Goodbye Homewood, it was nice knowing you. And I wouldn't trade any part of my childhood growing up there, as it was a beautiful piece of apple pie Americana. But you must now accept that your best days are behind you, as you have now officially joined the race to the bottom. The community has lost its luster over the past 20 years, you sold your soul for revenue...and paid the price when the long time families moved away. My mother has tried to hold on and stay in the home we grew up in, but honestly, the community has nothing to offer, and she too has finally decided to make her exodus. What happened, what of all the parks and family friendly organizations, the lively downtown? You have finally joined your surrounding communities in finding the lowest common denominator, and there you are. A mere shell, an outline of what you once were. Goodbye Homewood....thanks for the memories that I will always treasure. We'll miss you.

This is not going to turn Homewood into Pottersville; It will provide a couple of local business an economic opportunity and provide patrons something else to do. Underage gambling is not a problem as by definition there will not be underage patrons in taverns. This is not bible belt South Carolina; legal gambling opportunities already abound in the area.

"Lighten up" Anthony....if you don't like it here ..leave...no need to complain...pick up and go...I have lived in Homewood for 25 years and I still love it...I realize its changing...however so is EVERY community!!! Open your eyes...it drives me crazy when people don't like it here and whine about it...go ahead and go...but leave your comments to yourself!! I still live here and love it !! And it makes me laugh when I see people who used to live in Homewood still shopping in Walts!!! Again Anthony....I realize we may not be Mayberry anymore but I still love it...go ahead and go...see ya at Walts..... :)

OK, so we're not Mayberry anymore... Mt. Pilot isn't so bad. The store owners are right: They need this boost to survive... Homewood needs the boost to survive! I crtainly doubt that those who do not gamble now will not all of a sudden become video gambling addicts. Rather, those who gamble and leave town to do so will more likely stick around... I'm sticking around. I still love my Home Sweet Homewood, video gambling machines or no video gambling machines. And I will still frequent 5th Quarter, because they have great food, great prices, and great people!

"Ditto" Southside! I think this is a good think for Homewood Bars/Taverns and I plan to continue to support our establishments!

..oops! Meant to say, thing (not think)

Is anyone else here old enough to remember Washington Park Race Track. I think they were doing more than watching horses run in an oval. This is not new to Homewood.

Ok my kids are young and we frequent all the parks, are at the library right now watching a Magician, go to all the Starry Nights shows, Dog Days, Fall Fest, and dairy queen. I am also a Girl Scout troop leader, member of the PTA, member of the Friends of the library. And I'm an average representation of Homewood. I also have a Masters Degree as does my husband. So if you like to bash Homewood, go do it elsewhere, because you don't know what the hell you are talking about Anthony.

Anthony...no disrespect, but get a grip! You make it sound like Homewood is using eminent domain to make neighborhoods into dens of ilrepute! I love my neighborhood...my neighbors are cream of the crop and I seriously doubt the introduction of a couple video poker game will create a rush of for sale signs! I'm sorry your Mom feels this will make Homewood go to hell in a hand basket, but I think you are way over the top. If you were hoping for an academy award nomination, you got it dude.

Well whatever, my comments as well as my opinion are my own, and this happens to be an open forum and a place for me to express them. If you don't like that, then please, keep your comments to yourself. I didn't personally offend any one of you....but let me retort: my oh my aren't we a bit defensive about our crumbling piece of suburbia, there must be some truth to what I've said. Where is everywhere changing? The south suburbs mostly. H-F was once a nationally recognized high school..ala Hinsdale Central, New Trier, Lyons Township, etc. Open your eyes people! I moved away from Homewood just over 20 years ago, but have been back on a regular basis since, the changes you mentioned are abundantly evident. And my mom is moving for plenty of other reasons than the gambling ruling...like the taxes in Cook County! But cmon, admit it, you aren't even in the same class you used to be, do some research. Your not a LaGrange, or Downers or Naperville, you have closed up, abandoned storefronts and a crime problem....your now like a Chicago Heights, a Glenwood, a Hammond or Calumet.

Anthony,
It's quite disingenuous for you to say you're not personally offending anyone. Look at the reaction you have gotten -- you have personally offended many. Why? Because our community is part of our identity. We are proud of living here. You have chosen to move away -- so be it -- what is the point of criticizing the city in this forum if you moved away 20 years ago? Are you bitter because people in this city didn't treat you as you believe you deserve? Are you simply an angry person who likes stir up trouble? It doesn't much matter. You are free to state your opinion in this forum and others are free to tell you that your opinion stinks.

I haven't noticed, but don't some of these 'establishments' already have games that are similar to video gaming, but it's only for entertainment? I have seen some in other places, but haven't frequented the aforementioned places. I don't go to bars, unless it's to buy their food, so I am not a patron who has to worry about these things. Personally I am sad to see this happen, but hopefully the tide won't turn because of this action. On a different note, I think smoking should be allowed in bars, because many who frequent them do smoke, just put in a whole space filter system and everybody's happy. I don't go, so I shouldn't have a weighty opinion in the matter.

We have a long way to go before we hit the Chicago Hts level.

Goodbye lily white Homewood, it was nice knowing you. And I wouldn't trade any part living there, as it was a beautiful piece of lily white apple pie americana. But you must now accept that your lily white days are behind you, as you have now officially become a racially diverse neighborhood. The community has lost its whiteness over the past 20 years, you sold your soul for diversity...and paid the price when the long time original "Homewood" white families moved away. My mother has tried to hold on and stay in the home we grew up in, but honestly, the community is not that white anymore, and she too is moving. What happened, what of all the parks and family friendly organizations, the lively downtown? You have fimally joined your surrounding communities in becoming the least white, and there you are. A mere shell, an outline of what you once were. Goodbye Homewood...thanks for the memories that I will always treasure. We'll miss you...

this is an actual tranlation for the first post...

Get a grip Anthony. Was video gambling the last straw for your mother. I doubt it. There is so much available to everyone, especially seniors at the park district. I am not interested in gambling, but will continue to eat and support the Fifth Quarter. Take your anger somewhere else. Go back to your utopia and read your local patch and not ours!

Carolyn.....kinda hypocritical don't you think? Lottery is gambling. Why not give the money to those establishments in your own community. Support your local businesses. 5% of revenue from these machines can be used by the village for any purpose. It is legal and licensed by the state.

I wish I lived near Karen K. McHugh or Jennifer, they seem to be good neighbors, not like the neighbors in my section of Homewood. Homewood is going down with or without gambling plus no one is concerned about it changing in my area except me. There are more Section 8 rentals on my block then ever with inconsiderate renters having parties all the time with people leaving late at night making noise, along with other disturbances. Plus has anyone else noticed in Homewood there is this constant smell of burning yard waste & wood all the time, every day of the year, day or night, whether temperature is in the 90's or 70 out, it's as if I live near a dump, all the time this constant smell I can't believe Homewood allows this in the community with the high taxes we pay to live here. I can't believe that I have no right to clean air to breathe. It's a residential area not a campsite. We thought with the nice cooler weather we would be able to save some on our electric bills, to open our windows but we are forced to close them all the time due to people burning. I am starting to have breathing issues and now have to use an inhaler due to this burning, Homewood needs to address this issue, as people who don't burn should have rights, too.