Welcome
November 24, 2008
Welcome
Today is a great day in the life of the Cullerton Family. After much sole searching and many pro/con discussions we have made a decision that I should work towards the next level of Village leadership and run for the President of Villa Park. We are all very excited and anxious as we count down to April 7, 2009 -Election Day.
My goals are very clear. Throughout the campaign I will be bringing up ideas and giving opportunities for you to view my opinions on various issues. I will run a campaign based on the issues- how to move Villa Park forward, how I can be an effective leader for our Village and how I will work toward the long term future of our town.
As your President I will bring respected leadership, a vision of economic success, a transparency to Village issues, a strong fiscal responsibility to the needs of our residents, an attack dog mentality to criminal activity and I will continue with fresh ideas that move our Village to prosperity.
Since 2005 when I was elected to the position of Trustee I have been a constant source of new ideas. My belief in government is not what won’t work but rather how can we make it work. With today’s slumping economy and housing crisis, the likes never seen before, we need a leader that is creative. A leader that will be effective in attracting new opportunities. A leader that can articulate to developers and new families how Villa Park is shaking off the dust of complacency and striving to achieve the highest level of success. I believe I am that leader.
My unique perspective and my optimistic outlook has allowed me to push for ideas that many thought weren’t possible. Ideas that others said couldn’t get done. Development that was thought beyond the reach and capability of Villa Park. I don’t believe in allowing others to rain on the positive opportunities that we have here in VIlla Park. The future is here in Villa Park. It is time for us to make a shift in our government as well as in our community. A shift towards a brighter and stronger future here in Villa Park.
Sincerely,
Trustee Thomas Cullerton
Welcome to my Campaign Website.
November 12, 2008
This site can be utilized during the next 6 months for all up to minute campaign and election issues.
We will be constantly updating this site so you, the residents of Villa Park, can have immediate access to me for any issues you need resolved. Contacting a candidate to hear their views, understand their policy and know what their plans are couldn’t be easier. Please also be on the lookout for me knocking on your door sometime during the next 6 months. All of this will allow you to make an informed decision come Election Day April 7, 2009.
The Next Generation of Leadership in Villa Park
Villa Park tavern patrons can keep on dancing
November 12, 2008
Patrons at Villa Park taverns can keep on dancing on bars, tables and chairs for the time being.
The Villa Park board voted 4-2 Monday night against a proposal to prohibit tavern patrons from dancing on bars and tabletops. Trustees also nixed a companion measure barring bar employees from working while intoxicated.
Village President Joyce Stupegia and Trustee Richard Illian supported the restrictions.
“You now have consent to have whoever dance on the bars,” Stupegia said after the vote. “Your bartenders can be intoxicated.”
Trustee Tom Cullerton countered, “You can run your business the way you want, without government interference.”
The vote followed some public comments and board member discussion.
“If it is a safety issue, then what about jungle gyms, skate parks and bike paths? People get hurt on these things all the time. Should we ban the use of those too?” asked Brendan Fitzharris, who owns Fitz’s Irish Bulldog along St. Charles Road. “I know a guy who broke his hand playing Golden Tee video game. Are you going to ban that, too?
“This rule is absolutely ridiculous,” Fitzharris added. “You are micromanaging business.”
If a customer complains that a beer is flat, how is a bartender or owner supposed to determine whether that’s true without tasting it and then risking a ticket and fine, Fitzharris asked. Also if a new drink comes along, how can bartenders and other employees describe it to customers if they’ve never tasted it, he asked.
“Sometimes it is part of our job to try a drink,” he added.
Resident and former bar owner Scott Shepard agreed, saying he’d never heard of anyone getting hurt falling off a bar or tabletop.
“Dancing on tables and bars has been going on for centuries,” Shepard said. “Where are the statistics (of people getting hurt)? I have a better chance of tripping in one of our streets.”
Illian said he supported the regulations because they aimed to prevent drunk people from tripping down streets and sidewalks or engaging in other improper behavior because they are getting overserved, possibly by intoxicated bartenders.
But, Trustee David Hegland noted, existing laws already make public intoxication and disorderly conduct punishable crimes.
“We can enforce that right here, right now, without reaching into people’s businesses,” Hegland said.
Hundreds help make a difference in Villa Park
November 12, 2008
Roughly 20 children who have lost their hair for medical reasons will have a chance to wear specially donated wigs. About 100 needy children and adults here and abroad will get shoes. And several soldiers will have a more festive holiday season.
This and more was made possible by people who donated their time, hair and items as part of USA Magazine’s annual Make a Difference Day.
In Villa Park, hundreds of residents of all ages participated in the annual day of doing good through a collaborative effort by the Villa Park Lifelong Learning League, which coordinated and co-sponsored 10 projects and spotlighted others during an Oct. 25 fair.
“We were very pleased with the turnout,” said Judy Grove, a coordinator of the effort. “We had no idea what to expect. The spirit of cooperation … helping people - that made me feel good.”
With help from five area salons whose stylists donated their time and talent, the Villa Park Junior Women’s Club collected more than 20 quart-sized bags of human hair to be used by the Locks of Love Foundation for hair prosthetics for medically bald children, Grove said. Anyone interested can still donate hair by calling Julee Vingren at (630) 833-0610.
About 100 pairs of new and gently used shoes were collected for the Soles of Villa Park effort, Trustee Tom Cullerton reported.
Under the direction of Girl Scouts of Villa Creek Center Service, more than 40 children created 110 handcrafted Christmas tree ornaments. The decorations will be sent with live Christmas trees to on-duty military personnel as part of the Villa Park Men’s Garden Club Trees for Troops Make a Difference Day project. The Garden Club collected nearly $700 for the trees, Grove said.
In addition, the Villa Park Rotary gave away more than 200 books to students in preschool through high school.
Kevin Conner, a community service officer with the Villa Park Police Department, helped make a difference by teaching safety lessons to numerous children through hands-on activities.
Though a few people were unable to donate, a total of 13 pints of blood were collected during the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce’s blood drive for LifeSource, said chamber Executive Director Alesia Bailey. The donations have the potential to save 39 lives, according to the blood center.
About a dozen bicycles and wheelchairs were donated for the Recycle your Cycle program, while eight pairs of glasses were collected by the Lions Club.
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- Fundraiser and informational gathering
- Welcome
- Welcome to my Campaign Website.
- Villa Park tavern patrons can keep on dancing
- Hundreds help make a difference in Villa Park
