Volume 2, Issue 1: January 3, 2018 THE publIshed In partnershIp wIth the shopper LANSING JOURNAL Every community deserves a good newspaper Sign up for daily news at TheLansingJournal.com Lansing’s Human Relations Commission Formation continues after delay BY ASHLEE DE WIT situation unfold like one did at the shift to the Human Relations Com- end of June,” said Village Adminis- mission going forward. LANSING, Ill. (December 22, 2017) - trator Dan Podgorski, referring to a “We needed to pay attention to Development of Lansing’s Human confrontation between a black teen- these community groups, [and] give Relations Commission has been ager and an off-duty Lansing police them the attention and the priority, slower than anticipated through the officer. The incident was captured to make sure they understood that fall, but efforts are expected to pick on video and shared virally on social we were dealing with the situation up in the new year. media. in the right way,” he said. “I think Initially, the hope was to have the That incident expedited Mayor we’ve achieved that, but I think Commission in place by the end of Patty Eidam’s campaign pledge to that’s also been one of the reasons 2017. However, a series of meetings create a Human Relations Commis- why the formation of the HRC is between Village administration, the sion for Lansing. delayed a little bit.” Lansing Police Department, and a “There’s been a ton of dialogue group of citizens and clergy called SHIFTING FOCUS on this,” said Lansing’s Director of pastor leroy Childress helped lead the the Lansing Community Coalition So far, the administration’s Communications, Ken Reynolds. Community meeting on august 16, took priority. meetings have been focused on the “Different groups have different 2017, and he has remained involved in “The meetings…have been more relationship between the police conversations about the human relations suggestions for what the Village Commission. (photo: matthew J. splant) or less follow-up on what needs department and the community, needs to do from this point forward, to happen so that we don’t have a Podgorski said, but the focus will and the Village administration is re- with the Village has been the Lan- viewing what our plans were for the Human Relations Commission, and sing Community Coalition, which then comparing that to what some consists of local citizens and a outside groups are looking for.” number of clergy members—in- cluding Pastor Leroy Childress of COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The main group in discussion see “hrC,” continued on page 10 LARC gives back to Lansing Residents work and shop local BY KATIE ARVIA workshop on the LARC campus, several other people work outside LANSING, Ill. (December 29, 2017) - the building. A janitorial crew of six Serving people with developmental works throughout downtown Lan- disabilities has been LARC’s mission sing cleaning up the streets as well since first opening its doors in 1956. as cleaning the Lynwood Roller Rink Originally a school, LARC now serves a few times per week. approximately 100 adult clients each “The excitement that happens year and provides them the opportu- In response to a June 24, 2017, with this paycheck that they get nity to work, live, and participate in incident between a black teen every two weeks is really some- and a white police officer, the broader community. Village of lansing officials thing special,” said Ken Sadowski, organized a Community LOCAL WORK Public Relations Director for LARC. meeting at tF south on LARC collaborates with several “It gives them a sense of accom- august 16. at that meeting local businesses to provide work plishment. It gives them a sense of mayor eidam included and a paycheck for their clients. belonging.” diversity in a list of qualities The work varies from packaging that make lansing special, to-go utensils for Glenwood Oaks DINING OUT and she recommitted to Other than working for local her campaign pledge to restaurant to assembling boxes for create a human relations BMW auto parts. While most clients businesses, LARC clients give back Commission. (photo: matthew J. splant) work inside the 16,000-square-foot see “LARC,” continued on page 8 new serIes: o. 130 o. N Permit L I omewood, H UNDERSTANDING LANSING ustomer C Postal D I PA See page 13 for first installment. Have questions about Residential Residential E G STA O P .S. U RWSS C E how Lansing works? Submit them to [email protected] PRSRT STD PRSRT so we can address them in future installments. 2 | January 3, 2018 | The Lansing Journal Every community deserves a good newspaper Resolutions for Lansing New Year’s thoughts from our Village Trustees COMPILED BY MELANIE JONGSMA TRUSTEE MIKE SKRBINA LANSING, Ill. (January 2018) - In planning the first 2018 print edition of The I would like to get to know Lansing Journal, we thought it might be fun to hear from our Trustees. We the men and women at the Public asked for a sentence or two with this as the theme: Works Department better in 2018. What are your New Year’s resolutions for Lansing? We also have a new Public Works building on our future plans. I Five of the six Trustees answered the question, and their answers follow. have seen the blueprints, and the building looks great. We TRUSTEE MAUREEN GRADY-PEROVICH have purchased some property along Burnham Ave. This will 1. Continue to dialogue with allow us more room to place the residents so that all residents new building. We can possibly place the building closer to feel this board listens and Burnham Ave, making it easier for our residents to responds to their questions, get to. So hopefully in 2018 we can get the ball concerns, and/or comments! rolling on the new facility. One thing you learn when you are in politics, things take time. Nothing really 2. Reach out to county, state, moves fast enough, but we will have a new building, and federal officials to see how and the men and women of our Public Works Department Lansing can work with them on deserve it along with our residents. projects important to Lansing. THE TRUSTEE JERRY ZELDENRUST LANSING JOURNAL I look forward to continuing the good work that we have established in 2017 as a board ABOUT US of trustees and leadership in Every community deserves a good newspaper. The Lansing Journal serves the our Village government. 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