November’s collection will be the week of the 14th – 18th
Please note that November’s collection will be the last one until April 2023.
Yard waste collection by Waste Management will be on your regular garbage day every week.
Free yard waste stickers for reusable yard waste receptacles are available at the Village Hall.
The Public Works Department will collect branches the first full week of every month (April-November).
All brush must be put out on the front parkway by 7am on the designated pickup day. Branches can be up to 7 feet 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, usually Friday.
An open load would include any brush that will not fit through the chipper such as logs, stumps, and larger limbs. These all must be cut for one man to lift. Dirt must also be removed from any root balls for collection.
Public Works Crews will only pass through a designated pickup area once due to time schedule and other workload responsibilities. Landscapers & tree services are responsible for their own debris 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.
Remember …Waste Management will also pick up your branches if they are bundled & no more than 4 feet in length. These will be picked
Happy Fall from the WPTC!! We hope the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year has been exciting for all Westchester Public School students so far!
The months of August and September have been busy! Hopefully, you were able to visit our table at the Meet and Greet with a Treat at your child’s school or the Back to School Bash at Mayfair Park! It was so nice to meet families at the Curriculum Nights as well, where
we were selling spirit wear. We opened up the Spirit Wear Store in September and hope you were able to order some fun items for your Dolphin, Husky, or Warrior! We had our first restaurant fundraiser at Buona Beef which was a success.
We have some fun events coming up!
Be on the lookout for these events and volunteer opportunities:
*October 4th-6th- WPS Fall Book Fair
up on your regular garbage day every week.
There will be no change to the garbage collection schedule the week of October 10th.
Waste Management – 1-800-7969696
• If your garbage or recycling 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 collection.
The Waste Management’s “At Your Door Special Collection” service will pick up unwanted-potentially hazardous and hard-to-recycle items from your home, including electronics.
That number is 1-800-449-7587.
The full list of items may be found at www.wmatyourdoor.com/
residential.
Also of note…
1. Street maintenance parking restrictions are still in effect. Please look at the signs on your street so you don’t receive a ticket!!
2. The Public Works Department will continue stump grinding, weather and schedule permitting.
3. The vac and jet machine will be cleaning out storm sewer inlets, as weather and scheduling permits. Please help us to keep the storm drains clear of debris, little by little, so they don’t become a huge issue and result in flooding.
Construction Notices & Signs are all around the village. Please read notices if you receive them, and remember to obey all signs, permanent or temporary.
DRIVE CAREFULLY IN ALL CONSTRUCTION AREAS!!
As always, residents are asked to call Public Works at 708.345.0041 or the Police (after 3:30pm M-F & on weekends) 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.
*October 6th- WPS/WIS Family Reading Night at WIS
October 17th - Chickie’s Restaurant Fundraiser
*October 19th-21st- WIS Fall Book Fair
*October 20th- WIS Parents and Pastries
*October 21st - WPS/WIS Family Fall Dance at WIS October 27th - WPS/WIS McTeacher Night
*October 28th - Fall Room Parties at WPS for EC/PK
*October 31st - Fall Room Parties at WPS/WIS for K-5th
Please continue to check our Facebook page and website for any updates!
www.wptc.membershiptoolkit.com
https://www.facebook.com/ WPTC92.5
You can also reach the WPTC via email at wptc925@gmail.com.
Sometimes in the world of law enforcement we receive a blessing from above that keeps you always believing why you became a police officer. On Wednesday, September 07, 2022, I, my staff and the village manager were invited to Divine Providence Ministry Center 2550 Mayfair Avenue to meet with our most precious resource, our seniors! I say this because our seniors have lived through some of the toughest times over the last 100 years of American History. Through their stories, knowledge and perseverance they can help younger generations that are struggling in life to find their way no matter how dark the situation seems. As a young Marine, I remember talking to those soldiers that fought in World War II, North Korea and Vietnam. Their knowledge and experience have not only guided my life but also saved my life, a gift I am forever grateful for. Faces, names, and years may change but never the history of the evil constantly attacking the world around us in every capacity. Through our seniors comes wisdom, hope and understanding from those that have seen it all! No matter how busy your life may be please take the time and sit with our senior loved ones and hear the real truth of their life struggles and you may find out they have the answers and may have even been through more than you and I! The seniors meet every first Wednesday of every month at 1:30 at 2550 Mayfair inside the Ministry Conference Room. They are always looking to expand their members and especially their friendship to others. So please come out to their meetings, the worst thing that could happen is you gain weight from eating bakery and making new friends. “God Bless Our Seniors!”
Sincerely, Chief Daniel Babich Westchester Police Department1) At 10:06am on August 26, 2022 a Retail Theft oc curred at the Jewel Foods located at 2128 Mannheim Road. It was reported that unknown offender(s) took several bundles of firewood.
2) At 7:50am on September 1, 2022 a Motor Vehicle Theft was reported on the 700 block of Norfolk. The resident reported that some time during the past evening their vehicle was taken from the front of their residence.
3) At 10:38am on Septem ber 3, 2022 a Theft was reported on the 1300 block of Norfolk. A resident reported that their catalytic converter was taken from their vehicle sometime dur ing the previous evening.
4) At 5:30pm on September 9, 2022 a Theft was re
ported on the 2100 block of Hull. The resident reported that sometime during the past day, a bicycle was taken from a rear shed. The bi cycle was located sometime during the previous evening and returned to the owner.
5) At 12:37pm on Septem ber 14, 2022 a Theft was re ported on the 2400 block of Meadowbrook. A resident reported that an Amazon. com package was taken from the front porch shortly after it was delivered.
6) At 7:18am on Septem ber 19, 2022 a Theft was reported on the 9800 block of Derby Lane. A business owner advised that one of the work trucks had their catalytic converted taken sometime during the previ ous evening.
Halloween - Fall is quickly approaching and Halloween will soon be here. It is always so fun watching the kids run up and down the streets in their costumes looking for the next piece of candy. Know that our Police Department will be out in full force to ensure all our kids have a fun and safe experience. Recommended Trick-Or-Treat times will be posted on the Village Website www.westchester-il.org and on our Social Media platforms.
Fire Prevention Week – October is National Fire Prevention Week. In commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) named every second week of October as Fire Prevention Week. This is a great opportunity to discuss fire safety with your family and maintain or replace smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Reminder, everyone is invited to attend our Westchester Fire Department’s Annual open house Wednesday October 12, 2022, from 6pm-8pm. Chief Mavrogeorge and his staff always host an incredible presentation!
Did you know…
• 3 of every 5 home fire deaths result from fires with no working smoke alarms
• Less than 50% of homeowners have an escape plan
• Carbon monoxide (CO) is the #1 cause of accidental poisoning in the U.S.
• 60% of consumers do not test their smoke and CO alarms monthly*
• Only 47% of people report having CO alarms in their home
• Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of home fires
As a Firefighter for the past 26 years, I can tell you firsthand that smoke detectors are the primary factor in terms of life safety and minimizing fire damage due to early detection.
Citizens Advisory Board - I was happy to see a large response from residents interested in joining the Citizens Advisory Board. We had an informal meet-and-greet to discuss the roles and responsibilities of those volunteers. The Citizens Advisory Board was designed to serve the citizens of the village by acting as an advisory body to the corporate authorities of the village, to address resident concerns, encourage volunteerism, promote centralized commerce, advocate for educational excellence and advocate for seniors and those in need.”
The Westchester Economic Development Committee (EDC) is seeking new members! This committee serves an essential role in advising the Village Board regarding local business retention and recruitment. Village Trustee Rob Morales, Board Liason of the EDC, is currently meeting with surrounding communities to help integrate best practices and improve future initiatives. EDC members are appointed by the Village President under advisement and consent from the Village Board of Trustees. Committee members must reside within the Village and serve twelvemonth terms. A member is appointed to serve as chairman for a period of twelve months. Vacancies shall be filled by the Village President with the advice and consent of the board of trustees as soon as possible for the unexpired term of any member whose office has become vacant. In the absence of the chairman, a vice chairman, elected by the members, shall carry out the duties of the chairman.” Interested in joining? Please email me - nsteker@ westchester-il.org.
- Westchester’s own Neil James, Chairman and Member of the Village’s Plan and Zoning Commission was recently named Executive Director of the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus. Since 2015, Mr. James has served as the Executive Director of the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency and has been Policy Analyst for the West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC) since 1998. He has served as WCMC’s Deputy Director since 2002. From 1992 to 1998, Neil worked with the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the State of Illinois. Based on his impressive work experience there is no doubt Mr. James will excel in this new role.
With this new role, Neil has vacated his role as Chairman of the Plan and Zoning Commission. That said, I am currently looking to add new members on the Planning and Zoning Commission. “All appointments to the plan and zoning commission shall be made by the president, with the advice and consent of the board of trustees. All members of the plan and zoning commission shall reside within the village at the time of their appointment, and a member who moves outside of the village shall no longer be eligible to serve on the plan and zoning commission. One of the members so appointed shall be
named as chairman by the president at the time of his appointment. The president and board of trustees shall have the power to remove any member of the plan and zoning commission for cause after public hearing. Vacancies shall be filled by the president and board of trustees as soon as possible for the unexpired term of any member whose place has become vacant. In the absence of the chairman, an acting chairman shall be appointed by the members present.”
The plan and zoning commission is vested with several powers and authority. The most notable being to prepare and recommend to the president and board of trustees a comprehensive plan for the present and future development or redevelopment of the village. They also recommend changes and amendments to codes and the official zoning map. As you can see this is a very important position and we need resident volunteers to step up and assist with these duties. Again, if you are interested, please me - nsteker@ westchester-il.org.
Tour de Proviso - was held in Riverside, IL on Saturday, October 1st. Over fifty Westchester residents were registered, and there were over 400 participants. This is a great event bringing together Proviso communities. Next year, Westchester will be the host town! I look forward to the Citizen Advisory Board in being an integral part of the planning process. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase our bike paths, historic housing, prairie, and parks.
Visit Oak Park has completed a video featuring some of Westchester’s dining options, including Rocky’s Pizza, Alpine Banquet Haus, The Westchester Inn, Sha-Poppin, and Thithi’s. The promotional video will be launched this Fall and available on their website https://www. visitoakpark.com. A link will be posted on the Village website once it goes live.
COVID Relief Funds - The allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds to cities and villages was released in September. These funds include a $2.19 million allocation to Westchester. The Village will utilize these funds to replace our aging water meters. New meters will have a life expectancy of over twenty years, with minimal margin for error.
Currently, some water meters are only capturing 40% of total usage. These new meters will also help residents identify leaks within their home. 2023 ARPA funds will be allocated for public safety initiatives.
New Fire Station - The Village is actively pursuing an agreement with the Cook County Forest Preserve to obtain a parcel of land on Crestwood, where our water pumping station and fountain are located. This land will be used to construct a new fire station - replacing the current fire stations located on Roosevelt Rd. and Cermak Rd. An independent study performed by the Illinois Fire Chief’s Association identified this area as the recommended location for a central fire station. Pooling of staffing and equipment will better serve residents throughout the town. If funding is granted this project would still be years away from completion.
Code Red - several hundred residents have already registered for Code Red. There will be a booth at the fire department Open House (Date? Time?) to help residents register. This system is a great way to receive emergency notifications (ex: water shut offs) or other notifications of importance.
Congratulations – Michael Prosecky, Westchester native and Louisville University pitcher was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 176 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. According to the website www.si.com - “This past season, the Westchester, Ill. native established himself as one of the best closers in the ACC. In 26 relief appearances and 37.1 innings pitched, he posted an ERA of 3.38 with 44 strikeouts to 22 walks. He allowed an earned run in just nine of his 26 outings, and his 11 saves was not only second-best in the conference but was good for seventhmost in a single season in Louisville history.” Congrats to Michael and the Prosecky family!
(Even More) Congratulations –Julian Love, former Westchester resident and Nazareth Academy graduate was recently named Captain of the New York Giants. Julian was drafted in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL draft. I always enjoy hearing these types of stories.
Anyone in or from this community can become anything, and it’s proven time and time again.
As Halloween approaches, so too does Westchester’s 4th annual Pumpkin Smash brought to you by the Green Residents of Westchester (GROW) . The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop-off jack-olanterns and other gourds to be composted. It is held each year the Saturday after Halloween and this year that will be on November 5th. Many people are surprised to find out 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. Pumpkins are also 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 the 3rd largest producers of greenhouse gasses so by composting them 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.
In 2021, Westchester joined with 58 other communities to divert over 159 tons of pumpkins from making it into landfills. That saved over 49,000 gallons of water and eliminated almost 166 metric tons of CO2. Please be on the lookout for location information and if you have any questions please email Commissioner Matt Downs at mdowns@westchester-il.org.
This year, don’t just trash it, smash it!
