Gene Mundt - Let's Talk Mortgages & Real Estate! : Illinois: Lockport

 41st Christmas Crossroad Craft Show to be held November 19th & 20th, 2011 in Lockport, IL

     

 

Christmas Crossroads Craft Show has been an anticipated event for Lockport, IL, and many Chicagoland-area holiday shoppers, for over 4 decades.  This year's hosting by the  Lockport Woman's Club  will mark the 41st year of this superb holiday show.

 

      Over 180 talented crafters will be displaying their homemade crafts and talents during the dates of  November 19th and November 20th  at the Lockport East High School, located at 1333 E. 7th Street in Lockport, IL.

 

     Hours for the show are:

 

Saturday, November 19th  -  8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Sunday, November 20th  -  9:30 am to 3:30 pm

 

     Some of the crafts to be displayed and sold during the 41st Christmas Crossroads Craft Show will be:

 

      Basketry                    Candles                  Ceramics

Christmas Crafts        Clothing                  Dolls

    Fibers                       Floral Crafts          Folk Art

          Furniture                   Garden                   Glass Crafts

       Jewelry                     Metal Work           Needlework

 Oils/Acrylics             Ornaments             Painting

   Photography               Pottery                  Quilting

         Woodworking    

 

     Christmas Crossroads Craft Show is always well-attended, with visitor attendance reaching over 10,000 happy shoppers each year.  This year's craft show is expected to be no different.

 

     Besides the crafts themselves, the show offers its visitors opportunities to refuel themselves for further shopping amongst their show's food vendors.

     Parking is FREE for  Christmas Crossroads Craft Show and there is a shuttle bus service available for visitors.  Especially helpful in colder or inclement weather. 

     Admission is charged to attend this craft show.  Admission is as follows:

 

Adults:     $3.00

Sr. Citizens:    $2.00  

Students:    $1.00

Children 5 and Under:    FREE

 

     All proceeds earned by the Lockport Woman's Club go to benefit local area causes and charities.  Some of those helped in the past include local food pantries, medical/counseling programs and events, scholarships, support for community events, and more. 

 

    Should you have any questions regarding the 41st  Christmas Crossroads Craft Show, please contact the Lockport Woman's Club through their email at:     info@lockportwomansclub.org  - or  -  regular mail:   Lockport Woman's Club, PO Box 256, Lockport, IL, 60441.

 

 

 

 

     *  Should you be shopping for a new home in Lockport or the Chicagoland area for the upcoming holiday season, contact me.  I'll be happy to assist you throughout your credit inquiry, mortgage pre-qualification, processing, through closing.  

        Should you have questions or be in need of help, I can be reached at:    Direct:  815.277.4036          Cell/Text:  708.921.6331,  Email:  gene@chicagobancorp.com,  Website:  www.genemundt.com  - or -    Skype:  630.219.1316   

 

            

Old Canal Days in Lockport, IL

June 17th through June 19th

 

This Friday night (June 17th) The Old Canal Days parade will kick-off an entire weekend of fun and history in Lockport, IL.  (Click here for Map/Directions).

This years parade route will being on State & Third Street and end at 14th & Washington Streets in Lockport. Line-up begins at 5:30 pm, with the actual parade starting at 6:30 pm. The parade celebrates the 175th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal.

Old Canal Days events will take place along State Street, between 8th and 11th Streets, on Lincoln Landing in the Norton Building parking lot ... and along the I&M Canal itself.  Food vendors will be plentiful, with booths open throughout the entire Festival.

Some of the highlights of this year's Old Canal Days festival are:

• Basketball Competition:

  Saturday – Skills Tournaments

  Sunday (Father's Day) – Father/Kid competition and play

• Movies in the Square

   Friday the 17th - Sit on the lawn at Central Square and watch the family movie "The Sand Lot." Activities start at 7:30 P.M. with the movie starting at 8:30 P.M.  Take a picture with South Paw and get his autograph. Free hitting lessons by On Fire Baseball Academy.

• Juried Craft Show (100 quality crafters)

   Saturday the 18th - 10 am to 4 pm between 9th & 11th on State.

   Sunday the 19th - 11 am to 4 pm between 9th & 11th on State.

• Car Show - All makes/All models.

   Sunday the 19th - 10 am to 4 pm

• Horse drawn carriage ride along the I&M Canal

   Saturday the 18th - 10 am to 4 pm

   Sunday the 19th - 11 am to 4 pm

• Live Music

   Friday the 17th - 7 pm in front of the Norton building.

   Saturday the 18th - 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm starts.  3 different bands.

• Beer Tent - Beer Tent & Food Vendors next to the Norton Building.

   Friday the 17th - Beer Tent has $3 admission when music begins.

   Saturday the 18th - Beer Tent opens at Noon. $3 admission after 5 pm when music begins.

   Sunday the 19th - Beer Tent opens at Noon.

• McDonalds Kids Zone inflatable play area on Lincoln Landing

   Saturday the 18th - 10 am to 4 pm

   Sunday the 19th - 11 am to 4 pm (Ronald McDonald makes an appearance at 1 pm).

• Period Costumes for pictures • Museums tours and activities

   Saturday the 18th - 12 Noon to 4 pm

   Sunday the 19th - 12 Noon to 4 pm

• Corwin's Kids Craft Tent

   Saturday the 18th - 10 am to 4 pm

   Sunday the 19th - 11 am to 4 pm

• Duck Race on the I&M Canal

   Saturday the 18th - 3 pm

• Civil War and WWII re-enactors will camp out on the I&M Canal throughout the night. Period actors will host along the Canal.

• and More!

Lockport and Old Canal Days, sponsored by the Lockport Chamber of Commerce and local community business-sponsors, is conveniently located off major highways and interstate for ease in commuting to the event. Stop in over the weekend and enjoy all Lockport and the I&M Canal have to offer during this historic Festival.

     *  And if looking for mortgage information or assistance in Lockport, IL or any of the surrounding Chicagoland area, please contact me.  I'll be happy to hear from you, answer your questions, and assist you with your mortgage needs.  You can reach me at:   Direct:  815.277.4036    Cell/Text:   708.921.6331  Email:  gene@chicagobancorp.com.  Website:  www.genemundt.com.  Skype:  630.219.1316.

 

     Previously, I wrote a post regarding the  Geneva, Illinois  and  St. Charles, Illinois  police departments offering a very beneficial program in which they aided their residents with the disposal of unused prescription medicines. 

     I wanted to update that post with the following information regarding other municipalities in the Chicagoland area that offer similar prescription disposal programs. 

     This new information posted here within this post is for the  City of Lockport, Illinois  ... and also the  County of Will's Medication Take-Back Program.  I hope this new information assists the residents in these areas with the disposal of their unused prescription medicines.

     In Lockport, Illinois ... the Drug Disposal Collection location is found in the Lockport Police Department lobby, located at 1212 So. Farrell Road, Lockport. 

     Accepted prescription and non-prescriptions medicines (pills, salves, liquid medications in original container) must meet the following criteria to be accepted at the Lockport disposal site:

•      Items not in their original containers MUST be packaged in non-leaking containers.
•      Remove any personal information contained on the bottle or medicine.  This safeguards your identity.

      Unacceptable items include:  needles, IV bags, medical waste, other sharp items, and thermometers.

     The disposal container for the Lockport, Illinois site is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Those medications collected at this site are removed and taken to an approved Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) location for safe disposal.  Further information regarding the Lockport, Illinois Drug Disposal Program can be directed to the Lockport Police Department's Crime Prevent Unit.  Their number is:  815.838.2132, Ext. 2219.

     The  Will County (IL) Medication Take-Back Program  was created to address the growing concern of medication/drug disposal and the problems disposal can create.  By creating this program in 2007 along with the assistance of the Illinois EPA and local pharmacies,  Will County, IL  hopes to reduce materials of this type ending up in landfills. 

     Program management also asks that residents of Will County avoid "flushing" old/unwanted medications down a drain or toilet.  It has been proven that many of these chemicals/pharmaceuticals are surviving water infiltration and treatment facilities and end up in drinking water.

     The County of Will (IL) also offers One-Day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events ... which also accept medicines/drugs.  

     Items accepted through the  Will County (IL) Medication Take-Back Program  include:

•      Over-the-Counter Medications
•      Medical devices containing mercury (barometers, blood pressure units, thermometers, etc.)
•      Prescription Medicines
•      Prescription Inhalers
•      Over-the Counter Inhalers
•      Medicated Ointments
•      Medicated Shampoos  (both human and pet)
•      Liquids containing Medications
•      All the above can be Expired or Unwanted items

     Those items NOT accepted through this program are:

•      Bio-Hazardous Materials
•      Radioactive Materials
•      DEA Controlled Substances  (Illegal Drugs, Narcotic Medications)
•      Sharps/Needles
•      Other Household Wastes

     Again, all the following steps should be taken prior to dropping off the unwanted/unused medications:

•      All items should be generated by the public/residents.  NO BUSINESS OR DOCTOR'S OFFICE can take part in this program.
•      Black-out or remove any personal information or label that is on the medication being disposed of.
•      Drop-off unwanted/unused medications during disposal site's operating hours only.

     For a complete listing of all the pharmacies and drop-off locations involved in the Will County (IL) Medication Take-Back Program, please go to:  http://www.willcountylanduse.com/WasteServDiv/Documents/Pharm%20Take-Back_20100414.pdf 

      The Will County (IL) Medication Take-Back Program personnel and administrators ask that those residents dropping off items follow the above guidelines and directions ... and take care to drop-off items only to disposal side personnel or at pharmacies involved.  All medications/drugs disposed of through the  Will County (IL) Medication Take-Back Program  are destroyed. 

      I hope this updated posts services to assist the residents of Lockport, Illinois and all of Will County, Illinois.

    

     Fire Station One and Fire Station Four of Lockport, IL are generously volunteering their time and efforts to assist the local Lockport/Homer Township FISH Food Pantry in their collection of food items and money during their annual food drive. 

     On Saturday, April 16th, these firefighters will be outside the Wal-Mart, located at 16241 So. Farrel Road ... and Jewel/Osco, located at 16625 W. 159th Street, in Lockport collecting donations.  Shoppers and residents are encouraged to donate food and/or money to help those served by the Lockport/Homer Township FISH Food Pantry.

     Food and monetary donations can also be dropped off at Fire Station One, located at 828 E. Ninth Street and Fire Station Four, located at 17400 Bruce Road, Lockport themselves.  The local fire stations in Crest Hill and Romeoville will also be participating.  These donations will be accepted during the dates of the pantry drive, April 1st to April 16th. 

     The Lockport/Homer Township FISH Food Pantry  is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian Organization, organized and operated solely by volunteers to minister to the hungry within Lockport and Homer Townships of Illinois. 

     If you would like further information regarding the Lockport/Homer Township FISH Food Pantry ... please visit www.lockportfoodpantry.org.   Email:  Info@LockportFoodPantry.org

     Thank you for considering a donation to help this deserving cause ... and our local fireman's efforts ...

     *  For information and assistance on Lockport/Homer and area mortgage service and lending, please contact: Gene Mundt, Chicago Bancorp, www.genemundt.com.    

 

    

 

     Although not an official Lockport, IL Police Department program quite yet, the new Lockport Police Department Care Trak program is already making headlines for itself.

     A caring Lockport Police Officer, Jeren Szmergalski, was instrumental in the two-year process of bringing this extremely helpful program to the city for the benefit of its disabled citizens and their caregivers. 

     Having dealt in the past with Lockport disabled citizens, or visiting individuals that had wandered off due to confusion, Alzheimers, or other illnesses ... Officer Szmergalski knew that the Care Trak program that was implemented in neighboring cities could benefit Lockport's residents as well.

     Officer Szmergalski knew time is of the essence when someone wanders off and is lost.  But if no program is in place, or no information has been provided prior to that disappearance, police need to gather important personal information regarding the lost person at the time of the reported disappearance and before a search can begin.  When in place, the Care Trak program will eliminate that need and resulting time-delay.

     The Lockport Women's Club and the local Walmart generously assisted in funding monies needed to purchase the equipment for the Lockport Police Department Care Trak program.  Certification has been earned by 5 Lockport police officers at the present time.  The department plans to have every officer certified at some point in the near future.

     Residents and caregivers in Lockport, IL will be able to apply to take part in this new program soon.  Applications will include the need for a personal history of the individual that wanders.  The wandering individual in question must require 24-hour care, have problems with communicating, and suffer from either Down Syndrome, Autism, Dementia, or a traumatic brain injury.  Physical identifiers (tatoos, scars, piercings), medicines being taken, actual medical information/history, and the caregiver(s) information will be needed upon application also.

     A required purchase of a patient package, at a cost of $246, includes a tracking band that will surround the ankle or wrist of the named wanderer.  The band contains a transmitter that police can track through the frequency emitted.  A beeping sound can be heard by police on their tracking equipment, if the wanderer is within a one-mile radius of their last known location.  A police search is conducted for any lost person on foot first.  If that search is unsuccessful, the tracking equipment is moved to a squad car.

     The Care Trak program has tracked approximately 2,000 persons reported missing.  Its success rate has been phenomenal, with every one of those wanderers found within 30 minutes of first being reported.

     If you are a Lockport, IL resident or caregiver interested in finding out more about the new Care Trak program, please contact the Lockport Police Department located at: 1212 S Farrell Rd, Lockport, IL.  The non-emergency number for the Lockport Police Department is: (815) 838-2131.  You can visit their website at:  http://www.lockportpolice.info for more information also.

     It should be noted that the nearby communities of Crest Hill, IL and Romeoville, IL will have certified officers and a Care Trak program up and running within a few months.  The actual name of the programs in these cities, and Lockport as well, may be changed in the future to avoid confusion with the Care Trak company itself.