September – A Time to Remember
This year, our Village will participate in a Patriot Walk, sponsored by Sax - Tiedemann on September 11. As a nation, as a people, as a community, we will come together to honor all the victims as well as the heroes of that horrible attack on American soil. Patriot Day, as September 11 is now known, is a national day of service and remembrance for the thousands of lives lost during the attacks. It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the brave first responders; law enforcement, firefighters and members of the medical community, who ran toward danger that day to help their fellow Americans. It was indeed a dark day in our history. But it was also a day that demonstrated the valor and courage of those heroes – a courage they show every day as they willingly put themselves in harm’s way for our safety.
In Franklin Park, we are fortunate to have dedicated men and women as first responders who will always be ready, not just to do their duty, but to go above and beyond to help their fellow man. Americans from all walks of life, backgrounds, races and religions also came forward to volunteer to help in the rescue and recovery efforts after the attacks. September 11, 2001 brought all Americans together. It made us recommit to our shared principles and beliefs and it made us value our liberty.
Today, our nation needs that pause to thank our first responders and to honor that unique American spirit that has allowed us to be the longest surviving democracy in the history of the world. Please join me on September 11 and take a moment to thank our first responders and to remember that spark of patriotism that sets Lady Liberty’s light a blaze.
Franklin Park Patriot Walk Monday September 11 - 6 PM Sax - Tiedemann Funeral Home, 9568 Belmont Avenue Everyone is invited to attend and participate in this event.
Growing a More Sustainable Future
Recently, engineers at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) contacted us about their innovative Biosolids Program. Composted biosolids are a product of wastewater treatment that supplies organic matter and improves soil structure to allow plants to more effectively utilize nutrients. The MWRD has been successfully using biosolids on golf courses, athletic fields, public parks and schools in the Chicago area for more than 30 years.
We were excited to participate in the biosolids program because better soil and healthier plants require less maintenance and make for more robust and durable landscaping. Seven truckloads of the composted biosolids, which looks and feels like dark, fine-textured topsoil, was delivered to the area outside of the King Street Pumping Station. The Village planted heirloom corn, pumpkin and sunflower seeds that have flourished into crops that will soon be harvested and donated to local charities. The Village is always seeking alternatives to using dangerous chemicals and to find ways to promote sustainable practices. Everything we do with the MWRD always turns out green for our Village.
Mayor Barrett Pedersen