APRIL 26, 2023
Vol. VII No. 17
Maywood extends new business moratorium for 45 days
Split village board OKs extension as zoning code revisions are reviewed By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter
At a special meeting of the Maywood village board on April 18, village trustees approved a 45day extension to a temporary business moratorium on the development of certain businesses as the village is working to update its zoning code. The revised code will go into effect when the moratorium ends. The extension is needed for the village to complete revision and edits after a public hearing is held on April 25. The Ordinance and Policy Committee will discuss the ordinance changes on April 24 (after our press time), and later it will be discussed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A Committee of the Whole discussion is scheduled for mid-May, and the village board will vote on the final ordinance changes at a special village board meeting that will occur by the end of May or the beginning of June. New businesses affected by the initial 180-daymoratorium include salons, barber and nail shops, live music venues, pop-up retail shops, special event spaces, tobacco shops and fast-food resSee MORATORIUM on page 7
Polished Pebbles wants Proviso girls to shine FREE
PROVIDED
Nia Lackland (middle), program facilitator at Proviso West, speaks with students alongside Angie Velazquez (right), program facilitator at Proviso East and West, and Ashley Macey (left) from Juniper Public Relations.
The girl-focused youth mentor program continues its West side expansion By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
A youth mentorship program designed to help young girls of color polish their communication skills has continued its West Side expansion, reaching Proviso Township girls to help get them career ready.
Polished Pebbles, a Chicago-based initiative, was founded in 2009 to help girls ages seven to 17 years old develop communication skills at home, school, and become hirable employees. Thanks to the expansion, the organization has already begun providing programs at Proviso high schools, as well as the Broadview-based feeder district Lindop District 92 through during school and after school programs, as well as community-based events. The organization launched at Proviso East and West the week of March 27 and will be rolling out programs at Proviso Math and Science Academy in
May. Participating girls will be a part of mentoring sessions covering topics through Polished Pebbles’ core mentoring social and emotional learning programs, including learning how to build healthy relationships and friendships, how to present themselves on social media, and dressing for success. While newly launched in the area, the organization hopes to grow to include community members and partners, including hosting a male role model day to help young girls interact with positive, strong male role models who are in See PEBBLES on page 8