TIP It: Safer Grant Not Safe?

Approval of Safer Grant May Be Rescinded
The Oak Lawn Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept a SAFER Grant for $1,347,952. George Sheets, the Fire Chief, recommended accepting the grant noting that the grant will allow the village to reduce overtime and break even while hiring 7 new firefighter/ paramedics.

However, longtime village manager Larry Deetjen signaled that the grant can be rescinded if the union doesn’t agree to “concessions” by the deadline.  Deetjen has tried in the past to negotiate the end of “minimum manning” from the contract but has been rebuffed by the union, which according to its members don’t trust him as the village’s lead on negotiations. Deetjen doesn’t want to hear it but perhaps it is time to try a different approach with someone else handling negotiations and building trust and respect with the union. Neither side trusts the other right now.

Oak Lawn Native To Work On Health And Social Service Policy Group
Christopher Kantas, an Oak Lawn native was appointed to  the health and social-service policy group established by Governor Bruce Rauner and Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti.

Kantas is an associate general counsel to the governor. He will join other team members from the public and the private sector.  Congrats to Christopher who earned his law degree from the University of Illinois in 2010 and is an experienced litigator according to the Governor’s office.

Moraine Valley to host fourth annual Graphic Novel Symposium
For its fourth Graphic Novel Symposium, the Moraine Valley Community College Library is hosting speakers, discussions, a gaming day, and a comic shop fair today, Wednesday, Sept. 27, and Thursday, Sept. 28. All events are free and open to the public and will take place in the Library Lounge on the main campus, 9000 W. College Pkwy, Palos Hills.

The symposium kicks off today, 1 to 1:50 p.m., with a panel discussion on “Talking About Things We Love: Finding Community in Fandom.” Faculty members from different disciplines will discuss the fan subcultures to which they belong (such as “Glee,” “Star Trek” or “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and describe how these subcultures explore ideas.

Local writer and artist Dan Dougherty is the featured speaker on Sept. 28, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Dougherty is a Moraine Valley alumnus who has received several awards for his comics and graphic novels. He has written graphic novels, comic books, newspaper articles, and comic strips featured online and in print.
The final program will be a dual event. Faculty member Jason King will lecture on “Dungeons and Dragons: The Game, the Myth, the Legend,” focusing on the history and cultural impact of the game. After the presentation and coinciding with Gaming Day, he will teach and play Dungeons and Dragons. Anyone can play additional games such as Ticket to Ride, Carcassone or The Settlers of Catan between 12:30 and 4 p.m.

The comic shop fair will take place throughout both days. “Our goal is to promote the growing intellectual and academic connections with pop culture. Comics, films, TV, books, etc., are the places where our society explores ideas and evaluates the world around us. Many of the scholarly ideas that exist in our college curriculum get translated and shared with the general public through popular culture,” said Dr. Troy Swanson, Moraine Valley teaching and learning librarian and department chair of Library Services.

Happy Anniversary Celebration
The Oak Lawn Chamber will be hosting a 70th Anniversary Party at the Oak Lawn Metra Station this
Friday, September 29th from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM.  Cocktails and light Hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP to 708-424-7800.