September 1, 2020 Update from the Mayor
There are now 254 confirmed cases of COVID in Hickory Hills with 7 confirmed COVID related deaths.
Update from the Illinois Tollway
Illinois Tollway is rebuilding and improving the Central Tri-State Tollway from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street in 2018 through 2025 to provide congestion relief, improve mobility, reconstruct old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and to address regional needs.
Recognizing the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Tollway is opting to transition from in-person, large-group meetings to the Virtual Open House format offering public access to interactive content from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Check out the link below for more information.
http://archives.subscribermail.com/msg/bb027a8736444f869fc4f9ca20de27d8.htm
Some Updates from Public Works
Prairie Pond Walking Path Temporary Closure
Weather permitting, the Prairie Pond Walking Path (north of 87th Street near Roberts Road) will be closed on Friday and Saturday, September 4 and 5, for seal coat maintenance. Please abide by the closure time frame to adequately allow for curing. Following these simple guidelines will let us continually enjoy the path for years to come. The path may be utilized again starting on Sunday, September 6th. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Pollinator Garden Grant
Hickory Hills was one of twenty-six Northern Illinois Communities awarded an Environmental Grant from Com Ed and Openlands. To support habitats and other open-space projects throughout northern Illinois, Com Ed and Openlands announced grants to 26 public agencies through the annual Com Ed Green Region Program. Grantees each received a one-time grant of up to $10,000 to support and improve open space projects. To address the recent decline in pollinators in our service area, many of this year’s projects focus on enhancing pollinator habitats and protecting species, such as butterflies, bees and others. Illinois is home to thousands of native pollinator species, which provide critical support to our region’s flowering and food plant populations. Hickory Hills’ project will transform an unused area of turf grass into an established pollinator habitat. The habitat will support native pollinator species, educational signage and a public passive recreational area on 92nd Street just East of Kean Avenue. The plans are to break ground on this project next Spring.
Give Your Plants a Drink!
Taking a good look around your yard, you might be noticing premature leaf drop, wilting leaves or leaves changing colors earlier in the season than normal. Monthly precipitation normally averages over four inches of rain in the month of August. Our area has only received about one inch of total rainfall this month, compounding on the dry weather we have already experienced in June and July, which has created very dry conditions.
Experts are strongly recommending we pay special attention to plant care now, to guard against winter and spring losses. Trees and shrubs that are weakened because of dry conditions will now be more vulnerable to secondary invaders and opportunistic pests.
Many trees and plants are still active this time of year. Pay special attention to evergreens that do not go dormant in winter and rely upon stored moisture in their roots. Plants should be monitored for watering needs until the ground freezes. To conserve soil moisture and moderate soil temperature, apply a two to four inch layer of organic mulch, which may also benefit soil organisms and enhance nutrients for plants.
Water within the drip line of a tree, from the trunk out to the end of the branches. Use of soaker hoses or drip irrigation are effective watering tools because they discharge even streams of slow trickling water directly to the root zone beneath trees and shrubs. Prune only minimally until plants go dormant.
Although one inch of water a week is recommended during the growing season – spring to fall – be careful not to water too much. When trees lose their leaves and the weather gets cooler, less water is recommended. The goal is to keep roots moist but not wet. Constantly saturated conditions can also damage roots.
So please don’t forget all your living “friends” in the yard. Make sure everyone has plenty to drink. They will thank you in the spring.
Ladybugs of Muir Woods
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/nature-ladybugs/
Have an enjoyable and safe Labor Day Weekend!
Mayor Mike