FOCUS on Thornton Township October Newsletter

Focus

ISSUE 2 Oct 2021

On Thornton Township

Did You Know?

Our Riverdale location is Now Open!

Thornton Township Senior/Youth & Family Services Center had been closed since early this spring for renovations.

While this location got a facelift, you’ll notice a difference in lighting and fresh paint on your next visit. Although the Riverdale building has completed its construction, regular activities and client services have not yet resumed.

For announcements of scheduled events,

Visit our website

www.thorntontownship.com

Find Us On Social Media

**Please note: Senior Drive-thru lunches have resumed at this location, every Wednesday and Thursday (unless otherwise announced or a Holiday). **Time: 11:00 am- 12:30 pm

Location: 14323 S. Halsted Riverdale, IL. 60827

Happy Birthday Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli

“People Working With People”

T

hornton Township’s Christmas Care Program is currently underway, you may have seen a notice in our summer edition focus or on our website. Our Christmas giving program registration ended October 8th, with toys for children and food baskets for those in need. Each year we give away more than 4,500 toys to community residents as well as 1,400 holiday food baskets during the Christmas season.

The Christmas Care Program was developed with a desire to make the holidays more enjoyable for families and to serve those in need throughout our seventeen municipalities. Our food baskets include all the necessary fixings for an enjoyable Christmas meal. There will be individually wrapped gifts for each child registered.

SAVE THE DATE

Thornton Township Christmas Care 2021

Date Saturday December 18ST 2021 Follow our social media pages and thorntontownship.com for more information!

All of us at Thornton Township take pride in our slogan, “People working with People.” It is a well known understanding that there are barriers for some and the current pandemic widens the disparities to resources that provide services, programs and education to families in our communities. We all want you to have an enjoyable holiday and want you to know we’re here to help.

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The Focus

Thornton Township Assessor’s Office Hours

Monday - Friday 9:00AM-4:00PM

Location

333 162nd Street South Holland, IL

Phone

(708) 596-6040

Assessor EXT. 3139 OR 3175 CASSANDRA W. ELSTON Township Residents, Thank you for attending my tax appeal workshops in September.

My staff and I were happy to assist over four thousand residents successfully file appeals and exemptions. I hosted ten property tax appeal workshops throughout the Township, inviting Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi and local expert Attorney Mario Reed who offered additional assistance with estate planning, trusts, and living wills.

You may have noticed an increase on your property tax bill due to last year’s reassessment. Specifically, the tax value went up and the tax code rate went down. In addition, the tax multiplier decreased causing exemptions to decrease. Homeowner exemptions are ten times the local tax code rate, and senior exemptions are eight times the local tax code rate. This adjustment devastated many Township residents. Although the deadline to file an appeal for Thornton Township closed September 9, 2021, we are still pre-filing appeals for the Cook County Board of Review and processing exemptions through my office. You may also file online at cookcountyboardofreview.com.

Our office is located on the upper level of the Township Building,

near the east entrance. For questions or information, please call 708-596-6040, ext. 3175.

All the best, Cassandra W. Elston

Assessor, Thornton Township

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES As we start to enter Fall and Winter months, our transportation department expects a surge in services. We are expecting to surpass the regular winter surge in transportation services with the Delta Variant currently on the rise. There was an increase in demand during the pandemic for resident transport to doctors’ offices and grocery stores. Our transportation Manager Ralph Hawkins continues to ensure all drivers take the necessary precautions to keep our residents safe by mandating masks, supplying hand sanitizer, and increasing sanitation. Senior transportation services are available Monday- Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Thornton Township’s Transporation department has partnered with The Links, Incorporated to provide transporation to a free kidney screening event at South Suburban College on October 13, 2021, from 12:00 pm-4:00 pm. To schedule a ride call 708-339-9980 or for further information on our transportation services, call 708-596-6040 Ext. 4011.

The Focus

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General Assistance Our General Assistance department continues to play a pivotal role in the community during this pandemic. Many people and families have been faced with financial hardship and are in need of utility and rent assistance. Thornton Township’s General Assistance department is one of the largest CEDA sites for the South Suburban region and services approximately 50 plus clients a day.

We are currently accepting applications and registration for CEDA, LIHEAP, PIPP, Weatherization, and Water Assistance. Clients will be seen on a first come first serve basis with no priority period.

For more information about assistance programs, please contact 708-596-6040 ext. 3184. For Spanish ext. 3130.

Clerk

Loretta C. Wells

Thornton Township Clerk’s Office Greetings Residents,

Summer has come to an end; I hope and pray it was enjoyable and you and your loved ones stayed safe!

Although the world has not fully returned to normal, the Clerk’s Office has and is ready to assist you!

Learn more about the services my office offers below.

Voter Registration • Must have two (2) forms of ID with at least one with your current address • Must be a U.S. Citizen • Must be 18 years of age • Must be a resident of the precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day (June 28, 2022) Diabled Placards • Temporary for 90 Days • Completed application from your doctor • Applications can be picked up from the Clerk’s

office

Hunting and Fishing License • Waterfowl and salmon stamps available • Deer and Turkey Permits • Deer Firearm and Muzzleloader Permits go on sale October 19 2021 • Turkey Shotgun Permits go on sale September 20 2021

Contact Us: Cook County Announces $75M for Additional Round of Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance for South Suburban Cook County for those who are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability due to the pandemic.

Application deadline is Friday, October 29, 2021. visit: www.cookcountyil.gov/rent-help Join us for a workshop on October 27, 2021, to learn how to get up to 18 months of total assisitance. For more information contact 708-596-6040 ext. 3150.

Phone

(708)596-6040 ext. 3123 or ext. 3118

Location

333 E 162nd St. South Holland, IL 60473

On the lower level, near the west entrance

Hours

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Zuccarelli Assistance Program “ZAP” Our ZAP program officially ends October 31st.

We had another successful season serving over one thousand residents throughout the township and employed close to one hundred students. Check out this google review from a satisfied client!

If you are interested in applying for ZAP services or employment for next year our office number is (708) 596-6040 EXT 4008.

We will begin accepting new applicants February 2022.

Thornton Township Community Relations

probably getting prepared for harvest and Halloween events. Our community relations team is campaigning for National Breast Cancer Awareness month. We are excited to be hosting a “Pink Out” event at Thornton Fractional South football game on October 22, 2021, which is also ‘Wear It Pink Day’.

COVID-19 has definitely made it difficult to connect with our residents as often as possible. This past spring the community relations team started a Lunch and Learn series, that many of you expressed an interest in. Thank you for your participation and feedback. We look forward to offering a new series for 2022. Our department understands that most of our residents are working during the day and

Looking forward to next year’s season!

For the fall season, some of you are

have started planning for a Brunch and Learn series for Spring 2022.

The community relations department will have pink giveaways, t-shirts and cancer signs for encouragement of those who are currently affected and for survivors.

We invite all to participate by wearing pink in your communities, schools, place of work and businesses for the month of October. For more information please contact 708-596-6040 ext. 3168 or email connectwithus@thorntontwp.com.