Although we entered the autumn season, the temperatures have been like the dog days of August, breaking so many heat records. Yet, there are some up sides. An entire weekend of silence-no sounds of lawnmowers, leaf blowers or weed whackers. My Endless Summer hydrangea bush has more blue flowers than it has had in years. The heat provided the perfect excuse to ignore various tasks and just relax, read a book or visit quietly with friends. The promised cooler temperatures provide a welcome relief and hope for rain.
We all admit our complaints are minor compared to those who have lived through the horrific hurricanes and earthquakes. Also, despite the heat, the volunteer efforts to help those victims did not cease. Again it was great to see the community spirit in our town.
AROUND AND ABOUT
As part of the countywide Voices of DuPage, the West Chicago City Museum, 132 Main Street, hosts its third Town Hall Share at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 28, 2017, rescheduled from Wednesday, September 20. The topic is “Talking 180 Years of Bilingualism in West Chicago.” Many know of the large Spanish-speaking population today in West Chicago, but for almost 60 years the community had a large German speaking population, including a church that held mass into World War II, which was almost unheard of in the U.S. Persons are encouraged to share the immigration history of their families, including when a non-English speaking ancestor first came to the states, or any other experiences with bilingualism.
Voices of DuPage is a collection of cultural institutions that serve DuPage County residents that seek to preserve and promote our historical legacy. The members, primarily museums and libraries, focus on oral history programs.
The West Chicago Garden Club meeting is Thursday, September 28, 2017, at Faith Community Church, 910 Main Street. Social time is at 6:45 p.m., short business meeting at 7:00 p.m. and program presented by Laura Ekasetya, director and Head Horticulturalist at Lurie Gardens located in Millennium Park in Chicago, at 7:15 p.m. She discusses pollinators and pollination plants at the Gardens, plus its history and maintenance. Ekasetya joined Lurie Garden in February 2011 as a horticulturist working to maintain the integrity of perennial plant design of Piet Oudolf. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and studied horticulture at Harold Washington City College of Chicago.
The World Heart Day celebration takes place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 29, 2017, in the gym at Gary School, 130 East Forest Avenue. There are refreshments, a special presentation and recognition, and rock painting. At 6:30 p.m. is the drawing for the bicycles and grand prizes.
At the Move With the Mayor community walk Saturday, September 23, 2017, 132 persons participated. Many of the participants were families and staff from Indian Knoll, Pioneer and Turner schools. West Chicago is one of 10 cities participating in the Move with the Mayor Challenge, an initiative of the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, in the month of September.
The photographic artwork, “Views from the Sea,” of West Chicago resident Uwe Gsedl is on display From Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1, 2017, in the town hall at Taufkirchen (Vils), Germany.
Gallery Theater, 129 Main Street, opens its eighth season with the play, “Grace and Glorie,” by Tom Zeigler. Performances remaining are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30, and at 3:00 p.m. October 1, 2017. The ticket price is $14, $12 for senior citizens. To make a reservation, email GalleryTickets@gmail.com, on the website www.Gallerytheaterstudio.orgg or call (630) 234-5919.
Anne and Terry Bodine celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary Saturday, September 30, 2017.
Coffee with the Mayor is from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 30, 2017, at City Hall, 475 Main Street.
The last day the Kruse House Museum, 527 Main Street, is open for the 2017 summer season is Saturday, September 30, 2017. Hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The special exhibit is “The Cookie Caper,” which features cookie jars of all sizes and shapes, unique and antique cookie cutters and presses, recipe books, magazines and story books.
Winfield Township hosts its Annual Recycling Extravaganza from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday, September 30, 2017, 2017 at the Township Road District facility, 30W575 Roosevelt Road. It involves all three “Rs”— Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Acceptable items involve household items, electronics. New this year is a $10 cash fee per car for electronic devices. PROSHRED is on hand for shredding personal documents with a limit of three banker-size boxes per vehicle. Also Epaint Recycling Solutions is on hand to collect paint. For latex paint, the fee is $1 per one-quart can, $2 per one-gallon can and $10 per five-gallon pail. For oil-base paint the fee is $4 for one-quart can or $8 per one-gallon can and $20 per five-gallon pail. These fees can be paid by cash or credit card. Other participants are SCARCE, Working Bikes, Chicago BioFuels LLC, Elgin Recycling, DuPage County, West Chicago Lions Club, Boy Scout Troop 33 and CERT.
Call the road department at (630) 231-8850 for further information. (www.merleburl.com)
St. Michael’s United Church of Christ, 400 West Washington Street, holds a Blessing of the Animals service at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 1, 2017. Persons attending are asked to bring dogs on leashes, cats in harnesses or carriers, and all other animals in appropriate cages/housing.
Wheaton Academy celebrates its Homecoming from Monday, October 3 through Saturday, October 7, 2017. Monday the theme is “World Best Day’ with each class wearing designated colors, Tuesday theme is Villains and Heroes. The Powderpuff Consolation game is at 7:00 p.m. followed by the final game at 8:00 p.m. The theme for Wednesday is Young and Old with students dressing as children or senior citizens. Students are involved in a service project at 7:00 p.m.at Sonny Acres, 29W310 North Avenue. I will cover the rest of the homecoming schedule in next week’s column.
West Chicago Public Library District offers several two-hour computer classes in the small conference room. Basic computer skills are required. To make reservations call the adult services department at (630) 231-1552, extension 4.
Facebook class is at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 3, 2017. Persons learn Facebook basics and must have a valid email account. Microsoft word class is a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 4, 2017. Topics include formatting text and documents, changing fonts, cut/copy and paste, using Spell Check and MS Word terminology.
West Chicago Police Department celebrates National Coffee with A Cop Day from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at McDonalds, 89 W. North Avenue. Persons in the community just chit chat with the officers. There is no formal presentation or agenda. More than 2,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States participate in the nationwide event. (www.merleburl.com)
Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services offers hour-long computer classes for senior citizens at Wayne Township, 27W031 North Avenue. Not only do seniors learn basic skills, but also have the opportunity to socialize. The fee is $2. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (630) 231-7166.
“Attaching Photos to Emails or Texts” class is at 1:00 p.m. October 4. “Using the Calendar on Smart Phones” class is at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2017.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road, holds a Blessing of the Animals service at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 4, 2017,
West Chicago Lions Club holds its annual Candy Sale at Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Avenue. Hours are from from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2017 and from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 9, 2017. Donation boxes also are located at State Bank of Illinois, 600 East Washington Street and the two locations of Augustino’s Rock and Roll Deli, 300 West North Avenue and 246 South Schmale Road in Carol Stream.
The Lions Club donates to local humanitarian needs involving eye exams for residents and school children, TV caption decoders, hearing aids, and magnifiers for persons with Macular Degeneration. Other donations to various organizations include local food pantries and school district education foundations. The club offers scholarships to high school students, supports Camp Lions for visually and hearing-impaired children, hosts the new teachers luncheon and participates in Frosty Fest.
“Artwork For All Seasons” is the 2017 Artoberfest exhibit at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street, for the month of October. The 19 artists participating are Susan Delaney, Earl Weber, Sharon Malec, Joseph Ross, Marita Valdizan, Kathi Kuchler, Marge Hall, Starla Snead, Heide Morris, Margaret Bucholz, BJ Chevalier, Victoria Burris, Chris Rakow, Nadine Buck, Patty Koenigsaecker, Judith Horsley, Lou Jacobson, Britta Renwick and Mike Smith.
The artists’ reception is from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2017. Refreshments are served. There also is a silent auction, which ends Sunday, October 29. Mandy Rakow provides the musical entertainment. She is a songwriter, sings and plays the guitar and cello. She started and organized the community music event Local Music Night from 2009 through 2014. She works at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage and also is the music director at International Community Church in Lombard. (www.merleburl.com)
The 28th annual Tale Tombstones Tell takes place from 10:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, October 7, 2017, at Calvary Cemetery, East Washington Street and Eason Avenue. Note the new time and location. Parking is available at FNBC Bank & Trust, 600 East Washington Street. Starting at 10-minute intervals, the tours are 45 minutes in length with the last one starting at 11:15 a.m. After the tour, refreshments are served at the bank.
Costumed interpreters relate the life stories of eight former residents buried in Calvary , a Catholic cemetery owned by the Diocese of Joliet. Sara Phalen gives the introduction with a little history of the cemetery. Two members of the West Chicago Police Department are interpreters at the grave sites of Ray Wilson and Joe Buenrostro. The other sites and interpreters are Catherine Alice “Katie” Kelley Carey, interpreter, Carol Townsend; Emma Jorgens McCabe, interpreter, Becky Hall; Caspar Kline, interpreter, John Cumpek; Rev. Thomas C. Gaffney, interpreter, Pam Kramer; Frederick Otto “Fred” Marx, interpreter, Bob; and John Tye, interpreter, Dan Czuba and musician, Mike Barry.
The event is appropriate for families as it focuses on historical facts and not ghost stories. Although there is no charge, donations are appreciated. For further information, call the Museum at (630) 231-3376.
Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 West Hawthorne Lane, is the host site for the Illinois Association of Firefighters Local 3970 (West Chicago Fire Protection District) Sixth Annual Chili for a Cure Cook off Saturday, October 7, 2017. The event is from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m.; chili is served from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. In addition to chili, hot dogs and wings are available. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 10. Proceeds benefit the “Keep a Breast” Foundation. Give aways include Keep A Breast t-shirts to the first 300 guests and two Zanies tickets to each paying attendee.
The 10 chili cook off contestant are West Chicago Firefighters Local 3970, Fire Chief pat Tanner, West Chicago park District, Roxanne Hamlin, Boy Scout troop 33, Weekend at Bernies-Four Winds Black Mass Warfare, Byron Miller, Two Brothers Brewery, Great Lakes Brewing and Windy City Reps.
Other activities include the giveaway of a 2017 LG 49 inch LED television, silent auction, raffles with items totaling more than $5,000, plus whiffle ball, bags, and sand volleyball. Included among the more than 120 raffle items are gift certificates to local area restaurants and businesses, overnight stays, golf packages and zero gravity chairs. Silent Auction items include a Yeti Roadie cooler and two sets of bag boards and bags.
Heads/Tails game prizes are a utility cart filled with booze, a Pelican Maverick 100K kayak, Dick’ Sporting goods gift card and a bench cooler made by a WCFPD firefighter. There is a $15 charge to take part in the game. (www.merleburl.com)
WeGo Drama of West Chicago Community High School presents “Cafe Murder,” a murder mystery dinner at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, October 7, 2017, in Weyrauch Auditorium, 326 Joliet Street. The charge is $15. Tickets must be pre-ordered at www.wegotheatre.com. Proceeds benefit Broadway Cares, an organization that helps AIDS victims, women’s health care, cancer patients, and hurricane relief.
West Chicago Fire Protection District hosts its annual Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 2017, at fire headquarters station, 200 Fremont Street. The National Fire Prevention theme this year is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out.” Activities include information booths, demonstrations, fire safety trailer, emergency equipment displays, fire safety handouts and snacks. Sparky the Fire Dog greets the guests. (www.merleburl.com)
West Chicago Park District monthly social for senior citizens is Thursday, October 12, 2017. The popular Firemen Fish Fry begins at noon at the West Chicago Fire Protection District headquarters, 200 Fremont Street. The firemen provide the fish. Guests bring a dish to share and complete place setting. Reservations for the free event are due Thursday, October 5, and may be made online at www.we-goparks.org or in person at the ARC, 201 West Washington Street.
West Chicago Sister Cities hosts its annual Octoberfest from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 2017, at American Legion Post 300, 123 Main Street.
West Chicago City Museum Historiography program is a non-fiction book reading group. The discussion group meets at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 19, 2017, at the Museum, 132 Main Street. Guests can bring a sack lunch; dessert and drinks are provided.
The book under discussion is “The American Resting Place: 400 Years of History Through Our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds” by Marilyn Yalum. The book is a sweeping history of America as seen through its gravestones, graveyards, and burial practices, illustrated with eighty black-and-white photographs. Copies of the book are available at the Museum and West Chicago Public Library District, 118 West Washington Street. Call the Museum at (630) 231-3376 for further information.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Rebecca Toledo, who at the age of 82 passed away, Monday, September 18, 2017.
Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Arnie Rossa, who at the age of 93 passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Peggy L. Molitor, who at the age of 66 passed away Thursday, September 21, 2017.
To begin its 40th year, Augustino’s is debuting a new logo to show the restaurant is more than a deli: Augustino’s Rock & Roll Deli & Grill.
At the Monday, September 18, 2017, City Council meeting, Ward 4 Alderman Sandy Dimas, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said the Committee had addressed the topic of “going dark for six months.” This means Council meetings will not be taped and a message on Channel 17 will indicate who people should contact to express their thoughts about this. City Administrator Michael Guttman explained. “The equipment both at City Hall and at 411 Main Street is antiquated and in many cases breaking and there are no parts available to make a repair. CableCom does not legally exist, and the equipment belongs to them; the City cannot even take ownership of what is there now. The City needs to ascertain viewership, to determine if it makes a substantial investment in buying all new equipment for both locations.”
At the meeting Monday, September 18, 2017, City Council approved a contract for the 2017 Main Street and METRA Station Sidewalk Project for the amount of $51,018 to Copenhaver Construction, Inc. of Gilberts.
Also approved was a Special Use, Final Planned Unit Development and re-subdivision for Christian Brothers Automotive at 1650 North Neltnor Boulevard. The proposed business is an auto repair facility specializing in light repair serves and other basic maintenance work.
The office of U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren chose Sabrina Lutfiyeva, a junior at West Chicago Community High School, as a Class of 2018 Stem Scholar. This youth leadership program encourages highly motivated and energetic high school students to become ambassadors in their communities for the possibilities provided by science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is designed to expose students to STEM careers and to build STEM leadership qualities and skills. STEM Scholars will grow their leadership skills through presentations, higher-level discussions and on-site visits to some of the 14th District’s premier facilities. Lutfiyeva participates in Girls Tennis, Girls Basketball, Health Occupation Students of America, International Club, FCCLA and Business Professionals of America. (www.merleburl.com)
Jacob Beaird, a senior at West Chicago Community High School, is among the approximately 16,000 academically talented high school Semifinalists named in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program, honoring top academic ability and potential for college success. They are selected based on their scores in the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test taken by almost 1.6 million juniors from more than 22,000 high schools. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. (www.merleburl.com)
The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition announced West Chicago Community High School has completed the recommitment process for the Illinois Democracy Schools Initiative. This distinction commemorates ten years of fostering a school climate that cultivates and models civic dispositions and builds strong relationships within the surrounding community.
Since 2006, 67 Illinois high schools have successfully completed a school-wide civic assessment to be recognized as Democracy Schools. WCCHS, one of the original Democracy Schools, has been vigilant about creating opportunities and experiences that empower students to nurture and sustain our democracy, including engaging in current and controversial issue discussions, participating in democratic simulations, and providing service learning opportunities in the community.
For their long-term commitment, the school will receive a stipend from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, which convenes the ICMC, to continue civic learning initiatives, as well as a new banner for public display.
Support our local businesses as they not only contribute to the community through taxes, but also generously contribute through monetary and in-kind donations to clubs, churches, organizations and schools. Sponsors of the West Chicago historical Society Ice Cream Social were Buck Services, Edward Jones-John Cahill, Daniel and Associates Real Estate, Norris Segert Funeral Home. Donors were Auto Glow Car Wash, Bowling Green, Daniel And Associates Real Estate, Extra Value Liquors, Gallery Theater, Gloria’s Jewelry, Hawthorne’s Back Yard, Jel Sert, Jewel Osco, Jiffy Lube, John & Tony’s, Krage’s Auto Center, La Cocina de Maria, Murphy Ace Hardware, Olde North Pancake House, Pal Joey’s, We Grow Dreams Greenhouse & Garden Center and Yummy Buffet.
Some Gallery 200 members were among the 30 plus artists participating in the juried Art on the Prairie Fine Arts Show Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24, 2017, in Warrenville. They were Sue Tripp, Marita Valdizan, Judith Horsley, Margaret Bucholz, Tom Obright and Susan Delaney. Obright was an award winner.
At the Tuesday, September 19, 2017, Community High School District 94 Board of Education meeting, Kathy Smith from California Casualty, presented WCCHS social studies teacher Mary Ellen Daneels with the California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence. Daneels is one of only 38 educators nationally, and the only one from Illinois, to receive this award. The California Casualty Awards for Teaching Excellence awardees are nominated by their peers for their dedication to the profession, community engagement, professional development, attention to diversity, and advocacy for fellow educators. (www.merleburl.com)
At the Friday, September 22, 2017, football games, the scores were West Chicago Community High School-32, East Aurora High School-19; Wheaton Academy-9, Riverside-Brookfield High School-20.
In response to the West Chicago High School Teachers Association’s statement regarding contract negotiations and its vote to suspend volunteer sponsorship and coaching of student organizations and teams until there is an agreement between the union and the Board of Education, students came to the Tuesday, October 91, 2017, Community High School District 94 Board of Education meeting. During the public participation segment, most mentioned the importance of the clubs as a way of making friends with similar interests and entrance into colleges, plus the teachers are role models and need to be treated fairly. The members of the board thanked the students for coming to the meeting and voicing their opinions. Board president Gary Saake read a response to the teacher’s statement. He mentioned the ratings and awards the high school has received. “I’d like to add that these successes would not be possible without the dedication of faculty and staff, parents, community volunteers, and most importantly, the students, who should remain the central focus for us all.”
The Board and the teacher’s union are in the process of negotiations for a new contract. Negotiations started in July 2016. “The prior contract expired August 23, 2017.”
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.
