Editor's Note: This letter was written before Sen. Toi Hutchinson dropped out of the election. Being relatively new to the world of politics, this has been one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make thus far. For months, I have been taking copious notes and analyzing the race for the 2nd Congressional District. As a Trustee of Prairie State Community College District #515, I have had the honor to work with members of Congress as I have advocated for supporting community colleges. I take my responsibility as a guardian of the public trust very seriously and I owe a debt of …

The day after the Chicago Heights closed out its first Sister Cities Fall Festival, Mayor David Gonzalez sent a letter to the editor of Chicago Heights Patch. The letter details his opinion of the event and the city that hosted it. Visit our photo gallery to see more photos from the Sister Cities Fall Festival. Here's what Mayor David Gonzalez had to say about the festival: This past weekend the City of Chicago Heights celebrated the first Festival of Sister Cities. Sister Cities International was founded in 1956 to create and strengthen partnerships between the United States and …

The following letter was submitted to Patch by the Rev. Leona Tichenor of the Olympia Fields United Methodist Church. A healthy community promotes the well-being of its residents in a variety of ways. We count on park districts and other institutions to provide resources that support a vision of physical, social, and emotional health.   As I work as a pastor with residents of Chicago Heights, as well as surrounding communities, one of the themes that emerges time and again is the need  to expand  affordable opportunities to swimming and water aerobics.  Children and youth need multiple …

The following letter, directed at the readers of Chicago Heights Patch, was submitted by Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez. It is in reference to the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. Today I was fortunate enough to be invited to and attended the Cinco de Mayo celebration at District 170, Garfield School. The children and faculty put on a tremendous program that embraced the pride of the Latino culture. Cinco de Mayo is a day that is celebrated more in the United States than Mexico itself. It is a day that many Latinos celebrate their pride and heritage.  In the State of Puebla in Mexico this…

First of all,  I support senior housing options in Chicago Heights and would like to see it done in a way that promotes responsible growth in our city. I voted against this location(The old Holiday Inn/Hacienda Inn) for the following reasons: Logistically, this location is not good for walking to places of interest or being close to the shopping needs for seniors. Would like to see other locations considered.  Such as the downtown empty parking lot, First National Bank Building downtown which is currently vacant and could potentially be converted for this use and also the WellGroup building …

At least one Heights alderman is not sold on state and Cook County plans to spend millions of dollars on six municipalities (including Chicago Heights) and their foreclosure difficulties. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Patch published a story about Gov. Quinn announcing state plans to put $40 million toward a new foreclosure initiative. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle also promised to put $10 million toward the project. Read about the State of Illinois and Cook County's foreclosure initiative in the original article. Ward Four Ald. Josh Deabel sent me an email explaining his position on the…

Chicago Heights Patch is accepting letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site as received. The following letter was submitted to Patch by the Rev. Leona Tichenor of the Olympia Fields United Methodist Church. If you're interesting in submitting a letter, send an e-mail to christopher.paicely@patch.com. Peril in the Heights City officials continue to compromise public safety in Chicago Heights by neglecting to to remove dead and diseased parkway trees. A few weeks ago, a diseased maple in my neighborhood lost a large branch from a parkway tree.  It fell across a driveway where a …

Chicago Heights Patch is accepting letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site as received. The following letter was submitted to Patch by Olympia Fields resident and Rich High School District 227 board member David E. Morgan. Morgan has served on the board since 2009 and has a background in education. He was an assistant professor of education at Northern Illinois University, an associate professor at Eastern Kentucky University and an administrator at Chicago Public Schools. In the letter, Morgan expresses his opinion of how the Aug. 16 board of education meeting was conducted. …

Chicago Heights Patch is accepting letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site as received. The following letter was submitted to Patch by Olympia Fields resident Helen Burleson with a background in education. Burleson, who served on Flossmoor Board of Education from 1972 to 1981 and the Illinois State Board of Education from 1981 to 1983, attended the June 21 Rich High School District 227 Board meeting. In the letter, Burleson expresses her opinion of how the meeting was conducted. Her opinion does not reflect that of Chicago Heights Patch. If you're interesting in submitting a …

Chicago Heights Patch is accepting letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site as received. The following letter was submitted to Patch by the Rev. Leona Tichenor of the Olympia Fields United Methodist Church. Tichenor is a Chicago Heights resident who attended the April 18 city council meeting. In the letter, Tichenor expresses her opinion of the procedures the Chicago Heights city government uses (or doesn't use) when introducing an ordinance to be voted on. If you're interesting in submitting a letter, send an e-mail to christopher.paicely@patch.com. Top Secret in Chicago …