Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 17 hours ago
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LANSING, Ill. — At the April 7, 2026, regular meeting of the Lansing Village Board, Jim Kijewski took the mic during public comment and gave a short history of LARC, which is celebrating 70 years of serving citizens with developmental disabilities.
The acronym originally stood for Lansing Association for Retarded Citizens, and as language changed along with our understanding of developmental disabilities, the organization simply began referring to itself as LARC. Today they say the name is Lansing Association for Remarkable Citizens.
Jim Kijewski is 89 years old, and he remembers the compassion and commitment of Lansing residents who created a school for children whose needs weren't met by any existing systems. He fiercely told the board and the public that this was Lansing's greatest achievement.
Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Brian Hardy had made a proclamation observing LARC Day on April 17, 2026, the date of LARC's Annual Appreciation Dinner. That event is an opportunity for Lansing organizations to gather, sponsor, socialize, and celebrate 70 years of ensuring that special people have a special place in Lansing where they can serve and be served. The Lansing Journal is a sponsor of that event, and our staff and freelancers will be attending together. It's a reminder for us that LARC is part of our diverse community too, and we belong to them as much as anyone else.
0:00 - Mayor Brian Hardy makes a proclamation that April 17, 2026, shall be observed as LARC Day
2:04 - Jim Kijewski speaks during public comment
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Is there something specific you'd like us to make a video of? Email info@thelansingjournal.org to let us know.
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The questionable politics of Thornton Township Supervisors Tiffany Henyard and now Napoleon Harris brought new viewers and subscribers to our channel, and we appreciate their interest in our local politics. But most of the news that happens in Lansing and other parts of Thornton Township is much less dramatic, though just as important. The Lansing Journal serves a diverse community and offers a diverse range of news — stories that are often overlooked by larger media. If you are interested in what local news looks like, subscribe to The Lansing Journal:
• Our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
• Our Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: thelansingjournal.org/donate
Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community.
MISSION
The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible.
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
*Make sure you receive all the local news The Lansing Journal publishes, not just the videos! Subscribe to The Lansing Journal's Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
LANSING, Ill. — At the April 7, 2026, regular meeting of the Lansing Village Board, Jim Kijewski took the mic during public comment and gave a short history of LARC, which is celebrating 70 years of serving citizens with developmental disabilities.
The acronym originally stood for Lansing Association for Retarded Citizens, and as language changed along with our understanding of developmental disabilities, the organization simply began referring to itself as LARC. Today they say the name is Lansing Association for Remarkable Citizens.
Jim Kijewski is 89 years old, and he remembers the compassion and commitment of Lansing residents who created a school for children whose needs weren't met by any existing systems. He fiercely told the board and the public that this was Lansing's greatest achievement.
Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Brian Hardy had made a proclamation observing LARC Day on April 17, 2026, the date of LARC's Annual Appreciation Dinner. That event is an opportunity for Lansing organizations to gather, sponsor, socialize, and celebrate 70 years of ensuring that special people have a special place in Lansing where they can serve and be served. The Lansing Journal is a sponsor of that event, and our staff and freelancers will be attending together. It's a reminder for us that LARC is part of our diverse community too, and we belong to them as much as anyone else.
0:00 - Mayor Brian Hardy makes a proclamation that April 17, 2026, shall be observed as LARC Day
2:04 - Jim Kijewski speaks during public comment
=========
Is there something specific you'd like us to make a video of? Email info@thelansingjournal.org to let us know.
=========
The questionable politics of Thornton Township Supervisors Tiffany Henyard and now Napoleon Harris brought new viewers and subscribers to our channel, and we appreciate their interest in our local politics. But most of the news that happens in Lansing and other parts of Thornton Township is much less dramatic, though just as important. The Lansing Journal serves a diverse community and offers a diverse range of news — stories that are often overlooked by larger media. If you are interested in what local news looks like, subscribe to The Lansing Journal:
• Our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
• Our Daily News email: thelansingjournal.org/subscribe-from-youtube
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom, and we depend on support from viewers and readers in order to provide the journalism our community deserves. Visit the Donate page on our website to make a tax-deductible donation: thelansingjournal.org/donate
Every dollar goes directly into the journalism and helps support this local newspaper as we serve our community.
MISSION
The Lansing Journal is the only newspaper in Lansing, Illinois. Our mission is Building Community, and we fulfill that mission by keeping our diverse community informed and connected through local independent news that is freely accessible.
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/@lansingjournal?sub_confirmation=1
