City of West Chicago, Illinois

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Greet the Holiday Season at West Chicago’s Frosty Fest

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The City of West Chicago’s annual winter event, Frosty Fest, is Saturday, December 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The holiday event is held in the historic downtown area of West Chicago and features the City’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony along with food, live music, and activities for all ages. In addition to the fun activity line-up, the public is invited to enjoy some hot chocolate as they welcome the event’s special guests, Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with some of their furry friends.

The City will provide more details closer to the festival, including a list of all activities, musical lineup, and an event map.

For more information about the event, please visit westchicago.org/frostyfest.

Free Leaf Collection Program Available through November 30

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The 2024 Free Leaf Collection Program for fall is available from Monday, October 28 through Saturday, November 30.

No universal stickers are required during this period, but leaves must be placed in brown lawn refuse bags that do not exceed 50-pounds then set within the parkway for collection on customers' regularly scheduled pickup days. No other yard waste may be mixed in with leaves, and leaves placed in plastic bags or cardboard boxes will not be collected.

View more information about the City’s Seasonal Programs on the City’s website.

This Program is managed by the City's contractor, Groot Industries, Inc.

How to Be a Good Neighbor This Fall: Proper Leaf Disposal

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As the vibrant colors of fall descend upon West Chicago, it's important for all of us to take steps to maintain the beauty and cleanliness of our neighborhoods. One key way to do this is by properly disposing of fallen leaves. Here are some tips to ensure our community stays clean and safe:

  1. Rake Responsibly: Avoid raking or blowing leaves into the streets. Remove any debris in the vicinity of storm drains to ensure the free flow of water to the storm system, which will minimize localized flooding and keep nearby water bodies healthy.
  2. Use Yard Waste Bags for Leaf Collection: Collect leaves in brown yard refuse bags for easy pickup during regularly scheduled garbage collection days (starting the last week of October through the end of November).  No refuse stickers are required for pickup.
  3. Composting: Consider composting leaves in your backyard. Composting not only reduces waste but also provides valuable nutrients for your garden.
  4. Help Neighbors: Assist elderly or disabled neighbors with leaf collection and disposal. A little help goes a long way in fostering a strong, supportive community.

By following these simple steps, we can all contribute to a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful West Chicago.

Please note:  The following are prohibited within City limits:

  • Blowing/disposing of leaves into City streets.
  • Burning of leaves, compost, brush or waste materials.

Violators may be subject to code enforcement action that could result in fines of up to $750 per occurrence.

LIHEAP: Financial Assistance for Energy Costs Available for Eligible Low-Income Households

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DuPage County is accepting applications for its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through August 15, 2025.

The LIHEAP program assists low-income households by offsetting the rising cost of home energy through direct financial assistance, energy counseling, outreach and education. An overdue bill or disconnect notice is not required to receive LIHEAP. Emergency assistance is available to eligible households whose utility service is in danger of disconnection or has been disconnected, and for homeowners whose furnace is non-operational or determined unsafe to operate.

All households, regardless of citizenship status, that meet the household's combined gross income for the 30 days prior to application must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Visit the DuPage County website for more information.

Honoring Our Heroes: West Chicago’s Veterans Day Display

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As Veterans Day approaches, let us come together to recognize and honor the bravery of those who have served, ensuring their contributions are celebrated for generations to come.

In this spirit of remembrance, the City of West Chicago proudly reaffirms its commitment to honoring its local veterans through the annual Veterans Day Display Program, recently installed downtown. This heartfelt initiative showcases the bravery and service of West Chicago residents while highlighting the City’s dedication to recognizing and celebrating all local veterans.

This year, the City is honored to add the following distinguished individuals to the program:

  • Erik Nelson (2009–2015, U.S. Army)
  • Harry Hummel (1943–1946, U.S. Army)
  • William Birch (1973–1977, U.S. Air Force)
  • Richard Howard (1949–1953, U.S. Army)
  • Vincente Alvarez (2018–2022, U.S. Marine Corps)
  • Lawerence “Lorny” Urban (1942–1946, U.S. Army)
  • Frank Dorner (1968–1971, U.S. Army)
  • LeClaire Carey (1968–1971, U.S. Army)
  • Donald Nellis (1945–1949, U.S. Army; 1949–1953, U.S. Air Force Reserves)

While we celebrate these new entries into the program, the City invites everyone to honor all our local veterans by visiting downtown to view the 62 individuals on display. Each banner represents a local hero who has called West Chicago home, and the City is proud to honor these individuals for their significant contributions to our country while representing their hometown.

To view the veterans featured in the Program, please visit the City’s website at westchicago.org/veteransdaydisplay.

The Veterans Day Display Program: Continuing a Tribute to Local Heroes

Launched in 2021, the Veterans Day Display Program was created to pay tribute to local veterans. After reaching maximum capacity for participants in 2023, the City recognized the need for reorganization of the Program in response to overwhelming interest in the banner display. The City actively utilized initial feedback while also engaging in discussions with community members to gather suggestions for improving the program, including increasing the number of participants and the veterans honored each year.

This collaborative effort resulted in significant enhancements, such as more legible banner designs and better placement within the downtown area to ensure greater accessibility for pedestrians. By featuring a different individual on each side of the banner, allocating appropriate funds annually, and implementing a rotation for future installations, the City addressed capacity limitations while maximizing the number of veterans honored each year.

As part of the revamped program, the City will allocate annual funds to allow for the addition of up to 14 new veterans, ensuring that all who have served from West Chicago are recognized at no cost to themselves or their nominators. Additionally, nominations are now accepted year-round at westchicago.org/veteransdaydisplay, rather than just during the month leading up to the program, allowing residents to enter at any time. Entries will be added to a running list on a first-come, first-served basis. Once nominations reach capacity for the year, any remaining submissions will automatically roll over into the following year’s group of inductees.

The City extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the residents who contributed to revamping this vital initiative, which serves as a testament to our community's commitment to honoring its heroes. Your dedication will ensure that every local veteran is celebrated each year, allowing West Chicago to uphold the legacy of those who have served while reinforcing our unwavering support for all members of the armed services.