EVERGREEN PARK
3rd bus planned for seniors, disabled
The village is expected to have a third bus available to take senior citizens and residents with disabilities to and from doctor appointments and other errands in coming months.
The Village Board this week voted to approve a contract with Pace Suburban Bus Service of Arlington Heights for a bus. The village will pay $100 per month for the bus, provide a driver and charge residents 50 cents per ride. Because the village is on a waiting list for the handicapped-accessible, 10-seat minibus, officials could not say when one might be available.
Jolene Churak, director of citizen services, said the village has two buses, although one is mainly used as a backup. The buses provide curb-to-curb service within the village from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The new bus will also transport residents within a five-mile radius of the village.
“I can see expanding services and offering more appointments,” Churak said.
— Janice Neumann
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FRANKFORT
Number of trains could quadruple
A change in ownership that could quadruple the number of freight trains moving through Frankfort has village officials gearing up to lobby for improved safety.
A proposal from the Canadian National Railroad to take over the EJ&E Railroad tracks near the south end of the village is being submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Mayor Jim Holland said this week.
The mayor pledged to push for safety improvements, such as better lighting and more effective gates at street-level railroad crossings, as well as noise mitigation.
Assistant Village Administrator Howard Sloan said the Canadian National plan would boost the number of freight trains traveling through Frankfort daily from 6 to 28.
Sloan said he will meet with representatives from other south suburbs that would be affected. “These [safety] concerns will be aggressively pursued,” he said.
Frankfort is only one of 130 towns along the EJ&E tracks.
“From our perspective, an increase in the number of trains coming through town is a detriment,” Trustee Doug Walker said.
— Pat Harper
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HAZEL CREST
Hospital opens hospice unit
To help provide an increased level of comfort for end-of-life patients, Advocate South Suburban Hospital has started a comprehensive inpatient hospice unit.
The eight-bed Comfort Care Center opened Nov. 13 on the fourth floor of the hospital. Experts in symptom and pain control will attend to patients. The round-the-clock staff includes two medical directors, a nurse case manager, bath aide, chaplain, social worker and volunteer.
“It’s just a much more conducive environment for quality end-of-life care,” said Connie Lemon, a hospice nurse at the hospital.
Advocate Hospice provides terminal care to patients at other Advocate hospitals in Illinois and in patient’s homes. It is managing the center with South Suburban Hospital.
— Janice Neumann
