With the unpacking of boxes of decorations or just a couple of storage containers comes the flow of memories. One recalls activities, events and people, some bringing laughter and smiles. It makes one feel close to family and friends, whether they are near or far. This is one of the Christmas tasks that I enjoy and savor. It is not a rush job. I hope the memories are popping up in your home also.
AROUND AND ABOUT
Persons are able to view the two Trees of Memory at Norris-Segert Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 132 Fremont Street. The trees display more than 700 ornaments bought by families and friends in memory of loved ones who have died are available for persons to view. Persons wanting to place ornaments on the tree may register from Saturday, December 7, through Friday, December 31, 2021.
The Christmas tree in the Wayne Township Senior Center, 27W031 North Avenue, has “Wish Ornaments” from seniors in the community who have requested help for Christmas. Individuals can take one, purchase a new gift or gift card (value $25), wrap it, tape the ornament to the gift and drop it off in the General Assistance office no later than Monday, December 13, 2021. (www.merleburl.com)
Benjamin Middle School holds its Band and Choir Concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in the large gym, 28W250 St. Charles Road.
Wheaton Academy holds it Christmas Concert and Visual Art Show Wednesday and Thursday, December 8 and 9, 2021, in the Fine Arts Center, 900 North Prince Crossing Road. The art show begins at 6:30 p.m., the concert begins at 7 :00 p.m. Performing in the concert are chorus band and orchestra.
Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill,1200 West Hawthorne Drive, has Dinner with Santa from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 9, and Saturday, December 18, 2021. Persons bring families for dinner and Santa gives free cookies and milk to children ages 12 and under.
The restaurant once again holds its annual Stocking Charity Drive. Every year the business works with the West Chicago Police Department to make Christmas special for three deserving families in the community. Hawthorne’s provides the stockings and art supplies and patrons provide the creative art work plus make a monetary donation. The owner Lou Kopinski matches the contributions, with the money used to purchase presents off the lists of the three families.
The Holiday Orchestra Concert of West Chicago Community High School is at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021, in the auditorium. Alex Foote is the director. The auditorium audience is limited to the families of the orchestra students. The concert is streamed live on the Athletics You Tube Channel.
The music section includes “Silent Night,” arrangement by Eric Morales; a movement from the “Nutcracker Suite” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Trépak, a Russian Dance; “The Wexford Carol,”arrangement by Larry Moore; and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson. The Chamber Orchestra performs “Five Ukranians in a Bell Tower,” a jazzy holiday mashup; and “All I Want for Christmas,” an arrangement by John Lyon. A few surprises also are planned.
The First Division Museum at Cantigny Park presents the program, “A Day That Will Live in Infamy: the Attack on Pearl Harbor,” at 7:00 Thursday, December 9, 2021, via Zoom. Presenting the program is Tricia Menke, Curator of Education at the National Museum of the American Sailor at Naval Station Great Lakes. Registration is required at FDMuseum.org.
Menke discusses one of America’s darkest days, December 7, 1941. The shocking attack at Pearl Harbor was the catalyst for the emergence of a new and determined naval fleet. She examines events leading up to the Japanese invasion, how sailors and nurses responded, and the aftermath and legacy of what is considered the Navy’s greatest defeat. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Gettysburg College and received her master’s in history with a museum studies concentration from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
West Chicago Community High School Honor Society hosts Pancakes with Santa from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021, in the Commons, 326 Joliet Street, Entrance H. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 12 and under and senior citizens. In addition to breakfast, there are games, crafts glitter tattoos and a photo booth There also is a raffle.
We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center, 1055 West Washington Street, hosts its annual Holiday Open House Expo from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021. Items for sale include the unique table top reindeer, poinsettias, Christmas planters, house plants and succulents, and home crafts fashioned by the team members. Refreshments are served. (www.merleburl.com)
The West Chicago Public Library monthly Dialogue With the Director, Ben Weseloh, is at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021, via Zoom. Persons can ask questions, make suggestions and/or voice opinions. Registration is required and may be made at https://wcpld.info, under calendar.
BYO Creativity is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. December 11, 2021, at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street. This is a time for persons to “bring your own” creativity and work on artistic/craft projects and, at the same time, meet and visit with people in the community. Craft project include painting, drawing, yarn crafts, scrap booking or adult coloring. The tables allow ample space for persons to work which on projects. Registration is not required, just drop in at the Gallery. At this time, masks are required. For information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/byocwc/about.
The West Chicago Park District hosts North Pole Adventure Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, 2021. Trains depart from the Metra station, 508 Main Street, at 1:39 p.m. and 5:39 p.m. Persons must be at the station 15 minutes early to check in. The cost is $20 for residents, $25 for non-residents Pre-registration is required at www.we-goparks.org/special-events. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult and each person attending must be registered for the event. The ride to and from the “North Pole” is filled with music, stories and surprises. On the way back, Santa jumps on board to visit with participants. (www.merleburl.com)
American Legion Post 300 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6791 host the Holiday Celebration for the Community Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the American Legion, 123 Main Street. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; dinner is at 7:00 p.m. In edition to the meal of ham and all the trimmings and a sweet table with treats from Fannie Mae, there are prizes and music throughout dinner. Entertainment is some karaoke by LaRhonda Thomas Ticket price is $25 per person, $40 a couple. Tickets are available for purchase at the American Legion and the VFW, 431 North Neltnor Boulevard.
Faith Community Church, 910 Main Street, hosts a Community Christmas Lunch at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, December 12, 2021. There is no charge and all are welcome. (www.merleburl.com)
The Holiday Choral Concert of West Chicago Community High School is at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 12, 2021, in Weyrauch Auditorium. Performing are the Honors A Capella Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Mixed Chorus and Women’s Choral under the direction of Brandon Fantozzi. The auditorium audience is limited to the families of the choral students. The concert is streamed live on the Athletics You Tube Channel.(www.merleburl.com)
“Virtual Chair Yoga” is the West Chicago Public Library program at 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 13, 2021. Susan from Dancing Cranes demonstrates the benefits of yoga without getting down on the floor. In an hour of Chair Yoga, persons breathe more deeply; stretch, strengthen and move their body; relieve stress and relax. To register, visit wcpld.info, under event calendar. The program takes place monthly during the winter. (www.merleburl.com)
The Holiday Band Concert of West Chicago Community High School is Tuesday, December 14, 2021, in the auditorium, 326 Joliet Street. Marissa Janiszweski is the director.The auditorium audience is limited to the families of the orchestra students. The concert is streamed live on the Athletics You Tube Channel. Performing groups are Jazz Band, Concert Band 2, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band 1 and Symphonic Band. Featured songs include “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” Selections from the “Nutcracker,” Concert Suite from “The Polar Express” and “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson. (www.merleburl.com)
Healthy West Chicago hosts a free virtual family cooking class, “Holiday Roasted Butternut Squash & Baked Apples” at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, via Zoom. Chef Maria gives tips on eating healthy, saving time in the kitchen and involving children in food preparation, plus demonstrates how to make the featured recipe. Recipe ingredients are provided to the first 25 registered participants. The day to pick up supplies at the West Chicago Public Library will be communicated to those who registered first. To register, visit wcpld.info, under calendar. For further information email Carly Smitherman at director@healthywestchicago.org or call 630-230-6370.
The West Chicago Park District has a Sip and Paint event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at the ARC, 201 West National Street. Abby Adams of Make YOU Brush is the instructor. Participants over the age of 21 can bring their own favorite adult beverage of wine or beer to sip while painting. The registration includes step by step instructions and necessary supplies for holiday fun scenes on a sled. Stencils are provided, no experience is necessary. The charge is $40. To register, visit we-goparks.org/adult-programs. (www.merleburl.com)
West Chicago Park District hosts a Medicare Information Series. The third and final session is from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 18, 2021, at the ARC, 201 West National Street. This session includes how drug coverage works, how to get extra help if one has limited income and resources and how Medicare drug coverage works with other prescription drug coverages. Also covered are drug tiers and formularies and what the insurance companies are required to have. There is no charge, but registration is required at https://www.we-goparks.org/adult-program.
The Spirit Tank for West Chicago Community High School at the BP Pride Store gas station, 1905 Franciscan Way, continues through Friday, December 31, 2021. Each time persons fill their tank, the WCCHS Athletic Department receives three cents per gallon purchased. For the final month, the station is offering a free car wash with the gas purchase. Persons spending $50 get a free Premium carwash, valued at $9. Proceeds go towards revamping athletic spaces for the athletes who participate.
West Chicago Fire Protection District promotes holiday decoration safety through the “Keep the Red” program. The wreaths are on display at all three stations, 200 Fremont Street, 1651 Atlantic Drive and 1800 Commerce Drive. Red bulbs on the wreaths are replaced with a white bulb if the cause of a fire is holiday-related. During the 30-plus years of participation in the program of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the wreaths have remained red most of the time. Precautionary measures for a live Christmas tree involve checking the water level on a regular basis and placing it and other greens away from a heat source, with the latter step also applying to artificial trees and greens. Locate candles in safe locations, away from window treatments and evergreens. NEVER leave candles unattended in a room; keep them out of reach of children and pets. With the use of battery-operated flickering tea candles and tapers, persons can have the warmth and festive aura in a safe manner. (www.merleburl.com)
A COVID-19 vaccination clinic is open from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road. The clinic is for persons age 18 and older. To make an appointment, call the church office at (630) 231-3787 or email office@standrewlutheran.net.
A COVID-19 testing site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in a VNA Health Care Mobile at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road. There is no charge. Appointments are required and may be made at (630) 892-4355 or (847) 717-6455
The DuPage County Health Department developed a dashboard to provide information on the total number of people, in DuPage County, who have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the dashboard includes a map which shows the distribution of reported cases by municipality and is updated at 4:00 p.m. daily. DuPage County’s “COVID-19 Dashboard” is a one-stop-shop for all the information it offers including a town-by-town breakdown of cases. As of Monday, December 6, 2021, there were 5,735 cases and 56 deaths; this is the number from the beginning of track recording.
To keep residents aware of community COVID-19 updates, the City has posted West Chicago’s COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER on its website, www.westchicago.org. It is located on the upper left-hand side in red. Clicking on this, residents can see the latest information.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of James M. Schramer, who at the age of 96 passed away Monday, November 22, 2021.
Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Ted Norton, who at the age of 93 passed away Thursday, December 2, 2021.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Suzanne Bernice West, who at the age of 80 passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
The 2021 Advent Share program at Faith Community Church is to help DuPage PADS raise funds to repurpose the Red Roof Inn in Downers Grove as an interim housing center for the homeless. The not-for-profit organization estimates the cost for the conversion of the 130-room hotel at the cost of $7.5 million. The goal is to have the housing center open in Spring 2022. DuPage County Board recently approved a $5 million funding request.
When COVID-19 pandemic started, the PADS program at participating individual churches stopped. DuPage PADS rented rooms at hotels to house the homeless. Churches supplied meals at the different hotels. DuPage PADS was able to temporarily house more than 450 people, which included 150 children. Having shelter in the hotel rooms allowed the homeless the opportunity to take advantage of the services PADS offers from employment support to life skills coaching with the goal of helping them become self sufficient. This came about because the homeless were not spending the days goring from one PADS site to another.
The new “Read and Roll,” located on the east side of the West Chicago Public Library, 118 West Washington Street, is officially open. It is commonly known as a story walk, which integrates being outside, physical movement and literacy. Each month the library highlights a new book and places it across the 18 panels for children and families to read as they walk to the library. This was made possible by Healthy West Chicago, City of West Chicago, West Chicago Elementary School District 33, West Chicago Parks Foundation, DuPage Early Childhood Collaboration, United Way of Metro Chicago, We Go Together for Kids and West Chicago Public Library District. (www.merleburl.com)
West Chicago resident and pastry chef Marilyn Santos-McNabb is one of the 12 competitors in the Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship.” She was a pastry chef instructor for nearly 11 years at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago’s Le Cordon bleu Program. While there one of her creations was an eight-foot -long cake of the family dog,Bo, for President Barack Obama. Also her gingerbread White House creations were on display in the “Christmas Around the World” exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Currently she is a semiretired executive pastry chef at the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook.
West Chicago resident and artist Amy K. Ritchie has vendor space in the newly opened Painted Tree Boutique, 388 West Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale. Her business is AKR Original Design Studio. Richie does custom wood burning and acrylics. The store’s grand opening is Saturday, December 11, 2021.(www.merleburl.com)
We Go Together hosted a pop-up, ”Uniting for the Holiday,” Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at Wheaton Bible Church. Five-hundred families received holiday meals, which included food boxes and a frozen turkey. United Way of Metro Chicago and Northern Illinois Food Bank led the effort and secured the donations. St. Andrew Lutheran Church and Wheaton Bible Church supplied the space for storing the donations. (www.merleburl.com)
Named to the Daily Herald DuPage County All Star Football Team was Peter Jonanik, a senior at /Wheaton Academy. Named as an Honorable Mention was Mason Wright, a senior at West Chicago Community High School.
The promotion and retirement ceremony hosted by the West Chicago Fire Protection District is an emotional one, both happy and sad. The happiness comes from the celebration of years with the district and the promotion to a new position, but sadness at saying good bye to your fellow firefighters, but not a farewell to friends. This was evident at the promotion of Greg Zudis to lieutenant and the retirement of Lieutenant Mike Buenrostro, Sr. held Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
Assistant Fire Chief Tim Leidig was the moderator. Regarding the promotion of Zudis, Leidig said, “Zudis met all the challenges to receive this promotion.” He has an associate degree and since he joined the district in 2006, he has received multiple fire service certificates. Charles Bratcher, president of the District Board of Trustees, administered the oath of office.
Leidig said, “As a resident of West Chicago for only 26 years, I did learn so much about the community and the district from Mike. He has been with the district for 40 years, 33 of them as a paid firefighter. His family’s roots and involvement in the community go back many years. Not only has Mike been a member of the fire district, but so have his brothers, Joe and Jim. Leidig said the families of firefighters give deep-rooted support and the wives play a big role in this. Leidig presented a bouquet of flowers as a thank you on behalf of the district to Buenrostro’s wife, Theresa. His two sons, Mike Jr., and Jeremy, presented him with his helmet bearing the number 5. This was the station to which Buenrostro was assigned. The gift from the district was a shadowbox, containing the flag that flew over Station 5 on his retirement day, a fireman’s axe and other memorabilia. Leidig said, ” One of the sayings is ‘leave the district better for the next guy’ and Mike has certainly done this.”
Buenrostro then did the final inspection of his team. Each man received a hug and personal words. DuCom gave the final Tone Out. Buenrostro said, “I followed in my dad’s footsteps, giving my best to the community and my job. He thanked all the chiefs for which he served, especially the late Mike Hamlin. “He was the best.” He acknowledged many in the audience. “It has been a memorable time.”
Prior to his retirement, his sons Jeremy and Mike, Jr, wrote some tributes on Buenrostro’s Facebook page. Mike wrote, “In 2004 before the school year started my dad asked me if I was interested in being a cadet at the fire department. At the time I had little interest in being a firefighter. However, my dad informed me that it was a paid cadet position and I needed a job to remain in the co-op class I was in, which allowed me to go to school half days if I went to work after. Now my dad is retiring after 40 years of service with the West Chicago FPD and the community it serves. I am thankful to have been able to work with my dad on the same job for over 17 years in total. I had the fortune of working at the same house for many years on different shifts which allowed me to have a cup of coffee and some Jewel coffee cake at almost every shift change. I have been able to ride the rig with him, drive for him and respond to many calls for service over the years. But its the small things that make the greatest impact. Learning how to instruct from him, developing his quick wit and sense of humor are all things I am grateful for. My dad is all the best parts of Andy Griffith, Hawkeye Pierce and Matt Dillon.” Jeremy wrote, “If you know Mike Buenrostro, Sr., you know the amount of commitment he has given to the fire district , and more importantly the community of West Chicago.” Since Buenrostro is a big fan of “Mash,” the family had Jamie Farr (Klinger) do a cameo for his retirement. (www.merleburl.com)
My email address is merleburl@eaarthlink.net.