Live window displays, ice sculptures and more
Move over State Street. Madison Street in Forest Park is the place to go for the best holiday windows! Despite below freezing temperatures Madison Street was packed with folks from all over who came out to enjoy some holiday cheer and vote for their favorite live window display at the Chamber’s annual Holiday Walk. Voting proved to be quite a challenge as evidenced by the results…and you can thank the creative and talented Madison merchants for that.
The event was a smashing success, but would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and sponsors. On behalf of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, we would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their support: Sal Ferrara of Ferrara Pan Candy for his generous title sponsorship; Whole Foods Market, Two Fish Art Glass, Plan B Gallery, Ultra Foods and Lutheran Child and Family Services (Carriage Rides); O’Sullivan’s, Healy’s Westside/Cocina Lobos, Mohr Oil, Trage Bros. Appliances & Electronics and Storino Ramello & Durkin (ice sculpture demo); Forest Park National Bank & Trust (photos with Santa); Carriage Flower Shop (Santa & goodies); Spotless Carwash (Santa & carwash tokens); Park District of Forest Park (marshmallow roast); Reich & Becker and United Way (face painting); Arborwood and Briarwood at Altenheim (live reindeer); Forest Park Main Street (gift certificates and the chocolate fountain!); the Forest Park Review (1/2 page ad and story for live window display contest winners); Madison Merchants (gift certificate giveaways) and supporting sponsors Louie’s Grill, Beret Ltd., Thiesse Plumbing, Golden Steer, Forest Park Firefighters Local 2753, Flav’our Cooking School, My Best Friend Groom & Board, Kay’s Bakery, Dr. Lori Lipkin, Priya Groceries, Kane McKenna & Assoc, Fantastic Sam’s of Forest Park and WalMart.
We greatly appreciate the services provided by the Village of Forest Park, the Forest Park Police and Fire Departments as well as the Public Works department, whose contributions helped things run smoothly and safely.
Thanks again to each and every one of you…including those who attended the Holiday Walk. Happy Holidays!
The Holiday Walk Committee
Wayne Schauer, Erik Fjeldstad, Laurie Kokenes, Connie Brown, Judy Trage,
Heidi Vance
Running forDemocratic Committeeman
Over thirty years ago, Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm ran for President. She delivered a thought-provoking speech defining who she was. She said, “Whenever I speak to student groups, the first question I get is, “Can’t you do something about the war?” The next is usually: “how can you stand to be a part of this system?” Her reply was “You can be part of the system without being wedded to it; in other words you can take part in it without believing that everything it does is right.”
She did not want to be remembered as the first black woman elected as Congresswoman, but that she won public office without selling out to anyone. She chose the expression “Unbossed and Unbought” because that is what she believed she was and what she wanted all candidates for public office to be.
In the spirit of Shirley Chisholm and all of those who have come along behind her that subscribe to this idea of government working for people, I believe that real power comes from the people and they are the bosses. And, in that spirit, I offer myself as a Democratic candidate for Proviso Township Committeeman.
Please allow me to define myself as an Unbossed and Unbought Shirley Chisholm Democrat; an Integrity and Trust Barack Obama Democrat; an Independent Danny Davis Democrat: of, by and for the people.
When Obama ran for U.S. Senate, he did not have the money of Blair Hull. He did not have the clout of Gerry Chico and he did not have the machine backing of Dan Hynes.
Nevertheless, people all over Illinois connected with him, his intelligence, his integrity and understanding of their problems and issues.
I worked with Barack in the state legislature and “he worked hard, sponsored many important pieces of legislation, and worked to bring legislators together to pass bills.
In my three terms as a state representative, I have worked hard, been successful as a legislator and gained a reputation for working in a bi-partisan manner to improve the lives of Illinois citizens.
I supported Barack Obama and Congressman Danny K. Davis in the 2004 primary and Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown two years earlier because they were the choice of the people in my community.
The present (what I call) Proviso “demohacks” did not listen to the people; they obviously get their marching orders from others outside of Proviso Township. The power-brokers told them to support someone else over Barack Obama, someone else over Dorothy Brown, someone else over Danny Davis.
Even with all of the signs and literature all over Proviso, with all of the pressure and sound bites””- the People said a resounding “No!”
Instead you said “yes” to Dorothy Brown, yes to Danny Davis, yes to Karen Yarbrough and yes to Barack Obama.
I believe that you want to support people who have demonstrated that they have a moral compass and understand that elected officials must care about families, about kids and about senior citizens.
I will not be moved by outsiders who only care about power and control. I am accountable to the residents of Proviso Township and constituents within the 7th representative district.
So I am asking for your support for my candidacy as Proviso Township Committeeman!
Let us send a clear message to the power brokers and say “no” to the Demo-hacks and “yes” to the Democrats!
Karen Yarbrough
7th District State Representative
