When Katie Justak took over the helm of the Citizens Council of La Grange earlier this year, it was at a time when the group best known for recommending qualified candidates for election every two years was at a crossroads of sorts.
In the months leading up to candidate vetting, interviews and selection last winter, the Council's most active members representing 11 different zones in La Grange questioned and vociferously debated the organization's role, makeup, effectiveness and its adherence to internal bylaws.
At the same time, its former chairman, Orlando Coryell, was involved in litigation with the Park District, challenging the sale of public land to a developer, a case which still is continuing.
In addition, just like this past April, the Council's choices for village, park and library seats is often challenged, but some feel those instances usurp or weaken the Council's role in vetting the best man -- or woman -- from the job.
In April, a non-recommended Park Board candidate ran anyway and beat the Council's chosen challenger. Two years earlier, Liz Asperger challenged Council-recommended Ted Hadley for village president and won.
Still, one of the biggest challenges seems to be recruitment, and then, involvement in the group during, after and in between the biennial elections. A maximum of 88 members is allowed for under Council bylaws, but the organization rarely gets half that to do its work. At election time and now, when the next election is 20 months away, those numbers dwindle even further.
Justak, who has expressed hopes of morphing the Council into a more active civic group dabbling in governmental issues and concepts such as those topics explored by the League of Women Voters, is inviting anyone and everyone to the Council's next meeting. Residents from all parts of town are welcome to attend and/or join.
Held in the second-floor meeting room of Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road, the meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS
Put Safety at the Top of Your Back to School To Do List
Village of La Grange Reminds Motorists, Parents and Children of Safety Tips
Village of La Grange Reminds Motorists, Parents and Children of Safety Tips
Labor Day weekend marks the traditional end of summer and the beginning of the school year. The Village of La Grange is committed to providing a comprehensive safety program for its residents and visitors to ensure a safe school environment.
“Traffic and pedestrian safety is a priority for the Village of La Grange,” said Michael Holub, Police Chief for La Grange. “We will patrol school grounds and strictly enforce traffic rules around schools to ensure the safety of the public.”
The Village has developed these simple safety reminders for motorists and families alike:
* The speed limit around schools in La Grange is 20 MPH on school days.
* A school zone is a no passing zone.
* Motorists must stop before passing a school bus when it is loading or unloading passengers and remain stopped while the signal arm is extended and lights are flashing.
* Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when a person is walking with a green light or has entered a crosswalk before the traffic signal has changed. Of particular note, all signalized intersections in La Grange are:
o Marked with a crosswalk
o Have new push-button activated visual countdown displays to inform pedestrians the amount of time remaining to safely complete a street crossing
o Have been retrofitted with new LED light bulbs to improve visibility.
* Children should use designated school walking routes.
* Parents are asked to exercise extra caution and allow additional time for student drop-off and pick-up.
* Parents should consider creating a “walking school bus,” where an adult accompanies a group of children walking to school.
* Pedestrians and motorists must obey crossing guard commands.
La Grange schools are back in session starting today, August 21. For more information about La Grange check out our website at www.villageoflagrange.com
Thursday, August 20, 2009
18th Annual Race Unity Rally
The 18th Annual Race Unity Rally will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at the La Grange Village Hall. The Race Unity Rally is an annual reminder to our community that we all need to work together to appreciate our differences while recognizing our similarities. The CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange initiated the Annual Race Unity Rally in response to the Rodney King riots in LA. Our hope was and is that by our tradition of valuing and respecting each other’s differences, we can appreciate our similar values, and make our community a better place for all.
Our theme for the Rally this year is “Quality Education for All Our Children.” We believe, as President Obama said in Philadelphia last year, that “…we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren.”
This year’s Annual Race Unity Rally will feature as keynote speaker Henri Boyd Banks, formerly of La Grange, currently with Johns Hopkins University. In addition, Lyons Township High School’s new Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Kilrea, will introduce himself. The CommUNITY Diversity Group will present its annual achievement award to Joyce and Gaylon Lightner in recognition of their active contributions to the La Grange community. The CEP youth leadership performance group “Watch My Feet” will perform skits and dances to get their message across, and the Village of La Grange will present its annual Proclamation declaring the second Sunday in September to be Race Unity Day in La Grange.
FREE MOVIE AND DISCUSSION -
On the Friday before the Rally, September 11, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a movie night and discussion at the LaGrange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt, La Grange, of the movie “Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football.” This HBO Special explores the history of segregated football in the Southeastern, Southwest and Atlantic Coast Conferences. Some of those interviewed are: Thom Gossom, Darryl Hill, Jerry LeVias, Willie Lanier, John Mitchell, Bubba Smith, Wilbur Hackett, Jr., Jimmy Jones and Sam Cunningham; journalists Jeff Prugh, Howell Raines, Ed Krzemienski and Keith Dunnavant; and George Wallace, Jr.
Event co-chair Marian Honel-Wilson stated, “We like to sponsor a movie and discussion in connection with our Race Unity Rally because it’s a fun, entertaining way to consider some serious issues. The movie Breaking the Huddle presents some of our American history in an engrossing way. It’s important to understand and acknowledge our shared history, painful as it might be to remember times when African Americans were not welcome in certain settings.
The agenda for the evening is 6:30-7:00 p.m.- networking and pizza; 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.-movie; 8:00-8:30 p.m. discussion. Hope you can join us for an entertaining and interesting evening.
With all of its programs, the CommUNITY Diversity Group asks you to consider where you stand on issues of race and diversity – if you believe in equality and justice, what are you doing to make our community a better place? We look forward to seeing you at the Diversity Days of La Grange.
Our theme for the Rally this year is “Quality Education for All Our Children.” We believe, as President Obama said in Philadelphia last year, that “…we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren.”
This year’s Annual Race Unity Rally will feature as keynote speaker Henri Boyd Banks, formerly of La Grange, currently with Johns Hopkins University. In addition, Lyons Township High School’s new Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Kilrea, will introduce himself. The CommUNITY Diversity Group will present its annual achievement award to Joyce and Gaylon Lightner in recognition of their active contributions to the La Grange community. The CEP youth leadership performance group “Watch My Feet” will perform skits and dances to get their message across, and the Village of La Grange will present its annual Proclamation declaring the second Sunday in September to be Race Unity Day in La Grange.
FREE MOVIE AND DISCUSSION -
On the Friday before the Rally, September 11, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a movie night and discussion at the LaGrange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt, La Grange, of the movie “Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football.” This HBO Special explores the history of segregated football in the Southeastern, Southwest and Atlantic Coast Conferences. Some of those interviewed are: Thom Gossom, Darryl Hill, Jerry LeVias, Willie Lanier, John Mitchell, Bubba Smith, Wilbur Hackett, Jr., Jimmy Jones and Sam Cunningham; journalists Jeff Prugh, Howell Raines, Ed Krzemienski and Keith Dunnavant; and George Wallace, Jr.
Event co-chair Marian Honel-Wilson stated, “We like to sponsor a movie and discussion in connection with our Race Unity Rally because it’s a fun, entertaining way to consider some serious issues. The movie Breaking the Huddle presents some of our American history in an engrossing way. It’s important to understand and acknowledge our shared history, painful as it might be to remember times when African Americans were not welcome in certain settings.
The agenda for the evening is 6:30-7:00 p.m.- networking and pizza; 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.-movie; 8:00-8:30 p.m. discussion. Hope you can join us for an entertaining and interesting evening.
With all of its programs, the CommUNITY Diversity Group asks you to consider where you stand on issues of race and diversity – if you believe in equality and justice, what are you doing to make our community a better place? We look forward to seeing you at the Diversity Days of La Grange.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
ROCKTOBER FEST
Community Nurse Health Association Auxiliary
Launches New Event on Sept. 19
The Auxiliary of the Community Nurse Health Association will present a new event called Rocktober Fest on Saturday, September 19. The casual event will feature beers, brats and bands from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. in Gordon Park (behind the former YMCA) in La Grange.
Traditional German foods will be served by Tommy R’s as well as a nice selection of beers. Live music by The Legends and Infinity will be featured. Ticket prices range from a basic $10 entry fee to an VIP package for $50 that includes admission, dinner and drink tickets.
Rocktober Fest will take the place of the formal fundraiser Party in Paradise that the Auxiliary hosts each fall.
All funds raised by Rocktober Fest will support the Community Nurse Health Association’s (CNHA) medical and dental clinics for adults and children. Located in LaGrange, the CNHA serves low income residents and those who cannot afford health or dental insurance in 15 western suburbs including Brookfield, Countryside, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, LaGrange, Lyons and Willowbrook. Other services provided by CNHA include the extensive Secret Santa program which serves children from the pediatric clinic.
Launches New Event on Sept. 19
The Auxiliary of the Community Nurse Health Association will present a new event called Rocktober Fest on Saturday, September 19. The casual event will feature beers, brats and bands from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. in Gordon Park (behind the former YMCA) in La Grange.
Traditional German foods will be served by Tommy R’s as well as a nice selection of beers. Live music by The Legends and Infinity will be featured. Ticket prices range from a basic $10 entry fee to an VIP package for $50 that includes admission, dinner and drink tickets.
Rocktober Fest will take the place of the formal fundraiser Party in Paradise that the Auxiliary hosts each fall.
All funds raised by Rocktober Fest will support the Community Nurse Health Association’s (CNHA) medical and dental clinics for adults and children. Located in LaGrange, the CNHA serves low income residents and those who cannot afford health or dental insurance in 15 western suburbs including Brookfield, Countryside, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, LaGrange, Lyons and Willowbrook. Other services provided by CNHA include the extensive Secret Santa program which serves children from the pediatric clinic.
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