Will County Offers Discount on Spaying/Neutering in June

Plainfield Patch

Posted by Shannon Antinori (Editor) , May 20, 2014 at 08:49 AM

 

Credit: File photo

 

Will County residents who have their pets spayed or neutered at participating veterinary offices in June can receive a $40 county-sponsored discount.
The discount applies for up to two animals per household and is exclusively for pet owners who live in Will County. More than 10,000 pets have been treated since the program originated in 2007.
“I am proud of the partnership between our Animal Control department and the many veterinarians in Will County,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “This is an important service to protect the health of our residents’ pets, and we have worked hard to simplify the process.”
To be eligible for the $40 discount on a pet’s spay or neuter:

• Pet owners must show proof of residency in Will County;
• Pets must be registered with Will County Animal Control and reside with the owner;
• Proof of current rabies vaccination and Will County registration tag must be provided on the day of surgery;
• Rabies vaccination can be administered on the day of surgery, as well as registration tag purchase;
• Surgery must take place between, June 1 and June 30.

Pet owners should call their veterinary office and confirm that the facility is participating. 
Will County Animal Control is under the County Executive’s office and is led by Dr. L.P Schild.  For additional information about this program, call (815) 724-1521. 

 

Ottawa Street Pool Opens Saturday

Renovations, improvements made since last summer.

Posted by Shannon Antinori (Editor) , May 22, 2014 at 03:10 PM

Credit: File photo

Submitted by the Plainfield Park District:

With warm temperatures finally returning to the area, the Plainfield Park District’s Ottawa Street Pool will open this Saturday for the summer season.

Staff training for the pool season has been underway since earlier this month, and pool manager Andy Dunfee said all preparations are complete including some much needed improvements.

“Visitors to the pool this year will see that we have made a number of improvements to the building, including a complete renovation of the locker room and shower facilities,” Dunfee said.  “I am sure our guests will be happy with the new amenities and look forward to a full season of fun and sun at the Ottawa Street Pool.”

The long winter and number of school days lost due to bad weather has resulted in a change of pool hours during the first week of operation, as many schools will still be in session.  The pool will be open from 1-8 p.m. this Saturday through Monday for the holiday weekend, May 24-26, but on Tuesday and Wednesday May 27th and 28th the hours of operation will be limited to 6:30-8 pm. and on Thursday and Friday, May 29-30, the pool will be open from 5-8 p.m.  Regular seasonal hours will resume on May 31.

Early Bird season passes for the Ottawa Street Pool are still on sale at the Plainfield Park District’s Recreation/Administration Center, offering a 30% discount for those who purchase their passes no later than Sunday, June 8. 

For more information, contact the Plainfield Park District at 815.436.8812, or visit the Park District online at www.plfdparks.org.

Plainfield Schools: Last Day of School Hasn't Changed

The school year officially ends May 30 in District 202.

Posted by Shannon Antinori (Editor)

Credit: File photo

Despite a glitch that listed the wrong date in last week's Education Partners newsletter, the last day of classes in Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 is still May 30.

"For some unexplained techno-reason, the automated calendar in last Friday's Education Partners email newsletter pulled the old date -- even though the date is correct everywhere else on our network," Community Relations Director Tom Hernandez said in a special dispatch that went out to parents on Monday.

Hernandez said the issue has been fixed.

According the district calendar, Friday, May 30 is a half-day of attendance, with the exception of Bonnie McBeth Learning Center and kindergarten students, who have the day off.

Experts Predict 2014 Housing Market

2013 Real Estate Review, Buying A Home, Sell 

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Dec 6, 2013 

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By: Michele Lerner

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The U.S. real estate market made a robust comeback in 2013, surpassing expectations of many economists, as the combination of low inventories and historically low interest rates caused home prices to rise and even helped fuel bidding wars in some markets, surpassing the expectations of many economists. While positive trends, such as increasing home values, are expected to continue into 2014, mortgage rates are also expected to rise in the coming year and could put a damper on home buyers’ abilities to afford new homes.

Looking back at some 2013 data can give us a hint of the year ahead:

1. Inventory Should Gradually Stabilize and Return to Traditional Seasonal Levels

The beginning of 2013 could be characterized as the “year of low inventory” as buyer demand ramped up and homeowners waited for further price increases and evidence of a solid economic recovery before putting their homes on the market. The year began with a significant shortage of inventory (reported by realtor.com®), and then as early as February the level of shortages started to decline slowly. As 2013 comes to a close, inventory is approximately the same as a year ago. However, homes are selling faster than in 2012, with the median age of the inventory down by 11 percent.

2. More Homeowners Are Likely to Return to Positive Equity

Rising prices helped 2.5 million homeowners who were previously underwater regain positive equity status during the second quarter of 2013. However, approximately 7.1 million homes were still in negative equity at that time and an estimated 10 million homeowners, or about 21.1 percent of all homeowners with a mortgage, remained “under-equitied,” with less than 20 percent in home equity. The good news is that prices are expected to continue rising in 2014, which will lift more homeowners into positive territory. According to realtor.com®, median list prices for homes in October rose 7.57 percent above the same month of 2012.

3. Mortgage Rates Are Expected to Rise

Mortgage rates increased approximately 100 basis points in 2013 and are likely to rise in 2014. The new chairman-designate of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, is expected to continue the policies of Chairman Ben Bernanke, including keeping mortgage rates low by buying blocks of mortgage-backed securities. However, the Fed has considered tapering its bond-buying activity as the economy improves, which could lead to a slight increase in interest rates.

4. Foreclosure Activity Is Expected to Slow

Foreclosure sales are likely to play a minimal role in the housing market in 2014. September 2013 was the 36^th consecutive month with a year-over-year decrease in foreclosure activity. Foreclosure inventory has dropped to multi-year lows, down nearly 33 percent since the end of 2012. Foreclosure starts were down 39 percent in the third quarter of 2013 to the lowest level since the second quarter of 2006.

5. Further Declines in Home Affordability Are Expected

The National Association of REALTORS®’ Home Affordability Index, which compares home prices with income, dropped to a five-year low in 2013 as price increases outpaced income growth. If the U.S. economy begins to grow at a faster pace and incomes begin to rise, though, the affordability index will slide further from rising mortgage rates.

While no one can predict with certainty what the housing market holds in store for 2014, a constant in real estate is always that local markets vary widely in their performance. National numbers can tell a story about the economy in general, but home prices, inventory and foreclosure activity depend on local market conditions. Contact a Realtor® in your community for the most up-to-date  information about your market

EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER

2014 Remodeling Trends

2013 Real Estate Review, Home Improvement, Real Estate News 

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Dec 5, 2013 

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By: Angela Colley

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Home remodeling may have taken a backseat during the recession, but not anymore. According to a 2013 Hanley Wood survey, remodeling sales were up 10 percent compared to 2012, and 45 percent of remodelers surveyed expected another 10 percent growth in 2014.

Home remodeling is back in again, and with the desire to improve our homesteads come a bunch of new and exciting trends we’ll start seeing next year.

1. Modern Kitchens

According to data compiled by Hanley Wood and Remodeling Magazine, 61 percent of remodelers surveyed expect to complete kitchen remodels in 2014, more than any other room in the house. And, those remodels are expected to follow a new trend.

Not so long ago, remodeled kitchens had a rustic feel with warm paint colors and cabinetry, and wrought iron hardware and lighting. Now, modern is in, with white or gray cabinetry, simple countertops, glossy finishes and minimalist designs.  Appliances are more likely to be blended into the design or hidden away from view entirely to give the kitchen a sleeker appearance.

2. Brass Accents

Brass made a comeback at home-design and remodeling conventions this year and the trend is expected to pick up in 2014. While brass is nothing new, it has gotten a facelift. Highly polished, bright brass hardware and lighting is gone; rustic, dull and hammered brass is in. The new looks will be incorporated into kitchen and bathroom hardware as well as lighting and door hardware throughout the house.

3. Updated Bathrooms

In the Hanley Wood survey, bathrooms came in second to the kitchen with 58 percent of remodelers planning to do bathroom remodels in 2014. As far as style, vintage bathrooms with wainscoting and claw-foot tubs won’t be as popular as resort-style bathrooms that feature amenities such as large walk-in showers with multiple shower heads, heated floors or towel racks, and jetted bathtubs. For coloring and style, glass tiles will be a popular feature as well as neutral and cool colors like ash gray, light blue and off-white.

4. Vibrant Colors

While the kitchen may be getting the modern single-shade treatment next year, designers have a different idea for other rooms. Bright accent colors such as turquoise, yellow and orange that were popular in 2013 have a new twist; in 2014, they’ll be more of a focal point and even more vibrant with colors such as Green Flash, Lemon Zest, Nectarine and Rouge Red, according to Pantone, the international authority on color. Designers will start featuring vibrant accent walls, main paint colors and flooring throughout bedrooms and main living spaces.

5. Sustainable Materials

Going green is nothing new, but sustainability may get easier in 2014 remodels. According to Craig Webb, editor-in-chief of Remodeling Magazine, “Manufacturers and builders are constantly getting greener and greener in the way they source materials and put up homes.”  As a result, “Energy efficiency is becoming an assumption, not an add-on.” Next year, remodels will include more renewable materials such as bamboo, energy-efficient appliances and additional designs that incorporate the local climate.

 

Plainfield Police to Conduct Pre-Memorial Day Seatbelt, Drunk Driving Crackdown

Posted by Shannon Antinori (Editor)

 

Plainfield Patch

Credit: File photo

Submitted by the Plainfield Police Department:

The 2014 Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns kick off May 9 in Illinois. The purpose of the campaigns is to help save lives by cracking down on those who choose to drink and drive and on those who choose not to buckle up through the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  

In addition, the Plainfield Police Department will be conducting additional seatbelt enforcement zones on Saturday, May 3.    

The Plainfield Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and over 500 local law enforcement agencies across the state to save lives by strongly enforcing seatbelt laws and arresting impaired drivers. Further, the Plainfield Police will be teaming up with the ISP to conduct a roadside safety check during the Memorial Day weekend to detect and arrest impaired drivers. 

Seatbelts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists still are not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater. Remember, wearing your seatbelt is your best defense against an impaired driver.   

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs from May 9 through May 26, officers are out enforcing seatbelt laws year round.  Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.

The Memorial Day “Click it or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered through IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety.

For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.

Plainfield YMCA Expands Kidz Zone Program

K-Kidz program starts next fall.

Plainfield Patch

Posted by Shannon Antinori (

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Beginning this fall, the C.W. Avery Family YMCA is expanding its Kidz Zone program to include before- and after-school care for kindergarten students from five District 202 elementary schools.

On school days, the Y’s new K-Kidz program will be held at the Plainfield United Methodist Church in downtown Plainfield. 

The Y will be working with participating schools to provide transportation to and from school for students enrolled in the K-Kidz program. The 2014-2015 school sites are: Central, Eagle Pointe, Freedom, Lincoln and Walkers Grove Elementary Schools.

For more about the program or to register, call 815-267-8600, ext. 211, or email ewilliams@jolietymca.org.

Will County Activates West Nile Virus Hotline

Illinois has had 131 West Nile-related deaths since 2002.

Posted by Shannon Antinori (Editor)

Credit: File photo

Submitted by the Will County Health Department:

May marks the beginning of the West Nile Virus (WNV) season across Illinois.

County residents can help to minimize the potential for WNV by reporting dead birds to the Will County Health Department. Will County's WNV Information Line is now available for individuals wishing to report dead birds that can help identify the potential for human infections. The 24-hour service is accessible at815-740-7631.

Launched in May 2002, the Information Line enables area residents to access the latest information concerning WNV, report the location of dead birds, and talk to a Health Department representative about the disease during regular weekly business hours. Will County Environmental Health uses dead bird reports to monitor potential WNV hot spots and identify other possible trends requiring Health Department intervention.

Adult crows and blue jays have long been testing priorities, but the Illinois Department of Public Health will accept multiple bird species for laboratory analysis. Other birds suitable for testing include: robins, finches, grackles, sparrows, wrens, swallows, and cardinals.

"WNV poses potential health risks for everyone," according to Will County Environmental Health Director Elizabeth Bilotta. "We are interested in the location of dead birds because that information is one way we are able to assess the potential for local virus activity. Dead bird monitoring and testing are critical parts of the statewide WNV surveillance initiative."

The Health Department will collect a limited number of reported dead birds and submit them to the state for analysis. You can view pictures of bird testing priorities by visiting the Environmental Health page at www.willcountyhealth.org.

WNV is a mosquito-borne disease capable of producing encephalitis and meningitis, potentially fatal inflammations of the brain and spinal cord. Residents can minimize personal risk by avoiding outdoor activity at dusk and near dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Wearing light-colored long sleeves and eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites on your property can also reduce personal risk. Residents are also advised to use insect repellent containing DEET, or other chemical compounds that deter mosquitoes when spending time outdoors.

There were more than 2,370 human WNV cases and 114 fatalities reported nationally during 2013. Fatalities were reported in 29 states.

Illinois has reported 2,091 cumulative WNV human infections and 131 fatalities since 2002. The state totals include 66 Will County cases and two local fatalities.

For more information about WNV, visit www.idph.state.il.us or www.cdc.gov.

This Will County Health Department initiative is made possible through funding provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.