The Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Consolidated Election is for officials in the City of West Chicago, West Chicago Public Library District, West Chicago Elementary School District 33, Community High School District 94, and Benjamin School District 25. The first day of filing is Monday, December 14, and the last day is 5:00 p.m. Friday, December 18,2020. Persons till have time to pick up candidate packets and gather signatures.
The candidate election packets are available at the respective taxing body locations. School board candidates must either pick up packets at the DuPage County Election Commission, 421 North County Farm Road in Wheaton, or go the commission website http://www.dupageco.org/election to obtain the forms. Packets include information sheets, nominating petitions, statement of candidacy, loyalty oath (optional), and a statement of economic interest to be filed with the DuPage County Clerk. All candidates must be 18 years and older, a registered voter and a resident of the respective taxing body. The signatures required vary with offices and taxing bodies and are based on the number of ballots cast for the elected officials in the last election.
City of West Chicago positions open are Mayor, City Clerk and seven Aldermen. City Hall is open limited hours. Packets are available from 9:00 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at City Hall, 475 Main Street. For persons unable to come to City Hal during those hours can all City Clerk Nancy Smith at (630) 293-9250 to set up an appointment.
In the West Chicago Public Library District, there are three four-year terms and one unexpired 2-year term for the Board of Trustees. Nominating petition packets are available for curbside pickup, 118 West Washington Street. Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
In the West Chicago Park District there is one four-year unexpired term and one two-year unexpired term Packets are available from 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the ARC Center, 201 West National Street.
In West Chicago Elementary School District 33, there are three four-year seats and one two-year unexpired term open for the Board of Education. In Community High School District 94, there are four four-year positions and one two-year unexpired position open for the Board of Education. In Benjamin School District 25, there are four six-year terms open. (www.merleburl.com)
AROUND AND ABOUT
Benjamin-Evergreen PTA holds a Chef’s Night Out from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at McDonald’s, 1335 County Farm Road in Carol Stream. Since the drive-thru event is a fundraiser, patrons need to mention the event for the Benjamin-Evergreen PTA before ordering or present the flyer. (www.merleburl.cm)
Partnering together West Chicago Elementary School District 33, City of West Chicago, the Illinois Department of Public Health and DuPage County Health Department to host a free COVID-19 mobile testing unit from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2020, at Leman Middle School, 238 East Hazel Street. No appointment is necessary. However, if a person does have health insurance, an insurance card should be presented at the time of testing.
There is a designated route for the COVID-19 testing. The line starts for southbound Joliet Street and heads east into East Hazel Street. Road closures during the event include northbound Joliet Street from East Forest Avenue, to East Hazel Street, southbound Bishop Street from Brown Street to East Forest Avenue, and eastbound East Hazel Street to Bishop Street.
An ongoing site is the VNA COVID-19 Community Testing Center at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is free for those with no insurance. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Another site is the DuPage County Community COVID-19 unit at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, enter at County Complex, 421 North County Farm Road. Hours are from 7:00 a.m. to noon or until daily test capacity is reached. (www.merleburl.com)
The Finance Committee meeting of Thursday, December 24, 2020, is rescheduled to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2020.
West Chicago residents Mike Fortner and Becky Hall, members of Acappellago, perform in the choir’s first virtual concert at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2020, on its YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTySoXe5b0GoH3bhEBYWCWw. The choir performs three-holiday favorites. Acappellago, founded in 2002, is an A Cappella chamber choir performing in the western suburbs of Chicago. Acappellago’s special appearances include Chicago Composer’s Forum’s first John Cage’s “Musicircus” in September 2005, and singing the Star Spangled Banner for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bandits, Chicago Fire, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Steel, Kane County Cougars and Schaumburg Boomers. (www.merleburl.com)
Via Zoom, the West Chicago Public Library presents “Holiday Cooking with Chef Maddox” at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2020. She demonstrates how to make holiday canapés and is available for questions and answers afterwards. Registration is required at https://wcpld.info, under calendar. Chef Susan Maddox is former owner and chef at Le Titi de Paris, a French restaurant in Arlington Heights.
Prairie Landing Golf Club offers Holiday Dinner to go. In addition to the full menu, which serves six to eight people, an a la carte menu is available. To view menu, visit https://www.prairielanding.com/events/. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, December 16, 2020. For further information or to place an order, call (630) 208-7633 or email ebobsin@prairielanding.com.
Other holiday events at Prairie Landing include Dinner with Santa Friday, December 11, 2020 and Santa on the Go Saturday, December 12, 2020. Reservations are required for both. The to go dinner is homemade pizza and salad, plus there are gingerbread house kits. The second event involves meeting Santa, taking home a Holiday cookie and stocking decorating kits. Along with photos with Santa, hot cocoa and donuts are served. There are assigned pick up times to limit lines and crowds. (www.merleburl.xom)
West Chicago Park District is offering a gift to its residents, a free virtual Fitness Week. The dates are Saturday, December 12 through Thursday, December 17, 2020. Patrons log onto Zoom and use the meeting ID to join. The meeting password in FREEWEEK. Registration is not required. (www.merleburl.com)
There is a free Flu Vaccine Clinic from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2020, at Main Park Apartments, 813 Main Street. It is for ages 10 through 64. (www.merleburl.com)
The Learning Experience, 930 North Neltnor Boulevard, is hosting a Bubbles Holiday Drive-thru from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Participants receive Holiday goodies and the opportunity to enter into the holiday gift give away. (www.merleburl.com)
Working with We Go Together for Kids, United Metro of Chicago sponsors a Uniting for the Holiday event at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road. Here 500 families receive a holiday meal box including a frozen turkey and a small number of gifts for the children. The gifts depend on amount of items donated. Donations sought include sports equipment such as soccer balls, hair scrunchies, board games, stuffed animals and gift cards to Target, Walmart, Old Navy, Kohl’s or Home Goods.
Donations can be dropped off at St. Andrews Church during regular business hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday. If these hours are not convenient, leave the donations underneath the awning at the side door and someone will bring it in next time the building is open.
Healthy West Chicago hosts a virtual Cooking series, Healthy Holiday Baking, at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2020. The instructors demonstrate healthy family approved recipes. Attendees learn tips on eating healthy, saving time in the kitchen and involving youth in food preparation. Persons completing the survey receive a $10 gift card. To register visit https://forms.gle/FKwiKJadZHfWp8K67. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86375756581. (www.merleburl.com)
Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 West Hawthorne Lane, is having a drive-thru Pig Roast Parade from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020. Persons drive into the parking lot, place their order and it is delivered to the car. Menu is pulled pork sandwiches for $7, half chicken for $10, half slab ribs for $11 and full slab ribs for $16. Sides of 4 pieces of cornbread, country potatoes and coleslaw are $2.50 each. (www.merleburl.com)
West Chicago Public Library presents a Virtual Chair Yoga at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 21, 2020. Susan from Dancing Cranes Yoga is the instructor. The class is for adults, to register visit https://wcpld.info.
CORRECTION: The date of the West Chicago Park District hosts a virtual holiday event is from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020, not December 5, 2020. Watching from the comfort of their homes and wearing pajamas, participants can join Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves at the North Pole via Zoom. Children can spend time sharing their Christmas list with Santa, listening to Mrs. Claus read a holiday story and playing Christmas bingo, making a holiday ornament and singing a few carols with the elves. Bingo winners and prizes are mailed to winners. Parents/guardians should register each participating child. Parents need to pick up packets during regular business hours from Monday, December 14, through Friday, December 18. To register, visit.we-goarks.org, To register, visit.we-goarks.org,
Glen Arbor Community Church, 204 Church Street, Christmas-related worship services are at 10:00 a.m. through December 20, 2020, in-person or online. www.glenarbor.org. The topic is “The Greatest Gift Ever Given.” (www.merleburl.com)
Through a nightly Advent Devotional, St. Andrew Lutheran Church explores the Advent season, celebrates the twelve days of Christmas and the day of Epiphany. It takes place from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. through Wednesday, December 23, 2020, via Zoom. ( www.merleburl.com)
The Friends of the West Chicago City Museum’s 2020 Historic Landmark ornament of Lincoln School is now available. The price is $10. To order email wegoistory@gmail.com or online at tinyurl.com/fwccm20. Ornaments are delivered to those who live locally or they can be shipped. For further information, call (630) 231-3376. (www.merleburl.com)
West Chicago Fire Protection District promotes holiday decoration safety through the “Keep the Wreath Red” program. The wreaths are on display at all three stations, 200 Fremont Street, 1651 Atlantic Drive and 1800 Commerce Drive. Red bulbs on the wreaths are replaced with a white bulb if the cause of a fire is holiday-related. During the 30-plus years of participation in the program of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the wreaths have remained red most of the time. Precautionary measures for a live Christmas tree involve checking the water level on a regular basis and placing it and other greens away from a heat source, with the latter step also applying to artificial trees and greens. Locate candles in safe locations, away from window treatments and evergreens. NEVER leave candles unattended in a room; keep them out of reach of children and pets. With the use of battery-operated flickering tea candles and tapers, persons can have the warmth and festive aura in a safe manner. (www.merleburl.com)
West Chicago resident Daina Welsh is the owner of Gluten Free Baked by D. There is a pick up location in West Chicago. At this time, there is a promotion for a Christmas Cookie box, https://www.facebook.com/glutenfreebakedbyD/. (www.merleburl.com)
For the first time, Maggie Capettini, former educational director at West Chicago City Museum, is participating in the Palette & Chise’sl $300 or Less Sale, which continues until the end of the 2020 holiday season. She has seven paintings in the sale; two are “Rose and Company” and “Meadow Lake Pines.” The sale features works of Palette & Chisel members and students, and helps to fund renovation and repair of one of Chicago’s landmark buildings. (www.merleburl.com)
Bunker Hill Bar & Grill, 216 Main Street, is collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House. Items on the wish list include liquid laundry detergent; paper towels, c-fold or rolls, K-cups; draw string garbage bags, 4,13, 20, 55 gallon; cleaning supplies; Lysol wipes; scrubbing Bubbles; toilet bowl cleaners; Windex,;Soft Scrubs; all purpose cleaner; gift cards,;Target, Amazon, Home Depot, Costco, Sams Club, Walmart, Office Max, Bed, Bath and Beyond, CVS, Walgreens; individual wrapped snacks; and postage stamps. (www.merleburl.com)
Augustino’s Rock and Roll Deli & Grill, 300 East North Street, is selling aromatic candles that have some of the iconic aromas of the restaurant. They are Vinegar & Oil Dressing, Beef with Hot Peppers and Italian Sub. Two dollars from the sale of each candle is donated to People’s Resource Center in Wheaton. (www.merleburl.com)
Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 West Hawthorne Lane, holds its annual Stocking Charity Drive, Every year the business works with the West Chicago Police Department to make Christmas special for three deserving families in the community. Hawthorne’s provides the stockings and art supplies and patrons provide the creative artwork plus make a monetary donation. The owner Lou Kopinski matches the contributions, with the money used to purchase presents off the lists of the two families. (www.merleburl.com)
Remember to support the local businesses and eating establishments. This is always important, but, even more so this year because of COVID-19. (www.merleburl.com)
The DuPage County Health Department developed a dashboard to provide information on the total number of people, in DuPage County, who have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the dashboard includes a map which shows the distribution of reported cases by municipality and is updated at 4:00 p.m. daily. DuPage County’s “COVID-19 Dashboard” is a one-stop-shop for all the information it offers including a town-by-town breakdown of cases. As of 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 7, 2020, there were 2,5778 cases and 24 deaths; this is the number from the beginning of track recording It is important to remember to follow the social distancing order, wear masks and wash hands.
A COVID-19 testing site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in a VNA Health Care Mobile at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road. There is no charge. Appointments are required and may be made at (630) 892-4355 or (847) 717-6455. A medical assistant now is at the site.DuPage County offers free COVID-19 testing at the DuPage County Complex, 421 North County Farm Road. The sites open from 7:00 a.m., to noon Monday through Friday. Since it is a drive-thru testing site, individuals give themselves a nasal swab test with instructions from staff
To keep residents aware of community COVID-19 updates, the City has posted West Chicago’s COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER on its website, www.westchicago.org. It is located on the upper left-hand side in red. Clicking on this, residents can see the latest information.
Sincere sympathy is expressed to the family of Thomas E. Freund, who at the age of 69 passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2020.
Deepest sympathy to the family of James P. “Jimi” Kuziol, who at the age of 56 passed away Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Community Fellowship Church once again hosted the Christmas Store, which provides the opportunity for low-income families in the community to purchase gifts for their children in a dignifying manner and in a supportive environment. Local families receive a special invitation to the one-day Christmas Store, where they purchase gifts at a 75 percent off the retail price. The gifts are donations from individuals, businesses, organizations and families,
City of West Chicago held a Virtual Tree Lighting Saturday, December 5, 2020, in which the West Chicago Community A Capella choir performed. To view the video, visit the City’s website, www.westchicao.org. Kramer Tree Services once again did a great job in decorating the tree. The 30 snowmen adorning the tree were painted by residents in the community.
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.
