Seventeen visitors from the City’s sister city of Taufkirchen (Vils), Germany are here through Wednesday, September 5, 2018. The individuals are adults and students, ages 14 to 18, from the Realschule. They have a jam packed schedule.
The visit to West Chicago Community High School involves attending some classes and the football game. They also take a walking tour of the City, which includes stops at City Hall, the Police Department, West Chicago City Museum, the Library and the Fire District headquarters.
Travels include trips to Chicago to see Willis Tower, Chinatown, Millennium Park and Navy Pier, Springfield with stops including the Capitol and the Abraham Lincoln Museum, Cantigny, Premium Outlet Mall in Aurora and Naperville Settlement. Host families also have time with the guests for various activities and events.
West Chicago and Taufkirchen formed their Sister Cities relationship 19 years ago.
AROUND AND ABOUT
The first day of school for first through eighth grades for West Chicago Elementary School District 33 is Wednesday, August 29 and the first day for kindergarten is Friday, August 30, 2018.
As a part of the ButterBurgers & Badges fundraiser, officers from the West Chicago Police Department serve meals to the customers from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 30, 2018, at Culver’s, 4068 East Main Street in St. Charles. The officers will collect tips for their service, which, along with $1 for every purchase of any size Concrete Mixer, benefits Special Olympics. In addition, local Special Olympics athletes will be on hand to meet and greet guests and sign autographs.
Funds raised help Special Olympics Illinois continue its programs that provide year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This event continues Culver’s support of Special Olympics.
West Chicago once again is participating in the Move with the Mayor Challenge, an initiative of the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, in the month of September. The City of West Chicago and Healthy West Chicago are in partnership for this event. The community walks are planned for four Saturdays. Registration is at 8:30 a.m.; the walk begins at 9:00 a.m. The first 1.5-mile walk, which only takes about 30 minutes, is September 1, 2018, at Pioneer School, 615 Kenwood Avenue. The sponsor of this walk is Midwest Strength and Performance; their team leads a group stretch. At the first walk, walking passports are distributed and participants who attend three out of the four walks can enter the raffle for one of the 12 bikes to be given away.
The other scheduled walks are September 8, 2018 at Currier School, September 15, 2018 at Gary School, 130 E. Forest Avenue, and September 22, 2018 at Turner School, 750 Ingalton Avenue. The challenge ends with a celebration on World Heart Day Saturday, September 29. There are raffle prizes of children’s activity games and games such as hula hoops, balls, and jump ropes. At the World Heart Day celebration, there are giveaways, the drawing for the bikes, entertainment the Kane County cougars Mascot Ozzie and refreshments.
The World Heart Day-inspired campaign asks citizens to take steps to improve their health by walking and being physically active during the month of September and throughout the year. To see the calendar of walking events at www.westchicago.org/city-events/move-with-the-mayor. Please download the Challenge app and join the on-going, year-long Walking Challenge program by going to www.hekahealth.com/wchicago.
Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, holds its Twelfth Annual Old Fashion 1890s Country Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, September 1 and 2, 2018. It features 1890s technology and agricultural advances, including demonstrations of a mechanical cream separator, check-row planting wire and a dog-powered mill. Guests can enjoy “kalliorgel”; magician and storyteller William Pack; Jade Strong and Joshua Heise performing popular 1890s music; and the Museum of Wonder and Awe collected from the six corners of the globe. There is a Ladies Bazaar with handcrafts, a carnival games tent, as well as a photo booth where persons can get their portrait taken in historic attire.
Admission to the all-ages fair is free, but there are small fees for some activities. Horse-drawn wagon rides, under 18 with an adult, are $5 for persons age 5 and up and free for children under age 5. For further information, call (630) 876-5900.
Healthy West Chicago hosts a six week course, “Cooking Matters for Adults,” at 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays from September 4 through October 9, 2018, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road. Led by team-taught volunteers and certified nutrition educator Laura Walsh, the classes are geared toward parents, and caregivers and cover meal preparation, grocery shopping, food budgeting and nutrition. After each class, participants take home a prize tailored to the class teachings. There also is an interactive Grocery Store Tour. Upon the completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of completion and a grocery gift Card.
West Chicago Public Library District offers a two-hour Computer Basics class at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in the small conference room, 118 West Washington Street. To register, call the adult services department at (630) 231-1552, extension 4. Topics covered include opening/closing programs and documents, saving documents, printing documents, and computer vocabulary.
“Creative Transformation: Unlock Your Dreams” is the exhibit at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street, during the month of September. It features the artwork of Starla Snead. The artist’s reception is from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2018. Her husband Thomas provides the musical entertainment, playing the lap dulcimer.
As a way to transition into her role as a stay-at-home mom, Snead began studying calligraphy in 2003. She became a professional engraver in 2011 and a Certified Zentangle Teacher in 2013. Her company, Designs by Starla, creates unique and creative gifts through calligraphy, engraving and design. Her ink and engraved creations span a broad variety of mediums including glass, fabric, stone, wood and paper. Snead teaches Calligraphy, Zentangle and Alcohol Inks and offers coaching to help you discover the creative genius within.
West Chicago Historical Society hosts its Annual Ice Cream Social and Silent Auction from noon to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 8, 2018, on the lawn at the Kruse House Museum, 527 Main Street. The $5 ticket price includes beverage, ice cream, pie or cake and a chance for a door prize. There is a cakewalk. Among the silent auction items are gift certificates to local area restaurants and businesses, books, artwork, jewelry, sports memorabilia and collectibles.
The KHM is open for tours highlighting the 2018 summer exhibit, “A Tip of the Hat.” The gardens, restored and maintained by the West Chicago Garden Club, and the towering trees provide the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of socializing. Tickets are available from Society board members or at the door. For further information, call Donna Orlandini at (630) 231-2671 or Joan Conkright at (630) 231-2329.
A free exhibit of the most ancient scrolls of the three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, takes place from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 9, and Monday, September 10, 2018 at New Jerusalem House of Prayer, 100 Wycliffe Drive. This is the only complete collection open to the public and the first time it has been exhibited in Illinois. Students and classes also are welcome.
These are ancient scrolls written in Hebrew, of the entire Old Testament or Tanakh, including several Torah scrolls from Ashkenazi and Sephardic sources, as well as a complete collection of the Writings and the Prophets. Most of the scrolls are more than 250 years old, and some are over 600 years. They have been collected from all over the world, including Israel, Poland, Iraq, Morocco and Russia. Experts are on hand to help explain what these scrolls are, how they were made and the materials and techniques used. Gary G. Perras, a Conservative rabbi in Florida said, “This exhibit speaks for itself without any attempt to convert anyone to any faith… If anyone has any questions, they are invited to ask them, and they will receive a good answer.”
Two speakers discuss the scrolls. Charles Garret, curator of the scrolls, is the speaker at 5:00 p.m. Sunday and Monday. His topic is “In Search of Ancient Scrolls – How the Scrolls Were Found and Curated.” Omer Eshel, former Israeli General Counsel for Tourism, is the speaker at 6:30 p.m. Monday. His topic is “What the Scrolls Reveal about Life in Ancient Israel and Judah.”
New Jerusalem House of Prayer is a congregation of Jews, Christians, seekers and mixed families, who worship and study together irrespective of background or denomination. For further information visit NewJerusalem.info or call (630) 231-1775.
West Chicago Citizen Corps offers a free eight-week Community Emergency Response Team training course at the Regional Firefighting Training Academy of the West Chicago Fire Protection District, 320 Kress Road. Classes take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, starting September 12, 2018. Participants must be at least 18 years old and live or work in West Chicago or the WCFPD. To enroll send name, address and contact telephone number to West Chicago Police Detective Robbi Peterson at rpeterson@westchicago.org.
CERT training provides basic training in disaster preparedness, which increases the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance arrives. Topics covered include weather safety, fire and life safety, medical, light search and rescue, CERT organization, psychology and terrorism. Participants also are trained CPR and AED use. (www.merleburl.com)
The West Chicago Park District monthly senior social is at noon, Thursday, September 13, 2018, at the ARC, 201 West National Street. It is the Annual Lasagna Cookoff where park district president Frank Lenertz takes on Commissioners and/or staff. Guests bring a dish to pass and a complete place setting. There is no charge but reservations are required by Friday, September 7, and may be made in person at the ARC or online at www.we-goparks.com.
Mexican Cultural Center-DuPage hosts the Sixth Annual Miss Mexican Heritage Scholarship Pageant Friday, September 14, 2018, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton.The format is different this year. It includes the pageant and a Community Awards program. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., pageant ceremony at 6:30 p.m., dinner served at 7::00 p.m., presentation at 8:00 p.m., and entertainment at 9:00 p.m. The program celebrates Mexican history and culture as contestants tell about their selected Mexican States through speeches, costumes, and performances during the event. Mariach Aztian provides the musical entertainment. The program is in English.
The ticket price is $40 in advance by Friday, August 31, $50 at the door. For further information or for tickets, visit the website http://mccdupage.org email Mexican Cultural Center DuPage at mccdupage@gmail.com.
First United Methodist Church of West Chicago, 643 East Washington Street, seeks a professional accompanist for Wednesday night rehearsals and Sunday morning services from September through May. To set an appointment for an audition call (630) 379-4434.
The West Chicago Public Library has its collection of West Chicago Community High School yearbooks, 1921-1932 and 1946-2017 on line. They are missing issues from 1933 to 1945. Persons who have copies of these may lend them to the library for scanning. If interested in doing so, call the adult services department at (630) 231-1552, extension 4.
Wayne Township had a very successful Recycle event Saturday, August 18, 2018. Items collected included more than 1,000 pounds of textiles, a truck load of shredded papers, more than 20 batteries (not household), and a box each of inkjet cartridges, cell phones and eyeglasses.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Jim Jones, who at the age of 66 passed away Monday, August 27, 2018.
Don and Kathy Kautz celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Friday, August 24, 2018.
At the Monday, August 21, 2018 meeting, City Council approved a Special Use for a Motor Vehicle Shop, Garage 360, at 397 Charles Court. The item summary states, “A motor vehicle body shop is permitted to repair, straighten or paint a motor vehicle’s body or frame as well as perform general maintenance and engine repair as an ancillary function of body work. ”The property has an existing 16,200 square-foot building. The applicant’s portion is approximately 4,800 square feet and the remaining 7,400 square feet of the building is occupied by Platinum Motor Cars, an internet-based motor vehicle sales facility.
Council approved the appointment of Heidi Kuharich to the Cultural Arts Commission for a term ending April 20, 2022.
Also approved was for Ward 6 Alderman Rebecca Stout to assume the duties of Mayor from Sunday, September 22 through Sunday, September 30, 2018, while both Mayor Ruben Pineda and Mayor Pro Tem Lori Chassee are out of town.
Also at the meeting, Dave Sabathne, CEO/President of Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce presented awards to the winners in the 2018 Railroad Days Parade. Winning the Grand Marshal Award for the float best depicting the theme of the parade, “One West Chicago: Many People, Many Cultures” to the West Chicago City Museum. Winning the Turner Award for the organization best depicting its services was West Chicago Sister Cities. The Heritage Award, which is for the youth organization showing its purpose, enthusiasm, and spirit, was a tie vote for the Mariachi LosRayos de Leman Middle School and WeGo Wildcats Special Olympics Club. The two grand Marshals received awards. They were Fernando Ramirez, president of the Mexican Culture Center DuPage and Reggie Bass plus his family. Bass is a member of people Made Visible and serves as a trustee on the West Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners. His family assists him with many of his volunteer activities. (www.merleburl.com)
At the Tuesday, August 21, 2018 meeting, Community High School District 94 Board of Education agreed to hold the board meetings at 7:00 p.m. in the District office, 157 West Washington Street. Dan Morris was appointed treasurer for the district until June 30, 2018. The position comes with a $2,500 a year stipend. Board member Kevin Kotche will step down as soon as Morris is bonded. Board president Gary Saake said, “With his extensive financial background, he will be a good addition to the District.” The tentative budget for the 2018/19 school year is on display at the district office. The public hearing for the budget is Tuesday, September 18, 2018.
West Chicago Fire Protection District now is on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/wegofpd/.
My email is merleburl@earthlink.net.