 6B Property Tax
Classification Ordinance that will encourage significant
tax breaks for more business development in Bremen,
Rich, Calumet, Bloom and Thornton townships.
For more information on this amendment, contact the
Incentives Division at the Cook County Assessor’s office
at (312) 443-7550. For assistance on qualifying for this
incentive in Tinley Park (Rich and Bremen townships),
contact Ivan Baker at (708) 444-5030.
‘How to Start Your Own Business’
Check out the “How to Start Your
Own Business” workshop from 9 to
11 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of
every month in the Kallsen Center
at Tinley Park Village Hall, 16250 S.
Oak Park Ave.
Due to the effects of the recession, current vacant
building owners can secure new business tenants and
apply for a 60-percent reduction in the property tax
rate. With the amendment, the property can be vacant
only one year, instead of the previously required two
years, to qualify.
The workshop focuses on personal,
financial and legal aspects of starting
a business. Attendees can learn what
steps to take and what resources are
available to assist new business owners.
Tinley Park Trustees Dave Seaman and Brian Maher
spearheaded the effort to approve this amendment
to help economic development in the region.
“The changes approved by the Cook County Board
provide municipalities with greater flexibility in finding
special circumstances where commercial properties have
been suffering from vacancy issues,” said Maher, also
Chairman of the Village’s Public Safety Committee.
“We appreciate the County’s sensitivity to the
plight of property owners who are struggling to
obtain tenants in these difficult economic times.”
Register and confirm your attendance by email to
Nancy Byrne at [email protected]. For more
information, call Economic Development Director
Ivan Baker at (708) 444-5030.
Remember to shop local!
Shopping locally is good for the entire community.
Keeping your money in Tinley Park means you’re
helping your hometown, and it is one of the best
ways to keep your taxes as low as possible.
“The Village appreciates the Cook County Board’s
positive reception of this proposal,” said Seaman,
who also is Chairman of the Village’s Finance and
Economic Development Committee. “We have
already seen increased interest in vacant properties
since this legislation was passed.”
More than 50 percent of all
revenues from local businesses go right back into
Tinley Park, supporting
jobs and paying taxes.
The Economic and
Commercial
Commission encourages
Tinley Park residents to
see the many benefits
of buying local during
the holiday season and
every season.
The amendment was encouraged and supported by
the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association;
the Chicago Southland Economic Development
Corporation; and the Village of Tinley Park.
“Special thanks to Cook County Commissioners Joan
Patricia Murphy and Liz Gorman for pushing this
amendment through County Finance Committee,” said
Tinley Park Economic Development Director Ivan Baker.
BUYSLupOCA
port L
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our
Lo c
al C
o m mu n it y
Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki
(left) talks with Craig Culver, the son of
restaurant founder George Culver,
during a ribbon-cutting ceremony
Aug. 28 at Culver’s of Tinley Park,
18248 Sayre Ave., Tinley Park.
10
New business construction, development thriving in Tinley Park
Since its incorporation in 1892, the Village of Tinley Park has been a community
in perpetual motion. From then to now, upscale residential neighborhoods have
been built, roadways have been carved from the earth and maintained, and
businesses have risen from the blacktop. Simply put, Tinley Park is a town that
refuses to rest on its laurels and is committed to positive growth of both the
village itself and of the economy that supports it.
A
Right now, approximately 266,000 square feet of non-housing construction
is underway in the Village. About 22,000 of those square feet are restaurants,
while about 185,000 are commercial properties. There is also more than
59,000 square feet of miscellaneous facilities under construction.
“The Village continues to encourage businesses to locate and expand in Tinley Park
by taking advantage of the cost-saving programs at the county and state levels,” said
Trustee Dave Seaman, who also is Chairman of the Village’s Finance and Economic
Development Committee. “The Economic Development department is continuously
marketing Tinley Park for more investment that will provide revenue and economic
benefit to our community.”
B
Projects around town
Construction/expansion projects now underway or recently completed in the Village
include:
A A 100,000-square-foot expansion of the Menards at
6851 W. 159th St., making this store the largest in the
Menards Corporation
C
B The opening of El Coco Mio, a Caribbean restaurant
at 173rd Street and Oak Park Avenue
C Construction of a new Golden Corral restaurant at
159th Street and Oak Park Avenue
(project rendering pictured)
D
E
D Construction of a new Ross store at
Brookside Marketplace near 191st Street
and Harlem Avenue
E Construction of a new 32,000-square-foot
TJ Maxx store at Brookside Marketplace near
191st Street and Harlem Avenue
Proposed projects
The following are proposed public improvement projects,
all of which are at various stages of development:
F
F A proposed roundabout at 183rd Street and Oak Park
Avenue; construction is slated to begin in 2015, and
the roundabout will open that same year
G The widening of LaGrange Road from 179th to 143rd Streets
Information for new and expanding businesses is available
at www.tinleypark.org or by calling Economic Development
Director Ivan Baker at (708) 444-5030.
Other Village projects:
䡲 A 7,985-square-foot
Advance Auto Parts at
7985 W. 159th St.
䡲 A 16,382-square-foot Lawn
Funeral Home at 179th
Street and 94th Avenue
䡲 Expansion and remodeling
of the Rizza CadillacBuick-GMC at 8425 W.
159th St.
䡲 Expansion and remodeling
of Orland Toyota at
8505 W. 159th St.
G
䡲 Siam Marina, a new
Thai restaurant, at
16846 S. Oak Park Ave.
䡲 Remodeling and façade
improvements of several
stores, including Avenue
Animal Hospital at
16736 S. Oak Park Ave.
and Bailey’s Restaurant
and Bar at 17731 S. Oak
Park Ave.
11
EAB tree removal process underway
After conducting a thorough tree inventory last fall, the
Village of Tinley Park was able to determine that of the
more than 11,000 ash trees on public property, most
had become infested with the destructive Emerald Ash
Borer beetle.
“The remaining trees average around 14 to 15 inches in
diameter, so they’re not huge trees,” he said. “I don’t
believe that the potential for limbs falling off is going
to create a continued hazard at this point. Most of the
trees are still in the process of dying, so they’re not dead
to the point where they’re so brittle that limbs are going
to start falling off.”
In the spring, the Village contracted Kinnucan Tree and
Landscaping in Lake Bluff to administer insecticidal
injections to nearly 600 of these trees in an effort to
protect them from further damage, as these trees were
deemed savable. Sadly, most of the Village ash trees were
not as lucky. As a result, Homer Tree Care in Lockport is
in the process of completely removing the
approximately 10,450 ash trees that are
damaged beyond repair.
The Village is hoping to have all Emerald
Ash Borer-affected ash trees removed
by October 2014, but as this is an
unprecedented, multifaceted situation,
the process could take longer. The Village
of Tinley Park has 140 subdivisions, and
Homer Tree Care crews could spend several
months in each subdivision depending on
the number of dead ash trees and their size.
The Village already has responded to a number of
requests to remove dangerous limbs from several
affected trees and will continue to address trees that
may pose a safety hazard.
“When Homer Tree Care is in your subdivision, please make sure
cars are not on the street and are parked away from the tree slated
for removal. Residents also should not approach Homer Tree Care
personnel as they are working due to the potential for falling trees
and the dangerous equipment with which they’ll be using.”
The intention is to eventually replace the dead ash
trees that are removed. The estimated cost of tree
replacement is between $1.5 and $2 million. The
Tinley Park Village Board will discuss its approach to
tree replacement as part of the Fiscal Year 2015 budget
cycle, and this discussion will take place in March. Trees
likely will start being replaced in the fall of 2014, which
is the best time for planting.
While it may take some time for crews to get to your
street, once they are there the removal process will be
very quick, said Mike Fitzpatrick, Chief Operating
Officer at Homer Tree Care.
“You’re going to come home from work one day and
your whole block won’t have any ash trees on it,” he
said. “It’ll be quite a different scene.”
The Village negotiated a preferred pricing option with
Homer Tree Care for residents who have Emerald Ash
Borer-infected trees on their private property and want
them removed. Below is a general pricing guide:
Homer Tree Care will first remove the infected tree and
its stump. The hole left by the stump will be filled with
black dirt and then seeded with grass as the weather
permits.
Homer Tree Care removed nearly 300 dead ash trees last
winter that were deemed most unsafe, so the remaining
trees shouldn’t pose a risk, Fitzpatrick said.
Tree Diameter
(DBH)
Classes
Unit Price
Using
Bucket Truck*
Unit Price
Not Using
Bucket Truck**
1” to 13”
$25.00 per inch
$35.00 per inch
14” to 19”
$30.00 per inch
$50.00 per inch
20” to 40”
$40.00 per inch
$50.00 per inch
*tree is accessible
**tree is not accessible
“The numbers are a guideline, because you really
never know what you’re going to find in a back yard,”
Fitzpatrick said. “There are variables that can increase
the price to get trees out safely.”
For more information on this option, please call Homer
Tree Care directly at (815) 838-0320 or read Trustee
Staunton’s article on Page 5.
When Homer Tree Care is in your subdivision, please
make sure cars are not on the street and are parked
away from the tree slated for removal. Residents also
should not approach Homer Tree Care personnel as they
are working due to the potential for falling trees and the
dangerous equipment with which they’ll be using.
For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer, visit
the Village’s website at www.tinleypark.org and click
on the “Emerald Ash Borer” quick link on the right.
12
continued next page
How to view EAB-infected trees on
public property
A valentine for graduating
seniors
Residents who want to access information about ash
trees on or near their property can do so via an interactive map feature on the village’s website. To use this
feature, navigate your Internet browser to the Tinley
Park village website at www.tinleypark.org and follow
these steps:
Applications for a $1,000 Community Service
Scholarship for graduating seniors who are residents
of Tinley Park will be available in their high school’s
guidance office as of Feb. 14, 2014.
1 On the left side of the
Village’s homepage,
click on the “Interactive
Village Maps” link.
This will redirect you
to MapOffice™, Tinley
Park’s online Geographic
Information System
(GIS) Viewer.
Applications also are available at the Clerk’s Office
at Tinley Park Village Hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Ave.
The scholarship rewards community service and
also considers school activities and overall grades.
All applications MUST be postmarked no later than
April 1, 2014.
2 Once in MapOffice™,
1
type your address in the
space provided and press “Go.”
This will zoom in and highlight your property.
Senior Center has great year
This has been a great year for the Tinley Park
Senior Center. Our enrollment is up, and we have
had great entertainers, lunches and excellent trips.
3 Now click the “Layers” button at the upper righthand corner of the screen and choose “Tinley Park”
from the drop down list. Next, click the box next
to “Tree Inventory.” Small icons of differentcolored trees will appear on your screen, with each
one representing a tree that the Village evaluated.
Drop in from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays or
Thursdays for cards, movies, games of bingo, or just
coffee, treats and get-togethers with other seniors.
The Tinley Park Senior Center is located at
17355 S. 68th Court, just behind the Fire Station
No. 1. We’re open to anyone age 55 or older who
lives in the Village of Tinley Park.
4 At this point, you can keep the look of the map as
it appears, or select the “Photo” tab at the upper
right-hand corner of the screen, which will switch
to an aerial photograph of your property.
For more information, please call us at (708)
444-5150. We hope to see you soon!
4
3
2
Bus serves seniors and
handicapped
Bus service for seniors and the handicapped is
available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through
Fridays, excluding holidays. Reservations should
be made 24 hours in advance by calling (708)
532-7433. Fare is 65 cents each way with an
RTA-reduced fare card for riders age 65 and older
or $1.30 per ride each way without the card. Fare
for ages 55 to 64 is $1.30 per ride.
5 Single-click on any one of the tree icons to display
details about the actual tree, such as its type and
condition.
Village bus service for medical appointments
in Orland Park, Oak Forest and Mokena only is
available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through
Fridays, excluding holidays. Reservations for all
medical appointment-related bus rides must be
made 48 hours in advance. Fare is 75 cents each
way for those age 65 and older with the RTAreduced fare card and $1.50 each way without the
card. Fare for those ages 55 to 64 is $1.50 each way.
5
Cancellations must be made before 9 a.m.
Reservations for trips to Brookside Marketplace
are preferred on Mondays. For safety reasons, a
maximum of two grocery bags are allowed, and
they must be securely placed between the seats, on
passengers’ laps or on the floor between their feet.
13
Tinley Park Public Library
The Tinley Park Public Library offers a variety of activities for adults,
teens and children. For more information on the following programs,
call (708) 532-0160 or visit www.tplibrary.org.
WrestleMania Challenge
NFL Football for Beginners
Grades: 6–12
Enter the WrestleMania Challenge for a chance to
win awesome prizes. Write a letter as if you’re trying
to convince your favorite wrestler to read your
favorite book. Entry forms will be available at
www.tplibrary.org/kids-teens/teens or at the Youth
Services Desk from Oct. 14 to Nov. 18. Make sure to
check out our WrestleMania Party from 7 to 8 p.m.
on Nov. 1!
Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
Registration begins Nov. 20
Get off the sidelines and into the game with
your football-savvy friends and family and learn
the fundamentals of America’s No. 1 sport.
Below Stairs: Meet the Inspiration
for Downton Abbey
Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
Registration begins Nov. 20
Leslie Goddard portrays Margaret Powell, a kitchen
maid and cook who worked in several stately English
homes in the 1920s and whose 1968 memoir was
a key inspiration for the television programs
“Downton Abbey” and “Upstairs, Downstairs.”
Movies & Books
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Nov. 16, Dec. 7, Jan. 4 and Feb. 1
No registration required
Don’t judge a book by its movie and vice-versa!
Come watch our selected movie each month and
return a few weeks later to chat about the book.
Attend the screening, the book discussion or both
— it’s up to you. Check our online calendar or call
the library for movie and book selections and book
discussion dates.
Ring in the New Year!
Ages: 3 to 7 years
Monday, Dec. 30 from 2 to 3 p.m.
Stop in at the library to enjoy games and a
New Year’s craft at this drop-in program.
Registration is not required.
eReader and Computer Classes
Visit the library for free tech classes on a wide
variety of topics. Registration begins on the
20th of each month for the following month’s
classes, and registration can be done by going to
www.tplibrary.org, calling (708) 532.0160, Ext. 1, or
in person by visiting the library. Unless otherwise
noted, classes are for adults age 18 and older.
Winter Reading Program
Ages: Grade 12 and younger
Sunday, Jan. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 9
Join the Chicago Wolves Read to Succeed program
and earn a prize when you reach your reading goal.
For details or to register, come to the Youth Services
desk or check our website. Registration begins Sunday,
Jan. 5, and the program ends Sunday, Feb. 9.
Estate Planning
Monday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
Registration begins Oct. 20
Learn what documents make up a basic estate plan
and what you need to do to prepare. The discussion
will include practical information about wills, living
trusts and powers of attorney.
The Downton Abbey Kitchen
Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
Registration begins Dec. 20
Chef Kate Bradley returns to showcase classic
English food fit for your next family get-together
or “Downton Abbey” party. Recipes and tastings
will be included.
Books with Buzz
Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The group will be discussing “Sycamore Row” by
John Grisham. Copies of the November selection are
available at the Adult Reference Desk.
Dumbo or Bust: Walt Disney World
Itinerary Planning
Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Now that you’ve booked the hotel and bought the
tickets, let veteran Disney traveler Karen Luster show
you how to make your vacation plans a reality.
Dishing on Downton
Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.
Registration ongoing
The wait is almost over! Season Four of the PBS
miniseries “Downton Abbey” begins in January, and
to tide you over, we’ll be screening the last episode
of Season Three and having all sorts of fun chatting
about this popular program. Bring your friends and
enjoy games, prizes, snacks and tea.
Technology Roundup: Library Open
House for All Ages
Saturday, Jan. 18 from noon to 4 p.m.
No registration required
Need to tame your technology? Get the answers you
need once and for all at the library’s technology
open house. Choose hands-on help or drop in on a
14
Fly Away Home: Winter Birding
demo featuring many different devices and library
services. A list of topics and a schedule of events
will be available in December on our website and
at the library.
Monday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
Registration begins Jan. 20
The Prairie Godmothers’ Jackie Riffice will discuss
winter bird habitats – a delight for gardeners, photographers, nature enthusiasts and children of all ages.
Lake Michigan’s Southern Shore:
A Photographic Journey
Home Staging: Getting Ready to Sell
Monday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
From historic lighthouses to sand dunes and quaking
bogs, environmental photographer Tom Gill discusses
the history and unusual characteristics of the region
and also shares helpful photography tips.
Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
Registration begins Jan. 20
This comprehensive workshop offers professional
insight and tried-and-true home staging solutions to
help you sell your home in this competitive market.
Choosing the Best College at the Least
Cost
Contact the library
for information
on other programs
scheduled this fall.
Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.
College finance expert Patrick Kaiser returns to offer
professional advice on how to choose the right college for your student while causing the least damage
to your family’s finances.
Tinley TV on the air 24/7
䡲 Snapshots: several
segments that feature
photographs of people and places across
the Village
䡲 Learn about local
businesses on the
Chamber of
Commerce Show,
which plays four times
daily (immediately following “Discover Tinley”).
䡲 Public Service Announcements: segments of
varying lengths that contain important information
for residents, oftentimes hosted by members of the
various Village departments
䡲 Other special programming: school events,
pre-taped Village events, special addresses by
elected officials and other content are either
already broadcasting on Tinley TV or are planned
in the near future
Classical music accompanies some segments and features
masterpieces by musicians such as Bach, Mozart,
Beethoven, Vivaldi, Handel, Chopin and many others.
Tinley Park Television, or Tinley TV for short,
airs 24 hours a day, seven days a week on U-Verse
Channel 99 and Comcast Channel 4.
Tinley TV’s mission is to provide residents of Tinley
Park and surrounding areas with quality local
programming that strives to educate, inform and
entertain. On Tinley TV, residents will find:
䡲 News: a half-hour segment that runs several times
per day and features all of the latest Village news
and public information
䡲 Community Calendar: a 15-minute segment that
runs several times per day and includes upcoming
public events hosted by community organizations
and charitable groups that are open to and marketed
to the public
䡲 Agendas: a half-hour segment comprised of Village
Board action items that runs several times per day in
the four days leading up to Village Board meetings,
which are held the first and third Tuesdays of the
month
䡲 Fun Facts: two half-hour segments that run several
times a day and feature interesting facts about
Tinley Park, including history and current trivia
䡲 Discover Tinley: Tinley
Park’s very own local
cable television show
plays at 2 a.m., 8 a.m.,
2 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily
on Tinley TV, and at
7 p.m. Tuesdays on
Comcast Channel 19
For a current programming schedule or for information
on how to submit content to Tinley TV, visit www.tinleypark.org and click “Tinley Park Television” under the
“Government” tab at the top of the page. Here you’ll
also be able to view past and present Tinley TV programs
by following links to the station’s YouTube channel.
New content is added regularly, so tune in today to start
enjoying what Tinley TV has to offer!
15
Holiday
Holiday Market
Friday, December 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, December 7 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, December 8 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Oak Park Avenue Metra train station, 6700 South St.
(South Parking Lot)
Stroll into the cozy warmth of our large, heated tent
and shop for unique handmade crafts and creations.
Enjoy tasty treats and live music by local groups and
entertainers. Children will have fun making holiday
crafts, writing letters for soldiers and decorating cookies.
Visit www.tinleypark.org for the entertainment schedule.
Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, December 6 at 6 p.m.
Zabrocki Plaza, 17375 S. Oak Park Ave.
Village officials will light the magnificent 35-foot
community holiday tree. Arrive at 5:30 p.m. for a
sing-a-long to holiday music.
Tinley’s Toyland Parade
Saturday, December 7 – step-off at 11:30 a.m.
Viewing area from 175th Street to South Street
Tinley’s Toyland Parade celebrates the official arrival
of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Our special guests will arrive
at the Oak Park Avenue Train Station immediately
following the conclusion of the parade. Children are
encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift for people
of any age, which will be donated to a local charity.
A collection center will be located near the
Holiday Market.
Happen
Ice Carving Demonstration
Saturday, December 7 at 2 p.m.
Watch fantastic frozen sculptures being created
right before your eyes.
Old-Fashioned Carriage Rides
Saturday, December 7 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Horse-drawn carriage rides through historic
downtown Tinley Park will take you back in time.
Carousel Ride
Children can enjoy a free ride on the
NEW carousel and other attractions.
Presenting
sponsor
16
enings
in
Holiday Movies
Parade of Lights
Old Zion Landmark Church, 6727 W. 174th St.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season
and enjoy classic, family friendly movies, popcorn and
activities in Tinley Park’s historic landmark.
Sunday, December 8 – step-off at 5 p.m.
Viewing area from 177th Street north
along Oak Park Avenue
The Parade of Lights includes festive floats, vehicles,
local businesses, community groups and school bands
displaying the spirit of the season. Our guests from
the North Pole will be making a special appearance.
Photos with Santa
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be inside the train station to
visit with children. Receive a complimentary photo
along with a gift from the North Pole. Santa’s visitors
are encouraged to bring a nonperishable item to be
donated to a local food pantry. Please note that no
tickets to see Santa will be distributed after 4:30 p.m.
on Saturday and after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
17
Campfire
Saturday, December 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Sunday, December 8 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Just south of the Oak Park
Avenue Metra train station
and Holiday Market
All
Events
FREE
For more great programs and events,
visit www.tinleyparkdistrict.org or call the
Tinley Park Park District at (708) 342-4200.
Vogt Visual Arts Center
17420 S. 67th Court, Tinley Park
2013-14 Upcoming Gallery Exhibits:
November:
December/
January:
February:
March:
Annual High School Exhibit
Annual Dollhouse and Miniature Show
Open Show – Theme: “What Do You Love?”
Annual Photography Show
Tinley Park Performing
Arts Center
2014 Running of the Green
8K Walk/Run
Come out and get moving at the fifth annual Running
of the Green 8K on Sunday, March 9. Awards will be
given for first-, second- and third-place runners in all
age categories, male and female, based on chip timing.
An award will also be given to the best overall resident
and nonresident male and female runner. Shirts will
be awarded to the first 550 registered participants.
Pre-registration closes at 3 p.m. Feb. 28. Registration
and pre-registration pick-up will open again at 7 a.m.
on race day.
16801 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park
The Tinley Park Community Theater Presents:
“The Foreigner”
Performances:
Saturday, Nov. 30
Sunday, Dec. 1
Saturday, Dec. 7
Sunday, Dec. 8
Tickets: $12 (general admission);
$11 (seniors age 60 and older)
Tinley Fitness
8125 W. 171st St., Tinley Park
Grandma Sunshine’s Storybook
Theater Presents:
Come check out the brand-new home of Tinley Fitness
at the corner of 171st Street and 80th Avenue
(attached to the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center).
The facility is scheduled to open in November, with a
Grand Opening open house on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Visit www.tinleyparkdistrict.org for more details and
hours of the open house.
“A Holiday in Oz, or I’m Dreaming
of a Witch Christmas”
Performances:
Friday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $8
Breakfast or Lunch with Santa
The Tinley Park Park District has made special arrangements with Santa to join children for breakfast or lunch
and a day filed with holiday excitement from 9:30 to
11 a.m. (breakfast) or 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (lunch) on
Saturday, Dec. 14. Residents tickets are $16 for age
4 and older and $14 for ages 1 to 3. Nonresident tickets
are $21 for age 4 and older and $19 for ages 1 to 3.
Tickets are free for all children less than one year old.
Arts Alive! Children's Theater Performance:
“Up the Down Staircase”
Performances:
Friday, Dec. 13 at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets: $8
18
‘Benches on the Avenue’ 2013 award winners named
The winners of Tinley Park’s 10th annual Benches on the Avenue public
art project were announced during the Aug. 24 Music in the Plaza event
at Zabrocki Plaza. The 2013 theme was “Fairy Tale Festival.”
Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki and Mike Clark, Chairman of the
Tinley Park MainStreet Commission, presented the awards during the
concert’s intermission.
The winners were:
Best First-Time Participant: “The Princess and the Pea”
by Amanda Cichoracki
Best Portrayal of Theme:
“Jack and the Beanstalk”
by Nick Schulien
Judges Choice Award:
“Little Red Riding Hood”
by Jennifer Lilly
Best Use of Materials:
“The Wizard of Oz”
by Babeth Kopf
Most Creative:
“Beware of the Sugar Sweet Lair”
by Marty Rose & Don Zak
Best Family Project:
“Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”
by Garrett Gray & Phillip Gerk
Best Group Project:
“Where the Wild Things Are”
by Illinois Institute of Art
Tinley Park Team
Best Young Artist:
“The Lorax”
by Lizette Marcin Lehmans
The judging panel included Julie Dekker, Vogt Visual Arts Center Director;
Karen Wegrzyn, Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce Executive Director;
Mona Serpe, Tinley Park Garden Club President; Regina Ziemann, Moraine
Valley Community College art appreciation teacher; JeanPaul Ferrer, Tinley
Park Rotary Club President; Bill Vandermolen, St. George PTA; and Robbyn
Yuen, of Creative Cakes.
The Princess and the Pea
Jack and the Beanstalk
Little Red Riding Hood
Thanks to all who
participated!
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
The Wizard of Oz
Beware of the Sugar Sweet Lair
Where the Wild Things Are
The Lorax
19
Plaza continues to honor veterans in its second year
Last year, the General Patrick E. Rea Veterans
Plaza was constructed along with the 80th
Avenue Metra train station as a way to honor
veterans from each branch of the military.
The plaza, which sits on the pathway leading
to the station’s south parking lot, consists of
317 brick pavers that honor the memories of
individual service people. It also contains
seven pavers in honor of specific groups and
five benches purchased by local veterans’
organizations.
The plaza is named in honor of Retired
Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, who also is
Tinley Park’s Village Clerk.
About 40 bricks were installed during the
2013 Veterans Day Ceremony at the plaza.
New bricks were installed for the following
branches:
䡲 U.S. Army (23 bricks)
䡲 U.S. Marines (5 bricks)
䡲 U.S. Navy (11 bricks)
䡲 U.S. Air Force (3 bricks)
䡲 For Liberty (1 brick)
Residents who would like to order bricks
and have them installed in time for Memorial
Day must fill out the order form found on the
next page and submit it by March 1, 2014.
Let us know about deployed soldiers
The Village of Tinley Park is grateful to
local soldiers serving in the military and
is seeking information on them so they
can officially be welcomed home when
on leave or returning.
Family members, community organizations or churches with information on
soldiers currently serving in combat
areas can contact Judy Bruning at (708)
444-5021 or at [email protected].
Also, please contact her if you know of a
soldier coming home to the immediate
area. If time permits, the Village will
hold a “welcome home” reception.
In addition, if you are aware of someone
who has been deployed to a different
area or has permanently returned home,
please indicate that so we can revise our
care package list.
The following form also can be faxed to
Village Hall at (708) 444-5099 or mailed
to 16250 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park,
IL 60477.
Soldierʼs Name and Rank: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Unit Number:___________________________________________________________________________________________________
APO AE/FPO AP: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Person Submitting Information: _____________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number of Person Submitting Information:______________________________________________________________________
Additional Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
20
General Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza – Brick Paver Donor Program
The General Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza was constructed in 2012 and honors soldiers of the past and present.
Friends and family of soldiers can honor their heroes by purchasing bricks bearing personalized inscriptions that
recognize the soldier’s service to our country. These bricks are incorporated into the walkway and plaza and provide
a permanent tribute. You may choose from:
4 x 8-inch brick for $100. This size allows three lines of text, with a maximum of 20 characters per line (spaces
• and
punctuation included).
• 8 x 8-inch brick for $250. This size allows two options:
1. Six lines of text, with a maximum of 20 characters per line (spaces and punctuation included); or
2. Three lines of text, with a maximum of 20 characters per line (spaces and punctuation included), PLUS one
of five military branch seals.
A possible inscription could read: “In Honor” or “In Memory” of (name) and (branch), as well as years of service and a
personal message.
Note: Your donation is tax-deductible. Documentation will be provided to you. Bricks that are ordered by March 1 will
be installed at the plaza in time for Memorial Day. Bricks ordered by August 1 will be installed by Veterans Day. The
plaza is in the south parking lot adjacent to the 80th Avenue train station.
BRICK PAVER DONOR PROGRAM - Please cut out and mail or drop-off to Village of Tinley Park
MY 4 X 8 BRICK (with text only-$100) SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS:
1. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
2. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
3. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
MY 8 X 8 BRICK (with text only-$250) SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS:
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
MY 8 X 8 BRICK (with text AND branch seal-$250) SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS:
(Check desired seal to be included with this option)
□ Army □ Navy □ Marines □ Air Force □ Coast Guard
1. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
2. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
3. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Please indicate which branch section in the walkway you would like your brick placed:
□ Army □ Navy □ Marines □ Air Force □ Coast Guard
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________________ State: __________ Zip: __________________
Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Make check payable to Village of Tinley Park Veterans Commission and mail it along with this form to the
Village Hall,16250 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477. You may also pay in person at the Village
Hall by cash, check or credit card. For more information, call (708) 444-5000 or visit www.tinleypark.org.
21
Emergency Management News
Stay protected from the coming cold weather
By Pat Carr, Emergency Management Agency Director
Winter is coming and, with it, the potential for extremely cold weather. Taking
preventative action now to protect yourself, your home and your automobile
from weather-related problems can be the difference between a trouble-free
winter and one wrought with difficulties.
Home safety
Have your heating system checked and cleaned by a professional. If you
have a gas hot water tank, have the flue checked to make sure it’s drafting
properly. If you heat by wood, be sure to have your fireplace or stove
checked and cleaned. Also, have your chimney flue checked for any
buildup of creosote.
Caulk and weather-strip your doors and windows to keep drafts out. If
your house still has storm windows, be sure to put them on. You can
also cover your windows in plastic from the inside, which will give
you a bit more protection from drafts.
When the leaves are done falling from trees, be sure to have your
gutters checked and cleaned to prevent blockage. Also, be sure to
disconnect the garden hose and drain the water from the pipes
that lead to the outside faucets.
Vehicle safety
When a winter storm comes, don’t drive your car unless
absolutely necessary. If you must travel, make sure you have
survival materials such as blankets, a shovel, a flashlight,
extra warm clothes, jumper cables and energy bars.
Make sure your gas tank is full to prevent being
stranded in cold weather. Also, have a fully
charged cell phone on-hand in case you need to
call for help. Always make sure someone knows
your travel plans and when you are expected to arrive
at your destination.
of Tinley Park
Personal safety
Take these steps if exposed
to frostbite, which is a severe
reaction to cold exposure that
causes freezing in the deep
layers of skin and tissue.
Don’t thaw tissue if it’s only going
to freeze again. The more often
tissue freezes and thaws, the deeper
the damage will be. Wait to treat
frostbite until a warm temperature
can be sustained, and never massage
frostbitten tissue, as rubbing it will
result in more damage.
Don’t use heating devices such as
stoves or fires to treat frostbite. Victims
can’t feel the frostbitten tissue and can
be easily burned.
Body heat can be used to thaw mild
frostbite or frost nip, which is tissue that
isn’t quite frozen yet. For example,
place mildly frostbitten fingers
under your arm to keep warm.
Get to the hospital as soon as
possible for medical treatment.
If you become trapped in your car, remain there until help
arrives and run your engine for short periods of time to
stay warm. Remember to keep your window slightly open
for ventilation. At nighttime, keep your motor running and
turn on your dome light so rescuers can find you easier.
P.A.W.S.
Exercise occasionally to
stay warm and keep blood
circulating in your legs,
fingers and toes.
For more information on winter preparedness,
visit www.state.il.us/iema/disaster/s_weather.htm
and click on the “Winter Weather Preparedness”
link at the bottom.
Four decades of P.A.W.S. and counting
By John Dillon, P.A.W.S. Board of Directors
Put on your red and flash your rubies! The Peoples
Animal Welfare Society of Tinley Park is celebrating
its 40th anniversary this spring.
and surrounding areas’ populations
exploded, and cornfields became
subdivisions of homes, townhouses
and condos. Sadly, the numbers of abandoned pets grew,
too. The ladies’ noble idea has expanded just as the
population grew around them for those 40 years.
The shelter will celebrate its four decades of accomplishments from 6 to 11:30 p.m. March 21 at Odyssey
Country Club, 19110 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park.
It promises to be a night of magic, dancing, auctions,
raffles and fun.
P.A.W.S. did its best to keep up. The founders worked
to expand their noble mission, and in the 1990s, after
conscientious efforts and courageous foresight, the ladies
traded the garage for a brick-and-mortar building at
8301 W. 191st St., Tinley Park. Our first real shelter!
P.A.W.S. has been an organization with 501(c)3 status since
1974, when some very wonderful local ladies began their
mission in a small garage as a
meager safety net for local animals.
Over the next 40 years, the local
Since then, P.A.W.S. has developed into an organization
of hundreds of local volunteers saving and adopting
incredible numbers of stray and abandoned dogs and
cats in our local area. In fact, over the last decade, the
22
Be aware of the top 10 code violations
By Ken Karczewski, Code Compliance Officer
My name is Ken Karczewski, and I am the newly
appointed Code Compliance Officer for the Village
of Tinley Park.
Violations can occur whenever any part of the
structure is not maintained in weather-tight, sound
condition or in good repair.
Over the past 28 years, I have had the pleasure of
serving the Village as a police officer and the Crime
Free Housing Coordinator. Coincidentally, my new
duties still authorize me to enforce provisions of the
Tinley Park Ordinances. Additionally, I also can enforce
building, zoning and primarily the International
Property Maintenance Codes.
7. Substandard structure: Detached garages, sheds and
decks that are in disrepair or structurally unsound
may require extensive repairs or removal altogether.
The services of structural engineers or licensed
contractors may be required. Permits will usually
be required to repair or remove the structure.
8. Unmaintained or unsecured swimming pools:
Risk of injury or death from unauthorized access
occurs whenever pools are not properly secured.
Also, stagnant or unfiltered water will contribute
to mosquito infestation and the West Nile Virus.
During my “travels” over the past few months around
the Village, I’ve made a list of the top 10 code violations
I have observed. These violations are not necessarily
indigenous to Tinley Park, but also occur nationally.
The list is as follows:
9. Dead trees and landscaping: Removing dead trees
reduces the risk of injury and property damage.
1. High grass and weeds: Heights exceeding eight
inches are considered excessive. Property owners
are usually given a period of seven days to abate
the violation.
10.Vacant property registration: Many municipalities
require vacant and abandoned properties to be
registered.
2. Nuisances: This is a broad category ranging from
abandoned vehicles to leaving trash receptacles
at the curb.
When a violation is identified, notice is sent to the
property owner advising them the violations must be
remedied. Most violations can be abated within seven
to 10 days. Other serious violations can take longer,
and time extensions can be granted if a “plan of action”
has been discussed and agreed upon.
3. Graffiti: Promptly removing graffiti reduces the
risk of additional theft or damage to a property.
4. Open or vacant structures: Property owners should
keep all windows and doors of a vacant structure
securely closed to prevent unauthorized entry.
I would ask everyone to take a look at your property.
Complete those repairs which may have been neglected.
Trim your landscaping, fertilize your lawn, close your
pool, touch-up the house trim, repair those holes in the
soffits, or insulate those windows.
5. Junk, trash and debris: Appliances, tires, auto
parts, inoperable vehicles, building materials,
tree trimmings and fallen limbs are a few examples
of items that are prohibited from being left in the
yard. In some cases, specific disposal procedures
must be followed.
If you have a complaint about a building or residence
in your neighborhood, please complete the online
form under “Village Forms” at www.tinleypark.org.
If you need to speak with me directly, please call (708)
444-5179 or email me at [email protected].
6. Minimum housing standards: These standards cover
the overall condition and usability of the property.
organization has taken in, cared for and successfully
adopted more than 1,000 animals each year.
The organization is also accepting donations to sponsor
the 40th anniversary event. Over the years, many people
and businesses have provided wonderful items for the
events. This year, local citizens and businesses will again
provide exceptional offers for the evening.
A totally volunteer organization, P.A.W.S. has been
serving the area by also offering programs that benefit
the local and regional community. During the year,
P.A.W.S. often sponsors events in order to continue
the mission to provide a safe haven for homeless
and abandoned animals, as well as medical care, pet
adoption, lost and found pet assistance, adult and
junior volunteer programs and humane education and
outreach to the community. Animal Therapy groups
also bring shelter animals to local hospitals,
retirement centers and schools.
A simple donation can be made
monetarily or by donating an item
to be used for the auctions that
evening. P.A.W.S. is a nonprofit
organization, so all donations are
tax-deductible.
We hope you can attend, sponsor,
donate or just come for the fun!
The support of the local citizenry
is invaluable to P.A.W.S.’ existence,
and community offerings are only
made possible through the generous
support of community leaders,
members and the general public.
To buy tickets or for more
information, call organizers
Sue Kapala at (708) 212 6837 or
John Dillon at (708) 805-3932,
or visit www.pawstinleypark.org.
23
Police Department News
The importance of school safety
By Police Chief Steve Neubauer
Nearly every day, the media
reports on an incident at a
Police Chief
school that threatens the safety
Steve Neubauer
of our children. The Village of
Tinley Park Police Department is
very concerned about all aspects of student safety. On
any given day, there are 11,000 students in classrooms
from preschools to colleges within our borders.
State law requires each school to have an all-hazards
safety plan. That includes school intruders, fire, tornado, bus mishaps, lost students and even an earthquake
component. Village staff has worked with the schools
and reviewed the plans, as required by law. We have
also worked with schools on suggestions for upgrading
the physical plant of the schools to enhance safety in
and around the buildings.
The first threat to the safety of any student is the trip to
and from school. A dedicated cadre of 32 crossing
guards assists our children through dangerous intersections. Many schools have special traffic patterns for
ingress and egress times, along with parking regulations.
It is important for all motorists to respect school zones,
school traffic patterns and parking regulations in and
around schools. Students can only be safe if everyone
follows the Rules of the Road.
State law has also required certain drills at the schools.
These include mandated fire drills, lockdown drills, bus
drills and shooting incident drills. Staff continue to
work with the schools on an ongoing basis to accomplish these drills.
I have asked my patrol officers to be highly visible
around the schools during their patrols. I want officers
to engage with students and staff on a regular basis.
When the officers have free time during ingress and
egress, I want them to patrol walking routes in and
around the schools. Don’t be alarmed if you see a police
car at your child’s school. Officers will be visiting
schools or even writing reports in the parking lots. The
goal is to make our officers a daily part of school safety.
Also note, it is illegal to text while operating a vehicle
and, as of January 1, 2014, drivers must use a hands-free
device to use a cellular phone on all roads in Illinois at
all times. It is also illegal to use a cellular phone in identified school zones.
The police department has met with representatives of
all the schools to set up a communication plan and
meet key staff. There is a recently developed plan to
alert schools about issues that occur in the community
that may warrant extra security in and around schools.
For example, if there is a bank robbery in town, our 9-1-1
Center can send one message to all of the schools in
Tinley Park. We can then follow up with an “all-clear”
message. This communication plan allows each principal to act accordingly depending on the school’s proximity to the event.
Finally, research from around the country has told us
that the best way to avoid a tragedy at a school is to
pre-emptively address issues before they become tragic.
Successful interventions of individuals planning to
harm our children occur when good citizens notify the
authorities about troublesome behavior. I am asking all
of our residents to report any information they may
have received about potential threats or suspicious
activity in the community or in the schools. The police
department and schools will work together to assess the
information and make the appropriate interventions. If
you hear something, say something!
The officers regularly train on responding to school
emergencies. This training includes site visits to many
of the schools so that the officers are familiar with the
school layouts. Additionally, the officers regularly practice response to an active shooter in the community, be
it a school, church, or other public building.
Officer Yambo is on patrol!
The Tinley Park Police Department’s new K-9 officer,
Yambo, completed basic training and is now on
patrol with his handler, Officer Scott Rains.
Both Yambo and Officer Rains completed six weeks
of training in tracking, building searches, narcotics
identification and command work. The training was
conducted at the Landheim Kennels in Dyer, Ind.
This is the same organization that trained the Tinley
Park Police Department’s last three K-9 officers –
Bach, Enzo and Thor.
Yambo is a German shepherd who is about
2 years old.
24
Crime Free Housing Program: What You Need to Know
By Crime Free Housing Coordinator Douglas Alba
䡲 After completion of the class, a
certificate is issued verifying
attendance.
What’s new in Tinley Park’s Crime Free Housing Program?
I am!
Let me introduce myself. My name is Doug Alba, and I
come to the Tinley Park Police Department with over 27
years of law enforcement service and over four years of
Crime Free Housing Coordinator experience.
䡲 Complete the license application.
䡲 Present a copy of your certificate, application and
license fee to Village Hall. You can also mail in the
required items to: The Village of Tinley Park,
16250 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477
The Tinley Park Crime Free Housing program is a crime
prevention program for residential rental properties. It is
a nationally recognized program designed to help residents, owners and managers of rental properties keep
drugs and other illegal activity away. It is also utilized
by 11 other communities surrounding Tinley Park.
䡲 If you are a residential property owner of an apartment, condominium, townhouse or single-family
home, you must apply for a Residential Rental
Property license annually.
䡲 After your application is approved, you will receive
your license in the mail.
Starting in January 2014, Crime Free Housing classes are
offered from 6 to 10 p.m. the third Thursday of every
month, and nearly every first Saturday of each month.
All classes will be held at the Tinley Park Police
Department, 7850 W. 183rd St. You can register online
at the Village website at www.tinleypark.org. Click on
the Police Department tab, then go to Crime Free
Housing and look for the registration link. Pick a date
and complete the form. It’s that easy!
䡲 In order to apply for a license, all residential property
owners must first complete a mandatory four-hour
training class that covers the ordinance, the Crime
Free Housing program, and other helpful topics.
If you have any questions, you can contact me at
(708) 444-5342 or email me at [email protected].
I look forward to meeting you. Together we can make
the Crime Free Housing Program a continued success.
The program has been in operation since 2009. If you
own a rental property, here is what you need to know:
2013 National Night
Out a success
The Tinley Park Police Department would
like to thank the approximately 4,000
visitors who stopped by National Night
Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Visitors were able to view police, fire, public
works and EMA vehicles and visit with the
employees. Salina’s donated, prepared and
served 1,000 hotdogs. Five huge bags of
freshly popped pop corn were donated by
Marcus Theatre Orland Park, and 54 local
businesses participated at our event.
Entertainment included face painting by
Pockets the Clown, D.J. services by Jackie
McDonald, the “Get Moving with Ronald
McDonald” show, a magic/juggling variety
show by David Fleming, and demonstrations by Family Martial Arts and the Tinley
Park Bulldog Cheerleaders. Visitors also
enjoyed riding the Odyssey Fun World
Cow Train.
Thank you to the Target Corporation for
the 2013 National Night Out grant, which
funded National Night Out. Mark your
calendar for Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014 for the
next National Night Out celebration.
Ronald McDonald performs during the
annual National Night Out Celebration
Aug. 6 in Downtown Tinley.
25
Protect yourself from scams
The following are some of the most common scams perpetrated against seniors.
Read on to familiarize yourself with these schemes and protect your finances.
Grandparents Scam
Scam artists claiming to be attorneys, paralegals and
law enforcement officers frantically call saying that a
grandchild is in trouble and requesting the grandparent
immediately wire a large sum of money.
Phishing/Spoofing Scam
Scam artists claiming to represent government agencies,
charities, banks or law enforcement call, mail, email or
make door-to-door solicitations requesting your personal
information. No legitimate business or government
agency will ever contact you to request your personal
or financial information.
Prizes/Sweepstakes/Free Gifts Scam
A scam artist mails a letter or calls you and pretends to
be with “Reader’s Digest,” “Publisher’s Clearing House,”
a government agency or a phony foreign lottery. The
scam artist claims that you have “won” money and
tells you that you must wire hundreds or even thousands
of dollars to the scam artist to cover taxes or some
other bogus fees. You wire the money, but the prize
never arrives.
Wandering Contractors Scam
A scam artist comes to your door and pretends that
you have a tree that needs trimming or a roof in need
of repair to distract you while another person sneaks
into your home to steal cash and valuables.
Investment/Ponzi Scheme
A scam artist encourages you to make investments
and promises unrealistically high returns.
Home Improvement/Doorstep Scam
A scam artist knocks on your door offering to repair
something in or around your home. They ask you to pay
upfront, and you never see the alleged repairman again.
Friendship/Sweetheart Scam
A scam artist nurtures an online relationship, building
trust and confidence, then convinces you to send
money.
Charity Scam
A caller claims to collect money for needy children,
veterans or victims of a recent disaster. Always research
charities before making a donation to ensure that the
charity is registered with the Attorney General’s office
as required by law.
Work-At-Home Scam
A scam artist promises you big money to work from home
assembling products, establishing an online business or
mystery shopping. You may invest hundreds of dollars
for start-up with little, if any, return in payment.
Mortgage/Reverse Mortgage Scam
A con-artist offers you free home investment opportunities, mortgage foreclosure or refinancing assistance.
You may hear about such schemes through investment
seminars as well as via television, radio, billboard and
mailer advertisements, and even from people you know.
Free Trial Offer Scam
A scam artist uses television advertisements and unwanted
telephone calls offering free goods and services and then
asks for your credit card information. Time passes and
you don’t realize that you are being billed every month
for that free trial offer.
ATM Skimming Scam
A skimming device is used to read debit and credit card
details, which can be a component of identity theft.
Bereavement Scam
Scammers often try to take advantage of senior
citizens who have recently lost a loved one, such
as a spouse. Scammers call, claim that the deceased
spouse has outstanding debts that must be paid
immediately, and ask for a blank check or credit card
information for payment.
Malware Internet Scam
The scammers send an email. You open the email
and attachment, which installs the malware viruses
on the computer. Your personal, private and credit
card information is revealed.
Emergency and non-emergency
phone numbers
The Tinley Park Police Department would like to remind residents to dial
911 in an emergency and
(708) 532-9111 for non-emergencies.
Residents are reminded if you dial 911 from a cell phone you must:
1. identify who you are and 2. where you are calling from.
If you call from a land-based line, the 911 center will be able to identify you and your
location. If you see suspicious activities, please pick up the phone and report it.
See It! Hear It! Report It!
26
Don’t drive in-TEXT-icated
Historical Society holiday
card, ornament now
available
A new law that goes into effect on Jan.
1, 2014 – House Bill 1247 – will prohibit
Illinois drivers from using a cellphone
without a hands-free device.
The 2013 edition of the
Tinley Park Historical
Society’s Historic
Ornament Series is
now being sold, as is
the official Village of
Tinley Park Holiday Card.
Drivers will only be allowed to use a
cellphone while in the car if:
䡲 They are reporting an emergency
situation
䡲 They are using the device hands-free
or in voice-activated mode
䡲 They are parked on the shoulder of a roadway
The 2013 ornament features the Prosperi Airport,
which was located along Harlem Avenue at the
southern end of Tinley Park. It opened in 1942
and closed in 1966 when Interstate 80 was
built through it.
After Illinois adopts House Bill 1247, it will become the
12th state and the first in the Midwest to ban the use of
a handheld cellphone while driving.
Also taking effect on Jan. 1 is House Bill 2585, which
increases penalties (to up to three years in prison)
for drivers who cause fatal accidents while using a
cellphone or other electronic device.
The holiday card, which is being made available to
the public for the first time, features a horse-drawn
carriage driving through the Oak Park Avenue
Metra train station and is sure to warm the hearts
of friends and loved ones.
Wayne wins senior award
The holiday
ornament costs
$6, and the
holiday cards are
sold in packs of
10 cards for $5.
Both are available
from 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. Mondays
through Fridays
and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Tinley Park
Village Hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Ave. Ornaments
and cards also will be sold during the Village’s
annual Holiday Market from Dec. 6 to 8 in the
parking lot of the Oak Park Avenue Metra train
station, 6700 South St.
Congratulations to Bonnie Wayne,
who received the Illinois State TRIAD
Senior Citizen Volunteer Award and
the PLOWS Council on Aging Senior
Volunteer Award. Bonnie is a member
of the Seniors And Law Enforcement
Together organization and assists with
the monthly meeting minutes.
Coloring Contest winners
Congratulations to the 2013 coloring contest winners,
who were announced at National Night Out on Aug. 6.
Winners include:
For more information, please call (708) 444-5000.
Joyce Khella (kindergarten)
Mahdi Aldabbagh (first grade)
Cole Wegner (second grade)
Austin Friel (third grade)
Spencer Kick (fourth grade)
Halie O’Brien (fifth grade)
Winners received a goodie bag and a ride on the first day
to school in a police vehicle.
National Seat Check Saturday
Twenty infants and toddlers are safer
after having their child passenger
safety seats checked during
National Seat Check Saturday
on Sept. 21 at the Texas Roadhouse
parking lot. Tinley Park residents
are able to schedule appointments
by calling (708) 444-5326. It is the
responsibility of the parent/grandparent/caregiver to install the child
safety seat into their vehicle, and
technicians will verify that it is
properly installed.
27
Past issues in the historic ornament series
include:
1989: “Old Zion” Landmark
1990: Carl Vogt Building
1991: Bartels Windmill
1992: First Village Hall
1993: “Sam Tinley’s Train Depot”
1994: Saenger Hall
1995: Henry Vogt, First Mayor’s Home
1996: Tony Bettenhausen in a Sprint Car
1997: William Moak Residence
1998: Bremen Cash Store
1999: The Old Gaslight
2000: J.W. Hollstein’s Saloon
2001: Central Junior High School
2002: Columbia Hotel
2003: Oak Park Avenue Train Station
2004: Andres Block (J.C. Funk’s Store)
2005: Tinley Park Hotel
2006: Grohscurth/Nielsen/Andres House
2007: Andres Brueggemann Grain Elevator
2008: Tinley Park United Methodist Church
2009: Diamond Spiral Washing Machine Company
2010: Tinley Park Dairy
2011: Tinley Park High School
2012: Bremen State Bank
Fire Department News
Important safety tips for a fire-free winter
By Fire Chief Ken Dunn
The Tinley Park Fire Department
sees the number of residential
Fire Chief
fires increase as the cold weather
Ken Dunn
becomes more common, so it’s
important to keep these fire
safety tips in mind during the coming winter months:
cut off about two inches of the trunk for better water
absorption, and make sure it has plenty of water.
Portable space heaters
Space heaters can be a warm friend during the winter,
but it’s important to make sure you’re using them
properly to avoid a fire.
Fireplaces and chimneys
If you have a fireplace or wood stove that you use to
heat your home, make sure they are cleaned. If you
have a chimney, make sure it’s inspected and cleaned by
a qualified chimney sweep. Burn only dry, well-seasoned
hardwoods such as oak, hickory and maple.
Also, place your tree away from heat sources and hightraffic areas. If you have an artificial tree, make sure it’s
labeled, certified or identified as fire-retardant.
Make sure you read all of the manufacturer’s instructions
carefully before using a space heater. Also, keep in mind
that you need 36 inches of clearance on all sides of a
space heater to avoid igniting nearby things such as
furniture, draperies and clothing.
Also, when using a fireplace, make sure the opening is
covered with a metal screen or glass doors, and never
leave a fire unattended.
Bonfires
A bonfire is an outdoor fire used for ceremonial
purposes and requires a permit from the Tinley Park
Fire Prevention Bureau. Bonfires cannot be closer than
50 feet to a structure or combustible material. Bonfires
are also prohibited if wind or nearby vegetation could
cause it to spread within 50 feet of a structure.
Holiday trees
The Tinley Park Fire Prevention Bureau recommends
that residents forgo buying a real tree and use an
artificial one instead.
If you must buy a live tree, however, make sure it’s
fresh. You’ll know a tree is fresh if it’s hard to pull the
needles from the braches. To make sure it stays fresh,
As always, have a joyous and fire-safe holiday season!
Fire Department Bureau offers CPR/AED training
The Tinley Park Fire Prevention Bureau has set a goal
to have at least one person in every household in the
Village certified and trained in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) and in the use of an automatic
external defibrillator (AED).
The cost of this life-saving certification is only $35 for
residents. The fire department also provides a separate
CPR/AED class for health care professionals at 6:30 p.m.
the first Thursday of each month and at 9 a.m. the last
Saturday of each month. New this year is the Heart Saver
First Aid class. We also can provide CPR/AED training at
your facility or business.
The American Heart Association’s Heart Saver CPR/AED
certification class is offered to any resident of Tinley
Park age 14 or older. Classes are taught by members of
the Tinley Park Fire Department and are held on the
third Saturday of each month. This three-hour class is
designed to give students practical knowledge of CPR
techniques and training on using an AED correctly.
Pictures are from a recent Health Care Provider class at Fox College in
Tinley Park
For additional information or to register for these programs, please contact the Tinley Park Fire Department at (708) 444-5200.
Learn to be a life saver!
28
Downtown Tinley keeping up with the times
There’s a metamorphosis happening right now in the
heart of Tinley Park.
Downtown Tinley businesses and
events.”
A surge in new businesses. Fun social media options.
Entertaining events for all seasons. And a rebranding
campaign that is changing the way people interact with
Downtown Tinley.
Downtown Tinley is also becoming
a go-to destination for business
owners who want a location that provides good
visibility and sizable foot traffic. One such business is
El Coco Mio, a new Caribbean restaurant that will soon
open near 173rd Place and Oak Park Avenue (in the old
Bogart’s building).
“Downtown Tinley is in the midst of a revitalization,
the likes of which I haven’t seen before,” said Mike
Clark, Chairman of the MainStreet Commission, which
is comprised of Downtown Tinley business owners and
community leaders. “Businesses are becoming increasingly
interested in setting up shop along Oak Park Avenue, and
our events seem to attract more and more people every
year. I’m excited about the positive direction in which
Downtown Tinley is heading.”
Even existing businesses are in motion. Just recently,
Downtown Tinley saw remodeling and façade improvements of several of its stores, including Avenue Animal
Hospital at 16736 S. Oak Park Ave., and Bailey’s
Restaurant and Bar at 17731 S. Oak Park Ave.
Perhaps Downtown Tinley’s most recognizable traits,
however, are its slew of yearlong events that provide
fun entertainment any time of year. Events such as the
Caribbean Block Party, Music in the Plaza, Benches on
the Avenue, Cruise Nights, the Irish Parade, Boo Bash,
Bridal Showcase, Farmers Market, Holiday Market and
Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony are always well-attended,
whether its 82 and sunny or 10 below and snowy.
The recent rebranding effort gave Downtown Tinley a
complete facelift and included the creation of a dedicated
website at www.downtowntinley.com, as well as a
brand-new logo and an electronic newsletter that
people can sign up to receive about twice a month.
In keeping with the times, a new Downtown Tinley
Facebook page also was created so that people can stay
up-to-date on everything going on along Oak Park Avenue.
“The great thing about Downtown Tinley events is that
they happen right next to places to grab a bite to eat or
do a little window shopping,” Clark said. “No matter
what the event is, you’re always only steps away from
a vibrant business community filled with shops,
restaurants and services.”
“Oak Park Avenue is a product, and like any product, it
needs to be marketed correctly if it’s going to be successful,” Clark said. “We think these new rebranding efforts
have pumped new life into our downtown and provided
visitors with many ways to stay connected to
‘Benches on the Avenue’ 2014 call to artists and sponsors
Are you an artist looking for an opportunity to show off
your talents and challenge your creativity?
Benches on the Avenue, which in 2014 will celebrate
its 11th year, is an award-winning public art program
that features benches along downtown Oak Park Avenue
showcasing the unique and colorful designs of professional
and amateur artists from the area. The artwork is based
on a different theme each year, and benches are on
display from mid-May until October.
The Village of Tinley Park is seeking amateur and/or
professional artists; teachers and students; groups and
individuals interested in participating in the annual
Benches on the Avenue public art project, which is a
high-profile event that each year attracts thousands of
people to the downtown area.
To request complete guidelines for
submission, contact Nancy Byrne
at (708) 444-5046 or
[email protected].
Artists will be selected based on their portrayal of the
2014 theme, “Let the Games Begin.” We are looking
for creative, colorful, three-dimensional designs that are
child- and family friendly and that depict board games
and/or traditional children’s games.
How old are your smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms save lives! This has been documented by fire departments all over the country. People have escaped the deadly smoke
and fire as a result of these properly functioning alarms.
Smoke alarms only last about 10 years; after
that, they should be replaced. How old are
your smoke alarms?
New smoke alarms have updated technology
that contain lithium batteries that last 10
years and are tamper-proof (the battery cannot
be removed). These new type of smoke alarms need
to be tested once a month and will last 10 years before
they need to be replaced.
On the dark side, almost two-thirds of home fire
deaths resulted from fires in homes with no working
smoke alarms. Maybe they were there, but the batteries
were weak or missing, or the smoke alarm itself was
out-of-date and obsolete.
29
Your drain is no place for fats, oils and grease!
With all of the holiday cooking that will be happening
during the upcoming months, the Village urges our residents not to pour fats, oils and grease (FOG) down the
drain, into garbage disposals, or down a storm drain.
Pouring FOG down the drain can cause sewer backups.
FOG goes down the drain easily when warmed by hot
water, but once inside the pipe, it will cool and harden,
creating a greasy blob that blocks sewer pipes and forces
sewage back the way it came.
Please pour FOG into containers (empty jars or cans)
and wipe all pots, pans, plates and utensils clean of
FOG with paper towels. Properly disposing of FOG helps
manage the cost of sewer repairs and services and, most
importantly, saves the environment. And remember,
we’re not just talking about bacon grease; FOG includes
things you don’t usually think of, like ice cream,
chocolate, mayonnaise and butter. Sink drains, which
go directly to the sewer system, aren’t the only problem.
treated. So, pouring grease into a storm drain is the
same as pouring it into a creek.
To get rid of grease, pour it into an empty can or a
bucket. Put it in the fridge or, if the container is too
large, leave it outside in the cold until trash pickup day
and then place the congealed grease in your garbage.
Remember, if you leave it outside, make sure you put a
lid on it so that critters can’t get to it.
It’s not unheard of for people to pour gallons of grease
from frying turkeys into our storm drains. Be aware that
everything that goes down a storm drain, whether it is
leaves, yard clippings, basketballs or turkey grease, goes
straight into a creek, stream or river without being
Public Works reminders
Leaves
To help prevent flooding and home backups, residents
are being asked to assist the Public Works Department
by removing leaves from the sewer covers and inlets at
their property. Please bag the fallen leaves and do not
rake or blow them into the street, as this is unlawful.
Tree Removal
The Public Works Department has contracted Homer
Tree Service for removal of ash trees. Please see Trustee
Tom Staunton’s remarks on the Emerald Ash Borer
infestation on page 5,or the feature on page 13.
Mailboxes
Be sure to check your mailbox to ensure that it meets
the United States Postal Service requirements that the
front of the box should not extend past the curb. Also,
the post must be firmly set in the ground and not have
signs of deterioration, such as cracking, rotting or rusting.
The box must be attached securely to the post. The
Public Works Department will not be responsible for
mailboxes damaged by a snow plow if it does not meet
these requirements.
Snow Removal
During a snowfall, all streets receive two passes down
the center of the street by the plow to open the neighborhood. After the entire route has been run and the
snow has finished falling, the plow returns to clean the
street curb to curb.
Snow removal on cul-de-sacs begins after the snow stops
falling, and these routes take eight to 16 hours to complete.
Since the winter of 2011, the Village has contracted
snow removal, which means Public Works manages
but does not actively remove snow in the cul-de-sacs.
Adopt a Sewer, Fire Hydrant or Street Light
The Public Works Department is requesting that
residents with a storm sewer at their curb or fire
hydrant in the parkway “adopt” them by removing
leaves from the sewer covers and removing snow from
around the hydrant. As described above, removing
leaves helps prevent street flooding and backups.
Keeping fire hydrants clear aids the Fire Department
in case of emergency.
The snow removal plan goes into effect after an
accumulation of one inch of snow. Cars are not
allowed to be parked on the street at that time. In
addition, Village ordinance prohibits parking on the
street between 2 and 5 a.m. Village ordinance also
prohibits pushing snow into the street from a driveway
or parking lot. Anyone putting snow in the street runs
the risk of potential liability if an accident occurs. Also,
residents and plowing services should not stack snow
around fire hydrants or on the sidewalks. Do not put
garbage cans or recycling bins in the street because they
interfere with the snow plows and street sweepers.
Street Lights
For additional neighborhood safety, please contact
the Public Works Department if a neighborhood street
light is out or if the lens is broken. Call (708) 444-5500
or use our Public Works “Report A Concern” module at
www.tinleypark.org.
Please be aware that Cook County is now responsible
for plowing 183rd Street from 80th Avenue to LaGrange
Road. This is in addition to other streets throughout
town that fall under county plowing jurisdiction.
Visit the Village website at www.tinleypark.org for a
complete list of state and county roads in Tinley Park.
Recycle Station
Use of the recycle station at the Public Works Garage,
7980 W. 183rd St., is designated for non-commercial,
Tinley Park residents only. Please check the website
for proper disposal of electronics, paint cans, etc.
30
VILLAGE OF TINLEY PARK
Edward Zabrocki..............................Mayor
Patrick Rea .............................Village Clerk
TRUSTEES
David Seaman........................Finance and Economic Development
Gregory Hannon ............................................Planning and Zoning
Brian Maher ................................................................Public Safety
Thomas Staunton Jr ...................................................Public Works
Patricia Leoni ........................................Budget and Administration
T.J. Grady ................................................Building and Compliance
Scott Niehaus ..................................................................Village Manager
Michael Mertens .............................................Assistant Village Manager
Steve Tilton ......................................................Assistant Village Manager
Thomas Melody ...............................................................Village Attorney
(Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd.)
Christopher King ...........................................................Village Engineer
(R.W. Robinson & Assoc.)
Brad L. Bettenhausen ...................................................Village Treasurer
Steve Neubauer ......................................................................Police Chief
Ken Dunn ..........................Fire Chief and Fire Prevention Administrator
Patrick Carr .......................................................................EMA Director
Ivan Baker ............................................Economic Development Director
Amy Connolly ..............................................................Planning Director
Donna Framke............................................................Marketing Director
Dale Schepers.........................................................Public Works Director
Don McNeely .......................................................Building Commissioner
Gerry Horan ..................................................Human Resources Director
TINLEY PARK VILLAGE HALL
16250 S. Oak Park Ave. • (708) 444-5000 • www.tinleypark.org
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m • Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
VILLAGE BOARD MEETINGS
Held at 8 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of every month in the Village Hall.
The public is welcome. One requirement of effective, responsive government is the continuous
flow of communication of every kind between the citizens and their elected representatives.
Our purpose is to facilitate the Exchange. Published in spring, summer and fall/winter.
Articles may be submitted to the editor at the Village Hall. Editor: Jason Freeman
Printed on Recycled Paper
Minimum 10% Post Consumer Fiber
The Exchange
PRSRT STD
ECRWSS
U.S. Postage
c/o The Village Hall
16250 S. Oak Park Avenue
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
DATED MATERIAL
PAID
Tinley Park, IL
Permit No. 34
Postal Patron
TINLEY PARK, IL
Holiday Happenings
in
Holiday Market
Friday, December 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Oak Park Avenue Metra train station,
6700 South St. (South Parking Lot)
Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, December 6 at 6 p.m.
Old-Fashioned Carriage Rides
Saturday, December 7 from 12:30 p.m.
to 5:30 p.m.
6700 South St.
Carousel Ride
Saturday, December 7 – step-off at 11:30 a.m.
Viewing area from 175th Street to South St.
6700 South St.
Ice Carving Demonstration
Holiday Movies
Saturday, December 7 at 2 p.m.
Old Zion Landmark Church, 6727 W. 174th St.
Tinley’s Toyland Parade
Photos with Santa
6700 South St.
Parade of Lights
Sunday, December 8 – step-off at 5 p.m.
Viewing area from 177th Street north
along Oak Park Avenue
Campfire
Saturday, December 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Sunday, December 8 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Just south of the Oak Park Avenue Metra train
station and Holiday Market

Fall/Winter 2013

Transcription

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