Newsletter - 2010 Winter

T H E V I L L A G E

N E W S L E T T E R

Winter 2010

VILLAGE OF

WESTCHESTER PRSRT STD

U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 12 Bellwood, IL VILLAGE OF WESTCHESTER

Sam D. Pulia, President

Catherine M. Booth, Clerk

Neil Boyle, Trustee

Patrick Casey, Trustee

Rick Fox, Trustee

Walter J. Novak, Trustee

Brian A. Sloan, Trustee

Nicholas C. Steker, Trustee

Stan Urban, Village Manager

*****ECRWSS***** POSTAL CUSTOMER WESTCHESTER, ILLINOIS 60154

10300 Roosevelt Road ~ Westchester, Illinois 60154

Phone: (708) 345-0020 ~ Fax: (708) 345-2873

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.westchester-il.org

The Village Newsletter is Published Quarterly By the Village of Westchester

President’s Letter 1-3

2010 Census 3

Municipal News 4

Department News 4-7

Calendars of Events 8-9

What’s Happening Now 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

F R O M T H E D E S K O F T H E P R E S I D E N T . . .

TEAR ON LINE AND MAIL BACK -->

The 2009 Holiday Season has passed us by and I hope your holidays were filled with great joy. Before we blinked another season was upon us as 2009 seemed to fly by. Last year we experienced many changes to our village. Several new board members, including myself were elected to represent your interests. A new Village Manager, Mr. Stan Urban was also hired and has been constantly working to provide all of our residents with excellent cus-tomer service. Your Village Board has met just about every Tuesday since May 13th

2009. “Committee of the Whole” meetings were insti-tuted and held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, where the entire board meets to discuss topics to be brought forward to the Board meetings. An actual vote on those items occurs only on

our Regular Board Meeting nights on the 2nd and 4th Tues-days of the month. This gives board members and residents a chance to participate in the discussion of those items be-fore they are voted on by the board. We held two “Town Hall” meetings at our public schools, one on the sanitary sewer back-ups, the other on the Building Department/Permit process. We are planning the next one for Feb-ruary 2, 2010 at the West-chester Intermediate School (High Ridge School). The topics will include presenta-tions by both our Police and Fire Departments. The “Town Hall” meetings are designed to bring additional information from village staff to you. We are in your neighborhood, and we look forward to your ques-tions and comments. Two “Coffee with the President,” events have also been held where I, and attending board members, had the opportunity to answer your questions on a more informal basis. I would like to thank the Westchester Library and Antonio’s coffee shop for hosting these events. Several initiatives have been implemented over the past several months. Some resur-facing equipment was pur-chased this season and sev-eral streets have been patched. The Public Works employees have made vast improvements to multiple streets with more planned to

come in 2010. National Power Rodding Company did an extensive cleaning and camera inspec-tion of the sanitary sewer sys-tem throughout the Village. The televised pictures will as-sist the Village in locating the pipes that have collapsed and need to be repaired or re-placed. A section of Addison Creek has been cleaned and a host of dead trees and brush has been removed. Cleaning will continue this spring thanks to the help of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The Roosevelt Road Street Improvement project is near completion with sidewalk paver bricks, additional light-ing and signage for the vil-lage. The Village has applied for Illinois Environmental Protec-tion Agency grants for money to replace our aging water pumping station that services Westchester, Broadview, Hines Hospital, Madden Health Center, and Loyola Hospital, with Lake Michigan drinking water. A similar grant was applied for to repair/replace sewer lines in the High Ridge Area through our Congressmen Danny Davis and Dan Lipinski. The leaf bag distribution pro-gram was reinstated and with the help of volunteers, a bun-dle of leaf bags was delivered to over 6,000 individual homes. With the assistance

TAX PREPARATION

Triton College RSVP Volunteer Services

There will be tax preparers available at the Proviso Township offices. Located at 4565 W. Harrison Street in Hillside. Services are available by appointment only during February and March. Interested parties should make an appointment by calling the Triton College RSVP office: (708)456-0300, Extension 3895.

V I L L A G E B OA R D T OW N H A L L M E E T I N G

The next Westchester Village Board Town Hall Meeting will address:

“Public Safety in Westchester”

Tuesday February 2nd, 2010

7:00 pm

Westchester Intermediate School

10900 Canterbury

Westchester Community News Briefs

Sign up for the Village of Westchester’s Email E-Briefs

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Antonio’s Ice Cream & Café’ grand opening with Trustee Novak, Co-owner Joe Christopher, Trustee Sloan, Co-owner Paul Gattuso, Chamber President Bill Ernst, Village President Pulia, and Trustee Boyle.

of our Public Works employees, and a piece of equipment borrowed from the Village of LaGrange Park, our streets have never looked so good. We have expanded resident participation in our Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and a re-vitalized Economic Development Committee. A Citizen Advisory Committee is also in the works and will be formed shortly. These volunteer committees are a good cross-section of our community, which includes individuals with diverse backgrounds and various employment credentials. Several of our service organizations continue to assist our community. The Westchester LIONS Club held the judging for the annual Peace Poster Contest where students entered their depiction of “The Power of Peace.” First Prize Winners of a $100 Savings Bond were Julisa Galvan, Westchester Middle School; Julia Nowicki, Divine Providence; Amber Reese, Im-manuel Lutheran and Omar Paniagua, Divine Infant Jesus. Second Prize Winners of a $50.00 Savings Bond were Al-len William Bell III, Westchester Middle School; Alex Kwok, Di-vine Infant Jesus School and Tamron Morris, Immanuel Lu-theran School. Entries were placed on display at the West-chester Library as well as sub-mitted to the LIONS District 1A Governor, for District Judging. The Scouts from Pack and Troop 172 and 73 collected food and eyeglasses, as well as worn and weathered American Flags for retirement. The food drive supports the Westchester Food Pantry and a sharing church in Chicago. The 550 collected eyeglasses will go to the LIONS of Illinois Foundation for distribution. The Scouts also par-ticipated in our Veterans Day event by posting the colors while escorting our honored guest Major Tammy Duckworth into the tent for her address at the Vietnam veterans “Moving Wall” ceremony. The Westchester Blood Program Drive, marking its 35th birth-

day, was honored at the Top 20 Luncheon by LifeSource Blood Ser-vices as the most productive commu-nity group in the northeastern Illinois. WBP finished 12th among all donor groups but first among community or-ganizations. Over the past year the program has collected over 550 units of blood. Since the founding of the group in 1974 it has collected 22,000 pints for area hospitals, more than enough to save 60,000 lives. That is the population of Westchester three times over! Following the Village Holiday Tree Lighting, the Westchester Police and Fire Departments collected toys for Loyola Hospital Children’s Center, food for the Westchester Food Pantry, and supplies for our overseas Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you, to

all those who contributed to these re-markable causes. Recognition is also deserved from our young adults who have distinguished themselves through hard work. Joseph Mills and Joseph Parenti attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Olivia Stanger received the Youth Service Medal Of Honor from

Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, for her volunteer service. Westchester Middle School Students participated in “Make a Difference Day” where they went into the community to rake leaves and spruce up our community. They also participated in Government Day, where students acted and replaced elected officials and senior staff for a day. The Relay for Life’s Annual Cancer benefit was a huge success. Lisa Mar-tin, the group’s organizer, presented the Village Board with a banner that is proudly displayed in the village hall recognizing the event’s two awards, the All American Award and the Relay All Star Award. Projects planned for 2010, include Gardner Road, which is scheduled to be resurfaced in two phases, begin-

ning in the spring. Thanks to the help of our State Representative Ms. Karen Yarbrough. West-chester Boulevard, from Roose-velt to Canterbury and 31st Street from Wolf Road to 1st Avenue are scheduled to be resurfaced this spring as well. The Village Board is in the proc-ess of reviewing local street pro-jects based on a Street Survey Report done in 2006. Recommen-dations are being brought forth from our engineering firm. Pre-liminary cost estimates on several of the streets have been obtained with more to come. As you know, funding these projects is very costly. Your Board is committed to formulating a plan to repair/replace/resurface as many of our roads as we can afford. Please keep in mind that we have not received any state money from the Capital Plan that was ap-proved last summer. Presently we are still awaiting for $700,000

in promised monies. A total Zoning map review and revision has been in the works for several months. This up-date is necessary and will provide regulations to maintain the character of our community as well as help to at-tract desired businesses to West-chester.

M U N I C I P A L N E W S

Stan Urban, Village Manager Page 3

M U N I C I PA L N E W S

Page 2

P R E S I D E N T ’ S L E T T E R C O N T I N U E D

ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL

“Breakfast with the President” David G. McCreery

“St. Joseph's High School Past and Future: Inspiring and Influencing Tomorrow's Leaders”

Special guest: Westchester Village President

Sam Pulia

“Village-wide Senior Citizen Organization”

January 13, 2010

9 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

In Library/GRC

Complimentary breakfast provided, please

RSVP by Jan.8th (708) 562-7488 or

[email protected]

The continued tree trimming services are scheduled to begin in the Nixon Area: Roosevelt to Cermak, Gardner to Mannheim Rd. What can you do to help Westchester?" Please support our local businesses and try out our restaurants that have opened this year: Antonio’s Ice Cream and Café, Christopher’s Speakeasy, Chai-Yo Thai and the Signature Sports Bar. Remember, Westchester re-ceives sales tax from our businesses. Please be mindful of making pur-chases within the Village, you may be sending tax dollars to a neighboring community.

As you can tell, your board is taking on several approaches with the ultimate goal of moving Westchester forward. At times I feel the pace is slow, but I do believe we are moving in the right di-rection. We cannot do it alone, thus we are always seeking your input and your help. Our continued partnership with the members of the Westchester Park District, Westchester School Dis-trict, Westchester Library, Westchester Chamber of Commerce and you, the residents of Westchester, will make 2010 an exciting and eventful new year.

Thank you for giving us the chance to serve you. Sam D. Pulia- President

The 2010 Census: Be Counted

In February and March, the Census Bureau will be sending out census forms to every household across the

country. The new form has only 10 short questions, making it the easiest form ever. The Village is pleased to

join the village, park district, schools and businesses in Westchester to encourage all residents to participate

in the 2010 Census. Our community deserves its fair share of $400 billion dollars of federal funds for infra-

structure and services, but the distribution of those funds is determined by population — and the population is

measured by the census. That's more than $3 trillion over a 10-year period for things like new roads and

schools, and services like job training centers. Many of the grants for funding available to public entities rely

on population data provided by the census. If only 80% of the population of Westchester is counted, this can

have a serious impact on the amount of money the Village is eligible to request or eligible to receive. Here

are other important ways an accurate count in the 2010 Census will impact you:

• The 2010 Census will determine the number of representatives representing Illinois in Congress.

• Businesses rely on census data when deciding where to locate new stores, office buildings and manufac-

turing plants.

• School districts rely on census data in planning for schools and classrooms to meet the population

changes in a community.

• Social service organizations use census data to allocate support services for seniors, pre-school pro-

grams, mental health care and other programs.

• Community groups use census data when advocating for environmental legislation, consumer protection,

and a host of quality of life issues.

The U.S. Constitution requires the federal government to take a census every ten years. The information you

provide on the form is confidential and protected by Title 13 of the U.S. Code. In fact, all Census Bureau em-

ployees take an oath and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data they collect. Please com-

plete the census form when you receive it early next year and mail it back to the Census Bureau. Your partici-

pation will benefit everyone in Westchester. The Village Census Committee is chaired by Trustee Novak,

you may contact him through email [email protected]

F I R E D E PA R T M E N T

Richard E. Belmonte, Fire Chief Page 7

M U N I C I PA L N E W S

Matthew Evans, Police Chief Page 6

P O L I C E D E PA R T M E N T

Neighborhood Watch

is Homeland Security in your Hometown!

Meet the Challenge! Get Involved!

The Westchester Police Department is seeking residents to participate in the Neighborhood Watch Program. The Neighborhood Watch is a resident-involvement program designed to provide participants with instruction and participation in the detection and prevention of crime in your area. Those interested in participating or to request additional information regarding this Neighborhood Watch program email [email protected] or call (708) 345– 0060 ext. 440

W E S T C H E S T E R P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T

Newly-acquired vehicles must be licensed within thirty (30) days of purchase. If vehicle stickers are not properly displayed by February 15, 2010 the owner is subject to a fine, in addition to fees being doubled.

Seniors: $20.00 to residents age 65 by 2/15/010. One per person.

The Village Hall is open for your convenience, to help serve you better, every Saturday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Village Hall

office hours are Monday, Wednesday through Friday 8:30 am. to 5 pm. Tuesday the Village is open 8:30 am to 7 pm.

Dog & Cat Licenses (Tags) are available in the Police Department free of charge. Rabies certification must be presented

upon registration. Newly-acquired dogs and cats must be licensed within 30 days after receiving their first rabies vaccine.

Thereafter, the registrations have to be renewed annually at the beginning of the year before February 15th.

AFTER-HOURS PAYMENTS

Use the drop box in the lobby of the Village Hall, located in the main lobby just to the left of the doorway into the Village

offices after hours.

BILLING LATE FEES

Water and garbage fees are billed quarterly by section. If you do not receive the bill because of a post office error, you are

still subject to late fees. Bills not paid by 5 pm on the due date will be charged a late fee.

W E S T C H E S T E R V I L L A G E V E H I C L E S T I C K E R S

As winter takes hold on the commu-nity, the Westchester Fire Department reminds residents that this is a poten-tially dangerous season. The use of heating equipment inside of the home must be handled with care and caution. Fireplaces, space heaters and even the furnace within the house can cause a disaster. Now is the time to examine your home heating devices to ensure they operate properly. Check when the last time your furnace was serviced and cleaned. This should be done annually. A dirty or faulty fur-nace can cause fire or the release of deadly carbon monoxide gas. The Westchester Fire Department does not recommend the use of space heat-ers. If you must use them, they must be UL listed for safety and should never be left unattended. Be sure that the area near and around the space heater is free of any material that could catch fire. Never leave the space heater operating overnight. The same information is true for fireplaces, make sure the chimney and flue are clean, and the damper operates properly. Keep combustibles clear and most im-portantly, keep yourself and your fam-ily at a safe distance from all heat pro-

ducing devices. As we enjoy the holiday season, re-member candles are a leading cause of home fires, and those can be easily prevented by using common sense, never leave them unattended and keep the area near the candles free of mate-rials which may ignite. Take the time to discuss with your family, what to do in case of emer-gency, such as a fire or carbon monox-ide emergency, and please check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for fresh batteries and func-tion. Remember, the law now requires that residences have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Winter can also take a severe toll on our health, with severe cold and heavy snow. Please look after each other and our neighbors. Shoveling wet heavy snow will cause muscle aches, injuries and could po-tentially cause a heart attack. Take your time, take frequent breaks, and if it is too much, let it go. Please do shovel around fire hydrants though, as

they may become buried under heavy snow. Be careful with your footing as icy patches are frequently difficult to see. Dress in layers and limit your ex-posure to the elements. The cold can kill! Please check on your family and friends during these next few months and show why Westchester is a “nice place to live”. The Westchester Fire Department would be happy to perform home fire safety surveys at your convenience, please call the department at 345-0433 to schedule or for any other assistance we may offer.

From L-R: FFPM Dan Prezyna, Capt. James Waters, FFPM Paul Groom, Lt. James DeBoer and Chief Richard Belmonte receive commendations from the Village for their lifesaving efforts on a vehicle accident that required extrication. FF Gary Padalik, not pictured, was also recognized.

The Westchester Fire Department hosted an Open House during Fire Prevention week; Sparky as-sisted the department in spreading the safety mes-sage, “Residential Fire Sprinklers Save Lives”

From L-R: Village President Sam Pulia recognizes FFPM

Matt Martin, FFPM Kevin Dotson and Loyola Paramedic stu-

dent Dave Jenks, for their lifesaving efforts on a recent medi-

cal emergency. Loyola Hospital presented each of the Para-

medics and student with commendations.

VEHICLE FEE (2/15) FEE (2/16)

Auto 35.00 70.00

Motorcycle 32.00 64.00

Truck (B Plate) 60.00 120.00

Truck (C Plate) 70.00 140.00

IL Disabled Plate 10.00 20.00

B U I L D I N G D E PA R T M E N T

Dennis DiPasquale, Building Commissioner Page 9

P U B L I C W O R K S D E PA R T M E N T

Public Works Page 8

The Village will begin regular branch pickup on

Monday, April 5, 2010. Crews will pick up

branches once a month on the first full week of

every month from April through November.

Watch for a schedule in the spring issue of the

Village Newsletter.

For a map of branch pick up schedule log on: www.westchester-il.org.

Please remember that all landscaping contractors are responsible for

their own brush pick-up and disposal.

B R A N C H P I C K - U P

The cold weather has arrived so please make sure the outside water spigots are turned off in the basement during the winter months to prevent pipes from freezing or cracking. If you are leaving town for warmer weather please inform the Public Works De-partment so crews can shut off the water at the buffalo box while you are away. Adopt a fire hydrant this winter season! Help keep the hydrant clear of snow so that the Fire Department can easily identify the hydrant.

W I N T E R W A T E R R U L E S

S N O W P R E P A R A T I O N S

P L A N N I N G A N A D D I T I O N O R

R E M O D E L I N G ?

The Public Works Department snow plan is in effect and plows and spreaders are ready to go on a moment’s notice. Please assist us by observing these suggestions:

Place garbage cans behind the curb line-not in the street Observe the “No Parking” and “Snow Route” signs Do not throw or blow snow back into the cleared streets

The following parking restrictions WILL be enforced:

After a two-inch snowfall and except as otherwise posted, it is unlawful to park any vehicle, or to

permit any vehicle to remain parked, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on odd-

numbered sides of the streets (south and east sides of streets) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and

on even-numbered sides of streets (north and west sides of streets) on Mondays, Wednesdays

and Fridays.

Odd sides of streets are defined as the south side of east and west streets, and the east side of north

and south streets. Even sides of the street are defined as the north side of east and west streets

and the west side of north and south streets.

The Public Works Department works long and hard to keep the Village streets clear and safe. We need and appreciate your cooperation.

Winter months are typically slow periods for construc-tion. That makes this the perfect time to submit plans for your upcoming projects. Review time for plans submit-ted during this period typically are about half compared to plans submitted during prime construction season. So, get those plans turned in, reviewed and obtain your per-mits in advance and you will be set and ready to start as soon as spring weather arrives. Work must start within six (6) months of permit issuance and permits are nor-mally good for one (1) year. We strongly recommend that you obtain at least three (3) quotations from contractors, review them to compare equal scope and check all references thoroughly. All contractors performing work within Westchester must have current registration with the Village. A simple phone call to the Building Department can verify if your contractor is registered or we can provide you with a list of currently registered contractors.

A permit shall not be required for ordinary repair work incidental to the upkeep of a building or structure. However, if such work involves any of the following a permit is required: ♦ Removal or installation of any external wall or the removal of any supporting wall, column, post, truss or

beam; ♦ The installing or changing of any stair, stair-hall, fire escape, scuttle, skylight, window, door or other means

of communication, ingress, egress, ventilation or the admission of natural light; ♦ The addition, modification or changing of the location or number of connections of the fixtures, traps,

vents, waste, soil or drain pipes of the plumbing system; ♦ Any addition, change or modification to the electrical service or distribution system including changing of

the number, location or connections of the fixtures of the lighting system or the number or location of the wall outlet receptacles;

♦ The changing to a different system of lighting or ventilation; ♦ Re-shingling or re-covering of roofs; ♦ Renewing or replacing exterior wood or siding of the frame portion of any building or structure; ♦ The installation or modification of any partition walls, or the covering of walls and/or ceilings in basements

or areas partially below grade, such as the conversion of an open basement or cellar into a finished recrea-tion room;

♦ Installation, modification or remodeling of kitchens and/or bathrooms; ♦ Installation or change of location of central air conditioning units and installation or change of location of

heating units; ♦ Erection, replacement or relocation of fences.

I S A P E R M I T R E Q U I R E D ?

As always, residents are asked to call the Village at

� (708) 345-0041 Public Works or � (708) 345-0060 Police (Non-emergency or after hours)

if you see an unusual amount of water in the street or parkways. This could be a main break or water leak that requires our immediate attention.

You may have noticed new trees on the parkway or sidewalks replaced in your neighborhood. These improvements are part of the Village shared cost programs. We offer 4-6 various types of trees to choose from and planting will begin in fall of 2010. If you are interested in participating in the coming year, contact Public Works 708-345-0041.

V I L L A G E S I D E W A L K & T R E E R E P L A C E M E N T P R O G R A M

B U I L D I N G D E P A R T M E N T S E R V I C E S

We are currently located in the front office of the Village Hall. Our hours of operation are 8:30 AM thru 5:00 PM, Monday thru Friday.

The Building Department handles all new construction and re-modeling along with a variety of other services including:

Home Compliance Checks Building Permits Sign Permits Plan Reviews Contractor’s License and Registration Zoning Questions Flood Plain Questions Code Enforcement

January 2010 -Tuesday, January 5th Last day of voter registration. For more information about late voter registration go to www.voterinfonet.com

-Saturday, January 16 First community blood drive of year. 8am to 3pm at Divine Providence School, 2500 Mayfair.

-GLOW Preschool, Grace Lutheran Church, 1101 Manchester, Westchester has openings in the 3 Year Old Class. Call (708)681-4569 for more information.

-Saturday, January 16 Westchester Blood Drive, 8:15 am –3 pm Divine Providence School

-January 23 8:30-9:30am Market Day Pick-up, Divine Provi-dence School

-Sunday, January 31, 2010, 8:00am until 1:00pmDivine Provi-dence Athletic Association Annual Pancake Breakfast Adults: $6.00 per plate, Children: $4.00 per plate 2500 Mayfair Ave-nue, Westchester

- Third Friday of Each Month: Taizé Ecumenical Prayer @ 7:30 pm January 15; February 19, March 19 Divine Provi-dence (Church)

-February 2010 - Monday, February 1: Kindergarten Registration for 2010-2011 at Westchester Public Schools, 6:30pm-9:00pm

-Tuesday, February 2 Election Day/Voting, 6:00AM-

7:00PM go to for more info www.voterinfonet.com -

-Friday, February 5: Fish and Chicken Fry 4:30 - 7:30 pm Westchester Community Church

-Friday, February 12: Valentine's Day Dance at Westchester Middle School, 7:00pm-9:15pm)

-Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010; Distribution of Ashes (prayer service) 6:30 am, Noon Distribution of Ashes (Mass) 7:30 & 9 am, 7 pm Devine Providence

-Saturday, February 20 - Scrapbooking Fundraiser - 9:00 am - 11:00 pm (come scrapbook with us - we supply: plenty of open space, meals, massages, fellowship and ideas from other scrap bookers) Westchester Community Church

-Sunday, February 21: 1 pm at the LaGrange Park Library, 55 N LaGrange Road Prehistoric Elephants of the Chicago Region sponsored by Save The Prairie Society Contact R. McCabe at 708-354-5512

March 2010

-Friday, March 5 - Fish and Chicken Fry - 4:30 - 7:30 pm Westchester Community Church

-Saturday, March 6 - Scrapbooking Fundraiser - 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Westchester Community Church

-Saturday, March 6 DISPA Talent Show – Devine Infant Rocks the House - Contact person: Mrs. Kathy Kulnig

-Monday & Tuesday, March 15 & 16 2nd Grade Fine Arts Celebration at Westchester Primary School, 7:00pm

-March 20: Market Day Pick-up 8:30-9:30am Devine Providence School

-Sunday, March 21: 2 pm at the LaGrane Park Library, 555 N LaGrange Road “Eco-friendly Landscaping Techniques” by Save The Prairie Society Call R. McCabe at 708-354-5512 -Tuesday, March 23 Early Childhood Screening at Westchester Primary School, 9:00am-3:00pm

-Friday, March 26 Living Stations in Church at 1:30 pm – Contact person: Mr. Leonard Gramarossa 708-865-0122

-Tuesday, March 30 Simple Supper at 5:45 pm - Contact per-son: Sr. Susan Majcen 708-865-8086 -Tuesday, March 30 Living Stations in Church at 630 pm - Contact person: Mr. Leonard Gramarossa 708-865-0122

C A L E N D A R O F V I L L A G E M E E T I N G S

January through December 2010 Page 11

C A L E N D A R O F C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S

January February & March Page 10

Westchester Chamber of Commerce

Banquet

“Celebrate Westchester”

Saturday, January 30, 2010

6:00 p.m. Cocktails

7:00 p.m. Dinner

The Carlisle, Lombard

$75 per person

Entertainment by Pie in Your Face

reservations required

by January 15, 2010

contact Bill Ernst 708-243-9859

Regular Meetings of the Village Board

are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room

Regular Meetings of the Committee of the

Whole will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the

Community Room

January 5, 2010 January 12, 2010

January 19, 2010 January 26, 2010

February 2, 2010 February 9, 2010

February 16, 2010 February 23, 2010

March 2, 2010 March 9, 2010

March 16, 2010 March 27, 2010

All Village meeting agendas are posted on our website: www.westchester-il.org

On behalf of the Westchester Food Pantry and our families in need, I would like to thank you for your generous donations of food, time, and thoughtfulness at this special time of year. With endless dona-tions and services you have made the Holidays brighter for many families. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. — With warmest regards and thanks, Judy Saraceno-Swenson

Aspire Calls for Volunteers Aspire, a non profit agency serving children and adults with developmental disabilities in the western suburbs operates a resale store (Aspire on Broad-way) in Melrose Park. The proceeds from the sales benefit Aspire pro-grams. We are in need on weekly volunteers to sort donations, steam clothing, assist customers and merchandise the floor. Volunteers receive on the job training, free parking and a store discount. Please contact Julie Gies, Vol-unteer & Outreach Coordinator or checkout website at www.aspireofillinois.org Thank you.

L E A F P R O G R A M A S U C C E S S

The Westchester Leaf Bag Program returned this fall in an effort to maintain the beauty of the Village and to reduce the amount of debris in our sewer system. The initiative was proposed by Trustee Sloan, and included use of a vacuum machine and leaf bags, which were funded 100% by private contributions. Trustees Novak and Sloan secured discounts of over $2,500 and contributions to cover the $9,000 net ex-pense. Thank you to MacNeal Physicians Group, Menards, Gobber Real Estate, Law Offices of Randall R. Hribal and Thomas J. Spahn, Henry’s Hotdogs, Tho-mas Michael Hair Salon, Le Petite Café, Christopher’s Speakeasy, Preferred Plumbing, Antonio’s Ice Cream & Café, Wally’s Donuts, Paul’s Pizza, Minuteman Press, Sam Pulia, Cathy Booth, Wally Novak, Brian Sloan and Nick Steker. Please show your support of the businesses that funded the program by visiting their establishments and using their services. A special thanks goes out to the volunteers who deliv-ered the bags throughout the Village: Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of Packs 73 & 172, Proviso ROTC, Overall Home Inspector Timothy Hinsdale, Steve Battersby, Luigi Mazzei, Andy Natanek, and Village Officials Pulia, Booth, Novak, Sloan and Steker, as well as mem-bers of their families. This program could not have been a success without their involvement. If you would like to be a part of the program in the future, please e-mail Trustee Sloan at [email protected].

The WCIC will hold its fourth annual Cosmic Bowl Saturday, February 27, 2010, from 7:00 to 11 p.m. at Suburbanite Bowl in Westmont. Doors open at 7, with dinner at 8 and bowling at 9:30 p.m. Raffles are part of the evening. Reservations, which are $35 per person, are required by February 5. Any residents or businesses that would like to donate an item to raffle may call Genny Panek at 708.865-9977. See www.westchestercic.org for more information.

-Tuesday, February 23: Family Book Fair Night at Westchester Intermediary School, 6:30pm-8:30pm

-Wednesday, February 24 Winter Choral Concert at West-chester Middle School, 7:00pm

Big City Night - Hong Kong, a gala to benefit Aspire, will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago February 20, 2010. Reservations are $150 per person, and include dinner and drinks, live entertainment, a raffle, as well as silent and live auctions. All proceeds benefit the array of therapies, educa-tional programs, clinics and other support Aspire provides to children with developmental disabilities and delays and their families. For more information about reservations or how to make a donation of an auction item or for information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Susan Ondreja at 708.547-3575 ext. 3558 or see www.aspireofillinois.org.