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At Home with Merle Burleigh – March 19, 2025

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At Home with Merle

MERLE’S CORNER

The weather certainly has been March-like, sometimes a lamb, sometimes a lion. The signs of spring are starting to make themselves seen. The white snowbuds appear, even when snow is on the ground, welcoming spring. Daffodils are starting to push their way up to greet the sun, bringing forth a feeling of happiness. The Star of Bethlehem plants , though small, stand out (at my house, they were a vivid blue) and crocus are not far behind. Gardens are coming alive with a symphony of their own.

AROUND AND ABOUT

  • The West Chicago Public Library Gettin’ Crafty program, “Intro to Embroidery” is at 7 p.m.Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month. With a spring plant design, patrons, either new comers to the craft or seasoned stitchers, use an embroidery kit, which is supplied. To get everyone started, beginning embroidery skills are demonstrated and then participants take the kit home to finish. https://merleburl.com
  • West Chicago City Museum presents the Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, at 1 p.m.Thursday, March 20, 2025, in the Museum, 132 Main St. The book is “The Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes:Tragedies and Legacies from the Inland Seas ”by Anna Lardinois. To get a copy of the book or for further information, visit Friends of West Chicago City Museum website, com or call 630 231-3376. It is not necessary to read the book to attend.
  • WeGo Boosters Club hosts its annual Spaghetti Dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025, in the Commons oat West Chicago Community High School, 326 Joliet St., Entrance H. The $8 charge includes spaghetti, salad and dessert. Tickets are available at the door. The meal is for dine-in or takeout. .Also there are raffle baskets. Proceeds benefit WCCHS athletics and clubs.
  • Through Illinois Libraries Present, the West Chicago Public Library presents via Zoom the special program “The Story of Movement ” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 21, through Sunday, March 23, 2025. To register, visit https://bit.ly/ILP_9to5. The award-winning documentary highlights the creation of the 9to5 movement, established to fight for workplace equity and against wage discrepancy. In the early 1970s, secretaries in Boston decided to fight against humiliating, harassing and illegal work environments. Their movement became national. It was the basis for the movie “9 to 5,” starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin. Director Julia Reichert was an Academy Award and Emmy Award winning documentarian. https://merleburl.com
  • West Chicago Rotary Club and West Chicago Lions Club host their annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 23, 2025, in the Commons at West Chicago Community High School, 326 Joliet St., Entrance H. The ticket charge for the fundraiser is $8, $6 for seniors citizens-65 and older and children ages 3 to 12, no charge for children age two and under. Other activities include entertainment by The Ballet Folklorico D33, raffles and free vision and hearing testing by the Lions Club Mobile Screening Unit.
  • West Chicago Public Library offers a Microsoft Excel computer class at 1noon Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in the conference room, 118 W. Washington St. Topics covered include layout and basic functions; entering and editing data; using multiple spreadsheets in the same workbook; formatting and sorting data; writing and understanding formulas. To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month/.
  • Healthy West Chicago and West Chicago Public Library host a cooking demonstration, “Making Recipes Work for You: Mediterranean Dips,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2025. In the main meeting room 118 W. Washington Chef Maria demonstrates how to make these health and nutritious dips. To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month. For further information, email Natalia Serrano at  Natalia@healthywestchicago.org. https://merleburl.com
  • West Chicago Garden Club meets Thursday, March 27, 2025, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road. Social time is at 6:45 p.m., short business meeting at 7 p.m. and program at 7:15 p.m. Presenting the program, “150 Ways to Create a Fantastic Yard Tailored by You,” is Amanda Thomsen.

Thomsen Thomsen is a horticulturist, garden designer, keynote speaker, freelance writer, backyard consultant, and author living in suburban Chicago.“She has been working as a professional horticulturist, landscape designer and project manager for the last 20 plus years. Her focus is bringing rule-breaking fun, a little kitsch and a lot of humor into an industry that is often thought of as stodgy and full of rules. She speaks and gives classes at all-sized events throughout the United States.” https://merleburl.com

  • West Chicago Park District hosts a Mayslake Peabody Estate Tour Thursday, April 24, 2025. Scheduled hours are 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The charge is $20, which includes tour and transportation. Attendees purchase lunch at a local restaurant. Registration deadline is Tuesday, April 1. To make a registration, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/adult-programs. The estate has stairs, no elevators. Mayslake Hall was built between 1919 and 1921 as the retirement home for Francis Stuyvesant Peabody, one of the nation’s largest coal producers. Today, Mayslake Hall, with its rural setting and formality, stands as a rare reminder of the magnificent country houses that once graced the landscape of DuPage County.
  • West Chicago Park District hosts its Disc Golf Tournament from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Kress Creek Farms, 30W150 Wilson Road. For a team of two, the charge is $40 for residents, $45 for non-residents, which includes two Frisbee discs for participants to use and take home. To register, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/athletics. Registration ends Sunday, April 13. Game play is nine holes, shotgun start, and best disc. https://merleburl.com

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

  • Wing Snob, 200 W. North Ave., hosts its Grand Opening Saturday, March 22, 2025. The all day event is from 11 a.m. to midnight.Activities include raffles, wings and activities. Telephone number is 630-473-0082. https://merleburl.com
  • Todd Kramer, President of Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc., taught Crane Assisted Tree Removal at the 62nd Annual Shade Tree Short Course in Bethel University located in Arden Hills, Minnesota. https://merleburl.com

REMEMBRANCES

  • Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Guadalupe Perez, who at the age of 84 passed away Sunday, March 9, 2025.
  • Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of William Henry Zimmerman, who at the age of 94 passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
  • Sincere is extended to the family of Randy Lee Price, who at the age of 68 passed away Monday, March10, 2025.
  • Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Wade Lederman, who passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
  • Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Carolyn Mae Lukens, who at the age of 93 passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
  • Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Cynthia (Given) Fitzgerald, who at the age of 78 passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
  • Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Thomas Andrew Denniger, who at the age of 67 passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

SCHOOLS

  • The eighth grade choir and Mariachi los Rayos at Leman Middle School recently performed at the five elementary schools. In West Chicago The special tours introduced fifth graders to the music opportunities available at LMS. https://merleburl.com
  • Wheaton Academy students competed in the Illinois State DECA Competition. They participated in business tests and multiple business role plays, growing in their knowledge of the field and their creativity, organization, communication, and presentation skills. Attending were Janet Dragan, Jennifer Zhang, Layla Iverson, Nick Amato, Jack Michaud, James Ke, Aaron Romans, Ruth Yang, Alex Schuldt, Luke Pennings, Josie Schuldt, Everett Masterson, Jackson Skopek and Brandon Segovia. https://merleburl.com
  • The West Chicago Community High School and the League of Women Voters of Wheaton hosted a Board of Education Candidate Forum Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Taking the lead, the students from American Government crafted insightful questions and moderated a discussion bringing real-world civic engagement into the classroom. There are four position open on the board. Four of the five candidates participated. They were Catalina Chavez, Rich A. Nagel, Katherine M. Doremus and Gary R. Saake. Due to illness, Tammie Murphy was unable to attend.The candidates in attendance shared their perspectives on key issued that impact the high school community. To view the full recording of the forum, visit https://www.d94.org/boardofeducation/elections/forum or the LWVW website, https://my.lwv.org/illinois/wheaton/calendar/meet-greet. https://merleburl.com
  • Students from West Chicago Community High School participated in the annual Upstate Eight Art Exhibit in the Gail Borden Library at Elgin. More than 100 students from the Upstate 8 Conference participated in ten categories, which included Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture/Jewelry, Traditional Photography, Digital Photography, Mixed Media/Printmaking, Digital Illustration, Digital Art/Graphic Design, and Time Arts. The exhibit is at the library through the end of March. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Three WCCHS students went to the exhibit for two workshops by area artists, viewed the artwork and attended the awards ceremony. The students taking part in the exhibit received recognition from the judges. In the category of Drawing was Kezziah DePaz,Third Place winner. Participating in Digital Photography were Fernessa Reyes ,Third Place winner; Logan Reed and Julianna Reid. In Painting were Kim Nguyen ,Honorable Mention, and Jennifer Escobedo, Ceramic category participants were Susana Correa, Second Place winner; Jessica Martinez Garcia, Third Place winner; and Nicolette Bellosa. Chester Barrera participated in the Mixed Media category. https://merleburl.com

CHURCHES

  • Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road, hosts Everyday Hero from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 5, 2025. Participants learn CPR AED and Narcon Training. The class is in English and Spanish. The free training includes basic life support skills, practice hands-only CPR, how to use an automated defibrillator, and Narcan and overdose education. To make a reservation call Pastor Alex modern at 847 912-2029 or email pastoralex@st.andrewlutheranlutheran.net. https://merleburl.com

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS

  • Former West Chicago resident and author of “Secret Lives” Susan Wells is one of the 35 plus local authors participating in the Book Fair & Brew event from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 23 in Batavia. The event takes place in two locations, Sturdy Shelter Brewing and Hearth and Hammer, which are in walking distance of each other,-a three-minute walk. Beer is served at both. Wells is at Hearth & Hammer, 160 First St., .a brick & mortar general store, literary candle studio and workshop and community space. Its candle scents are inspired by literature. Sturdy Shelter Brewing, 10 S. Shumway Ave., is located by the Fox River and serves a wide variety of highly crafted beers in its taproom.
  • West Chicago resident Louise Handel, a member of Voices of Hope Community Chorus, performs in the concert,“I’ll Fly Away: Music that Will Transport Your Spirit!” There are two performances. One takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St. The other is at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for survivors and students 17 and under, and $22 per person for groups of 10 or more. To order tickets, visit https://www.ticketleap.events/.../voices-of-hope... Music ranges from country and gospel to Broadway and contemporary pop, featuring some of the finest choral writers and arrangers.The Voices of Hope Community Chorus is a musical community for breast cancer survivorship and those who've been affected by by breast cancer. com
  • “The Prank,” a short story by former West Chicago resident Susan Wells, is published in the 2025 Spring issue of The Persimmon Tree, an on-line journal for women writers over sixty. The editor wrote, “We’ve read the story with great interest and admiration for its Hitchcock-like elements and tension.” I just finished reading and agree with the editor’s remarks. Her short story is in the fiction category. Other categories include non-fiction, creative life, poetry, art, music short takes and Persimmon Tree forum. To read “The Prank” and other entries, visit https://persimmontree.org/.

CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS

  • Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St., offers 2025 Spring art classes. To view the classes and to register, visit https://www.gallery200.net/art-classes. Also there are brochures at the gallery. Classes are beginner friendly, intermediate and advanced artists are welcome. For further information, call 630 639-2599.

The abstract Postcards & Bookmarks class is for person age 16 and over. Wednesday classes are at 1 p.m. April 2, May 21 and June 4. Saturday classes are at 3 p.m. April 12, May 24 and June 14. The lass is taught by Patty D. and the charge is $15. Attendees learn how to create a vibrant abstract panting on a master sheet and transform it into one-of-a-kind postcards and bookmarks. It explores techniques like blending colors, adding textures, and incorporating collage elements.

Beginner Drawing classes are for persons age 18 and over. They take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday beginning April 3 and ending June 26. The charge is $27 per student, per class. The instructor is Igilka G.

Intro to Watercolor, Materials & Techniques take place from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, starting April 3 and ending June 26. The class , taught by Iglika G., is for pets 18 and older. The charge is $35 per student, per class. It an introduction to watercolor materials and techniques, with emphasis on pigments and color theory.

Beginner Crocheting / Potholder classes are at 1p.m. Sundays. For youths ages 9 to 13, the dates are April 6, May 5, and June 8. The classes for persons18 and over, the dates are April 13, May 18 and June 22. The charge for each student is $14.This is a 60 minute beginner crocheting class. Persons crochet a potholder. Colorful yarn is included in the cost of the class. Crochet hooks are available to borrow, or yattendees may purchase ytheir  own size H/5.0mm at any craft store. Heidi K. Is the teacher. merleburl.com

CITY OF WEST CHICAGO

  • The City free leaf pickup takes place during the week of Monday, March 31 through Friday, April 11, 2025, on regularly scheduled garbage pick up days. Leaves must be in “Kraft” bags. Stickers are not required. No other yard waste is to be mixed with the leaves.
  • Yard waste collection begins Monday, March 31,2025, continuing through November on regularly scheduled garbage pick up days. It must be placed in a “Kraft” yard waste bag or in 95-gallon yard waste cart with a Universal sticker attached. Bulky items such as branches or brush must be securely tied and bundled, with branches no wider than 3 inches in diameter.W
  • In partnership with the Conservation Foundation, the City of West Chicago participates in the 2025 Rain Barrel Program. The program allows resident the opportunity to purchase rain barrels at a discounted price.The cost is $59.50 for a 50 gallon barrel and $91.50 for a 55 gallon overflow barrel. To order, visit UpCycle Products website, https://upcycle-products.com/il-programs/wchi/. Mail-in orders for rain barrels are accepted through Thursday, May 29, and online orders are accepted through Monday, June 2. Rain barrels can be picked up on Saturday, June 7, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Metra Station Parking Lot, 508 Main St.
  • West Chicago City Museum started a new series, “Museum Monday.” The March 19, 2025, series highlights the Education Department. From school programs to community workshops, their work embodies the museum’s mission to educate and connect.

They put together school programs and field trips, offer workshops and classes, community outreach with local organizations and community groups, organize events that attract visitors and encourage them to engage with the museum in unique way, whether it is for a seasonal celebration or lecture series. The Museum has a separate education collection of artifacts and reproduction items. There are more than 1,000 items that are touchable. For further information, visit https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheWestChicagoCityMuseum/. https://merleburl.com

  • West Chicago City Museum, 132 Main St., is now open from 9:30 a.m. to3:30 p.m. Other hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WEST CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT 

  • Illinois LETR 55-50 Raffle runs through Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025 and benefits Special Olympics Illinois. Ticket price is $10 for 5 tickets,$25 for 25 tickets. $50 for 100 tickets, $100 for 300 tickets and $200 for 2,000 tickets. To purchase tickets, visit https://illinoisletr5050.com/.The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police “proudly endorses the Illinois LETR 50/50 Raffle, benefiting the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics!… Every ticket sold helps support inclusion, empowerment, and opportunities.” https://merleburl.com 

WEST CHICAGO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 

  • Firefighter/paramedic Nick Bulleri celebrates his 10 year work anniversary with the West Chicago Fire Protection District. His badge number is 70. https://merleburl.com

ODDS AND ENDS 

  • The American Red Cross is coming to West Chicago as part of its “Sound the Alarm, Save a Life” program. Their volunteers, firemen and other partners are installing free smoke detectors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Saturday, March 29, 2025. These installations are by appointment only. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/WestChicagoAlarms. For assistance call 312 890-2790. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death from home fires in half.
  • The Consolidated Election takes place Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The election is for elected officials of cities, libraries, parks, schools and townships. Other than for the officials of Winfield and Wayne Townships, all the other candidate races are non-partisan. The League of Women Voters of Wheaton hosted a candidate’s forum for West Chicago Public Library Board of Trustees and for West Chicago Mayor and City Council. Tuesday, March 18. The forum was recorded and can be seen at https://my.lwv.org/illinois/wheaton/calendar/meet-greet. The Winfield Township forum was via Zoom. It also can be seen on the League’s website.
  • Although Halloween is seven months away, 5 Points Haunted House is preparing forOctober 2025. Rachel McCabe said some amazing things aware planned and volunteers are needed during the “build days.” The jobs include building, decorating, painting, cleaning and more. Food and drinks are provided, plus volunteers receive free tickets. For further information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/lehmanmanor/.

My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.