April 2021 Village of Westchester Newsletter by Village of Westchester, IL

Village of

Westchester APRIL, 2021

Gattuso says ‘good-bye’ as his time serving the Village comes to an end POLICE DEPARTMENT

FIRE DEPARTMENT

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

LIBRARY

SCHOOL DISTRICT

GIRL SCOUTS

SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS

Its been an absolute honor to serve the residents of this Village for the past 25 years. I will cherish this time forever and I want to thank all the residents that have supported me and the board throughout these years. I wanted to take some time to reflect on what we have been able to accomplish over the last 25 years and I know that these projects have made Westchester an even better place to live for all of us going forward. When I started on the board in the mid 90’s, under the guidance of Mayor John Sinde and Trustee Angelo Luciano, we advocated for and acquired a grant to repave many alleys in our town. One of the first acts I undertook as a trustee was to oversee this project which was able to provide our residents with much better access to their garages and rear portions of their properties. It was after this project was completed, we took on and completed many more projects. I was thrilled that I was able to help improve our town and work with such a fantastic group of like minded residents and board members. It was from these experiences I knew I would be able to serve our Village in another capacity when the time would come. Sure enough that time did come when Mayor John Sinde retired and I decided to run for Village President in 2005. Upon taking the office of Village President, my board started to move on business development for the Village and we were proud to bring the 22nd and Wolf development into town. We were able to give our residents access to a beautiful shopping center with center piece businesses of Panera Bread and BP Amoco. My board and I also were able to focus our attention to developing opportunities to capture and grow financial gains for the Village by revitalizing the property on the east side of Manheim just before I-290. Our goal was to provide our residents with another helpful community asset, like BP Amoco, thus turning a vacant piece of property into a means for the Village to not only reap the benefit of physical business, but also produce opportunities for the Village to receive tax dollars to better improve our town. We were also able to partner with and bring in top notch medical providers to town. We are proud that Midwest Orthopedics at Rush and Amita Health Medical Group call their offices on Wolf Road home. We are also so proud that that Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital can now call Enterprise Drive their home to service the needs of all our residents. Also during my time as Village President we able to secure and bring in the award winning Chicago Highlands Country Club to town and we are excited

to watch them grow and provide opportunities for our residents with a fantastic place to golf and spend time with their families. We further developed and grew housing opportunities in town with the additions of the Avondale Subdivision and the Westchester Woods Subdivision both of which have provided our residents with even more wonderful housing opportunities thus confirming that Westchester is indeed, a great place to live. We are currently partnering with Gallagher Homes and Continental Homes to continue to add to this Village and they will be working on a development located on 31st street just east of Chicago Highlands Country Club. We look forward to this project being completed and adding to the beauty of our Village. During my time as Village President, we continued to improve the infrastructure of our town. We were able to specially budget for and complete a heat and replacement street project in 2006 that provided the entire Village with vastly improved streets to travel on that are still functioning properly today. This project was an overwhelming success as it was found to cost a fraction of what a complete rebuild would cost. In 2019 we decided, based on the success of the previous heat and replacement project, we would again commission this procedure in 2020 to help repair other streets in town. We were very excited to learn that the street and alley referendum from this last election cycle was supported and passed by our residents. We know that this referendum will better allow the Village to serve the needs of our residents and provide the types of streets and alleys they deserve moving forward. The last 25 years serving the amazing residents of this Village will be one of my life highlights. I am so thankful that you all have put your trust and faith in me for so many years. It is with a heavy, but uplifted, heart that my 17 years as a trustee and 8 years as Village President comes to an end this May. As this part of my life in public service ends, I am very excited to spend even more time with wife, children and grandchildren in the years to come. Although my time serving the Village on the board will come to an end, I will always serve the residents of the Village of Westchester. If anyone needs my assistance or help, you know where to find me! God Bless and thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Sincerely, Village President Paul T. Gattuso

APRIL 2021

P olice D epartment APRIL 2021

Do not be fooled by the “Big Scam Ruse”

Every year the Westchester Police Department is contacted by residents, most being our precious seniors, being scammed by certain professional ruse criminal crews working the area. These criminals are experts that go town to town trying to distract you out of your home, or even worse yet, letting them into your home, through manipulation, trickery and lies. They will tell you all kinds of stories, that they work for the village and they need to check your water pressure or water purification. While they distract you by leading you into another room, or out your front door, two other criminals will make their way into your home to rifle through all your belongings looking for jewelry and monies, and then running out of the house within minutes leaving the scene to hit their next victim. They say that these individuals have the ability to sense where money and assets might be hidden within the household closets, or floorboards. To avoid these types of ruses I would tell my Mother-inlaw who lived with me until she was 85 years young, if someone knocks on the door do not open that door, even if they are on fire, just call 911 first. This made it much clearer for her to understand the danger of these types of individuals, that it was zero tolerance to let anyone in without a proper appointment or notification. If you let the fox in the hen house, it is going to be nothing but bad news for the hens inside. So please “Do Not Let Anyone You Don’t Know Personally” into your home, or let them get you to leave your household, even just for a minute. When in doubt please call the police out! Sincerely Chief Daniel Babich

POLICE BLOTTER 1) At 11:22 am on February 25, 2021 a Retail Theft was reported at Jewel Foods located at 2128 Mannheim Road. A subject was observed by an officer conducting a premise check placing over $100 in liquor into his coat. The subject was stopped after exiting the store and arrested. 2) At 9:05pm on March 1, 2021 an Armed Robbery was reported at the BP Amoco located at 825 Mannheim. A customer reported that a subject held a gun to him demanding his belongings. 3) At 5:23am on March 9, 2021 a Residential Burglary was reported on the 11500 Block of Burton Court. The resident reported that unknown subject(s) appeared to have gained entry by breaking a window. Various items were taken. Utilizing a wide range of public and private video cameras, investigators were able to identify the vehicle that was possibly used in the crime. The vehicle owner was questioned and subsequently arrested for residential burglary. 4) At 4:26pm on March 12, 2021 a

Criminal Damage to Property was reported at the Well Fargo Bank located at 11000 W. 31st Street. A customer of the bank reported that another customer damaged his vehicle that was parked in the parking lot. The vehicle owner believed that it was deliberate and a police report was filed. 5) At 11:12pm on March 12, 2021 a Theft was reported on the 1800 block of Newcastle. The resident reported that a vehicle had just pulled up to their house, took a flag that was in their front yard and drove off. Officers canvassed the area and were unable to locate any vehicles, however the flag was located in the roadway 2 blocks away. 6) At 5:58pm on March 13, 2021 a Retail Theft was reported at 10147 Roosevelt, J-Dee’s Convenient. The store clerk reported that a male subject left the store with a bottle of liquor. Officers located the subject walking and was turned over to Broadview Police due to outstanding warrants in their municipality.

APRIL 2021

PUBLIC WORKS Village branch pickup will resume the week of Monday, April 5-9, 2021 The Public Works Department will pick up branches the first full week of every month. (April-November) All brush must be put out on the front parkway by 7:00 a.m. on the designated pickup day. Branches can be up to 7 ‘in length and stacked with the butt ends facing the street in the same direction. If not stacked properly, a “restack” notice will be left. Again, please put ALL brush out on your designated pickup day and Public Works crews will determine what constitutes an open load, which will be picked up later in the week. An open load would include any brush that will not fit through the chipper such as logs, stumps, and large limbs. These must be cut for one man to lift. Dirt must be removed from any root balls for pickup. Public Works Crews will only pass

through a designated pickup area once due to time schedule and other workload responsibilities. Landscaping contractors are responsible for their own brush pickup and disposal. Please note the following schedule for branch pickup: MONDAY: From Mannheim Road west to Wolf Road and from Canterbury south to Windsorincluding both sides of Windsor Drive. Also, Waterford, Waverly, Camelot and Concord. TUESDAY: Roosevelt Road south to Cermak Road-from Gardner Road west to Mannheim Road. WEDNESDAY: From Roosevelt Road north to the expressway and from Gardner Road west to Mannheim Road. Also, Roosevelt Road south to Canterbury from Haase west to Heidorn. THURSDAY: From Belleview west to Wolf Road, Martindale Drive to 31st Street

Yard waste pickup by Waste Management started Thursday, April 1, 2021. Free yard waste stickers for reusable yard waste receptacles are available at the Village Hall. Remember….. Waste Management will also pick up your branches if they are bundled no more than 4’ in length. These will be picked up on your regular garbage day every week. ************************************* Parkway Restoration: The Public Works Department will begin repairing parkways damaged by sewer and water excavations and snow plow damage, weather permitting. Pothole Repair The Public Works Department continues to fill potholes throughout the Village, weather permitting.

Please call Public Works at 708-3450041 to report potholes. Possible Water Main Breaks/Leaks Village residents are asked to call Public Works at 708-345-0041 or the Police Non Emergency number after hours at 708-345-0060 if an unusual amount of water is visible in the street or parkway. This could be a main break or water leak that requires our immediate attention. 50/50 Shared Cost Sidewalk Replacement Program The Village offers a shared cost sidewalk replacement program. If the sidewalk in front of your residence is in poor condition and you would like to replace it, the Village will share the cost with you. Please call Public Works at 708345-0041 for more information or to register.

F ire D epartment APRIL 2021

C o m m u n it y D e v e lop me n t 6

APRIL 2021

L ibrary APRIL 2021

L ib r ary 8

APRIL 2021

IMPORTANT LIBRARY DATES FOR APRIL 2021: Saturday, April 10: DuSable Museum of African American History: “The People Could Fly.” 1-2 pm via Zoom. Registration Required. Contact the Adult Dept. for more information at askus@westchesterpl.org.

Wednesday, April 14: Fireside Chat with John Sandford, Moderated by Carl Hiaasen. 7 pm via Zoom. Registration Required. Contact the Adult Dept. for more information at askus@westchesterpl.org.

Saturday, April 17: Garfield Park Conservatory Exclusive Tour. 1-2 pm via Zoom. Registration Required. Contact the Adult Dept. for more information at askus@ westchesterpl.org. Register at tinyurl.

com/4-17-2021 Saturday, April 24: National Museum of Mexican Art: Explore the “Nuestras Historias” exhibition. 2-3 pm via Zoom. Contact the Adult Dept. for more information at askus@westchesterpl.org. Register at tinyurl.com/04-24-2021

S t . J ose ph APRIL 2021

S t . J o s ep h 10

APRIL 2021

S chool D i strict APRIL 2021

S c h o o l D ist r i ct 12

APRIL 2021

Girl Scout Troup 45149 pairs up with a local business for a cookie booth Girl Scout Cadette Troop 45149 was able to have a Cookie booth at Coldwell Banker Stratford Place. Owners, Laura Catrambone Gerace and Carolyn Siska, gave the green light to sell their delicious desserts. Everyone was happy and the girls did well. Given the times we are in with Covid 19, they were able to sell over 500+ boxes of cookies. The benefit of the Cookie Sales will allow the girls, in this Troop, to attend an Art Camp thru the Girl Scouts Council of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) over the summer.

Junior Girl Scout Troup 45148 March has ended our cookie sales for the year! The girls did a great job of trying new ways to promote their cookie sales during these unprecedented times. Our troop was able to take advantage of the snow that we got in February and was able to go snow tubing together. It was wonderful to see the girls having so much fun and having an opportunity to be together. We are looking forward to spring so that we can begin meeting outdoors again and working on some outdoor badges.

APRIL 2021

S potlight

S enior s APRIL 2021

S p ot l i g ht 16

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S e n i o rs

S potlight

S enior s APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021

Woodcock Sky Dance It is the mating season for Woodcocks. Male Woodcocks will be performing a daring sky dance in hopes of attracting a mate. Join us on the deck of the Prairie House to witness their display. Westchester’s Wolf Road Prairie is one of the few places in Cook County where this ancient ritual can still be seen. Starting time 7 pm on April 1, 2, and 3. Masks

We are open! Celebrate the Eucharist with us this Sunday! Volunteers are ready to assist you at Mass. Registration for Mass is required. Please wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Visit marymotherofdivinegrace.org to register for Masses. Need help in registering? Have questions? Call the business office at 708.562.3364 on

Mondays between 10am-3pm to reserve a seat. CONFESSIONS: Saturdays 8:30am - 9:00am Divine Infant Jesus Church You will be required to sign in upon arriving for confession. Please wear a face mask. Looking for successful In-Person Learning for your child?

Divine Providence Catholic School One in Faith, Academics, and Scholarship Successfully teaching in-person since August 2020 Before and After School Care Available In-person school registration has begun for the 2021-2022 school year. We offer full and

part time 3-year-old Preschool and Jr. Kindergarten and Full time Kindergarten – 8th Grade. Contact Linda Hawkins at lhawkins@archchicago.org for admission and tour information.

APRIL 2021