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Brimming with happiness and charting a path to the future Thornton Township Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli was sworn in this week to his eighth term in that position.

“When you run for office don’t be overly excited and just say you are the man or the woman. The people will let you know that as government officials we serve the people,” said Zuccarelli, who has served since 1993.I am so thankful for all the people who have helped me in my career.

Thornton Township held its swearing-in ceremony Monday night at the main headquarters in South Holland, 333 E. 162nd Street.

He has been awarded township Supervisor of the Year in 1996, 2007 and 2012; and the township has been awarded Township of the Year three times by the Township Officials of Illinois Educational Conference. As a long standing elected official, Zuccarelli is the recipient of numerous awards and honors during his years serving as a public servant; to name a few: Township Officials of Illinois Township of the Year, multiple Supervisor of the Year awards; The Chicago Food Depository awards for War on Hunger and Quality Service, Community Leader; Civic Responsibility Award; Diversity Inc. Award; the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Committee for Honest Government and countless other awards and honors.

“Always understand you have to be respectful of the people who elected you and the people who are on your board,” said Zucarelli. “I think about everyone in the community. I love Thornton Township and I am not going anywhere yet. We have a few more things we want to do.”

There were many people who had kind words for Zuccaelli, including the man who introduced him.
“You have to want to work with people and have it in your heart,” said Donald Manning, former president of South Suburban College. “If you tell someone you are going to do something for them you have to follow through and do it.”

Joyce M. Washington is the longest serving trustee board member, elected in 1997. Trustee Gerald “Jerry” Jones has served since 2013.

Thornton Township Assessor Cassandra W. Elston and Township Highway Commissioner Geary “Pepe” DePue were also re-elected. Two new trustees and a new clerk have come aboard since the last election. Loretta C. Wells will serve as township clerk replacing Jacki Rivera, who served since 2005. Darlene Gray Everett and Christopher D. Gonzalez are the two new trustees replacing Norbert Cipowski and Stafford Owens.

In Celebration of Earth Day, Thornton Township conducted a paper and electronic recycling drive. Thank you to all of our volunteers and community for making this an event worth having. Any participation is good participation, but this time, it went above and beyond expectation! We will have another one soon.

During property tax season, one woman traverses through close to a dozen  communities educating them on how to petition and challenge their assessments. For her tireless work to help the community as they sift through their frustrating property tax bills, Thornton Township Assessor Cassandra W. Holbert-Elston has been awarded Township Officials of Illinois Elected Official of the Year. 

“Cassandra has always put serving the community as her most important priority. People contact her at all hours of the night and she serves with pleasure and I am happy that people are finally recognizing what we already know. She is incredible,” said Frank M. Zuccarelli, Thornton Township supervisor. 

Elston, who has served as township assessor since 2013, represents our 17 distinct municipalities with a population of more than 168,000. The role requires a combination of intelligent, diligent work, years of experience and a heart as a community advocate. One of her key initiatives is hosting live, and this year virtual, property tax assessment workshops. She gives a presentation, answers residents’ questions and her team looks through resident tax assessment bills. She works with elected officials, clergy and homeowner associations.

Her office and staff have been available virtually to the public throughout the pandemic. She has hosted over 15 seminars yearly, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. The seminars are not just limited to property tax, exemptions and the appeal process. Information is also shared on property after death, property fraud and first-time home buyer programs. Even property redemption, for those who have lost homes, is among the topics discussed. More than 500 individual households have been helped by the assessor’s staff since mid-July.  

 Elston’s purpose in this effort has been to assist, educate and help taxpayers, new homeowners and especially senior citizens who have benefitted the most from her timely and compassionate guidance and assistance. 

“I’m completely stunned by receiving this award. When you look to serve the community, especially if you are doing it for the right reasons, you certainly don’t do it for attention or awards,” said Elston. “But I am honored by the award and I will continue serving the community in any way it needs.”

Elston received recognition for youth mentoring from the late Alderman Bennett M. Stewart of the 21st Ward in Chicago.  She was awarded the key to the City of Chicago for outstanding leadership and community involvement under the late Mayor Harold Washington.  She was recognized for outstanding achievement in organizing block clubs and community organizations in the 6th Ward under the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer. She was also honored as “Woman of the Year” by the Society of Mannequins in 2017.

“I just feel so blessed to be able to help individuals and whole communities in need,” said Elston. 

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BY TIA CAROL JONES

The Thornton Township Senior Luncheon program continues to serve seniors in the Township, but it has moved its popular program from dine-in and carry out to drive-thru to accommodate the orders due to COVID-19.

The Thornton Township Senior Luncheon program is just one of many senior services provided by the township, which includes 17 municipalities throughout the South Suburbs.

The program was originally designed to provide food and social interaction for seniors in the township. For those who could not dine-in, there was also a carry out option and seniors paid a nominal fee.

Seniors, aged 60 or older, who reside in the township, are entitled to one luncheon a week at the site located in their part of the township.

Calumet Bakery provided the senior luncheon program with pastries as part of the meal. It gives the seniors something extra and it allows Calumet Bakery to keep their staff working.

Marcia Brown manages the Thornton Senior Luncheon Program. She said even in the midst of COVID-19, the senior luncheon program didn’t stop because the Township felt it was a service that was necessary and popular.

Brown said in addition to the number of sites where lunches were hosted, the number of seniors who dine-in had to be reduced. There also had to be a reduction in the number of seniors who were allowed to come and socialize. Brown added the changes were made to adhere to the social distancing guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health. “We adapted a drive-thru service, which was totally new for us,” Brown said, adding while it was a new experience for the township, the drive-thru was very well received by the senior residents.

The lunches are hosted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at The Thornton Township Senior Center in Calumet City located at 1420 Huntington Drive. The Thornton Township Riverdale Senior Youth and Family Services Center, located at 14323 S. Halsted St., hosts luncheons on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The drive-thru services take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“Our seniors never have to leave their car, they just drive-thru [and] pick up their lunch. [Seniors can pick up their meal] as long as they’re a resident of Thornton Township and possess a Thornton Township ID,” she said. “They just drive right through, just like at a McDonald’s or one of your fast food restaurants.”

Brown said before COVID-19, the average number of lunches served was between 600-700 lunches per week and this included both dine-in and carry out meals throughout the 10 sites. She said now, at the Riverdale location, the average number of meals served per week is between 100-110. At the Calumet City location, the average is 700 per week. The Riverdale location is a smaller location and the Calumet City location is for seniors only, explained Brown.

“On the east end of town, you have the larger towns, which you don’t have to live in a specific town to attend or pick up lunches from either site, but on the east end of town, Calumet City, you have your larger municipalities, Lansing, Dolton, huge municipalities. On the west end of town, you have your smaller municipalities, Dixmoor, Riverdale [and] Harvey,” she said. “You can live in any of the 17 municipalities and you’re invited to have lunch at either location,” she added.

Brown said that seniors are creatures of habit and they continue to do what they are used to doing. She said while the seniors miss the social interaction of the dine-in luncheon program, they appreciate that the township has continued the luncheon program in a drive-thru format.

Calling it a “100 percent positive response,” Brown said the program has received “nothing but accolades.” She added the seniors love being able to drive-up to receive their meals, without having to leave their vehicles.

For more information about the Thornton Township Senior Luncheon Program, visit https://bit.ly/3gTZLCp, or call 708-596-6040, Ext. 3170