Happy Friday, Antioch! Can you believe it’s already December?!
Yesterday, WGN Radio celebrated Antioch Day! It was great to have one of the most well-known radio stations in the country celebrate our village throughout the day during its Your Hometown segments, and on social media. If you missed any of the interviews or the video they produced, make sure to visit: https://wgnradio.com/your-hometown
At our Village Board meeting this week, we passed an updated ordinance that restricts the sale of products that contain delta-8 THC and kratom. Antioch is one of the first municipalities in the state to restrict the sales of these products, and I believe we are the very first non-home rule community to do so. Right now, there is no way to verify who is manufacturing these products, or what is contained in them. We want to keep these types of products off store shelves and away from children in our community. Today’s press release: https://www.antioch.il.gov/2023/12/01/press-release-antioch-village-board-approves-measure-restricting-the-sale-of-delta-8-thc-and-kratom
Tonight is the return of Santa at the Sawmill! Santa will be at the Buttrick Sawmill Friday and Saturday nights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., until December 16th. Make sure your kids bring their wish list and camera – this is a great photo opportunity with Santa!
The Antioch Parks Department is bringing back the popular Festival of Trees this weekend. Trees will be displayed at the Hiram Buttrick Sawmill beginning this Sunday, December 3rd through Sunday, December 17th. For more information call the Parks Office at 847-395-2160.
Registration is now open for the Antioch Parks Department’s Winter Break Camp! New this year, is the Parks Department’s guarantee that none of the sessions will be canceled due to low enrollment. I know as a parent, it’s hard to plan for activities over winter break if there is the possibility that sessions could be canceled. Hopefully, our guaranteed sessions will help make things easier for parents. The Winter Break Camp runs the weeks of December 26th and January 2nd. (Four days each week). For more information or to register, visit: https://secure.rec1.com/IL/village-of-antioch/catalog/index/6047d398ae09ecaf63dbd3f553f00299?filter=c2VhcmNoPXdpbnRlciUyMGJyZWFrJTIwY2FtcA==
This weekend is the annual Antioch Community Sailors Dinner at the Antioch VFW. This is such a cool event that I am so grateful that we get to host in our community! So much work goes into making this a memorable night for hundreds of sailors from Naval Station Great Lakes. Thank you, Village Trustee Scott Pierce and everyone else who puts in a considerable amount of time and effort in making this event happen. Also, thank you to everyone who provided financial support, including the generosity of the Scarpelli family and the Raymond Auto Group! For more information on the Sailors Dinner, you can visit the Sailors Dinner organization’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/antiochcommunitysailorsdinner
I wanted to wish Antioch Village Administrator Jim Keim the best of luck as he transitions toward retirement. Jim first started with Antioch in 2001 as a village engineer, eventually becoming Village Administrator in 2009. Jim’s dedication to the village and many accomplishments are too great to list here. We will miss him. At our Village Board meeting this past week, we appointed Antioch Police Chief Geoff Guttschow as the Acting Village Administrator. I’m excited to have Chief Guttschow step up into this role. He is a proven leader, especially during times of transition. We’re lucky to have him as part of our community and village staff. You can see the press release issued by our village communications team earlier today, here: https://www.antioch.il.gov/2023/12/01/press-release-antioch-village-board-appoints-police-chief-as-acting-administrator/
Finally, I wanted to express my deepest condolences and offer my prayers to the family, friends, and colleagues of Antioch Fire Protection District Firefighter-Paramedic and Inspector Brad Edwards. There is a nice write-up today about Brad and his service to our community on the Lake and McHenry County Scanner website: https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2023/12/01/a-very-great-soul-fire-chief-announces-death-of-antioch-firefighter-paramedic-inspector/
Please remember to shop and dine locally throughout the holiday season! It is important to keep local dollars within the Antioch community!
Scott J. Gartner
#antiochil #antiochmayorsupdate
Upcoming Village Events:
December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, & 16, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Santa at the Sawmill – Buttrick Sawmill
December 3rd – 17th, 2023 – Village of Antioch Festival of Trees – Buttrick Sawmill
