MERLE’S CORNER
This time of the year is one for holidays.
Christmas is December 25. It is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Merry Christmas!
This year the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins December 25 and ends January 2. A central part of the Jewish Festival of Lights entails the lighting of a nine-branched menorah each night. The ninth candle is used to light the others. The ritual symbolizes how one day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days during a battle between a small group of Jewish people and the powerful Greek-Syrian army in 165 B.C. Per Jewish tradition, they are said to have emerged victorious and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Happy Hanukkah!
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. The holiday was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, as well as Southeast Africa. Happy Kwanzaa!
Due to the holiday, my January 1, 2025 “At Home With Merle” will be posted Monday, Dec.30, 2024.
Happy Holidays!
AROUND AND ABOUT
- The exhibit at Gallery 200, for the month of January is “creARTive Super Sale.” The artwork of 12 artists is on sale at super prices. Participating artists are Maria Ananieva, Lynda Brown, Nadine Buck, Patty Donahue, Emilia Hajduczenia, Margie Hall, Dan Hoalt, Shari Hohl, Kathi Kuchler, Britta Renwick, Starla Snead and Marita Valdizan. The artists’s reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan 3, 2025. Appetizers and drinks are served. Hours at Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St., are from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. com
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
- Supermercado Tampico, 516 Main St., is nicely decorated for the holiday season. The evergreen reindeer are so perfect. It is a pleasure to view both in daylight and at night.
- Algo Healthy Nutrition is now open at 519. Main St. Hours are 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., then 5:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 6 a.m. to noon Sundays.The business serves a variety of waffles, crepes, hot energy teas, cold megates, protein oats and different flavor shakes.Persons can dine in, take out or pick up. The telephone number is 224-303-5730. com
- Robert Adaya, owner of Krystal Clean Pro and a member of Hispanic American Construction Industry Association, recently achieved his Minority Business owned Certification (MBE). Krystal Clean Pro is a commercial and corporate cleaning service, specializing in janitorial, custodial, and post-construction final cleanups.
- Groot Industries once again gave a generous donation of bicycles and helmets. During the holiday season, the West Chicago Police Department distributes them to children in need. com
- Beyond Environmental LLC recently opened at 1180 Atlantic Drive. The company manufactures natural cleaning products.
- Hightopsneaks, LLCis a relatively new business in West Chicago. The company is an online retailer for sneakers, fashion and accessories.
- De Angel Nail & Spa, 528 Main St., changed ownership in the summer as did Mobile Gas Station, 60 W. Roosevelt Road.
- DDM Garage Doors is now located at 1092 Carolina Drive, Unit 4.
REMEMBRANCES
- Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Doris Theresa Donovan (Brown), who at the age of 65 passed away Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.
- Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Richard E. Vogel, who at the age of 84 passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024
SCHOOLS
- Wheaton Academy hosted its first Robotic competition in the new Student Union. Its team won four out of five matches, ending the day with second place. com
- In the Girls Basketball games, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, West Chicago Community High School won against Glenbard North High School with a score of 45-39. In the Boys Basketball games Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, Wheaton Academy won against Harvest Christian Academy with a score of 50-33.
CHURCHES
- Some local churches have special Christmas Eve services, Monday, Dec. 23 and Tuesday,Dec. 24. Christmas Day services are Wednesday, Dec, 25.
- Community Fellowship Church, 28W240 North Ave., Christmas Eve Candlelight service is at 4 p.m.Tuesday.
- Faith Community Church, 910 Main Street, Christmas Eve service is at 6:30 p.m. in the Worship Center.
- New Hope United Methodist Church, 643 E. Washington St., bilingual Christmas Eve Candlelight service is at 7 p.m.
- St Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road, has two Christmas Eve services. The contemporary service is at 4 p.m., the Spanish service is at 6 p.m.
- Mary’s Catholic Church, 140 N. Oakwood Ave., Christmas Eve services begin at 4 p.m.in English, 6:30 p.m.. in Spanish and Latin at midnight. Christmas Day services are 10 a.m. in English, noon in Spanish, and 5 p.m. in Spanish.
- Michael’s United Church of Christ, 400 West Washington St.,Christmas Eve Candlelight service is at 9 p.m.
- Trinity Lutheran Church, 338 George Street, Christmas Eve service is at 7 p.m. The Christmas Day service is at 10 a.m.
- West Chicago Bible Church, 205 S. Oakwood Ave.,Christmas Eve Candlelight service is at 6 p.m.
- West Chicago Church of Christ, 350 James St., worship service is at 10:30 a.m.Sunday.
- Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Avenue, Christmas Eve services, start at 5 p.m.-contemporary and 7 p.m.-Spanish Monday, Dec. 23. Christmas Eve, Dec, 24, Contemporary services are at 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. is the traditional service.
- At New Hope United Methodist Church, the Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, the worship service is Carols and Lessons.
- Mary’s Catholic Church, 140 N. Oakwood Ave., New Year’s Eve services are 7:30 a.m. in English and bilingual at 5 p.m. New Year’s Days services are 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 Latin, 12:30 p.m. in Spanish and 6:30 p.m. in Spanish.
- Reverend Avani Christian, pastor of New Hope United Methodist Church is away from Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, through Jan 12, 2025. She will be in India.
CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS
- From its Food Drive held in November, the West Chicago Parks Foundation donated 112 pounds of food and $1, 032 to Neighborhood Food Pantries. The thousand dollars was a direct donation from the Foundation and the $32 was the amount collected during the food drive. com
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS
- West Chicago resident and Ward 3 Alderman Al Hallett helped put wreaths on the graves of veterans at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. He said it was a privilege to do so. The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is an American military cemetery that covers 982 acres and when fully completed, it will provide 400,000 burial spaces. On Oct. 3, 1999, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery was dedicated as the 117th national cemetery within the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration. com
CITY OF WEST CHICAGO
- At the Monday, Dec. 16,2024, meeting, City Council approved a sSpecial Use Permit for Turner School, 750 Ingalton Ave. The Item Summary states, The School “is proposing to reconfigure the existing parking lot and construct a new parking lot immediately south of the existing parking lot.”
Also approved was the First Contract extension with Crystal Maintenance Plus Corporation of Mt. Prospect for 2025 Janitorial Services for Municipal buildings, in an amount not to exceed $71,520. The Item Summary states, The professional custodial services are for the eight City owned and maintained facilities. These include “City Hall, Police Station, Water Treatment Plant, Metra Station, Museum, as well as the Blakely Street, church Street, and Grand Lake Boulevard facilities.”
- Council approved a First Contract extension with Addlawn Landscaping, Inc. of Lombard for the 2025 Right-of-Way Maintenance program for an amount not to exceed $257,101.20. The Item Summary states, ‘The contract covers landscape maintenance services for 131 City-owned and maintained rights-of-way at various locations as well as Glen Oak and Oakwood cemeteries for a period of approximately 30 consecutive weeks. Services include…mowing, trimming, edging, weed removal, shredded hardwood mulch installation, chemical broadleaf control, fall leaf removal and lawn fertilization.”
- Also approved was a contract with Cemetery Management, Inc. (John Be Reynolds) for Cemetery Sexton Services in an amount of $62,700. The Item Summary states, The Cemetery Sexton “supervises and directs all activities in the Glen Oak and Oakwood Cemeteries including sales of gravesites, performing grave openings and closings, ground maintenance and preparation and maintenance of records and reports for submittal to the City.”
- Council approved a contract with Steve Piper & Sons, Inc. of Naperville to provide services for the 2025 Forestry Management Program for the amount of $146,000. The Item Summary states, “The Program covers contractual trimming and removal of parkway trees…It is funded to enable completion of a five-year trimming cycle for the whole town, which is the recommended procedure by Arborists. The scope of work includes tree trimming and tree removal (only over 15 inches in diameter throughout the City limits.”
WEST CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
- With the holiday season just around the corner, the West Chicago Police Department joins forces with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Drive High, Get a DUI” enforcement campaign to ensure that festive gatherings don't end in tragedy. From Dec. 13 through Jan. 2, law enforcement agencies across Illinois adopt a zero-tolerance policy for impaired driving to keep roads safe. This campaign is made possible through federal highway safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administered byIllinois Department of Transportation.
Simple steps to prevent impaired driving:include planning ahead by designating a sober driver, using public transportation, or arranging for a ride-sharing service and reporting dangers when one sees an impaired driver. Other ways are stopping a friend from driving impaired and buckling up.
WEST CHICAGO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
- At approximately 2:13 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, a reported fire was dispatched to the 200 block of Pomeroy St. Dispatchers found difficulty in getting further information due to a language barrier. Upon arrival, the homeowner was able to articulate that he was sweating pipes in his basement when he accidentally set nearby insulation ablaze. The homeowner confirmed no one else was home at the time. Crews extinguished a small fire in the basement. An extensive overhaul of the area was needed as many void and wall spaces existed. Due to the damage to the home, the home was deemed uninhabitable. The Red Cross was notified to help the homeowner find suitable temporary living arrangements. No firefighters or civilians were injured. The homeowner's dog that escaped was located and returned.
ODDS AND ENDS
- Due to the holidays, Wayne Township Food Pantry, 27W031 North Ave., is closed Wednesdays, Dec. 25, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025. It is open from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Dec. 23, and Dec. 30. Line up begins after 4 p.m. with last person no later the 5:50 p.m. com
- In the Consolidated Election Tuesday, April 1, 2025, all township elected officials are up for election. Elected officials are Supervisor, Clerk, Road Commissioner, Assessor and four Trustees. To determine who will be on the slate, the established political parties in the Township of Winfield and Wayne held caucuses Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
At the Winfield Township Republican caucus , the slate of officers selected were Supervisor, Nicole Prater; Highway Commissioner, John Dusza; Assessor, Mark Malay; and Clerk, Amanda Augustynowicz. For Trustees were Dale Boyd, Dave Clark, Edward “Ed “ Franckowiak and Carolyn Polos.
At the Winfield Township Democrat Organization caucus, the slate of candidates selected were Sheila Rutledge, Supervisor; Cynthia “Cyd” Paulson Town Clerk; and Shawn Patrick Hacker, Assessor. For Trustees were David Brummel, Rebecca Holmes, Jennifer Scarpace and Kirsten “KiKi” Djonne.
- West Chicago Fire Protection District is purchasing a new ladder truck. Some members of the district recently conducted a final inspection in the Seagrave Fire Apparatus plan in Clintonville, Wisconsin. com
- In October, DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy and District 6 board members Sheila Rutledge, Greg Schwarze, and Jim Zay greeted State’ Attorney Bob Berlin and his new office member, Crew. Crew is a facility dog specially trained to work with vulnerable populations served by the State’s Attorney’s Office. com
- DuPage County Board approved using a portion of the Fairgrounds to build a new transportation garage on an approximately 10 acre site at the north end the site. The new site will house all 114 employees and seasonal -use vehicles of the DuPage County Division of Transportation. The existing garage at 140 N. County Farm Road was constructed in the 1950s and is too small and outdated to meet the demands of a modern maintenance program for the County’s highways, sidewalks, and trails. Since the project is in the preliminary stages, there will be opportunities for the public to review project details and make comments before final approvals. To view details of the project, visit https://www.dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/transportation/new_garage.php.
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.