Comments at Peace Vigil

November 25, 2008
Comments of Mayor Rodney S. Craig, Hanover Park.

My fellow citizens of Hanover Park we have joined together this evening to share our pain in the event that has transpired this past week. We are surely offended by what has occurred when a resident of our town, Vatsala Thakkar, lost her life while working in the Dollar Plus store across the street.

My goal as Mayor is to assure residents are safe where you work, in your home, and at your school. Hanover Park has one of the finest Certified police departments in the Nation. They were able to solve the crime as a result of good police work in collaboration with the DuPage County Crime Task Force and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. The good work of our Police Department will be acknowledged and recognized.

However, Crime Prevention must be our highest priority. I have been listening to the residents and they expect patrols where the neighborhoods are changing, we need to respond. The Police Chief has a plan to increase those patrols where needed. I have read the staffing reports from the Police Chief, and we have a minimum requirement of 61 officers to enable Hanover Park to permanently staff the Crime Prevention office to support citizen involvement as we aspire to keep our neighborhoods safe. I have been seeking greater staffing of our Police Department since I became your Mayor. I have asked for staffing in our Crime Prevention, and I have asked our residents to support this need. Making this happen will require budgetary support. We have a tough road ahead of us, and we must meet the needs of Hanover Park residents to assure that our quality of life, our safety, and our peace of mind is preserved.

I must also thank the Keeneyville School District for their responsiveness to our Police Department. They made sure everyone was safe as the activity was occurring on the street. They are an excellent school, and they care deeply for the students that attend their schools. The students were totally safe in their charge. Thank you to Springwood Principal Craig Barringer, and Greenbrook Principal Todd Tecktiel and his staff.

To the residents who spoke up and helped the Police by sharing their story about what happened, we thank you.

Finally, thank you to our neighborhood leaders here in Evangel Church, at Living Christ Lutheran Church, and at the Keeneyville School District Schools. Together we can make a difference in our “Hanover Park Community Resource Center” with after school programs, ESL classes, and aid when needed. We care and we are here.

Thank you all,

A Vigil of Peace and Hope For Families and Children

"We Must Join Together in Community"

Tonight, Tuesday November 25 at 7 pm at the auditorium of Evangel
Church, the Village of Hanover Park will gather for a vigil
remembering the recent tragic loss of one of the members of our
community, Vatsala V. Thakkar.

The evening will gather us together with a message of peace, hope,
thanksgiving and gratitude as we give encouragement to individuals,
families and children of our community.

Evangel Church is at the corner of Lake Street and Bartels Road.
5700 Bartels Road, Hanover Park
Please call 630-671-1570 for directions.

Pastor Jennie Swanson, Living Christ Lutheran Church
www.lclutheran.org630-837-2100 Office630-837-2121 Fax
Chaplain, Hanover Park Fire Department (IL)
President, Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains, Inc
www.ilfirechaplains.org
FFC Great Lakes Regional Director

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Honors Hanover Park

Recently I was invited to meet with Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer, to honor Hanover Park in our 50th year Celebraton. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the good news of Hanover Park and our challenges given the evolving economics.

Maria Pappas and Rod Craig

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Recognizing Veterans Day

I want to send along my thanks to the Veterans in our community. We have people who have served our country with pride from the most recent veterans of Iraq who are in their early 20s years old to our senior veterans to liberated Europe and the South Pacific in WWII. I hope that all of us take a moment to say thank you to the generations of Veterans who have given their service to all of us.

I have make the proclamation below in honor of Veterans day.

Veterans Day Proclamation, Hanover Park, Illinois

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Spring Wood Middle School Proclamation

I wanted to share this proclamation about the good work going on at Spring Wood Middle School where they are participating in the Illinois Solar Schools Program (click here for more information) from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

Spring Wood Middle School, Hanover Park, Illinois

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Sister Cities Proclamation

I wanted to share this proclamation on the Sister Cities Committee.

Sister Cities Proclamation, November 2008

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13th Annual Mayor's Choice Business Award

The "Mayor’s Choice Business Award" program was developed by the Village’s CONECT Committee to recognize outstanding achievement in the business community within the Village.


Nomination Form

Informational Award Pamphlet

Online Nomination Form

Minute with the Mayor: Holiday Message

The message below will be published in the upcoming Hanover Park HiLighter for November & December.

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Happy Holidays to all. The photo is from last years Holiday Tree Lightning Ceremony. What a great time that was had by all. I don’t know where the year went, however may the spirit of the Holidays be in your heart through out the year. My Hanover Park story of compassion follows:

They say it takes a village to raise a child. This is true, several months ago a family of seven found themselves homeless following a serious fire. The local fire department did an excellent job putting out the fire. When all was said and done, seven people were homeless and they had few resources to get them back on their feet. Nearly all for their possessions were lost. They have been living in various hotels since, and are today. This can cost as much as $600 per week, leaving no means for getting ahead to secure a permanent place to live. Still together as a family, they have been doing the best they can to survive day to day, but the emotional and financial impact of the fire and the ongoing struggles of raising three kids continue to make life very hard.

The kids are enrolled in school and the school staff and social workers are already working to meet needs. After receiving food and clothing from “Hands Of Hope” at Evangel Church, they met another Hanover Park resident who had had seen tough times himself. This man provided the name of the Fire Department Chaplain, and suggested they may find hope there. In doing so, a chain reaction of resources was put into action to assist this family with housing, food, clothing, employment, counseling and social support. Keeneyville School District 20, Evangel Church, our Fire Department, Salvation Army, the Hanover Park Community Resource Center, St Columba Episcopal and Living Christ Lutheran Churches are assisting as they provide services and partnerships to help this family. Other resources will be called upon for transitional housing, transportation, financial assistance and case management. Willing to work hard and grateful for the assistance that is being offered, a family once set back is on their feet again, they will be ok.

Hanover Park has its share of problems, but we also have an abundance of resources (human assets) and many people who care. It is because of the commitment to the needs of others that the agencies, Churches, and organizations of Hanover Park we can collectively provide effective services. It is because of the commitment and concern for each other that this family has made it this far. It is by working together as one Hanover Park that we can offer real hope and real change to those in need. Thank you all.

On December 6th, the Hanover Park’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee is presenting “Surviving this Economic Crisis” Strengthening Our Family Symposium. It will be held at the Hanover Park Park District at Noon – 3:00 PM. You are invited; RSVP to TrusteeCarter@yahoo.com or to me Rodney.craig@hpil.org.

This is my Holiday message. We celebrate our blessings and we volunteer to mentor those who have needs and a helping hand to make a difference. Our Schools work to instill opportunities through mentorship, hope, and believing that everyone can succeed, “No Exceptions.” The only risk we see is our commitment to engage and participate. Contact me if mentorship is in your heart.

Upcoming event: Surviving this Economic Crisis

For Immediate Release to Hanover Park and all surrounding communities. 

Hanover Park’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee

Presents

“Surviving this Economic Crisis”

Strengthening Our Family 

Symposium

On Saturday, December 6, 2008, from 12:00 am – 3:00 pm Hanover Park’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee will host a symposium focused on surviving this economic crisis. 

We will host 3 separate workshops to help assist families survive in this turbulent economic time. The workshops scheduled to date are as follows and will run concurrently:

(1) Making our kids mind without losing ours! 

- Coping through the toddler stage 

- Managing 6 – 12 year olds

- Surviving with 13 – 19 year olds 

(2) Enhanced Community Living: *Dr. Carl Bell*, Panel: Chief Ron Moser, Trisha Rossi 

- Understanding the impact of traumatic stress on children 

- Is there a correlation between childhood relationships and the leading causes of death in adults?

- Cultivating resiliency in youth 

(3) Surviving these tough economic times:

- Finding alternative streams for income sources 

- I am in financial trouble; how do I get out?

- My company is downsizing, what should I be doing? (Dr. Chris Easley)

- How do I manage financial stress in this tough time? (Dr. William Martin)

Where: The Hanover Park Park District (Community Center/Dome)

1919 Walnut Street, Hanover Park, IL 60133 

(Please take the elevators to the 2nd floor) 

Everyone is welcomed! If you need additional information or to RSVP please contact Trustee Toni Carter at (630) 372.4203 or TrusteeCarter@yahoo.com. 

* Hanover Park’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee is devoted to creating an inclusive environment in Hanover Park. We are dedicated to bringing our community together by strengthening our ties to our families, to one another and by providing valuable, pertinent information to assist our residents and surrounding communities with every day life.*