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RICHTON PARK, DON’T THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY. COME TO YOUR CENSUS AND BE COUNTED! LET’S GET YOUR FAIR $HARE. IT’S IN OUR HANDS.

At this very moment, governments large and small are forced to cut programs and crunch numbers just to make ends meet. A great many of us are forced to to come up with creative solutions as we struggle to ride the wave of the worst economical down spiral since the Great Depression. If you've been asked to take a day off without pay to keep your lob, you may be one of the lucky ones. Yes, you lose your pay for a day's work, but in the end you hold on to your livelihood by keeping your company moving forward. In this day and age, not everyone has that option. That's why participating in the census is so important!

As we approach the decennial census, let me remind you of what’s at stake. Some of the benefits received or lost resulting from your participation in the census include: funding for governments services that can pay for everything from jobs to police protection, grants for schools and healthcare programs, sewer systems and road maintenance and political representation in Congress. It is estimated that the Richton Park Community has lost approximately 5.25 million dollars in federal funding over a ten year period resulting from a 26 percent non-participation rate for the 2000 census. In today’s economy, the Richton Park community cannot afford to lose out on this funding resource rightfully owed to it. As so, it is critical that all citizens be counted in the upcoming census.

In 1790, the Nation's first census was taken to distribute federal funds along with the 435 seats in Congress fairly amongst the population. On this two-hundred and thirty-fourth year of the United States of America, the tradition of our forefathers to provide for us a land of freedom continues.

The U.S. Census Bureau will begin mailing the Census 2010 questionnaires to your homes in February. On behalf of the Richton Park Board of Trustees, we are asking all citizens to do their part by completing and mailing the census questionnaire the moment it arrives. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions and should only take a few minutes to complete. Let's hold on to our livelihoods. Census 2010 is in our hands. For more information about the 2010 census, please visit www.census.gov/2010census .

Rick Reinbold

Village President

GARBAGE PICK-UP
Garbage must be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of pick-up.