Evergreen Park receives IDOT approval for Independence Day Parade

By Joe Boyle

The Village of Evergreen Park has made it official by requesting the Illinois Department of Transportation to approve temporary street closings for the annual Independence Day Parade.

The parade will be held Friday, June 30. The annual event will require the temporary closure of all lanes along 95th Street, from Pulaski Road to California Avenue.

The Illinois Highway Code authorizes IDOT to issue permits to local authorities to temporarily close portions of state highways. In this instance, for the Independence Day Parade.

The resolution was passed during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night by a 6-0 vote. The village has permission from IDOT to close the streets along 95th Street from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The 53rd annual Independence Day Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 95th and Springfield.

In other business, Police Chief Michael Saunders has requested that several commendations go out to officers in two instances for combatting crime. On March 4, Tactical Lt. Adam Zimmer and tactical officers Ben Vos and Daniel Foran performed a traffic stop at 9000 S. Western.

The officers discovered that the driver had a firearm. He faces felony charges for a defaced firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

“We thank the police for their outstanding performance of duty,” said Mayor Kelly Burke during the meeting. “We are thankful for the diligence of the police for getting a firearm off the streets.”

In another arrest, a Flock Alert led to the apprehension of a man who was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon on March 10. Zimmer and Vos made the arrest.

“Due to this Flock Alert, the police were able to recover another firearm and recover a stolen vehicle,” Burke said.

A resolution was passed in which an intergovernmental agreement with the village pertaining to the use of its fueling station by the Evergreen Park School District 124 was approved.

The agreement allows the village fueling station to be used by the school district and the city of Hometown.

“The renewal of these entities has been done before,” Burke said. “It has worked well in the past.”

The school district currently purchases gasoline at retail prices. The village purchases its gasoline at wholesale prices and operates a fueling station on the public works grounds to fuel all village vehicles.

The purpose of this agreement is to allow School District 124 to purchase fuel at a reduced price from the village.

The village maintains and operates the fueling station at 3225 W. 93rd St.

Burke, Village Clerk Cathy Aparo, trustees and other officials were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Kennedy Park at 88th and California Ave. on Monday afternoon.

Students from nearby Northeast Elementary School were on hand to try out the new modern playground equipment surrounded by a walking path and manicured artificial grass.

Burke cut the ribbon surrounded by trustees and Northeast students.

“We had tons of kids out there and tons of parents out there,” Burke said. “I want to thank public works for all the work they have done. This is near the baseball fields and the (Northeast) school, so it should get a lot of use.”

Burke mentioned that the annual March 4 Meg 5K Run/Walk will take place beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, at Yukich Field, 8900 S. Kedzie Ave. Free skin screening will be given at 10 a.m. that day at the nearby Evergreen Park Fire Department, 9000 S. Kedzie Ave.

A business certificate was approved for RNCT, 10026 S. Kedzie Ave., which will provide non-emergency transportation. The only concern Trustee Carol Kyle had was if there was sufficient parking? Burke said she had checked and they had plenty of room for parking. Three employees will work out of the office.

LBK Stylz Boutique, 3345 W. 95th St., was also granted a business certificate. Merchandise that will be available in the store will be clothing for women and girls.

Green yard waste pick-up will begin the first week of April. Free tax return preparation for seniors and disabled adults (form limitations apply) continue by appointment only. The circuit breaker program and property tax freeze assistance are also available. For more information, call the Office of Citizen Services, 708-422-8776.

An Easter Happenings event will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Community Center, 3450 W. 97th St.

The Office of Citizen Services is hosting a Grandparents and Grandkids Ice Cream Social event from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at the Community Center. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.