Week in Review: Municipal Race Hopefuls, Sports and Holiday Cheer

Evergreen Park Patch started off the holiday week with unique gifts that were available right in the village. If you hadn't  gotten your holiday shopping done by then, Latoya Campbell told you how you could have given the gift of music, healthy eating, comedy or an edible arrangement.

Later that night, we had our eye on the sky for the first total lunar eclipse since Feb. 20, 2008, and the first total lunar eclipse that occurred simultaneously with Winter Solstice since 1638.

On Tuesday, we found out who was running for the local municipal races. By the Monday deadline, 17 hopefuls had submitted nominating petitions to appear on April's ballot for the village board, school districts and library. Also happening in government this week, the village Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2010 tax levies. Two separate levies were approved. The total levy for this year will be around $5.1 million, which translates into a 3 percent increase from last year's levy. The Village Board also approved a second levy on taxes for the at 3 percent more than last year's levy. Residents who normally receive a $4,500 annual tax bill can anticipate a $15 increase.  The week prior, the village board and the finance committee met and recommended the increase, but had not voted on it until this week.

The Weekly Business Spotlight introduced us to Dr. Eno Nsima-Obot, MD, an internal medicine doctor who is making a career change 23 years into her professional life. Colleen McBrien Kant told us how she is now coaching patients to a healthier lifestyle.

This week, we teamed up with Oak Lawn Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson to find out what makes the holidays special for Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park residents. In our first Word on the Street video, we asked residents, "What's your favorite holiday tradition?"  Responses varied, but everyone agreed it's a time to spend with family. Later in the week, we asked residents what they wanted for Christmas. Most hoped for a better economy, employment and a happy, healthy family.

If you hadn't solidified Christmas Eve or Christmas Day plans by Thursday, Campbell helped again by giving us a list of some local places of worship that were holding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

We found out what the village planned on doing with the property where the former Emerald Park Health Care Center sat, at 9125 Pulaski Road. The Village Board unanimously voted to sell the land to SW Property Group LLC for $675,000. Mayor James Sexton said SW Property Group plans to develop the land into doctors offices, which they expect will take about 14 months to build. Village attorney Vincent Cainkar said the company hopes to close on the acquisition in March.

This week in sports, Camron Smith gave us highlights from the game against Romeoville at the Oak Lawn Basketball Tournament. Later,  Chris Walker introduced us to Curby Marshall, Evergreen Park's top high schol athlete for the fall of 2010.