This weather is really playing havoc with gardening. It either seems to be raining, making for muddy conditions or too hot to work outside. With a 
partnership between the City and the West Chicago Park District, along with other committee members, are working to receive an America in Bloom designation. The committee is requesting residents plant a spot of color in their front yards to welcome the judges when they tour the community in mid-July. This could be in a planter, window boxes, a bed of colorful flowers, or, even, one spectacular bloom. I found two wonderful containers of Dragon Wing begonias to place in the bare spot left by spring flowers. Now I need some cool time to clear out the yellowed leaves and stems and place the containers in this location.
The America in Bloom initiative is designed to include opportunities that invite full participation from the community in a variety of ways, giving everyone involved a sense of pride of ownership in their hometown. America in Bloom provides a framework for continuous improvements in quality of life through its national awards program and educational offerings. The six criteria involved in the judging include: Flowers, Landscaped Areas, Urban Forestry, Environmental Efforts, Celebrating Heritage, Community Vitality, and Overall Impression.
AROUND AND ABOUT
Catholic Daughters of America, St. Mary’s parish, is having a fundraiser from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at Hawthornes’s Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 West Hawthorne Lane. Fifteen percent of the price of the meal benefits the organization. Persons must present the flyer. To get a copy of flyer, call (630) 231-0603.
West Chicago City Museum Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, is at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 21, 2018, at the Museum, 132 Main Street. Guests can bring a lunch; dessert and a beverage are provided. The book to be discussed is “Code Girls” by Liza Mudy. Reservations are not required for this free program. For further information call the Museum at (630) 231-3376 or email wegohistory@gamil.com.
During World War II, the Army and the Navy recruited women and trained them in programs to break Japanese and German military codes. Journalist Mundy writes about the female cryptographers who learned to crack these diabolically difficult systems. Being chosen for this mission changed the lives of more than 10,000 young American women, took them out of their familiar surroundings and prescribed destinies, and offered them a thrilling opportunity to do urgent war work at the nation’s center. However, they took vows of secrecy, and this vast enterprise has been hidden for almost 70 years.
In the Kids Lunchtime Entertainment series at The Shell, The Great Scott, magic and music that entertains both children and adults, is the act at 11:00 p.m. Friday, June 22, 2018. Persons bring their own lunch.
Late Night Swim takes place from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 22, 2018, at Turtle Splash Water Park in Reed-Keppler Park. The cost is $6 for residents and $8 for non-residents, and $10 at the door. Pre-registration is required and may be made on line at we-goparks.com.
Keep Moving Healthy West Chicago, along with Team Pineda, have a half hour community walk at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 23, 2018, at Currier School, 800 Gary’s Mill Road.
West Chicago Public Affairs Committee meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 25, 2018, at City Hall, 475 Main Street. Note the time change. This is the time for meetings in June, July and August.
As part of its Small Business series, the West Chicago Public Library District holds Score: General Business Discussion Round Table at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2018, in the small conference room, 118 West Washington Street. Score Mentor George Safford, a West Chicago resident, is the moderator. It is geared for those starting a new business or owners of existing small businesses. To make a reservation, call the adult services department at (630) 231-1552, extension 4.
DuPage is the entertainment at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at The Shell in Reed-Keppler Park. They are a cover band that really engages the audience.
With the resignation of Susan Gillespie, there is a vacancy on the Community High School District 94 Board of Education. Persons interested in serving on the Board can submit applications to the attention of the Board President, Community High School District 94, 157 W. Washington Street, West Chicago, IL 60185, or hand-delivered to the District Office, during business hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The deadline is Friday, June 29, 2018.
Persons applying must be at least 18 years of age on the day of appointment, be a resident of Illinois and District 94 for at least one year immediately preceding the appointment, be a registered voter, not be a child sex offender, not hold another incompatible public office, not have a prohibited interest in any contract with the District and not be a school trustee.
Applications should include a resume outlining professional, educational, and personal qualifications and a list of three personal and/or professional references, with contact information including home address, telephone number, and email address. Applications are subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The successful applicant must file a Statement of Economic Interests with the DuPage County Clerk following his/her appointment.
Through the West Chicago Sister Cities organization, visitors from Taufkirchen (Vils), Germany are coming to West Chicago from Saturday, August 25, through Wednesday, September 5, 2018. The individuals are adults and students, ages 14 to 18, from the Realschule. Host families are needed. “Hosting is a great opportunity to learn about another culture and make a new friend,” said Sister Cities president, Becky Hall. For further information, email beckyh@rchconsulting.com.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Edgar Rubio Aguilar, who at the age of 28 passed away, Sunday, June 10, 2018.
Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Mark Hudecki, who at the age of 59 passed away, Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
Businesses that recently opened are Ryan Phillips, 245 West Roosevelt Road, Building 9, Suite 58; Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc., 245 West Roosevelt Road, Building 7, Units, 48, 49 and 50; and Wolf Express, Inc. 1090 Carolina Drive.
Named Honorable Mentions for the “Daily Herald” DuPage County Academic Team, were Serena Balzer and Michael Sawicki from West Chicago Community High School, and Ryan Lots from Wheaton Academy. (www.merlburl.com)
Barbie Castellanos from West Chicago Community High School was named an Honorable Mention for the “Daily Herald” All-area Girls Soccer Team. (www.merleburl.com)
Centegra Health System and Northwestern Medicine gained regulatory approval to merge Saturday, September 1, 2018. Central DuPage Hospital is part of Northwestern Medicine.
At the Daily Herald Prep Sports Excellence Awards ceremony held Thursday, June 7, 2018, Zach Upp of Wheaton Academy received the Overcoming Obstacles Award. He was a member of the WA soccer team.
Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services received a grant in the amount of $3,757 from DuPage County Human Services Grant Fund.
At the June 4, 2018 meeting, City Council approved an ordinance to increase the parking ticket fine from $25 to $35 and the minimum penalty amount for violations of the City Code from $105 to $125. The item summary states, “This ordinance is the second in a series of municipal adjustments as a direct result of the State’s mismanagement and its siphoning of another $350 in income and personal property replacement taxes, a total of $50 over the last several years, causing a very large budget gap for West Chicago and communities throughout the State.”
With a 9-1 vote, City Council approved a revision to the Tobacco Sales ordinance, raising the age to 21 for the sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices, effective Sunday, July 1. Additionally, retailers are prohibited from selling to persons under 21 years of age. This change impacts approximately 26 licensed tobacco retailers in the City. The item summary states, “It is important to note that this does not prohibit the possession or purchase of tobacco products for persons between the ages of 18 and 21.” Voting against the ordinance was Ward 2 Alderman Heather Brown. Absent from the meeting were Ward 2 Alderman Jayme Sheahan, Ward 3 Alderman Mike Ferguson, and Ward 4 Aldermen Sandy Dimas and Melissa Ferguson.
Carolyn Serf of the American Heart Association and two West Chicago Community High School Students gave a presentation on “Tobacco 21” at the Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, April 23. The information provided data to support the change in age. These included tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death in the United States, nicotine use during adolescence and young adulthood has long-term impacts on brain development, E-cigarettes and vaping have led more people to start a real smoking habit, youths who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes and E-cigarettes have become the most commonly used tobacco product by young people in the United States. Several communities have similar ordinances. These are Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Mundelein, Highland Park and Evanston.
Representing the tenant MAPEI Corporation, Lee & Associates recently closed a lease transaction for the 75,539-square-foot industrial suite at 1701 West Hawthorne Lane. At the beginning, there was a150,000 square-feet of available space, more than its client required. However, an existing tenant in the building, wanted to expand its space, leaving 75,000 square-feet available. This was the needed space for the client of Lee & Associates. Michael Magliano of Cushman & Wakefield represented the owner, Cabot Properties/Blackstone Corporation.
There are several changes at Wheaton Academy. Gene Frost has retired as Head of the School and is now Executive Director of the Wheaton Academy Foundation. Steve Bult is now the 39th Head of the School. At WA, he was Dean of Academics for one year, principal for 10 years and Associate Head of the School for one year. He officially begins Wednesday, August 1, 2018.
At the Special Olympics Illinois held in Normal, the Power Lifters Team of the WeGo Wildcats Special Olympics Club earned 12 gold and two silver medals. Members of the team are Jesus Andrade, Nathan Lindhart, Tony Martin and David White. Coaches are Bob Martin and Jim White.
Although it opened in January 2, 2018, the official ribbon cutting of Zone 250 in Reed-Keppler Park was held Saturday, June 9. West Chicago Park District Executive Director Gary Major said the facility has been in use by various groups, which includes tournaments, training and practice. “It is being used the way we envisioned for sports training, youth learning their craft best and in a very nice environment.” The District received the amount of a $2.5 million Park and Recreational Construction grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources July 7, 2014. The total cost for the 23,000 square-foot sports training facility at that time was $3.3 million. However, due to the state’s financial problems, the grant was suspended March 11, 2015. Upon receiving reconfirmation of the grant in November 2016, the planning for the construction of the facility was on, with an opening date of January 2018 .
Another grand opening and ribbon cutting took place at Turtle Splash Water Park. This was for Toucan’s Hide Away. Major said, “The design was done at Gametime Corporation in Alabama. We spent four days with them last June. We wanted to create a challenging, fun, problem solving, adventurous venue. The bouncer is the only one in the U.S. The nets were inspired by the Nashville Zoo, and the roots and tunnels are from the City Museum in St Louis. It is a venue that has never been created before, Gametime feels it is the best they have done.” (www.merleburl.com)
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.