Mokena's Front Porch Podcast
Welcome to Mokena’s Front Porch – THE podcast for Mokena history and community!
Nestled in the heart of Chicagoland, Mokena began as a small farming community that flourished after the Rock Island train line arrived in 1852. Today, with a population of over 20,000, its rich past continues to shape its future.
Your hosts:
🔹 Matt – A lifelong Mokenian, local historian, and author of two books on Mokena history. His blog, Matt’s Old Mokena, serves as the foundation for many of our episodes, bringing forgotten stories of the village back to life.
🔹 Israel – A passionate storyteller who grew up hearing firsthand WWII accounts from his grandfathers. Since moving to Mokena in 2016, he has embraced its history, working through technical challenges as a first-time podcaster to bring this show to life. He’s a BIG fan of Mokena!
Join us as we explore the people, places, and moments that make Mokena special. Visit MokenasFrontPorch.com for more stories, updates, and ways to connect. You can also find us on social media!
Pull up a chair, get comfortable, and step back in time with us on Mokena’s Front Porch.
Episodes
70 episodes
Recapping The March 19th Mokena 159 School Board Meeting - The A.I. Front Porch
THIS EPISODE WAS CREATED USING A.I. SOFTWARE AND MAY INCLUDE FACTUAL ERRORS IN THE EPISODE. PLEASE BE SURE TO VERIFY QUESTIONABLE INFORMATION YOURSELF AS WELL. With the explosion of A.I. (artificial intelligence), there are new tool...
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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19:00
Kim Huelsman - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee
Kimberly Huelsman is a teacher at Sandburg High School in Orland Park. This is her first time running for elected office and she is running with the Mokena's Future slate.
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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46:19
Dan Gilbert - Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
Dan Gilbert teaches in Mokena 159 schools and is a Mokena Park District Commissioner. He is running with the Friends of Mokena slate, who's website is www.friendsofmokena.comGet to know Dan Gilbert and be sure to vote BY April 1st! Earl...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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52:09
Melissa Fedora - Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
Melissa Fedora is the Executive Director of the Mokena Chamber of Commerce and a current Village Trustee, running for her second term. She is running with the Friends of Mokena slate, who's website is www.friendsofmokena.comYou ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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1:35:35
Colleen Patrick-Lenart: Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
Colleen is a lifelong Mokenian and a sales professional. This is Colleen's first time running for elected office. She is running for the 2 year term. Get to know Colleen Patrick-Lenart and be sure to vote on April 1st! Early...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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32:47
James Roberts - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee
James Roberts is a retired, having spent his career running grocery stores. He ran for Village Trustee once before back in the early 90's. Get to know James Roberts and be sure to vote BY April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th! J...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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1:05:16
March 4th, 2025 Mokena's Future Meet & Greet
Tuesday, March 4th, the Mokena's Future slate hosted their 3rd meet and greet at Clancy Bros. Coffee. There next meet and greet will be Tuesday March 18th at Clancy Bros. Early voting starts March 17th and election day is April 1st...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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33:11
Nick Clancy - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee - 2 Year Term
Nick Clancy is a Mokena business owner, having started Clancy Bros. coffee in Mokena. This is Nick's first time running for elected office. Get to know Nick Clancy and be sure to vote on April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th!
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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46:19
Berk, Oliphant, Chavez, Petrey, Ryan: Summit Hill 161 School Board Candidates
The Summit Hill 161 School District, serving parts of Mokena, Frankfort, and Tinley Park, has been in the spotlight due to school closings, transportation challenges, and other key issues. With 10 candidates running for the school board, transp...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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1:21:11
George Metanias - Candidate For Mokena Mayor
George Metanias has been a Village Trustee since 2005 and is running for Mayor of Mokena for the first time. He is running with the "Friends of Mokena" slate with candidates for Trustee and Clerk. Learn more about Trustee Metanias and his plans...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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46:40
Frank Fleischer - Candidate for Mokena Mayor
Frank Fleischer has been the Village President of Mokena since 2013. He is running for re-election with a group of candidates as the "Mokena's Future" slate. Learn more about Mayor Fleischer and what his plans are for Mokena's Future.We ...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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46:45
Katie Carley - Mokena 159 School Board Candidate
Katie is a candidate for Mokena 159 Elementary School District. She has two children in 159 schools, holds a Masters Degree from Lewis University and works as a social worker. We talked about what she would bring to the school board and how she...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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47:17
Jim Andresen - Mokena 159 School Board Candidate
Jim and his wife, Jaymie, have lived in Mokena since 2007, raising their three children in District 159 schools. A Mokena native and graduate of Mokena Jr. High and Lincoln-Way, Jim earned his Communications degree from Eastern Illinois Univers...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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48:57
Assessor Joe Kral - Talking Tax Bills and Mokena Community
Frankfort Township Assessor Joe Kral is running unopposed in the April 1, 2025, consolidated election. In this episode, we get to know Joe, explore the role of the Assessor, and break down the property tax process—from how your home is valued t...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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49:23
Deadra Stokes - Candidate For Lincolnway 210 School Board
Deadra Stokes and her husband, Paul, have three daughters and live in Frankfort. Along with being a member of the Lincolnway 210 High School Board, she is an attorney, the Chief Commissioner of The Police and Fire Board for the Village of Frank...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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41:23
Aaron Janik - Candidate for Lincolnway 210 School Board
Aaron Janik is the current President of the Lincolnway 210 School Board. He lives in Mokena with his wife Molly and their three kids. He is running unopposed this election but still sat with me to talk about the school district and himself.&nbs...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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39:52
Mokena's Future Slate - Meet The Candidate Night 2/4/2025
This is was the first candidate meet and greet for the Village Board and Mayoral races. Mayor Frank Fleischer's "Mokena's Future" slate provided a spread of coffee, pastires and a chance to hear from their candidates.When I planned to a...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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23:10
Mokena 159 Teachers Association Endorsement - Talking With The Teachers
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 Te...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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16:52
Deputy Walter Fisher Remembered - Mokena Honors Their Fallen Officer
We are very excited to share this audio 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...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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1:04:23
Fundraisers & Filings - Local Election Update 2
It has been a busy couple of weeks, with fundraisers and petition filings! We hear from former Mokena Mayor, Mike Everett, and we find out who actually filed their petitions to run in the April 1st election! Be on the look out for our candidate...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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10:28
The Imagination Station - Mokena’s Wooden Playscape
The Imagination Station was more than a playground, it was a community effort that brought our entire Village together. For 27 years this wooden playscape was a staple for every Mokena kid. After years of weather as well as a lack of sufficient...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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1:32:08
A Day on The Farm With Eddie Yunker
This is the most in depth video recorded conversation with Eddie Yunker, the last owner of the historic McGovney-Yunker Farm, that is know of. Before Mr. Yunker passed away, he sold his farm to the
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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2:01:57
Mayor Frank and Laurie Fleischer
Since moving to Mokena in 1977, the Fleischer's have been an active part of the Mokena community. Mayor Fleischer and Mrs. Fleischer sat down with Israel and talked about their lives before Mokena, how they came to Mokena and they impact they h...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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1:26:27
2025 Mokena Municipal Elections -Ep. 1. Where We Stand
Since our Village was incorporated in 1880, it held elections to determine who the decision makers in town would be. The local elections for Village Mayor and Trustees, Village Clerk, School Boards, Park, Fire and Library boards, will be ...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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11:23