Community Relations Commission

1 2 Minutes of a Meeting of the 3 Community Relations Commission 4 Northbrook, IL 5 Thursday, October 6, 2016 6 7 Present: Chairman Bruce Doughty, Commissioners Christine Beeftink, Elliot 8 Bruckman, Jason Han, Mary Hansen, Helena Osorio, Grace Seo, & 9 Dr. Rochelle Singer 10 11 Absent: Commissioner Sharon Latek 12 13 Representatives: Alice Lonoff, Ron Mantegna, & John Martin 14 15 Guests: Emmeline Hazaray, Youth Commission; Sheronica Chase, Planning 16 Student at UIC & Mariah Johnson, Northbrook Resident 17 18 Others: Barbara Rudzin, North Shore Senior Center; Village Staff Liaison Erik 19 Jensen & Village Recording Secretary, Gale Cerabona 20 21 Welcome 22 Chairman Doughty called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Civic Room at Northbrook Public 23 Library. 24 25 Hear from the Audience 26 All guests noted above introduced themselves. Chairman Doughty introduced Barbara Rudzin 27 from the North Shore Senior Center, who will be tonight’s “Community Presentation” speaker. 28 29 Review & Approval of September 1, 2016, Regular Meeting Minutes 30 Revisions were noted as follows: 31  Line 109 delete 32  Line 113 replace committee with association 33  Line 111-114 place as only paragraph under News form Northbrook Clergy Association 34  Line 124 move as last bullet point, to line 122, under News from Schools; add at 35 the North Shore Senior Center after Dr. Riggle 36  Line 174 replace Bethel Church with Temple Bethel 37  Line 176 replace there are 23% of seniors on the North Shore with 23% of 38 Northbrook are seniors 39 40 Commissioner Singer moved, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, to approve the regular 41 meeting minutes of September 1, 2016 as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 42 43 Village Update 44 Staff Liaison Jensen advised that construction season is winding down. He stated that the 45 Wescott Park stormwater project was nearing completion and the IDOT work was being 46 completed at Pfingsten and Dundee and Landwehr and Dundee. 47 48 Staff Liaison Jensen stated Nancy Vaccaro, Director of Counseling Services with the Village of 49 Northbrook spoke at a domestic violence event called Teen Dating & Healthy Relationships on 50 October 1st which was well attended and successful.  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission September 1, 2016 51 52 Commissioner Singer asked if there will be a light at Cedar & Walters. Staff Liaison Jensen will 53 review the issue and let her know. 54 55 Community Presentation 56 Chairman Doughty introduced Barbara Rudzin from the North Shore Senior Center. Ms. Rudzin 57 discussed the history of the Center, its mission and her role as a grant writer. 58 59 Commissioner Han arrived at 7:11 p.m. 60 61 Ms. Rudzin stated the Center serves 23,000 seniors. She overviewed the Center’s Lifelong 62 Learning programs as well as off-site services for seniors and the disabled. 63 64 Representative Mantegna added that Northbrook is the #1 feeder of participation at the North 65 Shore Senior Center (followed by Glenview and Highland Park). 66 67 Ms. Rudzin noted many social services (90%) are free. The State of Illinois funds approximately 68 1/3 of programs and the remainder are funded through private donors. 69 70 She advised the main campus is in Northfield with other offices in Niles and Evanston. Case 71 managers assist with personal and home needs. 72 73 She named three specific programs: 74  Angel Funds* 75  Beyond the Cracks 76  Grandparents Raising Grandchildren* ($250 emergency funding from the Illinois 77 Department on Aging) 78 79 *funds go directly to participants 80 81 At Christmas time, a giving tree is established, and the recipients are many social service 82 clients. 83 84 Chairman Doughty asked how the Center markets its services. Ms. Rudzin advised staff goes to 85 various senior centers, works with various townships, etc. Communication is via email blasts, 86 press releases, newsletters, etc. 87 88 Representative Mantegna reminded the Commission that the Center is a great resource (even 89 for out-of-town loved ones). There are also volunteer programs. Ms. Rudzin stated that there 90 are CARE Option offers for geriatric care management. 91 92 Chairman Doughty asked Commissioners to keep the Senior Center in mind. Commissioner 93 Singer shared that each staff member is very dedicated. 94 95 Ms. Rudzin distributed brochures. She noted the House of Welcome is the Center’s Adult Day 96 Care. Also, there are guest speakers every Tuesday. 97 98 Chairman Doughty thanked Ms. Rudzin for sharing a wealth of information. He again reminded 99 the CRC about the senior need. 100 2  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission September 1, 2016 101 Update on Activities 102 1. Northbrook Cares 103 104 Chairman Doughty advised the group will meet on October 20th. The Text-A-Tip service 105 will be coordinated with the Village and GBN, middle schools, etc. This could include 106 friends, parents, as well. 107 108 Staff Liaison Jensen advised vendors have been narrowed to create the web site. 109 110 Chairman Doughty noted that stakeholders will be notified of updates in November. 111 112 2. Celebration of Cultures 113 114 Commissioner Singer advised the next meeting is October 22nd at Village Hall at 7 p.m. 115 It is a goal to retain this year’s participants. Everyone (but two groups) are confirmed for 116 next year. 117 118 Commissioner Han will check to see if Jasmine Lee still works at the YMCA. He would 119 like to increase South Asian participants. Representative Mantegna suggested the 120 Indonesian community which has been involved (in the North Shore Senior Center) in 121 the past. 122 123 Chairman Doughty recapped the event for this evening’s guests. He also advised he met 124 with the Northbrook Public Library staff and with Northbrook Arts Commission members 125 to see if there is a fit to add culture for the April event (i.e. films, etc.). 126 127 Commissioner Singer advised the date for the event is Sunday, April 23, 2017, 2 p.m. – 128 4 p.m., at the YMCA. 129 130 3. Clergy Luncheon 131 132 Commissioner Hansen advised the head of the Clergy Association has not yet been 133 selected. She stated it is under discussion if a luncheon will take place. Chairman 134 Doughty suggested perhaps a breakfast instead. 135 136 Commissioner Singer asked and Commissioner Hansen senses the commitment is still 137 there with the CRC. 138 139 News from Schools 140 John Martin stated St. Norbert’s recent event was a success. 141 142 Chairman Doughty shared the following from District 225: 143  GBN had a successful homecoming 144  A student, who sings opera, was a contestant on America’s Got Talent 145  The football team is currently 6-0 146 147 Representative Mantegna asked about student involvement and interest in politics (as there is 148 significant interest among seniors). Chairman Doughty noted the Debate Team is involved and 149 aware of the political climate. 150 3  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission September 1, 2016 151 News from Northbrook Clergy Association 152 Commissioner Hansen informed the CRC of the following events: 153  November 16 Crop Hunger Walk 154  November 23 Thanksgiving Event at the Islamic Cultural Center 155 156 Old Business 157 There was nothing to report. 158 159 New Business 160 Chairman Doughty advised the Village Dinner is November 10th at 6 p.m. 161 162 1. Review & Proposed Budget 163 164 Staff Liaison Jensen distributed a proposed budget which Chairman Doughty reviewed. 165 He highlighted Flamingo Fridays and its popularity. 166 167 Eyes & Ears on the Street 168 Representative Lonoff advised of the Looking Out/Looking In event on November 9th from 169 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Northbrook United Methodist Church. She noted the group is dealing with 170 LGBT issues. They are trying to get the word out to other houses of worship. 171 172 Commissioner Seo asked what the pick-up/security situation is at Shabonee School and 173 described same. Chairman Doughty suggested contacting the principal for a current status. 174 175 Commissioner Beeftink recommended an initiative about a Book for the Year (on culture, youth, 176 etc.); perhaps the Northbrook Public Library would partner with the CRC. Chairman Doughty 177 asked everyone to give this some thought. 178 179 Commissioner Hansen noted the Baha’i community has arranged a Prayer Vigil (for everyone, 180 anywhere) from November 1st at 12:30 p.m. until November 2nd at 12:30 p.m. 181 182 Next Meeting 183 The next meeting will be November 3, 2016 at the Northbrook Public Library in the Civic Room. 184 185 Adjournment 186 A motion was made by Commissioner Singer, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, to adjourn 187 the meeting at 8:14 p.m. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 188 189 Respectfully submitted, 190 191 Gale Cerabona 192 Recording Secretary 4