thoughtful comments submitted by Cindy and Aldo Sulli and family
Aldo Sulli and friends
Words alone cannot express the gratitude that my family and I have for the magnitude of support, both emotionally and financially, that has been extended to us from the most caring and kind-hearted individuals who have touched our lives deeply.
Our family is still in awe from the Block Party Benefit. We are so grateful to all of the generous families, friends, and local businesses who seriously rallied together making this flawless event possible to assist Aldo during his challenging days ahead.
We thank everyone who sacrificed their personal time to bring this event to fruition; to all of the volunteers who worked the varied stations at the benefit that surely didn’t go unnoticed and to all who shared the perfect day with us offering endless love for Aldo and our family.
Our appreciation goes beyond measure to JoEllyn Kelley for hosting this Block Party Benefit at J.J. Kelleys and all of the time and planning efforts everyone graciously extended from their selfless hearts. This has been a very scary and emotional time in our lives but all the prayers and support that have been generously gifted to my family sure does help make our circumstances much more bearable. The overwhelming turnout from so many walks of our life lifted our spirits and made us very aware that we are not alone in this fight.
Your generous contribution played a big part in the success of this benefit as Aldo’s medical needs will be ongoing. Our family is forever indebted to you!
With much love and gratitude, Cindy & Aldo Sulli and family
The Lansing Journal is a community newspaper. We welcome input from fellow residents who have thoughtful things to say about topics that are important to our community.
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Rain and wind affected attendance at the third annual Phillips Chevrolet car show, though enthusiasts still enjoyed themselves. (Photo: Patricia Muhammad)
by Patricia Muhammad
LANSING, Ill. (October 7, 2017) – Lynn Brink and her husband John, of Lansing, are huge classic car fans. During the October 7 car show held at Phillips Chevrolet, the couple displayed their 1958 bright red Chevy Yeoman and received an award for Best Interior by Thunder Road Productions, a Lansing business that promotes car shows and cruise nights. Thunder Road Productions sponsored the award and recognition segment of the show. Lynn and John Brink won Best Interior for their 1958 Chevy Yeoman. (Photo: Patricia Muhammad)“My husband and I have been doing car shows for 25 years,” Brink said. “We’ve been coming to this location, starting when it was Ridgeway Chevy, and we continue to do it as Phillips Chevy. It is always one of the big shows of the year, and we follow Thunder Road Productions. We had a Chevy Chevelle, a classic Ford truck, and a 1958 Chevy Yeoman Wagon.”
The rainy weather didn’t stop the more than 100 classic car lovers and spectators from showing up to admire the antique cars and sleek corvettes in Phillips Chevrolet’s parking lot. The event was co-sponsored by Thunder Road Productions, Cross Road Corvette, and Fast Lane Corvette, according to Mark Catuara, General Sales Manager for Phillips Chevrolet of Lansing.
“At today’s show,” he said, “you will see a display of all classic, antique, and custom cars—from ’57 Chevys, to classic Corvettes, to modified hydraulic pick-up trucks, old roadsters, and hot rods. Everything is here.”
Report cards, trophies, and plaques
During the pinnacle of the show, Thunder Road Productions issued report cards, and owners received a grade and advice on how to improve their classic cars.
Participants also received trophies and plaques:
Best Stock Corvette went to Marvin Williams
Outstanding Modified 70s Car went to Ms. Cookie
Best Interior Car went to Lynn and John Brink
Barry Moss received an award for Orphan Vehicle, among others
Other categories included Best Engine and Outstanding Stock Trucks.
Vintage appreciation
Eric F. Pickett, Sales & Leasing Consultant at Phillips Chevrolet, explained that he enjoys the show because of his affinity for vintage cars. “This is my third year with Phillips Chevrolet, and I’ve always appreciated the car show being here because it brings people in here to see what we have to offer—new cars, used cars—and it also gives me a chance to see some of the old cars that I like to see. I can appreciate an old muscle car from the 60s and 70s.” “I’ve always appreciated the car show being here because it brings people in here to see what we have to offer,” said Eric F. Pickett, Sales & Leasing Consultant at Phillips Chevrolet. (Photo: Patricia Muhammad)
Another LACE event
Mike Gaffney and Patricia Leck are Directors with the Lansing Association for Community Events (LACE). They and other LACE volunteers helped organize the Phillips Chevrolet car show, working with Thunder Road Productions. LACE is the organization that also planned the three 2017 Cruise Nights on Ridge Road and a September Family, Fun, and Fireworks event at Lansing Country Club.
“This is the third annual car show with Phillips Chevrolet,” said Leck. “We expected about 400 people, but because of the weather, it wasn’t in that ballpark.” This car show was LACE’s last event for the year, but they have already reserved October 5–7 of 2018 for an “Auto Fest.”
CAR SIDEBAR
Here are the takeaway differences between stock cars, modified cars, and orphan cars. For clarity, Merriam Webster states that stock cars have the same look as a regular car but with an engine designed for racing. A modified car is a passenger car that receives modifications that change the appearance or performance of the car. Mr. Moss stated that an orphan car is a car that you won’t be able to buy from the manufacturer.
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (September 23, 2017) – Thornton Township celebrated its 13th Hispanic Heritage Month with native music, food, and speeches about the importance of Latino culture. Entertainment included the Thornton Township Mexican Folklore Dancers, Magician Ken Mate, and the Holy Cross Immaculate Heart of Mary Marimba Ensemble.
Celebration
“We have to celebrate the many cultures we have in this country,” said Frank M. Zuccarelli, Thornton Township Supervisor. “We have to appreciate the variety of cultures that make our community great. Thornton Township strives to give our residents a variety of fun and educational programs throughout the year.”
Thornton Township officials explain that National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15–October 15 each year. This timeframe includes anniversaries of independence for five Hispanic countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16, Chile’s Independence Day is September 18, and October 12 is El Dia de la Raza or “The Day of the Race,” a day celebrating the many nationalities present in the history of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Thornton Township’s Human Relations Commission is intentional about bringing diverse programs and activities to residents.
Recognition
The Hispanic Heritage celebration, held at the Thornton Township Center in South Holland, included a special recognition ceremony for Lansing resident Dr. Richard Rucoba. A World War II Marine Corps veteran, Rucoba treated the wounded and cared for sick Marines.
After the war, Rucoba graduated from Illinois College of Optometry, and he opened an optometry practice in Munster, Indiana. He retired in 1996. Thornton Township recognized him for his lifetime of career and volunteer service. Rucoba tutored high school students, and he has been a member of the Lansing Lions Club for more than 50 years.
“Richard gives you so much inspiration and good advice about making sure you live a worthwhile and involved life,” said event coordinator Oscar Canales. “He is an example to all of us.”
Relationships
“I was amazed at the number of people who wanted to bring about peace and innovation and start to know each other,” said Joyce Washington, Thornton Township Trustee, about the event.
The celebration took place at the Thornton Township Center, 333 E. 162nd St. in South Holland.
Lansing, Illinois, celebrates past with an eye toward the future
Lansing’s new History Plaza is an attractive use of a visible corner. Lansing hopes that improving the entry into the Ridge Road business district will attract new businesses and shoppers. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (September 2017) – While the construction and plantings at the southwest corner of Ridge Road and Burnham Avenue are visually appealing, Lansing’s new History Plaza also serves a forward-thinking purpose—by improving the entry into the Ridge Road business district, Lansing hopes to attract new businesses and shoppers. The project also includes a “greatly needed” parking lot expansion for the Village Municipal Center and for downtown businesses within walking distance.
The $363,005 project is being 100% funded by the Ridge Road TIF, which will expire in December 2023. According to illinois-tif.com, “TIF funds may be used for costs associated with the development or redevelopment of property within the TIF, allowing blighted, declining and underperforming areas to again become viable….”
An artist’s depiction shows the Brickyard-themed panel. Other panels will showcase Agriculture, Aviation, and the Ridge.During the planning stages, the architects consulted the Lansing Historical Society to gather information on early Lansing heritage, transportation, and industry. Their input led to the five historical themes that the History Plaza will bring to life: Agriculture, Brickyards, Aviation, the Ridge, and Three Municipalities Become One. These themes will be depicted in a series of artistic panels. The panels will all be cut out of aluminum, in the style of scherenschnitte, a German paper-cutting technique. The style pays tribute to Lansing’s German heritage.
Lansing was originally three neighborhoods—Bernice, Oak Glen, and Lansing. The three merged in 1893, and this central structure pays tribute to that union. The empty pillars in this September 28 photo will support sculptures that depict three children with toy airplanes—a nod to our aviation history. Mayor Eidam says, “The combination of the innocence and curiosity of youth along with the proud tradition and history of our Village is the perfect blend for a symbolic project like this.” Four artistic panels, each depicting a historical theme, will surround the planter. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)Materials, plants, and design throughout the plaza have been carefully chosen to represent specific Lansing themes. For example, sand-colored pavers form the main pathways and represent the sandy ridge—now known as Ridge Road—that was created by receding Lake Michigan. The bricks ringing the central planter pay tribute to the brickyards that dominated our early economy. Native plants have been installed in the landscaping, including Bluestem Prairie Grass (our state grass) and White Oak (our state tree).
Final plantings around the Lansing History Plaza are scheduled to be installed in spring of 2018.
Lansing’s biggest construction project is on track for Autumn Fest 2018
The Fox Pointe amphitheater begins to take shape. (Photo: Ashlee De Wit)
by Ashlee De Wit
Artist’s rendering of the amphitheater—this will be the main stage for music and entertainment.LANSING, Ill. (September 27, 2017) – Grass seed is planted, concrete is poured, and structural steel is being installed as progress continues at Fox Pointe in downtown Lansing. Development is on track for the official opening, which will be just in time for the site’s biggest event: Autumn Fest.
Construction on Fox Pointe, located at Randolph and Henry Streets, started in June.
“The goal for this year is to get as much of the site work completed as possible, weather permitting,” said Village Engineer Jeff Pintar of Robinson Engineering. “All indications are that the buildings and whole site will be ready sometime in the summer of 2018 for the fall Autumn Fest.”
A year off
Autumn Fest, which is sponsored by the Lansing Association for Community Events (L.A.C.E.) and is typically held in the Fox Pointe area, was canceled this fall because of the construction. Other Lansing sites were considered, but ultimately, none were capable of hosting the annual event. L.A.C.E. instead held a Family, Fun, & Fireworks event at the Lansing Country Club on September 9.
“The Village of Lansing is undertaking a very large and exciting project in 2017: the redevelopment of Fox Pointe,” reads a L.A.C.E. Facebook post from earlier this year. “While this project will reap many benefits for our community, the timing and size of the project will not allow us to hold Autumn Fest in 2017. We hope you will mark your calendars for October 5, 6, and 7, 2018. We look forward to the Grand Opening of Fox Pointe with our 2018 Autumn Fest!”
Enhancing and attracting
JMA Architects is responsible for the structural work on the Fox Pointe property, which includes a number of permanent structures that will enhance Autumn Fest and other events.
The completed project will be a multi-use property: a festival park and a concert venue that includes an amphitheater and pavilion, as well as a ticket booth, concession stand, and restrooms. The materials used in construction will match those used at Village Hall and the new History Plaza. The Village intends for Fox Pointe to serve as a distinct Lansing location that brings people to town.
“Right now, we are finishing concrete foundations and slabs for the buildings,” said Jim Maciejewski, owner of JMA. “Some steel framing is starting to be erected—the open-air pavilion has some steel going up, and pretty soon we will be starting structural steel for the amphitheater. Also in the next one to two weeks, masonry installation will begin.” When completed, Fox Pointe will be a multi-use property: a festival park and a concert venue that includes an amphitheater and pavilion (top right and left), as well as a ticket booth, concession stand, and restrooms (bottom). The materials used in construction will match those used at Village Hall and the new History Plaza. The Village intends for Fox Pointe to serve as a distinct Lansing location that brings people to town. “It will be pretty spectacular for Lansing when it’s finished,” said architect Jim Maciejewski.
Re-directing and connecting
The completed Fox Pointe will be between Park Plaza on Ridge Road and Grant Street (the site of the downtown clock tower) and Winterhoff Park, at Roy and Madison Streets (north and west of the Public Works area shown on the rendering). The Pennsy Greenway bike path will run alongside all three downtown Lansing sites. (Click to enlarge and download.)Randolph Street and 181st Place are being re-directed for the project; when it is completed, there will be one through street that runs from Henry Street to Roy Street, near the Lansing Post Office.
The completed Fox Pointe will be between Park Plaza on Ridge Road and Grant Street (the site of the downtown clock tower) and Winterhoff Park, at Roy and Madison Streets. The Pennsy Greenway bike path will connect all three downtown Lansing sites.
“People will be able to walk or bike safely from Park Plaza to Winterhoff Park, through or around Fox Pointe,” Pintar said.
Funding
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds are paying for the work at Fox Pointe. TIFs are set up to channel property tax revenue from a defined area toward community improvement. The funds have to be used for community improvement within the TIF district within a certain amount of time. Fox Pointe is within Lansing’s Ridge Road TIF district.
Multi-purposing
The newly constructed Santa House is adjacent to Fox Pointe. Ken Reynolds, Mayor Eidam’s Executive Assistant and Director of Communications for the Village of Lansing, noted that outside the Christmas season, the Village hopes to use the small building for other purposes.
“We want that building to be multi-purpose, so as we develop Fox Pointe, it is very possible that that building could be used for events in some way, shape, or form,” he said.
According to Maciejewski, several of the Fox Pointe contractors have donated labor, materials, or both for the construction of the Santa House—all while staying on schedule for their work at the Fox Pointe site. “Buildings are going up pretty much as planned,” he said. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s starting to take shape. It will be pretty spectacular for Lansing when it’s finished.”
by Jane Bokun, District 215 Communications Director
LANSING, Ill. (October 5, 2017) – Culinary programs are becoming well known in community high schools, but TF South High School has taken food freshness to the next level.
The school received funding from the Cook County Farm Bureau® Cookfresh® Community Urban Garden Grant Program to buy seeds, plantings, and garden materials that allowed Thornton Fractional students to take their vegetables from farm to table.
“We wanted to use plant-based learning and wellness initiatives to teach our students how to have a healthier diet,” says Dr. Creg Williams.
“The children planted fruits and vegetables and took ownership of their products,” said District 215 Superintendent Dr. Creg E. Williams. “We wanted to use plant-based learning and wellness initiatives to teach our students how to have a healthier diet.”
Along the way, students also learned about new foods. The harvested fruits and vegetables were used in TF North and South cafeterias. Additionally, TF South’s foods are used to aid the Lansing Food Pantry.
About 75 students participate in the yearly garden project, including students in carpentry, culinary arts, biology, and special education.
TF South High School is located at 18500 Burnham Avenue in Lansing. For more information about the district’s farm-to-table program, visit www.tfd215.org or contact Jane Bokun, District 215 Communications Director, at 708-585-2345 or [email protected].
Money questions, solicitor restrictions, new guns, and more
by Melanie Jongsma
Village Board meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at the Municipal Court Complex, 2710 170th Street. The Committee of the Whole meeting begins at 7:00pm, and typically at that meeting items are brought up for review and discussion among the Trustees. A Village Board meeting follows the Committee of the Whole meeting. At each Village Board meeting, the Trustees are voting on items that have been discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting two weeks previous. All meetings are open to the public. The highlights below are from the Committee of the Whole and Village Board meetings that took place October 3, 2017. (Click the links to view the agendas for these meetings.)
Questions about hiring JPH Incorporated
Village Administrator Dan Podgorski explained that the Director of Development position is still vacant, and the Village has a lot of economic development projects that need attention, so he is making a recommendation to bring on professional help part-time. JPH Incorporated (no website available) would provide an estimated 25–30 hours of work per month to Lansing.
Trustee Maureen Grady-Perovich questioned the proposed salary for JPH, which works out to about $80/hour. She had done some research and learned that customary rates for this type of work are closer to $35/hour. “I don’t know where the $80 came from,” she said during the discussion before the vote. “I can’t find it in any of the literature. I’ve done a lot of homework on this because I’m really a big proponent of anyone who’s going to help us economically develop our community. I just have a few more questions, and I’m hoping we can postpone this vote for two more weeks so I can get some more answers.”
Podgorski asked the Board for input on whether they would be willing to delay the vote. Trustees Delaurentis and Manno were willing to move ahead. Trustee Skrbina preferred to wait, saying, “$35 and $80 is quite a bit of difference. It is the taxpayers’ money—maybe we should look into it.” Trustee Hardy expressed eagerness to avoid further delays of economic development projects. Following the discussion, Trustee Delaurentis moved to approve Resolution #1015, authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement with JPH Incorporated. Trustee Manno seconded, and the votes were as follows:
Trustee Delaurentis: Aye
Trustee Manno: Aye
Trustee Grady-Perovich: No
Trustee Hardy: Aye
Trustee Skrbina: No
Mayor Eidam: Aye
(Trustee Zeldenrust was absent with notice.)
Solicitors in Lansing
In response to numerous complaints from residents being solicited by, in particular, energy companies trying to convince people to switch services, Clerk Vivian Payne presented a recommendation about how the Village handles solicitor permits. Her proposal includes increasing permit fees for solicitors, reducing the permit duration from one year to 30 days, requiring a background check on all solicitors, and requiring proof of insurance for vehicles used by solicitors.
The Village does already issue badges to solicitors, and that practice would continue. The badge shows the Village logo, the expiration date of the permit, a photo of solicitor, and verbiage indicating that the solicitor is not a Village employee. Clerk Payne encouraged residents, “If a solicitor comes to your door, and you’re not sure, ask to see that badge. If they don’t have a badge, you should close the door immediately and call the police non-emergency number and give a description of the person.”
Restrictions on solicitation do not apply to church groups or youth organizations such as the Girl Scouts. The proposal will be put on the agenda to be voted on at the October 17 Village Board meeting.
New guns
Chief Dennis Murrin requests new handguns for the Lansing Police Department. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
Police Chief Dennis Murrin explained that he would like to purchase new handguns for the police department, since the weapons have not been changed out since 2004. The current duty weapon is a SIG Sauer 40 caliber handgun, which is “extremely dependable.” Chief Murrin would like to purchase the same gun, but the new ones would have a rail mount underneath the barrel, which would allow officers to affix a flashlight. The cost of the new weapon is $645.
Chief Murrin asked that the purchase be made from the Asset Forfeiture Fund, which was used to purchase the current weapons, and that the Board consider waiving the bid process because the purchase would be made directly from the gun manufacturer. Chief Murrin also requested permission to allow officers to buy back their weapons at the trade-in price of $375.
The new guns would require new holsters, which the Lansing Police Department will provide. The flashlights would be purchased separately by officers who want them.
Board members attend Illinois Municipal League Conference in Chicago
Mayor Eidam mentioned in her report that the Illinois Municipal League Conference was held in Chicago September 21–23. She explained, “The IML is an amazing educational and networking opportunity for all Illinois municipal officials. There were sessions on everything from issues facing local governments to FOIA updates, from maximizing tax revenue to economic incentives beyond TIF districts, from social media issues to a mayors’ roundtable—over 80 one-hour sessions were available.” Village Board members who attended the conference included Village Administrator Dan Podgorski, Treasurer Arlette Frye, Clerk Vivian Payne, Executive Assistant Ken Reynolds, and Trustees Brian Hardy, Jerry Zeldenrust, and Maureen Grady-Perovich.
Former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka posed with Mayor Patti Eidam and Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust at the Illinois Municipal League Conference in Chicago last month. Ditka was the keynote speaker on September 22. (Photo from the Village of Lansing Facebook page)
The next Committee of the Whole meeting and Village Board meeting are scheduled for October 17 at 7:00pm. Meetings are held in the Lansing Court Complex at the Police Station, 2710 170th Street in Lansing, Illinois. Agendas for these meetings are to be posted at least 48 hours prior, and they are typically found on the Village website.
Owner Kris O’Connor was pleased to welcome dozens of guests at her ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 4, 2017. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)LANSING, Ill. (October 4, 2017) – “It means the world to me. It makes my heart happy,” said Kris O’Connor, owner of Classy Cuts salon. She was delighted to welcome dozens of people to her official ribbon-cutting event Wednesday morning.
The actual cutting of the ribbon was a small part of the event, and guests lingered and mingled for more than 90 minutes following the ceremony. A wealth of cookies, pastries, and tiny muffins fed the crowd, and a make-your-own mimosa or Bloody Mary bar added to the party atmosphere.
Guests lingered and mingled after the official cutting of the ribbon.With instructions written on the mirror, guests were encouraged to make their own mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Classy Cuts is located at3365 Ridge Road, Suite 4. Call 708-858-6056 for information or appointments.
Send us photos or selfies of Lansing residents reading The Lansing Journal somewhere in Lansing.
The response
We received more photos than we could print in the October 4, 2017, issue! So we created some albums on our Facebook page where we can share all the photos. We posted a total of four albums:
These four albums on our Facebook page complement the 14 photos we were able to fit in the print edition. Thank you to all the Lansing residents, businesses, and photographers who participated in our Community Photography feature for the October 4 issue—it was fun to see the variety of subjects, locations, and photographic styles we have in Lansing!
Paul Orich creates coloring pages from sketches of local homes
by Carrie Steinweg
Lansing, Ill. (September 2017) – Paul Orich has been looking at his Schultz Park neighborhood through the eyes of an artist. On walks through town he’s brought along a graph paper grid pad and sketched out some of the attractive homes he encounters. Those sketches have then been perfected at home and turned into coloring pages.
One of Paul Orich’s coloring book sketches, stylized after homes in Schultz Park (Download PDF)
Orich’s original idea was to make a calendar that could be colored in, and he completed a dozen sketches of homes in Schultz Park or just outside of Schultz Park on Ridge Road. “Some of it is stylized, and some of it is visually accurate as to the buildings,” he said.
In a world where everything is digital, Orich’s designs are all done the old-fashioned way, using pencil and paper techniques he learned from mechanical drawing class at Harlan High School. He enjoyed the class so much that he ended up working a part-time, after-school job in high school for an electrical engineer. “I used a graph paper kind of approach to drawing architecture,” he said of his home sketches.
A retired educator, Orich spent 30 years as an art teacher at Harper and Crane High Schools in Chicago and later Wentworth Junior High School in Calumet City. In 2012, he earned designation as an Illinois Artisan in Folk Art for his work in creating art pieces from cardboard.
Some of Orich’s drawings have been seen at Troost Coffee & Tea, where they are offered with crayons for young customers to color in. Some have been printed in the Northwest Indiana Times’ monthly Your Family section. Orich is also working with the Lansing Historical Society to create a small book of six images and some historical text about the area; the booklets could then be provided to elementary school students.
Orich’s images have been put together in a self-published coloring book, “In the Neighborhood.” The coloring book is available for purchase online at www.paulorich.com.
Note: Paul Orich gave permission for The Lansing Journal to include one of his Schultz Park coloring pages in the October 4 print issue, and online as a downloadable PDF. Thank you, Paul.
Your generous contribution played a big part in the success of this benefit as Aldo’s medical needs will be ongoing. Our family is forever indebted to you!
