Village of
Westchester MAY, 2020
FIRE DEPARTMENT
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
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PUBLIC WORKS
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LIBRARY
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GIRL SCOUTS
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SCHOOL DISTRICT
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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From the Desk of Paul Gattuso I would like to give a Heartfelt Birthday Shout out Jeanette Magda !!! On Friday April 10th 2020 Jeanette Magda turned 100 years old!!! As a resident of Westchester living in the same house since 1956 — her family, friends and the community wanted to do something special to celebrate the occasion. Unfortunately, like many other events long in the planning, the need to maintain social distancing put her birthday brunch on hold. However, this didn’t stop her family from organizing a parade of sorts, which included dozens of cars — police, fire, the Village President and other well-wishers — from driving in from of her decorated home in procession on Saturday afternoon to honor her milestone. Jeanette, an active member of the community and long term parishioner of Divine Providence Church was overtaken with appreciation. “What started out as just another ordinary day, quickly turned into a very special one for me,” said Jeanette. “I’ve lived through the Great Depression, World War II, 9-11 and many other challenges and I plan to get through this one too. I owe a lot of people hugs, which I intend to give in full, as soon as things get back to normal”.
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P olice D epartment
A Message from Chief Daniel Babich Dear Residents When a nation is struck by something as terriable as a disaster, either natural or manmade, or divine intervention, lives are ruined, people are filled with fear, and loss of hope. Cities and citizens across the United States and abroad have been hit with a devastating blow with the COVID-19 Virus hitting all our local communities and states. The Village of Westchester employees, who dedicate their lives to keeping the village operating and safe through any major event, also had members whom became ill due to this virus. Behind the scenes the political officials and the village manager continued to provide top notch services through the services of the police, fire, public works, ladies working in the front office through continual dedication and commitment. Like the post office these services cannot shut down nor the employees who help provide those services and must continue the fight like the great veterans that fought throughout every conflict in every branch of the armed forces to keep the peace, and constitutional rights for all. Only being three months on the job as a chief of police I started my first day with an armed robbery to a full blown pandemic. I just want to say I am honored to serve
with this entire group of professionals from the political spectrum to each and every employee working for the Village of Westchester. Being a former Marine I have seen my share of tragedies and great individuals
POLICE BLOTTER 1) At 6:57pm on March 17, 2020 a Theft of Package occurred on the 10600 block of Newbury. A male wearing a mask was observed on their RING doorbell taking a package from the front porch. 2) At 8:00pm on March 21, 2020 a Criminal Damage to Vehicle was reported on the 700 block of Hull Ave. The resident reported that damage was observed on their vehicle and that the tires were also damaged. 3) At 3:16am on March 25, 2020 a Theft was reported at the BP Amoco located at 825 Mannheim. A male subject requested to purchase cigarettes from the clerk of the gas station. After the clerk placed them on the counter the subject removed them and exited the store without paying. Police subsequently located the subject and restitution was made. 4) At 8:58am on March 31, 2020 a Suspicious Vehicle was reported at the Jewel Foods located at 2128 Mannheim
Road. A store manager advised the police that a U-Haul truck was reported by neighboring Jewel managers as being involved in thefts. The U-Haul was stopped and subjects spoken with regarding taking items from inside the store. 5) At 1:11pm on April 11, 2020 a Ruse Burglary was reported on the 2400 block of Hawthorne. The residents reported that subjects came to the front door reporting that there appeared to be damage on the roof and that they would help in repairing the damage. Subjects were allowed in the home but fled the area shortly after. It was not certain if anything was taken at this time. 6) At 3:24pm on April 14, 2020 a Theft was reported on the 1900 block of Portsmouth. The resident reported that a delivery was reportedly made at approximately 10am and the package was not there at 11am.
that stepped up to the plate never worrying about their own lives, but the lives of those they serve and protect. This is what I have seen during this virus that came unmercifully to our doors, and way of life.
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All I can say is “God Bless Our First Responders and Village Employees Everywhere� Chief Daniel Babich Westchester Police Department
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MAY 2020
PUBLIC WORKS
Branch pickup for May will be the week of May 4-8, 2020 Branch pickup for June will be the week of June 1-5, 2020
Branch pickup for July will be July 6-10, 2020 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 no later than 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. Public Works Crews will only pass through a designated pickup area once due to time schedule and other workload responsibilities. Thursday and Friday are Open Load days for pickup of 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 the root ball for pick-up. Landscaping contractors are responsible for their own brush pickup and disposal. Please note the following schedule for
Sewer Line Warranties of America Just a reminder to residents that it’s that time of year again when Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) will be contacting you by mail about their optional warranty programs. This company is completely legitimate and the programs they offer are optional and include Exterior Water Service Line Coverage and Exterior Sewage/Septic Line Coverage. Many Westchester residents already participate in the SLWA programs and are pleased. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Westchester Public Works Department at 708-345-0041. If you have specific questions about the programs or need more information on what they offer, please contact SLWA directly at 1-844-257-8795.
branch 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 Public Works office and the Village Hall. Memorial Day Holiday Garbage Schedule There will be no garbage pickup on Monday, May 25, 2020 due to the
Memorial Day Holiday. Monday’s pickup will be Tuesday May 26, 2020 Tuesday’s pickup will be Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Thursday’s and Friday’s pickup will remain the same-no change Construction season has started. Please drive carefully in all work zones. Parkway Restoration: The Public Works Department is now repairing parkways damaged by sewer and water excavations and snow plow damage, weather permitting. 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 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 708-3450041 for more information or to register. The work done for this year’s program is projected for the summer season and is done on a first come first serve basis. Sprinkling Ban Reminder We have water use restrictions in effect every year, May 15-September 15, from 12pm to 6pm. This includes: (1) Outdoor Watering (2) Cleaning Outdoor Surfaces (3) Cleaning Buildings (4) 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.
Please turn in your Census application
Hey residents of WESTCHESTER — if you have not done so, please find and fill out your Census application it is crucial for the Village to have all applications turned in. Census is for the population of the Village which in return helps with State and Federal Funding for our Village. SO please everyone do their part.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT Building Department personnel are still working during this time with some safety pre-cautions for our residents as well as our staff. Even though the building is not open to the public, residential & commercial permits are being processed. We have installed a drop box outside of our door for building permits applications and payments. We also have allowed for payment of permits fees on our web site as well in order to keep the process going. Everybody always asks, “ When do I need to get a permit” That’s a great question and here are some of the situations in which you will need to get a permit: • Replacing your siding, gutters, soffit or facia • Installing a new fence • Pouring a new concrete patio or
driveway • Installing brick paver patio • A new roof • A new exterior door. • A new window • Ordering a dumpster Most of the time with the examples above, we can issue the permit over the counter to you and you can be on your way getting your project done. In some cases, it will take a day or two to get your permit because a plan review needs to be done such as: • Room additions • Full kitchen remodels • Upgrading your electrical panel • Plumbing repairs • Structural changes What will I need to submit for a permit? • Plat of survey • 3 sets of drawings
• All contractors will have to be registered and licensed with the Village Remember, all permit applications and information can be found on line at the Village Website. Code Enforcement Code enforcement officer’s are utilized by the Village in order to ensure that our town continues to look presentable and in good order. The intention of the Village is to maintain and not ticket or penalize our residents. Some of the items that the Code officer’s look for : • Tall grass • Chipping paint • Siding in disrepair • Roofing and soffit in disrepair • Broken windows • Garbage and debris all over the property
L ibrary MAY 2020
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MAY 2020
Girl Scouts MAY 2020
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The stay-at-home order can’t stop the Girl Scouts! Westchester Junior Girl Scout troop 45148 has been keeping active during this unusual time. While not every event is able to move forward during this time of social distancing, we are thankful to have ways to keep meeting, socializing and learning. In addition to conducting our scheduled troop meetings via Zoom, we have experienced a range of online offerings. Camp Greene Wood staff hosted a meet and greet with two of the resident reptiles. The girls were introduced to Vlad (a Russian tortoise) and George (a bearded dragon) via Facebook live. Camp staff gave a glimpse into a typical day, including feeding, habits and best practices for care of these cute critters. The girls also participated in a virtual yoga class. An hour of mindfulness, stretching, and breathing was just what we needed
after spending so much time indoors. In that time, we they learned some yoga basics they can practice at home. Namaste. Our Junior Coding Basics webinar helped introduce participants to how algorithms, loops and conditionals are created and applied. This program, provided by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, provided the girls with the first steps toward earning their Coding for Good 1: Coding Basics badge. Next up, we create our own conditional commands and learn more about women in computer science. Don’t forget the cookies!! Many Westchester troops still have inventory and are happy to help you locate Girl Scout Cookies before they’re gone! Simply reach out via social media and a troop leader will contact you with available options for contact-free cookie delivery.
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St. Joseph MAY 2020 9
S ch o o l D ist r i ct 10
MAY 2020 istration process.
A Letter from the Superintendent WPS Principal Named Director of Curriculum in District 92½
2nd Grade Wax Museum - On Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 , The Westchester Primary School second graders did a month-long study on historical figures. Their focus was on the contributions of these historical figures and what they have contributed to our society. They used read alouds, biographies and student-led research using online sources (ie. Pepple Go, Brain Pop Jr, and World Book Kids). Each child created a PowerPoint slide show to include the following: family, early life, accomplishments, any interesting facts and a timeline with 4 important events in their historical figures life. As a culminating project, students put on a wax museum of their historical figure.
I am pleased to announce that the Board of Education has approved Stephanie DelFiacco, Principal of WPS, as Director of Curriculum beginning July 1, 2020. During Ms. DelFiacco’s tenure as Principal of WPS, she has demonstrated an excellent work ethic and is well respected by staff, students, and parents. She is exceptionally knowledgeable in curriculum issues, staff development, school leadership, and socialemotional learning. Ms. DelFiacco is a strong advocate for student learning and is very excited about the new challenge. Ms. DelFiacco has served as the WPS Principal since 2015. Prior to that, she served as the Assistant Principal at WMS. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University and a Masters of Arts in School Leadership from Concordia University. She will remain at WPS as Principal through June 30th and will assist with the search for a new Principal. While we understand the parents, staff, and students will miss Ms. DelFiacco as Principal, she will be a valuable educational leader for the entire District. We will be advertising for the Principal position immediately. We are also in the process of seeking volunteers to serve on the Principal Selection Team. Please be on the lookout for more Information in days to come. Please join me in congratulating Stephanie DelFiacco to her new role as Director of Curriculum. Sincerely, Philip Salemi Superintendent
Westchester Primary School Kindergarten Pre-Registration Due to the current Stay At Home order, Kindergarten Pre-Registration will be conducted online this spring. Beginning April 13th, we will open our online Kindergarten Pre-Registration for the 2020-2021 school year. Please visit our school district web site at https://www.sd925.org/ and follow the following menu path:
Aaliyah Sims
• Click on the “Registration” tab • Click on “Kindergarten” tab This is the first step in enrolling your child for kindergarten starting this fall. You will receive a notice after the review of your materials confirming the pre-registration process is complete. In early July you will receive information in the mail to complete the online registration/residency verification process and pay fees.
Checklist for Pre-Registration • Complete Kindergarten Enrollment Form • Email a copy of your child’s official birth certificate. A child must be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2020.
from left to right: Nora Laurie, Taylor Saviola-Scherer, Hope Voegtle, Jack Wesolowski, and Aleks Schoff
• Email a state or government issued photo ID with your name and current address
Westchester Intermediate School • Email birth certificate and ID to gchayka@sd925.org • Please note that all items (completed enrollment form, ID and birth certificate) must be received to process pre-registration. Please bring completed health records, along with your child’s official birth certificate, to the Kindergarten screening. The date for this screening will be announced later. Please visit our school district web site at https://www.sd925.org to find more information on the required health records. Please contact Gina Chayka, WPS Administrative Assistant, at gchayka@sd925.org if you have questions or need assistance completing the pre-reg-
We have been embracing remote learning as part of the school closure over the last several weeks. I would like to commend both our teachers and our students and families for working so diligently to maintain some kind of normalcy during this time. It is strange to be home so much but our students have been working through Google Classroom in order to maintain their learning even during the closure. While we have had to cancel many of our events, we still have a great deal to celebrate as a learning community. Our greatest hope right now is that we are able to see each other again very soon at school. Until then please be healthy and safe. Go Huskies!
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Food Pantry remains open The Westchester Food Pantry remains open during the pandemic to serve our neighbors in need. With client and volunteer safety in mind, we’ve changed our format to a “drive-thru” model. Gloves and masks are provided for all volunteers. Clients pull up, show proof of residence in our service area, and volunteers place groceries in their vehicles. Even though they can’t come into the Pantry to choose their food, clients still receive several bags of groceries including pantry staples, fresh bread, frozen meat, eggs, fresh produce and more, as well as dog and cat food for their furry family members. The Pantry has seen client numbers rise sharply during this time. With millions of Americans out of work, the need for food assistance is greater now than ever before. Additionally, one-third of the Greater Chicago Food Depository member agencies closed at the start of the state’s “shelter in place” order which places more pressure on the pantries that remain open. The Westchester Food Pantry is facing challenges brought by the coronavirus. Understandably, many of our regular volunteers have had to step away from service in order to protect their health. With rising client numbers and a reduced volunteer staff, this has greatly strained our resources. We are thankful for all the donations that have come in during this difficult time, and the new volunteers who have joined our ranks. However, the
challenges grow. To meet these increasing challenges, the Pantry needs more funding and volunteers to help meet the need in our communities. For more information on volunteering or to make a secure online donation, please visit our website (www.WestchesterFoodPantry. org) or our facebook page (www.facebook. com/WestchesterILFoodPantry). Despite these challenges, the Westchester Food Pantry is committed to staying open as long as possible to serve our neighbors in need. We urge any and all Westchester residents in need of food assistance to visit the Pantry. All client information is confidential, and all clients are treated with respect and dignity. We are here to help! The Westchester Food Pantry serves the communities of Berkeley, Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Hines, La Grange Park, Westchester and Western Springs. The Pantry is open every Friday evening from 5:30-7:30pm. Clients must show proof of residency in our service area and can come once each calendar month. For more information, visit our website at www.WestchesterFoodPantry.org.
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WPTC wishes all health and safety On behalf of the board members of WPTC, we hope everyone is staying safe and all families are healthy. You are always welcome to contact any of the WPTC Board members at wptc925@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or feedback that you may have. Please continue to check our Facebook page and website for any updates. www.Wptc.membershiptoolkit. com h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / WPTC92.5
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Chamber welcomes its newest member Aseret Development Services LLC Teresa Hollingbird-Jackson 708-601-6487 teresa@aseretdevelopment.com Aseret Development Series LLC is a full service remodeling, renovation and repair company that has become the go to for high quality craftsmanship adjusted to meet your specifications and needs, regardless of the extent of the work you need done. As a family-
run business, we are committed to providing our clientele with more personalized services that make your bottom line our top priority. Without the cumbersome overhead costs associated with larger, less versatile remodeling companies, with Aseret Development Series LLC you can rest assured that more of your hard earned money goes into the work itself. Aseret Development Series LLC offers free estimates on all of our services.
Status of Westchester Eateries Alpine Food Shop Walk-in pick-up Benjarong Thai Restaurant Walk-in pick-up Burger King Amoco Restaurant CLOSED Burger King 31st Drive-thru Chai Yo Thai Walk-in pick up Donald’s Famous Hotdogs Drive-thru/carryout only at drive-thru Dunkin’ Mannheim Drive-thru Dunkin’ 31st Drive-thru El Alegre Burrito Walk in pick-up Giordano’s Walk in pick-up/curbside pick-up/delivery 4-9 pm Jay’s Wok CLOSED KFC Roosevelt Rd. Drive-thru/walk-in pick-up KFC 31st Drive-thru/walk-in pick-up Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp Walk-in pick-up/delivery Le Petite Café CLOSED Little Europe Deli Walk-in pick-up Mc Donald’s Drive-thru/walk-in pick-up New China Wok Phone order pick-up Paleteria Drive-thru Panera Curbside pick-up Papa John’s Pizza Walk-in pick-up/delivery Paul’s Pizza & Hot Dog Curbside pick-up Rocky’s Pizza & Restaurant Walk-in pick-up/delivery Sha-Poppin’ Walk-in pick-up Spice N Eat 1 Walk-in pick-up Westchester Inn Walk-in pick-up Young Prince Drive-thru *NOTE: Information subject to change Many stores and restaurants offer in house delivery or provide on-demand food delivery services that partner
with restaurants to deliver food directly to consumers. • GrubHub.com
• UberEats.com ª MrDelivery.com •Delivery.com • BeyondMenu.com • DoorDash.com
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