2018 Winter Newsletter

Winter 2018

CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF MAGIC Dear Neighbor, It’s that time of year again for fun family gatherings and neighborhood gettogethers. Before we know it, holiday parties, end-of-year deadlines, gift shopping, house tidying, and cookie baking will be upon us.

In this flurry of activity, it’s important to take a step back to appreciate those around us who make all that chaos worth it! I, for one, couldn’t serve as your mayor without the love and support of my family and friends. Equally important to the success of any mayor, council, or city is the staff who keep us safe, build our streets, promote our economy, and serve us all.

Our monumental progress wouldn’t be possible without world class professional partners.

Let’s come together as a community to celebrate this holiday season.

Join me on Friday, December 7th, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in Metropolitan Square for our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. This year, we will be joined by live reindeer, savory hot chocolate, live music, and, of course, Santa Claus. Following tradition of this annual event, the winners of this year’s Holiday Poster Contest will accompany Santa into the square aboard a fire truck. Then, together as one community, we’ll flip the big switch and light up our city.

Please consider attending with your loved ones. While the event is free to all, we ask neighbors to consider bringing a non-perishable food item and/or winter clothing item for donation to the Des Plaines Self-Help Closet & Food Pantry.

Your Mayor, Matt Bogusz

desplaines.org

News For the Community

IN THIS ISSUE

City Manager’s Office .. .....................2 Office of the City Clerk .......................3 City News & Announcements .............4 Des Plaines History Center ................5 Community & Economic Development...6 Development Accomplishments............7 Police Department ..............................8 Fire Department ................................9 Public Works & Engineering ........10 & 11 Frisbie Senior Center .......................12

Your Elected Officials Mayor • Matthew J. Bogusz 847.391.5301 mbogusz@desplaines.org City Clerk • Jennifer L. Tsalapatanis 847.391.5311 jtsalapatanis@desplaines.org First Ward • Mark Lysakowski 847.514.8526 mlysakowski@desplaines.org Second Ward • John Robinson 847.530.3345 jrobinson@desplaines.org Third Ward • Denise Rodd 847.514.6318 drodd@desplaines.org Fourth Ward • Dick Sayad 847.204.7729 dsayad@desplaines.org Fifth Ward • Carla Brookman 847.812.6463 cbrookman@desplaines.org Sixth Ward • Malcolm Chester 847.372.1097 mchester@desplaines.org Seventh Ward • Don Smith 847.878.5289 dsmith@desplaines.org Eighth Ward • Mike Charewicz 847.878.5291 mcharewicz@desplaines.org

City Manager’s Office Michael G. Bartholomew

Success = Long-Term Goals Supported by Effective Strategies One of the most effective investments of time is when our elected officials and staff identify strategies to support a shared vision and long-term goals for the community they serve on a daily basis.

Last spring, your Elected Officials and department heads met to revisit strategic goals and also to develop new initiatives. The discussions resulted in a shared vision of what Des Plaines could accomplish when future opportunities are based on four specific goals.

We honor Des Plaines’ 182 year history and all of the contributions made by its residents, businesses, and community leaders. We have built on the past to take our City to the next level.

The City’s new 2019-2022 Strategic Plan serves as a dynamic roadmap leading us to an even more exciting future. This Plan maintains unique criteria to serve as the basis for future decision-making, with the ultimate outcome being a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable community. Every annual budget cycle requires that City departments pair new

budget requests to one or more of the four primary objectives. Below are a few examples of how the City has implemented improvements to support its 2022 Strategic Plan:

Community Character Achieving an annual consensus to funding the Youth Commission, HHS Social Services, and Emergency Household Assistance programs

Re-Imagined Growth The renovation and re-opening of the Des Plaines Theatre in the Downtown District Consensus to increase financial funding for the City’s Business Assistance Program, which has proven to benefit local establishments needing interior upgrades and facade improvements

Infrastructure and Mobility Improvements to the City Council Chambers audio-video system to modernize and enhance communications to the public The addition of an anti-icing and plowing unit for use on selected roadways prior to storm events

Municipal Excellence Implementation of an electronic, paperless permit system to offer a digital permit submission option Modernization of public buildings, including elevators, overhead lighting, and offices to achieve operational excellence

Community Character

Define and establish Des Plaines as friendly, dynamic, contemporary and smart.

Re-Imagined Growth

Facilitate creation of a built environment that reflects our character, and attracts the marketplace that will capitalize on our City’s assets and opportunities.

Infrastructure and Mobility

Enhance our infrastructure systems and maximize our transportation assets.

Municipal Excellence

Maintain focus and stability, lead and serve to create optimal conditions for a flourishing community.

Visit desplaines.org/strategicplan to view the complete document online.

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Welcoming the New Year: Consolidated Election and Filing Information Now that the November 2018 Gubernatorial election is behind us, it’s time to start thinking about the April 2, 2019 Consolidated Election.

For Des Plaines, the 2019 Municipal Consolidated Election will include voting for aldermen in the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th Wards. I want to personally thank the following elected officials currently serving on City Council for their time and dedication over the past eight years: 2nd Ward Alderman Jack Robinson, 4th Ward Alderman Dick Sayad, and 8th Ward Alderman Mike Charewicz. Each of these elected officials have reached the City’s term-limit of two consecutive 4-year terms, but their accomplishments while serving the City will be evident for many years to come.

Potential candidates running for Alderman must file an official petition to be included on the April 2, 2019 Municipal Consolidated Election ballot. Filing of the petitions begins on December 10, 2018 and ends at 5:00 P.M. on December 17, 2018.

Petitions should be filed with the Clerk’s Office on the 6th floor of City Hall between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., weekdays only.

Office of the City Clerk Jennifer L. Tsalapatanis

If you, or someone you know, is interested in running to represent the 2nd, 4th, 6th or 8th Wards, we offer helpful online links to filing information, which you can access from the convenience of your work or home computer.

Just visit desplaines.org/ government/city_clerk to learn more.

Please note that the City Clerk’s Office provides these links for general information purposes only. All candidates should consult with their legal counsels regarding all election matters. For the official Election Calendar and Candidates Guide, please visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website at elections.il.gov.

In light of this holiday season, may the magic and the wonder of the holiday season stay with you throughout the coming year.

Warm Regards,

ee Project Lucille’s Mitten Tr The City’s Health and Human Services Division invites the public to contribute to its annual Lucille’s Mitten Tree Project this holiday season. The collection ends on December 12, 2017 to allow enough time for distribution to local schools, the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines, Catholic Charities, and individuals in need. For more information, contact the Health and Human Services Division at 847.391.5480 or email HHS@DesPlaines.org.

Collection Dates:

November 12 through December 12, 2018

Collection Sites: Des Plaines Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony: Friday, December 7, 2018 Des Plaines City Hall: 1420 Miner Street, 1st Floor Lobby Des Plaines Public Library: 1501 Ellinwood Street, 1st Floor Lobby Frisbie Senior Center: 52 E. Northwest Highway Des Plaines Park District - Prairie Lakes Community Center: 515 E. Thacker Street Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth: 310 N. River Road Pg. 3

City News and Announcements Des Plaines River Road Reconstruction Funding and Construction Stages Des Plaines River Road will be reconstructed from Henry Avenue to north of Route 12 (Rand Road).

Construction began mid-August and is expected to be complete in December 2019. The project cost is $21 million, with the Illinois Department of Transportation funding $17 million dollars and the City of Des Plaines funding $4 million dollars.

River Road Reconstruction Details

The road will be constructed in multiple stages. Through much of the reconstruction, Des Plaines River Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction. At times, detour routes will be utilized.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through the work area.

Total reconstruction of over 50,000 square yards of concrete pavement

Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Please use alternate routes when possible.

Installation of traffic signals at six intersections, including a new traffic signal at Busse Highway and Miner Street

Construction updates will be posted on the City of Des Plaines website at desplaines.org/ construction. If there are questions or concerns about the project, please contact a project representative at 847.813.5972. If a representative is not available, please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible.

Reconstruction of the UP/METRA railroad crossing at Des Plaines River Road and Miner Street, including new railroad signals

Installation of 8,000 feet of new water main Construction of approximately 3,500 feet of new storm sewers, including installation of six checkvalves to assist with backups during excessive rain events

Installation of new roadway lighting

Installation of paver sidewalks and other streetscape elements Installation of ADA-compliant sidewalks

FREE MEMORY SCREENINGS Brought to you by the City of Des Plaines Health and Human Services and the Frisbie Senior Center Memory screenings are like other routine health check-ups. Each memory screening takes approximately 10 minutes and, while the result is not a diagnosis, it can suggest if someone should see a physician for a full evaluation. Call 847.391.5480 for an appointment.

Where: Frisbie Senior Center

52 E. Northwest Highway

When:

Wednesday, February 13, 2019 9:00 A.M. - Noon

The National Memory Screening Program is an initiative of the ALZHEIMER’S FOUNDATION OF AMERICA https://alzfdn.org/memory-screening Phone: 866.232.8484 Pg. 4

Des Plaines History Center

Women, Science, and History Coming this Winter to the Des Plaines History Center

In advance of the Center’s February Coffee Talk with Peggy Macnamara, the History Center’s Interpretive Curator, Emma Marston, will host a lesson and art project inspired by Ms. Macnamara’s prolific portfolio of reptile, bird, insect, and animal illustrations.

Artwork by Peggy Macnamara, Artist in Residence at Chicago’s Field Museum

February’s Featured Artist The Des Plaines History Center will examine the history of the natural sciences as taught by female guest lecturers, curators, and authors.

We are proud to announce that Peggy Macnamara, Artist in Residence at Chicago’s Field Museum since 1990, will be a keynote speaker in our “Coffee Talk” series on Thursday, February 14 from 1:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. In addition to her work with the Field Museum, Peggy Macnamara is also professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the author of five books on wildlife illustration, including Architecture

by Birds and Insects: A Natural Art and Illinois Insects and Spiders.

Ms. Macnamara’s work follows in a long tradition of women scientists who documented flora and fauna in paintings since the 18th century: Maria Sibylla Merian, Dorothea Graff, and Anna & Rachel Ruysch.

Doing Research at the Des Plaines History Center Anyone interested in researching Des Plaines history may be granted access to our permanent collections kept under controlled conditions. To view these materials, just file a research request with the History Center by calling 847.391.5399.

This “Hands-On-History” lesson and craft session will take place on Wednesday, February 6 from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. and Sunday, February 10.

Ms. Marston will teach attendees about Peggy Macnamara’s unique style of observing and documenting. All present will be invited to try their hands at creating botanical or animal art.

History Center Book Club News For all our local book club enthusiasts, the History Center Book Club will meet Wednesday, January 16, from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Our January book selection is titled The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine and was written by Lindsey Fitzharris.

Ms. Fitzharris has created a compelling nonfiction account of Joseph Lister’s work to modernize the 19th century surgical room with his intrepid claims regarding both germs and sterilization.

Through Lister’s Herculean efforts, doctors began using carbolic acid to clean wounds and surgical instruments, thus saving countless lives.

We look forward to discussing Lindsey Fitzharris’ book, which was praised by Scientific American as “The triumph of a visionary surgeon whose quest to unite science and medicine delivered us into the modern world.”

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Community and Economic Development Des Plaines Representatives Attend Regional ICSC Economic Development Convention In October, Des Plaines City Manager Michael Bartholomew, Community and Economic Development Director Michael McMahon, and Economic Development Coordinator Patrick Ainsworth represented the City at the 2018 International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Chicago Deal Making Convention that took place at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

The annual ICSC Convention attracts over 1,000 professionals from the retail, restaurant, hospitality, Photo of Des Plaines booth at the 2018 ICSC Chicago Deal Making development, municipal government Convention at Navy Pier in Chicago. This was the fifth year the City and commercial brokerage sectors. participated in the event.

The event provides Des Plaines the opportunity to highlight its premier development These meetings also provided an opportunity locations, make valuable business connections, to communicate the unique attributes that have and discuss the potential for future commercial contributed to the positive momentum we are growth and development. currently experiencing in housing, manufacturing, commercial, and retail growth.

The location of the Des Plaines booth was positioned in an area that lent itself to many conversations with Since the event, several interested parties from various professionals. The ICSC Convention also the ICSC Convention have reached out to City gave City staff the ability to set-up several onestaff, resulting in more opportunities to showcase on-one meetings with site selectors, commercial potential properties and locations to future investors brokers and retailers. and business owners.

Community and Economic Development Permit Activity This has been a very active year for our dedicated staff of professionals in the Community and Economic Development Department (CED). Staff received, processed and issued thousands of permits resulting in over one hundred million dollars in construction value.

The City requires permits for all construction including additions, remodeling, repair, and demolition. Permits are also required for signs, swimming pools, fences, roofs, sheds, decks, patios, driveways, and sidewalks. Details can be found at desplaines.org/permits.

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2018

CED staff is available to meet with citizens, architects, contractors, developers, and builders, providing assistance at every step in the building process from the initial design stage to final inspection of the completed project.

Year-to-Date as of November 1, 2018: Number of Permits Issued 2,924 Permit Fees Collected

$1.3 M

Construction Value of Permits

$116 M

Number of Inspections

7,442

Number of Plan Reviews 2,002 If you have any questions about building permits, please contact us at 847.391.5380.

Des Plaines 2018 Development Accomplishments What’s Happening...

The City of Des Plaines Community and Economic Development Department experienced another successful year in 2018, as new opportunities rose for our current businesses and existing locations.

Ranging from new land development projects to the introduction of new businesses in the community, the City Council and staff have been busy working to bring our residents and visitors the best in dining, shopping, lodging, and employment opportunities.

The map to the left highlights some of the notable economic development accomplishments in 2018, including assistance with the relocation of many existing Des Plaines businesses to new spaces that better meet their needs while still remaining a part of our community.

City Works with Cook County to Save Long-Time Des Plaines Clothing Manufacturer Des Plaines-based manufacturing firm Hart Schaffner Marx (HSM) has a new home in the City of Des Plaines. A popular men’s suitmanufacturing company with notable clients, HSM is a prominent clothing manufacturer that has been based in Cook County for over 100 years, and located in Des Plaines for over 50 of those years.

HSM employed approximately 400 workers at their long-time facility located at 1680 Touhy Avenue. Like many companies with changing needs, HSM was ready to look for a different location that fit their current operations and goals.

Inside the new Hart Schaffner Marx facility located at 901 W. Oakton Street.

The City’s Community and Economic Development Department (CED) worked tirelessly with HSM and Cook County representatives to create a plan that would allow the company to remain in Des Plaines while still addressing their future goals. During this process, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed a new classification of a Cook County Class 6b Property Tax Abatement called “Critical Emergency Employee Retention Modification” (CEERM). This classification gives companies with more than 250 employees, such as HSM, a chance to find a new location in a Cook County community that meets their needs.

CED staff assisted the company with finding, and relocating to, an existing industrial space at 901 W. Oakton Street, Des Plaines. HSM became the first recipient of the County’s new Class 6b classification to accommodate this move.

HSM invested over $1,000,000 in the new 100,000 square-foot space, taking advantage of the City’s streamlined permit process. As a result, the company’s build-out finished one week ahead of schedule.

This is just one example of how the City of Des Plaines continues to work innovatively with its business community to retain employment opportunities that result from strong business partnerships.

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Police Department Police Chief Bill Kushner

Keep Your Holidays Safe and Theft-Free: Basic Tips for Shoppers Before we know it, the snow will be flying and the holidays will be well under way. Shopping for gifts is different from years ago when people crowded malls and stores searching for that perfect present for friends and family.

The sights of years gone by, with shoppers hustling from store to parking lots with their arms laden with packages, may very well be replaced by the sight of delivery vans or postal trucks pulling-up in front of a home and dropping-off piles of gifts purchased via the internet.

This new technology has made shopping more convenient, and eliminates some of the hazards we all faced while shopping...or does it?

Basic Tips for Internet Holiday Safety: Use a credit card instead of a debit card. A hacked debit card can result in your entire account being stolen.

Use a secure network for shopping. Avoid “open” wireless networks.

If you have a wireless gateway in your home, make sure that your security is operational.

Basic Internet Tips, Con’t.: If you receive an email that appears to be from a financial institution, DO NOT PROVIDE any information in a response, and delete the email.

When you do order that special gift, be aware of package safety. Take steps to arrange for a delivery location where someone is available to accept the package in person.

Tips for Traditional Shoppers’ Safety: Be aware of your surroundings. Keep purses, messenger bags and briefcases close to you at all times.

In some cases, you may find that the store clerk is required to swipe your credit/debit card. Your purchases should require only one swipe or chip access to go through.

Always load your packages into the trunk of your vehicle, out of plain sight.

Lock your car and take the keys with you. Call 911 if you see activity in your neighborhood that appears out of the ordinary.

On behalf of the men and women of the Des Plaines Police Department, we wish you a happy holiday season and safe New Year.

Des Plaines Prescription Drug Collection Program The Des Plaines Police Department partnered with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to secure a permanent prescription drug collection box where Des Plaines residents can properly dispose of used and outdated prescription drugs, helping to prevent them from being washed down the drain or tossed in the garbage.

The City’s Medsafe collection box is located in the Police Department’s front lobby at 1418 Miner Street. This location allows residents to safely dispose of unwanted medicines 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Although the collection box is available to the public 24/7, we’re proud to share that National Drug-Take Back Day typically results in the collection of over 100 lbs. of unused and expired medicines for safe and proper disposal...and that’s just one collection box of many located in Cook County.

Today, there is a prescription drug drop-off site every 20 square miles in Cook County. To find the drop box locations, please visit cookcountymeds. org, or call 1.84.GOT USD RX? (1.844.688.7379.

For complete information about the program visit CookCountySheriff.org.

Fire Department Fire Chief Alan Wax

Fire Safety During the Holidays

Generators & Candles

Winter brings scenic snow, sledding, and snowman-building (followed by a new appreciation for the great indoors and some hot chocolate), but it’s also the season that attracts more house fires than any other...and not the kind you cozy up to in your living room. Protect your home during the cold months of December, January and February, when nearly half of all house fires occur.

Those households with portable generators usually consider themselves lucky during a power outage, but there are associated risks.

Life-threatening dangers can arise when equipment is used improperly, and generators are not exempt.

Preventing Electrical Fires

Electrical shock and fire hazards are risk factors to take into consideration when operating portable generators. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a potential threat, so be sure your carbon monoxide detectors are in proper working order and within 15 feet of any sleeping area.

Electrical fires are one of the leading causes of house fires in the U.S. The good news is that the causes are known and often preventable. Approximately half of all home electrical fires are caused by electrical distribution (think faulty wiring) and issues with lighting, cords and plugs. The other half are related to heating (such as space heaters), kitchen/cooking or personal equipment (such as electronics).

A good rule of thumb is to only plug one high-wattage decoration into each wall outlet to avoid overloading the electrical circuits, which is a common cause of holiday fires.

Heat Sources & Chimneys When you turn up the heat, you also turn up the risk of house fires. Believe it or not, heating is the second leading cause of home fires. In 40% of cases, a space heater is involved, but the number one contributing factor to home heating fires is dirty chimneys. Creosote and other debris must be removed from solid-fueled heat sources, and chimneys are the most common such sources.

Additional factors include proximity issues.

Flammable items should be at least three feet from heating equipment (furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, portable heaters). Upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses, and bedding account for more than half of home heating fire deaths. The bottom line? Keep your chimneys clean and separate your heat sources from items that could catch fire.

Another common practice is the use of candles during power outages – and we know candle use also increases during the winter holiday season. Candles have led to many residential fires both nationally and in Des Plaines. Not surprisingly, more than half of home candle fires happen when something flammable was too close to the candle.

Since homes tend to be more decorated in December, this is the month where candle fires occur more often. Keep your decorations, and especially live trees, away from any open flames.

Always stay in the room when a candle is burning – if you leave, extinguish the flame.

Now that you know the common causes of winter home fires and how to be most cautious, be sure to have a fire escape plan for your family. Last, but definitely not least, having working smoke detectors inside your home can be life-saving.

Contact the Des Plaines Fire Prevention Bureau at 847.391.5343 with any questions or for a free home safety survey. The Fire Prevention Bureau will provide a free smoke detector with each safety survey completed.

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Public Works & Engineering Winter is Coming to Des Plaines Keep Snow Routes Clear for Plowing Everyone’s cooperation and patience with Public Works during snow plowing and salting operations is greatly appreciated. Below are a few reminders: For snowfall over 2 inches, it is against City Code to park any vehicle, or to allow any vehicle to remain parked, on snow routes until snow removal operations are completed.

It is also unlawful to place snow (by shovel, snow blower or plow) on cleared streets. Please place shoveled snow on parkways.

Des Plaines snow routes are listed on the City’s website at DesPlaines. org/SnowRoutes and in the Community Calendar mailed to our residents each year. Other interesting information regarding road ownership and snow plowing priorities are also listed in the annual calendar.

Help Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter Those residents whose water lines and water meters are in locations vulnerable to freezing temperatures must be sure to take proper measures to protect them.

Homeowners should consider insulating pipes and meters susceptible to freezing temperatures.

A very thin stream of water running constantly from at least one faucet will also prevent pipes from freezing. For homes left unoccupied during the winter, owners may want to turn the water off completely, or at the very least, keep thermostats set at 62 degrees.

Sewer Back-Up Assistance The City’s Sewer Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City’s sanitary and storm sewers. If a resident is experiencing a sewer back up, please contact the Sewer Division at 847.391.5464 before contacting a plumber.

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committed to community.

Refuse Collection by Republic Services The City’s contracted waste hauler, Republic Services, will no longer accept yard waste after December 13, 2018. Collection of yard waste will begin again in April 2019.

Due to Christmas Day, December 25, 2018, and New Year’s Day, January 1, 2019, both being on Tuesdays, refuse and recycling collections will be delayed by one day both weeks. Regular collections will be conducted without interruption on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21, 2019 and Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 18, 2019.

Holiday Tree Recycling Services Republic Services will pickup holiday trees from residents they service on the residents’ regular scheduled collection days through Friday, January 18, 2019. After this date, any trees will need to be saved on private property until landscape waste pickup begins in April.

The Public Works and Engineering Department will be collecting undecorated Holiday trees (no ornaments, lights, tinsel or plastic bags) for recycling. The trees must be at the curbside before 7:00 A.M. on Monday, January 7, 2019 and will be collected through Friday, January 11, 2019. Trees frozen to the ground are difficult to collect, so we ask your assistance in making sure they are easily accessible from the curbside.

Public Works & Engineering , Con’t.

Des Plaines Continues Stormwater Management Efforts What is the Community Rating System?

Protect Your Property from Damage

The Community Rating System (CRS) Program rewards communities that go above and beyond minimum requirements to protect their citizens from flooding.

Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, but flood insurance is available to any property owner in the City of Des Plaines. If your property is susceptible to flooding, here are some damage-reduction measures you may want to consider implementing:

Under the CRS, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reward community actions that meet the three goals of the CRS, which are the following: Reducing flood damage to insurable properties Strengthening and supporting the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Encouraging a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.

As a result of the City’s CRS classification, property owners within the City of Des Plaines in the regulatory floodplain are eligible for a 15% reduction in flood insurance premiums. For more information on the City’s CRS Program, contact the Engineering Division at 847.391.5390.

50th Anniversary of the National Flood Insurance Program August 1, 2018, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The Act was motivated by the devastating loss of life and property by Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP. Since then, the program has aimed to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures by providing affordable insurance to property owners, renters and businesses, as well as by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations.

Where it rains, it can flood. The NFIP protects Americans against the financial losses from floods.

For the safety of our communities, together we can ensure that the NFIP is viable for the next 50 years.

(Source: www.fema.gov)

Obtain flood insurance for your home and building contents, even if your home is not located within FEMA’s regulatory floodplain. Also consider sewer backup coverage.

Know how to turn-off power to the lower levels of your home before a flood.

Elevate your home’s water heater, furnace, air conditioner, and other major appliances.

If the sanitary sewer backs-up into the basement during heavy rains, consider installing an overhead sewer and make sure to ask about the City’s Flood Rebate Program.

Clean your gutters, extend downspouts away from your home, and make sure the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation.

Install a second sump pump with a separate outlet pipe for additional capacity.

Install a generator or battery backup sump pump for added protection during power outages.

Several of the above measures require permits, so check with the City’s Community Development Department before proceeding. We also encourage you to call the Engineering Division at 847.391.5390 to schedule a consultation before installing flood protection measures in your home.

During the consultation, an Engineer will come to your property to discuss alternatives that are appropriate for your particular situation. This free service could save you time and money, as well as reduce future flood damages to your property. Visit desplaines.org for more information.

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DES PLAINES, IL PERMIT No. 5

1 4 2 0 M i n e r S t r e e t, 6 0 0 1 6

The Frisbie Senior Center Since 1976, the Frisbie Senior Center has been responding to the ever-evolving needs of the senior population living in the northwest suburbs, providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere that allows for congregation, social interaction, and encouragement of healthy, as well as active, lifestyles. Membership is open to anyone ages 55 or older; new members are always welcome. Although membership is not required to participate in programming, a daily activity fee will be charged for non-members. If you would like more information about the Des Plaines Meals-On-Wheels program, our Benefits Enrollment Center, or any other program offered at the Center, either visit our website at FrisbieSeniorCenter.org, or contact the Center directly at 847.768.5944.

Upcoming Events On-Going Health Screenings: Balance – Last Monday of each month (1:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.) Blood Pressure – 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month (12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.) Rules of the Road (IL Sec. of State) – Monday, December 10th (10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.); Registration required.

Big Band Dancing – Monday, December 10th ( 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.) Meet & Eat Breakfast – Tuesday, December 11th (10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.) Call for details.

Cookie Exchange – Wednesday, December 19th (Starts at 9:30 A.M.)

December 25th Christmas Luncheon On Tuesday, December 25th, the Frisbie Senior Center will be hosting its annual Christmas Luncheon. This event, now in its 17th year, continues to provide a “Family of Friends” for those living in the immediate community that have no place to go and/or no family to visit during the holiday season.

Since the holidays are often challenging times for older persons for a variety of reasons, but most notably companionship or lack thereof, we again look forward to providing a hardy meal on Christmas Day to those in need. This event is open to the public and there is no cost for the meal, however a donation of your choice is greatly appreciated.

Christmas Luncheon – Tuesday, December 25th (12:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.); Registration required.

Senior Health Talk – Wednesday, January 9th (12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.) Call for details.

AARP Tax-Aide – Every Monday, February through the beginning of April. Registration required.

Chocolate Expo – Tuesday, February 12th, (Starts at 12:00 P.M. Noon) Chinese New Year Luncheon – Wednesday, February 20th (12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.) Registration required.

THE CITY OF DES PLAINES City Hall, 1420 Miner St 847.391.5300 | desplaines.org