Worth officials are ringing in the holidays

By Joe Boyle

With the arrival of Thanksgiving, Worth officials are preparing for the rest of the holiday season.

Mayor Mary Werner mentioned during the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night that the Worth Lions Club will open the Christmas tree lot on Friday, Nov. 24, at 116th and Harlem Avenue

The tree lot will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The mayor said that residents interested in purchasing a tree should do so promptly.

“They ran out of trees last year quickly so you might want to get there soon,” Werner said.

Trustee Brad Urban said that the “Ton of Food Drive” by the Worth Lions Club that was held Saturday was a huge success. He was appreciative of the effort put in by the Worth Boy Scouts and Worth Junior High School students. He also lauded the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Post 991 and auxiliary.

“The food drive was really good,” Urban said. “They really stepped up.”

The Holiday Tree Lighting event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Terrace Centre, 11500 S. Beloit Ave. Hot cocoa, holiday crafts and Santa’s reindeers will be on hand. Kids can also have their picture taken with Santa.

Guests can also take a train ride through a “winter wonderland” that will be set up. More information can be obtained by calling 708-448-7080 or visit www.worthparkdistrict.org.

The Shepard Athletic Booster Club will present a Winter Craft, Art and Vendor Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the high school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights.

Handicap parking spaces are available on the side of the school building by the softball field and back of the school.

The Westside Warriors Willer Cooperstown bound team, which is based out of Oak Lawn, will host a “Breakfast with Santa” from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Hall, 11001 S. Depot St.

Pancakes, sausages, coffee and juice will be served. Kids activities will be offered, along with a bake sale and raffle baskets. Guests should bring a camera to take pictures of Santa.

The fee is $7 per person to enter. More information can be obtained at warriorswiller@gmail.com.

Donations are now being accepted for Toys for Worth Tots at the Marrs-Meyer Post. Donations of new, unwrapped toys, school supplies and backpacks for youths from infant to 16 years of age will be distributed during the annual basket event in December.

The new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off during business hours before Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Marrs-Meyer Post.

Trustee Pete Kats, chair for the public safety committee, noted that the Worth Police Department made 60 arrests in October. However, he is still puzzled at the increasing number of drivers who are arrested for not having a license.

“We appreciate the hard work of the police,” Kats said. “But we had nearly 40 people who were arrested for not having a driver’s license last month. The numbers just keep increasing.”

“I’m just blown away by that,” said Trustee Laura Packwood.

Werner was in complete agreement, stating that this “is mind boggling.”

Urban, who is the chair of the public works committee, said that two sink holes from damaged tiles were repaired on the 6800 block of 113th Place. The village’s sidewalk remove-and-replace program was completed the week of Nov. 13, Urban said.

Street sweeping will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30. Urban warned residents not to park on curbed streets from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Hometown Hero banners have been taken down. Banners that were displayed for two years will be available to be picked up at the Village Hall on Saturday, Dec. 2, Urban said. Residents can renew to have banners be put up again next year.

The Beautification Committee will be purchasing two concrete planter boxes for the front of Village Hall. Planters will serve a dual purpose. It will be decorative and provide a barrier for the village LED sign from vehicles that may leave the roadway, which Urban said has happened in the past. The current cost is $1,983 for two planters.

The committee, along with the assistance of the public works department, would like to repaint the village entrance signs to match the colors of Water’s Edge Golf Course entrance signs.

Bacteriological water samples for October were taken and tested. All samples passed and are IEPA compliant, Urban added. Several ordinances were approved for a special use permit to rezone property at 11359 S. Harlem Ave. for commercial use and to allow for a residential dwelling unit.

An ordinance was approved for a contract with Vaxtor Fixed LPS Solutions regarding fixed traffic camera installations for use as license plate readers. The purchase of a Toro groundmaster mower was approved for the Water’s Edge Golf Course. Another ordinance was approved for the purchase of a greens roller for the golf course.

Packwood, who is the chair of the golf committee, said Orion, the Missouri-based company that manages Water’s Edge, has been a major improvement over previous managers.

“Orion has done a very good job of managing their expenses,” Packwood said. “They are doing an excellent job.”

A business license was given tentative approval for Oh Boy Pizza, 11308 S. Harlem Ave. The pizza establishment has been there for many years but is now under the ownership of Jerry Linas, of Linas Enterprise Inc.