September 2016 Village of Westchester Newsletter

Village of

Westchester SEPTEMBER 2016 Newsletter

From the Desk of The President POLICE DEPARTMENT

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

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CALENDAR

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LIBRARY

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SCHOOL DISTRICT

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PUBLIC WORKS

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PARK DISTRICT

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On Thursday August 11, 2016, the Westchester Chamber of Commerce, and the Village of Westchester, along with the family and friends of Dr. Steven Petrak, welcomed the Petrak Family Chiropractic Center to Westchester, Illinois with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Monday, September 5, 2016 was LABOR DAY in the United States. It is a Federal and State holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September.

The holiday celebrates the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in Union Square, New York City in 1882.

President Grover Cleveland established the date of the first Monday in September in 1887. The parade was designed to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations’” followed by a festival for workers and their families.

In addition to the positive recognition organized labor has done to improve the lives of workers it also marks the end of summer. In high society, Labor Day is considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white. NFL, college and high school football teams also mark the beginning of their seasons. Good luck to all of our area high school teams as they get their seasons started.

REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER 8, 2016 BALLOT

On the upcoming General Election Day of November 8, 2016,Westchester Residents will see a Referendum Question on the Ballot. The board approved an ordinance at our August 9, 2016 board meeting to submit the following question to you for your consideration: SHALL THE LIMITING RATE UNDER THE PROPERTY TAX EXTENSION LIMITATION LAW FOR THE VILLAGE OF WESTCHESTER, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, BE INCREASED BY AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EQUALTO 0.238% ABOVE THE LIMITING RATE FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE, FIRE, AND OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES FOR LEVY YEAR 2015 AND BE EQUAL TO 1.676% OF THE EQUALIZED ASSESSED VALUE OF THE TAXABLE PROPERTY THEREIN FOR LEVY YEAR 2016?

Supplemental Information that does not appear on the ballot is as follows: The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most recently extended limiting rate is $6,256,078 and the approximate amount of taxes extended if the proposition is approved is

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Police Department SEPTEMBER

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A Message from the Police Chief I hope everyone had a nice summer, boy they sure go fast!! As we head into September and the beginning of a new school year, I would like to encourage those driving their children to school to be mindful of the school zones, bus stops and the school zone speed limit.

You need to adjust your driving habits now that school is back in session to prevent any possible citations or traffic crashes.

With the safety of our children being a primary concern, the police department will be out monitoring school zones to ensure motorists are being safe and are in compliance with the law. Remember, NO CELL PHONE USE OF ANY KIND WHILE DRIVING IN AN ACTIVE SCHOOL ZONE. Here are a few tips for you parents driving your children to school as well as all other drivers passing through school zones: Follow the speed limit – the speed limit in a school zone is 20mph Stay Alert!!

Speeding in a school zone could result in losing your driver’s license for a time.

Yield to Pedestrians Stop for the school buses – don’t try and sneak by Be sure to learn the proper drop-off and pick-up zones for your school.

Watch for crossing guards and obey their stop signs Give yourself more time to get the children to school so you are not

rushing.

This fall the Police Department will be bringing back the Citizens Police Academy (CPA) to the Westchester Police Department.

Classes will run on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:30pm for ten weeks, beginning October 5th – December 14, 2016. The CPA is a wonderful way for the community to enhance their relationship with the police department as well as giving those who attend the chance to get to know the fine men and women who serve you on a personal level. If you are 18 years or older and you are a resident or business owner of the Village, please consider attending the CPA. Applications are available at the police department front desk or you may download one from the police department website. Just fill one out and return to the police department either by hand or mail. All applicants will be subject to a criminal history check.

I wish to recognize the following members of the police department for their work anniversaries during the month of September: September 7th – Deputy Chief Mike O’Hagan 27 years of service September 16th – Officer Kevin Tierney 7 years of service September 26th – Officer Bruno Coltri

13 years of service September 30th – Sgt.Vince LaManna

22 Years of service

Police blotter 1) At 4:11pm on July 17, 2016 a Theft was reported at the Westchester Community Pool located at 10201 Bond. Person(s) unknown took an IPhone that was on a table while the owner was swimming.

2) At 7:19pm on July 19, 2016 a Theft was reported on the 2800 block of Mayfair. The resident reported that 2 UPS packages were taken by unknown person(s) 3) At 9:00am on July 25, 2016 a Burglary to Auto was reported on the 600 block of Newcastle.

The vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) entered and removed a laptop computer that was left in the trunk.

4) At 9:37am on August 3, 2016 a Criminal Damage to Property was reported at High Ridge Park, located at Canterbury and Evers.

Unknown person(s) damaged the street sign with spray paint.

5) At 1:23pm on August 5, 2016 a Burglary to Garage was reported on the 1400 block of Heidorn.

It was reported that unknown person(s) removed tools and lawn chairs from the garage.

6) At 11:06am on August 9, 2016 a Theft from Auto was reported in the parking lot for the FedEx\Kinko’s. The vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) removed a purse from the unlocked vehicle.

7) At 9:19am on August 14, 2016 a Criminal Damage to Auto was reported on the 2500 block of Monticello.

The vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) had thrown eggs at their front door and vehicle causing damage.

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$7,291,507.

For the 2016 levy year, the approximate amount of additional tax extendable against property containing a single family residence and having a fair market value at the time of the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $63.51.

If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for 2016 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate calculated under provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property Tax Cap Law.) Those persons who have been attending our meeting have heard me speak in favor of hiring 3 police officers to increase our staffing to 32 officers from the current 29, in an attempt to provide additional security and services similar to when we had 38 officers back in 2003. The second issue I commented on was to follow the recommendation of a commissioned study of our fire department operations to increase staffing by 3 firefighter/paramedics to run a second ambulance. The study indicated our ambulance calls have increased and represent 69.3% (3 year average) of total calls for service.

SEPTEMBER 2016

2, 2016 Three events were held in August, the first being the Westchester Police Sponsored National Night Out (NNO).

This was our 5th year of joining in the NNO Program. Participation in the event highlights our law enforcement professionals and what having these committed men and women protecting us means to a community. All of which cannot be taken for granted,and cannot be successful without your assistance.

Since the Village’s inception we have had dedicated personnel serving Westchester as law enforcement officers. Our interaction with the residents and citizens, both children and adults alike, usually occur when a call for service is made or during enforcement of traffic infractions. This community event spotlights police as regular people whose duty to protect lives and property is becoming increasingly difficult with several high profile incidents occurring throughout our country. Our goal is to highlight the positive interactions and build relationships that will assist the police in doing their job effectively and efficiently. Patrol Officer and School Resource Officer Rob Verber as well as Police Chief Steven Stelter and his staff are to be recognized for their leadership in this annual event.

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Post 1437, Edward Jones Financial, Medulla LLC- Chiro One Wellness, Varieties Music Team, Westchester Lions Club,Westchester Masonic Lodge 995, Junior Achievement, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Salt Creek Model T-Car Club, Westchester Fire Department, Westchester Police Department.

Don shook, rattled and rolled to almost every song. Many marveled at Don’s agility and stamina. Another highlight of the night was a walk on audience member named Karen, a music teacher from Berkeley, IL. who did a superb job singing the Gloria Gayner song “I Will Survive” with the Afrodisiacs lead singer.

Village Trustees Carl Celestino, wearing red, Trustee Angelo Calcagno, wearing white, and I wearing blue proudly carried the National Night Out banner down Westchester Bouvelard in our Red-White-and Blue outfits as a tribute to our American flag. What makes it more special is the fact that we did not coordinate the colors.

Great minds think alike I guess. We were joined by many residents and community groups in our Unity Walk down Westchester Boulevard to the Park. I would like to thank all of our participants and vendors who provided handouts, tips, and giveaways to the people in attendance. Thanks to all of you for making NNO such a successful event!

The headliner ARRA, a familiar band who has previously entertained at our Music Fest and was a regular feature at the long-standing Westchester Fest did an awesome job drawing a large following and packing the front of the stage with an array of hits.

CHAMBER BUSINESS EXPO & MUSIC FESTIVAL HELD AUGUST 6, 2016

Our second August event was the Music Fest held Saturday,August 6th at the High Ridge Park. Along the west The Westchester Park District opened side of the school, the Westchester the swimming pool for a FREE hour Chamber of Commerce partnering long swim, followed by the showing with the Hillside-Berkeley Chamber of the Disney movie BIG HERO 6 held a Business Expo. Many of the local The law does not allow elected in Community Park. The weather business establishments highlighted officials to utilize public funds to cooperated for the event and I hope all their opportunities to all who were present. Small businesses are the support or refute any referendum had a great time. lifeblood of our communities. Shopping question.

The aforementioned comments are comments I have made This year there were many community in town and in our immediate local in public meetings regarding the needs groups positioned at tables throughout area strengthens our local economy.

I, as Mayor, wish to offer our residents. the park. I had a chance to visit with Sales tax revenues for purchases made It will be up to our registered voters to all of them and thanked them for being in Westchester fund the projects the either support or reject the referendum involved in our community and taking Village does to improve our quality of question posted above. time out to share their offerings. I was life. SHOP LOCALLY is not just a catchy thoroughly impressed at the turn out. slogan.

Those attending were: CONGRATULATIONS! The Village,Park District and Chamber Office of the Secretary of State, On August 1, 2016, Village Trustee Jeannie’s Hair Company, YMCA, Prima of Commerce came together to provide Nick Steker and his lovely wife La Pizza, Jimmy John’s, Westchester another event for the enjoyment of our Kathryn became the proud parents Food Pantry, Grace Lutheran Church, residents, friends, and invited guests. of Miss Teagan Louise Steker. Teagan Divine Infant, Divine Providence, Faith The Special Events group led by Staffer came into this world weighing 8 lbs 13 Lutheran Church,Westchester Chamber Katy Noffsinger worked hard to bring ounces and was 21.25 inches long. She of Commerce, Westchester Public this event to fruition. At 4pm Classic had a full head of dark hair and is as Library, Minuteman Press, Cub Scout Addiction sang classic rock songs to beautiful as you could imagine. At first Pack 73, Boy Scout Pack 73, Boy Scout a small but intimate group of people blush, Teagan resembles her mother Pack 1, Girl Scouts, Pillars, Community remembering the good old days of Kathryn but, as you look closely, she has Nursing, Goodwill Industries, J 4 songs. the sweetest expressions and devilish Jumping Beans, Office of the Attorney smile that could have only come from General/Community Outreach LiaisonHaven’t pulled those bellbottoms Nick. The family has recently moved Latino Affairs, Walgreens, Westchester and platform shoes out of the closet in into a larger home in Westchester to Park District, Sugar Mamas,Westchester a year or two? Or thirty?! Our second accommodate not only their newest Girls Softball, St. Joseph High School, group was the Afrodisiacs, a funky arrival but the family dog Duke, a Office of the Circuit Court of Cook group singing songs from the 70’s and gentle giant of a dog that Teagan can County, Jewel-Osco Pharmacy, 80’s. The group certainly had on their ride someday. Best wishes to the entire Westchester AYSO Soccer,ADT Security, Boogie Shoes as they sang many a song Steker and Knack families!

Bentley’s Pet Stuff, Friends of the we could actually sign along too. A Westchester Dog Park, Keesh-Hound local favorite and familiar face, Donald NATIONAL NIGHT OUT HELD AUGUST Groom Room ,American Legion Brody Jacobs was the first dancer of the event.

Thanks to all of our Chamber of Commerce volunteers who operated the liquor sales and the Westchester Park District for soft drinks and water sales. Thanks to Boy Scout Troup 1 for selling nacho’s and pizza nad Sugar Mama’s for providing hot dogs, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn and has been a constant presence at all our special events.

The weather could not have been more cooperative and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves on that Saturday afternoon and evening.

Thanks again go out to Katy Noffsinger and the Special Events Group who work very hard to bring entertainment to our back door.

MAYFAIR CELL TOWER ISSUE At our August 9th meeting, I asked our Village Board to take a formal vote indicating whether they would be in support of spending up to $70 thousand dollars, an estimate provided by our attorney, to fight the installation of the Mayfair Park Cell Tower. Our law firm has told the Board that, in their opinion,theVillage did not have a strong case and even provided us with court cases regarding cell tower decisions from around the country documenting cases that were unsuccessful and some that were successful. After discussion and public input, as well as a statement I read in support of following through with the lawsuit, the six-member Board unanimously rejected the idea and voted NOT to pursue the fight based on the cost to the Village and what service and programs would suffer should the Village be unsuccessful.

A true fact is that we do NOT have extra money around to spend on many items we would like to, especially a costly law suit. Verizon, a $130 billion dollar company, does have the financial wherewithal to make defending a lawsuit very costly. As I mentioned before, I was not in favor of the Cell Tower being constructed in

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Devonshire and Kitchner from Suffolk to Westchester Blvd. A section of Municipal Drive has also been included Continued from page 5 in the project. The bids ranged from Orange Crush’s low bid of $695,106 the Mayfair Park center field location to a high bid of $909,642; the average approximately 300 feet from residences being $794,933. Our engineer’s cost from day one. I did make every attempt estimate was $900,000. Construction to gather more information and began on August 22nd. Please be hoped to find a suitable location and/ patient during the construction period or new technology available to make as there will be some inconvenience the cell tower obsolete which would to the residents; a short-term challenge have been a win/win for everyone. for a long-term gain.

Unfortunately, I was not successful and apologize for that. I was the lone “YES” vote to continue defending the PETRAK CHIROPRACTIC RIBBON CUTlawsuit in the hopes of getting a better TING On Thursday August 11, 2016, the location. I certainly understand what the potential rejection of our defense Westchester Chamber of Commerce, by the court and the financial impact to and the Village of Westchester, along the village would be whether we won with the family and friends of Dr.Steven or lost. That being said, I attended all of Petrak, welcomed the Petrak Family the meetings of the Plan Commission Chiropractic Center to Westchester, and Zoning Board of Appeals as well Illinois. The new business is located as the actual Village Board meetings at 3070 S.Wolf Rd. right next to Betty’s where impassioned pleas by you, the Café in the 31st and Wolf Rd. Plaza. electors and residents, were heard loud Petrak Family Chiropractic Center and clear. Unless I missed something, offers a results-oriented, modern each and every board voted to reject approach to chiropractic care.They are the proposed site. For those who spoke a family-focused practice, specializing before the boards, thank you for being in wellness, as well as the needs of involved in the Village and expressing children, pregnant women, the elderly, your opinions and research on the and athletes. Their goal is to create topic. At the time of this writing we healing and physical wellness through a have not had our scheduled meeting multi-faceted approach to chiropractic with the Federal Judge on August care. They believe in finding the root 25th. I will keep you posted of the of your problem – not just treating the symptoms – and creating a unique developments. treatment program that encourages lasting recovery as well as freedom STREET PATCHING from painful symptoms. It is their Our in house street patching has philosophy that over time, a properly been completed for the summer integrated approach to healing can season. Over 2500 tons of asphalt has create lasting recovery. been removed and replaced with fresh asphalt. Much of the replacement was The brand new Westchester facility entire stretches of the parking curb lane. is equipped with dedicated spaces The replacement in addition to looking for chiropractic, physiotherapy and better aesthetically should preserve the massage, as well as on-site digital roadway for hopefully years to come X-ray and orthotic fittings. They are before a complete reconstruction can committed to providing the best be accomplished. possible care to their patients and to Crews will begin crack filling seams our community. Dr. Petrak is a former along the curbs and cracks along the Westchester resident and is anxious road to prevent water infiltration. to build his practice in Westchester.

Chicago weather, with the freeze We welcome him and wish him much and thaw cycles, actually causes the success. roadway to heave allowing water to freeze beneath and causing pot holes to form. Preventive maintenance and ZOOTOPIA The final Movie in the Park this season a proactive approach to maintaining our pubilc infrastructure has been a was shown on Thursday, August 11, priority of mine and the entire Board 2016, at the Westchester Community Park District. The Disney movie since taking office in 2009.

Zootopia is an American 3D computer animated buddy cop comedy mystery STREET REHABILITATION adventure. From the largest elephant At our August 8, 2016 meeting, the to the smallest shrew, the city of Board approved the bid from Orange Zootopia is a mammal metropolis Crush in the amount of $695,106 to where various animals live and thrive. repave the following street and street Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit to sections. Suffolk from Wedgewood to join the police force. The film details Gladstone, Bristol from Wedgewood to the unlikely partnership between a

rabbit police officer and a red fox con artist as they uncover a conspiracy that involves the disappearance of predator civilians within a mammalian metropolis. Although the weather was a little hot and sticky a number of families attended the movie and had a good time. Village Manager Janet Matthys attended and raffled off stuffed animals depicting Mayor Lionheart and Officer Clawhauser to two lucky winners.

PMSA NAMED TOP HIGH SCHOOL IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY BY CHICAGO MAGAZINE Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy (PMSA) has been named the number one high school in suburban Cook County by Chicago magazine. In its September 2016 cover story on Best Schools in the Chicago area, Chicago magazine noted PMSA’s 100 percent graduation rate for the last three years.

The article also noted the low perpupil spending at PMSA at $7,661 per student.This was more than $3,000 less than the next lowest-spending schools on the top 20 list.

Dr. Jesse J. Rodríguez, superintendent of District 209, said that the number one ranking for PMSA was a win for all of Proviso Township High Schools District 209. “PMSA works in collaboration with Proviso East and Proviso West in defeating the odds and creating opportunities for all students,” Dr. Rodríguez said. “This is a great honor for our district, and I appreciate Chicago magazine recognizing the great schools that we have.” Dr. Bessie Karvelas, principal at PMSA, said that she and the school’s faculty were happy for the honor.

for its Heavy Rescue Squad vehicle that is used on serious vehicle accidents, in the village and its important crossroads.

It will also support extensive staff training on the use of the equipment.

With our proximity to I290, the Westchester FD has responded to many high speed crashes and have utilized the extraction tool on many occasions. This updated tool will advance the rescue of those people trapped in their vehicles. I have seen the extraction up close and personal when my wife Maureen had to be removed from her vehicle after being broadsided at Mannheim and Balmoral Ave. some 15 years ago. The extraction tool called the “Jaws of Life” are just that. Removing someone as quickly as possible safely will result in medical attention being given immediately.

I want to take this opportunity to thank ComEd and its President and CEO Ms. Anne Pramaggiore, for continuing for the 2nd year the grant award program. Dave Bennett, the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Environmental Committee Director Ms. Edith Makra, and the selection committee for selecting Westchester as one of the recipients this year. Congratulations to Fire Chief James Adams for his submission of this successful grant application!

PRIDE IN 7 CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF IN HISTORIC BOULEVARD DISTRICT

On Tuesday, August 16TH, the Westchester Economic Committee hosted its 3rd Pride in 7 Campaign Kick-Off celebration in the Historic Boulevard Business District at Joe’s Place. As you may not be aware, the building just north of the restaurant at 1523-25 Westchester Blvd was one of the earliest Village Halls and meeting COMED AWARDS WESTCHESTER A places. I know you have seen the 7 $9,750 GRANT Blue colored signs along Roosevelt, Village Manager Janet Matthys and Mannheim and Cermak Rd. indicating I attended a breakfast meeting at the 7 districts identified by the Brookfield Zoo hosted by ComEd on Economic Committee. By highlighting Monday, August 15th, to celebrate the the districts and what business winners of ComEd’s Green Region and opportunities are available, we hope to Powering Safe Communities Program promote local participation, shopping, awards, in partnership with Openlands and highlight what may be right at your and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. fingertips. Those in attendance were Twenty-four Police/Fire agencies will able to learn from Committee member receive Power Safe Communities Grants and long time resident Lori Jo Fergle and twenty-two local governments about the seven business districts will receive a Green Region Grant for in Westchester and what makes the projects in their communities. The Historic Boulevard District unique.The Westchester Fire Department was one Westchester Chamber of Commerce of the 24 communities to receive a President Maria Gamino was available Power Safe Community Award. There to help in promoting other businesses were a total of 82 public safety agencies through membership opportunities. who submitted a grant application for Thanks to Village Trustee Frank Perry, the Powering Safe Communities Award. proprietor of Joe’s Place for hosting the Westchester was one of the lucky event. This was the third of the seven recipients, and was awarded a grant in Business District profiled to date. The the amount of $9,750 to help purchase See PRESIDENT, page 9 an E-Hydraulic extrication-cutting tool

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busses, and on foot, school safety is a primary concern for all of us. Being a police officer for 40 years and Continued from page 6 following the unimaginable incidents of school violence since Columbine, Addison Creek District and Municipal Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, NIU, and District preceded the Historic District. others, we all need to be concerned The next Business District to be about the safety of all of our children. profiled is the High Ridge District.This I know Chief Steven Stelter and our meeting held at the Westchester Public School Resource Officer Rob Verber Library on September 8th at noon. as well as all of our fine professional police officers and Community Service CALLING ALL VIETNAM Officers will be vigilant in our school WAR VETERANS patrols and partnerships with school The Cook County Department of staff and parents in providing the Veterans Affairs would like to invite safest commute to, during, and after veterans from our community to join school travel. Since the advent of them for the 50th Anniversary of the school violence has increased, security Vietnam War Commemoration. The measures and training has progressed. purpose of this program is to honor Chief Stelter and members of the and recognize the veterans that served Westchester Police are committed to during the Vietnam era from 1955 making this a safe school experience through 1975. The ceremony will once again. take place at the Swan Pavilion inside Brookfield Zoo starting at 11:00 AM on I came upon an article from the Office Thursday, September 29, 2016. Those of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency interested in attending must RSVP no Prevention of the U. S. Department of later than September 15th. Veterans justice that I would like parents to read must complete an application available share with their children: on the Veterans Affairs website and submit it via fax at 312/6034479, by email to Veterans.Affairs@ KNOW THE RULES For Going To and From School More CookCountyIl.gov or by mail to Cook County Veterans Affairs Bureau of Safely: Administration, Cook County Building Everyday millions of children take Rm. 801,118 North Clark Street, to the streets and roadways to get Chicago, IL 60602. to and from school. They walk, ride Cook County Veterans Affairs will call their bicycles, take buses, and arrive upon receipt of the applications to in vehicles with one purpose- getting confirm information and to reserve a to and from school safely. Every year spot at the event, as spaces are limited. approximately 440,000 public school They would also like to recognize the buses travel more than 4 billion miles wives of those Vietnam era Veterans and daily transport 24 million children to and from school and school-related who have died. activities. For many children this In order to be recognized, veterans experience is a new one, and they may will need to submit the Vietnam era not understand the safety rules, Young Veteran’s name, rank, branch and time children do not have the same frame of of service.If widows,please provide the reference for safety that adults do. They deceased Vietnam era Veteran’s name may not “look before they leap,” which and date of death, including the same is why it is so important for families to information listed above for surviving supervise young children and practice veterans and adding the name of the safety skills with their children. The tip noted below will help prepare your spouse. children for a safer journey.

To confirm your attendance or for Instruct your child to always TAKE A more information regarding the 50th VietnamWar Commemoration Program, FRIEND when walking or riding his or please contact Cook County Veterans her bike to and from school. It’s safer Affairs: Bill Browne at 312.603.6423 and more fun to be with your friends. or Audrey Mollo at 312-603-2221 or by Walk and ride in well-lit areas,and never e-mail at veterans.affairs@cookcountyil. take short cuts. When walking and biking stay aware of your surroundings gov. and observe all traffic rules in place SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION to more safely share the roads and The day after Labor Day historically sidewalks with others. began the first day of school, however most school calendars begin the start Even though there is safety in of the school year around August 24th numbers, it is still not safe for young to the chagrin of children and to the children to walk to and from school delight of their parents. With our especially if they must take isolated school year beginning and children routes before or during daylight. going to and from school riding bikes, Always provide supervision for young

SEPTEMBER 2016

children to ensure their safe arrival to and from school.

Your child should stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop. If anyone bothers your child while going to or from school, you should teach him or her to get away from that person and TELL you or another trusted adult. If an adult approaches your child for help or directions, remember grownups needing help should not ask children for help; they should ask other adults.

You should visit the bus stop with your children and learn the bus number. This will avoid confusion for your children about knowing what bus to ride.

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they really know and understand them.

Make the walk to and from school a “teachable moment” and chance to put their skills to the test.

HOW TO PACK A BETTER SCHOOL LUNCH Every year we send our children to school either packing a lunch or purchasing the lunch made available at the school lunch program. The debate of good nutrition vs fast food always enters the equation. I came across an article written in Woman’s Day magazine that I thought I would share regarding school lunches. The article was written by Ms. Margie Major.

Check out these 13 different ways to make your kid’s afternoon meal more enjoyable:

Instruct your children if anyone they don’t know or a person who confuses, scares, or makes them feel uncomfortable offers a ride say NO. A sandwich, bag of pretzels and an Children should never hitchhike. Also children should never accept a ride apple is the classic packed lunch—and from anyone unless you have told them boy is it boring. And for kids, boring means one thing: not eaten. This year, it is OK to do so in each instance. make sure your child’s lunch goes Tell your children if anyone follows straight to her stomach—not the trash them on foot to get away from him or or someone else—by packing it with her as quickly as possible. If anyone purpose. Keep the focus on fun and follows them in a vehicle they should follow the guidelines below to create turn around, go in the other direction, meals that are fresh, healthy and costand try to quickly get to a spot where effective.

1. Bump up the color. Bright colors a trusted adult may help them. Advise them to be sure to TELL you or another are the easiest way to increase the “wow” factor in your child’s lunch, trusted adult what happened. says Catherine McCord, founder of Teach your children if anyone tries Weelicious, a website filled with to take them somewhere they should recipes the whole family will love. It’s quickly get away and yell, “THIS fun, inviting and, better yet, nutritious PERSON IS TRYING TO TAKE ME when the color comes from all-natural AWAY” or “THIS PERSON IS NOT MY foods such as carrots, cucumbers, MOTHER/FATHER/GUARDIAN.” If blueberries, cherry tomatoes and anyone tries to grab them, teach them strawberries.

2. Have fun with shapes. “There’s to make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and something about a sandwich that seems daunting to kids,” says Charlene Prince resisting.

Birkeland, parenting expert for Yahoo!

Children should be taught to never Shine. She recommends using cookie leave school with anyone they don’t cutters to pare down the size and know. They should always CHECK add a little flair. Buy a range of cutters, FIRST with you or another trusted using holiday shapes for Halloween adult. If anyone tells them there is and Christmas, and triangles, circles an emergency and they want your and small squares throughout the year. children to go with them, your child Shapes can also be created using fruit should always CHECK FIRST before and cheese—slice them into circles, doing anything. Make sure your triangles or squares; for larger fruit like children understand to TELL a trusted cantaloupe, use a melon baller to create adult if they notice anyone they don’t small fruit spheres.“Being creative can make produce more appealing and know hanging around the school. enticing,” says Elizabeth Pantley, author Walk the route to and from school of The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution: with your children pointing out Gentle Ways to Encourage Your Child landmarks and safe places to go if they to Eat—and Eat Healthy.

3. Offer variety. Tanya Steel, editorare being followed or need help. Make a map with your children showing in-chief of Epicurious.com and acceptable routes to school, using main author of Real Food for Healthy Kids, roads, and avoid short-cuts and isolated recommends packing at least three areas. The map will be a good guide different types of food every day. if your children ever need help finding “Think of the lunchbox as a meal on a plate, with protein, complex crabs, their way. fresh produce and a wholesome treat Remember to practice these safety See PRESIDENT, page 10 rules with your children to make certain

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on the side.” For example, she suggests a turkey and coleslaw wrap, pita chips, berries with a dollop of vanilla yogurt and a granola bar or trail mix. A cute bento-style container with separated food compartments allows kids to look—and pick—at everything all at once. (Plus, they’re reusable, which will help you save in zip-top bag costs over the long haul!)

4. Choose easy-to-eat foods. Though you may not mind peeling an orange or biting into an uncut sandwich, your kid most certainly does—especially when she’s at the lunch table, where socializing, not eating, is a priority.

Instead, pack foods that can be easily snacked on: sugar snap peas and other vegetables, like zucchini, cucumber and carrots, which can be sliced into more manageable matchsticks, and small bites of the main meal, such as sandwich triangles, pizza cut into small squares or cut up pita bread paired with hummus.

5. Get a little goofy. Skewers are a kid favorite according to Birkeland. “It’s a lot easier to eat and it looks cool.

As a kid, you care about that and in the lunch, it looks fun,” she says. Stack toothpicks with various fruits, cheeses or alternate grape tomatoes and small mozzarella balls.

6. Create smaller portions out of bulk goods. Snack-size items are always ideal, but that doesn’t mean you should buy them that way from the store.“Buy proteins in bulk, then date and store them properly,” Steel suggests. The same applies to sides, treats, and fresh fruits and veggies. You’ll save money by buying in bulk and, if you get into the habit of cutting and portioning the food out on Sunday night, you’ll also save time during the hectic school week.

7. Get creative with what’s available.

Lunch doesn’t have to be made with same standard staples (bread, deli meat, etc). Go beyond the basics by using last night’s leftovers in a new way.

“Repurpose everything,” McCord says.

“If you have chicken fajitas Monday night, then it’s chicken quesadillas for Tuesday’s lunch. I would dare say almost anything you make for dinner can be put in a quesadilla the next day.”

McCord is also a fan of making pancake sandwiches with breakfast leftovers, layering the pancakes (or waffles) with cream cheese and preserves.

Steel advises parents to “make dinners with lunches in mind—roast chicken or turkey can be turned into sammies later in the week, pasta can be used in salads or made into pasta primavera.”

8. Give your child options.“Empower your child,” Steel says. “The number

one tool in getting your children to eat healthy every day, while they are at school and away from your prying eyes, is to get them involved in choosing what they want to eat.” But having a say isn’t the same thing as free-reign; narrow down the options—at the supermarket or at home—and then let your kid choose. McCord recommends offering two choices, such as a peanut butter and jelly or a tuna salad sandwich; pasta or rice. “So instead of them opening their lunchbox and being like, ‘Oh, I don’t want this!’ you’ve already set them up for success.”

9. Recreate popular foods to fallback on. Kids will invariably go through phases of what they like—and what they envy about other kids’ lunches. If those foods are too expensive or not nutritious enough,get inspired by them.

Birkeland suggests asking your children what they like about a particular food, so you can invent a creative alternative.

In response to her children’s cries for Lunchables, she’s created less expensive, more nutritious “Momables,” using whole-wheat crackers, organic meats and cheeses (cut into circles), and a small brownie. Pantley offers up another suggestion:“Substitute half the ingredients with healthier options,such as making a sandwich with one piece of white bread and one piece of wheat, mixing half high-sugar jelly with an allfruit spread or half processed peanut butter with all-natural nut butter.”

10. Get your kids into the kitchen. “I think we don’t give our kids enough credit.They get excited,they get to help you make their lunch, and they have a part in it,” McCord says. Steel agrees.

In addition to helping you shop, have them be as active in the preparation and packing of food as possible. “Whether it’s baking oatmeal cookies or granola or assembling a wrap, have your child help out to help ensure he or she feels good about eating it.”

11.Rely on inexpensive staples.Wholegrain pasta, wraps and bread can take you far, especially when paired with simple basics like cream cheese and jam, nut butter or, in the case of pasta, a little Parmesan or pesto.“My kids will eat beans and rice until they’re blue in the face,” McCord says.“Serve it with a little salsa or something like that, and it has tons of nutrition.”

12. Include a treat. There’s no getting around it: children love sweets. Make it work for both of you by re-thinking what and how much you give them.

McCord will pack treats with substance, such as homemade banana muffins, sweet potato muffins or Rice Krispies treats made with peanut butter instead of marshmallows. Birkeland favors Clif Kid Z Bars, which offer sweetness without any additives. If you prefer to pack more traditional sweets, simply reign in the size. “They don’t need 15 miniature cookies; just give them one

because they’ll eat the 15 over the Westchester is happy to be a sponsor sandwich,” Birkeland says. McCord of this event. Hope you can stop by! agrees: “That way you’re not stuffing them. If you put one or two small things, they’re still going to be hungry, REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 This year will be the 15th anniversary even if it’s the first thing they eat.” of the terrorist attack at the World 13. Create unique combinations. All Trade Towers in NYC, the Pentagon of us eventually get tired of eating the in Washington D.C., and the National same foods everyday, and your kids are Memorial at Shanksville, Pennsylvania. no different. To avoid afternoon meal This year, September 11th occurs burnout, think outside of the lunchbox and embrace atypical lunches. For on a Sunday morning, during a time ideas, see some of our favorite combos when many people congregate, worship, and/or just take time to below: reflect. Westchester’s 9-11 Memorial • Hummus and sugar snap peas • Edamame salad with corn and Ceremony has also been an occasion of remembrance and reflection not only tomatoes for the first responders and people • Apples or bananas with nut butter • Greek yogurt swirled with honey who perished on September 11, 2001 and served with preserves, granola or but all of our Fire and Police personnel who risk their lives on a daily basis. trail mix • Nut butter wrapped in lettuce leaves This year, the Westchester Police and Fire Departments are encouraging all with dried raisins or cranberries • Cheese sticks and dry cereal or Westchester residents to spend that day with their congregations/and or popcorn • Vegetable sticks with dip (bottled families to remember the bravery and selflessness of all firefighters and dressing, nut butter, plain yogurt) • A thermos of homemade nacho police officer’s who perished that day and continue to put their lives on the cheese dip with baked corn chips • Fruit in mashed cottage cheese or line on a daily basis. We would ask, not just on September 11th but anytime yogurt that you encounter a police officer or firefighter, extend your gratitude for BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT the sacrifices they make to help keep On Sunday, September 11, 2016, the all people safe and secure. “All gave Westchester Park District is hosting its some, some gave ALL”. 9-11-01 NEVER annual Back to School Picnic Event. FORGET The event will be from noon to 3pm at Mayfair Park. The entertainment The following is how remembrances will include the Kids Game Show at will be conducted at the actual site of 12:15pm; it is an interactive game the attacks: show where contestants are chosen at random to compete in different skills and then have a chance to win prizes SHANKSVILLE, PA The ceremony at the Shanksville along the way and the grand prize winner can win BIG! There will also Memorial Plaza will begin on Saturday be a magician and balloon artists on September 10, 2016.

Beginning at 7:30pm, forty candle hand after the Game show around 1:15 pm. There will also be moon jumps lanterns will be carried to the Wall of onsite, an interactive community expo Names and placed below the names set with a children’s tattoo parlor, of each of the passengers and crew giveaways, raffles and more. The members of Flight 93 that are credited Freemasons will be out to provide the of twarting what was determined to Child Identification Program which be an attack on the White House. This serviced over 75 families last year. We event is sponsored by the Friends of will have free refreshments from the Flight 93 National Memorial.

Lions club who will be giving away popcorn and the Kiwanis who will be providing sherbet cups. The Park GROUND ZERO NYC The National September 11 Memorial District will be providing hot dogs and the WPTC will be providing lemonade. & Museum in New York City will mark There will be picnic games spread out the passage of yet another year since in the grassy area such as grass twister, the day that changed our lives forever. mini golf etc. There will also be face While fifteen years have passed, it painting and a Reverse Dunk Tank remains as important as ever that we which will feature a police officer, a continue to remember and honor School District Principle and a School those who perished that day.As in years District Vice-Principle.The Westchester past, the focus of the commemoration Public Library will be on hand to do a program will be the reading of the “Read to Me” segment. As you can tell, names by family members. During this will be a fun filled “Back to School See PRESIDENT, page 23 Event” to remember. The Village of

Community Development SEPTEMBER 2016

LAW OFFICE OF MARIA V. VASOS, LLC • • • • •

Business: Corporate and LLC Formations, Annual Reporting Contracts: Custom Drafting and Document Reviews Real Estate: Title Services, Purchases and Sales, Closings Estate Planning: Wills, Trusts, Powers-of-Attorney Documents Estate Administration: Trust Distributions and Probate Filings

Call: (630) 953-6157 or Visit: www.MVVLaw.com Have your Last Will & Testament prepared, so that you will finally have peace of mind!

Flat Fees for Estate Planning: Family/Joint Trust Last Will with Gifts Power of Attorney HIPAA Waiver

$800 $400 $200 $100

Individual Revocable Trust Pour-Over Will into Trust Declaration of Living Will Deed into Trust

$500 $300 $100 $200

Appointments are available in Westchester, Elmhurst, Oak Brook and downtown Chicago, Illinois.

In-home appointments are available for the handicapped and seniors. Call for scheduling and for more information.

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The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to the tragic events that Continued from page 10 occurred on September 11, 2001.

All 184 lives lost in the attack on the the ceremony, six moments of silence Pentagon are represented by “Memorial will be observed, acknowledging the Unit” benches. moments each tower was struck and Surrounding the benches are 85 Crape fell, and the moments of the attacks Myrtles (trees that will grow up to 30 on the Pentagon and Flight 93. The feet tall) and the Age Wall, which grows program will commence at 8:30 a.m. one inch in height per year relative to and as always, the observance of the the ages of the victims. first moment of silence will take place The memorial is located just outside at 8:46 a.m., and houses of worship the Pentagon. The Pentagon Memorial are encouraged to toll their bells at has an emotive power that few other that time. The ceremony is exclusively memorials have, due to both the for 9/11 family members. The annual recency of the tragedy it pays homage “Tribute in Light” will illuminate the to and its comprehensive listing of sky at sundown. More information victims. can be found at the memorial web site When first approaching the expansive http://www.911memorial.org/.

Memorial Gateway, visitors will spot As you may already be aware a black granite stone stating the date Maureen and I will again be attending and time of the tragic plane crash: the ceremony paying our respects to September 11, 2001 at 9:47 a.m.Words not only our family member who was describe its purpose: “We claim this murdered but to all of the victims of ground in remembrance of the events the tragedy. At last year’s ceremony our of September 11, 2001, to honor the hearts broke upon seeing the children 184 people whose lives were lost, their who had never met their deceased families, and all who sacrifice that we parent, who were now teenagers may live in freedom. We will never proclaiming their loss, having only forget.” heard stories about their deceased Each of the aforementioned Memorial parent and not having laid eyes on Units (or benches) has a victim’s age them except for pictures. A very sad and location at the time of the attack experience. inscribed on it. The benches are arranged along an age line, according THE PENTAGON WASHINGTON D.C. to the year each victim was born.

SEPTEMBER 2016

They are positioned to differentiate those who were on board American Airlines Flight 77 and those who were in the Pentagon, and each contains a pool of water that reflects light in the evenings.

The units honoring victims on board Flight 77 face the direction of the plane’s approach to the Pentagon, while those reading the names of Pentagon victims face the plane’s point of impact on the Pentagon’s south façade.

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sporting venue is located in Bridgeview, IL at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. The Chicago Fire will be vs the DC United. A portion of each ticket sold will benefit the Westchester Food Pantry. I have been asked to kick the First Goal and looking forward to seeing you at the park. Tickets are $25 and available by calling 708-496-6884 or visiting www. chicago-fire.com/vow.

LEAF BAG DELIVERIES

Once again this fall, we will be delivering leaf bags to all single family residences within the Village. We are Calling all Soccer fans!!

Friday, in the process of recruiting volunteers September 16th, has been designated to assist with the delivery on Saturday, Westchester Night at Toyota Park with See PRESIDENT, page 24 the Chicago Fire. Toyota Park a premier

WESTCHESTER NIGHT AT TOYOTA PARK

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September 24, 2016 with a rain date of Saturday, October 1, 2016. The leaf bag purchase is made possible from a generous contribution by Waste Management. We plan to have a volunteer lunch after the deliveries are completed. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer for this project, please contact Carl Celestino at ccelestino@westchester-il. org.

WESTCHESTER BLOOD PROGRAM The Westchester Blood Program needs your help. At the July 23rd collection date 90 donors signed up to donate. 11 were deferred. 78 units of whole blood were received. 11 units of red cells were donated from 6 donors. 89 total units were collected.

After 3 blood drives the Westchester Blood Program has collected 289 Units.

There are two more collection dates this calendar year. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 15th, at the Westchester Community Center andTuesday,November 15th,from 1pm to 8pm in LifeSource coaches parked outside the Westchester Community Church. The November 15th date will be the group’s 5th annual Turkey Drive; each of the first 50 donors will receive a free turkey. Help save a life today by donating blood to those in need.

WATER/SEWER SERVICE LINE WARRANTY PROGRAM

an additional $500 for sidewalk repair, if needed. SLWA is offering a special monthly price of $3.75 per month – or save with an annual payment of $39.00 – a savings of over 13% off the monthly price.

The Village does not receive any compensation from the warranty company, instead, directing the provider to reduce the warranty rates to residents by any allowable rebate to the Village. I have heard of several success stories involving residents who have purchased this warranty.

SLWA also offers a sewer line warranty program. For more information call 1-855-535-7141 to speak with an SLWA agent Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. or visit the website at www.SLWofA.com.

WANT TO WORK ON ELECTION DAY? If you are interested in working on Election Day, the Cook County Clerk’s office is looking for you. Election Day is November 8, 2016. Clerk David Orr is looking for persons to be Election Judges and Equipment Managers.

Bilingual judges are always needed.

Election Judges earn $175 and the Equipment Managers earn $325. For more information or to apply please visit the website at http://www. cookcountyclerk.com/elections/ electionjudges/Pages/default.aspx.

MWRD FREE RAIN BARREL PROGRAM TO END

Just a reminder that the MWRD FREE Rain Barrel Program is ending The Village has authorized Service on December 31, 2016. Presently 65 Line Warranties of America (SLWA) intergovernmental agreements have to offer the National League of been signed with municipalities like Cities (NLC) Service Line Warranty Westchester. If you want to participate Program to homeowners. The NLC in the current program please Service Line Warranty Program offers contact Gayle at the Public Works voluntary warranty protection at an Department at 708-345-0041 or email affordable price for water lines in the ggolz@westchester-il.org for further event of a failure. As you may know, information.We have also been notified as a homeowner in the Village of that there is a minimum 6 week wait Westchester, you are responsible for for delivery at this time. the maintenance and repair of your buried, outside water service line that Note: Part of the agreement requires runs from the utility connection to Westchester to inventory those rain your home.Many Westchester residents barrels delivered. Those receiving the are already taking advantage of this Rain Barrels are responsible for them. program.SLWA will be conducting a fall campaign mailing in the next several I received a nice card from a Ms. weeks. The choice to participate is Gloria with a photo of how her 17 year yours.The program is strictly optional. old granddaughter Maddie designed and painted a colorful pattern on the If you should need a repair, simply MWRD Rain Barrel. Be creative! call the 24-hour hotline and SLWA sill dispatch a local plumber no later than 48 hours, but typically within 24 hours. SEWER BACK-UPS In the Monday, July 25, 2016, issue There are no service fees,deductibles or annual caps. Repair costs are covered of the Chicago Sun-Times, I read an up to $4,000 per covered incident, plus article written by Ms. Margaret Frisbie,

the executive director of the Friends of the Chicago River, titled “How you can help prevent sewage system backups.” The article, although written about the Chicago River, has the same implications to suburban Cook County, where MWRD research shows that .3 inches of rain can trigger discharges into the rivers, such as our Addison and Salt Creeks, where stormwater, mixed with sanitary overflows ends up. Readers are encouraged to visit the Friends’Web Site at chicagoriver.org to take part in Overflow Action Days. Of course I logged in and copied some of the valuable information for you to read and possibly encourage you to adopt during storm events.

Running a full dishwasher requires about 20 gallons of water, compared to the 40 gallons required to wash the same amount of dishes by hand. If you own a newer dishwasher, remember you do not have to rinse first, you can put them right in.

WEAR IT AGAIN: Wash your clothes less often.

FLUSH LESS: You read that right. We said it.

MONEY SAVING TIP: The average home can save $170 annually by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

FAUCETS: Overflow: Replacing old faucets (~2.5 gallons per minute) with This document is a quick guide to all more efficient ones (~1.5 gallons per the things you can do at home and in minute) can save the average family your community to prevent sewage about 700 gallons of water per year.: overflows and flooding and make Look for the EPA WaterSense logo the Overflow Action Days initiative a which certifies products that use less success. water while performing as well or better than similar ones!

Friends’launched the OverflowAction Overflow:A leak in the average family Days initiative as a gentle reminder that home can waste 10,000 gallons of saving water at home can help improve water per year. That perfectly good, the Chicago River system. During rain clean water now mixes with sewage events, stormwater and water from for treatment by MWRD. homes and businesses can overwhelm Leaks can sprout anywhere. A faucet the wastewater treatment system. But, leaking 60 drops per minute will waste there are simple actions we can take 192 gallons per month or 2,304 gallons at home and even at work to reduce per year. water sent to our system for treatment.

Action Day Duties: For example, depending on your 1. Check faucets and consult EPA’s showerhead, reducing your shower by WaterSense program for simple do-itthree minutes can save between 8 to 22 yourself repair tips. gallons of water.These simple solutions 2. Turn off your faucet when you are can save clean water, keep stormwater not using it, i.e. brushing your teeth, pollution and sewage out of the doing dishes, washing your face, or river, and protect our environment, cleaning. economy, and public health. We made it simple and easy below – find ways to conserve water and take the Overflow SHOWERHEADS Overflow: Showering accounts for 17 Action Days/pledge at Chicagoriver. percent of daily water use, averaging org/overflowpledge.

18 gallons per shower.

Action Day Duties: How Much Do You Use 1. Install low-flow showerheads to In the Chicago metropolitan area, we consume nearly 1.4 billion gallons save nearly 3,000 gallons per year (for of water a day through residential, the average family).

2. Take a shorter shower. Depending commercial and industrial uses— enough to fill the Willis Tower three on your showerhead, you can save times over. Studies show the average 25-50 gallons of water by shaving 5 household uses about 400 gallons of minutes from your shower. water per day for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing dishes and clothes, flushing LOW-FLOW TOILETS Overflow:Toilets use more water than toilets, watering lawns and gardens, anything else in the average and maintaining pools.

American home—over 30 percent of What can you do to help reduce that total water use.

Action Day Duties: number?

1. Replace old or leaky toilets. Toilets Super Easy Action Day Duties - Simple with the WaterSense label can save actions that use less water Quicker Showers:A 10 minute shower nearly 13,000 gallons of water per year can use as much as 40 gallons of water. (for the average family).

2. Flush only when necessary and Try a five minute shower instead. calculate savings per flush. Each flush Run The Dishwasher: Use a See PRESIDENT, page 25 dishwasher rather than wash by hand.

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 24

can be between 1.6 to 5 gallons of water

KEEPING RAIN WHERE IT FALLS: So much of our community is paved—there’s nothing to soak up the rain when it falls. Instead, the clean water lands on those hard surfaces and is channeled towards our sewers and storm sewers, which all ultimately lead to the Chicago River system. Heavy rains can exceed the capacity of water reclamation plants and the sewer system. Research by MWRD shows that as little as .3 inches of rain, depending on location and severity, can trigger a combined sewer overflow at any number of the more than 300 outfalls that flow directly into the Chicago and Little Calumet Rivers.

Install a Rain Barrel • Overflow: Nationally, lawn and garden maintenance accounts for 40 percent of all water use.

• Action Day Duty: Install rain barrels.

They capture rain and store it for later use on gardens and yards. You’ll use less water from the spigot and prevent stormwater from entering the sewer system. The MWRD offers free rain barrels through their website: www. mwrd.org. (Remember to contact Gayle at the Westchester Village Hall as the MWRD Free Rain Barrel Program ends December 31, 2016.)

• Overflow: A small, well designed rain garden will prevent 90 percent of stormwater from entering the sewer systems.

• Action Day Duty: Consult the Center for Neighborhood Technology’s RainReady program for tips on building your own rain garden.

Plant a Rain Garden • Overflow: Wildflowers, sedges, and grasses that are native to our ecosystem have deep roots and absorb stormwater much more effectively than shallow-rooted non-natives. They readily adapt to local rain patterns and environments, requiring less water to maintain. They also provide food and habitat for wildlife like birds and butterflies.

• Action Day Duty: Explore Chicago Wilderness’s guide to native plants.Ask for them at your local nursery. Even a few plants make a difference.

Prioritize Native Plants • Overflow: During heavy rain, a downspout can drain up to 12 gallons per minute, oftentimes directly into the sewer system.

• Action Day Duty: Make sure your downspout is not directly connected to the sewer system. Instead, divert it to a lawn or into your rain garden.

Check your Downspout: Overflow: During heavy rain, a downspout can drain up to 12 gallons per minute, oftentimes directly into the sewer system.

• Action Day Duty: Make sure your downspout is not directly connected to the sewer system. Instead, divert it to a lawn or into your rain garden.

my previous life I have been a police officer for 40 years. Early in my 1st term as Mayor, I wanted to extend the village recycling efforts by starting a drug collection program, the same as what police departments across the country do with persons who want to dispose of old ammunition and do not know what to do with it.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

I knew the DEA had such a program, however none of the police departments in the area were signed up to be drop off points. The village partnered with Waste Management who generously provided a drop off container similar to a Postal drop box where unless you had a key whatever went in it could only be taken out by authorized administrators.

Rain in the forecast? Delay laundry cycles and dishwashers to keep water out of the system and alleviate the burden on sewage treatment plants until they have the capacity again to treat it.

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that address key contributors to the crisis.

In the first ongoing national effort of its kind by a retailer, Walgreens will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drugstores in 39 states and Washington, D.C., primarily at locations open 24 hours.

The program will make the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths.

“Take-back programs are an important and easy way for the public to anonymously dispose of their unwanted, unused or expired medications, and Think About What Goes Down the today’s announcement is a step in Drain the right direction,” said DEA Acting Go beyond conservation.

Do Weekly, I, along with a staff member, Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “We everything you can to protect people, would empty the container and box the look forward to the day when safe drug water, and wildlife: pharmaceuticals and hold them for the disposal options are commonplace Don’t put anything down your DEA drop-off dates. I have to admit the and hope this action inspires others drain you think could hurt wildlife amount of boxes exceeded the space to create similar programs.” The Cook and humans. No motor oil, paint, or in my office as that is where we initially County Ordinance does just that. household products that may contain housed the pills. As you could imagine harmful chemicals. Use biodegradable with 6 month collection dates and Walgreens is just one company that soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. weekly collections we needed more dispenses pharmaceuticals. There Especially watch what kinds of space. I do not have the poundage are many pharmacies throughout cleaning products you use.Avoid using numbers of the early years, however, at the County were the ease of disposal pesticides and herbicides. Responsibly our DEA collections of April 26, 2014 should be the order of the day. Having dispose of prescription medications we had 450 pounds, September 26, collection boxes similar in style and and other chemicals. Visit www. 2015 we had 975 pounds, and April 30, design as what Westchester is using will chicagoriver.org/think to download 2016 we had 525 pounds, all excluding make it easier to drop off unwanted, a free copy of eco-friendly recipes in packaging and pill vials which expired lethal drugs with no questions English and Spanish.All water statistics incidentally were recycled as well. asked at places we shop at every week. are from the U.S. EPA’s Water Sense Convenience is the key. partnership program.

As you are well aware, studies have confirmed that items being flushed Inadequate and improper drug Now that you have read through down the toilet have affected aquatic disposal hurts the environment and your options, take the Overflow Action life. A study published by the National the residents of our communities.

Day pledge and share your goal. How Center for Biotechnical information Municipalities are concerned with both many gallons can you save? www. detected pharmaceuticals (including the public health and environmental chicagoriver.org/overflowpledge anti depressants, anti-histamines, and outcomes of prescription drug disposal. more) in fish taken from the North The Metropolitan Reclamation District Shore Channel right here in Cook of Cook County has authored a booklet PHARMACEUTICAL COLLECTION County. to alert the public regarding Drugs and On Wednesday,August 3rd,I was asked Drains. to appear before the Cook County Prior to any collection efforts, we Board Environmental Committee were all instructed to flush unused The Environment Committee of the to speak about Westchester’s pills down the toilet. It will take a vast Metropolitan Mayors Caucus supports Pharmaceutical Collection Program. educational effort by all of us to make the proposed ordinance.

Commissioner Larry Suffredin, a Cook the “DON’T FLUSH DRUGS and DROP I, along with members of the County Commissioner who grew up IT OFF” Campaign successful.

Environmental Committee of the in Westchester, chaired the committee Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus would looking to adopt an ordinance requiring I would be remiss if I did not indicate like to thank Commissioner Suffredin pharmaceutical companies to be that Walgreens has starting voluntary and all the members of the Cook collection sites of expired, unused, and collectionsitesattheirstoresthroughout County Board for drafting an ordinance unwanted medicines. As you would the country. In a conversation I had to address a topic that affects the health imagine, the representatives of the attempting to get the Westchester of everyone taking a drink of water, drug industry do NOT want to be Walgreens to be a collection site, I and the misuse of prescription drugs required to collect the drugs. I, along was told that at the Deerfield store in that may be easily obtained from all of with a whole host of environmental Lake County collection of unwanted our medicine cabinets. Thank, you for concerns including the MWRD and the drugs is a reality. I have included an your time.” Commissioner Suffredin Sierra Club, spoke positively toward article regarding their program for the and his committee will be reviewing the initiative. I have included my committees review. the testimony and will be making a comments before the committee for recommendation in the near future. your review.

On February 09, 2016 – Walgreens announced the launch of a Our next DEA sponsored drop off “My Name is Sam D. Pulia. I am the comprehensive new effort to combat See PRESIDENT, page 26 Mayor of the Village of Westchester. In drug abuse, introducing two programs

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date is October 22, 2016. From now until then, please check all of your medicines and, if they are expired or unwanted, please drop them off at our Village Hall lobby container. The building is open every Monday through Friday 7am to 11pm. If you absolutely can not drop them off due to your physical limitations ring my phone at 708-345-0092 and leave a message. I will make arrangements to either pick them up myself or have a member of the PD assist me. After hearing Chief John Roberts of the Cook County Forest Preserve tell us he lost his son to an overdose,and hearing of the death of a teenage girl who made a bad choice of taking a drug that killed her I feel very strongly about doing everything we can to prevent these tragedies from happening.

SAVE THE DATE - SHREDDING EVENT TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 8TH Our second shredding event of the year will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2016, and will be held in conjunction with our electronic recycling at the Westchester Water Tower from 9am until 11:30am.

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING (WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS ONLY) – SEPTEMBER 10TH At our August 13, 2016 event there were 103 vehicles which dropped off electronic products to be recycled.

From 9am to 11:30am volunteers, including Boy Scout Troop 1 members, braved the heat and operated with great efficiency. The Scouts even received some donations and cash from the sale of chocolate bars to assist in their programs and projects.

Our next Electronic Recycling Event will be held Saturday, September 10, 2016, at the Water Tower. Members of the Environmental Sustainability Committee will be accepting electronic items at 9am until 11:30am.

People have been arriving as early as 8:15 am while members are involved in the set-up. Please do not arrive until the start time of 9am. Remember all members are volunteers and not compensated for donating their time, energy and enthusiasm. We close the container doors promptly at 11:30am in accordance with our contract with Credential Wholesalers, Inc. who provides staff to load their truck.

As always we do recommend that residents drop off some non-perishable items for the Westchester Food Pantry.

NOTE: PROJECTION TV’S AND FLOURESCENT BULBS ARE NOT COLLECTED AND ARE PROHIBITED. If you bring them you will be taking them back.

Additionally, please do not drop off items other than on the date of the event. Signs are posted and the site is under camera surveillance. Please follow the rules associated with the project. If you have some time to volunteer please contact Ms. Jessica Spencer at 708-345-0020.

WE DO NOT COLLECT ANY PAINT OR HAZARDOUS WASTE AT THIS SITE. I have included the below information as to where some items I have been asked about can be properly disposed of.

HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION SITE LOCATION Hazardous materials, and oil based paint can be dropped off at the EPA Hazardous Waste Site in Naperville on Saturday and Sunday Mornings from 9am-2pm. No materials can be dropped off outside of these hours.

The Naperville site is located at 156 Fort Hill Drive in Naperville, IL. For more information call 630-420-6095.

Accepted Household Items: Aerosol cans, automotive fluid ( including gas, oil and anti-freeze) asbestos materials ( in a size that will fit in a 55 gallon drum and not in excess of 50 lbs. Batteries ( including automotive, marine and sump pump, fire extinguishers, flammables, fluorescent bulbs CFL’s ( sealed, unbroken), household cleaners, drain openers, pool chemicals, mercury, paints and stains (oil based only), peanut oil, poison, pesticides and fertilizers, non-controlled prescription and over the counter medications, propane tanks (20 pounds) solvents and strippers, thermostats, unknown hazardous substances.

Items NOT Accepted: Ammunition, compressed gas ( other than propane), empty spray cans and containers, explosives, helium tanks, latex paints, paper, glass, metal wood and styrofoam, radioactive materials, sharps (needles and lancets), smoke detectors,tires,trash and non-hazardous material. Unopened, usable consumer products.

LATEX PAINT ALTERATIVES

DISPOSAL

PLEASE DO NOT BRING LATEX PAINT TO HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTIONS. IEPA’s Household Hazardous Waste Program is a widely accepted and acclaimed system that works with

local governments to divert residential waste materials with hazardous characteristics out of local solid waste landfills. The demand for this service far exceeds state resources available to deal with the wastes. A number of cost-containment features have been implemented over the years to increase efficiency, but demand continues to accelerate.

At every collection, in every part of the state, paint is the most common material delivered by Illinois citizens.

Encouragement to use up leftover paint or give usable paint to a neighbor has not decreased the amount of latex paint significantly.Today’s latex (waterbased) paint has a very low level of toxicity. Disposing of it at a household hazardous waste collection day is very expensive. Therefore, the Illinois EPA encourages people with unwanted latex paint to use other options.

Disposal Alternatives After your painting job is done you may have some leftover paint. The question now is:“What should you do with it?” Here are some alternatives: Keep Painting! This may sound simple, and it is. What better place to put that last pint or so of paint but right up there on the wall where it blends in perfectly with all the other paint you just put up there. Sure, it’s a little extra work - and right when you thought you’re done for the day - but you’ll be rid of that extra paint for good. Simply let the can dry and then recycle or dispose of it.

Paint Something Else! It doesn’t even have to need the paint. Use an old piece of cardboard, some scrap lumber, or the inside of your garage. Just about anywhere would probably work to use up that last bit of paint. Again, let the can dry and recycle or dispose of it.

Use an Absorbent like Kitty Litter!

Kitty litter, sawdust, shredded paper or just about anything else that will absorb moisture and let the paint dry out should work here. Depending on how full the can is, you can just add the absorbent to the can and mix it up.

When the liquids are absorbed, dry the mixture out or dispose of it directly.

You may be able to empty the can, dry it out, and recycle it.

Give it to Someone! Look around and you may find somebody who needs to paint a small area. Some schools or local theatres will take some small amounts of paint for scenery.

Store it for Later! Everyone has good intentions to use half-filled paint cans for “touch-ups” that never come. Also, many people have saved paint that becomes unusable over time before it’s called into action. If you do save your paint for later, follow some easy tips to make the paint last longer. Just cover the opening with plastic wrap, and make sure the lid fits securely so the paint doesn’t leak. Then turn the paint can upside down! This creates a

tight seal, and keeps the paint fresh to use again For more information and an informational video courtesy of SCARCE visit http://www.scarceecoed.org/ recycling/paint/506-disposing-of-latexpaint.html.

WESTCHESTER CIVIC THEATRE- CALLING ALL CUB FANS WCT is dedicated to the community – Its’mission is to enhance the community with the performing arts. They do this by performing shows, keeping theater fun for audience and cast alike and by providing opportunities to mentor and learn all aspects of theater.

WCT is a community theater group that puts on high quality performances of plays and musicals for fantastic audiences using people from Westchester and surrounding communities. They strive to create a welcoming and nurturing environment where anyone who has ever wanted to be in a play or assist back stage can do so while having lots of fun.

The WCT’s next production, Bleacher Bums has been scheduled for September 17, 18, 23, 24, 25. In the bleachers at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, die hard Cub fans root for their team.

The group includes a rabid cheerleader, a blind man who follows the game by transistor radio, a bathing beauty, a nerd and various other bleacher denizens.

As the game proceeds, they bet among themselves on every conceivable event, go out for frosty malts or beers, try to pick up the bathing beauty and, occasionally, watch the game. Bleacher Bums is performed with special permission from Samuel French, NY. WCT performs at St. Joseph High School in the Sirus Theater, 10900 W. Cermak,Westchester, IL Entrance and parking are on the north side of the school by the sports fields. Show times are 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 PM on Sundays.

Ticket prices are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and children.

Group pricing is available for parties of 10+ call or e-mail WCT for information (wcttickets@gmail.com or 708-9285010).

ZIKA IN THE U.S. I know may of us visit Florida on a regular basis, especially those “SNOW BIRDS” who leave to escape our Chicago winter each year. I regularly gather information from many sources and organizations I belong to. The following is a re-print of an article sent to me by the National League of Cities:

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On August 8, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health confirmed Zika virus infections and persistent mosquito populations in the Wynwood neighborhood of North Miami, Florida.

With this new information and the risk of continued active transmission of Zika in that area, it is important for city leaders to understand both the situation in Florida, as well as the necessary precautions cities across the United States can take.

Travel to Florida-designated Areas The CDC has issued travel, testing and other recommendations for those who traveled to the Wynwood neighborhood on or after June 15, 2016. This is the first time the CDC has warned against travel to any area within the continental United States due to the outbreak of an infectious disease. The greatest risk, of course, is to pregnant women and their partners, as well as those who are planning to become pregnant. As the CDC’s Emergency Response Team becomes fully operational to this site, we can expect to receive more information and guidance.

mosquito bites and sexual transmission of Zika. While we are still learning more about this virus and its long-term impacts, these simple steps, including the use of insect repellant and screens on windows and doors, will help to ensure that we are doing our best to confront this challenge.

What Can Local Leaders Do? Getting the word out about Zika is critically important as many Americans still are not fully aware of the impacts of this disease. While the CDC and news outlets have been doing their part, local leaders have a unique opportunity to ensure that accurate and timely information on this virus is shared in their communities. As mayor I am sharing the latest information for educational purposes. I am including the information hopefully to make sure our community knows the risks of the Zika virus and how to be prepared. Check the CDC website for information updated daily and helpful toolkits at http://www.cdc.gov/zika.

About the Author: Stephanie MartinezRuckman is the Program Director for Human Development at the National League of Cities. Follow Stephanie on Twitter @martinezruckman.

any health hazard in the home such as mold, asbestos or lead- based paint, installation and/or replacement of sump pump and french drains, foundation wall repair, replacement of gutters, down spouts and, if needed roofing, Rainwater capture and retention.

Examples of fixtures eligible for reimbursement may include: furnace, boiler, hot water heater. Examples of personal property NOT eligible for reimbursement include: television sets, computers, audio/visual equipment, exercise equipment, and hand power tools.

NOTE: Homeowners who have already completed repairs are NOT eligible for assistance or reimbursement of incurred expenses.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM REQUIRED – CORRECTION FROM AUGUST NEWSLETTER

It was reported in the August newsletter that, as a result of our Building Code update in 2015 (Ordinance 15-2115 adopted April 27, 2015) , multi-family buildings with 5 or more units are required to install a fire alarm system to the common area of the building. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY ALL EXISTING MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL RESILIENCY BUILDINGS MORETHAN 3 UNITS OR 3 PROGRAM STORIES OR GREATER WILL REQUIRE Zika 101 I have recently come across a program A COMPLETE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM Even for those who have no plans to travel to Florida, or to other areas with for Suburban Cook County residents WITH SMOKE DETECTION AND confirmed cases of the Zika virus, it is only that may be of interest to families MANUAL PULL STATIONS WITHIN important to understand this disease. needing flood damage assistance. 24 MONTHS OF THE ADOPTION Here are the five things that everyone The Northwest Housing Partnership OF THIS ORDINANCE. A CHANGE is being administered by the Cook OF OWNERSHIP OR GROUP WILL should know: Zika is spread through the Aedes County Department of Planning and TRIGGER CODE COMPLIANCE FOR species mosquito. These mosquitos Development within the Bureau of FIRE ALARMS WTH NO 24 MONTH can be found throughout the United Economic Development. The program DELAY. We apologize for the error in States. The best way to prevent Zika is will assist income-qualified owners the August Newsletter. Please contact of single through 4 unit homes who Chief Adams for any clarification to prevent mosquito bites.

Zika can also be transmitted sexually, reside in suburban Cook County with deemed necessary. Chief Adams can be and passed from a pregnant woman to a one-time monetary grant to assist reached at 708-345-0441 or by e-mail at her fetus, which can cause significant with flood remediation and mitigation. jadams@westchester-il.org.

Residents are required to show birth defects.

Pregnant woman should not travel to evidence of damage incurred from the April/May 2013 flood. Northwest FROM THE BOARD Zika-impacted areas.

At the July 26th Village Board Meeting, Travelers infected with Zika can Housing Partnership is administering spread the virus through mosquito this program for all suburban Cook the following items were approved County communities west and under the Consent Agenda: bites.

Approval of the Record of Bills ending north of 39th Street. If you or family There is no vaccine for Zika.

The CDC awarded $16 million to members reside south of this area in 07-21-16 in the amount not to exceed states and territories last week for Cook County, please contact NHS at $1,066,688.81 Approval of Minutes of the July 12, systems to detect microcephaly and 773.329.4175 or at nwhp.net. NWHP other outcomes of Zika, referrals for is accepting applications for new 2016 Village Board Meeting, Minutes impacted families to appropriate contractors interested in this program. of the July 12, 2016 Committee of the Whole Meeting, and the Minutes of the services and for the monitoring of The purpose of this funding is to July 12, 2016 Executive Session outcomes of children affected by An Ordinance Amending Section Zika. These awards are meant to be a assist residents with clean-up from the stopgap measure until Congress votes effects of flooding and to help install 11.32.150, Entitled “Truck Parking”, on a Zika aid package. We anticipate flood mitigation elements to minimize of Chapter 11.32, Entitled “Parking” of that this will be a top priority when future flooding. To that end, it is likely Title 11, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic”, the majority of assistance will include: of the Westchester Municipal Code Congress returns in September.

An Ordinance Authorizing the backwater valves, overhead sewer and Prevention This summer, it is important for landscape grading. Other activities Acceptance of a Proposal from Youna everyone to take steps to prevent may include: removal or abatement of Mechanical, Inc. d/b/a The YMI Group

For Services Related to the Post Office Roof Replacement Project, in the Amount of $25,150 A Resolution Authorizing the Addition of the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association Deferred Compensation Plan as an Employee Benefit A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract Between the Village of Westchester and Strada Construction Company for Services Related to the 2016 50/50 Sidewalk Program, in the Amount of $44,805.00 At the July 26th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: An Ordinance Waiving the Requirements of the Village of Westchester Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual and Ratifying the Purchase of a Gazebo from Amish Country Gazebos, in the Amount of $11,046.00 At the July 26th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business: E911 Dispatch Presentation – Cook County Sheriff’s Police Dispatch Center Liquor License Application – Kiko’s Comprehensive Review of Municipal Code At the July 26th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under Old Business: Referendum Questions Emergency Sirens Proposed Parental Leave Policy At the August 9th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 08-04-16 in the amount not to exceed $818,133.06 Approval of Minutes of the July 26, 2016 Village Board Meeting, Minutes of the July 26, 2016 Committee of the Whole Meeting, and the Minutes of the July 26, 2016 Executive Session Approval of Departmental Monthly Reports: Community Development Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department An OrdinanceAmending Chapter 5.36, Entitled “Liquor Sale” of Title 5, Entitled “Business Licenses and Regulations,” of the Westchester Municipal Code At the August 9th Village Board Meeting, the following item was approved under the Active Agenda: An Ordinance Providing for the Submission to the Electors of the Village of Westchester, Cook County, Illinois, at the General Election to be Held on November 8, 2016, a Public Question as to Whether the Limiting Rate Under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Village be Increased

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