Winter is here and now the weather is the topic of conversation. The snow we had Tuesday, December 28, 2021, was the first measurable snow in 287 days. There was an accumulation of approximately four inches in the last storm. Snowblowers and shovels were used. Children and adults enjoyed the snow, walking and playing. Then the frigid temperers followed. Now the snow-covered ground creates a scenic landscape, as one looks at it from inside, where it is toasty warm. Persons recall winter storms of the past. Our street crews deserve kudos for plowing the streets, making them clean and safe.
AROUND AND ABOUT
West Chicago City buildings, except the Police Station, will close to the public on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, as a safety precaution during the current COVID-19 surge affecting the region generally, and the City of West Chicago specifically. The building closures are expected to last at least through Friday, January 28, 2022. All City Council and Committee meetings and Advisory Boards/Commissions are being held remotely until further notice; access information may be found on the City website, westchicago.org, City employees are working in their respective buildings. Members of the public are encouraged to do business with the City online, by email or by phone during this time or, in lieu of entering City Hall to make a payment, they should use the drop box located outside City Hall. Applications, plans, and other documents may still be mailed to City of West Chicago, 475 Main Street, West Chicago, IL 60185 or placed in the drop box.
The month of January is “Sales Month” at Gallery 200. Some items from the December exhibit, “Small Gifts of Art,” plus artwork from other member artists. Items on sale are specially marked. Since the Gallery is located in a city-owned building, it is now closed to the public.
Maggie Capettini, former education director at West Chicago City Museum, has her artwork in several exhibits. One is a solo exhibit from Sunday, January 2, through Monday, February 28, 2022, at the St. Charles Public Library, One South Sixth Avenue. Library hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. She has two plein air pantings in the “Arts North International” exhibit from Saturday, January 8, through Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hopkins, Minnesota. In its 27th year, this international juried exhibition showcases the work of thirteen different classes of media by artists from the United States and abroad. Capettini's "January 26" was one of 158 artworks chosen from more than 800 entries.
She also is holding workshops for adults and youths at Water Street Studios. 160 South Water Street in Batavia. The first one is a youth workshop “Snow Wonderful!” Sunday, January 23, 2022. This is for children in fist through third grades. The children make three snow-related artworks to bring home with them. These are decorating a wooden snowflake ornament, creating a wax-resist watercolor painting and outfitting a snow person with the most stylish hat and scarf. The cost is $25, which includes all supplies. To register, visit https://water-street-studios.coursestorm.com/course/snow-wonderful-for-kids-1st-3rd-grades-south-classroom.
West Chicago free Christmas tree pick up takes place through Saturday, January 15, 2022. Lights, garland and decorations must be removed from the tree. Do not put the trees in plastic bags.
The Spirit Tank fundraiser for West Chicago CommunityHigh School at the BP Pride Store gas station, 1905 Franciscan Way, is extended to Friday, January 7, 2022. Proceeds go towards revamping athletic spaces for the athletes who participate.
BYO Creativity is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. January 8, 2022, 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 projects include painting, drawing, yarn crafts, scrap booking or adult coloring. Since the event takes place in the Gallery, a city-owned building, it is closed and the event is canceled.
West Chicago Lions Club and West Chicago Rotary Club hold a Gently Used and New Coats, Hats and Gloves Collection for adults and children through Saturday, January 8, 2022. Boxes are located at West Chicago Public Library, 118, West Washington Street; West Chicago Community High School, 326 Joliet Street; ARC Center, 201 West National Street; UPS Store, both locations of Augustino’s Rock & Roll Deli and Grill, 300 E. North Avenue and 246 Schmale Road in Carol Stream, and both Republic Bank locations, 101 Main Street and 101 East Roosevelt Road.
Distribution of the items takes place from 9:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, January 15, at First United Methodist Church of West Chicago, 643 East Washington Street. There is a limit of one coat per person and that person must be present.
League of Women Voters of Wheaton in partnership with the Wheaton Public Library holds its virtual Living Room Conversations program at 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 10, 2022, via Zoom. The theme, “The Opportunity Gap ” discussion focuses on promoting conversation through openness to others with opposing views. To register visit my.lwv.org/illinois/wheaton/calendar.
League of Women Voters of Wheaton includes West Chicago, Warrenville, Winfield, Wheaton and Carol Stream. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government.
West Chicago Public Library, 118 West Washington Street, has a Microsoft Word class at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2022, in the main program room. Participants learn the basics of creating a document, selecting and editing text, saving a document, and inserting page numbers and special characters. To register, visit https://wcpld.info, under calendar. (https://merleburl.com)
The West Chicago Park District monthly social gathering is at noon Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the ARC, 201 West National Street. The district provides the meal. The entertainment is Trivia, based on “Let’s Make A Deal.” There is a $10 charge, with reservations required by Friday, January 7. To register, visit we-goparks.org/adult-programs.
In partnership with Robert R. McCormick House at Cantigny Park, the League of Women Voters of Wheaton hosts their Civics Awareness program at 7:00 p.m.Thursday, January13, 2022, via Zoom. To make a reservation visit Cantigny.org. A Zoom link to access the presentation is sent two days prior to the event.
Dr. Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz presents “Critical Race Theory: What it Is and What it Isn’t.” She is a historian of the nineteenth century United States who specializes in American women's history. At Eastern Illinois University, she teaches the US survey, American women's history, Civil War era history, social studies teaching methods, historical research/writing, and serves as coordinator for History with Teacher Licensure in Social Science. She also works with the Illinois Civics Hub as the Preservice Teacher Liaison and writes about civics teaching topics for IllinoisCivics.org. She is the author of “The Tie That bBinds Us,” “The Women of John Brown’s Family” and “The Legacy of Radical Abolitionism.”
League of Women Voters of Wheaton includes West Chicago, Warrenville, Winfield, Wheaton and Carol Stream. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. (https://merleburl.com)
West Chicago Park District holds a Bags Tournament at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2022, at Zone250, 250 West National Street. Six games per team. First place wins a trophy, first and second place winners receive cash. All participants receive a sandwich and a wrap, chips and a cookie compliments of Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill. The cost is $80 per team.To register, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/special-events. (https://merleburl.com)
Healthy West Chicago hosts a free virtual family cooking class, “Confetti Pepper Cornbread and Black Bean Veggie Soup,” at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 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 20 registered participants. The day to pick up supplies at the West Chicago Public Library are communicated to those who registered first. To register visit healthywestchicago.org/newevents or https://bit.ly/3dTHq9y. 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, “Gnome Body But You,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 20, 2022, 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 $35 registration fee includes step by step instructions and necessary supplies Stencils are provided, no experience is necessary. To register, visit we-goparks.org/adult-programs. (https://merleburl.com)
West Chicago Park District holds a Youth Dodgeball Tournament Friday, January 21, 2022, at the ARC, 201 West National Street. Teams consist of 5-8 players and are guaranteed at least 2 games. Players must register individually, but form their own teams including a coach. Champions in each division l receive team prizes. Age brackets are divided into grades, from 1st to 6th grade. To register, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/special-events. (https://merleburl.com)
Now that de-decorating is taking place, persons may discover strands of incandescent and LED holiday lights that no longer work. The City of West Chicago provides the “green” solution for disposing this items through Friday, January 21, 2022. The offer is open to residents, businesses, clubs, churches and organizations. Drop-off locations are First United Methodist Church of West Chicago, by exterior door at 643 East Washington Street; Murphy Ace Hardware, 319 South Neltnor Boulevard; West Chicago Public Library, 118 West Washington Street; and the ARC Center, 201 West National Street. The West Chicago Environmental Commission coordinates the program with Groot Industries.
Wayne Township also offers holiday light disposal.. The recycling location is from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Wayne township Road District, 4N230 Klein Road. It ends Tuesday, March 2, 2022.
“Renewal” is the theme for the 2022 Art Banner Exhibit. All media is acceptable with no limitation to technique or subject as long as it relates to the theme. It is a juried exhibit. The selected entries are displayed on banners hanging in the historic downtown area from May through September. To submit artwork, visit https://form.jotform.com/212725943004046 for the entry form.
West Chicago City Museum Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, meets again in February. Since the book, “Everything You Wanted to About Indians, But Were Afraid to Ask,” is long and thought-provoking, the reader has the time to read and enjoy it. Copies of the book are available at the museum and library.
There are matter-of-fact responses to the more than 120 questions asked, ranging from both thoughtful and outrageous, modern and historical. The author, Frank Treuer, gives funny and frank answers, building a foundation for understanding and positive action.
Treuer is an American Academic and author specializing in Ojibwe language and American Indian studies. He is a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State university in Minnesota and a 2008 Fellow. He also edits the only academic journal about the Ojibwe language, the “Oshkaabewis Native Journal.” Treuer has authored or edited 18 books. (https://merleburl.com)
Support our local businesses. We-Go Assembly Services is a turn key service company that provides residential and commercial assembly services such as furniture, outdoor play sets, grills, bikes, storage sheds and exercise equipment. The phone number is (630) 392-8615. (https://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, January 3, 2022, there were 6,399 cases and 57 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 Daniel Barrientos, who at the age of 75 passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021.
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Brandon Kruser, who passed away Friday, December 31, 2021.
Due to the impact of positive cases of COVID-19 on the community, and the anticipated number of District staff unable to report to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, West Chicago Elementary School District 33 opted for e-learning the first week of school after winter break, Monday, January 3, through Friday, January 7, 2022.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced that bond was set Sunday, January 1, 2022, for two Chicago men charged with carjacking at gunpoint a resident’s vehicle from his garage. Andre Turner, 19, and Tyrell Loury, 19, appeared in Bond Court, where Judge Leah Bendik set bond at $600,000 for Turner and $500,000 for Loury. Both men have been charged with one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking with a Firearm (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 1 Felony).
At approximately 6:36 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, West Chicago Police officers responded to a call on Alamance Drive for a vehicular hijacking. Upon his arrival, an officer spoke with the victim and learned that the victim had just entered his vehicle, a Mercedes Benz, located in the home’s attached garage. It is alleged that as the victim was preparing to leave, he heard a voice from the driver side door state “give me your keys.” It is alleged that he then saw two male individuals wearing black masks, one of whom was pointing a gun at his stomach. It is alleged the men then ordered the victim to get out of the car. It is further alleged that after the victim exited his vehicle, one of the men entered the vehicle and the other man fled to the white car parked in front of the home. It is alleged that both men then fled the residence, one in the white car and one in the stolen Mercedes Benz. With the assistance of a Chicago Police Department helicopter, the vehicle was followed as it drove through the south side of Chicago until it parked near 65th and King. It is alleged that after the Mercedes Benz parked, two men, later identified as the defendants, exited the vehicle and began to flee. After a brief foot pursuit, officers with the Chicago Police Department took Loury into custody. It is alleged that during the foot pursuit one of the men disposed of a loaded Springfield XDM .45 caliber hand gun in a dumpster, and was later recovered by police. Police also recovered the stolen Mercedes Benz at this time. Turner was taken into custody on December 31, 2021, in Chicago.
“I’m very proud of the West Chicago officers that worked tirelessly on this case, who along with the assistance of the Chicago Police Department and other law enforcement partners, were able to bring these dangerous individuals to justice,” Fleury said. “I want to thank State’s Attorney Berlin and his office for filing the appropriate charges against the defendants in this case.”
If found guilty, Turner and Loury each face a penalty of between twenty-one and forty-five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The next court appearance for both men is scheduled for January 24, 2022, for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
Through Advent giving Faith Community Church raised $4,140 towards the interim housing project for DuPage PADS of raising 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.
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 Scout Cabin in Reed-Keppler Park was demolished Thursday, December 16, 2021. Park District Executive Director Gary Major said, “The cabin was taken down because it had surpassed its useable life. The shelter portion was rotted and needed significant investment. The school portion was requiring a lot of repair and maintenance and yearly upkeep and utility costs were expensive. We moved all activities to the ZONE and ARC. Nostalgia aside it was too costly to maintain and the fiscally responsible thing to do was to tear it down. There was no cost to tear down, and it will be replaced this Spring with a new larger shelter.”
I do not have the history of the building, such as when it was built. Per the book, “A Brief History of an Old Railroad Town,” it was built through the efforts of volunteers. It has had different uses such as a drop in place for youth, preschool, summer camp location and the Art in the Park event held during Railroad Days. (https://merleburl.com)
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.