As all of Tinley Park gears up for what is sure to be another memorable holiday season, I'd like to take a moment to talk about some exciting new plans the Village has for Downtown Tinley.
I'm sure by this point most of you have heard about Harmony Square, a new public space that will be programmed at least 250 days of the year and will be a destination for residents and regional visitors alike. We recently conducted an online survey to solicit feedback from residents and businesses on what they'd like to see in the new plaza, and we'll combine this input with the information we receive at an upcoming open house  to create a public space that everyone will be proud of. Residents will be notified once a date, place and time is determined for the open house.

A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district is required to make needed infrastructure improvements and incentivize developers in Downtown Tinley. The current TIF for that area, the Main Street South TIF, was created in 2003 to do just that, but unfortunately the Great Recession that began in 2008 and lasted for several years impeded development.

The Main Street South TIF is set to expire in 2026, meaning there isn't really enough time left on it to make something substantial happen. As a result, we're going to replace the old TIF with the New Bremen TIF district to give us a fresh page on which to work.

We've been meeting with the affected school districts to get their input, and as this process will take several months, there will be plenty of opportunities for us to solicit public input.
We'll also be giving a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20 in the Kallsen Center to talk about the new TIF, discuss what a TIF does and present the schedule for the new TIF. I hope everyone will come out and participate in this educational event.
As always, feel free to drop me an email at [email protected]  if you have any questions or concerns.

The Village of Tinley Park and the Tinley Park Veteran's Commission will host the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Gen. Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza, which sits adjacent to the south entrance of the 80th Avenue Metra train station, 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park.

The ceremony will include music by the Tinley Park Community Band Brass Quartet, speeches by elected officials, a rifle salute, the presentation of the Col. David G. Seaman Volunteer Recognition Award to Dr. William D. Rasmussen III, and more.

The residents of Tinley Park have spoken! The theme of next's year's Downtown Tinley Block Party will be  '80s Life Amplified. Make sure to mark your calendars for July 15, 2018 so you can join party-goers in celebrating the decade of big hair, leg warmers and synthesizers!

Residents picked the theme from three options via an online poll and at this year's Boo Bash. Other options included Island Life Amplified and Country Life Amplified.

The Village plans to rotate themes each year, with the "Amplified" portion remaining constistant in support of the Village's new music brand and its associated tagline, "Life Amplified."

November is Winter Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois. To help people prepare for potentially dangerous winter weather, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have developed a winter weather preparedness guide to help people understand winter weather risks, along with tips for staying safe at home, in the car and at school. It also includes lists of suggested items for home and vehicle emergency supply kits. For more information, please visit www.Ready.Illinois.gov/ready .