What's next? Ban turkey on Thanksgiving? Not allow candy hearts on Valentines Day? Government has no business setting limits on holidays- leave parents do their jobs and let families celebrate in peace. Come on OL- you better get out there and remove ALL the ILLEGAL fireworks on July 4th; bet that noise bothers our seniors so please act in their best interest...or are you just targeting select days based on the whims of certain trustees or residents.

I've had only two or three kids come by after 7:00 for the past five years, so this won't be too much of a change for majority. I do understand the point of waiting until next year though -- it will be hard for parents to make last minute changes to their work schedule this year.

Another waste of time. I agree with the working father. I'll have to race home now to be able to go with my son. Thanks. Here's another example of wasted time voting on silly matters. How about tackling something more important? Vote these people out of office. PLEASE!

How about we give the people a sign to put on the door to tell trick or treaters that they dont want them after 7 oclock and just move to the next house.What good is this when the kids and family cant see the great decor of the houses at night. Next we will be limited to how many lights we can put up.

Don't worry the Village does not enforce ordinances. Just drive around and look at the corner houses with cars blocking the sidewalks and how about the 3 cars parked under the snow route sign for 3 days during our BIG snowfall earlier this year.

"For the safety of the children." This is really not a smart thing to stand by. The children are not unsafe to begin with, but if this is how Alex truly believes...well what about fall on the green, st. geralds carnival, and all the other summer activities that occur after dark. Are those kids not walking around with large amounts of traffic? 95th street is a pretty busy street. I sure hope we don't plan on lighting that christmas tree after dark, "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!"

What a bunch of manure...

What safety concerns did the "multitude" of residents have? And why do the other residents have to abide by the wishes of the few? You did't ask anyone I spoke to on this issue. Why are we spending time on such petty issues as this? What about the safety concerns raised at the last "bored" meeting where the village was notified that O.L. owns property in the village that as Larry so eloquently put wouldn't pass our own inspections? Maybe Alex you can investigate what other property we the village owns that won't pass inspections. Fire hazards, disrepair and eyesores that since the village owns we need not get repaired for safety sake. Lets tell our children that they can run around the neighborhoods any other night of the year in complete safety because of the wonderful police and fire but on Halloween since they may knock on the door of a few seniors, they are at risk of harm. Whats next Alex? Cancel the village Easter egg hunt because eggs are high in cholesterol?, Cancel Santa on the fire truck in the Holiday parade because not everyone in the village believes in Santa?

Is Alex going to come over and explain to my children why they can't go treat or treating this year??? I think not!!! I am a mother that works, I work downtown, and by time I get home it is 6:30 p.m. My children are going to have 15 mins to treat or treat??? What a bunch of B.S. Alex when you are up for re-election I will not be casting my vote for you, and will make sure everyone in the district does the same.

Easy solution. Turn out your lights. Everyone knows that well understood signal.

When I was growing up, we stayed out until 10, if people didn't want trick or treaters, they shut the porch light off—plain and simple. Why can't our village idiots discuss and vote on more important issues?! Sheesh!!! Hey Village Idiots; you wanna see if my toilet paper is on the holder the correct way? Get a life!

I was waiting until the Pro- Heilmann people came on the blogs with get rid of the board chants and I'm not voting for Alex rants. This is a non- issue people. Everyone can trick or treat no one is going to jail if they are out after 7p.m. I suspect most houses will have their door closed and lights off at 7 p.m. anyways There are more important issues in the village.

Yet another example of the interests of retired people trumping the concerns of families.

You are certainly a pro Heilmann person QC are you not ?? Maybe you don't get it.

just sad that the board even spends time on something like this.

People, listen up!

If you don't believe that the curfew should be 7, I say let your kids out after 7! Show the Trustees that nothing bad will happen to them around that time!

Show the Trustees what it means to actually celebrate Halloween! If you all think that it is unfair that the Trustees are doing this, then I say disregard the curfew, go with your kids at night, and have one hell of a good time going door to door while saying "Trick or Treat"!

If you agree with this, you can reply, or copy this message and post it again, it doesn't matter! We need to be heard, and Damn it all, Kids need to be kids and have fun!

That is all good and fine but your going to get the people that are going to yell at the kids and parents for being out after 7.How about we show up at the Mayors door step after 7 to show him that our kids are fine.Like i said they can run around untill 9 30 on school nights.Just put a sign on the doors that the village should mail out to everyone in oaklawn saying We do not partiapate in Halloween after 7 oclock. then the kids can go to the next house.The village can afford the signs.

So whats the bottom line. Shall I call the police on the little cheaters or give them candy? These heavy issues are so hard to decide. But given that, whats the Village mandate? To candy or not to candy, that's the question ??????????

P. Roberts: your a bigger DB than the trustees if you would call the cops on kids for trick or treating!!!

Dan Smith,

I am the father mentioned in the above article. Although I support that in theory, I really don't want to have any sort of altercation with an angry homeowner or possibly the police while with my children.

I am really unhappy about the boards decision on this issue, and I hope to get it put on the agenda for another go around at the next village meeting. I believe it is important that both sides of this debate are heard, and although I am for the old version of the ordinance (ending at 8pm), I fully understand the concerns of others and feel they should also be heard.

I'd like to discus this issue again at the next board meeting, and my father (who has been guiding me through this process) has explained that we will need to get it on the agenda in order to talk about it. He's trying to help me do that now.

This was my first time speaking to the board, and in hindsight, I should have re-arranged what I said, as when I opened with my marriage taking place on halloween I was a little overcome emotion that threw off the rest of my speech. I had a couple of other points I skipped just trying to keep the flow of what I had to say going (and sorry Lorrane, I didn't mean to call patch an online newsblog and originally wanted to credit you specifically for the story/poll).

I'm not entirely decided on what I'll do next, but now that we have a trustee in dist 1, hopefully she can help me get this on the agenda for the next meeting.

I'm thinking about going around with a dual petition, one for people approving of the new ordinance, and one approving of the old ordinance. As I've stated, I think its important that both sides are heard. I've also floated some other ideas past my neighbors. The real question is going to be how much real support is there for an 8pm ordinance.

I have done a bit of googling, and there is a case in New York where rioting took place on halloween, a curfew enacted, and was eventually ruled as unconstitional. Our situation is very different, however I did learn a few things while reading the various news articles and court documentation that are online regarding this.

The ordinance as written only prevents you from going to a door and asking for a treat or the person will get a trick. There is nothing that prevents you from being out past 7pm with your children, you just can't go to someone's door and ring thier bell. When we return home, I plan on going outside after 7 and handing our remaining candy out directly.

In todays day, when one of the things most said by educators, phsycologists, and even politicians is that parents need to spend more time with thier children, why then enact an ordinance that is contrary to that point.

im 50 so some people consider me old and yes some times its a pain getting up every 5 minutes to hand out candy but we were young once and its only 1 freeking day.give the kids a good time that they will remeber.not a buch of craby old farts telling kids to go away.Dont answer the dam door if you dont want.What the hell the old people are sleeping by 7 oclock anyway.

I really feel for the parents... Okay, for those who work, they get home at 5 or 6, try to have dinner and then they have to make a mad dash to let their kids have fun?! Huh?!!!

This whole curfew thing is absurd!!! Let kids be kids for cryin-out-loud!!! Let them have a good time!

All of this is for nothing if it rains all day.

Its 1 day people just let the kids have fun.I will bet when they were kids they were out most of the night.Now they are just a bunch of crabby old farts and are trying to rule the world.
hahahahahaha so evel.see were our money is going.When is the next meeting going to be held about this?

Hey Richard i bet you are old.My god its the forth of july.how the hell are you going to stop fireworks on that day and if they are illegal why does the village get to shoot them off and its ok? Thats the Goverment saying do as i say not as i do.

So when Johny ask his dad why the goverment can blow off fireworks and we cant what is johnys dad tell him.Well Johny the goverment does not have to follow the rules and only drunks and slobs can blow off fireworks and now because of our goverment Johny you cannot go trick or treating because i dont get home until 7 oclock.God help our goverment.
By the way i have never seen the village come by my house and clean,you must know someone to have them come and clean by your house

You are right about Alex lets go to his house.

1) if the trustees were truly concerned about the safety of children the property on southwest highway and menard would have been torn down over a year ago. It is STILL not demolished.
2) this decision was NOT the mayors. We all know it is not a true "decision making" position.
3) I truly feel horrible for ANY working parent that is going to try and enjoy halloween. Really unfair to the parent that doesn't get home until 6 or 6:30 at night.
4) andy, you have to make this about heilmann. What was this even doing on the village agenda when there are so many other things going on? You know so much andy can't you tell us?
5) this decision truly tells us the character of streit, alex o and duhig. They are very anti family. To all....please do not forget this next election time! Who is really destroying oak lawn? I think we have our answer.

Also I truly hope that the oak lawn police department will be checking on any registered sex offenders on halloween to make sure that their porch lights are off. That is actually a LAW not an ordinance!

The Oak Lawn Police Department does verify the addresses of all registered sex offenders living in Oak Lawn around Halloween.

Lorraine, not only should they be verifying addresses, they should be driving past their houses to ENSURE their lights are not on and they are not answering the door......FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN!!!!! That's what this is all about, true? Instead of wasting time on hours of trick or treating, the village should make an ordinance that the OLPD should be checking those homes!

Andy, what ARE you talking about? I wasn't at the meeting. I have to watch them on TV. I have to work nights. Sorry.

To everyone that would like to "Save Halloween" please contact your trustee and let them know how you feel! Tom Phelan was not present at the meeting and with his help we can get this open for discussion again! Please!

You can contact Tom Phelan using this contact info.

http://www.oaklawn-il.gov/getdoc/c188dc76-0256-4196-b8eb-931a6970c68c/District--6-Thomas-Phelan.aspx

Do you people honestly think Tom Phelan will do anything about this? Tom, Alex, and Tom D always vote the same way. Contacting him is really the wrong choice in my opinion.

I'm sorry...I simply cannot believe all this ruckus about Halloween!!! Folks, there are much more important issues than Halloween and yet they only merit a couple comments?! Huh?!!! I agree, Oak Lawn should have longer hours for kids, but some of these little bastages also like to egg, shaving cream, TP, etc. houses and we also have to take into consideration, things are not the way they were 10 or more years ago. I really feel for these kids and perhaps there should be an alternative, i.e., the kids being able to go out on Saturday or Sunday instead, but it is what it is. I could easily agree to ending it at 8-8:30 but it seems as though their minds are made up on this matter. Maybe we should focus on next year?

RobertS,

I appreciate your feelings about this issue, however if you believe its a non-issue, then take the time to contact your trustee and let him know you want the old 3-8pm ordinance so we can put this thing to bed.

I think many people do not comprehend what a trick or treat ordinance is. All this ordinance does is prevent children from coming to your door and saying "trick or treat." It in no way stops people from being outside in costume, and if they are so choosing to break the law and vandalize property, this ordinance does nothing to protect or stop that. This ordinance only affects parents with younger children, kids younger then 12 mostly, who parents wouldn't want to be out without supervision to begin with. Do you believe a 5 year old is going to throw eggs at your house with thier mom/dad standing there?

What you are in fact asking for is a curfew, and that is an enitrely different matter. This is not a curfew, and NO ONE, including parents, children, teenagers, and people from out of town if they are out and about "enjoying" the town.

You are the Man Grunty
Now can we stop beating a dead horse
Now can just let the kids have fun and screw all you crabby old farts.

I'm seriously done with this thread! I understand both sides of the issue, and if it were up to me, yeah, the kids would be allowed to be out 'til 9, I think local government should be investing its time in more important issues and I really think the majority of parents have enough common sense to know when their kids should be home. Who do I call and voice my opinion to? I'm in St. Linus... Lemme know and I will gladly contribute my 2¢.

Thanks for your support RobertS,

Here is a map of the districts, If you can find your house you can figure out which representative serves you. Your Trustee may be Carol Quinlin, who is already in support of the old hours. There is nothing that stops you from contacting each and every one of the trustees, as they serve the entire community, not just thier district.

http://www.oaklawn-il.gov/pdfs/trustee/Trustee%20District%20Map.pdf

at the bottom of this page you can find links to all the elected officials:

http://www.oaklawn-il.gov/Elected-Officials.aspx

@ Grunty:

Thanks...yeah, Carol is my rep, and I will make it a point to contact them today. Again, thanks!

I remember when 10pm was the cut off. I'm fine with 9pm. I think 7pm is crazy on Mon. thru Fri. No one can get enough time with the kids if they work. I get home around 6pm. Do I leave a bowl outside and send my kids out on their own? Besides, for the older kids, half the fun is being out at when it's dark. I hope the trustees get enough flack this year to change it back next year. Besides, no matter what time you set to end trick or treating, it won't stop those who want to be mischevious or malicious.

Hey why dont they just tell everyone there will be no halloween in oaklawn.Then all the crab asses will get there way and the parents wont have to worry about rushing home and all of this stupid bullshit will be over with.Next will be Christmass.Sorry i have had enough
The End

Dan,

I appreciate your passion on this issue, I know you are frustrated but lets try to keep a level head and hope that the Trustees can correct this error.

Yep lets leave it up to the goverment.
they will fix it.LOL

I just prepared this letter to Alex:

Mr. Olejniczak:

I would like to personally thank you for taking Halloween away from my children this year. Since I work downtown, Monday - Friday, I do not get home until 6:30 p.m. Therefore, they will not be able to enjoy the day. Regardless of the time constraints if someone wants to cause trouble, they will cause trouble.

Maybe you and the other trustees should worry about more important things going on in our village. For example, the cars speeding down my streets on a constant basis. The local businesses leaving our village. Those are just to name a few...

I am going to have to think long and hard before I ever vote for you again.......

each trustee should go door to door in there district to pass out candy to the residents so the residents can be safe in there homes and know where there candy came from
2 birds one stone

BORED DOWNTOWN:

1) Who I vote for or out is really none of business! That time I checked that is my right as an american.

2) What I do at work, AGAIN, none of your business. It is called a smart phone. I do not have to explain myself to you!

3) I am mad and voiced my opinion (given to me by the first amendment). Just like you!!!

I have believed from the start that a few of our "trustees" are power mad. A few votes in a village gives you no particular "power"! I hope Oak Lawn has learned a lesson from this foolishness, for both Oak Lawn and national elections. It's not something to do "lightly." You hand that candidates a power that is often and easily misused. The evidence is all around you. ( Sorry for the mini lecture, but this is an important issue siince it will continue to grow). When did Americans give up? Mayor Daely and Senator Durbin voted to put a extremely heavy burden on the areas in and around Chicago. Who fought back? As the old saying goes, "you cant fight city hall" Is that true? Given the subject of this thread, it would seem so. Happy Haloween: Boo!

Having been in the business world for longer than I care to remember, one thing I know is that you can't promote some folks because it goes to their head, immediately. I believe that's what happened here. A very few people trying to enforce their will on the mass of folks in Oak Lawn. Now it may make them feel good, but in the long run it won't work. Again, a simple solution for folks who don't want Trick or Treaters, turn OFF your lights. Easy out. For those who love to see kids laughing, light up your porch, and hand out goodies. No need for everyone to march to the same drummer. Do what YOU think is right! It will make for pleasent memories for the kids, if not the Board.

I was happy to receive a call from Alex Olejniczak today to discus this issue. I do thank him for taking the time to read my lengthy and wordy email I sent last week. Unfortunately, he did not find any merit in what I had to say.

When I informed him that some other parents and I had discussed organizing a petition, and asked him if I was able to get a majority of Oak Lawn residents to sign the petition, would that help him to change his mind.

He said, "No," and stated that the issue was said and done as far as he was concerned and nothing, not a petition or a very large group of people at the next board meeting, was going to change that.

I personally find it unfortunate and sad that we have a trustee that basically said straight to my face that it doesn't matter what the people of Oak Lawn want, its what he wants, and that is the way it is going to be.

Now I'm not sure about the rest of you, but my father and my grandfather did not go to war for this country so that we could have an elected official, an official who's duty it is to serve the people and not his own interests, turn his back on the very people he represents.

I find his behavior unethical and a catastrophic embarrassment to Oak Lawn.

grunty:

I totally agree with you, I am going to try to contact the mayor and see what our options are.

I did not know we lived in a dictatorship. I thought this was America!!!

Are you in Alex's district?

I am not in Alex's district, but my father is. I'm in district 1.

I have been discussing what the next move should be, and a "multitude" of people have told me that trying to work the situation out with Alex one on one would be a waste of time. I wanted to hold off on doing petition or protesting until I had a chance to speak with Alex and Tom Phalen. I still have not heard from Tom Phalen, and although I am also being told that Tom usually sides with Alex on most issues, I'm hoping that I can persuade him to see things from my point of view. If he agrees to reverting the ordinance, we would have a split vote and the decision would go to the mayor. I'm going to be contacting Tom Phalen again today.

I am confident the mayor would revert the ordinance back to 3-8 pm.

I've created a facebook group that is publicly joinable by anyone in the village or anyone outside the village wanting to keep track of this story.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/265855020119725/

Let me know if that link does not work.

When is the next meeting?

October 25th

Calm down, you sound like a real ass.and i bet you are happy with the 7 oclock idea.I say we should go to the meeting and voice our opion on this.Sounds like Alex is kissing someones asses around Oaklawn.

Well why is it up to them to put it on the agenda.did they get to vote on it in the first place?

Cindy was not yet voted in as the trustee for dist. 1 and Tom Phalen was absent due to a family emergency.

When all's said and done, what I did get out of this is a list of those trustees I would vote for in the next round of elections. Beware of the person who never had power, too many errors in "trying" to learn how it works. And I know for sure, we do NOT need two paid "leaders". One will do nicely. Lets grow up folks. We're in for some bad times, and have no need for this silliness.I feel as though I'm in a play written by losers, attempting to fight back. Further, we need budget cuts clearly. Attornies don't often lose court cases against them. Thats all folks!

Figures Steit was in on this negative vote against kids, I like the idea of signs- a sign that says you don't give out candy after 7, you are out of candy or even a sign that says you don't celebrate Halloween....

Grunty, I am with you! We don't need more rights taken away, what is with our Government.? Control !!! People of Oak Lawn watch out!! See you on Election Day!

Well if it were me I'd take my kids out Trick or Treating as late as I wanted to. I can't imagine the OL police even issuing tickets on this. Turning off the house lights at 7:00 is an easy solution for people who don't want to give out candy. With all of the problems in the village I can't believe this is even an issue they voted on. What a waste of time and energy.

I wonder if that news crew at the melvina property today knows about our trick or treat law?

oak Lawn gal you seem to be a knowitall. If you had kids? Sounds like you don't and should just stick to dogs since you think you're smarter than everyone. You should quit your condescending attitude.

If I had kids who were still young enough to go trick or treating I'd take them out even if it was after 7:00. I have no idea why the board took this up as an issue, It's a waste of time imo. Nothing condescending about my opinion at all unless you're easily intimidated.

I do belive that now this has nothing to do with halloween.What it has to do with is that the village idoits have nothing better to do and they want to feel like they still have the power over the people and can control our every move.it is principal now people.First its halloween then what next you can only walk your dog from 2 to 4.No bike riding from 6 to 8.Rember we are now past this being a halloween thing.Its about the village telling use what we can do and cant do.I know we must follow the law but this is where it starts and they will slowly start chiseling away at other dumb shit.If you dont stand up now it will keep going.Sorry if this sounds a little deep but come on village board.Lets spend more money on bronze statues we dont need for the parks you are building that we dont need.

I agree. It's this "I can't be wrong attitude that's got us paying for lawyers disagreeing, and other disagreements the board got into with no solution. I know, lets fist fight it out in a local tavern, that's real adult. Lets buy horrible reminders of 9/11 for the Childrens museum, how appropriate, when we're so concerned with trick or treating. The village is blowing in the wind, with no cooperation to stop it. Seems everything here is changing. And not for the better. Be careful. There are hundreds of houses at a good price on the market in grown-up burbs that are looking pretty good.........

i think all this halloween vote bs is a ploy to cover up bigger issues going on behind our backs just wait and see. grunty, phelan is gonna do the "my hands are tied" bs so don't bother giving him any attention, since thats all he looks for. alex backed him on the brunswick garbage and it's payback time. just games played on our dime

So what can the people of oak lawn do.I just saw the video of the voteing on you tube,What a bunch of BS.You qre right lantern look at the tax watch.And by the way who the hell is out there watching the cars so called trickeling in to oaklawn to come trick or treating from other citys.What now my son and my grandaughter cant come to oaklawn to trick or treat I hate to say it but Alex ,Stop