South Holland Today - Oct/Nov 2013

S o u t h H o l l a n d

T O D A Y Newsletter from the Village of south hollaNd october / NoVember 2013

Dedicated to fitness...

Fitness Center .....................2

Resident You Should Know.. 5

Madison Teacher Inspires ..10

Bring back the magic ........13

Vision 2022 Progress .........15

InsIde

Newly renovated fitness center opens its doors.

South Holland TODAY 2 October / November 2013

By Bob Bong South Holland’s Department of Rec-reational Services and the Park Adviso-ry Committee joined forces to complete the renovation of the fitness center. The center, which is part of the South Holland Community Center at 501 E. 170th St., was reopened after undergoing a complete makeover, said fitness center manager Martin Quiroga. On Sept. 3, the Recreational Services staff unveiled the improvements along with Village President Don De Graff, Trustees Andrew Johnson,

Fitness Center adds new equipment in makeover

Larry DeYoung and Cindy Nylen, and Recreational Services Director Ed Stewart. The fitness center is now lined with new advanced cardio and premium strength training equipment. The space dedicated to fitness has been transformed into a room that will thrill seasoned members and attract newbies. During a series of tours, staff engaged members in a demonstration of the new indoor cycling program, which uses a specialized stationary bicycle with a

weighted flywheel. This is an organized workout led by an experienced instructor, designed to build endurance and strength. Cycling classes are now available. “All of our cardio equipment is brand new,” said Quiroga. “And we brought in 15 indoor biking machines.” Quiroga said fitness center staffers were all trained in how to use the new equip-ment, which is available to anyone who joins the fitness center. Other new equipment includes two re-cumbent steppers, two recumbent bikes, two step mills, three AMT machines, eight free motion treadmills, two ellipti-cal machines with moving arms and three with fixed arms. During the recent dedication ceremony, Mayor De Graff commended Recreational Services staff, members of the Park Ad-visory Committee and Trustee Andrew Johnson, all of whom were instrumental in completing the upgrade of the fitness center. South Holland’s Department of Recre-ational Services operates and maintains the fitness center, which has about 1,700 members. Other amenities at the Com-munity Center include spacious meeting rooms, rim-flow pool and whirlpool, sauna and locker rooms, and preschool, media room and kitchen. For information, visit South Holland’s website, www.southholland.org, for a full list of current and upcoming classes, programs and events.

South Holland’s Department of Recreational Services (SHRS) unveiled many improve-ments to the fitness center during a recent dedication ceremony and open house. Cutting the ribbon to the updated facility were (l-r) SHRS staff Andre Johnson, Trustee Andrew Johnson, Jr., Mayor Don De Graff, Trustee Larry DeYoung, SHRS Director Ed Stewart, Trustee Cindy Nylen, and SHRS Operations Coordinator Sean Faulkner.

Fitness Center Manager Martin Quiroga demonstrates the multiple uses of the Rip 60 suspension trainer system.

Equipment in the newly renovated fitness center includes specialized stationary bikes, recumbent bikes and free weights, among a full slate of new cardio and endurance training equipment

South Holland TODAY October / November 2013 3

HERITAGE HAulSOUTH HOLLAND

Saturday, Sept. 21

Kim & Anthony Bolkema with their boys Lucas and Nolan South Holland police lead the half-marathon run

Rock climbing wall for kids

Mayor Don De Graff and wife NylaTrustee Andrew Johnson, Jr.Jan Mulder and Eric Comiskey cross the finish line together

Jesse White Tumblers entertain


BUSINESS

By Bob Bong While anyone who drives through town can see the new businesses that have opened in South Holland, they only see half of the progress that has been made on the economic development front. “People don’t always see what’s been going on in the industrial park,” said John Watson, economic development director for the village. “It’s been good,” he said. “There has been a lot of momentum created.” Hundreds of thousands of square feet of space, some vacant for years, has been leased this year, Watson said. Some of the deals have been huge.

New to South Holland:

Jacobson, a warehousing and distri-bution company that deals with animal health products, has moved into the 150,000-square-foot Hubble Electric space. “Hubble left in July and Jacobson has already moved into the space,” said Watson. But smaller deals add up, Watson added. Universal Metals, which makes flexible metal hoses, consolidated five locations into an 84,000-square-foot building in the village. “The space had been vacant for six or seven years,” Watson said. Easy Mix, which makes plastic mixing products, purchased the 50,000-square-foot former Motive Auto Parts site that had been empty for four years, he said. “Martin Produce, a regional food provider to Hispanic restaurants, took 50,000-square-feet and is already look-ing to expand,” Watson said. The $20 million company brought 40 new jobs to the village in the process, he added.

Business has been good in South Holland

“That site had been vacant for six years,” he said.

Upgrade projects

The Village Board also recently ap-proved 75 building permits for assorted projects. Village Trustee Larry DeYoung said the value of those projects was about $806,000. One of those permits was for changes that a new owner wants to make to the former Mitsubishi auto dealership at 150 W. 162nd St., which would become a West Side Tractor Sales Co. store.

New business openings in South Holland:

• 3V Woodworking 133 W. 154th St.

• Clair Beauty Mart 1048 E. 162nd St.

• Daily Feed 15800 State St.

• DDFK Properties LLC 512 W. Taft Dr.

• Field of Blooms 534 E. 158th St.

• J&T Manufacturer Inc. 674 Orchid Dr.

• Next Level Educational Initiates NFP, 901 E. 168th St.

• Sandrick Law Firm LLC 16475 Van Dam Road

• Trust Transportation 839 E. 166th Place

By Bob Bong The Friends of South Holland Face-book page has a simple aim: “We pro-

mote and share all the positive goodness that’s happening in South Holland.”

“The South Hol-land Economic Development Commis-sion (EDC) started it and administer the page,” said Economic Develop-ment Director John Watson. “It’s a way to keep residents and friends of the vil-lage aware of what’s going on in town. Members of EDC post news about awards or new businesses that have opened.”

“It’s done pretty well since it started in June,” said Watson. “It’s another distribution point for news about the village.”

The page already has more than 200 likes (people who sign up because they like what the page offers) and recent posts included photos of newly resur-faced streets in the village and the last day of the village farmers market.

“Ultimately, this becomes a great tool for the village,” he said.

EDC member, Stephanie Walters Jackson, who frequently posts com-munity news encourages residents and businesses to “Like” the fan page.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfSouthHolland.

Friends of South Holland start Facebook page

We promote and share all the positive goodness that’s happening in South

Holland.


By Cindy Cruz

After Nathan Vant Hoff graduated from Illiana Christian High School in 2010, he enlisted in the Army because he wanted to serve his country.

After he scored high on the Army’s aptitude tests, he was selected to serve in the 3rd Infantry Regiment, also called the Old Guard.

Known as the face of the Army, the Old Guard provides soldiers for all of-ficial ceremonies in the nation’s capital and serves as the Honor Guard for the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The Old Guard provides the gun salute at all funerals at the cemetery, as well as acting as the official escort for the president.

The 3rd Infantry is the oldest active infantry regiment in the U.S. Army, dating back to 1794, and has a distin-

Nathan Vant Hoff honors fallen soldiers through service in the Old Guard

guished history of service throughout our nation’s conflicts.

Soldiers serving in the Old Guard are more than ceremonial, however. They are militarily proficient and stand ready to defend Washington, D.C., in the event of an emergency.

N a t h a n completed his basic train-ing at Fort Benning in Georgia. He was stationed at Fort Meyer in Virginia, which is adja-cent to Arling-ton Cemetery. His missions took him to

RESIDENT TO KNOW

Nathan Vant Hoff, pictured with parents Kathy and John Vant Hoff, is proud to have served in the Old Guard.

Nathan (2nd from right) serves as honor guard at a military funeral.

the White House, Pentagon, Capitol, Arlington and Dover Air Force Base.

Nathan completed his service in September.

He feels that everyone should do something for their country.

“My most memorable experiences were the funerals and dignified transfers I took part in,” he said. “The amount of precision and dedication that went into each funeral and dignified transfer in order to honor the fallen soldier and help their family through that time was quite memorable and very rewarding for me.”

While he doesn’t come from a long line of military service in his family, Nathan’s grandfather served in World War II and was a prisoner of war for 18 months after his plane was shot down.

For Nathan, serving in the Army “meant being part of something bigger than myself.”

He is the son of Kathy and John Vant Hoff. Nathan plans to start college in January to study finance.


SOUTH HOLLAND HAPPENINGSVeterans Day Service South Holland VFW Post 9964 will host a Veterans Day Service on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in Veterans Park at the Monument, 160th Place and South Park Avenue.Christmas Tree & Santa Santa Claus is coming to town on Friday, Dec. 6, at the South Holland Community Center. Please join Santa, Mayor Don De Graff and the Village Board at 6 p.m. for the tree lighting in front of the Community Center. Santa visits begin at 6:30 p.m. This is a free event for South Holland children up to age 12. Registration forms will be available at the Community Cen-ter and Village Hall beginning Nov. 1. Pictures are not provided, so parents are encouraged to bring their camera to get a picture of their child with Santa.

Lions Club Chili Supper The 9th annual Chili Supper, spon-

sored by the South Holland Lions Club, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the South Holland Commu-nity Center from

4:30-7:30 p.m. The cost of each ticket is $10, which allows the purchaser to attend the sup-per and redeem $10 worth of goods from various South Holland merchants listed on the ticket. Children under 10 eat for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance from any member of the Lions Club, or at the door.

An informal opportunity for residents to meet with the Mayor and other Village officials to share

comments and concerns.

C o f f e e W i t h t h e M ay o r

Tues., Dec. 10 – 7:30 a.m.

Community Center501 E. 170th Street

Code Red The new Code Red Community No-tification System is a tool that enhances the village’s ability to communicate with residents and business owners. It replaces the Reverse911 system. This system provides for expedient delivery of community alerts, such as flooding, severe weather, street closures, roadwork, water main breaks and repairs, icy road conditions, and more.

The village strongly encourages our residents and business owners to sign up for the Code Red system. Sign up is simple and quick. Visit the village website or Village Hall to have your in-formation added to the Code Red system.

2014 MLK TribuTe“Seizing The ViSion”

A Musical Tribute in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s March on Washington

Saturday, January 18, 2014, 10:00 a.m.Covenant United Church of Christ

1130 East 154th Street

Featuring the South Suburban ChoraleGuest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith, Covenant UCC


SALUTES

By Eric Pradelski Looking for a way to increase your cheer this holiday season? Consider participating in the Holiday Spirit Contest, sponsored by South Hol-land Neighborhood Groups. To participate, five or more neighbors must commit to decorating their houses in a unified theme. Some examples in-clude bells, bows, wreaths, lights, etc. Residents are urged to keep the theme fun, yet simple to keep costs down. To participate in the contest, one rep-

Get your neighborhood involved in the Holiday Spirit Contest

resentative of the neighborhood should complete the Holiday Spirit Contest form (below) and return it to Village Hall by Friday, Dec. 13. Fax submissions can be sent to 708-210-1019. The form is avail-able online at www.southholland.org, at Village Hall, and at the Community Center. The contest will be judged on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 21. For more information, visit the village website or call 708-210-2918.

Brittany Vernon, a student at South Suburban College, has been selected for the 2013-2014 class of One Million Degrees scholars. Brittany was among the 51 highly motivated community college students selected from hundreds of applicants to receive financial assistance and student support services. OMD empowers students to excel academically, and ensures that they are well prepared to enter the workforce in a variety of meaningful careers.

vvv South Suburban College President Don Manning was recently elected to serve on two re-gional boards: Ju-nior Achievement of Chicago and the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce. These new volunteer posts continue Manning’s commitment to community outreach and educational accessibility in the south suburbs.

vvv Anabel Gonzalez, executive house-

keeper at the Clarion Inn of South Hol-land, was honored as Housekeeping Employee of the Year at the Chicago South-land Convention and

Tourism Bureau’s annual meeting in September.

vvv

Thornwood High School students Jesus Fernandez-Ortiz and Toheeb Okenla took first place in the Network for Teaching Entrapreneurship contest. Both students were invited to New York City where Sean “Diddy” Combs presented a $250,000 check for the program.

2012 Winner: The Villas of South Holland


POLICE DEPARTMENTBy Eric Pradelski Official trick-or-treat hours this year have been set for 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. The Police Department also has some tips for parents to ensure a safe and fun Halloween for everyone. • Check your children’s candy before they eat it.• Remind children to never enter anyone’s home or car and to go out in groups. • Avoid costumes with masks that can obstruct your child’s vision and hearing. • Obey all traffic signals, use sidewalks and crosswalks, and always walk, never run across the street. • Have adults walk the neighborhood to help keep children safe. • Remind children to stay in populated areas and not use back alleys or fields. • Only give out commercially wrapped treats. • Do not leave your home unattended. • Carry a flashlight to help illuminate you and your party when crossing the street.

Halloween safety tips

By Eric Pradelski The Village of South Holland once again has a low crime rate thus far this year, with both robberies and burglaries down. Police Chief Greg Baker says the low crime rate is a result of a combined effort between the job South Holland police of-ficers are doing, newly organized special operations units, and the hard work of parole officers. Baker also recognizes that village

By Eric Pradelski After a careful and thorough search, a new deputy police chief has been chosen to replace the va-cant position once held by Police Chief Greg Baker. South Holland police Detective Lt. Rich Good has been chosen to fill the vacancy. Good, a graduate of the FBI National Academy, has over 25 years of progressive experience in law enforcement in the Village of South Holland. He was officially sworn in during a ceremony at the meeting of the Village Board on Oct. 7.

Low crime rate is a community effort

New deputy police chief sworn in

By Eric Pradelski The South Holland Police Department has made a concerted effort to connect with and care for senior residents for many years. To further develop and maintain this com-mitment, the SHPD has developed the Secure Our Seniors (SOS) Initiative. This program provides home visits to senior citizens who may not be as mobile as they once were, but still want to have a one-on-one connection with a South Holland police officer. Seniors who are enrolled in the program

Police introducing S O S (Secure Our Seniors) initiative

can elect to have a one-on-one meeting with an officer bi-weekly, monthly or bi-monthly to keep them up to date with what is going on in the community. If you are a senior interested in this pro-gram or you are a person who knows a senior who may need some extra special attention, contact South Holland Police Officer Kirk Kremski at the non-emergency number, 708-331-3131, option 2, and inquire about the Secure Our Seniors program.

residents are more cognizant of suspi-cious people and activities and are more inclined to annonymously report these activities to police. Community policing meetings also have aided villagers in seeing the importance of reporting suspicious activity, he said. Baker said the SHPD will continue to do its job, but village residents must continue to be wary, ready, and alert to keep the crime rate low.

Pictured are (from l-r) Newly appointed Deputy Police Chief Richard S. Good, Deputy Village Ad-ministrator Pat Mahon, and Police Chief Greg Baker.


PUBLIC WORKS

By Eric Pradelski

Fall is upon us and winter is quickly approaching. With the changing of the seasons, branch and yard waste pickup will soon be suspended until the spring. The last date for branch pickup is Nov. 1. The last day for lawn clipping pickup is Nov. 30. Please plan your branch trimming and lawn mowing accordingly. The “Yard Waste” toter may be used for refuse from De-cember to March. Clearing leaves from the curbs and storm water drains aids in preventing street flooding. The street sweeper is designed for picking up road debris and is not designed for leaves. Residents’ support with keeping the drains clear is great help to the Public Works Department.

Branch and yard clipping pickup soon to end for the season

Village Engineer Patricia Barker said the following streets would make for smoother rides once resurfacing projects are finished. Barker said the projects are being funded by motor fuel taxes. Projects include:• Wabash Street from 158th Place to 159th Street east of

State Street• 167th Street from Kimbark to Woodlawn avenues• Dobson Street from 166th Street to 167th Place• 164th Court• Woodlawn West Avenue at Seton Drive

Village streets set for resurfacing

By Bob Bong Residents and small business owners in South Holland have saved more than $1 million since voters approved electricity aggregation in March 2012. Aggregation allows the village to negotiate electricity rates on behalf of residents and small businesses, who can opt out of the program if they prefer to find their own electricity provider. “The typical homeowner has already saved $195 in the last eight months,” said David Hoover, executive director of NIMEC (Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative). Hoover said the number of households in the aggregation program has slipped to less than 5,000 since the program started, but said that was not uncommon. “Attrition among participants is typical, as solicitors regularly contact residents,” he said. “Even though it is un-likely that a lower rate can be achieved, residents often leave for perceived

Residents save over $1 million on electric bills

‘greener pastures.’ A 5 to 10 percent loss in the first year of a new aggregation program is not atypical.” Hoover said part of South Holland’s savings was timing. “South Holland’s timing was excep-tionally good,” he said. “When South Holland implemented the program in the summer of 2012, rates were at record low

levels. Locking in for two years was a prudent choice and the Village Board should be commended for providing this opportunity for the community.” Hoover said savings would continue but as a lesser rate after ComEd reduced its own electricity rates from 8.3 cents per kilowatt hour to 5.5 cents.


EDUCATIONMadison teacher inspires her students to learn

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez recently honored 13 local stu-dents for their award-winning artwork that will be featured in the state’s at-torney’s 2014 calendar. Among the students recognized were eighth-grader Taylor Reid and sixth- grader McKenzie Martin, both from Calvary Academy in South Holland. The annual contest, which is open to all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade stu-dents in Cook County, asked students to depict positive alternatives to drug use. The winners were chosen from more than 700 entries submitted from public, private and parochial schools throughout the county.

State’s attorney honors Calvary Academy students

“These students showed talent and wisdom beyond their years with their artistic displays that illustrate the consequences of drug use and also show positive alternatives,” Alvarez said. “I want to thank all the students who submitted entries to the contest. They are all to be com-mended for their hard work and creative efforts.” In addition to having their artwork appear in the state’s attorney’s 2014 calendar, the winners received numer-ous other prizes, and the three first-place winners received scholarships from the School of the Art Institute.

Calvary Academy eighth-grader Taylor Reid (left) and sixth- grader McKenzie Martin (right), were hon-ored by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

The awards ceremony took place on May 15 at the National Museum of Mexican Art. The winning posters can be viewed on the state’s attorney’s website, www.statesattorney.org.

Michelle Van Dommelen

‘District 151 is committed to acquiring up-to-date technology. This is truly a student-centered district.’ - Michelle Van Dommelen

By Cindy Cruz Michelle Van Dommelen conveys her love of learning to her students through her innovative approach to education. The fourth-grade teacher at Madison School in School District 151 describes herself as a very hands on teacher who likes to guide her students learning. “I try to facilitate discussions that will lead to a deeper understanding of topics,”

she said. “I try to tap into all learning styles and I give students options in how to present what they have learned.” Some of her innovative projects in-cluded having students write and film their own anti-bullying video, inviting a Holocaust survivor to talk to her stu-dents, and having students write and film their own commercials for books. For science, Van Dommelen’s students built their own landfills and played in-stinctive and learned behavior charades. Because she loves to encourage read-ing, Van Dommelen started the Madison School Book Exchange to get books into the hands of all students. Using technology is also important to her because it helps to engage students. “District 151 is committed to acquiring up-to-date technology,” she said. “This is truly a student-centered district. Our administration is consistently challeng-ing us to use best teaching practices and they provide us with the tools we need to do that.”

In the future, she would like to get the community more involved in her classroom. “I would love to have a fireman or a police officer or village trustee come in and read to my students,” she said. To be an effective teacher, she said, you must be flexible, love what you do, and have a great passion for teaching. Van Dommelen has a bachelor’s de-gree in elementary education from Lewis University and a master’s degree from Benedictine University. In addition to teaching at Madison, she is the assistant volleyball coach at South Suburban College. She grew up in Thornton and attended Thornwood High School.


By Cindy Cruz Christ Our Savior Catholic School math and science teacher Kevin McMil-len officially opened the school’s new science discovery lab at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Family Back-to-School BBQ on Aug. 23. With parents, students and staff in attendance, Principal Karen Brodzik welcomed guests to the new lab and Ex-

Christ Our Savior opens new science discovery lab

ecutive Pastor Reverend Patrick Lyons presided over the blessing of the facility. “I am excited with the response of parents and students to the new science lab,” Brodzik said. “Students see that they can be creative with hands-on work and experiment in a variety of science areas. I think students will truly embrace the experiences they will have in the lab.”

Christ Our Savior students explore space exploration in the school’s new science lab.

Christ Our Savior, 900 E. 154th St., now has a dedicated classroom for the pursuit of science and discovery. The lab is available to students in all grade levels and will soon include fish, gerbils, mice, and other small-cage animals, which will be cared for by the students. McMillen also provided significant sweat equity to the project, including sanding and repainting lab tables in vivid colors, painting walls and creat-ing a foam border which reads: Science Discovery Lab. Each lab table accommodates pairs of students who will have computer and Internet access, as well as access to an electron microscope that can be viewed through a computer monitor. Desk-top and hand-held microscopes, basic lab equipment and other supplies are also contained in the lab. Kim Walker, parent of a second grader, said, “This lab brings a new excitement to the academic program. It’s great to see the improvements in the building, but more importantly, the additions to the curriculum.” The response of students has been exciting as well. Donations to enhance the new lab are being accepted by the school. For more information or to schedule a tour, call the school office at 708-333-8173, or visit the school’s website at www.christoursaviorcatholicschool.com.

Car enthusiasts helped local children get coats for winter at a Cruise Night fundraiser in September at St. Jude the Apostle Church.

Mike Ogletree, a member of the Knights of Columbus Genoa Council, coordinated the car show in the church parking lot.

Ogletree started organizing the benefit after hearing mention of the car show at a meeting, with proceeds to benefit a Coats for Kids program.

More than $800 was collected during the event. Profits will be used to buy coats for kids through the nationwide Knights of Columbus program.

K of C Cruise Night helps get winter coats for kids

VET’S DAY FAIR Thornton Township will host a Veterans Day Benefit Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Thornton Township Hall, 333 E. 162nd St. in South Holland.

The township’s Veterans Benefit Fair assists veterans with various challenges. Representatives from the various armed forces will be on hand to advise veterans of available services.


SPORTS

South Holland Jets The South Holland Jets Youth Football and Cheerlead-ing Organization heads into the last two games of the season looking to secure the best seeding possible for the Will Cook Kankakee League Playoffs. The Jets compete in the American Division, and the top two seeds receive a first round “bye” (meaning they don’t have to play in the first round). The 5-1 Widgets are atop the division, having allowed a division low 32 points. The Pee Wees are also in first place at 5-1 with two games remaining and are in control of their own destiny because they currently hold the top seed. The Junior Varsity is in fourth place with a 2-4 record, and they can still improve their seeding with two games remain-

Girls Basketball Girls basketball teams are being sought for the Lady Sting tournament. Seton Academy is seeking seventh- and eighth-grade girls basketball teams for its Lady Sting Junior High Tournament to be held Oct. 25-28. For details, contact Seton Academy athletic director Deon Tolliver at 708- 339-8153 or [email protected].

By Eric Pradelski

The Youth Winter Break Program, coordinated by the South Holland Youth Commission, will take place from Dec 30 to Jan. 3. This will include fun activities for students during their winter break from school. Parents are invited to register their fifth-grade through high school students to participate. Families with younger siblings are welcome (enrollment fee is $80 for the first student and $65 for each additional student, which in-cludes transportation, activities and lunch). Activities will include movies, gymnastics, live performance at the Looking Glass Theatre and a lock-in party (subject to change). Please note there will be no activity scheduled Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day.

Youth Winter Break Program

ing. The Varsity owns a 4-2 record and the second overall seed. Although they do not own the tiebreaker, there are two games left for them to improve their seeding for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cheerleaders are gearing up for their own competition at all levels. The Varsity and Pee Wee squads look to repeat as league champions. Go Jets!

Last year, South Holland students engaged in fun, physical activity at the Oak Lawn Gymnastics Center.


SOUTH HOLLAND CHURCHES

One of the saddest things I have expe-rienced in life is the loss of the “magic words.” When I was a kid, my mother and my teachers taught me two magic words. These words, even today can open closed doors and even conquer our most vicious enemies. Those words are “please” and “thank you.” As we approach the Thanksgiving season, it is a great time to bring back the magic words; to use them and teach them by our example. Let me tell you about the charm and power of a person who knows how to say please and thank you using the example of a dear departed relative. My mother-in-law was one of the most polite and grateful people I have ever known. This amazing woman was a formidable businesswoman who carved out a niche in a male-dominated world on the front streets of her New York town, so she was no wimp, but her way of making people feel at ease and welcome, combined with a spirit of gratitude made her a person most people wanted to be around. Her home was a gathering place

Bring back the magicbecause she was a pleasure to be around and there was always room at her table. When she passed away two years ago, as officiant at the funeral, I had to find a polite way to end the personal testi-monial time. The line was long and the stories made you smile. What a tribute to the woman I had come to know and love and with whom I had spent so much time voluntarily. She had this combination of qualities - the lady was polite, thankful for everything she had and was not too proud to acknowledge when you did something that helped or pleased her. I can remember doing, what to me was, the simplest of things and then watching her light up. Sometimes these were things that were done just because, sometimes they were things I did to make her feel special or because I had come to love her as family. It did not matter, she always found a way to say thank you. On occasion, she needed me to do things for her. She knew how to ask, she never begged, but she never failed to ask respectfully, seemingly with an

Q: What household items can I put out on trash day for pick up by our waste hauler?

A: The following items can be placed on the curb with your regularly scheduled garbage pick-up (in limited quan-tities only): washers and dryers; furniture; stoves; refrig-erators; hot water heaters; furnaces; air conditioners; box springs and mattresses; sinks; toilets; laundry tubs; and building materials. Residents are responsible for disposing of tires and car parts. All fluids such as old paint, cleaners, and oil should be disposed of properly and not placed in trash for collec-tion. State law prohibits the disposal of all electronic waste, including televisions and computer accessories. For any items not picked up by Republic Services, call Public Works at 708-339-2323 and set them out by the curb on Thursday. These items will be picked up on Fridays.

understanding that to do something for another person costs the doer something. She respected that. When she received a gift or you did something for her, she had that unusual knack of showing it was important to her. You know, I concluded after observing her closely over many years that she was genuinely thankful. The feeling her gratitude gave me is something that will never fade. We all want to be appreciated, right? Whether she thanked me right away, later person to person or in the presence of others, which she often did, she always found a way and the time to show her gratitude. Let me encourage you as we approach Thanksgiving and end the year with Christmas, receiving the most wonderful Gift of all in Jesus Christ, to be kind and use the magic words, “please and thank you” often and with sincerity. In doing so, you will bring great joy to those around you and you will also be blessed. - Rev. Willard High Shepherd’s Community Church

ASK SOUTH HOLLAND TODAY


FLOOD PROOFING SERIES

Overbank Flooding South Holland is subject to overbank flooding from three sources: the Little Calu-met River, Thorn Creek, and the Calumet Union Drainage Ditch. The Little Calumet River flows through the Village from east to west. The Little Calumet drains northeast-ern Illinois and northwestern Indiana via several tributaries. At South Holland, the river’s watershed is over 200 square miles. A small tributary, Thorn Ditch, drains the central part of South Holland. Its overbank flooding is caused by backwater from the Little Calumet. Thorn Creek flows from the south and joins the Little Calumet on the southeast side of town. Thorn Creek collects water from Deer, North, and Butterfield Creeks, and Lansing Ditch. The Thorn Creek basin drains over 100 square miles, accounting for over half of the water that enters the Little Calumet at South Holland. The third stream is the Calumet Union Drainage Ditch, a man-made ditch that drains 18 square miles of the Markham and Harvey areas to the west. It joins the Little Calumet River in the west part of the Village. Most of the Village’s overbank flooding problem is in the Little Calumet River’s floodplain. Because the area is so flat, the flooding of one stream is accompanied by flooding on the other two. Therefore, while there are three sources of overbank flooding, the problem is treated as one floodplain.Flooding History Flooding has occurred in South Holland’s streams since the last glacier left Illinois. Early settlers avoided building too close to the rivers. As late as the 1940s, large areas of the south suburbs remained vacant, primarily because it was too marshy to build on. These areas were used by the rivers to carry and hold excess rain runoff and snow melt. Beginning in the late 1940s, this scene changed as the Chicago area population expanded to the south. Urban development put pressure on the vacant land along the riv-ers. The floodplains were built up during the 1950s and 60s, primarily with single-family housing. It was not until the 1970s that local governments passed floodplain management regulations to require the elevation of new buildings in the floodplain. Since then, floodplain development has slowed down, but developers still fill floodprone areas for new homes or commercial properties. In the 1920s, the Calumet-Sag channel was completed and the Little Calumet received an additional outlet. Instead of flowing into the Grand Calumet and Lake Michigan,

most of its water now flows west through the Cal-Sag to the Des Plaines River. There are locks on both the Cal-Sag and the Grand Calumet to control low flows. At the other end, Burns Ditch was con-nected to Lake Michigan in the 1920s. Dur-ing high flows, the Indiana portion of the Little Cal drains west. These two diversions mark the northwest and eastern limits of the Little Calumet River’s watershed. With post-war growth to the south of Chi-cago, farmlands were replaced with roofs, parking lots, streets, gutters, storm sewers, and more ditches. Under urban development, more rainwater ran off the land and into the rivers and it ran off faster. As with floodplain regulations, it was not until the 1970s that communities began stormwater management regulations that require developments to restrict runoff. In short, while the rivers of the Little Calu-met basin flooded in the past, the problem has escalated since the 1940s. Until 1981, the worst flood on record for all three streams was in July 1957. Heavy summer storms caused widespread flooding in northeastern Illinois. The subsequent flood on the nearby Kankakee river was estimated at being a 750-year flood. The 1957 flood was exceeded in 1981 by another flood caused by summer storms. While there was not as much rain as in 1957, the 1981 flood caused much more damage because there was more development. Be-cause so many homes and businesses were affected, the June 1981 flood resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the area. Another presidential declaration fol-lowed the December 1982 flood. One of South Holland’s worst floods on record occurred in late November 1990. Heavy local storms caused the Little Calumet and its tributaries to rise higher than before, over half a foot higher than the 1981 record.Flood Data Flood heights have been recorded since 1947 on a river gauge that is currently located at the Cottage Grove Avenue bridge over the Little Calumet. Recorded flood heights can be shown in stage or in elevation. Stage is measured in feet above an arbitrary starting point that was set when the gauge was first installed. Elevations are in feet above sea level. “Flood stage” is the elevation where the river leaves its banks. There is no official “flood stage” for the Little Calumet. Yards and parks are flooded when the river reaches an elevation of approximately 590 feet

above sea level. Buildings are affected at approximately 593 feet. The 100-year flood at Cottage Grove would reach an elevation of 598.0. The 500-year flood is predicted to crest at an elevation of 601.5, 3 1/2 feet higher than the 100-year flood. As the river flows from east to west, flood elevations are higher in the east and lower in the west. The 10, 100, and 500-year flood elevations for various locations are shown below:

Projected Flood elevationsRiverMile* Location 10-yr. 100-yr. 500-yr.

Thorn Creek at 170th 596.2 599.5 602.69.4 Little Calumet at eastern Vlg. limit 595.0 598.7 601.88.0 Little Calumet at 159th 595.0 598.5 601.86.8 Little Calumet at Cottage Grove 594.4 598.0 601.55.9 Little Calumet at Calumet Union Ditch 593.8 597.4 601.24.4 Little Calumet at western Vlg. limit 591.7 595.6 600.2 Cal Union Ditch at Grand Trunk RR 595.3 597.8 601.5

* miles above confluence with Calumet-Sag channel

Village Flood Services The Code Enforcement office at 16240 Wausau (708/210-2915) provides the fol-lowing:t Information on whether a property is in

a mapped floodplain, and related flood insurance rate map data;

t General records of past flooding through-out the Village, but not for specific parcels;

t Advice on how to protect a building from water problems;

t Guidance on the laws that govern con-struction and property improvements, and;

t Site visit (when a lot is part of a flood rebate program and after receipt of at least two estimates from waterproofing companies) to view the cause and suggest possible solutions to a problem.

Flood maps and flood protection refer-ences are also available at the South Holland Public Library. We would like to remind everyone that dumping in ditches, storage basins and wetlands is a violation of the Village Code.

Why flooding sometimes occurs in South Holland


VISION 2022 PROGRESS

Village Administrator Jason Huisman said he anticipates a final draft of the 2022 Vision plan will be available soon for public viewing. The plan will likely include a vision for continued improvement of village roadways, including resurfacing of Cot-tage Grove Avenue (north of Route 6), as well as Vincennes Avenue, among other roadways. “We anticipate that our collaboration with the county and state on road projects will continue through the next decade,” he said. The plan will also include making peo-ple more welcome when they enter the village. “We are in the process of changing out

Vision 2022 draft to be available

New gateways structures, such as this one at the Harvey border on Route 6, demonstrates progress in the Vision 2022 plan for a Clean, Bright and Beautiful South Holland.

street signs to add the village logo as part of our rebranding of South Holland, highlighting the community’s motto of Faith, Family and Future. It’s part of our strategy of enhancing signage throughout our community.” New entrance structures will be erected at major gateways, including Route 6 at the Harvey border and 170th Street at the border with Lansing. The concept of the gateway structure is consistent with design elements of South Holland’s Town Center, providing a more aesthetic appearance for the vil-lage’s main thoroughfares. The new sign is built on a concrete foundation, and the three pillars are constructed using stone molded concrete blocks. The village’s

redesigned logo, etched in the middle pillar, is made of granite with a polished border, and decorative fencing will be used to connect the pillars. South Holland’s regional partnerships continue to develop with the progression of a project spearheaded by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The project, known as the Thorn Creek Park-ing Lot/Trail located at 170th Street and Volbrecht Drive, consists of 9 concrete parking spaces, including one designat-ed for handicap. There will be approxi-mately a mile long mowed trail that loops around the Thorn Creek property with a connection to the parking facility. The mowed trail is expected to be eight feet wide.

The new Thorn Creek Parking Lot/Trail project is currently underway at 170th Street and Volbrecht Drive. This is a project of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

Village of South Holland16226 Wausau Ave.South Holland, IL 60473

POSTAL PATRON

South Holland, Illinois 60473

Harvest Fest October 24

Village Board Meeting November 4, 18 and

December 2, 16

Santa Comes to Town and Tree Lighting

December 6

Mayor’s Coffee December 10

MLK Musical Tribute January 18

In observance of Veterans Day & Thanksgiving, most municipal buildings will be closed on

November 11 and 28.

For activity details, visit www.southholland.org.

VILLAGE HALL HOURS:Monday – Friday .................................8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.Saturday .............................................. 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m

Village Hall .............................................................210-2900Don A. De Graff, President

Sallie Penman, ClerkN. Keith Chambers, Trustee

Larry De Young, TrusteeCynthia Doorn, TrusteeMathew James, Trustee

Andrew Johnson, Jr., TrusteeJohn Sullivan, Trustee

Administration ......................................................210-2904Building Department ...........................................210-2915Public Works .........................................................339-2323Police .......................................................................331-3131Fire...........................................................................331-3123Recreational Services ..........................................331-2940Public Access .........................................................339-2744Thornton Township .............................................596-6040South Holland Public Library .............................331-5262Emergency (Fire or Police) ...........................911

Clean – Bright – Beautiful!

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERSDATES TO

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Documents

South Holland Today - Oct/Nov 2013