Thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Dinner Meeting on Valentine's Day at Minne Monesse.  It was a great night of food and drink as well as conversation about making Grant Park an even better place to live.  While you can read the meeting minutes below, here are a few of the highlights and plans for 2012.

• The proposed Illiana Expressway may be headed our way.  The current route under consideration would cross Route 1 between Grant Park and Beecher, north of the county line.  The next meetings regarding the Illiana Corridor will be held on February 22 and 23.  Visit the Illiana Corridor website for more information about the project. The Village is working with the Kankakee County Economic Alliance and the Kankakee County Planning Department to complete a Comprehensive Plan for the Village in anticipation of this potential development as well.
• Plans are underway for a community work day in May to clean up the flower beds along the railroad tracks downtown.  We're planning a great day including a cookout.  We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in helping coordinate this event.  Please contact Bill Wold if you are interested.
• Research is underway on constructing a new concession stand/bathroom building at the athletic field.  This would most likely be a project funded by the village, school district, Chamber, and Little League. 
  

Our next meeting will be held on April 10.  This is the meeting when selection of officers and directors takes place.  We hope to see you all there.

Thanks to everyone who made Christmas in the Village a great success this year! The new addition of Breakfast with Santa was great. Thanks to all the students who painted the business windows as well as all the businesses and Chamber members who organized the event. We look forward to next year, and we hope you'll join us!

The Chamber's annual holiday event, Christmas in the Village, will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011.  This year's theme is "Sleigh Bells Ring".  You can shop at the craft show from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Community Building at the park.  There will be a raffle for Christmas trees and other items. There is also a gingerbread house decorating contest for grade school children.  Pick up a kit starting December 1st at MainSource Bank or First National Bank of Grant Park, and bring your finished creation to the Community Building on Saturday morning.  Prizes will be awarded at 2:30 p.m.

State Rep. Lisa Dugan, (D-Bradley) is announcing that her Annual Christmas Toy Drive will take place November 1 through December 12.
"This toy drive is an opportunity for the community to come together, help one another and make the holidays a little brighter for local children," Dugan said. "Working together with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots will allow us to coordinate our efforts to insure that we are able to help as many families as possible make Christmas morning special for a child.
Families in need can register with Toys for Tots from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 13 or 20 at the Kankakee VFW or, with the Salvation Army November 14 through 18 at the Salvation Army in Kankakee. Times for registration are available by calling 815-933-8421.
Dugan will again be partnering with numerous local businesses and organization to collect toys. In addition, this year Dugan will be partnering with River Valley Metro to hold a "Fill the Bus" event at a local store. More details of that event will be forthcoming. After collecting the toys, Dugan, will work with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots to distribute the toys to needy families who have registered.
"I look forward to this event every year because there is no greater joy in life than knowing you have helped put a smile on a child's face," Dugan said. "I urge all residents to donate a gift over the holiday season. It is a small gesture that will make a big difference."
Anyone wishing to donate gifts are asked to bring new, unwrapped gifts to any of the following businesses/organizations:
Dillman Tru Value, 201 S. Main St. in Grant Park;
Exploration Station, 459 Kennedy Dr. in Bourbonnais;
Furnish 1.2.3., 1194 N. Kinzie in Bradley;
Grant Park Fire Department, 12624 E. Route 1 and 17 in Grant Park;
Heritage Woods of Manteno, 355 Diversatech Dr. in Manteno;
Herald Country Market, 500 Brown Blvd. in Bourbonnais;
Hogard Business Service,450 S. Schuyler Ave. in Bradley;
Holiday Inn Express, 62 Ken Hayes Dr. in Bradley;
JTR Heating and Air Conditioning, 121 W. Main St. in Peotone;
Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, 1690 Newtowne Dr. in Bourbonnais;
Laborers' Local 751, 1390 Stanford Dr. in Kankakee;
Linman's McDonalds Play Place, Route 50 in Bradley;
Maison D'Amour, 573 William Latham Dr. in Bourbonnais;
Northfield Square Mall, 1600 N. State Route 50 in Bradley;
Pearl Chrysler Dodge Jeep, 701 S. Governor's Hwy in Peotone;
Peotone Public Library, 515 N. First St. in Peotone;
Riverside Credit Union, 185 N Fraser Ave. in Kankakee;
Riverside Credit Union, 368 Larry Power Road in Bourbonnais;
River Valley Metro Transit, 1137 E. 5000 N. Road in Bourbonnais;
STARadio Corporation, 70 Meadowview Center in Kankakee;
WVLI/WIVR Radio, 292 N. Convent St. in Bourbonnais.
Toys may also be dropped off at Dugan's constituent services office located at 200 E. Court St., Suite 710 in Kankakee.
Dugan represents the 79th District, which includes parts of Kankakee, Iroquois and Will counties.

The Grant Park Chamber of Commerce will sponsor their 7th annual Wine Tasting on Wednesday, November 16th, 2011.  The Tasting will be held at The Bennett-Curtis House (302 W. Taylor St. in Grant Park) from 5 to 7 p.m.  Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 purchased at the door. Tickets are available at the following places in Grant Park:  The Bennett-Curtis House (815-465-2288), Country Companies (815-465-6020), Mainsource Bank (815-465-5626), 1st National Bank of Grant Park (815-465-6121), and Dillman True Value Hardware (815-465-6871).
Wines will be provided by Southern Illinois Wine and Spirits Association.  Special holiday food stations will feature premium roasted turkey, prime rib, roasted pork, and other holiday favorites and will be paired with the evening's wines.  Ten tastings of wine are included.  Live music will be featured throughout the evening by the students of Charlotte Gilliam of The Musik Room in Grant Park.  There will also be games of chance, raffles, and a silent auction.

We hope the new website for the Chamber will be keep you up to date on the happenings in Grant Park as well as connect you with the local businesses that are working to keep Grant Park a great place to live.