Mayor’s Message – May 3, 2024

Good afternoon, Antioch!

Hey parents!  The annual Village of Antioch Touch-A-Truck event is tomorrow along Toft Avenue!  This is always a lot of fun for kids and parents!  Some of the participants in this year’s Touch-A-Truck include; the Village of Antioch Police Department, Village of Antioch Public Works Department, Antioch Fire Department, Antioch CCSD 34 school bus, and even a military truck!  The event wouldn’t have happened without the support of Raymond Chevrolet Kia, our Touch-A-Truck Title Sponsor!

Tomorrow is also the annual District 34 Art Crawl.  I hope you can join me downtown for this fun showcase of the talent of local young artists.  The crawl starts at 9 a.m. and features performances at the Antioch Bandshell and art displays throughout downtown until 3 p.m.  For more information, including a full schedule of performances, visit:  https://www.facebook.com/AntiochCCSD34/posts/pfbid0GTRKh8MWAvtZUWK4fis3eggsAKGTTDE7Cnb9N577nthQrKTCDCreaTFWsQ63qsXFl

There is a lot going on tomorrow!  Tomorrow is also Free Comic Book Day!  The Antioch Public Library is celebrating tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.  Stop by the library to get your free comic book and enjoy some superhero-themed activities!  For more information, visit; https://www.facebook.com/antiochpld/videos/754407870152733/

Did you vote??  We are in the final days of voting to help the village board adopt a name for our new park!  Through this Sunday, May 5th, residents can vote for their choice among the five names suggested for the park.   To vote, you must be a current resident of the Village of Antioch.  The results will be presented to the Antioch Village Board next week, as part of their process to adopt a park name.  For anyone who does not have access to the internet or who doesn’t want to vote online, you can vote in person at Antioch Village Hall.  To vote online:  https://polco.us/n/res/vote/antioch-il/vote-to-name-the-villages-newest-park-round-2

While we’re talking about the new park, I was able to take a few pictures today – check them out below.  It is looking WONDERFUL!  I hope to have a video update of the park progress next week!

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of joining the Antioch Chamber of Commerce for three ribbon-cutting events in our downtown!   First, I was joined by several members of the village board and the community to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Vegas Cafe!  Then, we celebrated the opening of Antioch’s newest restaurant, 15 Lakes Prime Steakhouse!  Finally, we welcomed a new boutique, Polished Patina! Thank you to everyone who was able to come out and join in the celebration – it was a great day to celebrate the economic growth and success of our town!

Later this month, the popular Village of Antioch Food Truck FEASTival returns to Toft Avenue!  In addition to at least ten food trucks, we’ll also have live music!  The food truck event will run (weather permitting) on Sunday, May 19th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Other Food Truck FEASTivals are scheduled for June 23 ^rd , July 14 ^th , and August 25 ^th .  Bring your family and your appetite!  More info:  https://fb.me/e/5gpCa4yIl

VIP tickets for next month’s Chris Cagle concert at the bandshell went on sale this morning.  The village is selling a limited number of VIP tickets for an area right in front of the stage.  Proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward helping fund the construction of Antioch’s Veteran’s Memorial.  Tickets are only $50 each and can be purchased here:  https://secure.rec1.com/IL/village-of-antioch/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTMwNzg5NTU=

The week, Chief Guttschow announced the installation of Flock license plate reading cameras in several areas around the village.  The police department has been working hard for a while to get these installed.  These cameras are one more resource the department can use against growing suburban crime.  According to the Chief, these cameras can capture license plate information from vehicles passing through our town and cross-reference that information with law enforcement databases in real-time. This gives the ability to have officers take immediate action if a license plate is flagged in the system, which will enhance the department’s ability to apprehend criminals swiftly.  This technology also plays an important role in post-incident investigations.  It’s also important to know that there are strict protocols being implemented to protect privacy and ensure these cameras are only used for legitimate law enforcement purposes.  Read more about it on the Lake and McHenry County Scanner website:  https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2024/04/30/police-implementing-state-of-the-art-license-plate-reader-system-in-antioch-to-combat-crime-surge/

Know someone looking for a summer job?  The Antioch Parks Department is hiring summer lifeguards to work at the Aqua Center.  Summer jobs like this will provide a lifetime of fun memories and it’s a fun way to make a few bucks.  For more information, call or email Antioch Parks Program / Aquatic Supervisor Alison Hurtado at ahurtado@antioch.il.gov , or 224-788-4412.

Finally, I wanted to say congratulations and welcome to the village’s three newest police officers!  Last week, Officer Melinyshyn, Officer Conrad, and Officer Jannick all completed their graduation from the Police Academy at the Southwestern Illinois College Class.  They’ll now begin a 14-week field training program.

Thanks for reading!  I hope you can enjoy the weekend!

Scott J. Gartner

#antiochil #antiochmayorsupdate

Upcoming Village Events:

May 4, 2024, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.:  Village of Antioch Touch a Truck event along Toft Avenue

May 11, 2024, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.:  Antioch Parks Department Mother/Daughter Bingo

May 19, 2024, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.:  Village of Antioch Food Truck FEASTival along Toft Avenue

June 8, 2024, 12 noon – 4 p..m.:  2024 Antioch Summer Wine Walk in downtown Antioch

June 13, 2024, It’s Thursday summer concert series kickoff concert with US99 and Chris Cagle

The post Mayor’s Message – May 3, 2024 first appeared on Antioch, IL.