Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Joliet to hold New Year's Eve Service

Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Joliet, Illinois will host a New Year's Eve celebration tonight at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 402 Singleton Place in Joliet Illinois.

According to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Website:

"Watch Night - 2010
All roads lead to to Zion on Friday, December 31st, 2010 @ 9:30PM.
We pray that all of the Mt. Zion Family will be there to "Praise in" the New Year together!
P.S. bring a friend... "


The Combined Choirs of Zion will sing and Pastor David G. Latimore will give An Anointed Word Sermon.


Mt. Zion Baptist Church is one of the most historically significant churches in the Joliet area.  Longtime Mt. Zion Pastor the Rev. Dr. Isaac Singleton was a noted Civil Rights Leader who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..  Singleton also founded the Joliet Affiliate Rainbow/P. U. S. H. Coalition.


I have heard nothing but amazing things about the Mt. Zion Choir, so if you are looking for a faith-filled way to ring in the New Year, you might want to check it out!

Culver's is Coming to New Lenox!

Did you know that a Culver's is coming to New Lenox?

Will County News is a huge fan of Culver's and was very excited to see the "Culver's Coming Soon!" sign next to the new Culver's building-in-progress next to the new Wal-Mart on Route 30 in New Lenox.   I lived in Wisconsin for 4 years before recently moving back to Will County, and while in Wisconsin came to really love Culver's.  In my opinion, you really can't go wrong with anything on the Culver's menu--from the delicious butter burger to the Turkey BLT on sourdough.  In addition to the menu, most of the time I've gone to Culver's there is a happy vibe in the restaurant and the employees seem to be treated well. As a Culver's sign I once saw said, "Hearty, with a side of delicious."

There is also a White Castle building going up right next store to the Culver's.

I am sure the jobs created by these two new businesses will be welcome.

UPDATE!:  Culvers of New Lenox is holding its grand opening April 11, 2011.  New Lenox: Are you ready to get culverized?

Spotlight on Manhattan, Illinois

Will County News is working on a photo essay documenting some of the changes Manhattan, Illinois has undergone in the last ten years.

We'll start it off with a photo of the Enbridge diluent tanks on Bruns Road in Manhattan.  Previously a part of unincorporated Manhattan Township, the land upon which the tanks were built was annexed to Manhattan.

Enbridge, a Canadian company, operates some of the longest pipeline systems in the world.  Photos of the construction of the tanks here.

Enbridge Tanks in Manhattan, Illinois

more to come! 

New Silver Cross Hospital nears completion in New Lenox, Illinois

The New Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, as seen from the Old Plank Road Trail at Nelson Road

The New Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox is nearing completion.  The new Hospital is a replacement hospital for Silver Cross' current facility on Briggs Street and Route 6 in Joliet.

The new hospital is right of I-355 on Route 6 in New Lenox.  The 400 million dollar facility will have 6 floors.


It will also have:
184 Medical-Surgical Beds
8 Pediatric Beds
30 Obstetrics (Birthing) Beds
22 ICU Beds
20 Behavioral Health Beds
17 Rehabilitation Beds
38 Emergency Department Private Treatment Rooms and 1 CT Scanner in the ED
11 Surgical Suites


The New Silver Cross Hospital is located on a 76 acre campus.  The hospital is scheduled to open in 
February of 2012.
UPDATE: New Lenox Silver Cross Replacement Hospital will open February 26, 2012. 

Recycle your Christmas Tree at the Forest Preserve District of Will County

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is collecting Christmas Trees to be recycled into mulch for Forest Preserve Trails.

According to the Will County Forest Preserve website:

"This year, give the Earth a gift by recycling your Christmas tree. Every year, millions of Christmas trees end up in landfills. However, you can give your tree a second life by recycling it with the Forest Preserve. Your tree will take a new life "path" by becoming mulch used on our trails and for landscaping. Please remove all tinsel, lights, and ornaments before dropping off your tree. This program is for individual households; no commercial tree surplus, please. The Forest Preserve will be accepting trees at: Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville Monee Reservoir in Monee Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet Trees will be accepted every day from December 27 through January 9 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m."

Christmas trees awaiting recycling at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Sugar Creek Administrative Center

Christmas Tree Drop Off at the Forest Preserve of Will County's Sugar Creek Administrative Center on Laraway Road

Chicago Tribune Video on Blockson Workers and Survivors

The Chicago Tribune made this video-interview with former Blockson Joliet workers and survivors:

Will County Antique Guide

I love antiques!

From watching American Pickers on the History Channel to driving across Will County to attend auctions, I love seeing items from the past.

Will County is home to two auction companies that regularly hold auctions.

First, Jerry Rossen auctions holds auctions about twice a month at the Will County Fair Atrium building in Peotone, Illinois.  Here is a short video I did of some of the action at a Jerry Rossen auction!:




The other Will County Auction house that I know of is Chamblee's Auctions in Rockdale, Illinois.


Both list their auctions on auctionzip.com. You can view photos of items to be auctioned in order to decide whether you want to attend the auction.


You can also use the auctionzip site to search for auctions near you.


As far as Antiques shops go, there are several Antique stores in downtown Wilmington, Illinois on Water Street.


A little farther south on Historic Rt. 66, in Braidwood, Illinois, you will find Second Time Around Antique Market.


There are also several more antique and resale shops throughout Will County.

Housing slows in Manhattan Township, land reverts to farming

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois, at Cedar Road and Baker Road, between Manhattan, Illinois and New Lenox, Illinois

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois, at Cedar Road and Baker Road, between Manhattan, Illinois and New Lenox, Illinois

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois, at Cedar Road and Baker Road, between Manhattan, Illinois and New Lenox, Illinois

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois, at Cedar Road and Baker Road, between Manhattan, Illinois and New Lenox, Illinois, Joliet smokestacks in the background

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois, at Cedar Road and Baker Road, between Manhattan, Illinois and New Lenox, Illinois

Piles of topsoil await spreading back on the land from which it was removed in Manhattan Township, Illinois, at Cedar Road and Baker Road, between Manhattan, Illinois and New Lenox, Illinois.  Manhattan, Illinois water tower in the background.

Interview with the Rev. Craig Purchase of Joliet Illinois regarding warehouse work in Will County

At the Warehouse Workers for Justice Press Conference in August of 2010, Will County News had the opportunity to interview the Rev. Craig Purchase--pastor of Mt. Zion Full Gospel Tabernacle and also recent president of the local Rainbow Push Coalition--regarding how he learned about the group Warehouse Workers for Justice and the issue of temp work in Will County Warehouses.




I also asked how warehouse work affects the people in his congregation and whether warehouse workers utilized the food pantry he ran. 


Watch the interview below:









If you would like more information, read the Warehouse Worker's Full Report, "Bad Jobs in Goods Movement: Warehouse Work in Will County, Illinois."


Also, following the release of this report by local media, John Grueling, President and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development wrote a September 10, 2010 letter to the editor of the Joliet Herald News in which he wrote: "The logistics industry is a growing and important segment of our local economy. Of the 250,054 jobs based in Will County, 20,285, or 8.1 percent, work in warehouses. The average wage for these jobs in Will County is $14.17 an hour or $29,400 a year."


Will County News emailed Grueling to ask where his statistics came from and whether the statistics were available online for everyone to see. 


Greuling responded and provided links to Will County Workforce Investment Board's Will County Economic Update, 2nd Quarter, 2010, from which the data quoted in his letter is drawn.  Warehouse Workers--from floor movers to forklift drivers-- fall under the transportation and material movers category in the report. 


Warehouse work is an important issue in Will County and Will County News encourages all citizens to read both reports in their entirety.   

Manhattan Lights Christmas Tree in Times Square!

Against a backdrop of falling snow, Manhattan, Illinois lit its Christmas tree in Times Square!

 Christmas tree lighting in Downtonwn Manhattan, Illinois.  Santa and Mrs. Clause greeted everyone from the back of the firetruck.

 Santa and Mrs. Claus on back of Manhattan Fire Protection District Squad 1216 at Christmas Tree Lighting.

People head to Times Square for the Christmas Tree Lighting in Manhattan, Illinois

Video of Christmas Tree Lighting in Manhattan:

Illinois State Senators Hutchinson, Wilhelmi, vote to recognize civil unions in Illinois

The Illinois State Senate passed SB 1716 which would recognize civil unions in Illinois.  According to the Illinois Senate Democrat's webpage,:

"The legislation was debated at length this week in both the House and the Senate. The bill passed the Senate on Wednesday 32-24-1 and Governor Pat Quinn has stated his intent to sign the measure.

Under the legislation, Illinois for the first time would recognize civil unions, thereby granting certain rights and responsibilities to same sex – and opposite sex – couples who enter into the unions.

Some of the rights would include the ability to :    

-Make medical decisions as is afforded to opposite sex spouses

-Share nursing home rooms;

-Have hospital visitation rights, as family;

-Obtain employer-based health insurance if offered to spouses;

-Share in retirement benefits;

-Receive inheritance."

State Senator Toi Hutchinson, whose 40th district includes much of Eastern Will County, voted in favor of the bill, as did State Senator AJ Wilhelmi, who represents the 43rd District.

Hutchinson spoke on the floor of the Senate during debate regarding SB 1716.  The following is a transcript of live blogging of that debate from the Illinois Review:

"Senator Toi Hutchinson -- My husband was born into an interracial marriage.  They chose where they lived as to where interracial marriage were allowed.  There are couples in marriage -- many persons chose not to participate in the sacrament of marriage.  This does nothing to confer federal rights of marriage, this bill doesn't take anything from anyone. 

In my home, we teach our children those principles of kindess and charity.  My children hear that gay people deserve the same respect everyone else does.  I care about all that live in my 40th District.  Not just the ones that look like me.  This bill is about fairness and equality.  We will make this decision not in fear of the next election.  I urge an Aye vote."