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

Village of

Westchester NOVEMBER, 2021

From the Desk of President Frank Perry

pOLICE DEpaRTMENT

pUBLIC WORKS

fIRE DEpaRTMENT

SCHOOL DISTRICT

LIBRaRY

WESTCHESTER IN pICTURES SpOTLIgHT ON SENIORS

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We are now past the Summer mark on the calendar and proof is in the sunlight morning temperatures! The leaves are changing in a most beautiful fashion. Westchester is gorgeous!

Also, on October 12, Firefighter/ Paramedics Kate O’Brien and Kyle Wilson completed the required 12 month probationary period and are now full-fledged members of the Westchester Fire Department.

On October 5, the Westchester Fire Department held its first Fire Prevention Week Open House since 2019. Activities for the kids included a bouncy house, slide pole, and a firefighter obstacle course. Sparky the Fire Dog was on hand as well! There was food provided by Mission BBQ and our favorite shaved ice guy playing excellent music. Prior to the open house, Mission BBQ provided a meal to all of the Westchester firefighters and police officers working. Walgreens provided flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines to those that haven’t had the chance. Representatives from several local hospitals were also present to answer any questions. We had a great crowd turnout, and cannot thank the citizens of Westchester enough for their support!

An update from our Public Works Department: The 2021 Street Program which included Raliegh St, Lancaster St, Kingston St, Nelson St, Plymouth Ave Mayfair Ave (Cermak-Canterbury), Downing Ave (Canterbury-Oxford), Essex St, Westchester Blvd (CermakCanterbury) and Westchester Blvd (Roosevelt Rd-Expressway) have all been completed. A punch list is currently be made for locations along these streets where grass has either not taken or weeds had grown. The punch list will be completed over the next couple of weeks. With the 2021 street program coming in under the contract price it was decided that Kensington Ave (CanterburyDorchester) and Buckingham Ave (Canterbury-Dorchester) would be added in this year’s program. As of September 15th all under ground sewer work is complete with concrete crews removing areas of bad curb.

The new ambulance is very close to being on the street. Radios and computers have been installed; it is licensed; and your paramedics are completing required training on the driving and operation of the vehicle.

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NOVEMBER 2021

P olice D e partment

Winter is upon us…

NOVEMBER, 2021

It is that time of year again, that the trees begin to drop their leaves and freezing temperatures change rain into sheets of ice, or into snow. This is the time of year when we need to use extreme precaution when driving. Excessive speed is the number one factor when accidents occur that could have been avoided. Because we live in a very stressful world, involving busy schedules, people fail to take the extra time to get from point A to point B and usually you will not like C if you are in an accident. Streets have posted speed limits and they are there for a reason and we need to obey them. The few minutes you think you are saving by violating speed limits, traffic devices, or signs, have never worked out in the end financially. Especially, if you hurt or kill someone in the process “So slow down, look out for others, and make time to get there on time”. Sincerely Chief Daniel Babich

Meet Your Cool Neighbors: Befriending New Parkway Trees Since 2019, Westchester has lost almost 600 street trees! You may have noticed a large number of parkway trees declining and dying over the past few years. This is due to past plantings involving unsuitable species selection and a lack of age diversity. But- our urban forest provides countless benefits, and has historically been a draw for new residents. Healthy trees: Decrease energy costs Intercept stormwater Filter pollutants Reduce noise Improve property values and aesthetics Positively impact community engagement Improve student outcomes, behavior, and attention span Reduce crime and improve community safety Improve mental and physical health · AND MORE! Mature trees provide the most benefits. So, we need to invest in the care of our young parkway trees so they can live up to their fullest potential. Public Works will do their part by maintaining both age and species diversity in our canopy. They are also committed to install new parkway trees, prune mature trees on a regular cycle, and remove dead or hazardous trees. But residents have a role to play, too!

The first three years after planting are a critical time, and proper care will ensure that new parkway trees have the best opportunity to establish, survive- and thrive! You can help by: Regularly watering your tree during the growing season (May-October). Typically, this means one 5-gallon bucket of water per week. During especially hot periods, you may need to water more frequently. Properly mulching your tree. Mulch helps to retain moisture and protects the root zone, but mulch “volcanoes” can prevent gas exchange and promote rot. After planting, mulch in a “saucer” shape- one bag per tree. Allow the flare at the bottom of the tree to remain exposed, and do not allow mulch to contact the trunk. Evaluate the mulch yearly and replace if it has decomposed. Protecting the trunk from lawn equipment. Damage to tree bark can introduce disease. Proper mulching and/or trunk guards can provide a buffer zone between the tree and the path of string trimmers, mowers, etc. Respecting and appreciating species selection. Just as diversity in our residents makes the Village stronger, so too does diversity in our canopy make the urban forest more resilient. Certain species may not be available for parkway planting in favor of more (and more varied) native species, which tend to be better adapted to local growing conditions. · Calling Public Works if you notice

anything amiss with your tree (damaged limbs, permanent foliage loss, etc.). They can assess whether the tree can be saved or requires replacement. Do not attempt to prune parkway trees by yourself: not only are they Village property, but this work is dangerous to you- and could also damage/kill the tree if done improperly. There are a number of resources available to help residents learn more about tree benefits and care. Search for the US Forest Service’s Tree Owner’s Manual, check out the resources on the Chicago Region Trees Initiative website (chicagorti. org), or browse the information available through The Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic (mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect). Trees are critical infrastructure. Like roads and bridges, they need maintenance and care to provide vital services. But unlike gray infrastructure, the value of a tree actually increases over time! Together, we can invest in our Village canopy today, and make Westchester more resilient to the challenges of the future. LeeAnn Kruszynski works at the Chicago Region Trees Initiative at the Morton Arboretum and is helping to create the Green Residents of Westchester (GROW) Ecological Commission.

NOVEMBER 2021

PUBLIC WORKS

Branch Pickup The final branch pickup for the year will be November 8-12, 2021 Village branch pickup will resume in April 2022.

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. Branch pickup Schedule: 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, and no more than 4’ in length. These will be picked up on your regular garbage day. Free yard waste stickers for reusable yard waste receptacles are available at the Village Hall. Limit 2 per residence. Waste management’s final yard waste pickup for this year will be November 30, 2021. Will resume April 1, 2022. 2021 Thanksgiving’s Day Holiday Garbage Schedule There will be no garbage pickup on Thursday, November 25 -Thanksgiving Day. Thursday’s pickup will be Friday, November 26. Friday’s pickup will be Saturday, November 27. Waste Management – 1-800-796-9696 • If your garbage, recycling, or yard waste was not picked up on your regular day, please call Waste Management directly. • If you would like to request a new garbage or recycling receptacle, please call Waste Management directly. • If you have large items that will not fit in you receptacle (i.e. couch, chairs, tables, etc.,) please call Waste Management directly and request a special pickup. The Waste Management’s “At Your Door Special Collection” service will pick up unwanted-potentially hazardous and hard-to-recycle items from your home. That number is 1-800-449-7587. The full list of items may be found at www.wmatyourdoor.com/residential.

Leaf Pick Up As leaf season arrives, Public Works will be clearing the streets and curbs. Do not rake your leaves into the street as this causes sewer problems and clogs the storm sewers, which leads to street ponding / flooding. This can result in dangerous driving conditions for all motorists. Please try to keep the drains in the street free of debris so that the rain doesn’t wash the debris into the storm sewers. Refer to the street maintenance signs on your block for parking restrictions during leaf pickup season. We appreciate your cooperation! The vac/ jet machine is operating 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 after hours) 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. Starting Spring of 2022 Concrete Alleys Street Street From Street To Street Bristol Ave. Gardner Rd. Kitchner St. Gladstone St. Bristol Ave. Gardner Rd. Gladstone St. Devonshire St. Bristol Ave. Gardner Rd. Devonshire St. N. Roosevelt Alley Manchester Ave . Bristol Ave. Devonshire St. N. Roosevelt Alley Manchester Ave. Bristol Ave. N. Roosevelt Alley Norfolk Ave. Manchester Ave. Wedgewood Dr. Kitchner St. Norfolk Ave. Manchester Ave. Kitchner St. Gladstone St. Norfolk Ave. Manchester Ave. Gladstone St. Devonshire St. Norfolk Ave. Manchester Ave. Devonshire St. N. Roosevelt Alley Norfolk Ave. Manchester Ave. N. Roosevelt Alley Suffolk Ave. Norfolk Ave. Wedgewood Dr. Kitchner St. Suffolk Ave. Norfolk Ave. Kitchner St. Gladstone st. Hull Ave. Newcastle Ave. Dickens St. Chaucer St. Newcastle Ave. Portsmouth Ave. Dickent St. Chaucer St. Portsmouth Ave. Suffolk Ave. Cermak Alley Total Reconstruction Street From Street To Street Suffolk Ave. Canterbury St. Dickens St. Portsmouth Ave. Canterbury St. Dickens St. Hawthorne Ave. Canterbury St. Dorchester Ave. Grind & Overlay Street From Street Heidorn Ave. Roosevelt Rd. Boeger Ave. Roosevelt Rd. High Ridge Pkwy. Roosevelt Rd. Mandel Ave. Roosevelt Rd. Haase Ave. Toosevelt Rd. Dickens St. Wolf Rd. Canterbury St. Mannheim Rd.

To Street Dickens St. Canterbury St. Canterbury St. Canterbury St. Canterbury St. Haase Ave. Haase Ave.

F ire D e partment NOVEMBER 2021

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NOVEMBER 2021

S chool D i strict NOVEMBER 2021

SMASHING PUMPKINS! Pumpkin Smash - First Saturday after Halloween - 11/6/21 Another Halloween has come and gone, and will be having Westchester’s 3rd annual Pumpkin Smash this Saturday. Last year, in 2020, Westchester joined with 48 other communities to divert over 159 tons of pumpkins from making it into landfills. While we wait for the final tally in 2021, let’s take a moment to discuss the what,when and why. The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop-off jack-o-lanterns to be composted. It is held each year the Saturday after Halloween. In Westchester, Pumpkins can be brought to a location either behind the Westchester Community Church or the Mayfair parking lot. Many people don’t know that Illinois

produces three and a half times the amount of pumpkins as the second most productive states, California and Indiana. So why bother to compost them instead of just throwing them in the trash? Pumpkins are nutritionally valuable since they contain significant amounts of fiber, potassium and protein . Additionally, pumpkins are 90% water and thus when disposed of in a landfill these nutrients and water are lost from the environment rather than being recycled or reinvested back into the environment. Decomposition of organic matter, such as pumpkins, produces greenhouse gasses. Landfills are 3rd largest producers of methane so by composting then we can significantly reduce those emissions. Composting any organic matter is also just plain beneficial. Compost reduces and in some cases eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. It is a nutrient-

dense soil amendment which can provide cost savings over conventional soil remediation. Lastly, compost enhances water retention in soils helping to reduce flooding in our yards and streets. So this year, don’t just trash it, smash it!

Matt Downs is a middle-school science teacher and coordinator of the Pumpkin Smash for the past two years in Westchester, and is helping to create the Green Residents of Westchester (GROW) Ecological Commission.

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NOVEMBER 2021 CONTINUED from page 1

Tuesday October 19th . Both streets will be complete by the end of October 2021. The 2021 Sewer Lining Program is still under way with over 77% of the work being complete. All work will be completed by November 15th 2021 which will include over 50,000 feet of storm and sanitary mains being lined along with 150 manholes being rebuilt and lined. The 2021 Green Alley Reconstruction is currently underway and is about 60% completed which will include alleys between Hull Ave/Westchester Blvd from Kitchener St to Expressway, Hull Ave/Westchester Blvd from Gladstone St to Devonshire St, Portsmouth Ave/ Suffolk Ave from Kitchener St to Wedgwood Dr and Gardner Rd/Bristol Ave from Kitchener Ave to Wedgwood Dr. The green alleys consist of storm mains being installed along with permeable pavers that will allow for 250,000 gallons of water to be stored. Public Works is also finishing up restorations from different projects around town . We have crews out cleaning and televising sanitary and storm sewer lines that will be effected by next year 2022 street and lining programs . We at the village believe in doing the proper investigating and repair work prior to bidding the work to ensure we receive the right pricing

and cut down on costly change orders which will hinder completing our desired goal. Disposal Service and over billing update: The Village has been utilizing Waste Management as its waste hauler for many years and when the opportunity to negotiate a better price mid-contract came up, the Village did so and reduced its cost per household by approximately 18%. The Village has had a long standing ordinance that allowed the Village to charge an additional 5% on top of the fee charged by Waste Management. The theory at the time was that 5% would cover the cost of administration, billing, mailing and collecting the fee. You may have noticed that we have cut some of these expenses by getting rid of the lockbox, cutting down the size of the bill sent out and encouraging residents to pay online or auto pay. We’ve also discovered that each house that is vacant and doesn’t require service can be credited towards our charge each month. We’ve calculated those numbers and we estimate that we can save approximately $5,000 annually. When the Board renegotiated the contract, the prior Administrative personnel failed to reduce the cost to the residents to the cost plus 5% rate per the Village ordinance. This happened back in November of 2018 and was corrected in

May of 2019 resulting in overcharges to residents of $89.24 per household and $77.49 per senior household. In order to start refunding that money, the Village has incurred .21 per home fuel surcharge for the last year and we haven’t increased garbage rates since our rates went up in July of this year. These 2 facts have reduced the balance due per household to $79.01 and $67.92 per senior home. Starting with the November bill, the Village will credit your water bill $51.88 for regular households and $44.48 per senior household. The January 2022 bill will have a credit for the remainder due to residents and the Village will have made everybody whole. Any resident who has been in their home since 11/18 through May of 2019 will be getting the credit. The Village will look for residents who have moved in order to direct pay those residents. We expect to have all of this completed by 4/22. Thank you for your patience in this matter. New Village Hall update: The new buildings are coming along very nicely and we should be on schedule for a grand opening in May 2022. We’re excited because of the amount of space we have for our operations and the dedicated space for our seniors. We will have a senior room that will be approximately 1,500 square feet with a kitchen and 2 smaller gathering rooms and a stage

for performances, speakers, etc. We look forward to bringing on our senior coordinator as well as some volunteers to help facilitate the programs. We’d like it to be a place where seniors can come and feel safe, it will be connected to the police department, and welcomed to meet other seniors in the area in a comfortable environment and enjoy some of their favorite activities. Westchester PD update: Five new officers will be sworn in at the board meeting on Monday. This is due to replacement of retired officers, reassigned officers to specialty units and additional manpower for the Village. • Officer Mode has been focusing on truck enforcement and truck safety. You may have seen him working in conjunction with Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Commerce Commission on Mannheim Rd. at Roosevelt conducting weight enforcement, and safety inspections. • We would like to congratulate Ofc. Cristian Aguirre on being reassigned as the Department’s School Resource Officer and Community Relations Officer. He will assume his new responsibilities November 1st . • Both the ATV and bicycle patrol are still patrolling the streets of the Village and will continue to do so as long as the weather permits.

NOVEMBER 2021

SENIOR CASINO TRIP The Senior Casino Trip to Four Winds in New Buffalo was a wonderful success and fun was had by all. A special Thank You to all the seniors who participated and to the volunteers who went along for the fun. Barb Brandt, Police Chief Dan Babich and Police CSO Dave Kosir.

NOVEMBER 2021