PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #250 Dwight, IL 60420 ** ECRWSS ** Local Customer IT’S EE! FR Volume 22 • Number 45 Proudly serving the area since 1999 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 Shoppers Needed for Dwight Christmas for Kids The Christmas for Kids pro - ber 12 , to pick up a list. gram in Dwight needs volun - Gifts purchased will need to teers to shop for the children be wrapped and properly la - using their “Wish Lists” and beled when dropped off at the funds from the Christmas for church Thursday, December 10 Kids Committee. Tbetween 11 ha.m. and 5:30 e Paper To become a shopper, you p.m. may go to Dwight United Methodist Church, 701 S. Co - If you have any questions, lumbia St., between 10 a.m. contact the Christmas for Kids and 2 p.m. Thursday, Novem - Committee at 815- 584-2179. Gardner Village Board Discusses Tree Lighting by Donald Phillips inspection documents and let - ters. Phillips commented he The Gardner Village Board would review the information met in regular session October provided and advise the board 26, opening their regular busi - if he had questions. Phillips ness with discussion of the an - closed his comments by thank - nual Christmas tree lighting. ing the village for inviting legal The ceremony will be held the counsel to the meeting to pro - Sunday after Thanksgiving – tect the interests of the village November 29, 6:00 p.m. and residents. FUN ON THE FARM! Oly Mayor Mike Serena noted Farms, Emington, opened to there will be changes to address Commissioner Dick Hile - the public in October – offer - the pandemic including social man reported the village made ing a true farm experience distancing, individually its first payment on the water with a plethora of activities wrapped treats, and no festival tower. Engineer Casey McCol - for both children and adults. of trees at the First Midwest lom commented the water The farm features a petting Bank. tower is progressing according zoo, Clydesdale rides, and Resident Don Phillips, ap - to schedule. Mayor Serena more. pearing on the agenda, thanked commented the existing water the village for their response to tower, built in the 1940’s, was his recent FOIA requests and one of the first six of its type expressed his surprise that the constructed. The same com - village did not keep a log of in - pany that constructed the exist - spections and communications ing tower in the ’40s will also to residents, instead providing complete the new tower in him with copies of the actual 2021. Dwight Approves Changes to Fine Rate Schedule ITEP Grant Application Approved / October 26 Board of Trustee Actions by Madelyn Fogarty third offense with no reduction Oly Farms Opens In Emington [email protected] for early payment. Parking rules/handicapped parking will An ordinance to amend Ap - change to the State’s fine rate Charming Family Farm With Petting Zoo, Clydesdale Rides pendix E, Fine Rate Schedule of $250. of the Village of Dwight Mu - An ordinance amending Discusses Decision to Open, Plans for Future nicipal Code was approved Dwight’s Municipal Code with By Bridget DeWaard then go on to get married in “Kris thought I was nuts,” sibilty of running the farm- during the October 26 session respect to time limit parking This October, Oly Farms, 2009, deciding to carry on the Lena said, amused as she retold based business. Having tested of Dwight’s Board of Trustees. rules was also approved desig - located in Emington, decided legacy of Lena’s Grandparents the story of her quest for more the waters and loved every mo - Effective November 1 , the nating two-hour parking limits to open its doors, delighting and operating their farm with animals. Already having the ment of it, the Olsons decided Standard Fine Penalty rate for effective October 26. The visitors for the past month with their family ever since. Kris, a horses, a donkey and chickens, to continue on with the dream, ordinance violations will in - amended section reads “On the a wide range of activities. member of the Air National she asked to go to Indiana after officially opening Oly Farms. crease as follows: West side (business side) of Stemming from the family Guard, would end up being de - discovering a calf she hoped to They have planned to be • First Offense - $100 plus West Main Street from Prairie farm Kris and Lena Olson have ployed overseas several times bring home for their future pet - open, even if in spurts, while all affiliated costs Avenue to the Fox Center cross grown through hardwork and throughout the years during his ting zoo. Though admittedly weather permits, closing after • Second Offense - $200 walk,” and “On the East side of love, they strive to impart service. “Having a farm gave somewhat skeptical at first, and winter formally arrives and plus all affiliated costs West Main Street from Prairie pieces of their experience to me something to do, as well as initially needing some convinc - temperatures make it too diffi - • Third Offense - $300 plus Avenue to the South sidewalk everyone they happen to meet having lots of comfort from the ing, Lena warmly remembered cult to enjoy the animals. Once all affiliated costs entrance to the Historic Depot, at the farm. animals when he was away,” her husband’s constant and un - spring and the fair weather re - The following sections in and from the North sidewalk Growing up, Lena always she recalled of their days spent wavering support throughout turns, they will reopen, posting the Fine Rate Schedule will entrance to the Historic Depot loved animals, recalling fond apart. “I needed to stay busy, to the entire process as she pur - hours and available appoint - change to the Standard Fine to the Fox Center Crosswalk” memories of accompanying pass the time.” sued her dream. From there, ments on their Facebook page, Penalty: “The spaces in between the two her Grandparents when they Their farm grew steadily the farm grew even greater, as which can be found by search - • Section 8.606, Park Cur - sidewalk entrances will remain showed their shetland ponies, over time, as Lena’s love for Lena continued to search and ing “Oly Farms”. Leading up few unlimited.” and participated in 4-H events. animals led her to constantly be add (sometimes comically in to the weather-related closure, • Section 9.311, Water, Tam - In other business and fol - Raised on a farm in Fairbury, on the search for more to add secret) more animals. “Every they will also post on the page pering with Meters lowing a Public Hearing, a Res - she would eventually move to to their family farm. “We have time my husband [came] home of temporary open days if pos - • Section 12.607, Waste Dis - olution to approve an Illinois Emington, living now on the always been around animals, from work,” Lena jovially ad - sible during lingering favorable posal Transportation Enhancement farm that her Grandfather grew but I saw a couple of horses for mitted, “there was a new ani - conditions. “I would love to do • Section 16.203, Nudity Program (ITEP) grant applica - up on. “I have learned a lot of sale by Morris in the Spring of mal on the farm.” some carriage rides still,” Lena and Sexual Conduct tion was approved. ITEP pro - discipline, respect and respon - 2009,” she said, recounting Before the animal-centered said, “if we get some decent • Section 20.303 Plus Com - vides state and federal funding sibility with having a farm,” how she had also always business came entirely to days.” munity Service, Truancy for walking, biking, and trail she said fondly, an experience wanted a Clydesdale. She con - fruition, Kris and Lena would The farm is home to a mul - • Section 20.402 Plus Com - projects around the state. If Olson would love for others to tinued, remembering excit - raise various horses, travel to titude of animals, offering a munity Service, Parental Re - awarded to Dwight, the ITEP share. Full of family history edly, “[That day] we came participate in local county fairs wide variety for children and sponsibility grant would be used to extend and loved through generations, home with seven! I was in as well as state fairs, and even adults alike to pet, enjoy, and • Section 24.220, Plumbing a walking/bike path from Lions the farm is of great importance heaven.” Prior to this purchase, bring their animals along as a experience. “[Currently we and Sewers Lake to Morris Road using the to the Olsons, who take care to the Olsons had just a couple of mobile petting zoo, visiting have] Clydesdales, a mini don - A fine rate revision for lit - southbound lane of the discon - nurture and spread this love to quarter horses. Their farm daycares and nursing homes. key, goats,” which Lena clari - tering in public parks increased tinued Route 66 highway. The all those who visit. quickly filled with their new After reaching a point fied also included fainting to $500 per offense to coincide path would then continue from Meeting her husband in precious additions, and the de - where they felt comfortable, goats, “a mini Hereford cow, with State standards. Morris Road to Renfrew Park. 2005, Lena was working at Big sire Lena had long held of run - they made the decision this Oc - alpacas, a sheep, basset Fines for parking offenses The estimated cost of the proj - R at the time, when Kris hap - ning a farm-based business tober to tentatively open the hounds, a rabbit, chickens, will also increase to $25, $50 ect is $816,875.