City of West Chicago, Illinois

Where History and Progress Meet

At Home with Merle Burleigh – January 25, 2023

By

At Home with Merle

MERLE’S CORNER

When stuck in the doldrums of winter, many people take advantage of this to become organized. The project begins at a quick pace. Items are categorized, so much is arranged logically. However, later when one tries to find something, it seems to be missing. All this organization has created “safe places” and that guarantees it will not be found for a long time, if ever.

 

AROUND AND ABOUT

 

  • “Quick and Easy Decorating: Use What You Have” is the West Chicago Public Library program at 7 p.m.Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in the main meeting room. 118 W. Washington St. It is a fun and fast-paced workshop on quick and easy decorations with existing Julea Joseph teaches the rules for decoration, using color, corralling collections and re-purposing old things. Along with insight on favorite hidden haunts, attendees learn how to make smart purchases. To make a reservation, visit https://wcpld.info/, under calendar.

Staging and styling homes since 1999, Julea's work has been featured in print, along with HGTV, ABC, WGN and local cable.  Clientele centered, lifestyle focused, creative and innovative ideas are the backbone of her company, Reinventing Space. To view more about the company, visit https://www.julea.com/.

  • West Chicago Garden Club meeting, which is open to the public, is Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road. Social time is at 6:45 p.m., short business meeting is at 7 p.m. and program, “Landscaping with Native Plants” is at 7:15 p.m. Eileen Davis, Environmental Educator, Lake County Forest Preserves, discusses the benefits of designing native habitats such as butterfly gardens and rain gardens. Topics include native plant selection, identification habitat requirements and maintenance. Davis has cultivated native plants in her garden for more than 20 years. (https://merleburl.com)

 

  • Union Pacific is doing needed railroad repairs at the crossing on Winfield Road, starting 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, and ending by 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. This repair requires the closure of the crossing for both northbound and southbound traffic for the duration of the repair. The detour route uses High Lake, Jewell, County Farm and Manchester roads for thru traffic.

 

  • We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center, 1055 W. Washington St., holds its Third Annual Seed Swap from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. Persons can bring in extra seeds they are not using and exchange them for a different variety of seeds available at the greenhouse. The greenhouse has four tables set up for different categories of seeds. For persons just getting started and not having seeds to exchange, they can receive one seed package for $5 or five seed packages for $20. Each seed packet comes with basic instructions on how to sow. Kits available are annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables. For further information, call the greenhouse at (630) 293-0100.

 

  • The greenhouse mission is to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and to train and work in a supportive, safe and caring environment while producing and providing products and services to the community. In this pursuit, we honor the concepts of human dignity, respect, hard work, fellowship and friendship.

 

  • A Cartonera workshop takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St.Using recycled cardboard and paint, artist and educator Fiorella Gomez demonstrates how to make artisan journals/sketchbooks . The workshop is inspired by the Cartonera Movement, a social, political and artistic publishing movement of Argentina. Cartonera books are inexpensive books made with cardboard covers and photocopied texts and were originally a by-product of the Cartonero movement in Argentina, when people in Argentina ,due to the 2001 economic collapse, started to collect and sell cardboard. The idea of using cardboard to create covers for books began with the writer Washington Cucurto, who set up the Eloisa Cartonera co-operative to produce art books from waste.(https://merleburl.com)

 

  • West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St., holds an Excel computer class at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in the conference room. Topics include layout and basic functions, entering and editing data, using multiple spreadsheets in the same workbook, formatting and sorting data and understanding formulas. To register, visit https://wcpld.info/, under calendar. (https://merleburl.com)

 

  • “Portraiture by Margaret Buchholz” is the exhibit at Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St., for the month of February. The artist’s reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. She has been interested in drawing and painting since a child raised in Japan. When she was nine, her family moved to Kailua, Hawaii, “ where I took art classes plein aire and then majored in Drawing and Painting and received a B.F.A. from University of Hawaii.”

When she was working full time as an administrative assistant, Buchholz painted portraits of family members of co-workers. She took vacations at week-long artist retreats at Door County and Dillman’s Resort in Wisconsin. While volunteering for the after school art program for People’s Resource Center, she heard DuPage Art League was looking for children’s art teachers. She currently teaches pencil, acrylics and water color at DuPage Art League, Addison and Streamwood park districts. (https://merleburl.com)

  • Winfield Township partners with Wayne Township to give Winfield Township seniors the opportunity to join the Wayne Township Senior Center. The Senior Center Open house is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 2 and 3, 2023, at Wayne Township, 27W031 North Ave. This is the time seniors can sign up for the program at no cost. Some of the many activities offered include exercise programs, socializing hours, knitting, book club, dancing, May Jong, Pinochle, trivia and trips. For further information, call Nicole Prater, Winfield Township Supervisor, at 630-231-3591. (https://merleburl.com)

 

  • West Chicago Community High School Dance Team hosts a Dance Clinic Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, at the high school, 326 Joliet St., Entrance C. The time for five to eight year olds is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and for nine to 14 year olds is from noon to 2:30 p.m. Activities include basic skills practice, learn a routine, team games and a half time performance. The performance is at 7 p.m. during the Varsity Basketball game, Friday, Feb. 10. The charge is $30 and includes a t-shirt. To register, visit https://westchicago.8to18.com/dashboard/catalog. For further information email the coach at kmchale@D94.org. (https://merleburl.com)

 

  • Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane, hosts its Thirteenth Annual Turkey Bowl Charity Event Fundraiser at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. The charity again this year is for Tessa Dante, a three-year old girl undergoing treatment of Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, which is a rare and aggressive form of pediatric cancer. Tessa has been undergoing treatment since early 2021. She is winning her Fight Against Cancer, but sadly her great uncle, Joseph V. Gapastione, who had cancer, passed away Monday, Jan. 9. Now her Aunt Christina is facing their own wars against cancer and needs help.

The parking lot is transformed into a bowling alley and participants bowl with frozen turkeys. There are many prizes, give away items and a 50/50 raffle. The charge is $80 per four-person teams. Pre-registration is required. Teams must register at the bar or see a manager. The event is limited to 100 teams. For individuals not on a team, this is a fun event to watch and cheer on your favorite team. For further information call (630) 293-6700.

 

  • “Saying Yes to Your Story: A Conversation with Kwame Alexander,” is the West Chicago Public Library virtual program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.The best-selling and award-winning children’s and young adult author and poet shares ways to say yes to one’s story and persist in the face of rejection as he tells his own publishing journey. To register, visit https://wcpld.info/, under calendar. Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times Bestselling author of 36 books, including “Swing,” “Becoming Muhammad Ali,” co-authored with James Patterson, “Rebound,”“The Undefeated, ” “The Crossover” and “The Door of No Return.” (https://merleburl.com)

 

  • College of DuPage offers English as a Second Language and Citizenship classes at West Chicago Community High School, 326 Joliet Street. Approximately 30 percent of tuition is federally funded under WIA Title II. ESL testing dates at the high school are at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, and Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2023. Classes are 6:30 to 9:50 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Classes begin Monday,March 1. Citizenship testing dates are at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, and Thursday, Feb. 23. Classes meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes begin Tuesday, Feb. 28. (https://merleburl.com)

 

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

 

  • Some of the local eating establishments are having special Valentine’s Day meals.

 

  • After two years of not having its big fundraiser event, We Grow Greenhouse & Garden Center hosts its 16th Annual Bowl-A-Thon Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (https://merleburl.com)

 

COVID-19

 

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 Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, there were 11,457 cases and 67 deaths; this is the number from the beginning of track recording.

 

REMEMBRANCES

 

  • Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Leticia Flores-Chavez, who at the age of 50 passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

 

  • Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Alexander Richard "Alex" Kochick, who at the, age of 71 passed away Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.

 

  • Sincere sympathy is expressed to the family of Joseph V. Gapastione, who sat the age of 69 passed away Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2021.

 

SCHOOLS

 

  • Jack Riconosciuto, a senior at West Chicago Community High School, is the Student of the Month for December. He was selected for his academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.

He has been on the High Honor Roll every semester, earning a cumulative weighted grade point average of 5.541. He is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Music Honor Society, an Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Blue Ribbon for Math and a U.S. Representative Sean Casten STEM Scholar.

Riconosciuto is a Drum Major for Marching Band, Vice President of Student Council an active member of WeGo Global, Interact Club and Book Club. He is also a Student Ambassador and the Team Captain for both Math Team and Robotics Team. Outside of school, he volunteers as a Robotics Summer Camp Leader, WeGo Frosty Fest and an Election Judge. He also works as an Instructor for Mathnasium, helping kids of all ages solve math problems from multiple different directions.

After graduation, Riconosciuto plans to attend Northwestern University. His major is undecided, but most likely will pursue something that involves problem solving. (https://merleburl.com)

 

  • Officers of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America West Chicago Community High School are Nathaniel Bove, Aleiandra Duran, Ayleen Mondragon, Margaret Pilon and Alyssa Schliephake.

 

  • The Department of Partnerships of We Go Together for Kids, appreciated West Chicago Elementary School District 33 staff, community members and local organizations, including the West Chicago Parks Foundation, for the generous donations of gift cards as their response to the Dec, 13, 2022, fire at the Main Park Apartments that caused 24 families to be displaced. The  Elementary Teachers’ Association of  West Chicago contributed $4,000 in gift cards, making the total  donation amount of almost $8,000 in gift cards. Persons wanting to  provide support to those impacted by the fire, can donate or share this link for electronic donations through WeGo Together for Kids.

 

  • It is the spirit that counts. At a recent Upper Eight-wide conference at Elgin High School, the music accompanying the West Chicago Community High School Cheerleader team’s routine suddenly stopped. The audience collectively groaned, but the cheerleaders continued their performance as if the music was still blaring. The moment became more special as opposing teams, parents and coaches began a four-count rhyme chant to help West Chicago”s team lock into a beat. The music failed twice more during their performance and the crowd continued to chant louder helping to will West Chicago through a seamless performance. NBC reported this event. ( https://merleburl.com)

 

  • There are some changes coming to Pioneer School over the next two years. There has been a decrease in the number of kindergarten through fifth grade students attending Pioneer School and, in some cases, resulting in classrooms being closed and students moved to other schools. In addition to the decline in student enrollment at Pioneer, the district administration has been exploring options to create space for Early childhood Education preschool, that currently is housed in three different locations.

At the Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, West Chicago Elementary School District 33 Board of Education meeting, the administration made the recommendation to transition the preschool programs to Pioneer School over the next two years.This creates the necessity to permanently transition current Pioneer School students to other schools in the District. In the fall of the 2023/23 school year, Pioneer School kindergarten students will be enrolled at other schools in the district ; transportation will be provided for these students. The remaining first through fifth grade students continue at Pioneer. Preschool  classrooms currently housed at Trinity and Winfield move into Pioneer. Early Learning Center classrooms remain at the current location..

In the fall pf the 2024/25 school year, Pioneer School becomes the Pioneer Early Childhood Education Center and houses all students in the preschool program. Transportation is provided for preschool students not within walking distance of the school. All remaining Pioneer School students in grades 1 to 5 are enrolled at their designated school; siblings are enrolled at same school. Transportation is provided

CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS

 

  • Officers of the West Chicago Garden Club are Dan Beebe, president; Janet Frogner, vice president; Kerry Perry, treasurer; and Patti Zaputil, secretary. Other board and committee members are Lisa Marie Vogt and Ruth Gauss, publicity directors; Pamela Darrah, information director; Ruth Kyme, program director; Christina Covarrubias, member services director; Marilyn McNabb, director at large; Mary Schramer and Dan Beebe, Plant Sale Chair: and Billie Childress, Kruse Garden Chair.

 

  • The Kitchen Table taught members of Girls of Today/ Leaders of Tomorrow how to make cinnamon rolls. It was a fun and delicious experience for all, instructors and students. (https://merleburl.com)

 

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • West Chicago resident Kathy Steere and her fiber artist friend, Roz DeBoer, have an exhibit “Connections ” at the Wheaton Public Library. 225 N. Cross St.. It takes place from Thursday, Feb. 2, through Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. Meet the Artists is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2 and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.

 

  • Bruce and Karen Carlson celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.

 

  • West Chicago Police Chief Colin Fleury administered the oath of office to Ryan Perry at his promotion to Sergeant Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Perry joined the West Chicago Police Department in 1997, holding many roles and taking on many responsibilities. These include officer in charge, evidence technician, Emergency Vehicle Operator Course trainer and field training officer. He is heading the midnight shift. ( https://merleburl.com)

 

My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.