Balanced budget keeps village humming
The village of Manhattan's fiscal budget, passed on April 1, was the result of much debate and discussion among village trustees, village staff and myself over the past four months.

Grandma's usually 1 item short
One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn't belong.

Focus on three factors for optimum exercising
There is an advanced method of achieving maximum health by using what I call a triple action method. It is achieved by conditioning your heart, training your core/postural muscles and maintaining flexibility all in one workout. By focusing your workouts to target these three components of exercise, you also can target an improvement in your overall health.

Funding reform needed
Here we go again! Imagine a family with an income of $1,000 per week. Based upon this revenue, they create an expenditure budget fitting in a certain amount for housing, car, food, entertainment, etc. Things are going along for months and they find out their income is going to drop to $750 a week. This is devastating since their expenditures are based on $1,000 per week.

Retirees an untapped source of employees
We ventured to central Florida, as winter was waning, to visit Grandma and Grandpa and of course The Magic Kingdom. This included a stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house, located in a retirement, golf, active-adult community. I immediately felt like a slacker upon arrival, as we witnessed seniors swimming laps, playing tennis, riding bikes, power walking and, yes, playing golf. Our senior family members moved south after long careers in Homewood and Chicago. Like many of their contemporaries in the sunny South, both now have returned to work. Their new employer? Publix.

Former students gone, not forgotten
The time is coming that we have to say goodbye to a group of students we have nurtured and watch grow into teenagers.

Letters to the Editor

Village's French Market kicks off seventh year
On Saturday, Mokena's French Market, located at the corner of Front Street and Wolf Road, will begin its seventh year.