City of West Chicago, Illinois

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At Home with Merle Burleigh – December 18, 2024

By

At Home with Merle

MERLE’S CORNER

            The weather cooperated and more than 800 people attended Frosty Fest. Outside, guests enjoyed the Chicago Carolers, the lighting of the community tree, the alpacas and reindeer, photo opportunities, rides on the electric train and the horse-drawn wagon rides. Many watched  the renowned ice sculptor Joe Gagnepain portray his artistic talent, using his chainsaw as a paintbrush, to create a life-like penguin. This was quite appropriate as the theme for Frosty Fest was based on animals.

Indoors, a popular spot was the North Pole (Republic Bank). Here Santa and Mrs Claus heard the wishes of children. Also theWest Chicago Rotary Club served hot chocolate and the West Chicago Lions Club served popcorn. American Legion Post 300 was filled with the sound of music of  the talented school musicians. The West Chicago City Museum had 600 visitors tour and learn about the 175 year history of the City, plus take part in a scavenger hunt. The heated tent provided a warm place to enjoy the yummy goodies purchased at the food trucks. There was the added fun of face painting and a craft activity with the West Chicago Public Library.

Best of all, it was great to see the downtown area filled with the laughter and shouts of joy of Frosty Fest attendees. Kudos to the Frosty Fest committee and the many volunteers.

Due to the holiday, my December 25, 2024 “At Home With Merle” will be posted Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

 

AROUND AND ABOUT

 

  • Through Illinois Libraries Present, the West Chicago Public Library presents the special program “Little Women, The Musical.” The recording starts at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, through 11:59 Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Registrants receive an email with a special link to the performance. To register for in person or on line, visit https://bit.ly/ILP_LittleWomen

The musical, originally presented on Broadway in 2005, is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, which is of family, self-discovery and hope. At Park Theater, the director of “Little Women” is Bronagh. Set and costume design is by Nik Corrall. Musical direction is by Leo Munby and orchestration by Andy Collier. Choreography is by Sarah Holding. Lighting design is by Ben M. Rogers and sound design by Paul Gavin. Casting is by Jane Deitch.

 

  • The Grinch continues to grow in popularity. Understanding this, the West Chicago Park District hosts A Chrinchmas Gathering from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in the ARC, 201 W. National St. The charge is $25 for residents, $30 for nom residents, and no charge for children under the age of oneChildren must be accompanied by a guardian. All participants must be registered. To register, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/special-events. Activities include breakfast, greeting with the Grinch and Santa Claus and making holiday crafts.

 

 

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

 

  • Boost Mobile, 517 Main St., offers free photos with Santa Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. Hours are from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. There are free gifts for the first 50 children.

 

  • With the generous donations towards its Purple Ribbon fundraiser, the Saints at Patron and the matched donation by Tony Mazzuca, Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill was able to donate $2,400 to the American Cancer Society in memory of Deborah Mazzuca for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

 

  • Winter is an optimal time for pruning. Kramer Tree Specialists is offering a 15 percent winter discount. Services such a pruning, cable installation, tree removals and stump grinding are included. For further information, visit https://kramertree.com/. com

 

  • Great American Pinball recently moved to850 Meadowview Crossing, Unit 2.

 

SCHOOLS

 

  • National Honor Society of West Chicago Community High School holds a Holiday Book Drive, which started Monday, Dec. 2, and ends Friday, Dec.20, 2024. The organization is seeking donations of new or gently used children’s books for ages 1 through 12. Donation boxes are located in Kindred Coffee Roasters, 148 W. Washington St., and ARC Center, 201 W. National St.

 

  • At the Chicago Christian Conference meet, the Wheaton Academy Math Team scored 800 points, double the score of the second-place team. In Algebra I, first place was won by Sally Chen, first overall. Ethan Lin second overall, Betsey Wang and Phoebe Barton. In Geometry, Grace Zhong won first place, first overall. Ruth Yang took second place. For Algebra II, first place was led by Andy Chen, 1st overall; Isaac Kim, 2nd overall; Andrea Ngo, Billy Yang and Kristy Sun. In Precalculus, 1st place led by Elliot Poland, 1st overall with a perfect score; Simon Zhou, 2nd overall; Luke Osterholm, 3rd overall; and Everett Miglio. The Junior-Senior 8-person team finished in first place with a perfect  score of 100 out of 100. The Freshman-Sophomore 8-person team, the Freshman-Sophomore 2-person team, the Junior-Senior 2-person team, and the Calculator team also finished in first place. com

 

  • Both St Charles Community Unified School District 303 high schools earned a spot on the 2024 AP Honor Roll for giving students ample opportunities to enroll in AP courses and helping them achieve positive results in those classes. St. Charles East and St. Charles North each earned the Silver designation from the College Board by meeting milestones within three categories for the 2023-2024 academic year. Across the two schools, greater than 50 percent of graduating seniors took at least one AP exam during high school and greater than 35 percent earned a college credit bearing.More than 15 percent of graduating seniors took a total of five or more AP exams across their high school years, with at least one taken in freshman or sophomore year. St. Charles East also earned the AP Access Award by showing a commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework. Schools earn the additional recognition if the percentage of minority and low-income students who take AP exams mirrors the school’s overall demographics.

 

  • In the Girls Basketball games Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, West Chicago Community High School lost to Glenbard East High School with a score of 44-54; St. Charles East High School won against Wheaton North High School with a score of 46-43. In the Boys Basketball games Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 Wheaton Academy won against Hope Academy with a score of 84-70 and West Chicago Community High School won against Elmwood Park High School with a score of 56-26. In the Boys Basketball Game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, St. Charles East lost to Lake Park High School with a score of 45-46 (2 overtimes). In the Girls Basketball games, Saturday, West Chicago Community High School won over Lisle High School with a score of 50-21. In the Boys

 

  • Many families attended the District 33 Art Gala Friday, Dec, 6, 2024, at Leman Middle School. The artwork displayed the artistic talents of the students. com

 

  • Angel Lopez, a senior at West Chicago Community High School, is the Student of the Month for November. He was selected due to his academic excellence, athletic participation and community involvement. He has been on the Honor Roll throughout his time at the high school, has a Grade Point Average of 4.595 and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Playing on the soccer team for four years, he serves as JV2 Team Captain this year. Beyond the classroom, Lopez contributed to school events such as Boo Bash and Trunk or Treat. He also contributed to Feed My Starving Children.

Upon graduation , Lopez plans to attend college to study architecture, wanting to to have a career in renovation. merleburl.com

 

CHURCHES

 

  • Faith Community Church, 910 Main St., holds a Blue Christmas service at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The service honors people that have lost loved ones and are experiencing grief.

 

  • Andrew Lutheran Church celebrates Las Posadas, Spanish for “The Inns,” from Sunday, Dec. 15, through Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. The celebration is based upon the Bible story of Mary and Joseph’s nine-day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their search for shelter. The reenactment takes place at the homes of designated members of the congregation and other locations and includes songs, food and prayer. On the last day, the celebration takes place at 7 p.m. at the church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road.

 

  • Renewal Church celebrates Posadas Navideña at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in the ARC Center, 201 W. National St. The Posada is in English. The celebration is based upon the Bible story of Mary and Joseph’s nine-day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their search for shelter.

 

  • AndrewLutheran Church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road, celebrates the ninth day of Las Posada at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

 

  • Most local churches hold Christmas services at usual worship hours on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Some churches have special Christmas Eve services, Monday, Dec. 23, and Tuesday,Dec. 24, 2024. 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, Carol Sing is at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22. Christmas Eve service is at 6:30 p.m. in the Worship Center.

 

  • Glen Arbor Community Church, 204 Church St., worship service is at 10 a.m.

 

  • New Hope United Methodist Church, 643 E. Washington St., bilingual Christmas Eve Candlelight service is at 7 p.m.

 

  • New Life Bilingual Church, 468 Ann St., worship service is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

 

  • Real Life Church, 525 N. Neltnor Blvd., worship service is at 10 a.m.Sunday.

 

  • Renewal Church Christmas cChristmas worship services are at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, in the ARC, 201 W. National St.The service includes a children’s program, Christmas songs, plus there is hot cocoa and cookies.

 

  • St Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 N. Prince Crossing Road, has twoChristmas 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.

 

CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS

 

  • Taco Tuesday stops until Jan. 7, 2025, at American Legion Post 300.

 

  • Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce office, 306 Main St., is closed from Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, to Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

 

  • Winter is an optimal time for pruning. Kramer Tree Specialists is offering a 15 percent winter discount. Services such a pruning, cable installation, tree removals and stump grinding are included. For further information, visit https://kramertree.com/. com

 

CITY OF WEST CHICAGO

 

  • New to Frosty Fest this year was the window decorating contest in which twelve organizations painted animal related designs on the windows of 1eight businesses in the downtown district. Individuals voted for the 2024 “Frosty Fest Fan Favorite” with winners receiving the prizes of $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place. Buck Services Inc. and ComEd sponsored the event. First place winner was Turner School PTO, second place winner was Girl Scout Troop 56548 and third place winner was Currier School PTO.

Other participating organizations were Girl Scout Troop 56696, District 33 Ballet Folklorico, Educare West DuPage, West Chicago Parks Foundation, We go together for Kids, West Chicago Public Library, Gary School PTO, Leman Middle School club Creative Expressions and West Chicago Community High School. Art Club.

Participating businesses were Raised Bakery & Cafe, Ferny’s Salon, El Coco Loco Restaurant, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, W.M. Lauhoff & Company, Gorditas Liselena St Vincent de Paul and Republic Bank. merleburl.com

 

WEST CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

  • West Chicago Police Department once again participated in the Shop with a Cop hosted by the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Tony Reyes and his friend enjoyed the day of shopping, and spending time with Santa and the DCSO elves. com

 

  • Completing his training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, Jonathan LaPorta is now an officer of the West Chicago Police Department. He took his Oath of Office,Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2024.

 

WEST CHICAGO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

 

  • Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, West Chicago Fire Protection District responded to an outside fire that was upgraded to a structure fire in the 1100 block of Gates St. Upon arrival, crews found a shed on fire. The fire was extinguished, but there was significant damage to Comcast and AT&T lines, which will cause outages for an unknown time. There were no injuries to residents or firefighters.The shed and several sections of fence were a total loss.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

 

  • 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 Wayne Township Republican Organization caucus, the slate of candidates selected were Supervisor, Randy Ramey; Town Clerk, Brandi Fike Ramundo; Assessor, Michael E. Musson; and Highway Commissioner, Al Murphy. For Trustees were Michelle Bowen, Angela Campobasso, Paige Parent and Willam "Bump" Waghorne.

At the Wayne Township Democratic Party caucus, the slate of candidates selected were Katherine Errera, Township Clerk; Martin McManamon, Highway Commissioner; and Christian Lewis, Trustee.

 

  • The Kautz Site is the eighth video in the Native American Sites of the Chicago Region series. Located in unincorporated West Chicago, along the West Branch of the DuPage River, this site is believed to have been inhabited periodically for an interval of 5,000 years. It was first recorded and excavated by a group of amateur archeologists in the 1950s. The investigation was re-opened about 10 years ago by Peter J Geraci, the Department Administrator and an Affiliated Researcher for the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He is a Registered Public Archaeologist, has a Master's Degree in Anthropology from UWM, and specializes in Midwestern Archaeology, Chipped Stone Tool Analysis, and Landscape Archaeology. He is currently working on research projects in Illinois and Wisconsin including an analysis of the Winfield Mounds and Village site located in West Chicago. To view the video, visit https://youtu.be/qpIEGhV2p3A?si=2sVN8Hjq7f4GMwNb. The entire series is at https://www.youtube.com/playlist...  com

 

  • The cold weather of winter created a larger amount of homeless individuals needing shelter. The number of people is usually around 20 to 25 to enter the DuPage Pads program. With the Pads board, a not-for-profit organization adding $150,000 to the budget and the DuPage Foundation donation of $90,000 from donors, donor advised representatives and members of its DuPage Collaborative, Pads was able to provide 70 rooms of shelter it is opening.

 

  • BenjaminSchool District 25 Board of Education held a special meeting Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. They accepted the resignation of the Superintendent, Dr. Jim Woell. His last day is Friday, Jan. 3, 2024. At its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Dec. 9., the board discussed options for the Interim Superintendent for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year . A notification, sent to District 25 community stated, “The Board desires to do the proper due diligence to determine who should be hired in that position and will interview and select an Interim Superintendent prior to Winter Break. The Board appreciates your continued support and understanding as the district continues to navigate this transition.”

 

My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.