| A Message from the Mayor: More on the Mayor |
Welcome to the Village of Northfield. Winter is once again upon us, and the Village Service Department, in the capable hands of Jason Walters, has readied its equipment to handle Village plowing needs. Road patching work was completed in advance of the winter season, as was a major repair project behind the Plaza. My largest undertaking since taking office has been the marketing of the Village to business and developers such as Michael Francus of the Northfield Village Retirement Community, Michael Bass of HY-KO Products and Larry Shafron of Plaza Management. Other new businesses are Spennato's Italian Restaurant, a refurbished Sunoco service station on Northfield Road, Circle K, and a new karate studio at the site of the former Burger King. Mixer's will soon reopen as Scorcher's, and the license bureau is moving into the Village shortly. Plans are in the works to fill the former Gabriels Brothers space with a new anchor tenant. The rebuilding of Beach, Birch and Electric is the latest in a series of more than ten road reconstruction projects completed during my administration. Other completed infrastructure projects include Houghton Road; the Victory and North Plaza sewer projects; Vincent, Fell, Vorderman, Lowrie and James Place rebuilding and resurfacing; Electric Blvd. emergency repairs; the Chestnut and Rosewood Project; and the improvement of Huntington and Smith Parks. Our Fire Department, headed by Chief Gary Vojtush, has become a viable entity, housed in a new $600,000 facility, and at long last, I am proud to announce that a dream I've held dear since taking office as Mayor in 1999 has become reality. As of Monday, February 4, 2008, the Northfield Village Fire Department serves residents as a full-time, 24/7 operation. This is the advent of a new era for the Department, which has risen dramatically from the ashes of being dismantled in 1999. The Department's evolution to a full-time entity will enable it to satisfy a growing need for expanded coverage. The recent addition of ten new firefighters, a new ambulance and new state-of-the-art equipment will ensure that residents receive timely and professional service. I congratulate the Northfield Village Fire Department on this momentous occasion. Special thanks go out to former Fire Chief John Lowey, whose vision, professionalism and determination are in large part responsible for making the Department what it is today. Thanks also to current Chief Gary Vojtush and Captain Jason Buss, who have been instrumental in the recent revitalization of the Department. Last but certainly not least, I want to thank longtime Fire Lieutenant Frank Guffin for his efforts, as well as Council members Beatrice Greenlee and Linda Bowen, both of whom have championed the cause of a full-time Fire Department throughout their tenure on Council. The promises I made in 1999 have come to fruition, and the Village is currently the most prosperous it has ever been. Accountability, stability, and reliability have made the difference, and will continue to lead the Village to a prosperous future. Victor F. Milani, Mayor |