Monthly Archives: September 2013

Freeport City Council Meeting Tonight, September 16

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6:00 pm at City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor
If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live. See complete agenda at http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20130916.pdf

Somethings of interest on the agenda:

Appointment of Jon Staben (remember he ran against Gitz for Mayor) to Planning Commission – that’s one one way to get rid of the opposition!

Shelly Griswold, Community Development Director, will present a an interesting report on the status of Tutty’s Crossing and Jane Addams Trail.

Business Owners – Watch Out – Someone Wants You Out of Business or Just Another Reason Not to Do Business in Freeport

There will be 1st Reading of an Ordiance on Landscaping and Screenings. Every business owner should read this one carefully. It certainly could be construed as anti-small business. For example, the following provision on lighting:

“A lighting plan shall be required any time exterior lighting is proposed or modified and shall be submitted along with the site plan information to the City Engineer for approval. The lighting plan shall include a site plan indicating: the location, height, type, design, orientation, anchorage, and wattage of all proposed light fixtures; a photometric plan prepared by a lighting professional showing spot illumination levels at regularly spaced intervals on the lot and at all lot lines and average proposed illumination levels on the site; a summary table containing average foot-candles, minimum foot-candles, maximum foot-candles, uniformity ratio (average/minimum), and catalog cuts of the proposed fixtures.”

Don’t build or modify a building in Freeport with a few parking spaces since you will have to spend thousands of dollars on a photometric plan prepared by a lighting professional. This is just a small part of this proposed ordinance. The Gitz administration says it is for economic development, but actions speak louder that words.

Read complete proposed ordinance at http://www.cityoffreeport.org/OrdRes/1272%20LANDSCAPING%20AND%20SCREENING%209.11.13.pdf

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Packer Fans in Freeport Enjoy the Game Today – If You Have Comcast Forget Watching the Packers After October 16

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When the Packers and Bears play at the same time on FOX, you will not be able to watch the Packer game on the FOX Channel (WMSN) in Madison. The FOX Channel in Madison will be dropped by Comcast in Freeport as of October 16. Good bye Packers – Bear fans win again! Freeport loses again.

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Let’s Have a Good Weekend – Looks Like Football Weather!

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High School Football Games Tonight:

Jefferson (0-2) at Freeport (0-2) – 7:15 pm

Orangeville (2-0) at Aquin (1-1) – 7:30 pm

Lena-Winslow (1-1) at Durand (0-2) – 7:30 pm

West Carroll 0-2) at Forreston (2-0) – 7:30 pm

Milledgeville (1-1) at Galena (1-1) – 7:30 pm

Dakota(1-1) at Eastland-Pearl City (2-0) 7:30 pm

Football Forecast for Friday, September 13 – Dress for cool weather. Will be in low 60’s at game time and by the end the game upper 40’s to low 50’s. No rain predicted.

And a Reminder to Enjoy Area Farmers’ Markets Since the Season Will be Ending Soon!

Freeport, Illinois – Parking lot at Meadows Shopping Center,1880 S. West Avenue (old K-Mart Store lot)
7 to 11 am Saturdays and 1 to 5 pm Tuesdays – Ends October 29

Freeport, Illinois – Highland Farmers Market, Highland Community College, 2998 Pearl City Road, Freeport, 3 to 6 pm Wednesdays – Ends October 2

Freeport, Illinois – 721 W. South Street (CVS Parking Lot)
Saturdays 7:30 to 11 am. – Ends October 5

Orangville Farmers Market – Richland Creek Trailhead at the Jane Addams TRail, 101 N Ewing Street, Orangeville, Saturdays, 8 am to noon – Ends October 12

Galena, Illinois – Commerce Street by old Market House, 123 N. Commerce St., Saturdays 7am to 12 pm – Ends October 12

Lena, Illinois – Parking lot 100 Main St., Saturdays, Downtown Lena, 8 to 11am – Ends September 28

Monroe, Wisconsin – Courthouse Square, Wednesdays 2 – 5:30 pm, Saturday 8 am – 1 pm –Through mid October

Mt. Morris, Illinois – Mt. Morris Public Library, 105 S. McKendrie Ave., Wednesdays 3 to 6 pm – Ends September 25

Don’t Miss Pretzel City Brewfest Saturday September 14 – Now This Sounds Like Fun!

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The event will be held in Downtown Freeport from 1 to 6 pm with a craft beer tasting and food vendors on Douglas Street across from the Library. It is a fundraiser for downtown revitalization. Soon Freeport will have its own Brewery! For full details go to http://www.pretzelcitybrewfest.com/

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September 11, 2001 – We Must Not Forget!

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Rescue Co. 1 of the New York Fire Department lost 11 firemen on September 11, 2001. This photo shows a memorial in the window of the firehouse in Manhattan which was placed there by the widow of one of the firemen. We must ever be vigilant and never forget that there are many people in the world who want to destroy this country. For a listing and pictures of all of the 343 firemen who died on September 11, go to http://nyfd.com/9_11_wtc.html

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New Freeport Water Tower Looks Like Hell Says Prominent Freeporter!

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A long time, prominent resident of Freeport and graduate of Freeport High School when asked to comment on the new Burchard Street Water Tower said:

“Where is the Pretzel? Even the script on the tower for “City of Freeport” looks horrible. Who was the decision maker on this one? The script for “City of Freeport” conveys weakness instead of the boldness of a progressive and forward looking city.”

This is the opinion of one person – you look at it and decide! No matter what the damage is done!

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It’s Friday September 6, and it Looks Like a Beautiful Weekend!

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If you like football, lots of area high school teams are playing tonight.

Guilford at Freeport – 7:15 pm
Stockton at Aquin – 7:30 pm
Lena-Winslow at Dakota – 7:30 pm
S. Beloit at Forreston – 7:30 pm
Orangeville at Millegeville – 7:30 pm
Galena at Durand – 7:30 pm

And don’t forget Lena Lions Fall Festival with all of its activities. Details at http://villageoflena.com/modules/contentbox/content/Resources/Events/lions.pdf

If you like Greek Food and music, you should go to Greek Fest at Sts Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church at 108 N. Fifth Street in Rockford. It is 5 to 10 pm today, noon to 10 pm Saturday, and noon to 8 pm Sunday.
For more information go to http://gogreekfest.com/index.html

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Have Comcast You Will Travel!

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Comcast, the cable, giant used to have an office in Freeport. In fact the requirement to maintain a local office was part of its franchise agreement with the City of Freeport. When your equipment such as your remote or cable box failed, you would take it to the local office in Freeport for replacement. Comcast decided that it did not want to have an office in Freeport, and closed it. The former mayor of Freeport, George Gaulrapp, went to court to try to make them stay and honor the franchise agreement. Of course, he hired outside counsel to handle the matter. You know the result. There is still no office in Freeport. Gaulrapp was no match for Comcast. So sad that the citizens of this community who pay high fees to Comcast each month have no local office. Enjoy your trip to Rockford!

You Know Fall Is Coming When It Is Time for The Lena Lions Fall Festival on September 6 – 7

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Lena Lions 63rd Annual Fall Festival, Downtown, Main Street, Lena. Friday: 6 pm to 10 pm; Saturday: 10:30 am to 10 pm. This “Cadillac of Small Town Festivals” offers a variety of activities, including carnival rides, games, food, stage entertainment, parade on Saturday at Noon, a BBQ on Saturday, and raffle tickets for a new car and ATV. (815-369-4304)