Village of
Westchester AUGUST, 2020
POLICE DEPARTMENT
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PUBLIC WORKS
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FIRE DEPARTMENT
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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LIBRARY
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SCHOOL DISTRICT
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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2020: A year to remember Westchester Citizens, I am writing this to tell everyone how proud I have been of Westchester since this pandemic has begun several months ago. I, like many of us, have been working for home. Do I like it? Not particularly. Being home with my family, yes, working from home without my work family, NO. I am a teacher, I miss the students, I miss everyone I work with, so I am looking forwar4d to going back in the fall. Back to being home I walk everyday through the park, I ride my bike on the streets and through the woods. I have spent much time walking through different parts of my Westchester neighborhood. It has been so great to see how many people are spending time making their houses look nicer. They are gardening, weeding decorating. Every block I walk down houses look kept up they look beautiful. Most have kept the weeds down, they’ve planted flowers and in general took some time to spruce their homes up. Anyone reading this will agree with me that they are seeing the same thing. I have never seen the tennis court on Mayfair so popular. There are days where all 4 courts are occupied. In fact early on there were only two nets. Two days later the nets were up and the courts are active. This town is active, walkers , bikers, kids, families, pets, joggers, gardeners, baseball, soccer. It looks like a new town to me. People say hi to one another or wave, some give people space, some have masks, some smile everyone is nice. I am not inferring by any means that people in Westchester are not nice, it’s just that people have never been out as much show their faces and smiles. I believe people are out now for all the right reasons; enjoying the weather, exercising, playing a sport, walking with your spouse, family time etc. This community has never been out like they are now. I have lived in this town a long time as a kid and again now as a parent and anyone else who has lived here a long time would agree with me. It is a quiet, private safe community. The only difference now is that people have been outside, being active, safe, friendly and most importantly Kind. WESTCHESTER should be Proud.
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P olice D e partment
A Message from Chief Daniel Babich As a young boy growing up in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, I still remember the Chicago Riots and seeing individuals fighting each other in my school yard as the police tried to intervene. For a young boy to see that happening and trying to understand it all was very disturbing. Now, that I am older and a Chief of police I am now seeing it all happen once again. As each day unfolds new problems and more civil unrest across the world is beginning to become a daily norm. During all this civil unrest, the one good thing it has done for me is it has brought me closer to my Eternal Spiritual Life and faith in my creator. I hope as time passes peace come to the land once again, with every tragedy, it will make us more united, stronger nation, and not divided.
will and just as a
God Bless America Chief Daniel Babich
POLICE BLOTTER 1) At 2:36am on June 19, 2020 an Attempted Armed Robbery occurred at the BP gas station located at 825 Mannheim. A male subject approached the counter with a gun demanding money. The subject fled prior to receiving anything.
4) At 8:28pm on June 29, 2020 a Retail Theft was reported at the Walgreens located at 10345 Roosevelt Road. 2 subjects entered the store and removed over $1,100 in merchandise. Both subjects were stopped by police and charged with theft.
2) At 4:22am on June 26, 2020 a Criminal Damage to Vehicle was reported at the Jewel Foods Store located at 2128 Mannheim. An officer on patrol observed a vehicle that appeared to have a broken rear window. It did not appear that entry was gained to the vehicle.
5) At 8:18pm on July 1, 2020 a Burglary was reported on the 10600 31st. The resident reported that entry was made to the home and items and money was missing from the house.
3) At 3:53pm on June 26, 2020 a Criminal Damage to Vehicle was reported on the 11000 block of Martindale. The resident reported that their rear window was broken out. Entry was not made to the inside of the vehicle.
6) At 9:31pm on July 3, 2020 a Retail Theft was reported at the Circle K located at 10200 Roosevelt. 2 subjects were observed by police leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Officers were then advised by the clerk that the subjects left with merchandise from the store without paying.
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AUGUST 2020
PUBLIC WORKS
Branch Pick-up Branch pickup for August will be August 3-7, 2020
Branch pickup for September will be August 31-September 4, 2020
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.
Branch pickup for October will be October 5-9, 2020
Please note the following schedule for branch pickup:
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.
MONDAY: From Mannheim Road west to Wolf Road and from Canterbury south to Windsor-including 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 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. Free yard waste stickers for reusable yard waste receptacles are available at the Village Hall. Pothole Repair The Public Works Department repairs potholes throughout the Village, weather permitting. Please call Public Works at 708-345-0041 to report potholes. The vac and jet machine will continue to clean out storm sewer inlets, as weather permits. As Always….. Village residents are asked to call Public Works at 708-345-0041 or the Police Non Emergency number after hours at 708345-0060 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 Parkway Tree Program - Beautify your yard and add to
the curb appeal of your home…. The Village offers a 50/50 shared cost program that includes the purchase and planting of a new parkway tree. Residents have a choice of 5 types of trees indigenous to the area. The trees will be planted in November 2020. Please call Public Works at 708-345-0041 to register. Sprinkling Ban Reminder We have water use restrictions in effect every year, May 15-September 15, from 12pm to 6pm. This includes: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Outdoor Watering Cleaning Outdoor Surfaces Cleaning Buildings Pool Filling
Sprinkling during unrestricted hours (before noon, after 6pm) shall be allowed on even numbered days for those even numbered addresses, and on odd numbered days for those residents having odd numbered addresses. If we have a dry summer, further restrictions may be necessary.
Beward of IDES fraud alert *Did you receive a debit card from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) in the mail, and you did NOT file for IDES benefits? Residents should be aware of identity theft regarding individuals who did NOT apply for unemployment through the state but received benefit claim information. At this time, we are taking reports of this activity. If you receive a letter and/ or debit card from the Illinois Department of Employment Security without filing with the IDES residents are encouraged to: 1) Monitor your credit by visiting www. annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 as you are entitled to one free credit report (not score) a year from each of the three services: Equifax, Experian,
and Transunion. You can also place an alert on your credit or even a freeze. 2) Notify IDES via https:// www2.illinois.gov/ides/ Pages/Contact-IDES_Form. aspx 3) Notify the Federal Trade Commission via http:// www.ftc.gov (select File a Consumer Complaint, and then File a Complaint) 4) File a police report ONLY IF your identity has been stolen. Make sure you review your credit report carefully for anything unusual or credit cards you did not open. If you find you are a victim of identity theft, please file a police report. Once you have done all of the above, destroy the card by cutting or shredding.
F ire D e partment AUGUST 2020
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C om m u n it y D e v e lop m e n t 6
AUGUST 2020
Choosing a contractor
Home improvements and repairs can cost thousands of dollars and are the subject of frequent consumer complaints. If you need work done on your home, keep these things in mind when selecting a contractor: When Selecting a Contractor • Get recommendations and references. Talk to friends, family and others who have used the contractor for similar work. • Get at least three written estimates. Insist the contractors come to your home to evaluate what needs to be done. Be sure the estimates are based on the same work so that you can make meaningful comparisons. • Check contractor complaint records. For a list of our local consumer protection agencies, please visit http://www.usa.gov/directory/ stateconsumer/illinois.shtml. You could also check with the Better Business Bureau. • Make sure the contractor
meets licensing and registration requirements. For a list of our local consumer protection agencies, please visit http://www.usa.gov/directory/ stateconsumer/illinois.shtml. • Contact the Community Development Department to check for permit and inspection requirements. Be wary if the contractor asks you to get the permit; it could mean the firm is not licensed. • Be sure your contractor is insured. They should have personal liability, property damage and worker’s compensation insurance for workers and subcontractors. Also check with your insurance company to find out if you are covered for any injury or damage that might occur. • Insist on a written contract that states exactly what work will be done, the quality of materials that will be used, warranties, timetables, the names of any subcontractors, the total price of the job, and the schedule of payments.
Real Estate Sales Did you know that the Village requires all properties to have a compliance inspection prior to sale? The Certificate of Compliance Program is designed to help protect the lives and property of the community, along with preserving the property values in Westchester. This program monitors the life safety, fire and plumbing codes of all residential properties, which include single-family, duplex and multi-family properties and commercial properties at the time of ownership change. If you are considering selling your property, you must apply for a certificate of compliance.
You should call us as soon as possible to make sure there are no surprises when you are getting close to closing. The property owner or his/her agent must complete and submit an application. The application for a Compliance Inspection is available on our website or from the Community Development Department Staff. The inspection fee must be paid prior to scheduling the appointment. If you are curious about what the inspector will be looking for, you can find the inspection checklist online at the Village’s website www.westchester-il.org, on the Community Development/Building page under Building Permitting.
• Try to limit your down payment. Some states have laws limiting the amount of down payment required. • Don’t make a final payment or sign a final release until you are satisfied with the work and know that subcontractors and suppliers have been paid. Some state laws allow unpaid subcontractors and suppliers to put a lien on your home for bills the contractor failed to pay. • Pay by credit card when you can. You may have the right to withhold payment to the credit card company until problems are corrected. Be especially cautious if the contractor: • Comes door-to-door or seeks you out; • Just happens to have material left over from a recent job; • offers you discounts for finding other customers; • quotes a price that’s out of line with other estimates;
• pressures you for an immediate decision; • offers an unusually long guarantee; • can only be reached by leaving messages with an answering service; • drives an unmarked van; • has out-of state license plates; or • asks you to pay for the entire job up front. Information above was prepared by the US Government. For more tips on selecting a contractor, check the US Government’s website at http://blog. usa.gov/post/88274027165/how-topick-a-contractor-for-home-repairs Additional information can be found at the Illinois Attorney General’s website Home Repair: Know your consumer rights (http:// w w w. i l l i n o i s a t t o r n e y g e n e r a l . g ov / consumers/homerep0505c.pdf )
Home emergency preparedness program Do you get basement back up during heavy storms? In 2013, the Village implemented the Home Flood-Proofing Assistance Program. Due to the success of the program, the Village Board has reauthorized funding for this program in 2017/2018. The Village Board recently approved a NEW eligible activity under the home emergency preparedness program. The Village has decided to help the owners of single family homes and twoflats defray a portion of the costs of providing protection from the backup of sewage in the basement. The grant program’s intent is to offset a portion of the expense that a property owner will incur to revise the house plumbing such that sewage cannot backflow into the house when the sanitary sewer is pressurized or to help reduce the cost of the installation of a residential standby generator. There are six options available to the property owner, as listed below: 1) Modification of the soil stack to direct flow out of the house in a new OVERHEAD SEWER and the elimination of all gravity drainage below the basement floor slab. The Village is rebating 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of $2,000. 2) Installation of an interior or exterior BACKFLOW PREVENTION VALVE and bypass pump on the house lateral in an underground vault. The Village is rebating 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of $2,000.
3) LIFT STATION system with an inside or outside underground vault. The Village is rebating 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of $2,000. 4) Installation of GLASS BLOCK WINDOWS or RETAINING WALL. The Village is rebating 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of $500. 5) Installation of CLEAN CHECK VALVE system. The Village is rebating 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of $1,000. 6) Installation of RESIDENTIAL STANDBY GENERATOR system. The Village is rebating 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum grant of $1,500. Each approach has different costs and degrees of property owner disruption, as well as different implications on the homeowner’s use of the revised plumbing. A licensed plumber can determine which option best serves your need. Updates or enhancements to current overhead sewer or lift station systems are not eligible for this program; however, replacement of an old system is eligible under this program. Participation in the program is on a first come, first served basis. Participation in the program is approved at the time the applicant submits their two qualified quotes. If you are interested in participating in the program or have any questions, please contact Community Development at 708-345-0199 or via email at building@westchester-il.org.
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S chool D i strict AUGUST 2020 11
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Food Pantry offering drive up service For over two decades, the Westchester Food Pantry has provided food to neighbors in need. During this pandemic, the Pantry continues to serve the residents of Berkeley, Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Hines, La Grange Park, Westchester and Western Springs. The Pantry currently serves over 300 households each month and numbers continue to rise as residents struggle with the pandemic and its economic repercussions. Need for Pantry services has increased by over 40% since late March. “We are seeing new clients every week,” stated Executive Director Amanda Grant. “So many people are struggling right now, but we are determined to help as many people as we can.” The Pantry is run entirely by volunteers and relies on donations of cash and food to stock its shelves. For the months of July and August, the Westchester Food Pantry is operating on a drive-thru model during the hours of 5:30-7:30pm every Friday evening. Clients are asked to have identification ready, stay in their vehicles and volunteers will load food into their cars. Clients receive fresh produce, frozen meat, bakery products, personal hygiene items, pantry staples, pet food and more. Clients can come to the pantry once each calendar month and must show proof of residency in the service area.
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B oy S couts AUGUST 2020 15
Boy Scout Troop #73 News When the Troop met for their meeting on March 11th, nobody could have predicted that would have been the last time they would all be together. But, it was. Just like everything else around us, Boy Scouts was also affected by Covid-19 and the mandated stay at home orders. Spring and summer are usually some of the busiest times for the boys with overnight camping, hiking, Webelo’s Invitational, working on merit badges and of course their week-long trip to Rainbow Scout Reservation for summer camp. Unfortunately, all those activities had to be cancelled. Although the boys were disappointed, especially about missing camp, the Troop leadership did their best to keep the boys engaged in Scouting, while still following the guidelines for the different phases. The Troop held virtual meetings via Zoom, worked on merit badges and created a Troop video to honor Westchester’s First Responders. On May 2nd, the Troop participated in the National Camp-in, where scouts and their family members participated in a virtual 5K hike, camp style cooking, wilderness survival classes, singalongs and a national virtual campfire. The Troop also held their Order of the Arrow elections. Order of the Arrow is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America. O.A. is composed of Scouts and leaders that best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Congratulations to Ja’Ron Brown and Mr. Michael Kalish for being selected for O.A. this year.
All three boys were very active scouts for
summer camp and staying up all night
In June, the Troop was able to once again meet in person. Adhering to social distancing and wearing masks the Troop held a flag retirement ceremony at the Westchester Community Church and began working on their Physical Fitness Merit Badge requirements. On July 7th, Troop #73 welcomed seven Webelo Scouts from Pack #73 to the Troop. These seven Scouts crossed over to Boy Scouts during an outdoor, social distancing crossover ceremony held at Westchester Community Church. The newest Troop members are Christian Cermak, Noah Glinke, Julian Meyer, Tommy Newhouse, Evan Peneschi, Vicente Salgado and Weston Sjostrom. Last month, the Troop said good-bye to Ja’Ron Brown, Danny Kalish and Matthew Schrieffer who have all officially cycled out of Boy Scouts and are looking forward to their next new adventure… college. Ja’Ron, Danny and Matthew all started their Scouting career at age 6 as Cub Scouts with Pack #73 and continued their scouting journey with Troop #73.
Matthew Schrieffer 12 years and are members of the Order of the Arrow. Ja’Ron Brown a 2020 graduate from St. Joseph High School, will be attending the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he will be double majoring in acting and marketing. Ja’Ron will continue to pursue his quest in becoming an Eagle Scout, as Covid interrupted him from completing his last requirements. Ja’Ron’s favorite scouting memories were spending the night at the museum and laser tag while in Cub Scouts. In Boy Scouts, he loved hiking to Aqua Blue at
Danny Kalish during Troop lock-ins. Danny Kalish, also a 2020 graduate from St. Joseph High School, will be attending Triton College in the Fall. He will be studying criminal justice and political science. Danny’s favorite scouting memories were all of the outdoor skills he learned, camping with his scouting family and mentoring the younger scouts. Danny plans to continue on in scouting as an adult leader and as a Chapter Chief in the Order of the Arrow. Matthew Schrieffer, a 2020 graduate
Ja’Ron Brown from Montini High School, will be attending Lewis University in Romeoville. He will be majoring in video game design. Matthew’s favorite part of scouting was camping and all of the charity work he did with the Troop. Matthew will continue to live as a Scout in his daily life by following the Scout Oath and Law every day. We wish Ja’Ron, Danny and Matthew the best of luck in all their future plans.
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