HR0760 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0760 LRB097 20034 GRL 65508 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the citizens of the Village of Hazel Crest on the occasion of the village's 100th anniversary of incorporation; and

WHEREAS, Hazel Crest was first settled in 1870 in a farming community known as South Harvey; an enterprising newspaper editor named William McClintock moved to South Harvey from Ohio in 1890 and built a depot so that the local milk train would stop there; this single move opened up transportation opportunities to Chicago and beyond; the little depot which he built served as the area's first real estate office, a public meeting place, a Sunday School room, a day school, and eventually, the post office; and

WHEREAS, In 1900, South Harvey's name was changed to Hazel Crest to reflect the large numbers of hazelnut bushes that grew south of town; Hazel Crest was subsequently incorporated in 1912; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of Hazel Crest have come together repeatedly to construct significant developments for the village, including the construction of the Community Church in 1894 and the 1984 adaptation of an elementary school building, which has now become the Martin J. Kauchak Municipal Center, named for President Kauchak, who served the village for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Hazel Crest has been honored for its spirit of community volunteerism with 2 Governor's Home Town Awards in 2002 and 2008; the village's most recent award was earned after volunteers organized a community-wide Christmas gift drive and presented nearly 100 children-in-need with the special gifts they requested; residents also participate in the village's annual Hazelnut Festival and Black History Month Celebration; and

WHEREAS, Hazel Crest has been named a Tree City USA for 25 consecutive years by The National Arbor Day Foundation; the village has also been the recipient of a Tree City USA Growth Award for 14 years for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of the Village of Hazel Crest serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the citizens of the Village of Hazel Crest on the occasion of the village's 100th anniversary of incorporation and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Village of Hazel Crest as a symbol of our esteem and respect.