Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast

01/30/2025

This past week I went out to my mailbox and found an endorsement mailer from the Mokena Teachers Association, proclaiming their support for the four incumbent board members. So I reached out to a couple of the representatives from the Mokena Teachers Association and they were kind enough to meet with me at the Mokena Library.

I ask them about the endorsement session and why they made the choice they did. A lot of times we just get these fliers in our mailbox without understanding who is sending it and what went into making the decision. I hope this gives us all a better understanding of who the MTA is and how they made their choice this election.

My interviews with the Mokena 159 School Board Candidates who chose to speak with me will be coming out soon, along with the Lincolnway 210 School Board Candidates, mayoral, village trustee candidates and more to follow!

April 1st are the municipal elections! Be sure to vote!

Israel
Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

Mokena Teachers Association

This past week I went out to my mailbox and found an endorsement mailer from the Mokena Teachers Association, proclaiming their support for the four incumben...

01/29/2025

Local elections matter!
In 62 days Mokena will have contested elections for Mayor, 2 year & 4 year Village trustee terms, and for Mokena 159 School District!

Did you know that these elections are typically decided by a couple hundred votes by only a couple thousand voters!

Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast is excited to be covering the election and bringing you the candidates!

We as voters should expect to hear more from our candidates. There are already candidate forums planned and we will begin releasing candidate interviews soon!

Be sure to vote April 1st!

Israel Smith
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/155sTCGF8N/?mibextid=wwXIfr

01/27/2025

On Christmas Day, 2022, Carol Norton passed away. Matt knew Carol and he asked if we could do a tribute episode about her and the significance of her family in the history of Mokena.
Fast forward to December of 2024, we get a call from the Marion Wilcox Corporation saying that they had a photo album of someone who lived in Mokena for a long time with some really cool old photos. They asked if we would be interested in it or if we knew of a local historical organization who would be. We got the box before Christmas and waited to open it until we were together last week!
Join us as we open this treasure box of photos from the McGovney and Hatch Family, two of Mokena's most well known names. We were so excited that they found us and that this history is returned to Mokena!

Israel & Matt
Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

Also, please be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

On Christmas Day, 2022, Carol Norton passed away. Matt knew Carol and he asked if we could do a tribute episode about her and the significance of her family ...

01/24/2025

Be sure to mark your calendar! Mokena PTA is putting on an event to get to know the candidates who are running. Any opportunity to ask the candidates questions is good so thank you PTA for providing the opportunity!

I’ll be there so be sure to say hello!
Israel
Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14eToFufTY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Attention Parents and Community Members. The MPTA has put together a casual meet and greet open to all those interested in meeting the candidates running for School Board.

ALL prospective and current board members have been invited to this event.

As a disclaimer, the MPTA does not designate any political affiliations, this is open to all candidates and voters.

01/19/2025

How many Mokena Sunday mornings started with milk poured from bottles milk bottles like these! It was a different world for sure!
Happy Sunday!

Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast
Israel @ Matt
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

01/15/2025

Have you seen Matt and Israel in your mailbox lately? 😂 We were honored to be included in the Village mailer and the we were interviewed for the local paper, that came out today!
We are proud to have gotten this recognition and we look forward to the permanent marker in downtown, telling Deputy Fishers story!
You can watch the episode talking about Deputy Fisher and the proclamation here: https://youtu.be/EZ4P5SGHaqE?si=SljRt7gtwyn4WJoD

01/09/2025

🚨New Episode Alert!🚨
This episode is very different than anything we have done before! Israel teamed up with Tommy D of Chicago Gangland History on Instagram, who shared with me that south Chicagland & NW Indiana crime boss, Dominic “Tootsie” Palermo, is buried in our very own, St. John's Cemetery.
Tommy and Israel take you on a tour of Tootie's past homes, and businesses as well as visit his final resting place, here in Mokena.
Learn about how his connection to the Spilotro brother's murders, from the movie Casino, put him away for the rest of his life, in a way never seen before with organized crime!
It was a lot of fun to do this with Tommy D, and I think you will learn something about the South Suburban organized crime organization as well as one of St. John’s Cemeteries most nefarious resident.
Be sure to check out Tommy's Instagram page

Enjoy!
Israel & Matt
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

This episode is very different than anything we have done before! Israel partnered up with Tommy D of Chicago Gangland History on Instagram, who shared with ...

12/16/2024

This Friday we went to the Curtain Call Theatre’s play, Every Christmas Story Ever Told, And Then Some! It has to be one of my favorite productions I’ve seen at Curtain Call! It was funny and full of some great music! The cast was spectacular! Even my 12 year old son really enjoyed this show! If you missed this one, be sure to check out upcoming plays!
Thanks Curtain Call!!
Israel Smith

12/15/2024

We are very excited to share the video from the Mokena Village proclamation remembering Deputy Walter Fisher, who was Mokena's only law enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty.

After the proclamation is the episode we did in March of 2023 about Deputy Fisher, over some beautiful Mokena scenery!

After 98 years we are proud to have been a part of making this recognition happen. There are also additional things in the works for a permanent recognition, telling some of his story, in downtown Mokena! You can read the proclamation on display at the Mokena Village Hall.

Enjoy!
Matt Galik & Israel Smith
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

We are very excited to share the video from the Mokena Village proclamation remembering Deputy Walter Fisher, who was Mokena's only law enforcement officer t...

12/13/2024

There are some great trees on Front Street!

12/10/2024

This year we were excited to be part of the Mokena Chamber of Commerce Front Street Tree Walk! This event really brightens up downtown with Santa and the Yeti on hand!
We had a great time being part of it this year and we hope you get a chance to enjoy some of these awesome trees!

Merry Christmas from Israel & Matt

For the 5th year, the of Commerce hosted it's Front Street Tree Walk on Saturday December 7th. This event brightens up downtown and brings fam...

12/09/2024

In 1926 Deputy Walter Fisher, a Front Street business owner and active community member, was killed in the line of duty. Matt Galik wrote his book, The Orland Park Murder Mystery, all about the murder and the incredible story around it! Tonight 12/9, Mayor Fleischer and the Village Board will recognize Deputy Fisher with a proclamation and a future permanent recognition, sharing his story, for our downtown. This is a small but significant moment and we are happy to see the Village recognizing this early community hero. Please join us at 7pm @ Mokena Village Hall or watch online.

11/28/2024

We hope you have a happy and memorable Thanksgiving! Last year we did an audio only episode talking about how Thanksgiving was finally recognized as a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln. You can also find the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Put it on with the family today and learn a little more about the holiday!

Have a great Thanksgiving!
Israel Smith & Matt Galik
Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2062368/open_sms) Matt and I (Israel) attended an event at The Mokena Library by Abraham Linc...

11/25/2024

Way to go kids!!! Awesome job raising money for such a great organization!! 🇺🇸 Honor Flight Chicago

Congratulations to MJHS students for raising over $3000 for Honor Flight!

11/25/2024

We had SO much fun this weekend walking in the Mokena Chamber of Commerce parade of lights! Check out our video from parade as well as the lighting of the Village Christmas tree!
This is such a great community event every year and we had so much fun being a part of it! We can’t wait till next year!
Israel & Matt

Mokena's Front Porch - Podcast

This year we participated in the Mokena Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights! It was a beautiful evening and a lot of people came out to bring in the holiday...

11/25/2024

Mokena Christmas tree lighting after the Mokena Chamber of Commerce parade of lights! 11/23/24.

11/24/2024

Mokena did not let us down tonight! What an amazing turnout for the Mokena Chamber of Commerce parade of lights! A beautiful night in downtown Mokena! Thanks to everyone that walked with us! It was great to hear so many fans during the parade! Thanks for the shout outs!
These events are what small town community is all about!
Israel Smith & Matt Galik
Mokena’s Front Porch Podcast