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homerhorizon.com SOUND OFF<br />

the homer horizon | April 25, 2019 | 13<br />

Social snapshot<br />

Top Web Stories<br />

From HomerHorizon.com from Monday,<br />

April 22.<br />

1. BREAKING: Sowa resigns as Homer<br />

Township clerk<br />

2. Police Reports: Homer man charged with<br />

leaving accident, DUI<br />

3. RE/MAX Millennium a homecoming for<br />

owner<br />

4. New Life puts on inaugural Easter<br />

Eggstravaganza<br />

5. Softball: Celtics best defending<br />

state champ Montini both games of<br />

doubleheader<br />

Become a Horizon Plus member: homerhorizon.com/plus<br />

“William E. Young Principal, Mr. Nathan Baldwin,<br />

with students delivering blankets and a donation<br />

to Silver Cross Hospital...Thanks to everyone<br />

who helped out with this very important project!<br />

They were very appreciative!”<br />

Homer Community Consolidated School District<br />

33C, from April 15.<br />

Like The Homer Horizon: facebook.com/homerhorizon<br />

“A sure sign of spring. The fountain is on at<br />

Victorian Village - Homer Glen”<br />

@stephenneuhaus, Steve Neuhaus, from<br />

April 18.<br />

Follow The Homer Horizon: @homerhorizon<br />

From the Editor<br />

State of the Village a wide-ranging local summary<br />

Thomas Czaja<br />

tom@homerhorizon.com<br />

Each year, you, like<br />

many other Americans,<br />

may sit down<br />

in front of the television<br />

and watch the State of the<br />

Union Address delivered<br />

by the president to Congress.<br />

In their long speech, the<br />

president will cover a variety<br />

of topics important to<br />

citizens, recognize a number<br />

of individuals and as<br />

best as one can in a single<br />

address hit main points for<br />

what has recently passed<br />

and what is on the horizon<br />

to come.<br />

It is a worthwhile watch<br />

and comes with much<br />

pageantry, scrutiny by<br />

pundits, and, yes, plenty<br />

of standing and clapping<br />

throughout the speech.<br />

On a local level, the<br />

Village of Homer Glen<br />

has an annual State of the<br />

Village Address. While<br />

the State of the Union<br />

Address no doubt shapes<br />

larger aspects of the country<br />

and things that impact<br />

us, the local one involves<br />

points like economic<br />

development and infrastructure,<br />

work residents<br />

see firsthand when driving<br />

through and living in the<br />

community.<br />

The mayor each year<br />

hits on everything from<br />

finances to parks to other<br />

topics. Each year, we put<br />

the State of the Village<br />

Address on the news<br />

cover, because I feel it is<br />

an important summarization<br />

of everything going<br />

on in the Village, with a<br />

lot covered. And while<br />

our coverage of it always<br />

tries to be a thorough recap,<br />

I would nonetheless<br />

encourage everyone to<br />

go to the link at the end<br />

of the story and read the<br />

address online fully for<br />

themselves.<br />

Granted, I know not<br />

everyone is into politics,<br />

and the idea of reading a<br />

longer speech may not be<br />

something they initially<br />

think to do. But topics<br />

in there — the 159th<br />

Street roadwork, Heritage<br />

Park, new businesses to<br />

the community, etc. — I<br />

know these are subjects<br />

residents hear a lot about<br />

and wonder about the<br />

latest on, and so I think it<br />

is worth taking the time to<br />

brush up on what is going<br />

on.<br />

As noted in the story<br />

itself, the theme for the<br />

last couple State of the<br />

Village speeches has been<br />

working with residents<br />

and business owners to<br />

come up with strategic<br />

planning initiatives. Yes,<br />

those main initiatives have<br />

already been decided on<br />

as a blueprint, but the<br />

Village’s work is never<br />

done, and it will always<br />

continue to need direction<br />

and input as it continues<br />

to grow.<br />

There is always a<br />

chance to help shape<br />

one’s community, whether<br />

through volunteering, supporting<br />

local businesses<br />

or becoming involved<br />

through attending meetings<br />

or asking questions of<br />

elected officials or anyone<br />

at the Village.<br />

Another thing worth<br />

mentioning again is that<br />

residents can also attend<br />

the State of the Village.<br />

While that may not be for<br />

everyone, and it can be<br />

viewed online, the chance<br />

to be there and hear the<br />

message and speak with<br />

the mayor or anyone else<br />

after is there for those interested.<br />

The Fairbrothers,<br />

who are mentioned in the<br />

story on this year’s State<br />

of the Village Address on<br />

Page 3, are two examples<br />

of residents who do so<br />

and feel they keep getting<br />

something out of it.<br />

Whether State of the<br />

Union or State of the<br />

Village, national or local,<br />

these speeches have no<br />

shortage of talking points<br />

and moments worth<br />

checking out.<br />

Sound Off Policy<br />

Editorials and columns are the<br />

opinions of the author. Pieces<br />

from 22nd Century Media are<br />

the thoughts of the company<br />

as a whole. The Homer Horizon<br />

encourages readers to write<br />

letters to Sound Off. All letters<br />

must be signed, and names and<br />

hometowns will be published.<br />

We also ask that writers include<br />

their address and phone number<br />

for verification, not publication.<br />

Letters should be limited<br />

to 400 words. The Homer Horizon<br />

reserves the right to edit<br />

letters. Letters become property<br />

of The Homer Horizon. Letters<br />

that are published do not reflect<br />

the thoughts and views of The<br />

Homer Horizon. Letters can be<br />

mailed to: The Homer Horizon,<br />

11516 West 183rd Street, Unit<br />

SW Office Condo #3, Orland<br />

Park, Illinois, 60467. Fax letters<br />

to (708) 326-9179 or e-mail to<br />

tom@homerhorizon.com.<br />

www.homerhorizon.com.

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