 |
| I wanted to take this opportunity to bring to light some of the good things that the Village and its residents are doing in the midst of the pandemic. Here are some of the great things that we have going on. The American Legion is doing a virtual Poppy Day which is their biggest fundraiser that is done every Memorial Day. https://www.gofundme.com/f/vfw-2604-virtual-poppy-days?sharetype=teams&member=4329938&pc=fb_co_campmgmt_w&rcid=r01-158826948941-fe502e61c803448c&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_lico%2Bshare-sheet&fbclid=IwAR1brLxENmB4cF8fGQaLTfZt8mpJ_1i-E_hkavP15TW5jHc9HhgVYSDaYN8 Also, a local resident is making masks that can be used by businesses for marketing as well. The minimum order is 36. Here is an email if you would like more information. R3threads@gmail.com. The Village has continued to advertise for our local businesses, more information here. https://www.facebook.com/VillageofOrlandPark/photos/a.276208115781206/2922837027784955/?type=3&theater Also, the Orland Park chamber had a new event, given that our retail shops were opening for curbside pickup. https://www.facebook.com/events/589095708631633/ The Village of Orland Park’s “Masks for Medical” program has been a resounding success. Many medical businesses were able to re-open because we found masks for them. We went through our first order, but more are coming next week. Great work by our staff implementing this program. Last, but certainly not least, is our concert series. Tickets went on sale on Friday. They are available by phone until May 22nd for residents only at a discount for the three concert package. Tickets are limited so we are hoping that we sell out with residents in these 3 weeks. $65 for all three concerts. More on the event here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NYFiNAMVY4. Tickets can be purchased here https://www.facebook.com/VillageofOrlandPark/photos/a.276208115781206/2986508504751140/?type=3&theater. I remind you that the concerts will only go on if factual evidence deems them to be safe. On a more somber note, currently, as a society, we are working through the question about when and how to re-open parts of our economy. I believe we can do so in a measured, safe and responsible way. Unfortunately, some people make statements like “people care about money over lives,” or “livelihoods or lives,” or my personal favorite, “wealth vs. health.” This is somewhat intellectually dishonest and deceitful. It’s not an either-or decision. Keeping the economy closed also impacts health and lives. Lost health insurance, increased domestic violence, increased substance abuse, suicides and delaying the health care of other important underlying conditions. As a society we can walk and chew gum at the same time. This is the only time in history that we have quarantined the healthy. Here in Illinois, an emergency was declared 57 days ago and a “stay at home order” was issued 44 days ago. In the last 34 days, we have learned a lot but the State of Illinois has made very few modifications to the plan. You can’t win a war without adapting and adjusting your plan with updated information. I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to doing things again. Things like taking my wife to dinner and a movie, stopping and watching a kid’s baseball game in the park and seeing my granddaughter. However, I continue to hear people say, you CAN’T do this, you WON’T be able to do that, CAN’T, CAN’T, CAN’T!. Instead I prefer to think of this as a problem to be solved and ask, how CAN we safely get to the point where we CAN do the things we used to. I believe that we CAN figure out safe ways to re-open. We CAN have normal lives again. Let’s start figuring out how we CAN! It’s going to mean following some guidelines. We CAN wear masks and we CAN social distance for a long time if otherwise means we CAN do normal things again. Please watch the following video when you get the chance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnfAkUkAMuE&t=1s Everyone stay positive. We will get through this together. Keith |
